The Ferrum Forge Mini Archbishop Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

[@Dorachagi1]

Original run of the Gent was $79.99. Even if the steels were the same I'd personally take the Gent, I prefer it aesthetically. But considering the Gent is S35VN there's no contest at all.

[@ZakWilson]

I think 9Cr18MoV is a bit underrated. Reprofile it to 12 DPS, where it's stable and a lot of more expensive steels are not, and its performance becomes more impressive. That said, I ultimately agree with the conclusion: $80 for a Gent with titanium liners and S35VN is a better value.

[@LIE4ME]

Countersunk screw for pocket clip...the highest expression of give-a-damnitude!

[@just-inedc2381]

I’d rather have 9cr than D2. I think the only issue is the lack of access to the liner lock!. I think bc it has the FF logo it gets away with been a little overpriced unfortunately. But overall I think it’s a great knife!

[@ZakWilson]

9Cr, not quite enough lockbar access... if not for that FF pivot, I'd be sure this was a Civivi (and that's mostly a good thing).

[@FriENTlyFire]

@@ZakWilson Civivi makes it lol

[@mattadler4710]

Thank you! My god, people just close their eyes and plug their ears and assume its the same as 8cr, and fail to notice that their beloved D2 is also being made in China, and not being handled properly. 9cr was invented in China, and they developed the heat treatment. Its a very nice mid grade steel, and its stainless. I don't know who thought it was a good idea to start mass producing D2 for budget blades.

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

The odium also has terrible access to the liner lock and is it’s biggest flaw otherwise a beautiful knife. It pains my thumb and beats it raw after closing it over a few times. It sucks because it is very fidgety so I want to play with it but getting pain from it sucks

[@dominickcabal5347]

I own Civivi's version (Odium) and it does the trick also. It has a smooth action and a satisfying sound. It's a great edc if you don't mind it's diminutive size, which I prefer... Dom

[@fritz9830]

Did you wear your Caped Crusader mask to the Ferrum Forge factory when you picked it up?

[@Stahlwerk88]

It’s not a mask, it’s a calling.

[@matthuck378]

It seems like the Civivi Odium is a better value. Very similar design (same designers), D2, and about $52. That funky "F" shield shaped pivot screw is a significant price increase, lol.

[@knoxknifemods]

9CR really isn’t as bad as its reputation would have you think. If I remember Pete’s test correctly it held its own against VG10

[@Obliticus]

I picked mine up during the FF covid sale for $60, shipping included. Even at that price I kind of waffled a bit, but since I couldn't afford any of their other knives I went for it.

[@Hungrybird474]

Fun little flicker when it’s broken , flick , slap , good middle finger flick that is addictive and the slap too

[@Abby_Normal_1969]

Hahahahaha. I was there...they grabbed one. EPIC. I have a G10 one. Am pretty happy with it. I will say, though I can't really argue much with your blade steel assessment. On the one hand, 9CR18MOV seems analogous with VG-10 and N690. I have spent an equivalent amount on a Spyderco Endura. However, I got a Ferrum Forge Gent in S35VN for $66 on Black Friday, so I totally get the critique. This is a good knife that could have been a great knife with upgraded materials.

[@blackadder1966]

Been thinking of one of these, but the steel may not be good for my purpose. Civvi odium looks similar so I may wait and see.

[@wrliggin2]

People are definitely interesting given how quickly they sell

[@13noman1]

I picked mine up ~ a year ago now -- olive green G10 scales but the steel on mine is NitroV. I like it overall (often traveling as I do to 3" blade states) but my major gripe is with the liner lock, specifically the very limited access to it; once in a while I can use one hand operations but most of the time I need to use my left hand to release the lock.

[@brianjohnson1519]

They ran a “quarantine” sale at $60 for the G10, which seemed like pretty decent pricing. Not sure about $75.

[@ShadowDaPk]

"In your mini diocese" I feel like you were just waiting to make that joke.

[@FriENTlyFire]

I have a G10 one, I love it so much that now I want to upgrade to a CF one.

[@kerrykitterman9714]

F F. Fan ,But Disappointed in the Steel Choice 😕 .Thanks NICK .

[@THEFULLERFANATIC]

Mine is already back with the brothers, due to the blue loctite on the T6 screws on the scales and my cheap bits... they are def taking care of me with awesome customer service, and I now have a Wiha thanks to the Knowledge of Nick!! awesome upload, been waiting for your review of “This Little Guy”

[@speckledjim_]

Now about a Civivi Odium review Nick?

[@davislarsen4426]

I find 9cr18mov to work pretty much like an average D2, i wouldn’t call it a cheap steel at all. However I do think the price pushes it a little

[@SavgSith]

Glad they switched these over to nitro v and kept the price at 90

[@mattadler4710]

I really think that 9cr grade steels are being undervalued. Yes its Chinese, but in the past few years we have seen amazing stuff coming from China. It's an inexpensive material because it can be made with cheaper labor and underpriced raw materials, but it is not an inferior steel. When handled well, it performs (in my experience) right there with VG10, N690, and AUS-10(another underestimated steel imo) and if were talking strictly edge retention (which is pretty much what D2 is good for) I have had it regularly outperforming Chinese made D2 (which is a whole other thing). D2 handled properly could whip 9cr in edge holding any day, but that's not what we are getting on these mass produced budget knives. 9cr is one of the best values on the budget knife market. Its not the same as 8cr13mov. NOT THE SAME!

[@ToastyMonk]

I’m really torn if this is worth a cop or not. I dig the design and ergo, I’m not really a steel snob, but is 9cr18mov really worse than D2? Wish I knew about Ferrum Forge sooner, I’m a San Diego native too!

[@taylor4480]

Yeah, the steel is what kept me from buying it. If it was S30V I'd probably have been all over it. 9Cr belongs below $70 I think at this point regardless of how much design is behind the knife and like you said the gent kind of shows it up even if it is a tiny bit more expensive now. I'd rather pay 10-20 bucks more and get the big steel upgrade.

[@mountman5386]

That blade hole being so big may make it easy to flip but it's going to mean that cutting any food is going to mean a simple blade wipe has turned into a bigger cleaning job, I'm guessing?

[@nicks8026]

I think this is a great $60 knife, which is what I paid for the G10 model during FF's sale. I have XL hands and don't find the flipper or positioning my hand to use it to be an issue. Would it be nice to have a better blade steel? Sure but I think 9cr is equivalent to VG10 or similar, which I'm perfectly okay with at the price point. Overall, I think it's a solid little knife.

[@ytJnC]

The only gripe i have is with the pocket clip. It’s too tight to the scale and difficult to slide over a pocket hem. And worse to remove as it feels like something is going to break. I’m tempted to take it off and try to bend it in a vise. It also creates a bit of a hot spot when holding it to open, but once open it’s ok.

[@MarkJunk]

Great review, thanks!

[@arttorres9010]

Benchmade presidio ii have you reviewed this knife very interested on what you have to say on it

[@Ethan-yd9mg]

I donated the Direct Relief, and forwarded my receipt to the Charity @ email address. Should I in good faith assume I’ve been entered, or should I have received a confirmation?

[@nrchi]

***NOTE, this knife has evolved and as of Aug 2022 the steel is Nitro-V***

[@E_G_E51]

The ferrum forge falcon is about the same size, and it's s35vn and titanium scales all for 100 bucks. Only 20ish more.

[@mattlombardi54]

The civivi odium is just a bit better IMO, I use it constantly. In reality they are both great light use edc options.

[@jayytee8062]

D2....nahhh

[@Woodyt]

I have the G10 which I got for 60.00 and I really like it, its been my etc for a few weeks now.

[@vinnie_baggadonuts]

I got my G10 for 60 during their COVID sale... It was worth it to me for 60 but it wasn't worth 75 to me. I do have to say that it might be the sharpest thing I've ever gotten right out of the box.

[@ATherapeuticEdge]

Reasonably small = tiny.. Still it looks like a well executed knife.

[@DrFrankLondon]

It's a coincidence that they are using the same steel as the Civivi line from WE.... At least the latest I have seen from Civivi. But 9Cr18Mov is very similar to 440B and not exactly my favourite steel, but I like the design, that's it.

[@skycorrigan6511]

Does anyone know if there are subreddits for buying and selling pocket knives? I'm looking for a Zero Tolerance 0452TI. I've searched all over, but only have found the CF model. Thanks!

[@Ethan-yd9mg]

r/knife_swap has 35,000ish followers. Not much ZT comes up though. It seems to be lots of Spydies, Benchmades and an absurd amount of micro techs. Couldn’t hurt to try though!

[@HustleHabit]

Nice video, Nick. Looking for this exact knife in carbon fiber, please let me know if anyone wants to sell one.

[@davidmarshall7752]

Tempting, love the size & width, but I think I'll pass for now. Can't find the CF anyway.

[@BrentonCarr]

9cr is fine...and "relatively small" is an understatement. its tiny. Chicago blade works has these for $60

[@jacksonparker6173]

most civivi knives come with d2 and thats at the 50 dollar mark which is made in the same factory

[@nellAyaR2034]

Does anyone know somebody who has a ferrum forge stinger XL they would sell? My grail knife. Next to impossible to find 😭

[@colnagocowboy]

But im only a Deacon can i still get one?

[@nicks8026]

WE makes a knife for you that's pretty damn nice. www.bladehq.com/item--WE-Knife-Co-Deacon-Flipper-Knife--93251

[@thomash4578]

Feign it Until you ordain it.

[@anotherknafguy3679]

Well said

[@bryanstone654]

Better off with a three inch D2 flipper for less money. Steel Will Mini Cutjack for example.

[@ZakWilson]

Owning Civivis in both steels, I would take 9Cr over D2, as heat-treated by We Knives 10 times out of 10.

[@nicks8026]

I've owned both and this is a much nicer knife - better quality throughout. I paid $60 for the G10 version when they were on sale at FF.

[@FriENTlyFire]

@@ZakWilson seconded. My praxis/mini arch were both more reliable and sharpened better than my elementum

[@mityjoeyoung8855]

A holy knife

[@jhonis]

Missing a lefty pocket clip option, but i will give Ferrum Forge some credit for releasing fullly mirrored left handed models every once in a while. Still trying to a land a lefty Exec if anybody has one to part with.

[@blackadder1966]

The jokes you could make about the archbishop and finger flicking etc

[@kerryrwac]

Get them to make you a blade in better steel with a flipper delete .

[@mikeoxuge9453]

I ordered one of these but it never came 😢

[@stiglagerfeld9151]

Mike Oxuge, don’t give up hope; I live in Australia, ordered one during the quarantine sale and it was posted in May. It arrived today, September 11th. Tracking wasn’t updated since the initial posting, and I thought it was lost. I hope yours turns up too!

[@laserbrain7774]

Where did you order it from? What retailer?

[@paulmacksmith]

The Ugly. It was a limited run of 10 pieces

[@TheDontbeEvil]

so the mini archbishop is just bishop. While the successor is the archbishop.

[@jacknemo8021]

M'eh and overpriced for the materials. This is why I buy Kershaw knives these days.

[@azraelsblade]

They could’ve done at least D2 at that price point for a Chinese made knife.

[@FriENTlyFire]

9CR > D2 IMO.

[@Hexsyn]

Can't put my finger on why, but that is a damn sexy looking knife to me!

[@mityjoeyoung8855]

The Archer would have been a better name 🏹

[@DevChow]

100$ - Check Carbon Fiber - Check (Somewhat) 2.5” for campus knife laws - Darn, guess I’ll keep looking elsewhere

[@macyoungie]

I'd go for the Kizer microlith in carbon fiber. Its more like $150 but definitely worth it

[@Ianthe1]

Did he say "pocket pecker"?

[@tomj0008]

They just wanna make money in the easiest way possible with as little as work as possible.

[@mlentsch]

I've so much wanted to like FF... Made in America by nice conservative kids, the high prices notwithstanding... but the tiny ball bearings that they've used to effect a smooth action at the expense of durability is unforgivable. Now it looks like they're just doing the Chinese thing.... Yeah......

[@clintonlewis1261]

Yeah it should be a little cheaper 😉

[@kerrykitterman4602]

Lost my. Interest. 9 cr M. O. V ??

[@mityjoeyoung8855]

I digress

[@alwong604]

9Cr... say no more fam. HARD. PASS.

[@grimflipz]

Stop making our knives over seas... Keep the production here in the USA!

[@Thexaios]

I'm sure they'd be happy to, so long as you're ready and willing to pay twice as much for the same thing.

[@Polyfusia]

If you want to pay more.

[@jamesgentry6864]

You can't charge 100 bucks for 9cr. Do better FF!

[@DieYuppieScum91]

I'm completely fine with 9cr18mov and wish more companies would use it on their budget knives. It just gets a bad rap because of 8cr13mov. Give me 9cr over D2 every day of the week. The only problem with 9cr on this knife is that the price is about $25 over where it should be given that Civivi's 9cr knives are around $50. The design is great, not sure it's that much better than Civivis with similar materials though.

[@FriENTlyFire]

I mean it's literally a Civivi, WE makes it for FF. If you're patient FF is always running sales. I got mine for 66 shipped in Feb