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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
D2 ArcLite arrives...
- Thread starter OwenM
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- Oct 26, 2000
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This is the first time I've handled a production ArcLite, and I think Camillus did a pretty good job of staying faithful to the design. The ergonomics are good, but as someone mentioned about it, the edges are a little sharp, and need to be broken. They're begging for some cord wrap, and I will doubtless wrap this one soon.
The edge wasn't quite what I expected after the excellent factory edges on my Beckers and 154CM Talon. Has a burr along the length, and came with a nick about 1/2" back from the tip. Should only take a few minutes to fix that, though.
The sheath has great retention. Too good, in fact. When I pulled the knife (already in the sheath) out of the box, I immediately hung it around my neck by the ball chain, and tried to withdraw the knife. The ball chain broke immediately, and unfortunately the holes in the sheath are too small for even 3mm cord. Guess I will take a drill to the holes, and try heating the sheath to loosen it-takes two hands and a ton of effort to remove or insert the knife. This would never work as a neck or even belt knife with the sheath as-is.
The sheath matches my Elite Tactical Carry Systems sheaths closely, and will accept the same belt loops and clips. Should also accept a mini-TekLok.
I love this design, but I'm kind of let-down about having to do so much work on both the knife and sheath to make it a usable package.
The edge wasn't quite what I expected after the excellent factory edges on my Beckers and 154CM Talon. Has a burr along the length, and came with a nick about 1/2" back from the tip. Should only take a few minutes to fix that, though.
The sheath has great retention. Too good, in fact. When I pulled the knife (already in the sheath) out of the box, I immediately hung it around my neck by the ball chain, and tried to withdraw the knife. The ball chain broke immediately, and unfortunately the holes in the sheath are too small for even 3mm cord. Guess I will take a drill to the holes, and try heating the sheath to loosen it-takes two hands and a ton of effort to remove or insert the knife. This would never work as a neck or even belt knife with the sheath as-is.
The sheath matches my Elite Tactical Carry Systems sheaths closely, and will accept the same belt loops and clips. Should also accept a mini-TekLok.
I love this design, but I'm kind of let-down about having to do so much work on both the knife and sheath to make it a usable package.
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2000
- Messages
- 6,104
btw, a few strokes with a ceramic rod, followed by 5 per side on the corners of the Sharpmaker's white stones, and a few strops on a linen strop and the knife is popping hair
A few minutes with a Dremel tool, and those sharp edges will all be gone too (except for the one that matters!).
edit: I put about 15-20 minutes of work in the knife-beveled the edges, cord-wrapped the handle, salvaged the ball-chain with another connecting piece I found, and fixed the sheath in about 1 minute with a hair-dryer.
I am well pleased with the results
A few minutes with a Dremel tool, and those sharp edges will all be gone too (except for the one that matters!).
edit: I put about 15-20 minutes of work in the knife-beveled the edges, cord-wrapped the handle, salvaged the ball-chain with another connecting piece I found, and fixed the sheath in about 1 minute with a hair-dryer.
I am well pleased with the results
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2000
- Messages
- 6,104
Mike,
Sorry, no cord-wrap advice here. I'm not very good at it, and was planning on checking out the info on the Strider site that Ed mentioned.
Be careful if you have to heat up the sheath. Didn't take as long as I thought, and the stuff is very easy to mold (uh, screw up). First time I've tried that, and I bet it could get out of hand pretty quickly. I didn't really do anything but heat it 'til it was hot to the touch and torque the knife a little. Now the retention is still excellent, and withdrawal is much easier.
Sorry, no cord-wrap advice here. I'm not very good at it, and was planning on checking out the info on the Strider site that Ed mentioned.
Be careful if you have to heat up the sheath. Didn't take as long as I thought, and the stuff is very easy to mold (uh, screw up). First time I've tried that, and I bet it could get out of hand pretty quickly. I didn't really do anything but heat it 'til it was hot to the touch and torque the knife a little. Now the retention is still excellent, and withdrawal is much easier.
- Joined
- May 6, 2001
- Messages
- 369
Owen, nice pics but I have a question. In the first pic what is the knive below the D2 Arclite? And if you dont mind me asking I am am curious as to the cost of the D2 Arclite.
Thanks
Thanks
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2000
- Messages
- 3,278
heres a link with the prices.
ive handled both,and assure you that from what ive seen,there worth every penny. D2 Arc-Lite and EDC
ive handled both,and assure you that from what ive seen,there worth every penny. D2 Arc-Lite and EDC
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2000
- Messages
- 6,104
John,
The other knife is a custom ArcLite from Darrel Ralph-it's what the production ArcLite is based on. That one has carbon fiber scales, and is in D2M.
The D2 ArcLite was $39.99 like in the link Maurice posted. It does note that this price is for the first run, and that the catalog price will be $10 more. The custom is ~$200. The production version is not nearly as refined, but the price makes it a great value, IMO.
Owen
- Joined
- May 6, 2001
- Messages
- 369
Thanks Owen, I really like the looks of that Custom from Darrel Ralph, I may just have to add some of the D2's to my shopping cart.
Maurice, thanks for the link. I like that D2 EDC, I may just have to put my 125th Anniversary EDC back in the box and get the D2 for daily carry.
JC
Maurice, thanks for the link. I like that D2 EDC, I may just have to put my 125th Anniversary EDC back in the box and get the D2 for daily carry.
JC
- Joined
- Jan 20, 1999
- Messages
- 738
I have a very tight sheath on a custom knife. My older daughter could not even extract it. I can with some help with the lanyard on the handle. I would prefer tight to loose, but this is a little too much. I tried beeswax, helped some. Then I read a tip to use some silicone grease. It is much better now. If it stays this way perhaps I won't have to try the heat and torque method, handily mentioned above.
Obviously, you have to make sure you use the minimum necessary as you don't want too much silicone grease getting on any area you need to be able to grip. Not a perfect fix for this reason, but I'll see how it goes.
Obviously, you have to make sure you use the minimum necessary as you don't want too much silicone grease getting on any area you need to be able to grip. Not a perfect fix for this reason, but I'll see how it goes.