Help me decide if this should be my first folder...

E

Edalb

Joined
Nov 10, 2007
Messages
181
Hi everyone,

I am very new to knives and ready to make my first purchase. I am willing to spend about $300 and I am coming back to MCUSTA's LMC-1208D Custom Limited VG-10 Damascus found here:

http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/Specials.html

What do you think? Is it worth its money? Are the materials used on a par with the aesthetics of this knife, that is would this knife be functional or something to look at and admire the art on it?
Or, should I be looking at something else for $300?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

Edalb
 
Yeah, I'd have to agree with the previous post. I'd take a custom, & I'd get an American made one, but that's me. Heck, if you can afford $300, why not save some more & get a Hinderer XM-18?

After getting my Sebenza, I think that's my next goal for a high-end knife.
 
I have to disagree with rosconey ans CLO1.

If you are a beginner, I say that you should get cheaper knives. Not that crap they sell on TV for 1-2$ but you know, something between 50 and 100$.

I wouldn't want to make a noob mistake on a 300$ knife. So you should learn to take care of a knife, to sharpen it, to use it, with a "cheaper" knife. Then go with a custom.

Also, by trying a few models, you will know what you like in a knife, what kind of knife fits for you. Then go for the big shot.

Look at it like alcohol. Will you be able to appreciate a 200$ bottle of scotch if you never tasted scotch before? Will you try a few cheaper bottle first to see what you really like?
 
Is it worth the money, only you can make that decision. But if you want a high quality folder that’s built like a tank, check this out-

Benchmade 520 Pardue Axis Lock
http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=3916

This will get you a good folder. You can then decide later if you really want to invest all that money into a custom or decorated knife.
 
I also agree that getting a cheaper well built knife is better. It will be fully functioal and much more forgiving (or replaceable). Personally Id go for something from spyderco or benchmade
 
I'm not about to get involved in the US vs. Japan trade argument or compare customs to production knives. However, I will tell you that during a visit to the AG Russell store this summer I picked up a MCUSTA Take with Cocobolo scales and it's been my EDC ever since. In fact, I've quit carrying my custom folders all together in favor of this knife. I can't explain it, but I love the way it feels in my hand and I catch myself turning it over in my pocket, running my thumb along the smooth carved (bamboo like) scales. I told a friend of mine about this habit and he called it my worrystone and I suppose he's right.

This knife is light weight, good looking and the VG-10 core nickel damascus blade is sharp as a razor right out of the box. Fit, finish, action and lockup are also top shelf. The little silk sheath that comes with it, while traditional Japanese, isn't my cup of tea but since it spends all it's time in my pocket, I haven't given it a second thought. I paid about $130 for this knife and I see that's what they are asking now with their "Hoilday Special." That's less that half of what you have budgeted to spend.

I can say from my expereince that MCUSTA makes one heck of a fine knife and you won't regret spending your hard earned dollar on any of their models.

Let us know how you decide.
 
If you really like it then I say "get it." Those are some of the finest production knives around and with the small numbers they make of each it should hold resale value, if not increase. That is if you are not plannibg to use it. For a using knife in the same line I would look at the MC/11 Basic Series Folder in the VG-10 blade and green micarta handles @$89.95. Still made my Mcusta with the same quality as the higher end models. Get a copy Of the current Blade Magazine as there is a Factory Focus article on Mcusta. Btw, the damascus VG-10 is available @$107.06 as it is on sale for the holidays.........this would be a great deal!!:thumbup:
 
Edalb said:
Hi everyone,

I am very new to knives and ready to make my first purchase. I am willing to spend about $300 and I am coming back to MCUSTA's LMC-1208D Custom Limited VG-10 Damascus found here:

http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/Specials.html

What do you think? Is it worth its money? Are the materials used on a par with the aesthetics of this knife, that is would this knife be functional or something to look at and admire the art on it?
Or, should I be looking at something else for $300?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

Edalb
Click to expand...


It's an interesting knife. One thing to conseder, what if you get it and you don't like it?

I'm not fond of liner locks but a lot of custom knives use liner locks. I guess because they are easy to make and don't get in the way of the scales on either side.

I ageee with an earlier post, you may want to get some experience with different designs, how to sharpen knives, and what's it is like carrying a knife (if that's what you want to do). If the knife is just going to be held and admired then almost any knife will do as long as you like looking at it.

Good luck,
Rich
 
I have the 1210D in cocobolo and it is indeed a beautiful knife. The wood and inserts are lovely and the handle is a good size. I really like the one you chose--the turquoise really sets off the wood nicely.
The san-mei blade was the sharpest blade I've ever had "out-of-the-box". I haven't got around to using mine yet so I can't comment on how it holds up but the Mcusta's have a good reputation.
It opens and closes precisely and there is no blade movement when open and locked.
I presume this will not be your last knife?
Greg
 
I am a big fan of American made knives, and also spend much of my time adding Benchmades, Kershaws, Spydies, and some customs to my collection. But, that being said, I own three different Mcusta knives and really do love the way they look, feel, and perform. Still, spending $300 on your first folder is going for a bit much right out of the gate. I also vote for getting a couple of less expensive knives to begin with.

THEN......get a Mcusta, a Benchmade, some customs, a few Kershaws....:D You get the picture.

Cheers,
Jon
 
Many thanks to each one of you who replied to my query and provided me with expert advice and suggestions.

This forum is trully very helpful... it's a virtual library on the subject!

I have read your posts carefully and have gone a step further in the way of searching the forum and google.com using as keywords: "mcusta", "VG-10", "damascus", "benchmade pardue axis", "hinderer".

The benchmade knife that X379 suggested, while it seems to be value for money and a very functional choice, in my opinion, it lacks personality. It looks like any other knife in the $100 range. I would probably buy it if I were to actually use it everyday.

The Rick Hinderer knife that CL01 suggested, while it has a lot of personality, it looks a bit crude for my taste. I saw this website where someone was testing the strength of this knife by placing it under a car's tire... It's a good suggestion, but it wouldn't be a knife that I would carry everyday on me, perhaps only when going mountain trekking/nature exploring.

Cybrok suggested that I should start out with a cheaper knife and upgrade to something more expensive (and nicer?) later. He has a point! I am ignorant about knives and it is possible that I might ruin an expensive knife once placed in my hands and have it used/cleaned/sharpened. BUT, hey what are you guys for here? I think that I can take the time to learn and proceed with caution even when handling an expensive knife. I really don't want to spend $50 for a cheap knife and not like it from the start... which means that in a week or so I would crave bying a more expensive knife.

Having said that, and having searched this forum for "mcusta" I have found nothing but good recommendations! And I am surprised... I know, it's not american... but an american knife to my tastes would have to be custom made and those are damn expensive! There are some Chris Reeve and William Henry knives which I really like, more so the second, but they are not custom made.

So, I am coming back to mcusta, which, while not a perfect choice, still meets my expectations. From what I have read here, as far as this knife is concerned, there are some reservations with respect to the damascus blade (whether it's real or not) and the performance of the liner lock mechanism. I think that the second issue bigger than the first. Not everyone though found the liner lock to be under-performing.

Overall, there were very good to excellent remarks about this knife company... sharp knives, aesthetically pleasing, excellent choice of blade material (VG-10) and relatively good prices.

So, most likely, I will choose to buy the MCUSTA's LMC-1208D Custom Limited VG-10 Damascus as my first knife and let you know what my impressions are once seen and used personally.

Thanks,

Edalb
 
Let's see if I've got this right. You're very new to knives, ready to buy your first one, and planning to spend $300? :eek:
 
Dr. Mudd said:
Let's see if I've got this right. You're very new to knives, ready to buy your first one, and planning to spend $300? :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks for your post Dr. Mudd.

Let's see, it's a knife that I am buying not a house or a porche. How complicated could be buying a first knife for $300? I don't mean to undermine the subject/art/manufacturing of knives in any way by making a comparison with bying one's first house.

With this particular knife, I certainly like its looks. I have visited quite a few sites and have seen customs that cost 5 times more and production models that cost as little as $20, which I like and I don't.

In the end, I happen to like the most expensive ones as they seem to have a special something that I appreciate nowdays where most things are mass-produced.

I really don't know how the one I am choosing will perform... but I am not planning to use it much anyways. The same I would say if I were to choose any knife...I wouldn't know how it would perform unless I were to test it.

I am going forward with this purchase based on intuition and the recommendations that the folks in this forum have given me, directly and indirectly.

I am sure that it will have its limitations like anything man-made, which is never perfect, but even if this would be my last knife I would learn to live with this.

Best wishes,

Edalb
 
mauiblue said:
Chris Reeve Large Sebenza = nice first knife.
Click to expand...

I have looked at that as well, not a bad knife at all. A bit big for my pocket, but then again I could choose the small model:thumbup:. I am at a dillema...

Thanks for your suggestion too!


Best wishes,

Edalb
 
$300 does seem awfully high entry level knife. It's your money to spend any way you choose, but if it were me, I'd spend a little more time getting to know a few lower-cost knives before taking a $300 plunge. With the less expensive knives, you'll learn what features and characteristics work best for you. If they're quality knives and you take good care of them, you'd also be able to squeeze some of your cash back out of them when you move up to that MCUSTA or another option...which isn't to say having a few backups is a bad thing!
 
I am not new to knives and have used most of them. For 300 bucks I would buy five very good folders. Probably from Kershaw. IMO nobody else makes as wide of selection or more knife for the money. Sharp, Rugged and priced right. When the word folder comes up, The kershaw is the first to come to mind. I also have some excellent Buck folders.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top