When buying a new blade, what's your criteria?

M

Metal-Demon

Joined
Oct 15, 2000
Messages
176
Better yet, how do your priorities come into play when selecting a new blade, whether it be a show piece, wallhanger, or a blade that you intend on using everyday?

1) Price/Affordability of the blade
2) Style/Design of the blade
3) Practicality/Fit, Form, Function of the blade
4) Availability/Scarcity of the blade
5) Quality/Reputation of the blade and it's manufacturer

OR:

6) The "It's Just So Damn Cool, I Gotta Have It Right Now!!" factor of the piece?

Just curious to see what the general consensus is, in that I might go blade-hunting this week, and could use some advice on what aspect of a blade I should focus on when making a purchase.

Thanks in advance ...

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“Belül szívem hibád az örökkévaló erõs vastartalmú sok vasaló és orvosság."


Crushing the weak since 1970 .... the Demon has spoken.
 
First thing I look at is price
Second blade style
Third blade steel
Fourth the handle material
Some knives look like you just got to have one, others don't grab you.
You have to use your own likes and dislikes,let them come into play when you buy a knife what I think is real cool may not apeal to you. Some times looking is all the fun when looking for that new knife, have fun.


[This message has been edited by eaglehi1 (edited 10-16-2000).]
 
Have fun? I always do eagle .... trust me on that one!

You brought up a couple good points: blade steel and handle materials. Anything I should avoid, or look for? Bear in mind that the I don't know much a about steel grades and compositions .....



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“Belül szívem hibád az örökkévaló erõs vastartalmú sok vasaló és orvosság."


Crushing the weak since 1970 .... the Demon has spoken.
 
My priority list for a new knife ranks like this:

1. Style/Design of the blade and handle. I look for something that catches my eye.
2. Quality of the materials used. Durability is the name of the game for me.
3. Reputation. How forumites rate that particular knife is very important to me too. You can't go wrong when 100 forumites loved that knife.
4. Price. Gotta be within my budget.

No knife for me if it doesn't fit all of those criteria.
smile.gif
 
Thanks Batangueno ...... makes sense to me!

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“Belül szívem hibád az örökkévaló erõs vastartalmú sok vasaló és orvosság."


Crushing the weak since 1970 .... the Demon has spoken.
 
Welcome to the forums.
Criteria:
1. Brand-name. Not because I just "buy the name" but because the well established makers (like Buck and Spyderco and Victorinox, for example) usually make solid products and have great warranties. If I have never even heard of the maker I'm likely to pass it up.

2. Price.

3. Quality of materials and workmanship. This includes the handles and the steel.

4. Ergonomics. The knife must feel good in my hands and in my pocket (or on my belt).

 
Price is first, for me. Then the dimensions (overall length), for legal reasons. Then I consider if there are any specific uses I have in mind for the knife- which generally for me falls into two categories, kitchen/food preparation and general purpose. Popularity or name brand appeal fall somewhere close to dead last in what I consider.

JK
 
First off if the aesthetics catch me, I'll be interested in the knife. This includes overall design and blade style, choice of materials etc.

If the knife instantly grabs me, I do as much research on it as possible. If I feel it's a good dollar value it goes on my "gotta get" list. If after a few weeks I still want the knife, I look for the best price or try to find a used one, in good condition (I prefer this, because you can usually get a better deal).

If I'm thinking about a custom, there is a wide variety of other criteria that I look at.

~Mitch

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My Hobby Page
 
It depends what I am going to use it for. If its a bowie I will look for strength of steel and blade design. If its a folder I will look for muliple blades and size. One thing I always look for is natural handle material. Like stag or bone or wood. I don't like plastics too much.
 
The first thing I look for when buying a knife is what people on this forum say about that model. Then I look at the shape, size and materials used to see if I like the knife, then the maker, and the price of the knife. For instance, I was not interested at all in the lcc, but after hearing so many good things about this knife on the forums, I checked it out, I don't know about the design, but I love the materials, microtech is a very respected manufacturerer with a good reputation. It looks very nice, the price is very reasonable, so I will probably pick one up. Never underestimate the taste of people on these forums, they know knives!!!!!
Kile
 
I suggest reading this article by Blade-maker extraordinaire Darrel Ralph: Evaluating a Custom Knife.

Although written with custom knives in mind, the principles Darrel discusses are the same for production cutlery. The article is very detailed and has some great advice about both folders and fixed blades. Happy reading!

Paracelsus
 
Ya know what, M-D? You have just given me a startling revelation about myself. Most of the knives I have, I bought because I saw them and said "That is just so cool I gotta have it!"

BUT I do recall checking out the construction, fit and finish, blade steel and then the price..... and if the price was too high then I saved for a couple months 'til I got it.

Somewhere on this site is an article on different steels, give it a look. I learned a lot by reading just that one article.
 
Velitrius is talking about the BFC Knife Articles page

You may also enjoy reading my perspective on collecting knives Collecting Knives as Art

I too am attracted to a particular knife primarily because of visual appeal. But before I pay for something, I get very picky about a whole bunch of factors that are very well described in the Darrel Ralph article linked above. There are a lot of great looking knives. There are far fewer well made knives.

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 10-16-2000).]
 
I wish I was as noble as the posters before me. I buy knives like I used to date women; if they don't turn my head, I don't take them home! I dated a tall red-head Disco queen who destroyed my credit cards, but I remember her fondly. I get the same 'feeling' when I buy a Microtech. Sure, a sharpened piece of a chrome bumper will cut, but I dream of Microtechs--and once in a while, about that big red-head...--OKG
 
Well, I (of course) used to have a lot of the #6 factor you mention, but now it breaks down, not really in a linear "this first, this second", but more of a mixture.
About 20% #1
30% #2
30% #3
0% #4
20% #5

But #6 still rears it's ugly head on occasion, though. But I'm learning to resist
smile.gif

Tom
 
Metal-Demon,
All of the factors you mentioned have come into play at one time or another. The 1st thing I look at is the overall design of the piece. 2nd is the materials it's made of. 3rd, overall size and blade length. 4th, reputation of the maker. If all of the above pass, we move on to the 5th, price. My own preferences are for something with a 3" or less blade made out of a quality steel. Handles of G-10, micarta, or zytel(preferred). Knife must feel good in my hand in a variety of positions and should have at least 3 carry positions, ciip, lanyrd hole, etc. And hopefully after I find something I like, I can afford to buy it.

Paul
 
So far OKG's system is something that I think I'd be able to do quite well!
biggrin.gif


Thanks everyone for your insights, but I think rather than strictly reflecting your buying criteria, your replies and posts have revealed quite a bit about each of your personalities, which is a pleasant suprise, yet not altogether unforseen.
smile.gif


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“Belül szívem hibád az örökkévaló erõs vastartalmú sok vasaló és orvosság."


Crushing the weak since 1970 .... the Demon has spoken.
 
Metal-Demon,

Welcom to our madness! I think that you will find that as you get more and more into knives, you will start to spend more and more, at least that is what happened to me. When I was in my teens I thought that $50 for a knife was a lot of money, then I bought my first benchmade for $100 and thought that I was nuts. Now, there are times when I spend 5x's that much on a blade. Then you start to justify to yourself weather you should carry a $300 or $600 knife as a "pocket knife" or just put it up, because it was so expensive. Everyone has different reasons why they buy their blades. The best reason to buy a blade is because you like it. I saw that some people gave you flack about the colt knife that you mentioned, but you bought it because you liked it, that's what matters. Pick up something like a Microtech or Emerson, you will probably get rid of that United Colt AR-15 pretty quick. Welcom to the forums
biggrin.gif
 
aesthetics first. If it doesn't catch my eye, I won't even know that it exists.

Then it goes to Practicality. I admire fantasy work and enjoying looking at it, but it does not grab me. I am into things that are effective and Practical.

Next is overall comfort. It has to feel good to hold. No "sharp" edges,(except the cutting enge, of course) good Ergos etc. If it does not feel comfortable, you won't enjoy holding it.

Then comes Materials. Materials are not the highest on my list. Anything a step above 420 j2 stainless can pretty much hold it's own. And any of the steels that are used today by the bigger companies, will do. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the finer things but understand the reality of the situation. Everyone wants to drive a Lamborghini, but a new Honda will do just fine. Better materials IS a plus. I also won't settle for junk, though.

I reall don't care who makes it. If it is from a company that I like, that is just an added bonus.

Price is the last on my list. If I like something enough and it is too expensive, it is just a matter of saving until I can afford it.

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"


[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 10-17-2000).]
 
I buy what appeals to me. First, if it doesnt catch my eye, its not in the running period. Then, we get into materials and the fit and finish. I used to buy an occasional custom knife just because a certain maker made it, but eventually got rid of those knives. A blade, to me, has to be made from quality steel, properly heat treated(probably the most important factor), and I look at the way a blade is ground quite closely. I like everything even; the same amount ground off both sides, shoulders even, grind lines straight. If there are both top and bottom grinds, I like them to end up in the same place on both sides of the blade. You too, will soon find yourself spending more and more on knives, as your education continues. I started out with thinking $100 as a lot of money to spend, but now have several bowies in the $600 range. And, many more to come! AHAHAHAHAHA!

"Life is too short to carry an ugly knife!"

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
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