Chris Reeves - Fantoni Razionale?

Deebo

Deebo

Joined
Sep 29, 2009
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What do you guys think of this thing?

Chris Reeves - Fantoni Razionale

Specifications:

* Blade Material: Sandvik 13C26 stainless steel
* Blade Hardness: 59-60 RC
* Blade Finish: Stonewash
* Blade Length: 3.5" (89 mm)
* Blade Thickness: 0.140" (3.5 mm)
* Handle Length: 4.6" (117 mm)
* Handle Material: Hard oxidized 6082T6 Aluminum
* Handle Thickness: 0.55" (14 mm)
* Weight: 4.16 oz. (118 g)
* Clip and Liner Lock: AISI 420B
* Made in Italy

Apparently it's limited to 144 pieces with 67 in black aluminum handles and 77 in gray. The MSRP appears to be approximately $200.

It isn't a "Chris Reeves Product" and is actually warrantied through Fantoni which is the Italy company that collaborated with Chris Reeves on this knife. I feel like it's a bit overpriced given the materials and some of the sticker price is entirely just the Chris Reeves name associated with it.
 
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Deebo said:
It isn't a "Chris Reeves Product" and is actually warrantied through Fantoni which is the Italy company that collaborated with Chris Reeves on this knife. I feel like it's a bit overpriced given the materials and some of the sticker price is entirely just the Chris Reeves name associated with it.
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I'll pass on this knife. Kershaw uses that steel and you can get a great folder from them for around $30-$50. Personally, I do not really care for it much, I prefer the 14C28. I believe you are correct, if it was a Ti frame lock with some better steel the price could be justified. Not for a liner lock that uses stainless liners. Why not Ti for $200?
 
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I would agree that the relatively high price is the association with Chris Reeves & supposedly very limited run.

Aside from the cost, I don't care for it. For one, I'm not a big fan of aluminum handled knives (OK on autos, but not manuals, IMHO) & it's tip-down only. I prefer tip-up, but why not have it set-up for both?

As has been mentioned, you can get a good, solid Kershaw of similar size with the same steel or 14C28 (Supposed to be a step up from 13C26) & it's be at 1/4 the cost (Or less).

Also, for about the same msrp, you can get a Hogue/Elishewitz folder, which is much nicer & has better blade steel. You can also find them for quite a bit less than the $195 or so these are going for.
 
CL01 said:
Also, for about the same msrp, you can get a Hogue/Elishewitz folder, which is much nicer & has better blade steel. You can also find them for quite a bit less than the $195 or so these are going for.
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funny you mentioned that, i was agonizing last night over a hogue and a reeve fantoni. i couldnt make up my mind. they are pretty similar. i do like the look of the fantoni, but the hogue offers a button lock with a safety which is different than the usual linerlock knife.

in the end i ordered a cold steel lawman, a cold steel recon 1 bowie, and a tops fdx knife instead lol. i will definitely buy a hogue in the future though.
 
Only thing I know is 77 + 77 = 154, so I dunno if your total is off or the number available.
 
Where can I buy this knife?

It IS a bit pricey. I think that's just the fact of having it manufactured in Europe and that it's made in limited numbers.

From what I understand, Bill Harsey designed the knife. Chris Reeve tinkered with the handle and also QC'd it. Fantoni does make some really nice knives.
 
John Smith V said:
Where can I buy this knife?

It IS a bit pricey. I think that's just the fact of having it manufactured in Europe and that it's made in limited numbers.

From what I understand, Bill Harsey designed the knife. Chris Reeve tinkered with the handle and also QC'd it. Fantoni does make some really nice knives.
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knifecenter has it.
 
Fantoni is an Italian company, costs are higher here (as usual) so it can't cost like a USA kershaw, the make small runs/batches that make the price rise (small family run company)

quality (HT inclusive) and service are top notch, have an HB01 I had to exchange, great warranty and very friendly people
fit and finish are very high and the price for these seems right for me knowing who makes them
Maxx
 
i've been trying to decide between a hide folder (too small but really nice looking) and a HB01. not fond of aluminium handled knives especially anodised, they wear horribly.

btx mad maxx is the hb01 a flipper ? there's something sticking out of the handle but it seems too short to make a good flipper.
 
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It looks like a solid design, and I'm sure it's well made, but it seems like a waste of development and production time, to me.

It just doesn't bring anything dynamic to the table that is going to stimulate any kind of significant sales. Especially not at that price point.
 
pwet said:
i've been trying to decide between a hide folder (too small but really nice looking) and a HB01. not fond of aluminium handled knives especially anodised, they wear horribly.

btx mad maxx is the hb01 a flipper ? there's something sticking out of the handle but it seems too short to make a good flipper.
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the flipper is smaller than others but it works with some wrist action, using the thumbstud it's great and lightning fast
it came very very sharp :thumbup:
the handle is G10 in the HB01
 
Italian's do know thing or two how to make knife. In Europe things are generally way more expensive than in the states, so considering all that, I find price rather... bargain for limited run knife made by small company.

Just for the Record... ZT 301 is 199€'s and that's bargain in Europe... Price differences are huge.
 
If they crank it to $300 and use S30V, some people might find it justifiable. But at current price point with 13C26, only serious collectors would be interested.
 
big mistake. some hard user may find a steel that can take back a razor edge in two strokes more convenient. and it's overall tougher than s30V, can take a finer edge if properly heat treated .... hold a shaving edge longer than s30V too (i said shaving not working edge)... big carbide steels aren't the only option, it's just fancier.

what bothers me with the razionale is the anodized aluminium. and metal handled linerlock too. for me a metal handled knife has to be a framelock.
 
pwet said:
what bothers me with the razionale is the anodized aluminium. and metal handled linerlock too. for me a metal handled knife has to be a framelock.
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I agree. Metal handled knives are good with autos &/or specialty type of lock (Like the Hogue/Elishewitz button-lock), but otherwise, eh...
 
new graham has it...

i was considering it, but I think it is kinda ugly. I think I would rather get one of the harsey berettas instead.

Rich
 
The clip is a bit too prominent, too visible to my taste but otherwise it looks rather nice.
Fantoni also make the Harsey folders, branded both as Fantoni and as Beretta, and they are loved by anyone who has one. So it seems they know how to make a knife; and in my experience with Fox, Lion Steel, Maserin and Viper these Italian companies always deliver a good quality product.
 
Bill86 said:
Only thing I know is 77 + 77 = 154, so I dunno if your total is off or the number available.
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I must have looked incorrectly. I believe that they've only made 77 of the gray handle models and then 67 of the black handle models. Whoopsie.
 
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