Southern Grind

i was expecting to see a better steel than 14c28n for $250+ for a folder and considering the overall specs. I don't know anything about 8670m for the machete. not saying 14c28n is bad, or a low quality steel, I just expected something more in the area of 154cm, vg10, ats34, or s30v.
 
I've got satin finished knives in both grinds. No complaints. The proprietary pivot is a pain in the ass but the fit and finish leave nothing to be desired at the price point.

Geometry resists chipping well enough. My uses are more abusive than most.

Try one, you will find equivalent or better finish than an Emerson, better handle materials, arguably on-par blade steel, and a more entertaining series of test videos.
 
It'd be cool to own a knife made by Zac Brown, but I agree with the above about expecting a bit more than Sandvik. It's a good steel, but it's definitely not a great steel. If I drop over $100 on a knife, I'd prefer to it to not share bladesteel with a $30 knife.
 
Always liked them, but they were just too big for me the one time I got to handle one. Zac Brown and Co seem like good people too, his camp helps some people who really need it. Some day I'll find a reason to buy something from Southern Grind, the price these were introduced at was a steal if I remember right.
 
From what I hear, they make a quality knife, but I'm not paying that price tag for 14C28N. They used to be much cheaper; I don't know why they have gone up in price.
 
Good people. Spent a good bit talking to them at BLADE last year, especially the gentleman in charge of the shop. Fit and finish on the knives was very good. While Sandvik 14C28N might be offered in less expensive knives, doesn't mean it's not a good steel. No rules saying higher priced knives have to be offered in CPM S110V or S90V.
 
I'm with the others here who think that the steel is sub-par for the offering. I would like to own one and I like the design, but when one already has more knives on his wish list than he can afford in a lifetime (that would be me :D ) then a lower quality steel pushes this far below a lot of other similarly priced knives.

If my intent would be to just look at it or make it into a safe queen then that would be fine, but this one would certainly be a real user for me and the steel just doesn't justify the price, IMHO.

JMO. :)
 
Halfneck said:
No rules saying higher priced knives have to be offered in CPM S110V or S90V.
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While this is true, we as consumers want to get the most out of our money. I can get a Kershaw Skyline with the same steel as their Bad Monkey. I understand there are differences in the other materials used but the price jump from Kershaw's $35 to SG's $250 is pretty big. I would at least think they'd throw on some 154CM like Emerson.
 
I had one. The fit and finish is excellent and they are attractive blades. While 14c28n isn't a premimum steel, it's a very good EDC steel, I consider it better than VG10.

The initial price was $180, which was more reasonable considering USA made and hand assembled with good components, but $250 is ZT and high end Spyderco territory.... really comes down to personal preference at that point.

They also claim to donate a lot of the money from these knives to charity, which is good, but I wonder how much they actually donate.
 
I thought it was a gag website or a joke on someone (maybe me). Ive never heard of these until now and seeing the steel at that pricepoint?!? I really thought it was a joke
 
I'll buy on when they start using a better steel. They look great tho.
 
I've looked at these knives a hundred times. I love everything about them, except the steel choice. I think these look fantastic, but every time I go to their website I find myself hoping to see a different steel. After all, it's a knife, the steel choice makes the knife and also plays a large part in cost.

As others have said, it's not a bad steel, but it's not what should be in these knives or any other knives that cost $250.

I love knives, Zac Brown, and what he's done with Camp Southern Grind, so if he ever upgrades the steel, I'll buy one.
 
I'm one to think that overall design trumps any perceived steel choices. Not many users will exceed the steel used in the Bad Monkey.
 
dano said:
I'm one to think that overall design trumps any perceived steel choices. Not many users will exceed the steel used in the Bad Monkey.
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Well, there are certainly blade makers that would agree with your first statement, Ernest Emerson comes to mind.

Elaborate, please.
 
As you can see just based on just this thread, lots of people skip over these knives based solely on the blade steel. They just don't know what they're missing. Personally, not being a blade snob, I love my BM. The ergonomics are wonderful, licensed Wave, good materials and a high level of hand work go into these knives. They donate a good bit of the price to charity as well. Not often you can say you help other people when you buy a blade. I'm not a metallurgist or even very knowledgable about blade steels but I can say that well done 14C28n is a perfectly good user steel. And not all Sandvick is the same. For instance, my BM seems to go quite a bit longer between sharpenings than my Kershaw offerings in the same steel.
 
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Bigfatts said:
As you can see just based on just this thread, lots of people skip over these knives based solely on the blade steel. They just don't know what they're missing. Personally, not being a blade snob, I love my BM. The ergonomics are wonderful, licensed Wave, good materials and a high level of hand work go into these knives. They donate a good bit of the price to charity as well. Not often you can say you help other people when you buy a blade. I'm not a metallurgist or even very knowledgable about blade steels but I can say that well done 14C28n is a perfectly good user steel. And not all Sandvick is the same. For instance, my BM seems to go quite a bit longer between sharpenings than my Kershaw offerings in the same steel.
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I don't think it is a matter of being "a blade snob" but rather a matter of perception of value. Personally, I own a wide variety of steels (From inexpensive steels on CRKT, RR, Kershaw - all the way up to S110V on a Spyderco) and agree that 14C28n is a decent user steel when priced right. But where I disagree is that a knife with 14C28n blade steel is worth $250. That steel is far less expensive and this aspect of the knife change my opinion of its value. I would be happy with the knife if it cost less or if it had better steel. But that combo at that price point is a poor value, especially as a mid-priced user - IMHO. :)

That said, I don't begrudge anyone their choice or opinion that it is a good deal for them. It is just not a good value for my needs/want. Too many other options that fit my opinion of better value that I would prefer to buy.
 
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