What’s your perfectly executed knife?

[Enzo’s Woodshop]

That Boattail looks excellent. So does the try stick.

Thanks!

 

[Insipid Moniker]

This one.

 

[Bob Denman]

 

[Another Shepherd]

I have dozens of knives that have no imperfections in construction that I am aware of. If I scrutinized each one with a 20X loupe, I could maybe find some problems, but why bother?

 

[rdnzl]

Being an OCD type, I’ve received a number of knives where I was disappointed. Not in the design necessarily but in the execution. Its usually been something minor. A blemish, uneven grinds, blade is not centered, action is rough, there is blade play, on and on it goes. Fixed blades are usually better but they are not immune. However, once in a while, I’ve received a perfect specimen. Everything is absolutely perfect and I can’t find a single thing wrong with it. So, show us your perfect knife. Doesn’t have to be expensive or exotic. It can even be a very cheap knife but where the build quality and execution was perfect. I’ll start with this Spyderco Kapara. There is literally not an imperfection to be found and for a production knife, I’ve been very impressed. Let’s see yours

https://imgur.com/a/FIUTHEj

My Kapara is the same. It's perfection in a production knife.

 

[GusSharp68]

without a doubt....View attachment 2144080

 

[JAB]

I’ve flirted with many others over the years but I always come back to some variation of the Small Sebenza. For me it is just the perfect pocket knife in every way.

 

[Ironbut]

I have "a few" really nice knives, both traditional & modern, but the only knives that I would consider perfectly executed are my 3 SAK Alox knives. There's just nothing wrong, qc, walk & talk, or function wise, with any of them. And they're probably the least expensive of the whole darn bunch.

 

[Alberta Ed]

The last one I bought.

 

[353]

Great topic!

I must say almost all of my knives came not perfectly perfect(I have some OCD issues as well ).

The ones that DID come perfect was 4 of my 9 GEC's, a Spyderco Endura S30V in blue tile, my Spyderco Waterway and my two small PJ sebenzas from 2013 and 2019.

All the others, from multiple other brands like spyderco, benchmade etc, have had either issues or(mostly) small imperfections and/or small design issues.

 

[rlewpolar]

I have "a few" really nice knives, both traditional & modern, but the only knives that I would consider perfectly executed are my 3 SAK Alox knives. There's just nothing wrong, qc, walk & talk, or function wise, with any of them. And they're probably the least expensive of the whole darn bunch.

I’ve always wondered why Victorionox doesn’t offer the Alox scales on every model they make? Who wouldn’t love an Alox Swisschamp for example . I have two Alox knives and I agree, they are perfect

 

[runscott]

Tough question. For me fixed and folding would have to be thought about separately, but even just choosing 'the best' folder is tough.

This is a very personal thing, but for my hand and the way I hold a knife, these two designs are ergonomically perfect: Para Military 2 and the Schempp folding Bowie. I like the Schempp so much that I might buy another and tinker with it as others have done.

I would really love to see a PM2 body with a GB2 blade, but the PM2 is pretty great as-is.

 

[VorpelSword]

Well excecated: Most high-end makers excecated well. Price may play a part, but not necessarily.

I love my Leatherman Wave. I would like to see some changes, but it is frine as it is really. I once hasd a Spiderco multitool they called the "Spider Wrench" I think. My opinion of it was that they tried to jam in too many features. It might have been terrific as a tool room prototype, but mass production reduced the necessarily tight fit of the many pieces IMHO.

My personal preference is for much of the Chris Reeve products. Their folders seem to be well engineered and crafted. Their military knives are something I would stake my life on.

Other companies also do a great job of putting together a quality knife. Some figured it out during WW-II and never changed anything. Others have been innovative with design and materials.

 

[Danny Linguini]

Just to add a thought … to me, ‘perfectly executed’ goes well beyond just the parts and how well they are assembled. It includes everything from design to materials, to fit and finish, ease of operation, tightness of assembly and tolerances, and just as importantly, how it looks and feels to you. That’s why I love my Buck that I posted earlier - besides the fit and finish and mechanicals, I still gush over it every time I hold it, flip it open, and look at it. Every time I carry it, I flip it open a few times and ogle it for a few seconds before pocketing it. That to me is perfectly executed. There are plenty of other knives that are cool to look at and nice to handle and use, but, at the risk of sounding corny, I’ve yet to find another that moves me like that one.

 

[coolbreezy37]

Tops and CPK are the only manufacturers that I’ve dealt with that consistently have great quality control.

 

[runscott]

Hmmm. I responded base on individual knife designs, not on overall knife manufacturers. Not sure who I would go with if that was the question. Certainly CRK and Hinderer are amazing - just out of my price range.

 

[LimpCroissant]

This thing always puts a smile on my face. It's one of those "perfect knives" for me. The proportions are just right for my hand size and I can open it three different ways (thumb in fuller, front flipper, spydieflicking fuller). It just doesn't really get too much better. I'd really be quite happy if something happened and I had to carry just this knife for the rest of my life.

Edit: I guess I kind of left out the quality of execution question. This thing is built very well. The detent is absolutely perfect. It's hard to get a detent that works really well for multiple opening methods, but this one somehow pulls it off. There's no backspacer, but instead the two scales match up at the back in the middle just right with is pretty awesome.

 

[hkssr20det]

The best action, feel and size for me is this Keen from Kaviso (another Ray Laconico). So good I have another one on the way.

 

[VorpelSword]

Just to add a thought … to me, ‘perfectly executed’ goes well beyond just the parts and how well they are assembled. It includes everything from design to materials, to fit and finish, ease of operation, tightness of assembly and tolerances, and just as importantly, how it looks and feels to you. That’s why I love my Buck that I posted earlier - besides the fit and finish and mechanicals, I still gush over it every time I hold it, flip it open, and look at it. Every time I carry it, I flip it open a few times and ogle it for a few seconds before pocketing it. That to me is perfectly executed. There are plenty of other knives that are cool to look at and nice to handle and use, but, at the risk of sounding corny, I’ve yet to find another that moves me like that one.

I totally agree. To support your post with a contrary example:

I was given a Spiderco knife for Christmas by our son and daughter-in-law. It has no model designation on it that I can find. seems well made and deploys with a satisfactory "snick". I don't like it. first of all, it is large for the pocket. and I don't have an esthetic appreciation for the Spyderco signature big-eye-hole-on-a-hump . . .and it was made in China.

So, this is a perfectly good knife from a popular maker that I just don't much care for. . . .and I can't move it along because it was a gift from our only son at Christmas.

 

[Bob Denman]

It may not be "perfect": but it sure is special!