Cheap, good quality frame-lock...

F

faxanadu

Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Messages
28
Check this link out: www.familydefense.com/maple.htm

I just received one of these, and i was impressed. It appears to be an almost exact copy of the Outdoor Edge Paragee (except that it's larger), but it's certainly not a junk rip-off. the blade seems to be a decent aus-6 or 420hc. It's not the best, but it's definitely not pot metal. On the box, it says "handle with care, maple knives are packaged extremely sharp", which is half true. the blade was well-ground, but not quite shaving-sharp out of the box. But after a few strokes with my sharpener, it was one of the sharpest i've ever seen. Overall, the knife is solidly built with no blade play whatsoever. The action was soaked in oil and is smooth as butter. The frame-lock mechanism is rock solid. The entire knife has a nice frosted matte finish. Overall, I think the quality is comparable to a Kershaw Vapor. The only thing I don't like about it is that the point is rather blunt.

I don't know where this knife is manufactured, as there is no stamp anywhere on the knife or box. The box just says "Maple, quality built pieces". But with the price being as low as it is, I'm guessing probably China or Taiwan. For $9.75 + shipping, it's a steal.
 
You get what you pay for.

What kind of 440 steel? There is a drastic difference in 440J2 and CPM440V.


OT- isn't CPM440V also called S30v?
 
I'm not an expert, but i own several high quality folders including Buck,Camillus,CRKT,Kershaw,Gerber,Cold Steel, and Case. I also own several junky Pakistani and Chinese knives, and I think I've developed a fairly good ability to differentiate between quality and junk. I would estimate this to be a 30 to 40 dollar knife if I was just handling it and didn't know anything about it. It's most assuredly not a Sebenza, but it seems like a whole lot of knife for 10 dollars.

As for the blade steel, I can't tell exactly what it is. I'm not that knowledgable. But it's certainly not 420j. I can recognize 420j, because it's very soft and pliant, and when I try to sharpen it the edge always rolls over to one side. The steel in this knife is significantly harder and takes a better edge. I would compare it to the standard 420hc in my Gerbers. It's not great, but it's heads and shoulders above the Pakastani stuff.
 
I dunno... I wouldn't trust it...
Somehow that outline looks somewhat like the Camillus EDC.
 
Originally posted by calyth
I dunno... I wouldn't trust it...
Somehow that outline looks somewhat like the Camillus EDC.
Click to expand...
Darrel Ralph designed both the Paragee and the EDC, which is why they look similar. By the hole pattern, though, this one is definitely a Paragee clone. Unfortunately, regardless of its quality, I think a rip-off is still a rip-off.

-Z
 
FamilyDefense sells junk knives. It's that simple.
Real:
<img src="http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/outdoor/images/paraplain.jpg">
Fake:
<img src="http://www.familydefense.com/images/20016-20016A.JPG">

Any questions?
 
Family Defense's all star knife lineup :rolleyes::
KNIVES - Colt Folders
KNIVES - Hibben
KNIVES - Jaguar
KNIVES - Smith&Wesson
KNIVES - MOVIE
KNIVES - Boot & Belt
KNIVES - Balisong
KNIVES - Folders 1
KNIVES - Folders 2
KNIVES - Automatic
KNIVES - Auto Form 18
KNIVES - Survival
KNIVES - Hunting
KNIVES - Snakeskin
KNIVES - Display/Fantasy
KNIVES - ABS Stealth
 
Ti Underboss, I think 440V is now called S90V. Maybe S60V. But S30V is new, it's designed by Crucible Steel especially for knives I believe.
 
Now, that just plain SUCKS!:grumpy:
Why in the Hell can't these people just put a little thought and make up a design of their own? Oh yeah, thats right. Because their POS won't sell unless it looks almost exactly like a well known knifemaker's design.:mad:
This is just a bloody shame...
 
I just received one of these, and i was impressed. It appears to be an almost exact copy of the Outdoor Edge Paragee (except that it's larger), but it's certainly not a (junk) rip-off.

Oh yes it is!
 
The site is a BS junk site...(I really need those furniture movers for my families defense...)

BS name for a site....

The knife (sorry, for even suggesting it)is a POS flea-market rip-off...

All I have to say is:

Sniff, Sniff,...what just crawled out from under the bridge?

Not even a good attempt at someone trying to lure our brother forums members to a bogus site...

or maybe I'm wrong....

:rolleyes:

back to the doghouse....
 
Where is this Holy Knife Bible that says that when a design is copied it automatically becomes a POS junk rip-off? What's the logic behind that? I forgot, bibles don't have anything to do with logic; it's all about mindlessly following the herd.

By that same logic, all you SKS enthusiasts should throw away your Chinese Norincos. After all, they are inferior copies of a Russian design, right?

Did it ever occur to you that a copy isn't necessarily be a POS junk rip-off? Did it ever occur to you that some people don't need an illustrious name printed on their knives, and might be well-served by a copy? And that they might need the money they saved for other things? This accusation of me being a troll and trying to lure people to some website is 100% dirty slander. I'm sure that website gets plenty of business without my help. Most of the general population buys the cheap knives, right? Why would I pick out a single cheap, no-name knife, then come to Bladeforums and write a bogus in-depth review of it in front of all you knowledgable knife connoisseurs? And try to "lure" people to some website so they can find more cheap knives? I can think of better marketing strategies than that.

The fact is, I think this is a decent, reasonably well-made knife. I was very impressed by the quality of it for the price I paid. And I thought it deserved a good review. It's true enough that most knock-offs are junk, but there are exceptions to every rule. Don't knock something until you've tried it.
 
You're right. I'm sure just because you like the way it feels out of the box, it must be a good knife. I'm sure you were able to feel with your hands the wonderful heat treat it received with a hair-dryer. It's not pot metal? Well if you're paying $9.75 for the finished product, how much do you think they make it for? I'm sure FamilyDefense takes plenty of profit on its sale, so I can only imagine what it costs them. Even if it is made of a decent steel, which I'm sure it isn't, the heat treat on it is certainly the most horrid the knife world can offer.

But hey, we're just being too judgemental, right?

Or maybe we're just weary of a knife off of a site that sells the kinds of wares that FamilyDefense does. Or maybe we're suspicious about the fact that there is no steel designation on the blade or the box. Or the fact that this 'knife company' makes no claim as to their factory location or headquarters.

Whether or not you're a troll, don't expect many (if any) users on a knife forum to agree with you on this one.
 
Originally posted by ThinkOfTheChildren


Whether or not you're a troll, don't expect many (if any) users on a knife forum to agree with you on this one.
Click to expand...

YEAH! What he said!!
 
Ya know faxadu, I was neutral on this until you said
"I forgot, bibles don't have anything to do with logic; it's all about mindlessly following the herd.".

That comment is most definitely trolling, albeit with a different lure.

go away.
 
Even if it is made of Talonite it is Still a rip off of a DDR design that he is not getting credit for! That makes it a giant POS right there!
 
Im kinda new here to get involved in a FW but you absolutely cannot use the SKS as an example, or the AK. Tula arsenal in USSR licenced PRC(peoples republic of china)to manufacture the weapons you stated.

Now the company you bring to the table I am positive that they are not licenced by anyone to copy thier knives.

Sorry to intergect, but ya need a new example.
 
As it happens, I have a Maple Tanto blade metal handle frame lock folder. The blade doesn't sharpen really well and seems I can roll the edge pretty easy.

However it locks up solid, has very little play (too hard to open if all play eliminated) and for $7.99 I got something that at least looks good!

Since I am a cheappo dude, it fits me!

Joe Shmoe - as Cheap A$$ed a B@st@rd as you are ever going to find!
 
"Even if it is made of talonite it is still a rip off of a DDR design that he is not getting credit for! That makes it a giant POS right there!"

So, what you're saying is: Even if a knife is copied with better materials and a higher standard of quality than the original, it's still a POS just from the fact that it's a copy and that the original designer is not profiting from it. Maybe I'm a little dense, but that still doesn't quite add up.

As for the SKS analogy: So what if the Chinese version is licensed? It's still an inferior copy of the original. People generally agree on that. Licensing doesn't change that fact.

From the beginning of time, people have always imitated other peoples' inventions and ideas. People tend to stick with a proven formula. There's nothing evil in that. The only difference is, that back in the old days they didn't have the commercialism we have today. And the legal formality of licensing didn't exist.

These imitators didn't steal Darrel Ralph's design. Actually it's not even an exact copy. There are easily noticable differences. Darrel Ralph is the creator of the Paragee. That's a well-established fact. Nobody is contesting that. If Darrel Ralph's knife is as good as it's reputation (which I'm sure it is), it will stand on it's own, regardless of imitators. The only problem with the imitations is that the original designer isn't making money from them. Like I said, it's commercialism.
 
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