What Brands Won't You Buy Again?

The Chinese may be capable of building a knife or anything else of adequate quality but I can think of many other reasons to spend money elsewhere.
 
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Never mind your flame retardant suit, just stick close enough to the topic not to ignite a political discussion in this thread, OK? We have a place for that, and here isn't the place.
 
I have handled my fair share of Busse's and know that if I started buying these knives, that are outside my budget anyways, I would get addicted. Alas, no Busse's for me....:(
 
Wildone39 said:
Almost anything from Frost Cutlery or Cutlery corner and Gil Hibben
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Are you confusing Gil Hibben knives and United Cutlery knives based on Hibben designs? Gil Hibben knives are as good as you can get IMHO. What promted your dislike for Hibben knives?

For that matter, most United Cutlery knives are decent entry level knives for the price.
 
For right now, Boker. Got a barlow from them and the fit/finish was nasty on the blade. The slabs were great, though. For the same $50, I can get a nicer Tenacious.
 
Anything that can be bought at OSH, Home Depot, or Lowe's. Spyderco and Benchmade as well. Too much blade play develops after too short a time :( .
 
I cannot think of an American brand that I flat-out won't buy.
I know of several in whose current offerings I find nothing that I want to buy. I find that for what they offer at their price points, I can get more performance from someone else.
The two biggies that fall into this category are
Gerber
CRKT

Any blade marked "440 stainless". (I will buy 440A, 440B, or 440C, but I want to know which is being sold to me. If they are willing to mislead in the ID of the steel, who knows what else they are hiding.)
 
:cool:FROST--I dont understand how in the world any company can be that cheap and still use the word custom every other breath.

Besides--even I could afford a lifetime warranty if I was gonna go that sorry.

I have had my own problems w/ CS but most of those are personal. I have CS knives that are 20yrs plus old and they still rock. I frequent SMKW in TN on a regular basis and when I am able I attend Rep Wknds there. For a long time CS was my NQA knife company as far as production pieces go---and then they wont send a rep to meet and greet. Kinda tiks ya off to say the least. Some of Thompsons earlier ranting about stuff he wouldnt use like 440c chaffs my butt--since he uses it in san mai 3 outer layering now--but theyre still damn tough knives and have always performed xactly as I needed them to---oh well

Spydercos new H1 steel and its quirks are still up for grabs in my book. The aqua salt I bought 3 dys ago was out of the box dull as butter and I hear its a work hardening mix---ok. Im just not sure if I wanna cough up the coin 4 a Rock Salt if Im gonna have to beat it to death to get it to perform. Ill probably buy it--test it--and return it 2 SMKW if it doesnt cut the mustard.

I think you get what u get w/ a production knife..Its all about customer care and service. Thats why I do business w/ Wendy(In Customer Service)and the folks at SMKW-- I can put my hands on the knife return it if I dont like the sucker.

I keep more than I return--thats for sure.

As far as SOG goes--a little less flash and a return to the old BLOOD AND GUTS days would go a llong way to seeing them become my new favorite production knife company.

Decoration and paint screw up and wear off--kinda like guns--nothin as pretty as a Colt--nothin as useful as a GLOCK--to each his own

I say all these companys should focus on producing a blade that will stand the test of time. America should actually pride itself on what IT PRODUCES and give a damn for a change instead of leaving it to other nations to do it for us..kinda like Randall outa FLA.
 
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stabman said:
Right, and that makes all their OTHER knives bad.:rolleyes:
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No, Spyderco makes a very fine knife. I own 3 and use them. But when they made the buisness decision to add their name to The Chinese made model instead of keeping production in house (both USA and Japan). I was disappointed. This is not an issue of quality but of morality to me.
Why would Spyderco put their name on these when they all ready had a line of Chinese knives.
To sell more gussy upped Byrds at inflated prices. Like I said Spyderco makes a fine knife and hope all you fans keep collecting them and enjoy them. I am sure they will not miss me.
 
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STDK said:
No, Spyderco makes a very fine knife. I own 3 and use them. But when they made the buisness decision to add their name to The Chinese made model instead of keeping production in house (both USA and Japan). I was disappointed. This is not an issue of quality but of morality to me.
Why would Spyderco put their name on these when they all ready had a line of Chinese knives.
To sell more gussy upped Byrds at inflated prices. Like I said Spyderco makes a fine knife and hope all you fans keep collecting them and enjoy them. I am sure they will not miss me.
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$31.00 street price for a Tenacious is inflated :confused:
Weren't they one of the last holdouts putting their own main production brand name on Chinese made knives ???
 
Gollum said:
$31.00 street price for a Tenacious is inflated :confused:
Weren't they one of the last holdouts putting their own main production brand name on Chinese made knives ???
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Mr Glesser had a post when he first introduced the Tenacious that even he was torn by the fact that a Chinese knife would have the Spyderco name on it, but that the economic times was dictating the need. That was his and his accountants decision.
Like I said, why was there the need to sell "A wolf in sheeps clothing"?

A Byrd is a Byrd is a Byrd.
 
Besides a lot of the junk already mentioned, Busse.

Busse is not junk.

However, until they come out with thinner stock and grinds at their price points and for what I use a knife for, I will stay away.



Also, the last Buck folder my wife bought me had a loose thumb stud (that couldn't be tightened) and blade wobble.
I just simply returned it and will not be going back to their line up...
 
CRKT used to be on my list but I carry my M-16 FD zytel that I couldn't resist almost daily. I know a bunch of people that carry and use them daily and they have had good luck. Gerber is still on my list though as I'm not to fond of most of their designs, but if they designed a knife I liked I'd probably buy it.
 
I find myself in agreement and complete sympathy with most of the posts so far, however, I am ticked off with one company that has yet to be mentioned - Benchmade. I heard many good things about the Griptilian and decided to get one. Upon delivery, the first thing that bugged me was the heavy grind that they use to finish the blades. The second thing that bugged me was the lightweight hollow handle. The deal breaker however, was the fact that it came dull, right out of the box. It wouldn't shave arm hair at all. My Spyderco Native at half the price will shave hair all day long and uses better steel to boot.

I know that Benchmade makes some fine knives, they just won't be gracing my pocket anytime soon.
 
mmmotorcycle said:
I have handled my fair share of Busse's and know that if I started buying these knives, that are outside my budget anyways, I would get addicted. Alas, no Busse's for me....:(
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I am going to go with this trend of "having handled also".

Being a college student, i have little money to buy alot of knives. My paycheck gets shredded every time by bills, and i usually only get in one major purchase a year (over $100 street).

With that said, i have had the chance thanks to this site to handle my fair share of BMs and Spydies, and even a strider at one point. Heck even an experiment out of Dan Koster, and we all know how good his stuff is.

I will buy a BM, but i will be VERY selective in what i buy from them. A couple reasons: 1. when the company says "you take the knife apart to clean it, you void the warranty", i sit there and take pause. you say i cant take care of my knife that i bought from you for fairly good money? sorry but i find this stupid in my book. does it mean i wont buy? no, as i dont care about it as i would not use it that hard anyway to warrant my needing to really inspect anything and possibly send it in. even if i had to well, i just wasted my money as if i check, and find a serious problem *like a pivot that is screwed up*, i would try to find another solution. might as well not have bought it in the first place. 2. see my comment on my budget. I couldnt afford a cheap BM if i wanted to right now, and several of their models interest me.

I will not buy a spyderco. again my reasons: 1. to much money for their actual good models. *insert my personal preferance here*. 2. their lower end models feel cheap and just plain dont apeal to me. i have used them in passarounds, and i have played with them at the knife store in town.

and of course, the cheap crap that got me into this hobby in the first palce. wont go back again :D
 
MisterSat I may be wrong about Gil Hibben its just that every time I have owned a fantasy type knife and was cheap made it had designed by Gil Hibben. I dont know much about him personaly but Im not crazy about those fantasy type knives. Im not going to get into a pissing match here but that is my opinion. I may be wrong about it. If so then forgive me.
 
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