Much thanks to Terry Guinn and Felix Sheng for a terrific collaboration on the "Q-1".., very slick piece of design work by Felix, and smithing by Terry.

In "Marketing 101".., the only thing I took away from the course was...."Get their attention"..., so lets get that out of the way pronto... 8o

Introducing..., the "Q-1".., with props by some guy in Wisconsin... :rolleyes:

http://www.fototime.com/{620AD5CD-EE4D-4E0B-8424-C91CDAE3D052}/picture.JPG

Ok.., that outta do it.., so now let's move on the the "Q-1", that pretty little Balisong hangin' with the big boys down on the right. :)

First off.., lets cover some specs. I saw Michael ("Chefget") already beat me to doing a review, but I wanted to get add to a few of his comments, and take some pictures.

The Q-1 is just a hair under 4 1/2" when open, and sports a terrifically profiled ATS-34 blade, ground on a 10" contact wheel, and Rock'd to 59.5, concluding with a nicely mirrored finish. The blade length is 1 13/16" and the knife is 2 3/4" closed up and latched (nice latch guys), snaps in much like the Korth designs. I guess Michael got a tad over 1.5 ounces weighing his, and my scale shows exactly 1.6 ounces.

The handle material is Anodized 6AL4V Titanium.., with a very nice "copperish" tone and the nicely done blue dots facilitating esthetics. They really look good, and very cleanly executed.

http://www.fototime.com/{B0A24D4C-D68F-4E58-89EB-45DF1C99EC95}/picture.JPG

Screw stock includes 4-40 SS cap-screws at the pivots, and the latch and spacers use 2-56 SS cap-screws. The latch and spacers are 440C, and the pins are 304 stainless. Terrific fit and finish!

In this shot you can see the meticulous file-ramping Terry did as a control assist, but the little notch out towards the tip of the blade is a nice design touch also. Very cool knife when there is need for precise cutting where depth of cut may be of concern.

http://www.fototime.com/{716D9035-CFA9-47CA-853D-AD0A86641E9C}/picture.JPG

These knives are really pretty hard to put down once you get the feel for them, and you can do some cool stuff with the little "flipper" Felix designed in. As Tony mentiond in Michael's review, the 31 is no longer "King of the Latch Drop". :)

I actually have quite large hands, but I would imagine guys with small hands are really going to love playing with these. Much fun to be had..., and also a very classy looking knife that cuts!

I wanted to add a picture of how the clip was formed, because from what Terry/Felix explained, it was not an easy task bending the Titanium in such a way as to meet Felix's concept for discreet carry. Because of the way the Q-1's clip is engineered, the knife sits completely down in the pocket, not revealing the type tool it is. Brilliant concept Felix, and I'm still not sure how you pulled the bend off Terry.., but great job.

http://www.fototime.com/{E5C8DA84-3391-4B21-B54A-C10464CB2D5F}/picture.JPG

Following Michael's review, I saw a few comments related to the knife being too small, but the question I'd ask, is too small for what??

Tony explained the targeted market for the knife very clearly, but to my thinking, most anyone would want this knife in all honesty.

No.., it's not the best knife for making videos, doing extended variations of finger twirls, etc., and if you are Professional Assassin, I'd also check it off the want list.

The knife is what it is designed to be, a very light weight custom utility design with a myriad of cutting uses, and I LIKE IT. :) So there! 8o

Congratulations to both yourself and Terry, Felix. Very nice job, and the #### thing is pretty too! Felix.., having Bailey Bradshaw EDM the blades and non-latch handle slabs was also a very slick idea!

Thanks again to both of you... :)

http://www.fototime.com/{3EB3C1E6-937F-479D-B7D5-467F6DFAACD6}/picture.JPG

Great looking little munchkin Balisong....

http://www.fototime.com/{97AF4B69-3AC5-4B4D-9BBF-7497298B3F3B}/picture.JPG

Wow, Pete, those are some great photos. You're getting really good! The thread on the other forum doesn't do the knife justice visually.
This is really an exciting balisong. And Terry, how did you do that bend? Is it machined?

Almost forgot!! For those of you that haven't seen Felix's first collaboration (what's the deal with these Texan's anyway Felix...lol?????), I guess I should throw this in for good measure!

If you any of you guys have ever thrown down a couple bottles of my "Prop" in this picture, you are WAY better men than I.., my [GOD] what a headache!

http://www.fototime.com/{E44EAB8F-F4A2-411D-B459-3B60A08D16AB}/picture.JPG

I guess this one will be a true EDC Pete. I believe that CA knife laws should allow for this to be legal carry. If it is, I bet it's a great feeling. :D

Originally posted by ExamonLyf
If you any of you guys have ever thrown down a couple bottles of my "Prop" in this picture, you are WAY better men than I.., my [GOD] what a headache!

It's tough to get good US microbrews in Italy. Otherwise I would gladly rise to the challenge. It can't be worse than last New Years' headache (they know how to throw down on New Years' in Naples!!!:eek: I didn't get my memories back for two weeks...and then it ALL returned, I'm sorry to say)...

Originally posted by relayer66
I didn't get my memories back for two weeks...and then it ALL returned, I'm sorry to say)...

8o .., yeah.., I hear ya.., today was painful, but fun... :cool:

Originally posted by tonyccw
I believe that CA knife laws should allow for this to be legal carry. If it is, I bet it's a great feeling. :D

Oh My!!! ~~~> You mean they've been illegal all this time??? 8o :evil 8o

Sure wish someone would have let me know.... :(

Those are some nice photos Pete. Who is the maker of the big knives?
To answer your question relayer66, Heat it up red hot and it will bend.
I wonder if they are illegal in Texas? I have heard that switchblades are illegal, but they sell them at flea markets, so that must mean they are OK :D

Originally posted by Terry Guinn
To answer your question relayer66, Heat it up red hot and it will bend.
Ingenious. Who would have guessed?
Originally posted by Terry Guinn
I have heard that switchblades are illegal, but they sell them at flea markets, so that must mean they are OK :D [/B]
Same in Italy. They sell them in tobacco shops.

Originally posted by Terry Guinn
Those are some nice photos Pete. Who is the maker of the big knives?

Terry ~~> Jody Samson, the guy that used to do the custom blades for Bali-Song, INC., Pacific Cutlery, and Benchmade, back in [The Day]....

He also did that incredible bronze casting of the "Dragon Embryo". Talented man...

Terrific review, Pete!

Great design, Felix and Terry. I'm still amazed at how brilliant that pocket clip is..! :smokin

Originally posted by ixpfah
Great design, Felix and Terry. I'm still amazed at how brilliant that pocket clip is..! :smokin

Yes.., agreed. Felix is excellent at thinking "Outside the Box".., and Terry certainly delivered.

Felix.., once you get through terrorizing Terry, Chris and David... :).., how about another design from a Texan.. :)

Warren Osborne comes to mind :)

good thread - congrats to all involved!
.
maybe the name of the ale should include 'grim'? :D

Man ... that is bad to the bone! Pro design, pro review ...

I score it a "6-BALI" thread~!

Alex

Man, Pete--I already wanted one of these, but after your review I want it even more. Just too broke during the holiday season so it'll have to wait a bit (hope I can still get one later). Great review and great pics. The pics really highlight the features of this knife--everything from the ingenious clip design to the grooves and the cutout on the spine. I love the blade profile and the single "guard." Outstanding all around.

Who made those fixed blades Pete, and what the heck are they made of?

Originally posted by davebolton
Who made those fixed blades Pete, and what the heck are they made of?

Hey Dave.., good to see you over here. I hope you and Corey are doing great!

Those "Props" in the picture were made by Master Sword Smith Jody Samson.., and they are both "1 of's". The closest to the viewers eye in the picture, partially pictures the "Hunter Khukri".., and the larger piece crossing in back is called.."The Back-Edge".

Both are made of 5160, 1/4" stock after surface grinding.., and they are "Bad-to-the-Bone"... :)

Jody is pretty legendary with us Bali-Nuts.., because he was the guy that profiled all the customs (well not all, but most) at Mr. DeAsis' companies for a number of years (Bali-Song, USA, Pacific Cutlery, and as you know it now.., Benchmade Knife Company).

He studied with John Nelson Cooper (American Knifemaking Legend) here in our country.., and is the creator of the swords for "Conan the Barbarian". Jody has done lots of movie work throughout the years both on his own, and with Tony Swatton of "Sword & Stone".

His list of accomplishments is too long for an internet thread, but if you'd like to see WAY more pictures than you'd ever want to of his work 8o .., I do have lots of his -stuff-. One of the truly great freehand hollow grinders ever in my opinion.

Jody is as much an artist as anything else, and does incredible lost wax castings on many of his pieces. He writes poetry, does a number of drawings and painitngs across artsitic modalities, and is currently working on a book.

Here's a brief example, but he also did that Dragon Embryo pictured above.., and uses his own lost wax work for his guards, pommels, etc. He also sculpts.., is nearly unbeatable as Chess, and is a darn good table tennis player.... :)

http://www.fototime.com/C1061EF01715A63/orig.jpg

This piece is his famous "Flamberge".., and probably the most dangerous piece of cutlery I've ever had the misfortune to maintain. It is also 5160 (his usual choice of steels), highly mirror finished, and I've cut myself waxing the blade more than any Balisong has ever cut me. It is a living redefinition of the term "sharp"...., and of course the "Kris" profile makes the swales tricky. ~~> Kevlar gloves highly recommended...lol.

http://www.fototime.com/232BC58AFBF1335/orig.jpg

Looking down the barrel.... 8o

http://www.fototime.com/A5EF8BA37A6E6F7/orig.jpg

A very talented guy! ~~> http://www.JodySamson.com

Thanks Pete,

those blades are sweet. His work is clean and different.