Hi everyone - I posted a couple weeks back about having ordered these as my first decent quality folders. I've had about a week or so with them now and thought I would post my initial impressions. As an initial matter, however, I want to emphasize that I'm a complete newbie to non-Kitchen knives and I would caution anyone against giving too much (if any weight) to my qualitative assessments.
1. Kerhsaw Leek Composite D2: Really nice. Aesthetics are sleek, svelte, minimalist - a good looking knife on the elegant/finesse end of the spectrum. Manufacturing quality seems to be very high with really good tolerances - no visible gaps, asymmetries, uneven or rough edges or surfaces; smooth pivot action smooth; firm lock-up with zero vertical or horizontal play. Functional design is well thought out and well executed - every corner and edge has been lightly rounded; good ergonomics; comfortable grip (once opened) notwithstanding the smooth flat handle. Blade is very sharp out of the box (probably not as sharp as it could be, but about as sharp as any factory edge from of any kitchen knife I've come across) with a great utilitarian blade shape. My only criticisms are (1) held loosely (opened or closed), it's a little slippery due to the shape and smooth finish (and my butterfingers), (2) it's designed more for finesse than all around workhorse duty (which isn't a knock on the knife at all - just an observation), which for me makes it better for part time EDC than full time EDC, and (3) as much as I love the AO, it freaks some people out who think I'm carrying a switchblade.
2. CRKT Snap Fire. Love/hate/love/hate. . . .What I love: the pivot wheel looks exactly like a fly reel (what can I say, I'm a fly fisher); the industrial aesthetic design; the blade shape and size for small utility tasks; the unique locking mechanism; rock-solid build quality and the fact that the design, rainbow anodized pivot wheel, stubby blade shape and slow deployment make this about as non-threatening and people friendly a folder as I've seen. What I hate: the pivot wheel looks exactly like a fly wheel (pointless form over function design that serves only to act as a dust and dirt repository); the industrial aesthetic design (again, pointless form over function design and a pain in the ass to clean); the unique locking mechanism (bulky and literally impossible to deploy the blade in one motion - by design it takes at least 2 very firm and deliberate (and therefore slow) motions to open the blade); and the multitude of sharp edges (this is probably the most aggravating thing - virtually every single surface edge [of which there are tons because of the design of the knife] is almost painfully sharp [not rough, but sharp as if very precisely milled and then left without sanding or buffing] which makes the knife constantly grab and pull clothing and skin). Factory edge is decently sharp, but not as sharp the the Kershaw. Despite all the flaws (which honestly outnumber the merits), I will probably carry this a fair amount because it's so people friendly, until I replace it with a new compact (see below).
3. Benchmade NRA Pardue. Hated it at first but after modifying it I think it's a great beater knife. Everything about it is utilitarian and solid, but only the blade seems particularly nice (great reverse tanto shape, sharp factory hollow grind edge). Handle is comfortable and well shaped with decent finish and very good fit/tolerances, but it does feel somewhat plasticky/cheap. I absolutely hated the rolling lock w/indraft at first because of the slow, uneven and difficult deployment caused by the indraft feature, but after cleaning, wet sanding and lubing the pivot friction areas and substantially filing down the indraft liner to reduce the deployment resistance, it's serviceable. It's still difficult to snap open without any wrist flick unless I loosen the pivot (which I don't want to do because it introduces some side to side play), but with just a little bit of wrist flick it opens reliably and fast. A bit too bulky (notwithstanding it's light weight) for me to EDC (and frankly not really nice enough for me to want to EDC it), but perfect for household chores, yardwork, hiking, etc.
Next on my list to purchase (1) compact folder (Subcom/Blink/SLB/Dragonfly/?? - undecided), (2) small/medium folder (either Native or Mini-Grip - undecided) and (3) camp fixed blade knife (BRKT Canadian Special, Spyderco Bill Moran or Buck Bucklite Max - I'd love the Barkie or Moran, but for the 2 weekend kids and family trips I take a year, the cheap Buck is probably more than enough knife and is dirt cheap). I also originally thought I'd want a nice folder about the same size or larger than the Benchmade NRA (Grip, 940, Endura, etc.), but after spending time with my nascent collection, I don't think I need or would use a folder bigger than 3" other than for beater use, which I already have covered.
1. Kerhsaw Leek Composite D2: Really nice. Aesthetics are sleek, svelte, minimalist - a good looking knife on the elegant/finesse end of the spectrum. Manufacturing quality seems to be very high with really good tolerances - no visible gaps, asymmetries, uneven or rough edges or surfaces; smooth pivot action smooth; firm lock-up with zero vertical or horizontal play. Functional design is well thought out and well executed - every corner and edge has been lightly rounded; good ergonomics; comfortable grip (once opened) notwithstanding the smooth flat handle. Blade is very sharp out of the box (probably not as sharp as it could be, but about as sharp as any factory edge from of any kitchen knife I've come across) with a great utilitarian blade shape. My only criticisms are (1) held loosely (opened or closed), it's a little slippery due to the shape and smooth finish (and my butterfingers), (2) it's designed more for finesse than all around workhorse duty (which isn't a knock on the knife at all - just an observation), which for me makes it better for part time EDC than full time EDC, and (3) as much as I love the AO, it freaks some people out who think I'm carrying a switchblade.
2. CRKT Snap Fire. Love/hate/love/hate. . . .What I love: the pivot wheel looks exactly like a fly reel (what can I say, I'm a fly fisher); the industrial aesthetic design; the blade shape and size for small utility tasks; the unique locking mechanism; rock-solid build quality and the fact that the design, rainbow anodized pivot wheel, stubby blade shape and slow deployment make this about as non-threatening and people friendly a folder as I've seen. What I hate: the pivot wheel looks exactly like a fly wheel (pointless form over function design that serves only to act as a dust and dirt repository); the industrial aesthetic design (again, pointless form over function design and a pain in the ass to clean); the unique locking mechanism (bulky and literally impossible to deploy the blade in one motion - by design it takes at least 2 very firm and deliberate (and therefore slow) motions to open the blade); and the multitude of sharp edges (this is probably the most aggravating thing - virtually every single surface edge [of which there are tons because of the design of the knife] is almost painfully sharp [not rough, but sharp as if very precisely milled and then left without sanding or buffing] which makes the knife constantly grab and pull clothing and skin). Factory edge is decently sharp, but not as sharp the the Kershaw. Despite all the flaws (which honestly outnumber the merits), I will probably carry this a fair amount because it's so people friendly, until I replace it with a new compact (see below).
3. Benchmade NRA Pardue. Hated it at first but after modifying it I think it's a great beater knife. Everything about it is utilitarian and solid, but only the blade seems particularly nice (great reverse tanto shape, sharp factory hollow grind edge). Handle is comfortable and well shaped with decent finish and very good fit/tolerances, but it does feel somewhat plasticky/cheap. I absolutely hated the rolling lock w/indraft at first because of the slow, uneven and difficult deployment caused by the indraft feature, but after cleaning, wet sanding and lubing the pivot friction areas and substantially filing down the indraft liner to reduce the deployment resistance, it's serviceable. It's still difficult to snap open without any wrist flick unless I loosen the pivot (which I don't want to do because it introduces some side to side play), but with just a little bit of wrist flick it opens reliably and fast. A bit too bulky (notwithstanding it's light weight) for me to EDC (and frankly not really nice enough for me to want to EDC it), but perfect for household chores, yardwork, hiking, etc.
Next on my list to purchase (1) compact folder (Subcom/Blink/SLB/Dragonfly/?? - undecided), (2) small/medium folder (either Native or Mini-Grip - undecided) and (3) camp fixed blade knife (BRKT Canadian Special, Spyderco Bill Moran or Buck Bucklite Max - I'd love the Barkie or Moran, but for the 2 weekend kids and family trips I take a year, the cheap Buck is probably more than enough knife and is dirt cheap). I also originally thought I'd want a nice folder about the same size or larger than the Benchmade NRA (Grip, 940, Endura, etc.), but after spending time with my nascent collection, I don't think I need or would use a folder bigger than 3" other than for beater use, which I already have covered.
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