What do you think about PUMA knives???

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hopethisisnttaken

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Oct 4, 2000
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I love my little ProTec. Is sharp as as anything. The finish on mine is great. I will say that the scales fell off on mine but thats not a big deal as its not a tactical or hunting knife. I made some new ones out of cocobolo anyway.
I have ever really seen anyone else here mention them, although I know someone must have, was just curious as to how many people here own one..
 
I have the Original Bowie. The grind lines are perfect, the blade sharp, and the stag handles, while not terribly ergonomic, are nice. For a production knife it's first rate. I think they make a very good product.
 
I used to think they were garbage, because the only knives I had ever seen were low priced, low quality sort of things in Mall knife stores. But then I read a great article in Knife World some months ago that detailed the history of PUMA. Apparently they are a pretty good cutlery company. Many of the knives imported into the US are at the low end of their production line. Their larger fixed blades in particular seem to be very well made and popular. I'm not sure were to go to get the 'good' stuff, but I think they do make some very good knives.
 
I beleive they are an old-guard genuine German knifemaker, and probably have lot of history. Their traditional knives are probably high quality.

... but I think their more "contemporary" folders (like the Pro-tec) are for the most part ugly, overpriced, and outdated. That oddly shaped clip blade is horrible, and the bulging handles...yech.

just my opinion.
 
"I think their more "contemporary" folders (like the Pro-tec) are for the most part ugly, overpriced, and outdated"

I picked one up for about $15. It's dangerously sharp, locks up like it's a fixed blade, and that bulging handle fits my hand perfectly in hammer, saber, or an upside-down grip.

To each his own!
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My wife bought me a Protec for XMas last year.

I love this knife!!!
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It has a great feeling in the hand, solid lock up, and was very sharp out of the box.

And believe it or not, this knife, is one of the best I have for one handed opening.
I can flick it open and closed all night & day without looking or even thinking about it.
No fear of loosing skin here with this one.
Makes for a handy utility/work knife. In & out of the pocket with little worry.
I can't make such claims for some other (more expensive) knives that I own.

I would recommend buying one.
Especially considering the price tag.

--The Raptor--
 
I have a Puma knife that is a lock back that was given to me abouot 15 years ago. The handle material wore off as it was very soft and I had to retire the knife because I was afraid it would be down to the metal quick. The blade broke off with very little presure from the side it was my fault but I didn't expect the knife to be that brittle I haven't a clue what the blade steel is I fixed the blade and reshaped the point that broke off. But I have never even looked at another Puma since. It was not cheap eiher.
 
I bought a White Hunter about 30 years ago. I still favor it for camping chores. A great knife.
My son got one of the Puma Military folders a year ago and it's already whipped. Scales coming loose, side to side blade play, locking bar loose. Really poor performance for the price.

 
I had a Puma Folder ... I believe it was the general. 3.75 inch blade or so black scales. Anyway I LOVED IT !!

I was working in construction at the time and It did everything a knife could be asked to do and then some. Like using the but to smash down the paint cans and other nice little things we do with our folders that the knife companies would prefer we didnt. Thing sharpened readily, would keep an edge and I have NEVER been able to get my Sebenza to the same hair scaring edge as I could this puma. It was an every day friend in a leather sheath I made for about three years.

Complaints : It started to get some side to side play in the blade as it got old and since its pinned you cant snug it up. Truth is it did do some ... ok a bunch of prying so I dont blame the knife. By the time I finally broke the knife it had over an 1/8 inch sharpened away.

Why dont I have one now? I have a small version of the same one but I dont carry it. At the time I carried it it was really only in competition with other pouch carry style knifes. Buck 110, uncle henry and so on. It was sleeker, lighter and I thought held and took a nicer edge. I thought it was nicer looking too. With the advent of spydie holes and thumb studs, and pant clips it just kinda became obsolete. Still a fine looking knife in my book and I have fond memories.

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ALex

http://home.att.net./~a.boriqua

Updated 10/15/00
 
The only Puma knife I've ever owned was a lockback folder similar in size to the Buck Ranger. There was some sort of blob of epoxy stuck to the blade, and it didn't lock properly. That turned me off the brand, but granted it's only a single example.

Razor

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AKTI #A000845
And tomorrow when you wake up it will be worse.

 
I have had a Sportec for a few years now, and aside from having to glue the little Puma medallion back into the handle, the knife is in great shape. The blade is easily sharpened and takes a great edge, the lock is totally solid, and there is no blade play. It's light, and fits my hand well. On the other side of the coin, I bought a Protec, and got rid of it almost immediately. The blade was high quality, and was even sharper than the Sportec, but the rest of the knife must have been put together in the dark. There were gaps where the handles joined, the metal was poorly cast/finished, the scale material was cheap and badly attached, and the lockup was wobbly. IIRC, the prices for both pieces were roughly equivalent. I wonder if the quality control has been slipping?
 
I own two Puma´s: Puma Cub ( a small folder) and Puma Trail Guard (a camp knife). I am not too satisfied with either of them. The DIN (Deutsche Industrie Norme) steel is a sensitive piece of matter and the edge I´ll get is not that great comparing to my Spydies, Benchmades and Bucks. I have a heck of a time sharpening it and after a little while the edge is gone again. So, I´d say; buy something else.
 
"... and since its pinned you cant snug it up."

Why not?

Set the knife on its side down on a slab of metal, tap gently with a small hammer on the end of the pin. Turn it over and repeat this. The pin will be forced slightly out at each side and mushroomed.

The first time I did this, I overdid it, and the blade was very stiff, so take it easy and feel your way through the process.
 
Hey thanks Esav Benyamin

Damn I dont know why I didnt think of that myself. In the day the 85 dollars I spent on that pocket knife was big money. Hey wait it still is. Thanks for the info

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ALex

http://home.att.net./~a.boriqua

Updated 10/15/00
 
I have a number of Pumas, all of them the higher end ones, not the new inexpensive line. I really like their styling and materials (most of mine are stag). The older carbon steel blades hold an unbelievable edge, and the newer stainless blades hold an edge better than the one example of ATS-34 that I have (Benchmade) and sharpen up easier, too. I find that they also hold a better edge than the Cold Steel Carbon V blade that I have. Of course these are all the more expensive forged knives, do they even forge the blades in the cheaper lines that most people are buying today?

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Die Entropie der Welt strebt einem Maximum zu - R.J.E. Clausius
 
KWG,
Thanks for the reminder...

I dooo have one complaint about my Protec!!!

The first time I opened the box and handled the knife, the cheapo Puma medallion/label fell off.
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I threw it in the box to later re-glue and I never got around to it.

I've got to go hunt that box down now.
Well, maybe after I log off!!
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--The Raptor--


[This message has been edited by Raptor (edited 10-21-2000).]
 
I have several Puma knives and they are very good knives that are mede with the old time craftmanship.
I have been a little dissapointed with some of their new cheaper models.
The ones I highly recommend:
Fixed blades
Puma Jagdnicker
Puma Hunter's Companion
Puma Cougar (Hehn design 154cm-blade)
Folders
All the 4-star series (lockbacks)
All the Custom series (lockbacks)
Puma 667 Explorer

For the collector I would recommend Puma folders with natural scales and non-locking blades (like the explorer) I think these will be gaining collector-value and are very well made.
 
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