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

[Fixall]

I really can’t stand when I receive a knife that closes lazily. If a good flushing, plus working the joint doesn’t solve the issue, it’s one of the few things that I’ll return a knife for.

 

[GPO MAN]

I voted “it’s not sharp” but in reality when a knife doesn’t speak to me.

 

[calm]

paying for them

 

[Alex.Y.]

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. .

A small piece of leather should do the trick. I used on even on modern folders and it works just well.

Machetes and axes of course

Finally some enlightenment on the mentioned controversial statement. But still, those should be some inexpensive axes and machetes, right?

 

[GPO MAN]

paying for them

My wife rolling her eyes when I get a UPS package.

 

[black mamba]

I'm with Brian, sluggish blades are a huge downer.

 

[Hickory n steel]

A small piece of leather should do the trick. I used on even on modern folders and it works just well.

Finally some enlightenment on the mentioned controversial statement. But still, those should be some inexpensive axes and machetes, right?

Not necessarily, traditionally they've pretty much always come unsharpened because they were hanging in a hardware store where people would be getting cut all the time if they had shipped with an edge on them.

 

[afishhunter]

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

I never really noticed.... I kin only see one side atta time, so it dont really matter. (to me.)
S'long as they feel the same, Saul "good".

 

[Jakeywax31]

I hate blade play with a passion followed by bad action. I do like a nice crisp "walk and talk." Third would be gaping in the liners. Wait....maybe I'm too picky !!!

 

[afishhunter]

Not necessarily, traditionally they've pretty much always come unsharpened because they were hanging in a hardware store where people would be getting cut all the time if they had shipped with an edge on them.

That is an urban myth.

Most knives came with an usable edge.
When someone bought a new knife, they generally intended on using it right away.
Generally speaking, a new knife was only bought when the old one was used up, or lost.
Unlike today, the "average" person only had one ... maybe two pocket knives, if they had a "special" pocket knife for go to meetin's. A lot of folk had a sheath knife for hunting and fishing that was only carried in the field during the various hunting seasons, and possibly when on a family camping trip..
Folks "back in the day" were usually familiar enough with a knife to know how to open, use, check the edge, close, the knife and so on, without leaking red stuff. (It was common to get their first knife round about age 4 or 5. and be taught safe handeling (and how to sharpen freehand) by daddy/gramps/granny/unker's, and senior siblings.

Even the sub $1.00 clamshell Imperial, Hammer Brand, and Colonial "boy's knives" came with a usable sharp edge.
(Savvy ("spend thrift"?) adults knew those inexpensive "boys knives" had the same high quality blades as the more expensive knives with real bolsters and covers.)

If a person needed a new knife, stopped at the hardware store, general store, sporting goods. or Ag Supply store on the way to work, a new knife with dull blades was not going to do him (or her) a bit of good the day they bought it.

 

[Bob W]

Not finding great sale prices.
There for a while it seemed many Case knives were being sold with jagged edges. Kind of a bummer but I bought some anyway if I liked the pattern and handles.
But nothing is worse than the loose blades on the Case knives I left at the store over the years.

 

[Bob W]

Shipping costs are getting to be a bummer.

 

[Will Power]

Shipping costs are getting to be a bummer.

Frankly, they're getting out of control

 

[Edgeoflife]

Most definitely blade play!

 

[Hickory n steel]

That is an urban myth.

I was referring to axes and machetes.

 

[dialton]

Wanting exclusively knives that can only be purchased over the internet. Not being able to see it in person much less hold it and evaluate it is a bummer. Now to the poll, that a hard decision between 3 for me but I say blade play.

 

[Knivolf]

Had to vote for blade play. It need to function optimally first, and look good second. Ha!

 

[Ciscocbc]

Being not sharp is easily fixed but play in blade and uneven grind really bother me

 

[Jiki]

well 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.

And yet there are many of posts and videos on line where the D*****bag says "I had to put my own edge on it" in a condescending way as if his or her sharpening skills are superior or they are the only ones to be able to define sharp. Heck, there are many in this thread that take part in the douchebaggery of sharpening superiority. It could be its own category here on the forums.

 

[Will Power]

Jiki Agree, a lot of off putting pedantry about sharpening show-offery too

As for blade-play- if it's a single-blade with it, new out of the box, I will return it. In fact having to return a knife is itself a major HATE with postage costs customs etc.