When do you know a knife is a “fit”?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
It used to take me a lot longer. I used to have to carry a knife for days and days before I could really figure out if it was going to work out in the end. These days, after years and years and after literally hundreds of knives have arrived only to be shipped out to someone else’s doorstep, I can now pretty much figure out whether something is going to work for me within a minute or two of taking it out of the box (or tube, as is often the case these days).

Sometimes, I’ve had to carry them for a day just to see. I don’t generally even use them to cut on that day, I just take it out of my pocket, open the knife, and consider how natural that motion felt. I look at where my hand naturally went on the handle, and how I braced it in preparation to cut.

The knife that comes to mind that was decided by this method was the 0452CF that is just to the left of the keyboard I’m typing with. I thought it was a ridiculous folding filet knife up until I flipped it open to cut a strap. Deal sealed, love the dang thing, carry it more often than not.

(Not that I always realize it right away, either. I miss my Vicar :( )
 
For me, a knife needs to first appeal to me aesthetically. After that, I seem to know quickly if I love it or not. Last month I received a mini Bodega and a ZT 0450cf on the same day. The ZT has not left my side. I'm trying to force myself to love the mini Bodega, but we all know how that usually works out.
 
If i don't hate it after using it and still don't hate it after sharpening it... it's a keeper.
 
Comeuppance said:
It used to take me a lot longer. I used to have to carry a knife for days and days before I could really figure out if it was going to work out in the end. These days, after years and years and after literally hundreds of knives have arrived only to be shipped out to someone else’s doorstep, I can now pretty much figure out whether something is going to work for me within a minute or two of taking it out of the box (or tube, as is often the case these days).
Click to expand...

Most of the less expensive knives I have purchased in person at a retail store. I handle them and decide and I can pretty much tell if it will work for me. That said, sometimes I choose not to carry something just because I like something else better.

I also try to handle the more expensive knives, but that is not always possible. I know the size I like or prefer and work from that point of view. I know I don't want some giant Benchmade folder for example. Some like them, but to each their own. And, to be honest, I really don't care if I choose to carry a new knife or not. If it happens, great. If not, I don't worry about it. This is especially true of folders. With fixed blades, it may be years before I even consider carrying a new one.
 
It's a 3 step process for me

1) LOOKS
Has to catch my eye and look good to me
2) BLADE SHAPE/ MATERIALS
I know what blade shapes and steels appeal to me.... and carbon fiber isn't a must but I'm a slut for it
3) ERGONOMICS
The minute I hold a knife and make a cut I know if it's a keeper
 
Same for me. After a while your taste gets very refined and you just know what you want. For me it is aesthetics, function, fit and finish, ergonomics and how it rides in the pocket.
 
TimmyJ said:
For me, a knife needs to first appeal to me aesthetically. After that, I seem to know quickly if I love it or not. Last month I received a mini Bodega and a ZT 0450cf on the same day. The ZT has not left my side. I'm trying to force myself to love the mini Bodega, but we all know how that usually works out.
Click to expand...

Just about sums it up. If I find it's actually hard for me to give any other knife pocket time, it's a definite keeper. Also, on the other hand, if I feel like I'm forcing myself to carry a knife for anything other than my love for it, that's the only real sign I find a knife doesn't work for me.
 
I am with Timmy J.. If a knife doesn't appeal to me aesthetically, then it doesn't get a second look. If it does, well then, we keep looking at it further. The next I look at is the maker. Do I like the maker? Yes? OK, then I pursue it further. Materials, do I like the materials, obviously, as it appealed to my eye. If I have bought a knife that I don't LOVE, I sell it. It is as simple as that.
 
Pretty easy these days. with a little time and patience, to zero in on something through pics, stats, specs and reviews.

The final OK comes when it gets in my hand--first impression at that point is rarely wrong. If I get the "feel good," open it a few times and it passes the up-close visual, I'm good to go.
 
yoko said:
It's a 3 step process for me

1) LOOKS
Has to catch my eye and look good to me
2) BLADE SHAPE/ MATERIALS
I know what blade shapes and steels appeal to me.... and carbon fiber isn't a must but I'm a slut for it
3) ERGONOMICS
The minute I hold a knife and make a cut I know if it's a keeper
Click to expand...

T.K.C. said:
I am with Timmy J.. If a knife doesn't appeal to me aesthetically, then it doesn't get a second look. If it does, well then, we keep looking at it further. The next I look at is the maker. Do I like the maker? Yes? OK, then I pursue it further. Materials, do I like the materials, obviously, as it appealed to my eye. If I have bought a knife that I don't LOVE, I sell it. It is as simple as that.
Click to expand...

BlueSpartan007 said:
Just about sums it up. If I find it's actually hard for me to give any other knife pocket time, it's a definite keeper. Also, on the other hand, if I feel like I'm forcing myself to carry a knife for anything other than my love for it, that's the only real sign I find a knife doesn't work for me.
Click to expand...


EChoil said:
Pretty easy these days. with a little time and patience, to zero in on something through pics, stats, specs and reviews.

The final OK comes when it gets in my hand--first impression at that point is rarely wrong. If I get the "feel good," open it a few times and it passes the up-close visual, I'm good to go.
Click to expand...

Sounds like it's pretty much a consensus. It has to first catch your eye, then have the right materials and price point, and then has to pass the "can I hold it, and do I want to put it down afterwards" test. That's where the 0456 fell short for me - it just didn't fit my hand right. The weight didn't bother me, as I knew that going in. The blade length was fine, the handle thickness was one of the things that drew me to it after the 0770CF felt too insignificant, but... I realized I was about to -force- myself to try to like it, which tells me I already didn't and wouldn't.
 
Comeuppance said:
Sounds like it's pretty much a consensus. It has to first catch your eye, then have the right materials and price point, and then has to pass the "can I hold it, and do I want to put it down afterwards" test. That's where the 0456 fell short for me - it just didn't fit my hand right. The weight didn't bother me, as I knew that going in. The blade length was fine, the handle thickness was one of the things that drew me to it after the 0770CF felt too insignificant, but... I realized I was about to -force- myself to try to like it, which tells me I already didn't and wouldn't.
Click to expand...

I'm fortunate and have several knife shops and some good connections in my area. I get to hold about everything.

I have a feeling you may be like me in that most of it is in the way a knife makes me feel when I hold it. It's that as much as any spec or visual factor.
 
For me it has to appeal to me visually, and have preferred features ( obviously that's why I buy it )
After that I just mess with or carry it for a while.
I may have a knife for a long time before I know ( I don't change up my edc very often, and will buy a knife just because )
With my kershaw select fire I knew within a day that the ergos sucked, but that was over 5yrs ago and am now giving it to my cousin.
 
It has to feel comfortable in my hand, cut well, carry well, be built to last, offer some ease of maintenence and a degree of edge retention that doesn't require me to constantly baby the knife.

That's about it.
 
EChoil said:
I'm fortunate and have several knife shops and some good connections in my area. I get to hold about everything.

I have a feeling you may be like me in that most of it is in the way a knife makes me feel when I hold it. It's that as much as any spec or visual factor.
Click to expand...

Aye, that's pretty much where I'm at. I'll get all pumped about the specs and then feel completely and immediately underwhelmed when in-hand. The Reate Kwaiken is the perfect example - I've been trying to get my grubby little mitts on one of those for AGES at a decent price, finally scored one, and knew within ten seconds of holding it that it was just not for me. Well-made, lives up to the hype, incredible knife and drop-dead gorgeous... But the feel is wrong for me.

(And the price, honestly.)
 
As mentioned by many already, No 1 priority It must feel right in hand Comfort , weight etc etc This is pretty much instant decision. If not comfortable , it's gone , move on. I just wish I lived nearer to knife shop To Try Berore You Buy, it would have saved me a lot of hassle , but that life. Faron.
 
It fits my hand. It is a natural to deploy the blade. The blade is a good usable size and has a good steel. The weight is between 4 and 5 ounces, titanium or CF scales and has a grip thickness of about 0.450" and a closed length of around 4.7". But when it fits your hand, you'll know it RIGHT AWAY.
I've gone thru a lot of folders, but have carried my Brad Southard AVO exclusively for the last year and a half.
 
The way it rides in my pocket is generally the most important thing to me. Take my BM940, even clipped beside my penlight I still have plenty of room to get my hand in my pocket. My PM2, however, is a fantastic knife. Love the way it feels in hand and cuts, but I can't stand the way it feels in my pocket, so it gets left home most of the time, unless I can slip it in a backpack or clip it to a vest or jacket. Same goes for most spydercos unfortunately... They all feel like I'm carrying around a dinner plate in my pocket, so I typically over look them when looking to purchase a knife. But then there are knives like the ZT 0450, it rides really well in my pocket, but the I didn't like the way it deployed. With it being a narrow frame lock I just couldn't seem to find a good way to hold it while opening it. So, most of the time an EDC gets compared to my 940 and falls short in one way or another.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top