What you can't STAND in your knives...

R

RokBoks

Joined
Jul 6, 2011
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166
Sup peoples so I was thinking to myself what I like and don't like in my knives and I realized there are some things I really just can NOT stand in knives... for example:

Blade play: it sucks, it annoys me and it makes me feel like I wasted money. I'm so ocd about it i constantly check my blades for it and always tighten them. Partly a reason I don't carry my grip as often and partly a reason why i'm paranoid of buying anything from Benchmade anymore.

Bad Blade to handle ratio: Also feels like I blew money, this is mostly a preference for me though. Actually, this is a biggie for me it makes me hate my Spydies... Like my manix 2 has horrible blade to handle ratio and for the longest time i was blaming the weight for me not carrying it but it really is that i hate how little blade i get for such a big bulky package. I love the handle to blade ratio on my grip though, and even though my main EDC is my para 2 i can't help but feel repulsed by the short edge. Also my B200 bearsong was immediately on the "meh" list when i got it and saw how much more they could have grinded into blade...which led to a bm 42...

Bad Clip: For a while I took off my pocket clips because my knives felt so much better without them. But I don't mind a clip when it's executed right. Like spydie clips! They just work they slide in and out of the pocket with just the right amount of effort. I havent tried the new split arrow clips but the old bm clips tick me off a bit... my grip pulls my pants up every time i try to take it out.

Of course there are tons of other things I could say but a party is more fun so what are some things you can't stand in your knives?
 
Ok. Hates a serious word I use only for a very select few things and people.

My dislikes in the knife world.

1. A poorly designed handle. I carry every day. Right handed, cliped in right pocket. There are quite a few knives I have tried to enjoy only to find that the edges of the handle or the back of the blade has a sharp edge or rough spot. My hand is in and out of my pocket a lot, 2 delivery days on the road. When the side of my hand gets scratched or drags across the outer edge of the knife and it feels like the knife is in my way or fighting me it done. I've tried to carry a few CRKT knives and this has retired them quickly. My absolute #1 EDC is a Spyderco Sage II carbon fiber. When the knife is closed it is like a perfect oval. No points or edges or oversized thumb studs.

2. Rust. I like D2 steel and few others. In my kitchen knives, a little tarnish doesn't bother me at all. But on my pocket knife I just dislike rust even though I know there are trade offs in steel.

3. Too big. There are a LOT of knives I have really liked over the years. Quite a few benchmades among others but there just seems to be a point where a knife (when folded and clipped in my pocket) is just too big. If I can feel it all day, or have to nudge it over to clip my seatbelt, or if it pulls on my dockers. Then I am again aggravated and retire it.

As we collectors add more and more knives to our collection and carry different models I think we all get a little picky about what we expect and want out of our knife. It can be really hard to find the perfect knife. Blade shape, handle shape, handle thickness, weight, clip placement, steel type, handle material.
 
I canot stand:

serrations

double guards

thin blades

bad lockup

bad blade to handle ratio

bad jimping/no jimping

bad ergonomics

blocky handles
 
Irregularly, and oversharpened blades (I've have this problem with more than a couple Case knives.

Rust

Noticable blade wobble
 
well, rust is a tough one. As I have said before, rust has a 24/7 job and just keeps working 'ohne pause' to oxidize the metal. Just recently refurbished an old machete that sported a bone handle. Under the handle, the rust was actually flaking and had compromised the blade itself. Curiously enough, the rest of the blade was in order, but old ogre rust had done a good job in destruction. Rust is an equal op. employer! On the plus side, that old machete will now take a HECK of an edge and is a fine tool with a new handle thanks to JB weld.

Blade play is another booger and then some. My Normark big swede has screws that can be tightened, so this knife never suffers from such malady. I have had a few Schrade knives that got the dreaded wobble, but I soon fixed that with a little time and energy. My uncle used to tell me to carry a fixed blade to avoid the wobble so I assume he'd dealt with that hassle in his storied past.

Poorly designed or uncomfortable handles need to be deep sixed. Life is much too brief for sore hands in the field.
 
I can't stand knives that have a really bad edge put on them from the factory. My Griptilian 551 needed to get re-profiled when I bought it brand new! :grumpy:
 
I haven't had problems with rust so far and i don't mind spotting but i can see how it'd be a problem. Now being dull from the factory... :barf:

also i just can NOT take it when my knives make smart remarks... wait :foot: :D
 
I can't stand any blade play at all. An off centered blade that can't be adjusted ranks right up there too.
 
Gaps in fitting handles ,pommel , guard , etc.
uneven grinds
poor riveting
crappy blade coating
Blade play
 
Bad ergonomics are my personal bugaboo, partially because ergos are such a personal thing. I can do my research and get a good idea of edge retention, lockup, fit and finish and general build quality, but ergos remain a tossup. I've heard a few people that I am strongly inclined to trust say the Emerson CQC-10 is the most comfortable folder they've ever used, and I absolutely cannot stand using one for an extended period of time, ditto for the Skyline and Delica. All great knives, but I probably will never own any of them again because I can't seem to hold them comfortably.
 
Blade play, cheap fasteners/screws, that immediatly strip when using the correct tool. Rust.
 
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