Moki Opinions

knifeswapper

knifeswapper

Knife Peddler
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Sep 3, 2004
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If you own / have owned a Moki traditional (specifically their VG10); what is your opinion of the knife?
 
I have a Kronos, but have not had it long and haven't used it enough to form an opinion on their VG-10. Based on what little I have done with it, I think it is at least as good as the Spyderco offerings in VG-10, and better than 1095 as seen in GEC.

I also have a Glory (AUS8 blade).

My opinion of Moki overall is that they usually have outstanding fit and finish, although I have seen one Kronos with gaps between the lockbar and blade right at the bolster, with rough opening and closing. In my opinion, that is a rare occurrence.
 


I only have the one. I was just given it and have yet to carry it. It is extraordinary in fit and finish. Very sharp. I like it very much.
 
I have a Moki Fish Owl. Fantastic quality. It could probably pass for a custom.
 
I have a Spire, a Moki-made knife sold under the William Henry label. It's simply the best made factory knife I've ever owned. GEC wishes it made knives this good. The fit is near seamless, the closest to custom I've seen in a production piece. The lock is solid, with no play whatsoever, and it disengages without any stickiness.



The Spire is a lockback, so I hope you'll forgive a couple of its details. I only included the picture to illustrate Moki's quality, not because I recommend this particular model.
 
I have a Moki Chronos in VG10.
pretty much what others have said for fit and finish: immaculate, superb, custom level, amazing, elegant.

I have not specifically tested Moki VG10, but I have tested VG10 from the, er... holey knife company, who has its VG10 knives made in Japan. In edge retention VG10 ranks with 154CM, ATS34, N690. This is a noticeable improvement over 440C edge retention, though a step down from PM alloys. It takes a fine edge and is highly corrosion resistant. The steel is made in Japan and my understanding is that it is hard to obtain elsewhere.

I should also add that even the sheath is amazing. glove leather interior with a cloth exterior and a snap cover. Very elegant.

100_3219_zpsa48407e4.jpg
 
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Same model as Frank's but I think it's the smaller size and in Redbone.

PROS Superb fit & finish of the highest order, precise action, fantastic match-up line between tang and spring, almost seamless. The steel retains a very fine and sharp edge that is more than enough for pocket-knife duties.

CONS Don't like the Redbone scales! whilst they are well fitted and radiused they look garish and they actually flake somewhat, not good and I was very surprised. I'd like to get it re-handled but as it has quite a few pins and a lanyard hole I fear that nobody could dismantle it and re-assemble with such clockwork precision.
 
Can't speak to the VG10 but the ATS 34 in this one came sharper than any factory traditional I've picked up. Action is silky smooth and the blade grind is exquisite (with a nice radius on the spine to prevent any sharpness and a mirror polish that is a fingerprint magnet). A tad bit thicker than I expected (about the width of a 2 blade GEC 15). If you are thinking about picking up this line, you could certainly do worse ;)

 
Moki knives are finished better than most factory knives and quite a few customs. Attention to detail is outstanding. The inside of the back spring is polished better than the blade on most factory knives. They make knives for Spyderco and Al Mar. In the past (and perhaps still) they have made knives for Beretta, AG Russell, and William Henry Global (as shown by kamagong). The function is equal to the finish.

Some people say that all of the Spydercos that are made in Japan and don't say "Seki City" are made by Moki. I'm not certain that is always true but the majority seem to be.
These are all made by Moki.
http://paulberetta.com/jess_horn_gallery/index.html
I have one of the AG Russell Jess Horn knives as seen in the last few pictures.

It blows my mind that Moki isn't more well known in the USA. They seem content to manufacture for other companies and turn out a few models of their own. I would love to see Moki do a line of traditional slipjoints. A swayback jack with a wharncliffe blade would end up in my pocket for certain.
 
Yes they are up to many a custom level, really remarkable actually. And mine was deadly sharp on arrival with decent bevel to match the high quality finish. Shame about those scales tho.....
 
kamagong said:
I have a Spire, a Moki-made knife sold under the William Henry label. It's simply the best made factory knife I've ever owned. GEC wishes it made knives this good. The fit is near seamless, the closest to custom I've seen in a production piece. The lock is solid, with no play whatsoever, and it disengages without any stickiness.

The Spire is a lockback, so I hope you'll forgive a couple of its details. I only included the picture to illustrate Moki's quality, not because I recommend this particular model.
Click to expand...

I've got the Spire in a red bone, Model #K 22-RB. As mentioned, it was made for William Henry and marketed under their World Knives logo and later sold by A.G.Russell. I carried and used this knife for a few years and the VG-10, which came very sharp, held up well and did the tasks you'd use a small lock back for. I'm not sure whether I did anything other then pass it over a charged leather hone to keep it sharp. It's been locked away for some years now.

I'll echo the other statements regarding fit and finish. Excellent little knife very close to custom quality. One detail I'll add; it is the smoothest action lock back knife I own. No blade movement after a few years usage.

I have one other William Henry that was made by Moki, under the same World Knives label. It's not one to talk about here except to say the quality is outstanding and the VG-10 blade has performed well.
 
Peregrin said:
I'll echo the other statements regarding fit and finish. Excellent little knife very close to custom quality. One detail I'll add; it is the smoothest action lock back knife I own. No blade movement after a few years usage.
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Remarkable really. These Mokis are on par with the Case/Bose annuals, at 1/3 the price. I don't know how they do it.
 
Will Power said:
Same model as Frank's but I think it's the smaller size and in Redbone.

PROS Superb fit & finish of the highest order, precise action, fantastic match-up line between tang and spring, almost seamless. The steel retains a very fine and sharp edge that is more than enough for pocket-knife duties.

CONS Don't like the Redbone scales! whilst they are well fitted and radiused they look garish and they actually flake somewhat, not good and I was very surprised. I'd like to get it re-handled but as it has quite a few pins and a lanyard hole I fear that nobody could dismantle it and re-assemble with such clockwork precision.
Click to expand...

I have a Moki in the jigged red bone, and have noticed the same tendency for the jigging's fine, sharp edges to chip or flake away; the jigging is too densely arranged, leaving the margins between each cut very, very thin and somewhat fragile. I kept noticing little bits of it coming off in my hand. That's my only negative impression of the knife, and wish I'd bought one in the amber jigged (stag) bone, as per Frank's example above. Otherwise, as previously mentioned, the overall fit/finish of these knives is custom-quality, and the blade's factory edge (and the TIP, especially) were flawless in grind. The tip of the blade immediately drew blood when I was clumsily inspecting it when brand new. These are first-rate knives for the money.


David
 
Will Power said:
CONS Don't like the Redbone scales! whilst they are well fitted and radiused they look garish and they actually flake somewhat, not good and I was very surprised. I'd like to get it re-handled but as it has quite a few pins and a lanyard hole I fear that nobody could dismantle it and re-assemble with such clockwork precision.
Click to expand...

Obsessed with Edges said:
I have a Moki in the jigged red bone, and have noticed the same tendency for the jigging's fine, sharp edges to chip or flake away; the jigging is too densely arranged, leaving the margins between each cut very, very thin and somewhat fragile. I kept noticing little bits of it coming off in my hand. That's my only negative impression of the knife, and wish I'd bought one in the amber jigged (stag) bone, as per Frank's example above.
Click to expand...

That is occasionally an issue with jigged bone, not exclusive to Moki unfortunately. I have a Queen with winterbottom covers that has the same problem.

One thing I'd like to point out is that Moki manufacturers their knives with the same sunken pins that people lambast GEC for.

21465893336_161569dcec_c.jpg
 
David Very interesting you have the same problem with the Redbone. I've tried a rub-down but it doesn't seem to stop the flaking. Think I'm going to risk a tea-dye job that might at least improve the horrible red/black paint appearance:barf:

Christian I see what you mean but my example has very nicely domed pins, all 10 of them. Still GEC takes the prize for sink-holes, especially on woods (but not always..):D:D

I think we are all agreed that these are outstanding knives at a reasonable price - given their build-quality. I'll try and get a close up or two of the backspring. It's so smooth you cannot feel the bolsters/liners it's like one piece of steel when it's 4.

Thanks, Will
 
I have a Fish Owl. Hands down some of the best money I have ever spent on a knife. But, the blade is AUS-8.
 
Will Power said:
I think we are all agreed that these are outstanding knives at a reasonable price - given their build-quality. I'll try and get a close up or two of the backspring. It's so smooth you cannot feel the bolsters/liners it's like one piece of steel when it's 4.
Click to expand...

Here's one. Pretty good fit IMO.

 
Will Power said:
David Very interesting you have the same problem with the Redbone. I've tried a rub-down but it doesn't seem to stop the flaking. Think I'm going to risk a tea-dye job that might at least improve the horrible red/black paint appearance:barf:(...)
Thanks, Will
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've contemplated trying to gently rub/buff/sand down the fine & fragile edges of the jigging on mine, hopefully to end the chipping/flaking issues. Sort of an attempt at making it more 'pocket worn' in appearance. But I haven't tried it yet, as I'm afraid it might really mess up the appearance. May have to pull that one out of storage and give it some more thought. As for the black dye on the red bone, I've also thought about using some alcohol to see if that'll remove some of that. Again though, it's risky; might end up with 'pink' bone instead of red. :eek:


David
 
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