I got it today, and in searching my memory I found about as much as on the internet. An Ebay listing informed me of about as much as I could research, it's apparently the first design collaboration by Ken Onion, marked as a Colt knife, and manufactured by United Cutlery. Released about 1999.
That makes it a two part discussion - what United value engineered, and what was left that was good, which is the Ken Onion design. First the blade, a swedge ground recurve with rebated tip, thumb stud, and apparently stamped from stock with the tell tale shearing on the unfinished edge near the pivot. Not badly done, but that's something that is when price is being held down to toe the line. Marked Colt, CT40, and "440" of which your guess is as good as anyones to the alloy.
The grind is fairly thick at the edge leaving some blunt bevels, overall the grind lines meet up fairly well except at the tip where you would expect a mismatch. The blade is bead blasted a nice matte finish, unlike the glossier tone a Gerber gets, and is even, with a dark scrip on the blade proclaiming "Python Elite," an homage to Colt's magnum revolver.
Grips are black Micarta with alternating lighter layers, well finished and just barely overlapping the thin liners, which are stamped stainless and screwed together with stainless hex button head screws thru knurled spacers. The knurling is a tad uneven, flat in places, and appears to have a bright plate over it, which doesn't shout "quality" as much as others do. The blade is centered up nicely with bronze washers and pivots smoothly, with good leverage from the thumb stud placement. Finger grooves in the handle line up well with my smaller hand and leave plenty of room for those who are larger.
A pocket clip was attached at one time for tip down right hand carry, the screw holes appearing somewhat pulled out and revealing the liner was not drilled and tapped to take them. Posts on the net say the clip had Colt's name on it. and the obverse of the knife does have a light metal colored medallion with a Prancing Pony stamped into it.
The thin liner appears to be of stainless, it does meet the blade fully to the locking side and holds securely on this relatively unused knife. Short thin locking liners and a stainless blade aren't always optimum in use, it remains to be seen.
Overall, at first glance or in the ads of the day, the knife looked attractive and sold. Fifteen years later it's more humble origins stand out to the more experienced buyer who have handled better grade knives. It's certainly good that the designer moved up to different Brands and still makes his own - as a custom this would likely be a knock out design. As it, it's going to be used as a daily beater to see how it holds up.
$10 to 30 on the net if and when you see on, more than likely easier to pick up in a trade if you are willing to take it as boot. Don't blame Ken for it's value engineering - you could say any of the designers knives we see are getting a bit short changed if they are mass produced. His selection and execution in the design work is worth it, and a lot of his subsequent designs feature the better ideas.
UC, however, went into bankruptcy and is now owned by Bud - K. I wouldn't expect a re release by them any time soon.
Pics are hard to find on the net, it was the same time as it's infancy and there hasn't been much carried over from the print media. Inexpensive knives don't get much love. If you can find some, post up.
That makes it a two part discussion - what United value engineered, and what was left that was good, which is the Ken Onion design. First the blade, a swedge ground recurve with rebated tip, thumb stud, and apparently stamped from stock with the tell tale shearing on the unfinished edge near the pivot. Not badly done, but that's something that is when price is being held down to toe the line. Marked Colt, CT40, and "440" of which your guess is as good as anyones to the alloy.
The grind is fairly thick at the edge leaving some blunt bevels, overall the grind lines meet up fairly well except at the tip where you would expect a mismatch. The blade is bead blasted a nice matte finish, unlike the glossier tone a Gerber gets, and is even, with a dark scrip on the blade proclaiming "Python Elite," an homage to Colt's magnum revolver.
Grips are black Micarta with alternating lighter layers, well finished and just barely overlapping the thin liners, which are stamped stainless and screwed together with stainless hex button head screws thru knurled spacers. The knurling is a tad uneven, flat in places, and appears to have a bright plate over it, which doesn't shout "quality" as much as others do. The blade is centered up nicely with bronze washers and pivots smoothly, with good leverage from the thumb stud placement. Finger grooves in the handle line up well with my smaller hand and leave plenty of room for those who are larger.
A pocket clip was attached at one time for tip down right hand carry, the screw holes appearing somewhat pulled out and revealing the liner was not drilled and tapped to take them. Posts on the net say the clip had Colt's name on it. and the obverse of the knife does have a light metal colored medallion with a Prancing Pony stamped into it.
The thin liner appears to be of stainless, it does meet the blade fully to the locking side and holds securely on this relatively unused knife. Short thin locking liners and a stainless blade aren't always optimum in use, it remains to be seen.
Overall, at first glance or in the ads of the day, the knife looked attractive and sold. Fifteen years later it's more humble origins stand out to the more experienced buyer who have handled better grade knives. It's certainly good that the designer moved up to different Brands and still makes his own - as a custom this would likely be a knock out design. As it, it's going to be used as a daily beater to see how it holds up.
$10 to 30 on the net if and when you see on, more than likely easier to pick up in a trade if you are willing to take it as boot. Don't blame Ken for it's value engineering - you could say any of the designers knives we see are getting a bit short changed if they are mass produced. His selection and execution in the design work is worth it, and a lot of his subsequent designs feature the better ideas.
UC, however, went into bankruptcy and is now owned by Bud - K. I wouldn't expect a re release by them any time soon.
Pics are hard to find on the net, it was the same time as it's infancy and there hasn't been much carried over from the print media. Inexpensive knives don't get much love. If you can find some, post up.