Medford question

mc5aw

mc5aw

Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Messages
295
Do any forum members have first hand experience with Medford Knife and Tool offerings? I know the various models are advertised as near-indestructible and are extremely expensive ... pricier than Randall, Reeves, Busse, etc. I'm curious if the hype and pricing are legit or just marketing.
 
stabman said:

The 12 Days of Medford

On January 10th, I received a knife in the mail. It is from a brand I was intrigued by due to the haterz of it on this very forum. I am talking about Medford Knife and Tool, and the knife I selected to try out is the Medford Deployment 187 DPT (drop point tanto). Here's a pic of it with a...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
Click to expand...
I was not around when you first posted this review. That was a blast, thanks for the work.
 
I’ve got a Medford Infraction. I‘d describe it as a beefy hard use folder that is very well made with a hollow grind blade that cuts nicely. I purchased it second hand from a member here. It came to me LNIB with a very sharp factory edge.

I carry it from time to time (since I just got it out it will be in my pocket again tomorrow). It runs on PB washers and it can be flipped open but its action is more “CRK like” than Koenig “gravity close”.

I am aware that there are lots of very strong opinions about Greg Medford, but I’m not going down that rabbit hole. I did see him in his booth at Blade show, but I’ve never met him. I can’t speak to the man, but this knife that I own is very well made and while I consider it to be on the heavy side for its blade size I do like the knife. It is a made in the USA tool that exudes quality and craftsmanship.
 
Different strokes for different folks. I find them to be ugly, not to be mean. Not one pattern has ever spoke to me except the m48. I’ve handled them multiple times and was always a “meh” reaction. I own multiple CRKs and Shiros so I’m not afraid of an expensive knife but Medford is not my cup of tea.

They’re obviously popular and have a great reputation from a quality perspective so if you’re tempted by a design, I say go for it. They hold good value and worst case you lose a few bucks if it’s not for you. Knowledge usually comes at a cost.

If you’re looking for a high end folder alternative I’m very quick to recommend Chris Reeves Knives. Probably the lowest risk to the consumer of any folder I can think of.
 
I used to have a Praetorian slim. While I ultimately sold it, two things impressed me. First, there was absolutely no blade play in any direction, even when I tried to induce it. No "pivot lash." Nothing. The other thing was the heat treatment. It was not sharp out of the box, so I had to put my own edge on it. That steel was freakin hard. I only sold it because I'm obsessed with another brand, but it was a fine knife. If you see one you like, give it a shot.
 
I've met and spent time with Greg and his family, good people and very opinionated.

The smooth criminal is the only Medford knife that I have, and I absolutely love this thing. Medford tolerances are so beyond well engineered and fit and finish on this one is impressive.

PXL_20230630_011706579.MP.jpg
 
I’ll echo what most are saying. I’ve owned 8or 9. They’ve all been fun to own and only get better with use.
 
I have a full size praetorian. Quality/fit and finish is second to none. It's a big overbuilt folder that doesn't that doesn't see much use, but it's nice.
 
Thank you for all the replies. The model that caught my eye is the Medford version of the USMC Ka-Bar. I like the steel choice and full tang construction:

The Fighter™ - Medford Knife & Tool USA

Total length: 11.63in Blade length: 6.5in Width: 1.5in Thickness: .250in Weight: 1.3lbs
medfordknife.com medfordknife.com
 
The traditional Ka-Bar USMC has a design flaw in that there is a weak point where the blade meets the stick tang. Not that it is a bad knife, just a flaw that can be improved upon. The Medford is full tang 1/4" thick which should hold up to most abuse.
 
mc5aw said:
The traditional Ka-Bar USMC has a design flaw in that there is a weak point where the blade meets the stick tang. Not that it is a bad knife, just a flaw that can be improved upon. The Medford is full tang 1/4" thick which should hold up to most abuse.
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Sure, but it's also twice the weight and 5 times the price. And stick tang, while inherently weaker than full tang, have been made for thousands of years, they're perfectly fine when a knife is used as intended ie: to cut stuff.
 
MK&T hasn't disappointed me, ever!

The Praetorian Slim is pocket and user friendly. It's also casual and subtle. It is also durable and can handle hard use.

(Hard use: (?) Cut a seat belt)

[Adrenaline + sharp blade]

[I was scared too]
 
mc5aw said:
Do any forum members have first hand experience with Medford Knife and Tool offerings? I know the various models are advertised as near-indestructible and are extremely expensive ... pricier than Randall, Reeves, Busse, etc. I'm curious if the hype and pricing are legit or just marketing.
Click to expand...

I've owned a few, don't own any currently. They are really durable, because the larger models tend to weigh roughly 17lbs each. Every one I had was super sharp, and I enjoyed them for what they were, but too many other knives in my collection are also sharp, and were just vastly easier to carry. Now, these days, Medford makes a lot of smaller models, and in steels like S35vn and 3V, but they are just absurdly expensive these days, and I'll warn you that they are NOT knives like CRK, where you can buy one to "check out" and then expect to recoup most of your cost when selling it. Medfords don't do that well on secondary, so if you decide to buy one, make sure it's one you love and want to have stick around for awhile...or else just be cool with taking like a 40% hit on the resale.
 
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