Photos! Post your CPK photos here!

I promised some additional photos and comments on my DEK3 delivery today, so here goes.

My pre-order was originally set-up for one DEK3 in MagnaCut with the standard tumbled finish and a sharpened top swedge in line with Lorien Lorien ’s design intent for this model. I went with the MC steel choice because I was waiting for the right knife to try out this material and the fact that all but one of my other CPK’s are D3V. I seldom order fancy wood handles, but this time I even ordered an extra set.

Due to the high fallout problem(s) Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist experienced after heat treat on this material lot, I believe more of the remaining knives were satin ground to bring them up to his finish standards. This was an added cost to him and value-wise a better finish for the customer. With that said, I am not normally a fan vertical satin grinds that run perpendicular to the direction the knife is withdrawn and re-inserted into a kydex sheath. That is a formula for quicker and more obvious scratches to an otherwise more attractive finish than what occurs with the standard tumbled finish.

When Jo contacted me, I was given the choice of the last MC in satin or one in D3V with the standard tumbled finish. I went with the satin MC. I was pleasantly surprised upon opening the box today to see that Jo packaged the knife separate from the kydex sheath to preserve the perfect finish.

i-bpRPtdx-XL.jpg


When I placed my order, I jokingly asked Jo the Machinist Jo the Machinist to please ensure that my wood scales be slightly more beautiful than what my good friend Marc Grenock Grenock would get on his. That got the reaction I was expecting from him! 🤬 In the end, she certainly did alright by both of us. I’ll call this one a tie.

i-4fqNTmr-XL.jpg


i-pPjnS3L-XL.jpg


i-KRfRCwK-XL.jpg


i-V5r89bn-XL.jpg


Since this is the first thinner blade with hollow grinds that Nathan has offered since I first started tracking his work in 2016, I knew this was a must have knife for me. It is so light and nimble in hand compared to my other CPK’s that it is truly unique.

The grinds that Mark and Nathan put on here are an amazing testament to their skills. Absolutely beautiful!

i-wCkZ7PR-XL.jpg


i-bg2mJLX-XL.jpg


i-cZPgkPz-XL.jpg


i-BSX8J5Z-XL.jpg


i-nhXC9dq-XL.jpg


Even though this is only my day one thoughts, I strongly suspect this one will end up being the Alpha Dog in my collection for the foreseeable future.

i-2SSx8hf-XL.jpg


Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist recently described the DEK3 design as “sublime” in response to a comment by Lorien Lorien . I couldn’t agree more with that description. This is definitely a model I recommend you make some serious effort to acquire in either steel whatever it takes. You won’t regret it.

i-ZTcXf3X-XL.jpg


i-wh5MqTN-XL.jpg


i-LVp4Qvj-XL.jpg


Phil
 
Comprehensivist said:
I promised some additional photos and comments on my DEK3 delivery today, so here goes.

My pre-order was originally set-up for one DEK3 in MagnaCut with the standard tumbled finish and a sharpened top swedge in line with Lorien Lorien ’s design intent for this model. I went with the MC steel choice because I was waiting for the right knife to try out this material and the fact that all but one of my other CPK’s are D3V. I seldom order fancy wood handles, but this time I even ordered an extra set.

Due to the high fallout problem(s) Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist experienced after heat treat on this material lot, I believe more of the remaining knives were satin ground to bring them up to his finish standards. This was an added cost to him and value-wise a better finish for the customer. With that said, I am not normally a fan vertical satin grinds that run perpendicular to the direction the knife is withdrawn and re-inserted into a kydex sheath. That is a formula for quicker and more obvious scratches to an otherwise more attractive finish than what occurs with the standard tumbled finish.

When Jo contacted me, I was given the choice of the last MC in satin or one in D3V with the standard tumbled finish. I went with the satin MC. I was pleasantly surprised upon opening the box today to see that Jo packaged the knife separate from the kydex sheath to preserve the perfect finish.

i-bpRPtdx-XL.jpg


When I placed my order, I jokingly asked Jo the Machinist Jo the Machinist to please ensure that my wood scales be slightly more beautiful than what my good friend Marc Grenock Grenock would get on his. That got the reaction I was expecting from him! 🤬 In the end, she certainly did alright by both of us. I’ll call this one a tie.

i-4fqNTmr-XL.jpg


i-pPjnS3L-XL.jpg


i-KRfRCwK-XL.jpg


i-V5r89bn-XL.jpg


Since this is the first thinner blade with hollow grinds that Nathan has offered since I first started tracking his work in 2016, I knew this was a must have knife for me. It is so light and nimble in hand compared to my other CPK’s that it is truly unique.

The grinds that Mark and Nathan put on here are an amazing testament to their skills. Absolutely beautiful!

i-wCkZ7PR-XL.jpg


i-bg2mJLX-XL.jpg


i-cZPgkPz-XL.jpg


i-BSX8J5Z-XL.jpg


i-nhXC9dq-XL.jpg


Even though this is only my day one thoughts, I strongly suspect this one will end up being the Alpha Dog in my collection for the foreseeable future.

i-2SSx8hf-XL.jpg


Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist recently described the DEK3 design as “sublime” in response to a comment by Lorien Lorien . I couldn’t agree more with that description. This is definitely a model I recommend you make some serious effort to acquire in either steel whatever it takes. You won’t regret it.

i-ZTcXf3X-XL.jpg


i-wh5MqTN-XL.jpg


i-LVp4Qvj-XL.jpg


Phil
Click to expand...
Nathan and I have slightly different ideas about how a knife would be used in a defensive situation. Now, I can't speak for him, but I can tell you that of the handful of fights I've been in during my life, there wasn't a single instance where me or the other guy used a knife. So all I can go on when designing a knife for defensive use is conjecture and study- I don't practice any knife combat skills and likely never will.

My opinion about self defence when it comes to blades is that most people out there are more or less like me- not trained to fight with a knife, or at all. In that vein, the idea of how a pikal is designed to work is something I've latched on to. When the edge faces inward as the blade is pulled through an arc, it cuts. The way it seems to me, most attacks might start at arm's length, but there will be a point where things end up much closer. In a grappling scenario, if one is able to hold the knife with an icepick grip edge in, it wouldn't take much movement to do enough damage to an attacker to get them to move away. Plus the leverage you have against the edge is increased in that position. Anyone with zero training could hold a knife like this and still do damage when set upon by some dastardly opponent.

The concept of using an edge out strategy is for those who are more strategic. Landing blows with the fist, and being able to follow up with a cut maintains distance from the attacker, and allows for less lethal joint locking when the knife is employed that way. That method requires training. Edge in won't work to lock the joint, but will cut tendons and arteries instead.

Happily, the DEK3 is designed for both and either use. The top edge doesn't curve inward, but it's pretty flat and the position of the tip of the blade should pull that top edge in once piercing occurs. If there are fists being thrown, the primary edge will be where it is and the belly will slice without getting caught up. There are a numbers of details designed into the handle which accommodate both grip types, plus of course the saber grip which is how that knife will be used most of the time.

Man, I could go on and on about design there are endless little details and considerations involved, but I've bored you enough! Time to get back into the shop :)
 
I can only speak to my one fight involving a knife...and that was that things happened really fast and very reflexively.

The reflexive instinct can be good...as in backing up, creating distance and then responding.

It can also be bad...as in parrying with one's hand rather than creating space. It happens before you've even realized that it was the wrong move.

(I was not the one with the knife...and got off pretty easy with about 15 stitches to reattach part of my left index fingertip.)

I have never trained with knives...and I would use any other weapon or intermediate tool in my arsenal before using a blade. (But I would use it if necessary. Probably as an impact weapon first...well, maybe not. Really depends how far off the rails things have gone.)
 
Lorien said:
Nathan and I have slightly different ideas about how a knife would be used in a defensive situation. Now, I can't speak for him, but I can tell you that of the handful of fights I've been in during my life, there wasn't a single instance where me or the other guy used a knife. So all I can go on when designing a knife for defensive use is conjecture and study- I don't practice any knife combat skills and likely never will.

My opinion about self defence when it comes to blades is that most people out there are more or less like me- not trained to fight with a knife, or at all. In that vein, the idea of how a pikal is designed to work is something I've latched on to. When the edge faces inward as the blade is pulled through an arc, it cuts. The way it seems to me, most attacks might start at arm's length, but there will be a point where things end up much closer. In a grappling scenario, if one is able to hold the knife with an icepick grip edge in, it wouldn't take much movement to do enough damage to an attacker to get them to move away. Plus the leverage you have against the edge is increased in that position. Anyone with zero training could hold a knife like this and still do damage when set upon by some dastardly opponent.

The concept of using an edge out strategy is for those who are more strategic. Landing blows with the fist, and being able to follow up with a cut maintains distance from the attacker, and allows for less lethal joint locking when the knife is employed that way. That method requires training. Edge in won't work to lock the joint, but will cut tendons and arteries instead.

Happily, the DEK3 is designed for both and either use. The top edge doesn't curve inward, but it's pretty flat and the position of the tip of the blade should pull that top edge in once piercing occurs. If there are fists being thrown, the primary edge will be where it is and the belly will slice without getting caught up. There are a numbers of details designed into the handle which accommodate both grip types, plus of course the saber grip which is how that knife will be used most of the time.

Man, I could go on and on about design there are endless little details and considerations involved, but I've bored you enough! Time to get back into the shop :)
Click to expand...
Substantially far from “boring”, good Sir. Thank you for the awesome design explanation. She’s a beautifully keen and viscous blade no matter how ya color it ! 🔥
 
I should add that when the fight or flight mode is engaged, sense of time changes, and does scope of vision, which narrows. That panic mode also affects dexterity. With all that in mind, a firm grip on the handle and being able to avoid having the knife levered out of that firm grip is something I think about quite a lot. Very important for you to be able to continue holding on to your knife, instead of someone else getting it away from you so that it can be used against you
 
Speaking from my limited experience, I think the DEK 1, DEK 2 and Reaper would be very difficult to dislodge. (Maybe even especially the Reaper.)

Hell, the EDC 2 provides a very secure grip imho. Though I don't look forward to testing any of them in real world scenarios.
 
Along with my hate of mowing the lawn, I really don’t miss doing hay lol. Tensegrity Tensegrity , honestly though I do miss all the outdoor work that I did growing up and as first jobs. I saw lots of milk, shit, vegetables, and house paint until I started my current job. I miss all the equipment driving too, I love jumping on a tractor when I rarely get the chance to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top