The Les George Knives Thread

Johnnyblades7 said:
Waiting on Roosevelt regular! Let’s see if the hype is real!
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If it was all hype I think it would have died by now. They've been one of the most sought after knives in their category for what, at least five years now? And the "hype" shows no signs of slowing. Unless the price is egregious they get snapped up right away on the secondary market in any configuration. They are very good knives.
 
Ilikesharpstuff said:
If it was all hype I think it would have died by now. They've been one of the most sought after knives in their category for what, at least five years now? And the "hype" shows no signs of slowing. Unless the price is egregious they get snapped up right away on the secondary market in any configuration. They are very good knives.
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What are there prices when new. I’ve really stayed away from mid techs in that $600-1k range due to diminishing return at that those prices. For example I love the look of the Eustler DUK but just can’t bring myself to spend that much on one. I just don’t see the justification when compared to other midtechs in the 4-600 price range.

And to be clear it’s not a criticism of the quality. I don’t doubt they’re extremely well made but how much better than a crk or LG can they be to justify nearly twice the price.

I do feel like a lot of it is internet driven hype that allows them to get away with it. Which is why I think they’re so readily available on the secondary. People buy em knowing they can get their money back and that’s eventually what a lot end up doing.
 
Ilikesharpstuff said:
If it was all hype I think it would have died by now. They've been one of the most sought after knives in their category for what, at least five years now? And the "hype" shows no signs of slowing. Unless the price is egregious they get snapped up right away on the secondary market in any configuration. They are very good knives.
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I have to confess that I'm in the "Don't Understand the Hype" Column. I have gotten to handle several. Thin, non-comfortable handle (to my hand), has nice smooth action, fit and finish that while nice, just isn't better than other knives in that price range I've owned/handled. I don't get it. I've had several opportunities to obtain one, but have passed every time. 🤷
 
mitchnola said:
What are there prices when new. I’ve really stayed away from mid techs in that $600-1k range due to diminishing return at that those prices. For example I love the look of the Eustler DUK but just can’t bring myself to spend that much on one. I just don’t see the justification when compared to other midtechs in the 4-600 price range.

And to be clear it’s not a criticism of the quality. I don’t doubt they’re extremely well made but how much better than a crk or LG can they be to justify nearly twice the price.

I do feel like a lot of it is internet driven hype that allows them to get away with it. Which is why I think they’re so readily available on the secondary. People buy em knowing they can get their money back and that’s eventually what a lot end up doing.
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In the last FCFS drop this past weekend, milled handles and XHP blades were $800. I'm not a fanboy nor am I saying the price IS justified over a CRK or LG. To me it gets into the territory of hard to compare because they're so different. I also don't think CRK is a mid tech and while I own several and love them, I prefer the older ones (my favorite gen being Classic MM) and wouldn't pay current retail prices for a new 31.

I've owned something from many of the major players in that $600-$1000 mid tech/"CNC custom"/high end production range. Oz, Holt, Grimsmo, Craig Brown, Machinewise, Shiro, CRK, Boos, SPK...and a few more I'm sure. Personally I think that realm comes mostly down to preference. They are all great knives but not everything is for everyone. I'd be hard pressed to argue the fit and finish or attention to detail of one was vastly superior to another. When I was big into buying and selling in that category, my Oz lasted longer in my collection and EDC rotation than just about any of the others. I think the only one I have left currently is an SPK Lamia that is a strong contender for the "one knife for the rest of your life" hypothetical, and it mostly comes down to preference, not that I think it is objectively better than any of those other brands, but it goes toe-to-toe with them and checks all my personal boxes.

Quiet said:
I have to confess that I'm in the "Don't Understand the Hype" Column. I have gotten to handle several. Thin, non-comfortable handle (to my hand), has nice smooth action, fit and finish that while nice, just isn't better than other knives in that price range I've owned/handled. I don't get it. I've had several opportunities to obtain one, but have passed every time. 🤷
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As with anything else, not everyone loves them. I found the handle quite comfortable for a light duty EDC knife and enjoyed the thin profile in the pocket. I don't think fit and finish is better than others in the category but I also don't think it is worse. I was just saying that "hype" gets thrown around a lot as a way to infer that a knife's popularity or reputation isn't well deserved and I think the Roosevelt has proven there is more to it than just a FOMO/gotta have one because everyone else does effect. Probably banging my head against a wall about semantics but I think it implies something different when someone says "I don't get why they're so popular" versus "I don't get the hype".
 
Ilikesharpstuff said:
As with anything else, not everyone loves them. I found the handle quite comfortable for a light duty EDC knife and enjoyed the thin profile in the pocket. I don't think fit and finish is better than others in the category but I also don't think it is worse. I was just saying that "hype" gets thrown around a lot as a way to infer that a knife's popularity or reputation isn't well deserved and I think the Roosevelt has proven there is more to it than just a FOMO/gotta have one because everyone else does effect. Probably banging my head against a wall about semantics but I think it implies something different when someone says "I don't get why they're so popular" versus "I don't get the hype".
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Long winded reply incoming, sorry in advance.

In my opinion, I think the artificial scarcity and easy money to be made on secondary is primarily why they vanish so quickly, thus driving secondary prices, thus ensuring ultra-fast sales, thus driving secondary prices, thus ensuring ultra-fa....see? It's a self-feeding cycle with some of these brands. GEC, Hinderer, Holt, Grimsmo*, and a few others, their drops are a feeding frenzy primarily because they're going to make many of the buyers some quick cash on secondary. Les George can be added here as well.

Plus, a lot of knife collectors are fickle beasts who are extremely susceptible to FOMO, so when they hear that something is super rare, they immediately want one, regardless of what it may be.

As for the Roosevelt, first time I held one was in line at BLADE...24, I think. Younger guy, we're all standing in a clump showing each other the knives we had in our pockets. I had my custom Laconico one-off with me, and this young guy pulls out a Roosevelt XL and says "Here it is, check THIS out." I inspect it, open and close it a few times, and am just completely underwhelmed. Politely, I say "Neat, bro!" and hand it back, and you can tell the guy is waiting for me to gush and asks me what I think, and I said something along the lines of "It's impressive that they've managed to get people to pay what these go for.". He kinda had a hurt look on his face, but then we got talking about other knives and the moment passed.

I'll just say this. GiantMouse makes the titanium BiblioXL, and on paper, those are essentially the same recipe as the Roosevelt. Magnacut/ELMAX/Vanax, Titanium scales with beautifully machined milling, bearings, opening hole, high flat grind blade with a lot of belly....except the Biblio has better ergonomics (to my hand anyway). Oh, almost forgot the best part, they're like $300.

In any case, back to the mighty King Les, to my hand, eye, and cutting experience, Les George makes a superior knife, so I won't clutter this thread up too much more on the Roosevelt matter.

*LMAOOO Dudes were crashing out hard all over the internet back in the day, trying to get one of those peanut-butter spatula knives direct from the maker. "I MISSED ANOTHER DROP!!!!!" 🤣
 
You're all a bunch of mean girls. (And I don't even own any of these knives you're discussing. LOL)



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Ilikesharpstuff said:
In the last FCFS drop this past weekend, milled handles and XHP blades were $800. I'm not a fanboy nor am I saying the price IS justified over a CRK or LG. To me it gets into the territory of hard to compare because they're so different. I also don't think CRK is a mid tech and while I own several and love them, I prefer the older ones (my favorite gen being Classic MM) and wouldn't pay current retail prices for a new 31.

I've owned something from many of the major players in that $600-$1000 mid tech/"CNC custom"/high end production range. Oz, Holt, Grimsmo, Craig Brown, Machinewise, Shiro, CRK, Boos, SPK...and a few more I'm sure. Personally I think that realm comes mostly down to preference. They are all great knives but not everything is for everyone. I'd be hard pressed to argue the fit and finish or attention to detail of one was vastly superior to another. When I was big into buying and selling in that category, my Oz lasted longer in my collection and EDC rotation than just about any of the others. I think the only one I have left currently is an SPK Lamia that is a strong contender for the "one knife for the rest of your life" hypothetical, and it mostly comes down to preference, not that I think it is objectively better than any of those other brands, but it goes toe-to-toe with them and checks all my personal boxes.



As with anything else, not everyone loves them. I found the handle quite comfortable for a light duty EDC knife and enjoyed the thin profile in the pocket. I don't think fit and finish is better than others in the category but I also don't think it is worse. I was just saying that "hype" gets thrown around a lot as a way to infer that a knife's popularity or reputation isn't well deserved and I think the Roosevelt has proven there is more to it than just a FOMO/gotta have one because everyone else does effect. Probably banging my head against a wall about semantics but I think it implies something different when someone says "I don't get why they're so popular" versus "I don't get the hype".
Click to expand...
Quiet said:
Long winded reply incoming, sorry in advance.

In my opinion, I think the artificial scarcity and easy money to be made on secondary is primarily why they vanish so quickly, thus driving secondary prices, thus ensuring ultra-fast sales, thus driving secondary prices, thus ensuring ultra-fa....see? It's a self-feeding cycle with some of these brands. GEC, Hinderer, Holt, Grimsmo*, and a few others, their drops are a feeding frenzy primarily because they're going to make many of the buyers some quick cash on secondary. Les George can be added here as well.

Plus, a lot of knife collectors are fickle beasts who are extremely susceptible to FOMO, so when they hear that something is super rare, they immediately want one, regardless of what it may be.

As for the Roosevelt, first time I held one was in line at BLADE...24, I think. Younger guy, we're all standing in a clump showing each other the knives we had in our pockets. I had my custom Laconico one-off with me, and this young guy pulls out a Roosevelt XL and says "Here it is, check THIS out." I inspect it, open and close it a few times, and am just completely underwhelmed. Politely, I say "Neat, bro!" and hand it back, and you can tell the guy is waiting for me to gush and asks me what I think, and I said something along the lines of "It's impressive that they've managed to get people to pay what these go for.". He kinda had a hurt look on his face, but then we got talking about other knives and the moment passed.

I'll just say this. GiantMouse makes the titanium BiblioXL, and on paper, those are essentially the same recipe as the Roosevelt. Magnacut/ELMAX/Vanax, Titanium scales with beautifully machined milling, bearings, opening hole, high flat grind blade with a lot of belly....except the Biblio has better ergonomics (to my hand anyway). Oh, almost forgot the best part, they're like $300.

In any case, back to the mighty King Les, to my hand, eye, and cutting experience, Les George makes a superior knife, so I won't clutter this thread up too much more on the Roosevelt matter.

*LMAOOO Dudes were crashing out hard all over the internet back in the day, trying to get one of those peanut-butter spatula knives direct from the maker. "I MISSED ANOTHER DROP!!!!!" 🤣
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I actually had a conversation with David Raines who started the fb TEAM group this morning about ODKW.

I’ve done 4 custom builds with them since last year. In this recent build that was just finished this week. I was able to pick the damascus for the blade, milling for the scales, added a fuller on the blade, choice of thumbstud or opening hole, and added a lanyard hole. These are 100% handmade and this past build cost me $900.

I had asked David this morning if there was any other custom makers doing hamdmade builds with input in this price range. He nor I is aware of anyone else doing this. The point being is are they severely underpriced or not.

So with that being the case I can’t imagine spending the same amount of money on essentially a mid tech production knife at almost the same price. I get ODKW may be well underpriced but it has skewed my perspective of expecting way more for a knife thats $800-1k.
 
Ilikesharpstuff said:
12 year old me was watching anything and everything with Lindsay Lohan in it when that came out.
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You were too young to appreciate that some things aren't worth the price of admission. (Unless you could get out of town in the dead of night without anyone the wiser, leaving no forwarding address.)

Otherwise, yep. I get it.
 
Johnnyblades7 said:
And what is rolling your way ?
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You know about the VECP button lock but also a ZT 0909 (USPS has taken their sweet time since I bought it close to 10 days ago), another discounted Spartan Astor (green G10 this time) and on a whim, the Fox Anzu. If you recall, my first Astor was sent in a different steel than what I ordered. I gave the seller a heads up and told them it was fine but a future buyer may not be as accommodating. I was trying to help them. As a thank you they sent me a 20% coupon- which led to the Anzu.
 
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