- Joined
- Nov 13, 1998
- Messages
- 153
"MIRAGE", on the one side of the blade. "6702 Taiwan", on the other. TAIWAN, arrrgh!? But read on, you'll in for a treat.
The Columbia River 6702 is a small, plain edged version of the generic Jim Hammond design, "modified spear point" (saber grind with a very slight hollowing, downward slope, more a thinning than a false edge at the spine), blade length (measured, from the handle) 72 mm, cutting edge (measured) 69 mm, blade about 2.125 mm thick, steel AUS6M (easy to resharpen, good corrosion resistance, not very good edge retention), hardness 55-57 HRc (not measured by me), closed length 104 mm (measured), weight 2.8 oz. (79 g, not measured by me). Adjustable pivot (Torx T8). Zytel (glass filled Nylon) handles "backed on both sides by grayed stanless steel liners, one of which forms the locking mechanism". The "spacers in the back spine of the knife are aluminum instead of plastic as in other knives" (quotes taken from http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/crk/mirage.html, where you can find some pictures too). Can be disassembled (six T6 screws). In addition, the knife has dual thumbstuds, removable (not reversable) metal pocket clip (three T6 screws), and a lanyard hole.
The specifications look good? The TAIWAN shouldn't? But this knife really has affirmed itself to me in spite of my preconceptions (and I do not have any commercial connections to any knife company).
Take the small Mirage in your hand, closed, squeeze it really hard. It's like a Benchmade! Due to a positive blade stop, you can really use this one to strenghten your fist. Feel it. Kind of heavy, ain't it? Really, there are liners on both sides, and the spacer sure ain't no plastic. Wait a moment! I've had this (size-to-weight-ratio) feeling before. That was when I got accustomed to my Benchmade Leopard Cub. And if this is Zytel, then what are we having with other makers' plastic knives? This one is very hard, though it can be worked easily with, e.g., sandpaper, and doesn't seem to be brittle.
Now open the knife. If you're left handed, the clip will interfere (as usual). For a right-handed person it's mostly OK, except that the whole area of thumb purchase needs a bit dremeling or sanding; otherwise it won't open very easily.
Now it's open. Grasp it with all the furiosity you'd ever need, go through the Talmadge/Barr liner-lock tests (see http://www.bladeforums.com/reviews/faqllock.html [Thanks, Joe, for pointing this out to me]), try it in front- and reverse-grip. Try it hard, realistically. Especially with the smoothing-out mentioned above, I'll bet you feel that something essential is (about) RIGHT! Taiwan, yes, but it really doesn't show.
The blade has a pleasant shape, though the thinning of the spine with a large (unsharpened) false edge feels unnecessary. Nothing exceptional or alarming in the performance of the blade thus far (haven't really tested this thoroughly yet, just some whittling and thick cardboard cutting and stabbing). Of course, I have no way of knowing about the heat treatment etc. of the blade, if it doesn't break some day. At least it takes a keen edge easily with, e.g., the Spyderco TriAngle Sharpmaker.
Now close the thing. Not very much different than with, e.g., the BM AFCK? But what's that 'SNAP' in the end? Well, that's ONE OF THE MOST POSITIVE (closed) DETENTS I've ever met in a liner-lock folder! Unbelievable! If it weren't for the first 3-4 millimeters (from closed), which is a bit loose, this would be the BEST detent that I've met in a liner-lock. Very much like the BM 401 Panther (designed by Les DeAsis), one of the three-four really well-DESIGNED knives of Benchmade.
Basically, and in execution, A VERY SOUND DESIGN, indeed! Simply amazing for the price (retail $40, street $30). With a bit of dremeling or sanding, could work this one even to a personal carry-favorite (perhaps in certain environments, where the possibility of loosing the knife is high). It would follow such knives as BM AFCK and Spyderco Endura 98. This alone may tell a lot to some of you.
The GRIPES? The clip-side thumb stud snags in your (at least jeans) pocket lid. A common problem with ambidexterous studs. Don't know yet what I should do about that (the left, actually right, stud may not be removable by itself). Due to the unusually strong detent, the knife won't open sans thumb, with a (reasonably non-violent) flick of the wrist (unlike even the BM Panther). And I already mentioned the necessity of some sanding/dremeling.
Nonetheless, a humble bow to Jim Hammond, and a warm handshake to CRKT and "Taiwan" (I'd surely like to know the very hands that made my 6702). Now what were the OTHER models in this astonishing Mirage line?
Markku
[This message has been edited by Markku Huttunen (edited 23 November 1998).]
The Columbia River 6702 is a small, plain edged version of the generic Jim Hammond design, "modified spear point" (saber grind with a very slight hollowing, downward slope, more a thinning than a false edge at the spine), blade length (measured, from the handle) 72 mm, cutting edge (measured) 69 mm, blade about 2.125 mm thick, steel AUS6M (easy to resharpen, good corrosion resistance, not very good edge retention), hardness 55-57 HRc (not measured by me), closed length 104 mm (measured), weight 2.8 oz. (79 g, not measured by me). Adjustable pivot (Torx T8). Zytel (glass filled Nylon) handles "backed on both sides by grayed stanless steel liners, one of which forms the locking mechanism". The "spacers in the back spine of the knife are aluminum instead of plastic as in other knives" (quotes taken from http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/crk/mirage.html, where you can find some pictures too). Can be disassembled (six T6 screws). In addition, the knife has dual thumbstuds, removable (not reversable) metal pocket clip (three T6 screws), and a lanyard hole.
The specifications look good? The TAIWAN shouldn't? But this knife really has affirmed itself to me in spite of my preconceptions (and I do not have any commercial connections to any knife company).
Take the small Mirage in your hand, closed, squeeze it really hard. It's like a Benchmade! Due to a positive blade stop, you can really use this one to strenghten your fist. Feel it. Kind of heavy, ain't it? Really, there are liners on both sides, and the spacer sure ain't no plastic. Wait a moment! I've had this (size-to-weight-ratio) feeling before. That was when I got accustomed to my Benchmade Leopard Cub. And if this is Zytel, then what are we having with other makers' plastic knives? This one is very hard, though it can be worked easily with, e.g., sandpaper, and doesn't seem to be brittle.
Now open the knife. If you're left handed, the clip will interfere (as usual). For a right-handed person it's mostly OK, except that the whole area of thumb purchase needs a bit dremeling or sanding; otherwise it won't open very easily.
Now it's open. Grasp it with all the furiosity you'd ever need, go through the Talmadge/Barr liner-lock tests (see http://www.bladeforums.com/reviews/faqllock.html [Thanks, Joe, for pointing this out to me]), try it in front- and reverse-grip. Try it hard, realistically. Especially with the smoothing-out mentioned above, I'll bet you feel that something essential is (about) RIGHT! Taiwan, yes, but it really doesn't show.
The blade has a pleasant shape, though the thinning of the spine with a large (unsharpened) false edge feels unnecessary. Nothing exceptional or alarming in the performance of the blade thus far (haven't really tested this thoroughly yet, just some whittling and thick cardboard cutting and stabbing). Of course, I have no way of knowing about the heat treatment etc. of the blade, if it doesn't break some day. At least it takes a keen edge easily with, e.g., the Spyderco TriAngle Sharpmaker.
Now close the thing. Not very much different than with, e.g., the BM AFCK? But what's that 'SNAP' in the end? Well, that's ONE OF THE MOST POSITIVE (closed) DETENTS I've ever met in a liner-lock folder! Unbelievable! If it weren't for the first 3-4 millimeters (from closed), which is a bit loose, this would be the BEST detent that I've met in a liner-lock. Very much like the BM 401 Panther (designed by Les DeAsis), one of the three-four really well-DESIGNED knives of Benchmade.
Basically, and in execution, A VERY SOUND DESIGN, indeed! Simply amazing for the price (retail $40, street $30). With a bit of dremeling or sanding, could work this one even to a personal carry-favorite (perhaps in certain environments, where the possibility of loosing the knife is high). It would follow such knives as BM AFCK and Spyderco Endura 98. This alone may tell a lot to some of you.
The GRIPES? The clip-side thumb stud snags in your (at least jeans) pocket lid. A common problem with ambidexterous studs. Don't know yet what I should do about that (the left, actually right, stud may not be removable by itself). Due to the unusually strong detent, the knife won't open sans thumb, with a (reasonably non-violent) flick of the wrist (unlike even the BM Panther). And I already mentioned the necessity of some sanding/dremeling.
Nonetheless, a humble bow to Jim Hammond, and a warm handshake to CRKT and "Taiwan" (I'd surely like to know the very hands that made my 6702). Now what were the OTHER models in this astonishing Mirage line?
Markku
[This message has been edited by Markku Huttunen (edited 23 November 1998).]