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Pocket Knife

Arnold Layne

New in Town
Messages
32
Location
Westward Ho! UK.
I can't believe they can do this for the money.

We are living in the Golden Age of production pocket knives I believe.
High end materials, top of the range CNC techniques, the constant evolution of stainless steel alloys for hard, sharp blades and amazing designers.

The scales and the belt clip on this knife are titanium that have been micro-milled for a grippy texture and the reverse scale has a deep milled fragmented pattern, front and back scales have different aesthetics.
The sheepsfoot blade is made of the latest American S45VN stainless and is stonewashed, it is deployed by a 'flipper' and it glides into place on two rows of ceramic bearings in the pivot washers. It locks on a detent pillar in the liner that has been designed to access maximum acoustics so it hits the stop pins with the most satisfying clunk that you would expect from a slip joint.
The accents are copper, the pivot collar and back spacer, that marry perfectly with the overall matte grey finish, very classy but not bling and although completely matte the liner has been mirror polished so you can see your reflection in the final handle hole.

The Kizer Hawk titanium. Perfect form and perfect utility. How come it's so cheap?

Kizer hawk.jpg
 
Messages
14,357
Location
Germany
I can't believe they can do this for the money.

We are living in the Golden Age of production pocket knives I believe.
High end materials, top of the range CNC techniques, the constant evolution of stainless steel alloys for hard, sharp blades and amazing designers.

The scales and the belt clip on this knife are titanium that have been micro-milled for a grippy texture and the reverse scale has a deep milled fragmented pattern, front and back scales have different aesthetics.
The sheepsfoot blade is made of the latest American S45VN stainless and is stonewashed, it is deployed by a 'flipper' and it glides into place on two rows of ceramic bearings in the pivot washers. It locks on a detent pillar in the liner that has been designed to access maximum acoustics so it hits the stop pins with the most satisfying clunk that you would expect from a slip joint.
The accents are copper, the pivot collar and back spacer, that marry perfectly with the overall matte grey finish, very classy but not bling and although completely matte the liner has been mirror polished so you can see your reflection in the final handle hole.

The Kizer Hawk titanium. Perfect form and perfect utility. How come it's so cheap?

View attachment 745548

China-made. But cheap?? 200 bucks, that's a luxury knife in Germany.
 

Arnold Layne

New in Town
Messages
32
Location
Westward Ho! UK.
China-made. But cheap?? 200 bucks, that's a luxury knife in Germany.

Yes high end but high end materials and manufacture.
A titanium Boker knife with S45VN blade steel is a luxury knife despite probably being manufactured in China not Solingen.
I would expect to pay at least twice that and beyond for those specifictions.
$169.00 for Americans, £129.00 for me in England free delivery, bargain I reckon.
 
Messages
14,357
Location
Germany
Yes high end but high end materials and manufacture.
A titanium Boker knife with S45VN blade steel is a luxury knife despite probably being manufactured in China not Solingen.
I would expect to pay at least twice that and beyond for those specifictions.
$169.00 for Americans, £129.00 for me in England free delivery, bargain I reckon.

129,00 Pound/146,74 Euro is really a fair price.
 

Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,401
Location
Traverse city
I’m carrying a Buck 112 ranger at work. By modern standards it’s brick heavy and a belt sheath is the very definition of anachronistic. Still, it’s what the blue collar midwestern guys carried when i was growing up in the 70s and 80s. It scratches my nostalgia itch.
 

Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
I'd lose a finger or 4 using a bali...


To me, it's all flash. I don't know how to do tricks, nor do I want to learn. I will use two hands to open it and lock the handles together. I am more interested in how sharp and strong the blade is, how well it will hold an edge, and how it resharpens. The knives I carry regularly have to be sharp, stay sharp, and be able to be resharpened. I bought this out of curiosity. It's more of a novelty item. And it was on sale for a big discount. I'm fairly certain that if I do not like it, I can always sell it later.



We are living in the Golden Age of production pocket knives I believe.


You are probably correct. With technology of metallurgy and manufacturing cost meeting at a certain point, where very good items can be brought to market for minimum expense. I believe that with competition, we'll see higher quality, and even lower pricing.



China-made. But cheap?? 200 bucks

a luxury knife despite probably being manufactured in China


I think that the global consumers are changing their views on Chinese manufacturing. China can give us Apple iPhones. China is able to produce at any level. Unfortunately, the reputation comes from the poor quality goods. The future of artificial intelligence will determine China's place in global consumer goods. I have no doubt that we will see Chinese AI in our consumer goods. Mostly in "low tech" parts, like sensors found in appliances and machinery. Your next washing machine will probably use Chinese sensors and control boards, and you won't even know it. My washing machine is probably filled with Chinese electronics, and I don't know it. I have an American car, and I have no idea where all of the "control area network" parts come from.


I’m carrying a Buck 112


Buck has a soft spot in my heart. As a child, my first knives were Buck & Victorinox. Some of you guys who were Scouts would remember that Swiss Army Knife. I grew up when it was common to have a Buck Knife in a sheath on your belt. A time when it was not a big deal for a kid to have a knife in school.


Sadly, I neither carry my Buck, nor use it, regularly. It's one of the best folding knives I own. I feel that the lock-back design is better than a liner lock. But I'm afraid of losing it. For most utility tasks, like cutting rope and such, I would rather have a serrated blade. I would cry if I had to baton it with a flashlight, to use it as a chisel, to open a shipping crate.







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Last edited:
Messages
14,357
Location
Germany
So, current Buck 112 have 420 HC blades? How often you have to sharpen?

I never had 420 HC knives, but it's interesting, as it's said to be a real improvement in hardness.
 

DaveProc

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,477
Location
Rhode Island
I run the National Historic Landmark Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead museum and spend much of my time dressed for the 1770s. My everyday carry in the 1770s is this reproduction 18th century pocket knife. It has a high carbon blade that takes an incredibly sharp edge, brass bolsters and Buffalo horn scales.
20251109_210513.jpg 20251109_210533.jpg
 

ShadowXY

Familiar Face
Messages
54
Location
So Cal, USA
To me, it's all flash. I don't know how to do tricks, nor do I want to learn. I will use two hands to open it and lock the handles together. I am more interested in how sharp and strong the blade is, how well it will hold an edge, and how it resharpens. The knives I carry regularly have to be sharp, stay sharp, and be able to be resharpened. I bought this out of curiosity. It's more of a novelty item. And it was on sale for a big discount. I'm fairly certain that if I do not like it, I can always sell it later.






You are probably correct. With technology of metallurgy and manufacturing cost meeting at a certain point, where very good items can be brought to market for minimum expense. I believe that with competition, we'll see higher quality, and even lower pricing.








I think that the global consumers are changing their views on Chinese manufacturing. China can give us Apple iPhones. China is able to produce at any level. Unfortunately, the reputation comes from the poor quality goods. The future of artificial intelligence will determine China's place in global consumer goods. I have no doubt that we will see Chinese AI in our consumer goods. Mostly in "low tech" parts, like sensors found in appliances and machinery. Your next washing machine will probably use Chinese sensors and control boards, and you won't even know it. My washing machine is probably filled with Chinese electronics, and I don't know it. I have an American car, and I have no idea where all of the "control area network" parts come from.





Buck has a soft spot in my heart. As a child, my first knives were Buck & Victorinox. Some of you guys who were Scouts would remember that Swiss Army Knife. I grew up when it was common to have a Buck Knife in a sheath on your belt. A time when it was not a big deal for a kid to have a knife in school.


Sadly, I neither carry my Buck, nor use it, regularly. It's one of the best folding knives I own. I feel that the lock-back design is better than a liner lock. But I'm afraid of losing it. For most utility tasks, like cutting rope and such, I would rather have a serrated blade. I would cry if I had to baton it with a flashlight, to use it as a chisel, to open a shipping crate.



I love Buck knives. That's a 2009. Still looks well made but I go for the earlier 80's. i have a few of those.
One in Stag & a few Micarta Bucks. Bucks are the Bomb!
 

Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
This is the version without a knife. My logic is that I already carry a knife. Why carry a tool with a knife that I will not use? The blades are often smaller than I would like, and the grip around the tool body just doesn't feel good in my hands. I could be wrong about that. My Dad thinks a MultiTool is a backup item. In case something happens to my knife, then I will have a backup knife. He could be right.








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Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
Why knifeless, to take on a plane.



I assume that after the security checkpoint, while I'm on the airplane, and until I get to my destination; I will not be called upon to fix anything.


I am not John McClane. I assume that mercenaries will not seize the airport while I am there. I assume that the entire airport police department, and their tactical units, will not need my help.


When I fly, my tool is in my checked in luggage. They can x-ray and examine it all that they want. They can open my luggage, take it out, and examine it if they want. No terrorist is going into the cargo hold, to find my little tool, to take the plane apart in midflight.
 

Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast

I actually do carry this knife in my pocket. The little blade guard works well. Slices through bread clean. My X liked to say, "why do you have a knife just for making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches?" This is not a tactical knife. Works great for those trips to the farmer's market. Cuts all sorts of food for sampling and sharing.​








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Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
The best thing is that you can order it online, get it delivered overnight, for about $5. I just got another one for That Girl. Now she won't have to use mine.





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Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
It came in the mail. Looks okay. Feels good. Light weight. Good enough grip. The action is smooth. I'm no expert on the steel, how well it can hold the edge, and how well it will resharpen. Time will tell. Ownership and use are the only way to learn if the knife is good enough for you and what you do with it. What I won't do with it is carry it around. It's a novelty at best. This is not going to be the knife that I need when there's a shipping crate to pry open, lengths of cable need to be cut, or I need to score pig skin to make a pork roast. Not what I will use to break down crabs and processing fish. I won't be doing yard work with it. Despite the lore of it being a fighting knife for back alley thugs, this is not tactical. In a fluid and dynamic situation, where you're rolling around on the ground and punches are flying, you cannot deploy this. It's best function is showing it off at the bar.





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