What is it about knives that “gets” you the most?

For me I think it has to catch my eye ... from there it doesn't have to be the newest best rated steel or a fancy handle material ... it just has to be well done whatever the steel and handle materials are ... and the final and probably most important ... the one that above all else could be a deal breaker ... when I pick it up it has to feel right ... I use 90% of my knives and they have to fit my hand and the use for which I am buying them for ... so I guess comfort and cabability to handle the chores I throw at it matter far more to me then all the other things ... not that I don't notice many other things but it could be platinum with steel from Area 51 and open by the touch of my palm only ... if it isnt comfortable and isnt suited to clean game or function in camp or performing simple EDC tasks ... all the rest is fairly unimportant to me.
 
For me, it is the fact that of all the tools I have ever used, a GOOD knife feels the most natural. Almost instinctive. Primal, even. An extension of self.

Mother nature saw fit not to give us claws. We therefore make our own...
 
What gets me is how useful a knife can be. It blows my mind why guys don't carry a knife even a Tac-Force. I never envisioned that I would own many knives (by my standard) That were over 100$.
I often ponder about the fact that other than using a rock to bang on things. The knife is widely considered to be the very first to man CREATED! I will flick open my folder and just think about how knives are still just as useful today as it was way way back then. Obviously much approved. Guess what? Unless liberals have their way knives will always be very useful.
I love to read about the process of getting to where knives and other edged tools and weapons got to where they are today.
 
Such a good thread! l am becoming more and more selective in what I buy in my journey of being a knife nut. I cannot deny all the qualities mentioned here are important to me as well. But Good Design comes first. But I see it as more involved than just good looks. There is a philosophy behind it that comes through in some knives. Especially the ones where you know the maker was there, in the details. The design legend, Dieter Rams said it best with his 10 principles.

The 10 Principles of Design
1. Good design is innovative
2. Good design makes a product useful
3. Good design is aesthetic
4. Good design makes a product understandable
5. Good design is unobtrusive
6. Good design is honest
7. Good design is long-lasting
8. Good design is thorough down to the last detail
9. Good design is environmentally friendly
10. Good design is as little design as possible
 
Cereal_killer said:
I like knives for many of the reasons covered but my absolutely favorite single aspect is the connection with human history. "Knives" were man's first tool and since then we've worked collectively (though often not directly with one another) to better the tools themselves and the materials they're made from and the techniques for making them.
Click to expand...

This. When you pick up a knife, you’re picking up hundreds of thousands of years of evolution and design.
 
utility is first for me - i dont buy them to sit in a box or shelf
then aesthetics - i wont buy i knife i think is ugly
then sharpening/making

i've carried a knife most of my life, for daily tasks, and have added many as needed/wanted for other more specific tasks - hunting, fishing, backpacking, etc.
i like the classic look for a buck 110, but do also like some modern looks - but it needs to be useful, and I dont need to have the latest and greatest, not by a long shot.

i've always liked sharpening (or trying to, or learning to) and now its kinda relaxing.
I've started making, and enjoy the reading and learning and putting to practice - and then having something to use, that I made
 
Fit and finish, of course, but I also like the history around the knife. The meta: whether it's about the design, the maker, the noticeable events this particular knife participated to, the area of production... I like the words that surround a knife, sometimes more than the knife itself or its performances.
 
Quality materials, warranty/company reputation and need. Granted I have multiple knives that serve the exact same purpose, but I also like a bit of variety. Some days I have no business carrying a Junglas (opening Christmas gifts in front of my grandmother), so I drop a Cadet or a U2 in my pocket, and other days I prefer to be carrying that big knife instead of my Fallkniven U2. It’s all about what I’ll be doing, so I try to cover all my bases.

I hope this rambling pertains to the original post lol
 
I think the practical use of if. Doesn't matter if I'm in nature or in city and situation happens the worst thing that can be is having a knife that is not suitable for situation or not durable enough for the task.
 
Ease of opening, quick deployment, good quality.
Most of my rotation are between $50-$300.
All this "super steel" stuff is irrelevant to me as I don't sharpen my own knives anyway or use them as prybars...if I like the knife, I buy it..haven't broke any steel yet.
Self protection is always on my mind as a last resort obviously with a knife as we can't carry concealed handguns out here.
 
I am distracted by shiny things. Sharp shiny things even more. The quest for my perfect EDC has evolved to the point where I have an addiction. I enjoy deciding which knife I want to carry for the daily tasks ahead and my tastes have evolved over time thanks to the encouragement of forums like this. I am trying to stay out of the exchange area for a while. That place is dangerous for my OCD personality. Once I find a model I really like I try to collect all variations of it. That is the compulsion that drives me. Finding the perfect tool for me and then owning all of them. Thankfully I get distracted by a better fit / make / model / steel, before I get in too deep. Do I really need 10 PM2's. (Yes I do.) What's next....
 
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