Match Made in Heaven Massdrop and WE Knife Co. ?

C

clearkevin

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Oct 7, 2014
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As I think back on my favorite knives from the last year two are from Massdrop the Keen and the Crux (both really well built by WE). I am impressed by the quality, materials, utility and for sure value. I've also been really tempted to pick up the Thresher collaboration but haven't yet (I'm not sure I like the blade shape). With that in mind I have two question one more serious one just for fun. The first is do we have any clues about what might be coming next from Massdrop and We? Second What would you like to see if you could get whatever you wanted from this partnership? I would personally love a 3.5" bladed Crux.
 
I've heard so much good about the Laconico Keen but it falls just barely outside of my preferences. I'd be all over a version with a straight handle and maybe a bit more length.
 
NoF said:
I've heard so much good about the Laconico Keen but it falls just barely outside of my preferences. I'd be all over a version with a straight handle and maybe a bit more length.
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You might like the EZC from Monterey Bay Knives
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IMO Massdrop/We killed it last year.

My Laconico is OTW, and I have another MD/We knife (Dao going off memory) I am waiting on.

PVK6opH.jpg
 
I’ve come close several times to picking one of the many various collaborations up, but, so far, only have gotten a Keen on the secondary market.

By nearly all accounts, it’s a good pairing that results in excellent pricing for what you get. I’m not a fan of Massdrop so prominently logo-blasting everything they are involved in, though. I’d like to see them make an effort to minimize their logo, either in number of characters (“MD”, maybe?), size, contrast, or ideally all three.

That said, I look forward to whatever they come out with this year following the blowout success of the Keen. If they’re paying attention to what made it such a must-have (price point, quality, and design), we should see some real EDC gems from them in the near future.
 
knoefz said:
You might like the EZC from Monterey Bay Knives
_MG_9545_preview.jpg
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There is a wait list on these production model EZCs. Only Sanford Owen of MBK knows if everyone on the list will get one. Apparently two batches shipped from China. One is being held in US Customs. All are supposed to be sent to customers when the second batch is released. It's been three weeks. That's all I got.
 
I'm not a fan of most of the collabs they have done. The keen looks better than most of them though it's still a bit too thick blade stock. But it is thin behind the edge and a full flat grind which I do like.

I've had my fair share of issues with we knives. I don't care to participate in more of those issues by following the hype. I do like that they do a fairly good heat treatment and overall do thin behind the edge grinds. I think massdrop learned alot with the mistakes that had happened through a few of the knives currently. Well let's hope so.

Also gotta love the knives from reate even though they are too thick behind the edge. They just have that top quality and action over other Chinese manufacturers. Not to mention they just look and feel more premium and higher class.
 
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I'd love to see a larger Terzuola design from them, maybe even one of his designs with a tanto blade.

I'd also like to see them make the Thresher with a flipper, or another Gavko design with a flipper and opening hole.
 
Meh. Nothing wrong with them, but I just don't feel like they've done anything particularly unique or inspiring to this point. Right now their collaborations seem very competent, but also very safe. Nothing wrong with that for a brand trying to build it's image, but also nothing that particularly excites me. If they combine for something like the Double Helix then they'll have my attention.
 
Comeuppance said:
I’m not a fan of Massdrop so prominently logo-blasting everything they are involved in, though. I’d like to see them make an effort to minimize their logo, either in number of characters (“MD”, maybe?), size, contrast, or ideally all three.
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+1 Big negative on the billboard logos on knives they don't even make... kept me from buying a couple offerings. It's like defacing the knife. Reminds me of Trader Joes.. :D
 
Can they take the md logo and make it bigger? Like the whole blade just put the logo all across it.

(Running joke dont freak out)
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Meh. Nothing wrong with them, but I just don't feel like they've done anything particularly unique or inspiring to this point. Right now their collaborations seem very competent, but also very safe. Nothing wrong with that for a brand trying to build it's image, but also nothing that particularly excites me. If they combine for something like the Double Helix then they'll have my attention.
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Whew! I thought I was the only person alive who isn’t moved by the Keen!

I can only speak to the FFKW colabs and think “competent” is the perfect word for them. They’re clearly servicable, but ultimately I had to work to get past some of their flaws and/or I’m not really inspired by them. Their detent and action are amazingly well dialed, however. Very well done in that regard.

That said, I find myself being strangely pulled to the Zinker Dogtooth. Everytime I’ve fondled one of Zinker’s Böker colabs they’ve seemed a bit variable and underbuilt. I suspect WE did much better with execution. I really wish I could get my hands on one before committing.

Must....resist.....Dogtooth....:p
 
The Keen is my favorite knife, ever. First and only knife I’ve purchased two of. WE did a spectacular job of delivering a distinctively Laconico product. As an unashamed Laconico cheerleader, I’m thankful for that.

No ideas what’s next from Massdrop + WE, but we can make some reasonably informed guesses.

WE seems to be running at or near production capacity, based on model replenishment rates and the early discontinuation of a popular model (Rectifier). With new hits arriving (Pleroma, Deacon, new slip joint), and expected continuity of popular MD collaborations, I think we should expect to see few new MD + WE efforts in 2019. Smart money would be on another Gavko, another FF, and no new Laconico. Ray has production models arriving with Alliance (Angry Baby Bear, thumb stud Jasmine), Kizer (Yorkie), and his own company, MBK (EZC, more?) already.
 
4mer_FMF said:
Whew! I thought I was the only person alive who isn’t moved by the Keen!

I can only speak to the FFKW colabs and think “competent” is the perfect word for them. They’re clearly servicable, but ultimately I had to work to get past some of their flaws and/or I’m not really inspired by them. Their detent and action are amazingly well dialed, however. Very well done in that regard.

That said, I find myself being strangely pulled to the Zinker Dogtooth. Everytime I’ve fondled one of Zinker’s Böker colabs they’ve seemed a bit variable and underbuilt. I suspect WE did much better with execution. I really wish I could get my hands on one before committing.

Must....resist.....Dogtooth....:p
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No way man, the Dogtooth is one of the best of the entire bunch. I suspect it'll be a preferential tossup between the Dogtooth and heavier but similar Dao for most people.
 
halflife78 said:
IMO Massdrop/We killed it last year.

My Laconico is OTW, and I have another MD/We knife (Dao going off memory) I am waiting on.

PVK6opH.jpg
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May I ask what those three, top knives are? I don’t remember seeing them when I was perusing the Massdrop website. They’re absolute stunners. I want to see Massdrop be a bit more daring with their designs. They already provide safe bets for the money, anything more exciting and they’ll sellout in hours.
 
I would have gotten a Gavko if they had been a little bigger, aside from that the designs weren't grabbing me. Coupled with (possible) Customs hassle I didn't go for one.
 
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