Group Buy for Svord and Opinel knives is underway, closes 1 Dec

[MatthewVanitas]

If sending me a PM for order, please follow instructions at top of pg2 of linked thread to avoid any mistakes in your order


Please see link if interested in Svord or Opinel knives. Complete info is contained on first page of thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=2886906#post2886906

Non-commercial THR group buy.

-MV

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Down to 4 remaining of the 24 Svords.

Talked to the Baker's today. Dig the Kiwi accent: " 'ow ya goin' ? ", etc. They're putting the scales on today and shipping out. Should be at my house in TX NLT Pearl Harbor Day. Will go out priority as soon as the knives come in.

-MV

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Still have (4) Svords left. Will place the Opinel order tomorrow AM, and will PM all buyers giving them payment info. I'm buying a freakin' sackful of Opinels for Christmas gifts, utility knives, prizes for shooting contests at the UT campus range, etc.

Actually, an Opinel #6 is one of the prizes for tonight's Poker Match, which I now have to leave to go RO for.


I have some ideas up my sleeve for a group buy around March or so. I'm thinking Douk-Douks.

Trick is, Garrett Wade has 'em for around $15 (but $9 shipping), so that'd be good for group buy. However, Szabo has 'em for $20, but they have six different variants (vs. two for GW). I'm especially torn, since Szabo has the "El Baraka" variant, with only geometric patterns instead of living beings, for sale in Muslim countries. They have the stainless version too, and then the Squirrel clip-point version (yawn).

The steel on these suckers is supposed to be shaving-good. According to Fred Perrin: "The steel is 1075, hot drop forged and integral hollow ground. The rockwell is HC52-53."

Will keep folks posted.

-MV

 

[Soap]

I'm definite for the Douk Douk buy! Just let us know!

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Opinels arrived tonight, big box o' 'em.

They all look great, though I think some of you who ordered the #12s may not have realized how big a #12 is. It's the 4D Maglite of pocket knives. Should you ever be in a self-defense situation with an Opinel #12, don't bother opening the blade, just smack him upsides with the handle.

The beech grips are the traditional ones, and look great. The walnuts look outstanding, will have to lean on those more in the future. I ordered an ash #8 just for myself (at higher price), and am slightly disappointed in that the ash is really light wood, and looks a bit cheap compared to beech and walnut.

I'm ready to send the Opinels to those who only ordered Opinels, and the rest will be ready to go when the Svords arrive, either later this week, or at latest early next week.

Have some neat ideas for Douk-Douk buy in... Marchish or so.

-MV

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Another update: had a few issues with the Opinels, did not get the #8s in. Got some other knives that we're listed as #8s, but turned out to be different (hook-points and the like).

This effects three of the orders, so I've PMed those three people to offer them alternative models or refund on that portion of their order.

Svords should have left NZ on 1 December, with standard 4-10 day transit. I won't be concerned until the 11th. I feel dumb for hoping they'd come the 7th, should have said 10th and acted happy if they came earlier.

Learning a thing or two about group buys, but have my shipping labels and priority boxes ready, and am parcelling out the Opinels (which is how I realized that I got the wrong #8s).

Tricky thing, group buys, but am confident that everyone will be satisfied in the end. I just should have left myself a little more timeline flexibility, etc. Will post an update as soon as Svords arrive, and they will go out ASAP on arrival.

-MV

PS: took some late orders over PM, all Svords are now spoken for.

 

[Brian Williams]

The ash will age like a good baseball bat or you could try flame darkening which will darken the color of the more open grain.

Also the Algerian Douk-Douk looks like one I would like, keep me posted if you will.


Now if I could find a good Schrade Sharpfinger, made in USA, cheap.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

I want to thank Matthew for going through all the trouble to put this together.

It's guys like him that make the Internet worthwhile despite all the rip-off artists and porn sites.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Since folks have PMed to ask, I've received 11 out of 16 payments. You don't need to PM to check, I'll PM you if there's a problem.

I have a few ideas how to run the process smoother for the next group buy, but I've got it together now, and all boxes labelled and waiting.

Now just waiting on the vagaries of airmail and US customs.

-MV