(
Pros: Blade Sharpness, Handle Feel
Cons: Ease of Opening, Lock Ease of Use
Disappointed
It's a pretty knife, and the polish on the bolsters and blade stands up to light use (I haven't tried to put it to heavy use, and I don't think that's what is was designed for). Edge is nicely sharp. Other than a few rough edges on the pins and bolsters that are minor and might wear down over time, it seems well made.However, the locking mechanism gives me no confidence. It takes an unusual amount of force to fully open the blade and even more to get the lock to engage; it's too easy to get it open and not locked. It takes almost the same amount of effort to get the blade to close even with the lock lever fully depressed. Depressing that lever also takes an unusual amount of effort. I have Bucks and Buck knock-offs, and they all snap confidently into locked position, the lever depresses cleanly and the blade is free to close. This one feels like I'm grinding misaligned parts when locking and unlocking. I've had it a few weeks and it hasn't gotten much better. Because of its size, your fingers are always in the way and exerting the force needed to lock it and close it translates to high risk of cutting yourself.Normally I would disassemble it, clean it and lube it, but I don't know how to knock out the pins and there is no other way to take it apart without breaking it. I'll keep it, but I won't be buying these as gifts, which was the original plan.
