- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
- Messages
- 2,351
I was looking forward to the Gathering for more reasons than one because, in addition to seeing the guys and enjoying a weekend away, I was picking up my Element Tanto. I have to say, I was extremely pleased with the way both the weekend and the Element turned out.
I was wondering how much I would like this knife, having ordered the EDC version with the shorter handle. It is sometimes hard to visualize how a handle of a given length will work for you from a length and picture but I found that, for me, the handle was just about perfect for the use I had in mind. It is a small knife at 6.5" overall with a 3" blade but somehow the knife feels a bit bigger in the hand.
I asked John to do a tanto because I wanted a small concealable knife that could be carried as a neck, belt or pocket blade and fill the role of a back-up defensive carry blade. This interpretation of the tanto is one of the best adaptations of the geometric "Americanized" tanto style that I have seen. John ground a slight sweep on the back edge and an almost CNC machine-like secondary point where the angle from the point meets the edge. Overall, the grinds are super clean and I think this may be one of the most perfect edges I have seen on a JK. This knife looks like a bad mammajamma that doesn't know it's only 3" of blade.
The kydex sheath is a clamshell style with grommets around both sides to allow for multiple mounting options. The sheath is well made and also rides fairly high up on the grip providing excellent retention and there is zero movement or rattle. I wore the Element the entire weekend as a neck knife as well as wearing it under my sweater to work today. It does print a bit under my sweater but not enough to really notice. I really don't regularly carry a neck knife but wanted to have this carry style available as an option and this works. If I was going to use this only in that role, I might ask John to thin out the grips a bit more but for my multi-carry use it is perfect.
I wanted to take a better pic but my camera battery died so I had to snap a phone pic for now...
With three different blade styles (and I heard a 4th on the way), a handmade O1 blade, kydex, micarta and a $100 price tag, this is A MUST HAVE BLADE. Fit and finish are great, super handy size and multiple options in a package that competes at the price point of a variety of machine made knives. I would rate this one a 10 out of 10 and a superb value.
I was wondering how much I would like this knife, having ordered the EDC version with the shorter handle. It is sometimes hard to visualize how a handle of a given length will work for you from a length and picture but I found that, for me, the handle was just about perfect for the use I had in mind. It is a small knife at 6.5" overall with a 3" blade but somehow the knife feels a bit bigger in the hand.
I asked John to do a tanto because I wanted a small concealable knife that could be carried as a neck, belt or pocket blade and fill the role of a back-up defensive carry blade. This interpretation of the tanto is one of the best adaptations of the geometric "Americanized" tanto style that I have seen. John ground a slight sweep on the back edge and an almost CNC machine-like secondary point where the angle from the point meets the edge. Overall, the grinds are super clean and I think this may be one of the most perfect edges I have seen on a JK. This knife looks like a bad mammajamma that doesn't know it's only 3" of blade.
The kydex sheath is a clamshell style with grommets around both sides to allow for multiple mounting options. The sheath is well made and also rides fairly high up on the grip providing excellent retention and there is zero movement or rattle. I wore the Element the entire weekend as a neck knife as well as wearing it under my sweater to work today. It does print a bit under my sweater but not enough to really notice. I really don't regularly carry a neck knife but wanted to have this carry style available as an option and this works. If I was going to use this only in that role, I might ask John to thin out the grips a bit more but for my multi-carry use it is perfect.
I wanted to take a better pic but my camera battery died so I had to snap a phone pic for now...
With three different blade styles (and I heard a 4th on the way), a handmade O1 blade, kydex, micarta and a $100 price tag, this is A MUST HAVE BLADE. Fit and finish are great, super handy size and multiple options in a package that competes at the price point of a variety of machine made knives. I would rate this one a 10 out of 10 and a superb value.
