- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,955
I have had my Sebbie for a little while now and its like the third one I've owned. This one I'll keep because I modified it to suit my big hands. My thoughts have always been that the Small was too small and the Large handle was great but the blade was just more than I ever need on the large. I still wish Chris had an in between or at least offered a third choice in handle lenght for guys like me with bigger hands seeking ample handles but preferring smaller blades. This is one of the reasons I like knives like the Para Military by Spyderco and the CQC14 concept by Emerson. They fit the bill for my hands perfectly and the blades are just right size wise.
I recently had MasterChief contact me asking about me working on his Bradley Alias folder for him and I must admit that this knife model and company somehow flew below my radar until I started focusing in on it after that thread from MC. I know I've heard of the company and the maker but I guess the fact that they went production eluded me somehow.
Anyway, I ordered an all titanium Bradley Alias II for myself finally after dwelling on it a while and and it arrived earlier today from my favorite pharmacy.
First thoughts right out of the box are that this litle folder is very impressive. I like the blade shape, the edge and the thinness of the profile. Yep its all good there. The bad? The detent ball held the blade closed so very tightly that I was forced to immediately take the knife apart to give the ball a couple taps to knock that thing back in the hole a bit more before I found a happy medium for my thumb to live with. Other end line users might have returned it for this complaing that the thumb stud was tearing skin off their thumb or that it was too hard to jump start to open it. I simply fixed it to my liking but I guess I'm not the average or typical user.
Now that this is done its perfect for me. This detent grabbing too much has come up before with some productions and even customs and I've done it myself, quite recently infact where I had to adjust this for a customer so its no big deal. I guess its still better than the ones that don't grab at all though. Can we say "Gravity knife!?"
Anyway, for about half the price of the Sebenza this Bradley Cutlery folder is not a bad alternative at all for those wanting a Sebbie but not wanting to fork over the dough to take the plunge. In available small frame locks I rate this one number two right behind the Sebenza. In some ways though it is a step up.
For one the Bradley folder comes equipped for both tip up or tip down carry for pocket clip mounting options. For another the design of the handle actually lets me feel that I can get a better four finger grasp of it without feeling I want or need to slide my hand up on the folder more to get my index closer to the blade. This happened so often for me with the Sebbie that I finally just modified it to suit me and built in a choil on it making it the equal to the PT from Strider only far more comfortable in my hand to use.
The Sebbie does have ambi thumb studs. The Bradley does not.
The Small Sebbie I have with Micarta inlays weighs in at 2.7 ounces
My new Bradley Alias II weighs in at 2.9 ounces.
My Sebenza has lock cuts to spring the lock x 2 and both measure at the thinnest to be about .054 which I've always said is quite good when you look around at what other makes have for this measurement. I've also noted that the Sebenza has a smaller slightly thinner cut in the middle of the two larger cuts.
The Bradley Alias II I have has a single medium size .055 lock relief cut puttting in in good company in my opinion. (and also in my pocket.) The Bradley also has a smaller slightly deeper cut in the middle of the larger relief cut. Looks to be that both these smaller cuts on both models go down an additional .005" or so.
Both blades are S30V steel. Both have some decorative spacers and color to them and both seem rock solid at lock up but don't stick terribly bad at all or feel the least bit grainy when opening and closing them. Both also sport PB washers in the pivot.
Speaking of the pivot.
The Sebenza has a bushing in the pivot surrounding the barrel for easy action.
The Bradley does not sport a bushing but its silky smooth just the same although I'd have to give the edge to the Sebbie here but its not by much.
The Sebenza has a screw down blade stop.
The Alias II has a pin that inserts in from inside and is held in place by the screw construction and pivot tension.
Both folders are .125 thickness for titanium frames and locks. And as you can see from the pictures both measure and compare quite well for size and footprint in the pocket. Actually my Sebenza measures .120/.121 thickness which accounts for its lighter weight I think.
Bottom line is that both these are very nice little folders and that I wanted to point out the differences and the similarities for those interested.
Is it a Sebenza. No not quite there but you know what. I feel its so close that for half the money you sure get a lot and don't miss what you didn't get with the Bradley. I might also add that the Bradley came with a nice little pouch in a gray color and a nice box. The Sebenza of course sports a bigger box and a lanyard.
I guess it all depends on what you want. If a pivot bushing, ambi thumb studs and a screw down blade stop are worth the difference to you I'd say go Sebenza and if not the Bradley sure fits the bill nicely.
Pic compare: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=101699&d=1214780101
STR
I recently had MasterChief contact me asking about me working on his Bradley Alias folder for him and I must admit that this knife model and company somehow flew below my radar until I started focusing in on it after that thread from MC. I know I've heard of the company and the maker but I guess the fact that they went production eluded me somehow.
Anyway, I ordered an all titanium Bradley Alias II for myself finally after dwelling on it a while and and it arrived earlier today from my favorite pharmacy.
First thoughts right out of the box are that this litle folder is very impressive. I like the blade shape, the edge and the thinness of the profile. Yep its all good there. The bad? The detent ball held the blade closed so very tightly that I was forced to immediately take the knife apart to give the ball a couple taps to knock that thing back in the hole a bit more before I found a happy medium for my thumb to live with. Other end line users might have returned it for this complaing that the thumb stud was tearing skin off their thumb or that it was too hard to jump start to open it. I simply fixed it to my liking but I guess I'm not the average or typical user.
Now that this is done its perfect for me. This detent grabbing too much has come up before with some productions and even customs and I've done it myself, quite recently infact where I had to adjust this for a customer so its no big deal. I guess its still better than the ones that don't grab at all though. Can we say "Gravity knife!?"
Anyway, for about half the price of the Sebenza this Bradley Cutlery folder is not a bad alternative at all for those wanting a Sebbie but not wanting to fork over the dough to take the plunge. In available small frame locks I rate this one number two right behind the Sebenza. In some ways though it is a step up.
For one the Bradley folder comes equipped for both tip up or tip down carry for pocket clip mounting options. For another the design of the handle actually lets me feel that I can get a better four finger grasp of it without feeling I want or need to slide my hand up on the folder more to get my index closer to the blade. This happened so often for me with the Sebbie that I finally just modified it to suit me and built in a choil on it making it the equal to the PT from Strider only far more comfortable in my hand to use.
The Sebbie does have ambi thumb studs. The Bradley does not.
The Small Sebbie I have with Micarta inlays weighs in at 2.7 ounces
My new Bradley Alias II weighs in at 2.9 ounces.
My Sebenza has lock cuts to spring the lock x 2 and both measure at the thinnest to be about .054 which I've always said is quite good when you look around at what other makes have for this measurement. I've also noted that the Sebenza has a smaller slightly thinner cut in the middle of the two larger cuts.
The Bradley Alias II I have has a single medium size .055 lock relief cut puttting in in good company in my opinion. (and also in my pocket.) The Bradley also has a smaller slightly deeper cut in the middle of the larger relief cut. Looks to be that both these smaller cuts on both models go down an additional .005" or so.
Both blades are S30V steel. Both have some decorative spacers and color to them and both seem rock solid at lock up but don't stick terribly bad at all or feel the least bit grainy when opening and closing them. Both also sport PB washers in the pivot.
Speaking of the pivot.
The Sebenza has a bushing in the pivot surrounding the barrel for easy action.
The Bradley does not sport a bushing but its silky smooth just the same although I'd have to give the edge to the Sebbie here but its not by much.
The Sebenza has a screw down blade stop.
The Alias II has a pin that inserts in from inside and is held in place by the screw construction and pivot tension.
Both folders are .125 thickness for titanium frames and locks. And as you can see from the pictures both measure and compare quite well for size and footprint in the pocket. Actually my Sebenza measures .120/.121 thickness which accounts for its lighter weight I think.
Bottom line is that both these are very nice little folders and that I wanted to point out the differences and the similarities for those interested.
Is it a Sebenza. No not quite there but you know what. I feel its so close that for half the money you sure get a lot and don't miss what you didn't get with the Bradley. I might also add that the Bradley came with a nice little pouch in a gray color and a nice box. The Sebenza of course sports a bigger box and a lanyard.
I guess it all depends on what you want. If a pivot bushing, ambi thumb studs and a screw down blade stop are worth the difference to you I'd say go Sebenza and if not the Bradley sure fits the bill nicely.
Pic compare: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=101699&d=1214780101
STR
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