New Boker disappointment.

A

Amos Iron Wolf

Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
2,171
Well, I got the two, NIB Boker Stag handled slippies I'd been looking forward to. They are quite disappointing. The seller represented them as NIB, stag handle, German made Bokers. They are exactly as described so I won't slam the dealer. She communicated well and would have checked anything on the knives I'd have ask her to check. So my beef isn't with the seller. It is with Boker for having slipped so far.

I've had Boker in the past and still have one. Granted it has been several years since I bought my last one. However, my past experience with Boker has been with knives that walk and talk cleanly and exhibit strong backsprings. Not this time.

The Congress pattern I'd really been looking forward to as a possible EDC has the whimpiest backsprings. I don't expect the same strength as say a long, single-bladed trapper with a long spring. But, I don't expect such soft, lame springing. Heck, the little Case YH CV Peanut I picked up locally out of frustration walks, talks, and has a strong backspring on both blades and it is smaller than the congress and the whittler. The large blade on the Congress is the softest of all.

The whittler is all right in that department. Not awe inspiring, but acceptable backspring strength.

Both are stainless bladed. I accepted the idea of stainless on these two with the idea of them possbily being my San Antonio, Texas area summer carries. Here humidity and sweat are the usual experience from May all the way into Nov sometimes. So I thought I'd give these in SS a try and accept a little less than I'm used to with carbon steel. I said a LITTLE less, not atrocious. Out of the box these things are in desperate need of a sharpening. They don't need a touch up stoning just to bring them up to full potential. These blades are not usable to anyone with any standards.

Doing the old cut the paper on the edge deal, these rip the paper, they rarely cut it. I've had and have stainless steel knives that are plenty sharp and hold an edge a reasonable amount of time. Cripes, the Rough Riders had better edges and better backsprings than these Bokers. Truly a sad thing.

I'm going to email BokerUSA with my complaints and see if there are any remedies, like swap the knives out for ones that actually work right.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Best,
Amos
 
I'd go for a replacement, sounds like somebody slipped up in the quality control department. My Grand Canyon Bone Congress I bought last fall is fantastic.

Hope you get it sorted out!
 
Fellow wolf,

There is the Boker forum here, and TJT, the moderator, seems like a good guy who will offer some help.
Just a thought.

El Lobo
 
My experience with many recently purchased new slipjoints was that their out of the box spring action was quite weak.
After cleaning out the oily factory grit, the springs frequently (and surprisingly for me) appear to become stronger, even when the joints are properly lubricated.
 
Thanks guys.

Lobo, appreciate the suggestion. I pretty much live in here and never even thought of the Boker Forum.

On closer examination of the Whittler I found a crack running about an inch from the bolster that wasn't mentioned in the listing. To be fair, it would have been easy to overlook when photographing and listing several things. I emailed the seller and feel comfortable on that one that we will come to an amicable agreement. I also warned her to check the backsprings on here other knives, but that I considered the congress situation on Boker and not her.
 
Yep LK, I can get behind that. I'll try it on a couple of my Case YH carry knives.

I'll wait until I hear from Boker, if in a reasonable time, before I try cleaning deeply on this particular knife. Thanks again.

The Boker actually has some walk and even a little talk on closing. The darn thing just seems to start closing with minimal pressure. I would think I was being over critical since it is a small, four-bladed knife if my two-blade, even smaller Case Peanut didn't have such a strong backspring. This one takes a little push to start either blade closing.

One all of the congress blades once they slip into the half stop they sort of wallow there with quite a bit of fore and aft play.

BTW Lobo, I posted over of the Boker Forum as you suggested.
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
I'll wait until I hear from Boker, if in a reasonable time, before I try cleaning deeply on this particular knife.
Click to expand...

Okay, make that a response both via the forum and by phone today, only hours after I initiated contact. :thumbup:

Quick, positive service. I can really appreciate that.

I've seen a few posts in this Tradtional folder about companies where the people don't hide from their customers, but are quick to step up and interact with them. One instance invovled Queen Cutlery, where one of the posters here called about a particular knife and ended up speaking to one of the founders. The knife world, especially traditional patterns by traditional companies, is one place where the approach is often more one of a partnership between the company and the customer. It sure is nice to find that in this world. Boker USA certainly fit that bill today.

I may have been disappointed in the knife, more so based on why I wanted it and my personal experience with their excellent knives in the past, but I was even more impressed by the quick and friendly customer service. :thumbup: :thumbup: Two to Boker. Much appreciated.
 
that's one thing i've noticed about any product, bad ones slip through and it's how they treat you after the sale that makes the difference. I've had several bokers over the years and they've been pretty good knives. glad to hear they have good customer support. hope they get you fixed up. later, ahgar
 
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