What makes a good folding knife?

[supratentorial]

What do you think makes a good folding pocket knife? Is it that different than what most influences your decision to purchase a knife? There's no right or wrong answer... unless you disagree with me.

This ad from Shapleigh outlined what they thought was important in 1935.

For me the grind and mechanics are the most important. The steel is also important but most have reasonable steel. My interest in buying a knife usually starts with the pattern. If I like a pattern, then it comes down to grind and mechanics. Handle materials and other aesthetics won't make a knife cut any better. I like most materials as long as the quality of the materials is good.

 

[Mike Robuck]

I agree with everything above. I also like knives that don't have any "hot spots" or rough edges. Some of my older vintage knives are rounded in all of the right places. Anyone that has had to use a "rough" knife for very long feels the difference in hand.

 

[waynorth]

>The blade is what the knife is mainly about, so a good slim grind, for me carbon steel.
>Strong snap, especially into the open position; I prefer at least a 7 or 8.
>Pleasing pattern - I tend toward the simple Barlow and Jack patterns, but a Wharncliffe is a treat. A scout when doing chores is nice to have, especially as a second knife!
>Attractive natural handles and Rattail bolsters! Mmm, mmm good!!!

 

[black mamba]

I most often buy knives based on pattern and aesthetics, such as fancy bolsters, handle material, jigging pattern.

I most often carry knives with great W&T, sharp and even grinds, and proper nail nicks. Knives with nicks that are too small or ill-placed hardly ever get carried.

 

[afishhunter]

No hot spots, care and/or pride of workmanship during the assembly (no blade wobble, no massive gaps, etc)
multiple blades for versatility, an easy to moderate pull on all the blades (I don't want to fight the knife to open it) and a handle shape and materials that give a good grip.
"It looks good" is always a nice bonus, of course.

 

[Ernie1980]

I agree with a lot of the points (ha ha) in that ad! Like others above, the location of the nail nick is very important as well as nice strong snap.

 

[mnblade]

Lots of factors, but a big one is the knife's lines when CLOSED. This has a lots to do with comfort in pocket. I don't much like pocketknives with sharp, pointy square bolsters, and it really bugs me when the back of the tang is exposed and quite high.

That's a really cool ad, by the way. Thanks for posting.

-- Mark

 

[Byrom Hermo]

For me it's US made, good fit and finish, natural handle scales like stag (or bone that was jigged by hand and not some machine in China), nickel silver bolsters on both ends, preferably multi blade but can be single blade, they all walk and talk, and carbon steel.

Old Case from before the 80's

A traditional pocket knife

 

[mrknife]

for me its blade, aesthetics, scale material, and a very few limited patterns, mostly slimming or symmetrical handles. i suppose the steel matters too but id want it to be something I can manage. Not a steel snob but something easily maintainable with my lansky crocksticks

 

[Wurrwulf]

I look for thin blades with good grinds, ergonomics, and efficiency. By efficiency, I mean blade to handle ratio combined with blade capability. One of the reasons I'm such a big fan of the Peanut is its ability to "punch above its weight" when it comes to cutting duty. The thin, long clip blade is effective for such a wide range of cutting tasks yet it tucks nearly into a compact ergonomic package. I think a full length wharncliffe secondary Peanut would be an end-all, be-all for me. It would be an incredible amount of blade in a fantastic little package.