Which came first, Reate Horizon or Freeman 451?

if you look at freemans fixed blades from gerber, the design is kind of similar to his new folder.and those gerber designed knives were around before the horizon c. I highly doubt freeman was thinking horizon c when he came out with it.
 
Is yours an older 451 or newer?. I see some on his page with the more rounded edges on the handles which I prefer.

Mine is older, when you only had a few options. Also the aluminum handles were dura coated, which flakes so Jeff had me send it back and instead anodized handles from then on I believe.
 
Mine is older, when you only had a few options. Also the aluminum handles were dura coated, which flakes so Jeff had me send it back and instead anodized handles from then on I believe.

So far looks like a bunch of well informed knife people.
Yes, I did design this knife as a fixed blade. Final form or design was completed in 2010. The initial versions were prototypes in 2005 but they didn't go to market. When I started my company, I made a similar version and called it the 451 fixed blade. The 451 BLF folder followed that.
I agree, there are bound to be similarities but I don't think there is any "borrowing" going on here. Just a couple similar solutions arrived at from different sides of the earth.
Yes, handle coating is hard anodized on the 6061 aluminum frame version. Also offered in 6Al-4V with tumbled and blasted finish.
Yes, the edge is concave (curves in) rather than convex (curves out or radiused edge). The concave is made with a 1/4" ball end mill chased around the profile. I initially did this for manufacturing purposes and found that I liked the grip better so I stuck with it.
 
Seems to me that is the generic modern american folding knife shape...


I talked with Freeman at length about customizing and engraving a knife, he seemed like a nice business man
 
Thanks for chiming in Mr Freeman. I'm glad you feel your design wasn't a pattern or starting point for another company's knife. Looks like I'm the only one that thinks the profile looks nearly identical except for a very slight difference at the butt.

Since you are here, do you think you will ever offer other steel options? Like M390 or other more carbide rich cutlery 'super' steel? I would love to have a Ti version with M390 or similar and run a little harder (like 62Hrc for M390) as I really like the way it sharpens, the aggressive edge, and the edge holding. A G10 handle option would be nice too but I realize that changes the construction a lot.

Which of the current steels do you feel holds an edge better? I have yet to try S35VN because I haven't been a big fan of S30V. I have tried D2 I liked but it was run a few points harder than 58-59 unless that's just for the S35VN?

Also, is your lock a pretty standard design button lock? Have you done any testing of it's strength and reliability?

I do hope to have one someday soon!
 
Your dog has four legs!?!?!?!!? I'm gonna need an address to send the cease and desist. My dogs have four legs too. And Im pretty sure I had them first. :D

I'm going to need to find a three-legged dog so I can be certain he's mine and not really a clone...
 
Boy mr freeman it must take a lot of patience to take that long to bring this folder from concept to reality..next time I carry mine ill have a whole new outlook on it...
 
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