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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Lets See Your Framelocks
- Thread starter TheBadGuy
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2003
- Messages
- 2,432
my Leek 1660, as modeled by the ever-lovely Mr. Face:
abe m.
abe m.
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2002
- Messages
- 2,761
I'm just like BG, even if there were a slightly better, more reliable locking system available, there is just something about a really well made framelock that does it for me, problem is, I have found only a couple that meet my very high standards.
In productions, of course Chris Reeve makes the best framelock, after all, he kind of invented it, building on the Walker liner lock concept and frankly, I have found few custom makers that can match the quality and consistancy that CR acheives on a daily basis.
But, if I have to choose one custom maker and say he makes the best framelock overall, after quite a bit of thought, testing and consideration, at least for now, Tom Mayo is making the best framelock currently available. Its not an easy choice, JW Smith, IMO, makes an even more perfect and better finished knife than Mayo, BUT, and its a big but, I greatly prefer the design of the TnT to any JWS I have seen, and when i say design, im speaking not just visually, but functionally. Then there's Mike Obenauf who is making unbelievable knives right now, his framelocks are extremely nice, as im sure these newish Carson Family knives are, ill have to go to Blade-Art and see one in person, hmmmm, maybe take the day off???
But in any case, the TnT is at the top of my short list right now, but I do have a 4", 1/4" thick S30V blade Banshee framelock inbound today, all fizzed up, so ill have to get back to you since I have heard some pretty impressive comments about Matt's knives, FrankDL even said he thinks it has F&F equal to a TnT, well, ill find out soon enough, its hard to believe, but you never know....
Anyway, here's pics i just took of my newest TnT, an XL 4.25" "Beefy", special in several ways, it has colored handles and a smooth, silver matte finish on the blade instead of the more usual satin. And, this giant TnT is so flawless, its just amazing, so, again, its going to take an incredible framelock to take Tom's place at the top of my list.
In productions, of course Chris Reeve makes the best framelock, after all, he kind of invented it, building on the Walker liner lock concept and frankly, I have found few custom makers that can match the quality and consistancy that CR acheives on a daily basis.
But, if I have to choose one custom maker and say he makes the best framelock overall, after quite a bit of thought, testing and consideration, at least for now, Tom Mayo is making the best framelock currently available. Its not an easy choice, JW Smith, IMO, makes an even more perfect and better finished knife than Mayo, BUT, and its a big but, I greatly prefer the design of the TnT to any JWS I have seen, and when i say design, im speaking not just visually, but functionally. Then there's Mike Obenauf who is making unbelievable knives right now, his framelocks are extremely nice, as im sure these newish Carson Family knives are, ill have to go to Blade-Art and see one in person, hmmmm, maybe take the day off???
But in any case, the TnT is at the top of my short list right now, but I do have a 4", 1/4" thick S30V blade Banshee framelock inbound today, all fizzed up, so ill have to get back to you since I have heard some pretty impressive comments about Matt's knives, FrankDL even said he thinks it has F&F equal to a TnT, well, ill find out soon enough, its hard to believe, but you never know....
Anyway, here's pics i just took of my newest TnT, an XL 4.25" "Beefy", special in several ways, it has colored handles and a smooth, silver matte finish on the blade instead of the more usual satin. And, this giant TnT is so flawless, its just amazing, so, again, its going to take an incredible framelock to take Tom's place at the top of my list.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 1998
- Messages
- 268
- Joined
- Nov 24, 1999
- Messages
- 4,981
Here's the first and only framelock I've made so far. Its all 440C, all hardened (even the non lock side of the handle). Just over a 3.5" blade, about 5" closed, 3/16" pivot bolt, all 1/8" stock. Its a heavy thing, but solid as can be 
Thanks for lookin
Thanks for lookin
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2002
- Messages
- 2,761
Hi Art, welcome back, long time no post.
As i said in my post, i do agree JWS makes the most perfect knife, but, i still am not crazy about his blade types, if he would make a bolstered 4" knife with a spearpoint geared towards utility, instead of his normal recurve/fighter, id be all over it.
Obenauf has been getting better and better though and is giving them all a run for their money in the smooth action dept. The last 2 Obenaufs i have received have been as smooth as any knife can be, really amazing what he is making right now and for so little money too, relatively speaking. If you like carsons, but dont want to pay $500+, get an Obenauf.
As i said in my post, i do agree JWS makes the most perfect knife, but, i still am not crazy about his blade types, if he would make a bolstered 4" knife with a spearpoint geared towards utility, instead of his normal recurve/fighter, id be all over it.
Obenauf has been getting better and better though and is giving them all a run for their money in the smooth action dept. The last 2 Obenaufs i have received have been as smooth as any knife can be, really amazing what he is making right now and for so little money too, relatively speaking. If you like carsons, but dont want to pay $500+, get an Obenauf.
