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- Jun 6, 2005
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Went to my second Pro Gun show hunting for Busses, and this time I actually managed to peel myself away from the Busse booth to check out some of the other knives they had. I was shocked to find that they had a ton of really hign end production stuff for sale, and Iw as able to handle a lot of stuff to get a better perspective on them.
CRK:
I handled the large and small Sebenzas. These were the one's I was most excited to handle, as they have such a passionate following. That being said, some of you may need to brace yourselves. I will say first that the knives were indeed perfect. I could find no flaws aside from light marks in the titanium from being handled and transported in and out of boxes and such, as titanium does. Lock up was very positive, and I would have total faith in the framelocks on them. In that aspect, the praise Sebenzas receive is totally justified in the two examples I handled. Now, did I like them much at all? No, not really. These were the first Ti framelocks I've ever handled, and I don't see what all the fuss is about at all. The handles were not comfortable to me, with very bland, straight, unaccomodating design, and I didn't like the feel of them. Some inlay would have helped. The small one was too small, but I may consider a large one with Micarta inlay way down the line, if I ever have that kind of money. The action was what I was most disappointed with. I was expecting some silky smooth, totally unmatched opening action on these blades. What I got was what felt like a knife that had been over tightened. I could barely open it with one hand, and the action was stiff and offered no help at all with the followthrough. If this is the amazing bushing action that everybody is so excited about, I'll go ahead and pass. I have Walker Linerlocks, Compression Locks and even lockbacks with smoother action. The design is just very plain and unremarkable, not really offering any superiority in comfort over other knives I own. Maybe I just don't get it, but I'm completely comfortable with accepting that.
Trident Knives:
Got to look at a few of the fixed blades, which were both awesome. Felt great, looked even better, excellent blade shape and edge geometry. I would love to spend some real time with one to see how their S30V performs, but they are very highly priced, the small 3.5 inch fixed blade was $345, so I don't see that happening soon. I was very impressed with what I saw, though. I also handled the folder, which I was very excited about. This, however, was just not my thing at all. It was FAT. The fattest knife of that size I've ever seen. It had one thick slab of solid G-10, and one slab of equal thickness, half G-10, half the Ti liner lock. Even though the Ti liner lock portion was only half the thickness of the scale, it was still just as thick, if not thicker, than the Ti slab on the Sebenza, to give some perspective. I have no idea why a folder would ever need to be that thick when it only has a 3.5 inch blade. I finally understand what overbuilt is. People that think the Manix is thick have no idea what thick is. The Manix is half the thickness of this thing, easy. The design looked and felt nice, and the blade shape was excellent, but the absurd thickness turned me way off to this blade. I would never buy one. I am very interested in trying one of their fixed blades, though.
Strider:
This is the company I liked the least based on this I've read here, and ironically, were the brand that ended up impressing me the most, so much so that I ended up buying one. I handled the SnG first. The handle didn't quite feel right in my hand, but other than that, I absolutely loved it. The texturing on the G-10 was awesome, the best I've ever felt. The action was great and the lock up was perfect. No flaws on the knife at all. It was just a really, really cool knife. Call me shallow, but I really liked its looks and execution, just totally different in person for me for some reason. Based on what I've read here, it may be wise to try and buy one in person rather than online, but the one I handled was flawless. I would like to handle a PT and SmF to see which size feels the best, but I'd really like to own one some day. I next handled a smallish, 3.5 in fixed blade called the WP Drop Point with a cord wrapped handle. I never liked the cord wrapped handles based on my perception of them after seeing pictures, but it was totally different than I expected. The wrap is top notch, multilayered, hard as G-10 due to how tight the wrap is, and just as thick and handfilling as a knife with standard G-10 scales, if not more so. I ended up buying it, as I've been looking for a nice, EDC sized fixed blade for a while, now, and S30V would be a fine steel for that size and application. I was even more excited to find that it came with a nice Kydex sheath, which I'm not used to, and made it feel like an even better deal at only $175.
Here is a picture of the knife, only mine has an olive drab wrap:
After the show, I immediatly went to testing the blade. I've heard good things about Strider S30V's toughness, but based on my previous experiences, I was skeptical. The knife was shaving sharp when I bought it. I stabbed some beer caps with it, no damage, so I moved up to a piece of thicker stainless steel. Stabbed through it again, with no damage whatsoever. Used the little thing to completely delimb a small tree, chopping through some branches up to an inch thick. Then used it to slice up some sheets of paper, and then cut down some thick, cardboard pizza boxes to tiny squares. I never noticed any loss in edge retention, and there is no visable damage to the blade. It still doesn't need to be sharpened, and I've got a nasty cut on my finger to prove it.
That being said, I'm probably hooked on Strider, despite some of the bad reviews I've seen here. I've never been impressed with S30V before today. This blade is very stout, and plenty tough. I suggest, as with anything you read here, don't take it totally to heart, and always give things you are interested in a try. You might be very pleasantly suprised. Not to say people's experiences aren't genuine, I totally beleive the things I've read, but I don't expect anybody to have a spotless record.
Benchmade:
After some recent happenings with BM the company, as well as some personal experiences with their products, I've become a bit tired of them all together. Aside from their Balis, I've only been interested in two knives available in their current line up: the Rukus, and the wharnecliffe Gravitator. Luckily, I was able to handle both at the show. First off, I hated the Rukus. This thing was almost as thick at the Trident folder. I could never stick something that thick and squarish in my pocket. It was very well made and all praise given where deserved, but wow, not for me at all. I see no use in a folder with those kinds of dimensions. Now the Gravitator, alternatively, I fell in love with. What an awesome knife. felt great in the hand, LOVE that aggressive Wharny blade shape, and the thick Ti liner and cool, textured scales were awesome, albeit a bit thick. Not too thick, though. I'll own one of these soon.
Spyderco:
I'm a huge Spyderco fan, so I'm pretty familiar with what they offer, but I tried a few out that I was curious about. The Lava is awesome, and I really want one, now. What a fantastic little knive. I also handled a Kopa, which was very small, smaller than I had suspected. Not too many suprises here.
Kershaw:
Only handled the Cyclone. The on and off AO is genius, and the design is good, but i really feel the aluminum scales kill the deal, and that G-10 would have made this a real keeper.
Cold Steel:
There is only one Cold Steel I'm interested in, that being the Carbon V Trailmaster, which they happened to have. The knife really is a great design, and I'd like to own one before it's too late.
All right, I'm getting tired of typing now, and my reviews are getting lazy. What a great day I had there. I also mini reviewed the Busse FBM in the Nov Gun Show thread in the Busse Forums, if anybody's interested.
CRK:
I handled the large and small Sebenzas. These were the one's I was most excited to handle, as they have such a passionate following. That being said, some of you may need to brace yourselves. I will say first that the knives were indeed perfect. I could find no flaws aside from light marks in the titanium from being handled and transported in and out of boxes and such, as titanium does. Lock up was very positive, and I would have total faith in the framelocks on them. In that aspect, the praise Sebenzas receive is totally justified in the two examples I handled. Now, did I like them much at all? No, not really. These were the first Ti framelocks I've ever handled, and I don't see what all the fuss is about at all. The handles were not comfortable to me, with very bland, straight, unaccomodating design, and I didn't like the feel of them. Some inlay would have helped. The small one was too small, but I may consider a large one with Micarta inlay way down the line, if I ever have that kind of money. The action was what I was most disappointed with. I was expecting some silky smooth, totally unmatched opening action on these blades. What I got was what felt like a knife that had been over tightened. I could barely open it with one hand, and the action was stiff and offered no help at all with the followthrough. If this is the amazing bushing action that everybody is so excited about, I'll go ahead and pass. I have Walker Linerlocks, Compression Locks and even lockbacks with smoother action. The design is just very plain and unremarkable, not really offering any superiority in comfort over other knives I own. Maybe I just don't get it, but I'm completely comfortable with accepting that.
Trident Knives:
Got to look at a few of the fixed blades, which were both awesome. Felt great, looked even better, excellent blade shape and edge geometry. I would love to spend some real time with one to see how their S30V performs, but they are very highly priced, the small 3.5 inch fixed blade was $345, so I don't see that happening soon. I was very impressed with what I saw, though. I also handled the folder, which I was very excited about. This, however, was just not my thing at all. It was FAT. The fattest knife of that size I've ever seen. It had one thick slab of solid G-10, and one slab of equal thickness, half G-10, half the Ti liner lock. Even though the Ti liner lock portion was only half the thickness of the scale, it was still just as thick, if not thicker, than the Ti slab on the Sebenza, to give some perspective. I have no idea why a folder would ever need to be that thick when it only has a 3.5 inch blade. I finally understand what overbuilt is. People that think the Manix is thick have no idea what thick is. The Manix is half the thickness of this thing, easy. The design looked and felt nice, and the blade shape was excellent, but the absurd thickness turned me way off to this blade. I would never buy one. I am very interested in trying one of their fixed blades, though.
Strider:
This is the company I liked the least based on this I've read here, and ironically, were the brand that ended up impressing me the most, so much so that I ended up buying one. I handled the SnG first. The handle didn't quite feel right in my hand, but other than that, I absolutely loved it. The texturing on the G-10 was awesome, the best I've ever felt. The action was great and the lock up was perfect. No flaws on the knife at all. It was just a really, really cool knife. Call me shallow, but I really liked its looks and execution, just totally different in person for me for some reason. Based on what I've read here, it may be wise to try and buy one in person rather than online, but the one I handled was flawless. I would like to handle a PT and SmF to see which size feels the best, but I'd really like to own one some day. I next handled a smallish, 3.5 in fixed blade called the WP Drop Point with a cord wrapped handle. I never liked the cord wrapped handles based on my perception of them after seeing pictures, but it was totally different than I expected. The wrap is top notch, multilayered, hard as G-10 due to how tight the wrap is, and just as thick and handfilling as a knife with standard G-10 scales, if not more so. I ended up buying it, as I've been looking for a nice, EDC sized fixed blade for a while, now, and S30V would be a fine steel for that size and application. I was even more excited to find that it came with a nice Kydex sheath, which I'm not used to, and made it feel like an even better deal at only $175.
Here is a picture of the knife, only mine has an olive drab wrap:
After the show, I immediatly went to testing the blade. I've heard good things about Strider S30V's toughness, but based on my previous experiences, I was skeptical. The knife was shaving sharp when I bought it. I stabbed some beer caps with it, no damage, so I moved up to a piece of thicker stainless steel. Stabbed through it again, with no damage whatsoever. Used the little thing to completely delimb a small tree, chopping through some branches up to an inch thick. Then used it to slice up some sheets of paper, and then cut down some thick, cardboard pizza boxes to tiny squares. I never noticed any loss in edge retention, and there is no visable damage to the blade. It still doesn't need to be sharpened, and I've got a nasty cut on my finger to prove it.
That being said, I'm probably hooked on Strider, despite some of the bad reviews I've seen here. I've never been impressed with S30V before today. This blade is very stout, and plenty tough. I suggest, as with anything you read here, don't take it totally to heart, and always give things you are interested in a try. You might be very pleasantly suprised. Not to say people's experiences aren't genuine, I totally beleive the things I've read, but I don't expect anybody to have a spotless record.
Benchmade:
After some recent happenings with BM the company, as well as some personal experiences with their products, I've become a bit tired of them all together. Aside from their Balis, I've only been interested in two knives available in their current line up: the Rukus, and the wharnecliffe Gravitator. Luckily, I was able to handle both at the show. First off, I hated the Rukus. This thing was almost as thick at the Trident folder. I could never stick something that thick and squarish in my pocket. It was very well made and all praise given where deserved, but wow, not for me at all. I see no use in a folder with those kinds of dimensions. Now the Gravitator, alternatively, I fell in love with. What an awesome knife. felt great in the hand, LOVE that aggressive Wharny blade shape, and the thick Ti liner and cool, textured scales were awesome, albeit a bit thick. Not too thick, though. I'll own one of these soon.
Spyderco:
I'm a huge Spyderco fan, so I'm pretty familiar with what they offer, but I tried a few out that I was curious about. The Lava is awesome, and I really want one, now. What a fantastic little knive. I also handled a Kopa, which was very small, smaller than I had suspected. Not too many suprises here.
Kershaw:
Only handled the Cyclone. The on and off AO is genius, and the design is good, but i really feel the aluminum scales kill the deal, and that G-10 would have made this a real keeper.
Cold Steel:
There is only one Cold Steel I'm interested in, that being the Carbon V Trailmaster, which they happened to have. The knife really is a great design, and I'd like to own one before it's too late.
All right, I'm getting tired of typing now, and my reviews are getting lazy. What a great day I had there. I also mini reviewed the Busse FBM in the Nov Gun Show thread in the Busse Forums, if anybody's interested.
