- Joined
- Nov 29, 1998
- Messages
- 774
I bought myself a little fathers day gift to keep me company while my wife and son are away visiting my daughter in Chicago. I ordered four knives from Knifeworks on June 8th and received them today. I ordered a BK&T 11 Becker necker, a JA Henckels 2-Blade Trapper; Burnt White Pick Bone; a Carl Schleper Eye Brand 2 Blade Trapper Genuine Stag Handle; and a Schrade Old Timer Bearhead Trapper.
I have gotten interested in slip joints of late, sort of a return to my childhood which took place in the late 50s early 60s.
First impressions on these knives. The BK 11 is larger than expected and it had a healthy dose of lube on the sharpened edge to keep it rust free. It was packed nicely in a sturdy box along with the Kydex sheath. The blade was protected with the lube inside a cardboard sleeve and plastic wrapped. The edge was hair popping sharp right out of the box. Not all knives received from the factory at so sharp. The blade, at 3.25 inches is a good general use size in my opinion. The grip area is only large enough for three of my fingers and isnt comfortable for heavy use. The grip area begs to be cord wrapped for a more comfortable handling. The Kydex holds the knife very tightly now, time will tell how well it maintains its grip on the blade but it is sturdily constructed with six rivets. I look forward to trying this blade out around the house.
The Eyebrand 2 blade Trapper is the next knife I opened. The stag is very nice looking on this knife. One scale was wider than the other being rather rounded while the opposing side was a flat slab. The right side is the more rounded scale with the Eyebrand emblem embedded in it. I have a problem with the way some emblem are set into stag scales. Of course stag isnt smooth, it has character but I dont like rough edges where the circle was cut to embed the emblem and then left rough to the touch. I always get another knife and a small file and go to work taking off the rough edge. This Trapper had a small problem of this sort but not as bad as some of the Queen Trappers I have. None three Trappers that I received had the Walk and Talk of the Queen and Schatt & Morgan knives. There is no half way stop on any of them. The Eyebrand Trapper clip blade which is Solingen steel has too much etching on it for my tastes, and neither blade was sharp out of the box. The springs on these blades could be a bit stronger in my opinion as well. Neither blade had much snap it them. The clip blade did not in line with the handle when open it angled toward the center of the handle and almost rubs the liner. The spey blade was straight. This is the first Eyebrand knife that I have purchased and at $60 I could have invested in another Queen or S&M. By the way, this was the most expensive of the four knives purchased and only came in a plastic sleeve, NO BOX. Pretty cheeky if you ask me.
The Schrade Old Timer Bearhead Trapper at $25 came with a Delrin handle and was boxier than the Eyebrand or the Henckles. The blades have more snap to them when opening and closing than the Eyebrand Trapper. Both the spey and clip blades were sharp enough to shave and are carbon steel. The Bearhead comes with tweezers and a field pick which would be nice for getting out splinters. I dont know if the pick will stay in place and not get lost due to rough use. The tweezers and pick are held in by friction as they are in SAK type knives. The clip blade rubbed the liner a bit on my knife. No half way stop for either blade.
The JA Henckels, at $38 came with a burnt white pick bone handle. Neither of the Solingen steel blades were sharp enough to shave. Getting a pattern here, both carbon steel blades on the Old Timer and the blade on the Becker necker were shaving sharp. Both knives with the Solingen blades were did not come sharp enough to shave. The clip blade was not in line with the handle and rubbed the liner on the blades left side. The spey blade is centered in the liners. Neither blade had a half way stop but the blades did have a nice snap to them when opened and closed.
Overall, I would have to say that I paid too much to get the Genuine Stag Eyebrand Trapper but it is staying in the collection along with the others received today. The Old Timer would be a great purchase but you will have to take a little more care of the carbon steel blades but they should be easy to keep sharp.
I have plenty to keep me busy for the next several days trying out these new toys.
Hope this helps for those interested in these knives.
I have gotten interested in slip joints of late, sort of a return to my childhood which took place in the late 50s early 60s.
First impressions on these knives. The BK 11 is larger than expected and it had a healthy dose of lube on the sharpened edge to keep it rust free. It was packed nicely in a sturdy box along with the Kydex sheath. The blade was protected with the lube inside a cardboard sleeve and plastic wrapped. The edge was hair popping sharp right out of the box. Not all knives received from the factory at so sharp. The blade, at 3.25 inches is a good general use size in my opinion. The grip area is only large enough for three of my fingers and isnt comfortable for heavy use. The grip area begs to be cord wrapped for a more comfortable handling. The Kydex holds the knife very tightly now, time will tell how well it maintains its grip on the blade but it is sturdily constructed with six rivets. I look forward to trying this blade out around the house.
The Eyebrand 2 blade Trapper is the next knife I opened. The stag is very nice looking on this knife. One scale was wider than the other being rather rounded while the opposing side was a flat slab. The right side is the more rounded scale with the Eyebrand emblem embedded in it. I have a problem with the way some emblem are set into stag scales. Of course stag isnt smooth, it has character but I dont like rough edges where the circle was cut to embed the emblem and then left rough to the touch. I always get another knife and a small file and go to work taking off the rough edge. This Trapper had a small problem of this sort but not as bad as some of the Queen Trappers I have. None three Trappers that I received had the Walk and Talk of the Queen and Schatt & Morgan knives. There is no half way stop on any of them. The Eyebrand Trapper clip blade which is Solingen steel has too much etching on it for my tastes, and neither blade was sharp out of the box. The springs on these blades could be a bit stronger in my opinion as well. Neither blade had much snap it them. The clip blade did not in line with the handle when open it angled toward the center of the handle and almost rubs the liner. The spey blade was straight. This is the first Eyebrand knife that I have purchased and at $60 I could have invested in another Queen or S&M. By the way, this was the most expensive of the four knives purchased and only came in a plastic sleeve, NO BOX. Pretty cheeky if you ask me.
The Schrade Old Timer Bearhead Trapper at $25 came with a Delrin handle and was boxier than the Eyebrand or the Henckles. The blades have more snap to them when opening and closing than the Eyebrand Trapper. Both the spey and clip blades were sharp enough to shave and are carbon steel. The Bearhead comes with tweezers and a field pick which would be nice for getting out splinters. I dont know if the pick will stay in place and not get lost due to rough use. The tweezers and pick are held in by friction as they are in SAK type knives. The clip blade rubbed the liner a bit on my knife. No half way stop for either blade.
The JA Henckels, at $38 came with a burnt white pick bone handle. Neither of the Solingen steel blades were sharp enough to shave. Getting a pattern here, both carbon steel blades on the Old Timer and the blade on the Becker necker were shaving sharp. Both knives with the Solingen blades were did not come sharp enough to shave. The clip blade was not in line with the handle and rubbed the liner on the blades left side. The spey blade is centered in the liners. Neither blade had a half way stop but the blades did have a nice snap to them when opened and closed.
Overall, I would have to say that I paid too much to get the Genuine Stag Eyebrand Trapper but it is staying in the collection along with the others received today. The Old Timer would be a great purchase but you will have to take a little more care of the carbon steel blades but they should be easy to keep sharp.
I have plenty to keep me busy for the next several days trying out these new toys.
Hope this helps for those interested in these knives.