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 Steel Sahlute fellow steel brothers and sistuhs!

 

Man the battle stations of the Steel Sahlute Enterprise!  All hands on deck and accounted for as I introduce this Star Trekky stlye knife.  Remember how slick the Star Trek Communicator was?  Just a flip, and Captain Kirk was magically connected to his crew?  So advanced.  So far ahead of it’s time.  So futuristic! So dad-gum cool.   

Introducing the Famars Lama pinless, double action, sidelock knife, automatic, just squeeze and wuh-tesh, you’ve engaged the blade.

 



Like you, I had not previously heard of Famars.  I had no clue who they were or what they made.  Heck, I had no idea they made anything.  I promise you though, you won’t soon forget about this knife.

Details:

Made in USA!   All parts are produced here in the US and hand assembled!
Model – LAMA
Action: Automatic, pinless sidelock knife
Blades: Satin finish, Standard & Tanto blade, 154CM Steel (Definition taken from Benchmade.com: 154CM: An American made premium grade stainless steel originally developed for tough industrial applications. Known for its best all-around qualities, it offers great corrosion resistance with good toughness and edge quality).
Handle: anodized Aluminum, Maple Burl wood inlay. Hand cut


The TripleF: Fit, Finish & Functionality – 10.0
Smooth.  Sleek.  Refined.  Flawless. Impeccable.  Can I find any other words in my Thesaurus for perfect?  Not surprisingly, your natural inclination is to press the flush-set button to watch the knife bolt into the open, ready-to-cut position.  Oh, that is just too cool you think, so you repeat the process, not once but hundreds and hundreds of times.  And that’s just the first day.
 

As a knife reviewer, my intention was to see if I could make the knife malfunction.  Hasn’t happened yet. 

My brother in-laws couldn’t get enough either.   

 




Accessibility – 9.9
WOW, I hate to bump this down off of the prefect scale for one-tenth of a demerit, especially when this may very well be the easiest one-hand opening knife ever!  All that is required to bring forth the blade is thought….ok, not really, but a medium amount of squeeze from your thumb on the flush-set button and whopa……out comes shoots the blade.
 

The only drawback as far as scoring the accessibility factor is concerned is it has no clip.  That means to access the knife, you have to reach into your front or back pocket to extract it. I understand that’s a personal preference, but you know, when I grade on accessibility I want perfection and ease. 

 

 

Collectibility – 10.0
As I stated in my last review, anytime you pause and ponder – should I REALLY carry this knife, or should I just put it in the back of the sock drawer, scores the knife an automatic 10 on the Richter scale of collectibles knives.   Lest, I forget mentioning that these knives come handled in a variety of exotic materials.  No sir, nothing common for Famars knives.

Maybe you’d like your Famars Lama handled in brown fresh water shark, or rust elephant, blue ostrich, or black and white lizard…..or some sort of exotic wood.  Those are just small samplings of the offerings from Famars knife creations.  And, then, there’s the option of Damascus blades, and engravings.  Good lord have mercy!



Combine these options with a top-notch gift case, inside of a specially hand-crafted, made in the USA (putting a half dozen American workers back to work) gift box and a letter of authenticity and…….

Knife collectability has reached a new steel warp speed! 

Final Steel Sahlute Score = 9.97 Steel Sahlutes!


Mega Steel Sahlute to Steve “Hog” Hanner at
www.iKnifecollector.com for recommending the folks at Famars contact me to review this knife.  The marketing dude for www.famars.com , Tim Ross, fired me off an e-mail and here we are. 



Scott Rauber

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Well, after watching the video, "neat" is the first thing I think of. A very cool little knife and packaged very well, (I love packaging). But, I have to question the overall cost of such a knife. 

Knives that function like that, such as assisted open, or switchblades never function that well when they are dirty, or gritty from work. I used a Kershaw leek at work more than a few times and I had to make sure not to get it coated in dust. Now, when I lay down three big bills for a knife, I want it to work dry, dirty, wet and in between, but I don't see this knife functioning in those conditions. But, this knife is obviously not made for a day on the farm, or even one in the hunting field for that matter.

This is not mean't to be a shot on the review, it's not. I really do appreciate them, especially in a case like this, I would have never known about this company, or that it was an assisted open.

Now, I do have to question who this is geared towards, if it is indeed a true Switchblade. The rules would prevent it's sale legally and it couldn't be carried, but yet, it's origin is USA?

Maybe they have a loophole?

Aslo, Scott, I know I already mention the Kershaw leek and it's lack of functioning in gritty weather, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. It's got the clip and it's assisted open and a really cool thing is the safety that they have. Awesome knives and fun for when I was into that kind of thing. Check 'em out. 

Hi AG,

No hidden cell phone...yet!!!  But the retail on the knife is $499.00 and we offer around 20 different inlay at that price.  We currently offer them for sale online and in quality retailers across the country.  We are proud to me made in the USA and we employ folks from RI to hand assemble.  Giving back is important to us.

Tim

A. G. Russell said:

Reading this review I expected the knife to contain, at the very least a cell phone and GPS. and to have a modest cost.  Alas, no cost was shown and by the end of the review no mention of the super compact cell phone and GPS.  Just a nice knife with great steel.   Was the cutting ability tested?  What did the knife reviewed cost?

Hi Alexander,

I appreciate your comments and can address your concerns about how our knife is built.  First off we only use the best materials we can source and that are appropriate for our knife.  The knives are machined in the USA to a strict tolerance to ensure quality along with the fact we don't use cheap washers like our competitors.  When one of our knives is hand assembled it's tested and must pass strict inspection.  There is nothing "shoddy" about our knives.  Also, don't discount over 50 years of hand making the finest shotguns in the world.  When you spend that much time understanding what it means to be truly "bespoke" and mastering that craft its easy to understand why we couldn't sell an inferior product.  Nothing we do is cheap. As for making an "extra buck," we would make these in China like our competition.  It's not our way.  

Thanks again for your feedback.
Tim 

Alexander Noot said:

Something doesn't have to be used in a gunfight to break. Simple age might take care of that. Glues have a half life....simple as that.

I'm not bashing the knife really I'm not. All I'm saying is that you're paying a LOT of money for something that seems structurally inferior. It's one of those things that I'm sure is lovely for the shotgun lover with a lot of cash to blow....but for the knife-only lover this piece is a little gimmicky. Mr. A.G. Russell summed it up pretty well. Considering the review that was given (9,97 points overall!!) I'd also expect a little more than what was shown and what I could find out.

Then again.....if you spend a lot of money on a shotgun....maybe you don't mind spending a lot of money on a matching knife.

"Gentleman's knife" is no excuse for a shoddy build....especially not at that price point. Take a look at William Henry knives. Same kinds of price point, probably aimed towards the same audiences. Yet the construction and materials are top of the line. As they should be. Not that I'm saying that the build IS shoddy or that it won't hold up. I'm just speculating based on the info I have. I might be very wrong and that they use some kind of highly innovative system to pin the stuff that still allows it to have excellent strength whilst not showing anything. What do I know? I've only seen pictures.

Also, I'm not condemning the company for wanting to make an extra buck. Merely stating that knives aren't their known expertise. But maybe knives are simple after building guns for so many years.

Hi Steve,

To answer a couple of your questions:

  • On some blades we engrave USA or Made in the USA.  Aesthetically we feel that our blades should have clean lines, but we have discussed engraving all the blades in the future.
  • The body of our Lama and Piccolo are machined to precise tolerance, not molded.  It's because of the precision work that we can guarantee quality.  Our pinless design is patent pending and proprietary, but we offer a lifetime guarantee and a COA on all parts.
  • We make all models as Switchblade, Spring Assist, or Manual.  We don't mass produce our knives so it's allows us the ability to customize the action and the blades.    


Steve"Hog"Hanner said:

Some questions coming via email:

Does this knife have USA on its blade or anywhere on the knife.

Interesting no pin bolster knife....would be nice to know the internal molding of the metal that holds the blade in place without the pin...

Is it considered a switch blade as it appears....because many states have mandates against them, or pending right now...

Steve,

It was my pleasure.  I truly enjoy being a member of the site.  Many of my friends have joined sinceIi've told them about Iknife.   The people are great.  Thanks for the introduction to Scott.  And Scott, thank you for the review!  I'm glad you are a fan!!  

Sincerely,

Tim

Steve"Hog"Hanner said:

Thank you Scott, its a great review and my thanks to Tim for providing us a look at another USA made knife.  I ask anyone who get a chance to look at this review or this knife, tell a friend!

Hi Ron,

I make a spring assist version if you would like to own a Lama or Piccolo.  I can even make a manual version.  Just let me know.

Tim

Ron"TUNA"Dumeah said:

Great review Scott, I wish I could just touch the knife. I am sad to say as a Canadian we are not allowed by law to have switch blades. BUT I can dream though your wonderful review. Thank you.   

iKC Members:

This is what is great about our country.  There is something for everyone (knives) in every price range.  I personally own over 200 knives of all kinds.  Now....what person can use 200 knives?  Ten percent of those knives are various brands of Boy scout knives.  Another twenty percent are auto knives.  Many of my knives are very expensive.  My insured value of my knife collection is $25,000.  I just know many of you have many more knives than I do.  A question will come to mind on just how many knives are too many?  My answer is....when I have to buy a bigger house to hold them is when I draw the line.  LOL! 

Now if I am the type of person who values quality and desire to own just one of the best then $500 for one top of the line pocket knife is not bad.  Look at it like this.....200 pocket knives which cost $25,000 or one high quality unique pocket knife at $500 which can be handed down for many generations.  When it is my time to go code 3 to the big squad room in the hereafter, my knife collection will most likely be sold off in one lot.  If I was to only have this one very special quality knife I carried and used, it would be passed on to my Son.  My Son then would pass it on to his child or grandchildren with the stories of how Grandpa cleaned this big trout he caught and how I used it from day to day.

My Dad who is 88 years old, worked in the oilfields all his life.  He carried a pocket knife, the only pocket knife he owned, everyday...day in and day out.  He did everything from cutting, scraping and even some prying.  My Dad now owns four pocket knives all of which I gave him.  Even though he has four pocket knives he has carried the same small knife for the last twenty five years.  This is why he has only four pocket knives, as I figured out he will only carry this one knife.  This inexpensive pocket knife will be passed down from generation to generation with a story of how Great, Great Granddad Thompson carried this knife and how it was used. 

The Famars knife could just be the one special knife your Great, Great Grandson will cherish and pass on to his child with a story how Great, Great Grandpa carried and used this quality tool.

Magna Steel Sahlute Clint!  Here! Here!

Well said...and can we get Scott to give your dad a steel salute for making it to 88!  

Clint Thompson said:

iKC Members:

This is what is great about our country.  There is something for everyone (knives) in every price range.  I personally own over 200 knives of all kinds.  Now....what person can use 200 knives?  Ten percent of those knives are various brands of Boy scout knives.  Another twenty percent are auto knives.  Many of my knives are very expensive.  My insured value of my knife collection is $25,000.  I just know many of you have many more knives than I do.  A question will come to mind on just how many knives are too many?  My answer is....when I have to buy a bigger house to hold them is when I draw the line.  LOL! 

Now if I am the type of person who values quality and desire to own just one of the best then $500 for one top of the line pocket knife is not bad.  Look at it like this.....200 pocket knives which cost $25,000 or one high quality unique pocket knife at $500 which can be handed down for many generations.  When it is my time to go code 3 to the big squad room in the hereafter, my knife collection will most likely be sold off in one lot.  If I was to only have this one very special quality knife I carried and used, it would be passed on to my Son.  My Son then would pass it on to his child or grandchildren with the stories of how Grandpa cleaned this big trout he caught and how I used it from day to day.

My Dad who is 88 years old, worked in the oilfields all his life.  He carried a pocket knife, the only pocket knife he owned, everyday...day in and day out.  He did everything from cutting, scraping and even some prying.  My Dad now owns four pocket knives all of which I gave him.  Even though he has four pocket knives he has carried the same small knife for the last twenty five years.  This is why he has only four pocket knives, as I figured out he will only carry this one knife.  This inexpensive pocket knife will be passed down from generation to generation with a story of how Great, Great Granddad Thompson carried this knife and how it was used. 

The Famars knife could just be the one special knife your Great, Great Grandson will cherish and pass on to his child with a story how Great, Great Grandpa carried and used this quality tool.

Thank you Scott for your review ; it is definately KOOL. Even cooler because it is USA made.

The price of this knife for someone that can afford it, is not bad if they want this kind of knife in their collection. On the other hand this style knife, whether you can afford it or not may not be for everyone. It doesn't fall into any group that I collect or use. I can see a following of auto assist and switch blade collectors go wild over it, though. I agree with Clint, "something for everyone", some like it hot and some like it cold.lol

Pray tell what happened to the reply that Iput up.Here for a bit ,and now gone. Humm.....

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