Darrel Ralph, custom purchase, sizes, please help me out...

[mmtmatrix]

Hello every one, the time has come to begin my approach on custom folders in my collection/daily carry. I am starting to fall in love with Hidden release DAs. I have been looking at several of Darrel Ralph's Designs with the Illusion release (I am also looking at other custom makers hidden release DAs, but I think a DR will be my first).

I guess I am wondering, what should I do? I have a nice offer on a 3.875 in. Apogee w/illusion release, I just don't know if it will be too big. I have always liked about a 3.5 in blade on my knives but, my new LCC is also a good size. So, what sizes does the Apogee come in? I have heard of small, medium and Large apogees -- but when I talked to Darrel he only mentioned a 3in and a 4in...

Also are these the same specifications for the Krait? A 3in and a 4in? Is the Krait still made (because its not on his site)?

What about the EDC, is it only in a 3.5 in blade?

There is some meaning to all these ramblings, just tell me that I will like the larger (just under 4 in blade, I think) Apogee, and that its not too big, and has a nice slim profile and not to large/threatening. Ahh, I think I am going crazy, any help would be really appreciated, it any of this makes sense.

Thanks,
mmtmatrix

 

[viper5192]

Hmmm . . . methinks the person to ask really is Darrel. I'm sure he can answer each and every one of those questions compltely. As for the 3.85 Inch Illusion, I'd say go for it. It's a great knife! Too big?? Nah ;-)

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Peace

Paul
Custom Knife Purveyor
Circle P Knives

 

[stjames]

The <4" Apogee is a nice handfull of knife, the >4" model is an awsome piece of steel, not quite into "megafolder" territory but verging on evil. I havn't seen one of the big models in an auto.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA

 

[OwenM]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mmtmatrix:
There is some meaning to all these ramblings, just tell me that I will like the larger (just under 4 in blade, I think) Apogee, and that its not too big, and has a nice slim profile and not to large/threatening.</font>

I'll try. You will like the larger Apogee, it's not too big, has a nice slim profile, and while it does seem large, it is not "threatening". 4 out of 5 ain't bad.
Just to put it in perspective, my Apogee has a 3.9" blade. It is about the same OAL as a BM AFCK, but the blade is wider. It is actually slimmer than the small Sebenza, and carries very well IWB as well as in the pocket.
Perhaps due to the light color of the anodizing, it does seem "large", a little more so than "black knives" of similar size.
I have shown it to several women. They all commented on how beautiful, and how light it was. None mentioned the size, or seemed at all threatened by it. Besides carrying it regularly, this is the knife that normally goes to church with me.
It is very light, and quick in the hand. Balance is on the index finger.
The high hollow grind, and recurved edge, make it a very aggressive cutter.
Lock-up is rock solid, there is no blade play-I can tell no difference between it and the Sebenza in that respect (that's a compliment).
Here is a rather poor scan of the Apogee (3.9" blade), a carbon fiber EDC (3.5"), and a small Sebenza (2.9") for a size comparison. The scan does none of these knives any justice, particularly the Apogee, which I think is the most beautiful folder I've ever seen. Naturally

Darrel is also making the EDC in 4".

Edit:As you can see, my Apogee is short a screw-it's not a D/A. I do not know how the Illusion release might affect the balance or feel, having neither seen nor handled one, but doubt it would be noticeable.


[This message has been edited by OwenM (edited 06-06-2001).]

 

[Dexter Ewing]

OwenM wrote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Edit:As you can see, my Apogee is short a screw-it's not a D/A. I do not know how the Illusion release might affect the balance or feel, having neither seen nor handled one, but doubt it would be noticeable.</font>

I have both EDC's and Apogees in manual and Illusions. Though the leaf spring of the Illusions are carbon steel, that doesn't affect the balance of the knife at all. You will notice a slight increase in weight, but it really doesn't matter. The Illusion Release is pretty cool. In the closed position, the leaf spring looks like a full length handle spacer.

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Proud member: AKTI, NCCKG, NCKK, and SCAK

NC Knife Knuts @ Table 18-B at the Blade Show

Living life on the edge

 

[Bugs3x]

mmtmatrix -- have little to add here, but am pretty sure that I read somewhere back aways that Darrel only made 400 Kraits. No more were ever to be made.

I agree with someone else who posted praise of the APogee that it is a beautiful knife. I'm thinking of joining the world of custom owenership myself, but not ready to cross that bridge yet. If and when I do Darrel will be high on my list of makers to consider.

Anyhow, I'd sure say that you couldn't go wrong in having Darrel build your first custom. He's at the top!

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Asi es la vida

Bugs

[This message has been edited by Bugs3x (edited 06-06-2001).]

 

[L6steel]

Come on Dex, post some close up pix of the mechanism for us wannabes! Disassembled would be nice.

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Take care!! Michael

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