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

Recurve blade.

Overdone etchings and logos.

Skulls or other death-fetish crap.

Generally speaking, I don't buy serrated edges.

Ridiculous ad copy involving "body fluids," "de-animation," or similar nonsense.
 
Knives that are priced way over where they are actually worth Cold Steel used to really stand out to me because of that, there knives just seemed so over priced for what you get, they got better recently though. Some SOG knives are that way too.
I also don't like recurves or knives where the blade to handle ration is way out of whack.
 
-Recurves
-Serrations
-Tanto blades
-Black blades (though I do have a couple carbon steel that came with a powder coat)
-Liner locks (because I'm LH, and most LL aren't)
-Spring-assisted folders (hate 'em, want plain simple mechanisms)
-folders over 6oz (if it needs to be THAT big, get a fixed blade :-) )
-folders over 4" blade (if it needs to be THAT big, get a fixed blade)
 
bad value- i'm fine with cheaper steals, 440a, aus-4 if the knife is a decent design, if the price isn't bad.
no option for tip down carry unless i really like the knife, like some of the benhcmades
much below a 3" blade/4" handle, or too light
tanto
blade play
for a larger fixed blade i'm probably not going to go with a stainless unless it's a good deal
scrawny tang in a fixed blade
the letters SOG on it
 
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At present, price is the biggest discriminating factor. Next would be looks--there's not really a pattern behind it that I can discern right now, but I won't buy a knife that has looks I don't like. I don't like the look of pronounced recurves (slight ones are OK) or serrations (I don't own a partially serrated knife, though I should to try it out).
 
Combo Edge
Coated Blades
Blade play/ Off Centered
Auto/Assisted/ whatever else that is gimmicky
Plastic/Cheap Handle material
Overly Large/Heavy
Odd blade shapes gimmicky again
 
Tantos .... not USA made .... metal handles .... a/ o.... if it's a fixed blade it must have a full tang
 
Funny all the non-US deal breakers. There are plenty of other countries making good knives.

Serrations; in general I don't like them, with exception for cutting fibrous material (rope).
Non-users; I'd like to use my knives and they should have a practical design.
Over-tactical; they look gimmicky to me and I don't need a tactical knife for kitchen chores, bushcraft or EDC. Besides it scares people when peeling an apple in public.
Price; if the price is too high I don't buy it because I'm scared to use it.
Fakes; doesn't require an explanation
 
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It's almost always the sum of the parts that determines it for me. I have my pet peeves, but I'll overlook them as long as other preferences are met or the overall piece is to my tastes. Value is also big for me. I like to maximize my performance per dollar.
 
-Small, Heavy knives. The weight should be less than the blade length. IE a 3" blade knife should weigh less than 3 oz. This especially applies to EDC knives, but I tend to shy away from "Hard Use" folders because they feel like bricks in my pocket.
 
Blade serrations, a non-removeable clip, generic 400/440/AUS6 SS, and a cheesy plastic handle or scales are deal-killers here.

Stainz
 
crafty said:
Funny all the non-US deal breakers. There are plenty of other countries making good knives.
Click to expand...

And also some rubbish with a "Made in USA" stamp on it. Quality is all about the skills of the maker (apart from the "China" situation where economics is not separate from politics) rather than some "accident of birth" as to where they hail from.

Part-serrations - unless the serrations are towards the tip (where they're most useful)
Tacticool - Mall ninja I'm not
Price/performance ratio - Unfortunately many good US knife brands work out "expensive" for EU once import duty and taxes and dealers profit have been factored in.
Fakes - 'nuff said
 
I'm amazed that serrations are as common as they are when all I hear is hatred towards them. O.o Same thing with tantos. Recurves are widely disliked too but far from as common. I for one love the looks of serrated daggers. :D
 
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