Gotta Ask for Opinions

Never been interested in Medfords. Too big, too "industrial" looking and too expensive for my taste.

As for "overbuilt" knives, I collect the older ZTs which live up to the company's early (and apparently now abandoned) motto of being "Proudly Overbuilt."

I own over 40 ZTs of that type but I also own many other knives made by other companies that would live up to that motto as well.
 
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I like the design of the “Fighter Flipper” but they’re just too pricey. The warranty thing is annoying but if you can get past that and the price tag I don’t see why you shouldn’t get one. Good luck!

Edit to add: Cold Steel and ZT are my choices for heavy use folders…
 
Early Medfords may not have been very good cutters - I can't really say as I haven't handled a truely "old" one but that may be where the reputation came from. I can say now having owned and currently owning several, that this is no longer the case. They won't out slice your para 3 or quiet carry drift, but the hollow grinds are quite nice and a good balance of robust and functionality.
For me, the demarcation line is when the company went to 6-pin pivots from 2 pin, I believe 2016. That was when I noticed a huge and continuing jump up in quality. I'm not saying 2 pin knives have issues, but any issue I've had with a medford knife has been with a 2 pin, older model.
There are quite a few EDC-friendly models out there now: the slim midi, with sebenza thin .125 blade stock, the similar g-48 as well as the gentleman Jack and the slim praetorians - both manual and auto. And the warranty stuff is all over now, that is direct from Greg both in writing and on video, and even then it was still a case-by-case situation. Take it apart, clean it, get the action the way you like, whatever. If you mod the knife it may very well be on you, however. But people latch onto something and the man's personality may not help to change peoples perceptions.
 
Everyone here has great points. I agree that some of his work is more mantle art or safe queen material. I think his niche until recently has been for military and very hard use tools that are also at least decent cutters. I personally love some of the newer models that I think are a good cross between hard use and EDC.
I really appreciate everyone's opinions.
Thanks all for the insight. Hope everyone is eventually able to find their unicorn. I'm still searching for mine and you all have made the decision even harder!!
 
I feel many people may be centering their comments around a few models that are bulky (the praetorian line for example), when in fact Medford has expanded to cover a variety of sizes and types. There’s the gentleman jack, the M48, the smooth criminal… slim midi… slim praetorian… etc. The excuse cannot be “they’re just bricks” because I just listed several examples that aren’t. I think they just aren’t very popular on the secondary because they don’t hold their value. I’ve seen people fondle $800 Medford’s and then sell them a few days later for $550, and that doesn’t help at all.

They aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but IMHO I think that’s mostly because Medford can’t shake the full-size marauder or praetorian perception. Their customer service is EXCEPTIONAL. That is a fact. And I’ve received back warranty work within a week. Dare I say they have the best after-sale support of any manufacturer? Possibly.
 
dvldog5811 said:
Mornin' BFers!
There's a lot of folks on here that know a helluva lot more than me so gotta feed my curiosity.
I'm a huge Medford fan although I haven't yet found their perfect model for me. I really like Greg although he can be an asshole but, so can I. I feel very comfortable with his company because he's so out in the public eye and doesn't seem to pull any punches or hold back. Plus, his stuff is made here. I've never had the pleasure of fondling a CRK or many other high-end knives other than Strider's so I need some help here.
So, my question for all of you brainiacs out in the BF world...
Why aren't Medford's more popular>
Is it because their so overbuilt? Is it because of word of bad experiences with the company? Is it because more and more people are wanting more EDC friendly carry?
I know opinions are like a**holes but I really would like to hear 'em.
Also, as far as "hard-use", "overbuilt" knives, what do you guys prefer?
Thanks all, have a great day and be safe out there!!
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Have you checked out the Proxima? I avoided that one b/c of the yuuuuge flipper tab, but it's become my favorite model from them.
 
Knives&Lint said:
I've wandered in there a couple times out of boredom, but not often, as you have to allot time for a shower afterwards
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There isn’t a place on this forum that from time to time doesn’t leave one feeling like they need a shower after wading into it. But maybe political talk can be reserved for the PA, because anti-political statements are political statements themselves.
 
As a member of the very large person club (6'7" 300lbs or so), I rarely count ounces when carrying a folder or backpack. (Admittedly, I don't wander the countryside for a week at a time either)

Even I look at Medford and say "Damn, they are big and chunky (like me)".

Most of his stuff doesn't appeal to me atheistically and his prices seem high. I'm not paying $550 for D2 steel on a Colonial G or $425 with D2 steel on a 187DP (a model I do like). I'd rather give my $ to TRM, Hinderer, Ferrum Forge, etc. Plenty of other US makers that offer better bang for the buck imo*.

* Subjective sentence. YMMV.
 
For me, there's just too many things that prevent me from even trying one. The owner himself, the chunky and unrefined designs, the low value proposition, the poor performance of the knives as actual cutting tools: any one of these issues is enough to ruin a knife for me. Considered collectively, they take the brand completely off my radar.
 
snuffle said:
... No idea what he's said to annoy people, and probably wouldn't care if I did.
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Unless he's chewed my butt out for taking a screwdriver near one of his knives: I couldn't care what he says!
 
marrenmiller said:
For me, there's just too many things that prevent me from even trying one. The owner himself, the chunky and unrefined designs, the low value proposition, the poor performance of the knives as actual cutting tools: any one of these issues is enough to ruin a knife for me. Considered collectively, they take the brand completely off my radar.
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That more or less sums it up for me, also.
 
Buy a large CRK model 21 or 31 Sebbie and enlarge your world to highest manufacturing quality.
CRK even has a video to help you take your knife apart and put it back together again as often as you llke.
Centering is always perfect, and....the lockbar always stays in the same place...even with high wear.
IMO, having purchased and resold several hundred higher quality blades, it has no competition.
 
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