Trouble is you have no real guarantee that anything about the knife really is what they say it is. The steel could just as well be 440 A B C ? or whatever they use for railroad tracks in China …
Would that be a genuine (as in made in the far east under the name Gerber) product or a clone/copy/fake/replica of said product? There are fakes also of the bailey s4 (with bear grylls written on the blade and partially serrated edge) which is also mentioned in the post linked to by you, that goes for 30-40 usd on aliexp with some offerings said to be ats-34 and others claiming aus-8. I heard the real bailey s4 used to go for over 300 GBP when it was available.
edit. Is it only me who instantly think “Nut-head” when I see a paracord-bracelet-laden wrist holding a knife in a forum thread?
The new knives that BG puts his name to are the Gerber ones and are not in anyway related to past associations. I believe that Gerber source all the present BG line out to China and with careful shopping I think you will end up with the genuine product direct from manufacturer, I have put my money on it but at that price it doesn’t really matter. The steel will almost certainly be a Chinese steel, nothing at that price will import western steels to use and then ship back out.
I have a few of these knifes, the CRKT ones seems to be pretty good. The only issue is that it is not easy to flick them out even after playing and lubing the pivot. Some are better than others. Like budgetlights, they might even come with light scratches or anodisation misses due to NIL QC which is expected. I guess it’s like super budgetlights, one cannot trust the descriptions at all.
You just buy the copies for light and rough use, and for collection on a budget. I mean most of us don’t have and don’t want to spend several thousands of dollars to collect a whole set of Extrema Ratio/benchmade/Gerber/Boker/Buck knives. However we might have 30 of these copy knifes and maybe 5 authentic ones. For example, I have authentic Fenix lights and also a copy Fenix light.
If you are good/fast in sharpening, i guess no issue even if they are using 3Cr13mov quality. Heck they might not even be stainless and just a low-end tool steel that they use in cheap MIC $5 screwdriver sets. Remember, a screwdriver set costs $5 and a comparatively big knife like this costs $8 shipped w registered?
I mean folks use the CRKT-14ZSF and 13ZER and other knives with AUS-4. Like a copy TK35 or copy SWM TC40S which has PWM and not driven as well and worse threading etc.
You just don’t bring them to camping or a hunting trip and rely on them for survival, of course. Same thing i would not bring a single Small Sun/Ultrafire light for trekking. I’d have a proven Jetbeam and yet another SWM for “backup’s backup”. No assumptions and nature won’t be kind.
Of course the Sebenza copy caused a ripple. If you go to CPF, of course people won’t be impressed with copy lights and even stuff like a TF X100. That said i’d not mind paying $30 for one heh heh, but it’s still too ex.
Just sharing my recent searches, not an expert here, i just started on this.
It probably is not D2 steel, but pretty close to it. Not too bad a steel. Currently it is at 44 dollars shipped with stainless steel handle, and 55 shipped with a Ti handle and stonewashed blade (can’t confirm if it’s really even Ti coated). Still somewhat expensive. You can get a Kershaw Junkyard Dog 2.2 with composite D2 + 14C28N blade for 83 bucks and a Benchmade bone collector D2 for $100.
I really don’t like the hole in the blade, I’m sure straight forward tasks are OK but it looks like it will significantly weaken the blade? I have ordered a different Elk Ridge tho so I look forward to seeing how they compare to other makes.
I like the hole in the blade myself I think it looks “tacticool” :bigsmile: . Definately understand your point though. Hopefully it will hold up to skinning some wild animals this hunting season! I carry multiple knives most of the time (along with multiple flashlights and a pistol, rifle or shotgun)
SEPTEMBER 1st is the opening day of hunting season in Texas!!! Maybe have to skin out some Doves…… J)
Now I just need a knife sharpener…… Like those books sharpening knives for dummies.
The sheat shouldn’t keep you back from buying that awesome Y-start knife.
There is nothing wrong with the sheat (it works well, it even has a drain hole).
It’s only not as nice looking as the knife itself (which is excellent).
