A curiously peculiar knife from Sheffield. Michael May Knives Ergonomic in Black American Walnut!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2023
- Salutations ladies and gentlemen! Today, I decided to sit down and attempt to review this knife, again! I would've uploaded a video yesterday, but I wasn't happy with the quality of the review. So today, I sat down and hit record. The result is...something! I wanted to bring up a very interesting question of "Knife Philosophy", what question would that be? Well, the answer is "What defines a knife's worth". This is quite the topic to explore and despite my tendency to ramble like an idiot, I thought I did an alright job of invoking a discussion on such a concept. Regardless of my prattle, I must say, from a design perspective, the late Trevor Ablett was a genius and innovator. This knife is very comfortable and lives up to it's name, "Ergonomic".
#britishblades
#knives
#knifephilosophy
#gentleman
#edc
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!
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!
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!)
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!
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 TH-cam. 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!
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!
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!
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!
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! 😅
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,, 🤣🤣🤣