Top 5 features you want in a knife?

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
3,164
When I purchase a knife (an activity I relish and savour.)
I try to find a knife that has as much of these features as possible.
Mine are geared toward FB's since that is what I purchase most.

1. Parrot's beak on the back end of the handle for my pinky.
2. Good grip and balance which means my thumb and fore finger must rest well.
3. Full tang.
4. Blade steel.
5. A sheath with multi-carry options.
 
Lanyard hole
Quality steel
Quality sheath
non serrated
good fit and finish on handle material
 
1. Large enough handle for the blade.....No 3 inch blade and 3 inch handle.
2. Light weight.....and EDC shouldn't weigh more than a few ounces.
3. Full tang
4. At least 57-59 RC.
5. Under $200.00
 
Most of my purchases are folders so...

1) one handed opening
2) decent lock (axis/frame/thick liner in order of preference)
3) decent steel
4) reputable brand
5) price
 
1) Better than average blade-steel.
2) Reliable and secure lock.
3) Large and comfortable handle.
4) Drop-point, spear, wharncliffe, or clip-point blade (no tantos, no hawkbills).
5) Plain-edge.
 
Fixed blade:

1) Carbon steel of some sort.
2) Flat ground blade.
3) A reasonable length. Anything over 5.5" isn't needed for me, but I want something 3" or more so there is some heft to it.
4) A comfortable handle.
5) A choil for choking up on the blade for finer stuff.

Folder:

1) Good blade steel, stainless (harder to clean than a fixed blade).
2) One-handed operation (either an opening hole or thumb stud).
3) Good blade geometry. Thick enough to be rugged, but not so thick that it wedges a lot.
4) Comfortable handle.
5) If it's not a slipjoint, it needs to have a great lock (axis/BB lock,lockback, maybe a framelock).
 
1. a frame lock 2. Good blade steel like: BG-42, D2, S30V, Duratech 20CV.... 3. Good balance between blade lenght and handle. 4. comfy in my hand. 5. a very good clip.
 
1. Fantastic heat treat--my knives are used for cutting. I want an edge that will last. I have prybars and screwdrivers in my trunk and home. I have an Atwood PryBaby XL on my keychain. When I go for my knife it's for cutting and nothing else.

2. Geometry optimized for cutting. See above. I like thin hollow grinds, and thin flat grinds.

3. Great steel--I like D2 and 1095 at the moment and S3V is OK. Since I like patina and don't work on the ocean, I prefer carbon to stainless.

4. Solid lock or no lock: FB and framelock are my favorites. Lock back is good, too, just not as easy to use.

5. Fit and finish is important to me. My Dozier Folding Hunter is my favorite knife (all of mine are users) and runs silky smooth with no oil. Small Sebensa is my second favorite (just got it back from CRK rehab!).
 
Lets see...the number 1 thign I look at 1st is price...depending on how much I want to spend (or am allowed to spedn, lol) I know what I can expect as far as materials used, and fit and finish...So 1st I consider price, second I am concerned about the design, what am I going to use the knife for I ask myself, usually a little of everythgin so I try not to buy a knife with a design thats used for specific cutting tasks...

Once I know how much I am going to spend and what style knife Im lookign for I think about which brand I want to look at...and finally I pick which model I want...Most of the time I dont even go through this process...I usually check the trade or sale section and when I see a knife I can trade for or afford to buy I look up more details about that specific knife and if I like it I buy it...or trade for it...then when I get it if I change my mind it goes back up for sale or trade...thats the most fun part of the forums, trying out new knives...and we all save so much $ by trading and buying used knives, in most cases which are hardly used to begin with...
 
I carry mostly folders so . . .

1. Acceptable blade style and grind for the purpose
2. Quality steel
3. Handles that fit my hand
4. Quality and reputation of manufacturer
 
1) Thin edge
2) comfortable handle
3) easy to sharpen
4) hard steel
5) flat or convex grind
 
1) Blade steel
2) needs a pocket clip
3) lock that i like (frame, axis and possibly others -have to feel the knife and try it)
4) Have to like the aesthetics, look and feel
5) Comfortable grip and sturdy design.
 
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