What knives do you absolutely not like or not understand the hype? I'll go first.

[Danke42]

Frankly, I own and love knives from whisper light pen knives to folding brutes like the AD10. (And the same for straight knives, from tiny to quite large.) It just needs to be well executed for its genre and have a function. I love some of my production pieces as much as I do finely crafted custom knives.

It's not either / or...but if it is for others, that's okay too.

Some folks have a common theme for their collecting. Mine, not so much. (I do try to weed out work from makers I later find to be objectionable, however.)

I don't have a collection, I have an accumulation. Fortunately I have only one objectionable knife that I keep as a reminder to look before I leap.

 

[ChrisB507]

I’ve never understood the hype around the Spyderco compression lock, though I love Spydercos. I get that it's strong, but it consistently annoys me to the point that I won't buy another.

 

[mitchnola]

For me it’s Demko. I don’t hate em, on the contrary I like the handle design and the sharklok is awesome but I find there blade shapes so ugly and boring. They look like they would be best at spreading mayonnaise. It’s unfortunate for me because otherwise I’d love to have one.

I’m also not a fan of any knife company that just comes up with a design and then has the knife made overseas but wants to charge as much as an American made mid-tech. Even if I really like the looks of the knife, I despise that type of business model.

 

[Culprit99]

What knives do you absolutely not like or understand the hype?

Since you asked, I'll give my humble two cents - knowing that I'm likely in a big minority.

I don't have a use for serrations or chisel grinds. Exception is serrated bread knives in the kitchen.

I'm a lefty and don't have a use for models I can't flip the pocket clip on. I'm okay with adapting to using different lock types left-handed, such as the Buck 591 Paradigm Shift or the Spyderco PM3 compression lock.

I'm generally against coated/painted blades, aluminum scales (what's wrong with wood and Micarta?), and anything fake. If you're trying to make plastic look like jigged bone, for example, just use jigged bone.

I don't have a use for powder metallurgy steels (told ya I'm probably in a big minority). I don't care for thumb studs, either.

I get pretty annoyed with finger choils that force my finger too far rearward. A perfect example is this Demko. It has a huge protrusion right where my index finger is supposed to go. It forces my index finger to the rear, placing it too far back from the cutting edge for fine work, or I have to resign myself to use the uncomfortable finger choil position which I strongly dislike. I love the SharkLock, the D2, and the Micarta (aftermarket). I REALLY want to like this knife. I've tried to like this knife. Hard. But I just can't overlook that choil/finger guard placement. I can even overlook the thumb studs because they're pretty far back and don't interfere with sharpening too much. Every time I make my mind up to sell the thing, the Mechanical Engineer part of my brain won't let me because of my love of various lock designs. But I just can't carry it - won't carry it - when there are so many better Bucks that better fit my desires. This finger choil placement hang-up of mine extends to some Spyderco's I have tried, as well.

Now, admittedly, I am a Buck fanboy - as my father before me, and my grandfathers before him. There have been several knives I have tried to like. Wanted to like. Hoped to like. But I always end up going back to something like a Buck 112, or an 830 Marksman, or a 532. It's just what I like. I'm thankful there's so many options available these days. So y'all have fun with your Pink Cerakoated Titanium Framelock Thumb-studded Magnacut blades with huge finger choils and donut sprinkles. Don't mind me sitting quietly in a corner honing a hair-whittling edge on my Buck hollow-ground 440C 112 on a smooth, worn, hard Arkansas stone that belonged to my grandfather.

 

[Culprit99]

I would guess your favorite steel is 420 or 440.

Absolutely! That, and 425Mod.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Full serrations would get used in the garden cutting into the earth and cutting the roots when weeding and if you are by rope on the boat cutting it all the time, and perhaps a farmer will make use of it, but aside from that for me I have no use for a full length serrated edge

 

[Culprit99]

I’m the same way on GEC... They’ve become the beanie babies of the knife world.

This is my favorite quote of the thread thus far!

 

[Blues]

"Hooboy...I can see that I'm going to need some time with Culprit99 . Hannah, clear my schedule."

 

[calm]

Case pbj.... As pointed out by a member in another thread, artificial choking of supply for a cover that does not seem special in any way, to a peasant like me ofcourse

 

[ShaiHulud]

This is my favorite quote of the thread thus far!

Incoming: dessert warrior gecs

 

[SharpBits]

I guess I have to say I cannot love the shark lock. It is exactly where I don't want it to be. Too far back for a thumb ramp and the point of the lock release is exactly under my thumb pad. It's really the only thing keeping me from owning one. The Spyderco comp lock is slightly better for me, but the annoying cutout can be a hot spot for me on some models.

 

[SharpBits]

Case pbj.... As pointed out by a member in another thread, artificial choking of supply for a cover that does not seem special in any way, to a peasant like me ofcourse

Exactly. Just make enough to go around, it's not like they are a low volume producer.

 

[Citori]

Exactly. Just make enough to go around, it's not like they are a low volume producer.

Artificial scarcity has unfortunately become a big part of marketing, certainly in the knife industry.

In general I just skip over anything affected by it whether that is a limited run from a big manufacturer or a small one who makes it part of their image. If there is something I really dig I will source it on the secondary market after the first line flippers have done their thing.

 

[SharpBits]

Artificial scarcity has unfortunately become a big part of marketing, certainly in the knife industry.

In general I just skip over anything affected by it whether that is a limited run from a big manufacturer or a small one who makes it part of their image. If there is something I really dig I will source it on the secondary market after the first line flippers have done their thing.

Agreed. It is far too common these days. Very annoying on what is otherwise a very pedestrian knife with only a color change.

 

[LEGION 12]

I could kick myself for not getting a Para 2 with a tanto blade when they came out .

 

[EatingSarma]

Blasphemy. LOL. I am a CRK fan. Although their willingness to make almost every configuration in lefty models mixed with their insanely good customer service are some of my biggest drivers. I understand some people don't care about such things. If you prefer the newest flavor of the week, flashy designs, flippers, and a ton of different steel options, I see why some wouldn't be a fan.

It's not that. Ergos aren't anything special, neither is the lock.

It's just not worth that money... unless you buy them to collect or sell them down the road...

I like simple things. None of my knives are flippers or flashy or newest steel.
What I carry - S35VN Recon 1 tanto and 1095 ESEE Izula.
Nothing new, flashy, or flippy.

 

[jbmonkey]

I could kick myself for not getting a Para 2 with a tanto blade when they came out .

I have one somewhere.....

sorry edit part. pm me. I know better at this point than to get thread off topic.

 

[ferider]

I guess I have to say I cannot love the shark lock. It is exactly where I don't want it to be. Too far back for a thumb ramp and the point of the lock release is exactly under my thumb pad. It's really the only thing keeping me from owning one. The Spyderco comp lock is slightly better for me, but the annoying cutout can be a hot spot for me on some models.

Interesting ... hotspot on the PM2 here, but Demko (20/20s) are fine. Shaman too, BTW.

 

[VorpelSword]

I definitely don't get those expensive knives. I think they're way over the line. But of course if some folks would send me a case lot of 10K+ blades I could see myself changing my mind.




Disclaimer, do not send me expensive knives. I will do bad stuff with them as I am very irresponsible.

Last year I bought our son a Chris Reeve Large Sebenza 31 in Magnicut for his 45 birthday . . .To tell him he is cherished, but also to engender a high level of covetous envy in his two brothers-in-law. From my point of view, it was money well spent.

This year, I found a William Henry at san estate sale for several hundred less than the CRK. Bought for the same reasons and with similar results.

 

[SteeleJ1976]

I don't care for Swiss Army Knives that are too large and are pocket bricks. I prefer 2 or 3 layer knives (Recruit, Cadet, Tinker, Climber). I would carry a Huntsman if I knew I was going to need the saw.

Also OTF knives don't make much sense to me.