Fletcher Knives Operator 575 In Use

[Mistwalker]

Back in June I talked to Dylan Fletcher of Fletcher knives. I wanted a knife for a particular project, and his Operator-575 looked perfect for it, but I wanted the same color scheme and tang extension as a smaller O-425 he had on the table there with him. So, once things settled down from Blade, he made it up and it arrived in the mail.




The specs are:

Overall Length:....................11 in / 28 cm
Blade Length:.......................5.75 in / 14.5 cm
Blade Thickness:..................0.187 in / 5mm
Blade Width:.........................1.5 in / 3.8 cm
Blade Steel:..........................O-1 Tool Steel
Handle Material...................Green Canvas Micarta / Toxic Green liners



I asked for this one without a sheath as I planned on using a multi-cam Spec Ops Combat Master Short for it, which it fits perfectly.










The knife has a perfect neutral balance.





As usual with Dylan, the fit and finish is phenomenal, and the ergonomics are sublime. It feels great in hand, whether forward or reverse, over-hand or under.














The knife came with a wicked sharp edge, so whittle feather sticks is no trouble at all.











My favorite place to get familiar with a new knife is in a kitchen, even if it is taken it out of it's comfort zone. I had planned on cooking a lamb roast in the crock pot, but electrical issues killed my crock pot so I went to plan B. I decided to slice the roast into steaks, and broil it, and serve that with some fired once-green tomato, and some grilled squash. I almost waited too long to cook the tomato, and it was getting a bit soft, but the scary sharp edge sliced right through it just fine. One of the reasons I tend to like clip points is the fine poit I can do more detailed work with, in this case as a boning knife.















Steaks sliced, on to the vegetables


















Everything ready to go now.








And then dinner is served. As it turns out, the Fletcher Pro-65, that I keep in my camera case, also makes a handy little steak knife





I haven't really had a chance to beat on it a whole lot, that will have to wait till I get an area in the woods cleared out for the new fire pit. But the handle offers a nice secure purchase, even in a rearward grip, and the blade bites deep, so small saplings for making a shelter will be no problem.










In the past I have just picked up something from Dylan's table at the blade show, this is the first time I have decided to be a pain and order something he didn't have. But in my defense that is all Dylan's fault for showing me a color scheme I fell in love with, but that he only had available on a smaller knife than I needed. But ordering only made a difference in the time frame. It certainly made no difference in the quality of workmanship. The grinds are just as sweet as usual, the balance is as excellent as ever, and the ergonomics are as sublime as I have come to expect from Dylan. All in all, I am extremely pleased with the purchase. I look forward to cooler days when I don't mind building a fire, and get to spend some time wailing on it

.

 

[LostViking]

Excellent shots of, and early thoughts on, what appears to be a very versatile tool. Nothing wrong with that Leg O'Lamb either.

Kind of a pickup truck of a knife.

Can't wait until mine finds it's way north from Georgia to the Canadian Border.

 

[jacksterp]

Mist - there is something about that knife that really appeals to me - I just can't put my finger on it.

Thanks for all the detailed pics and descriptions.

 

[Mistwalker]

Excellent shots of, and early thoughts on, what appears to be a very versatile tool. Nothing wrong with that Leg O'Lamb either.

Kind of a pickup truck of a knife.

Can't wait until mine finds it's way north from Georgia to the Canadian Border.

Thanks man. Yeah I'm not ready to do the over all review of it yet, just wanted to post some in-use pics for a couple of guys that asked me to. Hmmm, maybe it is at that. I have always preferred pick up trucks to cars or vans, I can do more with them. That's sort of how I see this clip point design of Dylan's. I like how the clip neither slants steeply downward, nor is it an up-swept trailing point. Thus I get a fairly fine point for the detailed work, but one that still has strength and is durable. It's small enough to not be a burden on the belt, but big enough to work with. The mass and weight distribution lets it chop well for a knife with less than a six inch blade. Combined with Dylan"s usual excellent ergonomics it is comfortable to use for extended periods of time, so it is just a great all-around-er, which is where I like my knives to be.

Mist - there is something about that knife that really appeals to me - I just can't put my finger on it.

Thanks for all the detailed pics and descriptions.

It really appeals to me too lol, for several reasons. Cool, glad you enjoyed them.

 

[Hawkeye5]

That knife looks like a real user .Great pictures and you are making me hungry .
Thanks Mist.

 

[Mistwalker]

That knife looks like a real user .Great pictures and you are making me hungry .
Thanks Mist.

Thanks Hawkeye. As far as I know, Dylan doesn't make any non user knives, at least I have used every one I've gotten from him so far quite extensively.

 

[plue]

Great looking knife, looks like a real comfy user! What'd you coat those tomatoes with, they looks really tasty?

 

[Mistwalker]

Yep, very comfy! Just corn meal that time...I forgot to add the flower and then just went with it lol