What knife really surprised you? (Good or bad)

I purchased a BM 810 Contego from the exchange here, upon arrival I just wasn't happy with it. The handles were sharper than I expected, the glass breaker in the butt caused carry issues by stabbing me whenever i reached into the pocket, and the blade was too long and heavy for flicking the thumbstuds to open the blade easily.

Well, within a week of that sale, I purchased a BM 950 Rift from the same forumite (same sales thread even) thinking the size was a little more what I was looking for and hoping that it was similar enough that the downsides would be easier less pronounced and easier to live with. Well, as soon as I got it in my hand and opened it for the first time I knew it was the knife I was looking for all along. The blade flies out with little difficulty, both with the studs and with a flick of the wrist (something the Contego had issues with); Also the handles are not sharp and actually have just the right amount of grip even though they are very similar to the Contego (they just feel smoother).

Needless to say, the Contego got resold shortly after, and the Rift is still in my pocket to this day as one of only two folders I routinely carry.
 
Just received a Medford 187 DP what a heavy duty work horse,it was beyond my expectations!
 
Esee 3. I had most of the Esee line before getting the 3. Don't know why I waited. It is one of the most useful in that line up. I could be content with just a 3 and the Junglas. The way Rowen does 1095 is spot on as well.
 
Had a Benchmade CQC7 (970?) way back when. It was a solid monster.

Then Emerson put the wave on their CQC7. Now,with all the raving about how great Emerson knives were and what a revolutionary game changer this wave feature was, and how impressed I was with the CQC7 I had, I just simply had to jump on one immediately.

The surprise I got was most disappointing. The Emerson was like a cheap knockoff of the BM version. The fit and finish wasn't anything close to the BM... wasn't centered, wasn't tight and didn't even feel right.

Then there was the wave itself. Now I understand that there are folks out there who think this thing is the bee's knees and all. But for me, it was just a gimmick. So the disappointment continued.

Perhaps I let all the hype build this thing up in my mind too far. Oh well, you live and learn I guess.
 
Been impressed with the Condor line of blades. They have come a long way since they started the company. You can thank Joe Flowers for the designs.

My Hen & Rooster small stockman with stag scales has in fact surprised me in a positive way. It has displaced my regular SAK for the last couple of weeks and for me that is saying something since I have carried a SAK for 30 years. Honestly, I have wanted to try to carry a smaller knife for the last year and finally made my choice and trying it.
 
Pokerchip said:
I was really surprised when I finally purchased a SAK classic. It doesn't leap tall buildings in a single bound. Nor did it didn't require refinancing the house. But it cuts nearly anything and sharpens up easily. Hard to beat something that works.
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I've been debating putting an alox classic on my Keychain!
 
Lee48 said:
I've had more good surprises with cheap knives than the expensive ones. You kinda expect goodness with expensive but there's less room for disappointment with the cheap stuff.
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^^^^^^ Exactly this.

What surprised me is the cheapest folder I own may be the most fun I own. Kept looking at it online for a long time, finally checked it out in person--far exceeded expectations in build, feel and action. Bought it.

Cold Steel Ti-Lite.
 
I love Spydercos, and love the Dragonfly, but the ZDP 189 is just not for me.
I'd love to check one out in HAP40 though
 
The Boker VOX F3

I didn't think it would be as good as it was, I sold it to fund another knife but might have to pick up another.

Fully Ti with S30V steel, blue ano work and extremely beefy and can be had for $100-$150

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Also, the Kershaw Camber , when de-assisted is a hell of knife for $65
 
TAD Dauntless surprised me in a good way. Never excited about the knife until one fell into my lap in a trade. Great all around size, not too big, not too small. Incredible smoothness.

 
lai77120 said:
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Cqc8, everything bad about it is true,
shoddy workmanship, terrible fits and finishes, pocket shredding wave/G10

So is everything good about it,
Great ergonomic, amazing initial out of box sharpeness, bad ass design.

Nothing I own is as polarizing. For me I just love it😆
 
Cold Steel American Lawman in XHP has really impressed me.
It is ultra thin and light yet still very tough and even though I was leery about the handle design it works well and is comfortable.
The steel is a joy to use, I can get a great edge with minimal stone time and it keeps that edge for a long time.

This has replaced my Manix2 in s110v, which is an equally impressive knife.
The Manix2 rode in my pocket for a year plus so I will give it a rest, won't get rid of it though.
 
JR88FAN said:
This:

Best knife I have ever owned, and the last knife I ever thought I would buy.
I passed up on owning a Seb. forever.
It took a really good friend to convince me that it wasn't the knife I hated......

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I must say, I was also very pleasantly surprised by the Insingo blade shape. An EDC masterpiece!
 
Lightning OTF. it is a bad knock off of a Microtech Scarab, but so far it hasn't died. Steel is unknown, but sharpens easily enough. Lent it to a friend who abused it for 3 months EDC.
 
I have had a few Knives really surprise me with their quality function and overall feel. The best was probably the Buck 830 Marksman it's a great knife that I really just picked up because I wanted to try the lock mechanism and do a review on it. Another has got to be the Silent Soldier flipper I accepted it in a trade thinking worst case I can sell it. Turned out to be great.
 
On the GOOD side: Fiddleback Bushfinger, Spyderco Manix 2 LW - both are much more than I originally expected.

On the BAD side: SOG Aegis (and several other SOG models as well). They're QC has been sporadically horrible over the years - I don't even bother with them anymore.
 
For the bad side, I was very disappointed in the Hinderer Eklipse. It's a beautiful knife, very well made, but with all the hype around it, and with Hinderer knives in general, I guess I was expecting something more. So it got traded. It is, however, on my short list of knives I want to get again.
Now, on to the good. The Medford 187DPT. I was offered this knife in a trade, and having never before owned a Medford, decided it was about time. All the reviews said the same thing...good knife, well built, but too bulky and heavy for EDC. I've had mine for a couple weeks now, and I find it to be perfect in the edc role. Is it freaking huge? Sure. Did the waitress squeak a little when I snapped it out to cut my steak? Yup. And I absolutely love it.
 
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