Dauntless MK4 : G10

S

stampede

Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
156
I wanted to get some photos up of the new captured bearing race on the Triple Aught Design Dauntless MK4. Apologies ahead of time for the cell phone pics.

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The lockface on the MK4 and MK3 appear to heat treated or carbidized? The bearings are captive in a small metal race, which makes me think Kershaw / KAI is not producing the Dauntless. The race is stamped around the bearings and appears very solid but does have an open "back" which could possibly lead to some lint or dust choking unlike KAI's solid poly races.

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On the G10 side, the bearing race rides on a metal spacer to keep the bearings from wearing the G10.

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The grinds and sharpening are beautiful. The stonewashing is less aggressive than the MK3 but still much nicer than the previous blasted finish.

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All told, a great improvement on the production Dauntless'. I will use this knife exclusively through the winter and report back on the bearing system and lock movement.
 
Well, first update. I should have known from my MK1...The pocket clips have been updated to not have a 'neck' at the bend, but they are still relatively thin. This lead to me popping my clip straight off on a steering wheel. The majority of it is somewhere in a parking lot, luckily the knife dropped into my pocket.

This leads to the issue with the Dauntless - because they are distributed by TAD and the OEM is being kept secret, support requires going back through TAD. So I rolled the dice and figured I could ask for a replacement. This was the response I received : "Thank you for your email. Although replacement parts like pocket clips are currently unavailable, we plan to sell them in the future so please stay tuned. Thank you." So...now I have a few weeks old Mk4 with a milled spot for a clip, running bareback.

This isn't an attack on TAD or the knife. The Dauntless is still a great everyday design made with excellent materials and tolerances. The issue is with TAD's production support practices. I also have a LensLight and when the driver failed to work in HIGH, I found it was faster to contact LensLight directly. TAD would have gladly helped me, they definitely offered, but I would have shipped it to them and they would have shipped it back to LL. It was quicker for me to directly ship to LL to have them resolve the issue.

Now with the Dauntless, I'm not sure what will happen if the bearings jump the races or the lock develops play. I'm hoping the production model Dauntlesses leads to production-level support but as of yet, I'm not sure it's there.
 
More news. I was lucky enough to score a 2nd Mk4 in black G10. This is exactly as it arrived:

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I wrote TAD and we'll see what they say. I've checked the box, padding, etc. and there is no screw.

sigh
 
Wow! Very interesting for a company so supposedly "HSLD" as TAD. That is obviously a design flaw on the clip, and a very bad slip on the quality control dept. for letting that knife go w/o a screw. Please keep us posted.
 
Will do.

To clarify,

1) the pocket clip was 100% my fault, I whanged it on my wheel and lost it. That being said, I've done that with my ZTs, CRKs, Striders, etc. My steering wheel has those ridged rubs all over it from bumps, it's just how I get out of the car...it should have been able to handle it.
2) I'm not a TAD hater here. I've got 3 Dauntless' from various runs, patches, bags, pens, lights. I've obviously drank the Kool-Aid, I'm not trying to hurt them at all here. To my mind, there are only a few companies that are doing what they are successfully and regularly.
3) the main concern right now is the warranty & the QC. If I blew a clip on a Strider or even a ZT, you know I'd have one in the mail the next business day. I'd even be willing to pay $10-20 since it's my own dumb fault. I didn't post it earlier but my 1st Dauntless has some wild tip grinds on it and when I called about that I was told "Unfortunately, this is not an issue we can repair, or even replace with a new Dauntless at this time. We are currently out of stock and don't expect another release of Dauntless knives for some time." They definitely helped me out but now the missing screw and clip replacement have me sweatin it. You may see some Dauntless' up on the exchange shortly.
 
I've owned a couple of MK3's in that past year and that would be the only complaint that I could really think think of. If my Duantless at the time had major or minor issue I don't believe that TAD would be able to much about it, even if they wanted to.
 
TAD reached out, they are sending me another black Mk4 as a replacement for the one sent with a missing screw. Christmas and New Years means I'll probably see it 2nd week of January. Hopefully it's got all it's fingers and toes.
 
Thank you for the update. My compliments to TAD's customer service. They sound like they are taking care of you. That is good news.
 
Long wait over the holidays but I got a black G10 Mk4 with all the screws present. I am guessing TAD gets ~10-20 of these every 2 weeks and I just happened to hit them when they had stock.

I am still carrying the Green G10 daily and the steel is really shining in edge stability and strength. I have been stropping on the weekends and that's been adequate.

I am also surprised by the titanium bead blast finish, it has really held up well in my pocket. The only visible wear is from where the pocket clip vacated the premises.
 
I was considering buying one of these, but this thread has really made me think twice. For the money, they should have replacement clips (and screws, washers, etc) available. I get that mistakes happen, but a missing screw should not happen on a $300 knife. It makes me wonder what other QC issues exist that I cannot see. If you are going to ask premium prices for a knife, then I expect a premium product and service. From what I see, TAD isn't a premium knife manufacturer. For the money, I can get a better product and service somewhere else.
 
ncrockclimb said:
It makes me wonder what other QC issues exist that I cannot see.
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Having stripped both Mk4s I can say there are 0 internal QC issues that I can find. They are top-notch folders above the quality of Emersons & stock Striders for sure. There is no rattle or play, the bearing system has really held up to pocket crud and the lock is a great balance between ease of disengagement and blade engagement when closed.

The core issue here is that TAD is not the manufacturer. I'm guessing they get the black boxes (same as Fellhoelter?) already sealed up and simply ship them out from San Fran without inspecting each piece. The problem is that TAD is claiming THEY are making these knives, in which case they would have surplus parts coming out of their noses. Broken blade? No problem, send it in and we'll reblade it for a fee. Screws backed out? We'll send some in the mail this week. Instead, my issues prove that you'd literally have to wait until TAD received an identical item at which time they would exchange the two. If that item is no longer available (Mk1 Ti) you're in trouble.

I'm hoping that someone from TAD reads this thread and recognizes the concerns in the community around their warranty on "their" knife and does something to fix it in 2015...Otherwise these will just end up being safe queens and paperweights.
 
stampede said:
...The problem is that TAD is claiming THEY are making these knives, in which case they would have surplus parts coming out of their noses...
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Great point. So they occasionally have QC issues AND are not straightforward about whether they are purchasing or manufacturing their knives. Sounds like Quartermaster to me. You say that the product is top notch, and that is what attracted me to this knife. However, I would much rather give my hard earned $s to a company that is forthcoming about their product's place of manufacture and has the competence to stock typically needed parts.

To put it another way, I will vote with my $s for competent and transparent businesses, and I am not going to vote for TAD, Quartermaster or other companies with similar practices.
 
ncrockclimb said:
Great point. So they occasionally have QC issues AND are not straightforward about whether they are purchasing or manufacturing their knives. Sounds like Quartermaster to me. You say that the product is top notch, and that is what attracted me to this knife. However, I would much rather give my hard earned $s to a company that is forthcoming about their product's place of manufacture and has the competence to stock typically needed parts.

To put it another way, I will vote with my $s for competent and transparent businesses, and I am not going to vote for TAD, Quartermaster or other companies with similar practices.
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You would have to check an awful lot of knife companies off your list, then. No one is transparent in this business save for customs, and even then they aren't always 100% transparent. It's just something you have to deal with and move on. If you search for information on Dauntless manufacturing, there is a lot of information out there. No specifics, but there's certainly no questions that they are USA made. The going theory is that whoever does make them is not a standard knife maker as we know it, probably just a machine shop TAD contracts to make the design. There are several people who most people would trust who assisted TAD with the Dauntless and who "know the secret", and this includes Brian Fellhoelter.

As for the Dauntless itself, I own a Mk3 and a Mk4, both MOD0s, and love them both. I've been to the TAD shop in San Fransisco and met several of the guys. I have no reason to distrust them and every reason to continue giving them my business.
 
Lost Cosmonaut said:
As for the Dauntless itself, I own a Mk3 and a Mk4, both MOD0s, and love them both. I've been to the TAD shop in San Fransisco and met several of the guys. I have no reason to distrust them and every reason to continue giving them my business.
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Cool, could you get me a replacement pocket clip from them?
 
Update on this process - TAD's been churning out releases of the MK4s every month or so and it's been 5 months so I gave them a ring the other day. I explained the situation, everyone is always really nice there but again, no pocket clips. I was told the reason was that they are "afraid of knock offs" so they are not releasing any parts at this time.

Again, similar mid-techs would gladly send me a pocket clip, I don't understand their mentality but it's their business and they can run it as they please.

Knife-wise the Mk4 is holding up great, no play, no bad marks. I've been carrying it with a lanyard and all has been well.
 
Two months later, same situation. What good is a warranty or $300+ dollar knife without any actual support? I contacted customer support through email and phone and received the same response. I'm just carrying other blades now and also noticed the eBay prices are also dropping on these... Ooh well.
 
I've had a Mk2 and a Mk III. Both were great knives. Both have a choil that will hang up your blade if you stab or cut too deeply. Happened to me in a cardboard box. Disgusting; I had a heck of a time withdrawing the blade. The second knife I bought to look at. Beautiful, but the trust factor was gone. I sold it pretty cheaply.
Certainly, there are plenty of folders out there that employ a blade "guard" ahead of the choil, in order to prevent disasters of this kind.
Apparently, TAD has not yet heard of this revolutionary idea. Otherwise, very nice knife. Won't own it again in its present form.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I've had a Mk2 and a Mk III. Both were great knives. Both have a choil that will hang up your blade if you stab or cut too deeply. Happened to me in a cardboard box. Disgusting; I had a heck of a time withdrawing the blade. The second knife I bought to look at. Beautiful, but the trust factor was gone. I sold it pretty cheaply.
Certainly, there are plenty of folders out there that employ a blade "guard" ahead of the choil, in order to prevent disasters of this kind.
Apparently, TAD has not yet heard of this revolutionary idea. Otherwise, very nice knife. Won't own it again in its present form.
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After I read this I went out and tried as hard as I could to get it stuck in a box. No luck.
 
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