Skirmish, the best Non-Sebenza Integral Lock?

anthony cheeseboro

anthony cheeseboro

Joined
Aug 8, 1999
Messages
5,094
I really am enjoying my Skirmish. this is a really giant knife but I find myself carrying it around the house quite a bit. I am tempted to carry it out a bit because Illinois law technically doesn't have a size limit. Despite that caveat, I doubt if the Skirmish will ever be my EDC because it's size makes me shy about using it in public.

Despite its limited utility, I really love the look and finish of this knife. As I said in my post, I think that it may be the best Non-Reeve production integral lock. I know Camillus makes some nice integral lock mega-folders and Spyderco's ATR is sweet as is the Buck's Mayo. WHere do you guys think that the Skirmish ranks among those knives?
 
I'd place it below the Buck/Mayo, about even with the Kershaw Bump and well ahead of the Camillus Dominator and Maxx. The early BM 750's were very nice but they had consistancy problems, the CRKT S2 had a weak lock bar and both used ATS-34 instead of S30V.
 
haven't handled a skirmish yet, so i can't comment on it.......but my Buck Mayo TNT is one sweet knife......can't imagine a production framelock knife can be made better than this
 
I did not like the hole placement relative to the sweep of the blade (crosses the guard). Pretty well made, but the slab edges could use more machining to make them more comfortable.

All in all, I think the Manix is a better value in that size of folder.
 
After my Sebenzas, I am partial to my latest acquisition, a tanto SnG. The Strider framelocks lack the polished elegance, but I find the fit is excellent even if the finish is deliberately left rough.

I think Benchmade did a great job on the Blackwood design as a working knife, but I wish it had less "decoration" in the way of meaningless holes.
 
I'm pretty impressed with my Skirmish. Haven't carried it yet, but it gets a lot of drool time in the Lazy Boy. :cool:
 
Esav Benyamin said:
After my Sebenzas, I am partial to my latest acquisition, a tanto SnG. The Strider framelocks lack the polished elegance, but I find the fit is excellent even if the finish is deliberately left rough.

I think Benchmade did a great job on the Blackwood design as a working knife, but I wish it had less "decoration" in the way of meaningless holes.
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Esav, if you like the solidity and toughness of the SnG, you should check out an SmF, it's not just bigger, its actually a tougher, more robust knife than the SnGs. Once I got one, I had to sell my SnG. :)

I don't say this lightly, and I own and have owned some of the best tactical/utility folders available, custom and production, and I can't believe I would ever say so, but the SmF's, of which I now own 2, are THE most impressive and confidence inspiring folders I have ever come across. Do I have folders that are smoother, or more refined, with better F&F? Of course, but the lock on the SMF and the ball detent are so strong and so well executed, it's scary, the force of the ball detent is as strong as some knive's locks! :)

Plus, though the SMFs aren't quite as easy to take apart as a Sebenza, they are easy enough once you break the Loctite and I have reached a point where on a user type folder, I must be able to take it apart for cleaning and greasing, and the Strider framelocks are pretty easy.
 
Architect said:
I did not like the hole placement relative to the sweep of the blade (crosses the guard).
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I have the same complaint, when opening the blade my thumb catches on the guard. It's a great knife otherwise but l too find it a little big to be a serious EDC. The lock is certainly subtantial, it takes considerable effort to disengage. Maybe I'm just to much of a girly man to handle this monster :p
 
I've only got the one 630 to base my opinion on. From waht I've seen of it so far I would have to say that BM has definately nailed the manufacture of the framelock. The one I have has CONSISTENTLY locked up at the same spot since I got it. I've opened it over 100 times so any slight wear or "setting in" of the lock should have shown up by now. I also like the fact that BM has made the lockbar stiffer than some of the other production framelocks. I would really be interested in seeing how the 910ti, Gold Line offering, stacks up to the 630 in the framelock. I did quite a bit of reading on the 630 before picking one up and don't remember reading about any inconsistentices in the locking department which was one thing I was really looking for after suffering through 3 or 4 of the 750's. I've found the 630 to be an easy carry for me due to its flatness. I was worried that the clip would allow too much to stick out of the pocket but happily that has not proved to be the case. In fact I'm sitting here in my classroom, during my break of course, and had forgotten that I even had the 630 in my right front pocket until I happen to see this post. Since I teach health/pe I always wear shorts and the 630 has not proved to be any problem whatsoever.........of course my DB Fraley XL Deluge hasn't been a problem either!! :eek: :D :cool:
 
Megalobyte, wait till you see the latest in the series: a "baby SnG". I played with one at the New York show, a spearpoint framelock I could hide in my hand. I don't know the designation, I don't know when it will be on the market, but it's a gem.
 
I have one and have fondled it but have yet to carry or use it. Mine has NO problems regarding Fit or Finish.

Unlike many I really like the Color of the anodized Ti. Overall it is a bit large but that's OK as long you are aren't whipping it out every ten seconds at the morning meetings just to hear the resounding Click of the lock and clean one finger nail at a time..... :D
 
I agree that Benchmade's execution of the framelock on the Skirmish is outstanding. It has the best combination of smooth operation and reliable lockup I've seen on a folder.

I also agree that the cute little colored divots on the Skirmish look ridiculous on a folder as brawny as the Skirmish. I imagine the discussion went something like this:
"Let's put cute little dots on the scales. Better yet, let's put divots on the scales and color them - so the colored dots won't rub off when you carry the knife in your purse!"
 
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