- Joined
- May 6, 2004
- Messages
- 97
Santy brought me a couple of different ones, so I thought I'd share.
First up, a Queen Cocobolo Teardrop liner lock. Similar to this:
http://www.gpknives.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=1277
Fairly sharp outta the box. Would scrape shave. Touched up on a DMT two sided diamond stone and stropped, and now is SCARY sharp. This is my first experience with D2 and so far I am impressed. I have heard some people complain about sharpening D2, but did not experience much difference versus most of the steels du jour (AUS8, ATS-34, etc...).
Fit and finish are excellent, with no sharp corners or gaps at all. Wood is very pretty. Top of the blade has been rounded and is very slightly uneven, with one side having more metal removed than the other. Cosmetically, that is the only flaw I can find, and it is minor.
The teardrop shape is one of my favorites, and this one just molds to the hand. Feels like a worker.
The Liner lock is unusual in a couple of ways. First, the backspring on this baby is stout, with the added safety of the half stop that Queen thoughtfully puts on their knives. Secondly, the liner itself is more of what I would call a stop than a true lock. The top of the liner does not touch the base of the blade. It rests about a 1/16" inch away from the blade, so there is a minor amount of vertical play in the blade. Not much, and the spring is working against you all the while. Lastly, the liner does not just meet the base of the blade, part of it extends up where it would actually block the blade from closing even if the conventional liner lock aspect failed.
When you take the backspring and the two blocking methods of this particular liner lock together, you have a very safe knife that would take some doin to close on yourself accidentally. This is one liner lock that will pass the "spine whack" test and then some.
If you can't tell, I'm very pleased with the knife, and it rests currently in my pocket in a William Henry clipcase. I've grown lazy and used to pocket clips on knives, and a clipcase lets you carry a slipjoint without fumbling around in the bottom of your pocket for it, or your keys cutting grooves in the bolsters.
The second was a Cold Steel Small Stockman. Like this:
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CS54MS
Quickly, this is a cheap ($30) knife with crappy mother of plastic dog poo handles. Finish is mildly tolerable, but fit is good. Backsprings are on the mild side.
What it lacks in appearance, it more than makes up for in blades. These Carbon V, non-stainless blades are quite possibly the sharpest blades I have ever received from the factory. The main clip and spey blades are absolutely hair-poppin-fear-for-your-life sharp. The sheepsfoot is only slightly less so. The clip blade has a nice shape with a more pronounced belly than you usually see on a stockman.
I have other Cold Steel fixed blades with Carbon V blades, and have had very good luck with them in terms of edge holding, toughness, and ease of sharpening.
I'm looking forward to putting this one through its paces.
Sorry for being so long winded, but wanted to pass it along.
I'll try to post pics if anyone is interested.
First up, a Queen Cocobolo Teardrop liner lock. Similar to this:
http://www.gpknives.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=1277
Fairly sharp outta the box. Would scrape shave. Touched up on a DMT two sided diamond stone and stropped, and now is SCARY sharp. This is my first experience with D2 and so far I am impressed. I have heard some people complain about sharpening D2, but did not experience much difference versus most of the steels du jour (AUS8, ATS-34, etc...).
Fit and finish are excellent, with no sharp corners or gaps at all. Wood is very pretty. Top of the blade has been rounded and is very slightly uneven, with one side having more metal removed than the other. Cosmetically, that is the only flaw I can find, and it is minor.
The teardrop shape is one of my favorites, and this one just molds to the hand. Feels like a worker.
The Liner lock is unusual in a couple of ways. First, the backspring on this baby is stout, with the added safety of the half stop that Queen thoughtfully puts on their knives. Secondly, the liner itself is more of what I would call a stop than a true lock. The top of the liner does not touch the base of the blade. It rests about a 1/16" inch away from the blade, so there is a minor amount of vertical play in the blade. Not much, and the spring is working against you all the while. Lastly, the liner does not just meet the base of the blade, part of it extends up where it would actually block the blade from closing even if the conventional liner lock aspect failed.
When you take the backspring and the two blocking methods of this particular liner lock together, you have a very safe knife that would take some doin to close on yourself accidentally. This is one liner lock that will pass the "spine whack" test and then some.
If you can't tell, I'm very pleased with the knife, and it rests currently in my pocket in a William Henry clipcase. I've grown lazy and used to pocket clips on knives, and a clipcase lets you carry a slipjoint without fumbling around in the bottom of your pocket for it, or your keys cutting grooves in the bolsters.
The second was a Cold Steel Small Stockman. Like this:
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CS54MS
Quickly, this is a cheap ($30) knife with crappy mother of plastic dog poo handles. Finish is mildly tolerable, but fit is good. Backsprings are on the mild side.
What it lacks in appearance, it more than makes up for in blades. These Carbon V, non-stainless blades are quite possibly the sharpest blades I have ever received from the factory. The main clip and spey blades are absolutely hair-poppin-fear-for-your-life sharp. The sheepsfoot is only slightly less so. The clip blade has a nice shape with a more pronounced belly than you usually see on a stockman.
I have other Cold Steel fixed blades with Carbon V blades, and have had very good luck with them in terms of edge holding, toughness, and ease of sharpening.
I'm looking forward to putting this one through its paces.
Sorry for being so long winded, but wanted to pass it along.
I'll try to post pics if anyone is interested.
