I'll go first:
A lot of ZT, some designs I actually do jive with, but I don't like the near Spydiechef folding-kitchen-knife Sheepsfoot vibe that they give off on a lot of knives, and the 0350, 0308, 0370, all of that... while I have some cause for concern, even if you torture tested one for me, I'd just think the look was BORING. While I am on this point...
Actually, something about this "classic-modern/semi-tactical" pocket-knife look, of a plain blade with thumb-studs... I think it is because I associate it with cheap gas-station knives subconsciously, the same way some may with Cold Steel, as I know they were big starters of this rejuvinator of the knife industry (OHO/"tactical"/half serrated - I know CS didn't do that first though), but before the rest, and in a unique way that is charming to me. If I was doing a lot of rough work, I'd buy a lot more 4-Max, Lawman, whatever they have in good S35 or AUS-10a.
Let me look up Benchmade while I am at it, prime example... Yeah, your Presidios, Barrage, Bailout, Bugout, Casbah, 917... they all look the same, to me! (Keep in mind this is free-opinion, no-good-reason complaint thread, please tell me if/why you think I'm wrong, but... it's just aesthetic talk) all of that is just awfully boring to me. Kind of the same way some see Spyderco (but I love Spyderco, technically favorite brand in numbers of knives by far). The Benchmade fixed blades (3V Puukko being my only one, I like it very much so far), Cruwear Adamas, and sometime, the 940 large appeal to me. I would take a Bugout in S90 or M4 for cheap if I had spare knife money, maybe. Just to try. A few personal issues with Benchmade, too.
To riff off of that, generic, bad-steel, released-by-dozen flippers, specifically, from Kershaw, and to an extent Gerber and CRKT, in that order, referring to Chinese flipper-type knives. I do like some other Kershaw knives, USA-mades, just not most of the flippers. Would also not buy a new Emerson, though I love his wave. Well, Spyderco, Demko and WMC's version of it. No recurves unless it is a reverse-S, too. No Chinese Buck - do not like the "modern" style, the most modern Buck I like is a lightweight version of the 110/
To continue off of THAT... Strider, Medford, I plain dislike. I don't like the price, knives, or the D2 that was on some for a long time, I understand. These are just gross people, as well, in their own unique ways. However, knives. I can hardly stomach a copper PM2 (are those guys with all-copper everything on Instagram... not really carrying that? HA) but good thing I don't mind patina. I originally had a less extreme but similar mild dislike for CRK and Hinderer, but those are actually very nice, and I like the clean hollow grinds instead of the shovel-point. I believe the Shaman in M4 is the closest to a Strider I will own, I call it my Striderco.
Case. I really was primed to love Case, but they are just messed up with the wiggle and the wonky grinds of the new knives, I just can't compare to a Rough Ryder, and I'd rather carry the RR and a SAK if I'm going somewhere this is required, the RR has beautiful FnF time and again for a third of the cost or less. My tiny Case Toothpick was 60 and messed up, my Cotton Sampler was less than 20 and not a gap to be seen, nor a problem, even with the weird shape of the cotton sampler blade.
What about you?
(Notice I mention disliking, say, specifically Chinese-made Kershaw flippers, and it's true, I don't like supporting China beyond a Rough Ryder, a lot of us don't, but to prevent thread closure, if you are going to mention things like Chinese, Pakistani knives or whatever, please no talk of their government!)
