K Lambert or Lightfoot?

I've had the opportunity to shoot the breeze with Greg and Kirby at Blade for the last 2 years. Both great guys, really cool and into what they do.

I bought this Incinerator from Kirby at Blade 08. Really like this knife in all respects from materials to fit & finish. Haven't come upon the right Lightfoot for me yet as the Gladiators were gone both years. Will land one eventually.

Can't go wrong with knives from either Kirby or Greg. It's probably going to come down to which design you prefer.

Ironwood, carbon fiber, damascus
LambertIncinerator.jpg



Damascus detail
LambertIncineratorblade.jpg



Kirby with my knife at Blade 08
KirbyLambertsized-1.jpg



Greg and Kirby at Blade 08
LambertandLightfooisized-1.jpg
 
I have had the opportunity to handle a few knives from both these makers and wouldn't hesitate from either of them.
 
I have several knives from both Kirby and Greg. You can't go wrong with knives from either maker, both make outstanding, throw anything at them knives with excellent fit and finish. Both make "basic" knives as well as "fancier" versions. Greg and Kirby are also skilled in both framelocks and linerlocks, however; Greg tends to make more framelocks while more of Kirby's models are liner locks. What kind of knife are you looking for? Materials, size, etc?
 
I saw a Lightfoot folder recently displayed in a shop. It was 'on sale' for 700$. I am not sure what it was but the scales were green, probably G10 or micarta, and it had soem sort of shark tooth fob on it.
It looked great.

Although the finish was good, and the knife felt good in my hand, there was significant blade play with the blade fully open and locked. It was about assloppy as my 50$ Buck 110 that I got at Wally-World.

Perhaps this could get adjusted somehow by tightening the pivot but that is not way to show a knife of that price and preceived quality. I was very disappointed.

Unless I saw a few example of better quality, I would not pay that price for the Lightfoot.
 
I saw a Lightfoot folder recently displayed in a shop. It was 'on sale' for 700$. I am not sure what it was but the scales were green, probably G10 or micarta, and it had soem sort of shark tooth fob on it.
It looked great.

Although the finish was good, and the knife felt good in my hand, there was significant blade play with the blade fully open and locked. It was about assloppy as my 50$ Buck 110 that I got at Wally-World.

Perhaps this could get adjusted somehow by tightening the pivot but that is not way to show a knife of that price and preceived quality. I was very disappointed.

Unless I saw a few example of better quality, I would not pay that price for the Lightfoot.


Hi

Was this knife a brand new one that the shop acquired directly from Mr Lightfoot?

Neil Ostroff
TRUE NORTH KNIVES
www.truenorthknives.com
 
All opinions welcome please. Differences etc...

Thanks all......

Hi

As you live in Oregon, you will have an opportunity to see both Greg and Kirby at Blade West in September.

In addition to have a selection of their knives for sale, they will be holding a seminar as well on tactical custom knives.

Maybe you can swing it to go to the show!

http://blademag.com/qpPage404.aspx?404;http://dev.blademag.com:80/stage/bladeshowwest

Take care,

Neil Ostroff
TRUE NORTH KNIVES
www.truenorthknives.com
 
Both are incredible makers. I'm partial to the Lambert Whar out of all the their models.
 
Neil,

Good point.

I am not sure to be honest but I think it was 'new'. That does not mean much since it could be used.

I don't know first hand and I did not bother asking about details. I shrugged it off and moved on. It just stuck in my memory as something odd.

I hope that this was a fluke and that other examples are not like the one I saw.

They really seem nice in the web images I have seen and other people seem to like them. It's too bad the first impression for me was not good.

If it was me shopping for one, I would want to see a few more examples and handle them before getting one in order to be sure their stuff is OK.

I'm sure it is good generally but due diligence should be applied before money changes hands in my opinion. The brand name is not enough for me. :(

Regards,

ipm
 
On what day and what time of day were these pictures taken? The guy at Buck Knives is all alone reading a newspaper! :eek:
 
I would chalk that locked blade's play down to a loose pivot. I can think of what else would cause it other than either gross defect, (hard to believe) or abused knife, (definite possibility).

Quality-wise these guys, and Randy Doucette, sure look like they got it dialed.

I really admire Lightfoot's designs. Kirby has great designs too, so for me the question would really come down to the individual knife, as opposed to who made it.
 
On what day and what time of day were these pictures taken? The guy at Buck Knives is all alone reading a newspaper! :eek:

Good observation Mike! It was early Saturday morning before the show opened. I was lucky this knife was still there. I looked at it on Friday but was concerned about funds and seeing other knives first. It was my first Blade show and my second show ever. I thought about the knife alot that night and bee lined to Kirby's table first thing in the morning (even before coffee!). I was over the moon when he uncased the knife and I bought it. He sold out Saturday morning.

This year at Blade I stopped by early Friday and Kirby's stuff hadn't yet arrived. He was a bit anxious. I went back around noon and he was sold out :eek:. If memory serves he said he had 11 knives with him.

ipm; surprised to hear about that Lightfoot. I've handled over 30 of Greg's folders and they've all been extremely high quality regarding fit, finish, materials. I'm sure Greg, like most makers, makes good on any issues that could occur with one of his knives and also would not let a knife as described out of his shop. I'll bet he'd appreciate it if you dropped him an e-mail letting him know which dealer has this knife so he can contact them.
 
I would like to offer an apology to Lightfoot and to TNK (a large dealer of Lightfoot products) for my post in case I have offended them.

I am not sure if i did offend them or not. I sincerely hope not.

I do not know Mr. Lightfoot and I have nerver met him . Based on his reputation; however, I am sure he is a fine person that he runs a good business and that he is not out to cheat anyone or to sell bad products in any way shape or form.

I am also happy to business with TNK at any time. As I said in the blade forums already I think TNK is a great company to deal with in particular regarding customer service.

I am willing to correspond personally with Greg regarding the dealer but not in public.

He may indeed wish to correct that situation so that his work is shown properly so that cases like mine do not crop up again.

If I a saw one of his knives and it was set-up properly, I may consider getting one.

All the best to everyone reading this thread in particular Greg and TNK.

No offnce was meant. I only reported what I saw. :)
 
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