Wulf: How it feel to want? [ just kidding, I always say that when someone wants something ]
I'm the one giving Frank and DOK a fair shake and being objective in my observations. Most of the posters who have made negative remarks have been the subjective posters spewing opinions as facts without the facts being known to them.
I have obviously talked to Frank at length in case anyone was wondering. Not just since the ads hit or the blade show took place last weekend either. I have kept an ongoing dialogue open with Frank since first becoming aware of the ER line, and subsequently Franks involvement with them over the last year.
I have dealt with Frank as a customer on a few ocassions while with ER in purchasing that product, have seen others postings about their dealing with Frank and their own experiences with the man over the phone during orders and questions about the knives.
Not once have I seen a post of a knife knut who thought Frank had lied to them about the product after conversing with him, not once that Frank wasn't an upstanding forthright individual who called it the way he saw it, or ever not took care of a customers needs even when those needs would not be cover by the ER limited warranty.
TheSkinwalkeR: I'll take that dollar now.
My opinion is just that, no more or less than anyone elses here. I don't believe you will see the Simonich family atty. going after Frank for some violation or infringment, nor do I see ER going after Frank either.
ER is certainly aware of the new line of knives and Franks whereabouts at this time. He isn't out there hiding from them, or lurking in the shadows. My guess is he is smart enough to run things by corporate attys that represent him and his new venture [ with regard to ER and the potential problems ] and that has all been hashed and discussed in legaleze long before the venture was sponsored by the amount of money it took to get this company up and running as well as the monies spent in ads and sponsorships at blade this year.
I enjoy talking to Frank over the phone. I was aware the new line was coming to fruition, what the general plans were and the general direction the company would take. Hell, he stated so himself at times [ or at least alluded to the fact he was going off on his own ].
I don't believe you will see Frank come on here and attempt to explain anything to anyone about their particualr issues with the new line or his ads, or even his reasoning behind the summary of events.
You don't like the ads, they offend you, don't buy the product.
You don't like the ERness of the DOK's, don't buy one.
You don't like the way Frank handled blade? don't buy one.
You don't like that he is not defending his actions to others here with questions? Don't buy one.
If you don't like the looks of the knives, don't buy one.
Don't like the materials used? Don't buy one
It's that simple folks. I would not expect anyone who took any issues with any of the above to buy one of the DOK's in the future.
Myself, I have waited patiently for the upgraded version of the MPC folder. It should be the most rugged folder I have ever held [ like the MPC is ], it should be easier to hold onto when wet with the upgrades, I expect it will do all I want at many things and not a few things that well based on the blades profile [ if it is like the MPC ].
I'm interested in securing a folder that when needed will act like a straight knife in strength when the secondary lock is engaged. I'm interested in a folder that can extricate myself or others from vehicles if the need arises as well. I'm interested in the materials being used in their construction which can stand up to some very hard abuse and still not faulter or break along the way when I may need it most.
There are very few folders who can meet these requirements on the market and that are available to the public in any quantity to speak of. There are a few, but very few. The new stratofighter will find a home as an edc clipped to the waistband not as a defensive knife but as an urban survival folder, always there, ready to perform as a sharpened crowbar if necessary in a life and death situation, capable of breaking glass to extrcate or effect a rescue of another whose trapped in a car, etc.
Many of us want to carry a straight knife for strength over a folder, even when the law says no way. So we carry the folders and compromise. With this line there is no reason to compromise these attributes. They were originally designed to replace a soldiers straight bladed field knife by ER. I think they do that very well. So does Leroy Thompson who replaced three of his straight blades he takes itno tough spots with the MPC. Here's a guy who has been all over the world working EP assignments endorsing the folder as something that could easily replace a few of his fixed blades he relied on to survive the bad breath encounters and emergency situations that may arise in the real world.
I'm on board for one of these as soon as they are deliverable. I sdld the MPC after Frank left as their warranty was only as good as Frank made it personally, and not the companies policy. I expect good things from Frank and DOK and have no reason at this time to think otherwise based on personal interaction with him and the products heritage.
Brownie
