James Brand Hellcat?

Hale Storm

Hale Storm

Kydex Whisperer
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Sep 18, 2013
Messages
2,771
I really want to like this one, BUT, $300+ for S35VN and plain micarta seems steep when you compare it to the various customs you could get here on the forums for that kinda scratch.
My first thought was that a CRK Nyala can be had for around the $200-$250 mark and it's the same steel with beautiful satin finish and nice sculpted micarta scales, AND a very nice leather sheath.
Is it just me or am I missing something with the James Brand?
I'd love to hear some opinions.
 
My opinion of the difference between the two brands mentioned; CRK dont strike me as being hipster knives per se.
 
James brand is a hipster. If your into hipster stuff, get one.

Its manufacturered by Millet knives, so it's of quality. They do a good job with heat treatment and quality overall.

Remember that steel names don't make the knife or the value of it. It's all just perception that the knife market made up. Heat treatment, geometry, quality matter alot more. You can follow trends of buying brands that are more popular if you like though.

In anycase, the brand is trying to branch out of the China made knives to appeal to more knife people. So they went to a quality USA manufacturer to spread the hipster brand out to more people.
 
Hipster or not, it looks like a really great design for a fixed blade, well executed, good materials.

But yeah, definitely overpriced by a good long stretch. I’ve got lots of other places I’d put $300.
 
It's all about the target audience. The James brand started out marketing to non-knife people who like expensive gadgets, and now they're trying to appeal to knife guys too.
 
Over priced. its just all the advertising you are paying for basically, since the ads are everywhere.
 
I'm not sure why I didn't mention this before but in comparing knives I know and own/use, I have the Lionsteel M4 and M1, and ESEE 4. Much better values in my opinion. YMMV
Here's the basic specs on each.

Hell Gap
Blade 3.8"
Overall 7.8"
S35VN
$300.00+

Lionsteel M4 (my primary hunting knife for field dressing and skinning/quartering)
Blade 3.75"
Overall 8.00"
M390
$150.00+

Lionsteel M1 (my edc around camp and occasional daily pocket carry)
Blade 2.875"
Overall 6.625"
M390
$140.00+

ESEE 4 (my hard use knife around camp and in the woods)
Blade 4.5"
Overall 9.0"
1095
$110.00+
 
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