Hinderer MP-1 vs Olamic Wayfarer 247

[Officer's Match]

I wasn't familiar with Olamic until tonight. Apparently that was a good thing, as now I have to go find one to buy. Sigh.....

Same thing that happened to me. I went from never hearing of them two buying my 247 two hours later. Most I've ever spent on a knife.

If you're like me, you won't/don't regret finding out about the 247 Wayfarer. It fills a unique spot for me. It is super ergonomic, much like an XM18. It is incredibly well made, with tightness and centering (with the pivot fully tightened) that makes me think of a Sebenza. It has first rate materials - titanium scales & hardware, M390 blade - on par with numerous high end makers.

But right now, what for me puts it over the top as a really unique offering is the customization (aesthetic mostly) and design features (function + aesthetic) such as:

(1.) superb blade-mounted hidden stop pin (with frame cutouts rather than the reverse as it typical of hidden stop pin designs),
(2.) caged bearings within counter bored blade & scales (with thrust washers in the scales so the bearings don't ride on and wear into the titanium scales, a feature even a lot of Shiro's lack),
(3.) a "feed" ramp cut into the lock face on the blade tang to allow the detent bearing to climb smoothly up on the tang upon unlocking & closing the blade,
(4.) that said detent bearing is ceramic (smoothness and longevity),
(5.) "floating" backspacer, which is so elegant and functional, protecting the blade's edge while allowing for easy "blow out" cleaning, as well as hand comfort.

Needless to say, like so many others, I am very impressed with mine so far. I may just grab another to experiment with - I'm thinking a REK hollow-regrind might make it a 247 too awesome to ever stop carrying...

 

[dwdickey]

If you're like me, you won't/don't regret finding out about the 247 Wayfarer. It fills a unique spot for me. It is super ergonomic, much like an XM18. It is incredibly well made, with tightness and centering (with the pivot fully tightened) that makes me think of a Sebenza. It has first rate materials - titanium scales & hardware, M390 blade - on par with numerous high end makers.

But right now, what for me puts it over the top as a really unique offering is the customization (aesthetic mostly) and design features (function + aesthetic) such as:

(1.) superb blade-mounted hidden stop pin (with frame cutouts rather than the reverse as it typical of hidden stop pin designs),
(2.) caged bearings within counter bored blade & scales (with thrust washers in the scales so the bearings don't ride on and wear into the titanium scales, a feature even a lot of Shiro's lack),
(3.) a "feed" ramp cut into the lock face on the blade tang to allow the detent bearing to climb smoothly up on the tang upon unlocking & closing the blade,
(4.) that said detent bearing is ceramic (smoothness and longevity),
(5.) "floating" backspacer, which is so elegant and functional, protecting the blade's edge while allowing for easy "blow out" cleaning, as well as hand comfort.

Needless to say, like so many others, I am very impressed with mine so far. I may just grab another to experiment with - I'm thinking a REK hollow-regrind might make it a 247 awesome to ever stop carrying...

They are a super value with what you get for your money. I say they are money well spent, even if they were $100-150 more.

 

[straitr]

Wayfarer is extremely solid, fast flipper, ceramic bearings, all Ti hardware, floating backspacer. Hinderers are well built but I've found you can't crank the pivot down tight and expect them to flip well. They do just fine, if the pivot is just snugged down though. I have two, XM-18's and a XM-24 and the Wayfarer does carry smaller than either.

Well shucks, Jill. I literally just (like 10 minutes ago) bought one EXACTLY like this. I looked and looked at pics of Wayfarer's for days, and never found this thread/pic, and thought mine was pretty unique. Go figure. haha I was worried about the "bronze" as many of the bronze accents look more gold to me, so I called the shop that was selling it and asked if the pics of bronze were representative. He said they were so I bought it.

Looks great in your pics! Now I'm even more excited to get it.

FWIW, I've never owned an MP-1, but I did consider one or the new Gen 2 Eklipse (Tanto's coming soon), but chose the Wayfarer for many of the same reasons listed here. Frankly, I have a XM-18 (3.5) Spanto, and I wanted something different than another Hinderer. While the XM-18 isn't heavy, it's not exactly light, so the Wayfarer weight certainly played a roll in my decision. That, and everybody raves about Eugene and the 247. Ultimately, after a week of digging, I found a Wayfarer I really liked, and paid $344 delivered for it after a $55 discount code from BF sponsor RussianKnives.com/ROSarms . Vladimir was super nice and very helpful on the phone, even letting me know about the coupon code that I would have otherwise never known about. Highly recommended!

 

[Officer's Match]

Well shucks, Jill. I literally just (like 10 minutes ago) bought one EXACTLY like this. I looked and looked at pics of Wayfarer's for days, and never found this thread/pic, and thought mine was pretty unique. Go figure. haha I was worried about the "bronze" as many of the bronze accents look more gold to me, so I called the shop that was selling it and asked if the pics of bronze were representative. He said they were so I bought it.

Looks great in your pics! Now I'm even more excited to get it.

FWIW, I've never owned an MP-1, but I did consider one or the new Gen 2 Eklipse (Tanto's coming soon), but chose the Wayfarer for many of the same reasons listed here. Frankly, I have a XM-18 (3.5) Spanto, and I wanted something different than another Hinderer. While the XM-18 isn't heavy, it's not exactly light, so the Wayfarer weight certainly played a roll in my decision. That, and everybody raves about Eugene and the 247. Ultimately, after a week of digging, I found a Wayfarer I really liked, and paid $344 delivered for it after a $55 discount code from BF sponsor RussianKnives.com/ROSarms . Vladimir was super nice and very helpful on the phone, even letting me know about the coupon code that I would have otherwise never known about. Highly recommended!

Since you have a 3.5" spanto, here's a direct comparison to hold you until yours arrives:

 

[straitr]

Since you have a 3.5" spanto, here's a direct comparison to hold you until yours arrives

Thanks brother. I just finished reading the rest of the thread, and your posts resonate with me which is why I picked one up. Saw where you picked up yours earlier today and hit you with a +1 (craigR) over there.

Looks great dude! Now knowing that you're impressed with it makes me super stoked to get mine. :thumbup:

 

[Officer's Match]

Thanks brother. I just finished reading the rest of the thread, and your posts resonate with me which is why I picked one up. Saw where you picked up yours earlier today and hit you with a +1 (craigR) over there.

Looks great dude! Now knowing that you're impressed with it makes me super stoked to get mine. :thumbup:

Saw that - thanks man. I love the ergo's of XM's and of the Emerson Commander line, and for me the similarity is there. The contours of the 247 make it seem smaller somehow in the hand than just looking at it. It has the tight spacing between the scales and blade like a Sebenza, but with XM/Commander-ish shape. This thread claimed me too and I was excited to get mine - and I am not disappointed in any way.

 

[straitr]

Saw that - thanks man. I love the ergo's of XM's and of the Emerson Commander line, and for me the similarity is there. The contours of the 247 make it seem smaller somehow in the hand than just looking at it. It has the tight spacing between the scales and blade like a Sebenza, but with XM/Commander-ish shape. This thread claimed me too and I was excited to get mine - and I am not disappointed in any way.

I've not owned a Commander, but I'm a big fan of the XM-18 and CQC-8 ergo's. I also like the larger butt end of my SNG when gripped rearward allowing the hand to encompass the whole grip, and I've envisioned the 247 as a great blend of those three knives. I also really like the blade stock thickness and overall shape of the grind, and I think it will be an excellent sturdy slicer like my Sebenza 25. Combined with the flipper, I really think this could be the perfect EDC knife for ME if the build quality is what everybody says it is.

I just noticed that my 247 shipped yesterday, and I got the shipping notification about an hour after I bought the knife. Color me impressed. It's enroute with a scheduled delivery of Monday. Vlad is top shelf in terms of customer service. :thumbup:

 

[CookieRawwr]

I really want one of the 247's. I'm seriously thinking about selling off my Emerson collection to get one. I only use my CQC-7s, the rest just sit in a drawer.

 

[Officer's Match]

I really want one of the 247's. I'm seriously thinking about selling off my Emerson collection to get one. I only use my CQC-7s, the rest just sit in a drawer.

As a known Emerson fanatic, I can't believe I'm saying this, but if they really don't get used and/or drooled over, I don't think you'd regret making the moves necessary to own a 247. I don't think my right index finger has seen so much flipping usage during any 4 day period of my life.

 

[straitr]

I tend to carry my XM-18 only once or twice a week, but I probably spend a few minutes each day messing with it because I enjoy flipping it. I've stepped up my flipping playing hopes of avoiding a sore finger on day one with the 247.

I saw or read somewhere that the 247 is more of a light switch flipper, unlike the XM's that tend to work better as a push button.

 

[RamZar]

I don't have the Hinderer MP-1 but have heard great things about it. However, it's $695.00 in all titanium with 3.375" blade of S35VN and weighs 6 ounces. You can get the MP-1 with G-10 on the presentation side for $450 plus it weighs less at 5.5 ounces.

Olamic Wayfarer 247 only comes in all titanium with many varieties for $375.00-$665.00 (most are in the $375-$495 range). It has a 3.5" blade of M390 (or Elmax) and weighs 5 ounces.

Mine has matte titanium and satin blade with blue anodized hardware.

 

[Lord_Balkan]

Same thing that happened to me. I went from never hearing of them two buying my 247 two hours later. Most I've ever spent on a knife.

This might be me soon... How do you guys feel about the sculpted handles vs the regular flat ones ? To the sculpted handles give a good feel or do they create hot spots?

 

[jfindon]

I have the Stealth version with the sculpted Ti and there are no hotspots whatsoever. It adds a nice depth to the knife, I think any plain slab of Ti is too plain. That's part of the reason I like my ZT 0560 so much too, because of that texture they put on the Ti.

 

[RamZar]

This might be me soon... How do you guys feel about the sculpted handles vs the regular flat ones ? To the sculpted handles give a good feel or do they create hot spots?

The ergos of the Olamic 247 handle is excellent. It gives you a comfortable and secure hold.