Lum, Fujisaka, or Wood?

anthony cheeseboro · Jun 17, 2003

I know that all three are very different but I want to know the following: if you could only buy one folder, would it be one made by Bob Lum, Stan Fujisaka, or Owen Wood?

Mike Hull · Jun 17, 2003

Stan Fujisaka for me. He makes a classy folder. Not that the others don't, but I'm not a real fan of most custom folders, and Stan makes folders that appeal to me.

Architect · Jun 17, 2003

simplistic categorization:

Lum - elegant tactical
Wood - art knife
Fujisaka - basic design with beautifully executed materials and craftsmanship. Actually, I like Stan's fixed blades better than his folders.

I would go with Lum because Wood is too expensive and I wouldn't likely carry his knives. Lum is the right balance of elegance and highly refined tactical design even with the simplest of materials.

tonyccw · Jun 26, 2003

Lum. Reasons why.

marcangel · Jun 27, 2003

Fujisaka, I'm strictly a gent's folder collector so there is some bias there. I think there is real value in his knives, and he has a well deserved reputation in more than one area, it's a toss up for a very close second place.
One thing I've begun to notice is a "mentor" trend where the pupil becomes more popular than the student, not an uncommon phenonenon, but interesting. Stan taught Ken Onion , ALOT from what I understand and my hero, W. Osborne was taught by Tom Overendyer. Warren has carried over alot more of Tom's influence than Ken, but fit and finish are interesting "shared" characteristics on the Hawaii folks.

Boink · Jun 28, 2003

Originally posted by tonyccw
Lum. Reasons why.

HOLY COW! And all I have is one Lum, a folding tanto. Precision personified, in beefy near 3/16" thick hand satin and custom ground 154 CM and blasted ti handles.

GigOne · Jun 28, 2003

tonyccw. . .seeing such a beautiful gathing of Lum's. . .I'd have to say that you're Lum Crazy !

I got to handle several of Lum's knives at Blade. Very nice !

AncientSUL · Jun 29, 2003

golok · Jun 29, 2003

Tonyccw, I am impressed with your reasons. Every single one of them.

tonyccw · Jun 30, 2003

Thank you Gents. When given the opportunity, I would never hesitate to promote Mr. Lum's work. He is by far one of the most underrated makers out there.

Manji · Jul 1, 2003

one more vote for lum. His stuff is very nice, i love his leaf blades.

Tonyccw: on the lum bali the handles are benchmades and the blade was by lum?

tonyccw · Jul 1, 2003

Originally posted by Manji
Tonyccw: on the lum bali the handles are benchmades and the blade was by lum?

They were. Now the Tanto and the Stalker has handles by Mer.

The dagger has a handle by Darrel Ralph.

And a shot of the beautifully ground dagger blade, from 1/8" stock.

Boink · Jul 1, 2003

Here's the beefy folder gotten from Neil at True North:

It's got just under 3/16" thick blade, heavy duty handle stock, excellent lockup. Blade is ground nicely, with detail on the top of the blade. Action is exceptionally smooth. Very good ball detente.

anthony cheeseboro · Jul 4, 2003

I'm leaning more and more towards Lum. He is truly original which something that many fine makers cannot really say.

Lum, Fujisaka, or Wood?

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