- Joined
- Jul 10, 2009
- Messages
- 3,094
I got this knife two weeks ago and I was originally overjoyed by it, but to be honest, usually the excitement wears off and I think "Wow.. a 400 dollar knife that still won't get more pocket time than my Spydercos". I think I have finally found the exception.
Out of the box the knife has a certain "wow factor", you hold it and you can tell immediately that it's well put together. Sure it's not as stout as an SMF or as "tactical" looking, but the more knives I buy and end up selling or trading, I realize, that's NOT what i'm looking for in a knife. I don't want a pocket wood splitter, but that's not to say I don't want a stout, rugged knife.
The knifes edge came perfectly ground, although not hair splitting sharp. After working it for all of five minutes on a strop, the knife could easily split hair. The upper false edge was something I was concerned about after reading someone saying they could cut themselves on it. This is not the case, I could drag it across my arm all day long and never break skin. What it does give you is a very sharp point that pierces most objects with ease. I like my EDC knives pointy, especially helpful for packaging etc... This fits the bill. The lock up was rock solid, as good as any strider I've owned. I will say out of the box, it was difficult to open and even harder to close. I had such a hard time closing it that just from playing with it i got a pretty bad blister on my thumb (I'm a machinist and do not have delicate hands). I could not get the knife to open from the starting point with just my thumb without thumb flicking it open, if i started the knife with two hands to get past the initial opening, it would open like butter.
When I first posted about it, I couldn't say anything in regards to edge retention as my initial post was made about 10 minutes after getting it. Now it's been in my pocket every day for over two weeks and I think I can speak fairly about it now.
The lock up stiffness is gone, I can close the frame lock with ease and no more sore thumbs. I can open it slowly or thumb flick it, both work flawlessly. I will say it's still not as smooth as my Spyderco Gayle Bradley, but out of all the knives I've owned, that is by far the smoothest.
Edge retention is a double edged sword with the Umnumzaan. In my experience it's run a little bit soft, but I'm actually starting to enjoy that. I've used this knife every day, from harder use to just normal small every day things. Not once have I had to sharpen it. Five minutes of stropping now and then and the knife remains razor sharp. The ease of sharpening makes up for the lack of super edge retention.
As for the rubber stoppers on the thumb studs, I can't comment on whether they work or not, the knife seems as audible as those without it. I don't really have an opinion on them either way.
This knife is amazingly well put together, with parts fitting together with nearly aerospace tolerances. Two weeks later I still can't find anything I'd change. Sure titanium scratches easy, and within the next few months I promise you it won't look nearly as pretty, but I have a feeling it's just going to get better with age. Sadly this knife has kicked all of my others out of my pocket and its the first "high end" folder i've owned that I can actually say was worth the money.
Now for the pictures, pocket lint and all.
Out of the box the knife has a certain "wow factor", you hold it and you can tell immediately that it's well put together. Sure it's not as stout as an SMF or as "tactical" looking, but the more knives I buy and end up selling or trading, I realize, that's NOT what i'm looking for in a knife. I don't want a pocket wood splitter, but that's not to say I don't want a stout, rugged knife.
The knifes edge came perfectly ground, although not hair splitting sharp. After working it for all of five minutes on a strop, the knife could easily split hair. The upper false edge was something I was concerned about after reading someone saying they could cut themselves on it. This is not the case, I could drag it across my arm all day long and never break skin. What it does give you is a very sharp point that pierces most objects with ease. I like my EDC knives pointy, especially helpful for packaging etc... This fits the bill. The lock up was rock solid, as good as any strider I've owned. I will say out of the box, it was difficult to open and even harder to close. I had such a hard time closing it that just from playing with it i got a pretty bad blister on my thumb (I'm a machinist and do not have delicate hands). I could not get the knife to open from the starting point with just my thumb without thumb flicking it open, if i started the knife with two hands to get past the initial opening, it would open like butter.
When I first posted about it, I couldn't say anything in regards to edge retention as my initial post was made about 10 minutes after getting it. Now it's been in my pocket every day for over two weeks and I think I can speak fairly about it now.
The lock up stiffness is gone, I can close the frame lock with ease and no more sore thumbs. I can open it slowly or thumb flick it, both work flawlessly. I will say it's still not as smooth as my Spyderco Gayle Bradley, but out of all the knives I've owned, that is by far the smoothest.
Edge retention is a double edged sword with the Umnumzaan. In my experience it's run a little bit soft, but I'm actually starting to enjoy that. I've used this knife every day, from harder use to just normal small every day things. Not once have I had to sharpen it. Five minutes of stropping now and then and the knife remains razor sharp. The ease of sharpening makes up for the lack of super edge retention.
As for the rubber stoppers on the thumb studs, I can't comment on whether they work or not, the knife seems as audible as those without it. I don't really have an opinion on them either way.
This knife is amazingly well put together, with parts fitting together with nearly aerospace tolerances. Two weeks later I still can't find anything I'd change. Sure titanium scratches easy, and within the next few months I promise you it won't look nearly as pretty, but I have a feeling it's just going to get better with age. Sadly this knife has kicked all of my others out of my pocket and its the first "high end" folder i've owned that I can actually say was worth the money.
Now for the pictures, pocket lint and all.
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Great photos, by the way, they really do the knife justice.
