When you buy a knife, any kinda knife, what are your basic 'expectations'?

I probably do more research before buying a knife than most people do before buying a car, but it's a lot to do with interest in the subject matter. I prefer better steel, but it depends on what I'm going to be using it for, and I need to have knives around for working with so they have to feel right in the hand. If I buy a really cheap knife, with not very good materials, I have pretty low expectations but I might still end up using that knife for a lifetime.

Mostly, I expect it to be put together properly. The knife that failed my expectations was a Benchmade Mini Bugout, which had a handle screw drop out after being opened and closed a few times. I couldn't even keep the screw in when I found it, because the handle was just shoddily made. I had heard talk of uneven quality control and I own a bunch of Benchmade knives, but that was the first one with such an obvious defect and I haven't bought another Benchmade since.
 
calyth said:
For me? Yeah. I don’t pry a hell of a lot, so I lean to thinner stock, flat grind, sharp edge. My EDC needs are rather pedestrian, if I’m honest.

If your daily task often require prying, you might lean to thicker stock and thicker tip construction, possibly a Tanto style. Seems like a separate prying tool is now somewhat in vogue.

I was active on this forum years ago, and I was quite into the blade steel because it was yet another technical thing that I could geek out on. Now I think I approach things from the utility angle first, and not get too hung up on the blade steel as long as it performs adequately, with a decent steel and heat treat
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I am finding that ergonomics are becoming more important to me as time goes by.

Heat treatment is becoming more important than blade steel.

I am also finding that “style” is taking a back seat to simple, well proven designs. A FFG blade is becoming one of my favorites.

I hate to admit it but, I reach for a SAK more and more everyday.
 
calyth said:
I want a knife that cuts and slice *very* well. Given I'm a bit of a spyderco fanboy, I lean pretty heavily there. Full flat grind, tip up carry is a preference for me. Most of the things that I cut is cardboard, with a bit of dealing with weeds in the yard. Spyderco generally fits well for my hands, so I rarely worry about ergos from them.

I've found for myself that the high edge retention steel is also a PITA to sharpen, so I'm frankly less picky about the steel as long as it's sharp, and not difficult to bring it back to sharp.

Those would be the basic things I require in a knife. I might have some specific choices, such as something that would work in an office environment, so looking for non-threatening looks, colour on the handles. I might lean towards deep carry clip for normal EDC, but it's not strictly required.
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Being a bit more of a 'traditionalist' and also a newb, have been kinda curious about the increasing popularity of that sorta Spyderco-type of 'minimalist' look in EDC designs these days... basically just a folding knife 'pared down' to the absolute minimum 'essentials'... a piece of 'premium steel' and a couple slabs of G10, sans any 'frills'.
But good point and never thought about it before... that kinda non-threatening-looking 'minimalism' in today's Designer knives might also be part of the appeal (or even the 'requirements'), by making 'em more 'acceptable' looking inside say, a biz or your typical office environment.
 
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If it locks, I want the lock to be built right. I don't want to be able to unlock it by pressing on the spine of the blade with my thumb. I'm also not a big fan of blade play.

I expect any knife, regardless of price point, to be functional and free of major defects. No major bends or misalignments, no loose parts.

When it comes to expensive stuff it better be as close to perfect as it can get or it's getting sent back. I'm not spending premium money on garbage.
 
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