NEW 4.7 Thread

[Karoi]

Hey now, I'm talking SCIENCE! Except, you know, without a test and control subject. Or anything actually scientific.

I truly hope you and everyone else who has ordered one gets your 4.7's in hand soon so you can see what all the fuss is about. It's such a minor thing it's hardly even worth mentioning but I do wish the pommel was rounded off for some woodworking stuff where it's convenient to cup the knife in the palm of your hand for pushing the point but other than that I don't know how you make a better midsized general purpose knife.

I wish they would stop giving any estimate at all since it just seems to frustrate people, but that belongs in the "concerns" thread imo.

Haha! I'm 99% sure this is almost the perfect knife for me, even though I've never actually gotten my grubby mits on one yet!
I fully agree with you on the rounded pommel.
I reckon another good tweak to the design would be to change how the scales meet the heel of the blade so that it's similar to my Jeff White knife. The benefit is that you can choke up nicely without the need for a finger choil.
This might adversely affect the ergonomics of the handle though!

 

[grogimus]

Haha! I'm 99% sure this is almost the perfect knife for me, even though I've never actually gotten my grubby mits on one yet!
I fully agree with you on the rounded pommel.
I reckon another good tweak to the design would be to change how the scales meet the heel of the blade so that it's similar to my Jeff White knife. The benefit is that you can choke up nicely without the need for a finger choil.
This might adversely affect the ergonomics of the handle though!

I haven't had a Jeff White knife, they look like great bang for the buck but I assume you mean the scalloped section in the forward portion of the handle? I had those on an LT Wright Genesis and a couple other knives and it was pretty comfy but I sold them just because of the scallops, when I was using them in a hammer grip or squeezing down on a chest lever it cut right into the middle of my index finger when I was bearing down on it. I wonder if a best of both worlds thing couldn't be managed with an indentation in that area with rounded corners and no sharp transitions.

 

[dogboye]

I wish they would stop giving any estimate at all since it just seems to frustrate people, but that belongs in the "concerns" thread imo.

It wouldn't be so bad if they would get it correct one f-in' time. Just ONCE!!! But as long as I've been associated with the brand… ok, payin' them money… they've never even been close. Except when they say they can't give a date. Hard to mess that one up.

They make great knives. Maybe the dead level BEST at what they offer. But they need to learn to not be so d*** optimistic. If you're gonna give a date, make it so damn far out in the future you can't possibly miss it, unless you die.

 

[grogimus]

It wouldn't be so bad if they would get it correct one f-in' time. Just ONCE!!! But as long as I've been associated with the brand… ok, payin' them money… they've never even been close. Except when they say they can't give a date. Hard to mess that one up.

They make great knives. Maybe the dead level BEST at what they offer. But they need to learn to not be so d*** optimistic. If you're gonna give a date, make it so damn far out in the future you can't possibly miss it, unless you die.

I now right! Just call it "Two Weeks"!

Seriously though I agree, I think it would be hand-down the absolute best practice to just take any and all time estimates off the table. Pay us for a knife, we'll get it to you once we get stuff iron'ed out and it will be freaking awesome. The end. Don't like it? Refer to the previous agreement.

 

[dogboye]

I now right! Just call it "Two Weeks"!

Seriously though I agree, I think it would be hand-down the absolute best practice to just take any and all time estimates off the table. Pay us for a knife, we'll get it to you once we get stuff iron'ed out and it will be freaking awesome. The end. Don't like it? Refer to the previous agreement.

Yeah. In all honesty, they're just too nice a buncha people. They are, I think, doing their best, but one reason or another, they seem to have no concept of how long it is going to take to get a knife out. But I tell you this, if they manage to get their 4.7's out the door before Christmas, this is going to be one of my best Christmases ever. Two O2W blades and a 4.7 by Christmas would be a helluva hat trick!

 

[grogimus]

Yeah. In all honesty, they're just too nice a buncha people. They are, I think, doing their best, but one reason or another, they seem to have no concept of how long it is going to take to get a knife out. But I tell you this, if they manage to get their 4.7's out the door before Christmas, this is going to be one of my best Christmases ever. Two O2W blades and a 4.7 by Christmas would be a helluva hat trick!

2 Busses and a partridge in a pear tree. If a partridge is a 4.7 If you'd like, feel free to drop into the passaround on the CFV passaround thread. Scratch the itch, so to speak. I'll be happy with my Trash-2 by Christmas time, getting the BM-E, one of the BB-13's in BG of INFI, or the Hog Nosed War Sword would be incredible to have in hand by then.

 

[dogboye]

Well, I was specifically thinking the TG-P and the BGFSH, both of which I've gotten dinged in the last 7 days. If the 1st Friday update is even in the ballpark, then I may get my 3V 4.7 before Christmas. And I'm thinking both the Busses will get in by then. The 4.7 is the outlier. We'll see how that goes.

I already have a CruV 4.7, and it battles all others for usage time. The 4.7 is a genius of a design. Incredibly basic, and incredibly usable. It follows the design genius paradigm, IMO. The design is optimized not when nothing else can be added, but when nothing else can be taken away and it still function ideally for its intended purpose (paraphrased).

 

[grogimus]

Well, I was specifically thinking the TG-P and the BGFSH, both of which I've gotten dinged in the last 7 days. If the 1st Friday update is even in the ballpark, then I may get my 3V 4.7 before Christmas. And I'm thinking both the Busses will get in by then. The 4.7 is the outlier. We'll see how that goes.

I already have a CruV 4.7, and it battles all others for usage time. The 4.7 is a genius of a design. Incredibly basic, and incredibly usable. It follows the design genius paradigm, IMO. The design is optimized not when nothing else can be added, but when nothing else can be taken away and it still function ideally for its intended purpose (paraphrased).

The TG-P was an almost-genius for me. I got a TGLB as a gift and my intro to Busee knives, it was soooo good, but I hated that top guard. Muh thumb! I'm gonna be pissed I didn't get in on the thin BGFSH, that's a given, I'll be hawking the exchange when they show up. I think the Busse MeanStreet-Ergo is about the only thing that competes with my S!K knives in the smaller range. The AMS has skinny, long handles, the AD has fat, short handles. I think it's not going to be about blade durability when it gets to a GSO-12 vs a Busse chopper, it's going to be all about the handle ergos.

 

[chiral.grolim]

I have many times considered the AD, but I have a Rodent Solution and am not convinced that the AD would be a big improvement over it... Am I incorrect?

Regarding round pommels on something like the GSO-4.7, is cupping the pommel for wood-working really something you do with a knife this size? I'm used to using smaller knives for carving, this one just seems a bit big/thick to me for what you seem to be discussing... Got pics?

 

[dogboye]

I would agree, Grogimus, between BUSSE-kin and S!K, the big difference is just ergos, and style.

 

[OBX351]

I would agree, Grogimus, between BUSSE-kin and S!K, the big difference is just ergos, and style.

Not to put too fine of a point on your point (no pun intended) but the blade geo, coatings and steel are pretty different too. I had to get my SRKW RMD reprofiled to carve and cut well. It batoned well but that was secondary for me.

 

[amdmaxx]

Just got an email update from Jordyn (very quick same day response):
The GSO-4.7 presale orders from December have been built, and will start shipping as they are sharpened. The December orders should start shipping within the next couple weeks. Keep an eye out for a shipping notification and tracking number to know when your order has shipped.

Looks like they are getting there.. cant wait..

 

[timichango]

I had to get my SRKW RMD reprofiled to carve and cut well. It batoned well but that was secondary for me.

That's good to know. I was considering an RMD, but after owning an Ambush Alpha, I've concluded that thick-edged knives aren't for me.

 

[OBX351]

Just got an email update from Jordyn (very quick same day response):
The GSO-4.7 presale orders from December have been built, and will start shipping as they are sharpened. The December orders should start shipping within the next couple weeks. Keep an eye out for a shipping notification and tracking number to know when your order has shipped.

Looks like they are getting there.. cant wait..

Not to sound like the thousandth broken record here on the S!K forum but the 4.7 is a spectacular knife and is worth the wait. I am going to put most of my INFI RMDs up for sale as soon as I get my second 4.7 in 3v.

 

[chiral.grolim]

That's good to know. I was considering an RMD, but after owning an Ambush Alpha, I've concluded that thick-edged knives aren't for me.

If you didn't see my photos of the CruV test blade, here's a schematic I made-up that I'll also use for an upcoming review, the RMD featured was re-profiled by me to improve cutting performance, used to be a lot thicker at the bevel-shoulder. The only production "survival" knife I've handled with geometry comparable to S!K is that BK-16 and a Busse Muk.

 

[Fancier]

Chiral, I was just thinking about (and obliquely referencing in another thread) this chart.

 

[dogboye]

Not to put too fine of a point on your point (no pun intended) but the blade geo, coatings and steel are pretty different too. I had to get my SRKW RMD reprofiled to carve and cut well. It batoned well but that was secondary for me.

Well, yeah, I guess. I guess I was more thinking along the lines of usability, edge holding, and reliability. Not specifically composition. Also, I've found more of my latest Busses having much better edge geometry. I'll concede that the straight RMD edges tend to be ridiculously thick.

 

[ncrockclimb]

If you didn't see my photos of the CruV test blade, here's a schematic I made-up that I'll also use for an upcoming review, the RMD featured was re-profiled by me to improve cutting performance, used to be a lot thicker at the bevel-shoulder. The only production "survival" knife I've handled with geometry comparable to S!K is that BK-16 and a Busse Muk.

Your graphic is awesome.

One of the many things that S!K got very right in their designs was the blade profile. Specifically, the thinness of the grind behind the edge GREATLY improves the performance of the knife when compared to other, thicker ground knives. It still surprises me that so many manufactures will make a great knife with super steel, then grind it in such a way as to effectively handicap the blades performance. I know that Andy at Fiddleback similarly grinds his production (and custom) knives VERY thin behind the edge, and is vocal about that being one of the "secrets" to his knives superior performance.

Guy puts an incredibly sharp edge on his knives. However, I think it is the combination of the edge AND the thin grind that makes his knives perform so well.

 

[SURVIVE! Ellie]

Your graphic is awesome.

One of the many things that S!K got very right in their designs was the blade profile. Specifically, the thinness of the grind behind the edge GREATLY improves the performance of the knife when compared to other, thicker ground knives. It still surprises me that so many manufactures will make a great knife with super steel, then grind it in such a way as to effectively handicap the blades performance. I know that Andy at Fiddleback similarly grinds his production (and custom) knives VERY thin behind the edge, and is vocal about that being one of the "secrets" to his knives superior performance.

Guy puts an incredibly sharp edge on his knives. However, I think it is the combination of the edge AND the thin grind that makes his knives perform so well.

Guy spent a LONG time at his grandmother's dining room table working on designs while she told him he needed to go out and get himself a real job. It is always really nice to hear from folks who see and appreciate the finer details that he took the time to consider, thank you. It is good to know it was time well spent. At least she isn't giving him a hard time anymore

On another note, all but a handful of May 2015 orders are shipped now.

 

[Karoi]

On another note, all but a handful of May 2015 orders are shipped now.

This is the best new I've heard in a long time
Thanks for the update :thumbup: