What is the most recent knife you bought?

[JohnnyOrygun]

Kershaw Launch 1 Automatic knife. Auto openers are legal in Oregon. I really like it, just wish it had a blade lock, had it open a couple of times in my pocket and it is extremely sharp. Cut my leg and cut a hole in my pocket. But a great knife.

 

[bannockburn]

460Shooter

To me it looks kind of futuristic but in an Art Deco kind of way!

One beautiful knife!

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

460Shooter

To me it looks kind of futuristic but in an Art Deco kind of way!

One beautiful knife!

I was thinking that as well.

It invokes some particular science-fiction memory for me but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Nothing so ridiculous as what I call Klingon-knives but rather, very specific to some film and graceful.

Todd.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

460Shooter

To me it looks kind of futuristic but in an Art Deco kind of way!

One beautiful knife!

I was thinking that as well.

It invokes some particular science-fiction memory for me but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Nothing so ridiculous as what I call Klingon-knives but rather, very specific to some film and graceful.

Todd.

I agree, it is very futuristic looking in my opinion, and yet it's got a very slim, gentleman's knife sort of feel to it. While I like big choppers, I've come to appreciate compact and space efficient designs. The picture doesn't quite bring out the bronze color of the handle and the machining is great. I like it enough, I may buy a second one and set it aside for later.

The only thing I don't care for is the finger choil on the blade. I prefer a much smaller sharpening choil on my knives. However, it is very practical for choking up if needed and not something that actually bothers me. This one really hits on all eight cylinders for me and is extremely practical in every way.

 

[JShirley]

Also not actually a knife, but I got a training spear. I'll see if I can get a better pic tonight at class

 

[Speedo66]

View attachment 974569

The 2 on the right are both newest, I can't believe I'm going to say this but the Gerber is actually decent.

That Gerber is a good looking knife, I like the sculptured G-10 scales and the stonewashed blade.

 

[aaronu]

Benchmade Ares 730S. One of the early Axis lock knives. Out of production for almost 2 decades. They are getting tough to find but IMHO not a lot out there that is markedly better. Especially for us lefties.

 

[ugaarguy]

That Gerber is a good looking knife, I like the sculptured G-10 scales and the stonewashed blade.

I think so too. I'm curious to see how it holds up over time for @Yo Mama .

Benchmade Ares 730S. One of the early Axis lock knives. Out of production for almost 2 decades. They are getting tough to find but IMHO not a lot out there that is markedly better. Especially for us lefties.

The Axis lock in general, or is there something specific about the Ares that makes it particularly lefty friendly? Just curious as a righty.

 

[aaronu]

IMHO it is the Axis lock in general. Equally useful for left or right handed. I can open and close these knives one handed, either handed. Also the pocket clip is reversible, it has stainless inner liners and G10 outer liners. Good steel too. Mine is 154CM. These are "forever knives". Lastly I prefer the blade shape. It is a drop point. Elishewitz design.

Mine has been on dozens or hundreds of hiking/bushcraft expeditions as part of my "Nessmuck Trio" with a slightly sturdier fixed blade and either a small hatchet or small saw.

Another good one I think is the Axis lock equipped AFCK. If anything those are more rare. Less versatile blade shape but an awesome carry knife. I never have acquired one but Benchmade made a lockback version with FRN scales that I owned as a backup. My son has that one now.

The budget "don't care as much if I lose it" choice these days would be a Bugout or the always awesome Griptilian. For assisted opener there is the Barrage.

 

[ugaarguy]

The Axis AFCK is one that I regret not picking up. The back lock version was part of their discontinued "Red Line" Chinese and Taiwanese made value range, and it was called the Pika.

For those that missed the Axis AFCK, Spyderco still makes their fairly similar Manix 2 with their caged ball bearing lock. The CBBL is a little stiffer than an Axis lock, so it's not quite as easy to manipulate. However the CBBL's single coil spring in the spine behind the ball bearing is more durable than the dual omega springs nested between the scales and the liners of an Axis lock.

Hogue is also making Axis locks under the ABLE lock name, since the patents have expired but the trademarked names don't expire. And Hogue has the ultimate Griptilian, the Ritter RSK Mk1.

It's nice to have options.

 

[Yo Mama]

I think so too. I'm curious to see how it holds up over time for @Yo Mama .


The Axis lock in general, or is there something specific about the Ares that makes it particularly lefty friendly? Just curious as a righty.

After more use I'm liking the Gerber more and more. It's making me look at a fastball, we'll see.

The 7cr blade was quite easy to sharpen, factory edge was not the best. Medium to fine sharpmaker with a strop got it shaving. I've been looking to cut anything with it, and I'm happy with the steel and the design. For 40 bucks, and compared to crkt sketch that I now despise its a great knife.

Cut rope, cardboard, lite wood and carved some heavier wood, ......and it held sharpness well. The pivot lock smooths out after a good oiling and a few hundred actuations.

It's a big large knife, so the weight carries the blade down on a cut, but the profile has a good grind and edge geometry.

 

[aaronu]

@Yo Mama some folks are just plain too fancy for Gerber knives. Doesn't stop them from making some pretty nice stuff. I still have, and use, a Gerber Magnum Jr lockback. I've had it for about 30 years and it's never let me down.

The Axis AFCK is one that I regret not picking up. The back lock version was part of their discontinued "Red Line" Chinese and Taiwanese made value range, and it was called the Pika.

That was later: this was the 830S Ascent. Made in U.S.A. ATS-34 steel. They got into trouble over the name and had to change it.

Here's a video about the Ascent. Mine is exactly like the one in the video. My son "forever borrowed" it. Blade length is similar to the Ares, around 3.5 to 3.6 inches.



Agree on the Ritter stuff. I have not been so fortunate as to pick up any Ritter knives. Never the coincidence of available spending money and available knives.

 

[ugaarguy]

That was later: this was the 830S Ascent

I forgot about the Ascent. I had a TSEK, which was basically a US made economy version of the liner lock AFCK with GIN-1 blade steel and a thumb stud instead of the Spyderco hole. Good memories of some modern classics.

 

[JShirley]

Here's a better pic of the training yari.

 

[theotherwaldo]

A duplicate of the knife that my Grampa Claude bought for me when I was four when we visited the Oregon Caves.
Dad promptly "borrowed" it and "accidentally" dropped it overboard while fishing.
Dad was a real piece of work and was jealous of any gift that I got from his parents... .

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

A duplicate of the knife that my Grampa Claude bought for me when I was four when we visited the Oregon Caves.
Dad promptly "borrowed" it and "accidentally" dropped it overboard while fishing.
Dad was a real piece of work and was jealous of any gift that I got from his parents... .
View attachment 975132

Very cool that you get to relive it.

The knife, not the boating *accident*.

Todd.

 

[waterhouse]

 

[Solomonson]

A Cold Steel Recon Tanto Fixed Blade Knife 7" about 10 minutes ago for $34.39. Seemed like a decent deal.

​

 

[hso]

Just got this 4o year old Victorinox Craftsman.



This is on the way.

 

[hso]

Is this an important function thing, or just a tiny bit of OCD?

As pointed out, it is an indication of the care taken in manufacturing, but a blade that isn't centered can rub on the near side and cause uneven pivot wear over time. If it can be adjusted with just a fraction of a turn on the pivot screw you'll get easier opening and avoid scuffing. Most folks didn't worry about it when we were only using back locks, but as new locks and pivot systems became normal it became more important and as custom knives required that care be taken for the money being paid it flowed down to custom designs being licensed and manufactured since the expectation was for properly centered blades.

 

[waterhouse]

Took a while to get here but this Eutsler just came in.

 

[Solomonson]

As pointed out, it is an indication of the care taken in manufacturing, but a blade that isn't centered can rub on the near side and cause uneven pivot wear over time. If it can be adjusted with just a fraction of a turn on the pivot screw you'll get easier opening and avoid scuffing. Most folks didn't worry about it when we were only using back locks, but as new locks and pivot systems became normal it became more important and as custom knives required that care be taken for the money being paid it flowed down to custom designs being licensed and manufactured since the expectation was for properly centered blades.

It's not always about care taken in manufacturing. Something like a blade centering issue might well be a product of a design issue, whose solution, depending on the knife design is out of the hands of the people on the shop floor.

 

[hso]

BK5 Magnum Camp showed up today as a thank you.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Just like the one that Grandpa gave me.

 

[Solomonson]

A Cold Steel Recon Tanto Fixed Blade Knife 7" about 10 minutes ago for $34.39. Seemed like a decent deal.

View attachment 976273 ​

The Recon arrived a few days ago. Tremendous bang for the buck. An extremely well-balanced knife -- it feels good in the hand. A quick stroping and a cutesy $.25 lanyard (2' of 4mm mountaineering cord), and she's ready to fondle -- or actually use as a knife.