FINALLY GOT A SIFU!

[Gene]

It's about time but I finally aquired a Sifu. I have the BF red G2 version. What a great folder. I, like Jim March, have always loved "mega folders" having carried Spyderco Militarys for years. I have also carried a Cold Steel VG and an Al Mar Jumbo Quicksilver, (which I really like and have two). Though not, (IMHO), as easy to carry as my Militarys or Jumbo Quicksilvers, it is still fairly comfortable and much easier than the VG. It is built like a tank and the quality far exceeds the VG, (of course), and the Quicksilver. I do not like swedged blades but for defensive purposes as this thing is intended, it is fine. The balance of the thing is great for such a large fairly heavy folder. The new style Rolling Lock, (I have one of the old style Pioneers of which this is a great improvement), is wonderful. I LOVE the finger grooves and cannot understand why someone would want one without them but to each his own. Yeah, glad I finally got one!
A SUGGESTION! I would really like to see REKAT come out with a THICK spined FLAT GROUND, (my favorite blade type of all), version that would taper to a razor sharp edge and a fairly sharp point, (not "needle" but "piercing" sharp). Kind of like the Military but a beefier spine. THAT would be a great utility/defense combo and I'd buy one in a minute. This thing will do for now though!

Hey Jim, Bob or others; "Is this "Rolling Lock" up to repeated "snap" openings? This thing opens in a heartbeat! It's addictive as hell! Are these snap openings going to be detrimental to the lock mechanism? Also, (to me), the thumb stud is too small. Any way to swap the stocker for something larger? A job well done Bob and REKAT. You are to be congratulated! And an Honorable Mention to you Jim for getting the idea started.

 

[Jim March]

Mine sure as hell survived a LOT of snapopens

. That said, there's an opening technique you should learn whereby you hold the lock release back, and whip the blade out with a "large exaggerated arm motion" that ends with the blade barely "tick"ing against the stop pin with but the gentlest of touches. Done right, it's an impressive open yet puts absolutely no stress whatsoever on the lock. Great fun.

Now, if you want a bigger thumbstud, there's a couple of options. It unscrews easily; one is a "screw" and the other is a "bolt", the blade itself is unthreaded. You could then have a custom button done on one side and drilled/tapped as the "bolt" to match the other side's "screw" (which would be harder to create).

Another, simpler option is to get some good high-tech "putty epoxy" and mold a larger, sculpted stud over the top of the existing button, and anchored primarily to it versus the blade metal. You could then paint it black or red or whatever and it would look pretty good.

Personally, I think you should work with it a bit, see if you don't adapt easily enough. I hardly ever touch the dang thing, the only reason I haven't yanked it is legal reasons. I don't think there's any legal problems with customizing the stud though, especially if you make it bigger versus smaller.

I agree completely on a flat-grind, thicker-spine variant, possibly with a thicker stock. However, if D2-M turns out to be significantly stronger than ATS34, it may be possible to use the existing base thickness on a flat-grind.

Jim

 

[Gene]

Thanks for the ideas Jim. I'll try the exsisting stud for awhile. To tell you the truth though, like you, I hardly ever use it.

Glad you liked the idea of a thick-spined flat ground Sifu. I agree to make it with slightly thicker stock unless the D2-M, like you say, turns out to be as strong as advertised. Are you listening Bob? Just an idea for down the road and mark me down for one for sure!