Todd Begg Steel Craft Sun Tzu Kwaiken

Got mine in today and man, what a fantastic piece.

Overall quality is superb, as is the value. I've owned four figure customs that didn't have action this dialed in. It's a very unique hydraulic feel, super smooth but not too free or lose, just perfect fluidity. Detent is top shelf, delightfully firm but not heavy. Flips open predictably and has a grin-inducing touch of recoil, it reminds me of the Voorhies M9 that I owned for a spell, which is still to this day the best flipper I've ever owned or handled.

My example is perfect in regard to F&F; blade centering and grind symmetry are dead on, blade fuller is in the exact same spot on each side. Machining detail on the handle is razor sharp visually and provides just the right amount of tactility for my needs.

It feels much lighter in the hand than 5oz, likely due to its size. I should note that all of the sites listing the handle as 5.375" are including the lanyard hole in that measurement, the actual handle length is just a tick over 5.125". I wear a size large glove and it fits my hand very well, the top "guard" doesn't get in the way of my natural grip, but I can certainly see why some might not like it. You can choke up and put your thumb forward of the guard quite comfortably. Also worth noting is that the bottom edge of the handle does have some slight curvature to it, as does the blade spine.

It's in my pocket now and I can't see it going anywhere. All but disappears due to the weight and profile, going in and out of the pocket is actually enjoyable due to the ceramic ball housed in the clip.

I'll post a full review after we get to know each other, just wanted to add my initial thoughts and build off this thread for now!

I'm more than happy to answer any questions as well!


 
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Well...I pulled the trigger today. One blackwashed version (I liked most) popped up on the exchange a little while ago...and I went for it. If any interest, i will update with pics or vid perhaps. Looking forward to this one. I hope it lives up to my totally unrealistic expectations (joke)! I bet it will though.
 
Congrats evanPGH! Looks just like the one I'm getting. I wanted to ask you (and any other owner of one of these) about its action. In anticipation of getting mine & thinking about this...I'm also really into Andre Thorburn customs. I have several. I consider the action on his knives to be incredible, the smoothest and most sophisticated I've experienced, even when compared to my Shirogorovs and other high end pieces, wether custom or higher end production pieces. If you've handled a Thorburn, with either SRBS or MRBS pivots systems, I'd love to know if you think this Kwaiken's action is comparable to that, glassy smooth, fast, effortless, yet rock solid feel. Or is it more like a good Reate feel, which I also like a lot but put in a different category. Just trying to set my expectations at a realistic level.


evanPGH said:
Got mine in today and man, what a fantastic piece.

Overall quality is superb, as is the value. I've owned four figure customs that didn't have action this dialed in. It's a very unique hydraulic feel, super smooth but not too free or lose, just perfect fluidity. Detent is top shelf, delightfully firm but not heavy. Flips open predictably and has a grin-inducing touch of recoil, it reminds me of the Voorhies M9 that I owned for a spell, which is still to this day the best flipper I've ever owned or handled.

My example is perfect in regard to F&F; blade centering and grind symmetry are dead on, blade fuller is in the exact same spot on each side. Machining detail on the handle is razor sharp visually and provides just the right amount of tactility for my needs.

It feels much lighter in the hand than 5oz, likely due to its size. I should note that all of the sites listing the handle as 5.375" are including the lanyard hole in that measurement, the actual handle length is just a tick over 5.125". I wear a size large glove and it fits my hand very well, the top "guard" doesn't get in the way of my natural grip, but I can certainly see why some might not like it. You can choke up and put your thumb forward of the guard quite comfortably. Also worth noting is that the bottom edge of the handle does have some slight curvature to it, as does the blade spine.

It's in my pocket now and I can't see it going anywhere. All but disappears due to the weight and profile, going in and out of the pocket is actually enjoyable due to the ceramic ball housed in the clip.

I'll post a full review after we get to know each other, just wanted to add my initial thoughts and build off this thread for now!

I'm more than happy to answer any questions as well!


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Scrim said:
Congrats evanPGH! Looks just like the one I'm getting. I wanted to ask you (and any other owner of one of these) about its action. In anticipation of getting mine & thinking about this...I'm also really into Andre Thorburn customs. I have several. I consider the action on his knives to be incredible, the smoothest and most sophisticated I've experienced, even when compared to my Shirogorovs and other high end pieces, wether custom or higher end production pieces. If you've handled a Thorburn, with either SRBS or MRBS pivots systems, I'd love to know if you think this Kwaiken's action is comparable to that, glassy smooth, fast, effortless, yet rock solid feel. Or is it more like a good Reate feel, which I also like a lot but put in a different category. Just trying to set my expectations at a realistic level.
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Hey man!

So, first off I've never handled a Thorburn. Just one maker that I haven't gotten around to unfortunately.

That being said, I have handled/owned many customs with flippers and bearing pivots. You mention Shiro, I prefer the action of this to a SRBS 95 if that means anything to you. It's glass smooth, fast and effortless. Very solid and locks up better than my Hati, no hint of anything even resembling blade flex, let alone actual play.

The only other Reate I've owned was the Warrior 1 and the Begg is certainly in a different league, not even close actually. This is the best production or midtech flipper I've ever handled, period. Also, I've only flipped it a dozen times or so, very excited to see how it behaves after some break in.


EDIT: Yes, it does have a steel insert but it's very cleverly "hidden". Note how it sits slightly above the lockbar.

 
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Awesome Evan. Thanks for the info. Right after I added the question about the steel insert, I found the answer online. That's why I pulled the question off. But thanks for adding that info & pic too. I'm really glad it does have that feature. Should have expected it as all my other Reates have a steel insert too. Can't wait to get mine. Do you think with average pocket carry and mild use, it will hold up well and not show much ware? Snail trails, that sort of thing. Gosh, yours looks good. I can hardly wait to get mine. I want to side by side it with a zt0452 and some Thorburns & Shiros and a few other top production knives. I think a comparison video is in my future. Thanks again!
 
The coating should hold up just fine. Ti nitride is pretty hard stuff and any additional marks that it picks up are likely to blend right in due to the stonewashed finish.
 
My Steelcraft Kwaiken was from the early October 2015 first batch. Some of the screws became a little loose. Eventually, I had to Loctite (blue) the pivot screw. No biggie and problem solved. Just as an FYI.

This is what Reate emailed me: "This Shera Feng From Reate Knives. I am sorry to hear what happened to your Kwaiken. Because the screws of frist batch Kwaiken is a little short. So we customize the longer screws again."

They'll send replacements if scale screws come loose again since I haven't loctited those.

Anyway, it in no way diminishes one iota from this excellent folder.

I've also had to Loctite the pivot screw on one of my Shirogorov F95 and two of my CKF folders (T90 and Gratch). The two CKF were also from the first batch. I guess I live on the cutting/bleeding edge! :)
 
Oh the price paid by early adopters. I like all the knives you've mentioned RamZar. I own a Sukhoi. How do you like the Gratch and do you have a Sukhoi (by any chance) to compare it to? I've read (somewhere) that CKF supposedly considers it their flipper version of the Sukhoi. But based on owning a Sukhoi and looking at only photos of the Gratch, they seem like two somewhat similar yet very different knives. I was hoping to find a side by side comparison vid of the two on Youtube, but I haven't found one yet.
 
Scrim said:
Oh the price paid by early adopters. I like all the knives you've mentioned RamZar. I own a Sukhoi. How do you like the Gratch and do you have a Sukhoi (by any chance) to compare it to? I've read (somewhere) that CKF supposedly considers it their flipper version of the Sukhoi. But based on owning a Sukhoi and looking at only photos of the Gratch, they seem like two somewhat similar yet very different knives. I was hoping to find a side by side comparison vid of the two on Youtube, but I haven't found one yet.
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Gratch was supposed to be a Sukhoi with a flipper but it looks wider. It's more like a Shirogorov F95.

I don't have a Sukhoi which reminds me more of the Rike 1507s flipper.

Anyway, let's not get too sidetracked from the subject of this thread.
 
I handled one at the NY Knife Show recently and it deserves all the hype. Beautiful design and very well made. I normally am not a huge fan of Begg styling but this one caught my eye on the table.
 
You guys are kill'in me here. I love that blade shape and everything I've read thus far has been good about this knife, well except the screws part. I'm going to have to try one I guess as soon as I can move a few things around here. Thanks for the reviews folks, :thumbup:
 
Not too much out there on the internal frame work, so I snapped this real quick. Thoroughly impressive.


 
IF MY BALLS CRACK?!?! -- Watched a review of this Begg/Reate Kwaiken by Will Moon. He seems very knowledgeable and authoritative, as a maker. He explained why he doesn't prefer IKBS over a caged bearing system AND why he prefers steel balls over ceramic. (I do LOVE my Thorburn IKBS, steel ball knives, SRBS & MRBS!) But he describes ceramic balls as very hard with a danger (however potentially minimal) of cracking under a heavy load, as opposed to a steel ball "deforming" but not cracking and possible causing additional balls in the pivot system to (potentially) also crack as well. Probably not a huge real-world problem, especially as I won't be hard using mine in all likelihood, certainly not prying with it. BUT...it did get me thinking about how to replace any ceramic balls should they crack. SO...my question(s) to you guys...short of sending it back to Reate, and should the unthinkable happen and a ball or balls actually crack, does anyone know exactly what diameter ceramic balls they use in this knife and where to purchase replacements from, hopefully a US knife parts supplier. Any suggestion?:confused:
 
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Scrim said:
IF MY BALLS CRACK?!?! -- Watch a review of this Begg/Reate Kwaiken by Will Moon. He seems very knowledgeable and authoritative, as a maker. He explained why he doesn't prefer IKBS over a caged bearing system AND why he prefers steel balls over ceramic. (I do LOVE my Thorburn IKBS, steel ball knives, SRBS & MRBS!) But he describes ceramic balls as very hard with a danger (however potentially minimal) of cracking under a heavy load, as opposed to a steel ball "deforming" but not cracking and possible causing additional balls in the pivot system to (potentially) also crack as well. Probably not a huge real-world problem, especially as I won't be hard using mine in all likelihood, certainly not prying with it. BUT...it did get me thinking about how to replace any ceramic balls should they crack. SO...my question(s) to you guys...short of sending it back to Reate, and should the unthinkable happen and a ball or balls actually crack, does anyone know exactly what diameter ceramic balls they use in this knife and where to purchase replacements from, hopefully a US knife parts supplier. Any suggestion?:confused:
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1/16" for IKBS, easily found.

Yeah I saw his video and got a good laugh out of it.
 
Scrim said:
IF MY BALLS CRACK?!?! -- Watched a review of this Begg/Reate Kwaiken by Will Moon. He seems very knowledgeable and authoritative, as a maker. He explained why he doesn't prefer IKBS over a caged bearing system AND why he prefers steel balls over ceramic. (I do LOVE my Thorburn IKBS, steel ball knives, SRBS & MRBS!) But he describes ceramic balls as very hard with a danger (however potentially minimal) of cracking under a heavy load, as opposed to a steel ball "deforming" but not cracking and possible causing additional balls in the pivot system to (potentially) also crack as well. Probably not a huge real-world problem, especially as I won't be hard using mine in all likelihood, certainly not prying with it. BUT...it did get me thinking about how to replace any ceramic balls should they crack. SO...my question(s) to you guys...short of sending it back to Reate, and should the unthinkable happen and a ball or balls actually crack, does anyone know exactly what diameter ceramic balls they use in this knife and where to purchase replacements from, hopefully a US knife parts supplier. Any suggestion?:confused:
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Alpha knife supply sells them in packs should you ever lose one. However my advise to you would be to abstain from taking any knife with IKBS apart unless you really know what you're doing and have the patience to put it back together. They can be a real pain. IKBS had its' day in the sun, but it's old technology now that's really been superseded by more modern caged bearing systems, and for some reason it just refuses to die...
 
rootbeer1 said:
Alpha knife supply sells them in packs should you ever lose one. However my advise to you would be to abstain from taking any knife with IKBS apart unless you really know what you're doing and have the patience to put it back together. They can be a real pain. IKBS had its' day in the sun, but it's old technology now that's really been superseded by more modern caged bearing systems, and for some reason it just refuses to die...
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Thanks for the Alpha referral, rootbeer1. And yes, I've seen videos on cleaning out an IKBS pivot, etc. I'd ONLY disassemble and IKBS knife if something were broken inside (like a ceramic bearing?) or gunked up and it HAD to be done. Re: the death of IKBS... like many members here I have quite a few bearing pivot knives and still, the best/smoothest/most effortless action to date IMHO is still Thorburn's IKBS knives. I know several factors go into making a knife's action "smooth", but no other brand I've tried yet equals Andre's IKBS action. I kind of hope it sticks around, along with other bearing systems. Options are good things to have.
 
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Scrim said:
Thanks for the Alpha referral, rootbeer1. And yes, I've seen videos on cleaning out an IKBS pivot, etc. I'd ONLY disassemble and IKBS knife if something were broken inside (like a ceramic bearing?) or gunked up and it HAD to be done. Re: the death of IKBS... like many members here I have quite a few bearing pivot knives and still, the best/smoothest/most effortless action to date IMHO is still Thorburn's IKBS knives. I know several factors go into making a knife's action "smooth", but no other brand I've tried yet equals Andre's IKBS action. I kind of hope it sticks around, along with other bearing systems. Options are good things to have.
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I found it odd that was his first post...

I'm with you though, I've found IKBS (when done right) provides the best action and lockup compared to caged systems. Don't worry, it's not going anywhere. His view is purely opinion and there are countless knives being made right now with IKBS.
 
Loose bearings seem to give the smoothest rides from my experience with several of mine like Shirogorov F95, CRKT Eros TI and Steelcraft Kwaiken.

I had to clean my CRKT Eros TI since it had gotten gritty. I use it all the time when exercising so it's exposed to salt, sand and sweat. I was hesitant to maintain it. You just have to be careful with the loose bearings. Here's a how to video I used by Ikoma (the I in IKBS):

[video=youtube_share;wR6-ls6QOUQ]http://youtu.be/wR6-ls6QOUQ[/video]
 
Is the plunge grind off in the last pic near ricasso? May be an optical allusion. If it is that would bug me. Especially if it is all machine made. Other than that nice knife. Not my type of blade profile but would do! keepem sharp
 
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