Check out this knife I scored today for $5 and tell me if I did good :)!!

G

GrizzlyBear

Joined
Dec 5, 2009
Messages
1,528
So I was getting ready to leave the French & Indian War encampment/reenactment I was at today and I stopped by the last vendor area to see what all he had, mainly looking at his knives (which were mostly overpriced Pakistan flea market junk). As I smirked and turned away, something inside me told me to look in this cheap nylon case that was just sitting on top the display case.

So I did. As I pulled out this knife, I noticed immediately the weight and feel was FAR beyond the other junk on the table, then I turned it over and seen the "154-CM" stamped into the blade. My heart jumped a beat or two (lol) and I started looking for a price tag....well there wasn't one. So I thought, yeah ok...one of those higher priced knives that you have to ask about the price. I put it back and walk away. As I turn around, that same thing that told me to look in the case tugged at me to take it and find out how much it was. So I grabbed it and looked for the owner...a squat, greasy, chubby man, appearing part Asian, dressed in cheap native american garb holding a FAT wad of cash. I asked him how much, and went to open the case to show him the knife, I barely pulled it out and he goes "5 bucks". I couldn't get my wallet open fast enough!!

Here is my $5.00 score!
IMAG0308.jpg

IMAG0306.jpg

IMAG0305.jpg


I can't find any other markings other than the 154-CM stamp. So, I figure it's probably a custom kit knife. It appears to have Ebony scales and stainless bolsters. The action is smooth and locks tightly. It is quite heavy and appears to be made well, it just needs some love.

Measurements:
8 1/4" open
3 9/16" blade (measured from front edge of bolster to tip)
1 5/16" blade width across ricasso at widest point
1 5/16" serrated area
1/8" blade thickness (actually just a hair over 1/8")
Weight: 7.4oz

I'm getting ready to disassemble it and clean it all up and put new scales on it...it's the new home for those awesome cocobolo scales I showed in my mystery wood thread!

Did I do good? :)
 
Well, it's a well used, missing the thumbstud knockoff of an LCC. I wouldn't bet on it actually being 154cm. But if you like it, it's worth the 5 bucks.
 
Last edited:
Hopefully this is not the case, but Chinese knives, which have falsely claimed 440C for years are varying their lies lately. I've seen S30V and other stamps on cr@p Chinese steel.
 
I had a fleeting idea that may be the case with this knife. But, everything feels so much better than other chinese knives (or pakistan) that I toyed with in comparison. There is no side to side play with the blade, no looseness with the scales even though it is well used. I've had my hands on a fair share of crap knives over the last few years (buying from auctions to sell on eBay...flea market stuff) and this piece just doesn't come close to that junk.

I wish there was something to look for on this knife that would give me more of a clue as to whether or not it is junk or a good score.
 
Hey use it and enjoy it................... sharpen it and cut some rope or cardboard boxes with it, that will tell you a lot about how well it works as a TOOL.

You've already gotten MORE then $5 worth of fun out of "discovering" it and that blast of energy you got when you were reaching for the $5 to pay him. We all look forward to that charge when we score..............

You weren't buying it as an investment were you?

Syn
 
Ya,they are a pretty good knockoff.Definately not 154cm.Should be a bolster release double action.You know its an auto,right?Press the bolster straight down.( :
 
Wow, so I did some searching on the Lightfoot knife and found this through Google.

http://highdesertco.com/desertfox.htm

This knife I have is IDENTICAL to the one pictured here.

And, upon reading about this knife, I noticed mine has the Leafspring automatic release where the face bolster slides.
 
Seals said:
Ya,they are a pretty good knockoff.Definately not 154cm.Should be a bolster release double action.You know its an auto,right?Press the bolster straight down.( :
Click to expand...

Should there be a spring that flips the blade out when sliding the bolster? I can slide it till it stops but the blade doesn't move. Maybe it's dirty and needs to be cleaned?
 
It is likely broken or been disabled.I may have a parts knife if you want it.
 
Hmm, what should I look for inside the knife that would indicate it being broken or disabled? I'll try to get a pic after I get it cleaned up. It's not detrimental to me using the knife, but if it's something simple that can be fixed, that would be awesome.
 
Be happy with what you like for a price you are happy with. I'll bet money that isn't a Lightfoot knife if for no other reason that his name isn't on it and the workmanship isn't near the quality he does. Frank
 
first of all you can tell it's a "crap" knife just by the screws. i have never seen a decent maker neither custom or production that uses philips head screws.

2nd, if the guy sells knives for a hobby or a living i can almost gurantee you he'd know if he had a "real" knife like that and you wouldn't have gotten it for 5$ even if it's broken.

3rd, if you feel like it was worth 5$ then nothing else matters and it was well worth the price.

4th, and this is a point i've tried to make to many knife snobs, inmates have been happily stabbing each other to death with sharpened toothbrushes and combs for years, so don't worry about it being crap steel or cheap quality and just use it as a defense knife.
 
SCOWL13 said:
first of all you can tell it's a "crap" knife just by the screws. i have never seen a decent maker neither custom or production that uses philips head screws.
Click to expand...

Except for the knife in the link the OP put up.

Why would a Chinese maker make an attempt to copy a knife no-one knows or cares about?
 
The Greg Lightfoot high desert fox doesn't have 154-cm stamped onto the blade. Yours looks like it's probably a reproduction. But a knife with strong lock up and no blade play isn't a bad thing for $5.
 
Looks like a good blade for $5. I've bought way less for that much. All that matters is you like it, I wouldn't let anyone tell you different. It looks good to me.
 
GrizzlyBear said:
Wow, so I did some searching on the Lightfoot knife and found this through Google.

http://highdesertco.com/desertfox.htm

This knife I have is IDENTICAL to the one pictured here.

And, upon reading about this knife, I noticed mine has the Leafspring automatic release where the face bolster slides.
Click to expand...

The knife sold by highdesertco and yours are offshore made by various companies. Some are crap and some are surprisingly well built. I've seen them go for as little as $14.95 and as much as $40.00. The one being sold by highdesertco at that price is foolish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top