Three Sisters Forge

$300 for a 440C blade and a liner lock? That sets off all sorts of warning bells in my head. For $30 more you can get yourself a small Sebenza.
 
Ive never heard of them - the model looks a little like the AG Russell Acies.

I'm not sure I would pay $300 US for 440c blade.

If you get one pls post a review.
 
Gretings Arjung: Jim Allen is the knife maker at Three Sisters Forge. Unfortunately I don't have "Da Tank' yet but I do have one of his Credit Card Tactical Folders. IMO the workmanship is excellent. He is very attentive to customer input and quick to answer an E-mailed question. Depending upon application, a 440c blade at optimum hardness may be more suitable than a newer steel run softer for the comparative ease of construction. The heat treatment of the S30v in his Credit Card Tac is just about perfect for my needs. OldDude1
 
feedbrian said:
$300 for a 440C blade and a liner lock? That sets off all sorts of warning bells in my head. For $30 more you can get yourself a small Sebenza.
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He calls it a linerlock, but it obviously is what we call a framelock. The steel does raise questions for me, but I've heart 440C when properly heat treated performs well. In fact the Blade article in May seems to illustrate that in their testing.

http://threesistersforge.com/files/file/Spec Sheet.pdf
 
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OldDude1 said:
Gretings Arjung: Jim Allen is the knife maker at Three Sisters Forge. Unfortunately I don't have "Da Tank' yet but I do have one of his Credit Card Tactical Folders. IMO the workmanship is excellent. He is very attentive to customer input and quick to answer an E-mailed question. Depending upon application, a 440c blade at optimum hardness may be more suitable than a newer steel run softer for the comparative ease of construction. The heat treatment of the S30v in his Credit Card Tac is just about perfect for my needs. OldDude1
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Glad to hear you've had a positive experience.
 
440C in the hands of a great maker can out perform newer, fancier steels from someone or company that doesn't bring out the best in their steels. I don't know anything about this particular maker, but $300 for a custom framelock sounds like a decent price if the design and the quality are nice. The fact that they use 440C in itself doesn't raise any red flags for me.
 
Apparently they triple temper and cryo quench. I'll be honest I don't know much about heat treating, but that sounds pretty intense.

Glad to hear some positive notes about 440C
 
the type of steel does not always equate with quality of the blade. as others have said it is all about heat treating and perhaps more importantly the application. to me the TF, for example, at $200 delivered is a pretty good deal. It is a custom knife, and it is hand made by a skilled craftsman in the U.S., not by a large company. It is important to support these individuals if you want to ensure the longevity of skilled knife making. BTW the blade is now S35V, Ti liners and the blade is heat treated with great care. I think the price is right in line, and maybe even a better deal then some of the offering from benchmade, spyderco etc...or even Emerson which can be very pricey (PLEASE DONT GET ME WRONG, THEY ARE GREAT TOO!!!).
 
johniac7078 said:
the type of steel does not always equate with quality of the blade. as others have said it is all about heat treating and perhaps more importantly the application. to me the TF, for example, at $200 delivered is a pretty good deal. It is a custom knife, and it is hand made by a skilled craftsman in the U.S., not by a large company. It is important to support these individuals if you want to ensure the longevity of skilled knife making. BTW the blade is now S35V, Ti liners and the blade is heat treated with great care. I think the price is right in line, and maybe even a better deal then some of the offering from benchmade, spyderco etc...or even Emerson which can be very pricey (PLEASE DONT GET ME WRONG, THEY ARE GREAT TOO!!!).
Click to expand...

What is the "TF"? Are you referring to the tactical folder called the TSF on the Three Sisters site? How do you know it's s35v, I don't see that listed anywhere.

Thanks!
 
johniac7078 said:
the type of steel does not always equate with quality of the blade. as others have said it is all about heat treating and perhaps more importantly the application. to me the TF, for example, at $200 delivered is a pretty good deal. It is a custom knife, and it is hand made by a skilled craftsman in the U.S., not by a large company. It is important to support these individuals if you want to ensure the longevity of skilled knife making. BTW the blade is now S35V, Ti liners and the blade is heat treated with great care. I think the price is right in line, and maybe even a better deal then some of the offering from benchmade, spyderco etc...or even Emerson which can be very pricey (PLEASE DONT GET ME WRONG, THEY ARE GREAT TOO!!!).
Click to expand...

Are you the maker?If so & it is indeed made with S35V,& has a Ti liners/framelock.@200 shipped is a GREAT deal!
 
I handled the TSF Tactical folder. I don't know about it having S35V, as the one I checked out had 440C & their site currently shows 440C being used.

The Tactical folder was decent & priced well. The Ti scales seemed a little thin compared to a Seb, but the blade was pretty stout. It didn't have any isssues & lock-up was solid. My issue with it was the back lip on the handle. My hands are pretty big & that bothered me. Had it been flatter, I probably would still have it.

As to the Da Tank, it looks like the thin Ti scales isn't a factor. The blade's the same thickness & is fine (Fairly stout, actually). However, with a 4" handle, it still has that lip at the end.
 
I have used 440C for years. When heat treated and cryo stabilized the performance was very good. I can send the BLADE magazine article if you want.

CPM S35VN is now used. The blades are .185 thick.

The liners are .120 Ti, presentation side textured.

Fittings, pivots, spacers are all custom turned. Bronze bushings.

Cost is $200.00 free shipping. Sorry for any confusion, I am constantly updating to use the best available. Trying to keep up with military orders.

Site will get updated as soon as I catch my breath.
 
CL01 said:
I handled the TSF Tactical folder. I don't know about it having S35V, as the one I checked out had 440C & their site currently shows 440C being used.

The Tactical folder was decent & priced well. The Ti scales seemed a little thin compared to a Seb, but the blade was pretty stout. It didn't have any isssues & lock-up was solid. My issue with it was the back lip on the handle. My hands are pretty big & that bothered me. Had it been flatter, I probably would still have it.

As to the Da Tank, it looks like the thin Ti scales isn't a factor. The blade's the same thickness & is fine (Fairly stout, actually). However, with a 4" handle, it still has that lip at the end.
Click to expand...

New thicker liners now used, happy to adjust and customize for you. I am using CPM S35VN now.
 
Three Sisters said:
I have used 440C for years. When heat treated and cryo stabilized the performance was very good. I can send the BLADE magazine article if you want.

CPM S35VN is now used. The blades are .185 thick.

The liners are .120 Ti, presentation side textured.

Fittings, pivots, spacers are all custom turned. Bronze bushings.

Cost is $200.00 free shipping. Sorry for any confusion, I am constantly updating to use the best available. Trying to keep up with military orders.

Site will get updated as soon as I catch my breath.
Click to expand...

Well, just rest up and keep well, because I'll be saving for one of your great knives! Oh, welcome to Blade Forums!
 
Three Sisters said:
I have used 440C for years. When heat treated and cryo stabilized the performance was very good. I can send the BLADE magazine article if you want.

CPM S35VN is now used. The blades are .185 thick.

The liners are .120 Ti, presentation side textured.

Fittings, pivots, spacers are all custom turned. Bronze bushings.

Cost is $200.00 free shipping. Sorry for any confusion, I am constantly updating to use the best available. Trying to keep up with military orders.

Site will get updated as soon as I catch my breath.
Click to expand...

That is excellent news. Honestly, I was fine with 440C, but your using S35N sounds like any "steel snobs" won't have any issues, then.

I'll admit that the knife was nice. $200 for a custom Ti frame-lock is pretty sweet & I can only imagine how much more robust (ie; heavy duty) the Da Tank is.
 
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