Everyone's latest acquisitions!

Picked this up at work yesterday, My first Viper. Man the back spring on this thing is something else! The stop and half stop are very crisp.
58993585_4986190558692367358_n-vi.jpg
 
DocJekl said:
I agree with sixplymaple sixplymaple that Herman is smoother and more refined in a way, and Poland >> Russia. But fully dressed up, the Herman is also the big standout among them; not that a dressed up Shiro is bad or anything, but they're almost impossible to get top of the line ones without going through a lottery just to win a chance to buy one. I did enter the Lottery for a could of dressed up Shirogorov at 1/2 the price of a Herman custom, and didn't win, and made the choice to go for the next Herman that popped up.

But I bought a mildly dressed up Micro Sting to try Herman out first, before buying a full size Herman; and I liked it enough to go all out on my first and only custom. I'm really partial to the larger Dragonfly model, but I needed something slightly smaller like the Sting if I ever want to carry it in a front pocket. My Micro Sting is a little on the smaller side (like a mini Griptilian), and the blade feels a little thin and light for heavier work, unlike a similarly sized Benchmade Mini Griptilian. Micro Sting is not meant for hard work, unlike the Benchmade. But despite the Micro's smaller and thinner 2.8" blade it flicks out nicely.

The Sting with around a 3.3" long and thicker blade would be a better EDC than the Micro Sting, as are my pair of Shirogorov NeOn NL with similar sized blades (3.375" I think). My NeOn NL were about $200-$250 cheaper than a Herman, and do feel more heavy duty than my Micro Sting - but while the blade of the NeOn NL is similar in length to the Herman, the Sting overall feels a bit bigger than the NeOn NL. I think a regular Sting could be sufficient for heavier work, although it would probably feel weird to be using it as an electricians or carpenters knife, etc.

It's still too soon to really answer the question adequately, as I only received my Herman yesterday, and it's not a plain jane EDC. I honestly could not say for sure whether I'd rather have my Shirogorov R1P or a plain jane Herman Sting, which go for around the same price. I do like the full-size Sting more than the NeOn NL, but maybe the NeOn NL more than the Micro Sting for EDC. Without having felt what the normal "not-fancy" full-sized M398 or Elmax Herman blade is like, in heft and thickness and profile, it might be the Herman over Shiro R1P, depending on how substantial and user friendly the Herman M398 or Elmax blades might be.

Note - availability of a plain jane Herman is better too, although the main Shiro dealer online always seems to have some Quantum Ursus in stock plus the occasional Neon NL, just not a lot of larger F3 or F95 etc very often, etc.

Shipping for the Herman took only a few days via DHL, with signature required. I ordered on Friday May 12th, shipped on May 15th, paid $215 in duties and taxes to DHL on the 17th, and while it had been scheduled for a Friday May 19th delivery it came a day early on the 18th!
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your opinions, I really like the look of the Dragonfly, I guess I would be comparing that against an F3NS or maybe a Quantum. I do like the more plain versions, and I wouldnt want M398 or anything crazy like that either…
I’m VERY surprised to hear they are smoother than a Shiro 😯
Thing is I could sell a few less expensive knives, but that’s something I’d have to think on for a while…
I also didn’t know the Herman’s were more available (and cheaper), I’ll have to look into them 👍
 
jfk1110 said:
Italian's are making some sweet blades!!!!! You want to try a tough back spring check out the LionSteel gitano!!

Thread 'lionSTEEL Gitano GT01 UL' https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/lionsteel-gitano-gt01-ul.1739245/
Click to expand...
Yes they are! I've had a few Lionsteel Blades over the years and have never been disappointed, Had I not had to fund a poor marriage partnership and divorce and custody battle I would still have some of if not all of them.

I know what jfk1110 is talking about in post #11 of that thread, I'm almost certain this one will bite me at some point, but it does inspire confidence in it not closing. And I love the lines.

I suppose the "no locking blades" and "two-hand-opening" requirements in some European countries have inspired further development in stiff backsprings in that part of the world.
 
ktataragasi said:
And? How is it?
Click to expand...
It’s a nice little knife. I was surprised how light it is. Also how well it opens. it actually flips like it an auto. Would be a great shorts knife. it’s not for me but it’s a nice knife. Ill offer it to my daughter and if she passes ( she never passes) Ill toss it on th exchange to let someone else give it a go.

All in all I get the buzz. Nice small knife, Im just a CRK guy.
 
A few from the last couple of months, going into the year I thought I was only going to buy the Winkler Blue Ridge Hunter which I ordered last Oct and was expecting a 5 month wait and here we are. I did sell a few Fixed Blades and Folders that I wasn't carrying. The Benchmade wasn't on my radar, saw it on the AAFES website on sale for a price I couldn't say no to, ordered an Armatus sheath for it. Really like the Waypoint and Atom, had a LUDT in the past and sold it but missed it love the blade on the LUDT, like the last one it is bloody sharp out the box.

07Svs9h.jpg



Last but not least picked up this little dude who we named Scout in April and he just turned 13 weeks old.

NtW8fo3.jpg
 
turns out I actually like this little thing! It feels like a toy compared to the ZAANs, Inkosi and XM-18s I’ve been carrying for several years.
It so very light and sleek. Fires like an auto. Just doesn’t feel…I don’t know, durable?
I sure wouldn’t take it to work but I may very well keep it for a around the house / out and about in shorts running errands and such…
View attachment 2194749View attachment 2194750
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top