- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
- Messages
- 3,709
I just received my Lone Wolf Tighe Pan from the great folks at Bayou LaFourche Knifeworks and I just wanted to share my first impressions of this knife.
Pic from Knifeworks.com
Here's a more accurate representation of what the knife looks like:
Pic is from knifeoutlet.com
The Lone Wolf Tighe Pan (model LC10000) is made in Japan and sports a 3.56 inch plain edge satin finished blade of CPM S30V steel. The handle and pocket clip are titanium as are the anodized blue liners which gives the knife a very light feel at only 3.6 ounces. Overall length is 7.88 inches.
Originally, I saw this knife displayed at a shop in Savannah, GA almost a year ago and when I saw it I thought it was one of those "must have" knives. I liked everything I saw about the knife except at the time I couldn't afford it with the $280.00 price tag.
Well, apparently Lone Wolf must have discontinued the model as it no longer appears on their website, but now the knife can be found at more down to earth prices on the net as opposed to the $280.00 MSRP. The most "reasonable" price I found on this knife was at Bayou LaFourche, so I expect these folders will sell fast to those who've been wanting one.
Unlike, the original "large" box packaging that came with the Tighe Pans when they first came out, mine was packaged in a small olive drab Lone Wolf box with no warranty literature, no cleaning cloth and no storage pouch as they were originally sold. Still, the box does have the company's physical & website address should warranty issues arise, and Lone Wolf does offer a lifetime warranty on their knives: http://lonewolfknives.com/store/pages/warranty.shtml
Interestingly, the UPC sticker on the bottom of the box reads "Tighe Tac LC10000" instead of Tighe Pan. Not that it matters, but I found it curious.
Out of the box, the knife came scary sharp and wiping my fingerprints off of the blade proved what an aggressive cutter this knife is as it slit easily through the Tuf-Cloth rag I was using and my finger. I'm just glad it wasn't a deep cut! In the closed position, the knife was perfectly centered in the handle, although the opening action was a bit gritty, however, a drop of oil smoothed it out considerably. The lock up is crisp and secure with no blade wobble in any direction and the lock's engagement leaves plenty of room for wear.
In the hand, the knife feels very comfortable with no sharp corners anywhere that may interfere with prolonged use. Blade tension can be adjusted to your own preference and the titanium pocket clip comes attached by 2 Torx screws set up for tip down carry only. The screws can be easily removed by a # 6 Torx screwdriver for those who don't like pocket clips. The knife has an overall thin profile and slips easily in the pocket where it doesn't print like most bulky folding prybars on the market these days. Alas, southpaws will find that this knife is designed for those of the right-handed persuasion. What I really like about this folder (aside from it's looks) is that despite it's slim profile, the knife feels solid. It opens/closes smoothly, locks up tight each time and definately does not feel cheap. The CPM S30V blade should also prove to be a very efficient cutter and although the knife looks almost too nice to actually use, use it I shall.
Lone Wolf refers to their knives as "semi-custom" which I guess means high-end custom collaborations. Since I've never seen a custom or "handmade" Brian Tighe folder, I cannot comment on how this folder compares to Brian's custom Tighe Pan, but I have read that Lone Wolf's version comes very close. I think the Lone Wolf Tighe Pan is a fine folder indeed, but it is a high-end production knife. I guess my idea of a "semi-custom" knife is more along the lines of a Chris Reeve Sebenza with all it's different variations. Although, Lone Wolf does have a version of the Tighe Pan with a damascus blade, titanium bolsters and carbon fibre handle. As is, the Tighe Pan is made with all the latest high-tech materials and the tolerances are very very good. Quality, fit and finish of this folder is not all that different from other higher-end production knives (for example, the Benchmade 690).
Overall, I'm very pleased with what is my very first Lone Wolf folder and I think it won't be my last. Considering the pricey MSRP of the Lone Wolf Tighe Pan, I'm glad I found it at a discount price even though it doesn't come with the padded storage pouch, cleaning cloth and fancy display box. At the very down to earth I paid, the Lone Wolf Tighe Pan is worth every penny and then some.
Pic from Knifeworks.com
Here's a more accurate representation of what the knife looks like:
Pic is from knifeoutlet.com
The Lone Wolf Tighe Pan (model LC10000) is made in Japan and sports a 3.56 inch plain edge satin finished blade of CPM S30V steel. The handle and pocket clip are titanium as are the anodized blue liners which gives the knife a very light feel at only 3.6 ounces. Overall length is 7.88 inches.
Originally, I saw this knife displayed at a shop in Savannah, GA almost a year ago and when I saw it I thought it was one of those "must have" knives. I liked everything I saw about the knife except at the time I couldn't afford it with the $280.00 price tag.
Well, apparently Lone Wolf must have discontinued the model as it no longer appears on their website, but now the knife can be found at more down to earth prices on the net as opposed to the $280.00 MSRP. The most "reasonable" price I found on this knife was at Bayou LaFourche, so I expect these folders will sell fast to those who've been wanting one.
Unlike, the original "large" box packaging that came with the Tighe Pans when they first came out, mine was packaged in a small olive drab Lone Wolf box with no warranty literature, no cleaning cloth and no storage pouch as they were originally sold. Still, the box does have the company's physical & website address should warranty issues arise, and Lone Wolf does offer a lifetime warranty on their knives: http://lonewolfknives.com/store/pages/warranty.shtml
Interestingly, the UPC sticker on the bottom of the box reads "Tighe Tac LC10000" instead of Tighe Pan. Not that it matters, but I found it curious.
Out of the box, the knife came scary sharp and wiping my fingerprints off of the blade proved what an aggressive cutter this knife is as it slit easily through the Tuf-Cloth rag I was using and my finger. I'm just glad it wasn't a deep cut! In the closed position, the knife was perfectly centered in the handle, although the opening action was a bit gritty, however, a drop of oil smoothed it out considerably. The lock up is crisp and secure with no blade wobble in any direction and the lock's engagement leaves plenty of room for wear.
In the hand, the knife feels very comfortable with no sharp corners anywhere that may interfere with prolonged use. Blade tension can be adjusted to your own preference and the titanium pocket clip comes attached by 2 Torx screws set up for tip down carry only. The screws can be easily removed by a # 6 Torx screwdriver for those who don't like pocket clips. The knife has an overall thin profile and slips easily in the pocket where it doesn't print like most bulky folding prybars on the market these days. Alas, southpaws will find that this knife is designed for those of the right-handed persuasion. What I really like about this folder (aside from it's looks) is that despite it's slim profile, the knife feels solid. It opens/closes smoothly, locks up tight each time and definately does not feel cheap. The CPM S30V blade should also prove to be a very efficient cutter and although the knife looks almost too nice to actually use, use it I shall.
Lone Wolf refers to their knives as "semi-custom" which I guess means high-end custom collaborations. Since I've never seen a custom or "handmade" Brian Tighe folder, I cannot comment on how this folder compares to Brian's custom Tighe Pan, but I have read that Lone Wolf's version comes very close. I think the Lone Wolf Tighe Pan is a fine folder indeed, but it is a high-end production knife. I guess my idea of a "semi-custom" knife is more along the lines of a Chris Reeve Sebenza with all it's different variations. Although, Lone Wolf does have a version of the Tighe Pan with a damascus blade, titanium bolsters and carbon fibre handle. As is, the Tighe Pan is made with all the latest high-tech materials and the tolerances are very very good. Quality, fit and finish of this folder is not all that different from other higher-end production knives (for example, the Benchmade 690).
Overall, I'm very pleased with what is my very first Lone Wolf folder and I think it won't be my last. Considering the pricey MSRP of the Lone Wolf Tighe Pan, I'm glad I found it at a discount price even though it doesn't come with the padded storage pouch, cleaning cloth and fancy display box. At the very down to earth I paid, the Lone Wolf Tighe Pan is worth every penny and then some.
