What do you think of the Brad Southard Performance Series Tolk?
For me, I think it's nothing special. I realize that many people love them, and Brad puts puts a lot of time into them, but I still think they're not anything to go out of your way trying to get. I certainly wouldn't pay $550+ for one like some people do.
Before I get into it, a little background. I own a Large Sebenza 21. I love it, as most Sebenza owners do. While I think that it's a great knife, it's certainly not the end all be all of every knife. It's probably the best production knife, but NOT in terms of value. I mention the Sebenza because some of my opinions on the Tolk can apply to the Sebenza as well, and some people on here may use my owning a Sebenza as a way to argue against me in a disrespectful way, just as a 'friend' of mine does. Just know a lot of my opinions on the Tolk apply to the Sebenza as well. I also prefer aspects of the Sebenza over the Tolk that I mention, but don't think I'm a Sebenza worshipper and fanboy.
So, the Tolk. I find the blade shape to be ugly. I just do. I don't like the curvyness of the spine. It's unappealing and doesn't fit the edge since it's almost a wharnecliffe. Your opinion may vary.
I don't like the little bulge towards the end of the handle. It's out of place to me. It also doesn't fit aesthetically in my opinion. It may be ergonomic, but I can't comment on that since I've never held one.
The thumb stud seemingly hinders sharpenability. It seems like, to me, that if you're sharpening with the Edge Pro or even the Wicked Edge, that the stone won't be able to reach past the stud to get towards the plunge grind. That's a major issue, if it is one, as I always put my own edge on a knife when I get it.
Lastly, value and offerings. What does the Tolk offer that other Midtechs don't? This is where I compare the Sebenza to the Tolk. The Sebenza offers impeccable quality and the perfect pivot bushing. Based on testing I've seen here and on YouTube, XHP and S35VN are roughly the same in terms of edge retention. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, I find the Tolk to be boring. The satin grinds with stonewashed flats doesn't go with anything on the handle at all. To make it worse, the strange milling around the edges of the ti is out of place. My opinion, and yours may differ.
Overall, I don't find the Tolk to be anything more than a glorified Insingo Sebenza flipper with ball bearings, with tons of hype surrounding it simply because it's a Brad Southard midtech that he himself touched. Last time, that's my opinion. Please don't get offended by it. I posted a topic like this on Instagram and a ton of people starting laughing at an opinion and had nothing informed or intelligent to say back, so I've come here in hopes of a calm discussion.
That's my opinion, so what's yours? What do you think of the Tolk? I'm eager to hear what you have to say.
Thanks.
For me, I think it's nothing special. I realize that many people love them, and Brad puts puts a lot of time into them, but I still think they're not anything to go out of your way trying to get. I certainly wouldn't pay $550+ for one like some people do.
Before I get into it, a little background. I own a Large Sebenza 21. I love it, as most Sebenza owners do. While I think that it's a great knife, it's certainly not the end all be all of every knife. It's probably the best production knife, but NOT in terms of value. I mention the Sebenza because some of my opinions on the Tolk can apply to the Sebenza as well, and some people on here may use my owning a Sebenza as a way to argue against me in a disrespectful way, just as a 'friend' of mine does. Just know a lot of my opinions on the Tolk apply to the Sebenza as well. I also prefer aspects of the Sebenza over the Tolk that I mention, but don't think I'm a Sebenza worshipper and fanboy.
So, the Tolk. I find the blade shape to be ugly. I just do. I don't like the curvyness of the spine. It's unappealing and doesn't fit the edge since it's almost a wharnecliffe. Your opinion may vary.
I don't like the little bulge towards the end of the handle. It's out of place to me. It also doesn't fit aesthetically in my opinion. It may be ergonomic, but I can't comment on that since I've never held one.
The thumb stud seemingly hinders sharpenability. It seems like, to me, that if you're sharpening with the Edge Pro or even the Wicked Edge, that the stone won't be able to reach past the stud to get towards the plunge grind. That's a major issue, if it is one, as I always put my own edge on a knife when I get it.
Lastly, value and offerings. What does the Tolk offer that other Midtechs don't? This is where I compare the Sebenza to the Tolk. The Sebenza offers impeccable quality and the perfect pivot bushing. Based on testing I've seen here and on YouTube, XHP and S35VN are roughly the same in terms of edge retention. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, I find the Tolk to be boring. The satin grinds with stonewashed flats doesn't go with anything on the handle at all. To make it worse, the strange milling around the edges of the ti is out of place. My opinion, and yours may differ.
Overall, I don't find the Tolk to be anything more than a glorified Insingo Sebenza flipper with ball bearings, with tons of hype surrounding it simply because it's a Brad Southard midtech that he himself touched. Last time, that's my opinion. Please don't get offended by it. I posted a topic like this on Instagram and a ton of people starting laughing at an opinion and had nothing informed or intelligent to say back, so I've come here in hopes of a calm discussion.
That's my opinion, so what's yours? What do you think of the Tolk? I'm eager to hear what you have to say.
Thanks.
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