What I HATE most about buying knives is.......

[mbkr]

Sometimes the size is way off my expectation. It’s especially sad when the covers are gorgeous but I would not carry it.

I've only done that once. I expected a knife slightly longer than a Case Trapper, and got a knife the size of a Buck 110. Way to read specs, Mike

 

[5K Qs]

Of the choices offered, I voted for blade play.
But what I really hate most about buying knives is that the examination comes AFTER the purchase is made - I wish I could buy knives in person in a store with a large selection rather than almost always having to buy online. Yeah, I'm old.

- GT

 

[afishhunter]

1) the high cost. (income dependent)
2) hard/stiff pull.
........ A traditional folder does not need a pull harder than the average Victorinox or a Buck 301/303.
The spring only has to keep the blade from opening in the pocket or flopping half closed between cuts.
A hard/stiff pull isn't necessary for either task.
3) Excessive blade play. Blade(s) hitting the liners or neighboring blades.
4) Discovering one or more broken backsprings. (I really hated when that happened.)

 

[Slice-and-dice]

1) the high cost. (income dependent)
2) hard/stiff pull.
........ A traditional folder does not need a pull harder than the average Victorinox or a Buck 301/303.
The spring only has to keep the blade from opening in the pocket or flopping half closed between cuts.
A hard/stiff pull isn't necessary for either task.
3) Excessive blade play. Blade(s) hitting the liners or neighboring blades.
4) Discovering one or more broken backsprings. (I really hated when that happened.)

Totally agree with your number two. We do not need overly stiff pulls!!

 

[Slice-and-dice]

The thing about blade play for me is, since I use so many traditional Buck folders, I find it easy to tap the bolsters closed just a hair to tighten up a wiggly blade. ‘Wrap ‘em and Tap em”.… the bolsters that is. Referring to 110s, 112s, 501s, etc

 

[Coinfolio]

The worst part about a new knife purchase is examining the knife only to find: your wife coming up behind you and saying "so bought another knife did you" ​

My wife just laughs at me now.

 

[Will Power]

A new out of the box knife arriving blunt is insulting to me. Yeah, I know it will have to be sharpened eventually but if a maker can't be bothered to edge it decently it shows couldn't care less attitude. Knives are supposed to cut, fancy some blunt scissors new? Have to say that the worst culprits are American and English knives...must be a 'tradition' ...well I've heard it claimed that it was 'normal to send out knives blunt as everybody enjoys putting their own edge on it. What gibberish Be like getting takeaway food delivered raw as everybody likes to cook it in their own style. All the Japanese knives I've bought, nearly all of the European ones and Chinese too have arrived properly sharp. It's easier to keep them sharp if they arrive keen .

Other thing: knife spring must be flush on open and closed (don't care about the half-stop) horribly raised or sunken springs are unpleasant to handle and shows poor finishing attitude.

 

[jlester76]

The worst part about a new knife purchase is examining the knife only to find: your wife coming up behind you and saying "so bought another knife did you" ​

It’s ok, I don’t question the shoes and she doesn’t question the knives. It’s a win-win,

 

[Coinfolio]

It’s ok, I don’t question the shoes and she doesn’t question the knives. It’s a win-win,

I like that philosophy. For me it's her art supplies and I just laugh as well.

 

[Will Power]

It’s ok, I don’t question the shoes and she doesn’t question the knives. It’s a win-win,

Faux. Shoes get thrown out eventually. Not that you should go barefoot

 

[Heathenhymnal]

None of those really bother me much unless they're excessive.

Knife scales don't match: Oh well, variety is the spice of life... again, unless they're just WAY off.

Uneven grind: May be the closest one to bothering me but I can typically fix that no problem.

It's not sharp out of the box: Honestly I just don't even expect edged tools to be as sharp as I prefer them or to have the edge profile I want anyway. So I typically put my own edge on every knife, even if it came sharp.

It's dirty: As long as I can clean the issue away myself then I don't care too much.

Blade play, unless significant, is something I never even noticed or thought about in my first 5 or so years of carrying knives until I joined online groups and it was brought up as a point. Obviously I'd prefer 0 play, but a little bit of wiggle room doesn't bother me as long as it's not affecting the use or longevity of the knife.

 

[coolhand68]

Play in the blade. I usually ask sellers if there is any wobble or blade play before buying, especially used knives. Can’t tell you how many sellers have told me it’s solid with no play or advertised it as such only to get it and it has noticeable side to side play. It almost always gets sent back.

 

[Luke_Chambers]

Unmatched scales and blade play both are dealbreakers.
I voted unmatched scales, because for stag aficionados it is a problem. It's pretty rare on the other hand to receive a wobbly blade. The folders with well-matched thin covers of stag are my favorites. Stag that is of different color / texture / profile, or is too chunky, or has been ground too much is a no-no. I love stag, but sometimes I wonder why knife makers bother. There is so much that can go wrong.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I chose "blade play", but that can be fixed with a hammer, unless it involves a Swindon key design.

Honestly, my biggest irritation is blade rap as I don't know any permanent solutions that don't involve disassembly or grinding away a portion of the edge. I want to buy a couple of victorinox folders but have not since both of my current vic folders (alox pioneer and a fieldmaster) have bad rap near the tip and I'm concerned about going 3-0 on vic folders.

I just put a little piece of wood or leather in the blade well.

 

[VorpelSword]

There is an old joke that goes, " I dreamed that I had died and my wife sold off all my (whatever) for what I had told her I paid for them.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I voted blade play.

The other choices are aesthetic or can be tuned up relatively easily.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I've heard it claimed that it was 'normal to send out knives blunt as everybody enjoys putting their own edge on it.

Machetes and axes of course, but I don't know who in their right mind would expect to have to put their desired edge on a knife.
It's not like people back in the day had adjustable angle sharpeners allowing them to put a very specific kind of edge on their knives, they had a basic bench stone and hopefully a steady hand to follow the factory grind.

 

[norcalAF]

I detest lock rock!

 

[sgt244]

Can't stand play in the blade. Most other issues can be fixed like an edge not being sharp enough. But play in the blade? That should be set in factory. I don't want to have to play around with it to try and get it right.
Also, depends how much you spend on the blade.

Hundreds of dollars on a knife, to have any issues listed is pretty inexcusable in my opinion.

 

[oldmanwilly]

I just put a little piece of wood or leather in the blade well.

I tried that once and the spring snapped. Granted, that was on a Schatt & Morgan from a run that was known for brittle springs. So I'll take a mulligan on that.

Regardless, it still smarts when a brand new knife is intent to damage itself every time I close it. Just sloppy craftsmanship.