What knife did you not expect to like?

CrakkedCranium

CrakkedCranium

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I’ve had a few. One being a QSP Osprey I got for free from BladeHQ. What a sharp, nicely put together knife.

But one I got that I didn’t think I would like is my Microtech LUDT signature series. Got it used but it is a beautiful knife. Hits all my favorite colors. DLC is beautiful.

Another honorable mention is my Protech Ogliarch custom 003. In the photos, like the Microtech, the photos do these knifes no justice as compared to in person. 😍

So what knife did you end up acquiring, fell in love with it and just can’t seem to part with it. And never even had an intention to do so?

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Years and years ago I ordered myself a Kershaw Shallot (they had just came out) and my wife a pink Kershaw Leek. I wasn’t crazy about the look of the Leek myself but hey, it’s what she wanted. When they arrived I liked the Leek a lot more than my Shallot and would have traded with her had the Leek not been pink colored. 🤷🏼‍♂️😂 The Kershaw Leek has since been one of my favorite knives of all time and I have around 20 different ones in my collection now.
 
One really stands out for me : Cold Steel Spartan . :cool: :thumbsup::thumbsup:

I avoided this folder for decades , while grabbing up most of Cold Steel's other premium models .

I thought that the weird handle design would be either like a trap , not allowing for fast / easy grip changes . Or it would be just too big and loose for my medium hand size .







Handling the Spartan , in person , it worked perfect for me . Loved it enough to buy another , while it was still cheap ,on clearance special . ☺️
 
DocJD said:
One really stands out for me : Cold Steel Spartan . :cool: :thumbsup::thumbsup:

I avoided this folder for decades , while grabbing up most of Cold Steel's other premium models .

I thought that the weird handle design would be either like a trap , not allowing for fast / easy grip changes . Or it would be just too big and loose for my medium hand size .







Handling the Spartan , in person , it worked perfect for me . Loved it enough to buy another , while it was still cheap ,on clearance special . ☺️
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Ah, that’s where we differ, DocJD. I liked that knife since day one, lol.
 
The Spyderco Para 3
I poo poo'd it from day one .
Just get a Para 2 I used to spout .
Now I have many Para 3s , a few I modded the blades , some with the super duper steels 15V , REX 45, Magnacut , S45VN also SPY 27 , Cruwear . . . maybe one or two others .

When I want a smaller knife that is nimble and fits my hand like it was custom tailored just for me I reach for one of my Para 3s .
To see just how crazy I am for them go to this link . Yep did some parts swapping there ! ! ! Turned into kind of a pricy out come but I love the thng !
 
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Wowbagger said:
The Spyderco Para 3
I poo poo'd it from day one .
Just get a Para 2 I used to spout .
Now I have many Para 3s , a few I modded the blades , some with the super duper steels 15V , REX 45, Magnacut , S45VN also SPY 27 , Cruwear . . . maybe one or two others .

When I want a smaller knife that is nimble and fits my hand like it was custom tailored just for me I reach for one of my Para 3s .
To see just how crazy I am for them go to this link . Yep did some parts swapping there ! ! ! Turned into kind of a pricy out come but I love the thng !
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I just dropped some coin last night between eBay and Etsy, buying scales, screws, and springs for my manix 2, and para 2&3’s. I never knew sticking my finger in a hole would be so much fun.🤣
 
CrakkedCranium said:
I just dropped some coin last night between eBay and Etsy, buying scales, screws, and springs for my manix 2, and para 2&3’s. I never knew sticking my finger in a hole would be so much fun.🤣
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😂 you made me do a triple take there with the hole comment . . . first I was trying to tie it to the little dude and the dyke . . . then we won't say where my mind went next . . . finally I got the Spyderhole reference .

IMO you couldn't be investing in better knives !
 
When I got into these knives in the beginning part of the year, my entire focus was on autos. I went to Blade show, went and bought a bunch of awesome knives. I didn’t buy any hinderss, mcnees or the like of what I’m into now. And I have a screwed up right thumb from the job I’ve done in my entire life. I never thought sticking my finger in a Spyderco hole would ever work for me. But between them and my Emerson’s, I have one on me at all times. I absolutely love spydercos. Manix 2 is my favorite carry knife. Replacing the spring was the best thing I ever did.
 
vwb563 said:
Kershaw Shallot
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Well I guess that's another one I will eventually be trying to find....

For me the one I didn't expect to like was the whole giant round hole in the blade. And the irony is that it was on Benchmade knives I first saw them. Ovals really but then right after that round holes. Then I saw my first Endura and it was all over. First one was a mini grip.
 
I've had several knives grow on me. The most recent one is the Cold Steel Rajah III. A mate of mine came into a big batch of NOS Cold Steels and I bought a couple off him. I've got the big Rajah as a bit of a novelty, I thought to get the smaller one just to complete the pair but found myself carrying and using it often.

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At first I wasn’t a huge fan of the Kershaw Leek. Small and thin. It just wasn’t that appealing to me. That being said, at the yearly Kershaw sale, I snagged a couple for cheap since my Son wanted one. Mine was all stainless and too slick when I started handling it. I cut a strip of traction tape and added that to the scale. My intent was to relegate the Leek to a carry knife for non permissible areas like arena events where I might have to ditch the blade. It worked well but wouldn’t break my heart if I had to surrender it or try to hide it outside. Turns out it was never an issue and it became a pocket favorite. It really is a handy blade and works great! I’ve since picked up a couple other variants.
 
I only bought my first Spyderco folder ,because of some movie or magazine hype .

I thought they were weird ,and kinda ugly, looking , but might be worth a try .

Got an early version Police with serrations in hand and wow ! Made perfect sense in how it worked and felt to use .

Carried that Police for several years , after using an engraving tool to rough-up the slippery SS handle . :cool:
 
Dagoth_Blur said:
I bought and returned/sold both the Morakniv Garberg
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What gave you that initial distaste? I keep swearing I need to get out and use mine more. I even bought the red one for no other reason than it exists. But I've swore off buying any more fixed blades because I hardly ever use them. Which is sad.
 
Dagoth_Blur said:
I bought and returned/sold both the Morakniv Garberg and the Spyderco Manix 2. Now they are two of my favorite models and I have a Manix 2 LW in my pocket right now.
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My manix 2 is by far the easiest, cheapest and most useful knife I own. I have 2 of them, and an XL I thought of selling but I just put the light spring in and it’s a totally different knife. I’m probably going to keep it now and bling it up.

Just got a Yojumbo yesterday. Big knife, but I can flick it with my middle finger easier than any other knife I own.

When I got into this, I never saw a Spyderco as being an option for me until I picked one up. It’s amazing how things work that way.
 
CJRB Maximal.

Somebody recommended here and I figured it would disappoint. I still don’t know exactly what the “proprietary” blade steel is but it really does a good job and I use it almost daily. No problems keeping it sharp and it’s never went dull on me. No chipped. It opens and closes fantastically. Absolutely amazing for the price and it feels like it’ll probably last as long as I need it to.
 
Maximumbob54 said:
What gave you that initial distaste? I keep swearing I need to get out and use mine more. I even bought the red one for no other reason than it exists. But I've swore off buying any more fixed blades because I hardly ever use them. Which is sad.
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I assume you are talking about the Garberg. It was the all hard plastic grip that I really didnt like as well as the plastic sheath wouldnt keep the knife in. I realized however putting a little tape intide the sheath made the retention 100% and the lack of Kansbol style rubber was actually far more durable and comfortable when using the knife for a while. Mine has since been convexed and is really a great blade. The steel is soft and very stainless which I have come to really enjoy using outdoors.
 
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