What do you look for as far as judging quality.

[Bastid]

Other than the obvious stuff fit and finish wise as well as blade "walk & talk" what do you look for.

Here is my short list.

1. I like to open the knife all blades, and hold the back up to a light and see if any light comes through the backsprings and liners while looking down into the knife.

2. I look at the tang against the backspring on the inside. I look for a line where the tang and backspring meet perpendicular to the bolsters.


If the fit, finish and blade action is there "1" and "2" above does not preclude me from buying most of the time I do not check on "1" until after I bring the knife home, but it does tell me how much detail is getting attention.

What odd things do you look at before or after buying.

 

[comoha]

If it's a new folder:
-I look for symmetry in the grind lines.
-Make sure there is no gap where the scales butt up against the bolsters.
-I look for burrs or polishing grit in the nail nick.
-I feel the brass pins that hold the scales on and make sure there are no sharp edges, or not unevenly raised.
-And it gets the old side-to-side wiggle checking for blade-play.

 

[Bob W]

Excessive Blade play and obvious gaps in liner/springs are the two things that would eliminate a knife from consideration.

Other characteristics I look for later to determine overall quality:
1) No jagged or course blade edges (dull doesn't bother me as much)
2) Tiny cracks between bolsters, springs, liners
3) rounded or uneven edges of parts
4) blade alignment when closed
5) snap of blade, strength of spring. Not too soft, not too hard.

 

[VCM3]

Gus,are we talkin' Custom here,or productions ?

 

[neeman]

Gus,

Could you talk out the obvious stuff fit and finish wise as well as blade "walk & talk" ?

It would be very useful.

 

[Thomason]

Someone coined the term "hot edges" for sharp edges anywhere other than the blade edge. It's not a deal breaker for me but I give a knife marks for quality if hot edges have been "broken". Dang, I hope this makes sense.

 

[Blues]

Someone coined the term "hot edges" for sharp edges anywhere other than the blade edge. It's not a deal breaker for me but I give a knife marks for quality if hot edges have been "broken". Dang, I hope this makes sense.

Or in other words, nicely radiused.

I totally agree. :thumbup:

 

[WhitleyStu]

When I can't see a knife in person I start with the materials used (steel type) and slab material. You can get a good idea of a knife's quality my the material the maker uses. Then comes fit and finish...

 

[db]

Not a deal breaker but the first thing I always check is if it has half stops. If it does I then check for how well they are done.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Someone coined the term "hot edges" for sharp edges anywhere other than the blade edge. It's not a deal breaker for me but I give a knife marks for quality if hot edges have been "broken". Dang, I hope this makes sense.

+1 I do not like a knife that you become "painfully" aware of when you sit down!

 

[GigOne]

One of the first things I look at and rub. . . .the backsprings and liners. For me, it should look as close as possible to one piece of steel. I then look for asymmetry.

 

[JB in SC]

Someone coined the term "hot edges" for sharp edges anywhere other than the blade edge. It's not a deal breaker for me but I give a knife marks for quality if hot edges have been "broken". Dang, I hope this makes sense.

I guess that was my term...I don't care for any knife with "hot edges", folder or fixed. Makers want to show off their skills by having all corners "crisp", but some are so sharp they make it uncomfortable to use the knife. As Elliott posted, just radius them a bit

Blade centering is important on customs, as is a properly placed nail nick. A strong spring is a deal breaker for me, I just don't have a lot of hand strength anymore.

 

[canineforge]

Blade centering is important on customs, as is a properly placed nail nick. A strong spring is a deal breaker for me, I just don't have a lot of hand strength anymore.

These three areas are important for me. I really have a hard time with a custom that is not centered. A picky area for me. Great fit & finish folders can even have a problem here on occasion. Nail nick design/size/location means a lot to me, and I prefer a moderately strong pull.

- Joe

 

[VCM3]

In a custom knife,some of the quality that I look for,is in the fact,that the maker can stick to the specifics that were discussed on the order,and I'm not referring to mechanics,exclusively.IMO,part of "quality" is to be able to do,what was promised.Sometimes,in life,things come up,but they have this tool,it's called a phone .A no show delivery date can be explained in a call,like gentlemen discussing business.But blatant disregard to these details,well,IMO,this would lower "quality" :thumbdn: ,to me

So knifemakers,if you are reading this,keep in touch with your customers,especially if they post pictures of your work,in forums such as this.After all,they are promoting your work

Just my $.02 & apologies if you think I went off topic here
-Vince

Edited to add,Edge geometry is tops,to me.I've never had a knifemaker say,"I can do all that you asked,and,it will be perfect,too" no matter what price range/skill level they were at
But a knife that does not cut good & is not able to be easily re-sharpened & holds a good edge,IMO,is NG
That's coming from me,I never thought of myself as a "collector".If I want pretty knives that don't cut,I can get all the Franklin Mint stuff I can display

 

[Bob W]

If I want pretty knives that don't cut,I can get all the Franklin Mint stuff I can display

You think Franklin Mint knives are pretty?!? Blechhh!

 

[VCM3]

You think Franklin Mint knives are pretty?!? Blechhh!

Bob W,
Since you posted that,I'll reply,
I think you know,what I'm trying to say & yeah,there were some Ray Beers stuff that was pretty cool looking ,and they only weighed 3 to 4 lbs each,lol Some had lockups better than some MS knives I've had
-Vince

 

[SHEBOP]

A knife is a piece of art...I go for great fit & finish in every aspect...you can feel a well put together knife without even looking...I have a problem when I feel "Hot Edges"...not a deal breaker, because I can take care of it, but I sure don't like to feel them & can't help but think...this was overlooked!
I'm with Gus about looking inside with the blades open & held up to light. Looking for that perpendicular line, as well.
Nail nicks perfectly placed & executed well.
I love the halfstop...not a deal breaker, but I do prefer my knives with half stops. I expect the spring to be flush in all postions.
Stout springs are what I prefer.
I look for relieved liners & the use of the pivot bushing...
A well-centered blade & symetrical grinds are what I like.
Well matched scales & bolsters.
Polished purty inside & out.
Screaming SHARP is a plus...not a deal breaker though.

 

[ken erickson]

Thank for starting a great thread Gus!

Vince, I am sure that most of the makers here have read this thread and those of us that have a passion for making better slips will take all the comments to heart!

Thanks to all that have left comments here!

Ken

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I'd never heard the term "hot edges" until today, and oddly enough I just picked up a knife today that has them. I got a Case brown Delrin Barehead Trapper to go with my yellow handled one (gotta have the set, ya know...) and the spine of the blade has edges that I swear could cut paper. I'll buff them down with 600 grit wet & dry paper, but I was a little surprised.

-- Sam

 

[LarryM]

In a custom knife,some of the quality that I look for,is in the fact,that the maker can stick to the specifics that were discussed on the order,and I'm not referring to mechanics,exclusively.IMO,part of "quality" is to be able to do,what was promised.Sometimes,in life,things come up,but they have this tool,it's called a phone .A no show delivery date can be explained in a call,like gentlemen discussing business.But blatant disregard to these details,well,IMO,this would lower "quality" :thumbdn: ,to me

So knifemakers,if you are reading this,keep in touch with your customers,especially if they post pictures of your work,in forums such as this.After all,they are promoting your work

Just my $.02 & apologies if you think I went off topic here
-Vince

Edited to add,Edge geometry is tops,to me.I've never had a knifemaker say,"I can do all that you asked,and,it will be perfect,too" no matter what price range/skill level they were at
But a knife that does not cut good & is not able to be easily re-sharpened & holds a good edge,IMO,is NG
That's coming from me,I never thought of myself as a "collector".If I want pretty knives that don't cut,I can get all the Franklin Mint stuff I can display

Vince, has hit the nail on the head. AMEN brother!! Larry