RamZar
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Profuse apologies!
By the way, when closed the Starmate is only as wide as the Bradley whereas the others are noticeably wider. You can see the fairly narrow profile of the Starmate.
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Is the Starmate worth the price?
- Thread starter FTR-14c
- Start date
Profuse apologies!
By the way, when closed the Starmate is only as wide as the Bradley whereas the others are noticeably wider. You can see the fairly narrow profile of the Starmate.
Take the Tuff out and the others are relatively similar in construction and so forth. Comparing the Starmate to the remaining 3 and you can't justify the price of the Starmate. OTOH it is a unique style and I really like it. So if you want it you have to pay the price.
I love most of Terzuola's designs, and wanted so badly to like the Spyderco Starmate, but there were several deal breakers:
1. The G10 desperately needed radiusing on every edge and corner. The knife was very uncomfortable to hold.
2. The chunk of metal missing from the bottom of the blade, right under where the cutting edge begins
3. Plastic washers - I know it's magical nylatron or whatever, but every knife I"ve had that used nylon washers, from Al Mar to Emerson, always felt like there was a tiny bit of side to side play compared to phosphor bronze washers that feel very solid to me.
Again, I wanted so badly to like this knife but just couldn't get over the shortcomings. $160 is worth it for a knife made from VG10 and G10 if it is assembled and finished immaculately which my Starmate, and every other that I've examined, definately wasn't.
I used the money for a Sharpmaker, and another Para2...
1. The G10 desperately needed radiusing on every edge and corner. The knife was very uncomfortable to hold.
2. The chunk of metal missing from the bottom of the blade, right under where the cutting edge begins
3. Plastic washers - I know it's magical nylatron or whatever, but every knife I"ve had that used nylon washers, from Al Mar to Emerson, always felt like there was a tiny bit of side to side play compared to phosphor bronze washers that feel very solid to me.
Again, I wanted so badly to like this knife but just couldn't get over the shortcomings. $160 is worth it for a knife made from VG10 and G10 if it is assembled and finished immaculately which my Starmate, and every other that I've examined, definately wasn't.
I used the money for a Sharpmaker, and another Para2...
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- Jun 9, 2011
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reissued starmate is one fine looking knife. only deal killer for me is the vg10....yeah i know how can i think this way. i've recently come over to the camp that im not very fond of vg10 for it's wire burring...drives me crazy trying to remove the wire burr. probably in this camp by myself, so be it. for some knives it's fine, but i'd have preferred m4 or something extra special, to me anyways.
as for the gb, got one love it, only thing i don't care for is the lack of a finger guard or cutout of some type. mostly a minor gripe since it's designed fine for pull cutting. not a deal killer, by any means....i just like the security or even perceived security of something to stop my fingers from sliding forward on push cutting besides the grip shape. that's me though and i expect i'm a lone wolf in thinking this way. still minor gripes....and not enough to stop me from owning one of the two and using it often.
as for the gb, got one love it, only thing i don't care for is the lack of a finger guard or cutout of some type. mostly a minor gripe since it's designed fine for pull cutting. not a deal killer, by any means....i just like the security or even perceived security of something to stop my fingers from sliding forward on push cutting besides the grip shape. that's me though and i expect i'm a lone wolf in thinking this way. still minor gripes....and not enough to stop me from owning one of the two and using it often.
Sorry Mathew, I have to disagree:
1. The G10 desperately needed radiusing on every edge and corner. The knife was very uncomfortable to hold.
Not for me. The edges are radiused, just not dramatic, the G10 is very thin.
2. The chunk of metal missing from the bottom of the blade, right under where the cutting edge begins
There is no chunk of metal missing. There is a small area that is not finished. Don't know why but it doesn't bother me.
3. Plastic washers - I know it's magical nylatron or whatever, but every knife I"ve had that used nylon washers, from Al Mar to Emerson, always felt like there was a tiny bit of side to side play compared to phosphor bronze washers that feel very solid to me.
My knife is as solid as a rock. No play in any direction. I didn't even know the washers were nylatron, but hoped it was. If you don't like nylatron, you don't really want a Terzuola product. He does not use phosphor bronze washers in his customs but uses nylatron instead. Bob said my custom needs no lubrication, just cleaning with soap and water. I've had 4 or 5 years now and no problem.
I like my Starmate. Its opens with the thumb hole almost as fast and slick as a flipper. You can readily flick it open, pop it open, but it has a solid detent and won't open accidently. The VG-10 takes a good edge and holds it. The fit and finish is very good, bet it was made by Moki.
1. The G10 desperately needed radiusing on every edge and corner. The knife was very uncomfortable to hold.
Not for me. The edges are radiused, just not dramatic, the G10 is very thin.
2. The chunk of metal missing from the bottom of the blade, right under where the cutting edge begins
There is no chunk of metal missing. There is a small area that is not finished. Don't know why but it doesn't bother me.
3. Plastic washers - I know it's magical nylatron or whatever, but every knife I"ve had that used nylon washers, from Al Mar to Emerson, always felt like there was a tiny bit of side to side play compared to phosphor bronze washers that feel very solid to me.
My knife is as solid as a rock. No play in any direction. I didn't even know the washers were nylatron, but hoped it was. If you don't like nylatron, you don't really want a Terzuola product. He does not use phosphor bronze washers in his customs but uses nylatron instead. Bob said my custom needs no lubrication, just cleaning with soap and water. I've had 4 or 5 years now and no problem.
I like my Starmate. Its opens with the thumb hole almost as fast and slick as a flipper. You can readily flick it open, pop it open, but it has a solid detent and won't open accidently. The VG-10 takes a good edge and holds it. The fit and finish is very good, bet it was made by Moki.
RamZar
Gold Member
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- Mar 3, 2013
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It's perhaps the fastest opening manual (non-flipper) Spyderco.
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Well the Gayle Bradley arrived today and its pretty awesome.
It's like a blinged out Stretch on steroids.
The first thing I did was brake out the Dremmel and removed some scale and liner at the lock release so I can get my thumb in there.
Now its perfect, I really like it.
I will more then likely end up getting the Starmate after the newness of the GB wears off.
I'd like to thank everybody for your input.
It's like a blinged out Stretch on steroids.
The first thing I did was brake out the Dremmel and removed some scale and liner at the lock release so I can get my thumb in there.
Now its perfect, I really like it.
I will more then likely end up getting the Starmate after the newness of the GB wears off.
I'd like to thank everybody for your input.
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- Apr 17, 2010
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I have a couple of the original 'Golden Colorado' Starmates... and a couple of these newer VG-10 knives...
I prefer the older knives... CPM 440V and the cool Terzuola medalion and the nested liners...
but I carry the VG-10 knife because I am not worried about using it... it is pretty much maintenance free for the limited 'office-craft' functions that it performs so well...
...notes from a "rugged indoorsman"
I prefer the older knives... CPM 440V and the cool Terzuola medalion and the nested liners...
but I carry the VG-10 knife because I am not worried about using it... it is pretty much maintenance free for the limited 'office-craft' functions that it performs so well...
...notes from a "rugged indoorsman"
I don't have a starmate, but my lionsteel sr2 with plastic washers is more solid than any bronze washer knife I have.
RamZar
Gold Member
- Joined
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Kershaw Skyline is only 7.4" when open versus 8.7" for Spyderco Starmate.
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