Merckworx Folders

gibbyx

gibbyx

Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
554
Please - Only feedback/input from those who own, have used or handled Mercworx Folders.

What is your take on them?:thumbup::thumbdn:

Where do they sit comparitively in quality/performance/price?:confused:

For the price point, are there any other folders you would suggest instead?

Thanks in advance for your experience with these and any replies thereof.

Gibby
:cool:
 
I have a Lachasis (spelling ?). Nice solid folder but it sits in the drawer while I carry others: Sebenzas, Ritter Grips, Syderco Military's. For the price point, I'd go with another Sebenza. It does open smoothly and the micarta grip is nice. I don't want to bash it, but at $385, I would not buy it again.
 
muddog49 said:
I have a Lachasis (spelling ?). Nice solid folder but it sits in the drawer while I carry others: Sebenzas, Ritter Grips, Syderco Military's. For the price point, I'd go with another Sebenza. It does open smoothly and the micarta grip is nice. I don't want to bash it, but at $385, I would not buy it again.
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Thanks - and how's the Queen City nowadays? I was born and raised in Shelby.

I really appreciate your answer. I, too thought the price was a little high unless it was in the league of say, a Sebenza, etc. Does it fall short performance wise or would you say it's just a matter of personal preference. Forgive my intrigue, I've never handled one and am just trying to do some homework.

Thanks again for your help.

Gibby
 
while i havent owned one i have handled 2 of the large ones, ~4" blade, the ones i looked at were ok, F&F was good, had kind of a neat grind on the blade, all in all an ok knife, nothing really special though, i think they are overpriced for what ya get FWIW, if i found a deal on one, maybe $200 or so, maybe $250 tops, i might would buy one myself, but no way i would pay MSRP for one, no way at all.
 
I own all three fates, so I have had the opportunity to handle and inspect them closely. I do not use them for carry.

Overall they are a well made knife in my opinion with high quality materials throughout. they lock up nicely with little or no discernable play at the pivot.

Are they worth the money? I may get flamed for this, but is any folder really worth $400? Quite possibly not, unless it is a handmade custom and you are paying for countless hours of skilled labor.

Any knife is worth what you are willing to pay for it I guess, I liked the quality of materials used and the shape of the blade, so for myself the answer is yes.

Can you get an as good, or better knife for the same money? Yes, depending on what factors you consider makes for a better knife.

I only paid retail for my Clotho, the Lachesis and Atropos were purchased previously owned, never carried, never sharpened, and I saved a considerable dollar on them. So if you are patient I would recommend keeping your eyes peeled for a similar opportunity.

I also own an SOG Arcitech with carbon fiber scales. This knife shares similarities to the Merc's with titanium liners and bolsters, but has a San Mai VG10 blade instead of BG42 steel, and the aforementioned carbon fibre scales instead of Micarta on the MW.

I believe the SOG street prices for approx. $100 less than the comparable in size Clotho (don't have time to price compare right now). And in my opinion is worthy of consideration as an alternative.

Bottom line though, if you are prepared to drop $400 on a knife, and if the tech specs confirm high quality materials, buy the one that speaks "I want that knife".

You'll be happiest with a knife you like, for the reasons important to you.

Kevin

NOTE: to clarify, the Clotho and Arcitech are closest in size based on blade legth. The Lachesis and Architec are similar in overall open length.
 
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From what i understand the general consensus on these knives is that they are not worth the price tag. have you looked at the Zero tolerance line by kershaw. heavy duty folders for much less.
 
mudd, sifu and dag, thanks for the info. That's really what I was after - trying to get a good consensus from those who have experienced the Merc line.

dag, yes, the Arcitech is gorgeous and I would go there before the Merc. However, for $400 I'm going straight to Umnum! No arguement.

Razor, yes the ZT line are very good knives. I may own one someday but for right now they just seem too cookie cutter for my taste - kinda like they're trying too hard. But before I go there I'm gonna go Lone Wolf T-2 or T-3.

Thanks all,
Gibby
 
Dag-nabit said:
I own all three fates, so I have had the opportunity to handle and inspect them closely. I do not use them for carry.

Overall they are a well made knife in my opinion with high quality materials throughout. they lock up nicely with little or no discernable play at the pivot.

Are they worth the money? I may get flamed for this, but is any folder really worth $400? Quite possibly not, unless it is a handmade custom and you are paying for countless hours of skilled labor.

Any knife is worth what you are willing to pay for it I guess, I liked the quality of materials used and the shape of the blade, so for myself the answer is yes.

Can you get an as good, or better knife for the same money? Yes, depending on what factors you consider makes for a better knife.

I only paid retail for my Clotho, the Lachesis and Atropos were purchased previously owned, never carried, never sharpened, and I saved a considerable dollar on them. So if you are patient I would recommend keeping your eyes peeled for a similar opportunity.

I also own an SOG Arcitech with carbon fiber scales. This knife shares similarities to the Merc's with titanium liners and bolsters, but has a San Mai VG10 blade instead of BG42 steel, and the aforementioned carbon fibre scales instead of Micarta on the MW.

I believe the SOG street prices for approx. $100 less than the comparable in size Clotho (don't have time to price compare right now). And in my opinion is worthy of consideration as an alternative.

Bottom line though, if you are prepared to drop $400 on a knife, and if the tech specs confirm high quality materials, buy the one that speaks "I want that knife".

You'll be happiest with a knife you like, for the reasons important to you.

Kevin

NOTE: to clarify, the Clotho and Arcitech are closest in size based on blade legth. The Lachesis and Architec are similar in overall open length.
Click to expand...

i know of a lotta knives worth $400, some that are worth 3X that, but they are customs not productions and while some might say the MW are "semi's" they are a lot closer to a production than custom IMHO, for one thing the F&F isnt nearly as good as most customs, or a sebenza for instance, i would find it a lot easier to choke up $400 for a seb than anything i have seen MW make, not that they are bad knives, i just think they could improve the consistancy of F&F for the $$ they sell the things for. the 2 i have handled varied quite a bit in that regard, one was pretty good, one was just "ok".
 
SIFU1A said:
i know of a lotta knives worth $400, some that are worth 3X that, but they are customs not productions and while some might say the MW are "semi's" they are a lot closer to a production than custom IMHO, for one thing the F&F isnt nearly as good as most customs, or a sebenza for instance, i would find it a lot easier to choke up $400 for a seb than anything i have seen MW make, not that they are bad knives, i just think they could improve the consistancy of F&F for the $$ they sell the things for. the 2 i have handled varied quite a bit in that regard, one was pretty good, one was just "ok".
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, I wasn't considering MW's as customs, I was comparing the price against true, true hand crafted, customs.

I agree that MW's are closer to a production knife than a custom. Even though their corporate profile claims each knife is made by one artisan from start to finish, how do you define made? There is a huge difference between hand assembled and hand crafted.

Kevin
 
This is the post I intended to make here. I don't have a folder I have an Equatorian Chili made with S30V that has served me well. I have butchered a buffalo, cut truck loads of pine boughs, rope to load them cut tent pegs, cut fire wood. It is big and cumbersome for skinning and had to use the smaller blades for the detail work but the large areas with two other folks pulling hide it breezed right through its part of the job. It was the only blade that did not need several resharpening during the job. Even after hacking through part of its neck. In fact in that whole month I never needed to sharpen it. So for blade quality it awesome. If SHTF it is the knife I will be taking with me. But honestly I cringe every time the blade gets scratched, camp knives get scratched alot. Less expensive knives do the job maybe not as well but they manage. I don't regret owning it
 
Rider, Sounds like you've got one hell of a companion there. It's good to KNOW you can depend your life on someting. Thanks for sharing that info. I bet that buffalo tasted goooood.

Gibby
 
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