Fit and Finish on a Southard

La_Maleta_Azul

La_Maleta_Azul

Joined
Jul 14, 2012
Messages
655
I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the southard's F&F, but I want to get a grasp for how good it really is. What knife would you southard owners say it is closest to in terms of tolerances and F&F? A sebenza? An SnG? Or something lower end ?
 
It's closest in finish to the other knives that Spyderco has coming out of the same plant. Have you handled a Sage, Air, Bradley folder, BushcraftUK, Szabo, etc.
 
Hey Maleta, I've seen you around the forums and on the exchange. From that interaction I think grasp what kind of knives that you are into...

Get the Southard right now. Done.
 
Well accordingto 9/10 threads on the knives from the Taichung factory, the finish is far and above better received than the knives from Golden. Browse around and read some of the threads on the knives you are interested in. The are at least 100 threads on the Southard and the Gayle Bradley folder alone. The other 1/10 are people that have no idea what's what, but feel compelled to complain and criticize things they know nothing about much less hands on experience with. ;)
http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/list.php?origin=Taiwan
 
FCM415 said:
Hey Maleta, I've seen you around the forums and on the exchange. From that interaction I think grasp what kind of knives that you are into...

Get the Southard right now. Done.
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Haha... Already done - I just traded a PM2 for one earlier today. It seems like everybody and their uncle has one, and it has been calling to me for months. I'm psyched to finally check one out.
 
You WILL like the Southard, fit 'n finish and design. I love the way it perches on my finger perfectly balanced at the lock cutout - too cool (note to self to photograph).
 
The one thing that I think the Southard has over any other Taiwan Spyderco is the pivot. Because of the bearings, it has no blade play whatsoever no matter how tight the pivot screws are. That also makes it one of the smoothest knives I have ever had. There is of course an extreme to this and centering is dependent on the tightness, but it pretty much is always blade play free, rock solid. All of my bronze and teflon washer knives have a sweet spot where the blade is centered, side to side play is gone or nearly gone, and it is still able to be flicked open. The consistency also seems to be above other Spyderco knives. They all seem to be identically perfect from guy's experiences. I would love to know if Spyderco had Taiwan step up the (well down I suppose) the tolerances on the Southard. I would not be surprised if they did. The Southard also has a bit more refinement and finishing details than most Spyderco's. It has extensive chamfering, that is flawless. I don't own a Sebenza, but I have heard a few Sebenza owners admit to it being as good as their Sebenza, and not seen any vehemently deny that so take that with a grain of salt.
 
Well, since it was put out there, no, the Southard isn't up to Sebenza/Umnumzaan levels (IMHO). That said, it is better than any other production knife I've ever put thru the paces.
 
Officer's Match said:
Well, since it was put out there, no, the Southard isn't up to Sebenza/Umnumzaan levels (IMHO). That said, it is better than any other production knife I've ever put thru the paces.
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Can you explain the type of differences you noticed? I'm not being rude I just have never handled a Sebenza and am wondering what type of F&F differences you are seeing. The Southard and the GB to me seem near perfect. Thanks
 
As I have stated before, I've held over ten Southards now and they are all exactly the same. They all lock up the same around 40%, all were rock solid... non had issues, very consistent. That's fit and finish.

I own a small Starbenza, and a large micarta. Both are perfect from what I can see, and comparing my Southard to them, I do not see the Southard to be any lesser. I do not know about .0000000001 (exaggeration) tolerances or what have you... CRK is known for that, but as far as I can see both my CRK's and Southard impressively well built knives.

Take my statement for what it is, but I think the Southard stands up to the quality and consistency with midtechs that I've owned.
 
JDavis also said that he had looked at several Southards and they were all exactly the same. The consistency is amazing.
 
I wouldn't quite say the Southard flipper is at par with the Sebenza... but i wouldn't say too far it's far from it either. When the Southard blade is closed, you can try to move it from side to side between the scales and it just wont! Hit the flipper and the detent holds it just enough that once it's been overcome...Thwaaak! Once open, no side to side movement. Usually most production blades that open easily have a little side to side play...that's just the trade off for an easy opening blade.

It's quite possibly the best $250 production blade out there IMHO. It's not just the f&f but the ergos and the blade thickness make it feel super sturdy & you get a high end blade steel. Absolutely one of my favorites to EDC, fits nicely into the rotation with any of my 3.5" mid techs.
 
dcmartin said:
I wouldn't quite say the Southard flipper is at par with the Sebenza... but i wouldn't say too far it's far from it either. When the Southard blade is closed, you can try to move it from side to side between the scales and it just wont! Hit the flipper and the detent holds it just enough that once it's been overcome...Thwaaak! Once open, no side to side movement. Usually most production blades that open easily have a little side to side play...that's just the trade off for an easy opening blade.

It's quite possibly the best $250 production blade out there IMHO. It's not just the f&f but the ergos and the blade thickness make it feel super sturdy & you get a high end blade steel. Absolutely one of my favorites to EDC, fits nicely into the rotation with any of my 3.5" mid techs.
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Both Southards I've owned moved side to side when closed, minimal but definitely noticeable. When open, no blade play at all of course, very solid.
F&F is good, but not as good as some people make it out to be.
Here are some noticed issues:
1. Milling can be seen in the thumb cut out.
2. Milling can be seen in the titanium liner sides.
3. Finishing inside is good but not great. Could have seriously used chamfering.
4. Better fitting of the lanyard tube.
5. Fit on the knife is very good but not great, yes it's tight but it isn't because tolerances are tight, it's due to the pressure in the lockbar holding the knife in place not tolerances.
6. Fitting of the pivot is poor imho, plenty of play of the two I owned. Made playing with the pivot to center the blade a bit toy like.
7. Pocket clip is sharp and will poke through denim jeans.
If you take a Southard, properly disassemble and reassembly or tighten or loosen the pivot it properly you can affect the blade play, and centering easily enough.

Take a Sebenza. Disassemble, and reassemble properly. You will end up 100% in the same place you had it. Same friction, same centering, same lock up.
That is real tight fit. Plus the finishing is well done. Not the best finishing, but darn good.

Anyways let's not get hyped up into buying a product, take a look at it for what it's worth.

Imho the Southard @$260 is too pricey for me. But at after market prices, think it's a solid value buy that will be hard to beat.
 
Got mine for $223 directly from a dealer and not the secondary market. Some people have different opinions which is all good with me, but it's the best value in my collection the way I see it. I'm getting a knife designed by Brad Southard which mirrors his custom flippers. I can be labeled as someone hyping the knife up, but I like it that much. What am I supposed do, say bad things about it? There are enough of those guys out there moaning about where it's made and other more trivial things, I'll keep my comments positive but I can try... Ok, the clip can be improved and I can do without the lanyard tube (Looks better without, I took it off).
 
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