What should I look for when gauging how crappy a knife is?

When you get your kitefin, you'll know what a good knife does WELL.

I break it down into:
- just got it: centering, action, sharpness, factory grind, defect-free, lockup

Had it for a bit:
- handle comfort during use, blade geometry, edge stability, edge retention, stainlessness, ease of cleaning/sharpening

Owned it for a long time:
- do I still pick it up to use? Or does it sit there

Now granted, MOST knives won't hit all of these and most people wont put the same value in these points, but most knifebros that handle knives for awhile will know as soon as they pick it up.
 
Leo Greer said:
Good points all.

What my question would be, is what does it actually cost to produce said titanium frame lock + m390, when you factor in things like costless labor (or nearly), and the bulk price of both metals, given that the knife has a 2.68" blade and 3.15" handle.

I don't know that I'm smart enough to answer that question without serious research.
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I don't know that it actually matters. A better question is how an apparently small and mostly unknown company could so dramatically undercut pretty much every other company in existence.

Just to give you an idea, the cheapest titanium frame locks with ceramic bearings and Chinese D2 (a steel that we see on several legitimate knives costing less than $30) still cost at least $50 retail. The CH3504S from CH knives is a good example at around $55.

If the titanium is titanium, the bearings are ceramic, and other factors like action or fit and finish are all good; something has to give when the price is surprisingly low. The most likely candidate is the steel. It might be the heat treatment in "M390" knives costing $100. It is probably the steel identity in "M390" knives costing $65. Generally, if a company is going to blatantly lie or scam on one model, and fails some of the other checks mentioned previously, they should be avoided like the plague.

While there is a chance that the knife you have is legit, I'd honestly recommend returning it to Amazon and spending the refund on a more established brand that doesn't raise these kinds of red flags. If you want to check out a lesser known but reliable brand, try something from CH or Petrified Fish.
 
I had to tell a customer this the other day: cheap is only cheap if it works. Failure is expensive.

I can be a pretty cheap b*stard myself, but only on some things.

Parker
 
Bob Denman said:
"Chinesium" knives?
I'd be happy with my WE Vapor as an "only one" knife! 👍
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The vapor might be my next purchase, if I decide the budget can handle it. Cheapest I've seen is $180 on eBay. Which really isn't bad for that caliber of knife.
 
I'm probably the "odd man out"; with my attitude on pricing...
But here it is:
I never buy based on price. I buy based solely on features. The price can always be justified; if the features of the knife are right.
I DID buy one "cheapie". It actually has been a stellar performer: the Petrified Fish PF858.IMG_11102021_143330.jpg
 
Leo Greer said:
The vapor might be my next purchase, if I decide the budget can handle it. Cheapest I've seen is $180 on eBay. Which really isn't bad for that caliber of knife.
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I paid a Helluva lot more than that for it. At $180: I'd buy another one!
 
I think it just sneaks in under three inches...
That's my sweet spot for blade length.
But for a titanium knife with carbon fiber scales, ceramic bearings, and S35VN steel: it rocks the list of components!
 
Bob Denman said:
I think it just sneaks in under three inches...
That's my sweet spot for blade length.
But for a titanium knife with carbon fiber scales, ceramic bearings, and S35VN steel: it rocks the list of components!
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The vapor is clearly a great choice, but I'd also be looking at the Beacon (similar pricing, but with 20CV), which has a longer blade that I'd prefer. That and the Balaenoptera, which seems to be very solid, but also distinctly harder to find.
 
catspa said:
I had to tell a customer this the other day: cheap is only cheap if it works. Failure is expensive.

I can be a pretty cheap b*stard myself, but only on some things.

Parker
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The relationship between real-world quality or utility and price is funny on knives. The WE knives discussed here tend to be "excellent" quality. I don't have these models but the ones I have certainly meet that standard. The step down to Civivi or something like the Kizer knives in N690 is only a step down to "good" but cuts the price in half (or better). While I definitely enjoy having a few in the "excellent" category, I could probably live the rest of my life just fine with "good" EDC knives.

Right now, I have a Civivi Bo in my pocket. It costs a lot less than some of the other knives being discussed here (except for Bob Denman Bob Denman 's PF858 and my example knife from CH). However, it reliably suits my needs. It's reasonably well-made. The thin blade slices nicely. It's another "cardigan pocket carry", which is perfect for a quiet New Year's Eve with family. :)
 
Yeah--diminishing returns. The more expensive you go, the less you get per dollar. I own a Kizer Sovereign that works just great. It won't pass the paper test forever after sharpening, and it doesn't have ceramic bearings, but it costs $40 and I enjoy using it as a kitchen knife.
 
Leo Greer said:
Don't ask me! I'm definitely the fng here. 😂

Finding Vapors for $160, Beacons for $200, and one Balaenoptera for $180. Choices, choices.
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I've got a Hogue Deka on the way, and a couple of David Mary's creations in varying stages of the ordering process...

... and a couple of CRKs on order (but at least a year away)
 
Bob Denman said:
I've got a Hogue Deka on the way, and a couple of David Mary's creations in varying stages of the ordering process...

... and a couple of CRKs on order (but at least a year away)
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David Mary David Mary does excellent work at reasonable prices. Watching new drops at various retailers, I often see production fixed blades of lesser quality that cost more. If you need a high-quality fixed blade for any purpose, I'd check with him first.
 
Chronovore said:
David Mary David Mary does excellent work at reasonable prices. Watching new drops at various retailers, I often see production fixed blades of lesser quality that cost more. If you need a high-quality fixed blade for any purpose, I'd check with him first.
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Thank you for the kind words. I have to admit I was a little freaked out at first when I saw this though:

1641001048861.png

🤣🤣🤣
 
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