Steelcraft Mini-Bodega

[HappyDaddy]

Has anyone gotten one of these in hand yet? I should have one next week and am curious as to what folks think. I was torn between this and the Kwaiken but decided I was much more likely to carry a 3" blade than a 4" blade.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I'll let you know when the post-man arrives today

I might do a video of my impressions, I have high-hopes for this knife.

 

[HappyDaddy]

^ Saw RamZar put up a very short vid of him flipping it a few times. No commentary. I'm surprised youtube doesn't have anything yet.

 

[Cutlover]

Easily one of the top 3 knives under $500 in terms of aesthetics. EASILY. (Based on internet pictures anyways).

I would get one in a heartbeat if it had a button lock or lockback.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I just got home and unboxed the Bodega. It's nearly everything I had hoped for, 8 outta 10!

I'll post a video in an hour or so. I need to shower first, I got insulation fibers all over me

 

[Cutlover]

I just got home and unboxed the Bodega. It's nearly everything I had hoped for, 8 outta 10!

I'll post a video in an hour or so. I need to shower first, I got insulation fibers all over me

Nearly everything....?
8/10? Looking forward to your review, curious as to why it isn't 10

Looks so sickkk

 

[RamZar]

Wish it was as smooth as my Todd Begg Steelcraft Kwaiken. It has gotten better since day one but not there yet! That's my only issue with it.

Here's a related thread: Todd Begg Steelcraft Mini Bodega Flipper 3" S35VN made by Reate

I just got mine and it's a fabulous little EDC flipper. It's a perfect size for EDC where the blade length is 3 inches.

Here are my measurements. It weighs 3.75 ounces. The blade length is 2.98" (that's important for places where the blade length must be under 3 inches) and 0.122" thick. Handle length is 4.1" and thickness is 0.506".

It's not yet as buttery smooth as my Kwaiken. I'll apply some Nano-oil and work it tonight.

It has just the right detent and good flipper action. Blade has no play, centered, very sharp and nice two-tone finish. Great jimping on the blade spine and on the backspacer for reverse grip. Nice jeweled titanium clip. Excellent titanium milling. Solid lockup and it has a steel insert on the lock face.

By the way, the dimple / diamond milling on the titanium gives it excellent texture and assures a solid grip.

For those who wonder if you can open it one-handed without the flipper tab the answer is yes! Simply, pinch the blade with your thumb and middle finger to break past the detent and then slide it all the way open using your thumb.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Watch on YouTube to switch to HD.
[video=youtube_share;Bv1BivmJxJ4]http://youtu.be/Bv1BivmJxJ4[/video]

 

[RamZar]

Nice overview Blues Bender.

Good point on a little jimping for the flipper tab. I've had a couple of misfires.

I just wish it was as smooth as my buttery smooth Steelcraft Kwaiken.

Overall, a solid 9 out of 10 score.

You scored it 8 out of 10. Other than jimping on the flipper tab do you see any other shortfalls, minor or not?

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Nice overview Blues Bender.

Good point on a little jimping for the flipper tab. I've had a couple of misfires.

I just wish it was as smooth as my buttery smooth Steelcraft Kwaiken.

Overall, a solid 9 out of 10 score.

You scored it 8 out of 10. Other than jimping on the flipper tab do you see any other shortfalls, minor or not?

The 3 cons I have:

-No flipper tab jimping
-The screw-on part of the clip (the "pillars" I mentioned)
-And some obvious machining marks on the non textured titanium (see pic below).

Mainly just personal preference stuff. Overall, it's a flawless knife!

 

[Dddrees]

Watch on YouTube to switch to HD.
[video=youtube_share;Bv1BivmJxJ4]http://youtu.be/Bv1BivmJxJ4[/video]

Great review, extremely detailed, thanks for sharing.

 

[RamZar]

The 3 cons I have:

-No flipper tab jimping
-The screw-on part of the clip (the "pillars" I mentioned)
-And some obvious machining marks on the non textured titanium (see pic below).

Mainly just personal preference stuff. Overall, it's a flawless knife!

The pillars for the clip screws are definite design elements. As is, the Mini Bodega is pretty much only a right-hand, tip-up and almost clip-only carry. Some people like to carry their folders without the clip and on this knife there's not much of a point!

I wonder how much of the tool marks has to do with the stonewashing before the coating.

 

[Scurvy092]

Gotta hand it to the Begg's. They know how to extract the maximum amount of money from people for production knives. 750-1100 for USA Bodegas and 400-500 for Chinese made ones...

 

[sutherland]

Reate does not disappoint. Incredible performance, outstanding build quality, and top notch materials. The Mini Bodega is definitely next on my list.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

The pillars for the clip screws are definite design elements. As is, the Mini Bodega is pretty much only a right-hand, tip-up and almost clip-only carry. Some people like to carry their folders without the clip and on this knife there's not much of a point!

I wonder how much of the tool marks has to do with the stonewashing before the coating.

Ya know, I was thinking about that earlier too (being a clip only knife). These knives wouldn't be too comfortable with no clip

The machine marks I'm referring to, are the fine lines that run left and right in the pic, almost resembling a fingerprint pattern. I guess they could be called "CNC marks" too.

 

[RamZar]

The machine marks I'm referring to, are the fine lines that run left and right in the pic, almost resembling a fingerprint pattern. I guess they could be called "CNC marks" too.

I'm guessing those equidistant vertical lines going along the length of the handle are intentional for both show and added texture. On the Reate District 9+ they run horizontal. I may check later with Mark at Todd Begg Knives and David at Reate.

 

[bearcut]

Glad everybody likes theirs.

Mine should be here soon.

The plain stonewash looks great, much better than the website pics. Maybe I should have gotten that one.

Oh well, blackwash one on the way.

Thanks everyone for the videos and pictures.

 

[bearcut]

Wish it was as smooth as my Todd Begg Steelcraft Kwaiken. It has gotten better since day one but not there yet! That's my only issue with it.

Here's a related thread: Todd Begg Steelcraft Mini Bodega Flipper 3" S35VN made by Reate

Hey Ram,

did you buy a Lionsteel T.R.E.?

If so, how would you compare it to the Mini Bodega? Is it fairly close as far as quality?

I was going to pull the trigger on a TRE until I saw this folder.

I like smaller folders now and am looking at some higher end production ones.

I lost my Bradley Alias a couple months ago and am trying to find something I like as well as I did that folder.

 

[RamZar]

Hey Ram,

did you buy a Lionsteel T.R.E.?

If so, how would you compare it to the Mini Bodega? Is it fairly close as far as quality?

I was going to pull the trigger on a TRE until I saw this folder.

I like smaller folders now and am looking at some higher end production ones.

I lost my Bradley Alias a couple months ago and am trying to find something I like as well as I did that folder.

LionSteel TRE is a classier, nicer-looking and slimmer folder than the Mini Bodega. Both have excellent titanium milling. Both LionSteel and Reate make very high quality knives.

TRE has the added benefit of a thumb disc for those who care. However, it just doesn't flip like a flipper should! Not as bad as the Hinderer XM-18 though. The flipper action has been compromised to have it open easily by thumb disc as well. If the TRE flipper action was robust like the Mini Bodega I'd give it the edge simply because the full titanium TRE gives you M390 for about $135 less than the Mini Bodega with S35VN!

 

[bearcut]

Thanks, I may pick one up. I have several other Lionsteel folders and I like the quality. I was mostly wondering about the size. You answered that one for me.

Any body have a Rike? Specifically a 1508? What are these like?

Sorry, hope I'm not derailing the thread.