Southern Grind Bad Monkey Comparison Pics

Had to update this. I got an email today from a customer who knows his steel and his knives. He agreed I could share it here as long as I left his name off of it.

"I just finished testing the bad monkey that I purchased from you and I have to say it passed with flying colors. After cutting 3 feet of Manila rope and a couple of boxes, it still sliced a phone book paper cleanly. I tested it next to my paramilitary in s35vn and the only difference was s35vn had a couple of hang ups in slicing phone book paper. Now both were new and untouched edge from the factory. The difference maker was southern grinds polished edge. If syperco's s35vn had a polished edge it would have performed better with more edge retention. Also I spoke to an old colleague who is a metallurgist that works for bohler uddeholm in Hayward CA. He said that the composition of 14c28n if HT'd properly should have the same edge retention of VG10 with an equal toughness of a sleipner steel (D2 equivalent) at 60-62HRC. I thought you should know."
 
Sounds like good stuff, I am pleasantly surprised. Not what I expected after hearing about how mediocre it was for a few years now.
 
marthinus said:
Do you have any references such as published data for that? I ask because I really love 14C28N.

Though I do not have a knife from Bad Monkey my experience with 14C28N has mainly been in customs. Did a video I while back of 410 od cuts through cardboard with a custom Lannys Clip in 14C28N and it could still cut newsprint with the

grain and easily cut printer paper.

It is IMO a VERY underrated steel at properly heat treated and geometry is a hard steel to beat if you want ease of sharpening, high edge stability, good wear resistance, good corrosion resistance and toughness.
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I do not have any references other that what Jeremy from McMullen knives had told me.
 
I received one of these for Christmas and I'm here to tell you, if you don't like this knife because of the steel you're really missing out. Truly an excellent blade.
 
I have been searching around and have yet to be able to find an answer. Why is there no wave on the different colored handles? Looking around I can't find a jade handle with a tanto tip and the wave. I already have one of the original drop points that I have carried for a good long while and love to carry in my back right pocket because of the wave deployment. Also to not as much as I love the knife, the proprietary pivot screw is a pain because I ordered and used the proper tool to disassemble the knife for cleaning and oiling and lets just say they don't handle torque well trying to loosen the screw from factory.
 
I have not seen any of the colored handles with waves and haven't seen anything online saying why. You should be able to call them. I would see if they could build a custom with a waved tanto in the jade handle. The site shows you can customize them now but all of that shows waveless.

I got in my satin blade carbon fiber version that I was able to trade into and I am still incredibly impressed. One thing I did notice though is the difference in the handle scales. They are the same shape but the satin blade has slightly thinner carbon fiber scales than my black bladed version and it is a little more smooth. All that aside I don't notice enough difference in pocket for it to really matter, I just figure it is possibly a newer or older version.

Right now I still would probably consider the Bad Monkey in my top 3 of my top 5 blades.
 
I'm not a fan of waves so I had gone waveless... I was surprised to see what looks like the same exact blade with a shaved down wave spike. Don't get me wrong, it's a clean finish, but the way the top of the blade juts out where the wave is supposed to be seems lazy and ruins the lines of an otherwise beautiful knife IMO. It is a surprisingly well finished and smooth knife aside from that one aspect.
 
pyro777 said:
I have been searching around and have yet to be able to find an answer. Why is there no wave on the different colored handles? Looking around I can't find a jade handle with a tanto tip and the wave. I already have one of the original drop points that I have carried for a good long while and love to carry in my back right pocket because of the wave deployment. Also to not as much as I love the knife, the proprietary pivot screw is a pain because I ordered and used the proper tool to disassemble the knife for cleaning and oiling and lets just say they don't handle torque well trying to loosen the screw from factory.
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I had the same question when I bought mine. I wanted the G10 scales because of the texturing and the dished out area near the thumb-studs. I sent them an email to inquire and got a prompt response saying that that combination is not currently made (wave with G10). There was no explanation as to why, just they don't make them that way right now. You can't build it on the site that way using the customizer either.

Long story short, they agreed to make me one the way I wanted it just because I asked. So I got the green G10 scales and waved blade. I also had them drill and tap the knife for left hand carry. This was all done via email. Very nice customer service on their part.

So, if you want one exactly the way you want it, they will probably make it for you, but you will have to go through them and not a dealer.
 
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I agree, they definitely have TOP NOTCH service.

I have a Jackal that my son bought me for christmas :



What an awesome knife. As I said, my son bought it and when it came in brand new he pulled it in/out of the tyvec sheath a few times admiring it (can't say I blame him).

The awesome black stone wash tumbled blade finish had acquired a few scuffs down both sides from contact with the stiff hard sheath.

Obviously, the scratches don't affect the function of the blade, but I emailed Karley and asked if they might consider re-doing the finish for me if I Paid for the service. She responded very quickly & sent me a pre-paid USPS shipping sticker.

The knife came back in a matter of days (they paid for shipping both ways & no charge for the re-finish) & looks perfect. So, other than being without it for a few days I was EXTREMELY happy with this company & their service.

I will spread the world wherever I can.

Another "Bad Monkey" relate. A girl worked for me (I owned a biker bar for over 20 years) is friend of Zac. The band was in town & of course we got in free with back stage passes etc. Zac pulled out a custom Bad Monkey to open a box (I had never heard of Southern Ground at the time). While my buddy was checking out the knife Zac told him to keep the knife & then told us how Southern Grind came to be.. That knife is awesome also. I will be ordering a custom built Monkey also very soon.

~John
 
Been looking into your threads and I appreciate all the awesome info. After all I love me knives and happen to listen to the guy once in a while .
It has been a fun read and I am checking out the site to read more about them.
It really makes me want to become a music star and start a full line of knives too!!:o
 
I always like seeing this thread added to every now and then. I've had my Bad Monkey now for several months and can't find one bad thing to say about. It has continued to impress since the day that I got it. When I see positive posts from other Southern Grind owners it always puts a smile on my face. :)
 
I had a waved CF satin drop point and I have a Jade satin drop point now, got both from Whitty. The Jade is my favorite, so I kept it. I need to adjust the G10 on the presentation side, there's a lip which makes accessing the lock difficult.

It's ripped at every cutting job I've thrown at it, not even a flinch. Sure they're a little "expensive", but they've never disappointed me despite the price.
 
Still loving both of mine. I have a few others that I have been working into rotation but I keep coming back to the Bad Monkey.

I am going to be taking a look into the Jackal this year and may just have to get one.
 
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