Medford Gigantes or CRK Umnumzaan?

E

engineerciv

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May 13, 2013
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Alright, so I need some advice everybody. I try to limit my high-end knife purchases but I have the itch for one here in the new year! Now I know that Medford Knife and Tool is quite the polarizing brand around these parts, but I want everybody's honest opinion who is willing to give it. I am pretty big into overbuilt knives which kinda puts me in a predicament on this one. I am stuck between going for an MKT Gigantes or a CRK Umnumzaan Tanto. I currently own neither of these brands of knives. On one hand, I love the look of the Unum tanto but it just doesn't seem big enough to me, like I said, I prefer overbuilt. On the other hand, the Gigantes is...well...gigantic and it certainly fits the overbuilt category I prefer, but I really don't like the harpoon blade shape that it has. I reckon I could get the Gigantes and see if Josh at REK could put a tanto mirror-edge grind on it for me or just get the CRK Unum and deal with the fact that it is a bit smaller. So what do you all think? Which would you go with? I am also willing to hear other suggestions if you have them!

Again, I think I know that the majority of people around here either dislike MKT or dislike tanto grinds, but I willing to hear everyone's opinion! Thanks a bunch everybody and I hope the new year brings everyone good health, joy, and more awesome knives!:thumbup:
 
I think Medford knives are silly expressions of grown-up mall ninja fantasy (the same bin into which I'd toss Strider, FWIW) but if you're "pretty big into overbuilt knives" and don't think the Umnum is a big enough folding pocket knife, I think the >11oz, 6" long when closed Gigantes has your name written all over it.

I think you should buy the Gigantes. Just don't use any tools or lubricant on it.
 
evilgreg said:
I think Medford knives are silly expressions of grown-up mall ninja fantasy (the same bin into which I'd toss Strider, FWIW) but if you're "pretty big into overbuilt knives" and don't think the Umnum is a big enough folding pocket knife, I think the >11oz, 6" long when closed Gigantes has your name written all over it.

I think you should buy the Gigantes. Just don't use any tools or lubricant on it.
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Yea it definitely fits the bill for sure on that part, but that blade grind is.....ugh. I really dislike harpoon grinds. I do not plan on throwing the Gigantes at a whale.
Thanks for the response evilgreg!
 
With that being said, let's add the XM-24 to the mix as well! I could get that re-ground to a tanto pretty easily for sure. Keep the thoughts coming guys!
 
I've got some bricks in the garage. I can tape a chisel to one and save you the trouble of paying for a Medford. Fills the pocket. Makes your pants fall down. Cuts stuff. Pries stuff. Same thing.

Of the two you've mentioned I'd take the Umnumzaan. It's a fantastic knife, overbuilt without feeling like it and doesn't require suspenders.

If you're entertaining other recommendations though, I'd recommend the Freeman 451 in Titanium. I actually can't speak for the Ti variant directly, but I've had the pleasure of handling the aluminum model and was really, really impressed with it. The button lock was also much nicer to use than any framelock.

TITANIUM_COLLAGE_1024x1024.jpg
 
How about the Medford Marauder Tanto?
Pretty huge, and it's a tanto. :)
Costs a whole bunch, but if you want a huge tanto, you aren't going to be happy with something that is not a huge tanto.
You'll end up buying a huge tanto later, and just end up spending more cash by the time everything is said and done.

So it's probably either the Marauder, or getting someone to custom build you a huge honkin tanto.
The custom would probably cost about the same (or maybe less), but you'd have to wait for it to be completed.

So if your huge tanto needs are immediate, I'd say Marauder. ;)
 
Like someone already said, tape a chisel to a brick and you'll have 99% of what a medford offers you. Could even look around the yard for a nice colored brick, kinda anodized yeh? I'd say get ANYTHING but a medford if you're in the market for a knife that does what a knife is supposed to do.
 
I've never owned a Medford and probably never will...unless I run into some money and buy one as a novelty item. I have a Wilson Combat Star-Tac and I love it, but if you're comparing a Zaan to a Medford I'm not sure if that's a valid comparison. The Zaan can do all you need it to do, but if you're looking for that ridiculously overbuilt feel of a Medford, you may be dissatisfied with a Zaan.

My advice, buy a gently used Zaan on the Exchange and use the money you save to buy some big, silly hacker by Cold Steel.
 
Zaan. Bulletproof. Can take it apart for maintenance and a company that will stand behind it forever. Seems more "hard use" to me than a knife that apparently cannot be broken down without it crumbling to pieces.
 
From what you've said, I doubt the CRK would not scratch your itch.

However, since I can't ever bring myself to recommend anything from MKT.... Here are some other possibilities.
I think you should check out Crusader Forge's stuff. Big & overbuilt. Seems right up your alley.
Also some other lesser known High end overbuilt knife companies.
Kingdom Armory.
Extrema Ratio.
Chaves American Made.
Sniper Bladeworks.

A couple custom makers to check out too (they may be too much $$ though)
Direware
Dalibor Bergam (If I was buying myself and overbuilt beast. This is what I would buy)
Sheepdog Knives

Happy hunting!
 
BilboBaggins said:
Zaan. Bulletproof. Can take it apart for maintenance and a company that will stand behind it forever. Seems more "hard use" to me than a knife that apparently cannot be broken down without it crumbling to pieces.
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I watched a Medford disassembly video; looks pretty simple to take apart and get back together correctly once one figures out a correct pivot tool.
The wording of the warranty is to avoid dealing with idiots, much like with other companies that void the warranty if the knife is disassembled. Idiots find ingenious ways to screw things up.

For the OP, another option would be an Umnumzaan and a Spyderco Tatanka.
The Tatanka is pretty huge, rather stoutly built, and has a solid lock.
It ain't a tanto though, so if the OP is suffering from "Tanto Fever", he could always go with a Cold Steel XL Recon Tanto rather than the Tatanka.

But if he wants the Medford, I say go for it, and then tell us all how it ended up working for him. :)
 
Or, since we're all suggesting things he isn't looking for, I will offer this helpful suggestion:
Buy an Opinel...it's all the knife any human needs. :D
 
stabman said:
I watched a Medford disassembly video; looks pretty simple to take apart and get back together correctly once one figures out a correct pivot tool.
The wording of the warranty is to avoid dealing with idiots, much like with other companies that void the warranty if the knife is disassembled. Idiots find ingenious ways to screw things up.

But if he wants the Medford, I say go for it, and then tell us all how it ended up working for him. :)
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Sorry. Was probably overly snarky. For an actual "hard use" knife, I would want to be able to maintain it without fear of voiding its warranty.
 
BilboBaggins said:
Sorry. Was probably overly snarky. For an actual "hard use" knife, I would want to be able to maintain it without fear of voiding its warranty.
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I can dig it. :)
For myself, I have only used a warranty once (on a new knife that had an issue which really bugged me), so it isn't a big deal to me, but it can be a nice reassurance for some people that if something goes wrong, it'll get taken care of. :thumbup:

I have voided the warranty on about a third of my knives so far. :D
 
BilboBaggins said:
Sorry. Was probably overly snarky. For an actual "hard use" knife, I would want to be able to maintain it without fear of voiding its warranty.
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What kind of maintenance do you need to do to a frame lock open flow design that can't be done without tearing it apart? If the knife needs maintained Greg Medford welcomes you sending it in to be taken down and fixed. They have great customer service and they will get it done and back to you quickly. As for basic cleaning there really is no reason to take the knife down to clean it well. There are so few parts so if you need to clean it up just some soap and water along with some compressed air and it will be all good. There is nothing that the knife needs to be taken apart to do unless something is seriously wrong which in that case sending it back to Greg to have him take care of it is what they advise to do.

The comments and misinformation around Medford is ridiculous. They are big knives, but they do cut well and will handle probably 90-95% of any task that any other knife will do with the exception being maybe slicing a tomato or other detailed food prep, which it will still do, just not as good as a dedicated slicer. People really need to stop spreading so much poor info on this company and their knives.
 
I carried my Zaan for about two yrs. It was a perfect tool for my daily use. It sits in the safe now, because I wanted to change things around a bit. Bottom line? It's terribly difficult to beat CRK.
 
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