Does anyone carry a MAM folder?

D

dogstar

Joined
Jan 23, 2011
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I recently became aware of these knives. They seem light and compact, would be a pleasure to carry. Blade geometry seems to be great for most daily jobs. Have they served you well? Have you ever been let down by it?
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
Is MAM an acronym?
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MAM is a Portuguese maker of knives. I believe MAM are the initials of the founder.

From the Knifecenter: The MAM Filmam Ltd. is a Portuguese company whose foundation dates back to the great-grandparents of the current owner-managers (1870). The humbleness and dedication of their ancestors survived the hardships. Thanks to this, MAM Filmam comes to the 21st century with a strong and entrenched market deployment. Today, MAM Filmam continues this heritage, which has always excelled with quality and innovative products.

Their knives have wood handles, similar to Opinel, but locking models feature a liner lock.
 
dogstar said:
I recently became aware of these knives. They seem light and compact, would be a pleasure to carry. Blade geometry seems to be great for most daily jobs. Have they served you well? Have you ever been let down by it?
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I wanted one with the silhouette of a greyhound chasing a rabbit (as I have greyhounds) but they seller wouldn't ship overseas. When I go to Spain and Portugal next year I WILL have one, I promise!!

Zieg
 
Would cost less than $15 ... maybe less than 10 ... to find out if MAM is for you
Had this one with linerlock out last night and will probably pick up an even simpler friction folder to try
Why? ... because I'm happy with the ones I have. Very light, very sharp, ride the pocket well and feel better in my hand than Opinel ... which I also have a few of

vNVTjPS.jpg
 
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Wild Willie said:
Doesn't afishhunter afishhunter carry one?
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I do have two non-locking models I carry every so often. A "large" sheepsfoot and a "medium" "clip point". (The "clip point" looks more like a spear point to my six (with bifocals) old eyes. What do y'all think?) Both are the same length closed; about 1/32 inch shy of 4 inches..
FWIW IMHO they cut and slice better than my Opinels.
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D dogstar They've never let me down.
I did have to add a little nonadhesive 'SWELL LOCK' to the pivot end tho. They keep the AC on here a bit more than necessary, in my humble opinion. All four of my friction folders needed the treatment. The blades were dropping half open or closed by gravity. ☹️ They all behave after applying the Swell Lock. 😁👍

If you want my opinion, it's: "Get the one(s) you like. They're great." 😇👍

I bought the nonlocking versions because (a) I never use the lock on my Opinel, and figured "Why get a feature I don't need or want?" and (b) "The liner lock version costs a couple bucks more. Why pay extra for a feature I don't want or need?"
Unlike the Opinel blade lock, which can be used or not, the MAM "Press To Release" liner lock engages whenever the blade is opened.
 
afishhunter said:
I do have two non-locking models I carry every so often. A "large" sheepsfoot and a "medium" "clip point". (The "clip point" looks more like a spear point to my six (with bifocals) old eyes. What do y'all think?) Both are the same length closed; about 1/32 inch shy of 4 inches..
FWIW IMHO they cut and slice better than my Opinels.
View attachment 1991672
D dogstar They've never let me down.
I did have to add a little nonadhesive 'SWELL LOCK' to the pivot end tho. They keep the AC on here a bit more than necessary, in my humble opinion. All four of my friction folders needed the treatment. The blades were dropping half open or closed by gravity. ☹️ They all behave after applying the Swell Lock. 😁👍

If you want my opinion, it's: "Get the one(s) you like. They're great." 😇👍

I bought the nonlocking versions because (a) I never use the lock on my Opinel, and figured "Why get a feature I don't need or want?" and (b) "The liner lock version costs a couple bucks more. Why pay extra for a feature I don't want or need?"
Unlike the Opinel blade lock, which can be used or not, the MAM "Press To Release" liner lock engages whenever the blade is opened.
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What is this "Swell lock?" If the pivot is loose, you can peen the pin to tighten things up again.

I am considering the locking drop point and the 2-1/4" non-locking sheepsfoot :)
 
Another thing about the linerlock versions (all of which mine are) is that the linerlock tab WILL put pressure on the blade when closed.
Enough so that the blade will NEVER be centered in the blade well and will ALWAYS ride to one side of the blade well.
It isn't so much that the blade cuts into the handle when closing. Just that the blade will never be centered.
Never bothered me and only thought it worth a mention. And the tab will likely leave a line across the blade where it rubs when closing the blade.
Which didn't even show up in the picture I took. So, nothing that concerns me.

Like afishhunter afishhunter I never use the ring lock on my Opinels and one reason I'm considering trying the non-lock MAM version.
Even though there is absolutely nothing wrong with my locking MAMs. Guess it's a "just because" thing, partly because of the low price point to try.

Never heard of "Swell Lock" and didn't even know it was a thing but will certainly keep in mind. Thanks !!!

OH ... and what afishhunter said was a medium clip point, I thought they called a drop point.
Even so, it almost looks more like a modified leaf blade to me. Whatever they call it, I like it best.
I have one of their clip points and the blade rides too low in the handle, nail nick is much lower, can't as easily pinch as the drop point (in my previous picture)
... and the clip point just doesn't feel as "right" or natural in my hand as the drop point.
 
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I have a couple of MAMs - the little one here rides on my keychain every day. I am a big fan of this genre of knife, and would carry the larger MAMs more if my EDC wasn’t so jealous.

lJoMK4t.jpg


I do think Opinels are more robust, though, and I actually prefer the larger handle. I also lock my Opinel open from force of habit, and prefer the locking MAMs over the non-locking ones (even though one of my very favorite knives is a “2 nails” friction folder).

Edit:
I modified the blade on the little one.
 
dogstar said:
What is this "Swell lock?" If the pivot is loose, you can peen the pin to tighten things up again.

I am considering the locking drop point and the 2-1/4" non-locking sheepsfoot :)
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A wood swelling compound, usually used in furniture restoration for tennons that have dried out and shrunk over the decades or centuries.
One could peen the pin ... if you can also compress the "bolster" I suppose. However, I would be/am a bit hesitant to do that (plus I lack the proper tools and a suitable vise at this time), since the problem is caused by very low humidity. If/when I carry them in the "humid" Southern Idaho summer, they will swell a bit. If the bolster has been squeezed even tighter (it isn't lose) to make it possible to peen the pin to tighten it up, I'm afraid the handle may be damaged.
If I was a bit wealthier, the fix would be easy enough ... commission glennbad glennbad or another modder (who's books are not closed), to make new handles from stag or horn, or possibly Micarta or some other synthetic. 😁
Since I ain't, the Swell Lock makes them usable.
 
afishhunter said:
A wood swelling compound, usually used in furniture restoration for tennons that have dried out and shrunk over the decades or centuries.
One could peen the pin ... if you can also compress the "bolster" I suppose. However, I would be/am a bit hesitant to do that (plus I lack the proper tools and a suitable vise at this time), since the problem is caused by very low humidity. If/when I carry them in the "humid" Southern Idaho summer, they will swell a bit. If the bolster has been squeezed even tighter (it isn't lose) to make it possible to peen the pin to tighten it up, I'm afraid the handle may be damaged.
If I was a bit wealthier, the fix would be easy enough ... commission glennbad glennbad or another modder (who's books are not closed), to make new handles from stag or horn, or possibly Micarta or some other synthetic. 😁
Since I ain't, the Swell Lock makes them usable.
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I think if you found a way that works, stick with it :)

EDIT: squeezing the ends of the pivot pin with a C clamp did a great job of tightening things up. You will have to insert a piece of metal on the screw end of the C clamp to ensure contact with the pin. I expect you will get similar results with a pair of channel lock pliers.

The only specialized tool you might need to tighten pins is a ball peen hammer (or a rounded punch).
 
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Really like my locking spear point, the liner lock can be persnickety to release the blade, I really like how light it is and slices well. It has done the small cutting tasks I ask it to do.
 
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Well, it arrived! I am pleased with the construction and materials. It is not as flimsy or poorly finished as some reviewers would have you think. The edge was toothy, but a few minutes of sharpening got it to my satisfaction. I like how the friction increases as you open the blade, so it is easy to open and confidently squeezes at the end. Worries that the handle might be too small were unfounded; it is quite comfortable. I think I will carry this all the time for a week and use it exclusively, even in the kitchen. Then I'll report back.
 
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Nice one D dogstar !!! :)
I've wanted the friction version for some time now while owning three perfectly fine lockbacks.
This thread prompted me to go ahead and pull the trigger on a friction MAM and it just arrived today.
Unlike the linerlock version (pictured bottom), where the liner tab pushes the blade all the way to one side of the blade well
... this friction folder came with blade perfectly centered. Blade grinds are even and all I need to do is finish up the edge :)

ld90GET.jpg
 
B BrotherJim that's great! I noticed you got the Portuguese version, while I got an English one. For $10 you can't go wrong.

Update #1
I live in a humid place, so the first thing I did was rub some beeswax on the end grain of the handle at the pivot. After playing with it for a while, I noticed the action loosened up, and I was afraid my hand would get cut when reaching inside my pocket. I did some quick peening and also reminded myself to always carry with the tip away from my hand. After a few hours out for lunch and a hike, I came home and cut up an apple. So far I am really liking the knife, it weighs very little and melts away with my keys and Vic Classic.
 
D dogstar ... I may have had a similar and only slightly different experience. Mine, while action was quite acceptable, I chose to make a bit tighter.
There is or was no "gets tighter as it opens". The pull is the same throughout and just as secure either open or closed. Only a little tighter now :)
I also treated the handle as I do most all my knives, with a light coat of Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish ... although it didn't really need it.
 
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