All About Pocket Knives

This is one knife that simply got in my brain and I couldn’t get it out. Saw this in an email from Blade HQ a few weeks ago and kept a tab open and kept coming back to it again and again until I ordered it. I think many will be familiar with this obsession.
I don’t normally go in for many Chinese made knives and especially ones this expensive. But the Ken Onion design was irresistible, same way his knives were when Kershaw made his designs in Japan. There is something about this blade that really grabs me. This is a frame lock version with fluted titanium handles and M390 steel in the blade. The flipper really fires when you push on it. It takes a bit of force to start it but after that it practically jumps out. Came razor sharp. I’m thinking seriously about carrying this one that way I can admire it everyday. I hate to do that since it cost so much and I need another knife to carry like I need a hole in the head.
I am little bothered by the fact that neither the knife nor the box states the COO on it. Blade HQ was right up front and had that in the specs so its Chinese origin was not a surprise. Hope you enjoy looking at this knife as much as I do.

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 6:10 pmI don’t normally go in for many Chinese made knives and especially ones this expensive

ditto Mark but of late I've found myself enjoying them more and more. In all honesty, I was never a thumb stud aficionado and typically look for a front roll or flipper tab opener. This Chinese made Reate Zoro is my latest acquisition that met all of my requirements and is as smooth as butter:

bestgear wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 8:23 pm

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 6:10 pmI don’t normally go in for many Chinese made knives and especially ones this expensive

ditto Mark but of late I've found myself enjoying them more and more. In all honesty, I was never a thumb stud aficionado and typically look for a front roll or flipper tab opener. This Chinese made Reate Zoro is my latest acquisition that met all of my requirements and is as smooth as butter:
REA.001-3.JPG
REA.001-1.JPG

That’s a beauty Tom. What a wicked looking blade. That knife has nice flow to it.

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 8:50 pmThat knife has nice flow to it.

Not Chinese but talk about flow to this American-made Medford Smooth Criminal for a few dollars more than the Reate:

bestgear wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 8:59 pm

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 8:50 pmThat knife has nice flow to it.

Not Chinese but talk about flow to this American-made Medford Smooth Criminal for a few dollars more than the Reate:
MED.001-3.JPG
MED.001-1.JPG

That is nice Tom. Reminds me of the Master Koji Hara Buck knives.

Thanks Mark, it does have a Seki Cityesque look and feel.