One thing to note: North Arm has told me that the blade rock is fixed in later production. More importantly, a trusted buddy of mine received one he ordered last week, and his is 100% solid when closed, and another viewer confirmed the same for one received last week. So, the “bad” just got a bit less bad. Well done, North Arm!
I just got mine the g10 feels great very nicely done flips very hard with the square detent. The only problem I have is the amount of slop in in the detent hole on the blade I'd assume. But the knife is very thin behind the edge it's a grate slicer came really sharp. Overall I'm happy. O one other thing the flipper works really good but when open I don't like how it makes you grip the knife.
You can get most them to click or tap if you shake it hard enough (just a little, not nearly as much as Nick's). This is the lock bar actually deflecting a tiny bit and allowing the blade to start opening and then coming back against the stop pin. We have two tests that make up our standard for this aspect of the knife. First, it shouldn't tap with light shaking, about the same shaking effort that nick used in the video. Second, the flipper tab should be touching the stop pin in the "rest position", in other other words, when closed the blade shouldn't move if you push on the spine. Hope that helps!
Nick, you've done it again. Copied from their website: The Skaha is on back-order at the moment. We’ve experienced a spike in orders since Nick Shabazz released his maintenance video. We’re working hard to fill orders in a timely manner. We’re expecting to ship any back orders within about 2 weeks of the order date. Thank you for your patience!
Small business dilemma. You want growth, but too much as once is not good as people lose patience and go elsewhere. Hope these guys have a good way to ramp production or deal with a big demand bubble.
the back order went from 2 weeks on saturday afternoon, to 5 weeks yesterday, to 6 weeks this morning, and currently 9 weeks. if anyone wants one, place your order now! i've seen this before, they are going to close orders soon
As a Canadian (from B.C. too!), I must say, it gives me the warm-fuzzies to hear Nick sing some pretty high praises for this pocket knife from a small family-owned Canadian business in my neck of the woods. Keep up the good work Nick and North Arm Knives!
What a small world. I bought a pocket knife a month ago, a Chaparral knowing nothing about knives. I then discovered your channel and have learned a ton over the past month. Like the fact that this knife is made by a company that is a block away from me here in Vancouver. I just ordered one a few minutes ago and noticed that they have a notice saying that because of your channel the wait is now 4 weeks. Keep on doing this, excellent learning opportunities for some of us.
Great review. I have one on the way. I can add a little to your review even before I get my Skaha in my hand haha. The team at NorthArms has great customer service. I've ordered more knives through the years than I want to admit (wife may read this). John at NorthArms has been as helpful as any knife maker or company I've purchased from, and far better than most. It's refreshing to order a knife and feel that your purchase was appreciated. I'm done with begging big names to take my money and then waiting around for weeks or months for them to get around to sending me the product I already paid three times too much for, all while giving me the silent treatment. I much prefer to support a business that appreciates their customers. Thanks again, Nick! You are always a gem.
I love the review and I ordered one after watching the disassembly video. I tried to order the Tan G10 as in the video but there were all gone and I was told they would not be made again so I ordered a purple one. Then I received an email from the owner, Mike, stating that there was such a demand because of Nick's video for the Tan ones that the company decided to make them again and I could change my order to include a Tan G10. Can't wait!
Great review!!! I live in BC about 30 minutes from North Arm's office. I bought 2 fixed blades from them last November and love them!!! Great quality and decent price range. I looked at the Skaha last November but couldn't pull the trigger for all 3... going to get one soon though!
Have one and agree with your review. Glad you reviewed this one - I was starting to think I was missing something since there seemed to be no reviews. Can confirm that mine is an excellent flipper. I will often flip it just for the sake of flipping it. Clip is not my favorite part of the knife. It's perfectly usable but I prefer deep carry. On the pry issue to disassemble, very minor given how easily it goes back together with no issues. It's a no-brainer to assemble. I didn't notice the maraca issue and probably never would have. Glad you called that out. Have to agree on the pecker flipper tab. Could be better. When I first got mine I wasn't overly impressed. I questioned using a knife that's really just scales. Where's the frame? It seemed too light. After carrying it I'm questioning why my other knives are so heavy and why I need all the extra metal. Even more impressive to me since this is their first flipper. Eager to see what else they'll do. This has displaced most of my other knives for EDC - it's a pleasure to carry and I really enjoy using it.
Nick, needed to thank you for a small but special gift under the tree for me today -- my own Skaha. After watching your review the first time, I put it on my wish list! The action is as you describe -- incredible. You may be happy to know that mine at least has no blade shake and the "pocket pecker" seems more chamfered than the one you reviewed here.
I can see why they're back ordered! Probably need to add this one to my Christmas list! BTW, glad to you made a comment about the glove; for a moment there I thought you were channeling Michael Jackson -- just lost some sparkle in the translation -)
Finally got my Skaha today! Very happy 😊! It has a very hard detent, I am pleasantly surprised. It flips like a rocket right out of the box, light weight and the g10 is contoured perfectly. Also, sharp out of the box. They sent it out the 11th and I just got it today, took twelve days. Thanks Nick! Oh yea, no blade rock.
I have a Skaha ll in blue. It's a safe queen, and has only been flipped a few times. I waited for this what seemed like forever, but just before I received it I took a stroke, and have a FEW knives to sell, which are all in great shape. My Skaha has som Blade bounce when the blade is allowed to close free fall. I suppose it doesn't ? hurt it but IU do worry that it may dull on the tip.
I'm curious to experience an action like this. I have a well-broken in ZT0452 and I don't understand how this or the Norseman could top it.. once my thumb is off the lockbar, it drops shut without any further assistance.
I love the full flat grind, most knife makers are going nuts on recurves and compound grinds with giant flats and almost no cutting surface. Their kitchen knives look compelling too. We need more random jackasses building knives. BTW, I'm a southpaw but just carry right because that's reality. Why switch when it will only be a fraction of the knives?
Update: North Arm was supposed to be accepting new orders for the Skaha today. The website crashed from too much traffic in seconds. The Shabazz effect. ;)
What's the deal with Canucks and CNC knife excellence? No blue handle scale option? Well, they might as well be on backorder then! (harrumph!) (sigh) I guess I could go for ANOTHER black handled knife. I just ain't ready for the Geiger-counter green or Ikea Paring-knife orange yet.
CSGraves, contact them! If their knife becomes popular it couldn't be that much of a deal to make other colors of G10. CF however is a whole different can of worms. You could always get the light tan and do the Rit Dye thing...
You can't resist horseing around can you lol . I hope they're ready for a Tsunami of orders now that they've hit Gem status . Maybe they'll send you their next prototype folder for a secret review .
mountainhobo this would be an interesting test. Of course it would be different depending on the blade geometry tho. I have a blade with these cnc pattern on it, I may try this one day. Cut an apple and then some cheese. Etc. The knife I am referring to that I have is a rubins titanium and tools, rune.
Charles R I inquired about carbon fiber and it looks promising that they will eventually be offering carbon fiber. They didn't say it was for sure but most likely. Due to that they didn't give any eta.
Sir Galath most of my collection is over $200+ only a few over $400 after buying some really crappy or just low quality knives below $150 I changed my habits. Started to save more and buy knives that were worth it.
Cody Moore You can close it without the bounce by holding it upright, tilting it in the blade direction (by that I actually mean the edge direction), disengaging the backstrap with your index finger (don't press on the spine; just let the blade fall), then quickly returning the backstrap to the locked position while the blade falls. I haven't had it damage the locking mechanism and I can't imagine how it would do any harm but it's not the Kosher method from manual (neither is Nick's or the Apostle P's) and I'm no engineer or knife expert.
Crazy how similar this knife is an many ways to the Kizer Gemini yet is a gem where the Gemini is a miss. I do not understand how you come to the conclusions that you do. A lot of inconsistency in your reviews of late.
I felt the same thing. I haven't handled a north arms but do have a Norseman headed my way so I hope I can understand the action more clearly. I have 2 Gemini knives and think the world of them. never left my pocket until I started carrying my sebenza and still I love coming back to the Gemini. the G10, liner lock and pocket clip are harder for me to swallow than the incredible action and at a price point similar to he Gemini I will stick with it. maybe someday I can get my hands on a north arms and it will completely change my mind. but we will see
tell you what though, the nick: if you live somewhere with 77% average humidity (afternoon) and quite near the coast like i do, any indentations, pits, cnc-lines, stonewashes... anything other than a >600grit satin polish on the blade, and your knife will self-destruct in about 6 months. verified with stonewashed s30v.
Jordan Ownbey well, maybe 600 grit's a bit off the mark. that'd be a pretty shiny finish. 300 grit might be more accurate. but yeah, there're places where you don't wanna have any little hidey-holes on your blades where the salt in the air can nestle.
Wish the company would invest in a good custom typography designer to redo their logotype. The current version is butt ugly - bland font and bad kerning made worse by the curved path.
