How do I examine a new knife?

[@NickShabazz]

So, approximately eleventy billion people have now informed me that it's titanium, not steel. This is also part of the reason why I do *actual research* before putting up a review: to make sure that my idiocy is mitigated in the real deal 🤣

[@fivetide71]

Hi Nick, One of the reasons I love this Chanel is I always come out with new acquired knowledge be it about knives or your point of view regarding many topics. Today I've discovered the Nick list, very happy indeed!!! Thanks for always giving a damn about your viewers, much appreciated.

[@LIE4ME]

That titanium looks like it fell off the SR71 Blackbird while accelerating to Mach 2.9 to avoid Russian surface to air missles in 1981. Aus 8... ? First thing I look at are the pocket clip screws to see if the frame or screws have been modified to be flush under the clip. If so... the knife generally gets better. When not, then the knife forfeits the right to be awesome. Flush pocket clip screws are the determining feature that makes a folder awesome. The knife can really kick ass but it's not awesome unless the screws are flush.

[@arstd196]

Hey nick, the frame is actually titanium, do some research fruitcake

[@censusgary]

Shikra: The knife whose hips don’t lie.

[@wasnt_it]

2.3 oz actually seems pretty light- _especially_ for the size of that knife.

[@ATherapeuticEdge]

This is interesting. As someone that started as a knife nut, who later started reviewing knives, I often have to look at a knife more than once. My initial excitement over a new knife can sort of blind me to issues. So, I have to let that initial enthusiasm fade before I go to the review.

[@chaz7346]

This is absolutely true! As a knife maker when ever I am doing a big change, such as the handle shape, I leave it alone for awhile and see if it is still as I like it.

[@thomash4578]

If it ain't a Z-Hunter you know that it will be a second rate knife at best

[@ladev91]

No

[@nicholsliwilson]

Thomas h Z-Hunter be with you.

[@FriENTlyFire]

Wait until he figures out it's Ti

[@shaunbryan3421]

I was wondering why there would be a lock bar insert if it was a steal lock bar.

[@edrader]

"steal this knife"

[@edrader]

I consider 2.38 ozs to be VERY light

[@DrakeDragonheart]

When I test for blade play with the lock disengaged I'll use my thumb to move the lock bar over and take all of the pressure off the blade, making sure it doesn't actually contact it. Then I'll test for lateral play. I find that when the lock bar is applying pressure it can stabilize the blade a bit. When I'm testing for play it's not as a safety issue, but a quality issue.

[@gmtmastertoo]

nick, thanks for all your uploads. seriously, it gives me a sense of normalcy. waking up in the morning, while having coffee, I check your channel. keep safe over there.

[@mmcampbell9991]

I’ve had my Shikra for a couple weeks now. Really enjoying it. Great knife for the price imo. When closed the tip is just barely below the level of the handle, but not enough and I cut my thumb on it when reaching in my pocket. Currently talking to OKC about it. I’m interested in seeing if Nick’s has a similar issue.

[@mmcampbell9991]

Also, I tried to remove the main pivot screw and the whole pivot assembly started to spin in the Micarta. So I’m also interested in seeing if he has the same issue as well.

[@zakandicarus3275]

“Shine on you crazy diamond!” 😂 Thanks for the insight into your thinking.

[@ajbrown404]

I love my Shikra as a second carry.. I Rit dyed the micarta to a dark blue, looks slick with the blackwash finish. Also it's titanium not steel framed. Probably been mentioned already though.

[@LoLo-wz3bq]

I really like my Shikra, the only problem I have with it is my new pair of blue jeans dyed the mircarta significantly. And the flipper tab is pretty pokey, but pretty darn fun to play with.

[@williamthomas5780]

None of us are perfect! Thanks for being humble enough to keep this up. We ALL know it looks like steel guys. I have this piece. I actually really like it. I like rough micarta and think it's pretty light for the blade length.

[@nicholsliwilson]

“Fuzzy” canvas micarta like this feels better in the hand & offers better grip than smooth, shiny high resin linen micarta, it’s a good thing.

[@Buzzby4020]

I agree. Canvas micarta with fibers sticking out might not be as pretty as smooth micarta, but it really sticks to your hand when it gets wet.

[@stijnvanpruissen3193]

It's not a good thing, it might be a preferable thing. I wouldn't like that kind of grip on a lionsteel bestman.

[@lionknives3]

Nick it is a Titanium Framelock because why they would put in a steel insert!?

[@stefs2512]

An insert can be just for the overtravel stop.

[@stephenbarone4053]

Lionknives yeah but looks like a cheap steel frame.

[@limey8489]

Because the insert is hardened, the frame won’t be.

[@lionknives3]

Guys look closely at the insert when nick used the flashlight. And now I looked at the website and they call it Titanium. It's Titanium or Ontario screw up the people.

[@stephenbarone4053]

Lionknives it is, it just looks like garbage.

[@clintonlewis1261]

That's a hell of a check list !

[@davidmarshall7752]

What I I like to check for with the lock disengaged is pivot-lash: the slight movement where the pivot & tang haven't been precisely fitted, a very common issue even on high-end knives. I check the horizontal dimension with the blade open (you have to be very careful), as well as the vertical (less dangerous) .

[@DirkWerning]

Great video thanks for sharing. Appreciate hearing what goes on in other reviewers heads as they look at knives and I think we all have different valid points we look at. Thanks again. Keep it up.

[@the_trash_mane5875]

"How do I examine a new knife?" with your hands of course

[@nicholsliwilson]

Spicy Soul I once described my own examination of a knife as “molesting” it & everyone got really uncomfortable. 😄

[@arstd196]

the frame is actually titanium

[@alexanderbertallo1995]

Very interesting... That is a big check list there...

[@TJPavey]

I've never thought about play while disengaged. Interestingly I tried it on two nice knives. The Holt moves around a lot. My LHC-X is solid. Both lock tight open and closed. I'm not thinking it is something I'd worry about either.

[@paulx7620]

Great vid idea, I've wondered this myself.

[@nathannettik455]

Check out the Boker Ellipse, same knife, different materials?

[@rlanger3108]

How is 2.38 oz "heavy"? Nick you're going a little crazy.

[@airadaimagery692]

How do you tell a ceramic ball bearing from a steel one without taking a knife apart?

[@erichusayn]

Excellent video.

[@erichusayn]

Do you have a link for the checklist? I would very much like to take a look at that....

[@grahamcawthorne3720]

Hey Nick! Do you have a pdf for your checklist? It would help a noob like me get started on the right path as a collector!

[@grahamcawthorne3720]

Ok nevermind, I should've finished the video first 🙃

[@wolfgangclark1475]

is it just me but i thought that it said ti framelock on the bladehq website... maybe i was wrong but i don't think it is steel. edit- yeah, it is a titanium framelock.

[@Ondal1]

How long do you on aveage carry a given knife?

[@darrenhenderson746]

Any chance you'll be reviewing a ZT 0308 anytime soon?

[@mrsw916]

Detent play...first time hearing that phrase but I think it describes the issue with my Para3

[@rustyknifelover4463]

5hanks for the information. I am considering doing a KZbin channel, but not sure yet.

[@kevola5739]

Fuzzy micarta ? Perhaps canvas micarta ?

[@clintonlewis1261]

Looks like a decent budget folder!

[@knighthawk3759]

So how does one email you so that you can review one of the knives in my collection

[@jinxjax6428]

Hey nick are u gonna do a review on the sway back when it comes out because u can actually preorder it on spyderco

[@stefs2512]

Spyderco will probably send him a review sample for free. They've done that on lots of other models.

[@jinxjax6428]

Stef Stylo ur prolly right

[@joedesormeaux9979]

“Shine on you crazy diamond” 😂

[@jtucci5711]

Excellent topic seldom discussed but needs to be, especially by one in the know that regularly disassembles them to get the big picture. Thanks

[@Dustysa4]

So this looks like an improved copy of the Boker Magnum Ellipse 01SC488.

[@SuperLenny555]

Great intro .

[@beastiebunny]

Is it worth the $45 that Ontario wants for a Titanium frame lock?

[@Ephem13]

Being that it's made by Ontario Knife, I'm betting they used that particular type of micarta intentionally. When the fiber is the same, less resin will increase grip while more resin will increase appearance (shiny and smooth). More showy knives are going to make use of the appearance based stuff while more work/beater knives are going to make use of the more grip based type.

[@Joshua083]

Sadly my shikra came with really bad free spinning pivot haven’t gotten it too loose up yet

[@sinjon]

Joshua Cruz sounds like too much thread locker. Try a soldering iron on the pivot screws

[@mattoakley2246]

Thought the lock side was supposed to be titanium.

[@arstd196]

Matt Oakley it is

[@LTT.Official]

I'm not 100% sure but I think you look at it?

[@bushcraftjoe5961]

So many knife channels make this mistake. You said no left handed clip but failed to realize that it’s actually right handed tip up and left handed tip down. When the clipped is drilled too and bottom on one side only that doesn’t mean tip up or down right side, common mistake I’ve noticed reviewers make.

[@sinjon]

I think when people check for play with it unlocked it’s a better representation of how well the pivot assembly(be it washers or bearings) is holding the blade in position, since the lock bar is no longer a factor. It’s still pretty pointless since you don’t use a knife like this unlocked

[@antoinedoinell]

and this is why i take youtube reviews with a grain of salt...

[@NickShabazz]

As you should!

[@TheHeck69]

I bought a knife for €9 on geek which is owned by wish and it cuts paper and is pretty dang good.

[@randyf.9188]

Transparency about the factories/OEMs used is one of the reasons I returned my Waypoint. I couldn't get an answer, not even a country.👎

[@matthewshannon6946]

Great Nick video AND a Pink Floyd reference! Can it get any better?

[@Skipper_Jimmy]

Nick, YOU FORGOT THE FIRST STEP: Compare it to the size of a Delica 4.

[@bstoff001]

I would add in the hardware sizes since t6 is bad in many peoples eyes

[@bignut6983]

Why is that I have never heard that before

[@nebulamask81]

@@bignut6983 They tend to strip out more easily/often than T8. Shouldn't be a big deal unless they're threadlocked or tightened way too much though, and I would say those are the main sins and not T6 itself. More reliable screws are always appreciated though.

[@alexcowboi6984]

Sup

[@christianmolick8647]

Fifteen minutes of knife evaluation and nothing gets cut? Someone buy this guy an onion!

[@JackGHobbies]

Thanks for the Google doc. Pretty sure I speak for ~100k people when I say we appreciate your thorough reviews and disassembly videos.

[@hityoutwo]

Somehow I knew the first thing you'd talk about was weight.

[@billbraski]

Nick.... that aint on the heavy side hahaha your getting to be a weight snob 🤣🤣🤣🤙🤙

[@themixmusicandmore6280]

Get into balisongs!

[@dylancampbell5917]

We all know why that scale was set to grams

[@CSGraves]

Nick, having Teflon _and_ PTFE listed in the same bullet point of your checklist is redundant. As a viewer to whom you owe exactly diddly crap, I _demand_ the list be corrected! Super Pedant, _AWAAAYYYYY!!!!_

[@thecydonianknight6849]

Luxurious Micarta 😂 can you please start referring to all Micarta as luxurious Micarta

[@710thcenturydigitalboy4]

hard pass on this knife working hard to be only average.

[@Andrew-nw3wv]

first

[@Andrew-nw3wv]

nailed it

[@jakobj2966]

Second

[@jinxjax6428]

Andrew third my guy

[@ladev91]

Congratulations brotha!

[@frankbutta9344]

Step One: Make sure box is stamped Made in China. Just kidding, Nick...lol Edit: The single Thumb down is NOT mine. 😉