Pretty but totally useless tactical knives

[Corwyn]

I love saks. I started with a Tinker and now I have a few dozen of them. I collect a lot and carry a lot. I love Vic's precision and quality and Wenger's quirkyness.
You guys also made me get some multies. I also have a switchblade, a balisong, a hunting knife. I also like the Opinels. I use them ocasionally and have a few more interesting ones.

But here is another thing I like to get: tactical, folding knives. I can't afford proper brand ones, they are not legal to carry here and even if they were... I have no need for them... But.. I keep finding myself buying, pretty, useless, cheap and interesting Chinese switchblades.

Here are my latest 3:

• Columbia Saber Transformer - My latest buy, words can't describe how bad it is... heavy, clumsy, hard to open with both hands, let alone with one, it pinches everywhere, the locking system is hand-held, the blade is thick and doesn't cut (good thing as it closes on the fingers each time), paint peels off with a nail... to be honest I'm not even sure if it's a knock-off or not... still if it is it's a knock-off of Chinese poopie knife so who cares
• Tekut Fairy Rainbow - Actually this one is pretty good. Very sharp and strong, decent lock, no play, the handles do dig in the skin a bit and feels a bit flimsy, but it's actually a decent little knife
• Gerber Camouflage - A strange linerlock, not much play, but the blade is really dull, grip is iffy, linerlock is hard to open, clip is wobbly and the paint chips off so easily (worst thing is the linerlock scratches the paint off.. so it has a big naked circle right after opening twice) - once again I don't know if it's a knock-off or not, but don't care much

What about you? Do you have smurfy little knives you only bought because they were pretty, with full knowledge they would suck?

[sawman]

When you first posted that fake Gerber I had some weird hopes it would be legit and of some halfway decent quality. It looks like something that I may have actually been interested in. I can't say I was all that shocked by your disappointment with it. This is why I don't buy knockoffs.

At the same time, I don't buy a lot of expensive brand names either like Sebenza's etc. The most expensive knife I currently own is a Benchmade and I feel I got my money's worth on that

[Aloha]

 The middle one looks like a Kershaw Leek. 

[Corwyn]

When you first posted that fake Gerber I had some weird hopes it would be legit and of some halfway decent quality. It looks like something that I may have actually been interested in. I can't say I was all that shocked by your disappointment with it. This is why I don't buy knockoffs.

I know.. and the annoying bit is that the seller sells both original and fake Gerber products. For example it came in a genuine Gerber Mini Remix 2 box. This is why I thought it was real... than I saw that the Mini Remix doesn't look at all like this.

Anyway, I don't mind. As said, I don't have any practical use for a tactical knife and for the 8 Euros I paid for it, it makes a pretty looking conversation piece (draws more attention than a shelf-full of Vics  )

The middle one looks like a Kershaw Leek.

Yes it does. And if you look at the back it's got the same type of locking system and clip. I wouldn't be surprised if they are making it in the same factory - as said the Tekut is pretty decent.

[Dragon Lord]

I must admint I do the same thing. 

Here is one of them, this is one of the first knives I bought.



By the way those Teku are not bad at all.

[jekostas]

Why in the world would a Chinese company want to make a knock-off of the Kershaw ET (top knife)?

Are they really that desperate for their customers to cut off the tips of their fingers?

[Corwyn]

Why in the world would a Chinese company want to make a knock-off of the Kershaw ET (top knife)?

Are they really that desperate for their customers to cut off the tips of their fingers?

So it's a Kershaw copy.. that's why I didn't find it on CRKT's website.

Still the knock-off is a far better design... no chance in cutting yourself with those blunt, thick blades. I did get my fingers bruised with the the blade closing on them, though 

[AaronX]

You know, I don't have a single dedicated knife (other than kitchen knives). Sometimes I think, "let's get a cheap one on eBay!" But I always tell myself a cheap knife is worse than no knife, if I really want one get a good one.

[Freaver]

You know, I don't have a single dedicated knife (other than kitchen knives). Sometimes I think, "let's get a cheap one on eBay!" But I always tell myself a cheap knife is worse than no knife, if I really want one get a good one.

As they say, a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade. But I gotta admit, I'm intrigued by "tacticool" folders as well. And I'm actually kinda curious about the Gerber (copy?) that Dragon Lord posted earlier. Looks like something I might actually buy.

[AaronX]

As they say, a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade. But I gotta admit, I'm intrigued by "tacticool" folders as well. And I'm actually kinda curious about the Gerber (copy?) that Dragon Lord posted earlier. Looks like something I might actually buy.

It's not only dull. I'm more concerned with blades that don't lock properly or might break, and it's probably going to be too loose/stiff too.

[Dragon Lord]

You know, I don't have a single dedicated knife (other than kitchen knives). Sometimes I think, "let's get a cheap one on eBay!" But I always tell myself a cheap knife is worse than no knife, if I really want one get a good one.

As they say, a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade. But I gotta admit, I'm intrigued by "tacticool" folders as well. And I'm actually kinda curious about the Gerber (copy?) that Dragon Lord posted earlier. Looks like something I might actually buy.

In fact it's a decent knife, has great ergonomics, the steel maybe is 440a but for small tasks I have no complains.  You should by one to try, I say a Tekut or a sanremu it's a good choice and they are cheap.

[jekostas]

As they say, a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade. But I gotta admit, I'm intrigued by "tacticool" folders as well. And I'm actually kinda curious about the Gerber (copy?) that Dragon Lord posted earlier. Looks like something I might actually buy.

It's not only dull. I'm more concerned with blades that don't lock properly or might break, and it's probably going to be too loose/stiff too.

The idea that "cheap" automatically means "bad" hasn't been true for knives for many, many years.

Like everything else, you simply need to be a savvy consumer.  For example, there's plenty of praise all over the internet for Chinese made knives sold by the likes of Kershaw, Spyderco and CRKT, many of which can be found for $20 or less.

[cedricada]

You know, I don't have a single dedicated knife (other than kitchen knives). Sometimes I think, "let's get a cheap one on eBay!" But I always tell myself a cheap knife is worse than no knife, if I really want one get a good one.

Get a Sanrenmu 710. Great folding knife fir very little money. They are the Chinese comppany that makes the economy Spyderco Knives. The 710 is basic, high quality, good looking and comes very sharp.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321542522888

and look at that price

[Freaver]

You know, I don't have a single dedicated knife (other than kitchen knives). Sometimes I think, "let's get a cheap one on eBay!" But I always tell myself a cheap knife is worse than no knife, if I really want one get a good one.

Get a Sanrenmu 710. Great folding knife fir very little money. They are the Chinese comppany that makes the economy Spyderco Knives. The 710 is basic, high quality, good looking and comes very sharp.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321542522888

and look at that price

I really gotta get rid of my eBay-account... I have absolutely no use for such a blade, but I'm still extremely tempted to buy something like this, full well knowing that it would just sit on a shelf and never be used.

[Corwyn]

Back to my old habits I go.
I actually hoped this one wouldn't fit in the useless category.. but.. alas...

I just found out the eBay has lifted all restrictions to Romania so off I went knife-bargain-hunting.
After losing a string of bids on various wood/bone/horn Laguioles I got a very nice deal on this handmade tiny 10 cm one from Cyprus.
Seller was nice, delivery was nice...
This was my first eBay purchase, my first handmade knife, my first Laguiole and my first Damascus blade. Let's see what 6$ gets you:

First of all, it's a Laguiole, not a knock-off. I don't want to start a dispute now, but as the Frenchies never patented the name, it's a proper Laguiole regardless if made in France, Germany, China, Pakistan or Cyprus. Plus most of the small French "manufacturers" actually buy and rebrand China-made ones so...

The knife's top attribute is by far the looks. So very nice for the money - pictures can't do it justice.
Fit and finish:
Well, it came quite dirty, full of oil and metal shavings and everything seems a bit crooked, uneven and edgy. Actually I don't mind this much as it makes it feel less like a factory product.
What I didn't like was the sloppy sharpening and the play of the blade when closed.

What I liked a lot was the spring, such a strong, solid spring keeping it open. This is extremely important as it has no locking mechanism per say. Also when open, the blade has absolutely 0 play, which makes me think the play of it when closed is due to the design.
The brass bushings are cut and polished very nicely and flush... do like 

One last thing I really hated is that blade hits directly on the spring bit. After a couple of hours of playing with it, it started showing wear marks on both the blade tip and the spring.



The handle was the main reason I got it. I love this sort of PakkaWood. I know that some people consider it cheap and kitschy but I kind of like it. It takes out most of the issues of natural wood (such as the water susceptibility) but give a whole lot of nice new pattern options... it feels very well in hand, both dry and wet.



The filework is ok. Nowhere near the masterpieces I saw around the web, but not unattractive either...
The fly is welded unfortunately and not cast... well this should only matter to purists.



While not an expert steel in general and Damascus in particular I can tell you this is not that top notch.
The pattern is meh, sharpening was meh and very burry (needs serious stroping) and it more rips paper than cuts it (when I get my Lansky I'll try to get it in shape and see how it deals.
Laguioles were essentially fighting knives so the point was an important part.For this one.. it's ok, but nothing to write home about. I'm too poor to risk pushing it through a penny, but my money'd be on the penny... 



It came with a wonky sheath. It feels more of an afterthought, but it was a nice touch, genuine leather, nice stamping and nice metal staples. It does feels loose and unfinished though and I can't imaging why it has a ring on the tip... maybe for neck carry? 

[cool123]

You know, I don't have a single dedicated knife (other than kitchen knives). Sometimes I think, "let's get a cheap one on eBay!" But I always tell myself a cheap knife is worse than no knife, if I really want one get a good one.

Get a Sanrenmu 710. Great folding knife fir very little money. They are the Chinese comppany that makes the economy Spyderco Knives. The 710 is basic, high quality, good looking and comes very sharp.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321542522888

and look at that price

I really gotta get rid of my eBay-account... I have absolutely no use for such a blade, but I'm still extremely tempted to buy something like this, full well knowing that it would just sit on a shelf and never be used.

I think you have got some cheap tactical knife stuff which runs around $10 and I don't think that you can get nice quality knife at this price.

[Dem]

I think you have got some cheap tactical knife stuff which runs around $10 and I don't think that you can get nice quality knife at this price.

While the SRM 710 doesn't match high end knives, it's a genuinely good blade. It's a ridiculously good blade, for the money. Probably has something to do with the design being simple, rugged, and 'borrowed.' Puts many much, much more expensive knives to shame.

It has a good reputation (aside from the somewhat seedy origins) for a reason.

Dem