I need experienced opinions on this knife I am considering purchasing

L

Linden

Joined
May 17, 2015
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I was at a thrift store earlier today and was browsing their knives, there was one that I would appreciate a few opinions on.

I'm not experienced enough to know for myself if this is a quality knife, and don't want to waste my money if it isn't. The blade is unmarked other than a "falcon crest solingen" symbol. It's not necessarily light in weight, the handle feels heavier than the blade, but I don't find it overly heavy either. But where should the weight be balanced? On the top of the handle there is a spot of the wood that dips below the steel "backbone" and there is some black glue, I'm assumed it is (maybe just gunk, haha?), that I can peel off with my fingernail. This mainly, and that there were no other markings on the blade, is what causes me to worry that the knife may not be as high quality as it at first appeared to my untrained eye.

Here I'm going to try and include some images I snapped of it before leaving the store empty handed. If I can figure out how to on a phone... Take a look over them and share any opinions or knowledge concerning the quality of the blade or knife as a whole.

hZviwes

PwwCzEf

1ijitG3

uzOBylS

pqjByV3


Here are links if the above images aren't displaying.
http://imgur.com/hZviwes
http://imgur.com/PwwCzEf
http://imgur.com/1ijitG3
http://imgur.com/uzOBylS
http://imgur.com/pqjByV3
 
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Soligen in a city in Germany known for knives, beyond that, I know nothing if the knife or its quality... But it looks "decent" from the pictures, but I'm more of a folder guy
 
It's a knife and it'll do it's job, but I would certainly not expect it to be anything spectacular. Judging by the fit and finish from the picks, your description, and a quick Google search... I won't tell you how to spend your money, but I wouldn't spend much on it. No known materials or identifying markings. As MIGUY said, Soligen is known for knife making, but just because a knife says that on it isn't an indication of quality. Personally, I like the design, and I would probably buy it for a reasonable (think low) price.

What was the price? Is there any packaging? Does any workers at the store know anything about it?
 
It all depends on the asking price. If it's only a couple of bucks (it's a thrift store, after all), I wouldn't hesitate to take the chance. The knife may positively surprise you if it's under 15 dollars/euros.
 
I'd guess it is from Solingen, China. Not really Solingen, Germany. There is no german company named "Falcon Crest".
 
Yeah I couldn't find anything on Google for the "Falcon Crest" which is another reason I hesitated.

They're asking $50 for it, if it was even $20 I'd have bought it regardless of my misgivings merely because I actually did like the knife. But for $50 bucks I'd like to be more certain of it, you know. It does come with a sheath though I never got a look at it because it was kept behind the counter. I asked the lady if she knew anything about the knifes and she merely assured me they were all stainless steel blades (lol), and went on to explain that she buys them from a knife guy who comes through in a motor home from time to time. But no, she didn't know anything about it.

I may head back today with $25 or so in my pocket and try to barter it down. I've never bartered anything before and don't really know how! But I liked it in my hand, just not for $50 I'm thinking.
 
From the font on that tang stamp I 110% guarantee its from China. I wouldn't spend $5 on it. Its junk.

For $25 you could get a Mora and as Opinel and have a phenomenal fixed blade and a folder.
 
marcinek said:
For $25 you could get a Mora and as Opinel and have a phenomenal fixed blade and a folder.
Click to expand...

I'm not one to say just because something is from China its automatically junk because of my own bias (China does actually produce some very high quality products along with their junk, and unfortunately quite a few american companies produce plenty of junk on their own) but what he's saying is 110% true in that, the fact you even considered spending $50 on it, and are willing to spend $25 if bartered down, for $25-50 you can purchase a known quality knife made of known quality steel, so why throw your money at the unknown?
 
$50 buys you a lot of knife nowadays.

That is, it buys you a lot of knife with a well known track record for quality in manufacturing and materials. Even a HD Mora is less than that shipped, heck, you could get a Condor AND a Mora for that much cash... or an ESEE, or...
 
I found a website that sells "Falcon Crest" fixed-blades, they have ones that look new, with leather sheaths, and the highest prices they are asking for them is $25.

So I think you would be WAY overpaying if you paid $25 for a used knife (maybe without a sheath).

Are you sure the price tag said $50.00, and not $5.00?

It's impossible for anyone to say if "Falcon Crest" knives are any good unless they have some experience with them. Sometimes people are very surprised by the quality, durability, and/or usefulness of "cheap" knives with no traceable lineage. Buy at your own risk.
 
I believe Falcon Crest knives with that bird logo are made by
Yangjiang Konka Enterprise Co Ltd., Yiangjian, Peoples Republic of China.
 
strategy9 said:
I'm not one to say just because something is from China its automatically junk because of my own bias (China does actually produce some very high quality products along with their junk, and unfortunately quite a few american companies produce plenty of junk on their own) but what he's saying is 110% true in that, the fact you even considered spending $50 on it, and are willing to spend $25 if bartered down, for $25-50 you can purchase a known quality knife made of known quality steel, so why throw your money at the unknown?
Click to expand...
I agree that made in China is not automatically junk. But pretending the knife was made in Solingen is freud and reason enough not to buy the knife.
 
You guys convinced me, I didn't by it. Thanks for the great responses, was exactly the straightforward advice I was looking for. Quality Knives must either be much cheaper new than I thought they were or they're just more expensive in Canada than the states (very probable). I live very close to the border so I'll plan to make a trip down on a weekend soon and look around. I'll also research some of these knives and brands that have been mentioned.

Thanks guys!
 
If you're willing to spend close to 50 dollars on a very good knife, take a look at a Becker BK15. Going for around 40-45 dollars right now.
 
Great decision... Not sure the Canadian cost differential, but $50 will buy you quite a few decent options fixed or folders, made on China or elsewhere; Buck, Boker, Mora, Esee, are just a few that come to mind, but fact is you'll know exactly what you're getting, new in box, with warranty... even if they don't ship to Canada (I'm honestly not sure if they do or not or how that works), check out a site like bladeHQ and use their advanced search features; see what's all out there.
 
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