Direware Hyper 90

[rjcjr10]

Has anyone got the hands on a new Hyper 90 without the flipper on it? if so how does it feel.
I just scored an all Ti/M390 90 with the flip. I cant imagine the hyper without the flip. I do LOVE the tritium insert on the thumbstud though.
Mine is pictured.

 

[Kohai999]

You might be in the wrong SF for the "love" here.

I think they suck....from many different levels...but let's start with the basics...

1. Blade to handle ratios
2. Materials
3. Customer interface and interaction
4. Price

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[rjcjr10]

what was i thinking, thanks for sorting me out. Actually out of all of blades I LOVE my HYPER 90.
and yea the titanium and Bohler is phenominal

 

[rwn2000]

You might be in the wrong SF for the "love" here.

I think they suck....from many different levels...but let's start with the basics...

1. Blade to handle ratios
2. Materials
3. Customer interface and interaction
4. Price

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

STeven, it's not good to hold your feelings in like that.

rjcjr10, you are new here, so don't take STeven's comment personally. He is very knowledgeable about custom knives and speaks his mind, whether it is what you want to hear or not. I happen to agree with him on the blade:handle ratio. Other than that, it looks like a well made knife and if it floats your boat, then thats all that matters. And Direware is selling them faster than they can make 'em, so, they must be doing something right.

randy

 

[rjcjr10]

Thanks Randy, i happen to own several grails and the direware will still work when my RJ martins broken. the hyper fits my hand like Eric actually knew me, it made of materials Im not sure how anyone could argue about but I digress.

 

[Kohai999]

STeven, it's not good to hold your feelings in like that.

rjcjr10, you are new here, so don't take STeven's comment personally. He is very knowledgeable about custom knives and speaks his mind, whether it is what you want to hear or not. I happen to agree with him on the blade:handle ratio. Other than that, it looks like a well made knife and if it floats your boat, then thats all that matters. And Direware is selling them faster than they can make 'em, so, they must be doing something right.randy

Hi Randy,

Have you not seen the threads where they are running almost 6 months past delivery date and not efficiently/effectively communicating with customers?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1129070-Direware-Books/page2?highlight=direware

That is not something right....that is the hype machine in full swing....and frankly, the OP just sent me an invective and curse word filled PM that would make me embarrassed to have him as a customer...plus...he can't spell/punctuate to save his life.

There is a butt for every chair....so people are free to buy what they want, but just like anyone who buys ugly knives willingly, you also get what you deserve.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[KELAMA]

Happy New Year!

 

[harkamus]

First thing that I noticed right away too was the terrible blade to handle ratio. But if OP likes it, that's all that matters. It would be silly to buy knives based solely on how others like/dislike them.

Personally, I think Direware just capitalizes on the sharpened pry bar market.

 

[Scurvy092]

I have been trying to stay out of threads related to knives I don't like but since this one is already pretty well mucked up, I'll just say it.

Direwares are dumb and in 10 years will be nigh worthless.

 

[dbla]

They're great knives to sell. I owned one for about 45minutes once.

 

[rwn2000]

Hi Randy,

Have you not seen the threads where they are running almost 6 months past delivery date and not efficiently/effectively communicating with customers?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1129070-Direware-Books/page2?highlight=direware

That is not something right....that is the hype machine in full swing....and frankly, the OP just sent me an invective and curse word filled PM that would make me embarrassed to have him as a customer...plus...he can't spell/punctuate to save his life.

There is a butt for every chair....so people are free to buy what they want, but just like anyone who buys ugly knives willingly, you also get what you deserve.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

STeven, I was not aware of those issues. I knew they had a waiting list a mile long but was not aware of the other issues. And if the OP, with a total of 3 posts, decided to cuss out a longtime forum member in PM over a simple difference of opinion, then he and Direware deserve each other.

randy

 

[SharpByCoop]

what was i thinking, thanks for sorting me out.

BANNED in six posts.

I like the designs and they appear well built. I'm not a subscriber the the blade/handle ratio thing. There is a rationale for shorter blades which also make sense. I'll disagree with STeven and don't have to hold a grudge or send him a Nastygram.

More importantly to me is the customer non-service issues, as pointed out.

Coop

 

[Guest5160]

Never mind all the logical technical problems.

It looks like someone took a dremel to some sort of Kershaw One-Ton/Swerve hybrid.

 

[Doug C]

I'm not a subscriber the the blade/handle ratio thing. There is a rationale for shorter blades which also make sense. I'll disagree with STeven and don't have to hold a grudge or send him a Nastygram.

I'm with you on this, Coop. :thumbup:

Some folks have very large hands, some have very small hands and there are all sizes in between.
Acquire what gives you a secure and solid grip has always been my take on it.

Doug

 

[Kohai999]

I'm with you on this, Coop. :thumbup:

Some folks have very large hands, some have very small hands and there are all sizes in between.
Acquire what gives you a secure and solid grip has always been my take on it.

Doug

The question has never been one of needing a shorter handle...it has been one of why wouldn't you put a bigger blade in that bigger handle?

Unless there is a legality issue, the idea of putting a 3" blade in a 5" handle should be unacceptable(frankly, a child can put a 3" blade in a 5" handle, basic skills withstanding).....if you want that little itty bitty blade, why not carry a pocket fixed blade, again legality issues accepted?

A 5"+handle with a 3" blade will easily, securely and comfortably fit in the pocket of most clothes....and doesn't require the engineering that a folder does, it will be faster to deploy and cost less in the long run.

There is a massive shortage of experienced knife people asking very basic questions these last few years, and it alarms me.

Joe Paranee "gets it".....one of the many reasons I respect him is that he uses many of the knives that he owns in a variety of situations, from urban(wearing a suit) to the off-grid locales of say.....the Amazon.

Coop, Doug......come on!!!! Seriously....short blade/long handle in a folder=lazy maker or bad engineering.

No hate here, only love and a healthy dose of confusion as to why you would find this acceptable.(Well, Coop does live in Leftyville, but Doug still has me confused, lol)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Lorien]

Steven, what's an acceptable difference in length between handle and blade, in your opinion?

One thing that I know, is that the more effective the lock and more abuse resistant the pivot, the greater the difference in length between handle and blade is.

 

[Doug C]

STeven,

I most certainly agree about having as much blade in the handle is optimum though a challenge for a lot of makers to design and engineer.
RJ Martin and Tom Mayo do it very well as Brian Nadeau seems to, though I have 0 experience
with BN's folders, I did get an email from him yesterday for signing up for a Typhoon which I'm very seriously considering though I'm for the most part a fixed blade guy, I do dig nice folders.

Also I have medium/large hands.
Hope that helps, guess my previous post was confusing, sorry.
I blame the Holidays.

Doug

 

[SharpByCoop]

My rationale in a word: Control.

Taken to it's extreme, this is why whittling knives have VERY short blades and lengthy handles. For me, in my uses, I find I'm cutting often in the area closest to the handle.

There are many uses which dictate a full length blade. However, I've slipped working the tip of a 4" bladed folder. If it was only 2" out, I'd have had more safety cushion.

For a real example of my desire, I had Jens Anso make me a custom fixed blade years ago:

Yes. I don't need all that blade stuffed in a folder all the time. However, I understand why you or anyone would want it.

I need more HP in a car than is practical. I get it.

Coop

 

[Kohai999]

Steven, what's an acceptable difference in length between handle and blade, in your opinion?

One thing that I know, is that the more effective the lock and more abuse resistant the pivot, the greater the difference in length between handle and blade is.

Lorien....I've posted about it before, ad nauseum frankly. IT's about 4:3.....minimum...4" handle to 3" blade....5" handle to 4" blade...minimum. Any maker worth making folding custom knives can do this....templates and examples abound....BUT when you have guys like Butch Vallotton and Matt Diskin doing magic, you can get a 3.25" blade in a 4" handle, which really does make a difference. The strength of these knife locks has been tested and not found wanting.

Primarily, my knives are carried to cut boxes, paper, leather, strapping, wood.....I cut with the front 1 1/2" of the blade....I don't whittle....I cut...fast and effortlessly, and if these knives happened to be used in defense....a short blade will do the trick...but bigger is better.

STeven,

I most certainly agree about having as much blade in the handle is optimum though a challenge for a lot of makers to design and engineer.
RJ Martin and Tom Mayo do it very well as Brian Nadeau seems to, though I have 0 experience
with BN's folders, I did get an email from him yesterday for signing up for a Typhoon which I'm very seriously considering though I'm for the most part a fixed blade guy, I do dig nice folders.

Also I have medium/large hands.
Hope that helps, guess my previous post was confusing, sorry.
I blame the Holidays. Doug

Big hands is big hands. I have little girly hands....scarred up, ugly, hairy girly hands, lol.

All those boys make great knives, but RJ's have the best blade to handle ratio, in my experience and opinion. RJ's fit and finish, tolerances, and pivot assembly are all unparalleled in my experience as well....but like many other tactical makers putting out popular work....try getting one without a lottery or paying aftermarket pricing.

My rationale in a word: Control.

Taken to it's extreme, this is why whittling knives have VERY short blades and lengthy handles. For me, in my uses, I find I'm cutting often in the area closest to the handle.

There are many uses which dictate a full length blade. However, I've slipped working the tip of a 4" bladed folder. If it was only 2" out, I'd have had more safety cushion.

Yes. I don't need all that blade stuffed in a folder all the time. However, I understand why you or anyone would want it.

I need more HP in a car than is practical. I get it.

Coop

Hey Jim,

I'm not entirely sure you do get it....unlike a car or gun, a knife has many purposes...tool and weapon.

We all know that boxcutters are effective weapons or tools, but what about use in an actual "Tactical" situation?

It isn't JUST about blade length....it's about ergonomics, aesthetics, balance.....Joe Paranee discusses this at length in his video posts. That is neither "just" marketing or "just" giving props to favored makers.

If you leave your house in the morning thinking that the wrong tool choice may wind you up at a distinct disadvantage,(dead, wounded, incapacitated)...it has a tendency to change your tool choice....and yes of course, we can say that if there is a question, why not carry a machete or sword(sign me up!!!!) or howitzer. We have never chatted about this as a daily perspective between us, but Joe and I have and are very much in accord. I try to stay within the bounds of legality, societal hoplophobism and general dacorum, so the machete on up is not going to be EDC worthy, but a big folder will most likely "make the cut".

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Lorien]

Lorien....I've posted about it before, ad nauseum frankly. IT's about 4:3.....minimum...4" handle to 3" blade....5" handle to 4" blade...minimum. Any maker worth making folding custom knives can do this....templates and examples abound....BUT when you have guys like Butch Vallotton and Matt Diskin doing magic, you can get a 3.25" blade in a 4" handle, which really does make a difference. The strength of these knife locks has been tested and not found wanting.

I always strive to keep the blade's length within an inch of the handle's length when drawing up a pattern, and always fit as much blade into the handle as possible while still optimizing the potential strength of the lock, in consideration of the dimensions, intended use etc.

Strong enough is good enough for most knife makers and collectors when it comes to the mechanism within a folder, ( me included ) but physics is physics- you can't argue with the triangle! Some people want the absolute strongest thing, and although it may not function very well, brute strength is just something that draws some folk. Not me; like you, I'm into optimization. A folding knife is inherently a survival tool because it's easy to have on you and it cuts.

That aside, if what you are looking for is brute strength, then blade to handle difference is just something you'll live with. It's ironic, in a way; knives overbuilt in order to create the absolute strongest mechanism are probably the least likely to be used in a way to test the lock. They are tough to carry since they are heavy, thick and so wide they are difficult to cut with.