olamic wayfare247

Joined
Sep 29, 2016
Messages
102
What is your thought on these knives any pros and cons? Best place to buy ? Or other better choices? hey thanks guys for any and all information
 
I dont mean to offend any wayfarer fans...but meh. It doesnt fit my hand well, but i will say that they have great materials and the fit and finish is pretty good.
 
I got mine last July. It has become my number one edc.I ordered mine direct from Olamic and they were great to deal with.The blade is a little long for me but it fits my size large hand perfect. The anodizing did start to wear off after only a few days but its such a well made flipper it just jumps into my pocket most days. WB
 
I am a bit ambivalent about the Wayfarer, I like it visually a whole lot, but for my hand the handle could be thicker and a bit larger (which in part is why I think the bigger Rainmaker would be a better fit and I might get one in the not too distant future). The action is really good in terms of firing out reliably and it closes very smoothly, but it's not the drop shut type action I prefer a bit. The style of handle really locks into your hand but it's far from a neutral grip (if one prefers that) The Harpoon blade is (imho) one of the coolest blade shapes on any pocket knife. Overall to me I would buy another Olamic, but I would probably have gone with the Rainmaker from the start if it was more readily available (compared to the Wayfarer 247 which landed in Europe. Only 1200$+ custom Rainmakers showed up here).
There isn't anything wrong with the Wayfarer when you're being objective.
 
Someone asked a similar quesrion in a previous thread and I responded with my curiosity abou the rationale of the big butt of the handle. Then another poster said girls with big butts rule the world or sth in that line. So I guess the knife is good?
 
I anxiously awaited the arrival of my 247, but found it a disappointment on several levels. After sitting on my desk for a few months, it went to a new home.
 
Someone asked a similar quesrion in a previous thread and I responded with my curiosity abou the rationale of the big butt of the handle. Then another poster said girls with big butts rule the world or sth in that line. So I guess the knife is good?
Well, fat bottomed girls DO make the world go round...

Nick Shabazz's review discusses the shape. It looks odd, but (in many cases) does fit the hand well. Similar to Striders, I guess.
 
I’m also in the “doesn’t fit my hand” camp. I’m very glad I was able to handle one before (not) making a purchase.

Man, kinetic bronze with speed holes and the “tanto” blade...amazing looking knife. I’m actually sad it didn’t fit. :(
 
I'm very pleased with mine, have owned it for a couple years now, and it takes a regular turn as an EDC. I'm not big on bling and avoided those with scalloped handles, carved backspacers, and ornate finishes. I did want the five hole handle pattern, but found one in their "stealth" finish (grayish PVD stonewashed) with gold ano'd hardware at a knockout price and grabbed it up. It came new from a non-supporting Chicago dealer specializing in Russian knives.

The SW PVD finish on both blade and slabs has worn nicely and the gold hardware, including pivot, screws, and plain backspacer, has held up well. My blade is the original drop point with swedge which I prefer over the now-available Tanto although the harpoon looks kinda cool. Blade thickness is medium at 3.5mm and the 3/4 primary flat grind leaves it a little thick behind the edge. The factory edge was not the sharpest and rather narrow, but I reprofiled to 16 DPS on the EP and it cuts very well now and is a decent slicer. The M390 holds the polished edge well through regular use.

As was mentioned by another poster, the handle is far from neutral, but the handle downturn and big ole butt fit my thick arthritic hand just right. The 3 jimps on the blade ramp are perfectly placed to lock in between my thumb and forefinger in its choil.

Flipping action is fast and aggressive but the detent is quite strong, the blade won't free drop closed, and it doesn't open easily with the thumb hole. Supposedly this is a deliberate safety feature. Olamic CS is outstanding, and Eugene will gladly retune your knife to match your opening preference. One of the really nice features is the detent ball ramp which makes closing hitch free, unlike many frame locks that hang up just where the flipper tab hits your thumb.

Last mention here is the clip which is very cool-looking, supported on three standoffs with a ceramic ball to engage your pocket. It's a bit narrow and stiff when new, and is harder in than out. I got used to lifting it a bit with my thumbnail to insert, though its stock is not thick and it's broken in nicely over time. Still needs a little lift in thick jeans.

So, recommendation? Mine's a keeper. One of my favorite knives and Olamic is very responsive and customer oriented.

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Reprofiled edge....
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The butt end is rather large, but it may fit the hand okay. They are a lot of money, but apparently you can have your choice of "holes" to lighten the weight. One dealer lists the weight as a bit over my preferred max of five oz, with a rather wide 0.510" grip. The M390 is a nice touch.
I guess I balk at the high price. the large flipper tab, the weight and the grip width. For folks who like a slightly larger folder with a "longer-than-usual" blade in several designs, it may be the cat's meow...different strokes...:)
It reminds me a lot of the ZT 0095 S90V, which I have owned and loved, except at 5.3 oz it was just too heavy for me to carry... (The ZT was also a ton cheaper...at $300.)
 
Huge Olamic fan here. I own at least one of each model...including the new whippersnapper, frame lock rainmaker, and soloist(prototypes) What drew me to Olamic was their build quality, different designs, and unlimited customization options. Lots of other great knife makers out there, but in my opinion a lot of them get boring because they all maintain the same look with just some different handle scales. Or maybe different blade materials, but in the same shape as all their other stuff.

Anyway, if the wayfarer 247 doesn't fit in hand a good option might be a swish...slightly bigger but with a straighter handle. If that doesn't work for you, look for a full size wayfarer...it's a pretty hefty blade and still can be customized in many ways. And finally there's the new Soloist...it may look small in the pictures, but it's actually their biggest knife. I'll admit it takes a little getting used to the movable thumb stud, but it's a really nice blade as well.
 
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