What are your purchasing criteria for traditional knives?

CapitalizedLiving

CapitalizedLiving

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Dec 1, 2007
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Does anyone else have specific things you require before purchasing a traditional knife? I have found that if I follow the criteria below, I am mostly always satisfied with a knife:

Single blade
Pinch open
Synthetic handles
Non-stainless steel (carbon or tool)
Non-locking

My reasons are personally pragmatic - single blade folders are narrower, I keep my nails very short, I am neglectful and abusive so wood and bone don't do so well with me, I create and maintain the best edges with steels that have very little or no chromium and vanadium content, and non-locking knives seem to hold up better for me (and force me to not rely on a lock).

What factors do you look for and why?
 
Mostly just awesomeness.


But seriously, I like:

Single blades
Spear points
3.5"ish size
Half-stop slipjoint


Not to say I won't deviate, but the above pretty much guarantees a good user for me.
 
My ideal is:

3.5" (give or take .25")
Two blades of different type (I find spear mains with pen secondaries redundant)
Single spring
1095 or comparable steel
 
Multiple blades
Stainless
3 1/2" - 4" closed

Bonus points if it has a sheepsfoot.
Bonus points for blade alloy containing carbides
 
1. I can afford it
2. I don't have something just like it already
3. I like the way it looks.
 
Multiple blades but a single blade is ok for a change
Steel doesn't matter
3 ¾" - 4" preferred but a tad over 4" is ok
Cover material doesn't matter
Locking feature doesn't matter

Strike out all of the above. Everything is subject to change at any given moment.
 
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I have two criteria:

a) I want it

b) I can get away with buying it (this has nothing to do with whether or not I can afford it!) :D
 
Carbon steel, and interesting or classic design, and eye catching handles. :thumbup:
 
black mamba said:
I have two criteria:

a) I want it

b) I can get away with buying it (this has nothing to do with whether or not I can afford it!) :D
Click to expand...

That pretty much sums it all up Jeff. I had to go back and strike out my post.
 
I'm generally just looking for something that strikes my fancy, especially if it's

- Single spring, 1 or 2 blades
- about 3.5 to 3.8" closed
- a gec 15 :rolleyes:
 
$$$.

Over $30, there must be something I consider special/exceptional about it. Even then, most often I discover what I thought as special/exceptional wasn't worth the extra $$$. Too many great knives that interest me to be found for $30 or less for me to spend more.
 
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It must have blades - 1 to 4.
It must have steel blades - carbon, stainless, etc.
It must have handles - bone, stag, wood, synthetic.
It must fit in a pocket or in a sheath.
It must be made by a respected manufacturer - past or present.
That pretty much narrows it down for me. OH
 
The dominant criteria is that I want it.

My preferences: 3.75" to 4.25" closed length (lean toward 4-4.25"), manufacturer that I can expect overall good fit & finish, and generally two blades.
 
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