Spartan Harsey Plague Doctor - Thoughts please

Peregrin

Peregrin

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I've had my eye on the Harsey Plague Doctor for awhile now. After returnig from Italy recently, with a case of COVID, I think I might want to pull the trigger.
I'm particularly interested in the Smaller offering, with the 3.25" blade. Just the right size for my pocket.
If you have one (large or small), and you have a minute, what do you like, not like etc?
How easy do they open with the bronze washers? Lock up tight? Plenty of future travel on the lockbar? I've been carrying button lock flippers for awhile now, mostly the Pro-Tech Malibu. Not sure if the Harsey will kick it out of my pocket or not. I'm curious what others think?
Thanks in advance!
 
If you haven’t seen this thread it’s worth a look

One Year With The Spartan Harsey Folder

I recently completed my own "one year challenge" in carrying the Spartan Blades Harsey Folder (SHF). My inspiration was actually found in the Chris Reeve section of the forum and the thread where members seek to complete their own challenge of carrying the same CRK for an entire year. Prior to...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
rycen said:
If you haven’t seen this thread it’s worth a look

One Year With The Spartan Harsey Folder

I recently completed my own "one year challenge" in carrying the Spartan Blades Harsey Folder (SHF). My inspiration was actually found in the Chris Reeve section of the forum and the thread where members seek to complete their own challenge of carrying the same CRK for an entire year. Prior to...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
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Much appreciated. I did a search but not good enough I guess.
 
Peregrin said:
I've had my eye on the Harsey Plague Doctor for awhile now. After returnig from Italy recently, with a case of COVID, I think I might want to pull the trigger.
I'm particularly interested in the Smaller offering, with the 3.25" blade. Just the right size for my pocket.
If you have one (large or small), and you have a minute, what do you like, not like etc?
How easy do they open with the bronze washers? Lock up tight? Plenty of future travel on the lockbar? I've been carrying button lock flippers for awhile now, mostly the Pro-Tech Malibu. Not sure if the Harsey will kick it out of my pocket or not. I'm curious what others think?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
I tried a small a couple years ago. Returned it asap when I discovered the blade tip was just short of proud when closed. I snagged the tip of my finger on it before I even opened it the first time.
Mine may have been an exception with a sample size of one but I never went back to the well to find out.
 
Having 2 SHF's one being the Plague Dr. These are my favorite knives... super good build quality, one is S35 and the Plague is S45. Both great middle of the road steels, tough with good retention. Lock up on both is 50% and Solid. Deployment is stiff and I have trouble using only my thumb to deploy but that does not bother me... Both are NOT drop shutty at all and take some aggressive shaking to close, but again does not bother me. I don't really carry the Dr. as it will be given to my son a a remembrance of how stupid humans can be... with the 19...lol... I don't think you would regret at all with your purchase... KC
 
Peregrin said:
I've had my eye on the Harsey Plague Doctor for awhile now. After returnig from Italy recently, with a case of COVID, I think I might want to pull the trigger.
I'm particularly interested in the Smaller offering, with the 3.25" blade. Just the right size for my pocket.
If you have one (large or small), and you have a minute, what do you like, not like etc?
How easy do they open with the bronze washers? Lock up tight? Plenty of future travel on the lockbar? I've been carrying button lock flippers for awhile now, mostly the Pro-Tech Malibu. Not sure if the Harsey will kick it out of my pocket or not. I'm curious what others think?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
I have a couple full size SHFs, no smalls.

They open easily with the bronze washers however it’s more of a Sebenza slow-roll than a snappy Les George opening feel. The fidget factor is pretty low.

Lock up is tight, I have zero blade play in any direction and although there’s no insert I don’t feel like it’s traveled over much if at all on my user one and that one has seen a lot of use.

The decoration is top notch, both the art work and the implementation.

The basic blade shape is utilitarian. It’s pointy enough for tight spaces like popping zip ties but sturdy. The handle is fairly neutral, the finger grooves are noticeable but not overwhelming. The handle jimping is annoyingly sharp which is probably my biggest nit pick on a blade at this price point. Don’t know if any of that feels different on the small or has been refined in the last year or two.

I hesitate to call this a positive or a negative because it depends on your use but the blade is beefy (more like a Hinderer than a CRK) and there is no choil (so no snag point but some people hate it).

Spartan’s S45VN heat treat seems pretty spot on, no rust issues, holds an edge well, sharpens/strops nicely although all I’ve done is touch it up.

I’d look for a used one, they aren’t limited enough to hold their value 100% but if you pick one up post-secondary-market depreciation you probably won’t lose much if you decide it’s not a keeper.
 
If you are really fond of flippers the SH's won't scratch that itch. I had a Malibu for some time but have decided I mostly prefer other options for deployment.
Spartan knives are excellent. Nice, smooth action. Both of my small ones lock up at about 40-50% and I think the build is on par with CR knives.
If you already have them on your radar, you won't be satisfied until you at least try one out. They are fairly available on the exchange and if you aren't happy with it (which I doubt), you shouldn't have any trouble selling it for about the same price. The smalls are perfect for me but the large size is a bit too large for daily carry. My recommendation, go for it!

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I have a couple large ones (not plague doc - but I can’t imagine they’re built any differently), I love them. Honestly, I like them more than CRK knives. I have a bunch of stuff so they don’t get carried every day, but I’m never disappointed when I do take them. Both of mine did take a little while to break in fully though.
 
I’ve been considering picking up a SHF myself. I’ve read (mostly on the forums) great things. I’d like to find a nice dealer exclusive.
 
Peregrin Peregrin I have had five of the larges, and still own three of them. They are some of my favorite knives. They are exactly what CRK would make if they wanted to make a heavy duty folding knife. I have an Unnumzaan (CRKs attempt) and the SHF outclasses it in every respect, including the most important: ergos. The SHF locks into my hand (I wear XL gloves) like it’s custom made for me.

Mine easily flip open with authority (easy with the large thumbstuds!), and after hundreds of opens, all three are smooth enough to be nearly drop shut, something none of my CRKs have ever been.

I will certainly buy more of them in the future as designs grab me (and my list of other knife wants winnows down!). I highly recommend them.

The Pros:

- American made, a tough full-size knife
- Their S45vn takes and holds a great edge and touch ups are easy on a diamond stone.
- The coatings on their coated blades is tough. I’ve cut up multiple soda cans (was doing some project) and the scratches all wiped off for the most part.
- The ergonomics are fantastic
- Bill Harsey designs a great knife, plus Spartan has fantastic customer service, if it should be needed. Plenty of folks can attest to quick turnarounds (usually for Damascus reblades!!!)

The cons:
- Thicker blades mean that they aren’t going to be the best slicers
- They lose a little value on secondary if you purchase new.

That’s uhhhhh….huh. That’s really the only negative I can say about these. I recommend ‘em, and think you’d enjoy one. I expect the smaller size to have the same pros and cons, honestly. Let us know what way you end up going!
 
I’ve got a couple 3.25’s, excellent knives. IMHO quality is on par with CRK. My PJ has been my primary work knife for the last 10 months and I have no complaints. Like it so much I recently picked up a Plague Doctor. Actions on both mine are smooth, the lockups are solid, with no play, a quality tool. Also like CRK have excellent customer service!IMG_4258.jpeg
 
sharp_edge said:
A fantastic knife seemingly from every aspect except one: the plunge portion of the edge. A small sharpening choil would easily fix it yet it baffles me why the manufacturer refuses to address it.
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Bill Harsey has strong opinions on that. It’s an intentional design choice and I get the impression from a few Facebook posts that it’s not one he intends to revisit. I’ve seen some guys add one with a chainsaw file or similar and it looks OK. It doesn’t really bother me one way or the other.
 
So I am not alone on this. The fact that some people have to use a file to add a sharpening choil basically says it.

Back to the op, I definitely like the plague doc engraving on the handle. As far as I know, there're the blue ano and the green ano. Make sure to pick the one you like the most.
 
I have a Black Large SHF and a Stone Washed Small SHF. I want to get one of the engraved SHF with The Dragon someday. I carry the Large SHF everyday. It checks off all the boxes for me and that list is long! If price doesn't matter, they are worth every dollar you spend.

I have CRK's, RHK's, MKT's and The Spartans can keep themselves in their rank.

From ergos to lock up, from fit to finish; totally superb. I like how the Large feels like a fixie in hand.
 
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