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Medford 187RMP Review
This is my first review - so please do not judge me too harshly!
Previously I had only been interested in traditional style knives, as such, the Australian import restrictions did not have much of an impact on my collecting. Last year my traditional knife collection had reached the point where I didnt have much of a desire to add many more to the collection. However, given the recent relaxation of the importation rules I decided to try out some of the high end modern production knives to see what all the kids are raving and fussing about.
Medford was a brand I had heard about but not had any previous exposure to. A lot of what I had heard was riddled in hearsay and controversy, primarily around opinions on the philosophy of sharpened pry bars and the owners online video antics. So when this 187RMP came up in the exchange here I jumped at the opportunity (many thanks to the esteemed member who let this one go), I have been carrying it exclusively most days since it arrived in the post several weeks ago.
From what I understand the 187 series is the cheap line from Medford. However, the list price is still in the order of $400 USD.
Note, I'll try to upload some better pics in the coming days.
General Details
The RMP has a blade length of 85mm, a handle length of 106mm, and an overall length of 191mm. It weighs around 150 grams. Now the 187 in the name refers to the 3/16 stock used for the blade and the handle slabs. The knife is by far the fattest of my folders coming in at about 15mm wide. For such a fatty, it feels quite balanced and light in the hand. I think this is due to the balance point being just behind the pivot where your forefinger sits in the choil.
Blade
The blade on the RMP is a sort of modified drop point which has been hollow ground. Personally I really like the blade shape, I like my main utility blade to have a little bit of belly, however, not too much. This blade shape it has performed really well for my utility cutting exercises and some heavier duty notching of timber. It should also be noted how much blade Medford managed to pack relative to the handle size. None of my other folders with similar sized handles seem to come close.
It should be noted that for such a fat blade stock, the tip strength might leave something to be desired. The hollow grind gets quite thin towards the tip. I don't think I'll be prying with this sharpened pry bar any time soon if I can help it. It also isnt the keenest slicer when compared to something like a ffg delica... however, that is probably to be expected. It should be noted that this was one of, if not the sharpest knife from the factory that has been through my hands. The edge was highly polished and I sliced my fingers on it more than once during the break-in period. More on that later.
The steel on the RMP is D2. It could be argued that D2 is a bit low end for the price they are asking. However, I am not fussy on blade steel, I prefer ease of sharpening over outright edge holding (I could be accused of being biased as I carried a Queen #2 for years in D2 and it is one of my favourite steels). The heat treatment on the Medford seems pretty decent, it responds to sharpening well and holds a fine edge for a good long time. However, it should be noted that D2 it isnt fully stainless (but pretty close) and the vulcan blade finish (i.e. not cleaned up after heat treat) while looking cool seems to attract little rust spots quite easy. In day to day use, it has performed well, but has chipped out on me once near the tip after I accidently skimmed a brick when cutting something in a tight space. I also snapped off the very end of the tip in a similar situation.
Ergonomics
The RMPs handle is wonderful. The thickness of the knife and the finger grooves make the RMP very comfortable in hand and offer great control. The jimping is pretty mild but still gives a little bit of grip. The real grippiness comes from the G-10 and the handle grooves. Most of my heavy use has been with gloves on and the knife goes great. Without gloves I still find it comfortable due to the width, however, I rounded off the corner of the lock cut-out in the finger groove as it was kind of sharp and annoying.
The clip is great (as long as you are right handed and like tip up carry), machined from a piece of titanium, it is unobtrusive when in hand and slides in and out of the pocket well. It also holds the knife in the pocket like a champ. One thing I would like is for the clip to function as a over travel stop. It is positioned close to where it could function that way but it appears it is a couple of mm off. In pocket, despite the width, I dont mind the knife. It seems to stay out of the way right in the corner of my pocket and isnt so bulky as to be noticeable when Im walking around. I like the jimping either side of the base of the handle which make it easy to get a grip on the knife to withdraw it from the pocket.
Deployment and Lockup
The RMP is deployed via the massive thumb hole measuring 20mm x 12mm. When opening the RMP has a satisfying clunk. Sort of like a Volkswagen door, you know it is built well (or at least someone in marketing is good at making you think it is). At first deployment was really slow and stiff, then a week later it was slow, stiff and squeaky like a rusty gate (so much so my wife told me to throw out that piece of junk). However, after a couple weeks of break-in the ceramic detent ball has worn a track in the blade coating and deployment is now buttery smooth. The blade glides open on the bronze washers. It should be noted that apparently (according to the literature included with the knife) Medford knives use some space age lubricant and only requires a wash and blow out with compressed air. At first I scoffed at this, but seems to have held true so far and I have not needed to oil the pivot.
The blade uses press fit stop pins much like a strider. There is some really neat machining on the handle so these are hidden when the knife is open. Unlike a strider, no way you can use these as thumbstuds even if you wanted to as they are half tucked away in a handle recess when closed.
When the knife arrived the lockup was insanely early (5% if that), thereafter proceeded the worst two weeks of lock break-in I have experienced ever. Two hands to disengage the lock was mandatory. Many slicings of the fingers were endured due to the force applied when trying to disengage the stuck lock. Now, the lock has settled in at 40 50% and my fingers have healed. The lock is now super solid, smooth and easy to operate with one hand.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion - after you get to a certain price point (at least with the junk I collect), it gets less about functionality and more about what makes you smile. This Medford makes me smile.
I didnt think it would, it is pretty much the antithesis of the knives I typically like (small two bladed jack knives). It is built really well and cuts surprisingly well. It clunks open like no bodys business and feels like a solid block in hand... to sum it up, it has character.
One thing to note is that the warranty is void if the knife is disassembled, which is annoying (especially if I have to send it in from Australia) but Im sure Ill live. Im already contemplating another Medford, not sure which one though.
This is my first review - so please do not judge me too harshly!
Previously I had only been interested in traditional style knives, as such, the Australian import restrictions did not have much of an impact on my collecting. Last year my traditional knife collection had reached the point where I didnt have much of a desire to add many more to the collection. However, given the recent relaxation of the importation rules I decided to try out some of the high end modern production knives to see what all the kids are raving and fussing about.
Medford was a brand I had heard about but not had any previous exposure to. A lot of what I had heard was riddled in hearsay and controversy, primarily around opinions on the philosophy of sharpened pry bars and the owners online video antics. So when this 187RMP came up in the exchange here I jumped at the opportunity (many thanks to the esteemed member who let this one go), I have been carrying it exclusively most days since it arrived in the post several weeks ago.
From what I understand the 187 series is the cheap line from Medford. However, the list price is still in the order of $400 USD.
Note, I'll try to upload some better pics in the coming days.
General Details
The RMP has a blade length of 85mm, a handle length of 106mm, and an overall length of 191mm. It weighs around 150 grams. Now the 187 in the name refers to the 3/16 stock used for the blade and the handle slabs. The knife is by far the fattest of my folders coming in at about 15mm wide. For such a fatty, it feels quite balanced and light in the hand. I think this is due to the balance point being just behind the pivot where your forefinger sits in the choil.
Blade
The blade on the RMP is a sort of modified drop point which has been hollow ground. Personally I really like the blade shape, I like my main utility blade to have a little bit of belly, however, not too much. This blade shape it has performed really well for my utility cutting exercises and some heavier duty notching of timber. It should also be noted how much blade Medford managed to pack relative to the handle size. None of my other folders with similar sized handles seem to come close.
It should be noted that for such a fat blade stock, the tip strength might leave something to be desired. The hollow grind gets quite thin towards the tip. I don't think I'll be prying with this sharpened pry bar any time soon if I can help it. It also isnt the keenest slicer when compared to something like a ffg delica... however, that is probably to be expected. It should be noted that this was one of, if not the sharpest knife from the factory that has been through my hands. The edge was highly polished and I sliced my fingers on it more than once during the break-in period. More on that later.
The steel on the RMP is D2. It could be argued that D2 is a bit low end for the price they are asking. However, I am not fussy on blade steel, I prefer ease of sharpening over outright edge holding (I could be accused of being biased as I carried a Queen #2 for years in D2 and it is one of my favourite steels). The heat treatment on the Medford seems pretty decent, it responds to sharpening well and holds a fine edge for a good long time. However, it should be noted that D2 it isnt fully stainless (but pretty close) and the vulcan blade finish (i.e. not cleaned up after heat treat) while looking cool seems to attract little rust spots quite easy. In day to day use, it has performed well, but has chipped out on me once near the tip after I accidently skimmed a brick when cutting something in a tight space. I also snapped off the very end of the tip in a similar situation.
Ergonomics
The RMPs handle is wonderful. The thickness of the knife and the finger grooves make the RMP very comfortable in hand and offer great control. The jimping is pretty mild but still gives a little bit of grip. The real grippiness comes from the G-10 and the handle grooves. Most of my heavy use has been with gloves on and the knife goes great. Without gloves I still find it comfortable due to the width, however, I rounded off the corner of the lock cut-out in the finger groove as it was kind of sharp and annoying.
The clip is great (as long as you are right handed and like tip up carry), machined from a piece of titanium, it is unobtrusive when in hand and slides in and out of the pocket well. It also holds the knife in the pocket like a champ. One thing I would like is for the clip to function as a over travel stop. It is positioned close to where it could function that way but it appears it is a couple of mm off. In pocket, despite the width, I dont mind the knife. It seems to stay out of the way right in the corner of my pocket and isnt so bulky as to be noticeable when Im walking around. I like the jimping either side of the base of the handle which make it easy to get a grip on the knife to withdraw it from the pocket.
Deployment and Lockup
The RMP is deployed via the massive thumb hole measuring 20mm x 12mm. When opening the RMP has a satisfying clunk. Sort of like a Volkswagen door, you know it is built well (or at least someone in marketing is good at making you think it is). At first deployment was really slow and stiff, then a week later it was slow, stiff and squeaky like a rusty gate (so much so my wife told me to throw out that piece of junk). However, after a couple weeks of break-in the ceramic detent ball has worn a track in the blade coating and deployment is now buttery smooth. The blade glides open on the bronze washers. It should be noted that apparently (according to the literature included with the knife) Medford knives use some space age lubricant and only requires a wash and blow out with compressed air. At first I scoffed at this, but seems to have held true so far and I have not needed to oil the pivot.
The blade uses press fit stop pins much like a strider. There is some really neat machining on the handle so these are hidden when the knife is open. Unlike a strider, no way you can use these as thumbstuds even if you wanted to as they are half tucked away in a handle recess when closed.
When the knife arrived the lockup was insanely early (5% if that), thereafter proceeded the worst two weeks of lock break-in I have experienced ever. Two hands to disengage the lock was mandatory. Many slicings of the fingers were endured due to the force applied when trying to disengage the stuck lock. Now, the lock has settled in at 40 50% and my fingers have healed. The lock is now super solid, smooth and easy to operate with one hand.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion - after you get to a certain price point (at least with the junk I collect), it gets less about functionality and more about what makes you smile. This Medford makes me smile.
I didnt think it would, it is pretty much the antithesis of the knives I typically like (small two bladed jack knives). It is built really well and cuts surprisingly well. It clunks open like no bodys business and feels like a solid block in hand... to sum it up, it has character.
One thing to note is that the warranty is void if the knife is disassembled, which is annoying (especially if I have to send it in from Australia) but Im sure Ill live. Im already contemplating another Medford, not sure which one though.
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