List the things you hate to see in a knife

[Eastree]

... A sharp straight blade cuts easily without sawing.

But that's part of 'the thing' with a lot of people: It seems there are many who believe a knife must be used to saw through something rather than to cut with a push or slice with a single long pull, whenever possible. I see it with too many knives, but mainly kitchen knives. It bugs the ever-living snot out of me when I see some of the habits so many people have!

I have seen people SAW fishing line, butter, cheese, and more.

I also have met too many people who believe a knife should be as cheap as possible, so it's not a big deal to throw it out when it's too dull to be usable! Generally these are people who are deathly afraid of a razor sharp blade, but don't mind a knife that shreds and tears raw chicken.

OK ... let's see ... things I dislike in knives (which have not been listed)

Thin flimsy blades! It is fine for some pocket knives, to an extent. A Swiss Army Knife is about as thin as I am willing to go, and only because it's an SAK. And of course filet knives and others with a directed purpose like that are an exception. But for the majority of knives, flimsy sucks.

[Wise Old Owl]

Hmm - no longer a fan of Swiss, never used the corkscrew, Don't like how quick the stainless blade gets dull. Clearly its a starter knife for Wine and cutting Cheese and occasionally opening a beer.

Once I upgraded to Wave there was no looking back - I gave them Swiss all away.

[Phaedrus]

My list is pretty close to Lamewolf's. I'm also not happy to see 8Cr13MoV stamped on a blade- every one I've ever seen has been junk.

[Lamewolf]

Hmm - no longer a fan of Swiss, never used the corkscrew, Don't like how quick the stainless blade gets dull. Clearly its a starter knife for Wine and cutting Cheese and occasionally opening a beer.

Once I upgraded to Wave there was no looking back - I gave them Swiss all away.

I have the Leatherman Wave and 4 SAKs, the wave stays in a drawer most of the time but it is handy when I go fishing and need to work on a fishing reel, but my SAK camper is in my pocket every day - its just lighter and easier to carry and has a humdinger of a little saw on it if I need to cut saplings to build shelter with. The main tool I use most often on the SAK is the toothpick !

[hunter63]

The main tool I use most often on the SAK is the toothpick !

And the tweezers......
Never with out at least one SAK.....

Would still be "if you only could have one knife"...SAK

[kyratshooter]

I'm the same. The toothpick on the keychain SAK Classic is used daily.

Fact is, that little one inch SAK blade is probably the one knife I can count on being with me if I ever do have to "survive".

The big fancy Scooby-do #777 will probably be home on the shelf in the storage room and it will be me, the SAK Classic and a Brazilian machete left to do the job.

At least I'll have a toothpick.

[Wise Old Owl]

I have the Leatherman Wave and 4 SAKs, the wave stays in a drawer most of the time but it is handy when I go fishing and need to work on a fishing reel, but my SAK camper is in my pocket every day - its just lighter and easier to carry and has a humdinger of a little saw on it if I need to cut saplings to build shelter with. The main tool I use most often on the SAK is the toothpick !

That's OK pull out a SAK and make a fuzz stick out of white pine or pine and give it 15 minutes. then do the same with a L Wave. The steel is harder. then check out which one is still sharp. Give it a try.

you can make multiple toothpicks with a Wave.

[Lamewolf]

That's OK pull out a SAK and make a fuzz stick out of white pine or pine and give it 15 minutes. then do the same with a L Wave. The steel is harder. then check out which one is still sharp. Give it a try.

you can make multiple toothpicks with a Wave.

My SAK holds an edge much longer than my Wave does, but my SAK is a real old one, don't know about the new ones but the steel on mine is quite hard and holds a good edge. The steel on my Wave is some sort of cheap soft stainless. It sharpens easy but also dulls easy and is too heavy to carry every day.

[MrFixIt]

I don't own a Wave, but any of the several SAK's that I own are scary sharp (I keep them that way).
I'm pretty rough on knives, cut wire, dig with the blade, and any other things that you're not *supposed* to do with them.
The edges have always held up really well.

@ Wise Old Owl, I'm not saying this ^ to argue or dismiss your preference(s) in knives, just a little confused as to why you maybe had a dud...?

[crashdive123]

My Wave and the particular SAK I have both hold an edge very well......wouldn't keep them if they didn't.

[Wise Old Owl]

My SAK holds an edge much longer than my Wave does, but my SAK is a real old one, don't know about the new ones but the steel on mine is quite hard and holds a good edge. The steel on my Wave is some sort of cheap soft stainless. It sharpens easy but also dulls easy and is too heavy to carry every day.

Good to know. I have no access to the old ones I am sure they are better than the mass production.. I stopped recommending about 5-6 years ago based on home tests.

[Wise Old Owl]

I don't own a Wave, but any of the several SAK's that I own are scary sharp (I keep them that way).
I'm pretty rough on knives, cut wire, dig with the blade, and any other things that you're not *supposed* to do with them.
The edges have always held up really well.

@ Wise Old Owl, I'm not saying this ^ to argue or dismiss your preference(s) in knives, just a little confused as to why you maybe had a dud...?

Well, over the years expect change by the maker. I am not rough on knives, I don't often make a fuzz stick, but I do whittle. I just grew out of the Swiss stuff. Sort of like having your first car... as a teen.

Remember when we got 10 MPH to the gallon and didn't know any better... a Jeep was 6!

[MrFixIt]

Well, over the years expect change by the maker. I am not rough on knives, I don't often make a fuzz stick, but I do whittle. I just grew out of the Swiss stuff. Sort of like having your first car... as a teen.

Remember when we got 10 MPH to the gallon and didn't know any better... a Jeep was 6!

Agree on the changes, just look at what happened to Gerber...

[randallss7]

Things I hate to see in a knife...any thing cheep, not price wise but quality wise.

I have a L wave and the blade does not hold an edge as well as I would like. But keeping in mind what leatherman was probably thinking.. they made a softer tougher blade which I don't mind seeing in a tool made for the masses. the steel is quick to dull, quick to sharpen and will take a fair amount of abuse typical 420 stainless. You can make a replacement blade or even get them off ebay made from all sorts of upgraded steels.

[Lamewolf]

Things I hate to see in a knife...any thing cheep, not price wise but quality wise.

I have a L wave and the blade does not hold an edge as well as I would like. But keeping in mind what leatherman was probably thinking.. they made a softer tougher blade which I don't mind seeing in a tool made for the masses. the steel is quick to dull, quick to sharpen and will take a fair amount of abuse typical 420 stainless. You can make a replacement blade or even get them off ebay made from all sorts of upgraded steels.

I thought about buying a cheaper Mora with a stainless blade and using it to make a new blade for my Wave. Yeah, a Wave with a scandi grind !

[rebel]

The more I look, the more I learn. After a chisel grind russian bayonet and using a draw knife, I can see the usefulness.

[sjj]

............................

[hunter63]

I found out about Multi tool way back when.....thought they were the coolest thing since sliced bread, wore them and even gave all my gift exchange family/friends them, as gifts.

They all still carry and wear them, newer and better versions, I sure....and I have left the Leatherman off the belt.....and just carry the little cheapo multi in the belt pouch.....And my SAK.
Like many things, "If a little does a little good, a lot will do a lot of good......." So the ,Leatherman kept getting bigger and better....and heavier.

I don't make fuzz stick often, if ever, and am a wire cutter, digger, and pry-er as well as finger nail cleaner........ but I do get your point about staying sharp...I sure you are correct

But SAK does all the stuff I want to do and fits in the pocket.

PS. there are Multi tools in all vehicles, tackle boxes, and bags........I just don't carry or depend on them on my belt any longer.

[Sarge47]

I don't care much for serrated edges and totally detest the "El Cheapo" hollow handled Rambo knives...even if you get to keep the sheath if you send it back. I don't buy any knife without knowing the Rockwell numbers and steel type. Also the way the handle fits to my hand is important. I own Ontario, Buck, Schrade, Kabar, Gerber, Camillus, victorinox SAK, & Mora, just to name a few and like them all. I don't care if there's a celebrity's name on it or not as long as it holds up. Haven't had a bit of trouble with the ones I own....

[Old Professor]

I have carried pocket knives since I was about ten years old. (I probably would have carried before that except my mother told everyone that I was never to be trusted with anything sharp!) I seem to always be acquiring new "Tactical" pocket knives from the NRA banquets and other similar sources. However the knife that rides in my pocket at all times is an SAK Treckker model, that I discovered some years back. It has all the blades that I normally use (and one that I don't - the saw blade). It is longer that a typical SAK from my youth but is still light to carry and opens with one hand. I do not like corkscrews on my knives but do like awls/punches.I didn't realize that I had the saw blade on this knife until just now, when I read the specs out of the catalog and checked the knife. I really feel naked without that knife in my pocket!