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spartan blades?
- Thread starter rms51
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2007
- Messages
- 761
I've handled a few. The designs seem plenty sound, especially considering they were designed by former Green Berets.
The handles are thin and blocky; they feel more like those of folding knives than those of fixed blades, but they are still very comfortable. If you're new to knives you're unlikely to feel the same quibble as I do.
The DLC finish on the blades is vapor-deposited, which makes it rougher than most. This might impede cutting action, but not by much, if at all. A knife that size tends to rely on geometry and metallurgy rather than texture, and should still cut fine. Can't say for sure.
Lastly, the S30V steel has proven immensely popular in folding knives, but in fixed blades has met with some controversy. The steel is very tough and very wear-resistant, being high in carbon and full of vanadium carbides. However, it is a new alloy, being less than ten years old, and the full implications of its use in fixed blades has not yet been realized. There have been instances of catastrophic failure in S30V fixed blades that aren't yet fully understood, but these have only occured in the most extreme of circumstances. Functionally, the steel appears quite adequate.
My advice would be to pull the trigger. You're unlikely to be so dissappointed as to be injured or even inconvenienced by the steel. The knives appear solidly constructed and reliable, and have already (apparently) been sold to many military operators who are quite pleased with them.
Go for it, and let us know
The handles are thin and blocky; they feel more like those of folding knives than those of fixed blades, but they are still very comfortable. If you're new to knives you're unlikely to feel the same quibble as I do.
The DLC finish on the blades is vapor-deposited, which makes it rougher than most. This might impede cutting action, but not by much, if at all. A knife that size tends to rely on geometry and metallurgy rather than texture, and should still cut fine. Can't say for sure.
Lastly, the S30V steel has proven immensely popular in folding knives, but in fixed blades has met with some controversy. The steel is very tough and very wear-resistant, being high in carbon and full of vanadium carbides. However, it is a new alloy, being less than ten years old, and the full implications of its use in fixed blades has not yet been realized. There have been instances of catastrophic failure in S30V fixed blades that aren't yet fully understood, but these have only occured in the most extreme of circumstances. Functionally, the steel appears quite adequate.
My advice would be to pull the trigger. You're unlikely to be so dissappointed as to be injured or even inconvenienced by the steel. The knives appear solidly constructed and reliable, and have already (apparently) been sold to many military operators who are quite pleased with them.
Go for it, and let us know
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2008
- Messages
- 678
I had a tan/tan Ares and it was a great blade.
The handles are light and thin, yet adequate. S30V is a great steel, and the Okuden sheaths are excellent. Go for what you like man. They are good blades, and the guys are really nice and helpful.
The handles are light and thin, yet adequate. S30V is a great steel, and the Okuden sheaths are excellent. Go for what you like man. They are good blades, and the guys are really nice and helpful.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2009
- Messages
- 166
The Spartan blades seem so unspecial to me. Yet more former 'tough guys' trying to tie in their rep as same to peddle more over priced, childishly designed knives. "pull the trigger" on a knife of this price and design? Please.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2008
- Messages
- 678
Wow, are all of your other 19 posts as positive as this one?
These are good quality knives. Everyone has different tastes here man, and it's actually childish that you can't understand this concept.
The O.P. stated that he doesn't know much about knives, how about contributing something worthwhile rather than trashing his thread.
Thanks,
-Steve
Good knife, but overpriced.I not sure i want s30v in a hard use knife, but ive heard the case made for it buy some well know people, so you can decide. My 2 buck nighthawks,1 srk,2 csk IIs, can take a beating without worry, and cost about the same as one spartan. So i guess you can do the math.
That would be a better choice most likely.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2009
- Messages
- 166
Someone told the original poster, who admittedly doesn't know much about knives, I'd say especially high priced knives, to 'pull the trigger' on the purchase. I gave the OP an alternative opinion... that the knives are not worth the money.
Since when does being a former green beret make one a good knife designer?
Ii does appear that the OP made a good choice in a knife, (far less expensive) despite the encouragement a couple of you gave him.
Since when does being a former green beret make one a good knife designer?
Ii does appear that the OP made a good choice in a knife, (far less expensive) despite the encouragement a couple of you gave him.
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,945
go with the Rat 4, 5, or 6. Top notch, never let you down.
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2006
- Messages
- 7,250
That's my thinking. For what a Spartan will set you back, you can pick up a couple RATs or Bark Rivers, which have more useful designs and steels, IMHO. Most of the Spartans I've seen have recurves, which is a deal-killer for me. They do seem well made, but way overpriced for coated, S30V blades.