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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
what do you think of Masters of Defense?
- Thread starter cognitivefun
- Start date
goldie
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2000
- Messages
- 4,509
ive had one of the smaller dieters for a few years, i like it alot. even though im not too crazy about black blades, this doesnt seen like a coating,seems more like its part of the steel,not on top like other coatings. wish the pocket clip was closer to the top...........
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2005
- Messages
- 67
Dear Mr. Janich,
I need help. I've been using my MOD CQD Mark 1 in all our law enforcement operations. Just last week, we made entry into an establishment. As I was making my way up, my knife feel out of it's sheath (it was sheathed behind me where my pistol would normally go). Knife feel from a height of 3-4 feet. I picked it up and continued. When I got home, I examined my knife and noticed some lateral blade play where there wasn't any before. I tried to tighten the pivot screw and applied loctite above the screw but that didn't seem to help.
Earlier on, the pocket clip of my CQD got bent, so I decided to live with it and took the clip out. However, lateral blade play is another matter. I hope that this will be covered by my warranty as I have really, really enjoyed this knife and do not wish to purchase any other type of knife.
Is there any way you can help me out with this? May you please contact me so I could properly address this matter? Any invaluable assistance you may give me in this situation is highly appreciated.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Dennis
I need help. I've been using my MOD CQD Mark 1 in all our law enforcement operations. Just last week, we made entry into an establishment. As I was making my way up, my knife feel out of it's sheath (it was sheathed behind me where my pistol would normally go). Knife feel from a height of 3-4 feet. I picked it up and continued. When I got home, I examined my knife and noticed some lateral blade play where there wasn't any before. I tried to tighten the pivot screw and applied loctite above the screw but that didn't seem to help.
Earlier on, the pocket clip of my CQD got bent, so I decided to live with it and took the clip out. However, lateral blade play is another matter. I hope that this will be covered by my warranty as I have really, really enjoyed this knife and do not wish to purchase any other type of knife.
Is there any way you can help me out with this? May you please contact me so I could properly address this matter? Any invaluable assistance you may give me in this situation is highly appreciated.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Dennis
Michael Janich
Moderator
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2002
- Messages
- 257
Dear Dennis:
Thanks for your post.
It's hard to say what the issue might be with your knife, but since there was no abuse on your part, any necessary repairs would be covered by the lifetime warranty. All you need to do is to contact BlackHawk at 800-694-5263 and tell them that you need a "service quote" for your knife. They will guide you through the process of shipping your knife back to them. Once it's back in the shop, they will give it a thorough look, replace parts as necessary, and get it back in proper working order. The service is free, but there is a small charge for shipping.
I hope this helps. Thanks for your confidence in MOD knives.
Stay safe,
Thanks for your post.
It's hard to say what the issue might be with your knife, but since there was no abuse on your part, any necessary repairs would be covered by the lifetime warranty. All you need to do is to contact BlackHawk at 800-694-5263 and tell them that you need a "service quote" for your knife. They will guide you through the process of shipping your knife back to them. Once it's back in the shop, they will give it a thorough look, replace parts as necessary, and get it back in proper working order. The service is free, but there is a small charge for shipping.
I hope this helps. Thanks for your confidence in MOD knives.
Stay safe,
I've owned 3 MOD folders over the years. Although high-quality, they are a bit over-priced. I've bought knives of similar quality for less $$$, and with a better finish on the blade than the bead-blasted one that came on the Tempest. The other problem was that I switched the clip on my Tempest for tip-down carry. Unfortunately, the knife ends up sticking far too much out of the pocket; even for those who prefer a lower mounted carry-clip. The knife snagged on a few occassions and fell out of my pocket.
Seems this thread will not die!
I have been interested in getting my first MOD, and I just ordered one from NGK before signing on here.
I got an ATFK, plain edge. I will post my thoughts when it arrives.
I dislike most of MODs "out there" designs, but their more "normal" looking knives such as the ATFK look very good and down-to-business IMO.
I actually like the fact that they use aluminum and 154CM. I am into modern high-end folders and am new to knives, so most of what I buy is S30V, G-10, and Titanium, since those are the "in vogue" materials and I didn't start buying knives until these materials became the flavor of the month. They are fantastic materials, but MOD offers me something a little different. If I had been into knives for a few years and already had more 154CM and aluminum in my knife drawer, I might feel their materials are dated, but for my collection, MOD's current materials are great for variety.
I cannot comment on the fit and finish, but I don't understand why people say MODs (and Emersons) are overpriced. The ATFK cost me $145, which is only a couple ten-spots more than a large high-end Spyderco like a Manix or Military, or a Benchmade like a 710. It is only 15 bucks more than a SERE, and the SERE is a huge bargain. Considering that Spyderco and Benchmade are larger companies, they can afford to charge less. For a smaller company like MOD that deals in less volume, I think their prices are right what they should be compared to similar models from Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, and Kershaw.
I understand that some of the other options have S30V and G-10, but I really don't think that 154CM and aluminum is functionally all that inferior. I see the problem in paying 10-15 bucks more to get less expensive materials, but after buying so many Spydercos, BMs, Bucks, Kershaws, etc... I am more than willing to pay a tiny 10 bucks more to get something different and a little more esoteric.
Companies like MOD, Emerson, Microtech, Lone Wolf etc... cost a little more because they are smaller and cannot sell as many knives each month. The larger companies can make less profit per knife to stay afloat, and their entire business is probably run a little smoother and more efficiantly. So I don't mind paying a little more to get something a little more special and rare, or to help out a deserving company that isn't all that well-known.
I have been interested in getting my first MOD, and I just ordered one from NGK before signing on here.
I got an ATFK, plain edge. I will post my thoughts when it arrives.
I dislike most of MODs "out there" designs, but their more "normal" looking knives such as the ATFK look very good and down-to-business IMO.
I actually like the fact that they use aluminum and 154CM. I am into modern high-end folders and am new to knives, so most of what I buy is S30V, G-10, and Titanium, since those are the "in vogue" materials and I didn't start buying knives until these materials became the flavor of the month. They are fantastic materials, but MOD offers me something a little different. If I had been into knives for a few years and already had more 154CM and aluminum in my knife drawer, I might feel their materials are dated, but for my collection, MOD's current materials are great for variety.
I cannot comment on the fit and finish, but I don't understand why people say MODs (and Emersons) are overpriced. The ATFK cost me $145, which is only a couple ten-spots more than a large high-end Spyderco like a Manix or Military, or a Benchmade like a 710. It is only 15 bucks more than a SERE, and the SERE is a huge bargain. Considering that Spyderco and Benchmade are larger companies, they can afford to charge less. For a smaller company like MOD that deals in less volume, I think their prices are right what they should be compared to similar models from Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, and Kershaw.
I understand that some of the other options have S30V and G-10, but I really don't think that 154CM and aluminum is functionally all that inferior. I see the problem in paying 10-15 bucks more to get less expensive materials, but after buying so many Spydercos, BMs, Bucks, Kershaws, etc... I am more than willing to pay a tiny 10 bucks more to get something different and a little more esoteric.
Companies like MOD, Emerson, Microtech, Lone Wolf etc... cost a little more because they are smaller and cannot sell as many knives each month. The larger companies can make less profit per knife to stay afloat, and their entire business is probably run a little smoother and more efficiantly. So I don't mind paying a little more to get something a little more special and rare, or to help out a deserving company that isn't all that well-known.
Hair said:
I can't speak for others who feel the same way, but for me it has to do with quality, price and competition. By price, I mean retail price. A few years ago, when I bought my MOD Tempest, it retailed for $189.00 (Nowadays, you can't find an MOD folder in NYC for less than $200.00). If I go to a competitor, I can easily get a knife with the same quality, a better finish, and for less $$$; usually $60 less! In NYC, that translates into being able to afford a Spyderco Delica and still have enough $$$ left over for a meal! Sure, MOD is a smaller company than Spyderco; but consumers are more interested in quality-to-cost ratio. Why buy from a smaller company that charges more, when you can get the same quality in a nearly identical model from a larger company that charges less?
The same thing applies with Emerson's Production knives. Unless you're a huge fan of the Wave feature, or really prefer thumb-disk openers; why spend the extra $$$ on an Emerson? (Even if you love the wave feature, it's possible to get it without paying extra for an Emerson). Add to that the fact that even the Wave-less models are all tip-up carry, thus limiting the number of people willing to spend the extra $$$ for an Emerson. For example, I was very excited when Emerson first released the Raven model. I was willing to spend the extra $$$ to get one, until I found out that it was going to be tip-up carry only! For some of us who prefer tip-down, there's no reason to buy an Emerson knife....... With Emerson, those first Production models were less-than-great. The Benchmade version of Emerson's CQC-7 was affordable and high-quality. Emerson's Production version of it was affordable...... and only affordable. Some folks don't want to take a chance on an Emerson Production piece because they still remember the QC problems with the first production pieces that came out.
I got my ATFK today. I am at work and don't have time to give a detailed review, but here are my thoughts:
The overall size is exactly what i wanted. The ergos are very good.
The blade is VERY sharp out of the box.
The action is VERY gritty. I lubed it but it didn't seem to help... But after playing with the knife more, I realized it only sounds gritty. If I am in a noisy environment, I cannot tell- it feels smooth. But if it is quiet, the knife sounds gritty. I am hoping this will go away as the knife is broken in.
The grip tape stuff is great.
The lock seems very solid.
Only a little (very little) front/back play. No side to side play.
There are some other issues I want to mention, but I must go...
The overall size is exactly what i wanted. The ergos are very good.
The blade is VERY sharp out of the box.
The action is VERY gritty. I lubed it but it didn't seem to help... But after playing with the knife more, I realized it only sounds gritty. If I am in a noisy environment, I cannot tell- it feels smooth. But if it is quiet, the knife sounds gritty. I am hoping this will go away as the knife is broken in.
The grip tape stuff is great.
The lock seems very solid.
Only a little (very little) front/back play. No side to side play.
There are some other issues I want to mention, but I must go...
Okay, I am back.
When I tried to take the knife apart to try and fix the gritty-sounding action, I realized one of the screws was already stripped.
There are some white "specks" in the black finish.
These two issues along with the gritty sound mean the fit and finish isn't great for the price. I still consider it well-worth the money because the design and lock are so good. I like it more than my 710, Military, Manix, and SERE. But I would recommend those before an ATFK to other people because my reasons for prefering the ATFK are very subjective: The knife is just big enough for my hand without being larger than it needs to be, I love drop points with slight recurved, I love the grip tape, I love the look.
It is a very stout knife. Despite being full-size but not big, it feels as strong as just about any folder I own. It is a great no-nonsense work knife that is very stout but still a great cutter. The fit and finish keep it from being perfect.
The button lock is nothing new or unique to MOD, but I still really like it. I am not much of a flicker, so I like the Axis lock because it lets you close the knife easily without putting your hand in the path of the blade, not because it is easy to flick open and closed. The button lock allows the same thing, but is easier to unlock, IMO. I like it even more than the Axis lock.
When I tried to take the knife apart to try and fix the gritty-sounding action, I realized one of the screws was already stripped.
There are some white "specks" in the black finish.
These two issues along with the gritty sound mean the fit and finish isn't great for the price. I still consider it well-worth the money because the design and lock are so good. I like it more than my 710, Military, Manix, and SERE. But I would recommend those before an ATFK to other people because my reasons for prefering the ATFK are very subjective: The knife is just big enough for my hand without being larger than it needs to be, I love drop points with slight recurved, I love the grip tape, I love the look.
It is a very stout knife. Despite being full-size but not big, it feels as strong as just about any folder I own. It is a great no-nonsense work knife that is very stout but still a great cutter. The fit and finish keep it from being perfect.
The button lock is nothing new or unique to MOD, but I still really like it. I am not much of a flicker, so I like the Axis lock because it lets you close the knife easily without putting your hand in the path of the blade, not because it is easy to flick open and closed. The button lock allows the same thing, but is easier to unlock, IMO. I like it even more than the Axis lock.
Okay, I got home from work and decided to **** with the knife some more to try and make it smoother. After some more opening and closing, I decided the knife actually feels a bit rough and doesn't just sound rough.
I remembered that I had a Leatherman Bit Kit and found a bit that would work (barely) on the stripped screw, so now I could get the knife apart.
It turns out the problem is the ball baring used to detent the knife closed. It wasn't smooth.
Since the knife *barely* detents closed anyways, I decided to remove it.
Now the knife is silky smooth. One of the smoothest I own. It doesn't have anything to keep it closed, but it doesn't fall open any easier than many of my liner locks with a detent.
I got the screws back in without any further stripping. But I switched the clip to tip-up carry and now one of the clip screws is stripped.
I am much more happy with the knife now that it is butter smooth and tip-up, but I am annoyed with the screws being so easy to strip and one of them coming pre-stripped.
The screws being junk is a problem and MOD should address it. The problems with the black finish on the handle is also annoying. And of course, the detent SHOULD have worked and not have to be removed in order to make the knife open smoothly.
But I can get over some white specks in the finish, and I can deal with a clip screw being stripped since the clip is now in the position that I want it, and while I shouldn't have had to remove the ball baring, now that I have all is well. So as the knife is now, it is easily one of my favorites. But it does have some quarks. If the clip screw had gotten stripped on the way out, and I couldn't get it the tip-up side, I would be pissed. I shouldn't have to baby the screws to the point that you cannot tighten them down at all without fear of stripping them.
Stripped screws or no, as the knife is now, I am in love with it. Great blade shape, great handle ergos, great looks, great lock, amazingly smooth action, very tough overall build (aside from the crappy screws), tight clip, very sharp, great grip, and nice size.
While I am not a fan of flicking, the knife can now be flicked open and closed easier than any Axis lock I own. To me, the button lock is an easier to use Axis lock because you don't have to pull the bar down (which is more akward than pushing a button). I think the Axis lock would be stronger, though.
I remembered that I had a Leatherman Bit Kit and found a bit that would work (barely) on the stripped screw, so now I could get the knife apart.
It turns out the problem is the ball baring used to detent the knife closed. It wasn't smooth.
Since the knife *barely* detents closed anyways, I decided to remove it.
Now the knife is silky smooth. One of the smoothest I own. It doesn't have anything to keep it closed, but it doesn't fall open any easier than many of my liner locks with a detent.
I got the screws back in without any further stripping. But I switched the clip to tip-up carry and now one of the clip screws is stripped.
I am much more happy with the knife now that it is butter smooth and tip-up, but I am annoyed with the screws being so easy to strip and one of them coming pre-stripped.
The screws being junk is a problem and MOD should address it. The problems with the black finish on the handle is also annoying. And of course, the detent SHOULD have worked and not have to be removed in order to make the knife open smoothly.
But I can get over some white specks in the finish, and I can deal with a clip screw being stripped since the clip is now in the position that I want it, and while I shouldn't have had to remove the ball baring, now that I have all is well. So as the knife is now, it is easily one of my favorites. But it does have some quarks. If the clip screw had gotten stripped on the way out, and I couldn't get it the tip-up side, I would be pissed. I shouldn't have to baby the screws to the point that you cannot tighten them down at all without fear of stripping them.
Stripped screws or no, as the knife is now, I am in love with it. Great blade shape, great handle ergos, great looks, great lock, amazingly smooth action, very tough overall build (aside from the crappy screws), tight clip, very sharp, great grip, and nice size.
While I am not a fan of flicking, the knife can now be flicked open and closed easier than any Axis lock I own. To me, the button lock is an easier to use Axis lock because you don't have to pull the bar down (which is more akward than pushing a button). I think the Axis lock would be stronger, though.