Boker Pry-Mate?

KFLEISIG

KFLEISIG

Joined
Dec 27, 2004
Messages
233
The Pry-Mate is calling to me. I love the looks of it, it appears to be a high quality knife that would work hard and last a long time, all in a compact package. I would love to hear the thoughts of any who own this tank. It may be a belated Christmas present to myself, but the price has me hesitating to press the button. What can ya tell me? I wouldn't mind photos either. Thanks.
 
I got mine via evil-bay last June or so. I later bought a regular Boker Plus Gnome - and a stag handled fersion of the Boker Plus Rhino sold only by AG Russell. The latter two are nicely made, the stag Rhino even comes with a leather sheath - and both the stag Rhino and gnome are still in stock at AG R. They are Chineese made - and of quite decent construction. The Solingen made Prymate is beautiful - and a better steel. Still, you could buy two each of the others for about what the Prymate runs these days. I guess it depends on your pocketbook. My Prymate was ordered before I ever heard about the other two - I still like it.

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The Prymate's spine is thick - but it has a healthy hollow grind. I am amazed at how you can pare away thin slices of ripe grape tomatoes - it ought to be on an info-mercial! All three have full thick spines, red liners, then the scales - milled micarta for the 'mate, G10 or Euro Stag for the other two. Boker's latest catalog has both stag & G10 models shown.

The regular Gnome, with it's TEK lock Kydex sheath, is suitable for a neck knife - the Prymate, despite it's tight Kydex sheath, is a tad heavy for that. Neat knife!

Merry Christmas!

Stainz
 
eccvets said:
what do you use this knife for? I cant understand why it is 180 bucks.
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It does seem a lot for what it is, but I suppose the labor is a lot higher in Germany compared to China, that would be a substantial part of it's high price, I'd say, over anything made in China.

Blade Style: Modifed Warncliffe

Blade Edge: Plain

Blade Finish: Satin

Blade Length: 3-3/8"

Blade Thickness: 7mm

Steel Type: N690BO Stainless

Overall Length: 6-1/2"

Handle Material: Milled Micarta

Handle Color: Black with Red Fiber Liner

Sheath: Kydex Sheath with Adjustable Belt Clip

Country of Manufacture: Germany

Retail Price: 299.00
 
The Pry-Mate is a design from Vox Knives. It was originally just a custom, but that particular model became pretty popular, so a production run seems appropriate. They always seemed to me to be overpriced for what you're getting (the custom versions). It's a great looking design, but I just don't see why the customs go for so much (outside of hype). Relative to the customs, the Boker Pry-Mate seems like a decent deal, but relative to other production fixed blades, it still seems a bit high to me. I don't want to come off as negative, especially since I do think it's a very attractive knife.
 
Let me be a bit more objective. The PRC-made Boker Plus Rhino in stag and with a 12C27 blade and leather sheath is very nicely made. Fit/finish/quality-wise, it is hard to tell the difference between it and the Prymate. It has a curve to it's same cutting length blade - which is also hollow ground and just as thick a quarter inch from the edge as the straight, Wharncliffe-like Prymate's edge - which admittedly has better steel and came a bit sharper - true armhair popper. Still - three of those stag handled Rhino's can be had from AG Russells for the best price I've seen for the Prymate - with it's less than satisfactory - to me - Kydex sheath. BTW, Kydex sheathed Bokers are in short supply currently - odd hold up! Check out the Boker forum here.

Merry Christmas!

Stainz
 
eccvets said:
is it suppose to be used as a pry-bar?
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Aye ... that's where I see an issue here. The knife is beautiful. I just cannot for the life of me see where you could use the knife spine as a decent leverage-applied pry bar.

Anyone have any suggestions on how this knife can be consistently and effectively used to PRY??
 
jill jackson said:
Retail Price: 299.00
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This is the deal killer for me. Even at retail prices of $180-200 I just can't see what justifies that high of a price, compared to knives of similar size and quality available for approximatly half that price. :confused:
 
I'm still interested to see if anyone thinks this thing can actually be used *EFFECTIVELY* as a prybar.

And if so ... how?
 
Careful with prices - the smaller, 2.5" long 5mm thick blade vs 3.63" 7 mm, 'Pry-mini' model runs ~$140 street price, while the larger 'Pry-mate' runs ~$180. Both are Bohler N690 steel. The Boker Plus line Rhino is between the two in blade length, while the smaller Gnome is smaller than the 'Pry-mini'. Both PRC-made models are of 12C27 steel. All four were designed by Jesper Voxnaes - aka 'VOX'. They are all handy belt knives - neck knife possible with the Gnome. All four are great quality construction - but I am partial to the German-made Pry-Mate. For woods stomping uses - mainly slicing/cutting, they are great.

Now - as for uses as a prybar... sorry, they just aren't properly designed as a prybar - they are too short! A small prybar is a rather low tech - and inexpensive - tool for your kit that is a better choice for prying than any knife - or screwdriver! Besides, as for splitting duties, the heavy hollow grind just isn't proper - you need a straighter wedge-design for splitting, which would be a 'pry' use of sorts. To me, they were just 'neat' knives... and I spent too much on them - and the Haddock and Titan Worker which followed. In my mind, the German-made Boker Tree Brand classic slippies are the real Boker values. Of course, I am a fickle and shameless knife-slut, so don't listen to me.

Stainz
 
Thanks for pointing that out Stainz I didn't realize there are two different sizes of the pry mate.
 
The Pry Mate has been designed by Voxnaes for his friends in Iraq, soldiers working in logistics.

In this sense you can imagine it as a wedge you can use to popup covers from wooden boxes.
Just put it in the fissure and push! Than pry it up!
You can apply a lot of energy on it, more than you can on those pocket prybars.
And with a pipe over the handle you can split a pallet in pieces. I've done it more than once!

The Prymate is a very strong piece of steel, and it cuts well because is hollow grind.
I have one, I use it every day to cut wires, open crates, cut my apple!, dismantle carton boxes... love it because it's rugged and nice to see, while it doesn't look aggressive or "tactical" so I can use it to work.

Sorry for my bad english!
 
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