What's everyones opinion of Medford knives?

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Small, tough, safe ... and it cuts ...

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http://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-PryMate-Fixed-Blade--5537
 
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dogrunner said:
OK, now onto the really important question! I will preface this by saying that Medford is certainly not the only knife that could be used, or even the best. I was just noting that I do like it for some purposes. For the record, because BB called me out in a PM - I find that really inappropriate. I actually had to go do chores, am on my way back out, and don't enjoy silly internet debates. I have been a BF member for a long time and find this to be a good community with plenty of knowledgeable folks who I have learned a lot from. But I have also seen some of these discussions quickly degrade into religious wars, which is where I back out. I'm happy to answer questions when I have something useful to say, but I don't know why you would care about my opinion otherwise, and honestly I do not care about yours (that is a general statement, not aimed at BluesB) when it is not based on actual information.
So here goes.
For me, knives are tools. I enjoy nice tools, but in the end they have to do the job. One of my all time favorite cutting tools is a spyderco PM2 with carbon fiber scales and S90V blade. I really like the CF scales, but honestly G10 would be fine. I like that knife because of the blade shape, grind and steel (all the things that make it an excellent cutter that never needs sharpening ;) ).
Tools should match the task, of course, and I don't know about you, but I own and use a wide variety of tools that excel at different jobs and suck at others (hammer, saw, screwdrivers with way too many types of tips, you know what I mean).
Same is true for knives. I own way more than one person really needs, though, because I like to try out different designs. My EDC rotation is pretty small though, because if I am going to actually carry something, I better have a use for it. The rest live in a closet or get occasional use when the need arises.
For working around the property (dog farm), house, and field work (I am a wildlife biologist) typically includes a Military (used to be PM2, but I got addicted to the slightly longer blade) and since I tried it out, a Medford 187 DPT (the T means tanto grind tip). I also carry at least one fixed blade (4" or so) when I have backpack, and a larger blade (an old swamprat battlerat) and machete in my truck.
In many instances, I only have folders with me (no pack and at some distance from vehicle or buildings). I work in remote areas frequently and find that folders are more convenient to carry a lot of times, because you get a more compact package for the same blade length. Anyway, you may prefer a different mode.

BB wanted to know what I use my Medford 187 DPT for (the model I actually carry and use). That is really the only interesting question in this thread - what do you use your knife for.
Dog kennel and general construction and maintenance.
Fencing and fence repair.
Dog sledding and camping.
I want a tool that will always be on me that can handle application of pressure up to the tip, cut webbing and rope efficiently, cut horse stall mats, split wood (NOT cut down trees), carve out wooden fence posts for fitting hardware (hinges and hasps, etc), etc.
Again, there are plenty of alternatives, but I find that the Medf is a good solution for me. It has a very robust tip, first and foremost.
I do a lot of tip work and I have broken tips of other knives (original PM2 for example). I am sort of obsessed with steel toughness because of that, but as we all know, steel is only part of the equation. Get a good HT and a thick blade and it is not going to break. The only question is does it still function as a knife :)
What else?
Split wood to shape, which often means driving in the edge and twisting.
Gouging and twisting tip into wood.
Scraping to clean or flatten wooden surfaces. This is something that I specifically don't do with my mili because it is too slicey - the edge digs in rather than runs along the surface.
Cutting horse stall mats - they are rubber reinforced with fiber. About 3/4" thick, usually dirty. They actually slice ok once you have scored a cut and can bend the rubber where you want to make the cut, but it is easier to do this with a thin-bladed Mili or PM2 if you score it first something with a thicker edge that won't slice in too deep and bind.

cut webbing and rope. The mili or PM2s definitely excel at this, but the Medford does it fine too, as long as I maintain the edge. Only knock there is S90V (PM2) or Cruwear (mili) stays sharper longer (noticably more wear resistant) than the Medford's D2.

Breaking thick ice on water buckets in winter? That is definitely a job I do NOT do with my spydercos. No problem for the thick tip on the Medford. Any pointy and robust piece of metal will work, and in the dog barn I might have such an object. But I always have a knife. So that often dictates what gets the work.

Those are just off the top of my head - things I do routinely.
Do I specifically need a medford for all that? No. Can the medford do all that? Yes. Do I worry about it breaking doing any of that? NO! That is why I wanted to find a folder like this. Does a wide range of jobs, useful a lot, does not need to be the best at any one thing. There are probably other knives out there that could do as well, but this was about Medford and I can only speak to tools I actually use.

Sorry for the long post. But wanted to give a more fully formed response, fwiw.
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Thanks for the response!

I'm not trying to knock you for owning a Medford, I just fail to see what advantage they offer over many other knives that are very capable of hard-use (see the 3 I posted above; and thanks for the compliment Nellem!)

I have no problem with someone enjoying an overbuilt folder for aesthetic reasons, but when people try to justify the ridiculously-thick construction as "I need that" then I don't get it!

I'm a construction worker, and I use the hell out of my knives so I completely understand the need for a well-built folder. However, I've never encountered a task where .100-.150 of blade stock "wasn't enough".

I've done many things like:

-Scraping concrete off surfaces
-cut insulation, drywall, vinyl, silt fence, wood, cardboard, thin metals, thick plastics, etc.
-pry access panels, baseboards, paint cans, duct work, wall plates, gutters, 2x4's etc.
-hammer my edge through thick materials like zip ties, straps, and wire
-reaming holes in wood and plastic
-break glass
-use as a door stop:)
-open beer bottles (after work):)
-cut/strip wires
-use the blade as a temporary shim
-trim caulk/fire block off of penetrations
-hammer the tip through sump crocks for drainage

The list goes on!!!

To be honest, the unwieldy size of a Medford would actually make these tasks harder, not easier for me. Maybe I'm wrong and a Medford makes your job easier, but I just can't see it through.

I'm glad to know you're using that knife like Greg intends though! It's pretty funny when you see guys with overbuilt-safe-queens, it almost defeats the purpose of the knife:D

In the end, we are both 2 different people that carry a knife for different purposes, so maybe I just haven't found the need for something like a Medford...yet. I just feel that the construction of said knife is more of an image rather than a function.
 
I didn't need to use a a Dark-Ops to know it was nonsense. The same applies, here.

I can afford a premium knife. I own a few, in fact. I will not pay premium for nonsense.
 
I own 2 Medfords, a Praetorian and a micro praetorian. I really like both knives very much. To be perfectly honest, they are priced too high. But Greg sells many of them, and still are usually sought after even at $600. I did not want to pay $600, so both purchases were near new knives that I bought for considerably less. Do I have to have them? No, but I like them, actually really like them. They are very well made; and again to be honest cut very well for my needs. Both knives are in my rotation, along with Hinderers, Striders, ZT's and several high end customs. I see both sides of the thread, both bring up legitimate opinions. So... I carry what I like, the OP should do the same. Have a great evening my friends.
 
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Blues Bender said:
I think they're trying too hard at the whole 'MERICA!!! Thing. Sure they're big, bad, overbuilt and stuff but I have yet to see a Medford being used for tasks that require such overbuilt construction. I've seen them being used for the same tasks an Opinel can accomplish (better). If people like them for aesthetics, cool! But thinking there is any advantage to the construction of a Medford is laughable...

I find this quote on their website to be golden: "When you buy one of our knives…you will not want another."

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Enough said...
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lmao agreed 100%
 
I will say, they are quality knives, but they are not practical and the ergonomics don't quite agree with my hands. Beautiful fit and finish, though.
 
That would be an "M" milled into the clip.
But now that you mention it... With the screws it does kinda look like Sponge Bob, or even more so, a muppet. LOL!!
 
My opinion?



Blues - hilarious, brother! "When you buy one of our knives, you will not want another." Classic. :D
 
Airkat Dwaine carrillo custom knife seems a much better investment than a production Medford
 
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