- Joined
- Jan 12, 2011
- Messages
- 248
Don't see much of Fox knives so figured I'd spread some love.
Fox Elishewitz Orion Attack 432RA
Open Length: 7.3"
Blade Length: 3"
Blade Thickness: 3mm
Weight: 2.5oz
Blade Material: N690Co
Handle Material: Aluminum w/ Amboyna wood inlays
Burnt out on G-10 handles, I wanted something a little more exotic in a folder and while shopping for a Bellum dagger, this one caught my eye. Only Fox knife I owned before this was their parong karambit in olive wood. Very well made, well worth the asking price - so I hoped for the best on this model.
Fit and finish is spot on with the only noticeable flaw being a ding in one of the amboyna scales. The lines are smooth between handle and blade; overall a very sleek design. Can be deployed either with the the thumb studs or small flipper. Unfortunately, the detent is soft so the flipper needs a little help from the wrist to ensure proper lockup. The thumb studs double as the closing stop pin, with shallow cutouts in the handle and liner for it to seat. Very precise machining all around.
The liner is seated inside the handle with only the release visible. Lockup is flush with the edge of the lock face, liner is very rigid, and there is zero blade play. Being a smaller knife, it's most comfortable with a 3-finger grip with the pinky resting against the bottom of the tail but if you have small hands you might be able to get 4 on it. Pivot is smooth enough from the factory, so I haven't adjusted it (though I'm sure if I loosen it enough, the flipper would snap it open at the cost of blade wiggle).
The raised ridge on the blade isn't all that effective or comfortable if you're using it as a thumb ramp, but it is effective for latching onto while closing.
Blade centering isn't perfect, but I'm not going to get picky about .25mm offset on a $125 knife. Only carry option is right-side, tip-down which fortunately is just how I like them. Would have preferred to see the clip mounted to the aluminum instead of the amboyna, even if it meant less wood - but it is what it is.
As a final note, I can not overstress how beautiful the amboyna scales are. I felt robbed by how dull the handle of my masur birch EKA Swede 88 was, disappointed by the lifeless grain of the Arizona ironwood of my Sage 4, but this one makes up for those. Not only is it pleasing to the eyes, but the smell of amboyna is intoxicating. It's like a scratch and sniff cigar humidor. I swear the above mentioned ding in the handle is unrelated.
Thanks for reading!
Fox Elishewitz Orion Attack 432RA
Open Length: 7.3"
Blade Length: 3"
Blade Thickness: 3mm
Weight: 2.5oz
Blade Material: N690Co
Handle Material: Aluminum w/ Amboyna wood inlays
Burnt out on G-10 handles, I wanted something a little more exotic in a folder and while shopping for a Bellum dagger, this one caught my eye. Only Fox knife I owned before this was their parong karambit in olive wood. Very well made, well worth the asking price - so I hoped for the best on this model.
Fit and finish is spot on with the only noticeable flaw being a ding in one of the amboyna scales. The lines are smooth between handle and blade; overall a very sleek design. Can be deployed either with the the thumb studs or small flipper. Unfortunately, the detent is soft so the flipper needs a little help from the wrist to ensure proper lockup. The thumb studs double as the closing stop pin, with shallow cutouts in the handle and liner for it to seat. Very precise machining all around.
The liner is seated inside the handle with only the release visible. Lockup is flush with the edge of the lock face, liner is very rigid, and there is zero blade play. Being a smaller knife, it's most comfortable with a 3-finger grip with the pinky resting against the bottom of the tail but if you have small hands you might be able to get 4 on it. Pivot is smooth enough from the factory, so I haven't adjusted it (though I'm sure if I loosen it enough, the flipper would snap it open at the cost of blade wiggle).
The raised ridge on the blade isn't all that effective or comfortable if you're using it as a thumb ramp, but it is effective for latching onto while closing.
Blade centering isn't perfect, but I'm not going to get picky about .25mm offset on a $125 knife. Only carry option is right-side, tip-down which fortunately is just how I like them. Would have preferred to see the clip mounted to the aluminum instead of the amboyna, even if it meant less wood - but it is what it is.
As a final note, I can not overstress how beautiful the amboyna scales are. I felt robbed by how dull the handle of my masur birch EKA Swede 88 was, disappointed by the lifeless grain of the Arizona ironwood of my Sage 4, but this one makes up for those. Not only is it pleasing to the eyes, but the smell of amboyna is intoxicating. It's like a scratch and sniff cigar humidor. I swear the above mentioned ding in the handle is unrelated.
Thanks for reading!
