Which Knife Has Disappointed You The Most, Which Has Pleasantly Surprised You?

[Hairlesstwinkie]

Biggest disappointment- any of the CRKs in S35VN. The edge retention on them is so bad that I got rid of all three of my Sebenzas. I couldn't justify owning a knife with edge retention that is worse than my $50 Delica. I'm buying a knife for the blade, not the fit and finish of the handle. For those kind of prices, I'm expecting high performance. It felt like putting a 4 cylinder inside a Ferrari while keeping the $200,000 price tag.

Biggest surprise is CRKT Ripple, Microtech Socom Elite, and ZT0801. The ripple being a $30 knife with probably some of the smoothest actions that I've ever had in a knife. It's in par with my 0777 or 0801. The handle is ergonomic and the blade steel is adequate.

The Socom Elite is just such a great knife for the money. The action is perfect after some breaking in. The handle is super ergonomic, and MT's heat treat on their steel is just unbelievable. They are doing their S35VN right. I avoided MT for a while because if their bad rep, but the Socom Elites are just perfect. I like letting the knife show me it's own value.

ZT is doing things right this year. The 0801 is such a high value folder. I've had nothing but good things to say about the Elmax I've experienced. The fit and finish of the 0801 is just perfect. The flipper on it is just perfect. The knife itself is built like a tank.

 

[fsatsil]

didn't know we live in a flipping mad society. i usually just use two hands to open my knife if it's not built to flip like crazy. i just want it to cut.

Shouldn't a knife that's designed as a flipper open smoothly using the flipper?

 

[tyzator]

Never bought a knife and got disappointed, since I am still new to collecting.
Crkt ripple aluminum really surprised me because of its smooth action.
Enzo Birk 75 really surprised me because of the quality and fit and finish, I never thought a knife could bring me such joy and that I would like D2 so much

 

[cards94]

Shouldn't a knife that's designed as a flipper open smoothly using the flipper?

my buck vantage select does, but if it doesn't flip open every time it's not the end of the world for me. i paid $50 for my knife.

 

[o4tg]

I think the Vantage Force Pros are good quality knives. At least the newest versions of the Vantage Force Pro line are. The classic folders are still great knives as well but the Bantams and other folders are not great knives.

My Vantage Force Pro is a complete turd. Before I had issues with it, I recommended them to my buddy, and his was pretty terrible too.

A guy at work has the OD green one and he was talking about how his seems to have worn out too quick and he's sending it back in to Buck.

I think the Vantage line is way over rated. Worst S30V I've dealt with, sluggish actions, weak internal stop pin, paper thin liners, protruding liner which makes heavy cuts uncomfortable, and a laundry list of quality control things like off centered blade grinds, cross threaded hardware, and improperly cut serrations.

The sad thing is, none of that us uncommon. I should have learned from my old Buck Strider (terrible knife) but took a chance. It sucks because they're so beautiful, but if you plan on doing more than light EDC, the Buck Vantage line will not hold up.

 

[mcrow]

My Vantage Force Pro is a complete turd. Before I had issues with it, I recommended them to my buddy, and his was pretty terrible too.

A guy at work has the OD green one and he was talking about how his seems to have worn out too quick and he's sending it back in to Buck.

I think the Vantage line is way over rated. Worst S30V I've dealt with, sluggish actions, weak internal stop pin, paper thin liners, protruding liner which makes heavy cuts uncomfortable, and a laundry list of quality control things like off centered blade grinds, cross threaded hardware, and improperly cut serrations.

The sad thing is, none of that us uncommon. I should have learned from my old Buck Strider (terrible knife) but took a chance. It sucks because they're so beautiful, but if you plan on doing more than light EDC, the Buck Vantage line will not hold up.

IDK had one since they came out, not a problem with it. Own 3 more now, no problems with them either.

Perhaps the knife is simply not for you but it is no turd.

 

[bpeezer]

my buck vantage select does, but if it doesn't flip open every time it's not the end of the world for me. i paid $50 for my knife.

Some of us care more about the flipping action than the actual use of the knife (people like me )

 

[fsatsil]

Some of us care more about the flipping action than the actual use of the knife (people like me )

Mine had a lot of other problems besides the flipper not working right, the blade was well off center, late lockup, uncomfortable handle...etc. to me that's not acceptable on a $60 knife when you can buy knives for half that with none of those issues. Maybe I just got a dud but I think the Vantage Pro got most of its hype because it was the cheapest way to get s30v.

 

[JoberSeven]

long story short, my gerber swagger is probably my best- worst knife. i say best because it's held up well. the g10 handle does feel kinda cheap plasticky. but i got it for $13 cdn. worst, because of all the horrible gerber reviews i've read, it'll do for now. i also have a multi tool, not sure what the number / name is, but i've beaten the crap out of it. and it keeps taking it, with the exception of the time i cracked the handle and had to tack weld it back together. having said that, my mark ii has a re-shaped tip and my suspension jaws snapped when i looked at them cock-eyed. gerber's warranty department is very helpful, but to paraphrase, I can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking my head up a bull's butt, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it.

 

[jmclfrsh]

Hate to say it but my Benchmade Gold Class 940-1 with the green anodized and carbon fiber handle is kind of a disappointment. The anodizing is not heavy enough IMO, and the blade shape seems to droop down a lot.

Pleasant Surprise? My Benchmade 710s. I have two, one with a M390 blade and another with a CPM M4. Gray ceracoated blade. They are really nice knives. No wonder the 710 model is held in such high regard by so many.

 

[JustinWatts]

For me, the Dragonfly 2 was a slight disappointment. The ergo/fit and finish is nice, but the steel just does not live up to it's name. I think that because the blade is a fraction of the thickness of others, it just can't compete. Perhaps that's what I should have expected with VG-10, but the dang thing chipped opening a package (the first time I used the knife). I do like the design, so maybe I'll try out the ZDP-189 version later on.

On the other hand, the Manix 2 has blown my mind. For $60-80 it's one of the best knives in its price range. An S30v knife for less than a bill? That's pretty good in my mind; it's held its edge for a very long time, and the DLC coating just won't come off. I haven't put it through any hard use yet, but as an EDC it definitely gets the job done. Lockup is great, and it's probably the most secure in my hand of any knife I own.

 

[B.F.U]

For me, the Dragonfly 2 was a slight disappointment. The ergo/fit and finish is nice, but the steel just does not live up to it's name. I think that because the blade is a fraction of the thickness of others, it just can't compete. Perhaps that's what I should have expected with VG-10, but the dang thing chipped opening a package (the first time I used the knife). I do like the design, so maybe I'll try out the ZDP-189 version later on.

On the other hand, the Manix 2 has blown my mind. For $60-80 it's one of the best knives in its price range. An S30v knife for less than a bill? That's pretty good in my mind; it's held its edge for a very long time, and the DLC coating just won't come off. I haven't put it through any hard use yet, but as an EDC it definitely gets the job done. Lockup is great, and it's probably the most secure in my hand of any knife I own.

I would contact Spyderco about the Dragonfly. I don't have one, but that seems unusual for vg-10.

 

[dogstar]

Pleasant: Svord Peasant knife. It is not without flaws, but I love its simplicity. The L6 blade steel is well treated; just the right balance of edge holding and sharpenability for me. It also takes on a pretty patina when you use it to cut fruits and vegetables. It's a good all around blade design that is useful in the kitchen as well as the great outdoors. Oh yeah, it's fun to open and close, too. When I reach for this knife, I know it will not disappoint me.

Disappointing: Case pen knife. It is very pretty, and I like CV steel. But it also has weak springs, blade play, and a coarsely ground kick. It was underwhelming after reading posts from many Case fans. For the price, there are definitely better knives out there.

 

[dogstar]

Mine had a lot of other problems besides the flipper not working right, the blade was well off center, late lockup, uncomfortable handle...etc. to me that's not acceptable on a $60 knife when you can buy knives for half that with none of those issues. Maybe I just got a dud but I think the Vantage Pro got most of its hype because it was the cheapest way to get s30v.

I have a large and small select. They are both pretty darned good. :thumbup:

 

[Sentinel09]

Biggest disappointment? Like a few others the ZT 0561. Elmax in this knife is garbage. Biggest surprise? The benchmade 300 ball flipper. Dissed by people like nutnfancy I still bought a used one.This little tank is a blast. With 5 different ways to open it I drive the wife crazy opening and closing it while watching tv.

 

[shecky]

Disappointed: Kershaw Needs Work and Skyline, earlier models in 13C26. Presumably, they hadn't ironed out the optimal HT for that steel at time of manufacture.

Surprised: Chinese buck slipjoints. Frankly, I think they're better than the Idaho made ones.

 

[G8R8U2]

Biggest disappointment would have to be a benchmade mini-grip, don't get me wrong i still liked the knife but the grinds we're waaaaaay off. I'm talking like a 25 degree on one side and a 40 on the other. It had to be a lemon but other than that it still worked until I lost it at work one day lol. The one that surprised me the most has had to be my first bark river knife which was an A2 gunny in black micarta, I literally sliced a phone book in half and all my friends we're in awe as I did it right in front of them, super sharp from the factory, carbon steel is no joke, it gets wicked sharp.

The grind on my 940 was off similarly. Not just side by side, but also it changed along the length of the edge. The entire grind was also a little off kilter.

Same for me, on my 551H2O; I was shocked. Even more distressing is that I got a Mini-Pika on the same order, made in Taiwan, and it was superior in nearly every respect, including the even grinds and sharper edges.

Pleasant surprises are my RAT-1, also from Taiwan, Cold Steel GI Tanto, and Kershaw Tension... the Kershaw is so good that I bought 3 of them (in case of loss or theft), and it's my regular EDC. Their MSRP is $40, and I've found them on sale for $16.99 - $19.99.

 

[Doc Shipley]

Biggest disappointment: Post-2000 Gerber. Period. My dad sold Gerber knives in the '70s and I learned early on to never let one get dull - those blades are *hard*. Now they're a bad joke.

Second biggest disappointment: Kershaw Leek. I finally picked one up from the TSA bin at the state surplus and for the life of me I can't understand why they are so popular. It's an OK knife, the assist works, it gets sharp. It's not particularly handy to draw, open or use, and the point's too fragile. "Yawn"

Second most pleasant surprise: Kershaw Chill. I picked one up because it was $18 new and it immediately became my EDC. It's comfortable in pocket and hand. It's the smoothest flipper I've tried, bar none, and without any blade play after a year. That Chinese steel holds a crazy sharp edge. I treat it badly because, hey, $18... and I can't damage it. The pocket clip is better than most too.

Most pleasant surprise ever: Busse Active Duty. I expected a lot from it and I was still surprised. Great steel, great edge geometry, etc, but the ergonomics are just amazing. I've been using tools for 45 years and nothing ever snuggled into my hand like that knife. It. Feels. Right.


Doc

 

[cross1178]

Kershaw leek. Mine gets ridiculously sharp, but the tip chipped within the first month (oh well), and when my hands are wet, it's like hanging on to a buttered eel. That said, It was a gift from my sister, so it will stay in the collection.

 

[liviu]

The most disappointing knife for me is my htm axd. The blade is off center and it have side to side play.