A Comparison of Production Subhilts
Jan 25, 2013 19:20:20 GMT
Post by demonskull on Jan 25, 2013 19:20:20 GMT
I have been on the forum several years now and thought it was high time I got off my ass and posted something, hopefully of use to my fellow members.
First off the disclaimer, I have no vested interest in any of the reviewed knives or their respective manufacturers. I received no special discounts and they were purchased from different vendors or private sales. My views are just that, my views. They are not those of anyone else or the forum.
I have taken the five subhilt fighting knives I currently own to provide a comparison for those interested in purchasing a fighting knife.
Statistics: OL= Overall Length, BL= Blade Length, G= Primary Guard Length, W= Weight-appx retail values are in US dollars
Schrade Corby SCOR OL-17 3/4", BL-12', G- 4" W-3 lbs Handle Material - fabric based micarta, Heavy Leather Sheath,
unsharpened false edge- retails for under $100
i.imgur.com/8v3eHGZ.jpg
Boker Kessler OL-12 7/8", BL- 7 1/2", G- 2 2/4", W- 15.5 oz Handle Material - Black Canvas Micarta, Heavy Leather Sheath,
unsharpened false edge- retails for under $300
i.imgur.com/ydXSOIO.jpg
Cold Steel OSS OL- 13 3/8", BL-8 1/4", G- 2 3/4", W- 9 oz, Handle Material - Kyrton, Molded Plastic Sheath,
Moderately sharpened false edge the entire length of the blade- retails under $100
i.imgur.com/KizqIdt.jpg
Smith & Wesson OL- 13", BL- 8", G- 2 1/2", W- 13 oz, Handle Material- Buffalo Horn, Leather Sheath, unsharpened false edge- retails under $75 (discontinued)
i.imgur.com/xiI3bqM.jpg
Mtech MT-20-04 OL- 14 5/8" BL-9 13/16" G- 3 1/2" W- 1 lb. Handle Material-Black Hardwood (appears to be ebony), Synthetic sheath- retails under $30
i.imgur.com/ZS61kkp.jpg
All have similar quality steels. I have not done cutting tests as it doesn't pertain to the comparison. All primary edges come paper cutting sharp from the vendor/manufactorer.
Pros and Cons
Schrade
Pros: micarta handle, well made leather sheath, good fit/finish
Cons: overly large grip and very heavy knife- too large and heavy for the average
individual
Kessler
Pros: micarta handle, well made sheath, exquisite fit/finish
Cons: grip edges almost square, slightly uncomfortable
Cold Steel
Pros: Kyrton grip- provides an excellent grip, good fit/finish, semi-sharp false edge,
molded plastic sheath
Cons: IMO the sheath is a little over designed and the blade could use a little more presence
Smith & Wesson
Pros: heavy leather sheath
Cons: the buffalo slab grips shrink a great deal causes the fit/finish to be poor
Mtech
Pros: well fitting nylon sheath, nice blade presence, hardwood grips
Cons: the hardwood handles shrinks a bit but not nearly as much as the buffalo on
the S&W so the fit/finish is fair
Conclusions:
Schrade: Knife for a large individual- worthy of it's price point
Kessler: show piece - better price point options out there including some customs
Cold Steel: very nice for the price point
Smith & Wesson: discontinued with reason
Mtech: very pleasent surprise- well worth the money and more
First off the disclaimer, I have no vested interest in any of the reviewed knives or their respective manufacturers. I received no special discounts and they were purchased from different vendors or private sales. My views are just that, my views. They are not those of anyone else or the forum.
I have taken the five subhilt fighting knives I currently own to provide a comparison for those interested in purchasing a fighting knife.
Statistics: OL= Overall Length, BL= Blade Length, G= Primary Guard Length, W= Weight-appx retail values are in US dollars
Schrade Corby SCOR OL-17 3/4", BL-12', G- 4" W-3 lbs Handle Material - fabric based micarta, Heavy Leather Sheath,
unsharpened false edge- retails for under $100
i.imgur.com/8v3eHGZ.jpg
Boker Kessler OL-12 7/8", BL- 7 1/2", G- 2 2/4", W- 15.5 oz Handle Material - Black Canvas Micarta, Heavy Leather Sheath,
unsharpened false edge- retails for under $300
i.imgur.com/ydXSOIO.jpg
Cold Steel OSS OL- 13 3/8", BL-8 1/4", G- 2 3/4", W- 9 oz, Handle Material - Kyrton, Molded Plastic Sheath,
Moderately sharpened false edge the entire length of the blade- retails under $100
i.imgur.com/KizqIdt.jpg
Smith & Wesson OL- 13", BL- 8", G- 2 1/2", W- 13 oz, Handle Material- Buffalo Horn, Leather Sheath, unsharpened false edge- retails under $75 (discontinued)
i.imgur.com/xiI3bqM.jpg
Mtech MT-20-04 OL- 14 5/8" BL-9 13/16" G- 3 1/2" W- 1 lb. Handle Material-Black Hardwood (appears to be ebony), Synthetic sheath- retails under $30
i.imgur.com/ZS61kkp.jpg
All have similar quality steels. I have not done cutting tests as it doesn't pertain to the comparison. All primary edges come paper cutting sharp from the vendor/manufactorer.
Pros and Cons
Schrade
Pros: micarta handle, well made leather sheath, good fit/finish
Cons: overly large grip and very heavy knife- too large and heavy for the average
individual
Kessler
Pros: micarta handle, well made sheath, exquisite fit/finish
Cons: grip edges almost square, slightly uncomfortable
Cold Steel
Pros: Kyrton grip- provides an excellent grip, good fit/finish, semi-sharp false edge,
molded plastic sheath
Cons: IMO the sheath is a little over designed and the blade could use a little more presence
Smith & Wesson
Pros: heavy leather sheath
Cons: the buffalo slab grips shrink a great deal causes the fit/finish to be poor
Mtech
Pros: well fitting nylon sheath, nice blade presence, hardwood grips
Cons: the hardwood handles shrinks a bit but not nearly as much as the buffalo on
the S&W so the fit/finish is fair
Conclusions:
Schrade: Knife for a large individual- worthy of it's price point
Kessler: show piece - better price point options out there including some customs
Cold Steel: very nice for the price point
Smith & Wesson: discontinued with reason
Mtech: very pleasent surprise- well worth the money and more