-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Grayman Owners sound off...
- Thread starter BOSS1
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2010
- Messages
- 214
I have a Mini-Dinka. Mike is a super great guy to deal with, and his knives are definately tough.
I do feel obligated to say this though: The thickness of the knife does inhibit the ability to cut. The edge on my Mini was very small, and at pretty bad angle. Now, for a knife that is only four inches or so long, I would expect a bit more edge and a bit less mass on the blade. Not so on the Mini, though ultimately it wasn't a bad thing. I bought a Smith sharpener, and when that didn't work (everything on it was fine or ultra-fine grits), I started looking around and found EdgePro, and so I saved up and bought an Apex.
I spent an hour last Friday thinning out the edge a bit (to around 20 degrees per side), which did the trick, it is still a little beast, but is sharp and can cut most of the stuff I need it to cut. And, it is still a fat blade so I don't have to worry about the blade snapping when I use it to pry stuff at work.
It is still, well, rough. The scales don't match the tang, the grinds are uneven and not really in line with the handles (it is slightly hollow, though it doesn't really affect its performance for the things I use it for). The roughness isn't bad, it "mellows" the more you use the knife
I do feel obligated to say this though: The thickness of the knife does inhibit the ability to cut. The edge on my Mini was very small, and at pretty bad angle. Now, for a knife that is only four inches or so long, I would expect a bit more edge and a bit less mass on the blade. Not so on the Mini, though ultimately it wasn't a bad thing. I bought a Smith sharpener, and when that didn't work (everything on it was fine or ultra-fine grits), I started looking around and found EdgePro, and so I saved up and bought an Apex.
I spent an hour last Friday thinning out the edge a bit (to around 20 degrees per side), which did the trick, it is still a little beast, but is sharp and can cut most of the stuff I need it to cut. And, it is still a fat blade so I don't have to worry about the blade snapping when I use it to pry stuff at work.
It is still, well, rough. The scales don't match the tang, the grinds are uneven and not really in line with the handles (it is slightly hollow, though it doesn't really affect its performance for the things I use it for). The roughness isn't bad, it "mellows" the more you use the knife
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2010
- Messages
- 2,129
They look cool, but I think that its a lot of money for plain 1095 steel and a rough finished look. I love 1095, it's a great steel, but it IS one of the least expensive carbon steels available. So you're not paying for a "premium" steel.
Generally, in a handmade knife, one of the major things you're paying for is grind, fit, and finish. I just don't see it on those blades. I think if you shop around you can get a much better blade for $215. You could order one from several of the makers on this site more than likely, to your specifications.
Generally, in a handmade knife, one of the major things you're paying for is grind, fit, and finish. I just don't see it on those blades. I think if you shop around you can get a much better blade for $215. You could order one from several of the makers on this site more than likely, to your specifications.
I really like some of their designs (especially the Mega Pounder), but for the price you pay, I think the grinds and fit and finish could be a bit cleaner. They aren't overly expensive, and they may be tough, but I could buy something on the forums here that seem to be higher quality and, more than likely, just as tough.
Last edited: