Rudukai13 Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 Along with a thing for Karambits, I’ve wanted a modern interpretation of a Trench knife for years now. Found this on sale and finally pulled the trigger; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 I got a surprise package in the mail today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 A size comparison between the new custom and the knife it’s replacing; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankly Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) More mainstream production knives but here's my mini-treatise. I've had the common experience of inexpensive knives, then trying a few Gerbers and Kershaws from the gun stores, then looking online and seeing all the cool stuff and saving up to buy a ZT cause Jesse Tischauser hawks them. I enjoyed flipping knives for effect like a Mall Ninji, it's sad but true. Never had to fight anyone but I imagined flipping a 5" blade and they'd run away (lol). And so on. I eventually figured out that sharpening was more important than the knife itself after working through Spyderco Sharpmakers, glass and sandpaper, Japanese stones, etc. and I finally bought a Tomak (wet sharpening wheel) and told myself that a couple $40 Ontario RATs and Kershaw Blurs were ideal everyday carry knives ~ tough, relatively inexpensive, practical. A couple years later I had some extra money and bought one good representative knife from the major fancy manufacturers to really try them out. From left to right: Emerson, Medford, Hinderer 4", Cris Reeves, ZT, Benchmade, Kershaw, Spyderco. I learned how to disassemble to clean and adjust flipping and centering, learned about pivots and formed some opinions on design. All these are quality, practical knives, none are bad (the Emerson opening system cut me a few times though). Some are too heavy for what they do but they look cool (Medford) while others are nice and light but feel frail (Benchmade). Some are lovely and well crafted ~ the ZTs have excellent workmanship ~ but have things like ball bearings that work great until they fail. Lots of knifes have steel or shapes that are hard to sharpen. Many blades are too thick to slice anything, which is what I need to do a lot more than skinning an Elephant. Really big folders feel like they're going to bend or they are 3/4" thick and 12 ounces (Medfords). I probably had another dozen similar quality knives in this period. Bought and sold, traded on BladeForum.com. In the end I kept the simple manual Chris Reeves Inkosi 3.5" knife in SV30 steel because it's very solid, simple, and easy to sharpen. I like that its a clean minimalist design. I also kept the small Spyderco Lil Native with the serrated blade for when I want a really light discrete knife. Bugout/camping/survival I have a 5" Winkler fixed blade Field knife that's a rock. I kept the old Ontarios and Kershaws for car emergencies and in the workshop, it's good to have a few beaters to practice sharpening with and to cut tape, give to friends in a pinch, etc. A $40 Ontario Rat 1 or 2 is still plenty of knife for most things. The nice thing is that if you buy on sale or used from reliable people, you can get most of your money out in resale later (unlike... guns) so you can have fun trying different things. But I haven't been tempted by anything short of a $3000 Shirogorov as a collectible rather than a user so I think I found my users. Chris Reeves and Spyderco got things 99% right twenty years ago and more everything else has been marketing BS since. Edited March 17, 2020 by Frankly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 I’m no trick flipper or anything, just getting acquainted with the balance and feel of the knife with the trainer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 19, 2020 Author Share Posted March 19, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 20, 2020 Author Share Posted March 20, 2020 Sorry not sorry for the picture whoring, I absolutely love this thing; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 21, 2020 Author Share Posted March 21, 2020 12 minutes ago, ltdmstr said: Oh damn that’s a beautiful Dawson. That’s his Relentless sword design right? Is it as nice as it looks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 Yep, 20" Dawson Relentless. They also make a 17" and 26". I'm anxious to test it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz2011 Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 On 3/20/2020 at 7:21 PM, ltdmstr said: Yep, 20" Dawson Relentless. They also make a 17" and 26". I'm anxious to test it out. Please tell me you are not planning to dress up like a samurai and chop watermelons and water bottles on video. Invest in band aids lots of them grasshopper. Nice sword . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 1 hour ago, laz2011 said: Please tell me you are not planning to dress up like a samurai and chop watermelons and water bottles on video. Invest in band aids lots of them grasshopper. Nice sword . I'm gonna hang a hog in my back yard, dress up in black, and pretend I'm Doug Marcaida. It will KEAL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 18 minutes ago, ltdmstr said: I'm gonna hang a hog in my back yard, dress up in black, and pretend I'm Doug Marcaida. It will KEAL! I sincerely hope that 1. You’re being serious, and 2. You’ll post pics of the results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz2011 Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Ahh no pics, what are u talking about video from at least 3 angles. And a pig roast afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 Experimenting with different carry methods and locations. Based on initial impressions carrying on the belt at a downward 45-degree angle at the hip may in fact work even with my AIWB holster, and certainly provides better access than clipped in the pocket; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 I would expect on the belt would be a lot more secure, so would result in a much more positive release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 25, 2020 Author Share Posted March 25, 2020 That’s been my experience, with it clipped in the pocket it would occasionally come out with the sheath still attached when trying to draw it. Had to add a static line to the sheath for additional security and it just made for a very rough draw. On the belt with the snap loop, the sheath doesn’t budge on the draw. Much smoother, much easier, and accessible with both hands. My only real concern was bulk and concealability, but so far that doesn’t seem to be an issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 I believe I’ve settled on this carry position. It conceals well enough, is perfectly comfortable to sit and move (the sheath just swivels up out of the way of my leg), and provides the best access to the ring of the knife. It’s a very natural draw and my index finger can be placed through the ring very inconspicuously if I feel the need to pre-load the draw; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Bored at home, snowed in and on lockdown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankly Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Giant Mouse Clyde in Brass and M390, only 3" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 A bit of cut testing on tonight’s pork roast dinner - It will certainly cut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 Another custom in the works from the same maker! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Nice design. Gotta post a photo when it's done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudukai13 Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 On 11/11/2020 at 10:08 PM, ltdmstr said: Nice design. Gotta post a photo when it's done. Sounds like the new knife will be finished by the end of February, though shipping will take quite a while after that. But I’ll have pics to post from the maker soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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