What are your biggest knife turn-ONs ???

[Leighman]

I could not agree with you more on this one. There's nothing worse then getting a knife you are excited about only to find out that you got a potato sack to put it in.

With the exception of companies that do not offer sheaths for all models of their knives (i.e. Bussekin), I will pass on ANY knife if the sheath is shoddy. If a company doesn't care enough to offer a quality sheath, they probably have some issues with their knives as well.

Perfect example. As a kid in the 70's the only fixed blade knives available to me (rural eastern Kentucky) were Buck, Case, and Western. Not superior knives by today's standards but more than adequate for my uses.

The leather sheaths (no kydex in those days) were very well constructed (especially the Buck) and stood up to all the use and abuse that a 10-year old boy could subject them to!

 

[Rupestris]

We've reached page three and no one has mentioned DAMASCUS

I know this is W&SS and damascus isn't usually associated with hard use wilderness knives but, it is a knife forum.

For real use knives:
Drop points
long, straight edges with the belly pushed forward (think Landi, Laconico, sodbuster).
good grips with no "hot spots".
carbon steel
swedges on slip joint knives.
brushed/Scotch Brite/low-luster finishes on any/all knives.

Chris

 

[kgd]

This is always a transient topic for me. I keep changing my mind about what I like in knives and figure that my likes will continue to change in the future.

At the moment I do like a simple, utilitarian design. I like something that rides on the hip without being noticable, either by me wearing it, or by others who are interacting with me. I like the knife to have clean lines and without additional doodads like fuellers (blood grooves), ramps or overt guards. The lines can be straight or curved, but they do need to look as though they flow, in other words, not all angles and sharp edges everywhere.

I agree that I really like Ray's knives because he captures a clean/functional look. However, there are a number of makers that do this nicely. I'm with Siguy - I like a sharp, but robust point. I prefer the point to be lower then the spine, but I have knives where the point is at the spine and they work fine.

Grinds don't matter that much to me as long as they are clean and even. A hammond can be a beautiful attribute of the knife especially when it compliments the grinds and or bevel contours. A hammond can also be a distracting element if not suited to the design. Damascus doesn't really do it for me except on certain knife styles.

I also like nessmuks where the wave is balanced. It is hard for me to put my finger on it, but it has to do with the amplitutde of the wave fitting the length of the blade. When I see one that I like, then I really like it. Coupled with natural wood handle the Nesmuk can be a lovely, lovely piece.

I keep changing my mind on sheaths. I love the functionality and flexibility of kydex but don't love the looks all that much. I love leather, especially ones with attractive retention straps over a simple pouch. However, when a brown leather pouch sheath matches to a knife that can be a very nice combination.

 

[Rockywolf]

I like a decent sheath too. I prefer leather, but kydex that holds well works for me. Sometimes the thinness of kydex trumps the leather when it comes to carrying it or slipping it into a cargo pocket.

I like convex, scandi, flat grinds. I find I can keep them the sharpest for the longest period of time. I am torn between natural handles and micarta or G10. I have both and it depends on whether I have ordered it or just followed what the maker usually puts out.

My biggest thing is maker. I have blades from a few of the makers that frequent WSS. I tend to favor them, recommend them, and scope out any new offerings they list in the makers' forum. Fiddleback, Laconico, Breeden, Koyote, DP, Stomper, Charlie Ridge, Landi. I have one or two from each of these guys and I wouldn't heisitate to buy more if the money was there. There are certainly makers that I have on my wish list but these are my go-to guys as I have used their products and they have shown merit every time.

 

[Joezilla]

Ah yes, choils on big knives rocket me outeth.

By far one of the most handlable knives I have used, big knife wise, is the tapered handle on the end of this white river bowie made by Mineral Mountain hatchet works.

No choil on this one, but that handle makes it great to chop with if you chock up on the back. It can chop well normally but when you do the other way, yowza!

 

[Unsub]

I like the classics!

Knives and designs that have been around unchanged for several hundred years like the
traditional skandi ,the dagger and the large fighters whether you call them bowies, guachos, bayonets or something else. I knife I have that I love to hold and look at is
The Rosarms bayonet on the left.

It also reminds me of the classic Ames Riflemans knife.
Another thing about the Rosarm and most knives I really like is it has great handle ergnomics. I just like to hold it, the handle feels so good.

History is also a big thing for me

Knives that are either original antiques or good quality repros of classics I really like.
The bark River HBK or even the originals are some awesome knives and good examples.

Someone mentioned sheaths and that really does make a difference. I actually prefer no sheath to a crappy one.
Here is a good sheath sandwich with a beautiful Gfellers casemakers Chris Reeve
Inyoni sheath strapped to a custom Rainwalker rig for a DFLE. That CR sheath was awesome and really added to the usefullness of the knife and the pleasure of ownership.

 

[Bushman5]

^ Now thats the kind of sheath i want!!!!, except i'd want three sheaths all riveted and stictched together. One slot for the Kabar Khukuri, one for the BK7, andone for a smaller blade.

 

[siguy]

another that i forgot, that everyone is mentioning, is that sheath. i like a nice deep pouch style sheath fitted with a dangler loop. sheaths that ride higher and tighter don't really do it for me, they make it akward to wear and to draw and sheath the knife. with the dangler the sheath is almost right where my hand falls, so it is natural to draw the knife (no reaching up to my hip)

 

[myright]

Never had a dangler so I can't comment, but I love a deep pouch sheath.