Boker Subcom F

[Benner]

Just thought I'd post a few pics of my new knife.  I have been really impressed with it so far.







Couple of pics that show the clip.  Very tight but can be used as a pocket clip.





Below is a picture of the lock.  It is very tight and stiff to release ATM, but I am sure this will get easier with some use.





The knife opens very smoothly and although it is quite small, it fits nicely in the hand.  See video below;

[Spoonrobot]

Thanks for the pics and the video!

My Subcom F lock was pretty tight but it loosened up nicely after a few weeks of use.

I like the overall concept of the knife and the execution but I never really got a hang of the blade shape. Maybe because I had an early model with the 420 steel but it seemed like it would always slide out of the cut when I used it. I never really got a good feel of the cut when using it. I think a Wharncom might be more my style, it's on my list now.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Just for the record, that isn't a liner lock, it's a frame lock.  Same thing really, but the frame lock uses part of the actual frame of the knife as a locking mechanism and doesn't have a scale on the outside.  A liner lock uses a liner inside the frame or scale to perform the locking action.

Some folks insist that the frame lock is stronger since it tightens when you squeeze the knife.  I think those folks spend a little too much time inhaling paint fumes, and the difference is just a way to sell more knives since no one has come up with a fancier steel lately.

Def

[Splat]

  Dangit! I just wrote a big reply about frame locks and the Subcoms and accidentally closed the tab.  Anyway, I think frame locks are ever-so-slightly weaker than a properly executed liner lock. I'm talking quality knives here, guys, not cheap Taiwanese crap. Ever since getting into knives I've looked at many and while I'm no expert it just seems logical that a good liner lock would be stronger than a frame lock.  I like the Subcoms. Chad's got a great product there. The fixed blade Subcom is very nice, but a little small for me. I like handles I can get at least 3 of my fingers on, but's that just me. The folders have solid lockup and are crafted well. I don't see buying one in the future but I wouldn't be put-off if I had to work with one.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Nice one mate, I'm glad you decided against the serrated version

I don't think your missus will approve of you using her wedding dress as a backdrop

[Benner]

Nice one mate, I'm glad you decided against the serrated version

I don't think your missus will approve of you using her wedding dress as a backdrop

Shhhh! We've got to keep that one quiet. 

So am I.   I really like the blade shape, and it is real sharp too.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

It does look like a very useable knife , I had a chat with Chad (The designer) about wether it would be possile to make a slippey, he said he'd like to, he even asked Boker, but they said no

[Benner]

It does look like a very useable knife , I had a chat with Chad (The designer) about wether it would be possile to make a slippey, he said he'd like to, he even asked Boker, but they said no

A slippy version would be cool.  It is very useable, especially for it's size.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Dangit! I just wrote a big reply about frame locks and the Subcoms and accidentally closed the tab.  Anyway, I think frame locks are ever-so-slightly weaker than a properly executed liner lock. I'm talking quality knives here, guys, not cheap Taiwanese crap. Ever since getting into knives I've looked at many and while I'm no expert it just seems logical that a good liner lock would be stronger than a frame lock.  I like the Subcoms. Chad's got a great product there. The fixed blade Subcom is very nice, but a little small for me. I like handles I can get at least 3 of my fingers on, but's that just me. The folders have solid lockup and are crafted well. I don't see buying one in the future but I wouldn't be put-off if I had to work with one.

Yeah, but this is an industry that is very competitive and survives on equal parts of hyping your product and insinuating the other guy's may burst into flame without warning.  It's kind of depressing to see some tools going that way as well.

A good framelock IMHO is, at best, just an unfinished linerlock that the manufacturer wanted to cut the scale costs in half!

Def

[Roadie]

A good framelock IMHO is, at best, just an unfinished linerlock that the manufacturer wanted to cut the scale costs in half!
Def

That's how i've always looked at it aswell. The more i see these little Subcom's the more i want one!

[Benner]

A good framelock IMHO is, at best, just an unfinished linerlock that the manufacturer wanted to cut the scale costs in half!
Def

That's how i've always looked at it aswell. The more i see these little Subcom's the more i want one!

I can always take more pics to try and send you over the edge?   

[Roadie]

I can always take more pics to try and send you over the edge?   

Some size comparison pics would be nice to get a proper sense of the size.

[Benner]

I can always take more pics to try and send you over the edge?   

Some size comparison pics would be nice to get a proper sense of the size.

I'll get right on that tomorrow! 

[Roadie]

I can always take more pics to try and send you over the edge?   

Some size comparison pics would be nice to get a proper sense of the size.

I'll get right on that tomorrow! 

Cheers

[Benner]

I can always take more pics to try and send you over the edge?   

Some size comparison pics would be nice to get a proper sense of the size.

I'll get right on that tomorrow! 

Cheers

Anything in particular you'd like to see it with?

[Grant Lamontagne]

A relative dislike of the framelock design hasn't kept me from liking the RESCOM version that I have.  It's not a bad little knife, but probably not the best version for EDC.

The Tool Logic knife I got at the SHOT Show is a frame lock too. 

Def

[Roadie]

Anything in particular you'd like to see it with?

A quick skim through your collection..... wenger SI and your wave should suffice, ta

[Benner]

Anything in particular you'd like to see it with?

A quick skim through your collection..... wenger SI and your wave should suffice, ta

No problem. I love any excuse to photograph the SI. 

[Roadie]

Anything in particular you'd like to see it with?

A quick skim through your collection..... wenger SI and your wave should suffice, ta

No problem. I love any excuse to photograph the SI. 

Hadn't noticed

[Styerman]

Neat little knife , great for the price , The Warcom ( warncliffe version ) and warclaw are also very nice . I have a Rescom on a gear keeper tether on my tool pouch , very usefull .

IMHO a frame lock has potentially got more bearing surface on the butt of the blade than a liner . Liners can also shift more easily . Liners are very easy to screw up , I have seen some poorly executed ones on hi end knives , ie Emersons . Properly executed , either is fine . Generally , if you treat all lockers as slip joints , you wont get in any trouble .

Chris

[Benner]

Here are the comparison pics as requested. 

[Roadie]

Wow! Thats smaller than i've been imagining it, cheers for the pics! It looks like it should fit in my hand quite well, the handle looks as long as my Becker but wider so it should fill the hand a bit better.

[Benner]

Wow! Thats smaller than i've been imagining it, cheers for the pics! It looks like it should fit in my hand quite well, the handle looks as long as my Becker but wider so it should fill the hand a bit better.

I had seen many pics of it before and was still surprised at it's size when it arrived.  I think this is just one of those things you need to handle, but as we live in the good old UK, that certainly wont be happening before you purchase it.

[Benner]

BTW, anyone notice the fact that I actually have something with a lanyard attached?!    It is the only thing I can get on with with one.

[Splat]

Yeah, but this is an industry that is very competitive and survives on equal parts of hyping your product and insinuating the other guy's may burst into flame without warning.  It's kind of depressing to see some tools going that way as well.

Which is why places like Multitool.org are very important to customers as well as companies. We've got a great place here that is one of the most neutral product sites I've seen. To me, that's important.

A good framelock IMHO is, at best, just an unfinished linerlock that the manufacturer wanted to cut the scale costs in half!

I agree 199%! 

[Splat]

IMHO a frame lock has potentially got more bearing surface on the butt of the blade than a liner . Liners can also shift more easily . Liners are very easy to screw up , I have seen some poorly executed ones on hi end knives , ie Emersons . Properly executed , either is fine . Generally , if you treat all lockers as slip joints , you wont get in any trouble .

I agree liners must be properly manufactured, but I don't agree with your first sentence. Unless the frame metal itself is thicker than a comparative liner lock, and that's not always the case, I can't see how there'd be more surface area contact on a frame lock.

[Benner]

Just a quick update on the Subcom.

I have now carried this every day since I bought it and I am very happy with it.  The blade cuts really well and I am quite fond of the blade shape.  I have used it quite a lot and the blade remains sharp.

The shape is nice to hold as well.  It fits in the hand nicely and you can get a good grip on it.  It is also very easy to open one handed.

One thing I have noticed is that it is quite difficult to release the lock one handed.  This is getting easier though, so I am hoping that with a little more use this will improve.

Overall, a good little knife for the money. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Glad you still liking it mate, how big are your hand's , I've got a feeling it might be a bi to small for me

[Roadie]

Thanks for the update, i've been looking at these more and more the past week or so. I'm slightly annoyed though, they only do the Desert coloured scales on the semi serrated Subcom F, i'd love to get the Wharcom in that colour, but it would require buying two knives and i'm not up for that!

[Benner]

Glad you still liking it mate, how big are your hand's , I've got a feeling it might be a bi to small for me

Not too good on hand sizes.  Average I suppose .  The shape of it does make it easy to hold and I think even if my hands were larger it would still not bee a problem.