Worst traits of your favorite brands?

[KBA]

They dont have a custom shop.

 

[coinbuysell]

Spyderco = a lot of new models $250+
ZT = only offering art like Ti frame lock flippers...I bought the 0909 Les George liner lock because it may be the last of the real ZT's (hard use knives that work)

I am tired of the production knife models MAP over $200!

Not even mentioning Benchmade since they started the whole MAP madness.

 

[Hickory n steel]

They can. Just Compare the Dozier 4065 and the US made Cutco 1891.They both appear to have the same blade and pocket clip.

I guess they sort of can, but the buck bantam was 20$ when it was made in China and still 20$ after moving to US production.
I really don't see why KA-BAR can't offer an American made 4062 for 25$ and mini dozier for 20$.
It makes no sense ( to a person who isn't some sort of greedy executive ) to offer an outsourced 4065 for such an affordable price, but the US made cutco version for a ridiculously over inflated price .
If I had any experience with KA-BAR this would've been on my list.

 

[155440]

Benchmade: Prices are getting crazy. For instance, I don't think the Proxy is a $306 knife (I do own one bit didn't pay that). Blade grinds are often asymmetric. However, their warranty and customer service are awesome.

Zero Tolerance: Enough with the flippers and bearings.

Spyderco: Edges of metal (liners, spydie hole, etc.) are often too sharp.

Chris Reeve: I wish double thumb studs were standard and pocket clip inserts came with every knife. $15 is a bit steep for those inserts and it can add up quickly.

That's true dedication right there.

 

[bluehi]

I probably carry on too much about this but I hate it when Benchmade puts assist (or auto for that matter) on AXIS locks. It takes one of the most ingenious and easy one-handed opening/closing lock designs and defeats the purpose (IMO) by making it impossible to flick closed with one hand, and it doesn't even open any faster or more authoritatively than you can do by just engaging the lock

Couldn't agree more!

 

[noob93]

Benchmade: a little overpriced for what you get, QC needs to improve.

Spyderco: takes up to much pocket space.

CRKT: poor blade steel & HT for the price.

Buck: products made in China need to be made here.

Victorinox: nail nicks hard to use.

Emerson: chisel grind, cost/blade steel ratio.

Kershaw: to many AO knives.

I gotta say crkt uses crap steel but my old m21 with aus 8 held up very well. I had 3 over the years as I could usually grab them at discount and they were all good as far as ht imho. Im a big fan of buck knives but wish they would use some good old 1095 instead of 420hc but thats personal preference. I cant bring myself to buy a spyderco folder. Something about the spyderhole and plastic handle just looks cheap to me.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I gotta say crkt uses crap steel but my old m21 with aus 8 held up very well. I had 3 over the years as I could usually grab them at discount and they were all good as far as ht imho. Im a big fan of buck knives but wish they would use some good old 1095 instead of 420hc but thats personal preference. I cant bring myself to buy a spyderco folder. Something about the spyderhole and plastic handle just looks cheap to me.

Can you imagine how beautiful a well aged 1095 buck 110 would look after 10yrs 😍😍 I've only had my 110 for 4 yrs and the brass bolsters already have a nice patina, but I just wish it had a 1095 blade with a nice patina to match.
I know they offer 5160, but I love good ol' 1095 which is also inexpensive and common enough not raise their pricing.

 

[Therom]

Worst traits
ZT: too many flippers, and recent designs somtime too fancy for me
BM & Spyderco: price policy that I don't understand for some of their models
Cold Steel: brand marketing
CRK: almost variations of the same design

In order to balance things
Best traits:
ZT: machining expertise
BM: axis lock and custom shop
Spyderco: designs and overall quality
CRK: quality

 

[XDJ]

Spyderco: Love opening using the Spydie Hole but dislike the extra width it gives the knife in my pocket.
Southern Grind: I love my Spider Monkey but the not quite Emerson Wave protrusion by the thumb stud catches my pocket just enough that it sorta opens when I don't want it to but I can't get it to reliably open like the Emerson Wave.

 

[matt009au]

Thus!

Striders...lock rock and lock stick...did I mention lock rock?

Sent from my LGMS428 using Tapatalk

 

[sabre cat]

....It makes no sense ( to a person who isn't some sort of greedy executive ) to offer an outsourced 4065 for such an affordable price, but the US made cutco version for a ridiculously over inflated price....

I have to agree. The Cutco version is only worth about $20-25 tops and yet I have seen them for about $50 on the used market. I paid $35 for mine and I over paid.
Also have a Dozier 4062 that I paid half as much for and it is the better knife. The Cutco is a little smoother on blade deployment but the Dozier has a longer grip.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

Benchmade: Don't like the direction theyre going lately. Huge price increases and less innovative designs IMO.

Spyderco:. Is killing it. I can't get all the ones I want.

Kershaw: I'd love if they made some knives with back locks or more hawk locks.

Cold steel: Doing their crazy thing as always. I actually wish they still had their aus8 models that were discontinued. And put out a tufflite with CTS xhp already!

Al Mar: Maybe a new design?

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[sph801]

Benchmade: Prices are getting crazy. For instance, I don't think the Proxy is a $306 knife (I do own one but didn't pay that). Blade grinds are often asymmetric. However, their warranty and customer service are awesome.

Zero Tolerance: Enough with the flippers and bearings.

Spyderco: Edges of metal (liners, spydie hole, etc.) are often too sharp.

Chris Reeve: I wish double thumb studs were standard and pocket clip inserts came with every knife. $15 is a bit steep for those inserts and it can add up quickly.

Agreed. I wish Chris Reeve included the clip insert with their knives. Out of curiosity, why don't you use the pocket clips?


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[jaypowell0185]

BM- slight vertical blade play with the axis lock
Spyderco- some of their designs are just plain ugly
Cold Steel- the president of the company and marketing
Emerson- only selling some models to the collectors club

 

[jaypowell0185]

Kershaw- everything being assisted, made in china, and having a flipper
ZT- Everything having a flipper

 

[Wolverine666]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who'd wish ZT would make more non-flippers.

I really like the design and materials of many ZT's. I just hate the flipper aspect.

But I'm all about ZT's non-flipper selection. 0550 , 0630 and 0620.

I bought a couple 0620CF's last week but when I got them I felt like they were a bit too heavy and I wasn't wild about the thumb disc. So I sold them. Well , I have since changed my mind (again) about the 0620CF so I ordered two more today. I just love that blade shape (especially in 204P !).

I'm also excited for the release of the 0850 and even the 0055 with its somewhat hidden trigger looks sweet.

 

[Lampranch]

Hinderer / Strider - pivot hardware requires special tools

 

[shqxk]

Spyderco put a hole on their fixed.

 

[photoman12001]

Agreed. I wish Chris Reeve included the clip insert with their knives. Out of curiosity, why don't you use the pocket clips?


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CRKs just feel better in my hand without the clip, especially the 25 and small 21s. I decided I also preferred the clipless look (adds to the simplistic style) but they look unfinished without the insert. At one point I was doing a lot of CRK photos and videos and got tired of moving the inserts from knife to knife so I just bought one for each. First world problems, right? I don't carry them clipped to a pocket anyway. CRKs either ride in a sheath on my EDC bag (yes, it's a purse but it's filled with super awesome stuff) or within a pocket in a leather slip sheath.

I think the insert should come installed on the knife with the pocket clip in the box as an option for a few reasons:

• If the owner chooses not to use the clip, the knife doesn't have that nasty clip rash on the lock bar. Even if it's going to be carried and used that mark on the lockbar is a scar that never matches the rest of the snail trails and such.
• The insert and clip both cost $15, which is ridiculous. The clip obviously has more material and more value-added manufacturing steps. Why do they cost the same amount? Even if the inserts were $10 I could sleep better, just something so the world makes sense. Also, I've had to file several of the inserts to make them fit. Some of them have a small protrusion that won't let them fall into the slot. That's annoying considering the price and that CRK is known for precision.
• The inserts aren't always available. I've had to wait a couple of times for them to come in stock.

Why the double thumb studs aren't standard on the 21 I don't understand. They do it on the 25 and Starbenza 21 models. Even if you're right-handed the double studs are nice, especially if you're a CRK/frame lock newbie. If you pinch the dual studs with the index finger and thumb it keeps you from applying pressure to the lockbar with that index finger and adding difficulty to opening the knife. I learned that after getting my large Strabenza. I was still pretty new to frame locks at that time. It would also just be nice to have the option to open with either hand. I've got a few 21s back at the factory now to get dual studs installed. I'm only doing that on the ones I carry often though. It's too expensive to do on every one of them ($30).

 

[extrastout]

Spydie hole on Spyderco fixed blades, and very course satin finishes on some spyderco folders (sage series)
Benchmades cheap handle materials for high prices (aluminum handle on 940)
ZT not using washers on many models. Sand, dirt, liquids and metal dust get me nervous with bearings