Used straight or round knife on a budget - brands?

[BattleAx]

On 3/11/2019 at 4:58 PM, bikermutt07 said:

Check out this guys stuff

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F153109324797

This is as close to 40 bucks with some quality you're going to find. Be patient he is out of China. But he makes quality stuff.

I checked out his knives they are very nice I just ordered one yesterday. Thanks for info...

[GeneH]

3 hours ago, BattleAx said:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F153109324797

I was wondering why one end is chopped ... less material for extra blade most of us won't use?

Have 3 of us ordered new knives from Kevin Lee about the same time as this thread is active or just before? Mine will arrive  4/8 - 5/13.   This might be a good time for some reviews after a little use and sharpening. I'll probably take go slice up some cardboard boxes and compare with a very inexpensive D2 belt knife with a scandi grind. (granted I have a bit of small primary bevel so the belt knife will have an advantage. But I will be...fun?)

[bikermutt07]

52 minutes ago, GeneH said:

I was wondering why one end is chopped ... less material for extra blade most of us won't use?

Have 3 of us ordered new knives from Kevin Lee about the same time as this thread is active or just before? Mine will arrive  4/8 - 5/13.   This might be a good time for some reviews after a little use and sharpening. I'll probably take go slice up some cardboard boxes and compare with a very inexpensive D2 belt knife with a scandi grind. (granted I have a bit of small primary bevel so the belt knife will have an advantage. But I will be...fun?)

Looks that way, I also ordered the 19 dollar knife from Wuta in hss. I have been recommending his starter set which is really well thought out. I have a few of the tools in that kit and they are really great for the price. So, I really need to check out the knife if I'm gonna keep recommending it.

This is the kit...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F153332451784

 

4 hours ago, BattleAx said:

I checked out his knives they are very nice I just ordered one yesterday. Thanks for info...

Welcome.

[GeneH]

WOW!  Ship notice said my knife passed through Chicago USPS!

 

 

[bikermutt07]

38 minutes ago, GeneH said:

WOW!  Ship notice said my knife passed through Chicago USPS!

 

 

I can't seem to get any accurate information on any of the stuff I have ordered from Kevin.

But, unbeknownst to anyone, he and Wuta are in a race. A slow Chinese race.

I ordered a knife from each of them within a few minutes of each other.

We shall see who gets the shipping nod.

[GeneH]

Happy Wednesday!  I received my knife today from Kevin (Crazy cut on ebay) and am totally impressed. It's ready to use out-of-the-box.   Fit and Finish is excellent. The blade is straight with the handle. The handle itself is remarkably smooth, endgrain popping nicely, and does not appear to have a varnish coating.

As for the blade, most of it is a nice satin finish.  The bevel does have fine grind marks, and is polished to a high shine by (I'm guessing) a buffing wheel because the polish extends above the bevel a little.

The really nice surprising is the edge. I'm used to good cutting edges, and this one is as good as it gets. When I run my fingers across it splits the fingerprints and threatens to keep going. Kevin apparently put a really small neat micro bevel and did an excellent job of it. Not a burr to be found, no roughness or unevenness. I planned on using the knife to cut some corrugated cardboard patterns then resharpent it, but not now. That edge is just too nice.

I'll try to post a couple pictures.

Edited March 27, 2019 by GeneH

[bikermutt07]

Update on the shipping race from China......

Wuta won in the fastest shipping, but I received the right hand version instead of the left hand model.

Kevin's knife hasn't arrived yet.

Both were ordered on March 14th.

Wuta knife arrived March 28th.

And, let me make sure and mention that I am very confident that Wuta will make it right. Things happen.

I still have two items from Kevin that I ordered in January that haven't arrived yet. He has been good about responding to inquires and I did place my order while the Chinese New year was going on. 

To date I have received 2 orders from Wuta since the January order with Kevin was made.

The Wuta knife did arrive plenty sharp and shiny for 18.99 with free shipping. I haven't done anything to the blade as he will probably like to receive it back.

Further information to come.

 

[Chakotay]

I'm a little late on this topic, but may I suggest some of the various wood carving knives from Pfeil? I bought mine from Woodcraft, but looks like you can get them in a lot of places. They're Swiss-made, come in a variety of sizes and blade profiles, and whatever metal they're made from holds an edge for a LONG time. 

They come razor sharp, but I find the edges need polishing (they're intended for wood so maybe a smooth, mirrored edge isn't important for that?)

Prices range from around $15 to $30. I bought this size #10 for $20.  It's my go-to knife for 90 percent of all my cutting.

 

[bikermutt07]

I received word from Wuta that I can feel free to keep the right handed knife they sent and the left handed model is on the way.

That is good news..... 

Meanwhile my January order and my Japanese style knife from Kevin Lee showed up yesterday.

The Japanese knife looks very sharp and we'll made for the 38 dollar price tag. However the handle is pretty fat with a short blade so we will see how it does for skiving. The little hawk billed knife I ordered in January looks like it will come in handy for tight corner work.

I have had several orders from Wuta over the last 4 years. Shipping has always been slow, but free, and I have always been more than satisfied with the quality to price ratio.

These were my first 2 orders from Kevin Lee, shipping was slow and free.

I sent him an inquiry about why my January order shipped with my March order. I am assuming it has something to do with containers filling with orders. I am waiting on a reply about that.

All in all I am happy doing business with people in China trying to bring quality to the American market for reasonable pricing.

I will be ordering more from both suppliers.

Edited April 3, 2019 by bikermutt07

[GeneH]

3 hours ago, bikermutt07 said:

...These were my first 2 orders from Kevin Lee, shipping was slow and free...

I paid $35 for the knife and $8 shipping. Weird.  Maybe your order was just big enough to qualify for free shipping.

Now you will have a pair of left hand knives and a right hand and a little hawkbill? Cool. Always a sharp one handy. I'm able to use my right hand knife left-handed. I did not specify left or right when I ordered.