Who is buying an MDK?

G

Giz

Joined
Sep 19, 1999
Messages
17
Be honest now. Before the tests that Mike conducted who was honestly going to purchase a MDK.

Who will not purchase a MDK after this mess has transpired?

Who is going to call their favorite authorized MDK dealer and tell them they just have to have one?

Who is going to cancel or sell their place in line? (please mention your place in line.)

I would like to have this as objective as possible so please be honest. If you have never thought about purchasing an MDK please do NOT respond.

Thanks Giz
 
On 9 September, after long months of indecision, mostly over money, I finally decided to purchase some Mad Dogs.

At first, I asked for a TUSK and an Arizona Hunter. I like the designs of both. Mind you, this was long after the Cliff Stamp testing debate. Do I consider Cliff's testing fair? Sure. God knows what a knife will have to do (at this point, I am acquiring blades for possible Y2K crises), and I'd like to know its limits beforehand. I wish EVERY blade could be worked until it was destroyed.

A few days later, I chickened out of spending $905, and asked for the new design ATAK Thing instead. Shannon Lew kindly accepted the change. He has also kindly accepted my more recent decision to switch my order from a 1/4 inch AZ Hunter to a 3/16 inch because I may use it as a defensive knife instead of pure utility.

Now the sad after-effects of more Mad Dog testing. Do I believe that an ATAK chipped in testing? Sure. Do I also believe that Arnistador and many others have seen NO damage from years of hard use and their own testing? Sure. What do I make of it? I don't know. Bad luck, maybe? An occasional knife not up to par? I've read in the recent controversy that the industry average for returns is 6%. Any reported MD problems are well within the normal limits.

There are a number of questions which remain, but I will not accuse anyone of anything. I felt a few misgivings, but not now, because I do not use knives that hard. I doubt even my cheapest knife, a $10 CS Bushman, will break on a bad guy's skin, my intended usage. If I ever do want to use a knife for prying, chopping open a car, taking down a tree or splitting logs, I'll grab one of my FULLY guranteed Himalayan Imports khukuris with confidence.

I am just a collector. I am not a martial artist, outdoorsman, LEO, or anyone who will put a knife to "hard" use under any forseeable circumstances. My most expensive blades have a revered place in my home, and they are for show. I hope that does not offend people "serious" about blades. I spend hours practicing my sharpening on my inexpensive Cold Steels, my CRKTs, my SOG, my Benchmade butterfly knife, etc., and testing the edges on paper products and shaving. It's just fun.

Eric Takabayashi
Fukuyama, Japan

[This message has been edited by E (edited 07 November 1999).]
 
My primary interest is in fighters, so the whole Cliff/testing stuff is academic to me. IF I win this dang lawsuit and win big, yes, I'll order a Panther and yes, I'll have Kevin custom-engrave it "To my dear friend Sheriff Rupf, you are cordially invited to BITE ME, signed, Jim March".

Or...*maybe* a SuperShrike/Voodoo Queen.

Jim
 
I went back and forth on the purchase of an ATAK for a long time (I own a DSU2). As a point of reference, I have been an FFL for ~6 years and a knife dealer for ~2years.

Mad Dog Knives are good solid premium knives that serve a very loyal customer base. Personally, I would not want to use that type of knife in a saltwater environment but, on the farm in Oklahoma, in Texas or, my current residence here in Arizona, the knife will/would work very well for all the uses it would see from myself (I don't dimantle mines, turn 4 doors cars into convertibles, go salt water fishing, work as a lumberjack, etc).

Over time, I have been exposed to more makers and many more knives. My personal tastes and preferences have changed. There are many custom and high end production knives that offer all or almost all of the performance I need and I spend my personal money differently now. I also am more immune to all the hype and unrealistic claims and expectations that are talked about so much.

With regards to MDK specifically, I quit considering them as personal knives long before this. Initially, I found his approach to competitors and customers with questions (and heaven forbid, a problem) to be unsatisfactory. Part of what makes knifemakers great is that they put a little bit of themselves in every knife they make so, any negative comment or question can seem to be a personal attack. The question is how abrassive is the maker when these issues raise their ugly head? How do they deal with it?

The fans of the Sebenza seem to be just as loyal as members of the Dog Pound. End users will jump in and support the Sebenza as members of the Dog Pound do MDK products. The big difference becomes obvious once the makers respond. With so many class acts in the knife industry, I fail to see why people insist on supporting some of the less customer oriented makers.

Sid Post - no longer a MDK buyer
 
Hello, I have considered buying a MDK over the years but decided not to a few months ago. First I posted on the other forum a question about what made a MDK worth the money. The response was as if from religious zealots, and MD was practically offended. At the time I was considering a saxon sword alot of money. The dealer was more than happy to communicate with me readily. When I decided to wait on it and just buy a shrike and some combat sticks I never heard from him again. This is one of his top dealers, by the way. Also I stated on one of their tactical forums that I carry a folder as a back up (emphasis back up) and MD went nuts about how irresponsible and dangerous it was to carry a folder. The whole discussion is over there. Anyway I will not buy a MD now. I buy from makers that I like and that make what I want. That is a personal decision. Anyway I think that all this testing is just for fun. Too many men before me who depended on their tools used the old fashioned Ka-bar to great satisfaction. I have given several of these to my best friends who spend alot of time in the backwoods and they are very satisfied too.
 
Well said, Sid.


------------------
Paul Davidson

Them:"What's that clipped to your pocket, a beeper?"
Me:"Uuh....yeah, something like that."


 
3/16" Arizona Hunter is due to be delivered this week. Mad Dog was kind enough to engrave my name on it, so I intend to have it indefinately. It is my second Mad Dog, the first being a Lab Rat that has proven itself to be a very strong knife though made from 1/8" stock. The ergonomics of Mad Dog knives are unsurpassed, and I prefer knives with hard edges and strong spines.
 
I own five dogs; M-X Micro, Rat Thing #007, Wild Thing, VooDoo Child, Panther. I just ordered a Shrike, this week.

------------------
LD
"Every Dog Has His Day"
BFC Member Since October 2, 1998


 
By the way I kind of forgot I do own two mad dogs but carry them little since I have found other knives that I personally like better. I probably will sell one of them soon, I hate to have something sitting around unused.
 
I own a FF and MirageX EOD. I still plan on getting either a ATAK or a Lab Rat, but have put it on the back burners as there are a couple of other knives I have more use for at this time.
 
I am anxiously awaiting delivery of an ATAK Thing. That will make it my fourth Mad Dog. Considering a Panther, too.
 
If i had the money i'd buy one too, but looks like i got to stay with my old SRK going on 10 years.
 
I owned a PATAK for a while. While I thought it was a nice knife, I decided to sell it for a couple of reasons. The main was the way Cliff Stamp's testing of the Tusk was treated. And the subsequent decision of MD not to honor the warranty. It seemed rather arbitrary to me, and was definitely the contrary to what was stated on several websites claiming a no questions warranty. MD claimed that that warranty was from MD Enterprises and not the current MD warranty policy.
Anyway, MD's customer service suffers IMO, and I sold the PATAK, I don't plan to ever own another MD knife.
 
1) I would never spend that much money for a new small fixed blade. (Or large.)

2) I would never spend the premium that used MD's get for a NON-warrantied knife.

3) If I ever found one at a yard sale, auction, or estate sale and got a good deal on it, I would buy it in a heart beat. No reservations, no hesitation. I have handled MD's and love the design and ergonomics, but cannot and will not justify paying that much money for one.

A bit off topic....I carry a Sebenza that I would never have spent the money on if I hadn't practically stolen it. It's a nice knife, but not $325.00 worth of nice to me.
 
I currently own an ATAK that I have been very happy with although it has not been abused or used for anything other than its' intended purpose. I also take very good care of my tools as I think many others do as well.

I have a 3/16" Wild Thing and a Rat Thing on the way from Earl and am considering a Panther. I am partial to fighters.

The tests have not changed my mind to continue to by MDK's although they have been informative and I appreciate Mike's efforts and intentions. Which by the way, I do not see as an attack on any manufacturer including Kevin.

To me, the tests are not part of my practical application of my knives or their use.

I wonder how many individuals will really use these tools in a similar way that they have been tested. I guess one may never know how bad it can get in the field or how they may have to use their knife.

ACK
 
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