Olamic Wayfarer

blsnelling

blsnelling

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
157
I made in impulse purchase yesterday and bought an absolutely lovely!!! Olamic Wayfarerfrom our Exchange yesterday. I have a huge weakness for anything that strikes me as patriotic. I'm now looking to learn more about them. Yes, I know that's backwards, but that's where I am. I contacted Olamic and this knife is a one off. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and knew I had to have it. It was still there after a few minutes of research, so I jumped on it.

So, what does this knife compare to? How about the likes of a Hinderer XM-18? I realize one is a liner lock and the other a frame lock. But those details aside, how does the Olamic Wayfarer stack up?

Here are the pics of the knife, borrowed from the seller.










 
Not sure what you mean by "how it stacks up"...
Thats for you to decide. I personally find the wayfarer to be in it's own league, it's hard to compare other knives because they're all so different. Especially when considering the wayfarer is pretty much a custom.

No doubt, the wayfarer is an impressive knife. Good score, I like that krinite color. I have one with CF scales and moonglow inlays, love it! What steel does yours have? I'd guess it's either CPM-154 or 3V, that's what I've seen olamic pumping out lately. I opted for cpm-154.

Edit: just saw that yours is S35VN:thumbup:

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53CD6AE9-BBBF-436F-B2A2-F4C9364B279A_zps7xm7z9tg.jpg
 
I've decided I'm going to sell off some lesser knives and pick up one of these. Been wanting one for quite a while now.
I keep waiting to see "that perfect Wayfarer for me" pop up online, but I think I need to just get the funds up and contact Eugene and tell him what all I want.
He posts some great pics on the Olamic Facebook page. file work on the backspacer, etc.
 
Rasco said:
I've decided I'm going to sell off some lesser knives and pick up one of these. Been wanting one for quite a while now.
I keep waiting to see "that perfect Wayfarer for me" pop up online, but I think I need to just get the funds up and contact Eugene and tell him what all I want.
He posts some great pics on the Olamic Facebook page. file work on the backspacer, etc.
Click to expand...

It will be well worth getting rid of some knives. The grind on these knives alone is worth every penny.

I'm not sure if Eugene will take custom orders, I've tried in the past and was unsuccessful. I did talk to him recently and he said Olamic is working on a knife customizer option where you can pick whatever you want in any configuration. Not sure when that will be, or if at all, but we did talk about it.

There's also a 3.5" wayfarer planned for spring. I know Eugene is taking names to put on a list, I'm not sure if it's still open or not, I put my name in a long time ago.

I've seen those fileworked wayfarers too. I've been wanting to ask Eugene if I can send mine in and pay to have it fileworked. I love the pics on the FB page too, makes me want to travel the world with my Wayfarer!
 
Eugene doesn't take custom orders, but he will help you find what you are looking for or let you know when what you are wanting becomes available. He's a fantastic guy to talk to. The only reason I haven't bought one of these is because I haven't found "the one" yet. Every one I've handled has been fantastic, and if you follow his Instagram and/or Facebook, you'll see they are coming up with some incredible stuff.
 
Lost Cosmonaut said:
Eugene doesn't take custom orders, but he will help you find what you are looking for or let you know when what you are wanting becomes available. He's a fantastic guy to talk to. The only reason I haven't bought one of these is because I haven't found "the one" yet. Every one I've handled has been fantastic, and if you follow his Instagram and/or Facebook, you'll see they are coming up with some incredible stuff.
Click to expand...

Good to know!
I may have to give him a shout and see what's on the horizon. But yeah, same here, I keep hesitating to pull the trigger on one because I keep thinking I'll find one that has *all* the exact features I want...
 
I just bought my first high-end knife, it's a CPM-154 satin finish Wayfarer with carbon fiber handle, with the buffalo nickel inlay. I'll probably make it my EDC for a while. Amazingly nice feel in my hand.
 
I've owned 2 wayfarers, the first with c-tec scales was just to wide in the hand. The second has thin carbon fiber scales and affords a great and comfortable grip. I will be hanging onto the second one for quite awhile. Quality of both knives was easily compared to custom knives. If anyone is on the fence, go for it, I doubt you'll be disappointed!
 
I was not sure what my next folding knife purchase would be, but now I know.

So is the Wayfarer made in the US or not. Their website talks about all knives being made in Russia, but other places talk about the knives being made or assembled in the US.

The knife in the OP is absolutely beautiful.
 
ncrockclimb said:
I was not sure what my next folding knife purchase would be, but now I know.

So is the Wayfarer made in the US or not. Their website talks about all knives being made in Russia, but other places talk about the knives being made or assembled in the US.

The knife in the OP is absolutely beautiful.
Click to expand...

Their Damascus is made in Russia, I believe, and their fixed blades used to be made in Russia. As far as I'm aware, the folders are made in California. They may outsource some parts, I can't say for sure.
 
SurpriseGoat said:
I've owned 2 wayfarers, the first with c-tec scales was just to wide in the hand. The second has thin carbon fiber scales and affords a great and comfortable grip. I will be hanging onto the second one for quite awhile. Quality of both knives was easily compared to custom knives. If anyone is on the fence, go for it, I doubt you'll be disappointed!
Click to expand...

How thick would you say the new one is? Handle thickness is a huge factor for EDC with me and some of the Wayfarers apparently have handles that are 0.69" thick which is way outside of where I'm comfortable. Otherwise I love the huge variety with them.
 
Lost Cosmonaut said:
Their Damascus is made in Russia, I believe, and their fixed blades used to be made in Russia. As far as I'm aware, the folders are made in California. They may outsource some parts, I can't say for sure.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I read that the first folders were made in Russia, and that they subsequently started making them in the US. I am TOTALLY NOT trying to stir controversy about the country of origin. I think that the website is just talking about their fixed blade knives which I think are still made in Russia. Regardless of where they are made, Olamic has a peerless reputation for quality and customer service. I have not found anything bad written about them during my searches.

Although I know I will have difficulty finding one, Olamic has just been placed at the top of my "TO BUY" list!
 
As far as I know, all of the folders are currently being made in the USA. Michael Vagnino regularly spends time in the shop helping/training etc. They did intially make them in Russia but I don't know which ones are which. They all have serial numbers so Eugene knows the history of each knife. Eugene is also probably one of the nicest guys in the industry.
 
I will never sell this knife


I also have my eye on one at webeknives in sf with a skull head in the handle.
 
February 9, 2015 , 9:37 am
Out for Delivery

Headed home a couple hours early to sign for the package:cool: I'm more excited about this knife than any of my CRKs!
 
blsnelling said:
I made in impulse purchase yesterday and bought an absolutely lovely!!! Olamic Wayfarerfrom our Exchange yesterday. I have a huge weakness for anything that strikes me as patriotic. I'm now looking to learn more about them. Yes, I know that's backwards, but that's where I am. I contacted Olamic and this knife is a one off. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and knew I had to have it. It was still there after a few minutes of research, so I jumped on it.

So, what does this knife compare to? How about the likes of a Hinderer XM-18? I realize one is a liner lock and the other a frame lock. But those details aside, how does the Olamic Wayfarer stack up?

Here are the pics of the knife, borrowed from the seller.










Click to expand...

My birthday is coming up, hint hint. Beautiful knife.
 
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