I would like to share some pictures and my initial impressions of the 2006 Benchmade Vex and NRA Fecas
Gunstock folder. There are 9 pictures making for 1 mb of data.
The Vex is a mainland China manufactured 3.29" folder going for about $40. The steel
is labeled as 8Cr14MoV, although previously there appears to have been some ambiguity about the material.
I can afford better knives, but I bought this one mainly because the high grind and the hole opening suggested
that this might be an interesting alternative to some Spyderco models [especially the partial-ground one].
I think holes generally function better than thumb studs, so it is interesting to see other company's
interpretation of the hole. This came from New Graham about the middle of December. This was no
longer a first-production piece (to which there was complaint of poor fit/finish). There is nothing notable
about the fit and finish. The blade is a bit off-centre, but it doesn't bother me.
The flat grind is very high, but not quite "thin" enough to be really notable. I generally prefer higher
grinds than the partial grinds (Delica/Endura, Byrds...). But the one attribute that seems out of place
is the weight (probably due to the thick duel liners), at 4.7 ounzes. That is more than many of the 4"
tactials (AFCK, Military, 710...), and about the same as a NRA Gunstock and a Spyderco Native sans clip.
If this was a 3 ounze knife, I'd say it is worth consideration to compare it to say the Delica/Endura.
The NRA (produced by Benchmade) Fecas Gunstock folder is about the same length as the Vex, going for
about $20. I bought this one to try out Benchmade's supposedly hard Aus8 and the hollow grind that looked
really promising. It is Taiwan produced, blade of Aus8 and having duo nested liners.
Overall the knife is quite stylish. The grind is indeed fairly good (picture below). It is tempting to try and sharpen this
knife flat to the stone. I think this is a more sensible knife to do such a thing on for starters as opposed
to things like the Native, Jess Horn... As for the handle, the protrusion in the middle of the handle is not
too awkward, but the "flared" end to the handle is unnecessary (similarily on the BM 530).
One problem that both of these knifes suffer from is that the linerlock (where you are supposed to disengage it)
sticks out too much from the handle. This creates pressure points for the forefinger. Although if this was
filed down it might make it more difficult for the lock to be disengaged. Contrast this with the almost flush AFCK liners.
As for the clips, I'd say the end of the Gunstock clip is too angular, but it is pretty good in other respects. The
Vex's supposedly ergonomic clip has issues too, but I'll investigate this more later.
At 4.7 ounzes, it is the weight of the Gunstock folder and a Native (sans clip):
AFCK, Gunstock folder, Vex:
A look at the clips:
Trying to show the hollow profile of the Gunstock folder:
Gunstock folder. There are 9 pictures making for 1 mb of data.
The Vex is a mainland China manufactured 3.29" folder going for about $40. The steel
is labeled as 8Cr14MoV, although previously there appears to have been some ambiguity about the material.
I can afford better knives, but I bought this one mainly because the high grind and the hole opening suggested
that this might be an interesting alternative to some Spyderco models [especially the partial-ground one].
I think holes generally function better than thumb studs, so it is interesting to see other company's
interpretation of the hole. This came from New Graham about the middle of December. This was no
longer a first-production piece (to which there was complaint of poor fit/finish). There is nothing notable
about the fit and finish. The blade is a bit off-centre, but it doesn't bother me.
The flat grind is very high, but not quite "thin" enough to be really notable. I generally prefer higher
grinds than the partial grinds (Delica/Endura, Byrds...). But the one attribute that seems out of place
is the weight (probably due to the thick duel liners), at 4.7 ounzes. That is more than many of the 4"
tactials (AFCK, Military, 710...), and about the same as a NRA Gunstock and a Spyderco Native sans clip.
If this was a 3 ounze knife, I'd say it is worth consideration to compare it to say the Delica/Endura.
The NRA (produced by Benchmade) Fecas Gunstock folder is about the same length as the Vex, going for
about $20. I bought this one to try out Benchmade's supposedly hard Aus8 and the hollow grind that looked
really promising. It is Taiwan produced, blade of Aus8 and having duo nested liners.
Overall the knife is quite stylish. The grind is indeed fairly good (picture below). It is tempting to try and sharpen this
knife flat to the stone. I think this is a more sensible knife to do such a thing on for starters as opposed
to things like the Native, Jess Horn... As for the handle, the protrusion in the middle of the handle is not
too awkward, but the "flared" end to the handle is unnecessary (similarily on the BM 530).
One problem that both of these knifes suffer from is that the linerlock (where you are supposed to disengage it)
sticks out too much from the handle. This creates pressure points for the forefinger. Although if this was
filed down it might make it more difficult for the lock to be disengaged. Contrast this with the almost flush AFCK liners.
As for the clips, I'd say the end of the Gunstock clip is too angular, but it is pretty good in other respects. The
Vex's supposedly ergonomic clip has issues too, but I'll investigate this more later.
At 4.7 ounzes, it is the weight of the Gunstock folder and a Native (sans clip):
AFCK, Gunstock folder, Vex:
A look at the clips:
Trying to show the hollow profile of the Gunstock folder:
Sadly, too, it seems like the higher end Benchmades (and even Spydercos) are becoming more and more fluff all the time, really not that interesting if you're into working tools.
