Stedemon knives, SHY series?

[crom]

These popped up in my inbox from a well-known online store, spanto type aluminum framelocks with very straight lines. They look great, price seems a bit high for China-made but if anybody has one and can chime in please do.

 

[jac_solar]

Knifecenter recently put this up for sale on their site in several different colors, and 2 different grinds (Flat and Hollow tanto grinds.). It's an integral aluminium frame.

BladeHQ also put up a new Stedemon design -- the "Deep Sea Monster". It's an updated/modified version of their "D.S.M" design with a bunch of holes in the titanium frame. I greatly preferred the original frame design. (Titanium frame. I think there was a G-10 version as well.)

 

[bpeezer]

Looks interesting to me. Not sure why it's described as "packed with features you would find on knives twice the price."

SHY:
Integral aluminum handle
Lockbar over travel stop
Steel lock insert
Sculpted pocket clip (only upside I can see)
Made in China
$240

Lionsteel SR-1A
Integral aluminum handle
Lockbar over travel stop
Steel lock insert
Spring pocket clip (only downside I can see)
Made in Italy
$200 on the same site

 

[RamZar]

Looks interesting to me. Not sure why it's described as "packed with features you would find on knives twice the price."

SHY:
Integral aluminum handle
Lockbar over travel stop
Steel lock insert
Sculpted pocket clip (only upside I can see)
Made in China
$240

Lionsteel SR-1A
Integral aluminum handle
Lockbar over travel stop
Steel lock insert
Spring pocket clip (only downside I can see)
Made in Italy
$200 on the same site

Yes, that's exactly the issue. SHY should be $200 tops!

 

[crom]

Yes, a little too high, but that blade is gorgeous and it comes in 2 grinds. Hard to imagine it's better made than the Lionsteel as well, we'll have to wait until a BFer gets one.

 

[jac_solar]

I wonder how much more expensive an integral aluminium frame is compared to a non-integral frame setup? I'm guessing that aluminium is pretty cheap. The main difference in cost would probably be from the machining, right? But I wonder how much more expensive it'd be to machine an integral block compared to machining the regular, 2 frames.

 

[RamZar]

I did order a Stedemon SHY exclusively sold by KnifeCenter.

Very nice-looking tanto-bladed integral-frame folder. It also had very nice packaging.

However, there were many tool mark blemishes on the inside of the integral frame.

Ordinarily, you wouldn't see them but for a $240 aluminum frame folder one should expect a lot more.

Also, as mentioned before the SHY should really be no more than $200 considering the LionSteel SR-1 with integral aluminum frame and excellent quality is $200 at KnifeCenter.

Anyway, I returned it to KnifeCenter.

 

[Rasco]

I dunno quite get what's up with Stedemon.
All their offerings appear to be overpriced by $50-$100. The Bastion is a nice enough knife, very chunky, but it can't compete at almost $350 with something like the Horizon C at $250...
Is Stedemon just shooting for the moon on their pricing? Or are they trying to be competitive? Cuz....?

 

[PURPLEDC]

I dunno quite get what's up with Stedemon.
All their offerings appear to be overpriced by $50-$100. The Bastion is a nice enough knife, very chunky, but it can't compete at almost $350 with something like the Horizon C at $250...
Is Stedemon just shooting for the moon on their pricing? Or are they trying to be competitive? Cuz....?

I dont think stedemon makes any of its knives but actually farms the designs out to other makers for them to sell. In fact rumor is the bastion is made for them by Reate. If that is true it would explain the higher prices as its a similar trend we are seeing with other instances where they ghost build for other makers.

 

[RamZar]

KnifeCenter now has the Stedemon SHY with integral titanium frame! Same S35VN steel with either FFG or Hollow Grind.

Priced $445-$477 depending on titanium finish and swedge!

 

[MaxFactor]

Really good looking knife. I don't know about that price but it should give the Spyderco Nirvana some competition.

 

[RamZar]

Really good looking knife. I don't know about that price but it should give the Spyderco Nirvana some competition.

The Stedemon SHY integral titanium frame lock going for $445-$477 with a 4" S35VN is made in China.

Spyderco Nirvana at $430 gives you a 3.75" S90V stainless steel blade and made in Taiwan.

The Italian-made LionSteel has the SR-1 Titanium integral frame lock in various anodized colors for $375 with a 3.75" Sleipner tool steel.

 

[MaxFactor]

Yeah, I'm familiar with the other production integrals out there. I know the price is fairly reasonable for the design and materials, but Stedemon is still a brand in it's infancy as far as I know. Spyderco is one of the most recognizable names in knives with proven quality and LionSteel, while less recognizable, has still been around for a long time and also produced the first production integral.

Personally, I think keeping the price closer to $400 would be a better idea for them, simply to get more exposure and since they're competing with Reate and now Rike Knives. Granted, the Reate Torrents is $375, sold like hot cakes upon release, and that's not even an integral.

There's also a chance that I might be holding on to the antiquated viewpoint that Chinese made products are somehow inferior, which I know is no longer entirely true. But as a member of the US military it's hard to let go of that mentality. That being said, I have a CKF T90 in my pocket right now, lol.

Just my 2 cents. No denying that it promises to be a very impressive, quality offering from Stedemon.

The Stedemon SHY integral titanium frame lock going for $445-$477 with a 4" S35VN is made in China.

Spyderco Nirvana at $430 gives you a 3.75" S90V stainless steel blade and made in Taiwan.

The Italian-made LionSteel has the SR-1 Titanium integral frame lock in various anodized colors for $375 with a 3.75" Sleipner tool steel.

 

[evilgreg]

I have a Shy (got it back some time in June/July) and I really like it. Mine has no issues, and it's light for a large knife. Haven't had an issue with it, and it has quickly become one of my favorites. Mine looks like this: