RayseM
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2010
- Messages
- 8,259
Here is a knife that I got in a trade a while back. A Kwaiken flipper from Chris Guay of Disposition Bladeworks . Chris calls it the HERON.
I have carried and used this knife (as my work knife) every day since receiving it. One day I was doing something on my hands and knees - trimming some shims in an awkward space and so I pulled out THE HERON. After I competed my task I literally stopped and looked at the knife in my hand - long pause - and said to myself out loud - "Ha, I have never carried an EDC that would have been capable of doing that job"
My list of EDC over the years has included Spydercos: Enduras, Mantra, Gayle Bradley, a Southard, Sage II, a Thorburn, and a few fixed blades, among others - so that was saying something.
Anyone else have a knife that surprised them as to how good it serves the purpose? Share some photos and stories please. :thumbup:
When I first received the Heron it had been described as "rough around the edges but is mechanically sound and has exceeded every expectation". Rough around the edges indeed!
I found out how to contact Chris and with his permission I sent it back for some refinement. He was gracious as can be. He sent me this email "It is a lot of work to be honest, but I'm doing it because I both want to and have to. Wether you were aware of it or not, the knife did have some issues with the engineering of it, which is why this has been such an intensive project. I basically redesigned the geometry of the lock and everything to help ensure you won't have any issues (like you've had already) further down the road. It would be rather scummy of me to simply replace the frame so that its a carbon copy, knowing that the same issue will arise again. I want (and feel I'm obligated) to fix the design so that the same issue won't come up again. There's no greater satisfaction for me than knowing that my customer is 100% satisfied with everything, and I'm going make sure that anything going out the door is my absolute best work, given my skills at the time."
How could you ever ask more than that from ANYONE? Anyway - as promised the knife came back - now nicely refined - no more issues of any kind. My first experience is now super sized
Here are the specs:
4-3/8", 3/16" thick, 52100 Blade - HRC 58-60 OAL - 9-3/8" 11/16" thick at the handle Titanium Liner lock Black Micarta scales & backspace AKS bearings forged titanium lock & clip
A few more photos to give some sense of the size compared here to my Endura in length and the thickness:
This is IMHO and experience a BIG EDC - almost Charlie Mike worthy. The surprise to me was how well it carries and how easy it is to apply to all kinds of tasks. It flips easily and with great authority too. Absolutely no blade play and falls with a click to closed. The Endura (not the one above but a nice G-10 version that I carried for 6 years) always seemed a bit on the big side. The HERON is big but it functions so well that I have no need to carry another work knife. Can you tell I like it?
Thanks Chris Guay and thanks to those who passed the HERON down so that it could be in my pocket.
Thanks for reading and looking. It's been fun sharing my nice knife surprise.
Ray
I have carried and used this knife (as my work knife) every day since receiving it. One day I was doing something on my hands and knees - trimming some shims in an awkward space and so I pulled out THE HERON. After I competed my task I literally stopped and looked at the knife in my hand - long pause - and said to myself out loud - "Ha, I have never carried an EDC that would have been capable of doing that job"
My list of EDC over the years has included Spydercos: Enduras, Mantra, Gayle Bradley, a Southard, Sage II, a Thorburn, and a few fixed blades, among others - so that was saying something. Anyone else have a knife that surprised them as to how good it serves the purpose? Share some photos and stories please. :thumbup:
When I first received the Heron it had been described as "rough around the edges but is mechanically sound and has exceeded every expectation". Rough around the edges indeed!
I found out how to contact Chris and with his permission I sent it back for some refinement. He was gracious as can be. He sent me this email "It is a lot of work to be honest, but I'm doing it because I both want to and have to. Wether you were aware of it or not, the knife did have some issues with the engineering of it, which is why this has been such an intensive project. I basically redesigned the geometry of the lock and everything to help ensure you won't have any issues (like you've had already) further down the road. It would be rather scummy of me to simply replace the frame so that its a carbon copy, knowing that the same issue will arise again. I want (and feel I'm obligated) to fix the design so that the same issue won't come up again. There's no greater satisfaction for me than knowing that my customer is 100% satisfied with everything, and I'm going make sure that anything going out the door is my absolute best work, given my skills at the time."
How could you ever ask more than that from ANYONE? Anyway - as promised the knife came back - now nicely refined - no more issues of any kind. My first experience is now super sized
Here are the specs:
4-3/8", 3/16" thick, 52100 Blade - HRC 58-60 OAL - 9-3/8" 11/16" thick at the handle Titanium Liner lock Black Micarta scales & backspace AKS bearings forged titanium lock & clip
A few more photos to give some sense of the size compared here to my Endura in length and the thickness:
This is IMHO and experience a BIG EDC - almost Charlie Mike worthy. The surprise to me was how well it carries and how easy it is to apply to all kinds of tasks. It flips easily and with great authority too. Absolutely no blade play and falls with a click to closed. The Endura (not the one above but a nice G-10 version that I carried for 6 years) always seemed a bit on the big side. The HERON is big but it functions so well that I have no need to carry another work knife. Can you tell I like it?
Thanks Chris Guay and thanks to those who passed the HERON down so that it could be in my pocket.
Thanks for reading and looking. It's been fun sharing my nice knife surprise.
Ray
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He has made some extra super sized folders/flippers. You almost need a warning beeper before you flip that one open. 
