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Massdrop x Dew Hara Kabuto Button Lock Folder
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Massdrop x Dew Hara Kabuto Button Lock Folder
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Product Description
Based on knifemaker Dew Hara’s custom design (which regularly fetches upwards of $1,000), this production version is steeped in Japanese tradition and built with modern materials. It gets its name from helmets worn by ancient Japanese soldiers Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downWolfOFJax
79
Sep 11, 2018
I would be very excited for this knife, however this would almost certainly get seized by Canadian Customs. Button on the handle plus centrifugal opening? Double illegal in the CBSA's views.
Canadians, be aware of the risks you're taking if you join this drop! My Falcon Wing was seized a month ago even though it is perfectly legal.
Canadians, be aware of the risks you're taking if you join this drop! My Falcon Wing was seized a month ago even though it is perfectly legal.
Gunnersmate2
1646
Sep 25, 2018
Where I live I have no concerns having anything seized just stuff stolen off my front porch. I read a bunch of complaints about massdrop's customer service but in my experience MD has always fixed any and every issue I've had. It takes time and patience is a virtue but i have no complaints. Keep up the outstanding work massdrop and I'll keep sending you my money.
14themoney
1395
Dec 10, 2018
You might think about your quest. I love the general concept, but there are some Gerbers, Smith and Wessons, Uniteds, and other mall ninja specials that I really wouldn't want to be part of my Every Knife in the World collection. Yea, I would NOT want a Kershaw in 3Cr13, either. (The added word NOT is the edit. I should have read this damn thing more closely before posting.)
(Edited)
JonasHeineman
5987
Sep 10, 2018
Hey everyone,
This project started when I first met Dew Hara in October 2017 at the 2017 Seki City Knife Show, where he was displaying his handmade knives in his home town. When I first saw his designs, they immediately grabbed my eye - then I picked it up, and was even more impressed when I felt the incredibly smooth action. Apparently, I was not the only person taking note of Dew’s work - just a few months later, Dew’s “Raikiri” knife won the “Most Innovative Knife” award from the editors of EverydayCarry.com in their “Best of SHOT Show” roundup.
When Dew makes custom Kabutos by hand, the pivot mechanism is built around a R188 bearing, like those used in fidget spinners. We first considered utilizing the same setup in our production version, but our partners at WE Knife found that variances in the thickness of the bearing races from at least two suppliers were not consistent enough. The result would have been a high likelihood of some lateral blade play, which we all agreed was not acceptable.
At WE Knife’s suggestion, and with approval from Dew, we decided then to try a more proven system of pivot barrel and caged bearings, which we found on the prototypes was able to preserve the fast, smooth action - both opening and closing. And really, that’s what makes this knife really fun and useful - being able to swing the blade open and shut, quickly, with one hand. The addictive nature of this action did prompt us to make one production change, which is having the steel used in the backspacer hardened in heat treatment - the same as a stop pin would be - to withstand repeated impact from the blade tang.
Dew and I had a chance to review the final production samples together in Las Vegas at GX (the USN forum’s 10th annual Gathering), and I am pleased to say that Dew gave them his enthusiastic seal of approval.
Thanks for checking out the drop - and make sure to check out the video posted in the Description; I hope it helps to show the sweet action on this until you can get your hands on one of these to see for yourselves.
A few housekeeping notes as the drop kicks off:
* This drop is limited to 600 units. * All units from this first pre-production drop will be serialized. Units in future drops will not be serialized. * Our Estimated Ship Date is February 15th, 2019.
Carry On -- Jonas
This project started when I first met Dew Hara in October 2017 at the 2017 Seki City Knife Show, where he was displaying his handmade knives in his home town. When I first saw his designs, they immediately grabbed my eye - then I picked it up, and was even more impressed when I felt the incredibly smooth action. Apparently, I was not the only person taking note of Dew’s work - just a few months later, Dew’s “Raikiri” knife won the “Most Innovative Knife” award from the editors of EverydayCarry.com in their “Best of SHOT Show” roundup.
When Dew makes custom Kabutos by hand, the pivot mechanism is built around a R188 bearing, like those used in fidget spinners. We first considered utilizing the same setup in our production version, but our partners at WE Knife found that variances in the thickness of the bearing races from at least two suppliers were not consistent enough. The result would have been a high likelihood of some lateral blade play, which we all agreed was not acceptable.
At WE Knife’s suggestion, and with approval from Dew, we decided then to try a more proven system of pivot barrel and caged bearings, which we found on the prototypes was able to preserve the fast, smooth action - both opening and closing. And really, that’s what makes this knife really fun and useful - being able to swing the blade open and shut, quickly, with one hand. The addictive nature of this action did prompt us to make one production change, which is having the steel used in the backspacer hardened in heat treatment - the same as a stop pin would be - to withstand repeated impact from the blade tang.
Dew and I had a chance to review the final production samples together in Las Vegas at GX (the USN forum’s 10th annual Gathering), and I am pleased to say that Dew gave them his enthusiastic seal of approval.
Thanks for checking out the drop - and make sure to check out the video posted in the Description; I hope it helps to show the sweet action on this until you can get your hands on one of these to see for yourselves.
A few housekeeping notes as the drop kicks off:
* This drop is limited to 600 units. * All units from this first pre-production drop will be serialized. Units in future drops will not be serialized. * Our Estimated Ship Date is February 15th, 2019.
Carry On -- Jonas
MichaelT
29
Sep 12, 2018
Made in ghina. No thanks.
Massdrop, please have your blades made in the US or Japan. A superb contact is Koki at Japanese Chefs Knives.
Massdrop, please have your blades made in the US or Japan. A superb contact is Koki at Japanese Chefs Knives.
JonasHeineman
5987
Sep 25, 2018
Also Koki at JCK is awesome, I have visited him and his family in Seki during the knife festival. I am not sure that it works to make collaborations through the vendors they work with, but it's a good idea and you're right that he's a good contact!
Kavik
5531
Sep 11, 2018
I too would like to see a side profile and measurement of both the lock button and the pocket clip
Concerned about the button pressing into my leg while in pocket, and the standoffs on the pocket clip look way tall!
Kinda sad to see such a large, boring, and crazy high carrying clip on such a highly stylized knife 🤨
Concerned about the button pressing into my leg while in pocket, and the standoffs on the pocket clip look way tall!
Kinda sad to see such a large, boring, and crazy high carrying clip on such a highly stylized knife 🤨
Omniseed
1972
Sep 16, 2018
Looks like it would be a much smoother carry if the button and the clip standoffs were each reduced by a mm, maybe two for the standoffs.
That shot makes the knife look comfortable and also that hardware sticking out is horrifying.
It's otherwise a pretty sleek knife, like a little hand-torpedo.
That shot makes the knife look comfortable and also that hardware sticking out is horrifying.
It's otherwise a pretty sleek knife, like a little hand-torpedo.
Hatuletoh
850
Sep 12, 2018
I certainly dont mean this disparagingly, but the discussion on this thread about the practical aspects of this knife made me smile. Especially the worry about the pocket clip, not that that's surprising as pocket clips seem to be a bit of an obsession w/ folks here on MD. You all must be workers, and expect your knives to be workers too--not a thing wrong with that. And even the most obsessive discussion about pocket clips on this board is nothing compared to what goes on in some of the flashlight threads I've read over in EDC...wow...very detailed minutiae about clip performance/mods being hashed out over there; perhaps there's some customer overlap with the blade community?
Never the less, such discussions are amusing to me, because the moment I saw the name "Dew Hara" the rubric by which the knife would be assessed in my mind changed. Although still highly functional, Mr. Hara makes knives that look good, first and foremost. That they are also titightly constructed, trustworthy tools (every one I've encountered, anyhow) is a testament to his skill. But given that, for example, a pocket clip design can be counted on to hold a knife in a pocket as necessary, I believe Mr. Hara would then rather incorporate design features that enhanced the clip's looks, and contributed to the knife's overall aesthetics, than ones which would improve its basic functionality at the cost of beauty.
I'm trying hard to avoid saying he puts form over function, because that would imply his knives are just show pieces, which is not the case. I just mean that in the balance between form and function that every feature of every knife (and every other tool) has to strike, Mr. Hara shades much more to the "form" side than many of his peers. That's why a discussion about how the knife would ride in the pocket seems a little funny to me, in this context.
Sort of like going to the Ferarri dealership and choosing the one to buy based on a comparison of which one has the steering wheel with the best grip. It's not that the question isnt valid, it's just probably not the feature the designers envisioned being the deciding factor.
Again, tanto grosso respecto.
Never the less, such discussions are amusing to me, because the moment I saw the name "Dew Hara" the rubric by which the knife would be assessed in my mind changed. Although still highly functional, Mr. Hara makes knives that look good, first and foremost. That they are also titightly constructed, trustworthy tools (every one I've encountered, anyhow) is a testament to his skill. But given that, for example, a pocket clip design can be counted on to hold a knife in a pocket as necessary, I believe Mr. Hara would then rather incorporate design features that enhanced the clip's looks, and contributed to the knife's overall aesthetics, than ones which would improve its basic functionality at the cost of beauty.
I'm trying hard to avoid saying he puts form over function, because that would imply his knives are just show pieces, which is not the case. I just mean that in the balance between form and function that every feature of every knife (and every other tool) has to strike, Mr. Hara shades much more to the "form" side than many of his peers. That's why a discussion about how the knife would ride in the pocket seems a little funny to me, in this context.
Sort of like going to the Ferarri dealership and choosing the one to buy based on a comparison of which one has the steering wheel with the best grip. It's not that the question isnt valid, it's just probably not the feature the designers envisioned being the deciding factor.
Again, tanto grosso respecto.
Kavik
5531
Sep 15, 2018
Yeah, it's all beyond ridiculous, but I hadn't heard about them calling in backup to try again to flip it lol that's truly insane!
Yeah, the proposed changes passed with an overwhelming majority more than once, and always gets vetoed after the vote. You know, because democracy doesn't count when it's up against greed.
You're right though, I should join them for the next attempt
Yeah, the proposed changes passed with an overwhelming majority more than once, and always gets vetoed after the vote. You know, because democracy doesn't count when it's up against greed.
You're right though, I should join them for the next attempt
Axeguy
1372
Sep 17, 2018
Haaahahahaha!!! Very, very well put! ‘No laws’ seem better than ‘bad laws’. Taking a life by blade, up close and personal, is such a cold, nasty deed (makes using a gun on someone look like a picnic). I say this because it is such a foul crime that the person capable of doing this intentionally is not going to be stopped by some little law—no matter how clever. Methods of opening: all are ‘fast’ in the hands of a motivated felon. The power of the human factor: length, concealment...none of the details of a knife are ever going to make it less available or less dangerous because of the potential intent of the person wielding it. So, they keep churning out ineffective and ill-concieved laws mostly to make people feel more comfortable (and maybe vote for them?). All of the efforts expended on making our populations feel protected from wayward cutlery and the plain truth is that if somebody wants to harm you, they will attempt to do so with whatever is at hand and sufficient for the purpose.
[Oh, and for the best of the best dumb laws, look to us Canadians (yet again). Concealed weapons are against the law but sword canes are not illegal in Canada UNLESS the blade is LESS than 12 inches. So...sword cane with 22 inch blade does not violate concealed carry BUT an 11 inch blade is illegal under that same set of regulations. Why? Because it’s more dangerous? No, lethality is similar at most, if not less. Because it’s more concealable? Nope: they would look the same assembled as sword canes. Actually, I would be grateful if anyone could think of a single fact that would support it...]
[Oh, and for the best of the best dumb laws, look to us Canadians (yet again). Concealed weapons are against the law but sword canes are not illegal in Canada UNLESS the blade is LESS than 12 inches. So...sword cane with 22 inch blade does not violate concealed carry BUT an 11 inch blade is illegal under that same set of regulations. Why? Because it’s more dangerous? No, lethality is similar at most, if not less. Because it’s more concealable? Nope: they would look the same assembled as sword canes. Actually, I would be grateful if anyone could think of a single fact that would support it...]
Adamantinepiggy
82
Sep 11, 2018
Three issues why I don't care for it.
1. The rear tang of the blade sticks out in the closed position and has sharp shoulders. Most folding knives recess it in the handle in the closed position. Why? because that protruding sharp-cornered edge is going to wear a hole in your pocket in very short order.
2. Thumb studs that provide no purpose.
3. A way too proud standing pocket clip. When holding the knife, that thing is going to be digging into your palm. Also likely to get bent or damaged walking to close to things (like door jambs) and catching on it, since it's on thin standoffs and not flush against the handle to distribute the force. All the strength is dependent on the head "and" shaft strength of tiny screws. Basically if it catches on something, instead of bending the actual flexible part of a of a pocket clip, it's likely to bend or break the screws/standoffs which is not flexible and wont snap back like a regular pocket clip.
kotog
29
Apr 23, 2020
Overly excited, purchasing for a daily edc, loved the rosewood handles, wished it came with Satin Blade option... also loved the Carbon Fiber, but if it had the PVD-Coated parts.... Ordered both, will swap them parts out when I receive. 100 bucks base, not too bad upsale on the Rosewood and Carbon Fiber. Materials used in this production knife are worth the price in my opinion. Can't wait to beat this thing up.
kotog
29
Jul 30, 2020
Very easy! Just make sure you back out the screws gently, place them in a method that assists in the reassembly. Both of my knives had factory cross threading on both the clip screws and pivot screws. So just be gentle removing the screws and don't force anything! Best of luck!
aman1420
172
Jul 30, 2020
kotogThank you so much! I'm waffling hard but something tells me I'm going to end up trying a swap one way or another. Excellent job, and thank you again for the inspiration! :)
DougFLA123
1404
Feb 16, 2019
Checking in with my Rosewood Kabuto, S/N RW004 (the lowest serial number I’ve ever received). Really unique and beautiful! Very smooth action.
DrBlazer
61
Feb 21, 2019
Yes, I hope this is just yours and I hope Massdrop fixes it for you or replaces it because it really is a beautiful knife and the wood gives it a very original appearance. I can't think of any knives with wooden scales/handles that look like this. I can think of a couple Dew Hara customs that look somewhat similar but they are significantly more money than I'm willing to pay. This instantly became a collectors knife for me. I doubt I will ever cut anything with it, other than a little bit of hair on my leg when I first opened it just to test out the sharpness and it succeeded. I'll continue playing with this knife (just opening & closing) but I won't be carrying it around and it certainly will never be one of my EDC's. I don't think I'll ever sell this... unless it gets a crazy resale value like $900, hahaha. I just love looking at this knife and playing with it. It's just so unique that I seriously doubt that I'll ever see a picture of any other knife that I mistakenly identify as a Rosewood Kabuto. I love and prefer small & tiny knives, but I absolutely love this thing. I hope that Massdrop gets everything taken care of for you.
Davidsh331
284
Mar 8, 2019
Am I missing something blatantly obvious, or is that the dumbest pocket clip that I have ever seen?
PeachJackson
30
Mar 8, 2019
Davidsh331This knife looks good to me but that pocket clip......
i understand that deep carry isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I don’t think anyone wants a full third of the knife sticking out of their pocket. Hard pass for me unfortunately
SilentScythe
37
Sep 12, 2018
What a beautiful design! Too bad it's a gravity knife. Maybe that should be in the description.
SilentScythe
37
Sep 13, 2018
It’s such a pain. Plenty of stories about people dealing with LEOs who munipulate the wording of knife laws to cause trouble.
CommonManConservation
4
Sep 14, 2018
Gravity knife laws generally care about if it opens with centrifugal or gravity, aka if it can flick open with force. Here in NY it has to also lock itself into place. Because it utilizes the button in the handle it can also fall under some switchblade laws, despite the lack of a spring. Here both are autos by law and thus illegal for EDC.
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