What companies are off of your radar?

Frosts. Both of them.

Frost's Cutlery because their knives are cheesy and Frost's of Sweden because they no longer exist (Mora of Sweden, the merger of Frost's of Sweden and Ericksen, is very much on my radar).
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
Guys- lets try and keep opinions about leadership, marketing... away from this if possible. There are TONS of threads about those issues. I am more interested about why GOOD companies are now what you look at, not which companies have questionable practices. Many of the companies listed I have issues with but did not put them on my list. I purposely left mall ninja CCC stuff off for that reason.

Like mdauben's post for one example.

Thanks
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Agreed. You kinda knew it had to happen though. This is the same forum where a member will ask a recommendation for a small utility folder that's not tactical for under 80 bucks, and the first 20 responses will be for a zt0300. :)

Having said that, knives that don't interest me:
Kershaw - had a leek and a shallot. Neither really did anything for me. Not saying they were bad - just not my cup of tea
CRKT - nothing appeals to me
SOG - maybe only 1 or 2 knives appeal to me, but not for the price they're asking
Case, Victorinox, Wenger, Buck
Busse - just too much for my purposes
Microtech
Cold Steel
 
I guess I would not put a knife company "off the radar". I'd maybe defer them for later review. They way businesses change, one year a company could totally suck and then they come back with a strong product lineup. They could hire a quality designer, or change their manufacturing processes. I thought I would never get a Spyderco even though they came highly recommended by a friend. But they grew on me the more I looked at their offerings. Now I have 2 (Endura 4 and Native) and will most likely get several more (Tenacious, Delica, Military, Manix, etc.). Another reason I don't put a company "off the radar" is some only have 1 or 2 models that I may like at any given time and even though that particular company may generally suck, I'd be missing out on some nice knives. Case in point, SOG with their Twitches - love 'em! Not so much their other offerings.

I bought a CRKT M-16 and was totally unimpressed. But I do keep looking to see if they come out with new models that I may like or revisit their current product line for anything I may have missed or for changes. Sometimes a small change is all that's needed like steel choice. I guess what I'm saying is that I'll give companies a chance to win me over or win me back.
 
Crkt, brkt, sog, benchmade,extrema ratio,strider,gerber,mantis, tops, blackhawk,busse, mod, boker
 
One can never go wrong with a mora. Toss in a leuku and puukko and we got a winning combination for a very reasonable price.

As to the original question, I'd have to say Cold Steel. Their designs just don't appeal to me, but I must say that, for the price, they're actually alright. Their knives are meant to be abused, and, as campy as the videos are, they do last. However, watching Lynn Thompson parade around in spandex does make it difficult for me to get excited about those videos.
 
Frosts - crap

Mantis - mall ninja

Gerber - Steel in their knives are crap for most part.

CRKT - better stuff at price imo

Busse, Extreme Ratio, CRK- Too expensive for me.

Al Mar, MOD/Blackhawk, TOPS - not worth the $ imo.

Case, Marbles, Old Schrade, etc - Just not a fan of the stag looking slipjoints.
 
-Spyderco-wow, another blade with the profile of a pterodactyl.
-CRKT-Can AUS get any lower than 6? I'll bet CRKT will offer it.
-Any of the expensive productions, ie Busse, CRK, etc. nice stuff but this recession is a mofo.
 
crom said:
-CRKT-Can AUS get any lower than 6? I'll bet CRKT will offer it.
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I think they do indeed have a bunch of blades in AUS-4 at the moment.:thumbdn: A shame, too, since they make a few designs that would be truly excellent were they in something better.

I can't say that any company is totally off my radar unless they produce no usable designs or have poor quality control. I keep tabs on nearly everyone to see where they're headed--who knows, you might be surprised! That being said I only buy pieces that are useful to me, regardless of quality, so even if a company improves it doesn't necessarily mean I'll buy something from them.
 
Any knife with a bone, wood, or rubber handle pretty much for me. I like Micarta, 550 cord, and G-10 is ok.

That being said companies or makers I really like are

Busse
Bill Siegle
Rob Criswell
Strider
Bark River
Benchmade
Spyderco
Leatherman
 
companies i used to like, but just dont hold much interest for me anymore:

benchmade
swamprat
microtech

all well made, just not for me.
 
At the risk of sounding like a snob, I don't pay attention to anything that isn't made in America. That kinda narrows the field pretty significantly.
 
I never really ruled any knife company out. There are many I don't care for but they may in the future come out with something I like. For instance Case is good for traditional knives (multi blade pocket knives,etc.) but I am not interested in them. One company I have written off is SOG for reasons under my ,"SOG Warrenty is the worse", thread. But we all learn lessons.
There are makers like Buck, which was making lot of knives which did'nt interest me. Then they came out with the Mayo TNT which I think is a fine folder. They also followed it up with other fame lock folders which were made in China. I was surprised at the quality for the money.
 
Gerber - Most of their knives are crap to me. I have seen them break too many times as well.
CRKT - Not quality materials for the price, although I do have one in mind
Strider - Just not into them really
CRK - Same as above
Swamp Rat - I like Scrap Yard and Busse, but not SR
Frost Cutlery - 'Nuff said
Case - Not into slippies, or the old time look.
 
I have bought only one fixed blade knife that isn't a Busse
or a Swamp Rat in the last ten years or so. I just don't see the need to own anything else.
 
For me, Strider is way off the radar, unless they lower their prices by about $150(the amount the prices were inflated due to supposed covert action knowledge:rolleyes:).
Gerber is out, except for some old models with decent steel.
CRKT is out, until they get some decent steel going.
No United Cutlery for me either.
Mantis, well, you know.:D
 
Gerber - soft steel
CRKT - materials need to be updated / rust problems
SOG!!!! - Slowest Assisted knives, overpriced
Buck - just not my thing
Strider - don't like the designs
Frost

anything cheaply made
 
BARK RIVER (sorry for yelling) would go knifeless before I even excepted one as a gift
Strider
United
Frost
Gerber
Vic and or Wenger
Mantis
Dark Ops
Case
Hen & Rooster
Schatt & Morgan
Queen
Marbles
Cold Steel
Boker
SOG
Al Mar

I'm sure I could name more if I had time
William Henry
 
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