What are some huge deal breakers for you when it comes to buying knives?

P

Puny Human

Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
65
For me, it's always been a lack of jimping that really turns me off. That and no tip up carry option.
 
Deal breakers for me are black blades, combo edges, tanto blades, digital camo, excessive graphics or lettering on the blade (just give me the maker's logo and steel stamp), assisted opening... the number one deal breaker for me: low ride pocket clips.
 
Combo edges for me

Fully serrated = OK

Plain edged = OK

Both = Not for me
 
1. Black coatings that scratch easily.
2. Blade spine being way too thick for an EDC knife.
3. Blade play
4. Lower than 57 hrc. Even my axe is harder than that.
5. Edge chipping while cutting cardboard boxes.
6. Handles smaller than 3" inches.
 
Some tanto/spearpoint blades, chisel grinds, serrations/combo edges, bad lockups, bad detents, bad materials, bad designs, unreasonably overpriced, mall ninja crap, bad ergos, and I'm starting to hate seeing Taiwan and China on blades.
 
I think for most people (including me) combo edges are a deal breaker. All tho I did recently trade for a Boker Direkt, which has its serrations near the tip of the blade, we'll see how it works out over time.
I know its sacrilegious, but the Benchmade AXIS lock is a turn off for me. I really just don't care for it.
Also, large stainless fixed blade knives are a turn off to me. And stainless bladed slip joints as well.
 
Folders. naked kydex. Stainless (usually) There is no real deal breaker, I just know what I look for and don't concern myself with the rest.
 
For me, unless it is something I really am sought after, tip down carry. I have no idea why, I just hate that carry method. Does not feel comfortable at all for me.
 
Their are no real deal breakers for me. But I intensely dislike thumb studs, black coatings on stainless, no tip up carry option, scales made from anything but G-10, micarta, or carbon fiber.
 
Tanto
Combo edge

I dislike thumb studs, liner locks and tip down, but the two above are the real deal breakers for me.
 
I buy only USA made knives and after having said that I buy only USA made knives from companies that treat their workers fair.
 
Good topic!!!

  1. Metal handles, even titanium (I'd make an exception for Strider)
  2. Cheap handle material paired with good blade steel
  3. Cheap blade steel paired with good handle material
  4. Wood handles
  5. Combo edges (unless we're talking about the Leatherman Skeletool CX)
  6. Coatings
  7. Small handles (sub 4")
  8. Tanto shape
  9. Chisel grinds
  10. Chisel grinds & tanto shape
  11. Tanto shape & chisel grinds paired with a combo edge
  12. "Made in China" stamps
  13. Lockbacks, even Spydie's one-handers
  14. Slipjoints
  15. Lack of texture/grip to the handle
  16. Lack of jimping/thumb notches
  17. Cheap feeling thumbstuds
  18. Blade play
  19. Excessively thin handle profiles that make the knife feel awkward
  20. A protrusion rather than a choil or flush area where the index finger is supposed to go
  21. Recurves
  22. Highly corrosion-prone steels
  23. Pocket clips on folders that make the handle ride too far out of the pocket
  24. Too pointy or flimsy pocket clips
  25. Cheap kydex supplied with a good knife **cough**Bravo 1**cough**
  26. Knives that don't come sharp from the factory
  27. Daggers/both sides of blade sharpened
  28. Most clip points
  29. If the knife comes with a leather sheath only
  30. Spine serrations
  31. The wrong kind of steel for the blade type
  32. When a blade comes from a dealer, "NIB", with rust spots on it
To name a few...
 
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