NEW: DarkOps Knives?

J

J.Davey

Joined
Feb 10, 2004
Messages
1,620
Picked up the new Tactical Knives, and their full-page ad makes some pretty hefty claims (seemingly stainless from description, yet selectively hardened...strongest steel around, etc. etc.). Anyone have any information?
 
I think I saw the same ad in Blade magazine. SOme of the text was cheezily funny. Things like special grooves to channel blood to controll splatter...

It sounded alot like comic book fanboy fantasy to me.

N2
 
Haven't seen the add myself, but bloodgrooves aren't anything too new. They're on just about every good fighting knife, from KaBars, to Israeli service daggers. Just my .02
 
Yeah...

I think it was just the wording of the ad that made that seem funny. Or it was very late.

N2
 
Hm, I thought "blood grooves" were to reduce suction when pulling out a knife. :rolleyes:

Or, they could be to reduce weight and increase flexibility, but "fuller" just doesn't sound as "tacticool" as blood grooves.
 
Planterz said:
Hm, I thought "blood grooves" were to reduce suction when pulling out a knife. :rolleyes:

Or, they could be to reduce weight and increase flexibility, but "fuller" just doesn't sound as "tacticool" as blood grooves.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I dunno what they're for exactly... I've heard a bunch of explanations, everything from suction, to improved balance, to a more durable blade... part of me thinks maybe they were originally designed for aesthetics, and then they tried to come with a reason afterwards, lol :D
 
There is a Website, but it is not fully operable yet - http://www.darkopsknives.com

My take on it - the Full page Ads in all Magazines, not showing the full pictures of the knives, leaving the Website inoperable, all these things are a very aggressive marketing strategy to create interest. The company will debut the knives at the Blade Show and until then they want folks to remain curious and interested.

This type of aggressive marketing resembles that of the relatively new company - Extrema Ratio (as it should since the gentleman behind Dark Ops was involved with E.R.). I remember the last Blade Show, E.R. had a very flamboyant booth - they were giving away T-Shirts, Hats, etc. ..lots or promotion.

Note- I'm not saying there is anything good or bad about all this, just voicing my opinion on the similarities that I noticed.
 
After reading through the ad again, I did find myself chuckling. I got a kick out of "special blood grooves to reduce blood spray during covert de-animation activities"...de-animation????? For God's sake, just say killing or something. Personally, I thought the ad cast the knife community in a pretty negative light. If they are for covert ops, then those people will know what it is and how to use it. I think this ad will appeal more to wanna-be types that don't know any better. Oh yeah, and it also claims they are through-hardened and then later says selectively hardened. I'm getting the feeling they won't be that special. :rolleyes:
 
I'm not too sure how much faith I'd place in a fighting knife company who's splash screen shows soldiers holding an M1, a SAW, and some other rifle, but not a single knife. The only other company I know that claims to use "selective hardening" was cold steel, but that's because they have that cool liquid N2 hardening thinger. Looking at the site though, it looks more like a site to retail to fanboys who can't get their hands on real tac knives (or haven't bothered to look in their local army/navy store). Still though, who knows... might be a gem that's still a little rough. Who knows at this point.
 
If the knives Frank is going to be showcasing at Blade through his new company DarkOps knives are anything near the quality of the Extrema Ratio folders they'll be damned hard to beat for strength and durability.

Frank was the sole distributor of the ER line until their falling out business wise and he has created his own line based loosely on the ER line with what he felt were wanted upgrades over the ER's through customer feedback while with ER.

I haven't seen the ads spoken of here so I can't comment on these at this time.

The ER MPC is one hell of a rugged knife, probably stronger than any other folder out there today with the passive locking sysytem on the lockback lock. If the D-OPs are of similiar strength or better, they'll be hard to beat.

Though ER had a limited warranty, Frank always made sure every customer was thoroughly satisfied and took personal pride in keeping their customers happy with the service needed. He should do well with his new line of knives in my opinion.

Brownie
 
The Fuller on a long blade serves to stiffen and reduce weight. The wide fuller on Marble's knives was actually to aid in honing, the fuller helps aleign the blade so you can hone it much like a straight razor.

Marble's was a much copied company, and many copied the fuller design in various forms without really understanding why Webster Marble wanted it on there.

The Military F-U knife(Ka-Bar) was designed to follow the Marble's Ideal model, that's why it has a fuller, although a useless one, unlike the Ideal.

A side note, the Ka-Bar was actually designed by Capt. America:). No joke, a Capt. Howard E. America helped in the designing of the knife.

As for knives getting stuck in the enemy, while it does happen, it's a choil or saw back that causes it. A lot of hunters agree, there is a bit of suction that goes on, but not the super suction it's made out to be.
 
I agree with brownie. Even though I don't own an ER I've read enough posts from people that I have a lot of faith in to place the ER folders up there on my well built list. I agree with the assessment that the DarkOps folders will be very nice if they resemble the ER folders in terms of strength and precision of build!
 
Well let's all assume the knives will be great. However, the advertising follows a time worn path in the knife industry. Calling something tactical, SEAL, black-ops, etc., will sell stuff to folks. :rolleyes:
 
I called and spoke with the owner for some time he will be finnishing a catalog soon (he is the man who was responceable for importing and advertizing Extremaratio knives and says his knives rivail and or excede them)
 
I wish frank the best with his new company. I have owned two ER knives and if they compare to them in quality and strength they will live up to that cheesy add he ran for his new company dark ops. ER knives are very impressive unfortunately shipping them to Italy for repairs doesn't sound like fun too me. I can't wait to see full pictures after blade. :D
 
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