I had been looking for a small EDC/neck knife, and after trying out knife after knife and not finding what I wanted, I decided to go custom. James Terrio was the maker of this knife and I am going to review it in five categories: Knife, Sheath, Maker, User Impressions/ Comments, If This Knife Were Lost/Stolen. Although I just got the knife yesterday morning, I have been off work the last few days so I gave it a good workout hiking yesterday and mountain biking today
KNIFE: I gave James a vague idea of what I was looking for with the hope that he would be able to interpret it and make something useful. He did just that. He did a great job in terms of ergonomics. I wanted a small knife, 6.75 inches total, so it was a challenge to get a handle that was comfortable. James did a great job, as the handle fits my hand perfectly! I wanted to use the knife for EDC purposes, and to take with me into the woods to hike and mountain bike, and it works beautifully. The Elmax steel is a nice sturdy thickness and came SHARP! I chose black G10 scales, and they are nicely textured where needed for grip, and very ergonomic. Great fit and finish! I used it for various outdoor tasks and the Elmax held a nice edge.
SHEATH: The sheath is cool and very nicely done. His wife makes these by hand I believe, so kudos to her! It securely holds the knife in place when hung on the neck, and I love the use of a magnet to give the sheath extra retention. The sheath is not just functional, but visually appealing as well. I can carry it in my pocket, or around my neck via the eyelets. Both ways are nice and comfy.
MAKER: James was great to work with. I appreciated that he sent me a draw up of the knife and sheath options before starting, which gave me options. I was a bit like a kid waiting for Christmas with this project, so I asked for updates and pics numerous times. James was patient and communicated very well. Cant say enough about how friendly he was. Just a great guy to deal with.
USER IMPRESSIONS/COMMENTS: I havent the knife long enough to give a long term user impression, but I have had it out on a mountain bike ride, pocket carried it a few times, and neck carried it some. I love the Elmax steel; it is my favorite steel because it is so solid all-around. The heat treat on it seems to be spot on and it holds an edge well. The knife stays securely in its sheath, even when it was being jostled around on the bike ride. The handle is very comfy, even when used for extended periods. There are no hot spots. The size is perfect for me, and the blade shape is very versatile. I couldnt be more pleased with the knife and overall experience. I buy and sell a lot of knives, but this one that will be passed on to my kids one day. I will be selling off many of my small fixed blades now since this just fits my needs better. My only complaint is I didnt order two! I will definitely be ordering from James again.
IF THIS KNIFE WERE LOST/STOLEN: One way I can really tell how much I value particular knives is when I consider what I would do if I lost the knife or if it were stolen. Many knives, I wouldn't even consider repurchasing. In the case of this knife I would likely spend fruitless hours trying to hunt it down. If it were stolen and I did find the hypothetical thief, I would know he was well armed (with my knife). I would not engage him in a knife fight, for fear of the vast powers of ELMAX (such a cool name) he would possess, and for fear of damaging my knife. Instead, I would pepper spray him the eyes, grab the knife, and run! But seriously, this is a knife I would most certainly replace in a heartbeat, and probably even get an extra for backup.
Thanks for the great new piece of steel James!
KNIFE: I gave James a vague idea of what I was looking for with the hope that he would be able to interpret it and make something useful. He did just that. He did a great job in terms of ergonomics. I wanted a small knife, 6.75 inches total, so it was a challenge to get a handle that was comfortable. James did a great job, as the handle fits my hand perfectly! I wanted to use the knife for EDC purposes, and to take with me into the woods to hike and mountain bike, and it works beautifully. The Elmax steel is a nice sturdy thickness and came SHARP! I chose black G10 scales, and they are nicely textured where needed for grip, and very ergonomic. Great fit and finish! I used it for various outdoor tasks and the Elmax held a nice edge.
SHEATH: The sheath is cool and very nicely done. His wife makes these by hand I believe, so kudos to her! It securely holds the knife in place when hung on the neck, and I love the use of a magnet to give the sheath extra retention. The sheath is not just functional, but visually appealing as well. I can carry it in my pocket, or around my neck via the eyelets. Both ways are nice and comfy.
MAKER: James was great to work with. I appreciated that he sent me a draw up of the knife and sheath options before starting, which gave me options. I was a bit like a kid waiting for Christmas with this project, so I asked for updates and pics numerous times. James was patient and communicated very well. Cant say enough about how friendly he was. Just a great guy to deal with.
USER IMPRESSIONS/COMMENTS: I havent the knife long enough to give a long term user impression, but I have had it out on a mountain bike ride, pocket carried it a few times, and neck carried it some. I love the Elmax steel; it is my favorite steel because it is so solid all-around. The heat treat on it seems to be spot on and it holds an edge well. The knife stays securely in its sheath, even when it was being jostled around on the bike ride. The handle is very comfy, even when used for extended periods. There are no hot spots. The size is perfect for me, and the blade shape is very versatile. I couldnt be more pleased with the knife and overall experience. I buy and sell a lot of knives, but this one that will be passed on to my kids one day. I will be selling off many of my small fixed blades now since this just fits my needs better. My only complaint is I didnt order two! I will definitely be ordering from James again.
IF THIS KNIFE WERE LOST/STOLEN: One way I can really tell how much I value particular knives is when I consider what I would do if I lost the knife or if it were stolen. Many knives, I wouldn't even consider repurchasing. In the case of this knife I would likely spend fruitless hours trying to hunt it down. If it were stolen and I did find the hypothetical thief, I would know he was well armed (with my knife). I would not engage him in a knife fight, for fear of the vast powers of ELMAX (such a cool name) he would possess, and for fear of damaging my knife. Instead, I would pepper spray him the eyes, grab the knife, and run! But seriously, this is a knife I would most certainly replace in a heartbeat, and probably even get an extra for backup.
Thanks for the great new piece of steel James!
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