Mike Obenauf Small Model 2 Custom

Reviewed by corwin99 on October 28th, 2008

This is a customized Model 2 Framelock from the now defunct Mike Obenauf. Though this knife is extremely similar to the other Model 2 framelock I reviewed last year, I felt that I should review it partly because Mike has also retired from knifemaking, and this peice is rather unique.

This is supposedly one of Mike’s earlier Model 2 framelocks, with a somewhat unique G-10 overlay on top of the already substantially thick Titanium Frame. The G-10 is a Blue and Black composite, which gives the knife a nice healthy feel in your palm than you don’t get with the standard framelock.

It really is a shame that Mike is no longer making knives, and the debris he left in his wake is unfortunate. However, his knives are truly well made, much like his former father-in-law Kit Carson. Backspacer is a 3/4 length G-10 peice, much nicer than spacers in my opinion.

Blade steel is the venerable S30V, bead blasted to perfection with a nice deep hollow grind. This knife is more or less the same as the standard Small Model 2 Framelock aside from the G-10 overlays. So maybe one day Mr. Obenauf will return to knifemaking, because he did make some very good knives. This is an example of his excellent workmanship, and considering the price of his knives, they were a bargain.

Specs:
Blade Length: 3 1/8?
Overall Length: 7 1/4?
Blade Steel: S30V
Handle Material: Titanium with G10 Overlays

Other Related Knife Reviews:

1. Mike Obenauf Small Model 2 Carbon Fiber
2. Mike Obenauf Small Model 2 Framelock
3. Mike Irie Pearl and Damascus Knife
4. Chris Reeve Small Micarta Sebenza
5. John Barker Custom Hawksbill Knife

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