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The Boker Arctos XL

C

cutter17

Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
6,873
Anyone have this knife? I started a thread in the Boker subforum and the only two response's I've gotten have been by me!:eek::D But from previous experience I know that there does not seem to be a whole lot of activity on the forum. So I thought I would bring it here.

I've been looking at this knife for a week, though I first read about it a few months ago. I immediately knew this would be a knife to my liking. Though I usually like larger, overbuilt folder's, I also like the smaller overbuilt folder's. After having a few of the Titan model's and seeing the thick, .100" thick, titanium liners, I am looking forward to seeing the same on this knife, and from the pics I will.

So, just curious if anyone has the knife and what you think about it.
 
Reminds me of Bob Dozier kinda.
 
That's interesting because I thought the same thing when I first saw it. I' had two Dozier Folding Hunter's, both were the XL models, of course. And I see some elements in the Boker; thick titanium liners, the rounded handle and butt, but the blade shape and grind sets it apart. Anyway I should have it tomorrow according to USPS and I shall surely come back on with some initial impressions. Guess great eye's see alike! Thanks for the response CM!
 
Of the Boker offerings available, I could see myself buying a Vallotton converted D/A Epicenter.
 
That Boker Arctos looks to be pit bull tough. At the same time it has smooth under stated lines. I like to get one. I'm a Boker fan, and they are upgrading the steel from the normal 440C on the Arctos XL which is being made in Germany. With all that going for it, you will most likely have yourself a real winner of a knife.
 
CM, I had an Epicenter and gave it away. Not because of anything wrong with it though, just one of those local pay it forward things. This is a knife, having the superb ZT0801, that I would have loved seeing ZT build! Again, nothing wrong with the Boker Plus version and I still want to get another one to keep. It is a sweet knife and mine was perfect as it came! An auto version would be sweet!

Acesn8s, I am also a Boker/Boker Plus fan. It just seems that some of the Boker's I've had came with a couple problems from the factory. The last Boker Titan Defender had some fit/finish issues that mainstream American, Taiwan, Italian, and the better Chinese companies did not exhibit. And the Titan Defender is NOT an inexpensive knife! But to their credit I've had two other Titan Defender's, a Lightweight Titan Defender, and a Titan Worker that came out of the box perfect, well, one of the other TD's did require a tuneup from me before I deemed it acceptable!!

So I say all the above to let you know I was a little worried that the Arctos XL I bought might have an issue or two, and I so want this knife to be as perfect as it can possibly be.

And it is. I received it this afternoon. I really like the packaging Boker uses for it's folder's, and it is also the same packing the Boker Plus Epicenter and Field Marshall came in, and it is very professional looking. The knife itself got a quick once over for blade centering; PERFECT, fit/finish of handle material to liner; PERFECT, lockup; PERFECT, blade grinds; PERFECT, sharpness, PERFECT, blade finish is stonewashed and looks like galvanized tin; and again is PERFECT. Overall I would rate this knife as.....hmm, let's see....PERFECT! The only thing I had to do was tighten the pivot more to my liking. All of this was a quick observation and I had a place to be so I put the Arctos in my right front pocket and out the door I went.

I'm getting ready to disassemble it and see if I can improve on perfection by doing some polishing of the moving parts. From there I will come back. I will go ahead and say that Boker has built this knife well so I hope the one TD I had was just a blip in the QC department because there are a couple other German made Boker folder's I would like to get.:thumbup::)
 
Glad to hear that your Arctos XL met and may have exceeded your expectations. I always experience some anxiety when spending that kind of coin on a product sight unseen. Good Luck with your new Blade, one I look forward to brandishing of my own.
 
Eschwebach, it did so happen, you are just being a big ol' meanie!!!:mad::mad:....;) And just for that, I am going to post some pics, from my 3mgp phone! Looking at these blurry images will teach ya'.:)

Yep Aces, it did. I like everything about it so far. And after disassembling it I found that the bronze washers still use the thin teflon covers(washers) on the blade side. I did use a drop of Miltec on the pivot pin as I reassembled it and this helped smooth up the opening a bit. I did take some measurements with the knife apart and came up with these 2;

Liner thickness- .100"
Blade thickness- .157" at thickest point

Once I put it back together I weighed it on my postal scale and came up with a weight of 6.8 ounces. Specs at Boker claim it to be 7.2 ounces, and my scale may be off. For anyone interested, lockup is very solid. When locked open there is about .080" of blade tang left uncovered, so plenty of room for any wear that may occur.

So on first glance and with only a few hours of playtime, I am well satisfied with what my $167 bought me. Of course, as with any knife, only time will tell.:thumbup::)

Now, for the pics. What you are seeing, from the top down; Fox/Citadel Deimos (my carry since mid December), the Boker Actos XL, and the Brous Blade's "The Threat". Front and back pics.


 
That is a wicked trio you have there Cutter. A nice variety of blades and handles. One thing that they have in common is quality.
 
Thanks for the comment Aces! I included the Brous knife to show that it and the Arctos are about the same length, but the Arctos feels so much bigger!

Btw, something I just noticed as I was sitting here in front of the tv playing with it, the knife, and noticed that Boker used a ceramic detent ball in it! Since this is the first German made Boker I have purchased in the past three years it may be they are and have been using ceramic detents for a while.

Anyway, the Miltec has really slicked up the action and it may need to be tightened a hair more!
 
I know I haven't had this knife very long but it is one of those that has so impressed me from the second I took it out of the box, that I can say it will be a keeper and a right front pocket edc for a long time to come. Provided no more SCI's occur:rolleyes:

So here are some pics, straight from my Samsung 3mgp phone camera. I swear I would buy a camera if so many nice knives would quit popping up!





Somewhere down the road I will buy a camera instead of a knife, I promise. Just don't know when.......

Edited to add:
Forget to say that I cut the clip down in length, reshaped the tip, and put some more bend in it because it was sliding up in my pocket. I cut it because I do not like long clips. Also covered it with some black 3M Stair Step tape.
 
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