Major Knife - First TSEK
They call it a TSEK, but it's an AFCK, really...
The AFCK was the beginning for me, or virtually the beginning. The absolute beginning was seeing the model 970 CQC7 in a cutlery catalog. The CQC7 blew my mind. It was the F-117 of knives. But what is this right next to this stealth fighter? The same high tech materials, ATS-34 steel, G-10 handles - Titanium! - with an equally ferocious name, the Advanced Folding Combat Knife, but it looks like a real knife. I better have one of those too!
Needless to say, as soon as I got them I found out the CQC7 was not the best utility knife, but the AFCK...it was an Amazing Folding Chore Knife too! I bought it thinking it would make me a special weapons and tactics civilian, but I soon found out it was amazing at every utility task I put it to. The AFCK became my knife, and I carried it constantly for several years.
There was a lot of discussion back then about what the true nature of a "tactical" folder was. It lead to a lot of investigation..."testing" of locks, blades, steels. I personally did terrible things to multiple AFCKs, prying, puncturing metal objects, "spine whacking"... It was a lot of fun.
The bottom line is that, through it all, the AFCK performed extraordinarily well.
Over the years, my primary carry drifted. I moved along to knives I considered more "custom" like the Ares and Mini Rukus, even the more ergonomic contours of the Griptilian. But my belief in the AFCK as the ultimate folding knife was never completely replaced. The 806-1101 is still the last folder in my collection I would ever sell.
Now, I'm not really given to neurotic tendancies. I generally don't let things in my head get in the way of experience. Still, a few months ago I was out shooting with a buddy, and he saw me using my AFCK. He was impressed by it, but finally said, "doesn't that hole in the blade make the blade weaker? In my head, I went over the three page answer about why that wasn't an issue, but in the end, I realized that it wasn't going to get much traction, and I simply had to admit, yeah, that big hole in the blade does make it weaker. And it's been bugging me ever since.
Hence, when I recently got an opportunity to acquire an 805-1101 (thanks, Rick!), I had to have it regardless of cost...well, within reason, of course.
I had avoided the TSEK over the years, kind of considering it a downgraded AFCK. But, in light of the blade strength neurosis, the M390 steel, and grooved, domed G-10 scales in the -1101, it isn't a downgrade at all. It is one of the best folding knives in existence. I totally love it. I originally thought the 805 blade profile to be awkward, lacking the raptor-like profile of the AFCK. But in real life, the grinds are quite graceful. I was fantasizing about putting a full convex zero edge on it, but it came with a nearly zero edge, amazing cutting edge.
So the 805-1101 joins my folding "major knife" list along with the 806-1101 and 810-1401. Along with a couple others, these are the core of my collection. Everything else in my rotation, though excellent in their own ways, is for variety.
The AFCK was the beginning for me, or virtually the beginning. The absolute beginning was seeing the model 970 CQC7 in a cutlery catalog. The CQC7 blew my mind. It was the F-117 of knives. But what is this right next to this stealth fighter? The same high tech materials, ATS-34 steel, G-10 handles - Titanium! - with an equally ferocious name, the Advanced Folding Combat Knife, but it looks like a real knife. I better have one of those too!
Needless to say, as soon as I got them I found out the CQC7 was not the best utility knife, but the AFCK...it was an Amazing Folding Chore Knife too! I bought it thinking it would make me a special weapons and tactics civilian, but I soon found out it was amazing at every utility task I put it to. The AFCK became my knife, and I carried it constantly for several years.
There was a lot of discussion back then about what the true nature of a "tactical" folder was. It lead to a lot of investigation..."testing" of locks, blades, steels. I personally did terrible things to multiple AFCKs, prying, puncturing metal objects, "spine whacking"... It was a lot of fun.
The bottom line is that, through it all, the AFCK performed extraordinarily well.
Over the years, my primary carry drifted. I moved along to knives I considered more "custom" like the Ares and Mini Rukus, even the more ergonomic contours of the Griptilian. But my belief in the AFCK as the ultimate folding knife was never completely replaced. The 806-1101 is still the last folder in my collection I would ever sell.
Now, I'm not really given to neurotic tendancies. I generally don't let things in my head get in the way of experience. Still, a few months ago I was out shooting with a buddy, and he saw me using my AFCK. He was impressed by it, but finally said, "doesn't that hole in the blade make the blade weaker? In my head, I went over the three page answer about why that wasn't an issue, but in the end, I realized that it wasn't going to get much traction, and I simply had to admit, yeah, that big hole in the blade does make it weaker. And it's been bugging me ever since.
Hence, when I recently got an opportunity to acquire an 805-1101 (thanks, Rick!), I had to have it regardless of cost...well, within reason, of course.
I had avoided the TSEK over the years, kind of considering it a downgraded AFCK. But, in light of the blade strength neurosis, the M390 steel, and grooved, domed G-10 scales in the -1101, it isn't a downgrade at all. It is one of the best folding knives in existence. I totally love it. I originally thought the 805 blade profile to be awkward, lacking the raptor-like profile of the AFCK. But in real life, the grinds are quite graceful. I was fantasizing about putting a full convex zero edge on it, but it came with a nearly zero edge, amazing cutting edge.
So the 805-1101 joins my folding "major knife" list along with the 806-1101 and 810-1401. Along with a couple others, these are the core of my collection. Everything else in my rotation, though excellent in their own ways, is for variety.
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I want a 806dm-701 0 -
What's with the gold class bags? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by wulfftruble:
I want a 806dm-701
Me too! Does the -701 designate something specific, or is that just sequential?
Sorry, the Gold bags were on the table from the pics I took of my 531-132 and 530-111.0 -
I thought it designated year. 701= 2007. 801= 2008. Ect 0 -
That's probably right. Was it clear back in 2007 that we bought the first of them? Maybe so.quote:Originally posted by wulfftruble:
I thought it designated year. 701= 2007. 801= 2008. Ect0 -
806-701 is only xx/100
And yes, the -701 means 2007 first variation.0 -
Ah, very good. Thanks all. 0 -
See, please stop writing things like this. I've come to trust your opinion, and it makes ME want to go find and buy expensive things I don't really need.
Thanks.. Just thanks...0 -
Yayy! I'm always interested in an AFCK/TSEK thread.
806DM-701? Yeah, that's the grail of production knives for me. A few years ago, I had an 806 Damascus blade made. It wasn't stainless, but they did an amazing job on it - zero play in any direction.0 -
I wish BM would bring these back, I would buy one in a heartbeat! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Neuro:
806-701 is only xx/100
And yes, the -701 means 2007 first variation.
Now that you remind me, Neuro, I think you are right. There were only a total of 100 of them made.
They are sure nice.0 -
Congrats on a great acquisition. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Redwood25:
See, please stop writing things like this. I've come to trust your opinion, and it makes ME want to go find and buy expensive things I don't really need.
Thanks.. Just thanks...
Let me know when you finally realize you need these. I have all 3 NIB.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Neuro:quote:Originally posted by Redwood25:
See, please stop writing things like this. I've come to trust your opinion, and it makes ME want to go find and buy expensive things I don't really need.
Thanks.. Just thanks...
Let me know when you finally realize you need these. I have all 3 NIB.
Which ones?0 -
I am curious as well. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Redwood25:
See, please stop writing things like this. I've come to trust your opinion, and it makes ME want to go find and buy expensive things I don't really need.
Thanks.. Just thanks...
Most of us on this forum spend way more than we need to for an adequate knife....but then if adequate was adequate people would drive Toyotas rather than Porches
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Well, ya know, a perfectly adequate knife was never the goal for me. I've been on a quest for the perfect knife. Of course, it didn't take me long to realize that the perfect knife is a very individual thing, and of course no one knife is perfect for everything.
For me personally, twenty years of looking have not really found another folding knife that embodies the perfect knife more completely than the 806. In current production, the closest thing is the 810. The 806/5 is still the classic for me though. For other folks, it's something else, the Ares, the 710, other brands...
I've been through various phases. Other models have been my favorites for a time. I've been through phases where I felt I needed to pare my collection down to the five or ten knives that were my most appreciated. I'm in an expansion phase right now. I feel like I've got enough love to go around.
quote:Originally posted by Shanty:quote:Originally posted by Redwood25:
See, please stop writing things like this. I've come to trust your opinion, and it makes ME want to go find and buy expensive things I don't really need.
Thanks.. Just thanks...
Most of us on this forum spend way more than we need to for an adequate knife....but then if adequate was adequate people would drive Toyotas rather than Porches
.0 -
I wonder if BM will do a re-run of the 806? They would have the tooling.... As long as it came out with a thumb stud rather than a spyderco thumbhole I would buy one.
I could also go a 975 updated to Axis.0 -
Just received my 806bk-1101 & 805-1101 from Neuro, these are both amazing knives! I had never handled either in person but they definitely live up to every bit of hype I've heard. FYI I would also recommend Neuro as a great seller. 0 -
I will take the AFCK's from you if they are a bother... 
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You got yourself a couple of good ones there! For some reason, those two seem to come up for sale less frequently than the 806-1101. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sre1:
You got yourself a couple of good ones there! For some reason, those two seem to come up for sale less frequently than the 806-1101.
I'd been wanting an AFCK for a while, I can't say enough that these truly are awesome knives!0
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