GiantMouse GM2

vanadium said:
halden.doerge said:
There are regular inconsistencies in the standard Vipers, including the Fortis (weak detents, off center blades, voids in CF scales, etc). The level of precision, consistency, and execution in the GM line is a solid step above. Yes, they're made in the same factory, but significantly more time and work goes into the consistency and the finishing of the GM line.
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Most factory knives have inconsistencies. My GM1 arrived off-center and gritty, and I ran into 2 other people on Reddit having GM1's with poor centering, and one of them also got a GM1 with uneven jimping. I'm pretty sure GM is just priced as a lifestyle or "limited edition art" brand. The designs are indeed beautiful.
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After reading around the web about CF splintering, really weak detents, poor centering, and poor pivot action on some GM2's... well... I've got to say it again. It really seems, like I've said before, Giant Mouse is at the same level of fit and finish as any other Tecnocut-made knife: pretty good, really nice when they nail it, but as inconsistent as one might expect from any sub-$200 mass-produced Maniago knife.
 
I'll let you know when mine arrives, I look over every detail in a knife, Ill see if it was worth it
 
vanadium said:
After reading around the web about CF splintering, really weak detents, poor centering, and poor pivot action on some GM2's... well... I've got to say it again. It really seems, like I've said before, Giant Mouse is at the same level of fit and finish as any other Tecnocut-made knife: pretty good, really nice when they nail it, but as inconsistent as one might expect from any sub-$200 mass-produced Maniago knife.
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I've gotta call you wrong on what you're saying. My GM2 is a distinct cut above any other knife I have from Italy, including offerings from Fox, Fantoni and LionSteel. I'm not sure where you're seeing the negativity; I've seen one report of a problem and that was quickly remedied. You'll be much better off forming opinions based on an item in hand than anonymous internet critics. That works for more things than just knives.

I think you're looking for ways to naysay a knife that you don't want to buy.
 
Hackenslash said:
I've gotta call you wrong on what you're saying. My GM2 is a distinct cut above any other knife I have from Italy, including offerings from Fox, Fantoni and LionSteel. I'm not sure where you're seeing the negativity; I've seen one report of a problem and that was quickly remedied. You'll be much better off forming opinions based on an item in hand than anonymous internet critics. That works for more things than just knives.

I think you're looking for ways to naysay a knife that you don't want to buy.
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I agree with this. I can only speak for my own examples, but I've owned all the Vox collaborations with Viper, and both the GMs, and the GMs are just a cut above in my experience.
 
You ever notice that there are lots of keyboard warriors who slam stuff without ever touching stuff? Internet reviews are worth exactly what you pay for them, lol.

My GM2 has rapidly become one of my favorite knives.
 
Hackenslash said:
I've gotta call you wrong on what you're saying. My GM2 is a distinct cut above any other knife I have from Italy, including offerings from Fox, Fantoni and LionSteel. I'm not sure where you're seeing the negativity; I've seen one report of a problem and that was quickly remedied. You'll be much better off forming opinions based on an item in hand than anonymous internet critics. That works for more things than just knives.

I think you're looking for ways to naysay a knife that you don't want to buy.
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Hackenslash said:
You ever notice that there are lots of keyboard warriors who slam stuff without ever touching stuff? Internet reviews are worth exactly what you pay for them, lol.

My GM2 has rapidly become one of my favorite knives.
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vanadium said:
Most factory knives have inconsistencies. My GM1 arrived off-center and gritty, and I ran into 2 other people on Reddit having GM1's with poor centering, and one of them also got a GM1 with uneven jimping. I'm pretty sure GM is just priced as a lifestyle or "limited edition art" brand. The designs are indeed beautiful.
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He owned a GM1 in hand with issues so it's more than just touching stuff.

If it's naysay to a knife that he doesn't want to buy perhaps others are saying yay because now they have one even though it may not be worth it.

It's worth listening to both sides.
 
All I know is I miss the hell out of my GM2. Wish it would hurry up and get back to them so they can ship me out the new one.
 
RamZar said:
He owned a GM1 in hand with issues so it's more than just touching stuff.

If it's naysay to a knife that he doesn't want to buy perhaps others are saying yay because now they have one even though it may not be worth it.

It's worth listening to both sides.
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I'm all for listening to both sides. He had no relevant experience with the knife in question, therefore I discounted his extemporaneous opinion.

In terms of the knife being over-priced; I think that can be said for almost all new releases these days. Knife values are always less than the sum of the parts. I sprung for the GM2 because it offered M390 in my favorite blade shape (clip point), with my favorite handle material (milled CF), with two viable ways to deploy in a size/weight package that meets my EDC needs (although, honestly it's just barely small enough, I'd love to see this knife in a 2.99" blade!). I'm not sure where else I could get this package for less money (in a knife I don't already own :p)

The only thing that might have made the knife better for my purposes would have been Compression or Axis Lock rather than Liner Lock. The GM2 checked a lot of boxes so for me the price was just right.

Curiously, the GMP2 was horribly overpriced to me. The weight made it a no-go from the get-go. The modest increase in price between Ti and CF didn't even come into play with a knife that couldn't be carried.

So knife values are a funny thing. In the realm of production knives they remain mostly subjective, depending on how much you "need" that knife. That's why I tend to ignore most of the arguments based on price, unless truly a cheaper knife can meet the needs better than the more expensive knife.

Although value is subjective, level of quality is rather empirical. Quality can be seen and felt and contrasted with other knives. The quality of my GM2 approaches Reate level. I use Reate as a reference point because it's the brand that I own several models of and they all show an incredible precision and workmanship that's tangibly ahead of similar priced blades. The GM2 isn't quite there but its closer than I've seen for a while.

I think the GM2 is a special knife and I'm very happy I made the plunge to buy one.
 
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Hackenslash said:
I'm all for listening to both sides. He had no relevant experience with the knife in question, therefore I discounted his extemporaneous opinion.
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Whether or not you have experience with the knife, an opinion is an opinion either way. I've handled one copy each of the GM2 and GMP2 now, but it didn't change my opinions.
 
A good review, as usual from Nick. I think he's too hard on it perhaps, as he himself admits. My experience with my GM1 and GM2 is that they're both on par fit and finish, and quality wise. But of course there will always be variations. But regardless, good review.
 
Ok, now I'm starting to get a bit annoyed. Got my replacement and there is a nice big CF splinter forming in the same spot as my first one. Really sucks because I love the knife and the rest of it is good, it's just the damn carbon fiber they sourced, I'm going to have to email them again. I don't see why they can't check these things before they get shipped out. It takes two seconds to run your fingers over all the edges and see if there are rough spots. I'll post a picture in a bit.


First one is lint that gets pulled from my pocket because of a rough spot:

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This one shows the splinter:

pXRMLls.jpg



At this point I'm worried about how brittle the CF is even if I DO get a perfect one. Not something I really want to worry about.



EDIT: Here is the response I got from Jim. If anything they are extremely prompt at all times of the day:

I’m really sorry to hear that you’re not happy with the replacement.* I do see the splinter you are talking about in your photo.* We’ve sold around 150 of the GM2’s, and have only had one or two others mention an issue with spinters.

All I can suggest at this point is returning the knife for a refund, as there will always be the possibility of lint sticking to a tiny splinter on an edge, or a larger splinter appearing.* Unfortunately that is the nature of a carbon fiber scale with no liner - all of the edges are exposed.* And since the material is literally made of fibers, there is no way to keep fibers from popping up on an edge.

Please let me know if you’d like to return for a full refund.

Regards,

Jim
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If that's the case then they should have rounded all the edges. This just simply seems like an oversight in design if you ask me, rounded edges would make splintering much less common. Both my knives have had this issue in the same unrounded part of the handle, the other parts that have been rounded have been fine. It also seems like they went from saying it shouldn't have made it past QC to expect these issues because of the nature of carbon fiber.

Not sure what I'm doing yet.


Here's another picture, the splinter formed because there was a lip on the edge of the scale due to another manufacturing flaw:

dgljSgW.jpg
 
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Mine has been great, CF looks and feels smooth, flips great, can get a really razor sharp edge, the only thing I found is that the clip gets stuck a lot on doors or other surfaces, other trhan that its been my EDC since I got it, pretty happy with it
 
That splintering is unacceptable. The explanation is ridiculous. Only one or two have the issue? Both of the ones you received have it. That is terrible finishing for an expensive knife. I'd take the refund.
 
Fanglekai said:
That splintering is unacceptable. The explanation is ridiculous. Only one or two have the issue? Both of the ones you received have it. That is terrible finishing for an expensive knife. I'd take the refund.
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Agreed. What are some other knives with CF scales and no liners? Not that that makes any sense anyway, my Gayle Bradley is CF with liners it's not like the edge of the CF isn't visible, it just doesn't splinter because it's finished better.
 
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