Tactile Knife Company Chupacabra Review - Almost great but flawed!

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[@maxgortmaker3544]

Really liking this format of writing out the pros neutrals and cons of the knife. Thank you so much for the in-depth information

[@maxgortmaker3544]

A potentially interesting video idea would be what is the knife world‘s current level of diminishing return for knife purchases. Such as when is the cut off where you are paying for higher quality versus just paying more for exotic steel or USA made knives, etc . Metal complex to video on this along time ago and suggested the Hogue RSK but I believe the knife world has changed a lot since he’s made that video in terms of price points and the knives that you can get within them. I feel like you could offer a good opinion on this given the range of your collection.

[@ct2368]

Good stuff. I love the thumb studs. I think they're the best I've used and I love this knife. One thing I did was replaced the spring with the AWT lightened manix 2 replacement spring. It really made the knife come alive. One issue is when you replace the spring it no longer passes the spine wack test, which doesn't matter to me. It checks all the boxes for me. Anyways, keep up the good work.

[@johannessmith1369]

29:25 the really nice thing about Demko's lock is the finger cutout through the scales in front on that "shark fin." It gives you a lot more finger purchase on that lock than the Superlock. If Tactile Knife Co made a similar cutout, I think it would solve a lot of their issues. Right now I'm trying to decide between this and an AD20.5 in S35vn. The steel and blade shape of the Chupacabra blow the 20.5 out of the water, but the shark lock looks like it has just a little more polish.

[@CTKKnives]

Having had both, I'd tell you that given their current iterations, I'd take the AD 20.5 in S35VN. I agree entirely that the blade shape is way better on the Chupacabra. Magnacut is definitely a "better" steel, but S35VN is no slouch - a little old but still plenty good. Ergos, they're both great...and the AD20.5 carries better. And you heard my thoughts on the lock...the shark lock is meaningfully better, at least right now. Hard for me to objectively argue in favor of the Chupacabra right now. Could be the better knife in the future, but I think the AD20.5 is the better knife right now, unless you REALLY care about Made In the USA.

[@johannessmith1369]

@@CTKKnives Thanks for being honest in your review. I was extremely excited about this knife. Hopefully Tactile Knives makes some improvements.

[@Below-Average_Joe]

Tactile Knife Company is still learning their craft. I think they need to stop trying to make new lock types and just fine the their existing models or make new models with liner or frame locks since they seem to be pretty good with those already. I love your information dense style of review.

[@mattdagger1480]

Definitely can doctor without the liners. I have a vision fg with linerless scales from a guy who makes them out of his garage on Etsy. Absolutely made this knife perfection. Tactile missed the mark on this weight and thickness in my opinion. I have one on order with the knife center. But I'm planning to immediately either remove the liners or mill them myself to reduce the weight. Seems like they are always so close or either suffer from massive design flaws or QC issues. Always something overlooked unfortunately. Hopefully they get it together cause they are so damn close. I can appreciate they get the heat treating right at least.

[@CTKKnives]

Spot-on. There is a great knife somewhere in this design, and I hope they reach a point where you won't need to modify it like you plan to in order to bring that great knife out of it. They are still a young company all considered. I think they'll get there in time.

[@Below-Average_Joe]

Tactile Knife Company is still learning their craft. I think they need to stop trying to make new lock types and just refine the their existing models or make new models with liner or frame locks since they seem to be pretty good with those already. I love your information dense style of review.

[@CTKKnives]

That is a great way to put it. That said, with the way they priced their last release (the Mariner 2 - a pretty standard linerlock that they're charging $439 for), it feels like they may need to tighten the ship a bit in general to get quality more consistent AND prices down just a smidge. The relative value they had with the Rockwall feels less present in these newer models. And thank you! I'm doing my best to offer something other knife reviewers don't. Glad you find it enjoyable and/or helpful.

[@CNYKnifeNut]

I literally couldn't care less about weight, but that weight really is crazy. Its 50% heavier than a Drunken, which uses a steel liner under the CF.

[@CTKKnives]

And it feels it. First day I was carrying it, the weight felt satisfying in the hand...but it's DEFINITELY a reason I haven't chosen to carry it much since my dedicated "review" period ended. It looks like it would be easy to fix, too...I can't see much reason it's SO heavy beyond the way the liners and the lock are designed.

[@Below-Average_Joe]

Try the Civivi Vision, I like Civivi’s version of the Super Lock better than We’s. The Vision is a killer knife about $90 after sales tax.

[@CTKKnives]

I may give it a shot! I usually don't play around with Civivis too much, but I've heard plenty of rave reviews of that one. The We Vision has been on my list, but something else has always gotten in front of it. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@BC08]

I hate Tactile’s thumbstuds on the Maverick and these look similar

[@CTKKnives]

They are. They approached them with a similar design philosophy. As noted in my review...I wish they'd chosen a different one. At minimum, the studs need a sharp edge like TRM's old studs to catch the thumb/finger. As it stands, they look cool, and for some folks they'll be great, but I find they lead to an inconsistent deployment. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@BC08]

@@CTKKnives I slapped a Glow Rhino thumbstud on my Maverick so problem solved there. Still that was $30 I wouldn’t have bothered spending if the original thumbstuds weren’t so bad