Benchmade Warn

[SilentJohn]

hey guys i find myself in the position of buying a new knife, i had a verizon tech come to my house and after he left i realized the SOB stole my kershaw ET so i am lookign to replace the missing brother

what are your opinions of the full sized benchmade warn

 

[Phydeaux]

I hope you are filing a report to the police and verizon. That really stinks.

 

[kaosu04]

Definitely report it to Verizon. Your report alone might not affect him, but if he gets multiple complaints he'll be fried

 

[TriviaMonster]

The Barrage is an excellent knife. The Warn version(tanto only) adds G-10 scales to an already excellent knife. It tends to be rather excellent.

ETA: And boy do I HATE thieves. I would file said reports(in person for Verizon if you can) and then make him eat the knife while it's open. I mean swallow it whole. That seems only fair that he should eat it because the only justified stealing is when you need to eat or save a life. So...unless his friend is caught in a tree hanging by a parachute while a bear is slowly crawling up it, he should eat a Kershaw knife.

 

[freedoom]

it's the same knife as the benchmade barrage. the full size barrage is one of my favorite AO knives and if you are into tanto blades you can't go wrong with this knife. plus you are getting G10 handles and d2 steel instead of the Valox and 154CM of the barrage. Valox a thermoplastic so it can feel cheap.

 

[SilentJohn]

thanks for your kind words I did file a report with Verizon and I was getting a " it's just a pocket knife " feeling but I calmly explained the cost of replacing it so I think I got through

also what if I got the black serrated version of the warn the 538SBK-1

 

[res1cue]

I am unlike many people on this forum in that I actually am a fan of tantos...............if they are made right.

I don't want to derail this thread into a tanto discussion, but the advantages of the tanto are that it can be made with a two grinds: A flat (or Lum style convex) short grind near the tip to maximize tip strength (note that this only works if the tip is inline with the spine) and a hollow or high flat to keep the main edge very thin.

I have owned this knife, and this tanto design negates both advantages. So you have a thin delicate clipped tip AND a flat saber grind main edge. Granted the main edge is still pretty thin, but the fact that this design really plays to the weaknesses of the tanto and does not play to the advantages of it irks me and I sold it.

If you like it, by all means buy it. Fit and finish was great on mine, good materials and good action/lock up.

 

[mctrinket]

I am unlike many people on this forum in that I actually am a fan of tantos...............if they are made right.

I don't want to derail this thread into a tanto discussion, but the advantages of the tanto are that it can be made with a two grinds: A flat (or Lum style convex) short grind near the tip to maximize tip strength (note that this only works if the tip is inline with the spine) and a hollow or high flat to keep the main edge very thin.

I have owned this knife, and this tanto design negates both advantages. So you have a thin delicate clipped tip AND a flat saber grind main edge. Granted the main edge is still pretty thin, but the fact that this design really plays to the weaknesses of the tanto and does not play to the advantages of it irks me and I sold it.

If you like it, by all means buy it. Fit and finish was great on mine, good materials and good action/lock up.

Very insightful analysis of the tanto grind. I would be very interested in hearing some of the favored tanto makes/models you like that fulfill these qualification, please. Thanks.

 

[SilentJohn]

is the blade design really that bad. I owned 2 tantos in my life one is a super cheap 5 dollar knife but I liked it and the other is a slightly more expensive but I do enjoy tanto designs I am not for or against any functional blade design

 

[res1cue]

Very insightful analysis of the tanto grind. I would be very interested in hearing some of the favored tanto makes/models you like that fulfill these qualification, please. Thanks.

In my mind the prototype americanized tanto is the Cold Steel Master Tanto. It has all the "features" that I was talking about in my previous post, and was one of the first americanized tantos in production knives (so new, in fact, that it was actually released with the name "the tanto"...as to whether Bob Lum or Lynn Thompson was the "inventor", I won't get into that at all)

As to some folders that really exemplify the tanto blade shape reaching it's optimal grinds, there is the CS Voyager Tanto (2011), Spyderco Lum tanto:

Notice the Lum still has the point dropped a bit and that irks me, but see how short that secondary grind is.. that is what gives it the tip strength.

What I really do like on the Voyager is how if you follow the blade flats (before the grind starts), the width of the flat decreases as you move along the blade, but the grind width stays the same. This means the main edge has an almost unperceivable gradual belly. I find that very graceful. If you ever get the chance, pick up one of those voyagers.. at ~40 bucks, it is a steal. The one thing I don't like about the voyager though, is that the handle is made in a way that gives the blade a forward angle... which I am not a fan of.

Another good thing about the tanto is that the secondary tip acts as one big serration. Serration's purpose (other than providing more cutting edge) are to have points that protect the cutting edge from hard/abrasive surfaces, which is why steak knives stay sharp so long despite constant grinding on a hard ceramic plate. The tanto's secondary tip acts like that too, which I have found very useful in food prep. Holding the blade at an angle so that the secondary tip is touching the cuttingboard/plate/etc, you can slide the knife across whatever you are cutting without the main cutting edge touching anything but the food

Also, here is a custom fixed blade, made by Charlie Mike for me (1095 and CF). Notice how short the secondary grind is on this blade. Now it is a full convex for the primary grind, because he is not set up to do hollow grinds, but it is still quite the cutting machine!

And lastly, here is my voyager clip point and tanto point. You can see where the secondary grind starts so close to the tip. Both are 3.5mm of AUS8

is the blade design really that bad. I owned 2 tantos in my life one is a super cheap 5 dollar knife but I liked it and the other is a slightly more expensive but I do enjoy tanto designs I am not for or against any functional blade design

If you don't mind the thin tip, and the lack of any belly, then you might like it. In the first week of owning it I chipped off the first 2 mm of the tip from doing what I consider normal EDC task. (I don't know how it happened exactly, I just remember looking at it one day and seeing it missing... it was one of my most expensive knives at the time so I sure didn't abuse it)

If you like it, by all means buy it, it just bugged the hell out of me, so I sold it

 

[SilentJohn]

what would be your normal edc what chore do you think busted the tip

just asking to see if I might break it as well , I have a old cold steel ak-47 with the auto lock system I f'n love this knife and it's tip is really tough

 

[res1cue]

what would be your normal edc what chore do you think busted the tip

just asking to see if I might break it as well , I have a old cold steel ak-47 with the auto lock system I f'n love this knife and it's tip is really tough

This was a few years back, so I am trying to remember.. but usually my EDC chores include opening boxes, food prep, whittling, light wood-work. I remember being shocked that I had broken the tip off. I have had chipping problems with D2 before too, so I don't know if I got an extra brittle one from the HT.

Now, for me, tips are usually the first (and usually only) thing I have trouble with. Both my 710's have had chipped tips, as well as a Recon 1 clip point, Manix 2, and even a Rift. So maybe I am harder on tips than the average person. As an expert of ruining tips on knives then, I found the Warn's tip to be extra weak..

How are the tips on your other knives?

 

[SilentJohn]

all fine I normally edc with my AK which has a strong tip in my opinion

I've only broke one knife tip in my life and it was on a leatherman

 

[res1cue]

all fine I normally edc with my AK which has a strong tip in my opinion

I've only broke one knife tip in my life and it was on a leatherman

You may be fine then. Like I said, I hate it, but to you that is just the opinion of some guy on the internet that you don't know

BTW have you seen this? It is around the same price, better steel (IMO) and no chance of tip problems:

 

[SilentJohn]

is it solid , one of things I like about the warn is that it's solid

also does it come in black coat I was hoping for a black blade because the one that got stolen was the limited urban camo ET

 

[res1cue]

is it solid , one of things I like about the warn is that it's solid

also does it come in black coat I was hoping for a black blade because the one that got stolen was the limited urban camo ET

I haven't gotten my hands on yet, they are just coming out right now.

Right now, the black combo-edged ones are out, and I was told that the black plain edges are "instock" on bladehq

BTW I really hope you get compensation from Verizon or somebody and that the thief gets caught and punished.. that is really terrible

 

[SilentJohn]

seriously , I am really going to miss that knife it was really fun to play with

 

[tjswarbrick]

For my hands, the Barrage has some of the best ergos going, but I'm not a huge fan of the Valox scales.
I like how the Warn version adds G10, awesome D2 steel, and manages to cost less.
So I picked one up - the 583SBK-1. It matches the Mini-Mag I got as a Promo from Warn.

It was a bit of an experiment for me:
My first Tanto, my first Combo, my first tool steel, my first coated blade.
I have a Love / Hate relationship with this knife. It's the only one I've considered selling - though I did create a thread a while back about why I'm going to keep it.
Here's me personal take:

Love: The ergos. Feels natural in many grips, and I can cut tough material for a long time without hurting my hand.
But: Kinda large for EDC / pocket carry (I usually slip it into a back pocket when I expect I'll need to use it.)
Love: The assisted opening - easy, secure, solid as a rock.
But: One of the best things about the Axis lock is ease of one-handed closing; the powerful assist spring keeps the blade from falling, so I can't easily close this guy one-handed.
Love: D2 Steel is tough, and holds an edge very well. I've lightly touched the edge with mineral oil a couple times. It's still shiny, with no signs of corrosion or rust.
But: The toughest to sharpen blade I own (Spyderco M4 and M390 hold an edge as well or better, and are much easier to get there.)
Love: The serrations are the best firesteel striker I've tried.
But: Other than that, I prefer PE blades. I've tried it on rope, paracord, and denim - and the serrations haven't offered any cutting benefits. But I did reprofile the edge to 20 deg and sharpen it up to 6000 grit.
Love: The Tanto for cutting cardboard, hardboard, posterboard, and carpet. Cuts like a utility knife, but holds an edge exponentially better than a razor blade.
But: No belly, and having the tanto tip and serrated side minimizes the "normal" PE edge.
Love: The coated blade looks really cool (if a little tacticool)
But: It scratched when I sliced open a plastic Leatherman clamshell package.
I haven't tried to stab into anything and I don't pry with my knives, so I can't speak to the strength of the tip.

Bottom line:The ergos and grip are awesome. The assist is impressive. if you know you'll be cutting webbing, or unable to maintain the plain edge, or you like to use your knife to start fires, the serrations can be useful - but for me they don't offer the benefits of plain edge.
If you like tanto edges, it serves those cutting purposes well, but for me it just takes up useful blade length, and I'm not a big fan.
All my knives are users, so I really don't care that my blade looks used, but I was a bit disappointed that all it took was a plastic package to damage the coating - I expected more from Benchmade. It's not Ti coating for sure.
Personally, I wish I saved up for another month (and spent 50% more) on the satin PE M390 G10 with aluminum bolsters 581 version, but I'm still hesitant to jump because I discovered that I prefer manual opening (and got an M390 PM2. Which is a whole different discussion.)
Best of luck in your selection.

- Tom

 

[Zookie]

You may be fine then. Like I said, I hate it, but to you that is just the opinion of some guy on the internet that you don't know

BTW have you seen this? It is around the same price, better steel (IMO) and no chance of tip problems:

What kind of benchmade osborne is that? looks likes a reverse tanto rift.

 

[res1cue]

810 Contego, new for 2012