What do you stay away from when it comes to slipjoints?

bwperdue said:
I tend to avoid highly asymmetrical patterns like the gunstock or toothpick, and also extra wide (sunfish, elephant's toe) and extra narrow (melon tester).

I think everyone stays away from leg knives...
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Those leg knives are so ugly! Every time I see them for sale on dealer pages I can't for the life of me figure out why they would even waste their time making such a knife? Is there some secret society out there that actually buys and collects them that i don't know about? I've never actually seen a single one even mentioned on here but then again I haven't been hanging out in the traditional forum for very long at all.
 
Interesting... There seems to be a consensus here on carbon steel/plastic covers. I prefer carbon steel myself, and except for sawcut Delrin a la Schrade, I don't like synthetics on traditionals either. The smooth Case synthetics just don't do anything for me.

Don't care for small knives, either. I carry a Buck 110, Douk-Douk, or full-sized trapper every day. Anything much smaller than an Opinel No. 8 feels too small for me (although the Buck 703 I'm sharpening for a coworker is seriously talking to me. :D)

'Side from all that, I prefer American or German made knives. I have a few China-made slipjoints and have my eye on a couple of Rough Rider's patterns that are hard to find from other companies, but my favorites are Case or Schrade-made knives.
 
bwperdue said:
I tend to avoid highly asymmetrical patterns like the gunstock or toothpick, and also extra wide (sunfish, elephant's toe) and extra narrow (melon tester).

I think everyone stays away from leg knives...
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jkulysses said:
Those leg knives are so ugly! Every time I see them for sale on dealer pages I can't for the life of me figure out why they would even waste their time making such a knife? Is there some secret society out there that actually buys and collects them that i don't know about? I've never actually seen a single one even mentioned on here but then again I haven't been hanging out in the traditional forum for very long at all.
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I tell you two what. I'm going to get one. And post pictures of it opening bottles every day in the "What traditional knife are you toting today" until I find a 2011 Forum Knife! :p
 
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I stay away from factory edges that are overly thick and obtuse. Yes, they can be re-beveled, but a nice thin factory blade grind is much better.

I stay away from closed knives with exposed tips. Yes, you can lower the kick, but it is a pet peeve of mine when the blade tip is not properly sunk into the handle when closed.
 
The following assumes the knife has no fit/finish, blade play, gap etc issues. Any of those will relegate a knife to the drawer.

I rarely carry a slip joint that is over 3 5/8". Most of my EDC slip joints are 3 1/4" to 3 1/2".

I don't particularly like carbon steel blades. They rarely get carried. I prefer higher end stainless. I like Crucible's CPM-154 particularly. I also like the fact that they are a local company, who I did contract work for some years ago. I go out of my way to buy Crucible's steel.

I don't particularly like brass liners.

I've got a bunch of years under my belt, and have been a knife nut forever, so I've gotten rather picky.:D
 
I'm open for anything really. But I like stockmans from 3 1/4 to 4 inch. I've been carrying a buck 301 and this is just one of those knives that I see carrying for a while.
 
I'm no fan of synthetic scales, even Micarta/g10 are not high on my traditionals list. The glossy acrylics just drive me nuts - I don't even like the yellow Cases.

I tend to prefer carbon steels, but the nicer stainless are ok. As long as they will take a good edge easily with a stone and strop.
 
jkulysses said:
Those leg knives are so ugly! Every time I see them for sale on dealer pages I can't for the life of me figure out why they would even waste their time making such a knife? Is there some secret society out there that actually buys and collects them that i don't know about? I've never actually seen a single one even mentioned on here but then again I haven't been hanging out in the traditional forum for very long at all.
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Is there some secret society out there that actually buys and collects them that i don't know about? yes
 
I don't buy non-stainless folding knives... especially if they are shaped like a leg! :D
 
I've been readin' this and thinkin and I just can't come up with anything. There are knives I wouldn't BUY,but if i was walkin down the road and saw it lyin there,I would pick it up and put in my pocket! If someone wanted to give it to me,I wouldn't say "Eeeuuw,yuk", I would say "Thank You Very Much".
 
I am with you on the leg knives.......Vile.

I stay away from Carbon Steel if possible, for a daily user I far prefer SS. I hate a knife that rusts in my pocket.

I will not carry a nail breaker. I own a few as part of my collection but for a user, no way.
 
Interessting threads and interessting opinions...

I like carbon steel blades and relatively stiff springs.

When it comes to slipjoints, I don´t like synthetic materials that much (not really a deal breaker, and I like Delrin - it just feels great in hand). I prefer natural materials (bone, stag, wood etc etc)

I avoind knives with a lower-stainless-steel. Especially when it´s made of 420 and 440A. 420HC and 440C are alright (good HT needed).

On new knives, I don´t like bad QC, that can be a real dealbreaker for me. "You get, what you pay for!" just as a term in general.
 
Size is my biggest concern. I try to keep it around 3.5" with 3.75" being my max. I carry enough crap in my jeans and have no use for a full size slipjoint unless I want to add suspenders.

I try to avoid wood with the exception of nice jet black ebony

I dislike Spey blades

I hate blade grinds that curve the edge of a clip blade so that it's more difficult to sharpen. I can think of a few custom makers that do this.
 
rma100 said:
I've been readin' this and thinkin and I just can't come up with anything. There are knives I wouldn't BUY,but if i was walkin down the road and saw it lyin there,I would pick it up and put in my pocket! If someone wanted to give it to me,I wouldn't say "Eeeuuw,yuk", I would say "Thank You Very Much".
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What someone will greatly appreciate and what someone looks for in specific purchases can be two very different things IMO.
 
Hard to open knives, which usually means a heavy spring, but can also refer to small or unfortunately placed nail nicks.

With one or two exceptions, anything over 3.5625" closed.

Usually anything over 0.5" wide.

Congress or swayback style frames that curve away from, not into, the palm of my hand.
 
chevy_racin said:
Small and/or misplaced nail nicks is a no go for me. I have a Queen trapper with deep dark stag that is nice. But, the nail nick is so shallow and high on the blade, I don't carry it. It's just not comfortable to open, it slips off my nail ver easily.
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You know I have noticed some small and shallow nicks on Queens too.:disillusionment:
 
I have the opposite attitude toward size than a couple posters - I won't carry anything over 3 inches unless I'm on a camping/hiking trip- I just never have the need for something so big. Plus, I don't like how a larger one sits in my pocket. Peanut-sized is just about perfect for me.

I, like many others here, also prefer carbon steels. Actually, the number of posters who do prefer it surprises me. I guess I assumed that most people prefer the stainless varieties for some reason or another.
 
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