In your opinion, what is the most OVERrated knife currently available for purchase.. and also list the most UNDERrated knife currently available? Why?

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King of the Cheese

King of the Cheese

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This is a discussion thread wherein commenters list the most overrated knife and the most underrated knife (in your personal opinion) with just a few remarks as to why. With the extensive variety of knives hitting the market today at varying prices, materials, and quality levels, I would be interested to hearing everyone’s thoughts/opinions.

Please don’t just list the knives, it would be nice to see a few reasons for each as well.

Please keep it respectful, there will be agreements and disagreements.

This is open to all knife types, fixed and folder alike.
 
So for me:

Underrated: Going to go with the Civivi product line on this one. Specifically, the Badlands Vagabond. I think you get a lot of knife for the cost, but I feel like the brand might be overlooked for a number of reasons. Sure, the Elementum is popular, but there are so many other winners in the lineup you just never hear about until they pop up on the secondary at half the original cost. Great fit and function, good materials, never a quality concern for me.
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Overrated: I’m going with the Koenig Arius. The secondary market prices are outrageous. I have owned one and I just don’t get it. I dislike the pocket clip, the handle is thick, and $800? No thanks. Been there, done that, can’t see it.
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Underrated knife. Spartan Blades Astor. 3.5" of CTS XHP. One of my favorite blade steels. I got the green G10 version. Solid liner lock. Les George design. I got it from WhiteMtn knives to my door for under $90 shipped. Great bang for the buck.

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Overrated:
Spyderco Paramilitary 2. Very long and bulky handle for the amount of usable blade you get.

Underrated:
Spyderco Astute. Nice ergonomic handle but slim profile and good blade to handle ratio. Honestly this might be my favorite Spyderco design. If there was a golden made version with a premium steel it would be a grail status EDC knife for me.

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Random Dan said:
Overrated:
Spyderco Paramilitary 2. Very long and bulky handle for the amount of usable blade you get.

Underrated:
Spyderco Astute. Nice ergonomic handle but slim profile and good blade to handle ratio. Honestly this might be my favorite Spyderco design. If there was a golden made version with a premium steel it would be a grail status EDC knife for me.

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Interesting. I feel like the grip on the PM2 is perfect.

My overrated would be either the XM-18, which I find to be a poor cutter and it has ergonomics that aren’t friendly to my mitts. Other overrated option would be the ZT 0640. The design is similar to the Emerson Viper but the Viper isn’t as slender and the blade to handle ratio is much better. I’ve actually cut myself on the tip of the 0640 because it is so close to being proud of the frame.

Underrated would be the Spyderco Gayle Bradley 1 with full steel liners (not skeletonized). It’s rock solid in every way, has amazing steel, good ergonomics, and feels bomb proof.
 
Overrated - I’ll agree on the PM2… I’ve had 3 and I like them ok… but I always end up moving them… I think it’s the ergos that get me… they tend to be very sharp scales on the sides and blocky. Also agree with the short blade to handle ratio. The PM3 with the rounded scale edges is better IMO. Tip is also on the delicate side. Great for edc but always scared me a little.


Underrated - I’m gonna go MBK Field Trekker. It’s a better gunny… great geometry, steel, design, and size. And an awesome sheath!
 
Overrated is probably the Drift considering how many issues people have with QC's hardware. Cheap hardware means corners have been cut... for a knife costing $300. It is hyped for the being rustproof, yet people are constantly talking about how they never see rust on any stainless. It's impressive salesmanship from QC.

Underrated, I've really liked using the Civivi Riffle the past 3-4 months despite not being a fan of bearings. Civivi itself is hyped enough, but I don't see much about the Riffle. $50 gets you micarta and 12c28n, flipper plus hole opener, deep carry clip, 3mm thick blade that's tall enough that it slices very well. The design is similar to the Ferrum Forge Archbishop (which is funny considering they've worked together), but I like the neural handle and no choil.
 
This is an interesting thread and question, but I would suggest another twist. Whether a knife is over or under rated depends somewhat on its intended purpose or function. Some knives may be expensive and to some seem over rated, yet to the owner they are highly functional and well worth the value. Alternatively, if a knife is under rated how so? What can it do better functionally than better knives. Also, some knives have value for their aesethics, beauty, and artistic characteristics that are very difficult to place worth and value on. A Chevy Malibu can get you from point A to point B but not in the same way as a corvette. So yes, a cheap knife can slice tomatoes as well as a CRK sebenza, but I value my sebenza more as a work of art. I mention these things because otherwise, the concept of over and under-rated knives is so highly subjective if they are not put in some contextual format that the results may be superfluous.
 
Opinions? I'll go with PM2 for overrated. Mostly because the (45VN/30V) steel, I've learned, makes it brittle and hard to sharpen.

Underrated? Opinel. I like my #8 carbon. I compare it more or less to a Buck 110 in terms of capability. If you wield it with finesse I think it can do just about anything.
 
Overrated - ( anticipating a ton a harsh feedback for this one ) Strider folders. I’ve had many, lost count, kept trying. I can’t deal with a 9 + inch knife that has 3.25 usable edge , or a 8.5 + knife with a 2.75 inch usable edge. They snag on everything too. The prices are absurd past few years as well.

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Underrated - Benchmade Presidio 2. It’s high value for its price point. I guess people think It’s boring, it’s plain, it goes unnoticed. It is very heavy with aluminum scales ( could easily smash glass / skulls though - if that matters ). I think It cuts well, has excellent blade to handle ratio, ambidextrous ( I’m cursed with the lefty condition ). If Benchmade made the Presidio 2 with micarta and Cruwear.. would be my favorite folding knife.

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Bob Denman said:
If you bought the XM-18 for slicing: you just bought the wrong knife...
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Oh, I didn’t. The problem is that the geometry of the one I own, a Bowie blade, lends itself about as well to hammering nails as it does cutting anything at all. When I first got it, with the factory edge, I was cutting zip ties and the actual linkage broke before the tie cut. Even after putting a better edge on it and reprofiling, it barely cuts better. It’s been to the ranch twice as it’s developed vertical play after a few months of reasonable use. It has play again right now. I’m not asking for a grape peeler, just a knife that will cut general medium. I’ve sharpened Maxamet from dull to hair whittling. I can’t get RHK S35VN to cut much of anything.
 
luethge said:
Overrated - ( anticipating a ton a harsh feedback for this one ) Strider folders. I’ve had many, lost count, kept trying. I can’t deal with a 9 + inch knife that has 3.25 usable edge , or a 8.5 + knife with a 2.75 inch usable edge. They snag on everything too. The prices are absurd past few years as well.

Underrated - Benchmade Presidio 2. It’s high value for its price point. I guess people think It’s boring, it’s plain, it goes unnoticed. It is very heavy with aluminum scales ( could easily smash glass / skulls though - if that matters ). I think It cuts well, has excellent blade to handle ratio, ambidextrous ( I’m cursed with the lefty condition ). If Benchmade made the Presidio 2 with micarta and Cruwear.. would be my favorite knife.
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Fair play to Strider, their production wing no longer exists. Any production releases are produced by Mick and Josh exclusively I believe. He’s carried a lot of his custom stuff over to the production models. Any old stuff is probably fetching a mint on the secondary.
 
luethge said:
Overrated - ( anticipating a ton a harsh feedback for this one ) Strider folders. I’ve had many, lost count, kept trying. I can’t deal with a 9 + inch knife that has 3.25 usable edge , or a 8.5 + knife with a 2.75 inch usable edge. They snag on everything too. The prices are absurd past few years as well.

Underrated - Benchmade Presidio 2. It’s high value for its price point. I guess people think It’s boring, it’s plain, it goes unnoticed. It is very heavy with aluminum scales ( could easily smash glass / skulls though - if that matters ). I think It cuts well, has excellent blade to handle ratio, ambidextrous ( I’m cursed with the lefty condition ). If Benchmade made the Presidio 2 with micarta and Cruwear.. would be my favorite knife.
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Can you get them through the Custom Shop?
 
Over rated , anything GEC, while I thoroughly enjoy them, availability and prices are difficult to grasp. Underrated, Para 2. Fully capable of cutting anything that needs cutting and blade to handle ratio just right, all in the design
 
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