What is it that you really like about your favorite knives?

Kaizen1

Kaizen1

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2006
Messages
6,305
I’ve done the reading. I've read the endless cheers of the company-loyal knife buyers. I've seen the flame wars from the disagreement. When I first came to this forum, I had a completely different expectation of what it was that I thought I wanted in a knife than I do today. I played endlessly with the AOs, the swung the balis, flicked the Axis to hell and back. There were times where I was concerned about the fastest deployment of my potential SD blade with the strongest lock.

Nowadays, I’m noticing a different trend in my knife buying. People who are familiar with my suggestions can easily see that I tend to look at Spyderco. But it’s not so much that it’s from Spyderco. It’s more to me about the feeling that the knife gives me when it’s in my hand. The novelty on just about all the other stuff has worn off so far. The comfort that I get when holding an ergonomic knife is one of the main things that still keeps me interested in a certain knife model.

So long as I’m satisfied with the quality of steel, handle material and lock, the ergos is what I look for in a knife. What makes you enjoy your favorite models? SD applicability? Cool lock? Aesthetics? A certain combination of the above?
 
Right now my favorite knife is the BM 940. It is the smoothest knife I own. I like the green handle, it's a very good dress knife, if you pull out a 940 you don't get the same "OMG you brought a knife to the event" look as you do with other knives. Its very tuff for such a slender profile. The steel takes a great edge. But most of all I like the reverse tanto blade shape.
 
1. It does not cost to much.
2. It stays sharp for quite a while then resharpens easy.
3. It does a good job of what I intend that knife to do.
4. Somewhere on the knife it says Frost of Sewden.

For a Folder anything will do as long as its a Kershaw Blackout.:D
 
I like it as long as it has a black tick logo on it the blade. Or, in lieu of that, it says it's made in "U.S.A. Earth."
 
I lean toward knives that
  • Have quality materials & good-to-better F&F
  • Have good ergos
  • Have ambidextrous (at least, for me) locks
  • Range from 2.75-3.25 in blade length
  • Are slightly overbuilt
  • Have a bit of thickness and weight to them
  • Look utilitarian rather than tactical

Most of my purchases are Spydercos for the above reasons. Benchmade comes in a close second because of all the Grips and minis that I've bought. I still have several Bucks in the family because I started with them and they are still one of the best values in production knives that you can get.

My oldest folder is a Cold Steel clip point lockback from the late 80s or early 90s. Still razor sharp, has no blade play, and locks up as solid as the day it was born. My newest folder is a CF/ZDP Caly 3 that I rotate with my G10/VG10 Caly 3. Those are the only two knives that I EDC right now.

I'm starting to look around at different versions of the small Sebbie. I've been thinking of adding one of those to the family to see what all the talk is about and to say "I have one".
 
Although not necessarily in this order, these are the things that I look for in a knife. Blade steel must hold an edge, it doesn't need to be "easy" to sharpen, but I don't want to spend all day getting a good working edge. For handle materials, just one thing, I hate FRN/Zytel/Plastic...For F&F, other than the cutting edge I don't want a "sharp" edge anywhere else and a smooth transition between handle materials and the bolster, no gaps and smooth mechanics. I prefer framelocks but am open to any other "original" well thought out and well engineered/produced locking mechanism. I prefer recurves. The knife has to feel "right" in my small hand (doesn't necessarily mean small though). Unfortunately, I have better luck fulfilling these parameters with customs than I do productions, but I'm constantly trying all brands of productions to eventually find a couple.

Blade steel
Handle material
F&F
Lock
Blade style
Ergo's
 
My favorite folders are the Kershaw 1416 XXL Starkey Ridge and the Spyderco Calypso. I like a blade with a nice pointy point, good blade materials, and good handle ergo's.
 
I am enamored by my latest acquisition - my long desired Buck Kalinga Pro S30V (#408). It fills the hand properly - and what a blade! Of course, my previous favorite is the Cabela's-only 'Alaskan Guide' black Al-Ti-N coated S30V #192 Vanguard. Affordable at $90 - it was a steal several years ago with the NRA $30 off coupon. Even the 420HC versions of the above are great - the rubber handled ones being better, as are their nylon sheaths, if you want an all-weather version - or are intent on using them as intended - gutting old Thumper & Bambi. The Vanguards aren't super heavy duty, at .137" thick blades, the K-P measuring .155" is marginally thicker. Still, for 4.1" & 4.88" fixed blades, what a grip - just begs to be used - or, in my case, be displayed. To me, those S30Vs, sad to say, are art! What I like about them is simple - they look great!

Stainz
 
The Alaskan Guide Buck 110.

knives183.jpg


What do I like about it?

The handle:
It is more comfortable to use than any of my other knives, bar none.
Not too wide, nor too narrow, not too thick, nor too thin, not too short, nor too long, and no sharp corners to dig in to my hand.
And the handle, due to the thick heavy duty brass liners, does not flex when doing hard cutting.

The lock:
The humble lockback has been proven to be reliable and secure and easy to use in literally millions and millions of knives all around the world for decades.
Unlike some other locking methods, the lockback is about as worry free as you can get.

The blade:
What can I say....it's simply one of the best cutters that I have ever used.
The high hollow ground blade is a joy to use.
And when you combine that with S30V blade-steel....bliss!:)
And the thin precise tip is excellent for fine work too.

The appearance:
Simply beautiful.
A nice blend of modern and traditional....gleaming brass, rosewood scales, and polished steel.
I've never received anything other than complements on its traditional beauty and graceful appearance.
Its lines really just "flow".

Street credibility:
In real world useage, the Buck 110 has proven itself a million times over.
For over thirty years it has been used by Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coastguardsmen, law enforcement officers and agents, ranchers, farmers, cowboys, plowboys, bikers, ironworkers, millworkers, lumberjacks, framers, roofers, plumbers, hikers, campers, hunters, fishermen, and folks from all walks of life.
It's a true working man's knife.

Cost:
The basic Buck 110 is extremely affordable....costing less than $40.00 dollars at Walmart.
And even the Alaskan Guide Buck 110, with its superior S30V blade-steel, costs less than $70.00 dollars.
And because it is so affordable, folks are not afraid to actually use it!:D

BUCK KNIVES:
Buck is a fantastic company that stands behind their products 100%.
The Buck 110 has a lifetime warranty.
Bottom line: if something is wrong with your Buck 110, Buck will make it right.
And Buck is a respected knife maker, and the Buck 110 is made right here in the USA.
No one is ever ashamed to be seen using a Buck 110.;)

I could go on, but I think you get my point.:o
 
Who can pick A favourite if you have been on this site over a month!! I have a hard time deciding what my top 50 are when my girlfriend asked me to make a list :eek:. In all seriousness a knife has to do what it was designed for. Thus a favourite is one who does this and then some. For example- my favourite warehouse knife is my Boye dendritic cobalt with marlinspike. Edge lasts a long time, is easy to touch up if the soft steel gets dinged up. The marlinspike is the deciding factor though- it gets used for all prying, removing both box staples and regular staples and of course helping if something needs untying. My favourite bush chopper for a single package "survival knife" would be a unique bone handled kukris I have from nepal. It is a great chopper but even without the kardas (?right term?) it is utilitarian. The edge near the handle is an effective draw knife, and by holding onto the edge one can use the belly as an ulu- thus making it an effective food prep knife (fillteing fish, skinning duties, chopping veggies). Is it the most efficient- no!! However it does go the extra mile. After critically looking at my pseudo-favourites list the extra mile is what set my favourites apart from the other 3/4 of what I own. For the record as well my collection is all about diversity- I only get a knife if I can find a feature that is unique to my collection (althought if I look long enought I can find something unique on ANY knife:)).
 
carrot said:
I like it as long as it has a black tick logo on it the blade. Or, in lieu of that, it says it's made in "U.S.A. Earth."
Click to expand...

:mad:That's a blatant rip off of Spyderco!! Except Spyderco has a black spider instead of a tick...:p:D
 
I carry the small Sebenza, it's my favorite. The things that keep bringing me back to it are:

1. You never have to be concerned about pivot tension.
2. It is everything I need, a good sized blade in a package no bigger than it has to be.
3. If I ever decide it is looking too ratty, back it goes to CRK for a bead blast.
 
iamsmiling said:
I carry the small Sebenza, it's my favorite. The things that keep bringing me back to it are:

1. You never have to be concerned about pivot tension.
2. It is everything I need, a good sized blade in a package no bigger than it has to be.
3. If I ever decide it is looking too ratty, back it goes to CRK for a bead blast.
Click to expand...

DITTO...the pivot bushing is about the coolest thing on this knife, and my favorite addition that makes it stand out from similar knives...But I love everythgin else about it too of course, I just don't have a single complaint!

but not all knives have to be expensive to be fun or cool....I also love my CRKT Rollock knife, cool design, fun to use, and safe for sheeple to borrow! If they find a way to break it Im only out $8!
 
The most critical features are
  1. Fit in the hand
  2. Lock
  3. Ease of opening and properly staying closed

My choices right now (and have been for sometime) are
Emerson full-size Commander
LLC/Gunting
Emerson Karambit
 
...the pivot bushing is about the coolest thing on this knife, and my favorite addition that makes it stand out from similar knives...
Click to expand...
I'm just curious, does the bushing limit how tight you can adjust the pivot?
 
allenC said:
I'm just curious, does the bushing limit how tight you can adjust the pivot?
Click to expand...

Well, when you turn the pivot screw to maximum tightness, the folder will be play-free and perfectly centered. So yes, I guess you can't over tighten it with the bushing system - it is always perfect.
 
for me, my favorite knife right now is my opinel #7.

it has great ergonomics, not like alot of the slip joint knives. the handle is very round and feels full in the hand. i get alot of blade for the size of the handle, and the blade takes and holds a great edge.

the knife is also very versatile. i use my opinel for everything from cutting and buttering my bread at dinner to whittling a new handle for my awl to opening boxes that come in the mail. it is a great all around knife.

it also has a great locking system that is simple and just about fail proof.
 
FIT in the HAND.

My favorites are the ones I love to handle, flow and chop with.

Plus, they have to have good steel and I don't mean expensive.
 
I look for quality materials, ergonomics, aesthetics, safety and cutting ability. I look for a knife that can combine all of these elements into a practical package.
 
Capt. Carl said:
Well, when you turn the pivot screw to maximum tightness, the folder will be play-free and perfectly centered. So yes, I guess you can't over tighten it with the bushing system - it is always perfect.
Click to expand...
I find it odd that one would have an adjustable pivot that really is'nt that adjustable.
Especially since everyone has a different notion of what's the perfect pivot tension.
 
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