Battle of the high end frame locks

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
4,761
I seem to be always looking for a new titanium frame lock and can never decide. If people are willing to put up with another Spyderco Versus Benchmade thread, I figure yall could handle this debate. I imagine 99% of people will just say Sebenza without mentioning one of the others, given its inexplicable popularity, so the thread requires that even if you choose a Sebenza, you have to choose a second place winner because I'm almost definitely not going to buy a Sebenza.

The contenders (that I'm aware of):

The Sebenza (small):

seb-large.jpg


The Bradley Alias II:

BRD-17650.JPG


The Benchmade mini skirmish:

9abenchmadebhq_finished.jpg


The AG Russell Titanium Frame lock:

IMG_4867.jpg


The Buck Mayo TNT:

172.jpg




Remember, you should have a first and second place choice, and please explain why you chose those.
 
I wouldn't buy a Sebenza either; well, if I could find one with a BG42 blade when I have the money ....

I'm a Benchmade fan, so

1. Bradley - Nice design for everyday use, IMO. Pointy blade, felt comfy in my hand. Oh yeah, like the 750, people keep saying it's not as good as a Sebi, so it's my way of saying "flip off."

2. Mini-Skirmish - Stout design, just not enough of a point for first place. Also, I really prefer the full size version.

I haven't handled the Russell, but I'd put it right up there with the Bradley based on looks. It looks paractical (point, recurve), but that funky screw could be a problem.
 
BRADLEY IS NOTHING BUT A COMPLETE RIPOFF! I'd recommend avoiding out of moral objections! Chris Reeve is nothing but an honest hardworking gentleman who doesn't deserve this total ripoff.
I have a dominator, and I LOVE it. IMO, it's one of the best values around. I don't see myself trading it or selling it EVER!
But the Buck/Mayo is also an excellent knife. I had one and traded it for the dominator, but it's still a great slicer and an excellent all around EDC.
Right now, I'm looking forward to owning a Spyderco Volpe.
Also, I had a Strider SNG, and it was a good knife, but I traded it. I'm glad I did because I don't like the whole Strider culture.
 
I own a Strider PT. I don't know what is the Strider Culture.I like this knife 'cause of the blade geometry and 'cause it's a sturdy one (pivot and framelock). The fact to hold the knife with the forefinger in the choil and the thumb on the spine distributes the strength applied on the knife and gives precision and handiness. A good knife.

dantzk.
 
Why are you not going to buy a Sebenza?

If you are looking for a high end framelock, well, it is *the* high end framelock.

Some people love Sebenzas, some don't. But whether someone loves them or not, it is the knife that all production folders (and even many custom folders) are compared to. Especially framelock folders.

You owe it to yourself to try the Sebenza out.

If you like framelocks, you should really consider getting all 4 of these (in whatever order you want):

Sebenza (Large or Small)
Strider (SMF or SNG)
Skirmish (Large or Mini)
Buck Mayo TNT (or a real Mayo)

The A.G. Russell is dead sexy, IMO, but the lack of a stop when closed really concerns me. As one owner has said, a slight nudge makes the blade hit the back spacers, and that dings the blade. Not acceptable, IMO.

Reguarding the Alias... I think the only thing that makes it a Sebenza clone is the blue thumbstud and backspacers. Now, that works both ways. On the one hand, the design of the knife is totally different than the Sebenza. Being a framelock doesn't make a knife a Sebenza clone. If that were true, the TNT would be a Sebenza clone too. The Alias really, in terms of design, isn't ripping the Sebenza off any more than the TNT, Skirmish, SNG etc.... HOWEVER! The fact that they did use a blue thumbstud and blue backspacers makes it obviously a knife trying to be a less-expensive Sebenza. They are trying to compare their knife to the Sebenza with those cues. Now, that doesn't mean no knife can use blue thumb studs ot backspacers without being a Sebbie clone. But in the case of the Alias, it is obvious what they are trying to do. The knife, IMO, is trying to bite off the Sebenza's success, without actually looking or feeling like a Sebenza. If they had just skipped the blue parts no one would be calling the knife a rip off, and it would get a lot more respect.

I think the knife is probably a very good knife. And I don't think you shouldn't buy one just because of the blue parts. But I have a Sebenza, so the Alias is so low on my "to buy" list that I don't actually list it (but it is a knife I may buy one day).

If you buy the Alias, I think you will still want a Sebenza. At least deep inside.

The Sebenza may not be right for you, but know this: Everything they say about it is true. It does live up to the hype, and it is not overrated. It really is what everyone says it is. Whether that is worth the price to you or not is another matter, and whether the handle shape, action, blade shape, etc... are what you want is yet another.
 
I go Sebenza First, Strider(SNG) Second, and Benchmade mini-skirmish third, and I dont care how the rest fall in line. The ONLY reason Sebenza is over strider in my book is in having owned several sebenza's and striders. I have never had one sebenza with bladeplay or out of center, while I have seen two striders as such. I put the Benchmade m-s thrid for similar reason to the sebenza, MOST that come out of the box are tight and center and there aint nothin wrong with that.

The Alias I dont put up there my friend had lots of problems with his and sold it, such as play, pivot pins wearin, washer wear.He said it just did not hold up, and I dont like it as much as the three I mentioned. I dont rate the TNT because I have no experience with it, so I cant say but I am sure its a fine folder. In my opinion I think the mini-skirmish is underated for how what it is, especially now that you can get it and the probably the mayo for under 150.
 
You didn't mention price or the word "production," yet you did say "high end" so for about the same price point as a graphic or inlaid Sebenza you could get a Hinderer custom framelock that will definitely blow away what you've got listed and will retain its value better than what you've got listed.
 
Great pictures-

They all look good to me and any one of them will probably do whatever you want to do with them. I would try to get my hands on them and see how they feel, how they open and close, and what the fit and finish looks like.

While not a frame lock (but a very good lock back) the Spyderco Manix has a very respectable following for a large high-end production folder.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=165

I have seen reviews where it outperformed the Sebbies and Striders (or Stryders or Strykers, whatever) and it has that great s30v steel which everyone but me seems to have in their knives.

Here is a review from www.BritishBlades.Com of various large folders that may be of interest (Stider, Sebbie, and Manix).

http://www.britishblades.com/home/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=46
 
My first pick would be a sebenza, but since you are ignoring the sebenza.

My second pick would be the Buck / Mayo TNT, good quality solid knife in the $145 range.

I tried a large skirmish, quality seemed good, but I hate recurves.

The only other knife I can comment about is the Alias, not only is it a ripoff of CRK as already mentioned, it's a poor quality ripoff, defintely way over priced.

You could always look for a Ti Spyderco ATR forsale.
 
What about a Kershaw Bump? A little funkier than the average BGT, but a quality knife with Ti scales and S30V, plus AO.
 
Walking Man said:
BRADLEY IS NOTHING BUT A COMPLETE RIPOFF!
Click to expand...
If it didn't have a blue thumbstud, I'll bet there'd be no complaints.
It isn't shaped anythinglike the Sebbie, and nobody is crying that the Dominator, or the BM Pinnacle (discontinued) or any other titanium framelocks are rip-offs.
:rolleyes:
Competition is good. Especially for us, as consumers.

Anyway, aside from the obvious (Sebenza), I'd introduce another into the mix. Benchmade Pinnacle.
Benchmade750SPPFront.gif

Benchmade750SPPBack.gif

When this one came out, there was a similar outcry: "Chris Reeve Ripoff! Grab the torches and pitchforks!" This only lasted until people realized "Hey, it's OK to use the same type of lock on several knives.... WOW!" Now, we have all kinds of folders with frame locks, ranging from customs (Darrel Ralph, Ken Onion) to Kershaws, and everything in between.

Peace.
Alex.
 
Blade Junky said:
You didn't mention price or the word "production," yet you did say "high end" so for about the same price point as a graphic or inlaid Sebenza you could get a Hinderer custom framelock that will definitely blow away what you've got listed and will retain its value better than what you've got listed.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Rick makes an excellent framelock and his prices are low for what you get. I also carry a couple of different Strider framelocks (SnGs mainly lately and some SMFs) and am really used to the handle and choils on them so they are currently my mainstay. I have had problems with the lockups on some of my Striders too but they (Strider) have always taken care of it ASAP. I started collecting with CRKs but none of the ones I own ever see pocket time anymore. After a while I just fell out of love with them.

What's in my pocket now? A Hinderer Firetac 165.:thumbup: :thumbup:

HindererFireTac165_01.gif


oil
 
Yah know, I forgot about DDR (Kinda strange, since he just visited the forum concerning the Gunhammer).

Lets throw the DDR knives in.

The Combat Elite knives have shown themselves to be good, high quality peices.
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
You really ought to consider the Combat Elite RRF!! It is an EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT knife!! http://www.combatelite.com/knives_rr.shtml And how about the rest of DDR's framelocks? And what baout Rick Hinderer? His knives ROCK!!
Click to expand...

I have no personal experience with the other knives, but I did just get a Combat Elite RRF and it seems to meet all your requirements. Its a great knife, my absolute favorite so far.
 
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