- Joined
- May 3, 2002
- Messages
- 6,192
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I have mixed feelings about this one. I got it from New Graham for $99.75 which is pretty good for what you get.
When it arrived, it wasnt exactly what I call mint which was a little disappointing. It had a couple shiney marks in the bead blast on the blade like it was knocked around in a bucket of other blades. One of the back spacers (bead-blast too) had scrape marks all the way around it like it had been held with needle-nose pliers and turned in the pliers during assembly. Also, one of the pivot screw heads sat crooked like it was bent or cross-threaded in place. It was also very stiff to open and stickier in some places like the pivot was bent or something.
I, of course, assumed that it had just been assembled hastily and I promptly set to taking it apart to remedy the situation. They use an enormous amount of loc-tite on the pivot screw which required considerable heat to loosen. After disassembly, lube and reassembly, the knife still had the same crooked screw head and sticky problem, but at least I could losen the pivot to free the blade to work smoothly. (In the process, Im sure Ive lost any chance I had at sending it back to New Graham or 511.)
But Im impressed with how beefy/rugged/strong this knife is for the money. And its S30V which is good too. I would compare it to the Buck Tarani. Its a Buck Tarani on steroids. The blade has a similar profile but is much thicker. Like the Buck Tarani, the blade remains full-thickness all the way to the sharpened tip. The handle matches the beefiness of the blade. I cant imagine a scenario where any amount of prying would break the blade alone without mangling the entire knife as a unit. I think this knife could take as much lateral force as you can place on it for its size.
That said, this knife is advertised as a frame lock. It isnt. Not in any sense of the word as we know it here on Bladeforums. It is CLEARLY a liner lock with G-10 scales over it same as an Emerson or Al Mar SERE or any other liner-lock tactical. In fairness, it DOES have VERY thick liners and locking bar that is made from the liner being bent over. Lock up is great with plenty of room for wear. This is a HUGE improvement over the paper-thin liner of the Buck Tarani. Ive seen several of those that had the lock so worn that it goes all the way across the tang. I cant see that happening to this knife at all. This thing has a lifetimes worth of lock on it.
Another odd thing about this knife is not very flickable. The ball detent is very strong which keeps the blade close firmly. There is no danger of a tip-up blade coming open in your pocket. That combined with the geometry of the knife causes it to require a considerable umph and flick of the wrist to get it to flick open. Maybe itll loosen up in time. (It has nice bronze-phosphor washers) If you do flick it, it will certainly take it its strong enough. I love the shape of the opening hole as I like to use the middle finger on the clipside to flick open knives, so this hole is perfect. It should be lightening fast if/when it loosens up.
The knife has considerable jimping/knerling on it for grip. This can be good or bad. It reduces slippage, but theres so much of it, and its so deep that I can see it becoming uncomfortable to people with sensitive hands. I think people with coarse (read working-mans) hands will like it, though. The jimping is radiused so that helps.
Legally, I wonder about this thing. The sharpened edge of the blade is right at 3. Depending on if the authorities measure from the front of the handle or the sharpened edge, it may fit into localities with a 3 limit. Personally, Id do it. This thing looks like a tool more than a weapon and for under $100, so what if you get it taken away from you.
This would definitely be a good beater/work knife that you wouldnt have to worry about babying. (Especially since mine had a few marks on it when it arrived.) Previously, I preferred the Spyderco Manix large & smalls as my working knives, but this one is defiantly tougher in the blade if youre inclined to pry and chisel with a tactical. I havent gotten a chance to really use mine this is more of a first impression review, but I look forward to seeing how it holds up.
Overall, Id recommend it. For under $100, I dont think you could beat it for a no-messing-around-working-mans knife. Its considerably more impressive than a lot of knives Ive paid more for. I may even buy the smaller lockback 511 and check that out too.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I got it from New Graham for $99.75 which is pretty good for what you get.
When it arrived, it wasnt exactly what I call mint which was a little disappointing. It had a couple shiney marks in the bead blast on the blade like it was knocked around in a bucket of other blades. One of the back spacers (bead-blast too) had scrape marks all the way around it like it had been held with needle-nose pliers and turned in the pliers during assembly. Also, one of the pivot screw heads sat crooked like it was bent or cross-threaded in place. It was also very stiff to open and stickier in some places like the pivot was bent or something.
I, of course, assumed that it had just been assembled hastily and I promptly set to taking it apart to remedy the situation. They use an enormous amount of loc-tite on the pivot screw which required considerable heat to loosen. After disassembly, lube and reassembly, the knife still had the same crooked screw head and sticky problem, but at least I could losen the pivot to free the blade to work smoothly. (In the process, Im sure Ive lost any chance I had at sending it back to New Graham or 511.)
But Im impressed with how beefy/rugged/strong this knife is for the money. And its S30V which is good too. I would compare it to the Buck Tarani. Its a Buck Tarani on steroids. The blade has a similar profile but is much thicker. Like the Buck Tarani, the blade remains full-thickness all the way to the sharpened tip. The handle matches the beefiness of the blade. I cant imagine a scenario where any amount of prying would break the blade alone without mangling the entire knife as a unit. I think this knife could take as much lateral force as you can place on it for its size.
That said, this knife is advertised as a frame lock. It isnt. Not in any sense of the word as we know it here on Bladeforums. It is CLEARLY a liner lock with G-10 scales over it same as an Emerson or Al Mar SERE or any other liner-lock tactical. In fairness, it DOES have VERY thick liners and locking bar that is made from the liner being bent over. Lock up is great with plenty of room for wear. This is a HUGE improvement over the paper-thin liner of the Buck Tarani. Ive seen several of those that had the lock so worn that it goes all the way across the tang. I cant see that happening to this knife at all. This thing has a lifetimes worth of lock on it.
Another odd thing about this knife is not very flickable. The ball detent is very strong which keeps the blade close firmly. There is no danger of a tip-up blade coming open in your pocket. That combined with the geometry of the knife causes it to require a considerable umph and flick of the wrist to get it to flick open. Maybe itll loosen up in time. (It has nice bronze-phosphor washers) If you do flick it, it will certainly take it its strong enough. I love the shape of the opening hole as I like to use the middle finger on the clipside to flick open knives, so this hole is perfect. It should be lightening fast if/when it loosens up.
The knife has considerable jimping/knerling on it for grip. This can be good or bad. It reduces slippage, but theres so much of it, and its so deep that I can see it becoming uncomfortable to people with sensitive hands. I think people with coarse (read working-mans) hands will like it, though. The jimping is radiused so that helps.
Legally, I wonder about this thing. The sharpened edge of the blade is right at 3. Depending on if the authorities measure from the front of the handle or the sharpened edge, it may fit into localities with a 3 limit. Personally, Id do it. This thing looks like a tool more than a weapon and for under $100, so what if you get it taken away from you.
This would definitely be a good beater/work knife that you wouldnt have to worry about babying. (Especially since mine had a few marks on it when it arrived.) Previously, I preferred the Spyderco Manix large & smalls as my working knives, but this one is defiantly tougher in the blade if youre inclined to pry and chisel with a tactical. I havent gotten a chance to really use mine this is more of a first impression review, but I look forward to seeing how it holds up.
Overall, Id recommend it. For under $100, I dont think you could beat it for a no-messing-around-working-mans knife. Its considerably more impressive than a lot of knives Ive paid more for. I may even buy the smaller lockback 511 and check that out too.
