My Manual Folders!

[Madmarco]

Well, I thought I'd quenched my thirst for BIG knives, but apparently NOT! I have been watching all 4 of these knives for quite sometime, but was afraid to order ANY of them due to their "assisted" features, because they would have been seized by Customs. But I found a Canadian site that had them in stock, and that meant no borders to clear, so...! First up is a CRKT "Flat Out" that is 8" oal/SS drop/needle-point blade with dual-studs, all SS body fastened with screws, adjustable pivot, frame-lock closing, and a pocket-clip. It has a weight of about 5 oz.'s, and came shaving sharp. This knife features the CRKT patented "Outburst" assisted opening system, which I found to be the undoubtedly fastest opening system I've come across short of a switchblade. With just a slight nudge on the stud the system takes over and springs the blade open incredibly fast. If I had a complaint about this knife it would be the frame-lock closing as I much prefer a linerlock. I find the frame-lock takes a lot away from the look of the knife, but I can live with it. I just love the smooth clean profile on this knife. Second is a Cold Steel 13 1/2" oal "Luzon" linerlock/8Cr13MoV clip-point blade with pull/fuller dual-flippers and dual-studs, accented ZY-EX covers, adjustable pivot, linerlock safety slide, and more-or-less integrated pocket-clip. The weight is 9.3 oz.'s, and came razor-sharp, just like all C/S knives. The slide safety I mentioned is a notched slide on the back cover that when engaged prevents the liner-lock from operating, and the integrated clip is also made of ZY-EX and blends right in to the back cover, so much so that I didn't actually see it at first. This is one of very few knives that I will leave the clip on because it blends in so well. Third up is a C/S 13 1/8" oal "Counter Point XL" mid-lock that C/S has named the "Tri-Ad" lock, AUS 10A bayonet blade with dual-studs, ZY-EX covers with through holes, adjustable pivot, and pocket-clip but this one I took off. About the same weight of 8 oz.'s, and a blade so sharp I cut myself quite badly the 1st time I closed it. The mid-lock was quite tight so I had to use two hands to push it down, and when the heavy blade disengaged it drop onto my knuckle and sliced right into it. Took me 20 minutes to control the bleeding! Won't be doin' that again any time soon, duh! And last but not least is a C/S 13" oal "Ti-Lite" linerlock/AUS 8A bayonet blade with single stud and dual flippers, the same ZY-EX covers with holes, SS liners, adjustable pivot, and pocket-clip which once again was removed. This one is a bit lighter at about 7.5 oz.'s, and equally sharp but this time I didn't cut myself. All 4 knives walk and talk perfectly, and the fit n' finish is 2nd to none. If I were to actually carry and use any of these C/S monsters I would have left the clips on and clipped them to my belt, because to put one of these folders in a pocket would be totally intrusive. This pretty much completes my set of C/S monster folders, save for the large and extra large "Espada's", but since I don't much care for those I think I'm safe! Thanks for watching guys!

[doglegg]

Great group. Congrats

[Madmarco]

Thanks Floyd!

[Samb]

Keep away from deep water with any of those biguns in your pocket.

[Madmarco]

Keep away from deep water with any of those biguns with those in your pocket.

LOL! That's for sure , huh Sam!

[Madmarco]

Another 3 to add to the ole' collection came today! Purchased via ebay from the same seller who's 6 folders I previously posted in this thread. All handmade in Italy by M. Fraracco. First is a 7 3/4" oal Siciliano style slip-joint/SS dagger blade with n/n, SS bolsters liners and pins, and gorgeous buffalo horn covers with white streaking. Fairly light at only 2.4 oz.'s, but as sharp as the dickens. Has a walk n' talk of about 7. Fit n' finish is perfect. Knife is marked with builders stamp, and "INOX". Next is an 11"(11 3/4 with bale)oal shell-puller slip-joint/SS dagger blade with n/n, SS 12+16 Gauge bolsters, SS liners bale and pins, and dark horn covers. To big for my scale to handle, but I'd guess about 7 oz.'s and equally sharp. Being so much bigger the w+t come in at about a 9(very tight), with the same perfect f+f. Same markings as above. The last knife is identical to the 2nd one save for it's brass hardware. I don't know how the seller can continue to sell their knives at the prices they do, but all 3 including shipping only ran me CDN$158., or, US$123.! Although my pics don't capture it, I assure you one is in SS and one is in brass!

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Nice Mark. You have been posting some exceptional knives lately.

[Madmarco]

Nice Mark. You have been posting some exceptional knives lately.

Thanks Mark, I try my hardest!

[Madmarco]

Wow, I've been busy goin' to my mailbox lately! I just got this one from ebay via "doodlefroodle", and I really like it. It's an unmarked, save for "Surgical Steel Japan", 8 3/4" oal folding swinguard slip-joint/SS dagger blade with long pull and guards, SS bolsters and liners, brass pins, and black Delrin covers. Only weighs a scant 2.3 oz.'s, and came relatively sharp. Although it's a used knife and slight in profile it's in excellent condition and feels quite substantial in-hand. Has a walk n' talk of about 6, and fit n' finish is still very nice for a used knife. I mentioned in "Mail Call" that I'd never seen this style before, and then this morning as I was browsing ebay I spotted another one with brown covers and clip-point blade, what a co-inci-dink huh? I like mine much more! This one's another for my "Unusual" pile!

[WillyCamaro]

Very classy Mark, reminds me of a medieval dagger...

[Madmarco]

Thanks Willy! I'd never seen this style before and when that happens it's a kindda "must have" situation!

[WillyCamaro]

[Madmarco]

I got this knife in today from Russia via ebay! It's an unmarked 11 1/2" oal manual opening/scale release closing big folder/D2 drop-point blade with long-pull, SS partially jigged liners, dark wood covers displaying a very nice ring pattern, and pocket-clip. Weighs-in at about 7 oz.'s, and arrived well sharpened. When I purchased it I thought it was a scale release auto, but as soon as I received it I tried shifting the scale over but nothing happened. It wasn't until I went to close the blade that I discovered the shifting cover is only for closing the blade. A little disappointed but I still really like the knife overall, it'll fit in nicely with my other BIG knives!

[jmh58]

Big Knife Mark is on a roll!!
Keep it up!!
John

[Madmarco]

Big Knife Mark is on a roll!!
Keep it up!!
John

LOL! Yes, it's another BIG one Johnny, and just as well-built if not better as my big Cold Steel models!

[jmh58]

Big Knife Mark is on a roll!!
Keep it up!!
John

LOL! Yes, it's another BIG one Johnny, and just as well-built if not better as my big Cold Steel models!

John

[Madmarco]

Got this big beautiful folder in today's mail, and man do I like this knife! It's a Parker Jumbo slip-joint lockback/SS bayonet blade with n/n and etchings, N/S bolsters with engravings on both sides, brass liners and pins, thick jigged stag covers with N/S oval inlay, and forward lockback blade release. Another knife that came just how I like em', HEAVY, at about 12 oz.'s and quite sharp. Made in Japan by hand in the 1980's by the late Tak Fukutu. A fitting addition to my BIG knife herd!

[Madmarco]

A trip to my mailbox had these 3 waiting for me today! First is an AG Russell "Strikeforce" lockback that is 8 1/2" oal/VG-10 blade with "Spydie" hole, aluminum bolsters, SS liners, G-10 or C/F covers, adjustable pivot, lanyard hole, and pocket-clip. Weight is about 4 oz.'s, and extremely sharp. Walk n' talk is smooth and snappy, and fit n' finish is just about perfect. The "run-up" on this knife where the tang meets the spine is virtually invisible, a sign of a well built knife. Built in Japan. I got this knife from Mark at SSk and although I paid-up a bit for it, it was nowhere near the price that Arizona Custom Knives is asking for the same knife. Next is a SMKW Japanese Tanto slip-joint that's 9" oal/SS Tanto blade with Samurai etch, SS pins, no liners, and die-cast black criss-cross covers. Due to the heavy covers the knife weighs about 6 oz.'s, and came shaving-sharp. Walks n' talks with a smooth resounding snap, and fit n' finish is well done. Another that was built in Japan. I just love how the blade completely disappears into the channel when it's closed. I also got this one from Mark, but only after he purchased it for me because the AAPK seller doesn't ship outside the US. And finally we have a Fury forward lockback slip-joint that is 9 1/2" oal/440 SS blade with top-swedge and n/n, SS bolsters, no liners, and brown ABS covers. The weight on this knife is right in between the other 2 at about 5 oz.'s, and also arrived razor-sharp. Has a walk n' talk of about 5, and fit n' finish is adequate. This one was built in Japan as well. Also acquired from Mark due to the same shipping issue through another AAPK store. If I wasn't destined to live in the states at least I have the next best thing, that being my good friend Mark at Sharpnshinyknives!

[Madmarco]

I received these 2 Rough Rider manuals today!

R/R 2181 Denim Micarta covers with a wharncliffe blade!

R/R 2176 Bow Trapper with black Micarta covers and upswept blade!

[Madmarco]

I received 3 more manuals today, and here they are! First up is a made in France 6 1/4" oal Le Theirs 289 slip-joint/SS drop-point blade with file work and n/n, N/S bolsters liners and pins, file worked spine, and black and white Paper Stone covers. I've never heard of these either! Has a nice light weight of only 1.98 oz.'s, and came extremely sharp. The walk n' talk is a pretty stiff 8, and the fit n' finish is excellent. Some knives in this model have a unique opening mechanism where you push-in on the blade to unlock it, but mine being on the low-end just opens with the n/n. I was attracted to these knives the first time I saw them, and now that I have one I can see why, they're very solid well built folders. Next is a made in Portugal 9.6" oal Curel Estiletto slip-joint/SS dagger blade minus a n/n but wide enough to pinch open, brass accented bolsters liners and pins, and richly grained Stamina wood covers. Also quite light at only 2.1 oz.'s, and arrived equally sharp. A more comfortable walk n' talk on this one at about a 6, with impeccable fit n' finish. Another model that has intrigued me for awhile, so I decided my collection needed at least one included in it. The last knife is a made in Japan 5 1/8" Kiridashi pull apart slicer/SS slanted blade, and all brass handle and sheath. The lightest of all 3 at a paltry 0.8 oz.'s, and also the sharpest. The walk is a tight 7 pull apart with an easy talk when pushing back into the sheath, and the fit n' finish on the brass is well done. This is another style I've been intrigued with for a long time, but after receiving it and seeing how simply it's built I wish I'd saved the CDN$17.50 it cost me and just kept on wondering! Ya can't win em' all!

[Madmarco]

These 2 came in today from Mark at SSk and both are very cool folders! First up is a 7 3/4" oal Weidmannsheil 1-blade lockback canoe/SS spear-point blade with n/n, NS bolsters and shield, brass liners and pins, and some of the nicest stag covers I've seen to date. Has a respectable weight of about 5 oz.'s, and came well sharpened. The knife displays a very comfortable walk n' talk of about 5, and the fit n' finish is 2nd to none. I'm going to wager a guess that it was built in Germany. If I wished something was different about my new knife, it would be for the "run-up" to be tighter instead of the 1/8" step-down from the spine to the tang that it shows, but I can live with it. Next is a 7" oal Marbles lockback/SS spear-point blade with n/n, NS fully engraved bolsters, NS pins, brass liners, and dark horn covers with white streaking. Fairly light at about 2.5 oz.'s, and arrived equally sharp. This one also has a comfortable walk n' talk, and the fit n' finish is impeccable. Built in Japan by Tak Fukutu. No desire for any changes on this knife, the "run-up" is as tight as a Moki! This is the 2nd one of these that I got from Mark, and it's identical to the first one, but for more streaking in the covers. My last pic is for comparison purposes!

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Glad you like them Mark, they are some nice knives. Yes the Weidmannsheil was made in Germany. This is one from before they closed after the last master cutler died in 1982. It’s a well made old knife that has stood the test of time.

[Madmarco]

Glad you like them Mark, they are some nice knives. Yes the Weidmannsheil was made in Germany. This is one from before they closed after the last master cutler died in 1982. It’s a well made old knife that has stood the test of time.

Yes, I sure do like them Mark! If I'm not mistaken that's the knife you described when it was in your store that you could move the blade from side-to-side when it's closed, but not when it's open. I tried it and I see what you mean. I really think that slight defect would have been overcome had they used a wider blade on the knife, and at the same time it might have filled in the run-up and eliminated the step-down that it currently shows. Not a big deal by any means, just thinking out loud! Thx again!

[Madmarco]

I won this knife in one of the very few auctions I participate in, and it cost me all of US$26. as the high bidder! It's a gently used Parker "Big Lou" gunstock slip-joint, and it's 8 3/4" oal/SS spear-point blade with n/n, NS bolsters, brass liners and pins, and some sort of bone covers. Has a nice hefty weight of about 6 oz.'s, and arrived well sharpened. It has a smooth walk of about a 5, and a loud snap when it talks. Fit n' finish is excellent. I've admired gunstock frames for quite awhile but was never able to find one with only 1 blade, so when I spotted this one on ebay I pounced, and I'm really glad I did!

[jmh58]

Mark. I can’t keep up with all your stuff?? You got some real fine scores going on there!!
John