Steel130
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2010
- Messages
- 4,583
I have had this knife for a good while now, and figured it was high time to do a review. I would like to try doing more written reviews. I do video reviews as well. However I realize plenty of people enjoy written reviews over a video styled one.
To start out David Williamson is the man behind Ozark Tradition Knifeworks. He is one of the nicest guys I have had the pleasure to work with, and I have more work on the way.
Basic Specs: Overall length: 8 inches
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Steel: M390 at 61RC
Stock: around 5/32" thick
Thickness behind edge: Around .010
Handle Material: Blue G-10 with Black Liners
Price: $250
Weight: ??? not sure on this one honestly
So lets start with the ergonomics. I have larger hands, so when I first contacted David last summer I requested that he stretch the handle a little bit so that the birds beak would not be squishing my fingers into the grip. I prefer enough handle, generally, so that a little bit of the handle sticks out of my palm during a hammer grip.
As you can see the handle has, as some call it, an oversized choil within the handle.
Sabre grip. High level of comfort and well thought out ergonomics.
The handle is also nicely contoured near the base to accommodate the "meat" of your palm.
Close up of the birds beak and coffin handled bowie pommel (at least that is what it reminds me of).
The overall comfort of the handle is excellent. Balance point is just behind the choil. This makes the blade lively in hand without feeling handle heavy.
Fit and finish is so good that I can barely make out any of the transitions from g-10 to blade steel ect, even with a fingernail. The only note I have is; when I first received the knife the edges of the pommel were a tad sharp, through use though they are now not an issue. However I have ordered Davids similar model, the EDC, which has a rounded pommel to compare.
The jimping is well done. For the most part I am neutral on jimping. If it has it, good, if not, I do not really care. David's jimping is the kind I like however. Not aggressive until some pressure it applied, where it then grabs on excellently.
Finish and grind.
David did an very nice hand rubbed finish on the blade. I really do like the look of a nicely done hand rubbed finish. I think it is my favorite finish overall. I also really like Davids logo. Not sure the process he uses, again very clean.
The blade is full flat ground. I specifically asked David to take it thin for performance. As noted in the specs he took it down to around .010 behind the edge.
M390 Edge Retention. The test I did was cutting cardboard across the corrugations. I made 400 cuts along the full length of the blade. After this the blade could cleanly push cut notebook paper.
Overall Davids work is some of the finest I have had. It has performed excellently in the wide range of tasks I have used it for. Anything from outdoor use on wood. It does well in the Kitchen as well, making short work of vegetables. Fit and finish wise I think he is nearly on par with Tom Krein (just used for reference point) and the like. His communication is excellent and he really works to figure out what you want. He also works with alot of the new super steels. I have more work on the way from David and plan on more in the future. He is also a member here under the username OTK. Take a look at more of his work here: http://www.ozarktradition.com/
To start out David Williamson is the man behind Ozark Tradition Knifeworks. He is one of the nicest guys I have had the pleasure to work with, and I have more work on the way.
Basic Specs: Overall length: 8 inches
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Steel: M390 at 61RC
Stock: around 5/32" thick
Thickness behind edge: Around .010
Handle Material: Blue G-10 with Black Liners
Price: $250
Weight: ??? not sure on this one honestly
So lets start with the ergonomics. I have larger hands, so when I first contacted David last summer I requested that he stretch the handle a little bit so that the birds beak would not be squishing my fingers into the grip. I prefer enough handle, generally, so that a little bit of the handle sticks out of my palm during a hammer grip.
As you can see the handle has, as some call it, an oversized choil within the handle.
Sabre grip. High level of comfort and well thought out ergonomics.
The handle is also nicely contoured near the base to accommodate the "meat" of your palm.
Close up of the birds beak and coffin handled bowie pommel (at least that is what it reminds me of).
The overall comfort of the handle is excellent. Balance point is just behind the choil. This makes the blade lively in hand without feeling handle heavy.
Fit and finish is so good that I can barely make out any of the transitions from g-10 to blade steel ect, even with a fingernail. The only note I have is; when I first received the knife the edges of the pommel were a tad sharp, through use though they are now not an issue. However I have ordered Davids similar model, the EDC, which has a rounded pommel to compare.
The jimping is well done. For the most part I am neutral on jimping. If it has it, good, if not, I do not really care. David's jimping is the kind I like however. Not aggressive until some pressure it applied, where it then grabs on excellently.
Finish and grind.
David did an very nice hand rubbed finish on the blade. I really do like the look of a nicely done hand rubbed finish. I think it is my favorite finish overall. I also really like Davids logo. Not sure the process he uses, again very clean.
The blade is full flat ground. I specifically asked David to take it thin for performance. As noted in the specs he took it down to around .010 behind the edge.
M390 Edge Retention. The test I did was cutting cardboard across the corrugations. I made 400 cuts along the full length of the blade. After this the blade could cleanly push cut notebook paper.
Overall Davids work is some of the finest I have had. It has performed excellently in the wide range of tasks I have used it for. Anything from outdoor use on wood. It does well in the Kitchen as well, making short work of vegetables. Fit and finish wise I think he is nearly on par with Tom Krein (just used for reference point) and the like. His communication is excellent and he really works to figure out what you want. He also works with alot of the new super steels. I have more work on the way from David and plan on more in the future. He is also a member here under the username OTK. Take a look at more of his work here: http://www.ozarktradition.com/
just wondering for the possibility of any future reviews.
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