A long time ago I asked if a certain dealer could get me a Lionsteel Big Opera with cocobolo scales. Got an e-mail that these have arrived (after a long wait) and I noticed that they have also the same knife in stag. This is sooooo difficult. I have never had stag handle folding knives or cocobolo either. Both look really nice.
Stag can be either shabby or stellar, depending on the skill of the cutler hafting it. The example above looks like Lionsteel really knows what they are doing. I'd go with stag in this case.
Got the confirmation that the text from the blade is gone. So the cutlers in Maniago may have been listening to the opinion of the customers. The big opera is a rather large folder with a 90 mm blade. I am waiting for a fine knife.
And I got the knife today. I must say this is a fine piece of cutlery. The opening is a bit gritty so I will clean the mechanism, otherwise there is nothing wrong with it. The spring in the lock is not too stiff but I must push it quite deep to unlock the blade, which is reassuring. There is is absolutely no blade play in any direction. The ball detent keeps the blade well closed.
The handle is comfortable and fills my hand well. This is a rather large folder but not too heavy to carry in the pocket. Blade is really sharp out of box. The handle scales dont quite match (there are deep grooves on the other side) but this in my opinion just underlines the fact that they are made of organic material. No gaps in the handle, no corners have been cut in quality.
My thanks to the cutlers of Maniago. They sure make fine knives. This knife, when I close my eyes, whispers of gentlemen and ladies dressed in wool outdoor clothes, carrying fine bolt action or single-shot rifles in search of deer in the hills of northern Italy. Sorry, getting carried away
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