- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 3,531
I was in the market for a high-end frame lock wharncliffe, and was exploring several options within my price range. I eventually came across STR's work, and PMed him with some questions. He was very helpful and I quickly decided to give his work a shot.
A couple of months or so later, I have the knife in hand:
General Specs
The blade is a modified wharncliffe at approximately three inches, tip to scale with a two and 5/8ths inch cutting edge. The handle is just under four and a half inches, and the knife is a little over seven inches open. The damascus blade is a propriety blend of O-1 and another mild steel, as I understand it, and the handles are titanium. The lock is a Reeve style integral or frame lock. It has a thin profile titanium pocket clip. The blade is 1/8th inch thick, and knife is a hair under 3/8ths total thickness. The knife is about an inch a a quarter wide, at it widest point when closed, making for a very light, thin profile knife that takes up very little pocket space. It weighs 3.9 ounces.
In-Hand Review
Lock Up:
There are many subtle details that pop up immediately when you hold and observe the Ouparator. The lock up is rock solid with the lock bar meeting the tang 100% across the lock engagement, with the lock bar resting at a hair or two under 50% across the tang, leaving plenty of room for wear. There is absolutely no hint of play in any direction. This kind of lock up has only been matched in my experience by my Sebenza.
Strength and Reliablitly:
Some other features that add greatly to strength, reliability and longevity are the extra thick, double arced lock bar relief cut out, screws tapped into barrel spacers rather than the scales, a screw construction stop pin, an extra strong ball detent to hold the blade closed when not in use and plenty of steel tang around the pivot point. The is, without a doubt, the sturdiest, most reliable feeling folder I have ever used. I would even give it a slight edge over my Sebenza, which you will find to be my reference knife throughout the review.
Action:
The action is good, with a very comfortable, functional thumb stud and good tension. It is not the smoothest folder I've ever used out of box (or pouch, in this case), which is due to the blasted finish on the washers used, which STR assured me would smooth out to buttery smoothness over time. If I remember to, I'll come back and comment on this eventually. Regardless, the knife is very comfortable to open and close, and does not feel at all gritty.
Fit and Finish:
I am very impressed as well by STR's ability to finish a knife this well with such limited tools. The fit on every piece is superb, and I only found one roughly finished area where the lock bar was cut out of the handle. Everything else is nearly flawless, with a nice, even plunge cut, perfectly centered blade when closed and evenly beveled handle edges. The finish is not as polished as a Sebenza, but is still higher than any other production folder I've owned, as well as a well known and highly touted custom maker's knife I own as well. Very impressive.
Light Use and Sharpness
Sharpness:
The knife came with a thin, shaving sharp edge that sliced paper and whittled with ease. It responds well to light stropping on jeans as well as the medium stones on my Sharpmaker.
Light Use:
I used the knife for some light woodworking and cardboard cutting. It held its edge as well as any folder I own, and was still shaving sharp after cutting up a few pieces of cardboard and whittling a stick and making some shavings. The handle was comfortable in all grips, and has a little semi-finger choil that allows for a good, choked up grip. The thin profile pocket clip has great retention, while not being too tight, and rides just high enough in the pocket to grab easily. I opted against STR's usual low rider because I like to be able to grab my knife from the pocket easily, and also don't care for the added width of a low-rider clip.
Summary
The knife has a sleek design that pockets well. The straight forward, all business construction and design is top notch, with a tank-like build that provides an unrivaled feel of strength and reliability in my experience. The knife is just extremely well thought out and executed in regard to function. The fit and finish is great. As a user, it has surpassed my highest standard. I give it top marks.
A huge thanks to STR for hooking me up with the Damascus blade, and putting together such a fine knife for me.
A couple of months or so later, I have the knife in hand:
General Specs
The blade is a modified wharncliffe at approximately three inches, tip to scale with a two and 5/8ths inch cutting edge. The handle is just under four and a half inches, and the knife is a little over seven inches open. The damascus blade is a propriety blend of O-1 and another mild steel, as I understand it, and the handles are titanium. The lock is a Reeve style integral or frame lock. It has a thin profile titanium pocket clip. The blade is 1/8th inch thick, and knife is a hair under 3/8ths total thickness. The knife is about an inch a a quarter wide, at it widest point when closed, making for a very light, thin profile knife that takes up very little pocket space. It weighs 3.9 ounces.
In-Hand Review
Lock Up:
There are many subtle details that pop up immediately when you hold and observe the Ouparator. The lock up is rock solid with the lock bar meeting the tang 100% across the lock engagement, with the lock bar resting at a hair or two under 50% across the tang, leaving plenty of room for wear. There is absolutely no hint of play in any direction. This kind of lock up has only been matched in my experience by my Sebenza.
Strength and Reliablitly:
Some other features that add greatly to strength, reliability and longevity are the extra thick, double arced lock bar relief cut out, screws tapped into barrel spacers rather than the scales, a screw construction stop pin, an extra strong ball detent to hold the blade closed when not in use and plenty of steel tang around the pivot point. The is, without a doubt, the sturdiest, most reliable feeling folder I have ever used. I would even give it a slight edge over my Sebenza, which you will find to be my reference knife throughout the review.
Action:
The action is good, with a very comfortable, functional thumb stud and good tension. It is not the smoothest folder I've ever used out of box (or pouch, in this case), which is due to the blasted finish on the washers used, which STR assured me would smooth out to buttery smoothness over time. If I remember to, I'll come back and comment on this eventually. Regardless, the knife is very comfortable to open and close, and does not feel at all gritty.
Fit and Finish:
I am very impressed as well by STR's ability to finish a knife this well with such limited tools. The fit on every piece is superb, and I only found one roughly finished area where the lock bar was cut out of the handle. Everything else is nearly flawless, with a nice, even plunge cut, perfectly centered blade when closed and evenly beveled handle edges. The finish is not as polished as a Sebenza, but is still higher than any other production folder I've owned, as well as a well known and highly touted custom maker's knife I own as well. Very impressive.
Light Use and Sharpness
Sharpness:
The knife came with a thin, shaving sharp edge that sliced paper and whittled with ease. It responds well to light stropping on jeans as well as the medium stones on my Sharpmaker.
Light Use:
I used the knife for some light woodworking and cardboard cutting. It held its edge as well as any folder I own, and was still shaving sharp after cutting up a few pieces of cardboard and whittling a stick and making some shavings. The handle was comfortable in all grips, and has a little semi-finger choil that allows for a good, choked up grip. The thin profile pocket clip has great retention, while not being too tight, and rides just high enough in the pocket to grab easily. I opted against STR's usual low rider because I like to be able to grab my knife from the pocket easily, and also don't care for the added width of a low-rider clip.
Summary
The knife has a sleek design that pockets well. The straight forward, all business construction and design is top notch, with a tank-like build that provides an unrivaled feel of strength and reliability in my experience. The knife is just extremely well thought out and executed in regard to function. The fit and finish is great. As a user, it has surpassed my highest standard. I give it top marks.
A huge thanks to STR for hooking me up with the Damascus blade, and putting together such a fine knife for me.
