Knife Chat: Slicing to the meat of all things sharp

[flybynight]

I can't remember where I bought it. ( not on my Amazon orders list) . And it appears to either been discontinued or just hard to find.  Every place I've looked show it out of stock.  It's a small knife. Very strikingly beautiful . The small handle coupled with smooth micarta  make it the most difficult of the three knives to hold. It really benefitted from a Knotted cord lanyard. The hole though was too small  for 550 paracord and I ended up using some other cordage. Very sharp, Held edge well. The sheath is Meh. Not the best, also not the worst. ( I really don't like cordura Knife sheaths) It's a downsized version of a Randal knife. A # 5 I believe

https://www.smkw.com/blackjack-knives-small-hunter

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Neat. Sucks that they're discontinued, though.

I've heard similar complaints about the smooth handles on the Buck 119. A lot of folks will take sandpaper and rough up the handles a bit in order to get some semblance of a grip on them. Apparently it works rather well.

[NT2C]

ARRRRRUUUUUUGGGGHHHHH! 

Okay, I feel a little better now.  Moab, this is all your fault. 

You posted that you had this knife and that it was well-made, equal to this one from Swiss+Tech that I was offering as a prize in our contests.  So I went on Amazon, bought one, and offered it as another prize.  They sent me one of these POS "spring-assisted" folders that are $2.00 cheaper.  I contacted Amazon and sent it back while they sent a replacement.  The replacement arrived today, another one of these that I actually broke a fingernail on trying to flip it open.  "spring assisted" my ass... 

After a 45-minute chat with three different Amazon associates, I have a refund and I don't have to return this dog turd.  I'll see if I can order the fixed blade elsewhere, possibly the manufacturer's site if I can remember where I filed away my corporate resale certificates.

So, who gets this POS?  You want it Chimpski?  Practice your file jimping on it maybe?

EDIT: Fug it, you're getting it anyway.  Don't want you to think I only send you good stuff.

[NT2C]

Torpedo in the water, Chimp!

9400109205568413905296

@12_Gauge_Chimp

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'll see what I can do with it, NT2C.

I like tinkering on stuff so maybe I can figure out how to make it work and not break fingernails trying to open it.

My money is on the spring for the assisted opening function being too strong or something.

[MacWa77ace]

I'll see what I can do with it, NT2C.

I like tinkering on stuff so maybe I can figure out how to make it work and not break fingernails trying to open it.

My money is on the spring for the assisted opening function being too strong or something.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0773QVH9Z?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_QN0JX1BPH38TAJVB2SY4

LOL, watch the video, keep in mind frame locks are harder to thumbstud open than liner locks if you're not experienced. And the guy in the video did a poor job on the thumbstud technique. you don't push and follow, you keep your thumb riding the frame and generate enough starting force to get it's assist to help. If its an unassisted framelock thumbstud you do the same thing but add in a little wrist flip to 'help' lock it open if necessary.

This was my first framelock and its tight but I figured it out with practice.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6T43RD3lAqA

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I've had knives where the pivot pin was tightened down too much and that caused binding issues.

M-Tech's fixed blades are ok knives, but their folders can be hit or miss quality wise. They're about like Frost Cutlery in that regard.

[NT2C]

I'll see what I can do with it, NT2C.

I like tinkering on stuff so maybe I can figure out how to make it work and not break fingernails trying to open it.

My money is on the spring for the assisted opening function being too strong or something.

Too strong... 

The pivot is so tight that the flipper tab almost doesn't move.  I tore up a fingernail when flipping it open because the spring can barely deploy it, even with a strong push on the flipper.  The pivot is about three times as tight as it needs to be and the spring is about three times weaker than it needs to be.
You almost have enough time to recite the alphabet while you wait for the blade to finish deploying.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'll see what I can do with it, NT2C.

I like tinkering on stuff so maybe I can figure out how to make it work and not break fingernails trying to open it.

My money is on the spring for the assisted opening function being too strong or something.

Too strong... 

The pivot is so tight that the flipper tab almost doesn't move.  I tore up a fingernail when flipping it open because the spring can barely deploy it, even with a strong push on the flipper.  The pivot is about three times as tight as it needs to be and the spring is about three times weaker than it needs to be.
You almost have enough time to recite the alphabet while you wait for the blade to finish deploying.

Once I get the knife in my hands, I'll see if loosening the pivot helps as well as maybe taking the spring out and see if that does anything.

If that doesn't work, I can always use it to practice my fileworking and sharpening skills.

[flybynight]

ARRRRRUUUUUUGGGGHHHHH! 

Okay, I feel a little better now.  Moab, this is all your fault. 

You posted that you had this knife and that it was well-made, equal to this one from Swiss+Tech that I was offering as a prize in our contests.  So I went on Amazon, bought one, and offered it as another prize.  They sent me one of these POS "spring-assisted" folders that are $2.00 cheaper.  I contacted Amazon and sent it back while they sent a replacement.  The replacement arrived today, another one of these that I actually broke a fingernail on trying to flip it open.  "spring assisted" my ass... 

After a 45-minute chat with three different Amazon associates, I have a refund and I don't have to return this dog turd.  I'll see if I can order the fixed blade elsewhere, possibly the manufacturer's site if I can remember where I filed away my corporate resale certificates.

So, who gets this POS?  You want it Chimpski?  Practice your file jimping on it maybe?

EDIT: Fug it, you're getting it anyway.  Don't want you to think I only send you good stuff.

Ha. I've got that Mtech fixed blade.  It's a beast. It's with my GHB

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Got my Buck 863 Selkirk fixed blade in today from MidwayUSA.

It's a little smaller than I'd thought, but not by much. My only dislike is the sheath it comes with. I'd have preferred a nice leather sheath, but that probably would've upped the price a little more.

A neat little bonus came with the knife as well. Buck included a nice ferro rod/safety whistle with the 863 Selkirk, which isn't surprising considering they market it as a bushcraft knife.

So this will be my second ever bushcrafting knife (the first one is a nice Mora Companion that NT2C sent me a few years ago.).

ETA: Whoever designed the sheath hardware for the Buck Selkirk, you suck. This is the most annoying, multi piece belt loop attachment method I've ever dealt with.

Why couldn't they have just put a Tek-Lok on it and been done with it ?

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Got the Mtech folding knife from Hell from NT2C earlier today and he was not kidding when he said it was a bitch to open.

Whatever genius that designed this thing (I hesitate to call it a knife because a knife is something that actually works unlike this fucking thing) needs to be kicked in the nuts.

I monkeyed with it for almost an hour trying to figure out a way to make it work because it's a nice looking knife, but cursed with the stupidest assisted opening mechanism ever. Oh, and the frame lock has more over travel than it ought to have. If this thing ever got any sort of harsh use other than opening a letter or package (and even that is pushing it), the lock mechanism would break really quickly.

The relief cut into it is way too deep and it failing isn't a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

I wouldn't even feel comfortable selling it at a yard sale because of the possibility of it failing and hurting whoever bought it.

So I'll likely end up keeping it if for nothing else than to spare anyone else from the potential failure of the lock and the stupidly stiff opening mechanism.

I won't say this is the worst knife I've ever owned, but it's at least in the top 10. At least it looks nice and is a great example of form over function.

Because it sure as hell doesn't function properly.

[majorhavoc]

I remember several years ago Wally World sold a frame lock knife for $1.  That's right, a hundred pennies.  I knew it had to be crap but forgive me, I had to know.  I just had to know.  So I bought it.  Shocker, but it was every bit as shitty as you would imagine a one dollar knife to be.  If it were the only blade you had in a survival situation, it would actually decrease your chances of getting home alive.

Just looking at some of the Mtech models on Amazon, I get the sense they aren't far behind.  And I hear what Chimp is saying about form over function.  Most of those Mtechs seem to be designed to appeal to a 14 year old with a very unsophisticated sense of what makes a knife "cool". 

My only remaining question is this: why the hell did NT2C buy it again?  Feel free to use the excuse I had for the $1 Walmart special, NT2C.  Sometimes you have to buy something out of a peverse sense of curiosity.  To see if there's any possibility it could be worth even the low price they're charging for it.  But at a certain point you just have to assume that no, you cannot make a quality knife for $1 or even $10.

[NT2C]

I'll see what I can do with it, NT2C.

I like tinkering on stuff so maybe I can figure out how to make it work and not break fingernails trying to open it.

My money is on the spring for the assisted opening function being too strong or something.

So, how much money were we talking about here? 

[NT2C]

My only remaining question is this: why the hell did NT2C buy it again?  Feel free to use the excuse I had for the $1 Walmart special, NT2C.  Sometimes you have to buy something out of a peverse sense of curiosity.  To see if there's any possibility it could be worth even the low price they're charging for it.  But at a certain point you just have to assume that no, you cannot make a quality knife for $1 or even $10.

A combination MTech curse from Moab and the Evil Orcs of the Amazon Warehouse.

https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?msg=28331

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'll see what I can do with it, NT2C.

I like tinkering on stuff so maybe I can figure out how to make it work and not break fingernails trying to open it.

My money is on the spring for the assisted opening function being too strong or something.

So, how much money were we talking about here? 

To be fair, I did say "or something". I just don't know what that "or something" is.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Aside from the stupidly stiff assisted opening mechanism and the lock, it's not a bad knife.

If M-Tech did a bit more polishing on it like getting rid of the assisted opening mechanism and reinforcing the lock bar, it'd be a good knife.

I like the black and lime green G10 handle scale and the overall look of the knife.

It just saddens me the opening mechanism is so crappy.

[majorhavoc]

My only remaining question is this: why the hell did NT2C buy it again?  Feel free to use the excuse I had for the $1 Walmart special, NT2C.  Sometimes you have to buy something out of a peverse sense of curiosity.  To see if there's any possibility it could be worth even the low price they're charging for it.  But at a certain point you just have to assume that no, you cannot make a quality knife for $1 or even $10.

A combination MTech curse from Moab and the Evil Orcs of the Amazon Warehouse.

https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?msg=28331

OK, I get it.  So it's not even the knife you ordered.  And in Moab's defense, the full tang blade he was recommending looks like it could actually be decent for the price.  Too bad the Mtech folder you eventually got for free was such a turd.  Because as pictured, it actually doesn't look that bad.  These are examples of the kind of knives I associate with Mtech:

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I kind of like that last fixed blade.

Might be kind of a pain to sharpen with that odd profile, though.

From my experience, MTech's fixed blades are actually kind of decent, but their folding knives are not so great.

[majorhavoc]

I kind of like that last fixed blade.

Just kidding, Chimp.  To each their own, right?  As I used to say to my daughter: "Everyone ^has their _own artistic ^eye."