Anyone have experience with the Nopal?

F

flash900

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Jan 17, 2010
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How about a mini review?

How's the f&f? Blade centered? Any blade play?

Do you recommend?

Thanks.
 
I asked a dealer if he would check a Nopal for any QC issues before shipping to me and here is his reply:

sorry but all the ones we have in stock have play in the blades
 
wow, too bad i was digging on that model somewhat. that is no good, but what dealer said this? also out of curiousity how many did he have 2 or 20+...
 
I have only had around 5 returned and none were for blade play. Most were for the thumb stud coming loose.
Terry
 
Thanks for that follow-up, Terry.

This was a fleabay dealer with more than 5,000 feedbacks and a 99.8 percent rating.
The quantity in stock wasn't listed.

Here is what I asked:

Can you check QC of the Boker Nopal, please?
I am only interested if the blade is centered, there is no blade play and there are no problems with the fit and finish.
Can you do that for me?
Thanks

Terry, I am still interested in the Nopal.
And while I thank that dealer for his honesty, I will be looking elsewhere.
 
So I looked elsewhere and today I found a a brick and mortar dealer who said he had two Nopals.

I spoke with him by phone and he said he had one Nopal with obvious blade play and one without.

But before I could congratulate myself on my good luck, a customer walked in and the dealer hung up on me.
 
I called the dealer again this morning and got a different sales rep.

He seemed more helpful (and didn't hang up when someone came in the store.)

Unfortunately, he found that the second Nopal also had unacceptable blade play and the F&F wasn't up to snuff, he said.

So I thanked him for his honesty and his time and I am officially dropping out of the great Nopal Search.

On the plus side, yesterday's mail brought a lovely Trance from another dealer, Moore Cutlery. (Thanks, Gary.)

It's the model 0595, the drop point, satin finish version that, unfortunately, has been discontinued.

In my view, Boker discontinued the wrong model. I like the looks of the drop point better than the satin and black versions with the tanto-like tip. But YMMV.

I like the Trance's ergos. It's a nice-looking piece and there are a couple of decent vids on YT. Check them out.

Mine has no blade play and F&F is pretty good.
 
Like I said, I haven't had any come back for either F&F or play, so I don't know what they are describing.
Terry
 
FWIW, allow me to chime in. I picked up a Nopal not too long ago... no complaints - fit and finish of knife is more than decent ...holding it in my hand right now and I can discern no blade play at all. As far as blade centering... hhmm, its a chisel grind, so of course its not going to look centered. Its a nice and compact package. Nice G10 and 440c, notches on blade and handle assist in blade orientation and grip. I carried it for a couple weeks but I prefer the smaller/shorter blade of my wharcom for carry at work - but then that's a different story.

TonyC
 
Bringing this thread back up-

I just got a Boker catalog in the mail and saw the Nopal. It really caught my eye! If it offers a value anything like the Trance, then I am sure it is very nice.

The only thing that makes me hesitate is the chisel grind. I am generally not a chisel grind fan. I had a CRKT M16 with chisel grind a long time ago, and I found the edge to be too thick and a chisel grind less-than-ideal for my uses. However, I also know that chisel grinds can vary quite a bit, so...

I was wondering if anyone can offer insight on the thickness of the edge on the Nopal, or an approximate edge angle?
When the knife is closed, is the tip hidden pretty well inside the handle, or does the handle just barely cover the blade tip?

Any input would be welcome!
Thank you-
 
I have one and think it's great. I have been carrying it for a week now and no probs, and I usually carry larger folders like the Emerson super cqc8!!
 
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