Worst knife QC straight from the factory?

An ESEE Izula 2 came from the vendor with a bad off center, irregular grind on the blade. It also had problem with the scales not staying tight. Even after coming back from a return trip from Rowen, the grind on the blade could only be described as sloppy workmanship. ESEE did refund for price of the knife. The Izula was my 15th ESEE knife that I purchased. I no longer have confidence in ESEE knives nor their warranty. The likelihood of me purchasing another ESEE is very slim.

I have had several problems with Bear and Sons slipjoints. Bad grinds and poor fit and finish. I never have tried their warranty. But I doubt I would buy another Bear again due the overall poor attention to detail in their knives.

Queen Cutlery knives both fixed and folders have had a variety of problems, mainly bad grinds and poor fit and finish. But customer service has always made it right with every problematic knife. I love Queen's D2 and will definitely be buying more of them.
 
Winkler Neck Knife. I seriously think there was something wrong with the two people who signed off on it since there was much more going on with this "gem"
This was the second knife from them where the edge drifts to the right
 
I forgot one--or should I say, two. When Camillus was going under years ago, I bought two of what became their model 19184 folding knives, because I figured they'd be collectors' items and I'd heard raves about the quality. I must have bought two of the very last ones made during post-strike, because neither of the knife blades had edges. Neither had even seen a grinder. Both were covered with metal flash at the edge and looked like fringes like you'd see on buckskin jackets. Wish I'd kept the pics, but deleted them after uploading to a photo hosting site, which later deleted my account. On that basis I'll never buy another Camillus, either.
 
For me it was Benchmade Dark Star. Crazy blade play out of the box, and one of the back spacers actually popped loose after flicking it open. Sent it in for repair and got it back 3 mos later with the blade play issue not addressed, and a big sloppy glob of glue on the back spacer pin, which promptly popped back right back out after opening once..... Will never buy a Benchmade again.....
 
The worst QC I ever saw in a knife I bought was a Utica Cutlery Barlow. It had gaps between the grip panels and liners so wide you could drive a truck through and the word "Barlow" was even stamped on the knife diagonally on one side. Horrible QC and proudly stamped "Made in the USA".

A combination of poor QC and stupid design was combined in a Coast assisted opener I got through Amazon for review. (I used to do product reviews for the Amazon Vine program.) The Coast was so tight and poorly balanced you honestly could not make the opening assist work without putting your hand in the way of the tip of the blade as it deployed. The knife was so dangerous to use, I smashed it and threw away the pieces because there was no one I could think of that I hated enough to give it to.
 
I'd have to say +1 on the CRKT Lake. Awful FF. GEC as I've only received one out of maybe 5 with a halfway decent edge bevel or sharpening job. Will probably get blasted for it but as much as I like GEC, I feel the emperor has no clothes with that brand. It's like owning an original Norton or Triumph leaks and all.
 
An Emerson Mini- Commander gave me fits. It arrived looking like a car with a bent frame. I love the knife but I had to disassemble it and put it back together in order to line everything up. Good thing Emerson makes their knives easy to do that with.
 
These are fun to read. I also enjoy visiting gun shows and listening to knife vendors try to talk me up on the "latest and greatest" knife models that are at least a year old.

I have to say that the Kershaw Crown I was gifted was the worst knife in initial quality I've ever had, followed closely by a Gerber 2.5 something-or-other. I've had a few other knives from well-known production companies that had "issues", but these were horrible for every reason you can imagine and should never have been sold.
 
AntDog said:
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Yeah I saw that cliphanger several years back and fell for the idea that it might a decent kayaking knife - biggest piece of junk I've ever owned. Ridiculous blade play, flimsy plastic handles and wouldn't hold and edge for 2 seconds - it's now at the bottom of the Brazos River. Good riddance. (a close second to the junky cliphanger would be the Gerber Paraframe)
 
The cow said:
Winkler Neck Knife. I seriously think there was something wrong with the two people who signed off on it since there was much more going on with this "gem"
This was the second knife from them where the edge drifts to the right
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This one surprised me the most, especially considering its a $175 neck knife that comes from a custom maker rather than a factory produced piece.
 
I bought a Tac Force $10 gas station knife at a gas station some time back on a whim. And as most of us do with a new flipper style knife that evening I was sitting in front of the boob tube flipping this thing open and shutting it back and thought WOW this knife actually flips pretty good. Until a few minutes later the blade broke off at the pivot and I was left sitting there with only the handle in my hand. I carefully filed it under T for trash (threw it in the trash can) and thought that's what I get for buying it in the first place.
 
buckfynn said:
An ESEE Izula 2 came from the vendor with a bad off center, irregular grind on the blade. It also had problem with the scales not staying tight. Even after coming back from a return trip from Rowen, the grind on the blade could only be described as sloppy workmanship. ESEE did refund for price of the knife. The Izula was my 15th ESEE knife that I purchased. I no longer have confidence in ESEE knives nor their warranty. The likelihood of me purchasing another ESEE is very slim.
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I have the same issue with their Izzie scales - they're not fitted properly and have some wiggle room.

But if they refunded your money, I don't know why you don't have faith in their warranty? Sounds like they did right by you in the end.
 
My kershaw thermite has crazy blade play. So much so in its current state its tip can move about an inch side to side. The pivot can be pushed slighly out of the lock side about 1mm. Even the thumb studs came loose from the factory, they fell off. All this happened in just flipping it, no wrist flick at all. I still have the studs, i need to send it in to kershaw.
 
AntDog said:
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I had one of these many a moon ago, in my younger noobie days. One industrial strength POS! I literally put in a vise, took a hammer and beat it to death before tossing in the trash, for fear someone might find and try to use it otherwise.
 
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