What do you steer away from?

[Kev83]

So I was having a discussion with a friend and we were talking about our favorite knife brands and style of knives/blades. I'm not asking anyone to bash a certain brand or even speak ill of any brand, but I was wondering what brand do you not necessarily like or stay away from and why? And what style or shape of blade do you just not care for and why? To me a good blade is a good blade no matter what the make and if its a good product at what I consider to be a justified price point ill check it out. On the blade topic I try to stay away from fully serrated blades, unless were talking spyderco civilian then send that baby my way! They just don't fit the purpose of my edc style and use.

[phillipsted]

What do I steer away from? Deer and tequila.

TedP

[Kev83]

What do I steer away from? Deer and tequila.

TedP

Haha you n me both brother

[The Deacon]

Folding knives without locks, or with pretty much any lock other than the midlock (although I make an exception for DA OTF autos). Knives with non-stainless blades. Knives with blades over 3mm thick. Knives with pictures of insects on their blades.

[Blerv]

Only thumbstuds and unlicensed hole openers. :)

[paladin]

1. deeply recurved blades
2. epoxy or dlc coated blades
3. tanto blades
4. "tacticool" features
not saying these are useless, just things that eliminate ME from buying...good thread!

[r small]

Liner locks.

[J32A2]

Mantis

[Evil D]

Not big on slipjoints, don't want flashy colors/dragons/flames/skulls/etching/anodizing/etc, don't want extremely up swept blades or recurves, knives without clips have to be really special for me to carry them. Pretty much anything that isn't in the Spyderco catalog...and I don't say that because I'm a fanboy (though I completely am), I say that because if Spyderco won't put it out, chances are really good I wouldn't like it anyway. There have been quite a few exceptions though, some models come around and really make me scratch my head. Lastly, if the blade doesn't flow into the handle seamlessly, I'm not interested. I made a thread a while back about things you can't stand about knives that covered most of this.

[tonydahose]

folders without locks...or i should say spydies w/o them since :spyder: s it the only knves i usually buy. Kitchen knives are the exception.

[phillipsted]

1. deeply recurved blades
2. epoxy or dlc coated blades
3. tanto blades
4. "tacticool" features
not saying these are useless, just things that eliminate ME from buying...good thread!

I think I'm almost in line with Paladin. I don't mind DLC for some blades, but most blade coatings are a no-go for me.

Oh, and I normally don't buy any blades that have been made from banged up old Toyota leaf springs.

TedP

[.357 mag]

I'm pretty much done with folders. I carry a fixed blade in my pocket, and a fixed blade in my bag. The only folders I have is a 79mm rescue on my fire gear and a h1 dragonfly I carry at work. When I get the funds the 79mm will be replaced with a Enuff sheepsfoot.

[Bladekeeper]

Post op transsexuals who really look like women .

[Holland]

I dont like Tacticool coloured knives,
I like CRK design and F&F but will never buy another one of there products for as long as they continue to not HT their steels to what the steel is capable of.
Not a fan of AO
Not a fan of knives made to kill people
HATE cold steel knives just because of their marketing and overpriced knives
Not a fan of knives that cant cut well *cough* strider *cough*

That is all :D

[Random Dan]

Let's see:

Lock-backs
Tip down clips
Non OHO
Super thin points

[Jeremy_A_Neel]

Knives with a bunch of useless holes in blade or handle
Serrations
Paper-thin liner locks
Chisel grinds
Most tacticool things in general

[kennethsime]

Assisted-opening always seems kinda pointless to me. Black coatings, for the most part. Chisel grinds. Liner and/or Frame locks (although Spyderco makes some nice ones, as does CRK). Anything made in china (although I may pick up a tenacious at some point, and for the money the Chinese Kershaws are pretty **** good). Knives that focus on the "tacticool" rather than being knives. Knives that use sub-standard steel for their price point (for example, SOG and Cold Steel use AUS-8 on china/taiwan knives at the price-point where I could get a Spyderco in VG-10 made in Japan). Partially-serrated blades (I have my eye on a waved matriarch 2, but I don't really need a 50/50 for anything, and it usually dramatically reduces the usefulness of the remaining plain edge). Overly-aggressive G-10 (or other handle material (for example, the CS Recons, the BM 810 Contego). Heavy knives (I know people love them, but the SS Spydercos to me offer zero advantages over their FRN counterparts, and I think the FRN has many over the SS). Cheap-feeling handles (I think FRN feels very ncie). Claims of indestructibility. Knives that look like bricks. Knives that feel like they were designed by a committee or a sales/marketing team (GLASS BREAKER! STRAP CUTTER! BLACK TANTO BLADE WITH SERRATIONS! KILL ANY ENEMY AND RESCUE ANY FRIEND!).

Basically, I like high-quality steel, I like high strength-to-weight ratios with a preference to lighter weight, I appreciate refined ergonomics. Price is also fairly important to me, although I do have a tendency to splurge and I will pay more for the right knife. Spyderco really hits the sweet spots for me. Thanks Sal & Crew.

[zidfeldts]

Tantos, chisel grinds, striders and benchmades.

[xceptnl]

Partially serrated blades, chisel grinds, tip down clips (some great models to get exceptions Caly Jr. & Military), wide grips on fixed blade knives. These are just a few of the things I tend to steer away from.

[defenestrate]

most combo edges, liner and midlocks that don't have a firm positive action, brands who make a poor copy of knives from other brands and charge more for lesser materials and QC. I used to love buying import knives at the flea market because I had a relationship with the seller and I will still buy things but the standard use locking folders have to be made well, and that mostly means :spyder: for me (there are some other brands who have models I like but a Spyderco or byrd is bloody near always in a pocket)