What characteristics cause your favorite knife to be your favorite?

[kamagong]

A couple of years ago the answer was a no brainer. My favorite was the best made knife with perfect fit and finish, premium blade steel, and choice handle materials. I'm not so certain anymore, and perhaps I'm getting sentimental as I get older, but my favorite knives are the ones I carry the most. I don't know if they are my favorites because I carry them the most or if I carry them because of an already present preference, but here are some traits that my favorites share.

1. Quality fit and finish. It doesn't have to be perfect, nothing made by man is, but I want a tool that looks and feels like it was made by a man who is proud of his work. Flush surfaces, no unsightly gaps, no blade wobble. Even swedging and matching covers are also a plus.
2. Covers made from natural handle materials. Synthetics have their place, just not in my pockets.
3. Good blade steel. People have long made due with less than optimal blades for all of recorded history and it doesn't seem to be all that great a disadvantage. Good for them. I'm a knife nut. I want the good stuff, 1095 or better. The essence of a knife is in the blade and I want a proper steel, not one chosen for its ability to stay pretty or because it saves belts and manufacturer tooling.
4. Single blade. I value the stockmen I already have, but from here on out it's single blades for me. I work in an office. Some people might need multiple blades, I don't. Truth be told, a single blade is more comfortable during use than one that has blades folded into the handle.
5. Size. I like knives ~ 3 1/2" closed. Any bigger and it isn't as easy to carry. Any smaller and I don't like using it as much.
6. Emotional attachment. I have two knives that I truly treasure. One was in my pocket on my wedding day and the day my daughter was born. The other was a Father's Day gift from my wife and little girl. Both are irreplaceable.

Enough with the words. Time for pictures.

- Christian

 

[richstag]

Ryan, the shorter and slim second blade IS a big part of it

 

[pertinux]

1) Yes.



I can probably name characteristics that I've discovered that prevent a knife from being a favorite more easily than identifying commonality.

I appreciate variety-- similar to previous posters, few of my preferred knives share the same features. I enjoy the array.

However, some of my more enduring baselines coincide with these that Fausto has listed, especially the last one (eye of the beholder, and all) :

- 3" to 3,5" closed
- one or two blades, on the same end
- if two blades, one main (full length) and one secondary (shorter), curve/straight combination is welcome (or HJ configuration, if the punch has a cutting edge)
- comfort in hand and attractive looks

I can look at that list and easily name knives I like that counter one or more of those attributes, but at the end of the day (if forced to choose, heh) a "jackknife" will win out-- two blades on one end of the frame.

Speaking of which, this stunning Erickson has made a lasting impression on me:

The above picture arrested my attention when I first viewed it here, distracting me to the point that I somehow managed to spill the soup I was eating down my sleeve while looking at it.

Memorable!

~ P.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Probably one of these two
i think it should be fairly obvious what i prefer

 

[black mamba]

Before I come up with any explanation, I first decided to just show my favorites, and see where the evidence leads me. Here are the candidates.

Well, after picking my brain over the photos, I've decided I'm just a knife slut and like what looks good. I know I favor stockmen, cattle knives and Wharncliffe jacks because of their versatility, but I'm also drawn to single blade lockers. All of the above are from 3-3/4" to 4-1/8" closed length, and have slender main blades. Even though I prefer stag, horn and bone, one wood hafted knife slipped into my list of favs. But all the handles have "character". I guess that being blessed with a lot of nice knives to choose from has left me unfocused, but I just like what I like.