ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
A little while back I picked up a knife at Sportsman's Warehouse (now Wholesale Sports in our area).
It's done under the Benchmade name in Taiwan; called the Steigerwalt 12700. It's not what I'd call an exceptional knife in any particular, but I was intrigued by the blade configuration and combination.
I've carried it a few times and tried it on different stuff.
It comes with a good edge and takes a good edge, and seems to hold it well, though I've not done anything particularly punishing with it.
Makes a fine steak knife, whacks up veggies for salads, does a clean job on tomatoes -- which is kind of my informal benchmark for sharpness -- and just does a good all round job of being a knife.
The configuration is interesting. It has a 3.5-inch lockback main blade done in 440C, having a normal blade profile (well, I call it "normal", they call it a "modified drop point." It also has two slipjoint (non-locking) blades in AUS8, a gut hook and a skinner. The main blade pivots from one end, while the hook and skinner pivot from the other.
The main blade is substantial, having the kind of spine thickness normally associated with general purpose outdoor knives, and being flat ground. The other two blades are noticeably thinner, and the skinner is also flat ground.
The nail nick on the main blade is almost hidden when closed, but is easy enough to use.
Though the knife is produced by Benchmade, their name appears nowhere on the knife. The stamps and laser engraving simply declare NRA Outdoors, 440C, and Taiwan on the main blade, and AUS8 and Taiwan on the other two.
The fit and finish is good, very good, actually.
It's definitely a "both hands" opener. No studs, holes, assists, or the like. No pocket clip, either. It's a pocket knife that's made to be carried in a pocket.
There is a distinct lack of drama in this knife. It is just about as ordinary and unassuming as a three-bladed hunter/skinner can be. Lying on the counter in the kitchen, it looks like it belongs there. I've used it in restaurants as a steak knife, and it never drew a glance.
It sells for around $30-$35. I got mine on sale for $25 or so.
Simple knife. No drama, but it can grow on a guy.
It's done under the Benchmade name in Taiwan; called the Steigerwalt 12700. It's not what I'd call an exceptional knife in any particular, but I was intrigued by the blade configuration and combination.
I've carried it a few times and tried it on different stuff.
It comes with a good edge and takes a good edge, and seems to hold it well, though I've not done anything particularly punishing with it.
Makes a fine steak knife, whacks up veggies for salads, does a clean job on tomatoes -- which is kind of my informal benchmark for sharpness -- and just does a good all round job of being a knife.
The configuration is interesting. It has a 3.5-inch lockback main blade done in 440C, having a normal blade profile (well, I call it "normal", they call it a "modified drop point." It also has two slipjoint (non-locking) blades in AUS8, a gut hook and a skinner. The main blade pivots from one end, while the hook and skinner pivot from the other.
The main blade is substantial, having the kind of spine thickness normally associated with general purpose outdoor knives, and being flat ground. The other two blades are noticeably thinner, and the skinner is also flat ground.
The nail nick on the main blade is almost hidden when closed, but is easy enough to use.
Though the knife is produced by Benchmade, their name appears nowhere on the knife. The stamps and laser engraving simply declare NRA Outdoors, 440C, and Taiwan on the main blade, and AUS8 and Taiwan on the other two.
The fit and finish is good, very good, actually.
It's definitely a "both hands" opener. No studs, holes, assists, or the like. No pocket clip, either. It's a pocket knife that's made to be carried in a pocket.
There is a distinct lack of drama in this knife. It is just about as ordinary and unassuming as a three-bladed hunter/skinner can be. Lying on the counter in the kitchen, it looks like it belongs there. I've used it in restaurants as a steak knife, and it never drew a glance.
It sells for around $30-$35. I got mine on sale for $25 or so.
Simple knife. No drama, but it can grow on a guy.
