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Half Face Blades...

SilentStalkr

Wonna Be Badass
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Oct 8, 2012
    8,327
    9,787
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    Somewhere in the US
    Someone school me on half face blades! Didnt we used to have a knife section on the boards? Am I going blind? Anyways so what’s the deal with these? Any good? Seems they are impossible to get. I seen some of his stuff and liked a few things but know nothing about them other than he seems to do super limited runs and they sell out within seconds...
     
    Ordered a couple of Chris Reeve, told expect 14-16 months. Harder everyday to turn dollars into nice things. There is a reason.
     
    HFB is running wide open. They usually do a drop to their web page on Sat at noon pst. You have about two seconds to pick a blade and buy it. At fifteen seconds, twenty models will be sold out. All of the customs will be gone. You can still pick up a production model at the end of the drop, but if you wait forty-five seconds, they will be gone. Now I’m going to put on my armor and say something. I’m a knife snob. I have several customs from different makers. Randall’s, Doziers, Tim Regrut, Norris, etc. HFB is making hard use production blades, but, they are made from patterns, the blades finished, and the patterned handles bolted on. The fit and finish on the production knives is horrible. For a $3-500 dollar knife, they should be a lot better. Even my wife (also a knife snob) gets pissed when I buy one because they are over priced for what they are. With that being said, you can beat the piss out of these knives, and they just keep taking a licking. The steel is good, the edge is good, but for the price, they should be better. As an example, I have a blade where the plunge line above the choil looks like someone tried to hit it on the grinder about three times before they were happy and ground it in. I see it and I’m like, Damn dude, drink to much coffee this morning or what? Now, you need to go to work on an elk? No one is going to give a shit about a bad plunge line, it’s time to get to work, but if I pay that much for a knife, it needs to be right. Bad dudes need to be taken care of, no one gives a rat‘s ass if the plunge lines are wobbly, but if you are paying premium prices for a premium knife, they should do better. All of this is for the production knives and doesn’t apply to their customs, but they cost double, so they should be finished better. All right, you can start with the hate mail now.
     
    They used to be better before they got to be the newest fad for the In Crowd! There's many single Knife Makers/Bladesmiths that do excellent work at half the price. HFBs are great working tools and some are stunning. Congrats for them while they ride the wave.
     
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    So, what do you guys like? I’ve carried a RAT3 everyday for I don’t know how long, but was looking for something new just cause.
     
    I'm also in the market (after 10 years out of the knife collecting game) for a good fixed blade. Who is making some nice options these days that are actually available and utilitarian/not too showy to use?
     
    I'm also in the market (after 10 years out of the knife collecting game) for a good fixed blade. Who is making some nice options these days that are actually available and utilitarian/not too showy to use?


    Niche Custom Blade Works and Septem Knives are both awesome! Check them out. Message me if you want to know more. I don’t want to hijack this thread of badass half face blades!
     
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    I have bought a few HFB items and they're OK.
    I think Dawson delivers more quality for the money, but they don't do as many nifty things as HFB.
    If you're looking for a straight up hunting knife then Dawson is the way to go.
     
    HFB is running wide open. They usually do a drop to their web page on Sat at noon pst. You have about two seconds to pick a blade and buy it. At fifteen seconds, twenty models will be sold out. All of the customs will be gone. You can still pick up a production model at the end of the drop, but if you wait forty-five seconds, they will be gone. Now I’m going to put on my armor and say something. I’m a knife snob. I have several customs from different makers. Randall’s, Doziers, Tim Regrut, Norris, etc. HFB is making hard use production blades, but, they are made from patterns, the blades finished, and the patterned handles bolted on. The fit and finish on the production knives is horrible. For a $3-500 dollar knife, they should be a lot better. Even my wife (also a knife snob) gets pissed when I buy one because they are over priced for what they are. With that being said, you can beat the piss out of these knives, and they just keep taking a licking. The steel is good, the edge is good, but for the price, they should be better. As an example, I have a blade where the plunge line above the choil looks like someone tried to hit it on the grinder about three times before they were happy and ground it in. I see it and I’m like, Damn dude, drink to much coffee this morning or what? Now, you need to go to work on an elk? No one is going to give a shit about a bad plunge line, it’s time to get to work, but if I pay that much for a knife, it needs to be right. Bad dudes need to be taken care of, no one gives a rat‘s ass if the plunge lines are wobbly, but if you are paying premium prices for a premium knife, they should do better. All of this is for the production knives and doesn’t apply to their customs, but they cost double, so they should be finished better. All right, you can start with the hate mail now.

    Dude, I hate agreeing with you, but you're totally right.

    I too am a knife whore and have owned a bunch of different customs, mid-techs, productions, etc. HFB's just aren't what they use to be, and the whole selling out in seconds, then finding the recent drops up in the FB group, selling for some stupid mark up, is down right dumb. I've met some great folks via HFB, but I am kinda over their production stuff, and silly prices on the secondary market.

    Cheers
     
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    So, what do you guys like? I’ve carried a RAT3 everyday for I don’t know how long, but was looking for something new just cause.

    I just recently procured some knives from Rustick Knives, and I have to say, I am completely sold.

    Jack is a retired CAG guy, and his stuff is made to be abused. The two blades I got from him were stupid sharp, and the craftsmanship is second to none.

     
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    Hey, just picked up a Crow Jr.; anybody have a good suggestion for a 45 degree leather sheath. Looking for a western look

    Thanks!
     
    I bought one of their KenSOF models a couple of years ago before they went nuts in popularity. It’s got curly Koa scales with mosaic pins and is very high quality. These days, I don’t bother even looking at their site since there is nothing to see. Also hadn’t heard that the quality is slipping.
     
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    Resurrecting an old thread for a good reason. If you wanna find the absolute best production knife out there go get a FOBOS. Made by a retired SF Operator, and he does stellar work. They're stock removal knives, but they're superbly done. Premium steels, perfectly fit handle scales. Can't go wrong.