What is the "Masterpiece" model for each brands?

Dean Crail said:
EKI: Combat Karambit
Ernie Emerson: Super CQC-6
Spyderco: Nirvana
Benchmade: Gold Class knives they are all gorgeous
Mick Strider: SJ75 Full Stealth
Strider: SnG
ZT: 0888
CRK: Sebenza 25
Microtech: NSWG Scarab
Marfione Custom: Dragon Slayer
Lionsteel: TiDust
Cold Steel: Everything they have ever made or ever will is shit
Kershaw: Tilt
Hinderer: XM-18
Busse: Battle Mistress
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Well, I see your opinion can be safely disregarded.
 
Agreed, "masterpieces" aren't necessarily the most practical, or common models, but rather the truly extraordinary models that are a cut above the ordinary:

Spyderco Mamba
Kershaw Premium Skyline and some if their limited Blur models
Buck 110 Lochsa
SAK swiis champ xavt, and their limited evowood/damascus series
Lionsteel TiDust
Benchmade Gold glass
Zero Tolerance 0392
Böker 145th anniversary series are very nicely done

Those are a few I would definitely consider masterpieces by the respective companies.
 
ZT: 0392
Benchmade: AFCK, ARES, 940
Spyderco: Military, PM2, DF2
Microtech: SOCOM Elite
CRK: Sebenza 21 Insingo
 
Masterpiece can also mean most representative of the brand, and should have already stood the test of time.

Spyderco: military and Paramilitary 2
Benchmade: 710 and 940
ZT: 0300 and 0560 then, 0562 and 0392 now
CRK: Sebenza
Emerson: cqc7
Microtech : HALO
Al Mar :SERE
Hinderer :XM18

And if you want something that says Wow! Then just about every top/flagship/most expensive models from any knife company can be considered.

Just my opinion.
 
lai77120 said:
Masterpiece can also mean most representative of the brand, and should have already stood the test of time.

Spyderco: military and Paramilitary 2
Benchmade: 710 and 940
ZT: 0300 and 0560 then, 0562 and 0392 now
CRK: Sebenza
Emerson: cqc7
Microtech : HALO
Al Mar :SERE
Hinderer :XM18

And if you want something that says Wow! Then just about every top/flagship/most expensive models from any knife company can be considered.

Just my opinion.
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So if someone makes a masterpiece it doesn't become a masterpiece until a certain amount of time passes?

So, for example, the Sistine chapel wasn't a masterpiece? Do you all think it is the artist or interpreters who decides what is a masterpiece? Or is the artist just another interpreter?
 
BenchCo.Without some kinda of common standard or criterias, anything can be seen as a masterpiece by someone, I mean I consider my 5 year old daughters hand drawn birthday card to me a masterpiece. Besides we are talking about essentially a tool here, and without actually handling it or use it, based you opinion on first impression alone does not satisfy my criteria of a masterpiece.
Beside I did end with... Just my opinion. You welcome to have yours. I don't think I'm trying to change anyone's mind of what qualify a knife as a masterpiece. So relax if I offend you in anyways 😆
 
lai77120 said:
BenchCo.Without some kinda of common standard or criterias, anything can be seen as a masterpiece by someone, I mean I consider my 5 year old daughters hand drawn birthday card to me a masterpiece. Besides we are talking about essentially a tool here, and without actually handling it or use it, based you opinion on first impression alone does not satisfy my criteria of a masterpiece.
Beside I did end with... Just my opinion. You welcome to have yours. I don't think I'm trying to change anyone's mind of what qualify a knife as a masterpiece. So relax if I offend you in anyways 😆
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Hey, I didn't mean that your opinion was wrong, I was just using your post to expand the discussion to hear other people's opinion of a masterpiece. Sorry if it came out wrong[emoji2]
 
Masterpiece can also mean most representative of the brand, and should have already stood the test of time.
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Yes that was kind of how I interpreted it for this forum but it is a good point that a masterpiece from the perspective of say another knife maker could be so from day one. Some one with the most critical eye for the particular art/craft could spot it right off . . . the rest of us might have to wait and see how it falls out.

For me, talking just pocket / folding knives now, . . . for me the master piece is one that at the least doesn't piss me off when I use it and at the best is one that I am not disappointed when I experience it . . . you know . . . you handle it and think "well they could have done that better if they would have thought it through" or " if they ACTUALLY used this thing they would have done it this other way" or "gosh can't they feel how awful that feels ? If they just took a little off the latch or smoothed that out it could be SOOOO much better in the hand".

I mean I make stuff out of metal and tune high end sporting goods and so it is very obvious to me what needs to be done and often the changes are not all that time consuming or expensive to make . . . it is just that they don't even realize how good it could be . . .

The Buck 110 . . . I found I had no use for it for my city slicker world it just does not fit into what I do
BUT
for what it is designed for and the execution of it I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING ! It is really, really, really nicely done.

And the Case Trapper (in stag is the only way in my opinion) now that one really works for me and I can use the heck out of it and again . . . when I look at it, when I handle it, when I use it . . . I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING.
IT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT ME more than that it is a feast and I find myself going over it an appreciating the details and the overall package and execution and these (the Buck 110 and the Case Trapper) are not expensive ! ! ! they are just great though. They are masterpieces within the price range or application or playing field



 
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Did they make any knives after the Randall model 1-7 with a stacked leather handle 0-1...Why??




2 Panther
 
Hi BenchCo, no offense taken. I might have came off a bit too strong as well 😆

If I have to make a call and pick something from a current design, then maybe something like the ZT0999. (I want to leave out all those lust inducing customs from tri-city and Arizona custom 😍)

The 0999 represent the latest, greatest and the most of the current state of folding knife art. We'll have to wait and see if it can stay relevant in a few years time and have any impacts on future folder design.

Just a thought... Are we just confusing a SHOW piece with masterpiece sometime?
 
shqxk said:
What is the most valuable, arguably the best model ever produced for each brands/makers in your opinion?
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I can't speak for other companies, however, if I were to choose the best from the company that I admire, I'd choose specific models from Benchmade's Gold Class offerings..

Two of my favorites.. Google search a plain Jane 531 for comparison.

531-131

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2beea58f-6fcd-44f0-928c-26b4aa97f059_zpsfp1uj5ay.jpg


531-132

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b7293a33-4f84-4a6a-a454-242732c5f83b_zpsbiihz0o5.jpg
 
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Any thoughts on the now defunct, Schrade brand? Not the new made in China stuff.
Were they every any good and worthy of a mention? Or just all hype?
 
Microtech: Socom Elite
Leatherman:Wave/Charge
Victorinox: Classic & Swisstool
Benchmade: Griptilian
Spyderco: Gayle Bradley & Para2
SOG: Flash 1
Chris Reeve Knives: Regular Sebenza
 
Hey fellows,

interesting question. Generally spoke, "The right tool for the right job".
So, which one is a companies "Masterpiece" might be a personal choice of favour.
For me it is:

for Busse = the FFBM with saber grind (closely followed by the NMFBM)
for Cold Steel = the early Trailmaster in Carbon V (because thats a legend)
for Extrema Ratio = the Dobermann III
for Svörd, New Zealand = the von Tempsky Bowie

Cheers!
Vincent
 
Spyderco: Endura/Delica in VG10 (just classics!)
Benchmade: 940 (hard to choose here but it's the first one that comes to mind)
Kershaw: Skyline
Cold Steel: Recon Clip Point in AUS8, honorable mention to the Lawman in the same steel
ZT: 0454 (the highest evolution of the modern folder?)
Kabar: USMC (of course!)
Becker: BK9
ESEE: Rat2, Izula
Mora: Clipper (Honorable mention to one of the "Classic" models)
Chris Reeve: Large Sebenza (of course!)
Busse: can't decide
Swamprat: Ratmandu
Scrapyard Knives: 711 (only because it's my favorite of the ones I own)
Victorinox: want to say the Farmer but I don't think it's the Masterpiece. can't decide.
 
I think a lot of you are confusing masterpiece with flagship
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Probably the truest statement in this thread. A masterpiece is an artist's or craftsman's best piece of work, most of those mentioned are mass produced products that come nowhere near being able to meet that definition. Going further, if one uses the traditional definition of masterpiece, it would be the sole item used to mark that maker as a "Master". It would be judged by those who hold that rating to be among the very best produced, or capable of being produced.

I highly recommend you take the time to go look at the knifes set out by the custom makers in hopes of being good enough to gain them the coveted right to mark their work as being made by a master cutler.
 
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