What is it in a knife that would make it a deal breaker for you?

1.) Tip-down only pocket clip.
2.) Combo edge.
3.) Lack of a guard or other feature which keeps one's hand off the blade if it gets slippery.
4.) Bad heat treat/ 440A or softer steel.
5.) Extension of 4: Any manufacturer that doesn't disclose what alloy the blade is made from.
6.) Blade play in a folder.
7.) Unsecure tang design in a fixed blade.
8.) Any knife which would be painful or otherwise uncomfortable to use as intended.
9.) Any folder which isn't easy to open and close one-handed with either hand(excepting traditionals.)
 
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It's Not A Lot But Here's What Makes Me Iffy About Getting Something:
*No Tip Up Option For Pocket Clip.
*No Lanyard Hole - All Of My Knives ESPECIALLY My Main Carriers Have A Lanyard.
*Not One Hand Opening(My SAK's Are An Exception)
*Serrations
*Something That Is Uncomfortable In My Hand - I Like A Knife To Fill My Hand
 
My biggest things are.
Short handles. My grip is just at 4 inches. Some smaller knives are ok if they are easy for my XL hands to grasp.
Serrations ( biggest one )
I prefer USA made, but I will buy Spyderco's all day long.
 
1. Short blade
2. Re-curved blade
3. Short handle
4. Short thumb ramp (flat spine is ideal)
5. Thumbstuds that are placed halfway out on the blade so that you can't cut anything without them bumping into stuff or sharpen your knife at less than 30 degrees per side
 
Jimping, especially agressive/sharp jimping. I have never used a knife and said to myself, "Boy, I sure wish there was something rough and edgy here, to give me a blister on my thumb."
 
Cool designs with crappy steel or other materials is always a disappointment for me.

Any kind of rubber handle material that isn't Reserpine-C
 
Bad blade steel and/or fit and finish relative to the cost. Too high a cost. Right now if a knife is more than about $50 I don't even consider it. There are simply too many knives below $50 I want to get before I can justify spending that.

Edit: Oh. And combo edge. I will never own another knife with partial serrations.
 
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I'm not a fan of:

1. recurve blades
2. serrations (for the most part)
3. coated blades (folders)
4. riveted construction (it sucks not being able to tighten a knife back up)
 
I won't buy something with only tip down or all metal handles. I'm kind of picky with my purchases, have to buy on a budget.
 
serrations and fantasy based...and if all is good, but the execution of the design- namely poor construction...money stays on my side of the table...

the higher the cost of the knife, the more anal I get...self checked with the reality of manufacturing...
 
For me biggest turn offs are...
1. Blades made out of entry level steels like aus-8, 440c or ceramic for its brittleness and unsuitability for sharpening. Also carbonfiber or Ti blades are no-no.
2. Handle materials: Aluminum (not as good as Ti in my book), Steel-too heavy.
3. Design that is not appealing to me, I dislike long handles w/short out of proportion blades. Anything that's overcrowded or looks too fancy or has weird blade shape. I will not name makers to not offend anyone.
4. Price. I can't spend more than I can afford. Also, I hate to pay inflated premiums, one of the reason I don't own a Hinderer.
5. Serrations, they are pita to sharpen and they never as good as when they were new.
 
Too thick blade and construction
Too wide blade
Hard do disengage locks (overbuilt)
Pretentious tactical designs
Blade coatings
 
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