A Question for Sal????

[Clay Kesting]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:<hr height=1 noshade>Bob Lum wanted his Tanto tip up. He then wanted the Chinese folder tip down. we'll generally yield to the custom collaborators preference. <hr height=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2>

Sal, this is a quote from a post of yours on BF a couple of years ago. You'll probably think it is pretty anal of me bringing it up after all this time, but I've never quite understood why Bob Lum would want the Chinese Folder to be tip-down when his custom versions and the prototypes are tip-up. I'm currently having trouble deciding which way to carry my Chinese Folder and I'd be interested to know what was behind Bob's suggestion. My intention was always to change it to tip-up to be like the customs and also, at the time, I was used to carrying a BF Native. However I've since changed back to tip-down as that is the way all my current EDC's are set up. I suppose I should be grateful that I don't have anything more serious to worry about <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.



Clay



Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.

[Jeff/1911]

Clay,

The reason I enjoy this forum so much is because it's the place where you can ask questions like these, and expect to be taken seriously. Most people wouldn't understand the reason behind your question at all, but I certainly do. I don't know the answer, however. That Lum Chinese sure is a neat looking knife.

Jeff/1911.

[Gazza]

I agree a very good question.

[Jeff/1911]

Clay,

In my reply above; I was of course referring to &quot;most people&quot; that you meet on the street...not the folks here of course.

BTW, I like both knife-carry styles, but it seems all my favorite knives are setup for tip down carry: Calypso, Calypso Jr., Military, Police... So I guess tip down would have to be declared my favorite. I believe I understand your query however, it does seem odd - his (Bob Lum) change of preference for the production version vs. his custom. And I also see why you would be interested in trying it the way it was originally conceived by the designer.

Jeff/1911.

[Clay Kesting]

Jeff,
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:<hr height=1 noshade>In my reply above; I was of course referring to &quot;most people&quot; that you meet on the street...not the folks here of course. <hr height=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2>
No need to explain mate, I knew what you meant <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. That's the nice thing about these forums, no one here thinks you're obsessive compulsive, whereas friends and family have long ago decided I've finally lost it <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.

Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.

Edited by - Clay Kesting on 6/12/2001 2:22:31 PM

[Jeff/1911]

Yes, me too. As far as my family is concerned, I'm a lost cause. Thank goodness for unconditional acceptance. Jeff.

[sal]

H Clay. Testing my memory, huh, well I'm not that old... yet. Bob Lum generally prefers tip up (as most do).

At the Shot show, he noticed some of the crew using a &quot;quick drop opening&quot; on some tip down models, and was influenced.

We tried to make the new Lum folding Tanto as a tip up/tip down combination, but were not able to design a clip that would work. So the current model is tip up.

We did an OK job on the clip for the Chinese folder, but also keep in mind that these &quot;dedicated clips&quot; are costly, both in tooling and inventory.

sal

[Clay Kesting]

Thanks Sal. Sorry to put your memory to the test like that <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. I've ended up with my Chinese Folder tip-down only because my other knives are that way. It's surprising that most manufacturers only offer tip-down when so many people prefer tip-up. However I think you did much better than an &quot;OK&quot; job with the clip on the Chinese Folder. It is a very elegant solution to the problem of providing for either tip-up or tip-down carry and is one of the detail touches which make this a &quot;great&quot; knife instead of a &quot;nice&quot; knife.

BTW, you've mentioned in the past that there might be a FRN model of the Chinese Folder if it prooved successful. I'm wondering whether the sales have been as high as expected or has it suffered the same fate as the Calypso Jr, too sophisticated for the general ELU.

Take care,
Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.



Edited by - Clay Kesting on 6/16/2001 6:59:48 PM

[sal]

Hi Clay. Initial sales are good. Only time will tell if the design will carry in the general market.

sal

[ronin203]

hi sal, ive been wondering, why dont you make more of your models with the ambidextrous carry clip? i noticed that the new ayoob model has one. will any other mbc models be set up that way? also can you give us a clue on what some of the forthcoming mbc models are going to be like? p.s. great job on the chinook, i love it!

[sal]

Hi Ronin. Clips are a funny thing.

For a clip to be ambi, it must be symmetrical. Not all designs can handle a symmetrical clip. Some require a curve in the clip to make it work.

In addition, many want the tip up/down option, which also is sometimes difficult to do with one clip.

A 2nd clip included with a model might be might be a solution, but it adds many dollars to tooling and increases retail and inventory costs.

The new Salsa and Meerkat designs use a wire clip, which may offer new solutions. We're still testing.

sal

[ronin203]

thanks sal, i never thought of it that way.

[ronin203]

hi sal, i have heard a rumor that james keating is coming out with a video for the chinook. is there any truth to this, and if so do you know when it will be out.

[ronin203]

also, can you tell me about the meercat?

[ronin203]

me again sal, can you tell me about carbon fiber. is it stronger than g10?

[sal]

Hi Ronin.

I haven't heard the James Keating rumor yet? So I don't know if he plans to. He is good at making videos, so it is more than likely.

MeerKat is a Navigator pattern with a &quot;trick lock&quot; release.

CF is stronger by weight, I haven't tested per volume.

sal