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REKAT Sifu, Opinions?? Are they good?
- Thread starter ArchAngel
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 29, 1999
- Messages
- 545
Gotta love that length. The quality control for this particular model (of which, I own 2) seems to be very good (much better than my 2 first generation pioneer drop points). I've handled 12 or so carnivours and the action in about 9 of them was very gritty. Sifu rides in the front hip pocket pretty comfortably for someone under 6 feet tall, but juts out of the back pocket and carves out long strings in the plastic chairs that I sit in. Defensively, the handle is longer than needed so you can choke down for blade control or grasp distally for an extra inch or so of slashing range. The recurve blade may be hard for some to sharpen, investigate this point with some seriousness. Yes, run don't walk, get one! (or two, or one of every production version)
Jim March
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 3,022
Just excellent. Seems to have the best QC of any REKAT folder to date.
I personally think it needs a belt sheath. I designed my own, you can find pics of it by searching the REKAT forum a ways back.
It was really built for the California market, where we can't easily get gun carry permits but non-auto folders are "anything goes". It's the baddest thing on the street
. The "barely under 5.5" length" also opens up the TX market but unless you're sub-21 and can't yet get the gun permit, well, a gun is better.
There have been a few unsatisfied customers. So far as I've seen, all of them were originally buying a "collector" rather than a "serious street defense piece".
It's not a collector. That's just not what REKAT is about.
At present, IMHO, it's the unrivalled king of the Calif-legal street defense folders, de-throning the Cold Steel Vaquero Grande.
Jim
I personally think it needs a belt sheath. I designed my own, you can find pics of it by searching the REKAT forum a ways back.
It was really built for the California market, where we can't easily get gun carry permits but non-auto folders are "anything goes". It's the baddest thing on the street
There have been a few unsatisfied customers. So far as I've seen, all of them were originally buying a "collector" rather than a "serious street defense piece".
It's not a collector. That's just not what REKAT is about.
At present, IMHO, it's the unrivalled king of the Calif-legal street defense folders, de-throning the Cold Steel Vaquero Grande.
Jim
- Joined
- Jan 4, 1999
- Messages
- 3,000
While REKAT does suffer from fit and finnish and quality control problems, there is no doubt that they make serious hard use knives that can stand up to anything any other folder can stand up to.
As long as you're looking for utility rather than beauty, you can't go wrong with their products. They are very strong indeed.
The only return we've had of a SIFU was from a customer who thought it was just to big for his purposes. He praised it otherwise. Take care.
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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
As long as you're looking for utility rather than beauty, you can't go wrong with their products. They are very strong indeed.
The only return we've had of a SIFU was from a customer who thought it was just to big for his purposes. He praised it otherwise. Take care.
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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
- Joined
- May 9, 2000
- Messages
- 58
Check the April/May issue of Combat Handguns. There is a little write-up on the sifu.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 1999
- Messages
- 3,316
I have a Sifu in my RH pocket most of the time these days. Mine came out of box with an action that was as smooth as I've seen on many custom pieces. I believe this is due to REKAT's improving attention to fit and finish on their product. When I got my Carnivour, it's action was gritty OOB. I had to disassmble it and tune it up myself to improve the action. Not so with the Sifu.
Go to a dealer who has them in stock and pick one up and handle it. I think you will be surprised. I know I was!
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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
Go to a dealer who has them in stock and pick one up and handle it. I think you will be surprised. I know I was!
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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
If you are buying "pretty" or "collector", forget it. If you are buying a worker that will never, ever let you down, go for it. That is my impression from the two REKATs that I own, one production Sifu and one preproduction Carnivour. Neither is finished as smoothly as a similarly priced Spyderco but they both give the impression that they could chew up rocks and spit out gravel.
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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2000
- Messages
- 546
What is so visually displeasing about the Sifu? I think it is awesome looking. Then again, I think Benelli M1 Super 90s and HK USPs are good looking, too. something about the "Tough looking and high performing" type that gets me.
And is the Sifu tip up (I hope I hope I hope), because tip down is THE WRONG WAY!!!
And is the Sifu tip up (I hope I hope I hope), because tip down is THE WRONG WAY!!!
Hi Folks,
As probably one of the 'newest' sifu owners (thanks md10mm) I gotta say this is a well thought out, well executed hunk o blade. If you are inclined to LARGE blades Arch Angel go find one at your earliest opportunity...if anything like mine you will not be disappointed. I'm surprised it rides as well in front right pocket as it does. I've only got 24 hrs of carry time so its a little too soon to tell if this large blade is going to 'fit' for me or not for a regular carry. My preference is for a deep strong side carry, either right pocket or iwb, right of center, the sifu has about 3/4" sticking out......for this blade it is still a deep carry and with its tapered clip end it works for me. Well executed, fit and finish is above what I originally expected. Action is superb as is lockup. Dual thumbstud, tip up carry, closes with a final detent makes this a great operator. Good stippling on g10 assists grip but its the scalloped handle that makes for multiple hold positions maintaining a FIRM grip on a LARGE knife. Don't want to sound like an ad for REKAT but I can't see much I don't like...the most I can personally find I don't like is the 'extra' writing on the blade. Rekat logo would have sufficed for me...I usually prefer understatement...but hey its a SIFU...whats understated about that.
Enhancements...yeah I'm sure I could find some, personal preferences..serrations on spine for thumb and heel of hand along with a lanyard hole, a natch for tip-up carry. All said I believe its a keeper...thanks REKAT...its my first...not my last...its a winner. This ones just happened to be a coated blade, not my first choice...guess I've got reason to be looking for another...plain stonewashed blade next time. Geese and I thought I had enough knives for awhile...oh well.
As probably one of the 'newest' sifu owners (thanks md10mm) I gotta say this is a well thought out, well executed hunk o blade. If you are inclined to LARGE blades Arch Angel go find one at your earliest opportunity...if anything like mine you will not be disappointed. I'm surprised it rides as well in front right pocket as it does. I've only got 24 hrs of carry time so its a little too soon to tell if this large blade is going to 'fit' for me or not for a regular carry. My preference is for a deep strong side carry, either right pocket or iwb, right of center, the sifu has about 3/4" sticking out......for this blade it is still a deep carry and with its tapered clip end it works for me. Well executed, fit and finish is above what I originally expected. Action is superb as is lockup. Dual thumbstud, tip up carry, closes with a final detent makes this a great operator. Good stippling on g10 assists grip but its the scalloped handle that makes for multiple hold positions maintaining a FIRM grip on a LARGE knife. Don't want to sound like an ad for REKAT but I can't see much I don't like...the most I can personally find I don't like is the 'extra' writing on the blade. Rekat logo would have sufficed for me...I usually prefer understatement...but hey its a SIFU...whats understated about that.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 1998
- Messages
- 2,395
I would not say they are good. I would say they are excellent. Is it a utility knife? No. Is it a collector's piece? I don't know. Is it a well designed, built, and effective defensive knife? Yup, for sure.
All those finger grooves on the handle make for a very secure grip, no matter what part of the handle you are gripping. No slipping!
The lock is strong enough. I've done full power back snap-cuts with the Sifu in to a wall mounted target (meaning solid), and the lock never noticed. Mine is smooth enough to flip open.
And the blade. Well, it is big, curvey, and sharp. What more do you want?
Is it better than a Tacquero Grande? I don't know. I trust the Rolling Lock a lot more than a lockback on a blade that size. The Sifu is a little more versatile in terms of point presentation, in my opinion. ATS-34 blade with no unsharpenable teeth. Yeah, I like the Sifu better. But that's just me.
All those finger grooves on the handle make for a very secure grip, no matter what part of the handle you are gripping. No slipping!
The lock is strong enough. I've done full power back snap-cuts with the Sifu in to a wall mounted target (meaning solid), and the lock never noticed. Mine is smooth enough to flip open.
And the blade. Well, it is big, curvey, and sharp. What more do you want?
Is it better than a Tacquero Grande? I don't know. I trust the Rolling Lock a lot more than a lockback on a blade that size. The Sifu is a little more versatile in terms of point presentation, in my opinion. ATS-34 blade with no unsharpenable teeth. Yeah, I like the Sifu better. But that's just me.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2000
- Messages
- 344
If you want pretty, get the Carbon Fiber version. It is really sweet looking.
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Every knife from every major manufacturer. If you don't see it, don't worry we can get it.
www.onestopknifeshop.com
Call 1-800-956-4652 to Order
Call 1-904-739-3438 for INFO
We are currently building the world's largest web site for knives.
ALL SALES SUPPORT BLADEFORUMS.COM!
1SKS is a WOW company!
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2000
- Messages
- 2,688
Thanks for all of the usefull input. After hearing from all of you and then seeing the post in the for sale section on the possible manufacture of a limited run of them with red handles and black blades, I am sold.
I hope that the re are enough people interested to make it happen. That would be a really nice knife. Thanks again!!
I hope that the re are enough people interested to make it happen. That would be a really nice knife. Thanks again!!
Jim March
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 3,022
One other detail: if reverse grip is your thing, the Sifu feels GOOD in the reverse! No surprise there, Bob Taylor is a reverse-grip proponent.
It also feels good in various forward grips. The one "flaw" I find in the "handling" department is that it doesn't like switching quickly from forward to reverse.
That's not really a problem though; trying to do that in mid-fight is flat-out nuts. Work out a carry system and draw that'll put it into your favored style right from the get-go, then stick with it in practice and God forbid, in an actual dust-up.
I'm a forward-grip stylist but that's because that fits my personal needs...I'm well aware of what an "inside fighter" can do from the reverse.
Jim
It also feels good in various forward grips. The one "flaw" I find in the "handling" department is that it doesn't like switching quickly from forward to reverse.
That's not really a problem though; trying to do that in mid-fight is flat-out nuts. Work out a carry system and draw that'll put it into your favored style right from the get-go, then stick with it in practice and God forbid, in an actual dust-up.
I'm a forward-grip stylist but that's because that fits my personal needs...I'm well aware of what an "inside fighter" can do from the reverse.
Jim
fracmeister
Petroleum Engineer
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,686
Sorry to not join the love fest. I think they are ugly and too big. But, to each his own.
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Dances with lemmings
Accept M/C, VISA free, 5$ bonus to sign on.
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Dances with lemmings
Accept M/C, VISA free, 5$ bonus to sign on.
"big and ugly"
dang those words hurt..
course thats what they all said when I got my first G21..........they just didn't know that sometimes big and ugly is great. Not saying that the sifu is the worlds best knife, nor perhaps even my best...but it does the job it was called to do.....something basic and beautiful about that...and besides sitting close to a G21, G30 or G27 this thing just kinda fits.
Right outa the box,
love dem Glocks,
ugly is beautiful,
and so is my Sifu
dang those words hurt..
course thats what they all said when I got my first G21..........they just didn't know that sometimes big and ugly is great. Not saying that the sifu is the worlds best knife, nor perhaps even my best...but it does the job it was called to do.....something basic and beautiful about that...and besides sitting close to a G21, G30 or G27 this thing just kinda fits.
Right outa the box,
love dem Glocks,
ugly is beautiful,
and so is my Sifu