I am having a blast going thru your old videos.

Good job! I learned a lot from your video. What do you think of AUS 8 Steel. I rarely see it mentioned. Is it low quality? Mid-quality? Thanks in advance.

What is that beautifull fixed blade on the table? With carbon fiber sheath?

Kevin .. what's your opinion of enlan knives? They are budget, but I fell in love with the enlan B-01

hey Kevin-- what are your thoughts on CAMILLIS (dont know if thats the correct spelling but....) they got some kool designs, but I just dont have alot of info on durabilaty or quality overall -- wadda ya say about that brand ?

What's the Maglite doing there?

The old Winchester slipjoints (like the one pictured) are super high quality and sought after. The one you have pictured would sell for around $200 now. Made by Bluegrass Cutlery in the 80s and 90s. Otherwise I agree.

I bought a DELTA FORCE folder that has "DOVER" on the blade. D2 steel, has a finger flipper and linerlock. Was cheap but was surprised how well it holds a edge.the blade was centered. No blade play at all. No complaints. I keep it in my lunchbox. In my pocket is my RECON-1 as always. But that little cheap knife is pretty cool.

Thankfully, SOG appears to have turned things around sometime in 2019/2020 and are apparently making MUCH higher quality products these days. I don’t own one personally, but am taking a good hard look at their Ultra XR in carbon fiber and titanium nitride (TiN) coated blade and pocket clip.

One of my favorite kit knives, the Kershaw own it series 1304BW, backwash. Came with a little flashlight, pry tool & a dog tag. 8cr13mov, just a really good work knife & about $20.00. I also have a Mtech Xtream ballistic MX A828TN-SO which is good with 440C, has a glass breaker & belt cutter, it's sharp & a good work knife. Most guys I know use a gas station type blade for work purposes. Thank Kevin, great review!

I have 2 beautiful Mtech knives (and I'm considering getting a 3rd) and 2 Mtech Extreme Karambits with 0 complaints about any of them. Just need to know what to look for, and what you are buying.

I feel that CRKT's qc is so spotty I don't want to buy another. I loved the buku design, but the execution on both examples I had was disappointing

Cold Steel for controversy. Well made knives but the owners a bunch of words I won't say here

"Number first" lol

How about the Marfione / ZT idea swiping for your controversy list? 😊

Oh ta what about Smith and Wesson ? Are they any good ?

Wranglerstar would rather carry a Gerber than a benchmade so don't trust anything that creep says

I had a tac force because my mom usually gives us cash for christmas but puts it in the box with something cheap to wrap. it took about 2 days for it to be unfixably off centered.

I know this video is old, but I have a SOG Pent arc with that axis lock and I absolutely love that knife and it's solid as can be. It's about my favorite edc knife

would you recommend the s35vn g10 buck marksman over the standard or am I better of avoiding the bad grind

I think that there might be an unspoken assumption here, that should be said. This is basically a list of the top 10 folding knives to avoid and not knives in general, and as such this is a VERY good video that person new to the knife hobby would do well to watch. I understand that most of the viewers will know that this channel is about folding knives, almost exclusively, and perhaps a couple of the companies mentioned near the end of the video are fairly good at making fixed blades and it is their folding category where they fall down - thinking primarily about Buck for example.

AGREE on the aegis! I was so angry when I got it from Amazon, really crappy knife, clip was weak and the screw immediately stripped when I tried to tighten it

My ganzo is an absolute workhorse of a knife super smooth action and hold a good edge.

I love everything about my MTech extreme Karambit but the steel seems very soft. It's not a utility knive necessarily so I can let that slide but if this were a knife I planned to carry for general use it would be a real issue.

Have rarely had problems with QC or F&F on Buck 110/112 series knives. Vantage knives, yes, QC issues. But the 110s and 112s seem to be mainstays that attention is paid to.

Great video!!!!! Agree totally with everything you said.

I think I see a Ganzo on the table...Ganzo is kind of frustrating. As a very budget folder they steal some good designs and put fairly decent 440c steel blades on them, then put it all together with some of the crappiest soft screws. They often do so with red variety of locktite. Sanrenmu uses decent screws, so I see no reason for Ganzo to use these lousy screws...raise the price by a buck and use hardened screws. Even some major brands are also guilty of using sorry screws. Most knife people like to take their knives apart to oil and maintain them, and sorry screws make life difficult. I am more forgiving of Ganzo because they are very inexpensive knives, but when I pay over 100 dollars for a knife, and it has crappy screws, it really drives me nuts.

I don't know if this merits a full addition, but I've grown tired of Kershaw assisted openers (Ken Onion lines). I was really into 'em for a while but discovered that over a relatively short time (6 months to a year), the spring for the assist would break. Mind you, Kershaw's always been great about sending me new parts (spring, screws that fell out) -- which says they're pretty used to sending that stuff out. Also, the tips on those are quite fragile; one good drop and it's time to re-profile the blade. Pity

whats that fixed blade with the blue and clip?

I agree with you 100% . Good review.

Is that a guitar case?

Agree with you 100% as for the Gerber aspect with them you get what you pay for I've had 2 06 autos I've carried one or the other for 2 years literally everyday for everything from light edc tasks to field dressing bear and deer knives have been 100% reliable 0 issues but they will be getting replaced with a pm2 very soon as the 06 is pretty big and heavy and mine have half serrated edges not the handiest for edc

I have a SOG Flashback with an arc lock, it has miniscule blade play (not joking), and I love it. It's a much better knife than a Gerber and a lot of Kershaw's. Judge me

what is a profit strip? I'm sure I probably know what it is but I've never heard that terminology

Wow you put Buck knives on a to avoid list! I agree they have some issues with some models, but they have made thousands of models and variation and most are great. Heat treat is some of the best for the steel used. Their warranty is lifetime and prices for USA made blades are hard to beat, they stand behind their products! NOT a knife company that should be avoided!

Great advice, Kevin. Well said.

I bought a Mora knife for cheap a while back. Seems well enough. I'm actually considering their largest one if I'm not talked out of it. I guess my Glock Knife is junk since its branded a gun manufacturer. About 4 or 5 years ago I broke the very tip off, was trying to dig a field point out of a target's wood frame. Gave up on the point and put a new one on my arrow. The Glock has good eye appeal tho lol!

Cold steel gets a bad wrap for whatever reason. I have several....code 4, recon 1, ad10....all fantastic in every way.

Kevin, I've thought about this a bit, and I'm concluding that your opening photo of some rather good knives was used because you really don't own a bunch of the "bad" knives that you are warning us about. I know that I would have the same problem if I was trying to pick 1/2 a dozen poor quality knives from my collection to use as examples of what not to buy. Keep up the good work.

No mention of Frost knives?

A controversy in the knife community, that has nothing to do with the knives would be Strider. Great quality blades but, there is a lot of cotroversy regarding Mick Strider's military service.

The only knife from gerber I’ve kept is the gerber 06 auto multicam version. Only gerber I’ve found worth getting.

This is informative! Great content pastor.

Opinions on Benchmade?

I agree. I have 3 different sizes of Gerber Paraframes that have served me well. I thought good bang for the buck, until I bought a gerber F.A.S.T. mini tanto. The knife was dull and the body seemed too thick for its size. I also have realized that Tanto blades are not for me. I also have a Kabar Large TDI with a Tanto and serrated blade, This is only good for defense. Good quality knife and came very sharp. I have a Remington Bird knife that is ok, but I would not use it for anything bigger than pheasants. The blade came very sharp but not heavy enough to even really do a good job on turkeys or rabbits and squirrels, but overall I don't like folders for dressing game especially if they are not lockable.

GANZO, I've bought about 7 or 8, and 2 or 3 I'm still proud of. So, hit or miss to me. One of there recently released FH921 loved it when I first got it, dropped it on my bedroom carpeted floor and the tip broke. I don't know, maybe that could have happened to any knife:)

Love CS don't really care bout the drama much..i just happen to be a guy who has always needed "heavy duty" stuff (bc almost everything that ends up in my hands will be destroyed sooner or later)and the tri-ad lock works for me and the blade steel is great in my opinion and experience (CTS-XHP) same for the handle material (g-10) and sure enough it's still in one solid piece

I got a Cold Steel Rajah II and the lock wore out in 5 years, i don't know why and neither do any of the people who "worked on it" when i sent it in 3 times! needless to say, i am going to carry a Bradford guardian 4.5 in my pocket with an ulticlip 3 now :)

knife companies with controversy: Cold steel number one, the Tony Marfione vs Kershaw/KAI feud, Medford ( you might have to look up the controversy surrounding him )

Great points! On one hand, I have been a Gerber fanbois since 1980, on the other, have been watching them churn out the garbage ever since. They have come out with some great knives over the decades. But really, only a few! I'd say clearly 90% is total trash, made for selling to 12 year olds. As time goes on, I'm seeing more and more such companies slide down into the muddy hole of financial destitution.

"Avoid buying a knife that's shaped like a unicorn." (Unless you're into unicorns) -Classic.

I do agree with that list unfortunately to often then none the company rely on name more then quality.

Tac & Mtech make great knives, dude! For LENDING!!!!

I have a lot of tac force (cuz I didn't know much of other knives) and yeah their quality is not the best, often the screws losen and blades off center and paint/hardware chips..

Never bring a Winchester to a gun fight.🔪

About gun branded knives that don't suck: the whole of the Heckler & Koch line made by benchmade are far from sucky ;)

I have the Buck/tops csar-t aswel as a Gerber LMF modified clip point and both are well made knives my buck is great, not complaints however, the LMF HAS A 7Cr steel and I think Gerber could and should have not only used an 8 or 8Cr but have at least a 4" blade. then that knife would be slamming. I just recently bought a coast Rapid Response assisted folding knife and I'm surprised at the quality control on this one. not bad. the blade steel is 5Cr so I'm not expecting miracles but it will sharpen rather quickly and flies out when the thumb studs are pushed. it's not meant to be a bush craft knife, but will work fine in self defense and utility.

Some good advice here but a real shame that you illustrated the video with a mix of knives you say to avoid (SOG & Buck) along with what I think are a ZT, Ontario RAT and a Ganzo.

Exception for gun companies: Hogue (obviously) Ruger (Made by CRKT) H&K (Benchmade) Old Brownings that were made by Mcusta (good luck finding one) Tool companies Snap-On is made by Kershaw, usually - but more expensive for no reason!

Hey I'll tell you what I got a good mtech, it was free in my yard. I sharpened it and if I lose it I don't care one bit.

I bought a Gerber Paraframe on sale at Canadian Tire for my friends son . It would open by snapping your wrist making it illegal to carry especially by a teenager . I sent it back under warranty and they sent me another one and it has the same problem . I bought the GF a Buck in a blister pack at Bass Pro Shop and it's action is horrible . The thumb studs are useless it's so tight .

What is a "profit strip?"

I got into knifes because of cheap gerbers and I really liked the looks of some of the Smith and Wesson folders and they look cool but totally suck I still have a large tactical tanto folder gerber with horible blade play no centering and plastic washers gritty action its a hallmark for a crappy knife then i went to the glass case and seen the benchmade and it was all over that was years ago here iam now rocking a reate jac 1.0 today

Never had a Böker plus knife that did'nt have some kind of problem....

Good Information

What about Smith and Wesson I had a couple their garbage lots of blade play

I have that esee in the right uper corner .the spring side of the knife has steel( i guess) so soft it almost like you could scratch it with your finger nails .mines not as bad as the ones i have seen reviewed .but one reviewer ssys that esee says they dont make that knife .dont blame them for denying credit for that one . The chinese clone are getting real good . Got the sabenzas21 25 .21 small wave is a good little edc but you have to tune it .but its worth tuning .the inkosi another one that's fixable .the manndi good material as well just not fit and finish .

great advice, especially if your paying more than a throwaway price.

Good stuff. If the price is too good to be true, it will raise a red flag for me. Usually you get what you pay for.

Marfione has some controversies, as well as strider

Speaking of Gerber if their Air Ranger was made of good quality steel it'd be an amazing EDC knife

How about Shrade

Haven't had any problems with any m techs

I got the rat 2 .lock slop and pivot slop .cull out of box . Got the rat 1 .lock stick out of box .had to us tools to close it .then lock fail .popped closed on my thumb .almost needed stiches . Fixed the rat 1 .the rat 2 is un- fixable cull .

I'm thinking any reputational maker/designer going into a collaboration, where the output is some cheap crap in terms of steel, finish and components.

I noticed you have an Ontario RAT on display...Good knife in either AUS 8 or D2 steel but I have a problem with the company for the way they bullied Jeff Randall.

Surgical steel is stainless steel without lead The absence of lead makes the metal very hard and brittle making it a good steel for a small scalpel but not for a full size pocketknife

lets see a review of that morph you got recently

Spyderco, Hinderer, Will Moon, Medford Knife and Tool.

Maybe the knife types to avoid are the one bought outside normal authorized dealer networks. Also, though I have usually had good experiences with Chinese knives, there is such a lack of respect for intellectual property that one can not be sure of what one gets. Even original Chinese designs get copied, and while some appear to be decently made, it is the unknown that matters. This is part of the global economy and, while the consumer can get some good deals, it is tough to predict what is original and what is a copy.

what about benchmade

That exact 0550 is mine now lol. Small world

Not sure if you see these in the US, but in the UK one to avoid is Anglo Arms. They look classier than a lot of gas station knives, with their wood finishes and so forth, but don't be fooled: the price point's the same and they're absolute junk. Bought one out of curiosity - a thumb-stud jobbie with a liner lock - for £9 and came to the conclusion that I'd significantly overpaid. After light use the damn thing is falling apart: everything's loose, the blade drags against the liner when you close the knife, has both horizontal and vertical blade play when open, soft screws, poor fit and finish. Basically, you name it, it's wrong: avoid. If you want an inexpensive thumb-stud liner lock folding knife, save a bit longer and spend £35-40 on an Ontario RAT 1 or RAT 2. I prefer the RAT 1 for ergonomics - I have large hands and it just seems to fit better - but they're both great, inexpensive, durable and versatile cutting tools.

for a minute there I thought you were going to mention Zero Tolerance blades. I was going to say oh my God I'm fucked.

S&W seem to be hit or miss. My sw609 was a miss. It loosened up in under a month.

What's that thing in the middle?

I think you mean fake Axis lock. SOG's lock is called the Arc lock. I think it is bad because a lot of those knives are assisted opening. The Visionary series and X-ray vision knives have less blade-play though it is still there. I have a Tomcat and it has no play nor should it at the price point. Knives associated with gun manufacturers is true except with Benchmade's now DC'd HK line. I think that line is really underrated.

aw man I love my Winchester Trapper

Nothing is wrong with SOG. Have a Trident tanto & it's great. Agree with everything else though.

I have a MP400 that I love. But when I got my Dime, I was very disappointed, and so disgusted with it, I threw it away.

So, why is a RAT 1 on the table?

What is that fixed blade looking thing in the middle of the screen? Not the sog. It looks strangely cool. Haha

Why is there a ZT sitting on the table?

Cold steel and quartermaster

Glock Knives and Smith & Wesson knives are just fine with me.

SOG - Lots of hype and ridiculously overpriced. I cannot convince myself to buy ANYTHING of theirs. Cold Steel - Really, Lynn Thompson. The brand itself offers lots of decent quality stuff at reasonable prices (if you ignore the outrageous MSRPs).

Strider, will moon knives, quartermaster

Great video Kevin. I think it's good to inform new knife buyers of things to watch out for. great job

I have the Gerber paraframe, it was a free gift when I purchase a Gerber machete and hatchet package. Terrible knife for EDC. But is okay for a fruit peeler. The whole kit is bad quality. but A hatchet and a machete and a free folding knife for 39.99. I wouldn’t complain. just use them until broken and throw them away.

Quartermaster is a bit suspect. I bought a Mr. Furley and while the design and steel were terrific, the flipping action was pitiful. I disassembled the knife to address the action but it was just made so poorly that I finally sold it. I also have heard they're claiming their knives are U.S.A. made but in fact are assembled in China.