What knife or knife brand did you NEVER think you would own and you now do and like it?

Same thoughts on Cold Steel as others. But I bought the American Lawman based on some great feedback here, and one service provider/maker that is a member here put up a great video where he literally took it completely apart and test it thoroughly. Bought one, and love it. i use it at work (construction) and it is a winner.

Never thought I would have a ZT. Big chunky knives with poor slicing abilities, and around here, I had never really seen but one or two dirty or even scuffed a bit, so the praise of it being a "hard use knife" (not sure what that is...) talking about how tough it was escaped me since they all looked new. "On another venue" I saw a review of one particular model, one where the guy put the knife through its paces. And then had a chance to check out the 0909. I bought it, used it for about a month on site, and loved it. So much I bought a second one. Sadly, a great deal of what I like about the knife didn't push the buttons of others, so it has been discontinued.

Robert
 
Not yet, but Benchmade. A Vector and a Fact are on my shortlist and will be purchases in the next 2-3 months.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Grohmann.
I just never really gave them much thought as they're not exactly common or anything.
I also didn't really like the looks of the CBK pattern.

Well I received one of their mini Russel lockbacks, and it's amazing.
It's very well made for one thing, but it's also just a great pattern.
The ergonomics are like nothing else, and everyone I hand it to instantly says " wow " because it does feel so great in hand.
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I have to agree, this is a real sleeper of a knife. I received one last month,its a real classy lockback,at a very reasonable cost. And as you said,the ergonomics are fantastic.
 
I honestly don't think I've ever had this scenario. I'm essentially open to and interested in everything. My knife buying habits, as absurd as they are, have only been limited by my budget. If I had all the money I'd own all the knives.
 
Emerson was a big one for me. I kept hearing about the terrible QC, wrong sided grinds, and the sub-par value. Found a beat up A-100 and picked it up anyways to give them a fair shake. There was something about it that I just... liked. Can't really put my finger on it but I ended up gaining a newfound respect for the company.

Another was Strider. Going by photos, I didn't like the look, the design was weird to me, and it looked like it should have had more cutting edge. Then, I got a DOC in hand and it all made sense. Made me want to try out the real deal so I found a beat up SnG. Now, I have a small Strider collection and still carry those first 2.

Most recent one I can think of is Ferrum Forge. I'd pretty much written them off based off of their first few models (bland, QC was iffy, and the Pretium was just plain ugly). Just last year, I got a Masterblaster in a trade thinking it would be a catch and release and was blown away. I even liked it enough to buy a second one as a spare and it's one of my most carried knives as of right now.
 
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Spyderco militairy and Sebenza.

Ironically....I bought the lefty mili cheap secondhand.....which lead me to trying the lefty Sebenza....which led me to buying a small lefty Sebenza.

So now I have all three.....

On the mili I didn't think I'd like the blade/handle ratio but it turns out I don't really care about that.

The Sebenza I think I always felt they were overpriced. But secondhand ones aren't so bad...and it really is a very well made knife. Certainly (in my opinion) the best true lefthand option available.

I mean....I got all three for waaaay less than regular price in total and don't think I'd have paid sticker price. But they are some of my favorite knives now.
 
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Spyderco - Thought the FRN handles looked cheap when I first saw one. Finally gave in and bought a Pro-Grip in 95 to see what the fuss was all about - I now own over 50 Spyderco knives. :D
 
Comeuppance said:
I don't have a brand, but I do have a kind of knife: Slipjoints. I used to think non-locking folders were just an inherently ridiculous and backwards concept. Here I am, though, with a handful of slipjoints and eyeing more.

I'll probably catch some flack from the Traditional subforum for this, but, my favorite slippies are the Spyderco Pingo and Roadie. I even added a little zip-tie thumbstud to my Pingo because I'm a disgusting heathen.
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I knew you were a slippy lover, slippy lover, slippy lover, CU is a slippy lover... :D :) ;) There's a lot to be said for a well made slipjoint/traditional pattern. What you've discovered is what collectors have known for years, they work better for their intended purpose than most other patterns. They cut and do it well, all while lookin' like a piece of jewelry. I see you've tried some modern slipjoints and like them. Old patterns with modern materials is a great way to go to transition from modern tacticals to modern traditionals .

I know they're discontinued but check out the Lone Wolf/Loveless City Knife what a great concept with a great execution.

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If you want take it to the next level check out the custom traditionals by people like T.A. Davidson, Todd makes exceptional traditionals in fact almost all the bigger tactical have non locking version of knives in their lineups but you can't beat the real deal, a dyed in the wool 50 to 100 year old traditional pattern. The quality and attention to detail on even the modest brands is pretty apparent and amazing when compared to today's offerings.

Personally though I have yet to find a well made knife that I couldn't find some redeeming value in so I usually want any well made knife so along as it's well made. Maybe someday I'll be able to answer the question but not today. :)

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brancron said:
I never thought I'd own or like a Gerber (or, to be more precise, my adult knife snob self never thought so—when I was a kid I owned and loved several Gerbers). However, I found out that they used to actually make really good knives back in the day.

Here's an LST circa 1981-82:

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Here's one in ivory micarta from the same time period:

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And here's a first-production run SLG with ATS-34, aluminum, and titanium liners (I think it was made sometime in the 1990s):

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All three of these are beautifully made, especially the 80s era lockbacks. If you can get your hands on a "vintage" Gerber that you like the looks of, then definitely go for it. I've also handled several of their classic fixed blades (boot knives and such), and all of them were superb.
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Gerber International the SL3.25 platform, the 3 and 1/4' blade (hence the 3.25 in the name) is the perfect size and the handle options were a knice touch. Here's mine in Carbon Fiber, they also offered some in G-10 and Micarta as well. Damn shame they went outta business and stopped making the pattern.

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For me it’s not so much a brand as a maker...when I first started buying (not really that long ago) I admired, but didn’t think I would ever own, an Alan Davis custom...Now, not quite two years later, I own three of his liner locks, one fixed blade and have two more liner locks on order...Recently I started thinking I probably need a Johnny Stout...

Cheers/bg
 
Victorinox. So boringly shaped, such soft steel I thought. Yeah, then I did a trial of one and realised just how well that blade geometry cuts long after it's lost the hair popping edge and how I can simply strop it back to sharp on my chinos. The choice also of tool options in a thin/light package is also amazing. Oh and it's super people friendly. Alox and custom scales make up for the boring shape. :)

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I dismissed those odd looking Spyderco knives for maybe 25 years until I bought a Persistence just for the heck of it. Now I'm a big fan and own many.
 
I'd say Microtech/MCK. I had always been into flippers with slightly more traditional materials, but 6 of the last 7 knives I have bought have been MT. The other was a Spyderco, the first Spyderco I have ever bought.
 
Spyderco and Busse (& kin).

When I first started to get into blades as more than semi-disposable tools, spending even $50 on any knife seemed like too much, but those two brands stand out b/c they make up the overwhelming majority of my purchases now.

I didn't get the Spyderco hole and thought they were all fugly. Now they're far and away my favorite folders. Though some still aren't to my taste, the variety and Spyderco's willingness to gamble is part of what makes them great.

Busses always looked awesome to me, but they were so expensive it was hard to step up to the plate. Luckily, my income caught up with my taste over time and they became more affordable to me.
 
Brous

Laughed just thinking about them.

Got a Raven, and it's a great knife!

-Michael
 
Manix 2. Loved the backlock Manix and thought the 2 was the same size so I ordered one. Got it and hated that it was smaller so it sat in a drawer for over a year before I carried it on a fluke. Ended up loving it. I have a couple now including this one from the M4 sprint run the other day. Already replaced the ugly as hell jade/natural scales though. :-) My S30V one is my GOTO fishing knife.

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Kershaw. I never really thought much of them but the Leek is a fantastic knife that doesn't break the bank. Lots of options out there too.
 
Pomsbz said:
Victorinox. So boringly shaped, such soft steel I thought. Yeah, then I did a trial of one and realised just how well that blade geometry cuts long after it's lost the hair popping edge and how I can simply strop it back to sharp on my chinos. The choice also of tool options in a thin/light package is also amazing. Oh and it's super people friendly. Alox and custom scales make up for the boring shape. :)

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I forgot about Vic, my experience, and long term use of them.... Definitely a knife and brand that I dismissed for years and years. Thought they were kid's knives. (Novelty knives or the kind you buy on a whim and never use.) Took the Vic dip in the early 1980's and after owning quite a few, I am a confirmed Vic SAK lover and user. Yes, the steel is a little soft, but they sharpen easily and pricing is comfortable in general on most of them.
 
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