I've had one for over a year. The quality compared to other BM's I have is good, it's well finished, and I believe it was coming out of the same manufacturer of the Spyderco Chinese knives. It points out that when things are held to specification, you get a good item. Much of the price difference in knives is labor - how much does it cost, how much is there in shaping that particular alloy blade?
It handles fine, grippy enough to keep from dropping it, as time goes by, it's developing a patina in the G10 which is slicking up. The nitrided blade resists scratching to a much higher degree than simple brush finished steel, and the designers chose to reduce the amount of "dye" in the treatment, leaving it a softer gray color. Nitriding itself doesn't materially change color, it's added - nobody spends money for it when treating crankshafts or other parts.
The liner lock works securely, I have no issues with the blade rocking and opening the lock. There is another liner on the unused side, and that contributes to much of the extra weight and thickness. I've disassembled mine to see if it could be eliminated, it would take some modding to capture the screws to hold things together. However, that result was all good to me, lighter and less bulk when clipped in the pocket. It then felt normal in the hand compared to other knives like framelocks, etc.
The pocket clip is interesting in that it has finger detents stamped into it, which reduces the obtrusiveness of the clip. It makes it a lower profile in use, and reducing some hot spotting if that might be an issue.
I haven't gotten much reaction to it using it in public, just another knife for most folks. The shape of the blade and grip are utilitarian, and the drop point with flat grind cuts well. I keep it in the EDC rotation, and still pick it out some days in competition with knives like a Boker CLB M-type.
I still think it's a better knife that the one Spyderco came up with at the same time, if only for the nitrided blade that still looks the same as the day I bought it. But - I know where that could lead, and it's really a matter of personal taste. At the prices being posted in this thread, get one while you still can.
