- Joined
- Oct 16, 1998
- Messages
- 2,395
In private email, somebody recently asked me about the expected fit and finish of the SIFU. Seems he was too shy to ask here. I ain't that shy.
"...with makers and manufacturers on the forums I sometimes hesitate
to ask some questions publicly. I'm very interested in the Sifu, but
at 180 bucks I'd like some reassurance about REKAT's ability to fit
and finish a knife...My
only experience with REKAT is an ATS-34 Fang that I got for my
daughter awhile back and that I'm STILL trying to put a good edge on...
So, what's your opinion? Are you going to plunk down that money
without a second thought?"
Yup.
My experience with three REKAT Pioneers is that the finish is so-so. The grinds have all been as straight and symmetrical as on any production folder of a similar price that I have seen. There isn't a lot of finishing work done on them though. Just some minor finishing of the blade faces, and rounding the corners on the G-10 handle slabs. Fit has been excellent, in all areas except the pocket clip. All the components of the lock fit precisely and work perfectly. The beauty in the Pioneer is in the strength, and the ergonomics.
I expect the SIFU will be a similar case. Grinding the bevels on a big recurved blade can be a little tricky, and I am not expecting the blade to be an exquisite work of art, but I do expect it to be pretty good. Not perfect, but good. I do expect the knife will be very well designed, and I expect it will be extremely strong. To me that will make it easily worth the cost. So, no, I don't have any second thoughts about buying the SIFU. It won't be a Jess Horn, or a Ron Lake, but it will be a better folding fighter than anything else I've seen for $180, or even $380.
Harv
"...with makers and manufacturers on the forums I sometimes hesitate
to ask some questions publicly. I'm very interested in the Sifu, but
at 180 bucks I'd like some reassurance about REKAT's ability to fit
and finish a knife...My
only experience with REKAT is an ATS-34 Fang that I got for my
daughter awhile back and that I'm STILL trying to put a good edge on...
So, what's your opinion? Are you going to plunk down that money
without a second thought?"
Yup.
My experience with three REKAT Pioneers is that the finish is so-so. The grinds have all been as straight and symmetrical as on any production folder of a similar price that I have seen. There isn't a lot of finishing work done on them though. Just some minor finishing of the blade faces, and rounding the corners on the G-10 handle slabs. Fit has been excellent, in all areas except the pocket clip. All the components of the lock fit precisely and work perfectly. The beauty in the Pioneer is in the strength, and the ergonomics.
I expect the SIFU will be a similar case. Grinding the bevels on a big recurved blade can be a little tricky, and I am not expecting the blade to be an exquisite work of art, but I do expect it to be pretty good. Not perfect, but good. I do expect the knife will be very well designed, and I expect it will be extremely strong. To me that will make it easily worth the cost. So, no, I don't have any second thoughts about buying the SIFU. It won't be a Jess Horn, or a Ron Lake, but it will be a better folding fighter than anything else I've seen for $180, or even $380.
Harv
