What knives/brands have surpassed your expectations?

brendog10

brendog10

Joined
Apr 22, 2006
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I recently decided that I needed to buy some knives that were not in my normal realm of interest. Typically I buy knives with satin, 4”, serrated blades that are pretty ordinary. My favorite knife is the Benchmade 710 which I believe has a close to perfect design. I tend to try and get close to that when buying other knives. I have developed a strange dislike of Kershaw and spyderco knives. I’m not sure why. So I went ahead and bought my self some knives that were out of the norm for me both brand and design. I got a Spyderco Barong, a Kershaw Bump, and a Kershaw Junkyard dog composite. And let me just say I am very pleased. The Barong is an amazing knife. (Which I plan to write a full review on soon) And the Kershaw’s are well made and unique in design. All three defy my expectation and have already become favorite EDC options. I think that a lot of knife guys get caught up in things like this, especially brand loyalty. So, my question is have you had a similar experience with a knife or knife brand?


Here they are. Spyderco Barong, Kershaw Junkyard dog, and kershaw Bump
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I would say my kershaw ken onion whirlwind for the price is my favourite/best designed knife for the money.
 
Chris Reeve (Sebenza 21 and an Umnumzaan.)

Didn't really "love" either one at first.

Like many, I wondered what the big deal about them was and why they were so expensive. On paper, I didn't see any major advantages to them over my then EDC 710s or Spydercos.

My appreciation of this brand went slow at first, but grew on me the more I used and carried them. Now, I like them more than any other pocketknives I've ever owned.
 
I've had a lot of knives that exceeded my expectations when I bought them. After using, testing, experimenting, and learning more about steels and geometry, very little surprises me any more, and what I might have once thought was extraordinary was usually explained by those things.

The more knives I've had, and the more I've learned, the more the Darrel Ralph knives I've had impress me. I kick myself regularly for selling a couple of them just because they weren't seeing much use for a little while.
I don't know how the S90V CF EDC stacks up, because it's the only knife in that material that I've used a lot. It did hold an edge better than initially expected-it was almost unbelievable to me at the time.
His knives that I've had in both D2M and S30V must have followed a particularly good HT schedule, though.
They held up to rough use better, and were easier to maintain, than I thought they would be(or still think they should have been) based on later experience with other knives in the same, or similar, materials.
This thread may cost me, because it reminded me that I "need" a standard ALB in D2M or S30V.

One other that stands out is a small 10V fixed blade by Doug Mondt with HT from Paul Bos. This little knife just defies neglect, or any kind of normal use, to dull, damage, or most surprisingly, to corrode it.

Almost forgot about it, but the BM 710HS is another. After completely wearing the original BT2 finish off, I had it done up with tungsten DLC by BodyCote to see how both the coating and the M2 would hold up, and both the knife and coating took a tremendous beating. After two blade finishes, two trips to BM for new Axis springs, lots of heavy use, and idiotic stuff like beating it through sheet metal, and opening hundreds of bags of abrasives, I finally induced unrepairable blade play by batoning it through plywood with a 2" steel pipe. Phenomenal knife, failed springs notwithstanding.

The rest have pretty much done what I thought they would, based on their grinds and materials. Hasn't been a lot of room for either complaint, or abnormal praise.
 
The Strider SnG. I thought, what is the big deal, but I got one out of curiosity along with the Umzumnaan. Both are great folders. The CRK has better consistancy in the fit and finish, but I hate the way bead blasted finishes wear. I got a "good" Tan SnG in the Hard Chrome blade and can never see me selling it. The grip on the handle is fantastic. There are so many variations, that its interesting for me to look at others like CC, DGG and Digi Cam blade finishes. Plus the Ti finishes are durable in heat strip or tumbled.

There is one thing that can be said for CRK....they are easy to sell, because you know you can get one just as good from anywhere they are in stock. What a testimate to quality fit and finish. If they had more handle variations or would do a stonewash finish on the handle, then they would be my first choice.

Also, I had a BM Mini Skirmish that I thought was an Awesome knife...sold it because the Ti handle scratched like crazy. Same as the CRK. The G10 and Ti Hybrid handle are the perfect match for EDC in my humble opinion. The Skirmish and mini have that same fantastic feeling in the hand too.
 
Frost's of Sweden's Mora. Especially the "Clipper" and Triflex models.
Never thought they would live up to the hype, but, they've surpassed all my expectations for such a dirt cheap line of knives.
Totally blew up my preconceived notions of 'you get what you pay for'.
 
Hoo boy, that's a long list for me. Most (but not all) Spydercos, my Emerson Karambit, my Gerber Freeman S30V folder, my Beretta Loveless drop-point hunter, just about everything from Buck with S30V steel, and there are probably more things I'm forgetting.
 
At one time or another I've owned a decent sampling of most all production folders (Kershaw, BM & Spyderco). The one I have been most impressed with is the Kershaw line. A good variety, great collaborations with Ken Onion, Lee Williams, R.J. Martin, Tim Galyean and the Hawks, and perfect customer service. IMO, all are bargains. Toss in the ZT line, and it just gets better.

I'd consider my Sebenza a semi-custom, and it is a great knife too. As for custom makers, my limited experience has shown me that Dan Koster, R.J. Martin, Tim Galyean and Jason Clark make a lot of knife for the money. Next year I hope to broaden my horizons a bit by adding customs from Ken Coats, Rick Menefee, Mike Alsdorf, Ken Erickson, Les Voorhies and Todd Davison. I'm certain all of these will live up to their excellent reputations.

There's been a few brands I felt weren't worth the money (some at half the price), and I won't be buying those anymore.
 
Man, that is a tough question. I have been fortunate enough to own most of the major brands. Who could say that a Spyderco BG-42 Military doesn't exceed their expectations? A Kershaw SG2 JYD II, a Ritter Grip, a CS Ultimate Hunter and a Bass Pro CPM154 Buck 110, must also fall among that number. Of course there is always Mora, Opinel and Victorinox that continue to surprise with their quality and versatility. However, for me, Emerson consistently exceeds my expectations. They may not have Victorinox fit and finish, but if the balloon ever went up, an Emerson would be the first knife I grab. Solid dependable, fast and yet comfortable.

I really like all the other makers, but I like Emersons just that little bit more. :)
 
As long as I understand that I may have to touch a new one up, sharpness-wise, Benchmade right is up there. How can you find fault with a 710? How about the Skirmish & Rukus family... or a new 760BK LTi? Bucks have generally been above the norm, quality and sharpness-wise - as have Kershaw, Spyderco, Victorinox, and Boker Tree Brand Classics. Probably the best new knife, in agreement with A.P.F., was my JYDII in SG-2 & Ti - still a big 'Wow!'

Stainz
 
I keep coming back to the cheap NAVY knives I bought. Cheap as inexpensive but SUPERBLY made. I own 3 of the compression lock folders and one liner lock and have been edcing this liner lock for 5 wks and love it. I don't think I have 50 bucks invested in all 4 combined. The RAT1 is superb too for what you get. Some of the Boker brands are nice too.

Don't really care for the Kershaw line and again it just could be the wierd blade shapes, I don't know but just don't care for them EXCEPT for the Skyline and the NergieII. Traditionally style and straight forward designs. CS has some I like too in the RECON line. that's it, keepem sharp
 
All the RATS. Most Spydercos. A few KABARS (price point relative). Opinels, AMAZING knives for the money.
 
I've bought and sold quite a few knives. I've never had a Victorinox that didn't make me happy except the Spartan Lite, which had a very weak light.

Amongst the others:

  • Kershaw - I had more Kershaws at one time than anything else. They make great knives for the money with a greater variety of designs, but the fit, finish, and materials are a tick below some of the other makers for most of their models. Some of their stuff is as good or better, though. The aesthetics are a little over the top and often seem too "Mall Ninja" to me over time.
  • Spyderco - Always sharp. Always easy to carry and good in the hand. After owning many, I've concluded that their FRN models are probably better than their higher end stuff. (Except for the Military.)
  • Benchmade - Probably better fit and finish than the above makers (blue series), but make an awful lot of plain black knives for my taste.
  • Chris Reeve - I have several and while they are put together like nothing else, it is hard to justify the price/value ratio. Unlike the other manaufacturers I mentioned, they grow on you.
  • Lone Wolf - I really like the ones I've had. The designs are different and functional and comprable to the big boys in fit and finish.
 
KaBar Dozier and Kershaw Barrage. I was surprised by how much knife I got for the money. These knives cost less than half what I normally spend on a knife and they perform on par with anything I own.
 
The 1st one that comes to mind is this Bear & Sons folding hunter. Until I got this knife, I was pretty disappointed with Bear's quality.
But this one is very well made.
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This KaBar Swing guard ( made by Canal St.) far exceeded what I had expected.

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This Harsey designed Beretta folder I bought a year ago was a great deal at $100 and far exceeded my expectations.

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The Strider AR was more overbuilt than I expected.

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Also there is one knife model that I always return to because it is such a great knife.

The Buck 110, I have over a dozen of them and they never fail to please.

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Other that I can think of ( but no pics).....

* From Kershaw, the G10 Tyrade, Cyclone and ET ( yes a gadget but built better than I expected.
* SOG Tomcat - Fit & finish was much better than I expected
* Ontario Retribution I and II...thick titanium liners
* Case Jumbo Stockman
* Queen Cattle King
 
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