What's the worst knife you've ever bought?

Schrade Water Rat. I bought this because it was a BRIGHT ORANGE blunt tip to keep on my PFD when kayaking. The serrations didn't cut anything I tried it on, and the steel was ridiculously soft. It was also impossible to remove from the sheath without hand tools. It was very rust resistant though, so I ground down the serrations, which instituted a bit of a recurve, made a kydex sheath for it, and I now use it as a bait knife on the kayak so I don't stab myself when prying clams open.

I bought an NRS Co-pilot as a PFD knife to replace it, and while it rusts often due to the bead-blast finish (WHY they did this I have no idea) but it stays sharp and the sheath allows for very easy removal when/if I need it.
 
My worst has to be a Buck 301 stockman. US made but the blades rubbed together so much that it would not even come close to closing all the way. I need to send it back to Buck for replacement but was so put off that I just threw it in a drawer for now.
 
Sep said:
Vic steel is pretty soft and it would roll rather than chip. It won't win awards for edge retention because Victorinox would rather have a cheap but tough stainless steel. What is your typical use? This is an honest question.
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My typical use really varies depending on what particular odd job or task I have on hand, but opening boxes, cutting insulation foam, cutting straps (webbing and plastic) and cutting rope/line are tasks I do almost every day. And in my experience, I've yet to see a rolled Vic edge, but a few chipped ones when sharpening knives for others.
 
My first two kershaws in 440v and it wasnt the steel they both fell apart bad .But kershaw does have AWESOME customer service .
 
I bought 3 spring assisted folders from China to practice my sharpening skills. The liner itself is a 90 deg bevel but every bit as sharp as the blade and there is an exposed point of the liner lock where your finger hits when open that is nearly as sharp as the point. All the cross head screws on one had the heads stripped and were sharp enough to snag on clothes or fingers. I'm going to have to do some grinding just to handle them safely.

I wouldn't give them to my worst enemy...
 
randomlooker said:
The worst I didn't buy was a Chinese imitation SAK that was included free with an order. The blades are pot metal so soft I can bend them back and forth and have them stay in that position.
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I did buy one of those ($3 in 1990). Same brand as below. It blew apart the first time I used the screwdriver.
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The worst brand name knife I ever bought was a first generation Buck crosslock. Decent steel, but the bladestop was part of the molded handle. It folded backward under heavy use (hand pressure, not batonning).
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Arakiel said:
CRKT mini kiss or some stupid name like that....marketed as a money clip....a folder with no frame. The knife edge waits until you reach into your pocket when you are drunk at a bar....oh look, I'm bleeding.
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You don't have one, do you? The chisel ground blade is flat against the one handle scale and you can't get cut.
 
I personally haven't bought a crappy knife. Ive been given low quality knives but i dont see them as users but unique pieces. I do appreciate them, just would never use them.
 
I take that back. I just remembered buying a benchmade vex. I hated it. The liner lock wore your fingers out, the steel left something to be desired and it just wasnt finished well. I brought it back and put the money up for a griptilian.
 
A Smith & Wesson Folder with a Serrated Edge...it just fell apart and the steel was crap! Made in China...
 
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I am noticing one recurring theme for cheap knives is Smith & Wesson...
 
The worst knife I ever bought was a SPYDERCO POLICE. I bought it through the mail without being able to handle it or see it. Uncomfortable in the hand. Excessive blade play. An uneven blade grind. Very dull out of the box. What seemed to be soft steel. Easy to sharpen but very fast to dull. If that wasn't enough, after a couple of weeks, I came to realize it was the ugliest knife I'd ever handled. I got so disgusted with it, while lake fishing one day, I just threw it in about 60 feet of water. I realize Spyderco would probably replace it for me, but that's like going to a restaurant where you have a bad meal, and the management offers you a voucher for a free meal next time you come back. Why would I want a free meal where the food was nasty? Anyway, I since have purchased one other SPYDERCO knife. A STRETCH, with ZDP-189 steel, and Carbon Fiber scales. I bought it to use as a food prep slicer for the most part. Mechanically it is very nice. Problem is that big hole catches food, making it slightly more time consuming to clean. It still is fug-ugly though and mostly sits in my knife drawer. I've decided to go with an actual purpose built, good kitchen knife, with good steel and a custom sheath made for it. What a concept, the right tool for the job!
 
Glock 78 field knife. Terrible steel, terrible blade geometry. I wouldn't say I got ripped off because is was only about $30 but on the other hand I doubt I ever got $30 worth of utilility out of it. I still have it and I loan it to people. They seem impressed by the thing so I seem like a decent guy for loaning (these are non-knife types who camp out and whatnot) but I loose no sleep while it is away. I loaned it to a buddy who hasn't got a gun and really wanted "something" for camping all over the east coast. He, his girlfriend (now wife and mother of his 5 kids) and it came back after two weeks in one piece.
 
...cheapo knife and knock-off Zippo-style lighter set at a truck stop.....had the EG&A on it so blame my drill instructor...
 
worst knife i probally bought was a jeep survival knife from big 5 for like 20 bucks. I didn't really have a good sharpening system when I had it so i never got it as sharp as I could have. The compass in the handle broke early on but it was not really a bad knife and I only really took it with me once while hiking thru the desert. Never really used it for anything, just something novel to have I guess.
 
The wrost i have ever bought was a united cutlery karambit. It will not come to a good edge no matter what i do and i can put a razor edge on a rock ;p I really dont see why yall have such a problem with S & W i have had a few of there knives ( SW border guard in my pocket right now) and i have never had a problem with them. My dad has carried one or another everyday for about ten years. never had a single problem.
 
I bought this Mtech fixed blade tanto type thing with like the synthetic stacked leather handle look. Next gen Ka-bar kinda thing. Spent $30 on that P.O.S >.>
This was likeee last year before i actually started looking at knives seriously.
Dropped that knife once and the tip bent right in half.
 
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