The new guy is buying...

N

Nexus

Joined
May 13, 2001
Messages
15
Hello this is my first post and really would like to know what the REAL difference is between the 8 dollar knifes and the 160 dollar ones. I mean why would you buy a jaguar that looks exactly like a classic if the classic is like more than half off???

by the way Im talking practical difference I dont like to collect, if I do I feel Im wasting money because Im not using the item, but before you collectors start pulling your own balis on me because of my insolence remember that thats just me...

Nex
 
Welcome to the forum. Without going into loads and loads of technical reasons I'll just mention a couple of things. The Jags are Benchmade imitations, but thats just it an imitation. The pins that the Jags use usually break in about a week.

Now the jags are copies of older benchmade models. The BM42 is a newer creation with titanium handles. Not to mention the fact that the steel used for the blade is really intended for a knife. The Jags are just generically marked Surgical Steel(whatever surgical steel is?)

To end you I'll compare it to a car. You could drive a Mercedes or you could keep on driving a Honda. I prefer the Mercedes.

------------------
kicker.gif

Chung San
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ChungSan:
Welcome to the forum. Without going into loads and loads of technical reasons I'll just mention a couple of things. The Jags are Benchmade imitations, but thats just it an imitation. The pins that the Jags use usually break in about a week.

Now the jags are copies of older benchmade models. The BM42 is a newer creation with titanium handles. Not to mention the fact that the steel used for the blade is really intended for a knife. The Jags are just generically marked Surgical Steel(whatever surgical steel is?)

To end you I'll compare it to a car. You could drive a Mercedes or you could keep on driving a Honda. I prefer the Mercedes.

</font>
Click to expand...


OK so which bali would be best to buy under20$?-well...25ish
 
The term "Surgical Steel" has always been used as a selling point only, meaning, everyone knows a scalpel is sharp, right?

Well, "Surgical Steel" when stamped on most knives is actually correct, you can dispose of them just like a scalpel too.

It is meaningless, it conjures up images of opening people which is why it has always been used by people that want to sell alot of really crappy knives in an amazingly short period of time.

------------------
"You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar." ~Jeff Cooper
And the same goes for a knife...
And, I'm a Usual Suspect.
Some of my Knives and other neat things
 
Would I buy those knives? Nope. The basic difference is quality of workmanship, materials, and construction. For $20, a knife simply cannot be good. The blade won't take or hold an edge very well. You said, you want to use it, so that should be something you look closely at when you buy. The handles are cheap junk (not a technical term!). After opening and closing the knife a couple times, you'll notice that the blade will become VERY wobbly and that too isn't good for a user knife. When the knife is closed, the latch won't stay locked. As the pins are hollow, they will be crimped and trashed quickly. That's what makes them only $20 and why they are, for the most part, just for novely. Good luck in your search.

------------------
Steve
(Third Mate for hire!)
 
*sigh Not even to practice on!!???

Thats what I was affraid of, well then let me annoy (spelling?) you guys ( you seem sensible and mature enough) with one more question

what knife do you think I should buy to practice a few openings and closings, and inpress some friends with the look of it?

I cant spend over 40 dollars (I dont have any more)

Thanks alot, so far you've been good help

by the way is there such a thing as a balisong that lasts over a year, but no BM42's or anything Im only 16 and with out a job

[This message has been edited by Nexus (edited 05-13-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Nexus (edited 05-13-2001).]
 
That's OK I don't drive a Mercedes either, but I do have a few Benchmade balisongs.

------------------
kicker.gif

Chung San
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ChungSan:
That's OK I don't drive a Mercedes either, but I do have a few Benchmade balisongs.

</font>
Click to expand...

eek.gif
frown.gif
frown.gif
mad.gif


more like :jealous:

[This message has been edited by Nexus (edited 05-13-2001).]
 
The Jag should do.

I don't own one, but a Taiwan Rostfrei. Once you change the pin, it will last quite well. Of course if you drop it a lot, the handle (pot metal die cast) will break any time.

If you just flip and flip, the worst is the tang pin wearing the handle, but again, that can be fixed

Happy trying.
 
Hey there.

I'll join in and say that, by far, the 42 is the best currently produced comercially made bali being sold in the US. It will out preform and outlast anything else (right now).

That said, its a bit expensive for a first bali if you don't know you'll like it (though I can argure that if your posting here, you already like it enough to get hooked). Still, some people want a cheaper first.

The best right now is the Jaguar with plain silver colored handles, no inserts. Knifezilla carries them, as do others, but 1sks (or sponser here) still has consistantly the best price. Yes, you will have to replace the pins soon, but www.balisongxtreme.com has some pretty simple directions on how to do that (right Clay).

Ok, another point, this topic has been beat to death. Welcome abord, but now start reading and using the search feture built into the site. If you didn't know it was there, take a peek at the menue bar.
tongue.gif


Have fun,
E
 
Ok.....Your up to $40....How much longer would it take your to earn the extra $60-$70 to get a BM42....You would not regret the wait...

------------------

Support Bladeforums..Buy your gear here.

What's wrong with talking to yourself?? It's sometimes the best conversation and eitherway your always right... -Me-
Formerly Endura Duck
 
Originally posted by Nexus:
or even better question, would you buy one of these...


If I were you, I would not bother with the cheapies. The jags and other cheap balis are ok but they eventually break. If you buy just one bm42, it should never break on you. And, I believe Benchmade has a lifetime warranty (this correct?) on their model 42. You can also acquire one for around $100, if you "keep your nose clean and your soul pure." :-) Keep an eye open for one in the exchange forum.


Off topic I drive a Honda


Hey, me too! 98 Civic EX

EDIT: I just read limited warranty info. It covers only defects and not normal wear, reshapening of the blade, damage caused by neglect, etc... I still think a 42 will last a lifetime if properly cared for.

~Howdy

[This message has been edited by Cpt. Howdy (edited 05-14-2001).]
Click to expand...
 
I know where you're coming from, don't listen to these guys. You don't even know if you'll stick with it right? Sure the 42 will last a lifetime but that doesn't mean the Jag ain't fun. I still use my Jaguar because it doesn't matter if I drop it when I try something stupid. Get a Jag, (make sure it's a real Jag) you'll like it. It will last you at least a few months of good flipping (after re-pinning) and if you like it enough, buy a 42 later. By the time the Jag is worn out, the 42 might be cheaper anyway because of all the new development in the bali sector.
 
ok so not even the classics at knifezilla.com are good at all, even changing the pins...then why do people buy them???
 
Nope, all crap. But people buy them because:

(A)They're cheap

(B)They don't know any better

(C)They just want something for practicing aerials over concrete.

You can get a Jag for $15 and they work better than any other low quality balis. Forget the China-made junk.
 
... the verdict sounds more or less unanimous by now, but I'm stupid enough to throw in my two cents anyway... if push comes to shove, and you're really so broke, but just gotta have one, my guess is that spending the 20 on a Jag and repinning it should do just fine until (we hope we hope we hope) Microtech comes out with their $50 model towards the end of the year.
 
One more thing... 440 stainless (according to the knowledge base on this site) is sometimes marked "surgical stainless." So the blade itself may not be half-bad. Usually 440A, which isn't real bad, but not tip-top either. But even a good blade is worthless with a crappy handle that breaks. The sharpening job may or may not be worth a damn, but if it's properly heat- treated, "surgical" isn't too bad. Of all the things to go wrong on a Jag, chances are, the blade would be the least of your worries.
 
Jag blades can be honed amazingly well without too much effort and a decent technique. While in Culinary school, I sharpened literally hundreds of knives so Im pretty decent but, in less than 5 minutes, I had it as sharp as my chefs knife. The problem is that the surgical steel doesnt HOLD an edge. It'll TAKE a HELL of one however. (run your finger down a scalpel) The reason for this is simple. Surgical knives arent used for very long and are usually disposed of rather quickly, so they dont need to hold an edge for repetitive cutting. My Henkels knife however, lasts a decent ammount of time. However I believe a razor sharp knife is best for kitchen work (not to mention safer) so, I usually touch it up every few days with a sharpening steel.

Nate
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top