Underwhelmed with new knives

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fp627

Joined
Jul 21, 2015
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Recently acquired several new knives. I was underwhelmed with most of them (although not disappointed in any way). They are all great on paper and if I were to make a checklist with what I wanted out of them, the boxes would be all or mostly checked off. Yet, these knives don't bring the "wow" factor to me that many of my previous (and unfortunately often more expensive) purchases did. I don't think it's a $ or luxury thing either, I don't find my more "expensive" (still under $250) knives that much nicer than my $30 knives.

Am I the only one?
 
You get what you pay for...up to a point. Seems a lot of the knife world is really stuck on brand recognition and a certain type of folder at the moment. So no you are not alone.

I am well served by some $200 knives as well as some $20 knives and everything in between.
 
This is a regular topic here (diminishing returns). When things are new, just about everything wow's ya, as you mature, you aren't as easily affected. I wish I still had the forward thinking exuberance of a 8 year old child, but that is gone, so we enjoy seeing it in our children and grandchildren.
 
I think that means your tastes are maturing, or that you don't quite actually know what you want out of a knife. If something meets all your criteria but doesn't satisfy you, it's the list of criteria that is flawed.
 
Comeuppance said:
I think that means your tastes are maturing, or that you don't quite actually know what you want out of a knife. If something meets all your criteria but doesn't satisfy you, it's the list of criteria that is flawed.
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That is an awesome response and really makes you think!
 
fp627 said:
Recently acquired several new knives. I was underwhelmed with most of them (although not disappointed in any way). They are all great on paper and if I were to make a checklist with what I wanted out of them, the boxes would be all or mostly checked off. Yet, these knives don't bring the "wow" factor to me that many of my previous (and unfortunately often more expensive) purchases did. I don't think it's a $ or luxury thing either, I don't find my more "expensive" (still under $250) knives that much nicer than my $30 knives.

Am I the only one?
Click to expand...

Burnout, time for a new hobby. Give it a rest and return when the fire burns hot.
 
i too thought it was burnout or a change in tastes/needs, but in the midst of it all the knife that has "wow" factored me the most despite having the least things checked off on it's own list (for the role it fills) was a bubinga handle opinel 8... and even though it was a "special" wood, at under $20 or $25, i doubt most of us would see that as a particularly expensive knife. oddly enough on the flip side the olivewood opinel 6 i got doesn't "wow" me much despite them being very similar knives.

both very good and still very possible points though.
 
It means that you need to get into custom knives.

Now.
 
Overindulgence. If you buy a bunch at once you don't get to savor the acquisition because you're still looking forward to those that have yet to arrive. You can only use one knife at a time, slow down on the acquisitions and you'll find that two things happen: you enjoy the knives more and your budget will expand upward.
 
Sounds like you bought the wrong knives.
It happens.

Buy the right ones next time. :)
 
The whole FashionFolder thing...being steel obsessed, brand obsessed...air-bearing opening, sparkly designs, etc. can take a lot of pleasure out of the hobby for many; much less exposing very non-financial behavior. Was I caught up in this at one time? Guilty !

If someone wants to do that, fine. But I saw it for what it really is a while back. I've gotten more real pleasure out of using and carrying my most recent purchase, another Cold Steel Ti-Lite in the new steel, than I ever did from any Strider, Hinderer, Sebenza, Bodega or Wayfarer I owned....most of which I mainly stared at, showed and cycled a lot. Then they went in the safe. Or I carried another knife with them to actually use. They were finally sold too, once I came around.

Why do you think all the pics of the fashion, "jewelry" and 'high-end' knives you see show them pristine? No signs of real use whatsoever. Most owners are too afraid of marking them or anything that would lower their value for re-sale. When they ARE carried they're never used--the ol' "plop it on the table and see how people react" thing or show them off in the confines of the living room or den. I understand this segment of people as collectors, I guess, but personally--I''m a user. I finally realized that.

Now I buy within the range from Esse and Cold Steel to Al Mars and Emersons. Rarely I'll jump a little overboard, but not much anymore.

C'mon...someone (other than Charlie Mike) post a pic of THEIR well used and roughed up $800-1000 custom. It'll be about the second or third time I've ever seen one. Maybe that would even be worth its own thread--"YOUR Real User Over $500."

Been there....done that....wrecked the place and left. :)
 
My knife purchases are based around a major factor, usability. I have knives ranging in price from $25-$200. Out of the box the less expensive ones are great but over time they just can not hold up. Yes my kershaw thermite had a lot of the wow factor that my zt0562 did, but that was just appearance. In my hand and in use at work or outside in the yard the 0562 shows where the $ make sense.
 
Yes, usability!

This knife cost $1300 and has been a workhorse.

[video=youtube;2wGIbQmoFic]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wGIbQmoFic[/video]
 
Time to really evaluate what satisfies you with knives. As time goes on you're likely to get more particular about things you never used to think mattered, and less particular about things you thought were absolute musts. Other things will remain consistent, but I think you'll be pretty amazed at just how much more you'll zero in on your preferences as time goes by.
 
While not super expensive, my $550 Mehr mini k2 sees action. I have no qualms about using it hard (that's what he makesem for,right?).
I've bought and enjoyed lots of visual and auditory art in my life. Paintings, audio gear, records, sculpture and so on...none if which gets locked away. I bought it to enjoy it.
Same with knives. I get joy from looking and touching, but also from using. They (especially customs) are utilitarian art.
I don't think you can fully appreciate a knife until it gets carried and used.
 
DPC said:
Exactly my thoughts.

Custom and high end knives really do have that "something more".

You dont get that with your generic cheaper knife model I think.
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I tend to agree. It's pretty nice to work with a maker to create a knife to your specs.
 
If you find a $200 Spyderco and a $30 Gerber close to the same - there isn't much anyone here could help you with.
 
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