Tha Arius hype?

mitchnola

mitchnola

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So I’ve been watching the hype around the arius grow and grow as well as the prices on the exchange so it was one of the first knives on my list to check out at the Atlanta show. I had to wait in a line just to get to their table. I’ve always thought the blade was a beautiful design and the handle looked to be very ergonomic.

When I finally got to the table and picked one up my initial thoughts were confirmed. The blade is very nice and it was great in the hand. Then I started to open and close it and I was immediately turned off. The acoustics of opening the blade were imo terrible. Rather than a sold schtik sound it makes a tingy, untuned bell sound that was very unpleasant to my ears. While the action on it is very nice as far as flying open and dropping shut, I feel that’s to be expected on any knife with bearings. While the action was nice I noticed that you can feel the vibration of the bearings throughout the handle of the knife. It just felt really bad to me. It made it seem cheap which it was most certainly not. I walked in considering buying one and after 2 minutes of playing with it I walked away disappointed and confused by the hype.

I realize this is just my opinion but I’d like to hear what it is people love about this knife, and what justifies these high prices, especially on the secondary market. I was also wondering if maybe the reason they pop up on the exchange so often is because people are purchasing them without ever handling them and then having a similar experience or opinion and then moving em along. Again, this all just my opinion and don’t disagree it’s well made but would like to hear y’alls thoughts. Thanks
 
I think hype has more to do with social media than the characteristics of the knife itself, so it's probably best not to use hype as a basis for forming any expectations. I think of these things the same way I think about whatever hot new restaurant in OC or LA that people are waiting in 3 hour lines for; Nothing is worth jumping through hoops for when you have so many other options that are just as good but different. Every one of these restaurants that I've visited years later (when the wait times became reasonable) was good but not worth the original wait in my opinion. The more trouble people go through to get something, though, the more they're going to convince themselves that it was all worth it.
 
Very good point and I completely agree. The hype becomes its own thing seperate from the item, place etc that it surrounds. That’s exactly why I was so disappointed with the arius when I finally got it in hand but my disappointment was also justified because I would ve felt the same way if it was a $300 knife I never heard of and would not have purchased. I’m just curious what it is people love about this knife to spend so much and ask so much on the secondary market. If I had bought without handling one first I’d probably have been pissed and instantly resold it. So I’m wondering if that’s why they’re constantly being listed on the exchange and if it is all hype. But that’s just my opinion and would like to hear from others, maybe there’s something I’m missing.
 
The Koenig Arius?
Never heard of it before, but it just looks like your run off the mill basic titanium framelock flipper, no? There's a gazillion of those on the market, in every color, every shape and every price point. There's hype around that?

[why am I surprised by that? They managed to hype up a plastic watch who sorta look like another watch who sorta look like a watch who's distant cousin once went to the moon 😳]
 
Floatingby said:
The Koenig Arius?
Never heard of it before, but it just looks like your run off the mill basic titanium framelock flipper, no? There's a gazillion of those on the market, in every color, every shape and every price point. There's hype around that?

[why am I surprised by that? They managed to hype up a plastic watch who sorta look like another watch who sorta look like a watch who's distant cousin once went to the moon 😳]
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I agree but I also like em and you’re usually gonna pay a pretty penny for any of em completely made in the USA which I fully support. The arius in particular has skyrocketed. When I first started following the exchange a few months ago they were going for 7-800, maybe 1k if they had some upgrades. Now they’re going for $12-1500 and at the show he wanted over a 1k for a plane jane.
 
I’ve never understood the hype myself. But that’s because the aesthetics don’t jibe with me. Maybe it would be different if I checked one out in person.
 
I've never handled one, but I've had a similar feeling towards the Arius for the passed year of so. Honestly kind of with the Oz Roosevelt too, just not quite as much. And the Holt's. They just don't do it for me. I didn't realize that Arius' went up that much in the passed few months, that's crazy. I thought the price was pretty enormously huge when I started looking at them last year. Honestly I think those knives are just more of a status symbol than anything. If someone bought one and used the heck out of it, I'd love it. However I think you see them for sale on the secondary all the time because people get into the hobby and the ones who have money want the best and see all kinds of Arius', Roosevelts, Holts etc being posted on instagram, reddit, facebook, whatever, and think that they are the best knife a guy can buy. Then they either decide it's crazy for a newer knife guy to spend that much on a knife and sell it, or they get the bug and just start buying and selling high end knives like crazy. Don't know really, I feel the same way though.
 
I’m not opposed to high end knives in that price range. Just haven’t been drawn to or love anything I’ve seen in that range. The most tempting for me would be the grimsmo norseman but it’s still not enough for me to pull the trigger. I was just shocked by the sound and feel of the arius. Kinda surprised no fans have responded. Would love to hear how they feel em about em.
 
I have a Koenig Arius and love it. I like the sound. It's also the greatest action of any knife I've ever handled, including my Grimsmo Norseman. The thought put into the ergonomics and removing hotspots is incredible. And the best detent of any knife I've ever owned that isn't a CRK. The Koenig Arius and my Grimsmo Norseman are so good, they're the only right handed knives over $200 I own. I'm a lefty, but the action is so good, I find it worth it.
 
Over the years of seeing them here, I was interested but on the fence about getting one. Eventually I saw one on the secondary market here and decided to give it a try. It is as most of posters in this thread have said. It is nice, the action is very smooth. Overall looks like a quality built knife, as you would expect for the price they bring.

I have never actively sought out a knife based on it's "sound", however, one of the first things I noticed about is the sound, as mentioned here. But not when opening or closing, but rather just tapping on the scale, it sounds hollow. I have not taken it apart yet because it is pretty much new so I have not needed to yet. But I imagine the scales are milled out. Also the weight of the knife is very light, also because of milling.

Still a very nice knife.
 
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I’ve bought and sold over 30 knives this year, including multiple holts, an Oz, a rask, and on and on. So far, I have only kept 3 new knives this year, one of which is the Arius. To me, the action is perfect. The ergos likewise. It has the best acoustics of any flipper I’ve used. The worst sound I’ve heard is the holt. The liner and the frame locks are both very tinny in sound. The Arius is very thwacky sound wise. I’ve had two, and both had an authoritative sound. It’s currently my favorite knife. Second would be small Sebenza.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I have to concede I only spent a few minutes handling the arius. Wanted to hear from some that own em and love em. Glad y’all are happy with them.
 
TreesNoDummy said:
I’ve bought and sold over 30 knives this year, including multiple holts, an Oz, a rask, and on and on. So far, I have only kept 3 new knives this year, one of which is the Arius. To me, the action is perfect. The ergos likewise. It has the best acoustics of any flipper I’ve used. The worst sound I’ve heard is the holt. The liner and the frame locks are both very tinny in sound. The Arius is very thwacky sound wise. I’ve had two, and both had an authoritative sound. It’s currently my favorite knife. Second would be small Sebenza.
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I’m surprised to hear that its very thwacky. I too love a good authoritative thwack on a knife. Maybe it was just the one I handled or he changed something but it was very tingy which I’m not a fan of. Also curious if you feel the vibrations of the bearings in the handle when opening n closing? I know they’re milled out but as mentioned above they felt very hollow which I assume is why I could feel em. The action is very nice but it should be cause it’s on bearings. Just like a $50 civivi is. So I’m not overly impressed with the action because it’s to be expected with bearings and feeling the vibrations was a huge turn off fot me. However I do agree the design and craftsmanship are top notch.
 
cutchu said:
Over the years of seeing them here, I was interested but on the fence about getting one. Eventually I saw one on the secondary market here and decided to give it a try. It is as most of posters in this thread have said. It is nice, the action is very smooth. Overall looks like a quality built knife, as you would expect for the price they bring.

I have never actively sought out a knife based on it's "sound", however, one of the first things I noticed about is the sound, as mentioned here. But not when opening or closing, but rather just tapping on the scale, it sounds hollow. I have not taken it apart yet because it is pretty much new so I have not needed to yet. But I imagine the scales are milled out. Also the weight of the knife is very light, also because of milling.

Still a very nice knife.
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Just to clarify I don’t make purchases just because of the acoustics but it’s like a added benefit when they’re good. However I couldn’t purchase the arius when the sound of deploying it was like fingernails on a chalkboard for me personally.
 
They're quality for sure. I think they're too large, and they feel large in the pocket. The Mini one, if it ever comes out, may be perfect.

I also think the hype is dying down. They still sell out within a minute or two when they drop, but the secondary market for them is very close to retail.
 
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