Impressions

M

MichaelScarn

Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
1,387
I went to REI and a Surplus Store within the last two days so that I could handle some knives that I wanted to buy.

Impressions:

Good!:
-Cold Steel Recon 1: I was actually really impressed by the opening and feel o the knife. It really doesn't feel that heavy. Fit and finish was pretty good for the price point.
-Benchmade Griptilian and Mini-Grip: I had wanted to get one of each of these for a long time already, but I was just blown away on how good they were. Superb action, fit and finish, great axis lock. I had thought the action would be kind of gritty, but it was phenomenal. Great ergos too.
-Buck Vantage: This was my biggest surprise. The action was really smooth, flipper and thumb hole were both great deployment methods. Handle was real comfortable.

Bad:
-ByrdRench by Spyderco: It felt really flimsy, kinda awkward, hard to fit all the pieces all together. This was high on my to-buy list but it's been placed much lower.
-Spyderco Military: OHHH!!!! HERESY!!!! It's not so much as I didn't like the knife, but my first impression didn't make me feel the way you guys seem to feel about this knife. Maybe the one in the shop had been neglected, cause the blade coating was all over the place, the opening was really gritty and weird feeling. Plus, the liner felt... slippery.
I've ordered a Paramilitary, but I think I'll have a different opinion on the knife cause I ordered a uncoated D2 blade and it has the compression lock. Plus it has steel liners to make the opening smoother.

Do you guys have any opinions on these knives?
 
ok Im wrong again. Im just blind and couldnt see it X_X

I dont know about blade coating, I always buy satin blades. Mine opens pretty smoothly, I mean some of this is a function of how well lubricated everything is. As gross as this sounds stuff from people's hands has probably gotten into the pivot (as well as the g10) and the skin and dirt coupled with the abuse of being a store demo could mean the knife could use a good cleaning. As for the lock being slippery, I think youre going to have to be more specific than that. I get a good purchase on mine. In fact, the only complaint I have for the model is the pocket clip is a little narrow for the size of the knife.

I mean, you either like it or you dont. Im not trying to convince you that its God's gift to the knife buying world but rather adressing the specific points you brought up. I didnt get it until I got my own and saw how good it cuts and how well its put together.
 
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taking a cold steel over the military..... now that is heresy! :)

To each his own... from your list, 1. BM, 2. Vantage.
 
MichaelScarn said:
-Spyderco Military: OHHH!!!! HERESY!!!! It's not so much as I didn't like the knife, but my first impression didn't make me feel the way you guys seem to feel about this knife. Maybe the one in the shop had been neglected, cause the blade coating was all over the place, the opening was really gritty and weird feeling. Plus, the liner felt... slippery.
I've ordered a Paramilitary, but I think I'll have a different opinion on the knife cause I ordered a uncoated D2 blade and it has the compression lock. Plus it has steel liners to make the opening smoother.

Do you guys have any opinions on these knives?
Click to expand...

Don't worry...joining the dark side is just a matter of time:-)
 
You know, to a large extent, whether a knife feels "right" is a matter of personal preference.

It is what it is. If there is a popular knife that just doesn't work for you. OK. It doesn't work for you. Lots of others will. Not to worry.

The Vantage is on my want list. I have a minigrip and feel that, if I were not an enthusiast, that this is probably all the knife I would ever need.
 
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