Bradley Cutlery Alias II/First Impressions

USAFSP

USAFSP

Joined
Jul 2, 2000
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Went out this morning to Knife Center and picked up this little beauty.
bradley2.jpg

As soon as I put it in my hand I was sold. This is the finest production knife I have ever put my hands on. ( I am not talking about handmade production like CRK and Strider). There are aparently 2 models out, this is the smaller of the 2 with the blade measuring in at just under 3". It is 2.95" S30V. The grinds on the entire knife are perfect. No flaw anywhere to be seen. Someone (Benchmade Cough Cough :cool: ) went to great lenghts to make this a first rate product. I am actually very pleased that Benchmade made this knife designed by Bradley Cutlery. I would rather they made it then some new company that has no rep out there in the industry. Later on maybe they will take over production, but for now the present production is awesome! Ok so now to the actual knife. I talked a bit about the blade above. The finish is a very fine stonewash on the bevels and the satin on the flats. The gind looks almost flat and there is a swedge on top. There is a single blue thumbstud. The knife came scary sharp out of the box. The handle is solid Ti, and features a BB finish. The handles are substantially thick and fit the hand nicely. I have larger hands and find this knife easy to hold. The frame lock is well executed and locks the blade open like a damn vault!!!! No play in any direction. The lock engages just at the 50% mark on the lock ramp of the blade. I like mine at about 75%, but I am sure it will break in a little. The clip is obvious Benchmade and is finished just like the blade bevels. It has holes tapped for tip up or tip down carry. The spacers in the handle are the same color of thumbstud. All of the screws on the knife are polished very nicely. The blade rides on Phosphor Bronze washers. Action on this knife is so smooth I almost think I can make it open just my thinking about it. LOL The little bearing on the lock holds the blade closed securly so no worries about the knife opening for no reason. All in all this knife is amazing and I totally recommend it. I am going into the field this week and am going to take it with me to test it out a little if the oppertunity presents itself. Don't worry about the price. It is worth it. Oh, and just in case you are wondering, this is not a Sebenza copy (although similar). I believe that this knife stands on its own. If anything this knife will compliment your CRK collection, because you can get one of these knives that operate similar to a CRK as an EDC, and save your more expensive CRK's for collecting. I have a Ebony wood Sebenza on the way, and can now just leave it new and pretty. Either way you won't be dissappointed.
 
Great looking knife!!

I love spear points. I like the grinds a bit higher myself, but I ama low stress folder user. For your military field use it looks great.

I am going into the field this week and am going to take it with me to test it out a little if the oppertunity presents itself.
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That sounds awesome! What knives do you usually sue for field exercise? Will you be carrying a spare as well? It would be really neat to read aboput how your new Bradely knife compared ot the knives you have used before for similiar stuff,what strenghts and weaknesses you found with each design.

I have a Ebony wood Sebenza on the way. . .
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A comparson of cutting ability, edge retention and durability of the Bradely vs Sebenza would be wicked cool!

I went with the Benchmade 635 Mini-Skirmish, and I am happy with it so far. If you are interested in running the Bradely against the 635 in a side by side, let me know and I can ship the 635 out to you, either before you go or when you get back.

I really look forward to hearing more about this knife. . . .
 
Thanks for the replies. The knife cost me 199.00. I think you can get it a few dollars cheaper if you shop around, but I am loyal to Knife Center because they have cut me a break a few times before. (That and I can drive there instead of waiting for the Big Brown truck.) I would love to do a side by side comparison with the 635 in the field, but I am leaving tonight so I don't think it is possible. I am sure the quality is probably very similar just because the same company made it, but it is the design that sets it apart. This knife is one of those knives you fall in love with right away. I hope to carry it as an EDC for a long time to come. I am going to try to carry this exclusively so I can really try it out.
 
If you have time before you leave, can you tell me how thick the balde is directly behind the edge and the edgebevel hieght/ angle?

Also, the height of the primary grind and thickness at the spine?

IF you want to borrow the 635 for comparison when you get back the offer is open.

Have a good time on your field exercise and keep safe!!
 
I don't have anything on me right now to measure it. The blade is as thick as my small Sebenza though. As far as I can see. I won't be doing any exercising in the field, but I will be working my a$$ off. I will let you know how it was when I get back.
 
Here is what I found as far as specs:
Blade Material: S30V Blade Steel Hardened to 58-60 HRC
Blade Length: 2.95"
Blade Thickness: .120"
Blade Style: Modified Spear Point w/ Anodized Aluminum Thumb Stud
Open Length: 6.8"
Closed Length: 3.87"
Weight: 3.0 oz.
Handle Material: Bead Blast 6AL 4V Titanium Handle
Handle Thickness: 0.402"
Locking Mechanism: Titanium Monolock
 
This is a very, very nice knife obviously made by a company with excellent design talent and manufacturing ability.
Super smooth. I was impressed with the prototypes from Blade show.
 
One question please. Does it have a pivot bearing bush between the blade and the pivot screw?
 
It is interesting to note that Benchmade is the actual maker of these knives and provides warranty support.
Reference

This is great news, as Benchmade has excellent customer service (Angie rocks!!) and makes a great knife. Yeah, there have been complaints about edge profiles in the past, but the knives coming out of Oregon lately have had some really great edges. I bought a 921 Switchback and the S30V blade would match any knife I have seen for NIB sharpness and geometry. The edge on my 635 was about what I would expect from Chris Reeves had I bought a Sebenza (and I have owned several, Benchmade offers 90% of the fit and finish for less than 1/2 the price), the edge on the primary grind and edge on the 630 (The big monster Skirmish) were too thick for my light utlity work, but that is not what it was designed for.

There is a definite Ares influence to the blade design, which is cool 'cuz the Ares is one of sweet folder.

Benchmade's Framelock precision has been outstanding as of late. The last two framelocks I have gotten (630 and 635) have had excellent lock up.

As well, in my experience Benchmade has an outstanding heat treat for their steels, especially M2. No it is not full hard, Phil Wilson but for a production company I have not seen better. Yes, Cliff Stamp recently reported a problematic S30V Benchmade HT, but that is a rare occasion and a call to Benchmade's excellent customer service line should get the problem taken care of.

For a cool look at BM's S30V HT see Trier's article in Tactical Knives (I don't have the issue with me for date) of his review of the Ritter Grip in S30V, used as a baton, made shelter, fire wall, etc. with no lock (Axis) or blade issues. I remember thinking that it was a really great article when I read it.

I had a bit of interest in this knife based on USAFSP's positive comments, but now that I find it is being made by my fave production folding knife company my interest level just kicked up a notch.

While I am a die hard AXIS lock fan, there are other people that are just as ardent framelock fans, and they are both great lock designs in my experience.

The Skirmish series is cool, but it is only tip down carry and the broad recurve design is not for everyone. So now there is a Spearpoint with that Benchmade quality for framelock lovers.

Sorry for the rambling, I have had way too much coffee this morning. . .
 
Does anybody know whether Benchmade (Bradley Cutlery) heat treats the lockface of the titanium lockbar, as Chris Reeve does, to guard against the quick wearing of where the Ti lockbar meets the blade tang? If not, I would not put this knife, the Alias, in the same league as the Sebenza, as the lockbar will wear a whole lot quicker.


Cheers,
3Guardsmen
 
knifetester said:
...recently reported a problematic S30V Benchmade HT
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They fixed that right away, so I would not consider that a concern as you stated. They even take steps to help out people overseas with similar problems as Blop recently noted.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
They fixed that right away, so I would not consider that a concern as you stated. They even take steps to help out people overseas with similar problems as Blop recently noted.

-Cliff
Click to expand...
What models had problems?
 
I have been thinking about this knife, and the inevitable comparison it receives to the Sebenza. While both are fine tools, it really makes me take another look at the Sebenza's iconic place to most knife lovers. I carried Sebenzas for years before switching to AXIS lock folders. I liked the ergonomics and super secure AXIS lock and M2 steel better than the Sebenza. IN fact, I would argue that the 710HS is a more cohesive, better designed product than the Sebenza and I would prefer it even if they were priced the same.

One thing the Bradley makes me think about is the value argument that is often set forth against the Sebenza. Simply put, despite the precise fit and finish more and more knife lovers are viewing the Sebenza as drastically overpriced in comparison to other knives on the market, knives that may be batter in many ways than the Sebenza.

An argument set forth, by Cliff Stamp among others, is that while the Sebenza was once state of the art and at the top of the production folder game, when the comparison was a Spyderco Endura or Buck 110. However, other makers have developed their knives, while CRK may be seen to have been stagnant. In fact, some (like me) would argue that switching from 61RC BG42 to significantly softer S30V was actually regression.

With the Bradely, reports are that the fit and finsh is top notch (upwards of 90% CRK) and the handle ergonomics are better for some. As well, Benchmade hardens their S30V harder than CRK by a point or two (still not enough IMHO) and the flat ground spear point blade is better suited to hard use than the deep hollow grind of the Sebenza.

For even less money, I would prefer the Benchmade 635 Mini-Skirmish over the small Sebenza.

Here are some intersting usenet quotes on the subject:
Tom Xulliton wrote:
The Sebenza got much of it's reputation from people who were using them.
I've heard recommendations from electricians and others in the building
trades for example, and remember threads here from people looking to
replace one they'd lost on the job.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it where "cost is no object" or someone
who was serious about getting a top of the line tool. However the price
is steep and as a result it's not a recommendation that most people can
swallow easily.
Like many things, after a certain point cost goes up sharply to get the
next small step of improvement. The first 90% costs 10% of the total
effort, the next 9% costs the remaining 90%, and to get that last one
percent the sky is the limit...
Furthermore, technology marches on and a lot of interesting developments
have happened in the knife world since the Sebenza appeared. At the
moment I'm carrying a Benchmade Griptillian which is a hell of a knife
for the price (~$65) and about 1/5 to 1/6 the cost. It's not as nice as
the Sebeneza but it probably gets me better than 90% of the way there.
Click to expand...

In response, Cliff Stamp wrote:

This is the critical point. Ten years ago you essentially had the Sebenza vs
FRN productions and custom folders which were mainly aestheticly goaled. It
was an easy win for the Sebenza.
Now there are lots of high end productions like the M2 AFCK AXIS from
Benchmade and Spyderco Paramilitary which would compare very well to a
Sebenza and exceed it in many respects.
There are also a whole host of makers who have moved into solid working
folders at a price similar to a Sebenza.
Click to expand...


Ref:

Rec.knives thread
 
What are they using for the ball detent on the Bradley Cutlery Alias?
Is it Steel or Ceramic like on the sebenza?
Is the area on the blade where the stop pin rests recessed like the sebenza?
What kind of washers?
Is there any blade play on the Alias when closed? This is a true test of attention to detail.
Does the Alias open and close like a bank vault, like the sebenza?
Is the blade centered when closed?
Can the knife sit on its spine and belly with the blade opened and closed?

The sebenza isn't top dog for nothin!!
An
 
TKD said:
The sebenza isn't top dog for nothin!!
Click to expand...

How about :

-cutting ability / durability
-edge retention
-responce to sharpening
-handle ergonomics/security
-ease of opening/closing

Yes, fit and finish is nice, but about about how it actually works as a knife compared to a Sebenza.

-Cliff
 
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