Joker Knives

MolokaiRider

MolokaiRider

Joined
Sep 13, 2017
Messages
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I just received two Joker knives, a Lynx in N695 and a Nordico in 14c28n.

After messing around with them for about four hours, I ordered two more.

I am sort of one of those people who likes to buy knives that I perceive as high value for the money. These knives seem to offer a nice array of features for a relatively low cost.

The fit and finish is very good. Assuming the heat treat is up to snuff, I feel like I am getting a lot of knife for the buck.

It is the same feeling I had back when Condor Knife and Tool first arrived, as you could get a decent knife and sheath for 40 bucks before they started raising prices.

Any one of you have long term experience with the brand? Positives? Negatives?

When I get a chance I'll post up some pictures.

So far, I am liking these Joker products.
 
As someone who owns 13 different Joker knives I heartily agree with you. For the same reasons people love Morakniv at their price point, I love Joker at theirs. They're a step up into quality, full tang knives that are meant to work, with great handle ergonomics. The cool emblem doesn't hurt them either. I'd like to try some of their folders, but I don't want to play roulette over whether customs will allow them to be imported from Spain, so I'm sticking with their fixed blades until a local business supplies their folders.

The only thing I've disliked about Joker is that there was an issue with the leather sheath for the Nomad being just a bit small for the blade, resulting it in slicing through. I just got a different sheath for it that was better than the original. They're very popular in Europe and gaining traction in the North American market. The only ones I don't have that I'll probably get around to acquiring at some point are their Bowie and Nessmuk knives (despite the fact they chose to put a scandi grind on a Nessmuk a lot of people love it).

 
I can't speak to the use of these knives, since my three specimens of Joker knives were obtained to simply add them into my collection.
I wanted to add some knives made in Spain to it, and these three Jokers are the ones I wound up getting. Their steel is an inexpensive stainless that will win no contests in today's world of all sorts of steel grades, especially the ever growing list of super steels. I don't think they would fail under normal knife use, but I'm sure that the need to resharpen them more often would be something to expect. I know that Joker has been making knives in much higher grade steels, so they do offer options 👌
The reason I chose the two folders was because they represent the Navaja knives that are known to have been a major pattern for that region of the world.
I also like to add knives to the collection that not everybody has, since that would make the collection too ho-hum for me.
I'll be sitting back and enjoying the replies your post gets about this brand 😊


 
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The Grendels said:
As someone who owns 13 different Joker knives I heartily agree with you. For the same reasons people love Morakniv at their price point, I love Joker at theirs. They're a step up into quality, full tang knives that are meant to work, with great handle ergonomics. The cool emblem doesn't hurt them either. I'd like to try some of their folders, but I don't want to play roulette over whether customs will allow them to be imported from Spain, so I'm sticking with their fixed blades until a local business supplies their folders.

The only thing I've disliked about Joker is that there was an issue with the leather sheath for the Nomad being just a bit small for the blade, resulting it in slicing through. I just got a different sheath for it that was better than the original. They're very popular in Europe and gaining traction in the North American market. The only ones I don't have that I'll probably get around to acquiring at some point are their Bowie and Nessmuk knives (despite the fact they chose to put a scandi grind on a Nessmuk a lot of people love it).

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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I can't speak to the use of these knives, since my three specimens of Joker knives were obtained to simply add them into my collection.
I wanted to add some knives made in Spain to it, and these three Jokers are the ones I wound up getting. Their steel is an inexpensive stainless that will win no contests in today's world of all sorts of steel grades, especially the ever growing list of super steels. I don't think they would fail under normal knife use, but I'm sure that the need to resharpen them more often would be something to expect. I know that Joker has been making knives in much higher grade steels, so they do offer options 👌
The reason I chose the two folders was because they represent the Navaja knives that are known to have been a major pattern for that region of the world.
I also like to add knives to the collection that not everybody has, since that would make the collection too ho-hum for me.
I'll be sitting back and enjoying the replies your post gets about this brand 😊


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Great replies, thanks to you both.

The thoughts shared reflect my short experience with the two I have now.

I am actually a bit surprised we don't hear more about them here on BladeForums. I am quickly becoming a fan of this brand.
 
It's the way I see the oh so many Russian made knives that seem to have broken solid ground in Europe and Australia, but have had trouble making inroads in the USA.
We live in such a connected world via internet, but in some ways, I still feel we live in our own little bubbles.

It seems that Joker can, and does, think outside of the box with their products. I mean, they still definitely cater to nostalgic/traditional guys, (like myself), but don't lock themselves into any one genre. They realized that bushcrafting had become a booming thing, and so they went ahead and started offering knives with that purpose in mind.
They realized that the new world was constantly wanting more options in higher grade steels, so they began adapting to that as well.
It's pretty obvious that they are making all the right moves 👍

 
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You definitely get a lot for the money with the top Spanish knife makers like Joker & Cudeman.

No long term experience, but a working one & it's just this one Joker bowie, I can't complain at all.. Not flawless fit & finish, but that is OK with handmade knives, minor imperfections give it character sometimes.

Congrats on your purchases..

20220220_121633.jpg
 
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The only Joker knife I've ever owned was a Navaja (olivewood handles). I've discussed this knife several times here in the past as being one of my biggest "knife regrets".

It was a piece of junk. Very crudely made, severe lock-play, and when the knife was closed the edge of the blade hit one of the pins holding the knife together, which in turn left a sizeable ding in the edge.

The vendor wouldn't take it back, so it's one of the few knives in my life that I actually threw in the garbage. It was too crappy even to give away. I'd say the "quality" was on the level of "tourist junk".

I'm not condemning the entire brand, just sharing my experience.

Here's a pic of one (not a pic of mine, but an identical model)-

txat55r.jpg
 
killgar said:
The only Joker knife I've ever owned was a Navaja (olivewood handles). I've discussed this knife several times here in the past as being one of my biggest "knife regrets".

It was a piece of junk. Very crudely made, severe lock-play, and when the knife was closed the edge of the blade hit one of the pins holding the knife together, which in turn left a sizeable ding in the edge.

The vendor wouldn't take it back, so it's one of the few knives in my life that I actually threw in the garbage. It was too crappy even to give away. I'd say the "quality" was on the level of "tourist junk".

I'm not condemning the entire brand, just sharing my experience.

Here's a pic of one (not a pic of mine, but an identical model)-

txat55r.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. I took a look at their line of folders and was curious on the overall build quality.
 
If Joker would go up just one or two more grades of steel, I would be all over them. Their typical 14C25N left me a bit underwhelmed, even knowing the capabilities and limitations of this steel beforehand when I bought the knife.

Fit and finish was acceptable, and their designs are ergonomically pleasing - but I just couldn't get acceptable performance from the steel they use, for my applications.
 
shane45-1911 said:
If Joker would go up just one or two more grades of steel, I would be all over them. Their typical 14C25N left me a bit underwhelmed, even knowing the capabilities and limitations of this steel when I bought the knife.

Fit and finish was acceptable, and their designs are ergonomically pleasing - but I just couldn't get acceptable performance from the steel they use, for my applications.
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This is going to be the bottom line for me as well. I think the designs are good, but my expectations for the steel is to perform as well as a Mora in stainless.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I just received two Joker knives, a Lynx in N695 and a Nordico in 14c28n.

After messing around with them for about four hours, I ordered two more.

I am sort of one of those people who likes to buy knives that I perceive as high value for the money. These knives seem to offer a nice array of features for a relatively low cost.

The fit and finish is very good. Assuming the heat treat is up to snuff, I feel like I am getting a lot of knife for the buck.

It is the same feeling I had back when Condor Knife and Tool first arrived, as you could get a decent knife and sheath for 40 bucks before they started raising prices.

Any one of you have long term experience with the brand? Positives? Negatives?

When I get a chance I'll post up some pictures.

So far, I am liking these Joker products.
Click to expand...
I have just started looking at this brand. Mostly the Nomad in N695 steel. Priced about $120. Only other knife I own from spain is a old Muela
 
I tried a couple of lower-end Jokers that had Opinellish ring locks and wood handles. The handles were relieved to make the blades pinchable, and the sides were flattened, just the way I might modify an Opinel for pocket carry. I just kept one with an oak handle and a spear point, and let the other go in the travelling box of knives. It had a clip point and a handle of, I think, cherry. The exact price escapes me, but They were in the range of an Opinel 6 or 7.

The blades take a good edge, but Iam not likely to carry the stainless much. My few stainless Opinels mostly sit around, too.
 
Interested in trying a small Navaja, love the style of those. Having something I enjoy is almost as important as having a functional tool, and I will definitely have a higher quality Navaja, but these seem good starters.
 
I have one Nomad and a Lynx. Very satisfied with them! different knives, the Nomad is a general utility sturdy knife, simple in construction and very very sharp out of the box. The other one, Lynx, is an excellent bushcrafting knife. Both are very reliable and effective tools!
 
I love Joker it is probably my favorite brand of mass produced knives. I EDC'd one of their folders for years until I lost it. I replaced it with a fancier version of the same model with bull horn scales seen in this picture along with other Joker models and one Aitor:

DtjkJnj.jpeg
 
Holy smokes I just got my Nomad.. I have to say i am very impressed with the knife.. Fit and finish is on par with a custom and the blade edge and geomitry is fantastic with the convex edge.. Handle is perfect and looks fantastic. got the Green micarta. I have to say for the money I paid $105 shipped its a great value.. I can see the prices going way up once they get more popular.
 
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