Lowest Tolerance Knives

C

Cutlover

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Jan 20, 2016
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I am on a quest to find the absolute highest tolerance (or best engineered) knife, for potential purchase. Any steel, any locking system, anything goes, just sheer engineering perfection is what I am interested in. Or, if you know any interesting engineering aspects of a knife that just make it cool, feel free to share (NO POLITICS; for example, according to Medford, Medford knives uses the same bearing grease that is used in Fighter Jet wheel assemblies).

The first knife that comes to mind regarding precision manufacturing is the Sebenza, but I don't know any actual numbers (If someone could provide some info, that would be great). I was also researching the Sandrin Knives Clemente, and they claim a tolerance of 1.02 micron part to part fit precision.

I also came across the Andrei Sanders Provocator, which seemed like a discount Shirogorov with MRBS, but couldn't find any information that justified the price tag.

Perhaps this information is far more than manufacturers would normally provide, but I figured I would ask more experienced people just to see what is known.


I ask this because knife descriptions on dealer sites are usually not detailed with regards to manufacturing process/engineered aspects that make the knife worth the price tag, but focus more on the story behind the knife/maker.

Thanks in advance.
 
I have heard absolutely nothing but good things about T.A Davidson slipjoints, and from pictures I've seen they appear to be absolute perfection.
 
Have a look at Rockstead. I have never onwed one, but have handled a few, and while their opening/locking systems may not be particularly innovative, they seem to exhibit the highest end of traditional knife technology. All based on limited exposure of course.
 
Maybe rockstead, or grimsmo(they're crazy and pushing it further every day). Def not chris reeve; had one in for sharpening and general care, wasn't impressed at all(but the sound is nice)
 
If you look at the sebenza, the way the pivot bushing is made, there is no adjustment. You tighten it down and just sheer near perfection is what makes it all fit and work right. Hard to beat that!

My sebenza and shiro are about as good as it gets for productions.

The list of customs are long though. Davison’s fall in that range. Tony Bose, Tom Ploppert, Jim Dunlap, the list goes on on traditionals.
 
I recently picked up my first couple of Sebbies and what got me was I had the pivot screw out of the knife......and there was absolutely no blade play in any direction. That totally flipped me out!
Pretty tight tolerances!
Joe

SVTFreak said:
If you look at the sebenza, the way the pivot bushing is made, there is no adjustment. You tighten it down and just sheer near perfection is what makes it all fit and work right. Hard to beat that!

My sebenza and shiro are about as good as it gets for productions.

The list of customs are long though. Davison’s fall in that range. Tony Bose, Tom Ploppert, Jim Dunlap, the list goes on on traditionals.
Click to expand...
 
Guys I don't think he is asking for knives that are "perfection" or even "really well built". From the way I read the question he was asking about knives built with very precise tolerances. This would automatically disqualify any hand built or fitted knife.

The best example I can think of is the CRK knives. Chris Reeve was an engineer by trade and thus built his knife manufacturing process as much as he built the knives. They were designed to be built within exacting tolerances so that way each knife was essentially repeatably perfect. Obviously there must be flaws or no one would ever get an off centred Sebbie from the factory. I personally find the 10th of 1000th of a human hair, or .1 Micron tolerance claims by CRK dubious for that very reason.

I am sure there are other makers who try to use processes to achieve such repeatably tight tolerances, but most don't advertise this and just let the product speak for itself. Folding knives actually are not all exactly the same and so what works better for most companies is to make a goal of putting out centred knives with locks that work rather than building an exact copy each time. Infact making that lock work may require some hand adjusting.

Watch out for Sandrin knives. I would stay away from them until they fix their 30 day warranty policy. They seem like BS artists anyway. "The indescribable Clement noise you can only know and appreciate once you experience"....? Puhleeze.
 
Lapedog said:
I personally find the 10th of 1000th of a human hair, or .1 Micron tolerance claims by CRK dubious for that very reason.
.
Click to expand...
Actually, an average human hair is ~.003" to .004". So 1/10 of 1/1000 of a hair would be .0003" to .0004".
With the right equipment that tolerance is very do-able. Tight, but do-able.
 
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