I've watched this video several times now, (and already commented, lol), I'm totally mesmerised, by the shape of this knife,, so much so, that I've ordered one in Bog Oak,, !!!, I can't wait to hold it in my hands,, Thanks again for this video,, 😊
What a knife and what a subject to talk about. Ive not picked up this knife yet. I like the history with Trevor. I love M.May knives. Im from the UK and we have such a small group making and adding to the knife community I feel like we should love and support them all. Good analogy between this and a Buck 110. I cant unsee it now😂. I think Slick said once about Boker when they are that perfect- the knife becomes a bit sterile. Which I kinda agree with. Small imperfections are ok, wheather they are small to you is the question. Brilliant video 👏
Thanks for the comment! I actually just made a video on the third Michael May. You might like it! Supporting local makers is easy for me. As there's only one real company here, Grohmann. Also, yes, Eric did use a Böker Barlow to describe 'sterile' knives. Cheers! (Edit: The new video will be late!)
Let me add some more comment on this knife, after I have been sitting over and reprofiling the same knife in Bog Oak while watching this. Any hand maker in the US is going to charge you 200+ for their knives. You are getting for a 100 bucks, a rugged, handmade, artisan knife that has some great design elements. I am the son of a craftsman, and nothing they build is perfect. I plan to hand down my Michael May knives (notice the plural), to my kids and they will last for years. My other MM is a stag handled custom barlow. I also plan to order an Etrick from his shop soon. Enjoy that thing as a piece of handmade art.
You have an impressive sounding collection! I love Bog Oak as a material, it's possibly my favourite. I know of a custom *Canadian* knifemaker based out of Alberta, Leclair Custom Knives. He makes slipjoints in traditional styles. Cheapest one he'll make? Starts at 500 and only gets higher. I could get 4 Michael Mays for that! Despite what others may say, this bit of imperfection is greatly appealing to me. I don't like flaws, but I like handcrafted knives. Even if they're far from perfection. As for the Ettrick, I have one last May review in the works. (Trust me, it's a great one!) And knowing me, it'll be an Ettrick!
I found this video really interesting for different reasons. 1. The knife. I have looked on May's site a lot over the past couple of months. I dont have many pocket knives but recently i have zoned my interest into traditional only knives. I have until now never liked this handle shape much at all. But almost as quick as a click of the fingers I have it on the list to buy. Ive started to appreciate the trade more and respect for the cutler and with that has come a desire to have different patterns instead of varieties of barlow, barlow, barlow. Earlier today i order my first M.May knife. Barlow ebony, turquoise, filed. Im looking forward to it. I also like the clayton spearpoint. But again, at first, I also didnt like it! Its quite rare to like something and also not like it at the same time....nuts but I experienced that with that knife. 2. Interesting to hear you speak about the fit and finish. You're right, people seem obsessed with it. These are hand made and so will not normally be perfect. My first A Wright was a stag lambsfoot. Zero gaps! Perfect centering until I saw the blade was bent about 2 thirds of the way down to the tip! I contacted and they apologised and offered a replacement but i ended up keeping it as i didnt intend it to be a big using knife. The stag handles are very even and it is beautiful. But it would be impossible to sharpen on a stone so in my eyes its unacceptable to pass for sale. Gaps used to bug me but not anymore. My latest A Wright is my weekend carry, Clip barlow oak barrel handle, lovely grain, knife is getting used everyday at home for food prep too. Gaps are off the charts! On the blade side, between BOTH liners and their oak handles there is about a half mm gap all the way to the bolsters. Pretty spot on on the spring side. When i first saw this I was really disappointed, but then I thought about it, they are hand made. Are these gaps actually going to be a problem for the usage of the knife? I like them because they are handmade. I will be happy to see them looking used. It all adds character. Now to me, the imperfections of fit and finish in a hand made knife just adds character and history. It also makes them unique. The bend in the blade preventing sharpening is not acceptable, nor any other imprefection that prevents use or maintenance, but visual imperfections are fine, good even. Thanks for the review and i was ready to comment saying you havent even said if it is comfortable and ergonomic and then you began to!
First of all, thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely comment! I always appreciate it when my videos stoke enough interest to warrant a longer comment. Moving to your first point; the pattern itself. The Ergonomic was a piece that I was originally sceptical about, until I watched a couple videos that discussed the design. Afterwards, I was confident that despite its admittedly odd and perhaps even "off-putting" shape, it would be quite the comfortable knife. When I received it, I was no less than impressed by the pattern and would absolutely recommend it. While somewhat peculiar in design, the Ergonomic's execution absolutely lives up to its name. Regarding Michael's other knives-that Barlow you speak of is quite the fine piece. I enjoy the look and feel of Ebony, although I'm not thoroughly convinced that I like the Turquoise. I recall once upon a time, Michael used to make a knife with an Amber collar-something that originally brought him to my attention and interest. I can much sympathise with your feelings regarding the Clayton Spearpoint. On one hand I think I'd love it, but on the other, I'm unsure as to whether or not I'd find the handle uncomfortable! 'Tis a shame that there are no current reviews on the pattern... As for fit and finish, I believe it all boils down to personal preference. Granted, there are some flaws that one simply cannot ignore-such as a faulty backspring or a warped blade. Other, minor, cosmetic flaws, however, can be completely disregarded by some, while infuriating another. Again, it all comes down to the individual owner of the knife and what they are willing to consider 'character' versus 'flaw'. Personally, I can accept certain imperfections such as bits of gapping or unevenness, but flaws that actually affect the performance of the knife (such as the warp you described) deeply bother me. That's just my way of looking at it. While I'd always prefer my knives to be gap-free, it's not the end of the world if a knife features a little here and there. In my eyes, at least. Again, thank you very much for taking the time to comment. I very much appreciate it! 😊 Cheers!
@TheKnifeRaven Well, now it's my turn to show gratitude. I have never seen any creator spend the time to respond so thoroughly before...though that may be because I have not said much of interest! I read your reply before work and made a point to reply later when I had time. Thank you. Yes, I agree it is down to personal preference regarding fit and finish. I re-read my comment and saw I had stated visual imperfections are good, without saying 'in my opinion'. To add to that, I would look at a modern 'machine made' knife with more scrutiny than a traditional made traditionally by hand...in my opinion. But it is personal preference, my own personal preference is different from before and it's nice as I'm disappointed less. The ebony turquoise barlow arrived today. I got lucky with a near perfect example. No gaps, nothing. No blade wobble when open. The centring was very close to a liner, but I have since found that the blade will move with little effort to the middle, and it stays there. 🤔. I wasn't a fan of the turquoise either, but without going into too much of a tangent, there was a personal reason why it became almost a must buy for me. I really like the sound of the amber collar. I'm fantasising over a bog oak with amber collar barlow now! Yeah, I have tried to find a review of the clayton spearpoint, too, and have found none... It's behind a few in the wishlist, so perhaps there will be one when or if the time comes. Thanks again for both your video and response 🤝.
@@mrsteve170 First of all, thank you kindly! I try to offer more detailed responses to mirror the effort put into a long comment-or a comment which focuses on a point that I happen to have a lot to speak about-in this case, both! With regards to your statements about fit and finish, I believe we hold similar views. I also absolutely agree with the sentiment that modern, factory-made knives should be held to a higher standard than traditional, hand-made knives. Not to say we should expect traditional knives to always have problems, but when one considers their lack of machining and heavy emphasis on manual labour, it’s quite difficult to complain when minimal flaws can be found. Modern knives, however, offer no such excuses, since they don’t (usually) involve human frailty! I’m happy to hear that you enjoy your example of the Ebony and Turquoise Barlow. Based on your description alone, the craftsmanship sounds exemplary! I only have one of Michael’s Clip-point Barlows (Bocote) and I’m very pleased with it. In fact, I decided to carry it today! The Amber collared knife I mentioned was actually a Wharncliffe Barlow/Jack with Bog Oak handles. Sadly, only pictures can be found of the particular model, as Michael no longer produces it…a shame if you ask me, but according to Mr. May, Amber is a rather difficult material to work with. Lastly, if I ever decide to try the Clayton Spearpoint, I’ll be sure to make a full, in-depth review for those it may interest! Many thanks for the reply and for the kind words! Cheers!
Great honest review, I love how you tell it like it is,, 👍,, my recent Boker acquisition is great in most respects, but it has flaws, (the blade is quite badly "bent" when open) Your point in accepting the imperfections when you love someone /something, is spot on,, all the best, from, (not far away from Sheffield) England.. 👍🏴
I'm happy I could articulate myself to resonate with those who have similar opinions/beliefs. We in the knife world tend to get a bit too picky and oftentimes end up passing on excellent knives, or simply scorning them due to some minor flaw(s) that hardly impede on it's functionality. I myself am guilty of this, I won't pretend to be free of that certain 'pretentious collector' stereotype! Regardless, this knife has been serving me very well, as of late. It has a lovely appearance to it and I never feel bad about taking it out to use, carry or simply admire. Cheers, as always!
Absolutely nothing prepares you for how this knife feels in your hand,,, it is just about, very nearly perfect,,, imho,,, Yes,, once again,, RIP Mr Ablett,,, ❤
I appreciate an artisan made knife very much. And as a result, I’m okay with minor imperfections that show the handmade nature of the piece. However, the level of imperfection should be commensurate with the price. For example, at £28 Arthur Wright , that is turned out at a rate of several pieces an hour, couldn’t get away with fit and finish errors, far more forgivably, than a Paul Mason custom piece at more like £600. Michaels pieces fall , or should fall, somewhere between the two. Personally, I think this knife is verging on the unacceptable. The bent blade and the uneven bolsters are the issues that would bother me. On the other hand, the very slight gapping that this knife exhibits is really not an issue. In fact, it is an artefact of the way that this knife is made. The liners are dished to ensure a strong pressure between the liners and the covers, and a good seal around the edges. Many companies, including Case and GEC, do not dish their liners. Of course, nowadays, most modern knives have their covers epoxy glued in place. This ensures that there is no gap for moisture to get into. But before the widespread use of epoxy, dishing with use to try and prevent water ingress between the covers and the liners. The flipside to this is, of course, that the liners are no longer flat, and this can lead to very minor capping between the lino and the spring. So long as it is as minor as soon here, it really should not be considered a fault on a handmade artisan pocket knife I have had several names made for me by Michael, and all our without noticeable faults. However, Michael has been aware from the outset that I will be reviewing his knives on RUclips. It is impossible to tell whether this has led to to a higher standard of quality control being applied. Though, that being said he has supplied knives to both UK legal knife reviews and paddies potato peelers that has each had significant faults. In both those cases, he knew they would be reviewed. Anyway, I know that Michael May’s knives, at their best, are fantastic examples of the little mester’s work.
My dear Slick, thank you for taking the time to write this! I had heard that others had received dodgy pieces before, but I remembered yours being nearly perfect. Out of the (now) 4 knives by May that I have, two of they are good, one is *okay* and one is well, not the greatest. (This one) I still love them like I do with an A. Wright, but I really wish the QC department (AKA Michael) would be a little more careful before sending a piece out to a customer. I always forget to mention dished liners! I'm not going to send it back, as I've sent a knife back before, only for the quality to drop noticeably. Even so, I think Michael needs to address these concerns. I find myself being reminded of a line from Star Wars. "The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am". This remains true, as I can accept a knife to a degree, but there are those who would never buy from Michael again due to something like this. I want to see quality, if perfection is too much to ask, at least quality. I wish Michael the best, and I hope he learns from times like this. Cheers!
I think you had a lot to say and I was happy to watch and agree with most of what you said, I have been around a long time but never seen that design before, looks like a knife I would love to carry perfect size for me, I do think that Mr May should have done some quality control and evened out those bolsters, the issue that annoys me most is gapping I bought a Case knife and it has a gap running all the way down the one side between back spring and covers because of that I would never buy another Case not worth the money, I have plenty of Rough Ryders and all show no or very little gapping a third of the price of Case that is my ramble. lol
Ah, a fellow rambler, I see!! I greatly appreciate comments like this. Gapping, while not my biggest gripe, is still an immense annoyance. (Particularly on expensive knives) I've got a Case Doctor's knife with that same, long gap. Quite sad, actually. 😔I'm glad somebody sat through my ravings! I am grateful my words didn't fall on deaf ears...or no ears at all! Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven I forgot to mention. There are those who demand perfection in handmade knives. I find it a bit fetishistic, but yours for £8k + if you take say Esposito's Colibri as an example. I've never held a handmade work of perfection, in the modern robot era sense, but I'd love to, to see if it speaks to me, or is as disappointingly dead as anything off the Yangjiang conveyor.
@@ianrosie4431 I just looked up the Colibri...wow. But hey, shockingly, I prefer the style of the Michael May! I'm weird, yes. Despite the flaws, this has 1000x the personality of a Rough Ryder! I still enjoy it. Cheers!
On the knives I'm gonna use, I'm not so picky on little fit and finish details, as long as they do the job. Knives that are purposely purchased for my collection is where I might get the magnifying glass out 😂
@@TheKnifeRaven well, not that I'm trying to find excuses for less than perfect workmanship, but the fact is that in the handmade traditional knives world, that's actually a very cheap price. The next step up would be something like a K'roo, but that would be 500+ usd, or an Evan Nicolaides at 2k+; I'm pretty certain you could get a magnifying glass on those and be happy.
@@bullsharkreef Fair point, indeed! I just want makers to up their standards so more people will support them. After all, I'm picky, but there are people *far* worse!
This knife is like the Shrodingers cat paradox,,. it can be thought of as totally beautiful and worth every penny,, and also poorly made, and full of flaws... Both at the same time,, 🤯🤯😍😡,, ,,, yes,, I'm watching this video again,, 😂😅
A very good way of looking at it! And I don't blame you for rewatching the video, I welcome it, in fact! I'm somewhat addicted to Eric's "Arthur Wright & Son Quality Assurance" video, I've watched it dozens of times! 🤣 No idea why... Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven I'm passing the time till my Bog Oak Ergonomic arrives,, ⌛⏳, My "modern folders" are sulking in the back of the cupboard, they've forgotten what daylight looks like, 😢🤣🤣🤣,, all the best my friend,, 😊
I think it is the minor flaws that you find in a hand made knife that give it its character! If you want perfection buy a totally heartless computer produced knife!!!
@@TheKnifeRaven If you think that blade is bent you should see one I have on a Rough Ryder trapper!!!! Okay Rough Ryders are very cheap knives, generally, and I have only ever bought 4 but I certainly wouldn't buy another! I'll just use the ones I have to death.
We can have a knife with locks on with any lengh blade we just can't carry them. Yeah i know but people keep stabbing each other and then the whole country riots ,so thats us then. A lot of people take no notice but you run the risk of arrest.
I've watched this video several times now, (and already commented, lol), I'm totally mesmerised, by the shape of this knife,, so much so, that I've ordered one in Bog Oak,, !!!,
I can't wait to hold it in my hands,,
Thanks again for this video,, 😊
You'll love it! Cheers!
What a knife and what a subject to talk about. Ive not picked up this knife yet. I like the history with Trevor. I love M.May knives. Im from the UK and we have such a small group making and adding to the knife community I feel like we should love and support them all. Good analogy between this and a Buck 110. I cant unsee it now😂. I think Slick said once about Boker when they are that perfect- the knife becomes a bit sterile. Which I kinda agree with. Small imperfections are ok, wheather they are small to you is the question. Brilliant video 👏
Thanks for the comment! I actually just made a video on the third Michael May. You might like it! Supporting local makers is easy for me. As there's only one real company here, Grohmann. Also, yes, Eric did use a Böker Barlow to describe 'sterile' knives. Cheers! (Edit: The new video will be late!)
Glad you got the filework. Mine is in Bog Oak.
Let me add some more comment on this knife, after I have been sitting over and reprofiling the same knife in Bog Oak while watching this. Any hand maker in the US is going to charge you 200+ for their knives. You are getting for a 100 bucks, a rugged, handmade, artisan knife that has some great design elements. I am the son of a craftsman, and nothing they build is perfect. I plan to hand down my Michael May knives (notice the plural), to my kids and they will last for years. My other MM is a stag handled custom barlow. I also plan to order an Etrick from his shop soon. Enjoy that thing as a piece of handmade art.
You have an impressive sounding collection! I love Bog Oak as a material, it's possibly my favourite. I know of a custom *Canadian* knifemaker based out of Alberta, Leclair Custom Knives. He makes slipjoints in traditional styles. Cheapest one he'll make? Starts at 500 and only gets higher. I could get 4 Michael Mays for that! Despite what others may say, this bit of imperfection is greatly appealing to me. I don't like flaws, but I like handcrafted knives. Even if they're far from perfection. As for the Ettrick, I have one last May review in the works. (Trust me, it's a great one!) And knowing me, it'll be an Ettrick!
I found this video really interesting for different reasons.
1. The knife. I have looked on May's site a lot over the past couple of months. I dont have many pocket knives but recently i have zoned my interest into traditional only knives. I have until now never liked this handle shape much at all. But almost as quick as a click of the fingers I have it on the list to buy. Ive started to appreciate the trade more and respect for the cutler and with that has come a desire to have different patterns instead of varieties of barlow, barlow, barlow. Earlier today i order my first M.May knife. Barlow ebony, turquoise, filed. Im looking forward to it. I also like the clayton spearpoint. But again, at first, I also didnt like it! Its quite rare to like something and also not like it at the same time....nuts but I experienced that with that knife.
2. Interesting to hear you speak about the fit and finish. You're right, people seem obsessed with it. These are hand made and so will not normally be perfect. My first A Wright was a stag lambsfoot. Zero gaps! Perfect centering until I saw the blade was bent about 2 thirds of the way down to the tip! I contacted and they apologised and offered a replacement but i ended up keeping it as i didnt intend it to be a big using knife. The stag handles are very even and it is beautiful. But it would be impossible to sharpen on a stone so in my eyes its unacceptable to pass for sale.
Gaps used to bug me but not anymore. My latest A Wright is my weekend carry, Clip barlow oak barrel handle, lovely grain, knife is getting used everyday at home for food prep too. Gaps are off the charts! On the blade side, between BOTH liners and their oak handles there is about a half mm gap all the way to the bolsters. Pretty spot on on the spring side. When i first saw this I was really disappointed, but then I thought about it, they are hand made. Are these gaps actually going to be a problem for the usage of the knife?
I like them because they are handmade. I will be happy to see them looking used. It all adds character. Now to me, the imperfections of fit and finish in a hand made knife just adds character and history. It also makes them unique.
The bend in the blade preventing sharpening is not acceptable, nor any other imprefection that prevents use or maintenance, but visual imperfections are fine, good even.
Thanks for the review and i was ready to comment saying you havent even said if it is comfortable and ergonomic and then you began to!
First of all, thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely comment! I always appreciate it when my videos stoke enough interest to warrant a longer comment.
Moving to your first point; the pattern itself. The Ergonomic was a piece that I was originally sceptical about, until I watched a couple videos that discussed the design. Afterwards, I was confident that despite its admittedly odd and perhaps even "off-putting" shape, it would be quite the comfortable knife. When I received it, I was no less than impressed by the pattern and would absolutely recommend it. While somewhat peculiar in design, the Ergonomic's execution absolutely lives up to its name.
Regarding Michael's other knives-that Barlow you speak of is quite the fine piece. I enjoy the look and feel of Ebony, although I'm not thoroughly convinced that I like the Turquoise. I recall once upon a time, Michael used to make a knife with an Amber collar-something that originally brought him to my attention and interest.
I can much sympathise with your feelings regarding the Clayton Spearpoint. On one hand I think I'd love it, but on the other, I'm unsure as to whether or not I'd find the handle uncomfortable! 'Tis a shame that there are no current reviews on the pattern...
As for fit and finish, I believe it all boils down to personal preference. Granted, there are some flaws that one simply cannot ignore-such as a faulty backspring or a warped blade. Other, minor, cosmetic flaws, however, can be completely disregarded by some, while infuriating another. Again, it all comes down to the individual owner of the knife and what they are willing to consider 'character' versus 'flaw'. Personally, I can accept certain imperfections such as bits of gapping or unevenness, but flaws that actually affect the performance of the knife (such as the warp you described) deeply bother me. That's just my way of looking at it. While I'd always prefer my knives to be gap-free, it's not the end of the world if a knife features a little here and there. In my eyes, at least.
Again, thank you very much for taking the time to comment. I very much appreciate it! 😊
Cheers!
@TheKnifeRaven Well, now it's my turn to show gratitude. I have never seen any creator spend the time to respond so thoroughly before...though that may be because I have not said much of interest! I read your reply before work and made a point to reply later when I had time. Thank you.
Yes, I agree it is down to personal preference regarding fit and finish. I re-read my comment and saw I had stated visual imperfections are good, without saying 'in my opinion'. To add to that, I would look at a modern 'machine made' knife with more scrutiny than a traditional made traditionally by hand...in my opinion. But it is personal preference, my own personal preference is different from before and it's nice as I'm disappointed less.
The ebony turquoise barlow arrived today. I got lucky with a near perfect example. No gaps, nothing. No blade wobble when open. The centring was very close to a liner, but I have since found that the blade will move with little effort to the middle, and it stays there. 🤔. I wasn't a fan of the turquoise either, but without going into too much of a tangent, there was a personal reason why it became almost a must buy for me.
I really like the sound of the amber collar. I'm fantasising over a bog oak with amber collar barlow now!
Yeah, I have tried to find a review of the clayton spearpoint, too, and have found none... It's behind a few in the wishlist, so perhaps there will be one when or if the time comes.
Thanks again for both your video and response 🤝.
@@mrsteve170 First of all, thank you kindly! I try to offer more detailed responses to mirror the effort put into a long comment-or a comment which focuses on a point that I happen to have a lot to speak about-in this case, both!
With regards to your statements about fit and finish, I believe we hold similar views. I also absolutely agree with the sentiment that modern, factory-made knives should be held to a higher standard than traditional, hand-made knives. Not to say we should expect traditional knives to always have problems, but when one considers their lack of machining and heavy emphasis on manual labour, it’s quite difficult to complain when minimal flaws can be found. Modern knives, however, offer no such excuses, since they don’t (usually) involve human frailty!
I’m happy to hear that you enjoy your example of the Ebony and Turquoise Barlow. Based on your description alone, the craftsmanship sounds exemplary! I only have one of Michael’s Clip-point Barlows (Bocote) and I’m very pleased with it. In fact, I decided to carry it today!
The Amber collared knife I mentioned was actually a Wharncliffe Barlow/Jack with Bog Oak handles. Sadly, only pictures can be found of the particular model, as Michael no longer produces it…a shame if you ask me, but according to Mr. May, Amber is a rather difficult material to work with.
Lastly, if I ever decide to try the Clayton Spearpoint, I’ll be sure to make a full, in-depth review for those it may interest!
Many thanks for the reply and for the kind words!
Cheers!
Great honest review, I love how you tell it like it is,, 👍,, my recent Boker acquisition is great in most respects, but it has flaws, (the blade is quite badly "bent" when open)
Your point in accepting the imperfections when you love someone /something, is spot on,, all the best, from, (not far away from Sheffield) England.. 👍🏴
I'm happy I could articulate myself to resonate with those who have similar opinions/beliefs.
We in the knife world tend to get a bit too picky and oftentimes end up passing on excellent knives, or simply scorning them due to some minor flaw(s) that hardly impede on it's functionality. I myself am guilty of this, I won't pretend to be free of that certain 'pretentious collector' stereotype!
Regardless, this knife has been serving me very well, as of late. It has a lovely appearance to it and I never feel bad about taking it out to use, carry or simply admire.
Cheers, as always!
Absolutely nothing prepares you for how this knife feels in your hand,,, it is just about, very nearly perfect,,, imho,,,
Yes,, once again,,
RIP Mr Ablett,,,
❤
Its quite the comfy fit!
RIP indeed, Maestro.
Cheers!
It's all of the above for me. The way the final package fits together. Certain $ amounts have certain expectations.
Very fair evaluation. Cheers!
I appreciate an artisan made knife very much. And as a result, I’m okay with minor imperfections that show the handmade nature of the piece. However, the level of imperfection should be commensurate with the price. For example, at £28 Arthur Wright , that is turned out at a rate of several pieces an hour, couldn’t get away with fit and finish errors, far more forgivably, than a Paul Mason custom piece at more like £600. Michaels pieces fall , or should fall, somewhere between the two. Personally, I think this knife is verging on the unacceptable. The bent blade and the uneven bolsters are the issues that would bother me.
On the other hand, the very slight gapping that this knife exhibits is really not an issue. In fact, it is an artefact of the way that this knife is made. The liners are dished to ensure a strong pressure between the liners and the covers, and a good seal around the edges. Many companies, including Case and GEC, do not dish their liners. Of course, nowadays, most modern knives have their covers epoxy glued in place. This ensures that there is no gap for moisture to get into. But before the widespread use of epoxy, dishing with use to try and prevent water ingress between the covers and the liners. The flipside to this is, of course, that the liners are no longer flat, and this can lead to very minor capping between the lino and the spring. So long as it is as minor as soon here, it really should not be considered a fault on a handmade artisan pocket knife
I have had several names made for me by Michael, and all our without noticeable faults. However, Michael has been aware from the outset that I will be reviewing his knives on RUclips. It is impossible to tell whether this has led to to a higher standard of quality control being applied. Though, that being said he has supplied knives to both UK legal knife reviews and paddies potato peelers that has each had significant faults. In both those cases, he knew they would be reviewed.
Anyway, I know that Michael May’s knives, at their best, are fantastic examples of the little mester’s work.
My dear Slick, thank you for taking the time to write this! I had heard that others had received dodgy pieces before, but I remembered yours being nearly perfect. Out of the (now) 4 knives by May that I have, two of they are good, one is *okay* and one is well, not the greatest. (This one) I still love them like I do with an A. Wright, but I really wish the QC department (AKA Michael) would be a little more careful before sending a piece out to a customer. I always forget to mention dished liners! I'm not going to send it back, as I've sent a knife back before, only for the quality to drop noticeably. Even so, I think Michael needs to address these concerns. I find myself being reminded of a line from Star Wars. "The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am". This remains true, as I can accept a knife to a degree, but there are those who would never buy from Michael again due to something like this. I want to see quality, if perfection is too much to ask, at least quality. I wish Michael the best, and I hope he learns from times like this. Cheers!
I think you had a lot to say and I was happy to watch and agree with most of what you said, I have been around a long time but never seen that design before, looks like a knife I would love to carry perfect size for me, I do think that Mr May should have done some quality control and evened out those bolsters, the issue that annoys me most is gapping I bought a Case knife and it has a gap running all the way down the one side between back spring and covers because of that I would never buy another Case not worth the money, I have plenty of Rough Ryders and all show no or very little gapping a third of the price of Case that is my ramble. lol
Ah, a fellow rambler, I see!! I greatly appreciate comments like this. Gapping, while not my biggest gripe, is still an immense annoyance. (Particularly on expensive knives) I've got a Case Doctor's knife with that same, long gap. Quite sad, actually. 😔I'm glad somebody sat through my ravings! I am grateful my words didn't fall on deaf ears...or no ears at all! Cheers!
My bog oak Ergonomic is just about perfect, it has none of these problems,, 😊
Wabi-sabi. I'd say enjoy your new knife, but it looks like you already are 👍.
I do, indeed! 👍 Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven I forgot to mention. There are those who demand perfection in handmade knives. I find it a bit fetishistic, but yours for £8k + if you take say Esposito's Colibri as an example. I've never held a handmade work of perfection, in the modern robot era sense, but I'd love to, to see if it speaks to me, or is as disappointingly dead as anything off the Yangjiang conveyor.
@@ianrosie4431 I just looked up the Colibri...wow. But hey, shockingly, I prefer the style of the Michael May! I'm weird, yes. Despite the flaws, this has 1000x the personality of a Rough Ryder! I still enjoy it. Cheers!
On the knives I'm gonna use, I'm not so picky on little fit and finish details, as long as they do the job. Knives that are purposely purchased for my collection is where I might get the magnifying glass out 😂
Fair, but I still expect a little more for 90 GBP.
@@TheKnifeRaven well, not that I'm trying to find excuses for less than perfect workmanship, but the fact is that in the handmade traditional knives world, that's actually a very cheap price. The next step up would be something like a K'roo, but that would be 500+ usd, or an Evan Nicolaides at 2k+; I'm pretty certain you could get a magnifying glass on those and be happy.
@@bullsharkreef Fair point, indeed! I just want makers to up their standards so more people will support them. After all, I'm picky, but there are people *far* worse!
This knife is like the Shrodingers cat paradox,,. it can be thought of as totally beautiful and worth every penny,, and also poorly made, and full of flaws...
Both at the same time,, 🤯🤯😍😡,,
,,, yes,, I'm watching this video again,,
😂😅
A very good way of looking at it!
And I don't blame you for rewatching the video, I welcome it, in fact! I'm somewhat addicted to Eric's "Arthur Wright & Son Quality Assurance" video, I've watched it dozens of times! 🤣 No idea why...
Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven
I'm passing the time till my Bog Oak Ergonomic arrives,, ⌛⏳,
My "modern folders" are sulking in the back of the cupboard, they've forgotten what daylight looks like, 😢🤣🤣🤣,, all the best my friend,, 😊
@@John..18 My favourite modern knife (Spyderco Spyopera) is probably getting impatient, too. As I only really carry traditionals, now!
Cheers!
Spyderco Military, and Gavco Thresher,
I can feel the animosity waves, when I enter the room,, 🤣🤣🤣
I think it is the minor flaws that you find in a hand made knife that give it its character! If you want perfection buy a totally heartless computer produced knife!!!
Indeed! I just hope Michael doesn't make this a habit. There are flaws, and then there are *"flaws"*
@@TheKnifeRaven If you think that blade is bent you should see one I have on a Rough Ryder trapper!!!! Okay Rough Ryders are very cheap knives, generally, and I have only ever bought 4 but I certainly wouldn't buy another! I'll just use the ones I have to death.
@@rowlandbrant674 Uh oh, that sounds bad! 😅
We can have a knife with locks on with any lengh blade we just can't carry them. Yeah i know but people keep stabbing each other and then the whole country riots ,so thats us then. A lot of people take no notice but you run the risk of arrest.