Knife Kits

Trex5588 · Mar 2, 2011

Im looking at an item on Knifekits.com. Its called the Stinger framelock for $21.95. This is a partial quote from them about this product: "Properly built, you can easily meet or exceed the quality and performance found on many knives in the $200+ dollar range available today." Is this true or is it just a marketing pitch? Maybe they are talking about if i added $150 worth of extras to this items. What are your thoughts? I know " you get what you pay or is true pretty much everywhere.

scouter27 · Mar 2, 2011

I don't know of a 440A frame lock with a steel+G10 frame that retails for $200, but there may be one out there.

Just based on the info provided on the site, it's probably pretty good for the money. You could also get a Buck Pilot for a little more. I have the Pilot, but think the Stinger would satisfy me more for the money, based on looks.

Trex5588 · Mar 2, 2011

Yeah come to think of it most 200 + knives use newest steels such as s 30 v and then go up in price due to precision finishing. The kits seem to have pretty good polishing but im not sure its worth 200. Then i guess some labor is removed by getting a kit, but i dont think these things take up all 200 in labor, even here in the USA. Estimate of labor to put together is about 5 to 10 minutes max, thats about say 15 dollars divided by 6 = 2.50 cents of labor to put kit together then triple that for profit.

scouter27 · Mar 2, 2011

Well, you would have to add in fitting time, which I'm sure the Stinger could use. $15 might cover the wage of the assembler, but you also have to consider the shop expenses. Like rent/mortgage on the building, utilities and insurance. $40+ is what garages charge per hour around here, and I promise the mechanics are not getting paid that. I'd say it has the potential to be a $50 knife, but not much more.

HEMI 1500 · Mar 2, 2011

scouter27 said:
Well, you would have to add in fitting time, which I'm sure the Stinger could use. $15 might cover the wage of the assembler, but you also have to consider the shop expenses. Like rent/mortgage on the building, utilities and insurance. $40+ is what garages charge per hour around here, and I promise the mechanics are not getting paid that. I'd say it has the potential to be a $50 knife, but not much more.

by me,,,it $90hr for garage hr rate,,,the guy prob makes $25,,one of the top mechanics there...but geeezzz $90, hr....I got a tune up on my hemi ram it was $742,,,ouch!!!

Dagon · Mar 3, 2011

To me, it looks like a Magnum or Sanrenmu knife that you have to put together yourself.

The interesting ones from Knifekits are -in my opinion- the DDR series which are designed by custom maker Darrel Ralph.

m0urning_cr0ws · Mar 11, 2011

Dagon said:
To me, it looks like a Magnum or Sanrenmu knife that you have to put together yourself.

The interesting ones from Knifekits are -in my opinion- the DDR series which are designed by custom maker Darrel Ralph.

dagon is right, i put together a DDR-3 RC, its a pretty solid knife and the blade came razor sharp. its actually my fave knife so far for edc!

Tsujigiri · Mar 11, 2011

Knifekit's knives have had pretty bad quality in my experience. There are a lot of cheaper fully assembled options that are better.

Bo T · Mar 11, 2011

I've been looking at a kit at Janz that has for @ $80 that has a laminated VG-10 blade. they have a good sales pitch and assembling the knife yourself allows for a "fluff and buff" smooth action. You might check this out if it is within your price range.