TIM WENGER #48GPS

Mark W Douglas

Mark W Douglas

Joined
Nov 16, 1998
Messages
1,345
Wow, after looking over my knife list last night I discovered that out of all my Spyderco's I don't have the full size Wenger. I thought I did ... don't know how this one slipped by me!
frown.gif


How does it compare to the Military which is my favorite Spyderco?

I heard it is much thicker, a beefier knife, is that true? Does it have full double liners as well, I heard it did?

I also read just now a post a few lines down about a bad liner lock on this knife. Is this characteristic of this knife or was that one just a lemon?

I want this knife, but would like these questions answered first.

TIA,

Mark

P.S. I will only be here until 4:00 p.m. today to see any replies. Won't be back until May 3 so I won't be able to reply or check this out after today until then!

" Knife Collectors Are Sharp People
wink.gif
"
 
Mark - I checked out the large and small Wegners at a show this past weekend. Both knives were solid as a rock. Both liners stopped just short of the half-way point on the tang. And both were SHARP! I actually gashed my thumb pretty good when I didn't get it out of the way fast enough when closing the large model. DOH!!!
redface.gif


I ended up buying the small model. It has only one liner - on the locking side, of course. Sorry - I don't remember whether the large model had one liner also, or two. It also has a full-length steel spacer that gives additional strength. That spacer makes it look like it should be a lockback and not a liner lock. No flex in the handle at all. The blade hole is a little small, and the clip is mounted too low for my tastes, but that's about it. Great, stout little knife. I think you'll enjoy the large model if you decide to get one. Hope this helps.


------------------
Kelly

Deo Vindice

 
Thanks Kelly! I kind of like the idea of a full back spacer .. never seen that done before.

The liner is supposed to be thicker than most other liners or liners locks as well from a review I read, I assume then that the liner lock itself is thicker, right?

One thing I just read and I don't know how I feel about it, is the knife is riveted together. Why rivets?

Mark
 
The liner doesn't appear to be appreciably thicker than most I've seen. It survived the blade whack on the desk thing with no problems though.

As for the rivets, that seems to be standard Spyderco fare. I too would prefer screws... I really wouldn't let that deter me from getting a great knife though.

------------------
Kelly

Deo Vindice

 
One last question, prommiss, comparing it to the Benchmade Stryker for size (overall length, heft, and thickness) is this knife really that much beefier all the way around?

The BM Stryker was a favorite next to my Spyderco Military until the liner lock wore down on the Stryker.

I am looking for heft and beef here ...
" where's the beef " remember that commercial?
biggrin.gif


Mark
 
I've never owned a Stryker, and haven't handled one enough to draw any reasonable conclusions. However, I did own a mini-Stryker for a while. Now, if my sometimes faulty memory is correct, the small Wegner was about the same size as the mini-Stryker. I think my Wegner feels much more solid than I remember my BM being. I'm not sure how that translates into actual strength, but the Wegner feels heavier overall. The Stryker blade itself always felt really light to me. The Wegner blade feels heavier. I prefer the bladehole over the thumb discs, but many people disagree on this point. The Stryker's ergonomic handle felt a tad bit better in the hand IMHO, but the drop point blade of the Wegner is just sooooo much more useful for everyday carry. YMMV.

If you're looking for beef, you'll probably be happy with the Wegner. It's not in the REKAT Pioneer class, but it's certainly stout. Good heft and solid feel overall.

One more thing - I really like the G-10 that Spydie used. It feels like it's been a part of me for years instead of being brand new. Sort of like buying stonewashed denim instead of the rough, unwashed denim (if that makes ANY sense.)

------------------
Kelly

Deo Vindice

 
Mark,

Get the Wegner. I just mailed mine to Danelle to have the liner lock readjusted. Cannot wait to get it back! The knife has high quality G-10 (better than Military or Stryker), and Ultra-smooth action (as Senator found out the bad way) a beefy blade which retains it's width almost to the tip, and tip up carry.

It seems to have one steel liner which is attached not only to the scale on that side but also to a full length stainless spacer. Thumbnotches on the back of the blade spine.

I am a devout Military and Moran fan and I cannot recommend the Wegner enough. I really believe that the liner lock problem is just one of those things that are bound to slip out once in a great while when you make the number of knives Sal does.

Waldo
 
You convinced me!

Just hung up the phone ... got em ordered.

Now hopefully they will arrive next week while on vacation.

Thanks you two for your comments! Was hoping to hear from Spyderco too, but they probably have a very busy day today, being it is Friday and they have to make my Wengers now!
wink.gif


Mark




------------------
" Knife Collectors Are Sharp People -- Most of the time, that is! "
Click to expand...


 
Sorry for the delay, I have been trying to chase down the people that know everything...they've all been here, there and everywhere..usually behind closed doors. I did manage to get some information.

As far as "beefiness" compared to the Military, its competely relative to the ELU using it...I happen to believe the Military is 90% testosterone, 10% hardware.

It has a single liner.

As for rivets vs screws, I'll quote Sal in a previous post:

" The advantage of screws is that you can take it apart (parts often sent to us in a baggie with a "please put this back together" note attached.) Thats why we dont like "you" taking it apart. This disadvantage to screws, is that they "move". Sometimes parts loosen and rigidity becomes questionable. Critical in a liner lock for sure.

An advantage of rivets is that they do not move. (at least ours dont). The knife remains rigid. Rivets are less expensive (putting screws in the Wegner would bring the price over the threshold of the majority of ELU's)

Not everyone wants screws or wants to pay for them. "

Hope that helps...

Danelle
 
Did you order both the small and the large models? Whatever you got, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy your vacation. Enjoy your withdrawals too!
wink.gif



------------------
Kelly

Deo Vindice

 
Danelle,

You really oughta watch what you say to us guys in your posts, re: next to last line in your post above, HeHeHe
smile.gif


Waldo
 
You won' t be disappointed with the full size Wegner. It is my favorite all around liner lock folder. Although the thumb hole may seem a bit smaller than comparable size folders, once the thumb makes contact with the semi radiused surface, the blade comes out quick with an authorative ker- chunk! As to the liner engagement, both of mine locks up at the middle of the tang, presently and from the first day out of the box. With a great ergonomic design and a super sharp hollow grind ATS 34 blade, my Wegners have done all that I' ve asked of it. Have fun.

L8r,
Nakano

------------------
"To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not."
 
Hello ... still on my vacation but I snuk off to a library so I could report!

Just got my full size Tim Wegner's #48GPS. Can't say that I like it better than the Military because I like the CPM-440V blade that the Military supports, but, I have to say that the Wegner is by far stronger and heaftier than the Military is. Spyderco's best built folder thus far IMO.

One word describes how I like the Spyderco #48GPS Wegner, LUVIT !!!

Got to get back home now before my wife notices that I am gone
wink.gif


Mark


------------------
" Knife Collectors Are Sharp People -- Most of the time, that is! "
Click to expand...


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