Hands On: The Oz Machine Co Roosevelt
Oz Machine Co Roosevelt with dark blue hardware, clip and backspacer
Fighting for a chance to purchase one, Oz Machine Co has made it to where you feel like you are winning the lottery just to have the opportunity to win one pf their knives. I have been trying for multiple drops to procure one of their sought-after knives through their lottery system to only go home empty handed every time. the limited numbers and availability make it feel oh the more special when you finally do acquire one. Their latest drop went for the more classic and more competitive approach allowing for EDC fanatics to test their quick fingers. The name of the game is how fast can i type in my credit card number? Evidently, i typed mine just a little bit faster than the average foaming mouthed knife fanatic.
Oz Machine Co have been spending their time not trying to half ass multiple things but to whole ass one thing. That one thing is their Roosevelt model. The knife has been a very custom machining experience for the first years but they have now started putting in more real production numbers as they increase to satisfy the spiking demand. This has not taken away from the quality and feel of the knife but only made it to where more people can experience the fine craftsmanship. What justifies the 700-800 dollar price tag?
This being the first time I have had one of these bad boys in hand, I didn’t know what to expect. The listing Oz Machine Co puts out for their drops are about as bare bones as it gets with their lackluster photos, completely absent specs and two lines of explanation describing their product. The underwhelming photos had me wondering whether this knife would live up to the never-ending hype that is surrounding this piece. The unboxing experience was great with their magnet sealed box with molded space for the knife itself. The placement of the all-important COA was front and center reminding you of what you are in store for. Hand written and hand signed, the COA reminds you of the thought and care that is put into every detail of this knife.
The first thing you see when opening their embossed and magnet hinge case
The Roosevelt or “Rosie” as collectors have nicknamed it, has a squared off construction with edges that look uncomfortable to the eye but somehow just work when in hand. The gentle transitions from angle to angle feels secure and despite the smooth titanium construction, will stay securely placed within your grip. The prominent finger choil allows for an underhand flick of the middle finger for deployment. I used to despise this type of deployment as it coincided with my distaste towards Spyderco designs but seeing as I have had a Spyderco as my beater EDC for years now, i have come to love it. Oz Machine Co obviously takes it to the next level as the seamless ergonomics allow for an effortless actuation. Smooth as silk is overused but I know no other way to describe the frictionless movement from closed to open. My lips curled into a smile as I said to myself “I get it!"“A part of the novelty of having a knife that doesn’t need a pry bar to open is that you forget about it. You don’t want to think about the amount of force you exert just to get your knife open, it just happens as if by some kind of magic. You want this tool to be an extension of yourself and extends it does.
The 63-64 HRC Stonewashed MagnaCut Blade
The magical and ethereal feeling doesn’t end here but continues on when you gaze upon its shining countenance. The 63-64 HRC Stonewashed MagnaCut blade stands out. Having an exceptional blade on a cutting tool is arguably the most important aspect. I didn’t do any stabbing or cutting, but this blade has an edge that could slice and dice with just a passing glance. There is zero wiggle or movement when it is locked in place. Looking at it, you would think it weighs a ton purely based on the robustness and substantiality of the materials, but alas, these Oz guys know what they are doing. The absence of weight is astonishing. You want a knife to be easy to use and maneuver to have the optimal amount of usability. Otherwise, use would be a chore as the heft would become cumbersome. The jimping that seamlessly transitions from the handle to the spine of the blade allows for a solid grip akin to that of the Sword in the Stone of Arthurian legend. You too can feel like a Knight of the Round Table wielding this piece. Anything short of the execution and detail of the Roosevelt would be more like the Knights found in Monty Python.
The Basics:
Blade Steel: 63-64 HRC MagnaCut Blade
Grind: Full flat grind
Scales: Smooth, Titanium
Lock: Framelock
Blade length: 2.9 in.
Handle length: 3.94 in.
OAL: 7.01 in.
Weight: 2.96 oz.
Country of origin: USA
Pricing & availability:
Price: $745 USD
Availability: They are pretty good about keeping specific models and details limited to specific drops. This adds to the collectability of each piece and further gives more incentive to keep coming back. That being said, they have had a lottery system that was more stress free but left the likelihood of scoring a piece up to divine intervention. More recently they have had more traditional drops but will take years off your life as you refresh and attempt to type in your credit card information before everybody else and their cousin.