HTM/DDR Gunhammer - an "out of the box" review
Oct 10, 2014 1:34:27 GMT
Post by hhmoore on Oct 10, 2014 1:34:27 GMT
Introduction:
Darrel Ralph is a custom knife maker. HTM (Hand Tech Made) is the company that brought some of his designs to more of the knife loving public through larger scale production.
This knife started life as a 2012 special "forum" edition HTM/DDR Gunhammer. There were only 45 made. This particular knife had a number of problems on delivery, and was reworked by Darrel Ralph. I'll give you the details later...
Disclosure:
I have no affiliation with Darrel Ralph or HTM; though I had heard of both prior to deciding to make this purchase. I did not purchase this knife new - I wasn't even a member of that forum when the project was conceived. I got a fairly good deal on this knife; but only by virtue of scanning the classifieds while in an insomniac haze, and viewing the ad literally minutes after it was posted with a reduced price. I received no special consideration for my purchase, though the seller did send me a link to another knife (offered by another seller) that I'd expressed interest in over the course of our communication. It would have been a great deal, but I missed it by about 20 minutes :cry:
<focusing> Back to the Gunhammer
Initial Impressions:
This was a pre-owned knife; and it arrived in a USPS Priority Mail box, stuffed with writing paper. Simple, yet effective.
Upon removing the paper, I found the knife...it was inside a padded pouch with the HTM label.
(The pouch is empty in that picture - so don't be critical of the weird fold)
Ah - the knife!
Oh...it's got a lanyard - not sure if this is an official Darrel Ralph skull
I was familiar enough with the model that I knew what to expect in terms of look and size...but I still experienced the giddiness of unpackaging a new knife and instantly knowing that I like it.
Green anodized aluminum; textured, but still rather smooth. The handle feels like it was made for me - a perfect fit (which means that some readers would consider it too large/thick). There is some very light jimping along the finger rests, and at the base of the blade - so light that I'd say it's barely jimping.
I really like the blade shape and finish.
The blade is well centered
And the lockup is solid
The pocket clip received a similar finish, if with a somewhat less pronounced effect.
The flipper is nicely shaped, and very effective - this thing opens like a dream. Here's a better look
Specifications:
Blade length - 3.5"
Closed length - somewhere between 4.375-4.5"
Overall length - 8"
Weight - 147g (5.2 oz)
Handle - ETAC (ergonomical tactical) aircraft grade aluminum (with some sort of military hard coating), green anodized
Blade steel - CPM-S90V, acid washed and tumbled (the regular forum knives were finished differently)
Blade shape - Torpedo (available in Bowie or Torpedo)
Blade lock - sort of a cross between a liner and subframe lock (remind me to explain or try to get pics)
Opening - manual
About CPM-S90V (quoted from Crucible.com)
CPM® S90V (420V)
(AISI 420 modified with high vanadium)
CPM S90V is a unique tool steel made by the Crucible Particle Metallurgy process. It is a martensitic stainless steel to which vanadium and carbon have been added for exceptionally good wear resistance. CPM S90V offers substantial improvements in wear resistance over 440C and D2, and other high chromium steels, with corrosion resistance equal to or better than 440C. CPM S90V’s high vanadium content favors the formation of hard vanadium carbides instead of chromium carbides for wear resistance, leaving more free chromium available to provide corrosion resistance.
The wear and corrosion resistance of CPM S90V make it an excellent candidate to replace 440C, where increased wear is a primary concern. It can replace D2 or other tool steels in applications where improved corrosion resistance is also of benefit.
Typical Chemistry
Carbon 2.30%
Chromium 14.00%
Vanadium 9.00%
Molybdenum 1.00%
(more details at www.crucible.com/eselector/prodb ... s90vp.html) :idea:
The real story
PROs
Nearly perfect size (IMO)
Aesthetics - I really like the look. (I could break it down into small details, but that would mean more words)
Did I mention it's CPM-S90V??
Feel - Smooth, but with texturing. Neither the machining or jimping on the handle create rough spots.
Flipper - super smooth, one of the best manual flippers I've encountered. Also, the flipper functions as a guard to prevent one's finger from sliding up on the blade.
Blade jimping - understated, but effective.
CONs
There are exactly 3.5 things wrong with this knife.
1) The flipper hits my index finger when I try to open with the thumbstud, interfering with blade travel. As such, I cannot consistently deploy the blade using the thumbstud; which is a disappointment because I prefer that method over the flipper.
2) With the knife open, the flipper gets in the way of where my index finger wants to be. Oddly enough, the "jimping" on the flipper is more coarse than that on the blade, so it does feel abrasive against my finger. I can reposition and find a good spot; but I have to think about it...which doesn't happen until I notice the discomfort.
3) There is one rough, not quite sharp spot on the handle, right near the lock tab. It's small, but I felt it...and now it annoys me. I'm not sure if I can sand it without messing up the finish.
0.5) The handle finish (except for that one spot) might just be too smooth. I could see this knife becoming slippery. That's barely a complaint, for me - I'd rather have smooth than abrasive or poorly shaped - which is why I only called it a half.
Just an observation
The pocket clip is far from "deep carry"; in fact, it leaves a solid 1.25" of handle exposed. That doesn't necessarily bother me, but this definitely isn't a knife to carry into NYC.
Coming up - comparison photos!!
Darrel Ralph is a custom knife maker. HTM (Hand Tech Made) is the company that brought some of his designs to more of the knife loving public through larger scale production.
This knife started life as a 2012 special "forum" edition HTM/DDR Gunhammer. There were only 45 made. This particular knife had a number of problems on delivery, and was reworked by Darrel Ralph. I'll give you the details later...
Disclosure:
I have no affiliation with Darrel Ralph or HTM; though I had heard of both prior to deciding to make this purchase. I did not purchase this knife new - I wasn't even a member of that forum when the project was conceived. I got a fairly good deal on this knife; but only by virtue of scanning the classifieds while in an insomniac haze, and viewing the ad literally minutes after it was posted with a reduced price. I received no special consideration for my purchase, though the seller did send me a link to another knife (offered by another seller) that I'd expressed interest in over the course of our communication. It would have been a great deal, but I missed it by about 20 minutes :cry:
<focusing> Back to the Gunhammer
Initial Impressions:
This was a pre-owned knife; and it arrived in a USPS Priority Mail box, stuffed with writing paper. Simple, yet effective.
Upon removing the paper, I found the knife...it was inside a padded pouch with the HTM label.
(The pouch is empty in that picture - so don't be critical of the weird fold)
Ah - the knife!
Oh...it's got a lanyard - not sure if this is an official Darrel Ralph skull
I was familiar enough with the model that I knew what to expect in terms of look and size...but I still experienced the giddiness of unpackaging a new knife and instantly knowing that I like it.
Green anodized aluminum; textured, but still rather smooth. The handle feels like it was made for me - a perfect fit (which means that some readers would consider it too large/thick). There is some very light jimping along the finger rests, and at the base of the blade - so light that I'd say it's barely jimping.
I really like the blade shape and finish.
The blade is well centered
And the lockup is solid
The pocket clip received a similar finish, if with a somewhat less pronounced effect.
The flipper is nicely shaped, and very effective - this thing opens like a dream. Here's a better look
Specifications:
Blade length - 3.5"
Closed length - somewhere between 4.375-4.5"
Overall length - 8"
Weight - 147g (5.2 oz)
Handle - ETAC (ergonomical tactical) aircraft grade aluminum (with some sort of military hard coating), green anodized
Blade steel - CPM-S90V, acid washed and tumbled (the regular forum knives were finished differently)
Blade shape - Torpedo (available in Bowie or Torpedo)
Blade lock - sort of a cross between a liner and subframe lock (remind me to explain or try to get pics)
Opening - manual
About CPM-S90V (quoted from Crucible.com)
CPM® S90V (420V)
(AISI 420 modified with high vanadium)
CPM S90V is a unique tool steel made by the Crucible Particle Metallurgy process. It is a martensitic stainless steel to which vanadium and carbon have been added for exceptionally good wear resistance. CPM S90V offers substantial improvements in wear resistance over 440C and D2, and other high chromium steels, with corrosion resistance equal to or better than 440C. CPM S90V’s high vanadium content favors the formation of hard vanadium carbides instead of chromium carbides for wear resistance, leaving more free chromium available to provide corrosion resistance.
The wear and corrosion resistance of CPM S90V make it an excellent candidate to replace 440C, where increased wear is a primary concern. It can replace D2 or other tool steels in applications where improved corrosion resistance is also of benefit.
Typical Chemistry
Carbon 2.30%
Chromium 14.00%
Vanadium 9.00%
Molybdenum 1.00%
(more details at www.crucible.com/eselector/prodb ... s90vp.html) :idea:
The real story
PROs
Nearly perfect size (IMO)
Aesthetics - I really like the look. (I could break it down into small details, but that would mean more words)
Did I mention it's CPM-S90V??
Feel - Smooth, but with texturing. Neither the machining or jimping on the handle create rough spots.
Flipper - super smooth, one of the best manual flippers I've encountered. Also, the flipper functions as a guard to prevent one's finger from sliding up on the blade.
Blade jimping - understated, but effective.
CONs
There are exactly 3.5 things wrong with this knife.
1) The flipper hits my index finger when I try to open with the thumbstud, interfering with blade travel. As such, I cannot consistently deploy the blade using the thumbstud; which is a disappointment because I prefer that method over the flipper.
2) With the knife open, the flipper gets in the way of where my index finger wants to be. Oddly enough, the "jimping" on the flipper is more coarse than that on the blade, so it does feel abrasive against my finger. I can reposition and find a good spot; but I have to think about it...which doesn't happen until I notice the discomfort.
3) There is one rough, not quite sharp spot on the handle, right near the lock tab. It's small, but I felt it...and now it annoys me. I'm not sure if I can sand it without messing up the finish.
0.5) The handle finish (except for that one spot) might just be too smooth. I could see this knife becoming slippery. That's barely a complaint, for me - I'd rather have smooth than abrasive or poorly shaped - which is why I only called it a half.
Just an observation
The pocket clip is far from "deep carry"; in fact, it leaves a solid 1.25" of handle exposed. That doesn't necessarily bother me, but this definitely isn't a knife to carry into NYC.
Coming up - comparison photos!!