-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
What popular knives that you don't understand why
- Thread starter Blackie Scantling
- Start date
I never said that. I'm a big fixed blade and ax/hawk guy. So the tactical knife craze is a bit lost on me. The overbuilt "hard use" folders always seem to be a joke I never caught onto. Especially when you consider that any decently built fixed blade will outperform a "hard use" folder.
I actually do love flippers, probably my favorite folder that I own is a Microtech DOC (kinda falls a little in line with the beefy folders, but it was for the aesthetics of it). G10/Titanium knives have never set well with me, G10 forever feels like a cheap material to me.
I like hard use folders because i live in a city as a contractor and cannot just carry around fixed blade knives on me. The heavy duty overbuilt knives come in handy for me in a bind. I would totally carry fixed blades if i could but the cops would get me.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,347
I never understood how a knife that was made from G-10 and fairly common blade steel could warrant a $500 sticker price. Especially when a lot of them have blade play and wobble and you are told by the manufacturer that this is "normal" and not to worry. I've tried to like Striders, I like the designs, I just don't see or feel a $400+ knife when I have owned or handled them.
Any chisel grind. Owned an Emerson CQC-7, I constantly had to adjust the pivot screw and the chisel grind couldn't slice through warm butter. It was designed and meant to be used as a knife to stab people. Not a very practical knife for EDC.
Busse - if I were trapped in a cinder block coffin and can only have one knife then I'd want a Busse. Outside of that unlikely scenario, I can't see the need for one. Thick, heavy, and difficult to sharpen, yet they command a premium. I once owned a fat game warden, it was essentially an expensive chisel/pry bar.
Any chisel grind. Owned an Emerson CQC-7, I constantly had to adjust the pivot screw and the chisel grind couldn't slice through warm butter. It was designed and meant to be used as a knife to stab people. Not a very practical knife for EDC.
Busse - if I were trapped in a cinder block coffin and can only have one knife then I'd want a Busse. Outside of that unlikely scenario, I can't see the need for one. Thick, heavy, and difficult to sharpen, yet they command a premium. I once owned a fat game warden, it was essentially an expensive chisel/pry bar.
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2014
- Messages
- 162
Its funny... i hear that all the time, and i am always blown away by how many people must walk around with big fixed blades hanging from their belt. And maybe you do, and more power to you. Sadly, there are plenty of us who CAN'T have a big fixed blade on us, and have to carry these broken knives. In that case.. yes, you bet your butt that i want the strongest and best built folder i can get; seeing that its ALL i can get. Now, i take it one step further for myself, in that my knife if my only access to self defense, so i favor the larger folders.
Truth be told... even if i could legally carry then, frankly, i wouldn't; i have no desire to have a some big rigid knife hanging off my belt (anything more, and i swear i will feel like bat man). But in the same spirit, i don't want to compromise utility, so why not make real strong folders? Sure as heck nothing a "joke" about them...
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 707
Got a quarter of the way through this thread - thought I could cope with the negativity and still see some interesting perspectives. I couldn't so opted out but wanted to acknowledge the wisdom of this comment
Enjoy getting worked up, I'm out.
Ben
Sabercat
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2015
- Messages
- 1,341
I appreciate this thread because it comforts me in knowing I'm not the only person who dislikes the "typical" spyderco look. In all fairness, there are some styles I really like, but cost more than I'm willing to pay. Also, I believe they probably are well made, and serve those who use them well. I keep thinking I should buy one, just so I can determine quality myself, but there are just so many other well made knives in that price range that I feel look better, and would better serve me as an EDC.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2010
- Messages
- 1,091
Not trying to be condescending, but you know that your thumb isn't meant to actually stick into/through the hole, right?
Yes!
It's the "edge of the hole" that allows a thumb the friction and force needed to open the blade. (Actually 2 ways I guess, some people push on the very top edge of the hole, and some lay there whole thumb in the hole and push down and out on the whole thing) is It just me or is this a subject that's really hard to put in words??
But I hate passing my thumb across a hole, edge, etx... only to skim and slide over it.
And I know other people have their own preferences as everyone's needs are different, but If I can't open a knife easily with one hand, it will not by in my EDC.
If ANYONE can stick more than a pinky through a hole on a blade, isn't it more of a ring at that point?
nyefmaker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2008
- Messages
- 6,257
I would easily say Strider. I know they have their fans, but they do have their issues from the quality of the knife all the way up to the owner. Mick lied about his military service, which is a huge No No in this country because we all had family members that died for this country. Then there is the quality or lack thereof of the knives themselves. Uncomfortable in hand. Lock Slippage. Uneven Grinds. Scratches from the factory. Zero customer service. I have had several and tried them, so I have first hand experience. Not bashing them, just stating my experiences with them. Will just never own another is all.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2013
- Messages
- 764
Let's see...
Another vote for ZT, I don't like them the're brick like, over bilt and for the weight and un-com
For this one I'll take some heat but Busse knives. They look cool, are tough as hell but their stupid expensive, way over built and the ones I have handled are very uncomfortable and don't have much performance differences between lower end blades of the same dimensions (aside from edge retention)
Blades thicker than 1/4. Why is more necessary? Even the biggest blades don't need to be thicker than that.
Gut hooks combined with knives. Why? I have been hunting for a while and use gut hooks but using them on the back of the blade is just awkward and dangerous for me
Emerson, they look like they were assembled in a garage. I mean for half the price I'd be all over them bu damn... Not worth the $$$
Blades over 4" that have cord wrapped blades. WTF? In a big blade that I'll be using for biog tasks I need the extra ergos
The Tom Brown tracker. Too heavy, Over designed, Over built, too thick of grind, over priced and over marketed
ABSOLUTELY ANY "PATHFINDER" knife. Dave, I love your work but am not willing to pay $x2 because of your name on the blade
Machetes under 14" long and 3.2mm thick. All the brush clearing ability and chopping ability of a medium fixed blade paired with the delicate nature of a massive fixed blade
Also, as far as the Spydie hate, I love their knives but I have to admit they are pretty ugly. I always seem to have worn away thumbs, cuts and scrapes and thumb studs cam be rather uncomfortable. The holes are much easier to use. And the the lack of something sticking out the sides make the blades less cumbersome and pass through materials easier.
These are my humble criticisms, not worth anything really but how I feel
Another vote for ZT, I don't like them the're brick like, over bilt and for the weight and un-com
For this one I'll take some heat but Busse knives. They look cool, are tough as hell but their stupid expensive, way over built and the ones I have handled are very uncomfortable and don't have much performance differences between lower end blades of the same dimensions (aside from edge retention)
Blades thicker than 1/4. Why is more necessary? Even the biggest blades don't need to be thicker than that.
Gut hooks combined with knives. Why? I have been hunting for a while and use gut hooks but using them on the back of the blade is just awkward and dangerous for me
Emerson, they look like they were assembled in a garage. I mean for half the price I'd be all over them bu damn... Not worth the $$$
Blades over 4" that have cord wrapped blades. WTF? In a big blade that I'll be using for biog tasks I need the extra ergos
The Tom Brown tracker. Too heavy, Over designed, Over built, too thick of grind, over priced and over marketed
ABSOLUTELY ANY "PATHFINDER" knife. Dave, I love your work but am not willing to pay $x2 because of your name on the blade
Machetes under 14" long and 3.2mm thick. All the brush clearing ability and chopping ability of a medium fixed blade paired with the delicate nature of a massive fixed blade
Also, as far as the Spydie hate, I love their knives but I have to admit they are pretty ugly. I always seem to have worn away thumbs, cuts and scrapes and thumb studs cam be rather uncomfortable. The holes are much easier to use. And the the lack of something sticking out the sides make the blades less cumbersome and pass through materials easier.
These are my humble criticisms, not worth anything really but how I feel
Last edited:
Generally I really really do not understand the whole "sharpened prybar" thing. What's the bloody point with a cutting tool that don't cut very well? I can come up with one reason and that's for kind of a "designexercise", for fun. But, that's a subject beaten to death. I guess that may be a cultural preference. 
/ J
/ J
:disillusionment:
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2012
- Messages
- 246
I think there are some beautiful traditional knives (have yet to see a Moki that wasn't stunningly pretty). Case and GEC have some patterns that look to be a perfect combination of handle size/shape and blade size/shape. Really, really cool stuff. All that said, why do 99.95% of traditionals have to come with bone handles? I cannot stand bone handles. Not one little bit. You've got the nice polished steel blade, polished bolsters, quality machining throughout and you slap a handle on it that looks like Calvin Coolidge's childhood dog chewed on it. I just don't get it.
Benchmade. Wait, wait, hear me out. They are wonderful knives. I've got a sheepsfoot mini grip that I love. It just seems like the meat of their product lineup is so repetitive. Is that a 909? Maybe it's a 477... or a 777. It might be 580... or even a 527... who the hell knows? It just seems like the formula is axis lock + a fairly conservative drop point 3 to 3.5" blade (you can also offer a tanto variant) + a handle that is comfortable but otherwise completely unremarkable and boom! You've got a new design. I've got a friend that absolutely hates Spyderco but loves Benchmade. I'm a big Spyderco fan, but obviously I'm not crazy about BM. I can send him a picture of any new Spyderco I get and he'll reply back "Oh, you got a Techno" or "I love the blade on that Stretch". My replies are always along the lines of "Man that thing is pretty! What model is that?"
Strider. Nope. Sorry I don't get it. They look like someone decided they wanted to start making knives but didn't want to bother with the tools needed to do any form of intricate work. "We need to fasten the clip to the handle? I think there is some quarter-twenty bolts in that bin out in the shop." "Who needs a CNC center when you've got a couple manual drill presses, a cold saw and a mill from Harbor Freight?"
Benchmade. Wait, wait, hear me out. They are wonderful knives. I've got a sheepsfoot mini grip that I love. It just seems like the meat of their product lineup is so repetitive. Is that a 909? Maybe it's a 477... or a 777. It might be 580... or even a 527... who the hell knows? It just seems like the formula is axis lock + a fairly conservative drop point 3 to 3.5" blade (you can also offer a tanto variant) + a handle that is comfortable but otherwise completely unremarkable and boom! You've got a new design. I've got a friend that absolutely hates Spyderco but loves Benchmade. I'm a big Spyderco fan, but obviously I'm not crazy about BM. I can send him a picture of any new Spyderco I get and he'll reply back "Oh, you got a Techno" or "I love the blade on that Stretch". My replies are always along the lines of "Man that thing is pretty! What model is that?"
Strider. Nope. Sorry I don't get it. They look like someone decided they wanted to start making knives but didn't want to bother with the tools needed to do any form of intricate work. "We need to fasten the clip to the handle? I think there is some quarter-twenty bolts in that bin out in the shop." "Who needs a CNC center when you've got a couple manual drill presses, a cold saw and a mill from Harbor Freight?"
GronK
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2001
- Messages
- 19,303
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2010
- Messages
- 1,091
Yes!
It's the "edge of the hole" that allows a thumb the friction and force needed to open the blade. (Actually 2 ways I guess, some people push on the very top edge of the hole, and some lay there whole thumb in the hole and push down and out on the whole thing) is It just me or is this a subject that's really hard to put in words??
But I hate passing my thumb across a hole, edge, etx... only to skim and slide over it.
And I know other people have their own preferences as everyone's needs are different, but If I can't open a knife easily with one hand, it will not by in my EDC.
If ANYONE can stick more than a pinky through a hole on a blade, isn't it more of a ring at that point?
Haha, ok. The way you phrased your first statement, about your thumbs being too big for the hole, had me thinking you were trying to use it by sticking your thumb into it.
I guess I still don't understand how your thumb can be too big to use the spyder-hole (most of them are pretty big). You must be a giant of a man, at least in the hands department!