What are your knife buying rules?

buy what I like.

The only rule is that the quality of the product must be in line with the price (or higher value/$ is ok too....but paying $$$ for a name and not much knife....NO).

I must be able to realize a tangible benefit from it's purchase. I don't need more things to maintain that don't do much for me. If I'm going to own it, it's got to be functional.
 
- No tantos
- I generally avoid FRN (as opposed to G10 or Ti)
- No pin construction
- Folders with blade lengths between 3.4" and 4.25" (bigger or smaller I don't end up using)
- No folders with edge retention less than 154cm (except SAKS, which means no 8cr13, AUS-8, 420HC, 440C, etc)
- No recurves (exception is ZT 200 and BM 710)
- No combo edges
- Well made/good quality
Preferences:
- no coatings, especially if it doesn't serve a purpose like a stainless coated blade
- tip up carry
- Don't really like assisted opening
 
zcd said:
Do NOT shop for knives after drinking, thats pretty much the only rule hah
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I fail at that one.

Oh, another rule: only buy quality knives that can be resold for a good percentage of their original value.

I hold that rule for all my collecting and it serves me well. Comics, guns, knives, wood working tools, even poker chips, I've bought, held for a while and then sold to either break even or make money. That's what comes from only buying quality. For me, quality trumps everything. If you only invest in quality items, you will seldom be disappointed.
 
1. Reputable dealer
2. No Tanto (Prefer, but wouldn't be a deal breaker)
3. No lockback (Also Prefer, but wouldn't be a deal breaker)
 
pap11y said:
Self imposed rules....

- No half serrated half straight blade.
- No combat style knives
- No tactical blades
- no signature knives from "survival TV" personalities

Government imposed rules

- no bali songs
- no flick knives
- no push blades
- no daggers

Recently - No one handed openers (f-king seriously?????) Customs will take these...

I should have a rule for no purchases after 8.00pm. I should also have a 24 hour cooling off period before buying a new knife that has excited me (but that doesn't really happen).
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Fellow Aussie?
Cuttingedgeknives has somehow kept all their one hand openers in stock. They sometimes get benchmades (axis lock) too!
 
jasperjb said:
Fellow Aussie?
Cuttingedgeknives has somehow kept all their one hand openers in stock. They sometimes get benchmades (axis lock) too!
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Thanks mate. I'm checking it out now. Kills me seeing all of the reviews of folders here and knowing I can't own them...
 
Typically the first question I ask myself is, "will this replace my current edc?"
After that,
No crazy recurves. Slight is fine by me.
I don't buy tantos anymore.
No assisted.
If there is a version in carbon steel and stainless, I get carbon.
And before every purchase, research.
 
pap11y said:
Thanks mate. I'm checking it out now. Kills me seeing all of the reviews of folders here and knowing I can't own them...
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Just be grateful that we can't get bitten by the benchmade-bug!
I think that they have a few griptillians and minigrips in stock. Also, if you plan on getting a ZT with a flipper go get it now :P I bought the last 350, sorry!
 
dynamicmoves said:
Typically the first question I ask myself is, "will this replace my current edc?"
After that,
No crazy recurves. Slight is fine by me.
I don't buy tantos anymore.
No assisted.
If there is a version in carbon steel and stainless, I get carbon.
And before every purchase, research.
Click to expand...

I've never got into carbon vs stainless at all. What is the advantage of carbon steel?
 
Although I have one or more of the following, I generally stay clear of:

Recurve blades,
Serrations,
Gaudy or oversized logos,
Skulls and other death fetish crap,
Fantasy knives or movie prop recreations,
And I don't buy used knives.
 
Gladiator357 said:
My rules are ~~ there are no rules****I like it I buy it ~~ plain and simple ~~ don't care where it is made or how much it cost ~~ if there is a way to get it it then it is in one of my Safes.! My EDC today was a "China" Spyderco Robin and yesterday it was a Unique Design Small Sebbie ($30 knife to a $430 knife) and who knows about tomorrow ~~ might be a Buck 112 .! Never know.*
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"For every rule there is an exception--including this one" :D:thumbup:
 
No Tantos
No Assisted
No Black Coated Blades
Prefer Stone Wash for working knives not necessary for my edc knives
Do not like FRN grips ( I have 1 that is okay, but others I have owned were just not right)
Blade Size from 4" down to 2 5/8"
 
No serrations
Preferably USA
No extremely pointy tip
Good detent
NOT USED
thats a big one for me. I want scratches, dents, and dings. I also want them to be from ME and ME only. :D
Carrying someone elses stories just ain't the same.
 
Big +1 on: don't shop for knives after a few drinks.
- No combo blades
- Fit a different niche in my collection
- No safe queens, I'm going to use them. I usually buy quality, so if I don't like it you of my friends end up with it. (I hope I never brake this one.)
- Also not to flashy (I know this is subjective)
 
I don't really have all that many 'rules' when it comes to buying knives... My two would probably be:

1. I never buy anything I can't afford
2. If I don't end up using a knife that I've bought, I sell it off. No safe queens allowed.

That's pretty much it...there are some features that I'm usually not fond of, like recurve blades or certain steels, but they're not necessarily deal breakers.

I do like a variety of different knives - I've got knives with serrations (full and partial), knives with coated blades (epoxy, DLC, whatever), knives with different kinds of grinds (convex, hollow, flat, etc.), knives with all kinds of different locks, different steels, etc. If I like it and I can afford it, I buy it. :thumbup:
 
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