Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Materials
Cons: Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness
The Knifecenter picture looks better than the actual product...
Okay, so first off, these are made in India by a firm called Windlass Steelcrafts, (and marked as such in a small etching on the bottom of the blade). The blade comes unsharpened, having a flat edge that compares to the spine side of a kitchen butter knife, (I am not trying to be funny, that is an accurate description of it's edge). Otherwise, the blade is decently done, and the edge can be sharpened if one chooses to do so, but it will take some effort if done manually. As for the steel knuckle guard, it seems a bit thinner stock than the steel I have seen pictured on the originals, but not a huge deal. The guard could have used a bit better final smoothing out of it's surface finishing, but nothing that some 300 to 400 grit sandpaper can't take care of in little time and with little effort. As for the aluminum cast handle... Well, that is the worst part of this push dagger. It is rough, has quite a few surface pits, and simply requires a good amount of handiwork to make it look anything like the picture that Knifecenter has up of it. I worked on the aluminum handle for at least two hours, so if you have that kind of handiness skills, this product has the bones in which to make a decent final product. It should be purchased only if one is ready to put some work into it, again, it does not look like the picture shown on Knifecenter. The picture shows what it can be made to look like when it's finished by YOU, since it comes unfinished by them. The sheath?... Well, it's leather, yes... But, it is fairly a crude basic sheath. I give it two stars, and that is because it does not come anywhere near as it is pictured here, but can actually be made to approach what it looks like in the photo if you have the basic skills needed to get it there yourself. It's a project knife, so I do not recommend buying it if you want a nicely made product right out of the box. But, if you understand that, and are willing to put in your own extra elbow grease, then sure, have at it! I mean, it's not like this model has any competition. Windlass Steelcrafts is the maker, and they may be the only option available of this reproduction. It's pricey for it being so unfinished, but with no other real options out there, it becomes a "it is what it is" type of thing.
(
