- Joined
- Aug 16, 2008
- Messages
- 5,911
I managed to snag a very nice SW Tilt off the exchange because it was beconing slimmer and slimmer, if not impossible to snag one for the going street price. I ended up paying in the typical "high mid" secondary market price range.
Here is what I like about the Tilt:
* As so many have stated, the ergos if you will, are outstanding, especially when gripping the Tilt with the full grip and not using the finger choil on the blade
* The action is superb, and like it or not, the fact that the blade stock is lighter in weight than the 0560/0561, the blade doesn't free fall from gravity when closing it or holding the blade in such a manner that gravity does its thing. I think I like this part
* I like that this knife is so large yet so light. This is certainly a subjective observation though because is it too light? See dislikes . . .
* I like the open construction with the higher number of standoffs than is common
* I like that I can open it (mine anyway) using the thumbstuds
* I really like the blade profile. A sharp, fine tip and a straight edge. This is nice!
* The detent and the design of the flipper make it "just right" as far as opening resistance to me
* I think the Tilt is very visually appealing overall
* The blade is centered and this is a big one since it is looking like adjusting the KVT is not as easy as your typical pivot design
* The Tilt functions very well!
* The BB and polished scale finishes lend a nice solid grip with dry hands along with the tilted handle design.
* I haven't carried it so I can't comment of carry comfort or the clip design
* The lockup is superb and the lockbar is smooth and easy to operate one handed
* I don't miss any jimping
* It was sharp out of the box
Dislikes:
* I would have happily paid the uptick to get a solid blade. If Vanax 75 was not available in suitable supplies, I would have been very happy with Elmax in solid blade stock for even $20 bucks more than the normal street for this knife or whatever solid blade stock of high end blade steel would equate to. After all, I paid about $85 more than street anyway.
* I prefer the visual appearance of the fusion seam the way Kershaw did it on the JYD over the thin, straight seam. I guess it "appears" like the intent was to blend it rather than boast it.
* Because of that, I guess I just notice more, that the seam is not 100% consistent - there are darker, slightly wider portions along the seam while other sections are thinner and less evident. It also skews the very slight difference of final finish between the edge steel and the base stee in my feeble, superficial mind . . .
* Although superb overall, you can still look closely and see minute F&F hits like on any production knife - we can all wish can't we?!
* The BB Ti finish on the locking scale smudges more than I'm used to with normal handling
* The super smooth, polished CF also smudges very easily with normal handling - I find that I want to wipe mine down each time I touch it which hasn't been much to be honest though. It's still a LNIB knife!
* I am usually a blade choil kind of guy on designs that utilize a front blade choil well. I like how the Military front choil is subtle and small but works well and leaves plenty if cutting edge. I like how a big blade choil works on an SMF while still leaving about 3.25" of cutting edge too. But to me, the best handle comfort that utilizes the Tilt's awesome handle and grip comfort is best realized with a full grip and not choking up on the front choil. Although this is not a huge negative for me at all, it feels like the apex of the handle "tilt" sits right in the middle of my palm and pushes into the palm and the angle when choked up is too tip downward for me. Just me though. Although this is not uncomfortable, I just have to say that for the first time since I can remember, my first thought was this folder didn't need that front blade choil at all and that cool, straight cutting edge would have been long!
* Is this knife too light for how big it is? I'm not sure yet!
* There is no jimping, even if I don't miss any. There might be a refined gentleman's finish on this knife but the design and size is much more than gentleman
* Looking at the Tilt tip first, the butt where the two steels join makes the tip look weak - I know it's a solid fusion design and that KAI is very good at this and I'm not questoning that - it's just the visual . . .
I will update my likes and dislikes as I think of more but all in all, this is a super duper knife and is right up there with in function and beauty within a small group of notable production knives! I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it yet but like all us knife people, I will figure it out soon enough.
Here are a few pictures with comparisons: (when next to other knives, I usually line them up at the pivot)
Here is what I like about the Tilt:
* As so many have stated, the ergos if you will, are outstanding, especially when gripping the Tilt with the full grip and not using the finger choil on the blade
* The action is superb, and like it or not, the fact that the blade stock is lighter in weight than the 0560/0561, the blade doesn't free fall from gravity when closing it or holding the blade in such a manner that gravity does its thing. I think I like this part
* I like that this knife is so large yet so light. This is certainly a subjective observation though because is it too light? See dislikes . . .
* I like the open construction with the higher number of standoffs than is common
* I like that I can open it (mine anyway) using the thumbstuds
* I really like the blade profile. A sharp, fine tip and a straight edge. This is nice!
* The detent and the design of the flipper make it "just right" as far as opening resistance to me
* I think the Tilt is very visually appealing overall
* The blade is centered and this is a big one since it is looking like adjusting the KVT is not as easy as your typical pivot design
* The Tilt functions very well!
* The BB and polished scale finishes lend a nice solid grip with dry hands along with the tilted handle design.
* I haven't carried it so I can't comment of carry comfort or the clip design
* The lockup is superb and the lockbar is smooth and easy to operate one handed
* I don't miss any jimping
* It was sharp out of the box
Dislikes:
* I would have happily paid the uptick to get a solid blade. If Vanax 75 was not available in suitable supplies, I would have been very happy with Elmax in solid blade stock for even $20 bucks more than the normal street for this knife or whatever solid blade stock of high end blade steel would equate to. After all, I paid about $85 more than street anyway.
* I prefer the visual appearance of the fusion seam the way Kershaw did it on the JYD over the thin, straight seam. I guess it "appears" like the intent was to blend it rather than boast it.
* Because of that, I guess I just notice more, that the seam is not 100% consistent - there are darker, slightly wider portions along the seam while other sections are thinner and less evident. It also skews the very slight difference of final finish between the edge steel and the base stee in my feeble, superficial mind . . .
* Although superb overall, you can still look closely and see minute F&F hits like on any production knife - we can all wish can't we?!
* The BB Ti finish on the locking scale smudges more than I'm used to with normal handling
* The super smooth, polished CF also smudges very easily with normal handling - I find that I want to wipe mine down each time I touch it which hasn't been much to be honest though. It's still a LNIB knife!
* I am usually a blade choil kind of guy on designs that utilize a front blade choil well. I like how the Military front choil is subtle and small but works well and leaves plenty if cutting edge. I like how a big blade choil works on an SMF while still leaving about 3.25" of cutting edge too. But to me, the best handle comfort that utilizes the Tilt's awesome handle and grip comfort is best realized with a full grip and not choking up on the front choil. Although this is not a huge negative for me at all, it feels like the apex of the handle "tilt" sits right in the middle of my palm and pushes into the palm and the angle when choked up is too tip downward for me. Just me though. Although this is not uncomfortable, I just have to say that for the first time since I can remember, my first thought was this folder didn't need that front blade choil at all and that cool, straight cutting edge would have been long!
* Is this knife too light for how big it is? I'm not sure yet!
* There is no jimping, even if I don't miss any. There might be a refined gentleman's finish on this knife but the design and size is much more than gentleman
* Looking at the Tilt tip first, the butt where the two steels join makes the tip look weak - I know it's a solid fusion design and that KAI is very good at this and I'm not questoning that - it's just the visual . . .
I will update my likes and dislikes as I think of more but all in all, this is a super duper knife and is right up there with in function and beauty within a small group of notable production knives! I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it yet but like all us knife people, I will figure it out soon enough.
Here are a few pictures with comparisons: (when next to other knives, I usually line them up at the pivot)
Last edited:
