New knife suggestion(s)?

S

SarcoBlaster

Joined
Jul 1, 2002
Messages
602
Blade Show West is approaching and I've been thinking about making a "big" purchase over there. I'm planning to spend a total of about $400 on a single knife and was wondering if anybody would like to give suggestions?

So far, I have my eye on an SnG or another Sebenza of some kind.

Here are my criteria if it helps any:
  • Folding knife, no fixed blades
  • Frame lock
  • Preferrably S30V or something like it, but this isn't going to play a major role when it comes to decision making time
  • Tip up carry or the option of tip up and down carry

The list is pretty broad, so if anybody has a suggestion, throw it out there. Thanks!

-Randy
 
IIRC, Blade West is primarily a custom knife show, rather than a factory show.

There aren't too many framelocks being made by custom makers at all.

Scott Cook sells the Lochsa for $460, but I don't think he is going to be at Blade West.

Alan Elishewitz has some of his base models going for $425 with G-10 or Micarta scales.

Tom Mayo will be there, but I don't know how close you are going to get to $400 :p.

I can't seem to locate at list of table-holders.

I know there are plenty of other frame lock-makers, but I don't think they come to Blade West. I hope I am wrong on this, 'cause I'm going to be there.
 
I wouldn't get too hung up on the frame lock thing. A frame lock is only as good as the maker makes it. If the maker does not know how to craft and execute a frame lock properly, it will be less reliable than a good liner lock. A frame lock can be very badly made. Production manufacturers have tested many frame locks to the point of destruction, and met with quite unexpected failures, which were not apparent upon visual inspection.

But… If a frame lock is well made, it’s a heck of a good lock.

Then again, I think of the lock as one of the least significant parts of a folding knife. Ergonomics, heat treatment and blade geometry mean much more to me. I’ve used a slipjoint for 30 years, and never had one close on me.
 
Originally posted by Buzzbait
A frame lock can be very badly made. Production manufacturers have tested many frame locks to the point of destruction, and met with quite unexpected failures, which were not apparent upon visual inspection.

Click to expand...

Do you know where I can find some more details about these failures you refer to?

Especially the meaning of "which were not apparent upon visual inspection".
 
Sorry. I may have written that badly. What I meant is that the weak point of the lock was not apparent upon visual inspection. I'm sure that the actual failure was very apparent. And no, there is nowhere to read more about this. You pick this stuff up when talking at knife shows and the like. But if memory serves me, a search might bring up a post by Darrel Ralph from a couple years ago, mentioning what kind of precision that is required to craft a proper frame lock, and failures that can result from not doing so.
 
Maybe an A.T. Barr 'One Eyed Jack' or a 'Cape Fear'

pix117.jpg


Ti/S30V/FrameLock

www.customknives.com

Ted
 
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