Just got my Dominator.
NB: I had Darrel install bronze washers and a deep-concealment fold-over clip on it -- I just happen to prefer those over the stock parts.
It totally rocks.
I'd say this is a good competitor to the Sebenza, in functionality, action smoothness, blade profile and sharpness.
It is only very slightly less "finished" than the Seb -- the finish is rougher on the handles, but they seem to show less wear and provide better grip. The stonewashed blade is beautiful. I LOVE stonewashed blades. They don't show wear, scratches, and fingerprints like a satin finish, nor do they scuff as easily as a bead blast. The perfect blade finish.
However, the Dom more than outweighs the Seb in functionality. The flipper, the traction grooves, the ergonomics all trump the Sebenza in my opinion.
And at 1/2 the cost, even more impressive.
I think of this knife as a hybrid of the Ralph/Wilson Combat Elite, a Sebenza, and Darrel's own special tactical sauce. It has personality, ergonomics, and performance in droves.
The handle is extremely comfortable in hand (although I have small-to-medium hands), and the low-resolution traction grooves work well.
The blade profile is stabby the way I like it, with a nice high grind and a VERY sharp edge. Impressive, from the factory. The only other blade I've had from the factory this sharp was a 806D2.
The lock is extremely stable, and no blade play can be observed with either the lock engaged or disengaged (thumbed open). The deep-concealment clip (and it seems, the regular circular clip) both act as a lock-stop to prevent lock overtravel if unlocked under stress.
The edge chamfers are generous and comfortable. The design is very stiff; no warping or bending is felt or visible with white-knuckling.
In fact, I find the flipper opening to be MUCH easier on my fingers than the Sebenza's thumb lugs, which gave me blisters with their "grippy" sharp ridges. In addition, the retaining power of the detent ball is comforting.
There seem to be three stop pins -- two that appear to be thumb studs, and one that hides in the "horn" of the blade. Comfortingly, the two lateral stop pins ("thumb studs") both engage the Ti slabs completely and thoroughly, an oversight I have seen in many other similarly constructed framelocks.
Strangely, there seem to be two detent balls, and additional "detent" stops along the way, which I do not know the function of.
The only things I might consider addressing:
- Synthetic inlays (personal pet peeve -- I don't like the feel of steel in-hand)
- Longer/taller thumb ramp
- Longer/deeper flipper for more substantial front guard
- Tip-up mounting so the clip doesn't interfere in kitchen-knife grip (but with the Robo, not likely)
- Tip-up mounting so the grip can assist with keeping the framelock engaged (right now, a tight grip just bears down on the clip, rather than the lockbar.)
- Unassisted, manual version!!
Minor gripes -- this baby is going directly into EDC service!
Thanks, Will, Darrell, and all the folks at Camillus.
-Jon
NB: I had Darrel install bronze washers and a deep-concealment fold-over clip on it -- I just happen to prefer those over the stock parts.
It totally rocks.
I'd say this is a good competitor to the Sebenza, in functionality, action smoothness, blade profile and sharpness.
It is only very slightly less "finished" than the Seb -- the finish is rougher on the handles, but they seem to show less wear and provide better grip. The stonewashed blade is beautiful. I LOVE stonewashed blades. They don't show wear, scratches, and fingerprints like a satin finish, nor do they scuff as easily as a bead blast. The perfect blade finish.
However, the Dom more than outweighs the Seb in functionality. The flipper, the traction grooves, the ergonomics all trump the Sebenza in my opinion.
And at 1/2 the cost, even more impressive.
I think of this knife as a hybrid of the Ralph/Wilson Combat Elite, a Sebenza, and Darrel's own special tactical sauce. It has personality, ergonomics, and performance in droves.
The handle is extremely comfortable in hand (although I have small-to-medium hands), and the low-resolution traction grooves work well.
The blade profile is stabby the way I like it, with a nice high grind and a VERY sharp edge. Impressive, from the factory. The only other blade I've had from the factory this sharp was a 806D2.
The lock is extremely stable, and no blade play can be observed with either the lock engaged or disengaged (thumbed open). The deep-concealment clip (and it seems, the regular circular clip) both act as a lock-stop to prevent lock overtravel if unlocked under stress.
The edge chamfers are generous and comfortable. The design is very stiff; no warping or bending is felt or visible with white-knuckling.
In fact, I find the flipper opening to be MUCH easier on my fingers than the Sebenza's thumb lugs, which gave me blisters with their "grippy" sharp ridges. In addition, the retaining power of the detent ball is comforting.
There seem to be three stop pins -- two that appear to be thumb studs, and one that hides in the "horn" of the blade. Comfortingly, the two lateral stop pins ("thumb studs") both engage the Ti slabs completely and thoroughly, an oversight I have seen in many other similarly constructed framelocks.
Strangely, there seem to be two detent balls, and additional "detent" stops along the way, which I do not know the function of.
The only things I might consider addressing:
- Synthetic inlays (personal pet peeve -- I don't like the feel of steel in-hand)
- Longer/taller thumb ramp
- Longer/deeper flipper for more substantial front guard
- Tip-up mounting so the clip doesn't interfere in kitchen-knife grip (but with the Robo, not likely)
- Tip-up mounting so the grip can assist with keeping the framelock engaged (right now, a tight grip just bears down on the clip, rather than the lockbar.)
- Unassisted, manual version!!
Minor gripes -- this baby is going directly into EDC service!
Thanks, Will, Darrell, and all the folks at Camillus.
-Jon
