Hello all. I'm new to this board and I just picked up an AXIS with the black coating. Based on posts from this board, I had settled on either a REKAT Pioneer or an AXIS. At the show, I saw only one Pioneer at $140 and then I happened to see a table where the guy had three AXIS' for $80. I went to a few other tables to check prices for the AXIS and by the time I returned, there was only one left - so I bought it. This knife is everything that has been written about it - I just can't put it down. I'll probably still get a Pioneer later as I prefer the 3" blades, but this AXIS was just too good to pass up. Kevin