HTM Knives QC Still Bad?

O

oXObsidianXo

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Dec 30, 2013
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So I was browsing my favourite knife dealers, and saw HTM knives, a company which I have repeatedly avoided do to their awful customer service and quality control a couple years ago. I never took interest in them then because of these issues. However, I'm looking again, and I really like some of their designs, but I'm wondering if they still have a bad rep.

Anyone able to provide some recent opinions on HTM and Darryl Ralph knives? I know Charlie Mike thinks highly of them, and it seems some others do. However, I don't want to drop $500+ on a knife just to have it develop blade play, an off center blade, or have customer service who never responds.

Thanks for your opinions, all are welcome.
 
My understanding is that HTM and Darryl Ralph have gone their separate ways.
 
While I can't say for sure, looking at HTM's website there are a lot of blades bearing the DDR logo, as well has clearly being designed by Darryl Ralph. If they have gone their separate ways then I will change the question: Are HTM knives any good now? And are Darryl Ralph's knives any good?
 
Quiet said:
My understanding is that HTM and Darryl Ralph have gone their separate ways.
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Jeez. I am not entirely sure that is a good or a bad thing. Either way too much bad blood flowing between both entities for me to have faith in either.
 
In my opinion there are too many great knives out there that are made by companies with great reputations to even take the risk of giving HTM another chance.
 
Darrel Ralph's customs and HTM knives are very, very different. I've owned an HTM Gunhammer that had to be sent back almost immediately (the CS was pretty good back when I owned it and it got replaced quickly), although I think if you avoid the assisted versions they should be decent. Who knows at this point though because the company is currently in limbo. Probably best avoided altogether.

Darrel Ralph's custom knives, however, are much better. I recently got a custom Gunhammer with the 2H blade grind and I love it. It's very well done.
 
I had a 5.5 that was unserviceable. Lock rock, stripped screws (clip needed to be removed to adjust the pivot and lost all the threads when I removed the screws the first time!), pivot play, etc.
I sent it in twice and got no satisfaction. Worse when it came back.
I thought about trying to sell it deeply discounted of course but my conscience wouldn't allow it so I gave this $400 POS away to a friend with more time and patience than I have. He sent it back and in his words "customer service is atrocious". After a while he just started calling them every day and hounding them for weeks till they finally caved and repaired it and sent it back. I haven't heard any follow up from him about the quality of the repair though.
I snicker every time I even look at one of their knives. Never again. YMMV...but I doubt it.
This all happened just a couple of weeks ago BTW.
 
oXObsidianXo said:
While I can't say for sure, looking at HTM's website there are a lot of blades bearing the DDR logo, as well has clearly being designed by Darryl Ralph. If they have gone their separate ways then I will change the question: Are HTM knives any good now? And are Darryl Ralph's knives any good?
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I can't comment on the current state of HTM or DDR knives, but I would suspect that with Mr. Ralph's designs being the major selling point of the HTM knives manufactured during his time there, those knives will continue to appear on the HTM website until such time as they are no longer available.
 
Misanthropia said:
Darrel Ralph's customs and HTM knives are very, very different. I've owned an HTM Gunhammer that had to be sent back almost immediately (the CS was pretty good back when I owned it and it got replaced quickly), although I think if you avoid the assisted versions they should be decent. Who knows at this point though because the company is currently in limbo. Probably best avoided altogether.

Darrel Ralph's custom knives, however, are much better. I recently got a custom Gunhammer with the 2H blade grind and I love it. It's very well done.
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Honestly i have been hearing some serious horror stories even about the "customs". Wonky grinds, warped blades, shoddy engraving as well. All that on one single commissioned piece and a real lack of desire to straighten it out. I get the impression that darrel doesnt do much of the work anymore which may be the problem. If he IS doing it I would trust his older work than any of the newer stuff. Its seems to me many of his customs are great. But when they are having an off day, its a really off day.
 
oXObsidianXo said:
While I can't say for sure, looking at HTM's website there are a lot of blades bearing the DDR logo, as well has clearly being designed by Darryl Ralph. If they have gone their separate ways then I will change the question: Are HTM knives any good now? And are Darryl Ralph's knives any good?
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No one knows. We can't find anything out about the mystery owner. There are too many questionable things going on to really make me want to deal with either. The forum knife here was a total flop from beginning to end and still. I don't know how they could all of a sudden be "better" (HTM).
 
Ok, so by the sounds of it I really don't want to even think about getting an HTM. If there is anyone who has had a good experience with Darryl Ralph their input would be appreciated.
 
I have seen a couple of their designs I liked but after reading this thread I will certainly be looking past them in the future.
 
You need to read post # 3 by JR88FAN for any idea of what's happening. HTM isn't worth considering. Darrel Ralph is on my good guy list from a long time ago, but he is recovering from a bad experience with HTM and I don't think he's begun to make his own knives again.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
You need to read post # 3 by JR88FAN for any idea of what's happening. HTM isn't worth considering. Darrel Ralph is on my good guy list from a long time ago, but he is recovering from a bad experience with HTM and I don't think he's begun to make his own knives again.
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DDR can GFH IMHO
 
Lets get something straight. This thread is in General Knife Discussion and you can keep the Whine & Cheese terminology out of here. Too much tough guy talk lately, lets get back to courtesy and a family atmosphere.
 
After watching his actions on this forum I would be more inclined to deal with HTM if Darrel had nothing to do with it. In my opinion, there are way too many great knives for that kind of money to gamble on HTM or Darrel.
 
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