What specs are major turn-offs?

CoolBreeze135

CoolBreeze135

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Oct 23, 2014
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This is the question: What specs really turn you off when looking at a knife? I'm sure we have all had an experience where we were looking around online and browsing knife models. You see a knife that catches your eye. It looks good, like it was made with your style in mind. You click on the product page to see more pictures and get the specs. Then you see that one little fact that ruins the entire knife design for you. What is it? Just curious to see all the various answers.

We all know that this is a subjective issue. This isn't the place to argue about whether or not certain features are objectively good or objectively bad. I just want to hear opinions for the fun of the discussion.

For me, the biggest turn off is a chisel grind. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a photo of a knife that I'm really into until I see a photo of the opposite side and realize that it has a freakin' chisel grind. I really love symmetry, so chisel grinds just rub me the wrong way. That kills the whole knife for me right then and there. (If you hadn't guessed, this exact situation happened to me 10 minutes ago, which inspired the thread).
 
Chisel Grinds on knives I wish didn't have them. Certain low grade steels, spring assist on some knives that I feel don't need it. Holes in the blade, like those new DDR knives.
 
Certain spring assisted knives have really caught my attention, but I never bought one just for that reason. Don't get me wrong, I have quite a few knives with that type of mechanism, I just don't need any more. If they made a legitimate manual Leek/Chive, I'd own a dozen. While you can deassiste them, it really ruins it for me. Plain ol' bronze washers and a thumb stud/flipper tab and I'd be happy.
 
There are always exceptions, but these are some major turn-offs for me:
- Handle that only permits you to comfortably grip it one specific way
- Chisel grind
- Liner or frame lock (though this is not a hard & fast rule for me)
- Thickness of blade being disproportionate to its length (e.g., a 3" or less blade with 1/4" thickness)
- Shallow scandi grind
- Partially serrated edge
- Recurve edge - unless it is a large, purpose built chopper/cutter (bolo, kukri, etc.)
- Excessive branding (e.g., SOG plasters its logo all over some of its models)
 
Assisted opening which is kind of strange since I carried a Kershaw Leek for a couple years.

Also dislike serrated blades and chisel grinds

I think with a few exceptions that fixed blades need leather sheaths. Cold Steel is a major offender as is Kabar. I really wanted a BK16 until I saw the sheath it came with. I'll give makers like ESEE a pass on their sheaths but still not what I would prefer.
 
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Recurves
Combo-Edges (half serrated/half PE)
Tanto Point
Nightmare Grind/mult. edge grinds
Steel that has less edge holding than VG-10/154cm
Short thick grinds (short saber or hollow grind)
Blades that are too tall/wide
Knives with poor blade/handle ratio
Aluminum handles/slick polished handles
Choils taking up space on blades that should be sharpened (if I have a 3.5" blade and 5" handle I don't need .5" more cutting edge to be sacrificed for even more handle)
I don't like tip down (but I do have several Spyderco Military knives and like them besides that)
Assisted opening (applies to thumbstud/hole knives, they're okay for flipper knives)
Zombie/ninja/survivor marketing logos/paint all over the knife
 
Two different scale materials, I like symmetry on handles same on both sides. For instance Titanium one scale the other g10 with no liner. Oh yeah and ugly chisel grind, even though they doncut well it’s like it pulls to a side!
 
Flippers , chisel grinds , any kind of plastic handle and carbon steel blades are all deal breakers for me.
 
  1. Anything Zombie/tactical/ninja
  2. A hole in the blade
  3. Finger choil on blade
  4. Steel lower than AUS-8
  5. Blade stock in a folder over .115
  6. Handles that force a certain grip
  7. Saber grind on any blade
  8. Partially serrated edge
  9. Recurve edge
  10. Flippers
  11. Assisted opening, I did make an exception for the Benchmade 490, weak enough spring to open two handed
  12. Tonto
  13. A scale on only one side
  14. Thumb studs so far forward they get in the way of sharpening or cutting.
  15. Overly textured pocket eating grips
  16. A hole in the blade
  17. Finger choil on blade
  18. Anything Zombie/tactical/ninja
 
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