NOTE: My observations on the Remington Canoe at the top, German Eye Canoe farther down. You can skip to the last few sentences at the bottom to read my concerns about the German Eye Canoe knife I just got. The Remington looks like a good deal.
I've been thinking about getting a nice Canoe for a while, so last week while rummaging around the local Army Navy store, I ended up walking out with a $15 Remington Canoe. I have to say, that for fifteen bucks, although though it goes against my grain to buy a knife made in China, the thing looked pretty slick and I figured it would give me a chance to try out the pattern. Overall F&F is pretty darn good for the price. It has nice black Dymondwood scales against brushed steel bolsters, a nicely matched brushed finish on the blades; the back springs are flush, smooth and without gaps; the pull is right in the zone with a half-stop and good snap. It's just the right thickness overall to feel nice in the hand, and lastly, the darn thing was SHARP AS ALL HECK. It easily popped hair. While I doubt the blade steel is very good, and it'll probably go dull after just a few cardboard boxes, I must say that someone in the People's Republic of China has their tolerances set up and their QC department on the ball.
Now, wanting something better with decent steel for the edc rotation, I hunted down this Carl Schlieper Eye Brand Canoe. I liked the way it looked with the red bone or plastic - whatever it is - scales and the Keytone shield. Overall, I'd say it's pretty nice, but Im not sure it's a keeper. Although I heard the fit and finish on Eye Brand could be a bit rough, I'd say the exterior scales and bolsters are pretty good. There is a small crack in the thin edge of one of the scales between the pin and the edge of the scale - not a big deal. The liners have a few sharp edges here and there. The back spring is flush, but there are some small gaps between the spring and the liners and some stray light grinding marks here and there - again, not a big deal. One of the reason's I liked this knife is that it has only one back spring, like the older Case canoes, so it makes a nice thin edc. Now for the blades, and here lies the problem.
I was originally attracted to this knife because the blades are forged, and when I pulled out the main blade for the first time, I was impressed. It was darn near perfect, with nice grind lines, a good edge and finish, and nice and sturdy with absolutely no wobble (there is no half stop by the way). The two blades are well centered with no rubbing. Now here's the thing that gets me. When I pulled out the smaller pen blade, I was really surprised by how thin the blade was. I could deflect the blade 90 degrees, right over to the side if I wanted. Now I like thin slicers as much as anyone, but this seems ridiculous. The blade is so thin that I'm concerned that it'll just wander all over the place while I'm cutting anything harder than thin cardboard. I'd hate to accidentally slice my finger open because the blade deflected and unexpectedly went sailing off to one side! Has anyone observed such a thin blade before? Was it a problem, or am I just inexperienced with this pattern?
I'll try to get a few pictures up tonight.
I've been thinking about getting a nice Canoe for a while, so last week while rummaging around the local Army Navy store, I ended up walking out with a $15 Remington Canoe. I have to say, that for fifteen bucks, although though it goes against my grain to buy a knife made in China, the thing looked pretty slick and I figured it would give me a chance to try out the pattern. Overall F&F is pretty darn good for the price. It has nice black Dymondwood scales against brushed steel bolsters, a nicely matched brushed finish on the blades; the back springs are flush, smooth and without gaps; the pull is right in the zone with a half-stop and good snap. It's just the right thickness overall to feel nice in the hand, and lastly, the darn thing was SHARP AS ALL HECK. It easily popped hair. While I doubt the blade steel is very good, and it'll probably go dull after just a few cardboard boxes, I must say that someone in the People's Republic of China has their tolerances set up and their QC department on the ball.
Now, wanting something better with decent steel for the edc rotation, I hunted down this Carl Schlieper Eye Brand Canoe. I liked the way it looked with the red bone or plastic - whatever it is - scales and the Keytone shield. Overall, I'd say it's pretty nice, but Im not sure it's a keeper. Although I heard the fit and finish on Eye Brand could be a bit rough, I'd say the exterior scales and bolsters are pretty good. There is a small crack in the thin edge of one of the scales between the pin and the edge of the scale - not a big deal. The liners have a few sharp edges here and there. The back spring is flush, but there are some small gaps between the spring and the liners and some stray light grinding marks here and there - again, not a big deal. One of the reason's I liked this knife is that it has only one back spring, like the older Case canoes, so it makes a nice thin edc. Now for the blades, and here lies the problem.
I was originally attracted to this knife because the blades are forged, and when I pulled out the main blade for the first time, I was impressed. It was darn near perfect, with nice grind lines, a good edge and finish, and nice and sturdy with absolutely no wobble (there is no half stop by the way). The two blades are well centered with no rubbing. Now here's the thing that gets me. When I pulled out the smaller pen blade, I was really surprised by how thin the blade was. I could deflect the blade 90 degrees, right over to the side if I wanted. Now I like thin slicers as much as anyone, but this seems ridiculous. The blade is so thin that I'm concerned that it'll just wander all over the place while I'm cutting anything harder than thin cardboard. I'd hate to accidentally slice my finger open because the blade deflected and unexpectedly went sailing off to one side! Has anyone observed such a thin blade before? Was it a problem, or am I just inexperienced with this pattern?
I'll try to get a few pictures up tonight.
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Case makes some nicest Canoes I've handled so far. I get next week a Queen Canoe which should be better than first one I sent back.
I love thin blades. 
