Knives you underestimated.

Yes, this borders on necromancy, but I wanted to drop the Schempp Bowie into this thread. I picked one up because it was good looking and thought it would be a large-ish, limited use gentleman’s folder. To make a long story short, due to some QC issues (Frustrating! but the only time I’ve had that on a Taichung Spydie), I decided to EDC the crap out of it.

6EB7463D-8DB7-4A38-ADCF-CCC5952A9819.jpeg

It’s quite simply a surprisingly great EDC! It’s long enough for just about anything. The thin stock, broad blade and flat grind make it an amazing slicer. The tip of the Bowie gets into tight & delicate places with precision. The deep wire clip, contour, and thinness make it a discrete carry with easy pocket access. Damn, it looks good too. It’s taking everything I can throw at it with style.

6A3AFEEC-F476-4CE9-A0FA-7F7456793746.jpeg

I’m also curious to see how the brass bolsters look after long term use.
 
Honestly. I’m probably gonna get flamed for this one...my biggest surprise is from Gerber. I totally underestimated it.

Gerber Stongarm. $60ish made in USA. Comes with a great sheath with multiple carry options. Bought it to beat on at my farm. Factory edge of the Gerber was dismal, but once I put an edge on it it was a “woah” moment. For this price it’s hard to beat. I’ve processed deer and pigs. I’ve done the normal “bushcraft” tasks like batonning wood etc. I carry this just as much as my TOPS Bob and Southern Grind Jackyl. Seriously.

So yeah. Gerber surprised me
 
4mer_FMF said:
Yes, this borders on necromancy, but I wanted to drop the Schempp Bowie into this thread. I picked one up because it was good looking and thought it would be a large-ish, limited use gentleman’s folder. To make a long story short, due to some QC issues (Frustrating! but the only time I’ve had that on a Taichung Spydie), I decided to EDC the crap out of it.

View attachment 849593

It’s quite simply a surprisingly great EDC! It’s long enough for just about anything. The thin stock, broad blade and flat grind make it an amazing slicer. The tip of the Bowie gets into tight & delicate places with precision. The deep wire clip, contour, and thinness make it a discrete carry with easy pocket access. Damn, it looks good too. It’s taking everything I can throw at it with style.

View attachment 849590

I’m also curious to see how the brass bolsters look after long term use.
Click to expand...

What percent is the lockup on yours? I know it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious to compare it to mine. I need to carry it more. Great knife.
 
The Spyderco Manix 2 S110V really surprised me. I knew the Manix 2 was popular, but I didn't have an interest in it. Then I took one on trade and became an instant convert.
 
4mer_FMF said:
Yes, this borders on necromancy, but I wanted to drop the Schempp Bowie into this thread. I picked one up because it was good looking and thought it would be a large-ish, limited use gentleman’s folder. To make a long story short, due to some QC issues (Frustrating! but the only time I’ve had that on a Taichung Spydie), I decided to EDC the crap out of it.

View attachment 849593

It’s quite simply a surprisingly great EDC! It’s long enough for just about anything. The thin stock, broad blade and flat grind make it an amazing slicer. The tip of the Bowie gets into tight & delicate places with precision. The deep wire clip, contour, and thinness make it a discrete carry with easy pocket access. Damn, it looks good too. It’s taking everything I can throw at it with style.

View attachment 849590

I’m also curious to see how the brass bolsters look after long term use.
Click to expand...

I try to tell myself, that its just too odd but I really like that knife.

I need to get a Schempp Bowie.

Enabler!:mad:


.
:D
 
BladeScout said:
I try to tell myself, that its just too odd but I really like that knife.

I need to get a Schempp Bowie.

Enabler!:mad:


.
:D
Click to expand...

It's a knife that made me think "it looks funny in pictures, but I know I'll love it in person." I was right!
 
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Kershaw Link:
Totally underestimated the steel, the 420HC holds a shaving-sharp edge well and it's easy to re-sharpen too. Plus the build quality is amazing aside from the blade being a bit off-center (but favouring the lock-bar side).

Ontario RAT Model 1 (and 2):
For sure. Both are amazing. The RAT 1 is a tank that slices well and the RAT 2 is an EDC knife that slices even better. Very comfortable in the hand, build quality on my RAT 1 was impeccable until I took it apart. Both came perfectly centered, shaving sharp, no sharp edges, nothing aside from a stiff lockbar on the RAT 1 which is normal I suppose.

Spyderco Endura 4:
Supposedly one of Spyderco's "Lightweights", I was surprised at how robust and dense it felt. I don't think it's purpose-built for hard-use but it sure feels like it could take a serious beating.

Spyderco Tenacious:
Wasn't expecting much from the steel, but it holds a shaving sharp edge quite well and best of all, if it gets a little bit less sharp, I don't even have to re-sharpen it, just strop with compound and in no time, it's back to ridiculously sharp.
 
Armadew said:
What percent is the lockup on yours? I know it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious to compare it to mine. I need to carry it more. Great knife.
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Lockup is around 50%. Had a bit of lockstick for the first 20 cycles or so.
6220CA61-A6C9-49C2-A464-676AEE32F002.jpeg
 
augustus88 said:
Ontario Rat 1
It's just way better than it needs to be at its price point.
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I could not agree more. The RAT-1 (and RAT-2) are knives that seem very affordable (they are) and I expected an inexpensive knife that I could take when i travel and other places where, through loss or whatever, the knife may not return with me. I like FFG for it's slicing traits and, did I mention the price? AUS-8 doesn't bother me a bit ... especially at this price point.

I so underestimated these knives! I hope Ontario doesn't read this and raise their price - but I suspect they may actually scare folks away from this knife with it's price. I have about three or for of them now and bought one for my son as well.

I almost want to apologize to this poor knife for so under-estimating it.
 
Q7jHoKbh.jpg

I like this one more than i thought i would
 
eugenechia1989 said:
Ontario RAT Model 1 (and 2):
For sure. Both are amazing. The RAT 1 is a tank that slices well and the RAT 2 is an EDC knife that slices even better. Very comfortable in the hand, build quality on my RAT 1 was impeccable until I took it apart. Both came perfectly centered, shaving sharp, no sharp edges, nothing aside from a stiff lockbar on the RAT 1 which is normal I suppose.
Click to expand...

SALTY said:
I could not agree more. The RAT-1 (and RAT-2) are knives that seem very affordable (they are) and I expected an inexpensive knife that I could take when i travel and other places where, through loss or whatever, the knife may not return with me. I like FFG for it's slicing traits and, did I mention the price? AUS-8 doesn't bother me a bit ... especially at this price point.

I so underestimated these knives! I hope Ontario doesn't read this and raise their price - but I suspect they may actually scare folks away from this knife with it's price. I have about three or for of them now and bought one for my son as well.

I almost want to apologize to this poor knife for so under-estimating it.
Click to expand...

I just picked up an Ontario RAT-2 today, and I am very impressed with it. Full flat grind, solid liner lock with zero stick, smooth, dead centered blade when closed, no blade play at all, reversible pocket clip, and double sided thumb studs. For only 40 bucks, I don't mind the Aus8 at all. I saw it at an army surplus store today while waiting to go see a movie. Out of all the knives I looked at (Benchmade Grips, CRKT, Kabar, etc..), the only other knife that was comparable on all the points I mentioned was a 200 dollar Zero Tolerance. I was very tempted to pick up the ZT, but I wasn't exactly planning on dropping 200 bucks on an EDC today. What a great and inexpensive little EDC the RAT-2 is! Can't wait to put it to some hard use this week. I've been out of the knife buying loop for a little while now (I've only been using a Northfield slip joint folder for the last couple of years), and I had no idea about this model by Ontario until I saw it in the store today. Do not underestimate this one folks! At this price point, I won't be worried about putting it through some serious use, or losing it. It is absolutely worth the money that I paid for it.
 
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