Quality of High End Folders (Holt, Oz Machine, Koenig, Grimsmo, et al)

Lenny

Lenny

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Do you really get what you pay for?
For those of you who own or have owned some of these $800 and up knives, how's the quality?
Have you had any problems?
If so, how did the maker handle it?
I'm not talking about "Art Knives", but knives intended to be used.
Thanks
 
Lenny said:
Do you really get what you pay for?
For those of you who own or have owned some of these $800 and up knives, how's the quality?
Have you had any problems?
If so, how did the maker handle it?
I'm not talking about "Art Knives", but knives intended to be used.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Back in 2010-2016 I collected a lot of higher end customs.. folders in the $900 to $2000 range. My main area of interest was Shirogorov. I owned a few Custom Division Shiros that retailed between $1800 & $2400- these were especially impeccable. Hard to describe until you get them in hand.
I never had a single issue with any Shiro.

In fact, I can think of only one time I ever had a problem with a custom that required sending it to the maker.

A Barajas Stonehead I bought (flipper) had a really hard/heavy detent that made it difficult to flip open consistently.
I sent in to Edwin and he had it fixed up and back in my hands in about 10 days.
So that's actually something I look for when browsing customs.. is the maker still active?

While it's not true for every custom knife maker, especially in this era of cnc outsourcing, there are still those who hand grind blades (with amazing, difficult grinds and bevels) and other components. This takes time. Some pieces can take over a dozen hours to manufacture. That gets pricey.
 
I didn’t enjoy so much the Oz Machine Roosevelt and sold mine a couple of weeks after getting it.
Quality was god but I was not convinced by the ergonomics. But the knife was good and it was about my personal tastes

Koenig is another story… they are fantastic.
The opening options are fun.
The blade grind and geometry makes them very good cutters while still being robust enough for most tasks
The contoured scales improve already excellent ergonomics (in standard saber or hammer grips)
Internal milling keep the weight low
 
Therom said:
I didn’t enjoy so much the Oz Machine Roosevelt and sold mine a couple of weeks after getting it.
Quality was god but I was not convinced by the ergonomics. But the knife was good and it was about my personal tastes

Koenig is another story… they are fantastic.
The opening options are fun.
The blade grind and geometry makes them very good cutters while still being robust enough for most tasks
The contoured scales improve already excellent ergonomics (in standard saber or hammer grips)
Internal milling keep the weight low
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Did you have the full size Arius or the small?
 
Only owned one in this price bracket, a full-size Arius. It was absolute perfection in every way, no notes. Never had any issues so I can't speak to their warranty.

I sold it mainly because I found that I liked my XM-18 more. 🤷‍♀️ Lots of great knives have passed through my hands for similar reasons. This isn't a price bracket for rational decisions; I just listen to my gut and see what keeps finding its way into my pocket and what doesn't.

Up in this sort of rare air, price-wise, I find it tough to quantify any meaningful differences between high-quality folders. I will say that the machining flourishes on my Arius reminded me a lot of the one Shiro I've owned, a NeOn Zero; it's next-level work. But mechanically, functionally, the CRKs and Hinderers I've owned were just as perfect.
 
I have a Grimsmo Rask and it’s fantastic. Everything works flawlessly and it’s a beauty. I’ve had no issues. I can’t imagine better execution. Certainly more expensive materials, but not better execution.

I can see why this costs more than a Sebenza and I think you get what you pay for. That said, it’s not like I’m at all unhappy with my CRKs, especially for half the price.
 
Everything on my RH Knives Tasca 2 was perfect, except the detent was very stiff. I took it apart and tuned the lockbar, now it's perfect.


My Alan Davis is perfection.
 
K.O.D. said:
Everything on my RH Knives Tasca 2 was perfect, except the detent was very stiff. I took it apart and tuned the lockbar, now it's perfect.


My Alan Davis is perfection.
Click to expand...

My full custom Alan Davis is a slipjoint. Fantastic in every way. Sorry, the only photo I could find. It features a spear point blade in Vegas Forge carbon Damascus (you can feel the layers), integral bolsters and frame/hand-filed liners, and hand-carved Elkhorn covers. I carry it but have not used it. I think I paid $450 on BF maybe 4 years ago.

IMG_3762.JPG
 
K.O.D. said:
Everything on my RH Knives Tasca 2 was perfect, except the detent was very stiff. I took it apart and tuned the lockbar, now it's perfect.


My Alan Davis is perfection.
Click to expand...
This is the correct answer.

At this price range you should be buying a handmade/custom (Alan Davis) and not a $600 small batch production blade with $1000 of marketing.

I have owned most of the knives in this thread and would take a Peña or Alan Davis over the others in a heartbeat. Or save up and get a Stan Wilson Non flipper Flipper

My .02
 
Buy what you can, use what you buy.

The OZ Machine Co is on my radar. I'm on quest to buy knives made in each of the 50 United States. Indiana would be checked off my list.

I'm after quality, no just quantity. I've held a Roosevelt. Now, I want one. Gotta pay off a medical bill first.
 
I own all of these and while appreciate and enjoy them all, I have continually carried my Rask over the past year. It’s EXTREMELY slim, lightweight, perfect lockup and I really appreciate the front finger choil. It still has a long enough blade for worst case scenario self defense. The space tolerances between the blade and the scales are so minimal and so perfectly executed. Hell, I carried all day yesterday while mowing the yard, got some sticky juice all over it, just ran it under some hot water and wiped off the blade and it was good to go. Only draw back for the Rask is it does have serious lockbar death so you just have to keep your middle finger off the lockbar or she ain’t deploying. This isn’t and issue with Koenig, Shiro, etc. I have been surprised how often it ends up in my pocket vs some of my other knives in the same price range(or higher). I’ve heard older guys say their pocket knives get smaller and smaller as they get older and now that I’m “older” my knife decision every day hinges mostly on size. You get a ton of knife for such a compact and slim profile.
 
Own 6 Shiros, 3 of which are CDs, Grimsmo Norseman, Oz Roosevelt, and have a Koenig Arius on the way. Also own an Arno Bernard iMamba which I consider mid tech. I have quite a few customs also. The difference? Not much. The quality of these mid techs are so cutting edge it’s crazy. I’d be hard pressed to tell the difference holding one of the mid techs and holding the custom.
I swear I’m not trying to grandstand, just saying I’ve actually owned, held, and used quite a few of each origin and I plan on buying more. I absolutely love them and they all bring a smile to my face when I pick them up.
 
Kevin W. said:
This is the correct answer.

At this price range you should be buying a handmade/custom (Alan Davis) and not a $600 small batch production blade with $1000 of marketing.

I have owned most of the knives in this thread and would take a Peña or Alan Davis over the others in a heartbeat. Or save up and get a Stan Wilson Non flipper Flipper

My .02
Click to expand...
There is something about buying handmade/custom. I'm a fan of Seamus customs because I've met the maker Jim and being able able to see and try before you buy is nice. I'll probably be purchase a folder in Stellite 6k for him next month.
 
Terry M. said:
Own 6 Shiros, 3 of which are CDs, Grimsmo Norseman, Oz Roosevelt, and have a Koenig Arius on the way. Also own an Arno Bernard iMamba which I consider mid tech. I have quite a few customs also. The difference? Not much. The quality of these mid techs are so cutting edge it’s crazy. I’d be hard pressed to tell the difference holding one of the mid techs and holding the custom.
I swear I’m not trying to grandstand, just saying I’ve actually owned, held, and used quite a few of each origin and I plan on buying more. I absolutely love them and they all bring a smile to my face when I pick them up.
Click to expand...
I concur.
There are some knife makers out there who do phenomenal work and are within reach. Others too are priced above and beyond what most people would consider reasonable or warranted.
Woe be to anyone who falls in love with the design and details of one of those truly exorbitant works.

I think though.. if you really like a knife enough you'll pay. If one can afford a $400 knife or a $600 knife, you can afford a $3000 knife. You'll just have to save up a little while.
 
BluegrassBrian said:
I concur.
There are some knife makers out there who do phenomenal work and are within reach. Others too are priced above and beyond what most people would consider reasonable or warranted.
Woe be to anyone who falls in love with the design and details of one of those truly exorbitant works.

I think though.. if you really like a knife enough you'll pay. If one can afford a $400 knife or a $600 knife, you can afford a $3000 knife. You'll just have to save up a little while.
Click to expand...
True!

Pay for you want!

Some people pay more for concert or a pro sport in the long run.

Lipsynching vs poor heat war, I guess.
 
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