Large Barker Hokkaido

Maybe "Give In" was off the mark... Submit? I appreciate you and your opinion STeven, that is why I hunt you down at each show and ask for input.
 
RyanW said:
Maybe "Give In" was off the mark... Submit? I appreciate you and your opinion STeven, that is why I hunt you down at each show and ask for input.
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No worries, and sure thing. I enjoy our discussions very much, Ryan.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I must admit I read that initial comment by STeven as quite harsh but this is internet... Hard to convey adequate emotion in a post. Glad I read the remainder of the thread.

Ben, you know how I feel about this knife. John's work is super clean and it has been great seeing him dive head first into the folder making world. I cannot wait for my name to come up on his list.
 
severedthumbs said:
Yes. I find a Southard tops them.
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Hey Weenis!!!

Glad to see you are still alive and kicking.

We all have our preferences.

Thanks for shooting a three month old thread to the top!!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Ben- Try a Willumsen folder next or a Leu.
I don't get the Mayo-thing.
rolf
 
Lycosa said:
Yes, but that's just me.
I'd rather have a Dozier folder.
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Rolf, this is my opinion...

I have handled Dozier folders...and they are nice.

The Mayo knives that I have owned(and that has been like 10 at this point) all are very smooth operating, lock up like a bank vault, have impeccable grinds, fine hand rubbed satin finish, and are unique in their appearance and design.

Tom did it first, and he does it the best...for this style of folder, imo.

As a contrast, the Dozier folders in their "classic" iteration of black micarta scales and belt satin finish are more utilitarian in appearance and not quite as refined in overall design and execution.

The blade to handle ratio is off a little more on Bob's designs, shorter blade, longer handle.

As I said to good buddy SeveredThumbs, it is all a matter of what you like.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thank you, STeven.
My Godfather has a Mayo for sale. I'll give it the once over again.
rolf
 
Mayo is top shelf all the way. I just do not care much for his designs. I have owned many, about 12. Once I got my first Brad Southard I was blown away. A+ level, Fit and finish is in the elite level of makers, there arent many at this level. Not all his designs are great either, be he does have some stand out knives. I do not think anyone would not be impressed by his work. What say ye STeven?
 
severedthumbs said:
Mayo is top shelf all the way. I just do not care much for his designs. I have owned many, about 12. Once I got my first Brad Southard I was blown away. A+ level, Fit and finish is in the elite level of makers, there arent many at this level. Not all his designs are great either, be he does have some stand out knives. I do not think anyone would not be impressed by his work. What say ye STeven?
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As I said, I like Tom Mayo designs and have used two of them hard, harder than most collectors ever use their knives, in the Seafood Department at Whole Foods Market...cutting fish, boxes, strapping tape, regular boxing tape, wood, sometimes metal.....they held up amazingly well...no hot spots, held an edge for a very long time, carried well, deployed well.....

I say I have not handled but two of Southard's, and they didn't leave much impression other than excellent fit/finish and function. There are not many that appear in my circle of friends for me to handle and what he does make sells readily and disappears, but you can say that of contemporaries; Marlowe, Marsh, Rexford....and many others....it is a relatively new group of makers that appeal to many collectors, and for that, I don't really have an opinion.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
I say I have not handled but two of them, and they didn't leave much impression other than excellent fit/finish and function. There are not many that appear in my circle of friends for me to handle and what he does make sells readily and disappears, but you can say that of contemporaries; Marlowe, Marsh, Rexford....and many others....it is a relatively new group of makers that appeal to many collectors, and for that, I don't really have an opinion.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Fair enough and well stated. Don't forget Horton, his stuff disappears at most any price and rarely resurfaces. There is a new breed of makers out there and a new generation of money chasing them.
 
I can share some relevant experience in this space for what it's worth. John Barker makes an excellent honest knife and seems like a real good guy as well if that matters to anybody. The quality of his recent Hokkaido model is similar to a Mayo or J.W. Smith tactical and the level of hand work seems similar. I support the comments on the stop pin and backspacer as leaving room for improvement, but it seems that most folks that buy these types of knives unfortunately either don't care or don't notice - I'm sure John could achieve those details to order for a buyer that noted the importance.

BTW, RJ Martin's knives over the last few years are in a different class of precision than the other references and that's just a fact. Precision is a major focus of RJ's work and his tolerances/equipment/work process and construction details demonstrate the differences for those that hold such details important.

On another noted comment - I respect Tom Mayo's knives, but I believe that he'll tell you that Kit Carson was doing titanium frame locks with holes before him and maybe Kit will tell you that somebody else did it before him (I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong… ;) ). Mayo's are like the Porsche 911 of the knife world though - Tom has it down.
 
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I have had RJ Martins with lock stick and a few other problems. And I for one do not care for his designs one bit.

Watch the Chris Reeves shop tour and tell me what custom maker can hold those tolerances?
 
severedthumbs said:
I have had RJ Martins with lock stick and a few other problems. And I for one do not care for his designs one bit.

Watch the Chris Reeves shop tour and tell me what custom maker can hold those tolerances?
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I suspect your RJ experience was either with an older knife when he was still honing his skills, or it was messed with or beat on by somebody because nothing I've seen post ~2010 has varied much at all from dead nuts on, but I certainly haven't held every example. Personal tastes on design style naturally vary across the board.

WRT Chris Reeves - The late great Phil Boguszewski once commented to me that Chris is the man if you're looking for precision, so I am not one to question that comment and Phil also referred to visiting Chris on at least one occasion in his shop as well. That said, while I'd consider my Chris Reeves knives (one fixed and one folder) flawless, they don't resonate as any more precise in hand than either RJ's work or Phil's for that matter. Thus, once you're at 0.0005" of tolerance (this is what RJ and Phil hold for their most critical fits), I suspect that it becomes hard to notice any improvement. My "seat of pants" assessment is that Emmanuel Esposito is the most precise maker I've ever held FWIW. Scott Sawby doesn't do so bad either… This thread isn't about absolute precision though. I was only commenting on the makers mentioned in comparison to John Barker.
 
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