We are market testing a new high quality manual Stiletto at the Blade Show and would welcome as many opinions, good, bad or indifferent from fellow Bladeforum members who might be attending.<p>Stop by our booth (#75) and we'll be glad to let you have a hand in deciding whether we carry this new knife or send it to the scrap heap!
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Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ -
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WANTED: Your Opinion on our NEW Stiletto at the Blade Show.
- Thread starter BarnZ
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Cool news! You can be sure I'll be stoppin' by to chat it up with you, Barn. Take care and see you there.
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Post it and i will give you my opinion right now!
Is it a Ralph collaboration?
I would actually really like to have a manual stileto
Is it a Ralph collaboration?
I would actually really like to have a manual stileto
- Joined
- May 9, 2000
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- 29,205
I won't be making it to the blade show, but would sure appreciate getting a look at the knife in question. Please post a picture ASAP and I will at least be able to give you my opinion based on what I see in the picture. It would obviously be better to get to handle the knife, but I would think that the opinions of those on BladeForums would be of some assistance in your market testing.
Ok, I've got my reply all ready on the Stiletto, but just realized that I have no clue how to add an image to this post. When I clicked on the "IMG" button it wanted a link, however I have no place to upload the .jpg image as it's just on my desktop right now. Anyone know how to do this, or would be willing to post the image for me if I e-mail it to them?<p>Thanks.
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- Dec 25, 1998
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- 7,394
I'll do it! Just email me the pics and I'll post them.
This is the baby (see photo kindly posted by Shootist) that we are considering to add to our line. We negotiated with the fine folks at Maserin in Italy for the rights to this very modern (and legal !) stiletto.<p>It uses 440 stainless for the blade and an anodized (black or natural) aluminum handle, probably 6082-T6. I'm confirming the grade of 440 and it's Rc, and should have this info by Blade Show time. A pocket clip is not usually found on a stiletto, and I find it really cool personally. The liner lock is VERY SOLID on the samples we have so no concerns in that department.<p>What turned us on was the great value for such a well made piece, with a retail price between $60 - $80 depending on whether we go Internet sales only or via dealers. That's part of what we will be asking at the show... is whether dealers are interested, and whether consumers will pay $80 vs. $60 for the knife. Your comments, good or bad, are most welcome from all those who cannot make it to Atlanta.<p>Thanks to everyone for taking an interest in this new knife.<br>
blademan 13
Gold Member
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You guy's are killin' me! I just have to see this thing. Sounds really cool 
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Sorry it took me so long. I know you guys are dying to see this pic.
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- May 7, 2001
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here is why:
I dont think that the blade looks proportional to the handle, i think that the blade should be much wider, maybe halfway between this knife and the SERE 200.
I dont like the way the handle is tapered so it is wider at the Butt and becomes slimmer as it nears the blade.
I think that the ear gaurds should be reversed so that the one on the back of the knife can be shaped to act like a thumb ramp.
I think that stilettos are very hard to design, i spent days trying to design one that looked good (and still like a stiletto), and had an ergonomic and attractive handle, and i still dont even know if that one is going to be produced.
I like Maserin knives, a lot, but this one just doesnt do it for me.
I dont think that the blade looks proportional to the handle, i think that the blade should be much wider, maybe halfway between this knife and the SERE 200.
I dont like the way the handle is tapered so it is wider at the Butt and becomes slimmer as it nears the blade.
I think that the ear gaurds should be reversed so that the one on the back of the knife can be shaped to act like a thumb ramp.
I think that stilettos are very hard to design, i spent days trying to design one that looked good (and still like a stiletto), and had an ergonomic and attractive handle, and i still dont even know if that one is going to be produced.
I like Maserin knives, a lot, but this one just doesnt do it for me.
Make it $60, I'll buy a black one as soon as I can.
Doesnt appeal to me 100%, but I've been wanting a manual stiletto for a couple eyars now, and the Cold Steel offering is too expensive, and supposedly sucks... this looks good to me, I think I'd like it... would preffer a better blade steel, but *shrugs* what the heck.
A traditional stiletto blade, versus the bayonet style blade, would rock, but again, what the heck.
At $60, I think its a winner.
Doesnt appeal to me 100%, but I've been wanting a manual stiletto for a couple eyars now, and the Cold Steel offering is too expensive, and supposedly sucks... this looks good to me, I think I'd like it... would preffer a better blade steel, but *shrugs* what the heck.
A traditional stiletto blade, versus the bayonet style blade, would rock, but again, what the heck.
At $60, I think its a winner.
I think that the stiletto is an underrepresented pattern in the market and this one might find its nice place there.
Size is good and within most legal limits. I am fine with the handle shape and flatness but might prefer little more curves on the sides at least at the index finger (groove) and the thumb.
Flat ground blade might be better for regular cutting tasks. A narrow blade with the bayonet grind makes it a stabber not so much of a cutter.
I very much like the integral guard but would make it slightly bigger/more pronounced so it can serve as a Carson flipper for quick opening , as a true guard and thumb rest for controlling the blade during cutting.
I would make sure that the liner lock is reliable. Major weakness in many reasonably priced folders.
Finally, the position of the pocket clip is great for deep pocket carry but I would drill holes for reverse and left hand carry too if possible.
Nice knife.
HM
Size is good and within most legal limits. I am fine with the handle shape and flatness but might prefer little more curves on the sides at least at the index finger (groove) and the thumb.
Flat ground blade might be better for regular cutting tasks. A narrow blade with the bayonet grind makes it a stabber not so much of a cutter.
I very much like the integral guard but would make it slightly bigger/more pronounced so it can serve as a Carson flipper for quick opening , as a true guard and thumb rest for controlling the blade during cutting.
I would make sure that the liner lock is reliable. Major weakness in many reasonably priced folders.
Finally, the position of the pocket clip is great for deep pocket carry but I would drill holes for reverse and left hand carry too if possible.
Nice knife.
HM
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2000
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- 736
Me too!
Of course it should look like a "?"
would work as a flipper and as a fingerguard!
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First off, thanks to all for your opinions and constructive design comments. It's all taken very appreciatively by everyone at Delta Z.<p>The present orientation of the clip does allow for opening during removal from the pocket as only a little pressure against the back seam of your pocket is enough to nudge the blade open as you remove the knife. This had been tested successfully many times at the Blade Show by us, and some consumers as well.<p>The "S" of the flipper was kept in the traditional direction as the "old" automatic stiletto designs, but this does not affect the willingness (so to speak) of the blade to open when pressure is applied to the back side of the "S" during Rapid Pocket Removal (hey, a new aconym "RPR"). In other words, it's not necessary to actually hook the flipper on one's pocket to open the blade. A little pressure is all that's needed.<p>We had so much positive reaction to this knife, with many folks at the show saying they wanted to carry a stiletto but could not find a quality "legal" manual one like ours. Bottom line is that we will be adding this item to our line with the following item numbers:<p>DZ-4101-AS Natural aluminum color handle.<br>DZ-4101-AN Black anodized handle.<br>Suggest list will be $89.95, with a street price expected around $65-80.00.<p>Also, we will be offering a bit later down the road, an ALL BLACK model with Teflon¨ coated blade... just as soon as we have a launch customer for this model lined up.<p>Thanks for your comments. It's truly great to be a part of such a great group of "nife knuts"
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Barney-
Why didn't you use the same steel as the Osprey: Z60CDV14...I thought you were so high on it?
BTW, I love my Osprey with the Red Flame handles...one of the sexiest knives on the planet!
Also, why is the pivot pin so far back? Move up a little would let you lengthen blade slightly...just a thought.
Dennis
Why didn't you use the same steel as the Osprey: Z60CDV14...I thought you were so high on it?
BTW, I love my Osprey with the Red Flame handles...one of the sexiest knives on the planet!
Also, why is the pivot pin so far back? Move up a little would let you lengthen blade slightly...just a thought.
Dennis
Dennis,<p>The knife uses 440A ONLY because it was already being made in Italy by our friends at Maserin. It's a great idea to change it to the Z60 stuff from Sweden.<p>On the thumb stud placement, it's in the best possible place as it's just far enough back to allow one to use his thumb to "flick" the blade open as there's enough inertia on that long blade to allow it to just keep swinging open with a crisp wack of the thumb. Of course you can still hold your thumb on the stud and open it slowly if so inclined.<p>Now... Osprey Guy.. I see you liked our knife so much you named yourself after it! What a compliment. To bad I'll have to sue you for trademark infringement 
... just kidding <p>Thanks again for the comments!
... just kidding <p>Thanks again for the comments!
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- Apr 9, 2002
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Barney-
My "name" did come from the knife but in a funny sort of way. I was speaking on the phone with Darrel Ralph, the knife's designer(as you are well aware). I had just finished telling him about the latest addition to my collection (the Osprey) and how much I liked it.
When I later sent him an e-mail I jokingly refered to myself as,
"you know-the Osprey Guy" and it stuck.
I now interact with him on a regular basis over at his website: the KnifeKits Forum...I've become quite good at making his wonderfully designed kit knives.
BTW, my question to you was not about the thumbstud, but the pivot pin. In the photo it looks like it could be moved a bit forward without affecting the knife's performance, thereby allowing for a slightly longer blade (it seems a little out of proportion to the handle).
FYI-I own 5 Delta Z knives...always a lot of knife for the money.
Dennis
My "name" did come from the knife but in a funny sort of way. I was speaking on the phone with Darrel Ralph, the knife's designer(as you are well aware). I had just finished telling him about the latest addition to my collection (the Osprey) and how much I liked it.
When I later sent him an e-mail I jokingly refered to myself as,
"you know-the Osprey Guy" and it stuck.
I now interact with him on a regular basis over at his website: the KnifeKits Forum...I've become quite good at making his wonderfully designed kit knives.
BTW, my question to you was not about the thumbstud, but the pivot pin. In the photo it looks like it could be moved a bit forward without affecting the knife's performance, thereby allowing for a slightly longer blade (it seems a little out of proportion to the handle).
FYI-I own 5 Delta Z knives...always a lot of knife for the money.
Dennis