Experience using a Yuna??? - And Hello!

Gunsnknives

Gunsnknives

Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
647
Good morning all,

This is my first post, so please excuse any ignorances I may have about what may or may not have already been posted.

I have always loved knives but have recently been re-acquainted with them. I carried a BM Crawford design for many years as and EDC but if finally gave out on me and I started looking into the knife world. I was amazed by what was out there since I got my last knife!

I purchased a BM 581 and BM 890 to replace my Crawford and I might now have a knife addiction. I love those AO, but want to go with something both durable and usable. I have pre-ordered one of the last ZT 0551 from Knifeworks...looks exciting.

Anyway, back to Yuna. If I look at Strider SMFs and other hard use knives, I start approaching custom knife costs...so why not get a more unique knife?

Does anyone have actual use experience with Yuna knives? They looks super sexy, use an interesting laminated ZDP 189 blade...but how is the knife in actual use? Does it fit the hand well? Is it well balanced? Is the steel tempered optimally (i.e. does it chip easily or is it too soft)?

My other consideration may be Andrew Demko - but it's all in procrastination phase till I can figure out some finances.

Thanks guys..you all really help my understand knives better. Especially Ankerson's blade testing...thanks!
 
I'm very interested in this thread because I was looking at a Yuna Hard 2 type S, I don't know if I have the patience for the custom game though. :(
 
Depends what you want out of the knife. If you're looking for a folding prybar that you can shove through a computer monitor, look no further than the Strider SMF. But if you want a cutting tool with emphasis on cutting, Yuna knives do the job better.

I haven't done anything as harsh as Ankerson's rope cutting, but I didn't find any chips muscling my mini hard 2 through cardboard.

I'm eyeing Demko's work as well, but he mentioned having a full backlog for the rest of the year. Not sure how Yuna's availability is.

Kind of interested in getting a Hard 1 Type S myself;). Not too sheeple friendly though:rolleyes:.
 
Gunsnknives said:
Good morning all,

This is my first post, so please excuse any ignorances I may have about what may or may not have already been posted.

I have always loved knives but have recently been re-acquainted with them. I carried a BM Crawford design for many years as and EDC but if finally gave out on me and I started looking into the knife world. I was amazed by what was out there since I got my last knife!

I purchased a BM 581 and BM 890 to replace my Crawford and I might now have a knife addiction. I love those AO, but want to go with something both durable and usable. I have pre-ordered one of the last ZT 0551 from Knifeworks...looks exciting.

Anyway, back to Yuna. If I look at Strider SMFs and other hard use knives, I start approaching custom knife costs...so why not get a more unique knife?

Does anyone have actual use experience with Yuna knives? They looks super sexy, use an interesting laminated ZDP 189 blade...but how is the knife in actual use? Does it fit the hand well? Is it well balanced? Is the steel tempered optimally (i.e. does it chip easily or is it too soft)?

My other consideration may be Andrew Demko - but it's all in procrastination phase till I can figure out some finances.

Thanks guys..you all really help my understand knives better. Especially Ankerson's blade testing...thanks!
Click to expand...

Yuna is my best working knife from 2008 - over 3 years now. Because is cost so much I force him to worlk hard to pay back and so far see no any problem with it at all. Excellent ergo, solid powerful blade, exceptional edge holding and toughness.

Here some pics:

Yuna-Hard-II-003.jpg


Yuna-Hard-II-004.jpg


and vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I599z1X357U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGFWaDrC-hI

For some reason here there is a push to represent this steel as brittle and hard to sharpen - for over 3 years of hard use like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0PHxVP6WSo

And not recorded on video drywall, aluminum net, wood, cardboard, paper, leather, manila rope - all possible practical use, I can say that this talks are not true at all.

This is my best working knife and I have quite a it of them.

Only problems:
1. I switch plastic washers to bronze one - it really made difference.
2. Yun is hard to deal with. I was very excited to have another knife from him but after few years of "dealing" finally turns my money after Sniper Blade Works and very happy with LPC which I got in about a month after first call.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Nice pics and review Nozh2002. I happy to see that you use your custom knife and I appreciate your feedback, pics and videos. I also appreciate pointing out the issues you have had.

Bump to see if anyone else has used their Yuna, their experience with Yuna or experience with Demko in general.
 
I've heard that Andrew Demko is not taking new knife orders as he is pretty much slammed for the next year or so.
 
3rd day of using my Yuna Mini Hard 2. The edge feels like it might have small "bumps" along it, not sure if it's micro-chipping or just the chromium carbides(which are pretty big). Though it still push cuts paper if a little roughly. Seems like it's pretty simple to maintain with a bare leather strop.
 
Noctis3880 said:
3rd day of using my Yuna Mini Hard 2. The edge feels like it might have small "bumps" along it, not sure if it's micro-chipping or just the chromium carbides(which are pretty big). Though it still push cuts paper if a little roughly. Seems like it's pretty simple to maintain with a bare leather strop.
Click to expand...

Worse to memorize...
 
I haven't really used my Mini Hard-1 S Type that much, but my regular Mini Hard-1 gets carried and used quite often. I haven't had any issues with chipping. Infact, I haven't had any issues with the blade at all. Every so often I need to tighten the pivot and every so often I lap the blade over a couple of loaded strops. The ergos are fantastic on both of mine and the handles meld right to your palm. The action is smooth on both, but I really wouldn't call them flippers when compared to some of my other flippers. I find that the can be used pretty hard without issue. The only problem I've run into so far is that my clip snagged on a couch as I was walking by and the clip snapped off. I wrote an email to Yun about the problem and he asked me to take a couple picture of the clip. Within a few weeks I had a brand new clip for my Mini Hard-1 at no cost. I recommend Yun's knives highly and I am looking forward to purchasing another.
 
Last edited:
nozh2002 said:
Did you switch washers? I did that and also use blue LockTight and do not need to tighten pivot.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

I haven't switched the plastic washers over to PB washers yet, even though I keep saying I'm going to do it. I don't know why I haven't added some blue Loctite to the threads yet. Just lazy I guess. Every couple of weeks I'll notice the slightest bit of side to side play so I just tighten it up real quick and I'm good to go. No big deal. I probably should just swap the washers and add the blue Loctite though.
 
I bought a Yuna Hard 1 fighter blade folder a couple of years back. Yun was a pleasure to deal with. The knife was excellent in terms of quality, but the ergos weren't for me. However, I plan on buying either a Mini Hard folder with a small choil or a Mini Zen at some point in the future. Now that I know what the large folders feel like, I'm pretty sure I know the other two will be great for my preferences.
 
you cant go wrong with yuna or demko(i love my mini zombie slayer and AD10)but while yuna is possible to pick up on the secondary market, i havent yet heard of anyone parting with their demko.

but their are many custom makers who put out very tough, great EDC folders. however its opening a very expensive door..
 
jakeyjake4528 said:
you cant go wrong with yuna or demko(i love my mini zombie slayer and AD10)but while yuna is possible to pick up on the secondary market, i havent yet heard of anyone parting with their demko.

but their are many custom makers who put out very tough, great EDC folders. however its opening a very expensive door..
Click to expand...
Oh I've heard of it, they just mark up the price to about $800.

And another update on my Yuna(with pictures):

P1010483.jpg

P1010484.jpg

P1010485.jpg


After 5 days of use, the edge can still roughly push cut paper, though I think I've rolled the edge slightly. I thought it was a chip at first, but I felt the rolled edge on the right side of the blade. I think it was that piece of cardboard I cut on the first day. I'm pretty sure the composition is a bit different from other cardboard, because it felt like I was trying to cut a log in half, and even gives my Para2 in S90V some trouble.

P1010487.jpg

Not sure if you can see that glint off the edge that would indicate a rolled edge.

Given that the blade has a hollow grind, the result is only a little surprising. At Rc 65+, I would never expect ZDP to roll, though a rolled edge is always preferred to a chipped one:thumbup:.

Still, I suspect if use is kept to nothing harsher than your standard variety postal office cardboard boxes, the edge will easily last a couple of months without sharpening. Ergonomics is just great. I'm pretty sure this feels even better than my XM-18 in my hand. Had a sticky lock at first, but it's loosened up quite a bit now.
 
Just saw this recently-bumped thread, and I have to say it made me even more excited for my Yuna, which should be ready any day now. I especially like Noctis's pics -- awesome stuff!

I'll definitely post a thread once Yun finishes my knife and sends me pics of it. :D
 
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