Battle of the high end frame locks

STR said:
I think if I had my choice between all the ones mentioned so far I'd probably opt for this little jewel right here that belongs to a friend of mine.

Super looker on top of being a great frame locker. Now thats a gents knife suitable for any ole redneck from Oklahoma let me tell ya. :D

STR

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3529946&postcount=32
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that is a sweet looking PT... although i find them to be too small for me... I'm not a huge dude either... I'm 5'9, and I find that the SMF is a better fit... just my 2¢ :p
 
Have you ever held a tripwire?

We have one on passaround, I can tell you that's it's big, heavy, and moderatly uncomfortable. It might be better if you take the pocket clip off but then I'm not sure how you would carry it.

I'm not sure who started the mega size,thick folder trend (I blame Strider maybe ER! ) but I don't find them useful for EDC.
 
I'm totally with you. I pretty much EDC exclusively 3 inch and smaller blades, and they're getting smaller for me all the time.

But knives, to me, are mostly appreciate for their art work and engineering--not for actual use.

And I gotta say, the Tripwire is the probably the most beautiful design I've ever seen.
 
Physics said:
I have to agree with all Rick Hinderer suggestion. I love my Strider SNG and it's a solid tank of a knife but the Hinderer just out-classes it in every respect. Smooth as glass to open and becomes a virtual fixed blade once it locks up. First custom folder I ever bought and still my favorite.

Nice Firetac oil! I need to make that next on my list of "must have's". :D

My Hinderer/TADgear Dauntless Extreme
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OMG, I can not tell you how BAD I want a Dauntless Extreme!! THAT is one awesome knife!! The Firetac ROCKS!!! Mine is my avatar!!
 
This thread has really got me thinking about getting my first custom folder. A Hinderer, Ralph, or Lightfoot.

Some of you have said the Sebenza is about the same price as a folder from one of these guys... but isn't that if you order one from the man himself? And doesn't that mean a year (or longer) wait?

If I don't want to wait for a longer period of time than I have even been into knives, I have to buy second hand. And doesn't that mean higher prices?

Or am I just wrong about the prices and wait times?

I know I can get a good custom folder for not much more than a Sebenza, but I got my Sebenza the next day. I don't mind waiting for a custom, but when the wait time is longer than I have even been collecting knives and I can get a high-end production folder in no time, it makes it hard to pull the trigger on a custom at this point in my knife knut life.

Is there anywhere I can buy "already made" custom folders for not much more than a Sebenza?
 
Dave at Steel Addiction is an AWESOME guy to deal with!! You beat me to it, I WAS gonna recoomend Steel Addiction!! I LOVE Steel Addiction, although it is bad for my wallet!! GREAT knives!!
 
Glad to hear it. Steel Addiction has a great selection ofn in stock customs.

There are still a lot of production knives I want, so I don't know how soon I will buy my first custom folder (it might be my next knife, or ten knives from now). But I really want a Firetac, Lochsa (wish me luck), and a large TNT.

I went ahead and bookmarked Steel Addiction and some other high-end knife sites (Plaza, KnifeArt, TNK etc...) so that when I decide to pull the trigger on my first custom, I will have "easy access" and won't have my attention stolen by a high-end production knife.
 
Well, I have skipped most of this post (everyone is entitled to his opinion) so sorry if I echo somebody. I recommend a reg size Skirmish. Why? Carries well (for comparable bladed knives), very stout, Benchmade quality and a looker.
 
A R.Hinderer Firetac is an AWESOME knife!! I am so happy that I was FINALLY able to get mine! I traded for it. And I ordered a Scott Cook Lochsa, and I have 2 years to save for it. And I have been jonesing.......errrrrr.......mayoing for a TNT & TMX.
 
While your in "Undecided Mode" Hair have a look around ebay. I totally lucked out getting that Dauntless. Maybe a week after I joined ebay that sucker popped up. I didn't know squat about customs, let alone who Rick Hinderer was, but I did recognize the knife from TAD gears site. Got into a bidding war with some guy who gave up waaay to easy and won it well under the "msrp". :D So you never know what you might find. Obviously use caution, check feedback, and ask questions cause they don't call it "e-prey, e-pay, etc. for nothing. ;)
 
Physics: YOU are very lucky!! CONGRATS on the Dauntless!! If you find you need a new home for it, let me know, please!
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
CONGRATS on the Dauntless!! If you find you need a new home for it, let me know, please!
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TKC,
There's one at the link above.:thumbup:

oil
 
For production knives, like many, I do put the Sebenza at the top, I am one of those obviously deluded people who believes it is one of the highest quality folders money can buy, and that many or even most customs can't even equal the consistant perfection that CRK acheives.

I have also been very impressed with the Benchmade 630 Skirmish. Amazing knife for the price, which hovers around $150 if you look around. Likewise, the Kershaw Bump framelock is near custom quality at a fair price too.

In the world of customs, I have long been a fan of the Mayo TnT. Prices on them have really come down from a couple of years ago, and it isn't that hard to find one these days for $600 or so, compared to $1,000+ in the past. The TnT is a knife that doesn't appear to be an overbuilt, so called: "Megafolder", it isn't designed to look strong, it is designed however, to actually be strong, and is as tough as any custom I know of, but with exceptional refinement and uncanny precision that few other customs can match. If you like the smoothness, precision and vault-like lock of the Sebenza, you will love the TnT and probably even moreso. And, unlike the Sebenza, the TnT does come with a decent variety of blade sizes and styles/grinds.

I also feel that Scott Cook's Lochsa is a remarkable framelock, with F&F that is nearly in a class by itself, Scott appears to have taken the basic Sebenza model and refined it significantly, his one piece Ti handle is a remarkable feat of engineering, and the Lochsa should be on anyone's short list for a high-end custom framelock.

Mike Obenauf makes a very impressive framelock for a very fair price.

It's OK that some people don't feel the Sebenza is worth its price, much like many people think that $4,000 for a Rolex Submariner is ridiculous when a $50 quartz Timex will keep better time, some people love their Subs, and some love their Sebs, and some think those people are nuts, but that's what makes the world go round, and by the way, Rolex and Chris Reeve both sell every watch and knife they make.
 
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