I forgot about this thread until I came across a reference to it and decided to read the remaining messages. Then I came across bubbaskyjacker's reply and could not let it pass. Every party needs a pooper, right?
>> I’m so confused by this thread and the OPs question that he answers himself.
There is a difference between answering one's own question and expressing an opinion about the product for the purpose of provoking another opinion.
For purpose of clearing this nebulous concept, I got some opinions from this thread and, besides this message, I learned something from the rest of them. And I hope others did, too. So mission accomplished.
>> Op you seem to have an opinion on BM already.
Uh, yeah. After owning several of them I would expect anyone with a functioning brain to have an opinion. That is what one forms after ownership of several years. Had I not formed an opinion that would be absolute proof that something is seriously wrong with me.
Then there are those who have an opinion having not owned them or likely, even handled one.
Thing is, sometimes we seek others' opinions to confirm ours or sometimes to show that maybe we got it wrong. Did I get a bad knife from a bad batch? Maybe a counterfeit? Are they all as good as mine?
Basically get another point of view. It's called conversation.
>> Bad for the money? Compared to what? Cold steel - those designs are gross and mall ninja’ish.
Compared to anything with which you get your money's worth. Is it worth it? Is it overpriced? Is there something better for the same or less money? Is the steel worth it or is it soft, brittle, poorly ground, or whatever?
I don't recall mentioning Cold Steel. Never owned one. Won't talk about something I have not owned. Can't imagine why you would even bring this up.
>>The one beating them is the hogue Ritter otherwise apples to alligators.
Aren't those comparisons the only ones worth making?
Think about it: Why the hell would a sane person compare, for example, a Manix 4V with G-10 grips with a Manix 4V with Micarta grips? Or a Presidio S-30V with aluminum grips with a Presidio S-30V with FRN grips?
The comparisons we make in real life -are- dissimilar things. Do we want a lock knife or not? Fixed or folding? What size? What price? What brand? Where was it made? can I afford it? What will the wife say when I bring home another one? Where can I hide this one?
You can argue this crap all you want, but not once have I had a debate with myself as to whether I wanted a particular knife to be flat or sabre grind. If I want CPM-M4 then I will fine one with the right combination of size, lock, heat treatment, price, and occasionally style, that I can make work for me.
These are the real world comparisons we make. Not just Nissan vs. Chrysler mini van but do we need a mini van, an SUV, a pickup, a car, V8 V6 or V4, maybe I want a new C8 Corvette but is it worth it that it will cost me a wife and a house, or what.
We compare and contrast the utility of a mini van with the ease of entry, gas mileage, and performance of a car, with the capacity of a truck, with the purchase price, with how ours stands up against the neighbor's new SUV, and so forth. We do not compare the black truck with the pewter truck. That comparison comes down to whatever is on the lot, and the deal.
All this apples to apples junque only exists in sheltered enclaves.
>> ?? I had a mini grip I sharpened 2 in 4 years.
That tells me a lot about you: You have a low expectation and tolerance of sharp, and you don't use your knife much.
Mine is used to cut wires, insulation, hoses, cardboard, cloth, sticks, leather, rubber, sometimes food after I have washed it, scrape rust off collets, and pretty much everything that needs cutting when my knife is within reach. So yes, it needs sharpening a bit more often than yours does. In short, mine is neither a fashion accessory nor an object of conversation and adoration.
>> Mods Please dissolve this thread into non existence.
That should have been done before your post.
I don't know how well Bladeforums is doing regarding things such as attracting new membership, retaining new members, getting members to pay, and the like but if posts like this are typical, then the long term longevity of this place is doubtful.
Sure, this has been written up before. Thing is, times change. Did a particular knifemaker change their heat treatment? Their lock style? Get a lower quality supplier or have staffing issues so quality suffers? Sometimes an older (or sometimes newer) model of a particular knife is better from a metallurgical standpoint. For example, I believe Buck has changed their blade steel several times. If the question does not come up from time to time, how are we supposed to know? Things change, and occasionally we have to plow the field again to find out about those changes.
As a comparison, there is a standing joke on the Harley forums regarding oil threads. However, oil formulations change in response to federal laws. Maybe Castrol or Valvoline takes zinc out of a particular oil due to emission regulations. OK if you have a roller cam, not so if you have flat tappet; cam and tappet wear will be accelerated. We then need to find something else but only if we are aware of the change.
Those of us who cannot stay on top of these things hope that as things change, we can ask the question without some haughty bored somebody with nothing but time on his hands jumps on the question because it does not apply to them.
However, if it offends delicate sensibilities here to keep knowledge updated, then so be it. New members will be discouraged from posting, or perhaps even joining, page hits will go down, advertisers will fine another place with more views, and this forum will eventually die.
Rant over, back to lurking mode.
RCFL