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lickmbaws

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Mar 6, 2014
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I need an honest opinion from people who have knowledge of blades and have knives that I am mentioning. Mercworx knives: Honest opinions and facts. I dont need bs stories and biases because there are fanboys out there. Are Mercworx good fighting knives or should I stick with my Kabar?
Also which steel is best as far as toughness, sharpness, edge retention, lightness, and ease of sharpening goes.

Again I need facts and opinions from those who have and know about steels and knives.

I have Kabar, SRKW RMD CG, Esse Junglas, Condor Kumunga and Kukri, Sykco 911, Buck Bantam, and Kershaw Blur. And yes I have used them a little to know how they perform i regular condition (in cold weather and snow).

Thank you in advance.
 
The Condor Kumunga - like all Condors - is made of 1075 steel...considered by many to be "inferior" to 1095. It is a "tough" steel, meaning it is soft, not brittle. Edge holding ability is...mediocre, but easily, very easily sharpened. Overall, a decent low cost, serviceable carbon steel. Not my first choice, but it taint bad. Can't beat the price....
 
OK, here's my honest opinion, as well as some facts. I love my MercWorx knives and would stake my life on them. They're beautifully crafted by very skilled knifemakers and they shine in the construction and materials departments. Most models make for excellent fighters, though they tend to be a bit heavy due to their massive builds. You'll need to factor that into your decision to replace your Kabar, particularly if you're going to be carrying the knife on a regular basis. You'll also have to go with the more diminutive MercWorx models if you have smaller-than-average hands. Their handles, especially the Chili Pepper designs, tend to run large. Go with the standard handles if you have any doubt, particularly if you're considering a big model, such as the Sniper or larger. But their balance is phenomenal--usually blade-neutral or slightly blade-heavy--which probably explains the handle heft.

As for steels, they come in 154CM and S30V, both excellent choices in stainless. The S30V models generally run $50 more. Are S30V's property advantages significant enough to merit spending that much more money? You'll have to answer that for yourself. Your intentions for using your knife might factor into your decision. I own models in both, and I can't see a noticeable difference in performance or feel.

For what it's worth, should you need it, MercWorx's customer service is very good. I recently had a sheath issue and sent it in. I had a new sheath in a few weeks, with no drama. What more could you ask for?

Hope this helps. Please let us know what you end up deciding.

-Steve
 
First, WELCOME to the Forum!

Second, did you try doing a search for "Mercworx" in this General Knife Discussion sub-forum? Do that, and you'll find many threads discussing Mercworx knives - enough to keep you reading for a while, at least.
 
Really lickmbaws, that's the forum name you picked? Wish I could help us with your question other that guy say stuck with what works, at least ya know what ya got.
 
I think most of us are fanboys of one brand or another. :cool: I don't know what your application will be so I will give you my personal opinion. Kbar has been good enough for hundreds of thousands (millions?) of soldiers who have used and abused these knives in every conceivable way. If I deployed I would take two in case I was forced to use one as a pry bar, hammer or for some other inapropriate task. I personally don't believe in spending a lot of money on a hard use tool. ;)
 
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