+1 here. I got Specter #26, as shown in their gallery. Excellent customer service - they worked with me to create a new anodization option based on my preferences.
Given they're fairly new, I probably should put some comments on the reviews forum. In short:
Pluses:
- Excellent customer service - good communication and willing to work with customers on new options
- Great build quality - excellent fit and finish
- Excellent blade grind. Mine is super thin behind the edge, making it a killer slicer. I requested a thin grind - I'm not sure if they're all like that
- Excellent packaging. Minor detail, but it matters
Minuses:
- Free-spinning pivot with T15 holes on both sides. Larger Torx holes are good, but given that most kits only go up to T10, it's a bit annoying
- My Specter may be ever so slightly off-center - hard to tell with the naked eye. This could probably be easily fixed by tightening the pivot a hair, but I haven't gotten around to it yet due to the above bullet point
- My clip doesn't quite touch the side of the scale, such that when closing the knife, the clip vibrates and resonates (think tuning fork). Just an annoyance - when I get around to taking the knife apart, I'll need to bend the clip in a hair to solve this
The minuses are more nitpicks then anything else. I do need to get a second T15 bit to take it apart, which may show some other issues. I'm hoping they didn't use Loctite on the pivot!
Bumping this up as I wanted to give an update on my previous comments.
I mentioned that my Specter had a few very minor drawbacks/nitpicks. I finally got a second T15 bit and took it apart.
First, the internal milling is incredible - not just big pockets for weight reduction, but they're patterned, too. Excellent attention to detail.
All the screws are free spinning, going into steel spacers, and the bearings ride on steel washers. The pivot was held together with blue Loctite. The tolerances are incredible - even with all the screws removed the knife didn't want to come apart, held together with friction. I'm not a fan of the free spinning screws, but everything else is top notch, as good as any other knife I've seen.
Reassembly was also easy. After cleaning it, adding nano-oil, and putting it back together, the action is even smoother than before. One nitpick I had was that I thought it might be slightly off center - that's gone now, as it's dead center after reassembly. Likewise, I had a nitpick that the clip didn't quite touch the scale, making it into a tuning fork when closing the blade. I was able to bend the clip a tiny amount to remove the gap, so that's gone too.
Incidentally, I was also able to get my hands on a Norseman recently, albeit an older one. I gave that one a full disassembly, cleaning, and lube as well. The action on it is great, but the Holt is clearly better, no question.
I do know that
@NickShabazz is getting his Specter soon. I'm gonna go ahead and predict right now that his review is going to do to Holt Bladeworks what he did to North Arms with the Skaha review. Get your order in now if you want to see one in the next year for anywhere close to the dealer's price
