Moki, Mcusta, Al Mar and other Seki Made Knives

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Bought the MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi myself awhile back and not Seki but Al-Mar designs got the Nemesis Mar Private Reserve MPR-1 from my Dad for Christmas. Looks like Nemesis knives has released 3 patterns now. https://www.nemesis-knives.com/mpr-series/

MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 1.jpg
MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 2.jpg
MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 3.jpg
MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 4.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 1.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 2.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 3.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 4.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 5.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 6.jpg

I looked at that website. I haven’t heard of Nemesis before. Do you know which models are made in Seki? The site says they use manufacturers in USA, Japan and China. But I don’t see COO on the web pages. All of them look like they are well made. More information would be helpful.
That Mcusta is a favorite of mine. Love the colors on this.
Thanks,
SSk

[outkast]

Bought the MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi myself awhile back and not Seki but Al-Mar designs got the Nemesis Mar Private Reserve MPR-1 from my Dad for Christmas. Looks like Nemesis knives has released 3 patterns now. https://www.nemesis-knives.com/mpr-series/

MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 1.jpg
MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 2.jpg
MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 3.jpg
MCUSTA Tsuchi Bushi 4.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 1.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 2.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 3.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 4.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 5.jpg
Mar Private Reserve -1 - 6.jpg

I looked at that website. I haven’t heard of Nemesis before. Do you know which models are made in Seki? The site says they use manufacturers in USA, Japan and China. But I don’t see COO on the web pages. All of them look like they are well made. More information would be helpful.
That Mcusta is a favorite of mine. Love the colors on this.
Thanks,
SSk

Best of my knowledge they are all made in China, just some of Al-mar's designs that were never brought to production.

[S2K]

My first pic here. I've recently gotten interested in the Japanese Kershaw knives, including this Wild Turkey. Great FF, ergonomics, & style. Steel is just OK, AUS6, but it works for how I use it.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

So I am finally out of knives to post on this thread, until my replacement Mcusta comes. This is the latest Moki I purchased. Since I had the 100th anniversary knife, see the last photo, I bought one of the 110th anniversary knives. They made two styles of this knife. One is made w/ stag and has a VG 10 San Mai clad blade and is serial numbered. Only 110 made of each knife. The one that I purchased is the ebony handled and has SG2 and VG2 Damascus blades. Also limited to 110 pieces and not serial numbered.
The Damascus is high, high polish. It is very hard to see the Damascus pattern unless you hold it just right. Not sure it was captured in the pictures or not. I tried many angles and different lights to make it easier to see in the photos but couldn’t get it right.
This knife is top drawer, w/ the same fit and finish you would expect from Moki. There aren’t many left if you want to add one to your collection. But they are a bit pricey, 280 for this model and 320 for the stag. When I bought mine from JKD it said only 2 left of each model, so that means 1 of this one and 2 or less of the stag.
I noticed that all the new Moki’s and Mcusta’s have much higher prices than the older stock listed on the JKD website. Prices must have gone up a lot. That may be from the strong dollar vs yen. They have not raised prices on the older stock like you would expect a company to do, so the older stock knives on their site seem like a real bargain compared to the newest ones made, IMO.
SSk

[robbobus]

Beauty knife ssk. I finished in 2nd on a stag on eBay a few months ago. Bit regretful I didn't step it up a bit on my bidding. I'm also starting tto get a bit low on folders I haven't shown, be out within the next week.

[robbobus]

Browning 393 Ice Storm. Made by Mcusta this features red (obviously) anodized aluminum handles and a blade of VG10. Good sturdy long discontinued basic pocketknife. I truly wish I had bought dozens when they cleared (gave away) this out.

[kootenay joe]

Wow ! Now i will be looking for an Ice Storm. What a knife !
kj

[Ivoryman]

Moki Glory.

Ivoryman, That is a beauty. It has all the statements that a Moki makes, so classical Moki. I like the wooden handles, I assume it to be Chinese Quince from the appareance, but there are some others that look similar to Quince?
Moki does wooden handles right, they always look incredible.
Thanks
SSk

Quince indeed. I have other woods but none with this burl look and the grain is so cool and has texture photos don't get. And that warm, grippy feel. I like Quince. And here, here, to everything you said, impeccable. I can't imagine sending a Moki back to the factory either, like I have with Case, Queen, GEC. Maybe it happens but I'll bet it's not like Case and GEC. I won't even go into Queen, but I would say one out of every dozen GEC I have purchased have needed sending back. i have a 14 I sent back to the factory at the moment even, and this is my second 14 that goes back to factory, both with the same problem. waiting weeks for it's return, blade hits the backspring at the pin bump and puts a lame crescent in the edge right where you do a lot of cutting. NEVER heard of that on a Moki, or sending back to the factory to fix issues. Speaks for itself. Thanks, glad you like seeing it. I love my Mokis and they're in the rotation, but I carry others more. But not for anything wrong with the Mokis. No way.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

My first pic here. I've recently gotten interested in the Japanese Kershaw knives, including this Wild Turkey. Great FF, ergonomics, & style. Steel is just OK, AUS6, but it works for how I use it.

Thanks for posting and welcome to the forums. There is nothing wrong w/ AUS6 or AUS8. I have both and have never had an issue w/ either. My EDC is AUS8 and I am pretty impressed w/ the way it holds an edge and it’s not hard to sharpen. But I’m not a steel snob so that’s just my opinion. I like the looks of this one.
SSk

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Browning 393 Ice Storm. Made by Mcusta this features red (obviously) anodized aluminum handles and a blade of VG10. Good sturdy long discontinued basic pocketknife. I truly wish I had bought dozens when they cleared (gave away) this out.154016001700910054310196980384.jpg1540160029129154079967294624567.jpg

That one is obviously Mcusta. It does have some interesting lines and I’m loving the handles on that one.
SSk

[S2K]

My pleasure SSK I'm not in the habit of shredding cans and the like either, so AUS6 works for me.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Beauty knife ssk. I finished in 2nd on a stag on eBay a few months ago. Bit regretful I didn't step it up a bit on my bidding. I'm also starting tto get a bit low on folders I haven't shown, be out within the next week.

Don’t keep us waiting too long on the pictures. Looking forward to seeing more.
SSk

[Ivoryman]

Comparing the Amber Stag Bone Moki Kronos and Red Bone Case TB Norfolk fit and finish where the tang meets the spring.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Comparing the Amber Stag Bone Moki Kronos and Red Bone Case TB Norfolk fit and finish where the tang meets the spring.

Ivoryman, That is a good example of the quality difference between Case and Moki. That Case is double or more what a Moki costs and yet they don’t get the quality to that level. I would love to know how Moki does this?
Thanks for posting.
SSk

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Just got this knife in the mail, purchased from a fellow AAPK member. Seki Cut knives are made by a consortium of Seki knife makers. This is one of their fixed blades. Beautiful gold lipped pearl w/ abalone accents. High polished stainless. Comes with a black sheath accented in turquoise. This knife is surprisingly heavy. You wouldn’t think by looking at it that it would have this much heft. Razor sharp of course, shaved off a much bigger patch of hair on my arm testing the sharpness. I think you could shave w/ this knife.
SSk

[Quick Steel]

SSk, That your knife is beautiful is self evident. The sheath is "over the top." If one could reconcile going to a black tie function with wearing a sheath knife, your sheath would fit right in. There are few other places I would dare wear it.

[robbobus]

Beretta dagger, small one. Made by Ichiro Hattori. This is a first class knife. The fit is seamless. Of the many Hattori made knives I have owned, this is my favourite.

[robbobus]

This little guy is the CM-12 lby AG Russell, premiere model with decorative bolsters and caps. I can just make out the cut on the mark side bolster lock. Tiny little thing at about 3" closed. The bone used on cm-10 and cm-12 is exquisite, i think it was maybe called rootbeer.

[Quick Steel]

robbobus, Small but O so elegant.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

15405099433781765803709347820794.jpg15405099645598622671854144848937.jpg15405099857602481805645569192868.jpg15405100126493483723987775939513.jpg

This little guy is the CM-12 lby AG Russell, premiere model with decorative bolsters and caps. I can just make out the cut on the mark side bolster lock. Tiny little thing at about 3" closed. The bone used on cm-10 and cm-12 is exquisite, i think it was maybe called rootbeer.

Robbobus, That dagger is not only cool but exquisite in the construction. Very nice lines on that and great fit and finish.
The second one is really hot. I love that bone and the bolsters are just an added bonus. The meet point of blade and backspring isn’t as tight as a Moki but it’s not bad. You can forgive that when it looks so good.
Thanks,
SSk

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Here is an A.G. Russell Seki made dogleg jack. Stainless bolsters, pins and liners. Got to love the lines on these blades. The stag is top drawer as well. The fit of the blade to the back spring isn’t as tight as a Moki, but it’s still way better than most. It’s a top notch knife. This is one that you could use for your lifetime and pass on and it would still be going strong.
SSk

[Quick Steel]

I love the curvature of the spey blade.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I love the curvature of the spey blade.

QS. Me too. That’s my favorite part of this knife, that blade is sweet. The all stainless construction is more impressive in person than in the pictures. I have no first hand knowledge of this, but I have heard that stainless is hard to work with. I would think that those bolsters would be a bitch to work w/.
Funny how you really don’t pay attention to the pins and liners on most knives and when you see one w/ stainless pins and liners or nickle silver pins and liners, you almost subconsciously think there is something different that I like about this. Then you see it.
SSk

[Quick Steel]

Altogether a remarkable knife. I feel confident that AG himself did the design, unless he announced otherwise. He did lots of designing as you know.

[robbobus]

I think he mentioned not designing this knife, but that the maker had made it for his assessment and he liked it. I will see if I can dig up his comments.