A Week with a Medford Praetorian.

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Cleave is probably a better word to describe how the Medford Praetorian separates those items... :D
 
somber said:
Cleave is probably a better word to describe how the Medford Praetorian separates those items... :D
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Possibly...I'd have to try one myself to know for sure.
Which I don't see happening given the price versus the knives I want more.

At least it's getting used...another thread questioned if they ever got used. :)
 
How are the ergonomics? Just looks like it'd be awkward with that big upsweep where the lock bar ends.
 
I have a 187 RMP, the "lower" end Medford folder and it is a beast so I totally understand and have always thought the Praetorian was too big and thick (that's what she said) but maybe not for my use??? Thanks for the review! Another high end knife that I now am considering...
 
Fanglekai said:
An $8 Opinel would perform all the cutting tasks referenced in the original post better than the $800 Medford. Additionally an Opinel weighs significantly less. What does this knife really excel at?
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This knife is 600$ not 800$. I gey where you are coming from. We all have out likes and dislikes. Hell I carry a 35$ Vic Farmer with me everywhere. No matter what other blade I have. And it will do everything I need. I like the Medford, it's a great tool that will do all the things the opinel you stated will. Maybe some different, maybe some not as good. I like this knife just like I enjoy drivin my lifted 1985 4Runner. It's not ideal for all situations but it fits me and suits my needs the way I want it to.
 
stabman said:
Possibly...I'd have to try one myself to know for sure.
Which I don't see happening given the price versus the knives I want more.

At least it's getting used...another thread questioned if they ever got used. :)
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I am definitely using it. No question about that. I will get more pictures up tomorrow of some use at work.

ALLHSS said:
How are the ergonomics? Just looks like it'd be awkward with that big upsweep where the lock bar ends.
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It has really great ergos. Nothing like the strider SNG/SMF , but fits well in the hand. I will also get some in hand pictures for you.
 
Gizler00 said:
This knife is 600$ not 800$. I gey where you are coming from. We all have out likes and dislikes. Hell I carry a 35$ Vic Farmer with me everywhere. No matter what other blade I have. And it will do everything I need. I like the Medford, it's a great tool that will do all the things the opinel you stated will. Maybe some different, maybe some not as good. I like this knife just like I enjoy drivin my lifted 1985 4Runner. It's not ideal for all situations but it fits me and suits my needs the way I want it to.
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Man, I want a lifted 85 4runner
Gizler00 said:
I am definitely using it. No question about that. I will get more pictures up tomorrow of some use at work.



It has really great ergos. Nothing like the strider SNG/SMF , but fits well in the hand. I will also get some in hand pictures for you.
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Cool. I've wondered since first seeing them how they'd look/feel in hand.
 
Gizler00 said:
I like the Medford, it's a great tool that will do all the things the opinel you stated will.
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...the Medford is .190" thick while the Opinel is .06". That's a huge difference, especially when it comes to use. Do you honestly believe that it can do all the things an Opinel can do? That's 3x the thickness.

The Medford will be better at tasks that abuse a knife (lateral forces, ie prying, batoning incorrectly, being used as a screwdriver, etc).

The Opinel will excel, and literally cut circles, around the Medford at tasks that, I feel, a knife is meant for. The thickness of the Medford alone will prevent it from accomplishing tasks that the Opinel could. This is fact.

edit: bold -- this goes both ways. I don't know why you would want it the other way for a knife, but the Medford will certainly excel at the opposite tasks the Opinel does (ie, Opinel will bend easily, possibly chip, roll an edge, etc)
 
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Interesting looking knife!

Unfortunately, the grind of the blade will never cut that well. Physics is a bit%^ but you can't get around it.

Also, you seem to eat really healthy! Good on you :thumbup:
 
somber said:
...the Medford is .190" thick while the Opinel is .06". That's a huge difference, especially when it comes to use. Do you honestly believe that it can do all the things an Opinel can do? That's 3x the thickness.

The Medford will be better at tasks that abuse a knife (lateral forces, ie prying, batoning incorrectly, being used as a screwdriver, etc).

The Opinel will excel, and literally cut circles, around the Medford at tasks that, I feel, a knife is meant for. The thickness of the Medford alone will prevent it from accomplishing tasks that the Opinel could. This is fact.

edit: bold -- this goes both ways. I don't know why you would want it the other way for a knife, but the Medford will certainly excel at the opposite tasks the Opinel does (ie, Opinel will bend easily, possibly chip, roll an edge, etc)
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We should all just buy Opinels and shut down this site, I guess.
 
That must be your own conclusion, since that wasn't mine. Are you being intentionally obtuse?
 
Fanglekai said:
Getting upset doesn't provide answers to real questions. If an Opinel outperforms a Medford in cutting tasks, why purchase the Medford?
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I'm not upset, I was just being flippant. You are right that an Opinel will generally cut better than a Medford. Your point is valid and it highlights an irony that high-end knife buyers have to face at some point.

But reasons as to why someone would still purchase a Medford have already been provided by the original poster and others above.
 
An Opinel is not comparable to a Medford. The materials, lock, opening method, carry method, etc. are all different. Compare apples to apples - other framelocks in the 3.6''-4'' blade size. In my view, the Medford doesn't hold its own very well when taking into account value, ease of use, and performance, even in that small subset of knives. But to compare the Praetorian to the Opinel doesn't accomplish anything.
 
Some that come to mind...

* Spyderco Southard
* ZT 0450 / 0562CF / 0620CF
* Benchmade 761
* Benchmade 757 Vicar (Liner Lock, but the G-10 is really just an overlay, so I count it as a framelock -- the ti lock is beefy)

Are all good comparable knives in my mind with better value & overall cutting / blade performance. That being said, if Greg Medford made a thinner knife with an even full height grind, I'd [maybe] buy one (even at a $600 I think the value could be there).
 
Nice review, good pics, thanks for taking the time. I read your review in the OP with interest.
The knife itself, I simply cant take seriously.
There are plenty of nice knives out there for the same money and they'll have thinner stock/less width and weigh less.
Personally, Ive never seen the point of overengineered thick heavy folding knives (no pun intended). They sort of defeat the purpose of carrying a folding knive in my POV.

The light 'cutting' tasks in the review begs the question of why this over a thinner slicer for the same money. Notice no question marks, as I full well am aware, that you obviously wanted the Medford;)

Its your money and your knife and you obviously wanted to buy this and try it put. Would be a sad world, if we all bought the same knives.
 
Thanks for the insight, that was nice to read. I am glad you like the knife. It sure does look good, personally for me it would be to big. But it's intriguing.
 
Fanglekai said:
Getting upset doesn't provide answers to real questions. If an Opinel outperforms a Medford in cutting tasks, why purchase the Medford?
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There are many different types of cutting tasks.

The Medford can open packages and slice food much better than what a picture of the knife would indicate.
It's hard to see just how thin that 3/4 grind is.

I would have a tough time arguing ergonomics or relative cutting ability about a knife I have never held or used.

There are a lot of tasks that you just can't do, or will suffer through with an $8.00 Opinel, and I am sure Mark will update this thread with some of those tasks.

A knife can cut paper, food, cardboard. A really good knife can do so much more.

I think it all comes down to what you expect from a knife that's in your pocket 24/7 and is many times the only tool you have access to.
 
JR88FAN said:
There are many different types of cutting tasks.

The Medford can open packages and slice food much better than what a picture of the knife would indicate.
It's hard to see just how thin that 3/4 grind is.

I would have a tough time arguing ergonomics or relative cutting ability about a knife I have never held or used.

There are a lot of tasks that you just can't do, or will suffer through with an $8.00 Opinel, and I am sure Mark will update this thread with some of those tasks.

A knife can cut paper, food, cardboard. A really good knife can do so much more.

I think it all comes down to what you expect from a knife that's in your pocket 24/7 and is many times the only tool you have access to.
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Id like to come back to this subject in the future and see, how many of these heavy bulky knives were actually carried for years 24/7 by their owners.
 
Fanglekai said:
Getting upset doesn't provide answers to real questions. If an Opinel outperforms a Medford in cutting tasks, why purchase the Medford?
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brancron said:
I'm not upset, I was just being flippant. You are right that an Opinel will generally cut better than a Medford. Your point is valid and it highlights an irony that high-end knife buyers have to face at some point.

But reasons as to why someone would still purchase a Medford have already been provided by the original poster and others above.
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IMO its not about fans of cheapo knives dissing high end more expensive knives. Its about some pointing out, that some knives of thinner stock will perform the light cutting tasks in the review better. In this regard, price dont matter.

There are plenty of knives for same price made of thinner stock.
 
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