- Joined
- Mar 26, 2011
- Messages
- 647
I know there are a couple of posts about this, but here we go anyway.
Combative Edge finally received their shipment of M1s and some other models. I've been waiting for this for a few months, so I was happy to see the shipment finally arrived. I ordered my blade on Friday, it shipped on Monday and I received it in the mail today. Pretty fast service! Anyway I'll post my initial impressions and add to the thread as I determine new things.
My initial Impressions:
Size: It's a good sized knife. Just a hair shorter than my Millie and a tad longer than my BM 581, the 3.75" blade is about right for me. I'll probably always look for bigger, but I work with a lot of sheeple and this blade is probably already a bit much. Also, the thickness is about right for me at 4 mm and it provides a good bit of strength at the tip. The height of the blade is nice and makes the blade big and intimidating (along with the shape and recurve). The handle is accordingly large to accommodate the blade.
Ergonomics: Flat but not uncomfortably so. Flat makes it easy to carry (I will EDC this IWB-SOB) but it fits my hands well. Finger choil is appropriately located for a forward grip and the jimping on the frame/G10 scales are spot on. The blade also has jimping for a more forward grip if you want to choke up on the blade. The "flipper" works great to keep your fingers in the choil and off the razor sharp blade. Reverse grip is ok, but seems to have some hot spots for my hands.
Fit and Finish: Excellent! DLC coating on the blade is even and aesthetically pleasing. Markings on the blade are distinctive but not intrusive. The lock up is early (better be for a new knife!) and solid. No blade play when blade is deployed. The grinds are even and the blade comes RAZOR SHARP. I tend to sharpen my knives when I get them since I usually buy Benchmades. I don't generally sharpen my new Spydercos and I don't need to sharpen my M1! In fact to test sharpness, I shaved my face (as I have been w/ my BM). The M1 did so cleanly right out of the box! If I look at the edge it looks to be a typical machine grind, and not hand polished. Let's see how sharp I can get this compared to my BM 581 in M390 (on a side note my BM 581 had uneven grinds when it arrived and was not very sharp - Lots of sharpening just to get the blade sharp and the grinds even!).
Design: Simple and effective. I like the smooth deployment of the blade and it requires no break in. There are some complaints about the difficulty unlocking the blade, but I do not find this to be an issue for me on my particular blade. The reversible clip is nice but the lock stop (on the opposite side of the clip) is not the cleanest design. I knew that going in and simply accept it. It is effective, just not elegant.
Use: Well I've owned this knife for about 3 hours and have flipped it open a dozen or so times and have shaved with it. For those uses I find it great
. This blade will simply exist as an EDC, light hiking/utility blade and that's about it. I could claim it as a self defense blade (at which it would definitely excel at since it seems to be designed as a fighting blade), but realistically this is not likely (I pray and hope it is not). I like the design of fighting knives (don't ask me why), but realize more than anything else it'll open mail, boxes, trim branches and cut miscellaneous items. If you believe a knife has a soul, mine might be bored since it was designed to be a fighter 
.
Blade and Steel: It cuts incredibly clean for having a machine grind on the edge (vs. the hand polish I will apply). I am excited that this N690Co is a very toothy steel and per Ankerson's feedback, it will cut well with both a rough and polished edge. Again I'll have to see how it compares against my M390 and S90V once I apply my edge to it, but I am hopeful it will cut well, albeit not as long lasting as my other two aforementioned steels. I have a ZT 0551 with the Elmax blade still due from Knifeworks and I'd love to see how toothy that steel is.
Overall: I love this blade and am looking forward to using it. I love that it is not a common knife and not everyone has one. The exclusive limited run blades from Spyderco and BM make 200 - 1000 pieces. Each of these Combative Edge blades are individually numbered and I'm still below 200! However if I look at my number and assume that Rob orders in round numbers (he said he only has 50 blades in this shipment), if you are thinking about getting one, you'd better order soon since he probably has around 10 left by now. There are a couple other models available too, but I like the M1.
If you are on the fence with this knife, go get it while you still can! It's a great blade and due to the limited numbers available, I can't imagine you'll lose money if you decide to sell it on the forums (although I'm not sure if you'll make money). If I compare it to my BMs (that are arguably "prettier" knives) and my Spydercos (that are arguably "all go, no show"), I like the simple yet attractive design that this blade offers.
Combative Edge finally received their shipment of M1s and some other models. I've been waiting for this for a few months, so I was happy to see the shipment finally arrived. I ordered my blade on Friday, it shipped on Monday and I received it in the mail today. Pretty fast service! Anyway I'll post my initial impressions and add to the thread as I determine new things.
My initial Impressions:
Size: It's a good sized knife. Just a hair shorter than my Millie and a tad longer than my BM 581, the 3.75" blade is about right for me. I'll probably always look for bigger, but I work with a lot of sheeple and this blade is probably already a bit much. Also, the thickness is about right for me at 4 mm and it provides a good bit of strength at the tip. The height of the blade is nice and makes the blade big and intimidating (along with the shape and recurve). The handle is accordingly large to accommodate the blade.
Ergonomics: Flat but not uncomfortably so. Flat makes it easy to carry (I will EDC this IWB-SOB) but it fits my hands well. Finger choil is appropriately located for a forward grip and the jimping on the frame/G10 scales are spot on. The blade also has jimping for a more forward grip if you want to choke up on the blade. The "flipper" works great to keep your fingers in the choil and off the razor sharp blade. Reverse grip is ok, but seems to have some hot spots for my hands.
Fit and Finish: Excellent! DLC coating on the blade is even and aesthetically pleasing. Markings on the blade are distinctive but not intrusive. The lock up is early (better be for a new knife!) and solid. No blade play when blade is deployed. The grinds are even and the blade comes RAZOR SHARP. I tend to sharpen my knives when I get them since I usually buy Benchmades. I don't generally sharpen my new Spydercos and I don't need to sharpen my M1! In fact to test sharpness, I shaved my face (as I have been w/ my BM). The M1 did so cleanly right out of the box! If I look at the edge it looks to be a typical machine grind, and not hand polished. Let's see how sharp I can get this compared to my BM 581 in M390 (on a side note my BM 581 had uneven grinds when it arrived and was not very sharp - Lots of sharpening just to get the blade sharp and the grinds even!).
Design: Simple and effective. I like the smooth deployment of the blade and it requires no break in. There are some complaints about the difficulty unlocking the blade, but I do not find this to be an issue for me on my particular blade. The reversible clip is nice but the lock stop (on the opposite side of the clip) is not the cleanest design. I knew that going in and simply accept it. It is effective, just not elegant.
Use: Well I've owned this knife for about 3 hours and have flipped it open a dozen or so times and have shaved with it. For those uses I find it great
. This blade will simply exist as an EDC, light hiking/utility blade and that's about it. I could claim it as a self defense blade (at which it would definitely excel at since it seems to be designed as a fighting blade), but realistically this is not likely (I pray and hope it is not). I like the design of fighting knives (don't ask me why), but realize more than anything else it'll open mail, boxes, trim branches and cut miscellaneous items. If you believe a knife has a soul, mine might be bored since it was designed to be a fighter .Blade and Steel: It cuts incredibly clean for having a machine grind on the edge (vs. the hand polish I will apply). I am excited that this N690Co is a very toothy steel and per Ankerson's feedback, it will cut well with both a rough and polished edge. Again I'll have to see how it compares against my M390 and S90V once I apply my edge to it, but I am hopeful it will cut well, albeit not as long lasting as my other two aforementioned steels. I have a ZT 0551 with the Elmax blade still due from Knifeworks and I'd love to see how toothy that steel is.
Overall: I love this blade and am looking forward to using it. I love that it is not a common knife and not everyone has one. The exclusive limited run blades from Spyderco and BM make 200 - 1000 pieces. Each of these Combative Edge blades are individually numbered and I'm still below 200! However if I look at my number and assume that Rob orders in round numbers (he said he only has 50 blades in this shipment), if you are thinking about getting one, you'd better order soon since he probably has around 10 left by now. There are a couple other models available too, but I like the M1.
If you are on the fence with this knife, go get it while you still can! It's a great blade and due to the limited numbers available, I can't imagine you'll lose money if you decide to sell it on the forums (although I'm not sure if you'll make money). If I compare it to my BMs (that are arguably "prettier" knives) and my Spydercos (that are arguably "all go, no show"), I like the simple yet attractive design that this blade offers.
. That is why I'm getting such clean cuts...
