PSRK Wicked Edge knock-off?

[GerryM]

Just seen this
<removed unnecessary link to an active ebay auction - rules violation>

Only $103 ... Any comments?

[video=youtube;TEWUYY4BZAU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEWUYY4BZAU[/video]

 

[Jazic]

I don't think the quality is up to pair with a real WE system but I'd imagine with some practice it'd yield comparable results. I might get one at some point and give it a whirl. It'd be great to keep at work and work on knives for everyone without having to lug around my WE.

At the very least I'd imagine it'd be great to maintain an edge with once the hard work is done with another system.

The most important thing about sharpening is consistency and this system looks pretty solid.

 

[Rubicon_Joey]

Tough to say on the quality without having one in hand but, the real WE system doesn't exactly have tight tolerances. Mine has all kinds of slop in the pivots and I had to put straws over the rods to get a decent fit to the paddles.

Looks like if nothing else the ability to repeat angles without an angle cube should be better due to all the tick marks on the base and clamp. I do like the clamp is moveable. This allows you to actually center the blade. Again if you have an angle cube it's not a problem though. I also like that there are four stones per paddle compared to only two on the WE. One of my main problems with the WE is having to pack up the stones/paddles if I want to take it any where (which is actually a common occurrence for me). It also looks like they might be replaceable. If you ever chipped a ceramic stone you would appreciate that. With this you just replace the single stone, with the wicked edge you have to replace two different grit stones and a paddle.

With all that said, I don't think it's ethical to steal someones design. I do however hope that this kind of competition forces Clay to improve his system.

 

[Jazic]

Tough to say on the quality without having one in hand but, the real WE system doesn't exactly have tight tolerances. Mine has all kinds of slop in the pivots and I had to put straws over the rods to get a decent fit to the paddles.

I bought a Pro Pack 1 system about a year ago and the basic arms had no wiggle at all. Apparently it was fixed in later versions. I've since upgraded to the ball bearing arms and there is no wiggle or movement aside from up and down and the exact angle you set.

Also, I agree with being unethical to steal a design but I don't see anything wrong with competition like you said. Having a lockdown on a specific system type only hinders improvement. I personally think calling it a "Wicked Edge Clone/Copy" is wrong by every definition of the word.

Not trying to sound like a fanboy. I have tried every system out there: Lansky, Spyderco, freehand, Edge Pro, etc and the only system that has ever gotten me anywhere near as sharp as I think my knives should be is the Wicked Edge. Granted it took a lot of customizing to get mine perfect and I still have a ways to go before I consider myself 'done'.

 

[Rubicon_Joey]

I bought a Pro Pack 1 system about a year ago and the basic arms had no wiggle at all. Apparently it was fixed in later versions. I've since upgraded to the ball bearing arms and there is no wiggle or movement aside from up and down and the exact angle you set.

Also, I agree with being unethical to steal a design but I don't see anything wrong with competition like you said. Having a lockdown on a specific system type only hinders improvement. I personally think calling it a "Wicked Edge Clone/Copy" is wrong by every definition of the word.

Not trying to sound like a fanboy. I have tried every system out there: Lansky, Spyderco, freehand, Edge Pro, etc and the only system that has ever gotten me anywhere near as sharp as I think my knives should be is the Wicked Edge. Granted it took a lot of customizing to get mine perfect and I still have a ways to go before I consider myself 'done'.

The sad part is that the upgraded arms cost more than this whole system does. Which is another reason why competition is good, it keeps prices in check. Hard to charge more than your competitor if they are producing an equivalent product. There really aren't many manual sharpening systems out there and the WE is at the top of the heap price wise. If the WE only cost the price of a Edge Pro, sales would probably sky rocket for the WE and plummet for the Edge Pro. If there was a WE equivalent (quality and capability) at even half the price of the WE, it would probably dry up the sales of the WE in the same manner. It's just supply and demand. WE owners demand the quality and capability of the WE, but the only supplier of such is the WE. Is this flea-bay knock off that equivalent product? I doubt it, but it's yet another option for those who can't/wont pay for the WE.

As you may know from my post, I'm not a fan boy (mainly because of the cost of the WE). However, I do own one. As of now, I don't know of any equivalent to the WE so I have paid dearly for it. The edge pro is close, but not quite. There are times when I think about selling my WE and picking up a cheaper system. I have even considered making my own personal WE. Which is where I think these types of knock-offs come from. Someone out there thinks to themselves, why does the WE cost so much? I can make my own and save a ton of a money. Then it's...if I can make one for less than the WE, I can make more and sell them for a profit. Next thing you know they have an ebay/amazon listing and people are buying them up. I'm just waiting for the day someone actually creates an equivalent product for less. I know it can be done, but for now WE is king and you have to pay the kings price if you want the best.

 

[Jazic]

Upgraded arms cost me $170. The cheapest WE system is over $250.

And agreed prices are ridiculous but to each their own. I personally can't justify spending $1,000 on a custom knife but I can easily justify spending it on audio gear so...