Crusader Forge Blade Shape On A Knife I Can Actually Afford??? (Not A Schrade!)

I have a modified AL SR1 and a LionSpy. The LionSpy is more my style (the handle on the SR1s is slippery), but they are both very nice knives. My only real complaint is that the pocket clip doesn't feel substantial enough on either of them for my tastes.

I love my HEST/Fs as well (I have way, way too many). My most favorite is the Milspec because there is something special about Sleipnir steel. But yes, the blades are a touch on the small side for me, but they are plenty stout in every other way. I am also patiently waiting for the HEFT/F.
 
BBW: That sounds perfect. I don't mind reprofiling a knife to get the results I want.

Lost Cosmonaut: I am having trouble deciding which I like better, I do like that the Lionspy has a G10 scale, that's a big plus for me. Does one have a wider blade than the other, or a more pointed tip than the other? I don't know if I'm just seeing things, but I feel like the SR-1 blade shape looks nicer to me. Is your Lionspy smooth to open and to disengage the lock? On one of the vids I watched the guy was talking about some of the issues, stiff to open, stiff lock and that little disk thing too.
 
Lost Cosmonaut: If you get a chance could you take a side by side picture of the SR1 and Lionspy? I've only seen one picture with both knives and they weren't squared up next to each other.
 
Hopefully this is what you are looking for.

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With a ZT0561 for scale.

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Sorry for the quality of the pictures.

The blades are virtually identical in size and shape, the main difference is the LionSpy is ELMAX and the SR1 is D2, but the thickness is the same and the profile is the same other than the Spydiehole bump which works as a nice thumb ramp. The handles are similar in shape but as you see the LionSpy has a more traditional curved butt end where the SR1 has a slightly different shape that isn't as comfortable when holding towards the rear. The SR1 is a monoblock which is nice but makes cleaning a pain. My LionSpy doesn't have a sticky lock, but it is very stiff unlocking. My LionSpy is a little on the stiff side on the pivot, where the SR1 is very smooth, but they both use either Nitrolon or Teflon washers, I can't remember, so it may just be a case of the SR1 being broken in where the LionSpy isn't yet.

I would call the SR1 an excellent gentlemen's large hard use folder, because it's pretty but it's still tough. The problem is the handle is far too slippery for any real use. The LionSpy is a much better choice for a looker that is comfortable to use as well. I definitely am not comfortable with the pocket clips, though. They are extremely stiff but they just seem too short.
 
If you are willing to shell out 400 for something why not wait and save up or get a side job so you can get your dream knife?!
 
Thanks very much for the pictures, that is exactly what I was hoping for. I really like them both, but the SR1's lack of grip is scary and would make me not trust it. I do love having a Spydie Hole too, and the price tag is bearable. I was under the impression that the blades might have different shape or size to them, thanks for straightening that out. Your pics helped out a ton!

ev13wt: I would pay $400 if I HAD to and only if it was VERY close to what I want. But DOUBLING that for ANY knife is just not something I'm willing to do. I could, I would have the money in a few months, but I wouldn't. I believe that for the most part, you get the quality you pay for, but at a certain point the quality is amazing so past that you start to pay for names, reputation, and the ability to say 'I own one'... But that's just my opinion. And to be honest, I still see it as 'worth the money', because sometimes that's what separates a damn good knife from a grail. I'm just not ready for that ...yet. I have talked to a maker who will make me my dream knife, not a CF copy, for around $500... And I'm seriously thinking about it, but still unsure. I've never paid more than $250 ish for any knife, so $500 is still a huge decision. Right now I am leaning towards the Lionspy, it has a beautiful shape, good size, great weight, its made of great materials, can be locked open, and is a good price.
 
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I finally made a decision to help satisfy this problem of mine. There is a fellow member of this forum who made me my first/only Custom knife ( a really beefy little chopper), but he only does fixed blades for the time being, but he made the knife to my specs and design. So I emailed him asking if he had time to make me an large (8.5 - 9inch ish OA) EDC Fixed Blade built to my design and specs. I sent him a list of specs and an Inkscape rendering and he gave me a quote and some feedback to make the design more functional and now I am very excited to see his sketches and finished product! :eek: I wasn't sure of what steel I would opt for because I didn't know what he had on hand, I have some 52100 that I am trying to learn to shape and originally wanted to use that on this knife, but he mentioned that he's been favoring 3V lately... Now I've never used this steel before, but I've heard wonderful things about it so I was quick to change my mind in favor of 3V. I can't wait to have this baby in hand!

I know in this thread I never mentioned fixed blades until now, and that was because I knew if I was going to get a fixed blade that a custom was the way I would go. Do any of you guys regularly carry fixed blades? If so, how and what kind of sheath do you use? I never have EDCed a fixed blade because I've never owned one that was the right size. The Spyderco Hossom DayHiker was my smallest fixed blade, and not very comfortably to me. Like I said the knife will be between 8.5 and 9 inches overall (unless he can get the handle size down and still have a full grip), about a 3.75 - 4 inch blade, and I'm not sure on the thickness because I've never dealt with 3V.
 
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