I finally got a mini-Skirmish! My wife had the local shop hold it for her. Not knowing that, I went over to buy it yesterday. I was in miserable shape - sinus crud - but, I had finally decided I wanted the knife. My wife beat me to it - and I was a tad dejected when it wasn't there when I got to the pusher's. She shocked me yesterday when she got home later with it - nice shock. She's a keeper.
I knew it had a few tiny blemishes - a tiny shiney edge line - a couple of spots on the Ti frame/handle - just where the clip would contact clothing, etc. I didn't check the frame lock engagement. It really isn't much at all. The blade is what sold me. I had bought two other new BMs, an older 550 in 440C and a 201 Snody Activator+. Neither would cut butter without heat - dull right out of the box. The black finished S30V 635BK's blade was a shaver out of the box.
I have seen current basic 21 Sebenza's. They have faultless finish on the Ti handle - and great frame-lock overlap. Admittedly, even the small Sebbie is considerably more. Still, is there any recourse on the Ti handle's finish, or is that to be considered 'character'? More importantly, is the slight overlap of frame sufficient - it will push further - or should that a concern? What percentage of the blade's width should be engaged? It is now ~40%.
Inevitably, one wants to compare knives. I never got the Buck 172 Mayo TNT I was considering during my long fruitless quest for a full-size 630 Skirmish. I did get a Buck 347 Vantage Pro with nearly the same size blade as the 172 Mayo TNT and also in S30V. That knife - with it's MSRP of $75 - is a steal next to the 172 Mayo TNT at $315+ MSRP. It's more drop-point blade is ~3/8" shorter than the BM 635BK's recurve blade - and thinner, too. Weight distribution is even with that Buck - nose, ie, blade, heavy with the BM. I love S30V - maybe not so fond of black blades - something else to wear and scratch. I know the Al-Ti-N coating on the Buck 'Alaskan Guide' knives in S30V really holds up well - how is this BM635BK's black blade going to holdup to usual EDC use?
Sorry for the questions - it's mine now, I guess I'll have to live with it anyway... other than the blemishes I mentioned, which could have been someone 'testing it', it is a super quality knife.
Stainz
I knew it had a few tiny blemishes - a tiny shiney edge line - a couple of spots on the Ti frame/handle - just where the clip would contact clothing, etc. I didn't check the frame lock engagement. It really isn't much at all. The blade is what sold me. I had bought two other new BMs, an older 550 in 440C and a 201 Snody Activator+. Neither would cut butter without heat - dull right out of the box. The black finished S30V 635BK's blade was a shaver out of the box.
I have seen current basic 21 Sebenza's. They have faultless finish on the Ti handle - and great frame-lock overlap. Admittedly, even the small Sebbie is considerably more. Still, is there any recourse on the Ti handle's finish, or is that to be considered 'character'? More importantly, is the slight overlap of frame sufficient - it will push further - or should that a concern? What percentage of the blade's width should be engaged? It is now ~40%.
Inevitably, one wants to compare knives. I never got the Buck 172 Mayo TNT I was considering during my long fruitless quest for a full-size 630 Skirmish. I did get a Buck 347 Vantage Pro with nearly the same size blade as the 172 Mayo TNT and also in S30V. That knife - with it's MSRP of $75 - is a steal next to the 172 Mayo TNT at $315+ MSRP. It's more drop-point blade is ~3/8" shorter than the BM 635BK's recurve blade - and thinner, too. Weight distribution is even with that Buck - nose, ie, blade, heavy with the BM. I love S30V - maybe not so fond of black blades - something else to wear and scratch. I know the Al-Ti-N coating on the Buck 'Alaskan Guide' knives in S30V really holds up well - how is this BM635BK's black blade going to holdup to usual EDC use?
Sorry for the questions - it's mine now, I guess I'll have to live with it anyway... other than the blemishes I mentioned, which could have been someone 'testing it', it is a super quality knife.
Stainz
