What's the biggest deal killer for you?

Moxy said:
Size.
I couldn't count how many times I've thought "man if there was a 3 inch version of this, I'd buy it in a heartbeat". I'm not at all a fan of big, overbuilt, chunky folders. I prefer sleek and slim. Any folder I buy is always for an EDC context. I just don't see the need for anything over 3.5 inches. Of course your milage may vary.
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I have leaned to this myself too. Just don't like to carry anything that doesn't fit to my jeans coin pocket anymore. :D
 
asdf12345 said:
Here are my biggest deal breakers:


If you were to trace a line around the handle of a knife, that line would need to be at least 12 inches long before I would consider purchasing that knife.

I won't purchase a folding knife that weighs more than 5 ounces and I won't purchase a fixed blade that weighs more than 7 ounces.

For LH folders, tip down is a no go. For RH folders, tip up is a no go. For IWB carry, high carrying pocket clips (where a lot of knife sticks out) are a no go. For pocket carry, deep carrying pocket clips are a no go.

I won't purchase knives with custom or proprietary pocket clips, especially machined/sculpted ones. I want to be able to switch out the clips and continue carrying my knife without skipping a beat if something were to happen to the existing clip. (That's why my Ultratech is the earlier model that used the CRK type pocket clip)

If the balance point of the knife isn't at least close to the finger choil, then that's a deal breaker. For a knife that sees use I prefer the balance point to be there.

I won't purchase a knife using the following damascus patterns:

Razor Wire
Bacon
Mosaic damascus with faces or the American flag
Firestorm
Random pattern
Hakkapella pattern damasteel
Twist
Diamondback
Ladder (if it doesn't have a tight pattern)
Reptilian
Typhoon
Cheetah
Fade
Blackout
Lizard
Intrepid
Sweep
Whiplash
Various San-Mai damascus types
Blued damascus with a deep purple or fade color - yuck.

I won't purchase a knife with the bolstered look on one side and plain Ti on the lock side. I also won't purchase a knife whose lock side is visually busy and chaotic.

I won't purchase a knife with the 66+ HRC steels like YRX7 or Maxamet or the super wear resistant steels like S110-V or ZDP.

I won't purchase a knife with a carbon fiber or copper beryllium blade. Too much to go wrong.

Blade inlays are a deal breaker for me as I'm too paranoid about something happening to the inlays as a result of use or temperature changes.

Camouflage, C-tek & tiger stripes do absolutely nothing for me and I actively avoid knives with that type of aesthetic. Anything "zombie" related is a total eyesore and I won't own a knife with any branding, marking or coloration to do with "zombies".

PVD and Cerakote type coatings look and feel like paint and they are deal breakers on a knife. If I buy a knife with a coated blade, it's going to be a proper boron carbide or titanium nitride DLC.

If a knife has metal handles they cannot be satin or stonewash finished because of the discomfort and slipperiness in use.

To me, anything with copper or brass is tacky & ugly and is to be avoided.

Skulls and skull imagery. Tacky & ugly.

"Moonglow" or various other glow in the dark inlays, scales or backspacers. Tacky & ugly.

Serrations and guthooks are deal breakers, as are awkward or nonfunctional compound grinds.

I didn't have a problem with exotic types of hardware earlier (spanner, tri-wing, other proprietary) but they are now deal breakers. The screws have to be Torx, flathead, Phillips or hex.

I won't purchase a hawkbill unless it's recurved. I won't purchase a tanto if it is recurved. I won't purchase a recurve if the recurve is too deep.



I have a lot more deal-breakers, but these are the ones that will completely and immediately remove a knife from my consideration.
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Good god!
I thought I was picky:eek:

I think it would have been easier to just tell us what you do like:)
 
Frame lock, asymmetrical scales, assist, and flippers. Nope, nope, nope, nope.

Also, no SAKs, or skulls. I will avoid black handle scales, too. :D
 
ebidis said:
See that's what I find interesting. The different preferences people have.

I'm exactly the opposite. I don't like to go under 3.25", and prefer between 3.5" and 4" due to handle size. I find the smaller handles too uncomfortable. Maybe because I'm 6'3" and 225 lbs. I don't have huge hands, but they ain't small either.
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I agree. I feel unprepared with anything less than a 3.5" blade, preferably with a sharp point for extreme penetration:D
 
Any design that is fundamentally poor. That means it can have or lack any number of different features, but it's the combination and context of them needs to add up to something that's actually useful in some way or another.
 
[video=youtube;yqgXocyMKm8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqgXocyMKm8[/video]
 
I can't say that there's any one specific thing that's a deal killer for me. My willingness to tolerate certain undesired characteristics would be based on a number of factors, like how that characteristic would impact intended use, and also the price of the knife. If I'm talking about a $30-40 knife that has a small amount of blade play or doesn't have the pocket clip where I want it, I'm probably willing to overlook the issue. If it's a $200 hard use knife, then something like blade play would be an immediate deal breaker.
 
Jeru said:
I have learnt the expensive way, but unfortunately I can only, strictly and solely carry folders tip-DOWN. Perhaps because of my XS hands. So the biggest deal-breaker for me unfortunately is: tip-up only. And yes, that is freaking frustrating and annoying.

Also, I would like to say that an obvious deal-breaker is when some smug on the World Wide Web ships (CON)US-only. Not in the least place here in the Exchange too. All those American Knife Nuts that can brag about "this great community" but at the same time exclude the rest of the world of this "great community" when selling or giving away a knife. Of course there are plenty of American individuals and shops that ship international (with The Knife Connection having the lowest international shipping costs) but it is a deal breaker of course for the rest of the world and a freaking annoying one as well. By the way: this ridiculous fear for shipping international (a service that is older than the US itself) is solely and only displayed by some Americans, never I have heard from an other nationality this reluctancy for international shipping, not from Canadians, nor Kiwis, nor Aussies, nor Brits, nor Japs. Anyway, sorry for my mini-rant.
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When you've had multiple packages that had expensive items in them just up and disappear after some scumbag in a foreign country's post office helped themselves, then come talk to us about "ridiculous fear", mkay?
 
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Man its really hard to make note of every thing that would get me to lose interest in a knife. But these are my biggest deal breakers

1. Assisted anything. I just dont want it.
2. Flippers that dont flip without wrist movement
3. Fake materials like G10 made to look like carbon fiber, or simulated horn and shell. Blades etched to look like damascus
4. poor fitment and tolerances.
 
My on topic response would be that as I've gotten older, my tastes have changed. So, here are several things that are immediate turnoffs for me:

- Serrations. Though I won't buy any more, I still have a few knives that have serrations, from back when I subscribed that old logic of "Well, so if my knife edge gets dull, I can still cut stuff with the serrated edge! Yay!" Yeah, no. Learn to sharpen.
- Black coated blades. I don't have a requirement for the ability to remove sentries without being seen, and I live in an extremely knife friendly state. So, satin or stonewash blade finishes for me, please.
- Chunky knives with small blades. If the blade is less than three inches long, it needs to be a super small, slim knife, like a Traditional, or something like a Spyderco Dragonfly.
- I have really come to enjoy flippers. Assisted opens aren't necessarily a dealbreaker, but I don't specifically seek them out like I did when I was in my early 20's either.
- Super "artsy" type knives with very busy designs and adornment, like William Henry's for example. Jeweled thumb studs? What? No, thanks. I can appreciate others' taste for man jewelry, I just don't personally go in for that.
- Tactical and/or fighting knives. I will never in my life be in a knife-fight, and I am not a martial arts master with 30 years of knife-fighting training. I'm also not a soldier. Most of those fighting/sentry removal type knives are generally useless for any other application so, I'm just not interested in those sorts of designs.
- Super complicated blade grinds. If I can't sharpen it freehand on a stone, or use my Sharpmaker, I'm not interested.
- Chinese knives. I do my best not to buy them. I make VERY limited exceptions in cases where it's a Kershaw knife. Other than that, not interested.


Other than that, I'm game for whatever I may find!
 
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50/50 serrated blades are a no go for me. Also overly arnate knives. To me the beauty often lies in the simplicity of the design but not always. I love my 562 which has bearings.
 
Jeru said:
I have learnt the expensive way, but unfortunately I can only, strictly and solely carry folders tip-DOWN. Perhaps because of my XS hands. So the biggest deal-breaker for me unfortunately is: tip-up only. And yes, that is freaking frustrating and annoying.

Also, I would like to say that an obvious deal-breaker is when some smug on the World Wide Web ships (CON)US-only. Not in the least place here in the Exchange too. All those American Knife Nuts that can brag about "this great community" but at the same time exclude the rest of the world of this "great community" when selling or giving away a knife. Of course there are plenty of American individuals and shops that ship international (with The Knife Connection having the lowest international shipping costs) but it is a deal breaker of course for the rest of the world and a freaking annoying one as well. By the way: this ridiculous fear for shipping international (a service that is older than the US itself) is solely and only displayed by some Americans, never I have heard from an other nationality this reluctancy for international shipping, not from Canadians, nor Kiwis, nor Aussies, nor Brits, nor Japs. Anyway, sorry for my mini-rant.
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I feel your pain as I too, live outside the USA. However, having worked for outfits that shipped overseas from the USA, I can tell you that fraud and theft are serious concerns and there is so much lost revenue, some places simply will not chance it. Even trying to collect on the insurance is chancy. USPS will not often honor the insurance once the item leaves the USA.
Another good company to buy from that ships overseas is Knifeworks. There are some others, too.
 
The biggest deal killer for me is price, followed by the country in which it was made (China, Pakistan, etc.).
 
Not a big fan of coated blades, recurves, liner locks or most things tactical/ninja-esque. If it looks like a knife that might be selected to be in a sci-fi or action movie I'll probably hate it. I have a low tolerance for blade play and poor fit & finish. If I like the looks of a knife, then I consider ergos, blade geometry, value and my needs before moving forward. That being said, I just might buy a knife for its value as a collectible even though it is not to my likings as a user.
 
Jeru said:
Also, I would like to say that an obvious deal-breaker is when some smug on the World Wide Web ships (CON)US-only. Not in the least place here in the Exchange too. All those American Knife Nuts that can brag about "this great community" but at the same time exclude the rest of the world of this "great community" when selling or giving away a knife. Of course there are plenty of American individuals and shops that ship international (with The Knife Connection having the lowest international shipping costs) but it is a deal breaker of course for the rest of the world and a freaking annoying one as well. By the way: this ridiculous fear for shipping international (a service that is older than the US itself) is solely and only displayed by some Americans, never I have heard from an other nationality this reluctancy for international shipping, not from Canadians, nor Kiwis, nor Aussies, nor Brits, nor Japs. Anyway, sorry for my mini-rant.
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If I don't have to hassle with shipping overseas and dealing with customs I won't. It makes no sense to get into all that when you can easily find a buyer in the States. It's not about excluding people, it's about saving me time and hassle and that is my prerogative. I work in shipping and STILL don't have any desire to deal with all that when a domestic buyer is easily found.

As to the OP; thumbstuds. Can't stand having something perpendicular to the blade. It just seems off to me.
 
On topic:

I am not going to say cost but rather value. I don't mind paying a lot of money for something as long as I think it is worth it. I also don't look down at inexpensive knives as long as they are well made and the materials are appropriate for the price point. Just a direct example is the CRKT Fossil folders. I would own one right now if the price reflected the materials and level of manufacturing quality.

Also, blade length for a folder. I have found I just can't live without at least 3.5" blade length. Out of the 30 to 40 folders I have only 2-3 are less than 3.5"

Jeru said:
I have learnt the expensive way, but unfortunately I can only, strictly and solely carry folders tip-DOWN. Perhaps because of my XS hands. So the biggest deal-breaker for me unfortunately is: tip-up only. And yes, that is freaking frustrating and annoying.

Also, I would like to say that an obvious deal-breaker is when some smug on the World Wide Web ships (CON)US-only. Not in the least place here in the Exchange too. All those American Knife Nuts that can brag about "this great community" but at the same time exclude the rest of the world of this "great community" when selling or giving away a knife. Of course there are plenty of American individuals and shops that ship international (with The Knife Connection having the lowest international shipping costs) but it is a deal breaker of course for the rest of the world and a freaking annoying one as well. By the way: this ridiculous fear for shipping international (a service that is older than the US itself) is solely and only displayed by some Americans, never I have heard from an other nationality this reluctancy for international shipping, not from Canadians, nor Kiwis, nor Aussies, nor Brits, nor Japs. Anyway, sorry for my mini-rant.
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Just take a stroll through the GB&U and look at all the threads where people have lost things international. So, you want the American's to risk their hard earned money so you can buy our stuff? How does this make sense? I mean, if you want to rant about it fine but it is a loosing argument. To ship properly international costs quite a bit more. Again, you want the Americans to get less money so you can buy our stuff?

"never I have heard from an other nationality this reluctancy for international shipping, not from Canadians, nor Kiwis, nor Aussies, nor Brits, nor Japs" And do you know why that is? BECAUSE THEY ARE FREAKING INTERNATIONAL. Not rocket science.

Remember, in a proper deal, the item shipped is a risk the seller takes wholly on his or her self. I've bought and sold a lot of stuff and the only time I have lost anything was when it left this country's boarders.

Oh, and ranting about how bad we American's are with our selling policy and insulting us sure won't convince many of us to sell internationally. And I am pretty sure "Jap" is not the proper nomenclature for a person from Japan, dude.

LadyEarth said:
Simply this: Made in China is a deal killer.

Yes, I'm aware that some knives are well made, etc etc. But generally I don't trust the Chinese workers to get it right in a high quality way that the American workers would. And I also don't trust the Chinese material/metal qualities for various reasons.

That would be my #1 deal breaker.
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I don't think it is the Chinese as a people who decide to make a poor quality product. I am pretty sure they guy or gal on the floor is just doing a job and collecting a pay check. What ever company is who decides what quality leaves their factory. If they want to make a quality product they certainly can and some do.

I love to support the US work force as well but crappy knives leave American factories everyday as well. It is not just a Chinese affliction.
 
Jeru said:
Also, I would like to say that an obvious deal-breaker is when some smug on the World Wide Web ships (CON)US-only. Not in the least place here in the Exchange too. All those American Knife Nuts that can brag about "this great community" but at the same time exclude the rest of the world of this "great community" when selling or giving away a knife. Of course there are plenty of American individuals and shops that ship international (with The Knife Connection having the lowest international shipping costs) but it is a deal breaker of course for the rest of the world and a freaking annoying one as well. By the way: this ridiculous fear for shipping international (a service that is older than the US itself) is solely and only displayed by some Americans, never I have heard from an other nationality this reluctancy for international shipping, not from Canadians, nor Kiwis, nor Aussies, nor Brits, nor Japs. Anyway, sorry for my mini-rant.
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Well if you had been ripped off as much as many of us from crooked postal systems and dishonest buyers you may choose to sell locally too. Still I think you are placing blame on the wrong people. And your gripes seem to assume that those who only ship with in CONUS are doing it without proper cause. So when you are sitting there feeling sorry for yourself remember that when an american states they only ship CONUS they are excluding many fellow Americans too as conus excludes the states of Alaska, Hawaii and all the other territories in our control that arent part of the mainland. And we dont do it to just to do it. You know what I find annoying? Non americans making assumptions as to my motives. Looks like we both arent getting what we want. I personally got sick of being asked to lie on customs, take knives apart so to pass through customs, include the shipping charges that cost me $35 on a $20 knife or the nearly guaranteed "not as described" email asking for a discount when i have NEVER had it happen in the states. We have reasons. And those reasons are just as annoying to me as your assumptions are to you.
 
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