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This Beast is Fearsome
I recently took ownership of a Three Sisters Forge “Beast”. This company is literally a one-man operation run by James Allen who also makes the knives. The knives can be purchased with the titanium frame and standard processing, the addition of cerakote finishing, or with a damascus blade. The latter two add considerable cost to the basic knife. It is available in olive drab, gray, red, orange, and black. I got the olive drab with a black blade (cerakote finish). The standard blade is stonewashed.
The Beast is a medium sized, hard use tactical knife that I think is extremely tough and rugged. I opted for the cerakote finish; therefore this review is indicative of a Beast with this rugged finish. I intend to make this my EDC for a long time, and I want the appearance to hold up. My first impression was this is a no nonsense, nothing fancy knife, but very rugged. It is not plastered at all with lettering, knife steel spec., etc. There is one black laser etched label adjacent to the pocket clip showing their three mountain icon along with the words “Three Sisters Forge LLC”. (Very tastefully done) There are no other markings to even identify the year it was fabricated. Being made with titanium handles and the cerakote finish, this knife could be around for many decades if not centuries. Made me wonder how someone could tell how old it is (perhaps the icon would do it?) The only feature that one might consider fancy is the great grip pattern machined on the knife front face, and I think it is especially handsome. This feature I like a lot because it is very grippy, while at the same time, it doesn’t feel like it is going to rip off your skin or wear a hole in your pocket. This grip pattern was made by some kind of proprietary water jet cutting process that I’m not sure I understand. All edges are nicely finished and don’t feel sharp.
Some of the details are:
- Blade Length: 3.000”
- Closed Length: 4.250”
- Blade Thickness (as I measured) 0.160” U-tube stated it was 0.192”
- Handle Thickness (as I measured) 0.125”
- Knife Weight (as I measured) 4.50 oz.
- Blade Material CPMS-35 NV cryo-stabilized
- Heat Treat Triple Tempered
- Handles Titanium
- Torx drive screws, clip, spacers Stainless Steel
The screws are nicely recessed with just a little hang out. The knife blade rides on some kind of ball bearing system and is quite smooth.
I wish I owned a Sebenza, so I could compare the Beast with this “benchmark” knife. Since the Beast does not have separate handles/frame, I would call the it a frame lock. The knife is extremely stiff due to its beefy blade and handles/frame. If I open it slowly, there is a slight indent about 20 degrees before fully opened. Upon opening it fast, I am finding it a little sluggish, but perhaps it is because it is new and/or I’m not used to it yet. At the end of a fast open is a rock solid lock-up. I mean this thing is as good a lock up as I have ever experienced. It is as good as a fixed blade. Absolutely no hint of movement or wobble what so ever, even after you load it. I would say this is one of its strengths. The indent when the blade closes is also a positive. It does not feel like it is going to open accidentally. The Blade is perfectly centered between the handles also. It is a fully open knife lending it to easy cleaning.
The blade is a shallow hollow ground blade. The shape is marvelous with a nicely designed upper edge grind running from about the halfway point to the blade end. As a stress analyst, I can tell this blade design has had some thought put into it and is well balanced structurally. It is extremely strong and would be very difficult to bend or break it. Another thing about the blade is that it came extremely sharp. I have bought many knives through the years, and I have never had a knife come with such a sharp blade. It passed the arm hair cutting test with ease, and I’m sure it would pass any other sharpness test you might throw at it.
The machining and fabricating techniques are obviously top tier. Superb machining, finishes, and I’m sure the tolerances are held extremely tight. I keep looking at it trying to find some kind of fabricating flaw; however I haven’t found any yet. It is evident to me from both this example of his work and from talking to the maker, James Allen really knows what he is doing and just wants people to enjoy his well-made knives in which he takes much pride.
The Cerakoted blade and handles are very handsome, and really add to the overall “rugged” feel. I do not have any experience with it so I cannot comment on its durability. It sure feels like it is on these components for good. Cerakote is a ceramic based paint that is more commonly used on firearms. I saw U-Tubes of its performance versus other durable paints, and it clearly was superior. (However the U-Tube was made by Cerakote Inc., so who knows if it is legit). Mr. Allen does not do this process and farms it out.
If you are looking for a solid, medium sized, heavy duty tactical that is very rugged and strong, the Beast is worth considering. It is an extremely well made, no nonsense, strong and rugged knife. Its operation is very good and is very, very sharp. Although I do not have Sebenza experience, it is hard to imagine it can be much better than the Beast, and the price is substantially less. Be careful, the Beast is fearsome.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on
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That's a very clean looking piece. Simple in it's lines while still showing extras in eyecatching appeal. The grip lines are sure to make it easy to hold on to when performing any task. The blade treatment is sure to be a worthwhile investment.
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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on
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That truly is one good looking knife. Sounds like it is as solid as its name and will indeed be with you for years to come. Thanks for sharing the beast!
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Permalink Reply by Brad T. on
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It looks to be rugged and with your personal recommendation, it is on my radar.
Great review.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on
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Thank you Stanley, it looks like a great knife. I have heard of Three Sisters Forge but this is the first time I have had the opportunity to read in depth about them. An excellent review with all the particulars. I might consider this knife at some point. Great photos as well!
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Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on
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Now you made me want one.
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Permalink Reply by Indian on
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Great job Stanley!!! on the review and photos...Congrats on a nice looking knife....good for you...
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Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on
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Excellent review Stanley! This knife looks like it should hold up well as a hard use tool. Like you, I don't own a Sebenza, either. But I do own a titanium Spyderco Military with an integral locking mechanism similar to this one. And when it's in the locked position it's darn close to having a fixed blade in your hand. Rock solid, as I'm sure this one is. I have heard nothing but good things about Three Sisters Forge and the knives they made. This certainly looks like a good one!
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on
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Very nice! I've often heard the name of this knife thrown around but never actually saw a good review for it or good pictures until now.
Looks like a serious working blade.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on
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Great review! Would love to put this side-by-side with my Zero Tolerance and see how they compare. Durn it....now I want one too!!
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Permalink Reply by Stanley May on
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Steve, I also have a ZT; it is the 0560 model, and I have to say in ways I like the ZT as well. I like the size of the Beast better for an EDC and possibly lockup. However the ZT is an equal to the beast in some ways. But because of their size difference, they are in slightly different categories. In my opinion, the operation of the ZT is just as good as the Beast. The ZT is extremely smooth for it's size. I love my ZT very much. I think if you like the ZT and it's size, and don't have the cash for the Beast, then I would say you might just stay content with the ZT. It is a really great knife and hard to beat. The comparison I would like to see is the Beast vs. the Sebenza. These two knives are roughly in the same category.
Steve Scheuerman said:Great review! Would love to put this side-by-side with my Zero Tolerance and see how they compare. Durn it....now I want one too!!
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Permalink Reply by lg&m on
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Thanks, I would love to have one someday. Sadly I don't think I can justify the $$.
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Permalink Reply by Andy Moon on
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Nice review. The "detent" you feel when opening the knife is the detent ball rolling off of the tang, and the lockbar then contacting the blade tang just before the lockbar slips off the tang and locks up.
You can slowly open the knife and look at the lockbar from the bottom to see this happening.
As the owner of many folding modern knives, I have to say the Sebenza, with it's phosphor bronze washers has been left behind as the reference standard for smoothness by ball bearing pivots, with Kershaw/ZT's "velocity technology" leading the pack in my experience.
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