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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
1095 XT All Titanium Ouparator
- Thread starter STR
- Start date
It arrived and I opened the package last evening when I got home.
First, let me state that I don't give idle praise. If I say something, I mean it. For example, if some of the ladies in the office come in with a new hair doo and I like it I'll tell them. If I don't like it I just keep my mouth shut...I don't tell them I like it if I don't.
With that said, I like this XT Ouparator. In fact, I think I like it quite a bit. After I asked STR to do the handles kinda fancy I had second thoughts, but he had already scalloped the TI. I never mentioned it because I ordered the handles this way and only latter had second thoughts. I find, however, that the scalloped scales look very nice. They are not over done. If I were doing it again I would consider standard scales, but the scallops do look nice.
The build of the XT Ouparator is very stout and I really like the solid feel of the knife. The scales are approximately .125 and are ridgid. The lock appears to be perfect. It snaps into place with authority. STR makes a pratice of leaving the cut-out a bit thicker than most production knives and I can say that this lock is strong and solid!
The blade is nicely blued. It came extremely sharp and I expect it will peform very well. I don't know anything about STR's HT, but I'm confident that the HT recieved as much careful attention as the more obvious elements of the knife. I haven't cut with the blade yet (except for push cutting a few pages of the Cabelas catalog that came in yesterday's mail too). The XT push cut the paper very easily.
As mentioned, I expect the blade to be a good performer. It is quite thin (I don't know the measurement, but it is certainly thinner than the .125 TI scales).
The low-rider clip is very well done. It is also positioned to help prevent overextension of the lock when closing the knife.
Bottom line: This is a very well done knife. It feels every bit as solid as my Sebenzas and it's size is in between the small and large Sebenza. I really wanted something in this size. STR has done a nice job on this one. I fully intend for this knife to have considerable pocket and use time. If I save up the money, I may want to get the smaller version to carry in the office...although the XT is lying open on my desk at this moment.
By the way, STR, I ususally sharpen my knives on either a Spyderco Sharpmaker or on cardboard covered with a compound. Did you apply a specific angle to the edge?
In short, I'm
.
First, let me state that I don't give idle praise. If I say something, I mean it. For example, if some of the ladies in the office come in with a new hair doo and I like it I'll tell them. If I don't like it I just keep my mouth shut...I don't tell them I like it if I don't.
With that said, I like this XT Ouparator. In fact, I think I like it quite a bit. After I asked STR to do the handles kinda fancy I had second thoughts, but he had already scalloped the TI. I never mentioned it because I ordered the handles this way and only latter had second thoughts. I find, however, that the scalloped scales look very nice. They are not over done. If I were doing it again I would consider standard scales, but the scallops do look nice.
The build of the XT Ouparator is very stout and I really like the solid feel of the knife. The scales are approximately .125 and are ridgid. The lock appears to be perfect. It snaps into place with authority. STR makes a pratice of leaving the cut-out a bit thicker than most production knives and I can say that this lock is strong and solid!
The blade is nicely blued. It came extremely sharp and I expect it will peform very well. I don't know anything about STR's HT, but I'm confident that the HT recieved as much careful attention as the more obvious elements of the knife. I haven't cut with the blade yet (except for push cutting a few pages of the Cabelas catalog that came in yesterday's mail too). The XT push cut the paper very easily.
As mentioned, I expect the blade to be a good performer. It is quite thin (I don't know the measurement, but it is certainly thinner than the .125 TI scales).
The low-rider clip is very well done. It is also positioned to help prevent overextension of the lock when closing the knife.
Bottom line: This is a very well done knife. It feels every bit as solid as my Sebenzas and it's size is in between the small and large Sebenza. I really wanted something in this size. STR has done a nice job on this one. I fully intend for this knife to have considerable pocket and use time. If I save up the money, I may want to get the smaller version to carry in the office...although the XT is lying open on my desk at this moment.
By the way, STR, I ususally sharpen my knives on either a Spyderco Sharpmaker or on cardboard covered with a compound. Did you apply a specific angle to the edge?
In short, I'm
.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,955
I did that one at the 18` angle on the EdgePro and followed up using the Sharpmaker on the 40` setting. I've found that the touch ups on the med rods work really well on that blade but its easy to sharpen up on just about anything in my experience.
I used to have some thicker stock of that steel. I was hoping to find some of that for yours but it has eluded me to date. I don't think I used it but so far have been unable to locate where I stuck those thicker bars. I'm sure I put it somewhere where I'd remember where it was that seemed smart at the time.
I hope you like the scallops and can live with it Sam. Its something I'd just as soon not do to be honest but when people want it I try to do what I can. I'm not really that good at it I don't think. But I try.:thumbup:
I hope it is all you wanted. Glad it got there ok. Thanks for the order and the feedback.
STR
I used to have some thicker stock of that steel. I was hoping to find some of that for yours but it has eluded me to date. I don't think I used it but so far have been unable to locate where I stuck those thicker bars. I'm sure I put it somewhere where I'd remember where it was that seemed smart at the time.
I hope you like the scallops and can live with it Sam. Its something I'd just as soon not do to be honest but when people want it I try to do what I can. I'm not really that good at it I don't think. But I try.:thumbup:
I hope it is all you wanted. Glad it got there ok. Thanks for the order and the feedback.
STR
I know what you mean by "I'm sure I put it somewhere where I'd remember where it was that seemed smart at the time." I do that kinda thing all the time.
And don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the scalloped scales...in fact I think you did quite well with them. I just started thinking more about the plain scales after placing the order. I sometimes get fickled like that. And yes, I can definitely live with them.
Like I said in my earlier post, if I didn't like the knife I wouldn't come on bladeforum.com and say I did...I'd email you directly. You built a heck of a solid knife and I appreciate the quality of the tool.
Thanks, STR. I think I'll try to get the smaller one too....it'll be after Christmas, however.
And don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the scalloped scales...in fact I think you did quite well with them. I just started thinking more about the plain scales after placing the order. I sometimes get fickled like that. And yes, I can definitely live with them.
Like I said in my earlier post, if I didn't like the knife I wouldn't come on bladeforum.com and say I did...I'd email you directly. You built a heck of a solid knife and I appreciate the quality of the tool.
Thanks, STR. I think I'll try to get the smaller one too....it'll be after Christmas, however.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,955
I'm easy to reach.
Have a good holidays. The wife is taking me to look at wood splitters. I've wanted one for years but have always done it by hand the old fashioned way. It keeps me sweatin' good and helps me stay in shape but its getting old doing it that way. If I'd known all I had to do was smack a log into her fence and damage it I'd have done it years ago to get one!
Now she wants it to keep me from bouncing the logs on her stuff. What a deal huh?
So, we are heading to AtWoods to check em out.
STR
Have a good holidays. The wife is taking me to look at wood splitters. I've wanted one for years but have always done it by hand the old fashioned way. It keeps me sweatin' good and helps me stay in shape but its getting old doing it that way. If I'd known all I had to do was smack a log into her fence and damage it I'd have done it years ago to get one!
Now she wants it to keep me from bouncing the logs on her stuff. What a deal huh? So, we are heading to AtWoods to check em out.
STR
FWIW, the XT was lying on the counter last night and the wife commented on how much she likes the scalloped scales. You never know what they thinking, but it's interesting that she voluntarily commented positively on a knife. Obviously, STR, you did a great job....the wife is picky...that's why she waited until she met me before getting married.