Bad Livesay Neck Knife

S

Schlager

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Nov 26, 1998
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175
Sad to say but I've got a G-45 neck knife that is hardened only 1" of the 2 1/2 blade length. The rest of the blade and knife is soft. Yes I sent it back to Newt after calling them and telling what the problem is, and enclosing a letter detailing the problem again.

Two weeks later I received the knife back from the dealer I bought it from in the OK City area. Nothing had been done to re-heat treat the blade.

I had been considering buying a Company Knife for the future, but not anymore! I was really starting to like the knife too, even though the edge was done at almost 90*. Sharpening is when the bad heat treating showed up.

Since the blade is 1095, I think I'm going to crack open some knife books and try heat treating the blade myself. -Brian

[This message has been edited by Schlager (edited 12 September 1999).]
 
You sent the bad knife back to Newt and he sent it back through the dealer you originally purchased it from? Un-repaired?

That sounds like a pretty big mix up. I'd get on the horn immediately. Newt backs his stuff 100% and is a pleasure to deal with.

I won't make any escuses for him, but call him, I'd bet my next paycheck he'll make it right.
 
The 4th is right on! I'll bet the dealer was blowing sunshine up your ***. Newt is a gentleman and pleasure to deal/talk with. I love my G-45 and it is perfect. Best buy for the buck! Call Newt!
 
Copfish,
The dealer cannot be blowing smoke as he was not involved other than returning my still bad knife to me. I expected my re-tempered blade or a new G-45 mailed to me directly from Newt. but two weeks after I had called and sent it back to Newt, I had a message from the local dealer saying he had mailed my knife back to me and I should be seeing it soon. This courtesy call was very nice of them and shows good service on their part.

Upon inspection of my returned knife it appearred nothing had been done. One pass of a sharp file confirmed nothing indeed had been done. The return envelope only contained the G-45, no explaination of what happened. -Brian
 
I recieved an Air Assault from Newt last week. It felt so good in my hands that I immediately wanted to test it. I was quite surprised when I whacked a small sapling and the blade chipped! I told Newt and he told me to send the knife and sheath back to him. He said it could be the heat treat. Anyway I hope I fair better than Schlager.

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-Dennis-


 
I am very confident that Newt will take care of you, both.

Please call him directly, and keep in touch with him over the phone, I find that the best way to deal with these sort of things.

Then I am not wondering, but I know, because I have talked to them.

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Marion David Poff aka Eye, one can msg me at mdpoff@hotmail.com If I fail to check back with this thread and you want some info, email me.

My site is at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Meadows/1770 Including my review of the Kasper AFCK, thougths on the AFCK and interview of Bob Kasper.

 
I don't understand this since Newt heat treats a lot of G45s at one time. So it wouldn't cost him anything to re-heat treat the knife for you. So there's got be more to the story.

It is my understanding that you purchased the blade from Bob Harper, a dealer in Oklahoma City. it is also my understanding that the blade that you sent back had been ground down. If this is fact, then the grinding destroyed the heat treat.

My question is straight-forward and I would appreciate an honest answer. Did you modify the knife before returning it?

If you will send me your address, I will send you a check for the knife and you can keep the blade. The reason I do this is because I know the honesty and integrity of Newt Livesay. I also know he stands behind his product 100 percent so long as you have not modified it and created the problem. Rather than have this problem, whoever's at fault, and having this turn into a pissing contest - possibly cuasing problems to the good name of someone I know to be good, it's easier for me to just return your money and be done with it.

I'm not employed by Newt and have no obligation to do this, but I also know that Newt is too busy to defend himself here on BladeForums.

I expect a full rant from you after this post defending yourself, but I will not enter into an argument here on BladeForums.

This is my final post on the subject. Please email me your address to jeff@jungletraining.com and I will send you a check.

Regards,

Jeff

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Randall's Adventure & Training
jeff@jungletraining.com

 
I purchased a Woo, with Micarta handle, from the same dealer at a gun show this weekend. I should have checked it before leaving. I got home to find that there was no edge on the blade. I have also had a hard time sharpening it. It is kind of aggravating to say the least.

[This message has been edited by scbb6 (edited 13 September 1999).]
 
Jeff,
No rants, no flames, just info.
Thank you for the reply, and I did modify the blade by attempting to sharpen with a *hand* file, because the edge profile was so blunt I started with a file and not my diamonds. More specifically, a 6" flat bastard, double cut. The hard part of the blade was taken down with a DMT extra course. I worked the blade for awhile and then the idea of sending it back occured to me. Had I used a power grinder, I would think the parkerizing would be discolored by the heat.

If they think I used a power grinder, that would explain why nothing was done. But since I enclosed my address and phone number, I wish someone would have discussed this with me before my G-45 was sent back.

Yes the dealer was Bob Harper and I enjoyed talking with him, and will look forward to doing business with him in the future.

Anyway, I've never heat treated a blade before and I'm looking forward to giving it a try! I'll let you all know how it turns out.
-Brian

[This message has been edited by Schlager (edited 14 September 1999).]
 
Brian :

even though the edge was done at almost 90*
Click to expand...

Do you mean the edge bevels were 45 degrees ?!

Since the blade is 1095, I think I'm going to crack open some knife books and try heat treating the blade myself.
Click to expand...

Much more forgiving than I would be. Custom/handmade makers like Newt should do basic quality control checks on their equipment. That is one of the benefits of not going production and where you money should be going.

I am considering getting an RTAK or Rapid Deployment from Newt in the fall. If it has a too soft heat treat then I am not going to try to fix it myself and the problem will be very evident to him when he opens the box with the returned knife.

Scbb6 :

I got home to find that there was no edge on the blade. I have also had a hard time sharpening it. It is kind of aggravating to say the least.
Click to expand...

Don't do it. Send it back to the dealer and demand that it be sharpened or get a new one and as well get a refund for your postage. You are paying for a full product, not a kit knife. There are dealers out there you inspect their knives carefully - if you want quality service you have to demand it.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 14 September 1999).]
 
I tried to sharpen my returned air assault with a sharpmaker. I hope he doesn't just send mine back thinking I tried to sharpen it on a grinder. I don't even own one. Anyway I was extremely disppointed in the knife. I will let everyone know how my return works out. I am kind of scared now because I have a RTAK and a LP on order. I had heard nothing but great things about these knives and I was disappointed in the air assault to say the least. I hope he stands behind his product.

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-Dennis-


 
I personally have nothing but good things to say about Newt Livesay and Wicked Knife Co. The man makes GREAT knives at affordable prices. I personally love my Woo and RTAK. The knives are TREMENDOUS, and Wicked Knife Co.'s service is GREAT. I like my Livesay knives so much I will NEVER sell or trade 'em. And I will DEFINITELY buy many more blades from him in the future. Let me frankly tell you, I am a shopper. Sometimes I spend months comparing prices and deciding which knife to buy and from whom. In the end I always come back to realizing that Newts blades are in my opinion the BEST you will find without spending A LOT more. And even if you do spend a lot more, most times you will NOT find a better blade. Mistakes are going to happen, we all have to give people the benefit of the doubt. Happy Trails...
 
Hi All,
I never posted anything about Newt on this forum, or any other forum for that matter, but I thought in light of the evens here, I should post. I ordered a Woo some time ago when Newt was getting the publicity from the mags and such. We had agreed on a order of a Woo with stag handles. He said it would be about 2 months to have it done and that he was making a limited batch of them in D2. So I figued what the hay. The order went through and I had my knife about 3 and a half months later. It was plagued with delays, as Newt mentioned he had been sick part of the time, and other delays like the working conditions and him being busy as such. That was well enough a reason for me. When I received the knife however I was dismayed to find that there was no edge on it and that the grinds on both sides were off. The handles were pretty decent considering the price that was paid for it, but the sheath was a not exactly the best either. The sheath I got was super tight and would have taken ages to break in. Needless to say I was not happy with it and to Newt's credit he did promptly refund my money. I just didn't like the fact that I waited an extra month for a sub par knife with so many things wrong with it. That's what happened and why I doubt I'll order again. If you need any more details, I'll see what i can do if you mail me...Thanks for listening.
js

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>>>>>>>>>>>jonathan sun<<<<<<<<<<<<
www.geocities.com/Area51/Omega/9016


 
Jeez...sounds like a few of you crybabies need a diaper change.Honestly,I've been all over the forums and have heard very little bad about Livesay knives.Really only this thread.If the quality is really so bad wouldn't we have heard more complaints over time?I have ten livesay knives and I have no complaints.If you would have called the man and talked to him directly I'm sure each one of these complaints would have been resolved.I guess its much easier to fire off a post that calls into question a good makers integrity,than to actually talk to him.Whiners suck ass!
troy
 
I just got off of a 45 minute phone call with Newt. As I suspected, there was more to the stories listed here than people are telling.

I don't feel that anyone here is lying, I'm just saying that folks should take that EXTRA step an find out what is going on before spouting off. If you feel like you weren't taken care of correctly the first time, MAKE SURE that all the bases were covered. Anyone can drop the ball, give them a chance to pick it up. Or in this case, recover the other guy's fumble.

Newt will be posting the picture of the chipped blade soon. It didn't show up with a regular digital camera, so he he's having it blown up.

All THAT being said, Newt is having a lot of computer problems right now (parts are on the way!) and has some 500+ knives to ship out by next week. He is just a little bit busy and may take a day or two to get back with you.

Visit Newt's forum on EzBoard at http://server3.ezboard.com/blivesayknives Find out what's new, what's in progress, and what's being thought about at Wicked Knife Company.

[This message has been edited by the4th (edited 15 September 1999).]
 
I have 6 of newt's knives. I have no problems. His designs are good he stands behind his products. If you have a problem with one of his knives, pick up the phone and talk to the man!
 
I will have to read that thread on his forum. I was beginning to wonder what was up! I ordered a Titanium Tiger and I got exactly what I expected: atitanium neck knife worth $22! Newt has a great reputation here, so like the 4th said, there is obviously more to it. Having crappy customer service is suicide in this business, so I assume there is more at play that is out of Newt's control. Let's go find out!

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My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
I am not trying to bash Newt or whine or cry or whatever. I am merely stating an experience I am having. As stated before I am sure he will stand behind his product. The chip in question is probably my knife. The chip isnt very big now. I spent two hours on my sharpmaker trying to get the chip out. After two hours I thought to myself....I just paid $125 for this knife and it shouldn't have chipped under such mild use. So I sent it back. I dont think Newt makes bad knives, but a few can slip by anyone. I really didn't think I would be personally attacked for posting my experience. I never said he wouldnt stand behind his product! I said I hoped he would. I hardly think someone that recieved an improper heat treat on a new knife, sends it back and gets the same knife back with no repair is a whiner. I am not sure what happened with that situation, but I know what happened in mine.

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-Dennis-


 
I don't think you were out of line sending the knife back unless it was not made to chop wood. If it was then the chipping is a fairly serious problem. No one chip doesn't kill the knife, but if is is prone to that kind of damage then its lifetime is obviously going to be fairly short due to all the grinding getting the chips out.

One note though, since Newt does have his own forum now, and seems to be on there fairly regularly, anyone posting a complaint might want to mirror it on his forum so Newt can see the post and address it.

-Cliff
 
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