Definitely! Doug is the man who does more for the knife community then most people put together. I've got a pre order in at Knifeworks for the RSK...just wish Hogue would catch up to backorders!
I just bought a new super freek. There's very little blade bounce, and the blade will not drop at all when the lock is disengaged. Maybe they changed something? The action feels perfect to me
4yrs ago this vid helped me to decide on the Super Freek for just under $200 and I have been happy with it ever since. However, it has definitely been worth waiting for the RSK because yesterday I purchased the RSK still in G-10 but with upgraded Magnacut steel for $180! It's worth pointing out that while the RSK has gone up $30 in 4yrs the M4 Freek is now $250 with no changes whatsoever. In the end, I'm happy I got the Freek when I did and I'm exstatic that I waited for the better valued RSK to get even better.
@@Another_Measure The overall value is definitely with the RSK. It also has the better blade shape with a lower tip and beautifully contoured and milled scales and the added bonus of giving back to knife rights advocacy. Obviously you take a hit in edge retention compared to M4 or even the 20cv of the previous RSK but that is minor compared to the ease of stropping/sharpening you get with Magnacut. The milling can be a little abrasive in the pocket but the alternative (the Freek) is smooth in pocket and slippery in hand. If I had to have only one today it would be the RSK.
Hi Brian, You probably know this already, but as a Machinist I can't tell you how often steel widths are off by the smallest of measures. I have found just swapping washers, especially the ones grooved for the bearings is enough to move that blade right back to the center. If they aren't grooved turn them over. Someday put one of the highest quality washers you think you have under a microscope and you won't believe the uneven surface you will see, and that surface is continually wearing slightly as we flip the crap out of these knives. So stock up on washers, huh, HaHa! Good Luck Slicen' & Dicen' my friend, keep the videos comin'!
My theory why BM only offers coated versions of M4, is connected to their (awesome) warranty policy that allows you to replace your blade for $30. I think they are doing this to cut down on the potential of people that don’t know how or won’t take care of a non stainless blade and sending in rusted blades for replacement.
I have the super freek and it's my #1 right now. Considering the Ritter Hogue, currently available for $139. They are almost too similar to justify both.
A Big Battle, with no Death! : - ) Thanks Bryan. A great job you've done here! This video, will go down in History. As a most Epic Battle, of G10 Super Knives! Both are clearly Winners, in the end. Are we reaching peak G10 Knife? I can not imagine, where we go from here. If a person wants the best, the knife industry has to offer, in a G10 model. They have to look not much further, than this video. To help them make that decision. As to which one of the greats, to choose. Along with a good long look at the Manix 2 as well. With its Super steel choices, G10 colors, and a very nice ambidextrous, strong, and fidget friendly lock system. It's hard for me to tell too, at this moment in time. Just what this will do to my G10 knife buying habits. From this point forward, how can I not help but to shake my head, every time I see another G10 knife? I'm sure I'll keep buying and collecting, but most purchasing now, will probably get pushed towards Ti knives. : - )
Keeping my grey Griptillian with black Spydie-style sheepsfoot 20CV blade with blue liners and stand-offs. ...but the Super Freek is really cool looking....like it a lot! 👍
FYI if you specify to Benchmade when asking for spare clips that you'd like a black oxide coated deep carry clip, they do make those and will give you one. I like that finish more as well.
Thanks for getting this out so quick! Both knives are great, so either would be a correct choice IMO. Or you can do what I’m doing and just get both! Thanks for putting in the time to get this out to us!
This is a really good video. The work is very much appreciated. I love the DR Hogue. I really like the blade shape and the grind LOOKS to be slightly taller to me. I BOUGHT the Freek because I also love the blade shape, the coating is amazingly durable and finish is very nice looking (though I would rarely go for a finished), it's my first M4 and I love the entirety of the look better (slightly) than the Hogue...kinda.😉 It's strange because they're so similar but worlds apart at the same time to me. Apples and oranges per se. I would LOVE to have both. The DR Hogue may just be my next piece. Totally justifiable to have both to me. Again, thanks for the great content, Marc
I was just about to order one off of White Mountain Knives using your code (10% off brings it down to $171) only to see the dreaded out of stock. That's 2 knives you've made me fall in love with recently that I have to wait for (Doug Ritter RSK being the other 1).
Got my RSK MK1-G2 today too. Ordered it right after viewing LTK's review. I like the "Sure Freak" too. That black and red is a great color combo. I'd have to save up for it. Thought the RSK was a great bargain. Hogue producing it was another reason for me. Hogue has some great models that I love. My X5 is a favorite of mine.
The centering on mine was not fixable. I tried all the tricks nothing worked. I actually believe it was the grind. The last inch of the blade almost looked bent. I placed the blade on a straight edge and the tip wasn’t touching. I contacted smkw and sent it back for another. It just arrived back there fri and they refunded my shipping costs so I’m expecting another one this week hopefully. Hopefully I receive a good example this time 👏🏻
I just got the superfreek. I don't have the Ritter. The freek is my all round favorite knife for general use right now. The spydiechef is my favorite for wet and kitchen use. The handle is a little slick. My lock stick resolved in just a few days. It is well centered. I actually like the clip in this case, as it pulls more easily from my pocket. I too like the coating, because well, why not? Why not the extra layer of protection, and it looks cool. Can someone confirm that the Axis lock bar is also Cerakote?
I want a mini houge Ritter without the sunburst pattern. Or a mini super freek with a non coated blade. In that order. Is that to much to ask? Probably...
I agree with you. I liked the Doug Ritter from the moment LTK showed it and I even offered to buy it from him but he said it was taken. I really like the super freek especially if you complete it and get the red thumb stud.
I brought a Super Freek today. Not sure if it will get through Customs in the UK. These knives are perfectly legal to own in the UK but Customs are always on a power trip 😒
At least it's Cerakote, should still take some nice character even though I do prefer patina to coatings. On the note of steel M4 > M390 all day, every day. Mine lock was only sticky for maybe 2 days so it goes away quickly. I'm not a huge benchmade fan but the super freek will stay for the foreseeable future.
Good Job on a Great Review! I’ve reordered a Knife Work’s Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 G2 (after canceling an October 2018 order). The Benchmade Super Freek looks like an excellent knife, too.
Great reviews! Love my Ritter RSK and my blade is centered on this one. Can’t really find anything I don’t like about it out of the gate and like everything about it . Love the almost hydraulic action but that’s just a preference . I also don’t like the slappy actions on the BM but just a personal preference.
I'm still waiting on my Rsk, looking forward to getting it any time now. I really like the G10 on the new Super Freek. I will be getting the mini when it comes out, assuming that will be next.
#sliceydicey I picked the Houge comes in Tuesday. I pained over this decision for a while. It came down to price and my overall disappointment in Benchmade charging for deep carry clips now.
I would go with the super freek over the Ritter toilet seat seriously though both are nice how would you say your Ritter is heat treated and the super freek isn’t exactly Bryan spec lol
I just got a Hogue Ritter yesterday, it too has an off-centered blade. Not touching anything, so I guess it's ok. But the deal killer for me are the ergos and grind. No matter how I hold it the clip creates a hot spot, and the sharp edges on the lock and thumb studs are annoyingly painful. As for the grind, the bevel is barely visible on the first part of the blade, then gets huge towards the tip. Haven't seen that in anyone else's example, and all these issues mean I'll likely return it.
I got mine yesterday too and the grind is just as you described with the lower part of the blade barely ground. The two sides of the tip don't match each other. There are scratches above the mirror finish of the grind. It is, however, super sharp and I'll keep it. Maybe future sharpening will improve the aesthetics. My blade is perfectly centered and the clip doesn't bother me.
Wow, that's crazy! Guess the same guy sharpened our blades :) Mine is pretty sharp as well, but not as sharp as a typical Spyderco out of the box. Really going back and forth on whether to keep it. How's the centering on yours? And does the clip create any hot spots?
Not true on BM giving a free deep carry clip. I tried for my super freek, was told I would have to pay for it. The stock clip they would send free, however.
I just got my Doug Ritter RSK MK1-G2 in the mail today from KnifeWorks. The pocket clip on my knife was perfectly fine, actually really good. The tension of the pocket clip on my RSK MK1-G2 it was spot on. Also I dodn't think the texturing of the G10 handle that's directly under the the pocket clip is aggressive at all like how your talking about it. My RSK MK1-G2 easily clipped onto and pulled off my pants pocket without snagging or sandpapering/damaging my pants at all!!! maybe your exact RSK MK1-G2 was slightly machined differently and has rougher texturing, because I'm not having that same issue with mine. I think the texturing under the pocket clip on mine is just fine!!!
Gotta go with the examples that I have, mate. It pulls in and out fine, but often brings some fuzz with it. It's not horrible, but isn't as nice as the Benchmade.
@@SliceyDicey Personally I think that with the regular Griptilian the texturing on those plastic handle scales that's directly under the pocket clip on it is significantly worse than the texturing that's directly under the pocket clip on the milled handle of the Ritter RSK MK1-G2!!!
Maybe there are differences in production runs, but the texture on my RSK was so aggressive I was worried it was going to rip my pants. 5 minutes with some 400 grit sandpaper (including the time to take off and replace the clip) and now it's perfect. Probably my favorite current EDC.
I have the super Freek and want a Ritter Hogue but I noticed the thumb studs on the Ritter are located further back. Does it still deploy as easily as the Freek?
Nope . They'll still send you up to 5 replacement clips each year. After that it's an additional $5. It's because people take advantage of the free clips and screws. That's probably why they charged you.
I have an opportunity for a great deal on a spyderco maxamet steel knife (under $180) what do you think? I could get s110 for $15 cheaper. What’s your take on the steel? I tie this in as I was shopping around for a Ritter m390) for @ 155.
Just say it, the Freek is a straight up rip off of Doug Ritter’s blade design. Nobody’s shy about calling out Chinese manufacturers when they rip off established designs, but I think it’s even a bigger deal when an American company resorts to copying a design! Shame on Benchmade!
I think it's infinitely more complex than that. Like I said, the RSK still has a handle extremely similar to the Grip and the Freek has the same blade as the Ritter Grip. No one seems to be suing each other and he did work for them.
Why would anyone buy the Benchmade Freek. Benchmade told Ritter "Surprise! We are no longer going to manufacture one of our best selling knives, goodbye." Then they turned around and "designed" the Freek blade to take the place of the Ritter. They look almost exactly alike. Coincidence? What am I missing? Is the Freek not a cheap copy of the Ritter blade?
Benchmade is quite firmly anti-2nd amendment so I sold all of mine and will never return. The Ritter supports Knife Rights and that’s something we should all get behind. Great review as always.
Hate the g10 design on the Benchmade and colored backspacers, liners and other parts Benchmade continues to use. I find it gimmicky and tacky. About as bad as the hard use fad, with super thick blade stock.
All things considered... The BIGGEST overall factor for me is the fact that BM supports anti-gun/anti 2A leftist gun grabbing politicians... Everything else in this video concerning BM means nothing to me and I only watched to get information on the RSK Mk1-G2... Thanks for that SD...
Understood. I've more than covered my feelings on the Benchmade thing. I'll still be reviewing them in the future, but no hard feelings to people who feel that way. There's a full review of the RSK linked at the end of this video.
I hear you @@SliceyDicey and and I understand your position. This country is facing some really big challenges now and we all have to decide what's best and where to take a stand. This is your channel and you are the one to decide what your content will cover and what it won't, and so I will refrain from making comments on this subject in the future. I am new to the knife world (as a collector anyway) and I appreciate the information that you will provide. It is my hope that you will continue to have the ability to present your views in this format because IMO, if we the people are not vigilant, someday that freedom may no longer exist and you or any other reviewer for that matter will lose their voice, all one has to do is look across the sea to our brethren in the UK who have lost much, even the ability to own and carry knives as they chose. In this country our God given rights to speak freely and defend ourselves are on a slippery slope SD and the ride down is real. Thanks for responding to my post, I wish you all the best.
Hey @@SliceyDicey, I just came across this video which supports my statements on the slippery slope of knives and the potential of future banning. This is happening in the UK at the moment but considering the mentality of our typical leftist here in the states, I would not be to surprised if we are not far behind. Food for thought SD... Take care and all the best. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C671USK8Ozo.html
@@ex-subsailor3480 What are you talking about, white men and drama! The country has never been more prosperous, no not everyone will be rich it’s a meritocracy after all. Put your head down and work no one owes you shit.
Benchmade deep carry clips don't grip as tight as the standard clip. I like it just how it is, and the Super Freek is one of my all-time favorite knives. Locks up like a tank, which is rare for Benchmade. Someone is selling them new for $151.00 on Ebay right now.