Moanarch has arrived!

Well, I'm not a master flipper, and this is a put away purchase, however... On an old spring scale it comes in at about 7 or 8 ounces. It is thick on the latch end, 5/8" by 1/2" which is the same as a BM custom I have which is a 3" blade as opposed to the 4" of the Monarch. The BM weighs about 6 or 7 ozs. I did a few latch drop openings with a finger(s) pinch grip close, and it was very smooth, but stiff. The stiffness is probably a good thing for a new knife, and with some Militec and manipulation it should loosen up to be just about right. The handles are 5" long as opposed to 5 1/4" for the BM42, which is of course much lighter. The latch end of the handles are both threaded (for the slot headed screw that holds the latch in place) in case you prefer Manilla, or latchless for that matter--a neat feature for protecting the blade. An extra screw could no doubt be had to fill in the extra hole in the handle.
For a comprehensive fliprep, best to wait for a report from one of the masters who will put it through it's paces for a while.
 
Great knife for the $$$!!! Solid as a rock, lifetime warranty, neat leather horizontal belt sheath, very nice grind and polish on the blade, smooth satin finish and fine machine work on the handles; overall, well worth the wait! As noted, a little stiff but when I spoke with Richard he informed me they were set-up that way so the user could break them in and then they'd 'come into their own'. A real nice sized/weighted bali- "Bravo Richard, you did good!":D ;)
 
I received mine a couple of days ago. I am of two minds about it. On the one hand, the blade is very well ground, and pretty. Cuts well, and is very strong except at the very tip where the cross section gets a little tiny. Blade to handle ratio is exceptional. The tang pin, ricasso and handles are all mega strong! Great cutting tool!

On the other hand, handle finish is second rate with some slight uneveness in the surface here and there. The edges of the blade channels and the handle ends are sharp. The latch is not flush with the handle ends. Safe handle pivot is tight, making manipulation scary at this point. Hopefully it will break in with not too many hours of working the pivot. Frankly, I don't know if a stainless on stainless contact will wear-in very much except through hundreds of hours of swinging. The sheath, though sturdy and well designed, is not professionally finished.

It is certainly an interesting piece, and I am glad to have one, but I have to compare everything to the Benchmade 42 in terms of value. The shortcomings in finish are not a matter of cost but simply a matter of a lack of attention, or the collaboration of too many craftspersons on one project, as the latch was not carefully integrated in to the handle. It might be fixable by grinding the handle ends down flush with the latch, but one does not expect to pay $130 for a knife and then take a grinder or a file to it except perhaps to personalize it.

So, I am happy with the Monarch as a cutting tool, but somewhat less satisfied with it as a balisong.
 
I agree with you Steve. The Monarch is a nice heavy cutting knife, but it just don't have the nice finished look of the Benchmades. On mine the handles do not seem to be finished and the handle pins seem to be a little off to one side going through the blade. This makes the blade point more to one side when open. The handles do not line up easily when I try to latch it in the open position, it must be forced. There does not seem to be any "kick" to the blade. The edge of the blade hits the inside of the handle when closed. Maybe I just got a bad one. For the money and value, I don't think Benchmade can be beat.
 
I totally agree with Steve Harvey on this one... these aren't quite up to snuff. The blade is quite nice, nice hollow grind--this will probably make a good user. But there definitely was no love put into the CNC milled handles and latch. Mine even had wire burrs on the edges. I had to take a file to mine to make it safe to handle. The handles are off, very subtly, but they are off centered on the blade, and they are not quite parallel to the plane of the blade (though those are both probably related to the drilling of the holes). Well, it was a long wait for this... and I think "Roton USA" should reconsider their financial position if they decide to go through with any more of these pieces.
 
but I just notice that the latch hits the blade tip in the closed and latched position. In fact it is the tip that keeps the latch from going any further down...
 
In the current market..., I do think this is a nice knife/carry system for what....$129??? I think that's what I payed? The previously mentioned deficits are there...., and I do think the handles are "roughly finished". Mine are actually a little "sharp", with very little to no rounding of the outer edges. I also agree that a more integrated approach to the handle-latch relationship will be neccessary in future models to keep us all "hungry" for future models.

Steve is right about the leather sheath in one respect. It is certainly not the quality of something like Gary (and others) make, but in all fairness..., a nice "bonus" for a Balisong in this price range.

Although the criticism of what-ever-the-f**k that writing is on the blade is getting old at this point... :( ..it is YUCKY...and no matter what the collectibility of these two I've got is in the future..., it's coming off as soon as I fire up my dremmel tool. :)

Ok.., so now for the good stuff! :)

Just holding the knife you can feel it's strong.., and oddly...mine aren't tight at all????? From reading the reviews here it's obvious some are pretty "testy" as far as just out-of-the-box swingability. Mine aren't like that at all!! I haven't even as much as squirted a little DW-40 on either of them, and they swing really well. I should also mention that my preference -by far-.., is heavier Balisongs with SS handles, so that obviously effects my feel for this design. Although I am getting used to the new Ti-Handled BM's...they still feel funny to me in a kinesthetic sense, which is nothing more than my preference..., and certainly not meant as a "knock" on the newer Ti-Handled Balisongs.

Mine are VERY sharp, which is something that impresses me in a new grind. I also like the fact that the pins are GODZILLA sized.., meaning I can beat the hell out out them without to much worry about wear.

The grind and finish of the blade is very nice.., and I would certainly invest in future models given the fact that I believe Richard will respond qualitatively to what we supply as feedback. It should be obvious to all of us that a Balisong knife that meets standards that we accept is NOT a walk-in-the-park to produce.

Profit is also a consideration for anyone attempting to move into a new domain in knifemaking, and my educated guess is that this venture will not be acceptably profitable unless we supply enough positive feedback that allows a new maker to benefit from the years of experience and knowledge we can provide.

I would rate this knife as a very credible entry into making high quality Balisongs that most people can afford. With the addition of a sheath that may retail for $30.00????....this is one hell of a knife for $99.00....NO?


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
I can't wait to get mine!!!! I probably shouldn't try my DarkSide Aerial (over the shoulder, catching it blind-without looking at it) with it, if I mess up and a handle hits my head I could get knocked out! ;)
 
You can pull the "Over-the-Shoulder" off with this Cameron...HONEST...I think you will be surprised by how much feel you have for the heavy guys!! Just remember you are dealing with a considerable increase in handle-weight between these guys and a BM-42. Like you mentioned in one post.., do it a few times "LATCHED"...and it will give you some sense of the changes in inertia.

I'm guessing..., and maybe wrongly, but I think you will complete that move more easily with this type of Balisong. You have it mastered..., adjusting the variables is all that's neccessary.


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
I'm sending Cameron a helmet to do his latest "Over-the-Shoulder" move with Eric's handles...., so no worries!! :cool:





"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
I wish i had money to buy myself a new bali. I am still happy with my 3 months old bm42a though.
 
Thanks Pete!! :D I was going to try to do the DarkSide Aerial with the BaliSword but I don't think 3 acres is enough room for one of those, that and I want the muscles on my back. ;) I did do some hand exchanges with it and about 5-7 basic moves but that is about it.

The blade I am trying to get done (so I can send it to Mer for some handles) looks like a High Hollow except it has a longer clip to it, I'll post some pics once I have handles on it. :D

I have to make sure I dull the blades (not fully but sharp is not good) when I do my DarkSide Aerial, I do get stuck with the point of my balisongs when I do it but that is not as bad as slicing some tendons.

BTW, I have figured out a scary aerial technique involving 2 balisongs, if I can make it to the Oregon Blade Show I'll demonstrate my new stuff, otherwise I'll just put it onto a video (hopefully I'll have a DV Camcorder with IEEE capability by then).
Speaking of a camcorder, Clay, what kind do you use?
 
Yeah I hope you can make it to the Oregon show.., good show..., plus you can "carry" and flip your brains out legally. :)

Good choice on not trying "The Dark Side" with the "Zilla-Song"!! I know you're in good shape from all the iron-pumping classes, but you could tear a rotator cuff tossing that Big Boy around!!! :p


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
I think i might attent the oregon show for the first time just to see 'songers there. When is it?

BTW, I think this post gets the award for most times viewed.
 
Friday April 19th is for members of the Oregon Knife Collector's Association
Saturday and Sunday the 20th and 21sst are open for the General Public
 
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