Got my 25.... Born February 12th 2013
Initial impressions: (since I haven't put this thing through its paces yet)
-It screams hard use
-Very comfortable in the hand with no hot spots for my hand (large glove size)
-increased pivot size and stop pin size makes it very stiff. No flex or movement in any direction
-Strong detent. I don't see this thing opening by chance in my pocket
-Excellent jimping. Very grippy without been rough or sharp
-Increase in blade thickness is very confidence inspiring (yet is not a knife to pry with! it is a slicer-a very tough one-)
-Ceramic ball lock: vault like. Loud "clack" and no movement whatsoever!
-Very smooth. (*)
* while taking it apart I noticed that the pivot in the lock bar side was very tight and that is why I didn't take it out. Not sure if this is like it is supposed to be but then when I put the knife together I noticed the blade action to be very stiff and that made me play a little bit with that pivot rotating it a little bit until I found the perfect spot where the blade would move very smoothly. So my guess is that for some of you that I have read that the knife is a little stiff try rotating the pivot just a little bit and/or play with tightness. After adjusting mine the action is splendid!
Take down:
The amount of work and detail put in this thing makes it a work of art IMO
Notice the work on the stop pin to increase clearance of the blade
Notice the HUGE pivot (increased stiffness) and notice the washer details (smaller holes near the lock face to hold less lubricant near that area. Reduced contamination/wear???; held in place by a small hook/indent)
Notice how beautifully the titanium is "deformed" to trap the ceramic ball
This is my first experience with this locking system. Notice the small contact patch between the lock bar and the blade tang (only the ceramic ball is in touch)
Hope you enjoy the pics ;-)
Initial impressions: (since I haven't put this thing through its paces yet)
-It screams hard use
-Very comfortable in the hand with no hot spots for my hand (large glove size)
-increased pivot size and stop pin size makes it very stiff. No flex or movement in any direction
-Strong detent. I don't see this thing opening by chance in my pocket
-Excellent jimping. Very grippy without been rough or sharp
-Increase in blade thickness is very confidence inspiring (yet is not a knife to pry with! it is a slicer-a very tough one-)
-Ceramic ball lock: vault like. Loud "clack" and no movement whatsoever!
-Very smooth. (*)
* while taking it apart I noticed that the pivot in the lock bar side was very tight and that is why I didn't take it out. Not sure if this is like it is supposed to be but then when I put the knife together I noticed the blade action to be very stiff and that made me play a little bit with that pivot rotating it a little bit until I found the perfect spot where the blade would move very smoothly. So my guess is that for some of you that I have read that the knife is a little stiff try rotating the pivot just a little bit and/or play with tightness. After adjusting mine the action is splendid!
Take down:
The amount of work and detail put in this thing makes it a work of art IMO
Notice the work on the stop pin to increase clearance of the blade
Notice the HUGE pivot (increased stiffness) and notice the washer details (smaller holes near the lock face to hold less lubricant near that area. Reduced contamination/wear???; held in place by a small hook/indent)
Notice how beautifully the titanium is "deformed" to trap the ceramic ball
This is my first experience with this locking system. Notice the small contact patch between the lock bar and the blade tang (only the ceramic ball is in touch)
Hope you enjoy the pics ;-)
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Great writeup.
I still love it but the 25 is the king of my CRK's or at least till the inlayed one's come out. I need a micarta and a Mammoth 25 anybody else
