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I do sometimes prefer flipping this over my other higher end knives, mostly because of its weight. Parts are available unlike other companies. It's price still get you something to work with that is made in America. It has a neutral and slightly handle bias balance on a light knife. use pivot barrels for the spacers instead of tapping directly into the spacer. either change the blade style to something more reminiscent of a blade, or add something to one side to distinguish the bite and safe sides. Things I personally would change from stock. The threaded type of tang pins are inherently inferior to the press fit pins, and this trainer makes that statement true.(one had a clean snap from a drop to concrete) I would give them more props if Bear and Son's website worked enough for me to buy their spare hardware and tang pins, but alas the website sucks for purchases, as I want it to go to a PO Box. This trainer of mine has received hours upon hours of abuse and drops on concrete everyday at work(6+ hours a day). It went from zero to hero with the bushings. This trainer is awesome with bushings even untuned. I modded mine to accept 316 stainless bushings.
![critical ops trainer critical ops trainer](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wmWw_p_R-1o/maxresdefault.jpg)
However, if you take it apart an refinish the handles, you improve it a lot.
![critical ops trainer critical ops trainer](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i0KzFfqxwiA/hqdefault.jpg)
I'll still keep flipping it but it'll be inevitable that the handles will break :( Wondering if others are experiencing the same thing?Īs it is stock, I would give it 2 stars as there is better out there and it was just not that great. I cant complain tho i love this thing and have no fear of droppin' it - it's a true beater trainer.Įdit: i've been flipping this a ton for the past three weeks and the G10 handles around the pivot are starting to grind away :( i can see why some steel liners can help prevent this from happening. A few drawbacks straight from the box are: 1) a bit stiff - had to oil it and flip it a while to loosen up, 2) not the best QC - tang pin is a bit marred but functional on my copy. I don't get a second look at work when i'm flipping this. Secondly, it looks a LOT more tame than some of the other trainers. Though it is 2 to 3 times the cost of some of those, it survives a whole lot better from drops onto concrete floors and extended flipping (my CCC trainers lasted two days at most before it starts getting a lot of bladeplay/tang pin issues). This trainer is a lot better than CCC trainers you get from amazon.