MAD DOG AND MASTERS OF DEFENSE KNIVES

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wizard1

Joined
Apr 8, 2001
Messages
21
IN MY VERY LONG LIFETIME, I HAVE OWNED JUST ABOUT EVERY PRODUCTION BRAND ON THE MARKET AND A FEW CUSTOM PIECES. HOWEVER, I FIND IN MY OLD AGE I HAVE BECOME CONFUSED. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IT IS ABOUT MAD DOG KNIVES AND MASTERS OF DEFENSE THAT MAKES THEM SO EXPENSIVE. I AM NOT AFFRAID TO ADMIT MY IGNORNACE AND ALSO SAY I HAVE LOOKED AT BOTH BRANDS AND THEY APPEARS TO ME TO BE JUST OVERPRICED. WHAT AM I MISSING. SOMEONE PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME AND TELL ME WHAT I AM MISSSING OR AM I RIGHT. I MEAN, WHAT CAN A MASTERS OF DEFENSE FOLDER DO THAT BENCHMADE, MICROTECH, OR EVEN GERBER CAN NOT JUST AS WELL. THE SAME GOES FOR MAD DOG. THEY MAY BE PRETTY BUT WHAT CAN THEY DO THAT BUCK, SOG, GERBER, LINDER OR ANY OTHER NAME BRAND CAN NOT ALSO DO. THANKS FOR THE HELP
THE LAST CELTIC SHAMAN
 
Mad Dog knives are of about average price for a good hand made knife, around $350 for his standard models. For an excellent Mad Dog Labs shop tour, go here:

Super Tour of MAD DOG Labs

What can they do that others cannot? Well, there are a lot of other good knives, but I like the ergonomics of Kevin's designs first and foremost. I also like the selective tempering which leaves a very hard and wear resistant edge along with a springy spine, the all-composite handle, and the fully enclosed tang. Other knives may make more durable pry bars, or have tougher edges, but that is not what is important to me.

Can't speak for Masters of Defense, though there does seem to be some costly machine work on the blades of most models, and they are pretty low volume.
 
I just ordered my first MOD a few hours ago, so I'll let you know.
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I like the fact that they're collaborating with people like Mike Janich and James Keating.

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Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
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Wizard1 -- welcome to the forums. Before I go farther, typing in all caps is considered to be shouting, and impolite. Know you didn't mean it that way.

Knives are like anything else. There are Yugos and there are Lexus. (My cousin when a Cadillac dealer mechanic said they were the most expensive pieces of s#*t money could buy.)

You might try reading Tactical Knives magazine, and watching for the reviews of Jeff Randall. He's a frequent contributor on the Survival forum under Tactical. You could visit his website and learn a lot. He makes a living taking people for survival training deep into the Peruvian Amazon jungle. That environment, and the requirements of the course eat many knives alive. I've not read any Mad Dog reviews, but have read a couple of TOPS knives, and he gives them a distinct thumbs up. Of course, he often says that if had to have only one knife for survival, it would be a machete.

Point is, quality shows up when things are tough. Busse knives are in the same category. Strider too, I guess. They're the Lexus' and Mercedes of outdoor knives. The brands you listed are the fords, chevies and VWs of the group. If you're in a situation where your life depends upon one knife, then many folks would like to have the best possible tool with them, and don't mind paying more for it. Of course, many others just want to be able to say they have the best. (My daughter insists on wearing Doc Martens)



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JUST THOUGHT I WOULD INSERT NOTE STATING THAT I KNOW TYPING IN UPPER CASE IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING. I AM NOT SHOUTING. JUST TO LAZY TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH FROM UPPER TO LOWER CASE. SO, NO OFFENSE FOLKS. I'M JUST LAZY. BY THE WAY, THANKS FOR THE FEED BACK I'VE SO FAR RECEIVED ALTHOUGH I STILL HAVE TO SAY, IF TWO KNIFES ARE MADE OF THE SAME STEEL, ETC, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ONE CAN JUSTIFY CHARGING FIVE TIMES AS MUCH FOR ONE AS THE OTHER. AFTER ALL, IF THE STEEL IS THE SAME AND THEY BOTH HAVE A SHARP EDGE, WHAT THE HECK ELSE CAN YOU DO TO JUSTIFY THE EXTRA MONEY. GUESS I'M GETTING THICK IN THE HEAD BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by wizard1:
WHAT IT IS ABOUT MAD DOG KNIVES AND MASTERS OF DEFENSE THAT MAKES THEM SO EXPENSIVE. </font>
Click to expand...

Marketing.

 
I recently purchased an MOD Hornet, and I have to say I love its ergonomics and the quality of its construction. I carry it when I feel I may need to depend upon it to get out of a sticky situation (camping, hiking, kayaking, visiting Detroit). In those same situations I carry an addl. blade just in case I may need it. My EDC varies depending on mood, attire, and what I know I'll be doing that day. I did not pay more for my Hornet than I would a good Benchmade (thanks to M. Dye at New Graham).

By the way, if you can type, you can turn Caps Lock on & off. I'd rather read all lower case then try to read ALL CAPS, as I'm sure others would agree. More of your posts will be read that way. If your disuse of the CAPS LOCK is any indication of the depth of your laziness, might I suggest an auto knife or fixed blade for your next purchase (less to do to operate). That was typed with tongue in cheek, so plz keep smilin', no harm or ill will was intended - I'M KIDDIN WIT YA!
 
Welcome to Bladeforums, Wizard.
I'm pretty much on the opposite side of the fence from Steve. I can't speak for Mad Dog knives (nor do I own enough flame retardant clothing to want to try
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), but I do have some experience with MOD folders.

And what I can tell you about MOD folders is that they are extremely well constructed and held to very tight tolerances. It's possible that you could find another folder with 154CM steel for $40 (or approximately 1/5th the price of a MOD Duane Dieter CQD) though I can't think of any off of the top of my head. But please remember that there's more to a folder than just the name of the steel that's stamped on the blade. Is the blade heat treated along with a thousand other blades all at the same time in some huge furnace, or is the blade treated in smaller batches where the temperatures can be better regulated? Is the blade cryoed as part of its treatment process? And what about the lock up of the blade. Are you comfortable trusting your fingers to a thin liner lock on a mass produced $40 folder, or would you prefer an overbuilt plunge lock with a secondary slide safety lock? What are the handle materials present in that $40 folder; perhaps some sort of plastic? Does it have full liners or just liner inserts?

I'm not by any means trying to say that there are no worthy folders in the $40 price range currently available. Far from it, in fact. Companies like CRKT have done incredible things recently in bringing us quality folders at this price point, or slightly above. But the fact remains that questions such as those I've raised above, are extremely important to some folks. They want to be able to use their folders hard and to have the blade lock-up be as tight in five years as it is now. They may feel that having additional ridges added to the handle to prevent accidental hand slippage onto the blade is worth paying extra for. Just as they might feel that having a secondary auxiliary cutting blade for seatbelts and zip strips is likewise worth paying extra money. Others would consider these features to be extravagant luxuries and wouldn't want to waste their money on them. To each his own. Pay your money and take your chances. Yet another reason why this is a great country.
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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
Good job, Wizard. I like you more as e. e. cummings rather than HECTOR.

Your question is a simple one: the thing that makes Mad Dog knives cost more is the craftsmanship and the time which that necessitates. Kevin makes each knife by hand, grinding them carefully. No CNC is involved. They are hardened and tempered individually. Some would say that they are individual works of art.

Will they do anything a cheaper knife will not? Not for most of us, who never test the limits of a very rugged tool. However, if this is your only criterion, you may as well buy a box knife with a number of replacement blades in the handle.

You are concentrating on function. This is indeed important, but there is little practical difference in function between a good production knife and a custom one. Remember, however that form follows function, and it is the form which distinguishes custom knives.

There is a satisfaction in owning and using a fine hand made tool. If you don't feel this way, and people differ in this matter, then stick with production blades.

Walt
 
I ahve owned several MOD knives, they are top-notch factory blades that held edges very well, were constructed with extreme precision and were exceptionally good at what they were intended for. I sold them off as the Hornet was too small for me, I have several knives doing the tempest's job and the Razorback was too small in handle for me.

I own three MD. Top quality knives. Entirely handmade with a super guarantee. Excellent ergonomics (sticks to my hand under hard use with no ill effect) Designed for extreme use you hope you never experience. You pay for quality of design and construction with either, born of hard won knowledge and with either, particualarly with Mad Dog, you have something the guy next door is not likely to.
 
perhaps i did not do a good job of explaining my question. i agree that the $40.00 folders are for the most part junk. however i don't feel that benchmade and microtech are junk and they do not cost nearly as much as masters of defense. they seem to hold an edge pretty well and workmanship seems okay. i have a few benchmade's for example, the oldl 975's and a couple of 710's that i have beat the hell out of and they keep on ticking. same holds true for the microtech's i have.
 
Well, Wizard, what can we tell you? The MOD Duane Dieter CQD just happens to have a combination of unique features that can't readily be found on another folder, and some folks are willing to pay to get those features. It seems the rest of MOD's line-up of folders is somewhat more reasonably priced (Keating, Watson et al) and pretty much in line with Benchmade's upper end offerings and nearly all of Microtech's offerings.

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
Well at least he turned off the cap's ??


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Some say the end is near. Some say we'll see armageddon soon. i certainly hope we will. i sure could use a vacation from this bull Sh!t three ring circus sideshow of freaks
 
Maybe if someone gets into legal trouble with a knife called Mad Dog or Masters of Defense, the extra money will magically make them look like they're not a raging psychopath...

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Man, I hate smileys.
 
I have found MOD and BM knives to be about the same price range. MT knives are a bit more expensive.

Dick
 
The MOD are usually less than the Microtech's from what I have seen.

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For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. ROM 13:4

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