Which Custom?

[anthony cheeseboro]

This year, like a lot of folks, I'm cutting back on expenses. because of this, I will have to be much more slective about the knives I buy. I think that I probably just get two customs this year, one will be a framelock Obenauf that is already ordered. The second will be either a Stellite Duncan Mini Whiplash or a one of P.J. Tomes' little folders that has one lockblade and one slipjoint blade. Which would you guys pick and why?

 

[Ebbtide]

I say go old school and get the Tomes.
PJ is a heckofa nice guy.
His folders are impeccable & the word smooth doesn't do 'em justice.
Arizona has a coupla PJ SJ's on sale too, sadly not the combo that you mentioned.

Just my 2¢ FWIW

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

Go with the Tomes, his knife has tradition, class and real craftsmanship going for it unlike the other.

 

[ARtsig1]

I have a Duncan that I just got last month and it is my first. If you want a knife that just glides open then you want the Duncan. The roller bearing system he uses is as smooth as any knife I have ever opened, in fact it is the smoothest knife I have opened. The Tomes though is a slick looking knife and the old patterns, when done by a good custom maker, are a beautiful thing to behold!

A+ for the choice of the Obenauf framelocker! I have two with a third also on order and they are GREAT.

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

I decided to go with the Brad Duncan. I love P.J. Tomes' work, but I already have three of his knives and I had no Duncans until now. The Duncan is super smooth like a Chew. Mine is a manual and it flies out with barely any pressure; I can only imagine how his autos must fly open! This knife can still be seen on www.knifeart.com I got the Mini police Whiplash. It has a great lock up and it is shaving sharp. In reality, it is a bit smaller than the 2 3/4" blade length and 6 1/2" overall length that is advertised.

Frankly, knives with 2.75" blades and 6.5" overall length have truly become my favorite EDC. I have four customs that are in this size range: my DeVilliers Exectac Spearpoint; my Brian Geyer Flipper; my Obenauf Mini Model 2; and this new Duncan. I also have an Mnandi which is about this size, but it is built more thinly than my customs. These are great polite company sized knives that are big enough for some serious cutting. I can see where some people may not like knives this size because they have fairly small handles, but I have no problem with them.