"Wow, Look at that knife" (pics Wanted)

[Eric Isaacson]

Ok, I'm trying to decide on a nice custom folder that will really impress people when I pull it out. Therefore, the "wow" factor. What do you guys think, I'm leaning toward the Darrell Ralph Small Apogee but am open to suggestions. Here are the specs I'm looking for.
Blade length- approx 3"
Overall length- approx 7"
Cost- approx $300-400
I definitely want to be able to use it and not worry about scratches or minor damage, or if it occurs be able to send it back to the maker to repair it.
Feel free to post pictures of your favorites.
BTW, I have owned several sebenza's and that is not what I'm after right now.
Thanks
Eric

 

[OwenM]

Though I can think of alot better reasons to spend a few hundred bucks on a knife than to wow someone, there is an awesome small Apogee in the For Sale forum. I'll see if I can find the link.
I have an Apogee on order, because it wows ME.

I'll see if I can find that link, later. Forum slowed WAYYY down, all of a sudden, and it's taking forever just to load a page.
Here's what I told Darrel I want mine to look like (or close-the pic's of a DA.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1201347&a=8858650&p=35924276&Sequence=0&res=high



[This message has been edited by OwenM (edited 02-06-2001).]

 

[PhilL]

Look at this and then decide.

Da MOVIE
------------------
"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 02-06-2001).]

 

[blademan 13]

While not an Apogee, it is still a DDR. Here is my EDC Dominator from Darrel. I recently received it back from a tune up and it looks better now than in this photo. The handles are now ceramic peened before the ano rather than satin finished as shown here. The result is a grippier and better looking finish. This is an advantage when dealing with Darrel, as his models evolve over a period of time, the updates can be added to an existing knife. Cool

 

[Eric Isaacson]

OwenM, Of course you are right. I want something that "wows" me first. However, I am a bit of a show-off so impressing others would be nice also.

Phil, Great movie. Thanks for sharing it.

blademan, very nice knife. How do the handles hold up on the Dominator? Do they scratch easily and if so is it very noticeable.
Thanks for the responses. With my limited custom experience I can use all the help I can get.

Eric

 

[blademan 13]

Eric,

Thanks for the compliment.

The old handle finish held up very well but you would get a "smearing effect" as the oil left from your hands would change the colors a little (wipe with Windex and it would be back to normal). Darrel told me the new finish is even more durable and I have noticed a drastic reduction in the "smearing effect" with this finish as well. The overall effect is more subtle in nature than his previous offerings. I like it a lot. If the brilliant anodization is not enough "WOW" for you, you can always spice it up a little more with pearl overlays or some of his signature gold nugget work. Darrels colors run the gamut from bronze, gold, blue, purple in about any combination you can think of. You just tell him the combo you are looking for and I am sure he will do his best to accomodate your vision.