Thank you, Mike, for giving us the all clear. I got mine in yesterday and wasn't sure when an appropriate time to show them off would be.
Up until yesterday, I had never handled or seen an 85 in person. I've seen many pictures here of course and I remember being a bit turned off by the EO notch when I first saw them however long ago. Like with any hobby really, tastes and what not tend to change and evolve and this time would be no exception. After the SFOs became available to reserve, I quickly snagged a Blood Red and a Buffalo Bone (mistakenly thinking horn). Since Burl can be hit and miss for me, I knew that I would likely be kicking myself for not reserving one and yes, I am indeed kicking myself. The burl shone above is rather striking, congrats to those who snagged one!
None of the Tidioute covers appealed to me and I haven't regretted not picking one up yet. The match strike pulls and EO notches fit the pattern so well that I do not know that I would want an 85 without either. (See how things change?)
Moving on. I was a bit under the weather yesterday with a massive migraine so when my kids brought the box from the mail on their way back from school, I thought for sure that seeing these knives would brighten my day. Unfortunately, when I opened up the tubes, instant disappointment sank in. The dye job on my Blood red is very poor and though I did indeed select a second for my Buffalo Bone, welcoming the discount and thinking the cracks would still be minimal, my example has a rather gigantic pin crack that extends from top bolster all the way to the shield.
Not one to be prone to hasty reaction, I returned them to their tubes and decided to sleep on it, let my migraine go away, and look at them with fresh eyes on the morrow.
The pros:
- The fit is impeccable. Everything is tight, centered, transitions are pleasing, and it just speaks to me as a very well built knife.
- The walk & talk is excellent. I would rate the pulls to be around a 6 or 7. It snaps open and closes quite pleasingly.
- The blade is perfectly centered and has a nice thin and sharp edge on it. This is going to be a heck of a slicer.
- The Northfield features all are a perfect match to this pattern. The match strike pull, the lined and dimpled bolsters, and that corset shield is just pure class.
- The EO notch is a very pleasant surprise. I find myself liking it more and more from an aesthetic standpoint, it has grown on me immensely.
The cons:
- When I am expecting a Blood Red Bone, I picture a deep red with dark overtones. What I received was quite the opposite. The dye is pretty washed out, with hints of white and pink showing in places, particularly towards the bolsters and EO notch. Though I am disappointed that it isn't the Blood Red I have come to expect and enjoy, I found myself calling this a strawberry almost immediately. For whatever reason, I found myself becoming attached to it.
- The Buffalo Bone is less a con than a simple observation. I knew I wasn't going to get a perfect example, I just didn't expect the crack to be so extensive and garish. Overall, I like the color and depth of the bone and I think this will age wonderfully as a solid user.
The knives themselves are excellent, I like everything about the size, the frame, the shield, pull, etc. Aside from my disappointment in the covers, they are certainly finely made knives with excellent fit, superb walk and talk, and an excellent edge right out of the tube.
Now for a couple of quick shots.
I completely agree with you that this is one of those patterns on which the Northfield trim just works. That is a bit of a bummer about the dye job on your “Blood Red,” it certainly seems a bit lacking (though still a good looking knife). I don’t dislike the crack in the Buffalo bone; it gives it character!