- Joined
- Mar 10, 2011
- Messages
- 936
So I saw these announced by GPKnives the other day and decided to nab one. I'm a fan of Les George's designs, and this knife is designed like a production version of a VECP. The price was decent for the specs (Under $200, S30V blade, Titanium framelock, USA Made), but there's virtually no information about the knife or the company out there.
Florian Knives is actually Florian Tools, a family owned company that primarily makes gardening tools based in Southington, CT. They have been in business making gardening tools since 1937. Knives are a new thing for them. They have a few different designs on their website (A Mike Draper design and a Russ Kommer design), but the only thing available on GPKnives is the Kona and the Les George designed Vorax fixed blade. I have no reason to believe these knives aren't made in the USA, their listed address points to an actual factory for one thing
.
As for the knife itself, the design is pretty good. The handles are nicely chamfered and finished in a nice heavy stonewash. The blade has Les' trademark drop point with raised thumb ridge. It is a very slight hollow ground primary. The jimping is nice and chunky without being sharp or not grippy enough. The thumb studs are removable and to my taste are a little on the small side, but they are clear of the handles both in depth (they are slightly wider than the frame) and clearance that reaching and using them is not an issue. The presentation side has a nice clean look with a custom pivot. The clip is a standard three hole (Benchmade clips DO fit!) and is reversible for tip up or tip down. Packaging is staid, just a plain cardboard box with a barcode sticker and foam, and the knife came in a bubble pouch - This isn't an Anthony Marfione product for sure. The size is great and the ergonomics are surprisingly good.
Dimensions:
Blade length, tip to pivot: 4"
Blade length, useable edge: 3 3/8"
Overall length: 8 3/8"
Handle length: 5"
Blade depth: 1 1/4"
Handle depth at widest point: 1 3/8"
Blade thickness: 1/8"
Handle thickness (not including clip): 7/16"
Handle thickness (including clip): 10/16"
Weight: To be determined.
The Good:
The knife is decently made and a good, clearly Les George, design. Materials are good as to be expected at the price point. The action is smooth - even before I cleaned it - and after cleaning it's smooth as glass and breaking in nicely. Lockup is solid, a little early, but there is no blade play or lock rock when opened. The end of the lock bar is carbidized. Knife wasn't centered when I received it, but it was easy to adjust out (all I had to do was loosen the frame screws) and there is zero blade play when closed. Flicks open nicely or opens smoothly with the thumb. Clip has good retention without being difficult to put in the pocket or remove. The detent is the perfect tension and has a nice "snick" when it closes. As mentioned, ergonomics are great for my large hands. Really, the most surprising thing is how thin and light the whole package is. I have to get a weight measurement, but it's surprisingly light despite how solid it feels. The construction and general feel remind me a lot of Grayman Knives and Three Sisters Forge, it has a very similar "Tool knife" feel.
Construction is very simple, PB washers, standard torx screw sizes (T10 for the pivot on the lock side, T9 for the frame screws and T8 for the clip and thumb studs). The screws are non-magnetic but are probably stainless. The standoffs are simple tube affairs and seem to be titanium. The blade stop is a nice hefty steel pin. All the edges have been chamfered or broken so that it's very smooth with no sharp edges - I have more expensive knives that will cut you on the exposed parts of the lock bar area. Some of these details I have to say I do like, like the one sided frame screws. Makes for an easy take down for cleaning or adjustments.
Once again, Benchmade three-hole clips (and deep carry two hole clips) fit perfectly!
The Bad:
Well, the bad isn't that bad. The general fit and finish is decent but could be better. There were spots that were crusted in what looked like machining fluid of some sort and there was cornmeal jammed in the lock bar (cornmeal is a common tumbling medium to give a little polish). One of the standoffs has some machining imperfections on the inside. The blade wasn't centered when I got it (though as noted earlier, it was easy to fix) and the grind is a little wonky and the tip is rounded. It's all easy stuff to fix, but I shouldn't have to fix it on a brand new knife. The blade is sharp but the edge is more of a utility edge, similar to how Grayman used to sharpen their knives. It cuts well, it's just not pretty. Not surprising given the background of the company. The lock is a little early for my taste and I might ultimately send it off to a pimper to gain about 5%, or I might just try to break it in. The most glaring issue is the doubled up steel callout by the thumb stud, which doesn't really bother me. Honestly, the knife has too many and too large of markings, but that's personal taste.
Overall:
Assuming you know what you are getting in to (a well made knife that could use a few tweaks), I think that it's a decent value for a Les George design. If you like the design and want a knife that seems like it will be a good user, then jump on it. The price isn't out of line, it's maybe a little high, but I'm not exactly sure how many they are making and it is a small operation. A Grayman Satu or a TSF Gorgon are going to be similar in scope though a little larger and nicer overall but will run you $200-300 more. A Grayman Dua or TSF Beast are going to be a little smaller, nicer overall and will still run you $100-200 more. For a unique, USA made knife, I think it's a decent value.
Florian Knives is actually Florian Tools, a family owned company that primarily makes gardening tools based in Southington, CT. They have been in business making gardening tools since 1937. Knives are a new thing for them. They have a few different designs on their website (A Mike Draper design and a Russ Kommer design), but the only thing available on GPKnives is the Kona and the Les George designed Vorax fixed blade. I have no reason to believe these knives aren't made in the USA, their listed address points to an actual factory for one thing
.As for the knife itself, the design is pretty good. The handles are nicely chamfered and finished in a nice heavy stonewash. The blade has Les' trademark drop point with raised thumb ridge. It is a very slight hollow ground primary. The jimping is nice and chunky without being sharp or not grippy enough. The thumb studs are removable and to my taste are a little on the small side, but they are clear of the handles both in depth (they are slightly wider than the frame) and clearance that reaching and using them is not an issue. The presentation side has a nice clean look with a custom pivot. The clip is a standard three hole (Benchmade clips DO fit!) and is reversible for tip up or tip down. Packaging is staid, just a plain cardboard box with a barcode sticker and foam, and the knife came in a bubble pouch - This isn't an Anthony Marfione product for sure. The size is great and the ergonomics are surprisingly good.
Dimensions:
Blade length, tip to pivot: 4"
Blade length, useable edge: 3 3/8"
Overall length: 8 3/8"
Handle length: 5"
Blade depth: 1 1/4"
Handle depth at widest point: 1 3/8"
Blade thickness: 1/8"
Handle thickness (not including clip): 7/16"
Handle thickness (including clip): 10/16"
Weight: To be determined.
The Good:
The knife is decently made and a good, clearly Les George, design. Materials are good as to be expected at the price point. The action is smooth - even before I cleaned it - and after cleaning it's smooth as glass and breaking in nicely. Lockup is solid, a little early, but there is no blade play or lock rock when opened. The end of the lock bar is carbidized. Knife wasn't centered when I received it, but it was easy to adjust out (all I had to do was loosen the frame screws) and there is zero blade play when closed. Flicks open nicely or opens smoothly with the thumb. Clip has good retention without being difficult to put in the pocket or remove. The detent is the perfect tension and has a nice "snick" when it closes. As mentioned, ergonomics are great for my large hands. Really, the most surprising thing is how thin and light the whole package is. I have to get a weight measurement, but it's surprisingly light despite how solid it feels. The construction and general feel remind me a lot of Grayman Knives and Three Sisters Forge, it has a very similar "Tool knife" feel.
Construction is very simple, PB washers, standard torx screw sizes (T10 for the pivot on the lock side, T9 for the frame screws and T8 for the clip and thumb studs). The screws are non-magnetic but are probably stainless. The standoffs are simple tube affairs and seem to be titanium. The blade stop is a nice hefty steel pin. All the edges have been chamfered or broken so that it's very smooth with no sharp edges - I have more expensive knives that will cut you on the exposed parts of the lock bar area. Some of these details I have to say I do like, like the one sided frame screws. Makes for an easy take down for cleaning or adjustments.
Once again, Benchmade three-hole clips (and deep carry two hole clips) fit perfectly!
The Bad:
Well, the bad isn't that bad. The general fit and finish is decent but could be better. There were spots that were crusted in what looked like machining fluid of some sort and there was cornmeal jammed in the lock bar (cornmeal is a common tumbling medium to give a little polish). One of the standoffs has some machining imperfections on the inside. The blade wasn't centered when I got it (though as noted earlier, it was easy to fix) and the grind is a little wonky and the tip is rounded. It's all easy stuff to fix, but I shouldn't have to fix it on a brand new knife. The blade is sharp but the edge is more of a utility edge, similar to how Grayman used to sharpen their knives. It cuts well, it's just not pretty. Not surprising given the background of the company. The lock is a little early for my taste and I might ultimately send it off to a pimper to gain about 5%, or I might just try to break it in. The most glaring issue is the doubled up steel callout by the thumb stud, which doesn't really bother me. Honestly, the knife has too many and too large of markings, but that's personal taste.
Overall:
Assuming you know what you are getting in to (a well made knife that could use a few tweaks), I think that it's a decent value for a Les George design. If you like the design and want a knife that seems like it will be a good user, then jump on it. The price isn't out of line, it's maybe a little high, but I'm not exactly sure how many they are making and it is a small operation. A Grayman Satu or a TSF Gorgon are going to be similar in scope though a little larger and nicer overall but will run you $200-300 more. A Grayman Dua or TSF Beast are going to be a little smaller, nicer overall and will still run you $100-200 more. For a unique, USA made knife, I think it's a decent value.