The dream is real; The Tuxedo Espada.

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
It's been a long time coming. I didn't even know if it could be done at first, but I had to try.

I've wanted a Large Espada for ages, but the price:materials ratio was just awful.

Until now. The discontinued AUS-8 polished Espada used to run $225, and now runs about $130. Picked one up off a large river for that price.

The G10 DLC XHP version doesn't have the handle I want, but has the blade, steel, and coating. Picked that one up off the same river for $155.

The upcoming bolstered polished XHP Espada has a street price of about $250, and has a satin blade. I now have two Large Espadas, one with a DLC XHP blade and a polished handle for a total of $285. That's like getting a custom Espada with a free AUS8 satin version, both of which have never been produced in those configurations.

I present to you what was intended initially to be a display knife project, but will be something I carry pretty much every day I can get away with it:​









A quick video:

[video=youtube;GU_DEcxC1-A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU_DEcxC1-A[/video]


The spare parts don't look too bad either:


​
 
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Sometimes you just want a big honking pointy knife. Congrats.

I wonder if that means some of the other models in AUS8a will begin to be sold off for cheap. If so I am enjoy picking up a few.
 
A knife like that is bound to get you mugged for the knife alone.

Absolutely stunning.
 
Personally, I think the polished version looks a HELL of a lot better with the satin blade but hey, whatever floats your boat.
 
Looks amazing! I was curious if the thicker sabre/flat grind of the xhp blade would rub on the aluminum frame, glad to know it fits.

I love the dlc version. They should call it "piano black", as it resembles the glossy finish of a high end stage piano.
 
StryCoShaw said:
Looks amazing! I was curious if the thicker sabre/flat grind of the xhp blade would rub on the aluminum frame, glad to know it fits.

I love the dlc version. They should call it "piano black", as it resembles the glossy finish of a high end stage piano.
Click to expand...

For aesthetic reasons, I wish they had done the DLC blade in a hollow grind like the satin version - their polished DLC coating would look incredible with that curvature.

From a practical standpoint, though, I'm glad they didn't. I plan on using this, so not chipping out parts of the blade will be nice.
 
DShiflet said:
Personally, I think the polished version looks a HELL of a lot better with the satin blade but hey, whatever floats your boat.
Click to expand...



I honestly like both about the same, but I feel the satin / polished combo is almost too flashy for a knife that will see use. I like the slightly more subdued black blade (and the inherent uniqueness of having it in the polished handle), and that it isn't a high polish will keep me from cringing whenever I use it.
 
That is a really good idea and a super sexy knife. You are really tempting me to buy myself a large espada!
 
DShiflet said:
Personally, I think the polished version looks a HELL of a lot better with the satin blade but hey, whatever floats your boat.
Click to expand...

I am with you on that, but at least the blade steel is now more in line with the quality of the rest of the knife. Congrats OP on a cool knife.
 
BenLong1018 said:
That is a really good idea and a super sexy knife. You are really tempting me to buy myself a large espada!
Click to expand...

They're a lot of fun to carry if you can legally carry one. Local knife laws for folders cap out at 5.5", so I'm juuuuuuust able to carry it (and do!)

When I'm at work, though, I tend to carry something a little more subdued - like a 4" Talwar in XHP and a Pro Guard on a Tek-Lok.

I get away with a lot by being muscular. People just assume I'm ex-marine or something. Truth is, I'm just a nerd who is nerdy about exercise, knives, games, and astrophysics. I couldn't knife-fight my way out of a paper bag :D
 
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