The Norseman, Most bang for your buck

[egally08]

This thread is dedicated to the John Grimsmo Norseman. I've been fairly deep into the custom folder world for some time now, but hadn't seen the Norseman until recently on the exchange. As soon as I saw it, I snapped it up.

While aesthetically pleasing, I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of a sub $600 custom folder. After it arrived, and I was able to handle and use it for a little bit, I was completely blown away by not only the quality, but the value you receive for a relatively cheap full custom folder.

This knife is just as smooth, if not smoother then my Hobacks, Laconicos, or even my custom Southard. The one complaint that I've heard, is that the Ti is a little thin, and its too easy to disengage the lock. The Norseman feels just as solid as a Demko, and due to the perfect lock geometry, I wouldn't hesitate to put it through as hard use as I would any folder.

What I mean by the best bang for your buck is the amazing array of features only found on custom knives more then double its price.

- Custom Pivot
- Custom Clip
- Proprietary bearing system
- Internal Lockbar Stablizer
- Internal Stop pin(like a Southard)
- Custom Standoffs and thumbstud
- Engraving on the inside of the clip
- Engraving on the inside of both Ti Scales, with Date, and logo
- Rounded and polished spine, AND rounded and polished finger choil/flipper(which I've never seen)
- Hidden Clip screws


Besides all of the features it has, it is loaded with small details that really set the knife apart from the ordinary. All together the knife has a different look then any other knife out there. The blade is CNC machined, and has very slight grooves through its entirety. While one would think this would create friction, it is one of the best slicers I have ever handled. I think it's due to the fact that it is CNC'd, the thickness behind the edge is thinner then any knife I've owned.

The fact that I had never seen this knife before the day I purchased it, leads me to believe this is a very underrated knife. This is John Grimsmo's first folder that he's made, and he has accomplished such perfection and precision that I see lacking in a lot of higher dollar customs. I cannot wait to see what he comes out with next.

In your opinion, what is the best bang for your buck in the custom folding world?

 

[nwmetalbug]

I have #008 of the first run. It's interesting to see how they are refining them and making little changes to make a better folder. Like watching his videos too.

 

[Wharn]

Great read but this one really does need pics.

 

[concreteadaptation]

for me its jeremy robertson 's "el patron" i can't believe they cost what they cost , they are worth every penny of the 600-800$$ and maybe more. super tight tolerances, thick well ground convex 3v blade (who else is doing convex grinds on folders) , all titanium slabs with contoured edges and milled recess es in the handle. 100%american made with american materials. superb fit and finish whether its a flipper or a thumb stud version with washers. excellent product from an excellent maker. hmmmm might have to get me a norsemen now , sounds very nice and well made.

 

[Scurvy092]

John is an excellent machinist.

 

[sunandsteel]

Looks very solid but starting at $500,(no thanks) plus I don't care for the blade shape, makes it a no go for me.

 

[dadams]

I like the look of the norseman. I follow him on YouTube seems like a stand up guy.

 

[KrisOK]

I like John a lot and follow his YouTube channel. But I really have a hard time calling the Norseman a true 'Custom'. I see it in the same category as a Sebenza, just on a smaller scale. Granted John made the original design, and tweaked it until it was right, but it's a machine made knife as much as a Sebenza is. To me, a true custom is a blade that was hand shaped and ground, like most of the custom knife makers who sell here on BladeForums. While it's a very nice knife, I'd have to call the Norseman a MidTech rather than a custom.

 

[egally08]

I was under the impression that John does the entire knife by himself. If that is incorrect then I apologize, and it is a mid-tech. Although, I am not going to take away the fact that HE milled the blade. A lot of makers have their knives blanked out, or even the bevels done as well. If he is the sole author of that knife without any outsourced parts I would still call it a custom.

 

[bpeezer]

I was under the impression that John does the entire knife by himself. If that is incorrect then I apologize, and it is a mid-tech. Although, I am not going to take away the fact that HE milled the blade. A lot of makers have their knives blanked out, or even the bevels done as well. If he is the sole author of that knife without any outsourced parts I would still call it a custom.

Everything is done with his personal CNC mill, IIRC the only other person that works with him is his brother.

 

[egally08]

That's what I thought, and I would still consider it a custom, although some may not.

Who is to say what part has to be done manually, when in fact everything is done by the maker?

 

[nwmetalbug]

The whole mid-tech/custom thing is pretty subjective these days. I just appreciate a knife for the final product and if its waterjet to save time and cnc'd to do stuff thats not even possible by hand who cares.

 

[bpeezer]

That's what I thought, and I would still consider it a custom, although some may not.

Who is to say what part has to be done manually, when in fact everything is done by the maker?

I actually prefer CNC parts over hand made parts, I'm a firm believer in the merits of advanced manufacturing processes. The Norseman may be considered mid-tech to some, but however it's labeled it is a very high quality knife

 

[dskobli]

I think it could be considered a midtech. I haven't handled one personally but I love the look of them! One of my favorite looking knives out there. I want one very bad and will hopefully one day have one. Pics are always nice. By the way I like watching there vids too. They seem like very nice down to earth guys. John made some awesome custom scales for other production knives out there too before he made his own knives.

 

[Cereal_killer]

I'm not into custom's, simply can't afford it , but as a machinist myself if someone writes the program, sets up and loads the machine them self (or even with the help of their brother) and then assembles the finished parts that's hand made 100%.

Lots of production blades are "hand sharpened" but that doesn't mean there's a bunch of guys sitting in a factory with bench stones, their using machines, actually if there was I would expect a more inconsistent product. The use of a CNC/water jet to cut parts doesn't at all mean the finished piece can't be labeled "hand made".

One other thing- either a CNC or a water jet is THE tool to make lock bar cutouts, do you expect the guy to make it with a hack saw?! If you need a cut made in Ti one of those machines is how you do it... Sure you can shape the scales [literally] by hand on a bench grinder if you wanted (it might take awhile) but making the cut, not happening "by hand".

 

[Hairlesstwinkie]

One other thing- either a CNC or a water jet is THE tool to make lock bar cutouts, do you expect the guy to make it with a hack saw?! If you need a cut made in Ti one of those machines is how you do it... Sure you can shape the scales [literally] by hand on a bench grinder if you wanted (it might take awhile) but making the cut, not happening "by hand".

There was a guy on the forum who made a titanium frame lock flipper with just files, drill press, and dremel. He had the cutout done via dremel. There was this other guy on YouTube that had a 6 part series of him making a titanium frame lock flipper with just belt sander, dremel, and drill press. You don't need a water jet/ CNC. A dremel cutter with a rigged up guide can perform the same task.

The way I stand on the Norseman is that, I can't call a knife a full custom if the maker doesn't do his own heat treat. It's one of the most important aspects of knife making, IMO. The rest is an art.

 

[evanPGH]

I'm not into custom's, simply can't afford it , but as a machinist myself if someone writes the program, sets up and loads the machine them self (or even with the help of their brother) and then assembles the finished parts that's hand made 100%.

Lots of production blades are "hand sharpened" but that doesn't mean there's a bunch of guys sitting in a factory with bench stones, their using machines, actually if there was I would expect a more inconsistent product. The use of a CNC/water jet to cut parts doesn't at all mean the finished piece can't be labeled "hand made".

One other thing- either a CNC or a water jet is THE tool to make lock bar cutouts, do you expect the guy to make it with a hack saw?! If you need a cut made in Ti one of those machines is how you do it... Sure you can shape the scales [literally] by hand on a bench grinder if you wanted (it might take awhile) but making the cut, not happening "by hand".

I 100% disagree with this.

I don't consider CNC made knives to be hand made. There are plenty of guys out there that actually do hand cut and shape the scales, blades, clips etc. and I don't think guys that have a CNC churn out those same parts deserve the same distinction. Sure they're very nice knives and are still custom, but not "hand made".

As far as the cutout, Pohan Leu's work is considered by many to be some of the smoothest, most solidly built knives under $1k. All of his bluephins have a hand cut lock.

 

[egally08]

Is the Bodega not considered a custom? CNC is used on a ton of the higher end customs.

Peoples distinction between mid-tech and custom are going to vary greatly. In my mind, if the maker creates all the parts and uses his own means(by whatever is necessary), it should be labeled as a custom.

 

[Scurvy092]

Is the Bodega not considered a custom? CNC is used on a ton of the higher end customs.

Peoples distinction between mid-tech and custom are going to vary greatly. In my mind, if the maker creates all the parts and uses his own means(by whatever is necessary), it should be labeled as a custom.

The bodega is a production knife at this point...

 

[bpeezer]

I 100% disagree with this.

I don't consider CNC made knives to be hand made. There are plenty of guys out there that actually do hand cut and shape the scales, blades, clips etc. and I don't think guys that have a CNC churn out those same parts deserve the same distinction. Sure they're very nice knives and are still custom, but not "hand made".

As far as the cutout, Pohan Leu's work is considered by many to be some of the smoothest, most solidly built knives under $1k. All of his bluephins have a hand cut lock.

I think this is a very important distinction to make. A lot of people use "hand made" and "custom" interchangeably, which is downright preposterous in my humble opinion. The dictionary definition of custom is "made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person". To me, high quality hand made knives aren't "customs" unless they're designed and built entirely for someone's desired specifications. Not many people think that way though, that's just my two cents.