Third times a charm is a common phrase we all seem to be familiar with. At Knife Informer we’ve previously reviewed the Rike Knife Thor 2 Integral (one piece handle) flipper, and really enjoyed it. It was with bated breath and a lot of patience that we waited for Rike to produce the 3^rd in a line of high-end production knives dubbed by the ‘Thor’ name.

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The Rike Knife Thor 3 folding knife is indeed an integral like the other two model variants before it, however this time Rike heavily cuts out and mills the titanium handles for both a design aesthetic, and weight purposes. Appearing similar in profile, but otherwise with an incredible industrial and modern take on the Thor design, this Rike Thor 3 is uniquely individual, and at first glance seems to be one hell of a production integral folder.

Background

Rike Knife Co. has successfully managed to grab hold of the American folding knife market over the last few years. What appeared as a new company from China only a couple of years ago, has turned legit. Rike is now a relatively well known and established company that U.S. buyers are getting increasingly comfortable with. The combination of great design, product execution, fit/finish, and reliability seem to have propelled Rike knife Co. very effectively (just as we suspected they would).

The Thor line for Rike represents one of the premium models that they offer, and is available as a limited-edition numbered release. The Thor 1 was an integral folder that pushed the boundary of what production knives are capable of producing. This was only about 2 years ago. Fast forward about 1 year from that point, and the Thor 2 emerged. Again amazingly well produced like the Thor 1 ,model that came before it, but with perhaps a bit more EDC appeal and usability.

The Thor 3 now seems poised to continue the EDC friendly aspect of the Thor 2, making it lighter, less “beautiful”, and more tactical and industrial for a user who wants to love the Thor 3 for both its looks and raw tool usability prowess and protection. It is unclear if a Thor 4 may make it to market in the future for Rike, but for certain this Rike Thor 3 is the current mantle holder for Rike Integral production knives.

Key Specs

When we poke around at the details of this knife, we find that this is a very enticing knife on paper as well as in the real-world. Though several model variations on the Thor 3 exist that modify anodization color and finish, the specs per variant are basically the same. Here are the specifications for the Rike Thor 3.

• Blade Length: 3.75″
• Overall Length: 9.0″
• Closed Length: 5.1″
• Weight: 5.4 oz
• Blade Material: M390
• Handle Material: TC4 Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $550

First Impressions

Rike knife has never had insanely flashy or particularly unique packaging. What they do have is simple, and gets the job done. We received the Rike Knife Thor 3 and unwrapped the outer packaging to reveal a simple rectangular white box. Inside the box a black semi-soft zippered pouch case entombed the knife. We unzipped the black case and caught our first glimpse of the Thor 3. Immediately we noticed the size of the knife. It is certainly a larger sized integral folder. This knife does not look demure in any way.

The next thing we noticed was the attractive cutouts on the sides and back spine of the integral titanium handle. This gives the knife a fresh and uber-modern look that can only be described as futuristic-industrial. In contrast, the color of our Thor 3 was rather traditional and looked like raw yet finished titanium grey in appearance throughout the entire knife handle scales and pocket clip.  We did notice some other Thor 3 variants online that do add a splash of color if that’s your thing.

The looks alone of this knife are extremely eye catching. It looks very different from the previous Thor models with that slight over-the-top industrial feel. Though the integral knife is generally all about the single piece handle, the Thor 3 really made its mark for us because of its blade. Looking at the blade we instantly get drawn to the partial cutout finger groove that appears to be mostly decorative and not all that functional. We could wrestle the blade out of the handle using it, but since the detent is somewhat strong, it was not an easy or even necessary task.

Once the knife opened the full unique shape and style of the 3.75-inch M390 blade steel was apparent.  The look of this bead blast and partially satin finish on the flats of the blade seemed almost Russian-futuristic style flare inspired. Regardless of how you define the blade, it is cool for sure. The Rike Knife has the looks, but we were intrigued as to how the unique blade would perform in the real world.

Feel In-Hand

Not all cool looking blades such as the Rike Thor 3 feel well placed in the hand. However, the Thor 3 did not have this problem. It feels comfortable and secure in the hand. The flipper tab sticks out a bit more compared to some, but as a result is extremely easy to open. The Thor 3 also has some very well executed jimping on the flipper tab.

The action on the knife is excellent. The blade whips right out with authority and locks-up at about 30 percent. No blade play of any kind can be seen and the frame lock is executed well. The ceramic ball bearing pivot allows the action to glide smoothly and quickly.  With the blade in the open position, the knife looks tactical, and feels it as well.

Real World Testing

Like most of our other knife tests, we carried the Thor 3 for over a week. In this case, the Thor 3 was used as the primary carry and was responsible for all cutting duties during that timeframe. We wanted to exercise several aspects of cutting scenarios in addition to our everyday carry chores to make sure we can really get a feel for the utility of the knife.  Given the style of the blade we were unsure as to whether this knife would translate to an all-around type knife or something more specific. The simple answer to that is it is sort of all-purpose and sort of not. We will expand on that shortly.

Let us first discuss general carry comfort. The Rike Thor 3 is comfortable despite the size, as it is reasonably light, and certainly a tolerable weight for an integral at about 5.45 oz. The pocket clip is not deep carry, but it does sit rather low in the pocket with only about a quarter inch sticking out the pocket. The clip also works well and slides in and out well but has plenty of retention from the 3D sculpted titanium pocket clip which happens to work very well with the knife.

Coincidentally we had a trip to the local Ikea for some bedroom furniture updating and we had tons of boxes that needed breaking down. Enter the Rike Thor 3. Yes folks, we used a 550 buck knife to cut the boxes made of corrugated board. Well, knives are meant to cut aren’t they?  We put on some work gloves and got to cutting. Well, to be honest, the knife was not the best performer in this category though we are not sure why. The knife was sharp out of the box, and had minimal use prior to the box cutting. As we cut we felt a lot of resistance against the blade. The blade was not insanely thick, but as it did have some compound grind elements it is possible that the knife got choked up as it approached the transition of the blade. We tried our best and after about 6 boxes we switched back to our fixed blade knife to finish the remaining 3 boxes.

We still had plenty of hope for the Thor 3 in the cutting department. As we moved from the garage to the backyard area, we found several more tasks for our integral folding knife. Spring cleanup meant that we needed to de-winterize and get our furniture ready for warm times in the sun. We used the Thor 3 to cut all of the twine we had used to tie down all the furniture. It made easy work of this task, cutting through with single sweeps as if the rope was swiss cheese. Clearly the knife was sharp, and could cut.

As we tried our Thor 3 knife in the kitchen we quickly realized that this knife was surprisingly well suited for light mess duty. Cuts of vegetables and even onions and tomatoes proved no match for the knife. We spared the knife from butcher tasks, but believe it would have performed very well in that role as well. Either way, the blade held up well with no signs of rust or discoloration. This is M390 after all, so we should expect solid performance and good edge retention.

What we felt the knife might be best suited for was something we did not have the ability to test. That is self-defense. The blade may be a bit short at 3.75 inches but given the shape and style of the blade, along with the handle ergonomics the Thor 3 may be a very competent defense weapon should someone have the misfortune of having to use it as such. If you are in the group of people who EDC medium-large overbuilt folding knives for self-defense then we would certainly recommend you put this knife on your comparison list.

Overall the Thor 3 performed reasonably well and was not hard to carry at all. Add to that the beauty and sheer uniqueness of the Thor 3 as a usable integral and it gets the thumbs up as a performer… just try not to cut too many boxes with it if you don’t have to.

Competitive Offerings

The Thor 3 is certainly not a cheap, impulse buy kind of knife.  At around $550 it’s certainly in the high-end production category and faces some stiff competition.

WE Knife Co. 702 Integral – Slated for a future review here at Knife Informer, the WE Knife 702 represents a formidable cross-shopping comparison to the Rike Thor 3. At about 300 dollars, it represents excellent value for money as we have not seen an integral with a 3.75-inch blade at under 300 bucks. Add to that M390 stainless steel and the WE 702 instantly becomes the value champion of the large integral knife world. Looks however may be a bit polarizing, but it seems like a very good package. One snag though… to keep the cost down the titanium used is TC4 titanium just like we see with the Thor 3. More expensive titanium such as 6AL4V would come at a premium.

Reate Future – Another knife on deck for review, the Future is a bold effort by Reate in collaboration of design by Tashi Bharucha. This integral flipper also boasts M390 steel and a 3.75-inch blade. This is a gentlemen style carry tactical folder. Offered in several different decorative combinations, the future is a limited run production knife that is both very beautiful and rather pricey. Cost of the Future ranges from about $480 for the standard models to about $800 plus dollars for the full dress Damasteel version with Mokuti Inlays. It is a collectible integral that is as beautiful as it is functional. For the money though, the Thor 3 offers similar entry pricing, and additional hard and tactical usage applications.

Spyderco Nirvana (C199TIP) – It’s hard to compare production integrals without discussing the Nirvana, a collaboration between Spyderco and Peter Rassenti. Unlike the other competitive offerings, the Nirvana is not a flipper, but it brings to the table S90V steel that some might consider one of the top attainable super steels. At about 450 bucks, this knife has been considered by some as a must buy, and others as a must pass. However you look at it, it is indeed a competitor to the Rike Thor 3, and an imposing knife in terms of its size of blade and shape. We personally like the Nirvana, but might consider the Thor 3 a more usable knife for EDC.

Custom Knife Factory Tegral – Those late the production integral knife game might have already missed this run of knives from CKF. They were one of the first out of the gate to get the integral flipper production knife out to the public. The Tegral is no longer available for direct sale, however this may be a secondary market sleeper where about 300 bucks can bring you home 3.6 inches of pure M390 steel covered in a very cool looking titanium integral handle package. At about 4.9 oz. this knife was a very light option as integrals go. If you are into a unique style aesthetic and a lighter carry this knife might be something to consider. When we reviewed this knife some time back we rated it very well, though we found the handle a bit slippery in some conditions.

Final Thoughts

Competition has become fierce in the large folding Integral knife arena. It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago we were unable to find affordable flipper integrals. Not only do we now have a bunch of choices, they are almost all great options that are reasonably affordable (sort of). The Rike Thor 3 is the third generation of integral for the Thor line, and it shows as it is the most machined and heavily milled with contours and sweeping lines that are extremely well executed. They have refined the Thor integral design and it really shows with great effect.

One thing can be said for Rike is that they are consistent. Rike has figured out a repeatable way to make integral flippers that challenge any other large integral folder on the market. As we continue to enjoy the Rike Thor 3 we are left wondering whether a fourth iteration of the Thor model will be made. Either way, the Thor 3 is a unique and yet familiar integral worthy of the Thor name. We really enjoyed this knife, and have a feeling if you can get your hands on one that you would as well.

The Good: Unique eye-catching design, quality construction and materials, nice ergos
The Bad: Not the best cutter, a little pricey versus competition
Bottom Line: A beautiful and worthy third installment to the Rike Thor line

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We’re often overloaded with EDC gear these days.  Our pockets are bulging at the seams with countless gadgets, gizmos and essential tools like pocket knives.  With pocket and pack space at a premium, it’s no longer good-enough for a product to be effective at its intended purpose – it needs to be well designed too and that means keeping the weight down.

When it comes to knives, a useful measure we monitor is the blade-length-to-weight ratio, which puts an objective number on how much punch a knife fits in a package.  As much as we’d like to carry around a beefy 8-ounce full titanium slab of a folding knife with a 4” blade, a lot of the time it’s more annoying that helpful.  A huge knife that weighs down on your pants pocket is not very ‘EDC’. So here’s our take on the best lightweight EDC’s that pack a punch in a package you’ll forget is even there..

The Delica is a long time fan favorite from Spyderco, alongside other worthy models like the Endura (1.03 ratio), the Stretch (0.95 ratio) and the frequently loved-upon PM2 (0.92.)  Our favorite Delica 4 sports the somewhat unconventional ZDP-189 high-end steel.  Hitachi ZDP-189 is still one of the highest-performing cutlery steels even though it’s been on the market for a relatively long time.  ZDP-189 has insanely high carbon content – more than 50% higher than modern powdered super steels like CTS-204p or Bohler M390 – and virtually no Vanadium.  It tests out at 64-65 on the Rockwell hardness scale, which is basically unmatched among production steels today and yields a blade that stays sharp for an incredibly long time.  It’s not so strong on corrosion resistance – despite having over the minimum chromium content to be considered stainless – so be careful when using it with acidic foods.

Like most user-oriented Spyderco’s, the focus is on ergonomics.  The Delica is a lockback with a Boye detent to prevent accidental lock release, and it’s designed for use as a hunting knife.  A full-flat-ground drop point blade makes detail work natural, and a shallow forward choil provides a solid choked up grip, while thumb ramp jimping keeps your hand in place up top.  As with most other lightweight Spydercos, the Delica features FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) scales with bi-directional texturing for a solid grip, on top of nested skeletonized stainless liners for strength.  Mounting holes allow the clip to be positioned 4 different ways.  At only 2.5 ounces, the Delica breaks the magic 1.00 blade:weight ratio that we’ll call “the sweet spot” for weight – strong enough to rely on, light enough to forget it’s there, and with an exotic high end steel – it’s a formidable choice.

It’s worth noting that the Delica comes in a wide variety of flavors to satisfy your every taste – VG-10 steel, handle colors, heck even a Titanium version with Damascus blade.  Spyderco knows how to please

If I told you that someone recently released a knife that was a design collaboration with professional wrestler and notorious public figure “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, you might not have high hopes for its quality or design. If I told you it was Cold Steel making it, your expectations might be even lower.  So it’s somewhat surprising that the byproduct of this unholy marriage is… a very practical EDC knife that’s long on design and short on BS!

Terrible name aside this new folder from the folks at Cold Steel is further proof that Lynn Thompson & Co are now more interested in making actually good knives than appeasing the tastes of truck stop buyers and mall ninjas – which is good news for everyone.  For starters, the ratios on this knife are amazing: 4” of blade weighing in at a hair over three ounces is a very efficient package.

Cold Steel didn’t skimp on materials either: the blade – a full hollow ground clip point – is made of Carpenter CTS-XHP steel, which Cold Steel has been gradually transitioning to from their old standby of AUS-8A.  XHP is a surprise given the price point, and is sure to hold an edge and resist rust extremely well – especially with the somewhat unnecessary black coating on the blade. Andrew Demko’s super-strong Tri-Ad lock makes another appearance here – with a stop pin sandwiched between the lock bar and the tang of the blade eliminating flex and wear between the two surfaces, as well as providing a satisfying “thwack” when opened.

The handles are liner-less G10, available in a wide array of colors – Hi-Viz Orange, Coyote Tan, OD Green, Bright Blue, Grey, and Pink (for the ladies!) to suit any taste. A deep carry pocket clip is configured for ambidextrous tip up carry, and really the only thing to worry about is how you’re going to remove the giant “broken skull” letters from the blade without ruining the finish.  Maybe it’s time to break some skulls!  Or open some boxes and cut some apples.  Up to you.

The Al Mar Ultralight series is the undisputed champion of the lightweight EDC game – provided you’re willing to make a few sacrifices towards the pillar of lightness.  Their blade to weight ratios are basically unmatched among modern folding knives.  For comparison, the 2.75” Hawk Ultralight weighs in at 1.00 oz while ZT’s 2.75” offering – the 0900 – weighs 4.30 oz.  So the blade to weight ratios balance out at 2.75:1 and 0.63:1 – or put plainly, the Al Mar packs more than 4.5 times more blade length per ounce than ZT’s “compact” offering.  Getting to that sort of insane ratio requires some drastic measures, and the Al Mar Ultralights take all of them.

The handles are contoured linen Micarta – and no, there aren’t liners.  While Micarta is epoxy-impregnated, it is still somewhat susceptible to moisture intrusion, so if you live on a riverboat in Louisiana in the summer this is not the knife for you – it can be just as hard to open on a sweltering day as an Opinel, and you don’t want to look like the knife hipster that can’t open his knife.

The Ultralights all use a lockback mechanism that Al Mar calls a front lock – since it’s between the pivot and the midpoint – and under good conditions and after a bit of a break-in period they open with incredible smoothness via a thumb stud.  Lightweights come in three sizes and two blade shapes – the Hawk has a 2.75” blade, the Falcon has a 3.15” blade, and the Eagle has a full 4” blade.  Standard variants are full flat ground, while Talon variants are spear-point with a false swedge.  All models are made of AUS-8, which is… easy to sharpen.  Let’s be honest: Al Mar needs to start using better steel – AUS-8 was mediocre ten years ago, and with Cold Steel shipping out blades in CTS-XHP, it’s time for a change!

Still, packing 3 1/8” of blade into a 1.25 ounce package with a real lock and a pocket clip is basically magic – especially once you become familiar with how impeccable Al Mar’s fit and finish is, making every opportunity to use one a true joy.  If you want something a little stouter, there is a Heavy Duty version of the Eagle Talon model with G10 scales over stainless liners, an adjustable pivot, and the availability of a ZDP-189 blade – weighing in at only 3.00 ounces.  Hardly “heavy” duty!

It’s a Delica, it’s an Endura, it’s a – wait, that’s not a Spyderco.  Interesting!  The Patriot is Boker’s first knife made in the United States (by Fox Cutlery USA, a subsidiary of the Italian-owned Fox Cutlery) and it’s a shot over the bow at Spyderco’s lightweight mainstays of the EDC market.  In fact, it bears a striking resemblance to the Delica in a lot of ways – most obvious being the GFN (glass filled nylon) handles with pronounced texturing for a secure grip.  The Patriot skips the stainless liners for weight savings – ringing in at a scant 2.11 ounces – but still packs a deep four finger grip as well as a partial forward choil.  A lockback secures the blade when open.

The blade itself is a drop point shape with a high flat grind made of 154CM – a good quality US-sourced mid-range steel.  A thumb stud does the opening duties.  What’s interesting about the Patriot is how much blade it packs in – while it’s handle is 1/8” shorter than the Delica (4.125” versus 4.25”) the blade is actually 1/2“ longer (3.375” versus 2.875”) making the Patriot an impressively efficient design.  A deep-carry pocket clip can be oriented left or right hand tip up.  While all Patriots share the same dimensions, you have the choice of a few colors – Blue, Black or Orange with a satin finish blade as well as coyote brown with a stonewashed blade.  There’s also a black handled version with a partial-serrated black coated blade if that’s your thing.  The Patriot offers a US-made alternative to the standard Delica and Endura with some unique features – it will be interesting to see what designer Raimund Lhotak comes up with next!

The Leek is part of Ken Onion’s series of onion-related-named models he made for the Kershaw brand during his time working there from 1996-2010 (which also included the Scallion, Chive, and Shallot) and is one of the best-known and best-selling Kershaw models ever.  Even people who aren’t “knife people” are likely to have seen one before.  It’s been in production for an eternity, with no signs of slowing down.  Why is it so popular?

Well, it’s light, useful, fun to operate, and unique.  Leeks are made with liner locks – which weigh in at 2.50oz – and frame locks – which weigh 3.00 ounces.  All except for the Random Leek have a needle-pointed Wharncliffe blade, which is strange to the eye but is extremely useful in day to day utility tasks as well as for food prep.

The hallmark of the Leek is its Speedsafe assisted opening mechanism – which seems incredibly commonplace now, but was a revolutionary idea that Onion spearheaded for Kershaw.  In order to skirt arcane laws relating to possession and use of switchblades and “gravity knives” Onion created a torsion bar system that legally fulfills the same tasks. The spring is hidden inside the scale which is connected to the blade tang and the frame itself, and acts both as a closed detent and snaps the blade open once it’s been opened manually the first 10% or so of its travel.  In practice, it is just as fast as an automatic knife – but by the letter of the law it’s legal.  While the enthusiast market has moved on from assisted knives as being more of a gimmick than a feature, in a knife with a super-light blade like the Leek it would be borderline impossible to make a good manual flipper without an uncomfortably hard detent. There is also a “tip lock” mechanism built into the end of the handle which prevents the blade from accidentally opening in your pocket, which is usually forgotten about shortly after acquiring the knife.

So with a pull of the flipper tab the 3” blade snaps out, and in doing so has created a whole new generation of knife fanatics – pulled in by the Speedsafe action into a lifetime of knife addiction.  And that’s OK, because the Leek is still a great knife – thinner than a cell phone, only a half-ounce heavier than a Zippo, sharper than Louis CK’s sarcasm, you can’t go wrong with a Leek in your pocket.  Whether it’s a standard model – a liner lock with Sandvik 14C28N steel and brightly colored aluminum handles, or an upgraded model such as the exotic composite blade – which melds a spine of 13C26 steel and a sharpened end of D2 steel sintered together with copper, or the new Carbon Fiber leek with a stonewashed CPM-154 blade and carbon fiber laminate G10 scales. Regardless, you’ll have a timeless piece of knife design from one of the true masters of the field – and you might even forget it’s in your pocket.

The Ripple was Ken Onion’s first design for Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) when he migrated there from KAI (Kershaw/Zero Tolerance) in 2010 – and he swung for the fences.  There are two different sizes of the Ripple, but here we’re focusing on the original Ripple with its 3.125” blade – versus the smaller Ripple 2 with a 2.78” blade, which isn’t much lighter. Like many CRKT products, the Ripple is available in two “trim levels” – a more affordable model with aluminum handles and a liner lock with an 8Cr14MoV blade, or a premium version with stainless steel handles, an integrated framelock, and a premium Acuto+ stainless steel blade.  While the Stainless version is slightly heavier, it still falls over the ratio sweet spot at 1.05:1, and to us the extra half ounce is worth it for the stronger lock and the impressive machining that blends the lock bar into the pattern milled into the handle.

Regardless of variant, every Ripple comes with IKBS (“Ikoma Korth Bearing System”) which is an uncaged ball bearing pivot used to reduce friction when opening, allowing the Ripple to flip open like knives costing many times it’s reasonable price tag.  If you’re looking for classic Ken Onion ergonomics but don’t want to deal with Kershaw’s Speed Safe mechanism, the Ripple is highly recommended!

The Mel Pardue-designed 530 series is often forgotten about when people talk about the Benchmade brand.  It’s been around for quite a while, and it’s not a flashy framelock flipper like what’s all the rage these days.  The 530 is a seriously cool knife that packs a lot of blade into an extraordinarily light package, handily beating out Benchmade’s yardstick EDC knife – the 940 – on the blade to weight ratio.  While the 940 packs another .15” of blade, it also weights a full ounce more in standard aluminum trim – and we’re talking about a 2.9 ounce blade here.  The 530 is an incredibly light knife at 1.88oz – especially when you consider it has an axis lock, which is slick but isn’t exactly light and contains multiple moving parts.

The 530 achieves that low mass through two primary factors – one, it’s extremely thin.  The handles measure only 0.37” in cross section – so the 530 feels like several credit cards stacked together in hand.  There are no liners, and the handles taper as they extend out towards the tail end.  Although it’s extremely thin, the 530 doesn’t skimp on ergonomics – with a swell towards the tail to fill the palm and a gentle curvature mid-frame to give some depth to the grip the 530 never feels like you’re choking up on a piece of Saran Wrap to do some cutting – a remarkable trick considering it’s thin enough to be forgotten in laundry when you change clothes.

The 530 is available as the normal version  for around $100 – which has polymer handles (Benchmade calls them Noryl GTX, which sounds like a brand of motor oil) that will be familiar to owners of Griptilians, or the newer 531 which trades out the plastic handles for herringbone patterned G10 with a weight increase of 0.2 ounces.  Both versions use a 154CM blade, the 530 being a spear point shaped blade and the 531 being a more practical drop point – each are available as a satin finish or black coated blade, in plain edge or partial serrations. There was also a limited edition Gold Class 530 that had black and green G10 handles and a Damasteel blade (now out of production) if that’s your thing.  Regardless of which variant you choose, the incredibly thin carry, light weight, and smooth axis lock action is sure to be a satisfying combination!

SOG isn’t a brand that gets a lot of love among knife enthusiasts, and it’s not hard to see why.  A lot of their products are sold next to Gerbers at big box retailers like Dicks or Wal-Mart.  Many of their products focus on cheesy tactical details and assisted-opening blades that scream “I’m an operator!” to any terrified nearby witnesses.  The Twitch II, a favorite of Nutnfancy, is a legitimate turd of a knife – slick handled, a wobbly blade, handle-heavy, ugly, and just – no.  No.  You can do better.

How much better?  Well, the Vulcan series are legitimately great knives.  And while the full size Vulcan is the figurehead of the SOG brand, the Mini Vulcan is a more pocketable EDC-sized knife that weighs in at a scant 3.4 ounces.  It’s a pretty thing to look at: organic curves, a chamfered thumb ramp molded into the scale, the liners standing proud at the tail with the SOG logo – and the blade is a looker, too.  Available in three different styles – a satin finished or blade coated drop point blade, or a bright satin finish Japanese-style Tanto (a curved forward edge, as opposed to American tantos which have a straight forward edge and a harsh transition) made from San Mai VG-10 – a laminated core.  A gentle recurve on all the models increase the effective cutting edge length and isn’t hard on the eyes, either.

The party piece of the Vulcan series is the Arc-Lock: SOG’s proprietary lock that works similar in function the Axis lock, but it travels in an arc forward and down when engaged.  It uses a spring to engage the cam and provide a detent for the flipper tab – while keeping side loads off the blade – and as a result flips open very well.

The Mini Vulcan provides remarkably good value – some of the best quality grinds in the business, sleek good looks, a slick and strong lock (tested to over 1000lbs of lock strength) – all for under $100.

Kizer is a relatively new name to the cutlery scene, and they (along with brands like Reate, Stedemon, WE Knives, and others) are doing their best to change the stigma of Chinese-owned knife companies from being bargain basement budget special brands to actually respectable purveyors of sharp things. They’ve made a point to collaborate on as many products with well-respected designers as possible, with names including Michael Vagnino, Matt Cucchiara, Ulrich Hennicke, John Gray, Matt Degnan and others.  And although there are plenty of stars among Kizer’s lineup, none shines as brightly at the EDC game as the Gemini.

The Gemini is designed by Ray Laconico, and is a “re-imagined” production version of his custom knife, the Jasmine.  The Gemini does a rare trick: it’s an objectively better knife at a lower price point with higher production numbers than the custom it replicates.  For one thing, the Jasmine retails for around $800 depending on features on Arizona Custom Knives, or about 5 times what the full-featured Gemini sells for.  The Gemini also has features that are absent from the Jasmine – contoured handles, a ceramic ball bearing pivot, and CPM S35VN steel versus Laconico’s D2 tool steel.

There are two different levels of Gemini available from Kizer: the original version has the contoured titanium handles, anodized blue accent hardware and pocket clip, and the stonewashed S35VN blade for about $170.  There’s the newer Vanguard line, which is Kizer’s move to bring their prices downmarket: with G10 scales over stainless liners (either in black with a bright blue backspacer, or green with a black backspacer) and a stonewashed VG-10 blade, they’re only about $80.  Both versions are within spitting distance for weight: 3.58oz for the Vanguard, 3.65 for the full Titanium version, both with a 3.125” blade length.  The full flat ground drop point blade shape is the epitome of practicality, and Kizer is already making waves as being one of the best and smoothest flipper manufacturers on the market – these knives pop open with incredible speed and a satisfying “flick.”  If you’ve been wary of Chinese folders, this is a solid piece of evidence there is much to look forward to – and a great lightweight EDC.

The last entry on our lightweight EDC list is another undiscovered gem of the cutlery industry.  Designed by one of the biggest names in tactical knives, the Terzuola folder is a production collaboration between Bob Terzuola and Italian manufacturer Fox Cutlery, who also produced the striking Volpe folder for Spyderco years ago.  It’s unmistakably a Terzuola design, from the long thin drop point blade to the thumb disc opener and the slim box shaped handle.  When closed, the blade barely stands proud of the liners making it a slim pocket carry, yet packing 3.5” of blade it’s beefy enough for more serious tasks.  The blade is made of Bohler N690Co steel – a solid, corrosion-resistant mid range stainless steel that balances edge retention and ease of maintenance nicely.

Other nice touches on the Terzuola include a dual-purpose stainless lockbar insert – to prevent lock stick between the stainless blade and the titanium handles – that also functions as a Hinderer-style lockbar overtravel stop, which can be removed and replaced if the need arises.  Open construction with hourglass shaped standoffs makes cleaning the knife easy and reduces weight.  On the aesthetic front, oversized pivot hardware and a 3D machined titanium pocket clip make the Terzuola look a lot pricier than it is.

You can pick from regular silver or a blue anodized finish for the titanium-handled Terzuola, or if you want something a little “dressier” there’s also a version with a Damascus blade and Bokote wood handles over stainless liners for another $20 and an additional half-ounce of weight.  Regardless, all versions are sure to be both great daily users and impressive to anyone that lays eyes on them.

So that wraps up our guide to the best lightweight EDC knives.  Did we miss your favorite lightweight knife?  Let us know by getting in touch.

The HX Outdoors “Rock” Survival Knife is a handsome, 4-inch, full tang, general purpose survival/bushcraft knife that packs in lots of extras.  The knife itself features D2 blade steel, G10 scales, hammer pommel, and a Kydex sheath.  The sheath integrates a diamond sharpening hone and a ferro rod in an easy to carry package.

Get it here

Fully loaded, the Rock weighs just eight and a half ounces, so it will not slow you down on long excursions into the woods.  This Rock is anything but dead weight.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 4.0″
• Blade Width: 3/16″
• Overall Length: 8.7″
• Weight: 6.3 oz
• Blade Material: D2
• Handle Material: G10
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $40

There are a number of key factors to consider in choosing the right survival knife.  I generally recommend a fixed blade with a full tang high carbon steel blade in the 4-7″ category so the Rock just comes in on the lower end.  I also like the solid, synthetic handle – G10 is damn near indestructible.

The Blade

The Rock’s, four inch D2 tool steel blade is ground into a classic full flat drop point.  D2 is a highly wear-resistant near stainless steel, noted for its hardness and edge retention.  D2, is not a super steel proper, but its edge retention is noteworthy and a good choice for a hard use knife.  The blade is coated in a vacuum plated black titanium finish that is also surprisingly durable.  Wear does show, but this is far from a cheap paint thrown on for looks.  D2 is, as stated above, only a near stainless steel and as such can be prone to rust, so having a long wearing coating will extend the life of the blade.  Though as always, the exposed edge is not granted this protection and might still be subject to rust.

The entire spine of the blade is cut at a 90 degree angle to throw sparks with the included ferro rod, though only one inch of it is left unfinished for maximum spark production.  As such the whole spine can be used to start fires, but the undercoated section throws several times more.

Out of the box the blade was moderately sharp and the bevel was slightly uneven by the tip.  The Rock would cut paper and functioned as an outdoors tool, but it needed a few strokes on the included coarse diamond hone to really cut well.  The super coarse hone left a nice toothy edge that rips through hard use outdoors tasks.  The factory bevel was at a very obtuse angle, presumably for maximum durability in the field.  However with an on board hone and D2’s famous edge retention this seems superfluous, especially when a steeper bevel angle would provide for much stronger cutting performance.  Such a cutting angle will need more maintenance, but you are more than prepared for that with this setup.

I took the Rock to my diamond hones, and after a good bit of time on the coarsest stone I was able to get the angle I wanted.  With a steeper bevel the Rock just came alive in my next testing sessions.  With some polish work I even managed the old trick of carving off the corner off of a phone book.  In actual practical testing, carving, notching, feather sticks, and buttoning all went from possible to practical, to a pleasure with every improvement in the edge geometry.  As tested, the blade still held up quite well to use and abuse, and I am happy with the change.  With the classic full flat ground, moderate blade stock, and generous belly, the knife should excel at game processing as well, though I was not able to include this sort of work in my testing.

Handle and Ergonomics

The G10 handle of the Rock is quite comfortable in the hand, though a bit unyielding and lacking in shock absorption.  The design is tuned for extended hard use rather than all-out tactical grip.  The knife’s smooth finish is best used without gloves.  With gloves, the knife is not slippery, but I did not feel the extra confidence a more aggressively textured knives brings.  As stated above, the Rock emulates its name sake well with its solid but useful handle.

Viewed top down the handle has an hourglass shape, with swells at the midsection and rear.  These fill the hand and keep you from slipping off during energetic use, especially chopping.  The swells combined with the lower forward finger guard keep your hand where it needs to be and not sliding up onto the cutting edge.  While this shape does aid in chopping, the small size, moderate weight, and pommel heavy balance prevent the Rock from being a great chopper.  I was able to remove wood from a fallen log, but it far from ideal or quick.

The G10 itself is lightly textured with jimping on the top and bottom of the rear of the handle.  This jimping is fairly large and mild for its size.  It adds grip, yet is not abusive to the hand.  The jimping on the blade itself is however a bit harsher.  It lacks both the flats found between the cuts on the handle gimping and the G10 that surrounds and mellows them out.  To be fair, it’s still only medium aggressive, but in comparison to the mild ergo’s found on elsewhere on the package it stands out.  For maximum control, especially in finer tasks, you want your thumb traction above all else, but in heavy use they are a hot spot.

The blade features a finger choil to choke up on for precision work.  My XL glove sized fingers fit, but it was clearly intended for someone with smaller digits than myself.  The sharpened blade edge comes right up to the choil, and at times would press into my skin.  I was never cut, but if I continue to use this knife (as I intend to) I will likely round off the very end to avoid this hazard.  Users with smaller hands will likely not need to be concerned.

There are several other features worked into the handle.  The first are three holes designed to allow the knife to be lashed to a pole to serve as a spear head.   The rear most hole doubles as a traditional lanyard hole.  I have never been a fan of lanyards on folding knifes, but I always appreciate the option on large fixed blades.  Secondly the HX Rock has a hammer integrated into the pommel.  As best I can tell the blade, tang, and hammer are milled out of one large piece of metal, as no seams are apparent.  Though with the black coating and quality fit and finish, it’s hard to say for sure.  Whatever the construction, the hammer end works well for a variety of tasks.

The Sheath

The Kydex sheath is very well made, and securely carries all of the goodies the HX Rock includes.  The sheath features a two inch belt loop for vertical carry.  There are, unfortunately, no options for horizontal or molle carry.  While there are three eye holes available for paracord tie downs, only one is unobstructed by the ferro rod holder.

There is a drainage hole at the bottom of the sheath to keep your knife dry.  It is a welcome addition for a D2 knife as it is only semi stainless and needs to be kept well away from sitting water.  The Ferro rod holder is found on the front of the sheath.  Lastly and most conveniently is a long strip of extra coarse diamond hone set into the edge of the sheath by the Kydex fasteners.

Retention of the knife and ferro rod is both strong and secure.  You can shake the knife upside down and nothing will fall out, nor rattle in the least.  The knife itself is silent to carry, though the sheath can make a plastic thwack and swishing noises as it bumps and flops around on your belt.  Other reviews have mention some noise resulting from imperfect blade fit so I am mentioning that here.  Luckily Kydex can be heated and compressed to achieve a more secure fit and eliminate such rattles.   Again, my example does not rattle, and I only mention it to be thorough.

On Board Gear

The reason to choose this knife is the added utility the included tool-set provides while maintaining a low weight.  The hammer pommel, lashing holes, ferro rod, and diamond hone all give you extra capability.  Best of all, none of these require any extra pack, pocket, or molle space to carry.

My favorite included tool is the extra coarse diamond hone.  Using a dull knife is a chore, and all too often by the time I realize the edge is dull I am in the middle of a task and away from my sharpening gear.  Having the ability to touch up an edge on the fly can be a godsend.  The hone itself is long and narrow, but with the extra coarse grind, it gets work done.  The edge it leaves is toothy to say the least, effectively giving the knife micro serrations and helping chew through rough materials.  Fans of mirror polished cutting edges will recoil in horror at the harsh finish, but with the toughness of D2 you need an aggressive tool to remove material in a timely manner and get back to a keen working edge.  The hone is far more narrow than is ideal, but with a steady hand and some practice it is no trouble in practical use.

The ferro rod is likely the most utilitarian survival tool and when combined with the exposed spine throw a LOT of sparks, making for easy fire starting.  The painted spin of the blade also works to throw sparks as the entirety of the spin is ground at a sharp 90 degree angle.  The rod itself is a nice 0.3 by 1.75 inch chunk of Ferrocerium.  The plastic handle is solid and molded in a triangular shape with gimping on the forward edge to give a secure grip.  It also has a lanyard hole that would be a nice place to attach a signal whistle to the package since as purchased the Rock does not include one.

The hammer pommel is another great inclusion.  My first instinct with any hand tool is to use the back end as a hammer, and for once I’m able to do it.   It will drive nails, smash nuts and rocks, and is just a fun distraction when mucking about in the woods for an afternoon.

Swinging a hammer with a four inch razor sharp hunting knife does present some real safety issues.  Unfortunately using the hammer end with the sheath on the knife is quite cumbersome as the belt loop extends most of the way down the handle.  The other downside of having a hammer on the back end of your knife is that there is always a hammer stuck on the back of your knife.  The HX Rock is a very pommel heavy, with its balance point almost an inch behind the index finger choil.  A four inch knife will never be the world’s best chopping tool, but with the balance this close to the rear chopping is even more tedious than it would be otherwise.

Fit and Finish

The build quality of the Rock is decent for a budget priced outdoors tool but not up to par with what you find on pricier knives.  Still, all of the edges are smoothed; the Kydex is well formed and sanded off.  The blade and Kydex markings are all crisp and pretty well defined.  An extra close inspection will reveal a few small gaps between the G10 and steel of the handle, but none are large enough to pinch skin or rattle.

The jimping is all well done and even. While you could argue that the jimping found on the blade itself is a bit too harsh there are no flaws in its execution. The most impressive touch  is the lack of rattle in the sheath.   Nothing about the Rock feels cheap, in fact it gives the impression of a much more pricey tool.

Competitive Offerings

Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife.  The Mora is a very different knife, with the scandi grind and thinner 1095 carbon steel.  The Mora excels at carving and very thin slicing tasks like feather sticks.  The rubber grip is more comfortable for extended use.  Unfortunately the knife is only three quarters tang, and although it has a reputation for toughness, it will be less durable for the hardest of use.  Though to be fair if battening is your priority, you would be better served with a larger cutting tool.  The HX survival knife with its D2 will keep an edge longer than the Mora, and also includes in a hammer and lashing tubes, all at just over half the price and weighting 2 oz less.

Schrade SCHF36.  The Schrade splits the difference between the HX and Mora in blade shape with its thick saber grind featuring 1095 carbon steel.  The Schrade has the most flexible sheath of the group with multiple attachment options, the back is covered in loops and straps.  It also comes in at $30, undercutting the HX.  That said, you are adding 4 oz (12.3 oz total), and again skipping the hammer and lashing tubes.  Backpackers and anyone prioritizing weight reduction would be better served by the HX, though if you intend to abuse your knife, the extra thick blade stock of the SCHG36 will likely take endless abuse.

Buck 0863BRS Selkirk Survival Knife.  The Buck retails for about $50 and features Buck’s lifetime warranty.  Construction and features are very similar though the Buck exchanges the sharpening hone for a whistle.  The Blade is 420HC stainless steel which has notably less edge retention but higher corrosion resistance.  The sheath is made of cheaper FRN plastic but does have an adjustable attachment loop allowing for multiple carry options.  Beyond that, the Buck is the only truly beautiful knife in the group.

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro Knife.  The Gerber Bear Grylls knife popularized the all-in-one survival knife concept, and the Ultimate Pro is the latest version.  The knives themselves are similar enough, but the sheath and tools are where the real differences can be found.  The Gerber sheath is bulky, using a lot of plastic in its construction.  The Gerber also uses a pull through sharpener.  While new users may find this a more simple method for edge maintenance, it locks you into the angle the factory chose to set for you.  Most will appreciate the freedom of tuning their edge geometry to the tasks at hand while still being able to maintain your edge in the field.  The sheath itself also has a much less robust attachment method using only one cheap nylon strap. The fire steel is also less beefy.  Lastly the street price of $65 is 150% price of the HX, and the weight is 4oz heavier!  The Gerber does shine with its lifetime warranty, rubberized handle, and true stainless steel.

Conclusions

The HX Outdoors Rock Survival Knife is a rock solid, low weight survival/bushcraft knife.  It packs a lot of utility into a small, attractive package.  The knife is durable, and takes a wicked edge.  The Rock lives up to its name having an unyielding (yet comfortable) handle with poor balance.  That said the Rock is versatile, light, a joy to use, and a fantastic value to boot.  HX has put together a rather impressive piece of kit at a rock bottom price.

The Good: Solid and durable, feature packed, low cost
The Bad: A little pommel heavy, not the best fit and finish
Bottom Line: A damn good survival knife for the money

Review by Seth Gunn

Finding the right balance between a lightweight and a solidly built EDC can be surprisingly difficult. Even more hard to find is an affordable option once you actually think you have found a knife that meets those needs. For years, we have been in search of the so-called “perfect” EDC which by very nature is a silly pursuit. With all that said, we would like to introduce the knife we’ve been carry for over a week called the Maxace Balance 2017.

Get it at BladeHQ

Truth be told, we have not had all that much experience with the Maxace brand. We have seen a few models come and go but have never lusted over one of the Maxace models before. That has changed now that we had a chance to get up-close and personal with the Balance from Maxace.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.62″
• Overall Length: 8.3″
• Closed Length: 4.75″
• Weight: 4.2 oz
• Blade Material: M390
• Handle Material: Carbon Fiber
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $250

First Impressions

When we removed it from the light blue case we uncovered something that looked extremely good. We stared at the very well finished carbon fiber and all indications were that this Chinese produced knife was well designed. We turned the knife over to reveal a flame anodized titanium with matching 3d sculpted pocket clip. What a pleasant surprise that we felt the knife was very attractive. More importantly for a user’s EDC, the knife felt comfortable and very light for the size. We will get more into that shortly.

The Maxace Balance 2017 is a medium to medium-large sized flipper style frame lock flipper. At about 4.18 ounces, this knife feels big in hand, but it also feels light in the pocket which makes for a great EDC combination with limited compromises.  As a flipper this knife had just the right ergonomics. Everything looked right. The flipper tab was well placed, located parallel to the monogrammed pivot. The 3.625 inch stonewashed Bohler M390 stonewashed drop point blade looked like it was ready to work. We were really excited to see how the Balance performed.

Feel in Hand

The best part about the Maxace balance is that it feels just right. It is akin to the Goldie Locks of knives. It seems to have a perfect size of 8.375 inches when opened. When closed, it is comfortable in pocket with the above average pocket clip that is well executed. The tip up carry clip is not a full deep carry, so if that is a requirement for you, this knife may not fit the bill. However, for us, we tend to like folders that are easy to get out of the pocket. And except for only a very few knives, deep carry clips do not allow that to happen all that easily.

Let’s talk how the knife feels when it is deployed. The one word that tends to come to mind is “smooth”. Everything is effortless, from the flipper deployment to the frame lock retraction of the blade. It all works very well, and was executed exactly as it should have been. Meaning that everything lined up just right. The blade was collectors center, the lock-up was at about 30 percent, and no blade play existed in any direction at all. The knife felt tight, and the knife felt assured.

The blade being a 3.625 inch M390 drop point configuration is not all that heavy. Additionally, the detent was dialed in very well, but was not all too strong. These things resulted in the blade opening extremely well, however not extremely fast. It felt casual and consistent, but not a blade deployment for those who are looking for the fastest of flippers, or for pure defensive carry options.

This knife was not over built. The blade stock, and the handles where of good width, but not overly thick. For people who want to have a very carry friendly EDC but still want a medium to large folder that can perform almost any normal job accomplished, this knife will be most appealing. It also looks nice, though not overt or polarizing in any way.

At first glance, the blade edge seemed fine, nothing to write home about, but also nothing in need of correction. Once we gently touched our thumb to the edge we felt the edge was well angled, and though likely machine finished, seemed to need absolutely no touching up before we started to test the knife.

Real World testing

Ah, yes! Test time. The brutality of unnecessarily compromising a knife purely for test purposes, and maybe a bit for the morbid enjoyment of knowing we could.  We carried the Maxace Balance 2017 for about 8 days. In that time, we had several projects that needed to get done. What that meant for the Balance was that it was going to get some serious working out.

Over the course of our time with this Maxace, we had it taking care of cutting tasks for our outdoor deck cleanup, repair, and remodel. We also had it for our remodel of our laundry and mud rooms. It continued with us to gardening work, as well as to less intensive but an equally stressful child’s birthday party where we volunteered to assist in opening the boxes, and plastic cases entombing over-priced Chinese made toys. The point is, we used it for everything. It was completely up to the challenge too. It even cleaned up nice, and the blade barely looked as though we had cut with the thing.

We could not resist performing some rope cutting tests with this knife. Keep in mind, the knife is only a hair over 4 ounces, so it may not perform on paper as well as some blade heavy knives that simply fall onto rope. Anyway, we took about 8 feet of paracord and informally started at about 1 inch thick cuts at a time. We did not use any gloves and did not compare it to any other knife during the test. The Maxace Balance was a surprising performer. It was not the best cutting knife we have ever used. It was not the sharpest knife we have ever used, but it was certainly an easy and capable knife to use. It cut all 8 feet of rope and still could have likely cut more with relative ease.

Sure, the blade started to feel like the edge was beginning to lose a bit of sharpness after about 6 feet of rope having been cut. That however is rather standard, and quite normal. The M390 steel sharpened and stropped up quickly though, as it was not too worn, even after our test.

In the real world, this knife seems to perform well. Everything we use the Maxace Balance for it does well at. Just for additional fun, we had a couple of old garden hoses that needed to get thrown away. These were old, probably from the 90’s. We thought it might be fun to cut some of that stuff and see what happens. Again, we were not disappointed. The Maxace has a nice drop point shape that makes it easy to cut with for such tasks. Also, the handle seemed to work well for us with gloves on. That is always a plus for us. The Balance made several cuts straight through the first rubber garden hose. At first it just slid right through, completely severing the hose. But ever a number of cuts we started to use slight sawing action to get the knife to break clear of the hose. Though we doubt you will ever need to cut several times though a rubber hose, rest assured the Maxace Balance 2017 would be able to accomplish the task.

Though we did not try the Maxace is the Kitchen, we imagine that it might make for a reasonable camping knife that can hold its own if called to culinary duty. All in all, we were pleased with the performance and overall usefulness of the Balance.

Competitive offerings

Deciding between pocket knives these days have become rather difficult. So many good choices available these days makes for an almost confusing amount of options. That however is a good thing. Some of the stand outs that we feel are in the same shopping category as the readily accessible 250 dollar street price Maxace Balance include the following.

Zero Tolerance 0562CF – This ZT has been out for a couple of years now. With a carbon fiber scale on the show side, and titanium on the other, this knife is a popular choice for many EDC knife users as a primary carry option. It sports a 3.5 inch CPM-20CV (or in some cases CTS-204P) stainless steel which is comparable to the M390 on the Maxace Balance, but offers a heavier 5.45 ounces for those who like a more beefy knife. At about 240 dollars from reputable online resellers, the 0562CF is especially cool for lefties as the deep carry spring clip can be adjusted and moved to accommodate southpaws.

Kizer V3 – If you are looking for a real bargain of a knife that can compete in a similar league as the Maxace Balance, consider looking into the V3. It is not quite as refined, or as big as the Maxace, but what it lacks in size and finishing, it makes up for in price at only about 120 bucks these days. The Kizer is made in China and offers hollow ground drop point CPM-S35VN stainless steel which is some good usable stuff, and it has titanium handle scales on both sides. Did we mention that like the Balance, the V3 has flame (like) anodization’s on the titanium? It also had a large flipper tab that some may love, but others might hate. Commonly referred to as a having a light detent, this knife will appeal to the budget conscience with a less fussy personality as the knife totals about 5.57 ounces yet comes in smaller when compared to the Maxace balance 2017.

Spyderco Domino – For those seeking a smaller option it might be worth considering the Domino from Spyderco. At about 7.68 inches completely open, the 3.13 inch blade appears larger thanks to its wide drop point leaf aesthetic that sports a full flat grind. This knife can be deployed as a flipper as well as with the use of the excellent Spydie hole. As for looks, it too offers a handle material of carbon fiber (peel-ply) on the show side, and stonewashed titanium on the other. Like the Kizer, the Domino is lefty accommodating, and the standard spring clip can be moved from one side to the other. At around 200 dollars, this Taiwanese produced knife is a very popular EDC, but does not have the size or looks when compared to the Maxace in our opinion.

Final Thoughts

Without knowing much about the Maxace Balance 2017, we initially dismissed it as yet another flipper made in China. We will know from now on not to dismiss Maxace products again, especially the premium models they produce such as this one.

We will not say that the Maxace Balance 2017 was perfect in any one way or category. It is the opposite in some ways that makes it so compelling to us. The knife performed average to above average in everything we did, and in every single test we could perform. It did not excel at any particular area. Therefore, the knife was not an overt amazing anything. The Maxace balance 2017 It is like the saying goes, “jack of all trades, master of none”. This to us in the knife world is a wonderful thing. The knife proved to contain the most important element of any EDC, and that is consistency and ability to be good at everything – we really do mean everything.

We are not sure if the design of this knife was intended to be an all-around ‘jack of all trades” or if they just realized it after the fact, but the name Balance truly fits. The Maxace balance 2017 is a balance of many of the greatest traits found on some very expensive knives while still managing to be unique and very usable. We really enjoyed EDC’ing this knife. If you are in the market for a medium sized flipper folder, the Maxace Balance 2017 needs to be on your short list of options to consider.

Maxace, if you are reading this, keep pumping out knives like this one. Bravo!

The Good: Looks great, top materials, well-made, all round performer
The Bad: Flips somewhat slow
Bottom Line:  Lacks the ‘wow’ factor but a solid all-round EDC performing well in every dept

Get it at BladeHQ

Mike Hoefer, former EVP of Sales & Marketing at MIZU and EVP of Business Development at Nixon Watches was recently appointed as the CEO of The James Brand, a boutique knife and tool company based out of Portland, Oregon.  Mike took some time to talk with us here at Knife Informer about the move and plans for the brand in the future.

Mike, thank you for taking the time to talk to us.  What made you decide to make the move to The James Brand?

My first interaction with the knife world was 20+ years ago at Paragon Sports in NYC. I was a sunglasses sales rep, performing my usual servicing on the glass display case, which happened to sit me right next to Paragon’s knife case.  A customer approached the case of knives, so I asked if I could help out. He then pointed to a particular knife and followed up with a technical question. This is when I thought, ‘Oh boy, should I fake my way through this?’  When I mentioned that I was not an employee, he shared with me everything I wanted to know about the knife. He elaborated on the materials, the knife maker, why the cost was $1500 – all selling points which led to why he was going to buy it. From that point forward, I was hooked on the intricacy that makes up the world of knives.

In later years, when I was introduced to The James Brand, I was first intrigued by the product, then deeply fascinated with the story behind it. As I looked at the growth of the brand, I recognized how my background could assist in developing the infrastructure around the product and brand story to increase engagement. Between my previous background and genuine interest in the knife community, The James Brand was a very natural move and I am stoked to be involved in an industry that maintains such a dedicated and knowledgeable consumer base.

How will your experience at MIZU and Nixon translate to working with The James Brand?  

My experience from both MIZU and Nixon will definitely add value moving forward with The James Brand. At Nixon, we built the brand by focusing on a niche category within a larger channel that had not previously highlighted watches. Similar to The James Brand, we built Nixon around the idea of creating product to fill a void in the market while also taking a respectful position when introducing new product to customers. This void is where I like to live and operate. When I left Nixon, we were distributed in 85 countries, had over 200 employees with offices in 6 countries, which led me out of the small business realm. MIZU was instrumental in re-introducing me to this, reminding me how much fun it was to be small and growing rapidly.

Let’s talk about the brand.  What differentiates The James Brand from other high-end knife brands?

There are so many great brands out there that we love, but I would say the differences are our subtle yet modern design cues that capture The James Brand customer. Whether you’re in the office, at home or on an adventure, it is our goal to design a knife that you can universally carry with you. The James Brand is positioned with authenticity in the creative, modern, outdoor and action space. All of us at The James Brand grew up and have built our careers in these channels, so we have great connections and authentic relationships to leverage in an organic way. So many of the people in these worlds use and carry knives but they haven’t always had an authentic brand or product that they could connect with.

So where did the name come from?

This is actually our most asked question. James is a fictional character – a crossover of James Bond, James Dean and James Cook (who discovered the Hawaiian Islands). These are all people that would definitely need a knife in their pocket every day. People who would want a knife that looked amazing, worked great for a wide variety of EDC tasks and was just as well suited for the pocket of a tuxedo as it was clipped onto a pair of coveralls.  These people are not Jim or Jimmy.  They are James. They are committing to higher risk, but also higher reward, activities. Living a life that we sort of all aspire to live.  We didn’t want to name the brand after any one person in the company because as a brand, James is an idea that is bigger than any one of us.

Who designs the knives and tools for The James Brand?  Who produces them?

We work through a collaborative process as opposed to having one designer bust out ideas and concepts. To ensure we think holistically about the product, we turn towards our internal and external colleagues and produce product with different partners, both in the USA and abroad. To enable The James Brand to be able to do more than a singular shop, we are always looking to diversify the talent-pool we work with. For example, we launched The James Brand with the Chapter, a Ti framelock, then immediately followed up with a slip-joint. Not many knife makers or vendors are able to offer quality product in that broad of a range. At The James brand, we are looking to do just that.

What’s new for The James Brand as far as products are concerned?

As far as products, we are very excited about the Folsom which launched in December. We are also thrilled about our Swell collaboration with like-minded brand Discommon, which just dropped into the market again as a limited edition blacked out version of the original knife design. We are working on a couple of major new releases for Holiday ’17, but can’t talk too much more about those right now.

What products can we look forward to in the next year from The James Brand?

We aren’t ready to talk about future products, we have lots to learn still.  Our goal is to truly think about the pocket and how people interact with the everyday tools that they carry with them.  The pocket represents readiness to us and we are very much focused on designing modern, minimal everyday carry tools that fit that build.

Can you share some of the long term plans for the brand?  

Our goal for 2017 is to establish the guard rails for the brand so that we can operate safely and efficiently for the next several years.  For the most part, we’ve set our pricing structure. It may go up in price on some very unique products, but in general we feel good about our price structure.  We just need to reinforce those price points.  We are not focused on the downward part of the market, we would get clobbered there and for us, it’s not that exciting. I look forward to obtaining more retailers, and if we do things right, hopefully they will call us. Overall, we want to stay very disciplined in our distribution.  We don’t want to grow our points of sale until we know the brand is ready to support this growth.

What’s the target demographic for James Brand and is that likely to evolve?

Within the knife market, the average age of our customer is quite a bit younger, even with our higher price points.  We are focused on the person who may be new to including knives as part of their everyday carry.  With The James Brand, we are looking to cement ourselves in the everyday carry space by introducing a new category to those who may think of knives only as tactical tools or for hunting and fishing exclusively. At the same time, it’s critical to us that we make products that the classic “knife nut” would love and carry.  The community is very tight knit, and has very high standards.  We’ve been welcomed by the crew and they have helped us along the way to make each product better. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing one of our knives alongside of many of the makers that we respect and admire.

What’s your favorite knife from the James Brand lineup? What do you carry on a daily basis? 

I love the Chapter and the County is a close 2^nd.  They are very different, but both seem to really speak to me.  I carry the Chapter as a regular part of my everyday carry.  I like a knife with a clip and it feels a bit more substantial in hand even with its minimal design.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Mike.  We look forward to seeing how the brand evolves over the coming years.

The Buck Marksman, internally referred to as Model 830, is a drastic departure from the majority of what the Buck Knives brand is known for.  It’s futuristic, sleek, forward-thinking, and it’s an incredibly compelling everyday carry knife once you learn how to use it properly.

Buck Marksman price check Amazon or BladeHQ

For many, the Buck name is forever associated with the classic’s like the Model 110 back-lock hunting knife, but the Marksman is about as different from that classic stalwart as a folding knife can be.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.50″
• Overall Length: 8.25″
• Closed Length: 4.75″
• Weight: 4.3 oz
• Blade Material: 154CM
• Handle Material: Aluminium
• Locking Mechanism: Strong Lock System (SLS)
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: USA
• Price Range: About $90

The Marksman is a design collaboration with Grant & Gavin Hawk, the father and son design duo that have brought numerous fascinating designs to market through other manufacturers.  There was the Kershaw E.T. with a multi-piece handle that pivoted around the knife itself, and the R.A.M. and the brand new Induction with the Hawk-Lock toggle switch.  Zero Tolerance produced two of their designs, the dirt-resistant 0500 M.U.D.D. and the automatic 0650.  They also did the (recently discontinued) Ti-Lock with Chris Reeve which integrated the locking mechanism into the spine of the blade instead of into the handle – an interesting design for sure.  In addition, they’ve made designs for CRKT, Boker, Mantis, and Camillus.

The big draw to the Marksman is the lock, called the SLS (Strong Lock System, seriously) which is a clever variation of a strap lock.  We’ll dive into the lock more later, but it has several unique attributes that make the Marksman a captivating knife to use and carry on a daily basis.

The Blade

While Buck uses a lot of 420 high-carbon in their knives, the standard Marksman uses Crucible 154CM, which is a refinement of the classic 440C stainless steel with the addition of Molybdenum to increase hardness and edge retention – according to Crucible’s literature on the steel, 154CM offers 11-26% better wear resistance compared to 440C and can maintain several points higher hardness on the Rockwell scale.  It’s not the newer CPM-154 variant which is produced through the powdered metallurgy process (which is used, among other places, on the Kershaw Launch line of automatics) but it is still a well-regarded “standard bearer” of mid-range cutlery steels.

Benchmade loves using 154CM, and it’s a favorite steel of mine.  It can take a mirror polished edge and get absolutely screaming sharp, but it’s not bad to touch up on a set of stones and it holds an edge better than steels like AUS-8A or VG-10.  Adding to the appeal of the Marksman is the Paul Bos heat treat.  Bos runs Bos Services Co in Ohio, and does a lot of the in-house heat treatment for Buck.  He’s widely considered an expert in the art of heat treatment, and the importance of his work is evident in that he gets billing on the side of the blade.

The blade itself is an ideal pattern for day to day use – 3.5” long with a drop point shape.  The hollow grind on the blade ramps up towards the end of the blade, intersecting the spine about an inch behind the tip.  Blade stock is 0.12”, thick enough so you don’t feel like you’ll randomly snap off the tip but thin enough to not get caught up in materials.  As we’ll see, lots of things about the Marksman are “just right” compromises.  There’s a sharpening choil at the base of the blade, but it’s got a “beard” – where the material flares out as the primary bevel transitions into the bolster, so the edge plunges downward. It’s not an annoyance when you’re using the knife, more-so when you’re sharpening it.  A narrow oval thumb hole doesn’t protrude from the spine like a Spyderco, but rather is integrated into the profile of the knife and is just barely clear of the handle when closed.

The shape of the blade is a nice compromise between different usage styles.  Since the primary bevel terminates well behind the tip it’s thin enough to penetrate material well, while the hollow grind makes the Marksman a good slicer. It’s not great for food prep, with the tip being mostly in line with the centerline of the handle and having a very shallow belly, but it’ll slice an apple in half like it wasn’t even there.  A smooth satin finish on the blade is better than a bead blast but would still look better as a stonewash.  I’ve sharpened the Marksman a few times now and it’s usually about a 20 minute task on a standard set of Sharpmaker stones – not as fast as, say, a Swiss Army Knife or something in 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8, but it’s not bad and it takes a wicked sharp edge pretty quickly.

Deployment & Lockup

Is this the best mid-range flipper ever?  What? It very well may be.  The Marksman uses self-contained ball bearings (in bright red races that can be seen when you peek through the scales when it’s closed) like a lot of modern flippers. It has a “light switch” style flipper tab with a little bit of jimping for traction, but the trick to the Markman’s superlative flipping action is actually the lock itself.

Most flippers these days (nearly all of them) are either liner locks or frame locks.  The ball detent creates closed tension that when overcome by the user provides energy to flip the blade open.  The downside with a liner/frame lock is that as the blade travels around the pivot to the open position, that detent ball rides along the tang of the blade and creates friction as well as sideways pressure.  Eventually the detent ball will wear a small “track” into the tang and smooth out to a certain degree, but not ever to the same degree of the Marksman.  It uses a strap lock that provides both closed tension as well as locks the blade in the open position.

It works with the machining on the tang of the blade, which has round cutouts where the strap fits into the blade in both the open and closed positions.  When closed, there is a ramp that the strap presses against.  Once the tension of the strap is overcome with the flipper tab, there is nothing pressing against the blade until it locks into the open position when the strap rides up over another ramp on the opposite side of the tang and drops into place.  To release the lock you just lift the strap up.

Since there’s no friction while the blade is travelling, it opens incredibly well.  Even the best-tuned frame lock flippers can’t approach the level of smoothness the Marksman provides. It doesn’t even have a particularly strong detent (like the muscular detent on the Factor Absolute) but it still snaps open with barely any effort, every single time.  This kind of “outside of the box” solution is what the Hawks are famous for, such as their Out-The-Front automatic “The Deadlock” which has a unique inner mechanism that prevents blade play entirely when in the open position.  It also makes the Marksman incredibly addicting to flip.  The flipper tab itself works great to open the blade, as does the thumb hole – even used from the back in Spyder flick fashion.  You can also flip the blade open by lifting up on the lock strap and flicking your wrist.  There is a break-in period with the strap as it mates to the locking side surface of the tang – it has some stick initially and the strap itself is very stiff, but after a week or so of use it becomes super smooth.

It must be said, it’s extremely important that the user is familiar with how the Marksman works and how easily it free drops when it’s between the open and closed positions. If you’re not careful with the position of your fingers when you’re closing it, it will cut you very badly, as has been repeatedly mentioned by reviewers on Amazon and YouTube. Keeping your fingers clear of the path of the blade is a must with a knife that closes this smoothly.

Lockup is flawlessly secure, with no bladeplay at all in the vertical or horizontal axis.  Blade centering on my example with off enough to see, but not enough to scrape the liners, and that doesn’t keep me up at night.

Features, Fit & Finish

The Marksman has a lot of cool stuff going on.  The handle is a black anodized aluminum, with a series of horizontal stripes cut partially into the handle from the spine and the belly. The handles cut away under the strap lock, allowing you to see just the edge of the blade when it’s closed.  The pocket clip is excellent: a stamped steel deep carry clip that mounts with two screws to the butt of the handle, it sits in a slot cut into the handle to locate it and can be flipped around for tip up right or left hand carry.  It’s ideal: strong spring tension, a shallow curve at the end that doesn’t scrape paint or catch on things, and long enough to keep the knife firmly anchored in your pocket.  It’s surprising how many knives these days get the clip wrong.

The strap is interesting, too.  There are two screws that go through it to mount it to the backspacer, which also has a rectangle that protrudes through the strap to locate it front to back.  There is a hole hidden in the backspacer along the butt of the handle which a small Allen key can be passed through to turn the set screw for the strap, adjusting tension to compensate for wear as the knife ages.  Considering it’s steel-on-steel, the theoretical wear rate is incredibly slow, but it’s nice that G&G Hawk included this feature in case you want to adjust the preload.

The strap has jimping on both sides where you place your thumb to lift the strap so you don’t slip off of it, which can be a little rough at first on your thumb. A decorative pivot has torx fittings on both sides – the pivot barrel isn’t keyed to the handle – that allows you to hold the pivot on one side and adjust it on the other.

Fit and finish isn’t perfect on the Marksman.  In fact, the Marksman I’ve been using for the last 8 months or so is actually the second Markman purchased off of Amazon.  The first one had two of the body screws floating around loose in the box, which I quickly discovered was because the threads in the backspacer were stripped out.  It was quickly exchanged for another example (thanks Amazon Prime!) but both examples exhibited a strange defect: a scratch running the height of the blade, from edge to spine, deep enough to feel with a finger nail, in the exact same spot.

There is also the somewhat uneven finish of the blade, a series of different color stripes along the primary bevel some of which are almost scratches.  The markings on the blade are also a bit heavy-handed: one side displaying the “Buck USA” logo halfway down the blade, the other side with the Bos symbol, the marking “154CM” and “G&G Hawk Collaboration.”  Some people say it’s easy enough to remove the labels with a scotchbrite pad, and maybe also even out the finish, but it’d be better if it had more minimal branding and a stonewash finish.  Oddly, two of the body screws (which have flat heads) stand slightly proud of the scale, while they’re flush on the other side – all the way tight, however.  The black anodization finish holds up about as well as can be expected – it’s better than paint but it does tend to wear thin around the edges, especially at the end of the handle, but it adds a little visual character.

Field Test

I, frankly, love using the Marksman.  It’s a pleasure to flip open and flip closed incessantly.  It’s also a great cutter.  The blade shape is extremely practical, good for everything from cutting up food to popping nylon straps and breaking down boxes.  The Marksman is decently thin behind the tip, making it a good knife for piercing cuts, and it almost replicates the initial puncture ability of a spear point due to the primary grind terminating well behind the tip.  There’s not any belly for rolling cuts, so prepping dinner wouldn’t be fun, but this is a tactical knife.  The Marksman (along with the Gayle Bradley) have me pretty convinced about the superior slicing abilities of hollow ground blades, and they turn what would be a mediocre slicer if it were flat ground into a great tool. Edge retention is good, approximately on par with how long Benchmade’s 154CM holds an edge, with wear showing up as micro chipping rather than rolling.

Ergonomics are fair.  The aluminum handle’s grip is improved by the grooves cut into it but it’s still not as great for a hard use knife as something with more purchase like G10 or Micarta.  There is a G10 variant of the Marksman available exclusively from SK Blades made in house at Buck that has green G10 scales as well as a Bos heat-treated S35VN blade, which is stonewashed and flat ground.  These are limited production so availability is questionable, but priced at $125 the SK Blades exclusive seems like a good upgrade for the money.  The ergonomics are basic but sound, with the handle and flipper tab forming a finger guard in the open position.  The strap lock itself is a good flat surface to rest your thumb on, and the long shallow pocket clip doesn’t make any hot spots when you grip down on it.  Demerits for a lack of a forward choil, but that’s just me.

As far as carry goes, the Marksman is solid. A weight of 4.30 ounces is fairly light considering the aluminum handles, bearings, and stainless strap lock. The protruding edges of the strap lock can be rough on whatever else is floating around in your pocket (phone screen, etc) so exercise care.  As mentioned earlier the clip is exemplary, with perfect spring tension and a nice shallow angle to the end of the clip so it doesn’t grab on steering wheels and car doors.  It can be slightly difficult to get onto your pocket, especially if you have thicker seams, and it makes quick work of denim due to the placement of the clip contact point relative to the grooves in the handle.  This could definitely use improvement, but destroyed pants pockets are a way of life at this point.  It’s slim in profile measuring under a half inch thick and the long clip distributes the weight well.

Alternatives

At around $85 on Amazon, the Marksman is a remarkably good value for the money.  The Tanto version varies in price, sometimes going for more or less than the regular.  It has a different handle design – a “fracture” pattern of grooves cut randomly into the grip, as well as a black oxide stonewash coating to the blade.  The dramatic American tanto with a sharp angle isn’t for me.  There’s the aforementioned SK Knives G10 version as well as the rare Marksman Elite, a limited edition of only 250 units.  At $180 retail, it bumps the steel up to exotic CPM-S90V with a stonewash black oxide coating, a fuller groove instead of a thumb hole, and a blue titanium Cerakote finish on the handle with slick carbon fiber inlays.   Maybe too pretty to use, but definitely worth drooling over.

The full size Benchmade Griptilian with plastic scales and a thumb stud is about $100, offering lesser materials and features for more money.  It is a little bit lighter at 3.82 ounces, and the Axis lock offers knife fidgeters similar satisfaction as the SLS lock.  The Benchmade Barrage combines an assisted open action with the Axis lock and a satin finish 154CM blade, also with plastic handles over steel liners, for about $130.  There’s also a safety switch on the spine if you want to leave the blade locked closed.

Of course, around this price range is the elephant in the room – a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 retails for around $125 in the standard satin finish CPM-S30V and black G10 handles.  It’s very similar in size to the Marksman, a 3.4” clip point blade and 8.28” overall (the Marksman rings in at 8.25”) but a half ounce lighter.  It also offers a 4 way pocket clip and Spyderco’s fantastic compression lock.  Another all-time great is the lightweight bodied Spyderco Manix 2 in CPM-S110V, with a 3.4” leaf shaped blade in one of the longest edge-holding steels on the market, and Spyderco’s unique caged ball bearing lock.  At only 3 ounces, the Manix2 Lightweight may present a big shape in the pocket due to the bulging spine but will hardly weigh your pants down.  Or your wallet, at about $120 retail. There’s also a version in CTS-BD1 with cool translucent blue handles for around $85, which is similar in performance to the Marksman’s 154CM blade and much easier to sharpen than S110V.

Much thinner and sleeker than the Marksman, with more a slant towards light everyday tasks, is the lust-worthy Boker Urban Trapper. Long, thin, and crazy light (between 1.7-1.9 ounces) the Urban Trapper is a superlative flipper – with a strong detent and an IKBS bearing pivot it pops open like a switch.  The choice of materials is charming: cocobolo wood, carbon fiber, or black G10 over stainless scales, or a skeletonized titanium framelock.

CRKT’s high end version of the Homefront is also tempting, with textured aluminum handles, a hollow ground drop point blade in AUS-8A, and the ability to be taken completely apart in seconds with no tools to clean it.  It might be a gimmick, but it’s a cool one. A little more expensive at $115, though, but offering similarly innovative thinking.

Wrap-Up

The US made Buck Marksman is an unexpected triumph of a knife, primarily because I’d never have expected Buck to make it.  It’s incredibly innovative, but it’s innovation that actually works – and works well.  It pushes the envelope of lock and flipper technology, and that’s the sort of phrase usually followed by a caveat like “which is why it’s flaws are easy to accept,” but the Markman doesn’t have glaring flaws.  It’s easily up there in my book with the Spyderco PM2 and the Benchmade Griptilian for greatest full size EDC blades.  It’s good value for money, solid lock, excellent flipper, useful blade shape, and superb clip make it hard to dislike.  If you’ve written off Buck as half-baked Chinese junk, the Marksman is a sign of the shifting paradigm at the company – which recently experience a changing of the guard in February of 2017 with a new CFO and COO – towards making higher quality products, and making them in America.  I highly recommend it.

The Good: Frictionless flipping action, brilliant lock, practical blade shape and geometry, perfect pocket clip, great cutter
The Bad: Break-in period for strap can be challenging, some fit and finish issues, inexperienced users may injure themselves, tears up pockets, bearded sharpening choil
Bottom Line: A home run for Buck, and highly recommended to every EDC knife nut.

Buck Marksman price check Amazon or BladeHQ

Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) was started in Tualatin, Oregon in 1994 by Paul Gillespi and Rod Bremmer, two former Kershaw employees. Over the last 23 years, CRKT has produced a long line of affordable knives with a focus on function, frequently designed in collaboration with some of the biggest names in the knife industry.  They’ve earned a reputation for making inexpensive knives that don’t feel cheap, with fresh designs that (for the most part) rotate in and out quickly.  Here is our list of the best CRKT knives, a mix of long term favorites and newer designs.

The Homefront is a Ken Onion design, made to resemble a WWII era knife but with a clever new trick up its sleeve.  CRKT calls it “Field Strip Technology” and the idea is that the Homefront can be taken completely apart without any tools for cleaning.  With the knife closed, you push the toggle switch near the pivot then turn the release wheel at the butt of the handle until the handles come apart.  In a few seconds you can take the entire knife apart, clean it, and put it back together.  Clever stuff.

There are four versions of the Homefront: the original “high end” version with OD Green aluminum handles and a 3.5” satin finish AUS-8 blade at around $115 retail, and three new more affordable versions introduced this year.  The Homefront EDC drops a half ounce compared to the original (4.3 vs 4.8 ounces) with GRN handles over stainless liners.  Blade steel is 1.4116, the same soft but easy to sharpen highly corrosion resistant steel that Victorinox uses on their Swiss Army Knives, in an EDC-friendly (see?) 3.5” stonewashed drop point shape.

The Homefront Tactical has the same GRN handle but with a half-serrated, black coated, tanto tipped blade.  And the Homefront Hunter has a camouflage GRN handle (presumably to make it harder to find when you drop it?) with a modified drop point shape – a super high hollow grind with a concave spine and a higher tip give the Hunter a large belly for skinning and prepping game.  All three new models share the 1.4116 steel and around $65 retail price, a full $50 cheaper than the original version.  They’re usable, classically styled knives with a unique feature set that makes maintenance a breeze, perfect for if you’re always bothered by the pocket lint (or, you know, real stuff) stuck in your pocket knife.

What’s special about the M16?  Oh, nothing, it’s just the knife that popularized the concept of a flipper in the mass market, no big deal.  Designed by Kit Carson (who sadly passed away in 2014) the M16 series is available in a staggering array of varieties, from the basic M16-01Z, with a bead blasted 3” spear point blade in 8Cr15MoV and Zytel handles over stainless liners, up to the high end Automatic for over $200, with a plunge lock, 4” black coated tanto 154CM blade, and aluminum handles.  The sweet spot is the M16-01T, with a sleek titanium handle and a 3.125” AUS-8 Spearpoint blade.  All M16’s share a basic tactical-oriented design with a straight spine handle and gentle curves underneath, with holes in the handle and liners to save weight.  M16’s come as either spear point or tanto blade shapes in a variety of sizes – 3”, 3.125”, 3.5”, 3.875”, and 4”, and with Zytel, Aluminum, or Titanium handles.  There’s also a Rescue version with a glass breaker at the butt of the handle, and a seat belt cutter built into the flipper tab.  Some models also feature double flipper tabs that function as a “hilt” when the blade is open, and Tom Veff’s unique directional serrations that make quick work of rope and cord.  They’re light for their size and carry well.

The M16 has been around for a long time, and benefitted from a mid-life addition of the LAWKS system.  LAWKS stands for (Ron) Lake And (Michael) Walker Knife Safety, and it’s a secondary safety device to prevent the liner lock from being accidentally released.  It’s fitted in between the blade and the scale, and when the blade is open and the liner lock engaged it is rotated in between the scale and the liner lock to block it in place.  In some model it’s manually engaged by pushing the switch forward, and models with AutoLAWKS use a spring to push the bar into place automatically when the knife is opened – which can be disabled if the user wants to.  Some users can’t stand LAWKS but the additional peace of mind and gadget factor are a plus, even if CRKT’s description of LAWKS as “turning knives into virtual fixed blades” garnered them a frivolous lawsuit from Cold Steel in 2015. Excellence breeds jealousy, and the M16 has been delivering affordable excellence for decades.

The No Time Off is a funky knife, and funky designs are usually the ones that get remembered.  There’s a lot to digest here, this isn’t another “slab handled titanium framelock flipper version 1,307,161.”  The No Time Off is a Flavio Ikoma design, so of course it has his IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System) frictionless pivot for a smooth action.  The handle is stainless liners under GFN scales cast in a ‘waffle iron traction pattern’ (CRKT’s words) for a positive grip. Ergonomically, the No Time Off favors function over form, with deep dual finger choils and a generous palm swell. Another ergonomic abnormality is the pocket clip – the handle is cut away underneath it, so it holds the pocket well but doesn’t protrude as much from the handle when you’re gripping it to eliminate hot spots. Unfortunately it’s only right hand tip down carry, but sometimes innovation requires compromise.

Another innovation is the ILS (Ikoma Lock Safety) system that’s added onto the liner lock.  Similar in function to Auto-LAWKS, ILS automatically engages when the blade is opened, putting a piece of metal between the locking liner and the handle to prevent accidental release, but unlike LAWKS system it can be disengaged in one fluid motion when you go to release the lock.  The blade uses Carpenter CTS-BD1, a modern non powdered stainless steel that’s similar performance wise to 440C, AUS-8, or VG-10.  It’s 3” long, classified as a drop point but closer to a wharncliffe in profile with a dramatically dropped tip and a deep swedge for utility work, and a slick satin finish. The No Time Off is available as a plain edge or with Tom Veff’s “flat top serrations,” and the utilitarian design and grippy handle make a lot sense when you realize that Ikoma designed the No Time Off as a “mechanic’s folder” – it looks like something I’d carry every day.

Who doesn’t love the Squid?  We’ve featured the diminutive Squid on Knife Informer before, and there’s a lot to love.  The Lucas Burnley designed Squid is the antithesis of his popular Kwaiken design that’s produced by Boker, chunky and compact instead of long and sleek.  It’s an ideal EDC knife for whatever you come across, compact enough to disappear in your pocket but stout enough to do real work.  A simple but effective thick stainless steel framelock will never give you pause for concern.  The Squid has a 2.25” blade, small enough to not alarm anyone if you pull it out to open a box at the office, with a stout hollow grind that reaches midway up the blade.  8Cr13MoV steel isn’t anything to write home about, but this is a knife that retails for $19, so splitting hairs on the blade steel is a fairly silly exercise.

The Squid is a knife that appeals to “knife nerds” as well as budget buyers thanks to its functional design, easily pocketed size, and its ability to packs tons of usability into a small package. The standard Squid comes in two versions, a silver handle with a stonewash blade or a black stonewash.  There are also G10 versions coming out with black or orange G10 on the show side and the same blades as the standard Squid, almost a full ounce lighter than the normal version.  There have been several limited edition Squids include a rare Carbon Fiber/Titanium Squid as well as one with a neat hand grenade pattern in the handle. An oversized thumb stud and a right hand tip-down deep carry pocket clip round out the features.  Simple, cheap, and stout: why not?

How cool is the Swindle? Another Ken Onion design, the Swindle is his modern interpretation of the classic swayback pattern that’s popular in old fashioned slipjoint blades.  Like the popular GEC “Viper” Swayback, the Swindle’s handle is concave towards the underside, creating a gentle sweeping profile when the blade is open.  The blade itself is great for light EDC tasks, stretching 3.25” long in a narrow wharncliffe profile with a needle-sharp tip and a high hollow grind. A flipper tab and an IKBS bearing pivot make the Swindle snap open with ease.  Another interesting detail is the pocket clip: instead of being mounted to the surface of the handle, the clip is actually integral with the spine and includes a spring for tension.  Lifting up on the knurled stud on the clip allows you to slide it over your pocket, giving it a flat profile when carried and no hot spot from a clip when you use it.  It’s unusual but it works.

The Swindle comes in two different variations.  The standard version retails for around $45 and has smooth contoured stainless steel handles and an 8Cr14MoV blade.  Stepping up to the premium version is an extra $15 and swaps the steel out for Sandvik 12c27 with a unique milled handle for a more positive grip.  The creative design of the Swindle was enough to earn it the award for the Most Innovative Imported Design at the 2013 Blade Show, and it’s a favorite budget carry for fans of gentleman’s knives everywhere.

The Eros is another Ken Onion design for CRKT, a sleek and slim daily carry that’s visually a combination of his Leek design for Kershaw and a touch of Esee Zancudo to my eyes.  The Eros was previously available in two separate sizes (a 2” and a 3”) but the small Eros has been discontinued, so it’s the large variant only now.  The Eros has a 2.84” spear point blade with a high hollow grind for supreme slicing performance, aided by super thin 0.09” blade stock.  The needle sharp tip is a defining characteristic of many of Onion’s best EDC designs, able to pierce through clamshell packaging or cardboard with ease. Like the Swindle, there are two variants, but with a much greater delta in price.

The standard Eros has smooth stainless steel slab handles an AUS-8 blade, ringing in at 2.80 ounces and a $47 retail.  The upgraded Eros uses ACUTO+ steel, an unfamiliar steel that Aichi designed specifically for CRKT that’s a finer grained refinement of 440C, basically.  The stainless slab handle is swapped out for an intricate 3D machined titanium handle, and the price rises to $135 retail while the weight drops literally by half to 1.4 ounces – shockingly light for a 3” blade with a stout framelock.  Even moreso when you consider that both Eros models use an IKBS bearing pivot for a quick deployment.  Both Eros models use a unique pocket clip that splits around the pivot, textured on the titanium version to match the handle, in right hand tip down carry only.  The Eros may not be around much longer, considering it’s been around for a long time already and the small models have been discontinued, so we recommend you grab one while you still can!

The Crossbones is a recent release by CRKT that we’re excited to get out hands on, because it’s destined to be a winner.  It’s designed by Jeff Park, who you may not have heard of yet – but you will.  He was an apprentice of Ken Onion, and Ken’s slender unorthodox styling peeks through under the surface of this minimalistic, almost filet-knife styled EDC gem.  The handle is magnificently simple, styled like an old school Italian stiletto, made from anodized 6061 aluminum with a textured pattern beneath the raised “X” pattern.  A polished stainless deep carry pocket clip is configured for right hand tip up carry, while at the back of the Crossbones the backspacer extends past the end of the handle to form a subtle lanyard hole. A jimped flipper tab at the extreme edge of the handle pops open the Crossbones’ blade on a frictionless  IKBS bearing pivot, a hallmark of many of CRKT’s higher end knives.

The blade is an interesting departure from the (admittedly effective) norm of “full flat ground drop point” EDC knives.  A trailing edge shaped blade puts the center line of the blade proportionally well above the centerline of the handle, like a filet knife.  The Crossbones is designed to be equally adept at “cutting meat, open mail, and everything in between” according to CRKT, and the full flat grind and 0.12” blade stock make it both a smooth slicer and beefy enough for harder tasks, while the narrow tip is great for penetrating cuts.  The Crossbones secures it’s blade with a standard liner lock sans LAWKS or other secondary safeties.  The ratios on the Crossbones are impressive: despite a 3.5” blade, an 8.063” overall length, and a ball bearing pivot,  the Crossbones only weighs 2.4 ounces, so it’s big enough to do real jobs but light enough to forget it’s in your pocket.  AUS-8 steel strikes a good balance between edge retention and ease of sharpening while remaining pretty corrosion resistant, nothing to cough at considering the approx. $60 retail price.  The Crossbones may be the first public effort of Jeff Park but it surely won’t be the last.

The Razel is a singularly unique knife, more appealing for its design than its materials or features.  It’s an affordable production version of the Graham Razel, a knife that’s loved and hated in equal measure by the enthusiast knife community.  At its core it’s a dual purpose knife: the forward edge is a V-ground chisel, designed to scrape things in a pushing motion.  The primary edge has a shallow hollow grind and a generous belly for rolling cuts, the blade stretching out 3.125” for a usable day to day length. The Razel won’t be a slicing champion to the surprise of virtually no one, the blade being designed for hard use tasks.  The handle is a construction form rarely seen these days – contoured canvas Micarta on top of stainless liners for a hand-filling grip.  To make the liner lock more secure the Razel has CRKT’s patented LAWKS mechanism as a secondary safety, preventing the user from accidentally releasing the liner lock during use by physically blocking it from closing.  8Cr13MoV steel isn’t great, but at the $25 retail price these knives go for you can’t complain.  It’s a heavy knife, 6.10 ounces being nearly twice what most knives its size weigh, but the heavy duty construction suits the purpose of the knife, much like the overbuilt Batum.  It might not be perfect by the numbers, but for $25 you can see if the concept of the Razel appeals to you as a user before shelling out something like $650 for the midtech version of the Razel, with a titanium framelock handle.  Only thing it’s lacking is the weird “over the pommel” pocket clip of the real Graham knives, and a price tag 26 times higher.  Minor details!

Honorable Mentions: K.I.S.S., Pilar, Jettison, Fossil

CRKT makes a frankly staggering variety of designs, so it’s hard to narrow down a list of the best.  One CRKT design that we can’t go without mentioning is the classic K.I.S.S. Designed by Ed Halligan, the K.I.S.S. is arguably the knife that put CRKT on the map in the 90’s, and it’s still going strong today.  The acronym standing for “keep it super simple” makes sense, considering the K.I.S.S. has a single piece handle, a blade, and an oversized pocket clip that serves double duty as a money clip.  The blade is chisel ground with the flat side towards the inside of the handle so when it’s closed it doesn’t present a sharp edge when it’s closed despite the exposed blade.  A simple frame lock mechanism locks the blade open, and a thumb stud actuates the blade.  Another stud serves as a “closed stop” for the blade to prevent it from swinging back around and out of the handle.  There is a wide array of variants of the K.I.S.S. available, black and silver with a choice of plain or serrated blades, as well as the P.E.C.K. (Precision Engineered Compact Knife) which is a rounded off K.I.S.S. with a nifty Wharncliffe blade.  Prices are in the $25 retail range.

The Pilar is another relatively recent introduction by CRKT, designed by renowned Danish designer Jesper Voxnaes.  Its unconventional appearance is a result of form over function, allowing a deep four finger grip with dual finger choils and a gentle pommel swell.  The 2.40” sheepsfoot blade almost doesn’t come to a point, the rounded off tip leading into a pronounced belly and a high flat grind placing the tip well below the handle’s centerline for utility tasks like opening packages.  A beefy stainless framelock and 8Cr13MoV steel are to be expected at the Pilar’s $26 retail price, but the unique ergonomics and big name design expertise are a refreshing change for the affordable market.  Full review here. 

The Jettison comes in two sizes – the standard Jettison has a 3.25” blade and the extremely popular compact Jettison has a stubby 2” blade.  Both are designed by Robert Carter, and the designs are making waves in the knife community for their unique looks and extreme functionality.  The Compact Jettison makes the most of its size by including an “extended” backspacer with a lanyard hole extending past the end of the handle itself, so attaching a lanyard will effectively give you a full four-finger grip on the short 3.125” handle.  The Wharncliffe blade style is well suited for utility tasks, with a flipper for one handed opening and a lockbar stabilizer to prevent over-extending the framelock.  The compact Jettison only weighs 1.36 ounces, primarily due to it having Titanium handles –scarcely believable considering the $30 price tag of the compact.  The full size Jettison ditches the titanium handles for stainless steel and weighs in at 4.50 ounces, but considering it’s almost twice the size of the compact and it’s only $31 it’s understandable. Both Jettison models use 8Cr13MoV steel and represent, like a lot of CRKT’s, an extremely good value for money as well as a noteworthy design.

Finally, the last CRKT we’ll touch on here is the Flavio Ikoma designed Fossil.  There are multiple variants of the Fossil, with a small (3.41” blade) and a large (3.96” blade) as well as plain edged or serrated variants.  The Fossil is a funky mix of modern knifemaking techniques and classic designs.  The organic shape of the handle is adorned with a Japanese-style hammertone finish, and the multi colored G10 inlays add more depth.  The blade is also unconventional, with an oblong thumb hole opener and a hollow ground recurved drop point shape.  The Fossil opens on IKBS bearings for a snappy deployment and has an intricately cut clip with standoffs that positions the knife in a right hand tip up carry.  While I’m not normally a huge fan of serrations, it’s worth noting that the Fossil uses Tom Veff’s aggressive directional serrations that are especially effective on rope.  The Fossil ranges from $50-$70 retail depending on size and features, offering some “custom knife” feel for not a lot of cash.

Over the past few years, pocket cleavers have been quite the rage among the knife enthusiast community.  Unfortunately, most examples focus on style at the expense of practicality.  While the CKRT Pilar‘s blade is technically a sheep’s foot, it is purposely overbuilt to function as an impossibly ergonomic and effective little pocket cleaver.

CRKT Pilar price check Amazon or BladeHQ

The Pilar is a budget-minded design by Jesper Voxnaes.  Aesthetically, the clean and elegant lines of the Pilar are a bit off the beaten path, but are rugged and handsome in their own right.  The knife features a short blade and a 50/50 forward finger choil, making for a very comfortable four finger grip on a knife that folds into a small 3.5 inch package.  Lock up is provided by a full stainless steel frame lock that keeps the extra-beefy blade stock locked in position and free of play.

Voxnaes has loaded the Pilar with his trademarks: stoutly over built blade stock and stainless steel scale slabs, sweeping arks and flowing curves all connected by his elegant modern lines.  In fact the Pilar takes the best cues of the highly successful CRKT Squid (Amazon) and updates them into a much improved cutting tool.  To put it mildly, on release the Squid took the knife community by storm.  Even the most jaded and grumpy pocket knife enthusiasts were instantly reduced to titters and coos by the adorably disarming Squid.  Unfortunately, the Squid was not the most ergonomic tool in hand: with its limiting three finger grip and less than stellar ergonomics.  Voxnaes has taken the best design elements of the Squid and blended them with nearly perfected ergonomics and functionality.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 2.4″
• Overall Length: 5.9″
• Closed Length: 3.5″
• Weight: 4.2 oz
• Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Thumb Hole
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $30

The Blade

The Pilar features a 2.4 inch satin finished 8Cr13MoV stainless steel sheepsfoot blade with 2 inches of sharpened edge.  While this does not make for an overabundance of cutting edge, the heavy blade stock and high saber grind make for a very potent cutting tool.  The Pilar easily cleaves through tasks bigger than a knife this size should have any business tackling.  Pruning, cutting heavy banding, and even splitting plastic sheeting are all easy tasks for the Pilar thanks to its fantastic ergos and chunky blade stock.

Sharpness out of the box was good, and with some pressure could shave a little arm hair.  However, it does wear quickly.  The 8Cr13MoV blade steel was clearly chosen to meet a price point.  While 8Cr13MoV is generally a great functional choice for a budget priced knife, here I wish a tougher material was chosen.  A knife like this begs for hard use, and I found myself having to do much more blade maintenance than with other budget knives in the same 8Cr13MoV.  Partly due to the fact that, inch for inch, the Pilar has to do twice the work as a full size 4 inch knife.  Furthermore, the tasks the Pilar encourages are much more abusive than the letter opening and apple slicing most EDC knives are generally tasked with.

On the plus side 8Cr13Mov is very resilient steel and rolls instead of chipping.  As such, stropping does wonders for this sort of wear.  While stropping any knife greatly extends the time needed between proper sharpening I found myself stroping the Pilar more often that is typical.  Expect to care for the Pilar diligently, and it will take just as good of care of you.  When the edge does deteriorate, sharpening is quite easy.  The original blade geometry is good, and both free hand and fixed angle sharpening are very easy with the short blade, shallow belly, and flats above the saber grind for your fixed blade sharpening systems to attatch to.

While tougher steel like D2 would hold an edge much longer, ultra-hard steels tend to chip before rolling.  Chips need to be fixed by removing metal with a sharpening tool.  As such you would be forced to go to the stones more often than the strop in your edge maintenance.  8Cr13MoV might not be ideal for this sort of knife, but it is far from the worst steel they could have chosen.

A sheep’s foot blade is a very functional choice for a mean little blade of this sort.  The point on the Pilar is very strong with plenty of material.  You will be hard pressed to break the tip beating on this little pocket monster.   While the blunt end of the sheep’s foot does limit its raw piercing ability, the Pilar still has enough point to do many finer tasks with ease.  In fact, the thick blade stock makes it a surprisingly excellent letter opener.  A second drawback is the stubby blade hampers the Pilar in food prep.  It will likely not slice apples well (save for quartering) or scoop mayo gracefully from a jar.  The trade off is that the brute force you can wield through the beefy little chunk of steel is nothing to be trifled with.  A rounded blunt front end of a sheep’s foot blade does allow the user to get under or between layers.  For example one could get under and safely cut a seat belt off a person, with much less danger than a knife with a more acute point.  Used in its intended role, the Pilar is as good as budget blades get.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Pilar’s ergonomics are easily its strongest attribute, and in my hands are among the best of the best.  The knife just melts into the hand.  I have handled more knives than I should care to admit, and precious few can compete with the Pilar for its comfort in hand.  The most impressive fact is that it does this in such a small package.  Knives at this size all too often suffer from a compromising three finger grip leading to poor overall ergonomics.  The Pilar avoids this pitfall with its generous 50/50 finger choil and sweeping curves that match the whole of the human hand.

The Pilar gives up some cutting edge in the exchange, but it more than makes up for it with the comfort and the leverage it allows the user.  Both the hammer and saber grips work excellently with the Pilar.  Reverse grip is a bit troublesome though, as the back end where your thumb rests is somewhat angular, making for a hot spot.  Though, to be fair, a sheep’s foot blade is far from ideal for stabbing tasks, so a compromised reverse grip is far less of a hindrance than it might be on blades with a more traditional point.

Further contributing to the all star ergonomics of the Pilar is the thick blade stock that gives your thumb plenty of real estate to rest on right on up to the very tip of the knife.  Combine this with the sweeping thumb scoop on the spine, and you can generate tremendous leverage directly above the cutting edge.  Thanks to its rock solid construction the Pilar can take all of the brute force you channel into it.

The Pilar’s deep 50/50 choil keeps the cutting edge close to your work.  In fact this is one of the deepest forward choils I have seen on a folding knife.  Most competitive offerings are notably shallower, further hampering the already short reach of knives in this configuration, as most of your finger is between you and the material you are cutting.  Compromises have to be made some place on a knife this small, and the Pilar navigates this one with more grace than its competitors.

With its semi-closed back construction and large gap between the scales, the Pilar collects more dirt than I would like and consequently requires more cleaning.   Luckily washer knives run relatively well dirty, and will operate more smoothly than ball bearing knives could.  As such the Pilar will tolerate a fair amount of gunk and grim in its action before it slows down.

Pocket Manners

The Pilar weighs in at a solid 4.2 ounces and that heft gives the user a sense of confidence in hand; it also prevents it from melting unnoticed into the pocket.  Other than the weight, the Pilar carries very well as it is narrow and has quite a small footprint.  The smooth stainless steel scales easily slides into and out of the pocket.  The clip is medium deep carry, though the logo and shape do strongly suggest “knife”.  Thankfully there is not a whole lot of knife hanging out for the world to view.

The clip itself is a little on the strong side, and on pants with the thickest of material (i.e., extra thick cargo pants) it did take some effort to situate. However, work jeans are still thin enough to avoid this issue.   While not overly aggressive in appearance or size the Pilar might not lend itself well to gentlemanly office carry; the weight is even more noticeable in thinner dress slacks.

The pocket clip is two way adjustable for tip up or tip down right hand carry. Sorry lefties!  The tip down option is ever so slightly more deep-carry than the tip up option.  Generally I frown upon over the top design elements like chrome skulls, flames, demons, and the like.  However, the Pilar tastefully sneaks a cartoon skull into the shape of its pocket clip’s sockets.  It’s somewhat subtle and not completely tacky and just puts a smile on my face every time I happen to notice.

Fit and Finish

The Pilar is mostly very well finished, though there are some blemishes in the otherwise divine satin blade finish.  Ignoring the minor blemishes on the finish, the soft luster and beauty the satin finish has is uncanny.  There is an almost holographic quality in the way it catches the light.  The blemishes are an unevenly finished streak on the lock bar side of the knife, and a similar streak under the finger choil.  Blade centering came near centered, but after a month of heavy use, the centering has shifted to the presentation side but does not hit the scales.  This is likely due to the soft Teflon washers wearing in.  That said the action has smoothed out quite well over this time.

The grinds, finishes, and milling work on the Pilar are all very well done.  The bead blast on the steel scales and aluminum back spacer are all even and attractive.  The only knock on this front is that the back spacer is not excruciatingly perfectly aligned with the steel scales.   You can just barely catch a finger nail on a few edges that are not completely flush.  However, even in hard use I will never come close to noticing.   Overall the fit and finish is great for the price, and the issues are purely cosmetic.

Competitive Offerings

What else to consider at this price point?  Here’s a selection…

CRKT Squid (Amazon) – The Squid is the slightly smaller, slightly lighter predecessor to the Pilar.  While the Pilar is not as disarming as the Squid, it does boast a comfortable full 4 finger grip, as opposed to the Squid’s cramped three finger grip.  Beyond that, materials are identical, and the looks of both are striking even if in different ways.

CRKT Pineapple (Amazon) – The Pineapple features a faster opening than almost any other knife we have tested, and as such is the fidget king of this group.  It also weighs in a full ounce lighter than the Pilar.  The ergonomics are decent, but cannot hold a candle to the Pilar, plus in hand the GRN scales just feel cheap compared to the stainless steel used on the Pilar.  And that name…ugh.

Cold Steel Tuff Lite (Amazon) – The iconic Tuff Lite is, as the name suggests, likely tougher than the Pilar with its nearly unbreakable triad lock.  Plus, it weighs in at just over half the weight of the Pilar (2.5 ounces vs 4.2), and can be found in a large number of color options.  Neither the ergonomics nor the pocket manners of the Tuff Light are as good as the Pilar mostly due to the bulky plastic handle profile.  The biggest determent though is that the Tuff Light is mostly a two handed knife to operate, as the triad lock is somewhat cumbersome to use one handed.

Kershaw Shuffle II (Amazon) – This liner lock knife is the wild card (or maybe odd duck) of the round up.  In its own way the Shuffle II is quite handsome and comfortable in hand.  It boasts a bottle opener and screw driver/pry tool integrated into the back spacer.  At three ounces with a narrow profile the knife disappears into the pocket, but only tip down.  This unorthodox package is well-rounded but does beg the question, “Do you need extra utility or pure brute force?”

Byrd Robin 2 FRN (Amazon) – The Byrd weighs in at just a scant 2.2 ounces, and is every bit as nonthreatening as the Squid.  The ergonomics of the Byrd are good, but again not as good as the all-star Pilar.  It does not feel as well finished as the Pilar, and the action is mostly two handed with the lock back design.  If you want a light low cost EDC that is right at home in dress slacks, this is likely the best choice for you.

If you’re interested in another home run from CRKT and Voxnaes, see our review of the Batum.  Also, while you’re into CRKT check out our guide to the best CRKT knives you can buy for a more complete roundup.

Conclusions

With the Pilar, CRKT and Jesper Voxnaes have created a sublimely ergonomic “pocket cleaver” for the every man.  The Pilar will elegantly carve through every last thing you put in front of it while putting a smile on your face.  It could have better materials or been a bit lighter, but in doing so it would lose some of its bad to the bone magic.  This is a small low cost knife that somehow defies common sense and induces feelings of confidence and power.  It is a knife that won’t leave our pockets anytime soon.  If the Pilar has any appeal for you, we give this knife our highest recommendation.  It’s bad to the bone….

The Good: Oh those ergo’s, great value, deep choil, decent fit/finish
The Bad: Steel is so-so, design susceptible to collecting dirt, small cutting edge
Bottom Line: A surprisingly well executed pocket-cleaver representing excellent value

CRKT Pilar price check Amazon or BladeHQ

Review by Seth Gunn

Today we’re fortunate to get our hands on something special from Reate knives, in the Reate K-1 flipper.  A famous quote by George Steinbrenner that comes to mind when we think about David Deng of Reate goes something like this: “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.” Perhaps David is born to produce precision products executed extremely well off a production line. He is winning the battle of “who makes the best production knives” in our opinion. The K-1, another winning knife in a slew of knives produced by Reate is another example of this greatness.

Check price at BladeHQ

It is hard to express in words the consistent amazement we have every time we get a new Reate knife and find that each one is just a bit better compared to the last. Warning, this review of the Reate K-1 folder is a one-sided love fest for the K-1 Solo Jack design style knife. Perhaps you have already figured that out? If you care to read about all the amazing elements of this knife, stay with us. If you would rather just bail out now knowing that the Reate K-1 is all that and a bag of chips, be our guest…  Just know either way, if you read this entire review you may feel compelled to buy a Reate K-1 immediately – So, reader beware.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.87″
• Overall Length: 8.75″
• Closed Length: 4.87″
• Weight: 4.9 oz
• Blade Material: M390
• Handle Material: 6Al4V Titanium with Carbon Fiber Inlays
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $400

This knife goes way beyond the specifications written on a piece of paper.  Note that Damasteel RWL-34 is available on the blade for some model variants of the K-1.

First Impressions

We received the Reate K-1 with the general expectation that the titanium and carbon fiber clad medium to large flipper would be a good knife. What we were not expecting was that the level of execution would be as high as it was. This is a very attractive knife. It is not ostentatious, nor is it overtly styled in any way worth mentioning. It is however extremely attractive with perfect fittings of parts, and an overall design that just works. The subtle details of this knife allow you to really enjoy all the elements that needed to come together to make it attractive.

Partial satin polished lines of the dark stonewashed titanium handle provide piping effect that almost looks like it is another piece of metal fit into the titanium as an inlay. This type of touch is exactly what differentiates Reate from so many other production knife companies today.

The same sort of thing goes for the pocket clip that is also mostly satin polished, and looks amazing on this knife. The carbon fiber inlays are of very high quality and showed no voids or divots at all. And the solid back spacer is rounded and just ever so slightly raised up above the handle of the knife to notice its presence, but not be uncomfortable. As we held the knife for the first time we also felt that the clip was positioned in just the correct spot as to not bother or disturb most grip positions. The knifes ergonomics felt completely dialed in.

Other details that add a touch of special flare include the rounded spine of the blade, and the contoured edges around most of the handle.  As for the action, we will save that for the “Feel in Hand” section, but rest assured, the 3.85 inch M390 modified drop point blade is able to make a quick appearance whenever it wants to.

Feel in Hand

The feel of the Reate K-1 is smooth for the most part, and everything is rounded off with no hard edges or corners anywhere to be found. This allows the Reate K-1 to be very comfortable in the hand, as well as in the pocket. At 4.93 ounces, the K-1 is not a particularly heavy knife considering the size of the 3.85-inch blade. The low weight can be directly attributed to the milling out of the interior titanium from the frame, along with the additional elements removed from the frame where the carbon fiber has been placed.

The Reate K-1 felt extremely well balanced, and we maintained a comfortable grip throughout our time with the knife. We spend about one week with the knife before we decided to start writing this review. During that time, we flipped the K-1 more times than we could likely count. It flips like a dream. It maintains a classic Reate flip opening action, with the detent dialed in just right. This knife, like many others from Reate ride on ceramic bearings, however the K-1 seemed slightly smoother than our previous experiences.

The Reate K-1 was also fast. It deploys very quickly, and the pocket clip is well done as well. This also aids in being able to quickly get the knife in hand from the pocket position so the blade can be flipped open. The flipping action of this knife is indeed rather addictive. The larger size blade allows the knife to close extremely smoothly as well – just be careful to pay attention or you might just cut your finger off as the blade can easily guillotine it.

The lock of this frame-lock design is also very well executed and comfortable. Like many other Reate examples, the lock contains a steel lock-bar insert that also works as an over-travel stop. It is very effective, and rather well placed such that it is not easy to spot.

Two pieces of minor criticism we can throw at the knife design relate specifically to usability. This large folder is somewhat hard use in overall design, but does not contain usable jimping. The spine of the blade offers a few extremely shallow lines that seem more useful as finger guide marks to determine where your fingers are located, and less like a usable part of the knife to help gain positive traction while cutting. Less subtle jimping would have been our preference.

The other item that is worth mentioning as a negative relates to the flipper tab in the closed position.  As we discuss in more depth below, cutting is a joy with the K-1, but hard-use cutting with gloves can be slightly problematic because the blade flipper tang is a little short for a hard use tool. For flipping open, the tab is just fine, but in the open position, the finger tab acts as a partial finger guard. As such we would prefer a slightly longer tab to accommodate for functionality as a finger guard. With gloves on and strong forward cuts, the longer the guard the better. On the flip side, a longer flipper tab may cause the tab to stick out more on the closed position, and be less comfortable in the pocket. These are the trade-offs a designer likely makes consciously and by no means a significant flaw.

Real World testing

The K-1 appears to be a semi-hard use folder, capable of taking a beating. It also seems like it could be used for self-defense if needed. Though the lack of jimping would turn us off from the latter. During our week of testing this knife we wanted to take the approach that the K-1 was more than just a pretty face. At about 400 dollars, it is not a cheap knife by most people’s definition. As such, we doubt many people buying this knife will tend to hard-use it. But our testing was ripe for K-1 assault. We needed to see what it could handle.

We started with a standard rope test. Our rope of choice is twine. It is easy to get, and it can come in big spoils, plus we tend to use it often around the house. We cut about 12 feet of twine on a BOOS cutting board surface. At the start of our test, the knife was very sharp, but with some visible micro-serrations that may either help or hurt with this type of test. The blade was dead center in the middle of the handle, and lock-up was rock solid. We wore standard workman style gloves, and began to cut.

The first 2 feet were like cutting through soft butter. The next few feet were almost as easy. But at about 5 or 6 feet of cutting the rope with one inch between each cut we started to get a bit tired. The knife was just a bit less toothy and that made us work a bit more. It was at about this point where auto-pilot sets in, and the mind starts to wander. Well at about 9 feet we performed a forward motion cut like we had probably 500 times before that one, except this time our finger slipped past the finger guard and right near the blade by the ricasso area.

I should mention that the ricasso, if any at all is extremely small, and still sharp. Thankfully, I was not cut since the gloves took the brunt of it. I also stopped before I could put all my weight down on it. It is certainly a case where this was more user-error and not really tool error at all. Needless to say, the next 3 feet or so of rope were more precise, and less haphazard. Regardless of all the drama, the knife was a cutting champ, and was still sharp enough to cut paper, and a tomato at the end of the test.

With the ‘you idiot’ moment firmly behind us, we continued to other testing. This time, the test would be less repetitive, and more deliberate. By that we are referring to culinary kitchen duties. First up, Melon.

Melon cutting is not for the faint of heart we might add. It takes a certain skill, and sometimes does not require the sharpest of knives. We decided not to sharpen our Reate K-1 after the rope test just to see how it would handle in a slightly less sharp state. The K-1 made small work of the Melon. We continued as we were preparing for a small BBQ party. Cutting of breads, vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, and celery all seemed pretty good. Though this knife is by no means a culinary designed tool, it proves that a well-executed product can serve in multiple ways. The hollow ground blade is good for some things in the kitchen, and not for others. We can certainly say that the Reate K-1 would suffice if needed for use as a camping tool, or culinary utility knife if needed. Just keep in mind that the handle can get a bit slick when wet.

Lastly, we performed our all to familiar box cutting test. It really is amazing the number of boxes one can accumulate after shopping several different days on Amazon. We had some boxes to break down, so we lightly sharpened the Reate K-1, and gave it a very quick strop. We once again used gloves for our testing. 8 boxes were needed to be cut down for recycling, none all too large though. The Reate performed well, cutting with a good bite on the blade as it slid through the cardboard. It seemed a bit above average, and the hollow edge performed well for this test. The edge also held up very nicely. Not the absolute best carboard cutter in the world, but pretty good to say the least.

Competitive Offerings

This is the part of the review where I make effort to provide some comparisons with other knives that can be cross-shopped with the Reate K-1.  Here I’ve also shared some lower cost alternatives.

Rike Thor 2 (BladeHQ) – The second in the Thor series from Rike is arguably the closest compare with the K-1, though it’s hard to come by these days just like many of Rike’s popular offerings.  The Thor 2 is similar in dimensions but weighs noticeable more at 6.1 oz (perhaps it’s major drawback) and sports a modified tanto blade.   Still, it’s a very attractive piece and executed extremely well by Rike who is well known for their attention to detail.  Check out my full review here to learn more.  Runs about 400 bucks retail.

Zero Tolerance 0055 (Amazon) – The American made ZT 0055 is based on a design from Gustavo Cecchini’s Airborne model that costs at least two thousand dollars generally. This all titanium flipper provides 3.75-inch CPM-S35VN steel that is stonewashed, and 3D machined 6AL4V titanium handles like the Reate K-1. But the ZT 0055 offers a unique twist to the flipper craze, implementing a partially hidden spring loaded flipper tab rather than a standard flipper tab seen on just about every other knife. This SLT system allows the flipping action to feel alive and new, while still technically being a manual flipper folder. At about 220 dollars street price, this is something of a unique option to have something a bit different without spending thousands of dollars on the custom from Gus.

Maxace Balance 2017 (BladeHQ) – Another knife we reviewed recently was so well received, and offered such a good value proposition we felt it made for a good value option when cross shopping a medium to large size folder. The Maxace balance 2017 was the black horse of folding flipper knives that did everything well, sports a 3.7 inch M390 blade steel, and a contoured titanium handle. At a street price of around 250 bucks, this is a knife that is worth thinking about.

WE Knife Co. 707B (BladeHQ) – The WE Knife Ntida flipper features a stonewashed 3.54 inch S35VN two-tone blade, dark stonewash titanium handles with carbon fiber inlay. With a street price of about 250 bucks, this knife is a very good mid-size contender with high level finish fighting above its weight class. For those looking to spend a bit less, and want a slightly smaller knife, along with slightly lighter weight at 4.23 oz. the WE Knife 707B could be a winner.

Final Thoughts

Truth be told we can’t get enough of Reate Knives. We already have a bunch and still yearn for more. As good as each model is, Reate knives finds a way to make each new model that little bit better. Design, production, and collaboration points all seem to never miss. David Deng appears to be making the right choices day in and day out.

As for the Reate K-1, it’s simply a wonderful production folding pocket knife. If you are a fan of amazing things, large folding knives, and demand the best of the best, the slightly sub 400 dollar Reate should be on your buy it now list.

David Deng is obviously on the winning side of production knife making. The K-1 is yet another example of this in epic physical form. The Reate K-1 is now one of our top 5 production knives ever. We can’t wait to get our hands on the Reate K-2 and K-3 models… We bet most of you can’t wait either.

The Good: Immaculate fit and finish, superb balance, first class action, stunning
The Bad: Lacks usable jimping
Bottom Line:  Another beautiful flipper from Reate setting the bar on production folders

Get it at BladeHQ

The Hultafors OK4 Expedition Knife is a light-weight outdoors fixed blade in the classic Nordic style.   As such it is very similar in design to several of its competitors (i.e Mora), but with ergonomic improvements, tougher construction, and several other additional features.  However, the OK4 costs more than most of its competition.  Is that extra money well spent?

Get it at Amazon

The Hultafors OK4 Expedition knife is a companion style fixed blade knife.  It is a capable blade, that prioritizes light weight and portability.  The OK4 is well suited for hiking or pairing with a larger cutting tool for the finer tasks that an ax or saw are too clumsy for.  As such this moderately sized knife utilizes a 93mm Scandinavian ground blade made of Japanese high carbon steel with an 82mm partial tang.  It features an exceptionally comfortable handle, a plastic sheath with nylon belt loop, and Ferrocerium rod holder.  The OK4 is reviewed here with the Hultafors fire steel FS Ferrocerium rod (sold separately), that fits perfectly in the holder found on the OK4’s sheath.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.6″
• Overall Length: 8.25″
• Handle Length: 4.52″
• Weight: 4.2 oz
• Blade Material: Carbon steel
• Handle Material: Polypropylene plastic
• Country of Origin: Taiwan
• Price Range: About $30

The Blade

The 3.6 inch blade on the Hultafors OK4 is made of 3mm thick Japanese high carbon steel.  The grind is Scandinavian, meaning that instead of using a primary and secondary bevel (grinds at two different angles) to form the cutting edge, it uses just one bevel on each side.  This makes for a sharper edge than other grinds as it comes to the finest possible point.  The drawback is that it is also the most fragile.

The actual type of steel is not listed on any information provided by the manufacturer – typically a red flag.  Still, under normal outdoors use, it performed quite well.  The blade held a sharp edge similarly to other budget carbon steels.   The edge out of box was quite sharp, but the bevel was ground fairly coarsely with initial grind marks clearly visible even under the blade coating.  Arguably they skipped the medium grit abrasives, but spent extra time refining the final edge.  As such, the blade cut very well out of the box easily cutting paper and took off arm hairs without discomfort.  Carving feather sticks, cutting bow drill divot holes, and notching wood were also smooth operations.

The OK4 is a partial tang knife meaning that the blade steel only goes about two thirds of the way through the handle.  As we describe in our Survival Knife Guide, this is not as strong as a full tang design, but here it is substantially longer than most partial tang knives.  The knife did not fail in our testing, even with aggressive batoning.  The short blade only spans small two or three inch limbs, but the OK4 split kindling with ease.  The only damage the OK4 took was to the coating on the 90 degree spine, where the impact of the baton chipped the finish off.  Though to be fair with that coating removed the OK4 scraped sparks from the Hultafors Fire Steel FS much better than when fully coated, so I can’t complain.

After half an hour of wood processing, the blade lost its ‘out of the box’ edge.  A good stropping brought the edge right back to sharp.  A second round of wood processing gave similar results.  Having taken typical use with little ill effect, I gave the blade a real work out batoning larger limbs against the grain. After this, the knife would still cut paper, though not as cleanly as before, however it would not shave arm hair even with aggressive pressure.

As a harder survival oriented test I opened a tin can with the OK4.  Batoning the tip threw the top of the can with hand strikes and repeating around the edge until it was open.   To be fair this was an abusive test, but as the steel was almost a complete unknown I needed to go beyond my normal testing regiment.  This forced three small chips on the belly of the OK4, but impressively the tip survived intact.  The knife still cut paper but hung up on the chips.  This damage honed out with just a few moments of work on a 1000 grit wet stone.  The heat treat appears to be appropriate, though possibly slightly over-hardened having chipped on the softer tin.  Other reviewers have found similar results, the steel holds up perfectly well to normal use, but will chip when pressed beyond safe sane knife use.

I then fully resharpened the blade on my wet stones.  The simple grind and broad bevel made for easy hand sharpening.  The blade also has large flat sides perfect for consistent angle sharpening system clamps.  The steel felt medium hard, working with it was less difficult than with an ultra hard tool steel, but it was tougher than cheep overly soft steels.  In the end the OK4 took a wicked edge and polished without difficulty.

The blade is coated in a “rust protective electrophoretic deposition coating”.  This coating holds up to wear quite well, and was quite resistant to abrasion, though heavy impact will remove chips.  It is smooth to the touch and has much lower drag than the rough truck liner style coatings commonly found on some budget fixed blades.  After significant portions were sharpened away, drag in slicing was noticeably reduced.  Just remember after sharpening the large Scandi bevels have a lot of metal unprotected, so regular oiling will need be an important part of maintenance to prevent rust.

Handle and Ergonomics

Handle ergonomics are where the Hultafors OK4 really shines.  Fans of budget Nordic style knives know they are great cutters, but many lack for creature comfort.  The OK4 remedies this with a wonderful medium soft Santoprene handle overlay.  This comfortable rubberized material has a grooved pattern for additional traction.  Combine this with a long palm swell and forward and rear finger guards and you have a pleasantly secure grip.  In hand, this knife just plain feels good, even when using it hard.

The ribbed Santoprene provides the perfect amount of give and grip, just enough friction to give you a confident secure hold.  Under heavy pressure the ribs can become minor hot spots.  However, unlike a harder more aggressively textured material, once pressure is released the hot spots quickly fade.  If you become uncomfortable using the OK4, relax and adjust your grip and you’re good to go again.  The abuse taken from G10 and the like tend to accumulate over the course of use, leading to chafed sore hands.  The OK4 also works well with gloves, as the Santoprene grips leather and synthetic material just as securely as skin.

Hammer, saber, and reverse grips are all extremely comfortable with no hot spots.  In a chest lever grip (holding the knife with the sharpened edge extending from thumb side of your hand facing back towards your arm) the rear finger guard can poke into the flesh of your hand.  Choking up helps, but this is not how my hand naturally falls on the knife.  When compared to similar knives, the Hultafors has an extra 7mm of handle length and more gentle slope on the rear finger guard.  These mitigating features help make this the smallest offender of the group, but it is a design compromise common to all knives with this style handle.

The last remarkable handle feature is the angle of the front finger guard.  There are 45 degree flats angling in towards the blade on both sides of the handle.  When choking up, these are more comfortable than the round ones found on other such knives.  More importantly it gives a stable platform to carve against.  Making consistent flat cuts with the OK4 is much easier than with knives featuring rounded front finger guards.

Sheath and Carry Manners

The plastic sheath on the OK4 features a fabric belt loop and ferro rod holder.  It is well thought out and carries the knife safely and quietly.  There is a drainage hole at the bottom, which is a must for any knife and doubly so for a carbon steel blade with large exposed Scandi grind bevels.  To aid in extraction there is an excellent external thumb nob to push off from.  The angle and placement of the nob are a perfect foil to the tight grip the sheath keeps on the knife.

Retention on the knife is excellent and achieved with the combination of a friction seal and tabs to hold the front finger guard.  The sheath is shaped so that the grippy rubberized handle comes into contact with 180 degrees of the inside of the sheath.  The knife will not fall out or rattle even when turned upside down and shaken with force.  The set up is not completely silent though, as the button on the belt loop does rattles lightly.

The sheath attaches to the belt by a 3 inch loop of high quality nylon webbing that is single stitched.   The elastic band on the midsection is also the home of the ferro rod holder.  The knife and FS Fire Steel carry well; the set up dangles and flexes comfortably as you move about.  Both the plastic and fabric sections have both held up to my use with no noticeable wear.

The belt loop is held in by a button in a plastic extension of the sheath.  The fabric portion is removable, but you are left with only a button hole as your sole method of attachment.  This is intended to be used with buttons commonly found on European style work pants.  If you go this route you must unhook a folded plastic section to remove or attach the sheath.  This makes for a secure carry option, but is cumbersome in practice.  Worth noting here, Morakniv sheaths nobs will mate with the OK4’s button hole, allowing you to piggy back them together.  Both round and shield shaped Mora knobs are compatible, but the shields are much more tricky to seat properly.

There are, however a few flaws in the sheath.  The largest being that you are forced into vertical carry.  There is no option carry this knife horizontally.  Also, the sheath is not as heavy duty as others in this style, as there is some flex in the plastic.  Finally, the folded plastic used in the button holder will likely be prone to wear as there is no rotating hinge of any kind.  If you make extensive use of the button holder, the lifespan of the sheath might not match that of the knife.

Fit and Finish

Fit and finish is the clear weakness of the Hultafors OK4.  There is a 1.5 inch gouge on the spine of this particular example reviewed here.  This is not a flaw unique to this knife as it is seen on other OK4’s found online.  After considerable testing, I feel confident that this is not a structural defect.  However, it is a major and unsightly flaw that I am surprised made it past quality control.  A second smaller issue is noticeable injection mold seams on the hard green plastic sections of the handle.

Past these two issues, the rest of the fit and finish is quite good.  The blade coating was even and well applied.  The printing and logos are all crisp and well laid out.  The two types of handle plastic are mated well and have not frayed or come loose.  Plus, the ribbed texturing on the handle is perfect.   As the handle is the stand out feature on the OK4, I am pleased that it was not subject to the major flaw found on the blade.

Hultafors Fire Steel FS

This 10mm x 100mm Ferrocerium rod fits snugly in the nylon webbing of the OK4 sheath.  The FS includes a two inch loop of shock cord with a plastic fob at the end.  The loop provides for a more secure grip than naked ferro rods, but a proper handle would have been ideal.  The shock cord does, however, loop around the front of the rod and secures it to the sheath quite nicely.

The Ferrocerium itself is of good quality and when used with a properly sharp steel surface will throw many sparks.  Out of the box the 90 degree spine of the OK4 works well with the FS.  However, after the coating was “removed” from the spine, spark production was notably increased.  I was easily able to ignite combustion with this matching pare.

Competitive Offerings

Morakniv Craftline Robust (~$17) – The Craftline Robust is the most direct competitor to the OK4, and at half the price is a fine tool.  The steel is a little less prone to chips and the sheath is a little thicker.  That said it feels just like a tool in your hand. The rear handle guard has an even more problematic hot spot and the front guard is rounded.  The blade spine is not ground at 90 degrees for use with a ferro rod nor is there a holder for one.  The sheath has far less retention, and the handle materials are much less comfortable.  If every penny counts, the Craftline Robust is a solid choice, but in most ways it is simply out shined by the OK4.

Morakniv Bushcraft Black (~$43) – The Bushcraft Black is one of Mora’s most popular heavy duty outdoors knives, it offers an additional inch of blade length and a longer more “natural” feeling handle with out the pronounced finger guards.  This gives a much better chest leaver grip, but the random nob on the butt end is not ideal for reversed grips.  Pick your poison, which grip do you use least?  This Mora’s sheath has improved retention compared to other models but still uses a hard plastic loop for belt attachment.  Plus the Bushcraft Black is usually about $13 more than the OK4.

Cold Steel Finn Hawk (~$23) – Cold Steel’s version of a traditional Nordic knife is more hand filling than the OK4 with its wide grippy handle.   In general I like the ergonomics of the OK4 a little more, but the Finn Hawk features a thumb groove in the back of the handle making it the hammer fist king.  It includes a lanyard hole and a 90 degree spine but is only a half length tang.  The sheath uses an open plastic belt clasp much like many Moras, but it retains the knife as well as the OK4 sheath.

Marttiini Condor Timberjack – (~$20)  The Timberjack has more aggressive texturing and finger guards than any of the other knives in the round up, further exacerbating the hot spot found with chest leaver grip.   Your only carry option is a crude belt slot.  It does however have a 90 degree spine and, by most accounts, comes out of the box with the sharpest initial cutting edge.

Condor Bushlore (~$45) – The Condor is the most expensive knife in this round up as it has a full tang, 90 degree spine, lanyard hole, uses natural materials, and is semi-handmade.  The Condor handle has a great shape, but no texturing.  Fans of organic handles will love the construction, but in wet conditions the knife will become slick.  The leather sheath has great retention, but no drainage hole and with the 1075 high carbon steel might be a source of rust.  Combining the full tang and Condors respected heat treatment, this will physically be the strongest knife in the round up, not to mention the most beautiful by a long shot.

Conclusions

The Hultafors OK4 Expedition knife is a solid light weight outdoors knife with a fantastic handle and a few flaws.  If you want a capable and comfortable tool that will not weigh you down on a long hike this stands among the best budget Nordic style knives on the market.

The blade is on the short side and is not full tang, but it still proved more than tough enough to hold up to the tasks we threw at it.  The steel is prone to minor chipping if you push the knife past common sense, and there are some obvious fit and finish issues issues that should not have happened.  However, in terms of charm and features, this knife stands head and shoulders above its competition.  The Hultafors OK4 Expedition Knife, is the sort of product that will surely spark diverse opinions, though all such opinions will come along with a pair of very happy hands.

Get it at Amazon

The Good: Light weight, great handle, value for money
The Bad: Fit n finish lacking, blade little too short, partial tang
Bottom Line:  A decent budget fixed blade option

Review by Seth Gunn

After several months of ownership, we decided we had to share our views on the Brian Nadeau Mini Typhoon. Brian makes knives under his company name Sharp By Design and has built quite a reputation in recent years.  With all the buzz we just had to check out the Mini Typhoon an boy was it worth the wait.

Check availability at BladeHQ

But why are we reviewing a custom knife when our focus is typically production knives?  Well, at roughly 550 bucks for our custom knife, it’s in the same ballpark as many of the high-end production knives under our coverage.  Also, Brian has established a very good name for himself in the folding custom knife world with a reputation for realistic build dates that seldom take longer than the ETA posted on the tin. In our case, we pre-ordered from Brian’s website directly during his first batch order offering, and received it on-time roughly 3 months later.

For those unaware of Sharp By Design and Brian Nadeau, he designs and builds his knives out of his home shop. He makes everything other than the screws and bearings. Brian designs, programs, machines, finishes, and assembles each custom knife – built to order. His website allows custom selections, with additional options to upgrade the knife if you desire. The customization is very detailed, allowing you to select the exact anodization color tone to the specific electromagnetic frequency.

Brian Nadaeu is an extremely talented and decorated knife maker who has won several awards for his folding knives, including the coveted 2015 tactical knife of the year award by Blade magazine for his full-sized version of the knife we are going to discuss today.

Key Specs

The Mini Typhoon is custom knife that truly lives up to the legacy of its larger big brother, the “Typhoon” released in late 2014 (we have one of these too and love it by the way.) We customized our Mini Typhoon, the smaller brother with big shoes to fill by going online and selected our options in advance.

Given that this knife is a custom, and because of all the different Mini Typhoon configurations available, weight will vary depending on the style you select, along with whether you opt for the optional internally milled titanium handles. As it stands, our version of the Mini Typhoon weighs in at about 4.4 ounces.

The following generic specification details have been taken directly from Brian’s website:

• Blade Length: 3.5″
• Overall Length: 8.0″
• Weight: 4.4 oz
• Blade Material: CPM-S90V
• Handle Material: 6Al4V Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: USA
• Price Range: About $550 and up

We received our Mini Typhoon from Brian Nadeau packaged in a mock-pelican like mini case. It is made of plastic and looks black with “Sharp By Design” in bold green on the top of this hard case. It is a classy and safe way to receive the knife.

As we opened the case we saw our version of the Mini Typhoon and it appeared exactly as we had optioned it. Stonewashed handles with several hole cutouts throughout the both sides of the handle scales.  We also had the pocket clip made to match the scales. The blade is made of CPM-S90V, the good stuff I’m sure you’re familiar with (and if not check this out).  We had Brian blast and tumble the 3.5-inch blade which also has a fully running within the traditional tanto style blade. This knife looked very utilitarian, just as we wanted it. It had a slightly tactical look to it, but in a good way. Note that blade finishes and styles of blade can be customized.

As we held the knife for the first time we loved the feel. It was a perfectly well suited size for us as about 8 inches in total open length. The flipper tab is well situated, and is easy to engage. Our Mini Typhoon is a very attractive and understated knife.

Oh and by the way, Brian has confirmed that there’s a Micro-Typhoon with 3-inch blade in the works!

Feel in Hand

The knife is essentially the smaller version of the Typhoon full sized model. This Mini Typhoon has been made smaller to allow for an easier overall EDC experience. It also makes it a bit more tolerable by states that have sub 3.6-inch blade prohibitive carry laws.

The feel in hand is wonderful. It feels comfortable and everything is rounded and finished perfectly. Overall, the knife feels light and yet still very firm. A very solid full fingered grip allows for assurance and connection to the handle and thus the blade when in the open position.

One of the trademarks of Brian’s design is in the feel of the flipper as well as the detent nub for his frame lock when disengaging the knife. It is worth highlighting that the detent is a bit different than most other flipper folding knives. It has no actual detent ball.  Instead Brian starts with thicker material for the lockbar insert which he then machines away to leave the detent nub.  The feel is very smooth and buttery as a result. It is also rather quick, if not utterly fast and feels almost buttery when it opens or closes.

We are happy with the speed of the knife. As for the tolerances, they are spot on. Everything is tight where it should be, and lined up perfectly center. We love to deploy the blade of this knife. We also thoroughly enjoy the frame lock design that allows for a very easy disengagement of this style design. It takes a few minutes to get used to in terms of looks, but the action and usage are just right. Brian’s execution makes the knife feel extremely smooth and consistent.

As for hand ergonomics, simply put they are good. This is not a knife with many sweeping contours for the grip, but closer to a candy bar style frame with a comfortable slight cutaway for the index finger area. It is comfortable.

The pocket clip sits low and very tight on the knife handle. It does not bother the hand. The implantation of this spring clip coming through the handle is also quite unique. The clip comes up from the inside of the handle scale and hides the screws for the knife on the inside. The appearance is entirely different than anything else we have seen from any other maker or production model knife. We love it aesthetically. It is one of the most comfortable and usable titanium spring clips we have ever felt on any knife in the hand.

It is also worth mentioning that the clip comes extremely tight, and will require some breaking in. Getting it in and out of the pocket the first few weeks was rough. It is so tight that two hands where needed to put in and out of pocket. After about 3 weeks it loosened up some, and after 7 weeks we noticed that it became perfect to get in and out of pocket. Note it is for right side, tip up carry, and is not a deep carry style clip, though it does sit reasonably deep in the pocket.

Real World Testing

Perhaps counter to the logic of many, our custom Mini Typhoon was purchased to be a EDC user knife. Sure, one may claim that it may be collectible, or perhaps costs too much money to use in that capacity. For those who are thinking such things I should remind you that a sub 600-dollar knife is now not exclusively for the custom knife market. We have tested and reviewed several more debatably exclusive and expensive knives from production companies. This knife is designed per our requirement, and is made by an incredible maker in Brian Nadeau by hand.

With that said, we have carried this knife on and off as a primary or secondary carry EDC for almost 3 months. We are pleased to tell you that this knife is a wonderful addition to our collection. The CPM-S90V stainless super steel is a wonderful thing. The sharpness level that we received the knife gives full marks to the company name ‘Sharp by Design”. What we really enjoy about this knife is the overall size. In the closed position, the knife is not too small, and not all that big. Depending on our mood, our clothing attire, and/or our destination we can use the Mini Typhoon as either a secondary carry to a larger knife, or our primary carry on our strong side. The versatility is a great thing. Most of the time, this knife has been used as a secondary carry.

We performed minor testing with the Mini Typhoon, but nothing all too formal. What that basically means is that we gave a few turns cutting at corrugated board, rope cutting, as well as all other standard EDC cutting tasks that came up when we carried it. As we tested other knives, we often performed quick A-B comparisons against it. We are completely happy with the knife as a cutter.

We are not big fans of the paper cutting test as we feel every knife we test should be able to perform this test pretty well because it is a freakin’ knife designed to cut things. Often those knives that perform poorly on such a test tend to simply have a poor edge which we can clean up and sharpen right quick. With few exceptions, most knives with proper sharpened/stropped edges will cut paper. A few knives such in the production world such as a Rockstead Higo, and Rockstead Shin, Shirogorov Hati, Shirogorov Neon, etc. perform this particular test extremely well. Our example of the Sharp By Design Mini Typhoon is a worthy addition to that list. It is sharp, and it can cut like know one’s business.

As for cutting rope, it certainly can do the job, but we prefer larger and heavier knives for such a task. We can’t really speak to performance in the kitchen, but we would advise against it. Also for those looking for defensive carry options, it might be a stretch to have the Mini Typhoon bulked in as a true tactical knife. It is just not large enough, though the full sized Typhoon could certainly cut the mustard assuming the grip was not slippery.

In the suburban setting, we have used the Mini Typhoon it could not have performed or served us better. Still no need to sharpen this thing by the way… the S90V steel holds a very solid edge.

Competitive offerings

Except for the Grimsmo Rask, we have never taken the time to perform a full-length review of a custom knife. Competition as a result is a bit hard to measure. What we can tell you is that this knife is great value in the custom arena, and also in comparison against the high end production and mid-tech markets. keep that in mind when we offer up a couple of competitors.

Shirogorov Neon (~$750) – The Neon straddles the line between production knife and something more. To us, it is certainly a mid-tech tier item that has all but the actual pure custom elements one might find in the Mini Typhoon. It is a very capable little knife, and is lightly smaller when compared to the Mini Typhoon. The Neon can be had with either M390 or S90V blade steel but is otherwise not customizable. We strongly endorse the Neon as a small EDC, and think it is a formidable competitor to any small or medium sized knife in the high-end production, or custom world.  With all that in mind, the Rask is the custom knife. At about 675 bucks to start, the Rask is quite a deal. For comparison, at about 750 bucks the mid-tech version of the Neon is more expensive, and this if you can even get your hands on one. Secondary market pricing is actually higher, and can sell well over 800 bucks.

Grimsmo Rask (~$675) – We recently published a review of the Grimsmo Rask custom folding knife. It was given very high praise, as is the Mini-Typhoon in this review. The Rask is the second folding knife offering from Grimsmo knives, and departs from its Norseman stablemate by offering a smaller 3.4” traditional style drop-point blade.  The blade size is just a hair small compared to the Mini Typhoon at 3.5 inches. They both feel great in hand, and perform very well as small primary EDC, or large secondary carry options. The execution of these knives is a bit different however.

The Typhoon is more semi-tactical inspired in appearance and overall design. The Rask is more of a utility EDC the way we tend to look at the aesthetics based purely on root design and intentions. Either knife would give you gobs of enjoyment and usability, and perhaps collectibility. Starting price of the Mini Typhoon comes in cheaper at about $550, whereas the Norseman is a bit north of that to start. However, optioned up, either knife can extend pretty high to about double the base price… so keep an eye on those options.

The Grimso Rask can be ordered direct from there website with wait and build times that are getting quicker and quicker. We recently heard from John Grimsmo who stated he hoped to get build times down to about 2 weeks once they have perfected the process. Brian Nadeau of Sharp By Design tends to produce is bursts. His first run of the Mini Typhoon has completed. All knives have been completed, and he is now getting ready to accept orders for another run of Mini Typhoons soon. He is very punctual about getting his knives out on time, and you can expect about 3 months wait from the time the run begins until when you get your Mini Typhoon. If you have the means, we would suggest snagging both great knives while you can.

Final Thoughts

Custom knives are not for everyone. They can be costly, and may take a while to get once you have placed your order. They can be collectible, or not depending on the number made, and who the maker is. We enjoy all types of folding knives, and feel that the Mini Typhoon is a wonderful example of the craftsmanship and design efforts of an extremely talented human in Brian Nadeau. In 2015 Brian won the Blade Show best tactical folder award for his full-sized Typhoon, and continued with his Hurricane model that is also a wonderful folder. This guy knows how to make very good knives, and he charges prices that are very reasonable relative to many other custom makers.

The Mini Typhoon is one of the best small to medium sized EDC tactical inspired knives we have ever used at this price range. The only criticism we can muster to write about is the pocket clip break in time. But that is the nature of some knives… a break in period may be required, and is often designed that way.

Given the ability to customize the knife to make it look and feel just the way you want it, we can’t endorse the Brian’s work, or this knife any greater. If you are looking for one knife that you can EDC that performs almost all types of duties, and will not cost that much more than a Sebenza, we think you owe it to yourself to check the Mini-Typhoon out for yourself.

The Good: Hand made to perfection, customizable as hell, great value
The Bad: Pocket clip needs break in
Bottom Line: Near the very pinnacle in every sense

Check availability at BladeHQ

Sometimes, a lightweight super thin slicer just won’t do.  Enter, the hard use folding knife capable of heavy duty applications .  There’s something reassuring about the heft of a big, chunky knife in your pocket that makes you feel like you can accomplish anything.  So save the Swiss Army for another day and tighten your belt a notch because we’re looking at the best heavy-duty EDC knives.

For the purposes of this list, we’ve picked several criteria that identify knives as heavy duty.  Primarily, they’re big: all these blades are at least 3.5” of blade length, because you can’t do “heavy duty” stuff with a 2” blade.  They all have relatively thick blade stock, so you’re not nervous about snapping the tip off when you’re digging into the hood of a Jeep in a junk yard.  And they’re all equipped with extremely strong locks or other features which increase safety when the blade is open.  So go ahead, and slip into something… heavier-duty.

The Benchmade 275 Adamas is the prototypical heavy-duty Benchmade folder – or at least since the Large Rukus left production, and took its 4.25” flat ground blade with it.  Not to worry: the Shane Sibert-designed Adamas is all the overbuilt Benchmade goodness you’ll ever need.

It’s a big knife, without a doubt: stretching out 8.70” overall, the Adamas weighs in at a hefty 7.70 ounces. The blade is 3.82” long, and has a shallow flat grind with a spine that stretches almost halfway down the blade before the primary bevel begins.  There’s also a fuller groove for strength.  Made out of D2, an old-school high speed tool steel that’s long on strength and edge retention but short on corrosion resistance, the black coating serves as a barrier against rust. With a Rockwell rating between 60 and 62, the Adamas will stay sharp for quite a long time.

Like most Benchmade’s, the Adamas features the Axis lock – a slick piece of engineering that uses two omega-shaped springs to force a lock bar on top of the tang of the blade, which is anchored to the scales and liners.  It’s very smooth engaging and disengaging, and in the Adamas it’s overbuilt compared to “normal” Benchmade’s – they claim the lock can withstand up to 800 pounds of lock pressure before failing, which is borderline ridiculous.

You can get an Adamas in either black or tan G10 handles, with a plain edge or a partially serrated blade.  There’s also an automatic version available for an extra $40 if you’re legally allowed to purchase and carry one where you live.

There are plenty of choices for a heavy-duty knife from Spyderco: the stunning integral handle Rassenti Nirvana, the enormous Tatanka with its modified lockback, the beefy Peter Carey Rubicon – but the Manix 2 XL is a heavy-duty knife done Spyderco style. It’s a big knife: with a 3.875” blade and an overall length of just shy of 9” open, the weight of 5.20 ounces is actually pretty light.  Especially considering that it’s full stainless liners under G10.

The party piece of the Manix 2 is the ball-bearing lock, a design so strong that the weak point is almost inevitably the handle itself rather than the lock components.  A stainless steel ball is pushed by a coil spring on top of the blade tang, functioning in a similar manner to the Axis lock but with a narrower overall profile and a smooth disengagement once broken in.

The ergonomics are classic Spyderco: deep finger choils allow a solid rearward or forward choked up grip.  The blade is a tall leaf-shaped blade, full flat ground from CPM S30V with a 3.36” effective cutting edge. Like other high-end domestic produced Spyderco’s, nice details abound: there are flush-fitting body screws that line up with the scales when tightened down, a press-fitted lanyard tube that acts as a structural member at the back of the handle, and a stainless spoon-style clip that’s configured for ambidextrous tip up carry.

The oversized thumb hole allows you to open the blade from the front or the back, or you can you pull back on the lock release and whip the blade out.  While the regular Manix 2 in lightweight format is a great candidate for the ideal “every day carry” knife, the Manix 2 XL makes a convincing argument that there’s nothing wrong with carrying an almost 4” blade on a day to day basis.

Picking just one Zero Tolerance (ZT) knife to represent the brand as a heavy-duty EDC is difficult; hard-use knives are ZT’s bread and butter.  They’re what the brand started out making before it became the Lexus to Kershaw’s Toyota, and made in the USA to boot.  A lot of their products now focus more on premium materials and big name designers than super thick blades and overbuilt construction – which isn’t a bad thing, the Sinkevich ZT’s are amazing – but thankfully if you still want a pocket tank of a ZT there’s some choices.

It’s hard to select just one, but for us it’s the Les George designed 0909.  Why?  Well, it has a lot of the hallmarks of old ZT’s and some of the nicer features of new ones that creates a wonderful mix of high tech and heavy duty.  The blade is no lightweight: at just under .16” thick, the drop point blade is made of CPM S35VN, the perfect all-around stainless steel for everyday use.  A stonewash finish resists corrosion and gives the 0909 a beautiful appearance. A high hollow grind with a narrow swedge puts some strength behind the tip while still helping the 0909 slice as well as can be expected.

Like most new ZT’s, the 0909 utilizes a flipper and rides on a KVT caged ball bearing pivot, making deployment quick and effortless.  But shades of older ZT’s abound: a 3/8” hex head bolt adjusts pivot tension like the classic 0200 and 0300 models, so there’s no need to worry about stripping out a delicate torx screw.  Contoured G10 scales sit atop full stainless liners with a very thick liner lock – bigger than some frame locks. A deep carry pocket clip is configured for ambidextrous tip up carry, and flow through construction makes cleaning the 0909 out as easy as blowing compressed air through it.  If you want a big chunk of something old and new, the 0909 is ready for anything you can throw at it.

What more do we need to say?  If you want a heavy duty knife, Cold Steel is a first stop.  And if you want a heavy-duty designer, Andrew Demko has your number.  The creator of the incredibly strong Tri-Ad lock is a smart and soft spoken individual whose knives run the gamut from mild to wild.  The 4-Max is the most advanced production knife Cold Steel has ever made.  Originally US made but then Cold Steel has shifted production to an Italian manufacturer using the same materials, likely LionSteel who is known for their fit and finish and tight machining.

The 4-Max is based on Demko’s AD10 model, a popular knife with the custom folder crowd.  Unusually for such an adaptation, the 4-Max is significantly bigger than the AD10 – with a 4” blade versus a 3.75”, and an overall length of 10” versus the AD10’s 8.75”.   Make no mistake, the 4-Max stretches the definition of “everyday carry” to the very limits, with a pant-sagging 9.20 oz weight.  To put that in perspective, that’s more than a Manix 2 Lightweight, Al Mar Eagle Ultralight, and a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 – combined.

What do you get for that paperweight figure?  Well, there are full titanium liners covered by contoured desert tan G10.  A super thick (0.18”) 4” long stonewashed drop point blade made from CPM-20CV steel – similar to CTS-204p and Bohler M390 at the very top of today’s class of super steels, offering extreme wear resistance, toughness, and corrosion resistance.  Of course there’s the Demko-designed Tri-Ad lock, which is overbuilt to an absurd degree here making what Cold Steel claims is one of the strongest folding knives in the world.  There’s also a geared titanium backspacer, and the overall fit and finish of the knife is several steps above Cold Steel’s normal products.  If you don’t mind the extreme mass or the high price tag, you can get one of the toughest knives ever made with the best materials on the market for less than half the cost of a true custom.

Almost every time we publish a top ten list, at least one LionSteel winds up on it.  Whether it’s lightweight EDC’s, Gentleman’s folders, or heavy-duty, chances are you’ll see one of their products – and maybe more, considering LionSteel has become the go-to OEM for small brands (like the DPx Gear and Pohl Force) as well as for bigger brands that want to make a small run of high-end knives (like the CRKT Hi-Jinx, Spyderco LionSpy, and the Bastinelli BBR2).  LionSteel’s own products are always amazing to handle and to use – and the TM1 breaks a lot of new ground for the Italian brand.

What’s so special?  How about an integral frame (single piece) with a lockback?  Oh, and a ball-bearing pivot.  How exactly do they assemble these knives?  Can’t say we know, but that’s LionSteel’s trick: turning magic into knives.  An integral frame means there’s no weak spot for the hardware to shear apart, and also gives a uniquely smooth grip in hand.

The TM1 comes in two versions: a Micarta handle version in the $200 range, or a carbon fiber version in the mid-$300 range.  The weight difference between the two is negligible (about a tenth of an ounce) but a single 3D-contoured slab of carbon fiber certainly is pretty.  As with a lot of LionSteel knives, the blade is incredibly thick – a 0.18” chunk of Sleipner steel, which is an upgrade of D2 but with superior corrosion resistance and edge retention.

The 3.5” blade has a high flat grind and a clip point shape with a high tip – above the centerline of the blade, a characteristic of Molletta’s designs that makes them good for hunting and batoning, but sometimes cumbersome in everyday use.  But then again, the TM1 isn’t really intended for slicing open mail and packages from Amazon.  If you want a heavy-duty knife from (or made by) LionSteel you’re spoiled for choices – it’s hard to make this list and not include the ultra-beefy SR1 or Spyderco LionSpy – but the TM1 goes above and beyond the industry norm to deliver a folder that’s both heavy-duty and beautiful – a sure winner.

If the Sebenza is the king of high end production daily carry knives (debatable, yes), then the Umnumzaan is Chris Reeve’s interpretation of the ideal hard-use daily carry knife.  That’s not to say the Umnumzaan (which never gets easier to pronounce) is rough around the edges, just that it’s got more meat in the places where a Sebenza is lithe and light.

While it might look like “just another titanium frame lock folder”, the devil’s in the details – lots of small things add up to make the Umnumzaan stronger than most folders.  The oversized pivot barrel carries two hollowed out thrust washers that extend almost to the edge of the scales, which carry fluorinated grease in pockets to keep the action smooth and the lubricant itself free from contaminants longer than a typical solid phosphor-bronze washer.

The thumb stud openers also double as the stop pins for the blade, and each has a rubber gasket set into a channel which cushions the impact of the blade as it opens – an innovation by the inimitable Grant & Gavin Hawk.  Another interesting tech tidbit is the interface between the lock bar and the blade tang isn’t actually the lock bar itself, but a ceramic ball that also works as the closed detent, so there’s no titanium-on-steel lock stick.  A clever and intricate piece of machining that could only spring out of the fertile mind of South Africa and/or Idaho’s most prolific knifemaker.

The rest of the knife is somewhat conventional but decidedly high end.  Blade steel is Crucible CPM S35VN, which Chris Reeve participated in the development of as a replacement for CPM S30V.  The 3.675” blade is available as a drop point or a tanto shape, both with a smooth stonewashed finish. The 6AL4V titanium handles use hourglass stainless standoffs for flow through construction, and a bent steel pocket clip fits into a machined channel on the lock bar side, for right hand tip up carry.

The cost is high, but the standard of construction at Chris Reeve is commensurate with the lofty price tag.  CRK has spent decades building up a reputation as a company that produces nothing but perfectly made knives, and they don’t turn out 14 new products per quarter, preferring to focus on evolutionary quality improvements to their products.  The Umnumzaan applies those strict principles to a heavy-duty folder, so what’s not to love?

Reate is proof that the cutlery industry in China isn’t all Taylor Brands junk or Frost Cutlery throwaway knives.  David Deng is a knife enthusiast first, and a machining perfection enthusiast right behind that – and every knife that comes out of his facility pushes the boundaries of perfection for how good a “production” knife can actually be.  Reate is so good at making knives that other people use them as an OEM for midtechs – most notably Todd Begg, who subcontracts the Steelcraft series (the Sun Tzu Kwaiken, Mini Bodega, and Field Marshall) out to Reate.

The Horizon is a long-running series of knives from Reate, the first two of which – the Horizon A and Horizon B – have already been discontinued.  For now, the Horizon lineup consists of the Horizon C, the Horizon D-Ti, and the Horizon CF.  All of them have the same basic shape – an organic flowing handle with a deep rear choil, and a 3.75” drop point blade with fuller that runs towards the top of the blade.  They’re all titanium framelocks, with a thick lockbar and a replaceable lockbar insert.  And like all Reates, they’re exceptional flippers – with unique multi-row caged ball bearings, with 18 ceramic ball bearings in two concentric circles per side to distribute the load more evenly for a smoother action.

The differences are in materials.  The Horizon C, the lower end model, has flat titanium scales available in natural grey or an anodized black or light blue finish. A 3D-machined titanium pocket clip, oversized pivot hardware, and titanium standoffs aren’t normally features of a $250 retail knife. On the black coated version the clip and standoffs are gold, while the blue version has matching blue hardware.  The blade is stonewashed Crucible CPM S35VN stainless steel, hardly low-end stuff, but things get even more impressive when stepping up to the Horizon D.

The Horizon D-Ti has intricately 3D-Machined titanium handles in a fluted pattern, and a bright blue geared backspacer adds visual interest.  A topographical pattern is etched into the blue pivot and 3D pocket clip, and blue hardware brightens up the whole package.  The blade is still a 3.75” stonewashed drop point but steel is upgraded to Bohler M390 for the Horizon D, with a 62 Rockwell – this steel is widely recognized as one of the absolute best stainless cutlery steels currently available.  The Horizon D-CF features all the same upgrades but the display side is a solid piece of 3D machined carbon fiber with the same fluted pattern, for about a 1 ounce weight reduction over the solid Horizon C models.  Both of the Horizon D’s retail for $399 – it’s up to you if the aesthetic details and the steel upgrade are worth the $150 price bump, but the Horizon C is hardly “slumming it.”  A knife that functions equally as a piece of art, an addictively fun flipper, and a hard-use blade is a rare combination.

Hogue in general makes heavy-duty knives.  The Allen Elishewitz designed line of fixed and folding knives has been making waves with enthusiasts, with their top-notch fit and finish, solid materials, and smooth button-lock action.  We reviewed the EX-04 recently and found its mix of unique ergonomics and design and high quality materials to be quite memorable.  The latest design from Hogue’s knife division is sure to not be forgotten – the X-5 Flipper is a striking knife.

The primary draw is that it combines a button lock with a flipper – there are only two other button lock flipper knives on the market, both from more obscure brands than Hogue – the Freeman Knives 451 BLF and the Spartan Knives Pallas. The X-5’s party trick is its patent-pending blade retention system, which is unique when it comes to knives.  There is a thin metal spring plate mounted inside the handle on the lock side with a detent ball.  A channel is cut radially around the pivot of the blade that ramps up into the detent hole, so when the blade is closed the spring provides tension for a faster opening – traditionally a weak point of button lock knives, which is usually overcome by a full-on coil spring in automatic knives.  By integrating a detent ball into a button lock, they’ve made a knife that closes as smoothly as a normal button lock, but opens very quickly.  Clever technology.

The blade comes in two sizes – 3.5” or 4” – and two shapes, a spear point with a harpoon style swedge, or Hogue’s wild looking modified Wharncliffe which has a compound grind and a reverse tanto forward edge.  For looks, the Wharncliffe draws more eyes – for real use, the spear point will be a far more practical day to day choice.  There are a variety of finishes available – black coated or flat dark earth colored blades, as well as a variety of different color aluminum handles with “G-Mascus” inlays. If you want something a little different in the heavy duty category, this Hogue flipper is worth a try – assuming you like the looks.

Viper Knives has come up a lot in public perception in the past few years, and that’s thanks in no small part to their collaborations with Jesper Voxnaes.  The Danish designer’s style is recognizable regardless of who’s making the knives – with collaborations from Viper, Fox, Spyderco, CRKT, Boker, ZT and others currently on the market.  His trademark style is identified by the soft oval thumb hole opener, unique 3-dimensional backspacers, gentle curved handles with palm swells, and broad blades with plenty of belly. All of these are also attributes that make for a great hard-use knife, so picking out just one Vox design for this list was hard, but the Viper-built Fortis flipper is a natural fit.

All Fortis models share a stonewashed 3.50” drop point blade made from Bohler M390, which is surprising given the $165 starting price point.  In fact, a lot of stuff is surprising given the price point of the Fortis: a titanium framelock, 3D-machined titanium pocket clip, a thrust bearing pivot, replaceable lockbar insert, intricately machined backspacer, and contoured G10 handles are all hallmarks of a more expensive knife.  The premium versions of the Fortis don’t add much to the bottom line – a full titanium version is another $25 and adds an anodized blue clip and backspacer, and a carbon fiber version comes in just under the 4-ounce mark for another $20.

You can choose between a flipper and a thumb hole to open the blade.  Speaking of choices, the G10 models come in an olive drab green, black, or safety orange with a stonewashed blade – while the full titanium and carbon fiber versions are available with either a stonewashed or a satin finished blade, depending on your preference.  No matter which version, the Fortis offers an intriguing option for a full-sized Vox design that’s a remarkable value for money in addition to being a stout hard use every day carry option.

Despite the recent announcement of their closure, I felt Strider was deserving of a mention here.  Along with Rick Hinderer and Greg Medford, Mick Strider is perhaps the best known name when it comes to hard-use folders.  While his brand and personal history isn’t without… controversy, there’s no denying that Strider makes a solid product that’s backed up by years of experience and legions of rabid fans.  Their mainstream product was the SnG, which is named after two servicemen, Shughart and Gordon, who lost their lives in Somalia in 1993.  It fits neatly between the 2.87” PT and the 3.9” SMF with a just-right 3.5” blade.

Nothing about the SnG is subtle.  The triangle handle is a hallmark of Strider design, and while it looks unconventional it’s quite comfortable in hand.  The lock side is made from an extremely thick slab of titanium, with a Hinderer-style lockbar overtravel stop, while the show side is a single piece of G10 that also includes the backspacer, rather than having it made out of a separate piece, for strength.  There’s an oversized pivot which unfortunately uses a proprietary fastener (although there are guides to be found on YouTube as to how to make your own pivot tool), and a bent titanium pocket clip attaches with a single screw but is anchored in a slot on the lock side to prevent slippage.

The standard SnG is a 3.5” spear point blade that measures a beefy 0.16” across, but there’s also a Tanto blade model available if that’s your thing.  Blades come in either a standard stonewashed finish, or a unique flame-treated tiger stripe pattern.  Blade steel is Carpenter CTS-40CP, an uncommon steel that is basically the powdered metallurgy version of 440C, with slightly better edge retention and finer grain structure for a sharper edge.  You can still get them though it’s a tough sell at the $420 price tag, but the price of exclusivity is rarely rooted in reason.  Strider’s products have been through some of the toughest conditions all over the world, so there’s no doubt the SnG would fill the hard-use void in your pocket with aplomb.

That’s it for our list of hard-use folding knives.  What do you think?  Did we leave your favorite out?  Get in touch and let us know.

Today we’re reviewing a real beast of a knife – the Reate Fallout 2.0.  We have always wanted to get our hands on a Rick Barrett custom knife. The Fallout flipper from Rick Barrett is one of his most popular and well-beloved models. Certainly, for us it is the very model knife we wanted from Rick. Though we have never had the privilege to get this custom, we are incredibly pleased to have the next best thing. The Reate Rick Barrett Fallout 2.0 flipper is the production version knife that has for long been a favorite among custom knife enthusiasts.

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The Reate Fallout is a collaboration knife that is designed to provide all the features found in the custom Fallout, but also incorporate the Reate manufacturing efforts that provide next-level manufacturing practices to make the knife every bit the most usable version of a Fallout we might ever see.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.6″
• Overall Length: 8.6″
• Closed Length: 5.0″
• Weight: 6.4 oz
• Blade Material: CTS-204P
• Handle Material: 6Al4V Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $400

First Impressions

It is somewhat remarkable that the Reate Rick Barrett Fallout 2.0 presents such a large look, yet feels and is actually a mid-sized flipper folder. Further, Reate has created a replica that is both incredibly similar looking to the original flipper folder, as it is remarkably functional.  Larger overbuilt knives have been less popular in recent years, in favor of smaller more pocket friendly models. However, the Reate Fallout 2.0 takes an overbuilt knife from Rick and makes it lighter and more pocket friendly.

True, we still looked at it for the first time and said to ourselves that this knife may take some time to visually get used to… it is reasonably thick, and provides a wide 3.6 inch blade. Whether you may love or hate the design, it is impressively light. We will talk more on the in-hand feel and experience, but it is impressive how such a bruiting looking knife has rather normal size and weight specifications.

As fans of the custom knife, the Reate Fallout 2.0 looks remarkably similar to the original. So similar that I would frankly be worried for Rick’s ability to reasonably sell his custom models over this productionized version. The Reate sports a stonewashed 6AL4V titanium handle scales with heavily bored out pockets to lighten the weight. The style and design of the knife is heavily influenced by the milled waved line pattern on both sides of the knife scales. The upper part of the scales do not have this milled wave line pattern, which actually creates a faux-bolster style look that makes the knife a bit more visually appealing and unique. The knife is impressive looking, though our version is designed to be one tone, and may not appeal to all.

The Blade

It’s fair to say the main attraction for this knife is certainly the blade itself. It does not disappoint.  Sporting a slight recurve, the 3.6″ blade has a compound grind and stonewashed finish.  CTS-204P is Carpenter’s equivalent of Crucible’s CPM-20CV and Bohler’s M390 which has been growing in popularity and firmly planted in the upper echelon of today’s knife steels.  It excels at wear resistance and edge retention, with decent corrosion resistance but noticeably difficult to sharpen.

What you may not immediately appreciate, however, is that Reate works wonders to bring out the best in this steel.  Typically, manufacturers will create the edge using a grinding belt running at high speed.  This creates a high temperature, especially on the blade’s edge which can burn and even cause unintentional tempering or annealing.  That’s bad news for a blade, impacting its overall durability.  Reate goes the extra mile to avoid this situation by introducing a cooling process which controls the temperate of the blade during grinding.  This ensures no compromise of the blade’s hardness and durability.  It’s an example of what sets apart the best from the rest in a saturated market of countless new knifemakers.

Feel in Hand

At 3.6 inches with about 3.5 inches of usable cutting edge, the knife actually feels bigger in hand, and appears even larger still.  The knife also felt strangely light in hand. Extremely strong and sturdy, but light when compared to the way the Fallout 2.0 looks, which is to say very tank-like. At 6.4 oz. the knife is not a particularly lightweight folder, but we could easily see how this knife could have been over 9 oz. if measures to mill out the titanium were not made. This is very important because the knife in hand now feels extremely well weighted. Further it makes the knife usable as an EDC option. 6 oz. is a reasonable weight to carry in pocket, and in fact the feel in the pocket is just fine if you are wearing standard pants and not lightweight shorts.

As for the ergonomics, all we can say is YES. We love the feel in hand. Nothing can substitute for a properly sized ergonomically full-sized handle scale. The Fallout 2.0 sits in the hand in such a way that the grip in hand can be strong and still very comfortable. The milled scales allow excellent traction allowing for a positive grip with almost no slip.

The flipper is classic Reate. It ranks among the best flippers Reate has made. It uses the same type of flipper shape with good jimping on the flipper itself. Ceramic ball bearings used for the pivot seem to be the same as are used on other flipper models. The difference with the Fallout 2.0 is that the blade itself is rather hefty, and as a result allows the blade to really take on a life of its own. The sheer weight allows the knife to open smoothly, and close incredibly effortlessly once the lock bar interface has been disengaged. It is a flipper knife that truly allows for an almost effortless usage, will extremely limited learning curve if you have never used a flipper before.

It is also worth noting that although the titanium scales have the milled scalloped pattern, it isn’t sharp in any way. The Fallout 2.0 is rounded off on all edges. Even the titanium back spacer which is a rather large piece of matching stonewashed 6AL4V fits very well, and allows the knife the proper weight balance to even out the blade in the front of the knife. We felt that this knife would be a great user from the moment we saw it, largely in part because it felt so good in hand, and had such a nice weight balance.

Real World testing

Unlike some other recent Reate knives we have tested, the Fallout 2.0 was not very hard tested. It is somewhat ironic as this seems to be a very hard use capable folder. Even still, the reason the Reate Fallout was not heavily tested had much to do with the use cases we had available to us at the time.

We carried the Reate Fallout 2.0 for about a week, and though we can say that we enjoyed the experience, we prefer the smaller and lighter EDC options in recent months – this is primarily a function of timing, as we are in the middle of the summer months, and lighter clothing and shorts are getting worn more often. On that note, the pocket clip is very similar to the more traditional style 3D sculpted titanium clip that we saw on some original Reate designs, such as the Horizon A, and C. It has the same shape, and slide cutouts that have made it usable in the past. We like the clip, though not a deep carry, still sits low in pocket, with about a half inch sticking out. We like it, though we must confess some of Reate’s most recent offerings have worked better for us.

For the tasks, we performed with the knife, we cut down some small boxes, and used it as the go to EDC for the week, but nothing special. It is safe to say that the recurve blade with the very well performed machined compound ground is spot on perfect. It looks great, and it performs even better. We would not want to be the ones sharpening the CTS-204P steel with all this cool recurve awesomeness going on, but we sure as anything like to cut with it.

The blade is reasonably thick at 0.157″, but thanks to the grind it performed very well as a cardboard cutter. The knife was very sharp and the recurve helped pull the cardboard closer into the blade for processing. We cut down about 4 boxes. Since we had only a few boxes, and the knife was so comfortable in hand, and also offered great grip, we skipped wearing gloves during our test. We can say that the knife stayed comfortable in use, and at about 3.6 inches of blade, it is a great size for the task.

The Reate Fallout 2.0 seems to have the chops for a real hard use flipper folding knife that can put up with abuse and hard cutting action. However, because the blade is not very long, we personally would not consider it a defensive weapon. We prefer blades of 3.75 inch at the minimum length when considering a defensive carry blade option. However, as a suburban commando ready to take on anything a modern urban setting can through at you, this knife is about as beefy a choice as you need.

At the end of our carry, the Reate Fallout 2.0 maintained the sharp edge it had when we got it. No rolls or issues seen on the blade at all… in fact, the thing looked brand spanking new. It was very impressive.

Competitive offerings

If you are interested in the Reate Rick Barrett Fallout 2.0 which sells for about 400 dollars at most resellers, you might also consider the following knives as comparisons:

Zero Tolerance Les George 0920 (BladeHQ) – Perspective is an interesting thing. About 3 years ago we looked at ZT knives and thought they were on the high price scale for production blades. Fast forward three years later and it seems the ZT line appears to provide value alternatives to more costly competitors. Take this ZT 0920 based on the Harpy custom by Les George. It has a 3.9 inch CPM-20CV stonewashed blade steel, and 3D machined titanium handle scales.  This knife uses the well-received KVT ball bearing system to ensure great flipping action, and is made in the USA. For those who want a big folder, with a blade that has lots of reach, this modified clip point blade offers a true fighter style folding flipper option. At about 240 smackers, it is a damn near steal given the materials used, and the amount of material you are getting. It is also impressively milled and offers a weight of only 5.4 oz. It is arguably not as special as the Fallout 2.0, but if you are in the market for a defensive carry, the 0920 is an interesting consideration.

Custom Knife Factory Michael Gavac (Gavko) Spinner Flipper (BladeHQ) – This knife is really interesting. A smaller custom knife maker, Michael Gavac, often referred to as Gavko made a name for himself on Youtube several years back. Over recent years he has put forth some nice custom folders and has had a few collaborations that have been very well received. Most recently, Custom Knife Factory has joined a venture to produce a mid-tech production style folder. The CKF Spinner has a 3.54 inch blade, about the same size as the Fallout 2.0, and offers M390 blade steel. At about 4.2 ounces, this tanto style blade sits in a package that is pretty reasonably weighted. Milled titanium handles and PVD stonewashed two-tone blade make for a unique look. For those who like to be different, this 400 dollar option is pricey, but also rather exclusive.

Final Thoughts

At around 400 dollars, the Reate Rick Barrett Fallout 2.0 can either represent an excellent deal, or a lofty priced production folder. The question is which category you fall into. We know how wonderful and expensive, and exclusive the Rick Barrett fallout custom is, and given that knowledge see a great value in this knife given the wonderful execution and similarity to the original.

We also know that previous efforts to create a Fallout mid-tech in recent years from other collaborations with Rick Barrett were bad, with so called mid-tech models that were poorly produced, and had very poor-quality consistency. Others have literally tried and failed to produce a worthy productionized version of the Fallout. At about 400 dollars the Reate Fallout 2.0 is perhaps one of the crowning achievements Reate has made. Producing this knife, and making it feel and look like a Rick Barrett fallout, all the while making it pocketable and extremely high quality is a testament to the production ability of Reate Knives.

The Good: Ergonomics, very well made, striking design, smooth flip
The Bad: Recurve presents sharpening challenges
Bottom Line:  An affordable way to get a slice of Rick Barrett in your pocket

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Out-The-Front, or OTF knives are a relatively narrow slice of the market, but they serve a purpose and have gained in popularity with a little help from the mainstream media that continues to put them in the spotlight.   Without doubt OTF knives are unique and there are a limited number of OTF brands producing them.  Like everything else, there are average models and some truly outstanding OTF examples that I’m here to point out to you.  So, if you’re looking for the best OTF knife your money can buy, read on.

For the uninformed, OTF knives are a type of switchblade – that is, an automatic knife which deploys the blade ‘automatically’ on pressing a button or switch.  Specifically, the OTF knife is a switchblade where the blade simply comes ‘out the front’.  Now, the distinction versus Spring Assisted Knives is that with a switchblade or automatic knife the blade’s natural position is open, and it’s being held closed by a locking spring mechanism that’s released with a button or switch. The button allows the stored energy of the spring to propel the blade out from the handle.   In contrast, the natural position of the Spring Assisted Knife is closed and there is no pressure being exerted upon the blade which has to be deployed by some manual action (i.e flipping) by the user which is then assisted by a spring.

In general, there are two types of OTF knives: single action and dual action.  Single action means that only the deployment is powered but the blade has to be forced back into the body manually.  A dual action OTF means that both the deployment as well as the retraction are powered, usually by pushing and pulling the same control switch in different directions.

With that, here’s a list of some of the better OTF knives on the market today.

The Benchmade 3300 Infidel is one of the best-known OTF’s on the planet, and arguably one of the best regarded.  It comes in two sizes: the full fat 3300 Infidel with its 3.95” blade and 8.95” overall length, and the newer Infidel Mini with a 3.10” blade and a 7.10” overall length.  Weights are 5.00 ounces and 3.40 ounces, respectively.

The Infidel is a dual action OTF meaning the switch pushes it out as well as pulls it in, and unlike a lot of OTF’s the switch is mounted on the handle rather than the spine.  This is a more natural action for your hand (similar to hand placement for deploying a folding knife via a thumb stud or hole) and gives you a more solid grip when the knife fires open.  A series a milled “steps” in the aluminum handle aid grip.  The blade itself is D2 tool steel, satin finished and flat ground on both sides for a double-sided dagger shape. The deep carry pocket clip (inscribed with The Infidel…) is configured for right had tip down carry only.  Although it’s pricey at typically over $400 retail, the Infidel has been in production for ten years now (which Benchmade reminded us of by releasing the 10 Year Anniversary Model in S30V) and is a well-known favorite of those who serve in the military for its robust build quality and dependable, easy deployment.

There’s also a Gold Class Infidel that was produced in very limited numbers, with an acid-etched stainless Damasteel drop point blade, heat-anodized handle and hardware, and a suitably high price tag as well.  If you like the Infidel you’ll probably also like the Pagan, which is another great OTF but is so similar to the Infidel it doesn’t warrant a separate entry on this list.

The Microtech Ultratech is, to many people, the out-the-front knife.  In fact, Microtech is the OTF brand – arguably the most well-known name when it comes to high end automatics and OTF knives.  Microtech makes a pretty big variety of OTF’s but the Ultratech is the flagship, a continuously updated model that’s available in a frankly staggering array of variations (there are twelve pages of Ultratech’s on BladeHQ’s website) as well as two smaller versions – the UTX-70 and UTX-85, which are 70% and 85% scale versions of the Ultratech.  The full-fat Ultratech sports a 3.4” blade in high-end Elmax steel, which comes in drop point, tanto, and dagger blade grinds as well as a few spin offs – like the “Hellhound” which is a fascinating mix of a tanto tip and a clip point.

All Ultratechs share a few basic properties – an aluminum handle that’s chamfered around the edges, proprietary “tri-angle” hardware that requires a $22(!) tool to work on (although it’s better if you just don’t), and a right hand tip down deep carry clip that is secured to the knife on the butt of the handle by a carbide-tipped glass breaker.  Beyond that there are endless variations of paint colors and printed patterns, some classy (carbon fiber, dark stonewash blade) and some almost shockingly gaudy (Zombie Tech?  Electric green with blood spatter?) but a variation to fit nearly every taste.  And none of them come cheap, with the least expensive Ultratech to be found on Blade HQ ringing in at over $250, going up into the stratosphere from there.

There are also Marfione Custom Knives versions of the Ultratech that are deep into the four digits – like the MKC Ultratech with tri-grip handles, a flame anodized clip, and a mirror finish dagger grind blade with Mokuti inlays for a staggering $1,600+.  They all use a relatively long, gently ramped thump slide with directional texturing for firing and closing directions, and the Ultratech is known for its impressively strong spring and loud action – which can be good or bad depending on your attitude.

Like the rest of Hogue Knives’ lineup, the Hogue OTF is designed by the inimitable Allen Elishewitz, and his distinctive styling is evident in the organic shape of the handle, along with the unusual scale-like texturing that is machined into the anodized aluminum handles for grip.  Unlike a lot of OTF’s, the Hogue’s blade has more of a focus on use than looks and features a 3.375” stonewashed clip point style blade in CPM-154, the powdered metallurgy version of 154CM.  A very high flat grind helps the OTF cut well, too.

There are a variety of handle colors (OD Green, Black, Grey) as well as a choice of a black coated blade or a Tanto blade, also at the same 3.375” length. A deep carry pocket clip is tapped for right or left hand tip down carry, a benefit of the ambidextrous spine switch – which has a fairly small thumb ramp with jimping on both sides.  While the Hogue OTF has only been on the market for a short time, if the quality of their regular blades is anything to go by – like the EX04 we reviewed a while back – the Hogue OTF will prove to be a killer option in this market.

The Asheville Steel Para-X is unusual in that it’s a single action OTF, meaning the deployment is powered but the retraction isn’t, like old-school OTF’s used to be.  But then again, Asheville Steel is an old-school company.  Even if it’s only been around since 2007, Asheville Steel produces small batches of extremely interesting knives –including the bizarre Warlock and the newer Phoenix, which are gravity knives with the most interesting opening mechanism I’ve ever seen – see this video for a good example of both in action.  All Para-X and XD models have the single-action OTF, and a 6061-T6 aluminum handle with a CPM-S30V blade, along with a right hand tip down carry pocket clip.

The Para-X is offered in quite a wide variety of models and options, from almost utilitarian with a clip point blade with a plain edge on the bottom, and a sharpened clip and serrated spine for animal prep, to plain crazy stuff like this model with a “torch shaped” (kriss) dagger coated red with a dimpled pattern in the middle of the blade along the groove, and half a death’s head etched into the handle so people know  you mean business.  Regardless, all Para-X have a snappy deployment from a plunge lock button (like an automatic folder) that you then hold to release the blade and draw it back in to the handle with a slider on the belly of the knife.  There is also a safety switch below the plunge lock which locks the blade closed or open.  If you’re looking for an interesting OTF option that won’t break the bank like a Microtech or a Benchmade, the Para-X is worth considering!

Unlike Benchmade’s Infidel and Pagan series OTF’s, the Precipice uses a spine mounted slider switch to activate the dual action OTF mechanism.  The Precipice’s blade is shorter than the Infidel and Pagan at 3.46”, a classic spearpoint shape with a single sharpened edge that’s made out of Crucible CPM-S30V powdered stainless steel.   It’s available in two versions, one with a satin finished blade or for another $20 a DLC-coated black blade.

One advantage of the spine mounted switch is that the Precipice is configured for ambidextrous tip-down carry, making it a more feasible option for left-handed people.  The handle shape is pretty conventional for a spine-switch OTF, with a stepped spine and a gentle swell on the bottom side to secure your finger during use, and the handle itself is made of anodized 6061-T6 aluminum that’s held together with torx screws if you’re inclined to take it apart. The steel is an upgrade over D2 in the Infidel and it’s also almost $100 cheaper, so you’ve got money left over for a dinner date.  Or more knives, I’m not judging you.

Who doesn’t love Pro-Tech?  Everything that they make is sleek, smooth, and impeccably finished.  The Dark Angel is a different kind of OTF, using a plunge lock (button) to release the blade and what looks like a flipper tab on the belly side of the knife to manually retract the blade.  There’s also a safety switch at the end of the handle which locks the blade closed.  There are multiple variants of the Dark Angel, which can be split into two categories: production and custom.  Production Dark Angels run between $200 and $250 depending on configuration and feature aluminum handles with a 3.7” 154CM blade, with a flat ground dual edge dagger grind and a fuller groove in the middle.

You have a choice between a black and a desert sand anodized aluminum handle, and satin, black, and smoky gray DLC (black handle only) blade finishes.  These are remarkably light knives, weighing in at only 3.6 ounces – especially considering the whole automatic mechanism stuffed inside. The custom versions are much more expensive and feature a mix of exotic materials as well as an option of a stainless steel handle (which bumps the weight up from 3.6 up to 7.84 ounces).  Damascus blades, abalone or pearl push button inserts, and other changes make the custom versions more expensive but not necessarily more appealing to a user.

This version with a black aluminum handle, gold titanium plated blade and an intricate mosaic deployment pin looks pretty neat, but as usual if you’re going to use it you’re better off saving your money and getting the regular version.  The clip is right hand tip down only, and mounts to the butt of the handle for a super deep carry, and Pro-Tech also includes a nylon carry sheath if you prefer to keep the knife protected in your pocket.

Piranha isn’t a brand that comes up frequently in discussions with knife people, and that’s because all they make are automatic knives.  While this certainly limits the number of people than can legally enjoy their products, Piranha’s focus on this corner of the market has earned them a reputation as top-notch builders of automatic and OTF products with a twist of style and panache.  All of their products are made in the USA, about two hours east of Chris Reeve’s headquarters, in Twin Falls Idaho.  The Rated-R is one of Piranha’s two OTF offerings, along with the well-regarded Excalibur.  It’s a sexy thing: long, sleek, slim and organic looking.

The blade is a 3.50” clip point with a high flat grind made out of 154CM steel that comes either mirror finished or black coated, along with a half-serrated black coated model.  The switch is mounted high up on the side of the handle towards the pivot, and has a stepped surface in both directions for grip.  The clip is oriented for right hand tip down carry and is anchored to the handle with a single screw and an inset base, and features a double bend for increased tension.  Like most Piranha products the Rated-R comes in a refreshing variety of wild colors and patterns, from traditional combinations like this black handle/polished blade to this black blade/marbled blue handle model.  The handles are cool too, with a gentle swell grip and an intricately machined pattern along the edges in a radial pattern for traction.  Intricately detailed, light and sleek, the Piranha might be a good choice if you’re not interested in the chunky/black coated/tactical/high-speed-low-drag feel of the Benchmade and Microtech models.

The Combat Troodon is the mack daddy of Microtech’s OTF lineup, the biggest, baddest, beefiest offering with a price ranging from “ouch” to “are you serious?” and a staggering array of options and finishes to suit any taste.  The name comes from a bird-like dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period and was one of the first discovered in North America, similar in shape to various raptors. It’s the larger version of the “regular” Troodon, with a 3.8” blade versus the original’s 3”.  Like the Ultratech featured earlier in this list, the Combat Troodon series shares a handle design but has a variety of blade shapes suited to different uses.  The handles are made of 6061 T6 anodized aluminum in a variety of colors with a carbide glass breaker on the butt that anchors the pocket clip in the right hand tip down position. You can get a combat Troodon with a dual edge dagger grind in plain or partially serrated edge, or there are also single-edged Bowie and Clip Point variants.

Like the Ultratech, stepping up to the Marfione Custom versions of the Combat Troodon brings exotic materials (bronze razorwire Damascus, hand made hardware, etc) as well as more blade shapes – a recurved drop point, a Tanto, a wharncliffe – as well as an upgrade from the standard Bohler Elmax steel to more exotics like M390.  It’s big, brash, expensive and aggressive, and if you want a top of the line Microtech the Combat Troodon is the one to get.

What’s the weakness of (almost) all OTF knives?  Blade play.  It’s the nature of the beast.  OTF’s require a lot of open space inside the body for the spring mechanism as well as the blade to move in and out, so even with the tightest of tolerances when they’re open the blade is a pendulum with the pivot being the end of the handle.  You can make the tolerances as tight as possible but wear from the hard-firing nature makes even $400 Microtechs and Benchmades wiggly after use.  Grant and Gavin Hawk spent years engineering a solution to this problem, and the result is the Deadlock.  It uses a secondary lock mechanism built into the frame that in the open position puts tension upward and to the side, and the primary lock holds it in place forward, eliminating play in all three axis – whereas a traditional OTF only holds the blade in place from the back preventing it from closing.  For a demonstration of the difference between a Deadlock and a regular OTF, check out this video comparison with a Benchmade Infidel and a Deadlock both in a vise.

Beyond the innovative lock, the Deadlock resembles a regular OTF externally.  The blade is 3.75” and made of CTS-204p, similar in performance and makeup to M390 as a top-end stainless steel.  It comes in either a hollow dagger grind (dual edge) or a single edged spearpoint, but future versions may differ.  Since they’re custom and made-to-order, materials vary, but handle choices include titanium or carbon fiber, and some models are dressed up with Mokuti hardware or Devin Thomas Damascus blades.

Unlike most the Hawks previous design inventions, the father and son team have decided to keep manufacturing of the Deadlock in-house rather than licensing the design to an OEM (like with the Buck Marksman, Kershaw E.T., Chris Reeves Ti-Lock, and others) and they’re building it by hand out of top-shelf materials, so expect a long wait time and to pay at least 4 figures for the privilege. Hopefully the design is licensed out further down the road once the Hawks get bored with the banality of manufacturing instead of inventing – one can only hope.  In the meantime, this is as good as it gets for OTF knives.

The Triton was a collaboration between custom knifemaker J.A. Harkins and Masters of Defense, which is now known as Blackhawk!  Knives, and is a subsidiary of outdoor and shooting sports conglomerate Vista Outdoor. The Triton had an on-screen cameo in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, of course in the hands of a bad guy.  While it’s no longer in production, it’s considered by many OTF aficionados to be one of the best production OTF’s out there. There are some similarities to the well-regarded MoD/Blackhawk! CQD automatic folder, including the anodized black aluminum handles with inset trac-tec grip inserts and the blacked out design.

The blade is a dual-edge dagger grind, and came either plain or half-serrated with a black coating.  3.6” long and made of 154CM, the Triton was mid-range for size but was surprisingly light at only 4.10 ounces.  The pocket clip is tip up right hand carry, which seems odd for an OTF.  Chamfered edges and jimping in the thumb and forefinger swells make for a comfortable grip, and a steep ramp on the thumb switch makes slipping off when deploying or retracting less likely.  These usually go for $350-$500 used, which is pricey but not nearly as much as the custom version from J.A. Harkins which can easily go over a thousand dollars, like this funky camo model.  If you can find one you should grab it.

That’s it folks.  Feedback?  Be sure to get in touch.

Never heard of Factor Equipment?  Don’t worry, neither had we.  The brand emerged last year as a purveyor of higher-end flashlights and knives catering to everyday users, first responders, law enforcement, and other situations where “junk gear is not an option”.  So, with our interest piqued we got our hands on one of their early models – the Factor Absolute.

Factor Absolute price check: Amazon or BladeHQ

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.15″
• Overall Length: 7.7″
• Closed Length: 4.5″
• Weight: 4.3 oz
• Blade Material: M390
• Handle Material: 6Al4V Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $200

Factor Equipment

Based in Springdale, Arkansas, the brand was started in 2016 by Bryan Griggs, a former VP from 5.11 Tactical, and started out selling tactical flashlights though it appears their focus is shifting towards knife development and other EDC items.  Despite their US-based head office, note that Factor’s products are produced in China and Taiwan.

As someone with a deep seated love for well-established purveyors of high end gear (Spyderco, Benchmade, Leatherman, KAI, etc.), Factor starting out their mission statement with the sentence “Factor Equipment was spawned from years of frustration and lack of trust in the brands on the market” is certainly a suitably bold decision.  This is made more complicated by accusations that the design for their Iconic folder was a copy of the Voxnaes-penned Giant Mouse GM1 which arose during an early Massdrop of the Factor knife, which was subsequently cancelled.

Intellectual property is sacrosanct in the knife market, with far more of an emphasis placed on its importance than most things, so this didn’t go over well at all.  The Iconic has since been pulled from most retailers and we understand it’s being removed from Factor’s lineup. Thankfully, no such intellectual property issue surrounds the Absolute, which is a more interesting design anyway. Most brands on the market have earned the trust of consumers over years of hard work.  What’s Factor got to offer the enthusiast?  Well, as far as a company goes: more questions than answers.  As far as products go: a pretty good start.

Overview

The Absolute comes in two sizes, the Absolute One (reviewed here) and the Absolute Compact, with a quarter inch less blade.  As with many new products these days, the Absolute follows a popular formula: it’s a titanium handled framelock equipped with a flipper and a ball-bearing pivot for a snappy action.

There are some unique details to make it stand out from the crowd of otherwise similar slab handled titanium flippers that have flooded the market.  With a medium sized blade and some details that lend more towards showy than useful, the Absolute is aimed at the EDC market rather than the hard-use market, despite the high end blade steel and stout lock.  Let’s take a look at Factor’s premium offering and see if it lives up to all the bluster and promise of the fledgling brand.

The Blade

Mmm… Bohler M390.  Interested?  Right off the bat, the Absolute brings one of the highest-performing stainless steels on the market to the table.  A modern powdered metallurgy steel, M390 has high chromium and vanadium content, making it very fine-grained (to get a super clean edge) and extremely corrosion resistant.  Carbon content is also relatively high, the primary factor of a steel’s edge retention and hardness.  Short of freak pseudo-steels like CPM-S110V or Maxamet, M390 is one of the longest edge-holding steels you can get your hands on that a human can still sharpen.

The blade itself measures 3.15” with a 0.14” thick spine.  The Absolute uses modified drop-point blade shape with an attractive recurve to the spine and a shallow belly, while a high flat grind terminating right below the thumb “hole” drops down to leave a shallow ricasso with a small but complete sharpening choil.

The modified drop point shape of the blade leaves the tip below the center axis of the handle, providing the user additional leverage for piercing cuts and detail work – which is helped by the fact that the Absolute has a fantastic tip, perfect for popping open stubborn packaging and ninja-slicing open letters to the chagrin of your spouse. A thumb hole – more of a misshapen oval, actually – sits up high on the blade, and a short run of jimping on the spine lines up with the same on the handle when open to give a positive grip. The blade has a smooth and subtle stonewash finish, and a short triangular shaped flipper tab.

From the pointy end of things, the Absolute is a gem for EDC purposes: the mid-sized blade is in the sweet spot between usability and unwieldiness, the drop point blade shape and needle like tip are useful for daily tasks, and the blade steel is one of the best in the business.  So far so good.

Deployment & Lockup

The Absolute One should be a superlative flipper, but I’m still left somewhat cold after daily carrying it and flipping it obsessively for a few weeks.  It features all of the things that a modern high end knife should: a lightswitch style flipper formed from a right triangle protruding from the spine level with the pivot, with a bit of jimping for traction.  The pivot is ceramic ball bearings with what looks like phosphor bronze washers to prevent galling of the titanium (as the hardness of titanium is usually considerably lower than steel or ceramic). A stainless lockbar insert is hidden in the lock bar to help prevent lock stick.

But despite the impressive “spec sheet”, the Absolute is a stubborn flipper.  Out of the box it’s overly tight, given a slightly gritty feel and entirely too strong of a detent for casual users.  Once you overcome the monster detent it opens up reliably – which it would be surprising if it didn’t, with how much force it requires. Engagement is appropriate for a long lifespan, somewhere around 30% when flipped open hard, and out of the box there’s no blade play vertically or horizontally.

Closing the knife doesn’t give much of an indication that it even has bearings – past the detent when closing and it takes a firm shake to get the blade to gradually drop down into the handle, hardly the free-dropping magic of something like a ZT with KVT bearings or the Buck Marksman, my highwater mark for “low friction bearing flippers.” It seems as though the Absolute has all the complexity of a bearing pivot but none of the advantages.

Also irritatingly, while the Absolute features a very unique looking thumb hole, it is absolutely unusable – no matter how much you loosen the pivot screw to back off the detent ball, it’s impossible to open the knife using the thumb hole from either the front or the back of the blade.  Unlike some flippers which have “thumb studs” which are actually an external stop pin, the thumb hole on the Absolute serves no purpose at all.  Why include it if you can’t even use it?  In my eyes, anything that limits use options on a knife is a demerit, and I think the knife would look better without the thumb hole considering it can’t be used.

As soon as you begin fiddling with the pivot in order to loosen the Absolute up enough to where it flips like it should, (i.e., like a modern bearing pivot flipper) even incremental changes are met with noticeable side to side blade play.  This is confusing considering the “bushing” nature of bearing pivots which in theory allows a much wider range of adjustment before tactile play comes into the equation. Once loosened up about a quarter of a turn from fully tight the Absolute flips better, with the detent becoming a bit softer and the blade dropping closed noticeably easier, if not fully free-dropping.  It’s just that you can’t attain this flipping perfection with all of the side to side blade play dialed out.  For a knife with a $230 MSRP this doesn’t pass muster in my eyes.

Features, Fit & Finish

I found myself frequently saying “this is the first knife this company has made?” with both a sense of incredulity and disappointment.  There is good and there is bad in nearly equal measure.

Features?  Oh, this baby is loaded up with them.  Beyond the ultra-premium blade (which I am a fan of), the Absolute packs all the trappings of a modern high end flipper.  The titanium handles are slab sided with slight contouring to the edges for a more comfortable grip.  There is a groove cut into the handle diagonally from the spine to behind the thumb indentation (for the thumb hole that doesn’t work…).

A stainless steel insert is bolted to the inside of the lockbar to eliminate stick. It also serves as an overtravel stop, with a tab hitting the inside of the lock side scale when opened to prevent metal fatigue. Strangely, the Absolute features a lanyard hole shaped like a ¼” hex bit driver, but is actually a 5mm hex slot, of which I’m unaware of the existence of any bits to fit. Mounted next to that is another controversial feature – a 3D machined titanium pocket clip that is configured for right-hand-tip-up carry only.

A very thin bridge between the standoff and the point of contact means very little spring tension, which they counteract with a sharply pointed cone for a contact patch on the other end.  It does the job, holding the knife in your pocket without sliding out or doing the “pocket pendulum” but it does a remarkable job of shredding denim and running into things. I realize that machined pocket clips are expected at this price point and they’re a calling card for what a company can achieve with a CNC machine, but the truth is that you can accomplish more for less – weight, cost, and size – with a stamped steel or even a stamped titanium pocket clip. From a pocket candy perspective, it’s attractive and a cool talking point – but from an EDC standpoint, which is what the Absolute is intended for, I’m not a fan.

The Absolute comes packaged in a padded zipper pouch which includes a lint-free cleaning cloth, a plastic sleeve, and a small stamped steel multitool with a set of stepped wrenches, two small flathead screwdrivers, the ubiquitous bottle opener, and fittings to adjust the pivot.

Oh jeez, here it is: Can we stop the proprietary fittings train?  I’d like to get off.  The Absolute has proprietary fittings all over it, one size for the pivot and another size for the body screws, with Torx screws securing the pocket clip as well as the lockbar stabilizer. I appreciate that they include a tool to adjust the pivot with the knife (some manufacturers seem to use proprietary hardware for the sole purpose of making more money forcing you to buy the tool) but the tool does not include the miniature fittings for the body screws.

Using the tool to adjust the pivot tension is a far more annoying process than it would be if the Absolute used a Torx T10 fitting like most other quality knives.  Luckily the pivot screw isn’t secured into the barrel with Loctite, since the barrel isn’t located to the scales with an inset hex head or d-shaped fitting so it tends to want to spin when you loosen the pivot screw – which wouldn’t be a problem if the fittings weren’t proprietary on both sides, but the knife only comes with one tool.

Another annoyance is that the adjustment tool fits into the pivot parallel to the handle rather than perpendicular like a Torx bit would, so you have to exercise caution not to scrape the handles with the tool itself.  This is made difficult by the shallow engagement the tool has with the grooves in the pivot, and inevitably ends up slipping out and making small scratches on the handle – which can be irritating depending on how deep your OCD runs.  The smaller of the two included straight drivers will fit into one slot on the body screws (each screw has three slots arranged radially) but there’s not enough grip to overcome how tight they are, and after a few attempts I gave up for fear of damaging the hardware.

I suppose it’s not Factor’s intention that you disassemble their knives, hinted at by the wording of their warranty that excludes “repairs to your knife performed by any other source” but being able to break down the Absolute for maintenance and cleaning would be nice.  Proprietary hardware seems like adding fancy stuff for the sake of being fancy, not for the sake of being better. Heat treated torx screws can be very good looking (look at the flush mount torx screws on a PM2!) and are usable.

Let’s talk about the branding on the handle for a bit, though.  The Absolute has “F A C T O R” machined below the lanyard hole on the show side of the handle in fairly large letters in proportion to the size of the handle.  It’s not that it’s an ugly logo, or that it makes the handle uncomfortable or really affects the knife in any functional way.  It’s that it’s so painfully overt, and that’s not really something that works well with a high-end EDC item.

Look at other successful high end knives: the Sebenza has a tiny little “CR” about the shape of a pencil eraser near the pivot on one side, and a very shallow “Idaho Made” engraved on the other.  Spyderco etches the logo on the blade in front of the thumb hole opener, and some descriptive text on the tang (blade steel, place of origin, sometimes a designer logo).  Even Zero Tolerance is more subtle about branding, and that may be the only thing you can say is subtle about a ZT at any point.  People that carry high end EDC items aren’t looking for the sticker on the blade that says “SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL” or an enormous brand stamp on the handle.  Toning down the branding would make more sense here.  The branding is even more egregious on Factor’s other product, the Iconic.

As far as fit and finish goes, there really isn’t anything bad to say about the Absolute.  It seems like a knife that has been put together and finished by people that care about what they’re doing.  Grinds on the blade are perfectly even and the Absolute arrived scary sharp, able to push cut through card stock with ease.  All of the intricate machining work on the spine lines up flawlessly, even where the jimping on the spine lines up with the jimping on the handle when open – a tough trick to accomplish considering all the moving parts and any potential variability from the stop pin.

The stonewash on the blade is beautiful, smooth but with a shimmery three dimensional quality that smacks of attention to detail.  It is strange that the stop pin is hidden but the screw securing the pocket clip isn’t, considering blind screws and 3D clips seem to go hand in hand these days. Blade centering is perfect, the backspacer lines up perfectly with the handle scales, and the grooves that run through both the scales and the backspacer all line up perfectly as well.  Overall, a very well built knife with a mix of good and bad features.

Field Test

The Absolute works very well as its intended purpose of an EDC knife.  It’s “just right” sized, weighing in at 4.3 ounces and around 4.5” long closed.  A 3.15” blade is smaller than what I normally carry (my preferences normally are for something in the 3.5” range) but I’ve found that it has no trouble doing the vast majority of things I do every day while being easier to control than most knives.  As far as ergonomics go, there aren’t any dramatic hot spots to speak of, with the machined pocket clip being hardly noticeable in hand.  The Absolute lacks one of my favorite ergonomic features (a forward finger choil) but with a 3.15” blade you’d probably be looking at a 2.5” cutting edge or even less with a forward choil, so it’s not realistic.

Grip is comfortable as you’d expect with an organic-shape handle, the curve of the spine towards the rear fitting naturally into the palm.  The thumb indentation and the flipper tab together work as a finger guard to locate the front of your hand when open, and a short run of jimping on the underside of the handle towards the back lines up with your pinky finger.  I’m not sure I understand the purpose of this jimping but it’s not uncomfortable and more traction is generally better.

The Absolute cuts exceptionally well.  I might prefer a hollow grind versus the flat grind here with the flats creating a narrow primary bevel, but the blade still slices quite well.  The tip is needle sharp, able to pierce thick plastic packing with ease.  There’s not really enough belly for rolling cuts for food prep, and the shape of the handle and the flipper tab when open isn’t conducive to this, but the upswept edge of the blade is good for cutting ropes and straps.

As a general use knife, the blade shape is a good compromise between a straight edge and a curve for a variety of different tasks, and does most everything well and with good control.  The steel holds an edge exceptionally well, which is the expectation for M390 – but what’s surprising is how stable the edge is considering the high hardness of the steel, being resistant to chipping when cutting nylon and cardboard more than other high end steels I’m used to.  S110V holds an edge similarly well, but is far more prone to chipping when cutting mixed materials than M390, and is harder to touch up on a Sharpmaker.  It’s an exceptional steel and it’s easy to see why people are so fond of it.

The titanium handle is uncoated, and personally I love the way raw titanium wears in like a pair of your favorite jeans. Especially the edges of the clip which acquired a burnished appearance after a few weeks of carry.  The smooth titanium feels nice in hand, too – a sensation familiar to fans of titanium folders.  So the Absolute is a mix of joy and annoyance to use – it cuts great.  It feels extremely nice in hand.  It’s very well assembled and it’s easy to tell.  But the detent is irritatingly stiff, the overt branding borders on the kind of embarrassment women face when buying an expensive purse (pay thousands of dollars to advertise for Louis Vuitton!), the action is not impressive, the pocket clip destroys your pocket, and so forth.

Alternatives

These days, there is a plethora of alternatives in this market place.  First off, if you want something slightly smaller, there’s the Absolute Compact  with a 2.91” blade and a sub-three-ounce weight for a $215 MSRP.

Kizer is quickly becoming a go to name for titanium flippers, and there’s a slew of choices at this price point.  The highly regarded Laconico-designed Gemini retails for $170 and features a contoured titanium handle, superlative flipper action with a ceramic ball bearing pivot, anodized blue hardware, and a 3.125” S35VN blade. Our review of the Gemini tells you all you need to know.

There’s also the unique Sheepdog designed by Chris Conaway, with its chunky handle with “vents” and a broad, high flat ground Sheepsfoot blade in S35VN for about $200 retail.  The Vagnino designed Velox 2 is a slim, minimalist carry with a 3.375” S35VN drop point blade also for about $200.

There are literally a pile of comparable Kizers in the same price and size range, almost all using titanium handles and S35VN steel – the Degnan Guru, the Vagnino Eliminator 2, the Lancer 2, and many more.  You’re spoiled for choice.

Zero Tolerance knives tend to be a bit larger than the Absolute, but in the last few years they’ve come around to making some more manageable sized knives.  The Les George designed 0900 has a stubby 2.75” blade in stonewashed S35VN and a chunky titanium handle.  It’s a bearing pivot flipper as well, and comes in at about $190 retail.  There’s also the slim Dmitry Sinkevich designed 0450 flipper with a 3.25” S35VN blade for about $160.  Finally, the minimalistic Todd Rexford designed 0808 folder comes in at an even $200 retail, with a 3.25” high flat ground drop point blade in S35VN.  Like the others it flips on the super-smooth KVT bearing pivot and has beefy stonewashed titanium scales.  Carry is right or left hand tip up.

Spyderco has a couple of worthy offerings in this segment, too.  The recently released Mantra 1 and Mantra 2 have been described by some as a Delica updated to modern standards, and the profile of the classic Delica 4 can be seen in the lines of both.  Interestingly, they both have the same handle (a stonewashed titanium framelock) and different blades: the Mantra 1 has a 3.16” traditional full flat ground drop point blade with a thumb hole opener, while the Mantra 2 has a very narrow 3.2” filet shaped drop point blade that doesn’t protrude from the profile of the handle when closed for a narrow pocket carry.  It forgoes a usable thumb hole, but drops 0.2 ounces versus the Mantra 1 at a scant 2.8oz.

Blade steel on the Mantra is CPM-M4, which holds an edge like crazy and isn’t bad to re-sharpen but is prone to corrosion, so care is needed. Both flip on bearings and include Spyderco’s slick deep carry wire clip, and both cost the same at around $170 retail, lining up almost perfectly both in size, price, and materials with the Factor.

There’s also the Brad Southard designed Positron which has gotten mixed reviews, but still seems a compelling buy with contoured carbon fiber scales, a 3.00” full flat ground drop point blade, and a ball bearing pivot.  The deep carry wire clip makes an appearance here too, and the Positron rings in at around $170 retail.

If you want something sleek and slim, the full sized Boker Kwaiken in Titanium is only $140 retail – but the steel is a downgrade, VG-10 not being bottom of the barrel but the goal posts have moved a ways away in 2017.  It’s still a charming knife, the 3.5” blade disappearing entirely into the handle when closed and popping open on IKBS bearings. If you’re looking for a bit of small-maker excitement in this price range, the Brous Blades Insight (a Dustin Turpin Design) brings midtech uniqueness and angular lines to your pocket for about $210.  D2 tool steel seems a bit old fashioned but it certainly works, and the titanium handle and Brous’ famous snappy flipping action make a compelling alternative.  All of Brous’ knives are limited production so snapping one up may be a challenge, like it was with the Bionic flipper- a cool knife if you can actually find one, with a hollow ground modified wharncliffe blade and a funky handle shape.

What do all of these have in common?  Well, the Factor Absolute retails for about $190 on BladeHQ, and all of the similarly priced blades are using much less impressive steels at similar prices.  Not that S35VN is slumming it, but M390 is absolutely towards the top of the heap.  In fact, if you sort all of the knives at Blade HQ and filter by “M390 steel” and “titanium handle,” the Factor Absolute and Absolute Compact are the least expensive by at least $25 out of 190 knives. It’s a strong value proposition.

Wrap-Up

The Factor Absolute has a lot of what I look for in a “first effort” knife – they swung for the fences.  It’s not all hits but it’s not a bad knife by any stretch, and I enjoy using it even if there are some things I don’t like. You’re never going to get it all right on your first try.  They got the basics right, though: start with the best materials, make it practical and usable. Make it cut well, make it look good, and make it a good value for the money to get your foot in the door.

Note to Factor: if you want to make knives people use, don’t make them with proprietary hardware, please.  Back off the detent strength, smooth out the bearings, go with a bent clip and you’d be approaching EDC greatness. It’s got good bones, just needs some tweaking in the details department.

That the Absolute is a decent knife is perhaps less relevant than how Factor handled the intellectual property issue with the Iconic/Giant Mouse problem.  As the market slowly turns to acceptance of Chinese products, it’s important for those companies to retain their integrity and make products that consumers trust, and respecting IP is, frankly, a large part of that.  Is the Iconic literally a knockoff carbon copy of the GM1?  No, but the design was similar enough to raise several rows of eyebrows.  It’s reassuring to know that Factor took that issue very seriously and dealt with it accordingly.  The last thing they want is a black mark among the enthusiast community during the early stages of their growth.

They could disappear, or they could be the next Kizer or Reate – the quality is certainly up there, as most of my issues are related to design rather than assembly. Where does the brand go from here?  According to Factor, “the Factor Equipment brand will evolve more toward an affordable, high quality knife brand over the next year as we have 10 additional styles in current production and more in design to also release before year end” – meaning the Absolute and knives with similar materials will likely form the upper end of their range with less expensive models forthcoming with production in either China or Taiwan. It will be interesting to see how the brand shapes up and how they go about marketing their products.  And if their knives are well made, reliable and represent good value then they should do fine.

The Good: Nice M390 blade steel for the price other people are charging for S35VN, just right size, good value for money, unique design, cuts well, solid lock
The Bad: Irritating proprietary hardware, 3D machined clip is more show than go, disappointing bearing pivot action, overly stiff detent, in-your-face branding
Bottom Line: A good first effort with some teething pains, but exciting to see what Factor will come up with next

Factor Absolute price check: Amazon or BladeHQ

“If you build it, they will come” is an all too familiar movie reference for most of us who have even the smallest handle on movie trivia. Never has this phrase applied to the knife world more than the Ferrum Forge Septer. Build a mid-tech level pocket friendly folder with excellent steel, fantastic fit and finish, design aesthetics with a true custom knife level feel, and you have given the people what they want. The Septer is exactly that. This small 3-inch knife that people indeed have been asking for, and that without question people should want.

Check availability at BladeHQ

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.0″
• Overall Length: 7.0″
• Closed Length: 4.0″
• Weight: 4.0 oz
• Blade Material: CPM-20CV
• Handle Material: Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: USA
• Price Range: About $500

It is interesting how specs just can’t seem to truly capture the details of a knife. This folding knife feels larger than a 3-inch blade, seems thicker built than a 4-oz. folding pocket rocket. Yet even still, the specs are the specs.

Background

Ferrum Forge may not be a household company or brand name to most of you yet, but that is exactly why they are the best kept secret in custom and mid-tech folders likely in the entire knife industry hailing from California, right here in the US of A. Owners Elliot Williamson, and his younger brother Chris might be caught catching some waves during an extended lunch break, but have been working most days and nights busting out fabulous custom folding knives since about 2009. Elliot founded the company in San Diego in his garage shop before he opened his very own full-scale shop with at the time “Apprentice” Chris.

Elliot has made custom knives that range in price from about 1000 dollars well into the 5-digit range for clients who want true custom designs from a man who not only has the CAD and design chops, but who also is willing to make a true custom knife for those who have the vision, money and time to devote to the project. Thankfully Elliot and Chris worked out the growing pains of the mid-tech arena, having started making mid-techs that really could/should have been called full-on customs. Regardless, the process has been successfully refined, and with the high-level collaboration of these brothers, they have managed to make insanely high level product at an extremely rapid pace.

The Septer is another in a long line of mid-tech knives that displays the wonderful talents of these men. Add to that the incorporation of a HRD (Hoback Rolling Detent) in every frame lock design, and these guys are no joke.  Did I mention that these guys even create “Maker’s Choice” versions with every run of each mid-tech model which effectively is one-off custom finishes that can take these guys hours to make. The catch for these (usually 20 or so) maker’s choice knives are that they are pot-luck for those fortunate and quick enough to sign-up for them. In case our words got lost in translation, this means that you will be assured an awesome custom unique one-off design on the handle scales (and perhaps blade), but it will be randomly send to you out of the batch created. Awesome idea if you ask us.

First Impressions

This was not our first rodeo when it came to Ferrum Forge knives. We have a few others, and as of late, they are all shipped in about the same way as far as the mid-tech line goes. We were greeted with a black zippered pouch with a dog-tag style aluminum FFKN logo attached to the zipper. It is a nice presentation, and it kept the knife safe in transport. When we got the Septer out of the pouch we were a bit surprised by just how small it looked. After all, this is the first sub 3.75 inch blade we had ever received from the Ferrum Forge boys. Thankfully, as we lifted it up it felt every bit as solid as our other Ferrum Forge folders, and in-fact is sort of felt even better.

We love the design of this knife. Our particular version was referred to as “Armor Plate Blue” – the titanium frame lock folder was anodized blue with a slight tumble finish, along with bronze accents on the pivot, screws, and bent-spring clip style pocket clip. The feel was smooth and contoured. It was extremely ergonomic in the hand given the size and design of this knife. We will get to more on that in a moment.

As for the blade, it just looked right. If you are going to carry a 3 inch knife as a primary carry, let it be solid and feel like it is something more substantial. Further, let it be made of great CPM-20CV steel and be given a wonderful drop-point blade configuration with an insanely sharp edge, and a usable tumbled finish. Add some satin finishing to the blade flats and that is what I call a proper 3 inch knife for EDC. Boys and girls, at only 4 ounces, this thing is a very friendly carry and it offers a comfortable thickness to both the blade, as well as the stock of the handle scales.

Feel In-hand

It is not all that often that one can suggest that a 3-inch blade folder is comfortable in-hand. This one really is. Everything is rounded, smooth, and yet still easy to grab without slippage. Granted with our medium to large size hands we can just get a true firm 4 finger grip, but the way the ergonomics of the titanium knife handles are shaped, it still feels very secure. The pointer-finger choil really helps get a strong grip on the knife.  If you have really big hands and don’t prefer to give up any handle real estate for your EDC, this may not be the right literal fit for you, but all in all it is very well executed.

As for flipping action, when we deployed the knife using the (slightly longer than we might generally prefer) flipper tab we felt the same exact feeling as every other Ferrum Forge Knife we have ever flipped open. This means that it opens very well and easily, and is so consistent and dialed in that Ferrum Forge seems to have nailed the repeatability factor that is always a question when it comes to small scale production runs of mid-tech offerings. The Septer flipped so nicely and has this almost smooth abrasive feel when opening the knife. The lock-bar is easy to disengage for right handers for certain, and the built-in stainless steel lock bar is extremely functional if not altogether the most slightly – Function before form folks.

The use of the Hoback Rolling Detent (HRD) along with his caged bearings makes for a rather specific feel when deploying and retracting the knife. Let’s talk a bit about the retracting of the knife. The HRD allows you to dial in the feel of the knife, and to a certain extent the position of where the knife locks up. Included in part of this is the closing of the blade in that Elliot has been somewhat vocal in the fact that he and Chris create usable folding knives to work safely. This does not include the guillotine style closing that is often regarded as being a tell-tale sign of folding knife quality. They want to make sure that when you close the knife, it will not cut you. A freefalling blade toward your fingers is not the Ferrum Forge way. Instead they allow the HRD to slow the blade forcing you to give a gentle tap to the blade to make it get over the detent completely before the blade closes in the handle scales. Again, some of this is adjustable with the tweaking of the HRD position, another nifty feature that further shows the versatility of the HRD usage. Though the Ferrum Forge Knife Works duo did not create the HRD, they have been given complete permission to use the design by Jake Hoback, another very talented knife maker, and friend of Chris and Elliot.

I can without question state that this knife feels completely custom to us. It is wonderful to hold, and the standard bronze colored bent spring pocket clip, though not particularly gorgeous in appearance is very useful. It keeps tight in the pocket and feels snug. It is not however a deep carry.  Regardless it is a competent and functional click that should keep the Septer from falling out.

Real World Usage

We have been rotating this knife in-and-out of the secondary carry position for a while now. It is one of our three go-to secondary weak side carry knives in our standard rotation. As such it has managed to see lots of pocket time. One of the great things about this knife is it punches well above its weight, yet it still is only a 3-inch blade. What that means to us, and perhaps many of you is that you can legally carry it just about anywhere in the USA since it does not breach the magical 3-inch sizing rule seen in some many local cities and states. This is a big plus and makes for a very good EDC option as a result of this alone. The fact that it feels bigger and performs bigger is the icing on the cake.

We have used this knife to do everything! The CPM-20CV blade steel is a winner, and the impressive corrosion resistance allows for a multitude of options for usage. It also holds a great edge thanks to both the steel and the heat treatment either performed or overseen by Elliot. As an FYI, Elliott is a steel aficionado and only uses steel materials that he feels is of top quality.

The Ferrum Forge Septer was used at the beach, job sites, around the house, and even as something of a utility knife. We can recall a day where we used it to open and cut at least 10 boxes of double thick corrugated board. It handled the task extremely well. The drop-point blade shape in this configuration made it very comfortable to hold and get a good purchase on the knife as we cut. The blade edge was also wonderful by the way. It was extremely sharp, but not stupid sharp to the point where it does not have enough micro-serrations to actually cut anything. We were impressed. To date, we have sharpened the knife only two times. It is honestly not the easiest to sharpen as the 20CV blade steel is a beast. That said, it is also why it keeps such a good edge for so long.  The fact we had to only sharpen the blade on this knife two times is a testament. We have used this knife almost daily for about 4 months.

Quick advice on where not to use the Septer… the kitchen. We like to try most blades out with some kitchen tasks in one form or another, and we found this knife is of great utility is all things that do not include food. Why? The blade was just too thick and small to comfortably get any detail and precision with the food cutting for us.

Competitive Offerings

Finding competition for the Ferrum Forge Septer was a bit tough. because it is a 3-inch blade we wanted to include other 3-inch (or smaller) offerings, but at the same time wanted to compare it to a few other options that it might compete with it that had larger blade sizes. All of the below are actually 3-inches or below are wonderful, but we felt that we wanted to keep this a battle of the true smaller sized bladed knives. We think the Septer stacks up like a champ against them all.

Todd Begg Steelcraft Series Mini Bodega (BladeHQ) – The mini-bodega is one of these knives we continue to discuss and harken back to because it is so versatile and well-priced for what it is.  This knife, like the Septer is a 3-inch blade in a drop point configuration but this time with CPM-S35VN steel. Like the Ferrum Forge Septer it offers titanium handle scales, and is a tip-up right hand carry. The weight is a bit lighter at 3.7 oz, and incorporates the much adopted IKBS ceramic bearings along with a ceramic detent. These two are some of the best 3-inch knife offerings we can think of. That is why we have both, and they are both part of our secondary carry rotation. At 450 dollars US, the Reate made Steelcraft mini-Bodega is not cheap, but it is still a great value. However, so is the Ferrum Forge Septer, at about 500 dollars.

Chris Reeve Small Inkosi (BladeHQ) – What comparison would be complete without a Chris Reeve knife in the mix? The Inkosi is the newer take in the small titanium folder liner-lock offering from CRK with a 2.75-inch blade and ceramic lockbar interface. The recently designed oversized bushings make the Inkosi feel like that traditional CRK feel when opening and closing the knife. It is perhaps one of the best built knives on the planet to come out of a production run process. It is also a thumb-stud opening deployment as opposed to the Septer which uses an almost idiot-proof flipper tab to deploy the knife. Regardless, for 375 bucks, the CRK small Inkosi is a wonderful knife with a lot of name/brand recognition and credulity.

Spyderco Techno (Amazon) – Only one other knife seems to epitomize a small knife that can punch above its size and weight class. This is without a doubt the Spyderco Techno. Perhaps it can be called the outcast, or the ugly duckling of the bunch, but it is a real contender. At 2.56 inches in almost all usable blade length, this CTS-XHP bladed knife sports two titanium slabs of industrial looking 6AL4V titanium with a stonewashed finish consistently throughout the handles.  The patented Spydie hole is used for quick and nimble deployment, while the frame block is relatively easy to disengage. Add to that the extremely useful deep carry style paperclip style pocket clip, and you have yourself a very competitive folder. Did we mention the pocket clip is adjustable for either left or right side carry? Well, it is, and it is the only clip friendly to the southpaws out there. At an average price of about 200 bucks, this little Spydie is the budget winner for sure. Even still, it is production knife, and a common one at that. The exclusivity and hand finish of the Ferrum Forge Septer is apparent, and can be justified as costing more.

Final Thoughts

It is a shame that the Ferrum Forge Septer may now be hard to find, as the production run of these knives occurred a handful of months back. Ferrum Forge makes a limited number and never seems to make them again. This may mean that the Septer may one day become collectible, and perhaps even valuable beyond the cost of the knife. Profit, or potential profit is not the name of the game as far as we are concerned. It is about getting an amazing tool that can also serve as an item that brings enjoyment.

Elliot and Chris at Ferrum Forge certainly know how to design, create and build wonderful knives. They have been building them, and we have been coming to get our fill. Whether you can get your hands on a Septer or not, the Ferrum Forge boys are the real deal. They are making mid-tech offerings all the time, and if you want to find out what all the talk is about, you should reserve one for yourself.

The Septer is one of those knives that just fits so perfectly with the EDC mentality, and this knife is a long-term user and keeper for us. We can see passing this knife down to our kids… it is that good! Now it’s time for you to come and get some for yourself.

The Good: Feels like a custom, top notch materials, flips like a dream
The Bad: Limited availability, underwhelming pocket clip
Bottom Line:  A home run from the boys at Ferrum Forge

Check availability at BladeHQ

Benchmade has made a boat load of knives in their thirty-plus years on the market.  That’s almost thirty years as Benchmade proper (formed in 1988) and another ten years before that as Pacific Cutlery Corp and Bali-Song.  The company cut their teeth making hand-made balisong (butterfly) knives and still make some of the best in the business.

Over the years their lineup has expanded to include everything from some of the world’s best-regarded EDC knives for people who just want a trustworthy tool to shove in their pocket (Griptilian, 940) all the way to automatic and out-the-front knives that see duty in some of the harshest areas in the world in the military daily.

Picking just ten Benchmade’s as the “best” in production is tough, and whittle this list down is a struggle – but here’s Knife Informer’s take on the best Benchmade Knives.

The Warren Osborne-designed 940 series is one of the most popular Benchmade lines and is widely considered by knife enthusiasts to be one of the best everyday-carry knives ever made.  It’s offered in a variety of different materials as well as the spinoff 943 variant, to suit a number of tastes.

The appeal of the 940 is twofold: one, it’s thin and it’s light – the standard aluminum handled 940 weighs 2.90 ounces, while the carbon fiber 940-1 is only 2.4 oz and the G-10 handled 940-2 is 2.65 oz.  Two, the unique blade shape: the reverse tanto tip is unorthodox but effective, offering a tip that’s at an acute enough angle to pierce well but with enough metal behind the edge to not break easily.

All 940’s use the Axis Lock and feature an ambidextrous tip-up oriented pocket clip.  The original 940 comes with anodized green aluminum handles and a bright purple geared backspacer, with CPM-S30V blade steel and your choice of satin or black finish, and a plain edge or partially serrated blade.  The 940-1 is an upgraded model that’s the priciest of the bunch at about $260 retail, with contoured carbon fiber scales, anodized blue standoffs, and a satin finished CPM-S90V blade.

The newest addition is the 940-2 which is $20 cheaper than the original 940 and features contoured G10 handles and an S30V blade.  If you’re not into the reverse tanto blade shape there’s also the 943, which has a hollow ground clip point blade and black anodized aluminum handles.  The 940 is one of those just-right EDC knives that does something for everyone: top shelf materials, light, great in the pocket, a strong lock, and choices for every preference.

Does the Benchmade Griptilian really require an introduction on a website about knives?  Probably not.  It’s such an all-pervasive part of knife culture that even people who don’t know knives probably know what a Benchmade Griptilian is.  For a lot of people, it was the first (and sometimes only) “good” knife they ever bought.  It’s not a complex knife – simplicity and execution is the key here.

Designed by Mel Pardue, the Griptilian and Mini-Griptilian have been cornerstones of the Benchmade lineup for years.  Available in two sizes (the mini has a 2.91” blade, the regular has a 3.45” blade) and a huge array of materials and blade shapes, all Griptilian family knives share the same basic handle shape – a rounded spine, and a swell towards the rear of the handle with an organic contour to the handles that make the knife just feel absolutely natural in the hand.  In fact, that’s probably the draw to the Griptilian – there are no weird angles, no strange shapes, it’s a kind of form factor that feels natural to everyone that uses it.

All Griptilians use the Axis Lock, which is fantastic in this application – smooth deployment and closing, solid lockup, and fully ambidextrous function.  The pocket clip is tip up right/left hand carry.  The basic Griptilian comes with glass-filled Noryl GTX (a hardened plastic) handles with molded texturing for better grip, and a choice of two different blade shapes, both in 154CM (non-powdered) steel.  The model 550 has a hollow-ground sheepsfoot blade with a thumb hole opener, while the 551 has a thumb stud opener and a flat ground drop point blade – the 551 being more of a general use knife while the 550 is a better utility knife and slicer.  Both blade styles are supremely useful.

You can also step up to the new 550-1 or 551-1 models, which feature a number of functional and aesthetic upgrades.  The blade steel is CPM-20CV, which is top tier super steel comparable to CTS-204P or Bohler M390 in terms of edge retention, corrosion resistance, toughness etc.  The construction is changed from “wrap-around” handles that form a spine on the normal model to flow through construction with anodized blue standoffs.  The grips are made of contoured G10, and the liners are also anodized blue for a splash of color.  Finally, the -1 variants also incorporate Benchmade’s new deep-carry pocket clip.

You can also get the full sized Grip in an American Tanto variant (the 553).  Of course, there are also limited edition and dealer exclusive variants of the Grip – including the new Gold Class Mini Griptilian 556-1701, with a 20CV drop point blade, and titanium handles with Dymondwood inserts and brass thumb studs for a hefty $425 retail.  The discontinued Doug Ritter RSK models offered a different blade profile – wider, with a much higher flat grind – than the normal Grip as well as upgraded steels.  Regardless of your preference or budget, there’s a Griptilian that’s bound to feel at home in your hand and your pocket.

When the Crooked River came out a few years ago, it was a pleasant departure for Benchmade. Part of their “Hunt” lineup, the Crooked River quickly became a favorite of the knife community and Benchmade loyalists in equal measure thanks to its charming mixture of old-school personality and modern construction and technology.  It’s also a huge knife, stretching more than 9 ¼” open with a 4” blade and weighing nearly five and a half ounces.

The blade is impressive: made from CPM S30V, it has a dramatic clip point profile with a unique two-tone finish: satin on the primary grind and stonewashed on the flats.  The Axis Lock holds the blade open and provides for a slick deployment/closing action.  The big draw to the Crooked River are the scales: called Dymondwood, they’re made with actual wood that’s impregnated with phenolic resin to make it water resistant as well as not prone to swelling and shrinking that’s common in natural materials.  It gives the Crooked River a classic appearance without the downside of handles that are loose in the winter and don’t fit in the summer – old mixed with new, like a modern Buck 110.  A splash of bright orange on the G10 backspacer and the collar for the pivot brings some visual interest, as does the contrasting aluminum bolster.  It’s also offered in grey G10, but why?

The Bugout (model 535) is a new mid-year offering from Benchmade in 2017, and the biggest draw is the weight…or more accurately, the lack thereof.  The Bugout only weighs 1.86 ounces, which is really absurdly light considering the dimensions of the knife: a 3.25” blade with a 4.25” handle is almost never this light.  By comparison, the Spyderco Delica with its FRN handles and 2.9” blade is 2.50 ounces.  Benchmade’s own full-sized Griptilian (also featured on this list) is over twice the weight with a 3.45” blade.  The full-titanium ZT 0450, a slim and sleek Sinkevich design, is more than an ounce heavier with the same blade length.  The Bugout is seriously light.

Part of its lightweight package comes from the super-thin (0.42”) Grivory handles that forego steel liners for weight reduction.  Blade thickness is almost Chaparral-thin at 0.09”, making the most of the flat ground drop point blade shape in CPM S30V.  An anodized blue thumb stud matches the vibrant blue color of the handles, making the Bugout easy to find if you drop it – which is the intended MO of the 535, being designed as a lightweight camping knife for hikers who count and obsess over every gram.

The Bugout again uses the Axis Lock (notice a theme here?) – which in this instance is fashioned from DLC-coated Titanium for weight reduction – and has a reversible tip-up pocket clip as well as a lanyard hole integrated into the butt of the handle.  For now there are only two versions, one with a plain edge and one with a serrated blade.  If you’re looking for the peak of ultra-lightweight folding blades for your minimalist camping loadout, this is at the cutting edge.

Benchmade has existed for almost 30 years now, and another ten years before that under different names.  2017 was when they released their first slipjoint knife.  The fact that Benchmade, a company long known for being on the leading edge of knife design, is making a traditional knife should tell you quite a bit about the energetic resurgence of the “traditional” knife market. With classic utilitarian blade shapes, traditional handle materials, and non-locking blades like grandpa used to carry, traditionals offer a different experience to knife nuts that are burned out on titanium frame lock flippers.

The Proper seems like a killer first effort for a company used to making tactical high-tech knives.  It’s available in two versions: one with red G-10 handle scales, and one with green canvas micarta scales.  G10 is a more stable material than Micarta but doesn’t have the same organic charm, in my opinion.  The blade is a supremely useful Sheepsfoot shape, with a gentle curve to the belly and a medium flat grind.  Unlike a lot of traditionals that use old-school non stainless high carbon steels, the Proper is made from high performance CPM-S30V.

With a 2.86” blade the Proper is “just right” sized for day to day tasks.  A nail nick opens the blade, and there’s no pocket clip – the Proper is meant to be carried in pocket, like knives used to be.  The Proper is a proper crossover – modern materials and construction techniques (the Proper is screwed together with Torx screws, not pinned!) meets old-school pocket knife charm.  A future classic.

The Freek is another recent addition to the Benchmade lineup.  For the time being it’s available in four variants: satin finished or black coated blade (an extra $15) and plain edged or serrated.  It’s an imminently practical EDC knife, on the slightly larger end with a 3.6” blade but only weighing 3.70 ounces.  Made from CPM-S30V steel, the Freek has a high hollow grind for optimal slicing ability and a “chunky” blade profile that’s vaguely reminiscent of the old Doug Ritter RSK Griptilians, offering good piercing ability as well as a strong tip.

The handles are interesting – they’re not just two tone, they’re actually dual durometer polymer.  The outer edge (black portion) is a stiffer Versaflex material to create a strong backbone.  The grey inner portion is softer Grivory giving the center some “give” for a comfortable grip without sacrificing stability.    Like all other Axis lock knives, the Freek is ambidextrous tip down carry with Benchmade’s “split arrow” clip, and a thumbstud does blade deployment duties.

It’s a good value for money, offering an upgraded blade steel (S30V versus 154CM), the neat dual durometer handles, and a little more blade length than a full size Griptilian for only around $12 more – for now it’s almost a no-brainer for a midsize EDC from Benchmade.

What’s the polar opposite of the Bugout?  Enter the Contego.  It’s certainly not a lightweight gram-counter’s dream.  The 810 Contego weighs in at just under six ounces, and stretches out almost ten inches when open.  It’s big, curvy, and imposing.

The blade is made from CPM-M4, which isn’t a frequently seen blade steel but has some kick-ass characteristics.  It’s a very tough steel, capable of holding an edge for a seriously long time – high in carbon, with a big chunk of Molybdenum, Tungsten and Vanadium for impressive hardness, toughness, and a fine grain size so it takes a very clean edge.  However, it has a fairly low chromium content – 4% – so it’s not a stainless steel.  To avoid corrosion, Benchmade coats the Contego’s blade in either a clear or a black Cerakote to prevent water intrusion.

The blade shape is unique, a combination of a clip point with the concave spine and a reverse tanto like the 940.  Make no mistake, this knife is made for heavy duty use: the high flat grind originates from chunky 0.16” blade stock.  The handles are aggressively contoured G10 with deep finger swells, and there’s a stainless deep carry pocket clip, which many Benchmade enthusiasts go out of their way to write Benchmade and ask them for to put on other knives.  The Contego also includes a carbide glass breaker on the butt of the handle for when you just really need to rescue a dog.  It’s an intriguing combination of heavy duty and curvy, useful and flashy.  A knife you may not need but you definitely want.

The Adamas is another huge Benchmade, which was also featured on our guide to the Best Hard Use Folding Knives a while back. Designed by Shane Sibert who also penned the charming but sadly discontinued 755 MPR, the Adamas is no lightweight knife, tipping the scales at 7.70 ounces. The weight is thanks to its beefy dimensions as well as its construction – the blade is 0.16” thick, and the handles measure a super-wide 0.73” from side to side, with full stainless steel liners.  What’s not stainless is the blade; Benchmade uses D2 tool steel on the Adamas which is an old-school tough wearing steel that’s wear and chip resistant.  To avoid corrosion, Benchmade applies a black DLC coating to the blade which also gives the Adamas an imposing appearance.

For this heavy-duty application the Axis Lock has been beefed up making the Adamas the strongest folding knife Benchmade makes in terms of lock strength, testing at over 800 lbs before failure.  The G10 handles are drilled to allow debris to flow through the knife, and the Adamas features a deep-carry split arrow clip in ambidextrous tip up carry.  You have a few options when choosing an Adamas: tan or black G10 handles, plain edge or partially serrated, or (if permitted by law) you can upgrade to an automatic action for another $40 retail.  Plus, a portion of every Adamas sale is donated to Three Rangers and the Navy Seal Foundation which (according to Benchmade) benefits the members and families of special operations.  A legendary knife that benefits a good cause – what’s not to like?

Yeah, that’s a lot of money.  The Anthem is more expensive than a plain-Jane Large Sebenza 21, the same price as a new Umnumzaan – it’s a pricey knife.  $425 will buy you some pretty fancy things, or even a couple pretty fancy ones.  So what does $425 get you at Benchmade?  Well, the top of the line.  The big headline here is that the Anthem is an integral knife, meaning the handle is machined out of a single block of metal rather than two halves joined with screws.  In this case, it’s titanium.

It’s an engineering and manufacturing tour de force that only a few companies have successfully pulled off to this point – most noticeable being the madmen at LionSteel – and it’s an impressive sight, smooth and seemless.  The handles have a chevron pattern embossed to add grip that’s had all the edges and peaks smoothed over to make it feel perfectly pocket-worn in hand.  Like any good Benchmade, the Anthem uses the Axis lock – but here, it’s different.  Since the normal Axis lock uses twin omega springs that sit in between the liners and the scales (requiring a two piece handle for assembly) the Anthem instead uses a single coil spring on a guide bar, which is mounted in place by two screws that pass through the spine of the knife.  In addition to that trickery, the Anthem also uses caged ball bearings for the pivot.  The combination of the single-piece frame, super smooth Axis lock, and bearings make the Anthem easily one of the smoothest opening and closing knives I’ve personally ever handled.

It doesn’t slouch on the blade, either. Steel is CPM-20CV, analogous to M390 or CTS-204p as one of the most high-end stainless powdered steels you can currently get, with top-notch edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness.  It’s right in the sweet spot for usability – 3.5” long with a drop point shape and a flat grind, along with a subtle stonewash finish.  They didn’t cheap out on the clip, either: it’s 3D machined titanium with a miniaturized version of the chevron texture that’s on the handles, and the Anthem is tapped for left or right hand tip up carry.  This is, outside of some wild Gold Class creations, the pinnacle of Benchmade now.

The Benchmade Triage is perhaps the prototypical “rescue knife” – designed for use by First Responders, LEO, EMT’s and the like, but enjoyed by many more than that, the Triage serves a unique role as a rescue knife.  To that end, it includes more than just a blade.  On the spine you’ll find a seat belt cutter hook that’s deployed with a recessed thumbstud and secured with a slipjoint, in the opposite direction as the primary blade.  The entire inner curve is sharpened to slice through belts or other materials under tension, but soft around the edges so as to not accidentally puncture what – or who – you’re cutting out.  There’s a carbide glass breaker on the butt of the handle for smashing open windows.  And of course, there’s a blade – or rather, a choice of two blades.  The standard Triage features a sheepsfoot blade similar to the hollow ground Griptilian’s shape, and there’s also a blunt-tipped chisel ground “opposing bevel” blade.

The Sheepsfoot makes it less likely to accidentally stab someone you’re trying to cut free while the blunt tip trades some normal utility for being almost impossible to do so. Both blades are made from Bohler N680, a highly corrosion resistant stainless steel that Benchmade runs at a relatively soft 57-59 HRC for chipping resistance and ease of sharpening.

The Triage is available in a variety of configurations – you can get a black or a safety orange G10 handle, and with the Sheepsfoot blade you can choose between plain edge or a partially serrated edge as well as a satin finish or a black blade coating.  The opposed bevel model only comes as half-serrated, with the black blade finish. All versions of the Triage use Benchmade’s solid Axis Lock to secure the blade.

There’s also the Auto Triage which brings all of these same safety features but with automated opening of both the blade (by pulling back on the axis lock bar) and the rescue hook (by pulling back on a toggle on the handle).  These models use aluminum handles with G10 inserts, and they run about $100 more retail than the standard Triage.  While an Auto isn’t legal for most people to carry, in most states they are legal for EMT’s and other First Responders to carry, so an auto makes a lot of sense in this application.

Honorable Mentions

It’s hard to pick just ten Benchmades, so let’s add in a couple runner-ups here that are worth mentioning.

While the market for Balisongs is admittedly fairly limited, Benchmade’s history as a maker of these elaborate knives is undeniable, and they make some of the best in the business.  The new Model 87 Ti Balisong is the Cadillac of butterfly knives, with titanium scales, thrust bearing washers, a magnetic latch, and a cool S30V blade in a Wharncliff pattern.  Of course, it’s $510 retail so it better be cool.

The Infidel OTF was covered in our Best OTF Knives article, but for many people it’s the Out-The-Front knife, with impeccable fit and finish, a snappy dual action, and slick good looks.

The model 761 Ti Monolock offers futuristic lines, full titanium handle construction, a ball bearing pivot, and a 3.73” drop point in high-end M390 steel for a hefty $340.

And finally, let’s all collectively pour one out for the classic 710 – a McHenry & Williams design that was the first Axis Lock design Benchmade produced, which sadly left production last year.  It’s slim profile and 3.9” recurved clip point blade was a favorite of many, and it managed the rare trick of feeling small yet packing a lot of blade length.  Shame it’s gone.

Did we miss any of your favorite Benchmade’s?  Be sure to drop us a line.

SOG is a brand that isn’t really discussed a lot among knife aficionados. While some of their products are held in high regard by enthusiasts (like the Seal Pup fixed blade, the enormous Tomcat folder, and SOG’s lineup of clever multi-tools like the PowerLock) many people see SOG as a low budget brand primarily sold at big box retailers like Dick’s, Bass Pro Shop, and Cabela’s.  Despite Nutnfancy’s obsession with the SOG Flash 1 (which is a fairly mediocre knife by modern standards) the brand has an allure to tactical buyers, and they have a strong inclination towards innovation.

SOG Spec Arc price check: Amazon or BladeHQ

After appointing a new CEO for the brand last October, SOG set about introducing a series of high-quality ‘Made in the US’ products and bringing out more high-end offerings, including a series of new large folders using the brand’s aptly named Arc Lock.  The Spec Arc (tested here) is joined by Pent Arc and the Vision Arc in SOG’s new model lineup, all three offering large VG-10 blades and GRN handles over stainless liners with SOG’s two-sided Arc-Lock.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 4.0″
• Overall Length: 8.8″
• Closed Length: 4.8″
• Weight: 4.4 oz
• Blade Material: VG-10
• Handle Material: GRN
• Locking Mechanism: Arc Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Thumb Stud
• Country of Origin: Japan
• Price Range: About $120

So what’s different about the new ‘Arc’ models?  The Pent Arc has a straight spear point blade shape with the same handle as the Spec Arc, while the Vision Arc has the same blade shape as the Spec Arc, but coated black and with a different handle.  For review purposes, the clip point Spec Arc with its flashy recurve was chose over the Pent Arc for practicality purposes, but materially they’re very similar. The Spec Arc has a $160 MSRP and retails for about $120 on BladeHQ. Let’s take a look and see how successful (or not) SOG has been expanding their lineup and moving into a higher market position.

The Blade

The Spec Arc’s blade is a big one – at a full 4”, almost all of that sharpened length, there’s more than enough there to get some serious work done. Blade stock is 0.14”, which puts the Spec Arc firmly mid-range for thickness.  The blade shape is a mild clip point, which brings up questions of what makes a clip point versus a drop point and where the line is, because this one could go either way.  Normally a clip point has a concave swedge grind along the spine towards the tip.  A drop point’s swedge is usually convex and the tip itself falls below the center point of the blade compared to a clip point, which is normally centered or slightly above the centerline of the blade.

The Spec Arc is a bit of a grey area, in that it has a convex swedge grind but is decidedly not a drop point, with the point falling above the center line of the blade.  The swedge is also very shallow and terminates less than halfway up the blade, leaving metal stock for strength.  It’s got a medium height hollow grind, and there’s a noticeable recurve to the blade – not Kukri big, but pronounced like a Kershaw Blur.  The blade designs comes off as a reasonable compromise for a big knife that wants to do a little bit of everything, with some pointy tip, a bit of belly, plenty of length, and enough thickness to feel solid under pressure while still slicing well.

On the plus side, the Spec Arc’s blade came incredibly sharp with a remarkably clean, even grind.  This knife will push cut softer types of paper with ease or shave arm hair like a razor, and there’s something admirable about the symmetrical, polished grinds.  SOG really knows how to sharpen a knife, and their expertise in this area is a site to see.  On the downside, the bead blast finish is a magnet for corrosion and finger prints, and although SOG touts the benefits of VG-10 steel the reality is it’s a non-powdered metallurgy stainless steel in a market crowded by better alternatives.  It’s not the easiest steel to sharpen but it also doesn’t hold an edge for a particularly long time, although it does have above average rust resistance and toughness. At the $120 retail the Spec Arc goes for, most competitors are offering better performing or more modern steels.  An updated steel and a stone wash finish would go a long way here.

Deployment & Lockup

The Spec-Arc uses SOG’s Arc-Lock in its ambidextrous variation here.  The Arc-Lock is probably the most divergent from the original in the class of “locks patterned after the Benchmade Axis Lock” in function and design, but the concept is similar.  When the blade is opened a piece of metal is pushed into place over the tang by a spring, securing the blade.  On the SOG the lock itself travels in an arc (thus the name) with a pivot point directly above the resting position of the lock in its open or closed position.  As the knife is opened the lock bar swings out of the way, then drops into place as the blade reaches its stop.  You can read more about pocket knife lock types in our complete guide here.

SOG says the Arc Lock has been “tested to over 1000 pounds lock strength” although there’s not much information about how or what that means.  It’s cool in theory and it has a big appeal to fidgeters but it’s not a perfect lock for a few reasons.  One odd thing is that the lock moves laterally from scale to scale in the open and the closed position.  For some reason, the lock itself is considerably narrower than the gap between the liners, and there’s enough play in the upper pivot to allow it to move around.  It’s unnerving and feels half-baked.  Also unnerving: vertical blade play in the open position, which signals potential issues with lock strength rather than merely annoying a knife nut like horizontal blade play does.

The Spec Arc also has horizontal blade play too, but it’s more of a wiggle than a “click” and my suspicion is that it’s due to asking Teflon washers to properly support a four inch long blade.  Teflon washers are out of place at this price point, they’re never going to be as smooth and tough as basic phosphor bronze washers and as a result you can’t get the deployment right, no matter how much you fiddle with the pivot.  If you loosen it up enough to get a slick deployment then you get a large amount of side-to-side blade play.  Closing the Spec Arc isn’t a smooth operation like it is on an Axis Lock or Ball Bearing Lock knife, usually requiring a sharp wrist flick and sometimes still takes pushing the blade the rest of the way closed.

The thumb studs aren’t brilliant either, being recessed in a cutout in the handle and hard to get a firm purchase on. Thankfully they have some sharp steps cut into them.  Closed retention isn’t particularly strong with the Arc-Lock, and more than once I’ve found that the knife partially opened itself on the way out of my pocket by the thumb stud catching on the seam.  The thumb studs themselves aren’t bad, with enough of a ridge around the circumference to catch the pad of your thumb securely without tearing it up like Kershaw’s stepped thumb ramp.

Features, Fit & Finish

Fit and Finish is good on the Spec Arc, I’ll say that.  There aren’t any glaring assembly issues like found on the Buck Marksman or many recent Benchmade products.  The scales are even along the spine, all the stainless hardware is nicely polished, the blade grind is even and symmetrical even through the recurve in the belly, there are no uneven spots in the blade finish, and the backspacer fits flush with the handles.  These Japanese-built SOG’s show a lot more attention to detail than their usual products.  It’s a well-made product from that standpoint.

As far as features go, the elephant in the room is the pocket clip: it’s absolutely atrocious, to be honest. The pocket clip is a deep carry, mounting in a slot in the butt of the handle and being secured by a single long screw passing through.  It can be removed and flipped around for ambidextrous carry, but that’s about the only nice thing to say about it.  The flashy branding (with the word SOG cut out in big letters) is the opposite of classy and can attract the wrong kind of attention.  It’s far too short for the length of the blade and causes the Spec Arc to pendulum around in your pocket noticeably.

The flare at the end of the clip, designed to clear pants seams, is far too steep and has a bad habit of catching onto things that most other knives never would.  It’s also extremely thin steel and that combined with the garden implement shaped flare means it bends constantly. It’s almost comical how frequently one most remove the clip from the Spec Arc and straighten it out in a vice so as to not have the knife slide out of your pocket.  Also, the pocket clip itself moves around even with the screw tightened all the way down, due to the very narrow portion that goes into the handle and the single screw securing it.

The overt branding continues on the handle, where they’ve cut S O G out of the GRN on both sides.  Of course, it faces the opposite way of the script on the pocket clip in the right handed carry position so that’s an eyesore; this could be solved by not putting so much branding on in the first place.  The handles themselves aren’t bad, the GRN (glass reinforced nylon) having a good grip with a micro texture pattern cut into it.  The shape of the handle itself isn’t particularly creative like a Spyderco Manix 2 or a Cold Steel American Lawman; long, thin, box-shaped with a small flare at the end.

There’s no finger choil, no dramatic thumb ramp near the pivot, no funky ergonomics.  A run of jimping where your thumb sits on the spine adds grip, but there’s nothing that provides positive engagement with your hand.  Construction is via a series of torx body screws, so the knife can be broken down for cleaning or adjustment.

Field Test

Does it cut well?  That’s the primary question when it comes to reviewing a knife, after all.  So yes, the Spec Arc does cut quite well.  The factory edge was remarkably sharp, and the thin tip of the quasi-clip point blade does a great job of puncturing things like rubber and thick cardboard.  The recurve helps you trap materials against the blade in pull cuts, so it makes quick work of nylon straps, but at the same time it makes it harder to do roll cuts.  I don’t get the impression SOG had food prep in mind when designing the Spec-Arc, of course.  While it does have a thin, precise tip that would be good for digging, the long blade and lack of a forward grip position makes it impractical to use it as such.

The steel is mid-pack for edge holding, in my experience requiring more attention to stay sharp than 154CM, S30V, or CTS-XHP but better than AUS-8, 8Cr13MoV, or 1.4116.  The bead blast finish is not my favorite, quickly showing discoloration after cutting acidic foods or coming in contact with chemicals like coolant or methanol, but I’ve had success cleaning it off with a magic eraser (melamine foam.)

Ergonomically, there’s not much to write home about.  The basic handle shape is wide enough to fill the palm but there’s not really any curves to grip down on, no forward choil to choke up on, no curved spine, it’s just sort of “there.”  The pocket clip also forms a hot spot towards the end of your palm when bearing down on it, as if we needed more reasons to dislike it.  The nested thumb stud is both too hard to get at intentionally, and too easy to pull the knife open on your pocket unintentionally.  The lock is easy to use once you get used to it, but the side to side movement is still unnerving.

The Spec-Arc’s minimalist shape and the fact that the blade is tucked entirely into the handle means that it carries relatively well – outside of the clip, of course.  It’s a little wide at the center of the handle but it’s probably one of the better large knives (around 4” or more) as far as pocket-ability.  A weight of 4.40 ounces is actually fairly light for a 4” blade with stainless liners and a complicated locking mechanism, but the downside is the Spec-Arc is noticeably blade heavy when using it.

Alternatives

The Spec-Arc retails for about $120 on BladeHQ and Amazon, which I’ll be honest: is too much money for what you get.  An additional $25 or so gets you a standard model Spyderco Military on Amazon, which is better in every appreciable way.  The 4” blade is also a clip point shape, full flat ground with an oversized thumb hole.  Satin finished S30V is a useful step up from VG-10, and a nested liner lock under textured G10 handles provide a more solid lock and a slimmer carry.  Spyderco’s spoon clip is one of the best in the business, but sadly is only tapped for right hand tip down carry on the Military.  There are more upscale versions available that quickly escalate in price, too.  It’s also within spitting distance of the Paramilitary 2, which is widely considered the best all-around EDC knife on the market.

Speaking of large Spyderco’s, the colossal Manix 2 XL is worth mentioning.  It uses a similar lock to the Spec-Arc, but with less moving parts and a more positive engagement – a metal ball bearing in a cage compressed by a coil spring.  The handle is the opposite of the Spec Arc: curvy, hand-filling, and ergonomic.  There is a full forward choil, and the butt of the handle wraps down around your pinky finger for a more secure grip.  G10 over stainless liners makes the “Mega Manix” a bit heavy at 5.20 ounces, but a 3.88” flat ground leaf shaped blade in satin finish S30V is both enormous and a superb cutter. Price is within spitting distance at about $125 at BladeHQ.

If you want something a bit different, there are some intriguing options on deck from WE Knives and Kizer.  The WE Knife 703E offers a big 3.75” drop point blade in tough D2 steel with a slick two tone blade finish, contoured G10  handles, a ceramic ball bearing pivot with a flipper, and a machined pocket clip.  All of that for $100 on the nose seems like an exceptionally good deal.  Kizer also has their feet firmly in the good value market, and the Glenn Klecker-designed 4435 has a broad 4” long clip point from S35VN, grey G10 handles over titanium liners and a stout liner lock, all for $105.  Finally, if you want something different, the Al Mar Eagle Ultralight brings impeccable fit and finish, linerless micarta scales, and a barely believable 2.6 ounce weight with its 4” spear point AUS-8 blade for about $130.

Wrap-Up

The SOG Spec Arc is a knife that looks great on paper, and has an intriguing design, but it’s let down in a lot of ways by the execution and price. As far as the basic requirements of being a knife – hell yeah, it cuts pretty well.  It’s got a great tip, a wicked sharp grind, the factory edge is flawless, it’s a light saber.  Piercing, pulling, slicing, you name it – the Spec Arc is great.  It’s the other details that separate good knives from great knives that need work.  I’m not the biggest fan of overt advertising on knives and the Spec-Arc is all one big billboard, but that’s a matter of opinion.

What’s not so subjective is the iffy lock, sticky action due to Teflon washers, the reproachable pocket clip, the lack of ergonomic considerations to the handle, and so forth.  It’s a hard knife to love.  SOG clearly has the potential and the ability to make good knives – one only needs to handle a full-size Vulcan with the laminated blade to see it – but the Spec Arc seems like a missed opportunity to make a bold step forward for SOG’s new high end direction.  In fact, it’s almost indistinguishable from older SOG models like the Spec Elite I. I think with some modifications – a forward choil, more of a cutout for the thumb stud, a lock that fits, some phosphor washers, and a real pocket clip – the Spec Arc could be a compelling lightweight large EDC.  But as it stands, it’s hard to recommend at the lofty price it sells for.

The Good: Exemplary factory grind and edge, cuts and pierces extremely well, light for its size, fidget-friendly lock
The Bad: Overt branding everywhere, terrible pocket clip, vertical and horizontal blade play, Teflon washers on a 4” blade, lock wobbles, no ergonomic considerations, too expensive for what you get
Bottom Line: A hard sell at $120.  We’ll continue to hope for bigger and better things from SOG.

SOG Spec Arc price check: Amazon or BladeHQ

Today, Zero Tolerance (or “ZT” for short) is considered to be one of the “big three” for mid-high end production knife brands, along with Benchmade and Spyderco.  While some may disagree with this assessment, it’s hard to argue with what ZT has accomplished especially considering the short lifespan of the brand compared to the Spider and the Butterfly.

First, some background.  If Spyderco is BMW and Benchmade is Mercedes-Benz in this metaphor, let’s put a label on it: ZT is Lexus.  That’s because Zero Tolerance is the upscale, premium-materials older sibling to Kershaw, much like Lexus products are in many ways just “fancy Toyotas.”  But the metaphor stretches further, because much like Lexus – which has some product overlap but mostly bespoke mechanical components (like the superb GS rear-drive sedan with its balanced chassis and polished engines, or the luxurious LS large sedan), while you can tell that ZT’s are cut from the same cloth as Kershaw’s, they are much, much nicer in terms of materials and in most cases fit and finish.  If a Leek is a Camry, then the ZT’s we’ll be examining here range from an IS350 all the way to a hand-built V10 LFA supercar.  Let’s take a look at the best that KAI USA’s niche brand has to offer.

The 0562 is one of many ZT and Kershaw products designed by Rick Hinderer, who is probably one of the best known names in custom knives.  His semi-custom XM18 reset the rules on the secondary market years ago, routinely selling for 3-4 times its retail value almost as soon as it hit the lucky buyer’s door due to limited supply, restricted sales (Hinderer originally only sold direct to LEO’s and Firefighters) and insane demand.  The market for the XM18 has cooled to the point that you can pick a used one up for less than it was new (what a concept!) but it’s still a hard sell thanks to the ZT0562 line.

The 0562 is the ZT analogue to the 3.5” XM-18, with Rick’s unique “slicer grind.”  A dramatic plunge line rises from about level with the pivot all the way up to the spine, intersecting the swedge.  The point is to provide a grind that does a little bit of everything – thin enough behind the edge for delicate tasks like food prep, but with enough beef along the spine to baton through wood.  The 0562 is offered in two variants: the standard version and the 0562CF, which is another $40 on the retail side.  The regular 0562 uses a G10 show side scale and CPM S35VN steel, while the 0562CF adds – obviously – a carbon fiber scale and upgrades to CPM-20CV steel.

It’s worth noting that the steel on the 0562 line has changed a few times – the original 0562 used Bohler Elmax stainless steel, and the 0562CF originally came in Bohler M390 up until 2015, when it switched to Carpenter CTS-204p, before recently switching to Crucible CPM-20CV steel.  Regardless of the steel shenanigans, all 0562’s feature flow-through construction with hourglass standoffs, Kershaw’s KVT ball bearing pivot, flipper tabs, a bolt-in stainless lockbar insert, and a Hinderer-style lockbar overtravel stop.  It’s a little on the heavy side, but it’s right in the sweet spot for blade size, features and functions for a beefy EDC knife.

The 0450 was one of the first ZT’s to break the “proudly overbuilt” mold.  Not that it’s a flimsy knife – more that it’s not a half-pound knife that requires a special kind of belt to hold up your pants with.  The 0450 is based on the award-winning 0454, which won the “Overall Knife of the Year” Award at Blade Show in 2013.  While the 0454 was huge – a 4.1” blade and just shy of 9.4” overall – the 0450 is a much more manageable size.  A 3 ¼” blade is right in the sweet spot for daily carry, and 7.4” overall means it’s handle-heavy – good for control.

The 0450 now comes in numerous variants, but the original was all titanium: stonewashed, with a small “zero tolerance” logo embossed above the pivot pin.  The design is pure Sinkevich: super slim, sleek, with a gentle curve to the handle that’s balance by an inverse one to the spine.  The blade is a modified drop point with a high centerline, a flat grind, and a long swedge to give the 0450 a needle tip.  Features abound: the 0450 uses KVT, Kershaw’s caged-ball bearing pivot.  There’s also a stainless steel lockbar insert that serves as an overtravel protection stop, red anodized standoffs, and an ambidextrous tip-up stainless spring clip for retention. Two-tone stonewashed and satin finished CPM-S35VN blade steel strikes a perfect balance between durability and ease of sharpening.

At only 2.90 ounces the 0450 is firmly within the ideal dimensions of an EDC knife, but the newer versions are even more enticing: the first to come was the 0450CF, which adds a black stonewashed blade finish and a carbon fiber scale on the show side for a weight reduction to 2.45 ounces.  There are also bright acid-green backspacers to set it off.  The limited-production 0450CFZDP had blue backspacers and an upgrade to Hitachi ZDP-189 super steel, but it sadly almost impossible to find.  Finally, there’s a new 0450G10 model on the horizon that has a G10 show side scale, a 2.60 ounce weight, and comes in around $15 cheaper retail than the original full-Ti 0450.  Lightweight EDC perfection regardless of your preferences.

Boy, the 0055 is a wild looking knife from the tip to the butt.  There’s not a boring, unoriginal, derivative line to be found on the 0055.  It’s basically a full-production interpretation of Gustavo Cecchini’s Airborne custom.  If you’re a fan of that but you’re not an eccentric rich guy then the 0055 is good news; full custom GTC Airbornes typically sell for north of two grand, so the $220 price tag on the 0055 is basically a tenth of the price of the real thing.  With that in mind, the 0055 does a remarkable job of emulating the real deal.  The big talking point is the SLT flipper, which stands for “Spring Loaded Tab” – when at rest it points forward so it’s not jabbing your leg in your pocket.  Pulling back on it against a spring puts it in contact with the tang, flipping the blade out on caged ball bearings.  Once open the SLT flipper is totally concealed.

The styling is love it or hate it: angular, aircraft-inspired with a lot of fine machining detail on the titanium handle.  The blade is also controversial: a compound grind is thin in the front and thick in the back, separated at a shallow angle at the changeover point.  CPM S35VN blade steel is standard on the 0055 with a nice stonewashed finish.  It also has a pocket clip that’s specific to just this model, an asymmetric bent titanium clip that’s configured for tip down ambidextrous carry. It’s not the most practical knife, but the 0055 isn’t meant to replace your Ontario RAT II as a useful daily carry knife: it’s far-fetched, advanced, creative, and interesting.  It will also cut things, but that’s almost not the point.

At first glance, you might not guess that the 0456 is a Dmitry Sinkevich design – it’s chunky, broad, bulbous and not the normal sleek minimalist aesthetic that the Belarusian designer is known for.  Despite its unconventional appearance it’s been a big success for the brand and the designer, winning KnifeNews’ 2016 Dealer’s Choice Award for Best Manual Folder.  Based on his custom design the Pole, the 0456 has a 3.25” long sheepsfoot blade made from Crucible CPM-20CV, an ultra-premium powdered metallurgy stainless steel that’s similar to Carpenter CTS-204p and Bohler M390 in performance.  Earlier build date 0456’s were made in CTS-204p but the steel was changed to CPM-20CV (along with a number of other ZT models) due to more reliable availability of the Crucible sourced super steel.  It’s a very broad sheepsfoot blade with a small reverse tanto at the leading edge, reminiscent of the excellent Benchmade 940-series.  A tall flat grind enhances the 0456’s slicing abilities.

The handle is quite a spectacle: it’s multi-faceted, with a series of “rays” emanating from a point behind the butt of the handle, with texturing towards the outside to boost traction.  An eye-catching blue anodized gear backspacer is raised to give the handle some more depth and a fresh look, which is matched with an oversized decorative pivot that’s also anodized blue – and thankfully contains a standard Torx fitting for adjustment of tension.  Like most other modern ZT’s, the 0456’s blade rolls out on caged KVT ball bearings and utilizes a titanium framelock that’s fortified with a bolt-in stainless steel lockbar insert which also prevents overtravel.  A bright blue pocket clip mounts with two inline screws and is set up for left or right hand tip up carry.  There’s also a limited production variant in a stealthy blackwash finish if you’re not into standing out.

A name that’s no doubt getting borderline worn-out in the list, but can you blame us: Dmitry makes some amazing designs!  The 0460 is one of his newest collaborations with Zero Tolerance, and in Cliff’s notes it’s the popular 0450 re-imagined with a bit of a Persian blade shape.  That means a trailing-edge blade shape – like the Persian Shamshir swords – and an inverse curve to the handle to balance the design.  The blade is very nearly full flat ground, with only the most minuscule of flats that reaches halfway down the spine.  With 0.12” blade stock, the thin grind, and the trailing edge blade shape the 0460 is an excellent slicer for hunting or food preparation purposes, with a far more practical use profile than its dramatic blade shape would suggest.  Blade steel is CPM S35VN, with a stonewashed finish to the flats and a striking satin finish on the primary grind.

The 0460 is a superlative flipper, much like its brother the 0450CF.  Thanks to the KVT caged ball bearing setup, a strong detent, and the light weight of the blade the 0460 snaps open with remarkable speed.  As is the norm these days, a stainless lockbar insert prevents lock stick that can occur with titanium-on-metal contact.  The most eye-catching feature of the 0460 has got to be the handle on the show side.  It’s made from carbon fiber that’s been mixed with bronze.  It gives the handle a unique, shimmering hue that changes based on the angle you’re viewing it at, and it’s very cool in person. Because of the carbon fiber scale, the 0460 is configured for tip up right hand carry only.  There are bound to be additional variations of this cool knife in the pipeline, but it’s off to a great start already!

And we finally get to a Todd Rexford design on the list with the long-running 0801.  This knife has been around for a few years now, and has gone through a number of iterations, all with one thing in common: sublime ergonomics and superb flipping action.  The 801 is arguably one of the best production flippers in terms of detent balance, speed, heft, and all the minutia that knife nerds geek out over.  ZT’s had some time to perfect it, but it was still amazing out of the gate.

All of the 801’s share the same blade shape: a 3.5” drop point with a high flat grind and a pronounced swedge along the spine, the tip resting almost level with the pivot and giving the knife a very balanced look and feel in the hand.  It’s practical to a T – it’s good for piercing, it can slice, it’s the type of blade shape you don’t have to spend a lot of time thinking about or working around.  The original 0801 had full titanium handles with a series of grooves cut in from the “bolster” back and came with a stonewashed Bohler Elmax blade.  There have also been a number of special edition 0801 models: most striking is perhaps the 0801CF “Copperhead” which had bronze PVD coated titanium handles with upper and lower carbon fiber inserts with inlaid silver twill – and the blade itself (made from high-end M390 steel) was given a satin finish on the primary grind and a bronze PVD on the flats.  There was also the 0801BRWCF which had a distressed/stonewash finish on the handles instead of the matte PVD of the CF. These are understandably hard to come by, as is the 0801S110V – which strangely featured plain slab titanium handles along with Crucible’s ultra-high-performance CPM-S110V blade steel.

What’s interesting is that after running a typical multi-year lifespan in the whirling, churning ZT lineup instead of discontinuing it, ZT gave the 0801 a late-life “facelift” in the form of the recently released 0801TI.  The blade shape is the same but steel has switched over to CPM S35VN like much of the rest of ZT’s lineup.  The handle has been redesign, now with a series of five holes cut in the show side of the handle and more pronounced contouring for a better grip.  The new look is a welcome addition but it still has the same great blade shape and superb flipping action.  A fantastic option for someone wanting a mid-sized titanium framelock flipper that does everything well.

At ~$300 retail (with a $400 MSRP!) the 0850 is pretty spendy in terms of a ZT, a good $100 above most other ZT’s.  But man oh man, is it worth it.  The 0850 is a collaboration between two of the biggest names in modern knife design, Dmitry Sinkevich and Todd Rexford.  The 0850 is actually a production interpretation of a pair of customs they made at Rexford’s shop in Colorado in 2016.  Obviously not every can get their hands on (or even hope to afford!) such a contraption, so ZT stepped in.  The 0850 is still an absolute stunner in terms of materials even if it doesn’t have the panache of the hand-made custom.  The show side scale is carbon fiber composite with a tinge of blue to give it some visual interest.  An intricately machined decorative pivot has a series of 6 divots machined into it, a theme that’s echoed on the custom thumb stud that stands slightly proud of the spine of the blade. The backspacer is also 3D-machined to give it some depth.

The 0850 is unusual in terms of ZT’s in that it doesn’t have a flipper tab, the first folding ZT to utilize a thumb stud since the departed 0550 a few years ago.   Despite this, it still rolls out on caged ball bearings for an ultra-smooth deployment.  The 0850 uses Kershaw’s patented Sub-Frame Lock, which is a hybrid between a liner lock and a true frame lock, with part of the handle obscuring the lock arm.  Of course, a stainless lockbar insert eliminates wear and resulting lock-stick.  Even the lockbar cutout is intricate on the 0850 – with no fewer than seven angle changes before the terminus.  The blade shape is also pretty wild: ostensibly a sheepsfoot blade, the spine features a concave portion forward of the thumb stud for pressing down on with your thumb, and a dramatic swedge.  It’s made from high-end CPM-20CV steel and features stonewashed flats and satin-finished grinds.  A sculpted titanium pocket clip is the only downside: long on looks, short on function – a shame considering the stout build, polished fit and finish, and rather light 4.3 ounce weight with the relatively long blade.  The 0850 may be the coolest thing ZT has cranked out in a while – hopefully it sticks around!

Poor Les George.  He’s done so much for ZT and what do they do?  They cancel the exceptional 0900 and the ultra-beefy 0909.  That’s OK though, we still have the 0920: a masterfully designed big folding knife.  The 0920 is based on Les’ “Harpy” custom pattern, but made with more reasonable materials and an attainable price point in mind. Not to say that ZT cheaped out: the 0920 has all the hallmarks of a modern high-end flipper.  Supersteel?  CPM-20CV from Crucible, check.  Flipper?  Of course.  Bearing pivot? Absolutely!  Lockbar insert?  But of course!

The real draw of the 0920 is the handle.  It’s a simple shape executed beautifully, with a single finger divot and a long sweeping arc behind that.  The handles are rounded from spine to belly, and a series of small perpendicular grooves is cut all the way down the handle for grip.  Adding a bit of flair to the grey titanium handles are bronze anodized standoffs and a bronze anodized bent titanium pocket clip.  The blade is a pronounced clip-point shape with a high flat grind, and a concave swedge to give you extra leverage on the blade with your thumb.  We’ll miss the diminutive 0900, but the 0920 offers a sleek, organic looking option for someone that wants a high-end large blade.  A lovely example of knife design.

The 0900 recently went out of production and the remaining examples are available online at a pretty steep discount, so my advice is to grab one while you can.  The 0900 is the smallest knife that Zero Tolerance has made to date, but it’s no shrinking violet – while the blade only measures 2.75” long it’s cut from beefy 0.16” blade stock and it’s got a super-high flat grind with a strong tip thanks to the dramatic clip point profile.  Construction is full Titanium with a rough stonewash finish, and like almost all of ZT’s lineup the 0900 flips on KVT caged ball bearings.  It’s not particularly light at 4.30 ounces, but it’s overbuilt in the classic ZT tradition and it’s also a legal carry in areas with oppressive laws such as Chicago – something no other Zero Tolerance can claim.  ZT made two limited-run 0900’s during production, the 0900GLD and the 0900BLU which – not surprisingly – feature gold and blue anodized handles.  A deep carry pocket clip tapped for left and right hand tip up carry helps to bury the chunky Les George designed knife in your pocket.  Get one before it’s too late!

Last on our list is the 0392, which is a different kind of collaboration for ZT.  Normally, in the production industry a “collaboration” means that one person designs the knife and a larger company produces it.  With the 0392, ZT introduced the concept of “factory customs” – small batch knives made with a combination of large parts from the manufacturer and hardware from the designer.  In the case of the 0392, the hardware was custom made by Hinderer – the body screws, pivot screw, clip, filler tab, and tube spacers are made by Hinderer while the handles, blade, and ball bearing pivot come from KAI.

The 0392 was the first such knife done and hopefully won’t be the last.  It was based on Hinderer’s Eklipse design.  A huge array of 0392’s have been produced, the first being a plain titanium handle with blue anodized hardware and a stonewashed clip point blade in CTS-204p steel.  They’ve also used M390 on several models depending on availability.  They’ve made 0392’s with clip point, bowie, and wharncliffe blades in a variety of colors and hardware types as well, all in small runs that have sold out almost instantly.  If you were looking for a Hinderer Eklipse but wanted better flipping action, an 0392 is worth seeking out, but they are hard to come by!

Honorable Mentions: 777, 0888, 0999

This list focused mainly on models that can be (somewhat) easily obtained – if I were to use a car metaphor, these knives are the Porsche 911’s and Acura NSX’s of the production knife world – examples of flawless engineering within reach of mere mortals.  If that’s true, then we can’t forget about some of ZT’s ultra-limited production models that are more along the lines of a Porsche 918, McLaren P1, or Koenigsegg Agera.

These are all short-run knives designed mostly in collaboration with big-name designers, usually released once a year (at Blade or SHOT show) for the purpose of showing the world just what kind of manufacturing prowess KAI is capable of.  Many of them have won awards, and most of them trade hands for more money than a used car.  They’re impossible to get and hard to afford, but they’re worthy of admiration.

There’s the 0999, which was launched at Blade Show in 2015.  It’s just absolutely wild. The blade is a composite with a CTS-204p cutting edge and a spine from CPM-D2, with a carbon fiber insert on the blade.  It uses an integral handle machined from a single piece of titanium, with KVT bearings and a flipper for deployment.  The backspacer extends forward as a “bridge” and also forms the blade stop in the open position.  These knives all went for huge money almost immediately.

As mentioned earlier in the article, the 0450 and 0452 were based on the 0454 from 2013, which used a subframe lock with an intricate cutout like the 0850, and a triple layered composite blade that sandwiched a layer of Sandvic 14c28n in between a cutting edge and a spine made of CPM-D2.  A 3D-machined carbon fiber handle and a sculpted titanium pocket clip put this wild knife over the top.

The 0888 (BladeHQ) and 0777 were also short-run models that trade for huge sums of money now.  The 0888 was awarded the Overall Knife of the Year award from Blade Magazine back in 2012, and it’s packed with technology that’s still impressive today.  The blade was a 3.75” spear point composite with a CPM-S110V cutting edge and 14C28N spine on the 0888 and the 0888MAX used Maxamet steel – at least for the beginning of its production run before KAI gave up on this “megasteel” and switched to M390. The details are subtle but impressive: a very fine arrow shaped grain pattern on its titanium handles, a sculpted titanium pocket clip that is ambidextrous and fits into a groove on either side of the handle, secured by a single hidden screw.

The 0777 actually still lives on in high-end production form as the 0770CF, which missed inclusion on this list due to it using an assisted-opener action.  It’s famous for being the basis of a certain legal kerfuffle we are not going to get into here with another knife maker.  The knife itself is a stunner: the blade uses Devin Thomas Damascus for the spine and Vanax 35 for the cutting edge, an extremely uncommon high-end powdered stainless steel from Bohler Uddeholm.  3D machined carbon fiber handles cover a 3D-machined titanium subframe lock, with a bolt in lockbar insert.  Sure, the Natrix is hardly an equal to the wild 0777, but at least they’re only $35 on BladeHQ.

Finally, the 0427 and the 0606 are both over-the-top stunning collaboration knives that bring some interesting new technology to the table.  The alien-looking 0427 is a Sinkevich collaboration, and the big line item here is KAI’s “TDS” or Tuned Detent System.  This places the detent ball on a steel plate on the inside of the non-locking handle slab rather than on the lock bar itself, enabling fine-tuning of the detent without creating additional friction from the lock bar pressing on the detent as the knife opens.  Of course, it also features a ball-bearing pivot, a composite CTS-XHP/CPM-154 blade, and a myriad of other fine details and anodized parts.  The 0606CF is an RJ Martin collaboration (our review here), and has a number of visually interesting elements: a two tone gold and blue anodizing job on the handles is an eye-catcher, as is the two-tone satin/DLC blade in CTS-204p.  The real party trick is the hollow pivot: the 0606CF uses a sealed cartridge bearing that you can see through the middle of.  Why?  Why not!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the best knives that Zero Tolerance has to offer.  Disagree with us?  Did we skip your favorite?  Get in touch and let us know!

The Future is finally here! We have waited a long time to say that about the first integral knife from Reate that started hitting the streets in January 2017. It is no secret that we tend to ride the Reate knives bandwagon, and do so with a smile. Reate has produced several of our favorite production knives over the past few years, and it does not look like they are going to stop that trend anytime soon.

Check availability at BladeHQ

For those unfortunate few who may not be aware of Reate as a brand, they are a high-end production knife manufacturer specialized in caged bearing flipper pocket knives. Located in China, David Deng has owned and operated Reate since its inception. The Reate Future shows off the capability of his shop along with the collaborative elements David has been able to forge with others. Designer of the Future, Tashi Bharucha entrusted this special knife to be made by Reate, just like several other notable knife makers and designers before him. Did we mention that the Reate Future is an integral?

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.75″
• Overall Length: 8.75″
• Closed Length: 5.0″
• Weight: 5.6 oz
• Blade Material: Bohler M390
• Handle Material: Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $650+

The Reate Future sure looks good on paper.  Keep in mind that this is a mid to large folding integral flipper, so the weight and overall size is not going to be diminutive.

First Impressions

After opening the standard style white box that enclosed the Reate embossed logo on the semi-soft zippered carry case, we were amazed. Our knife was tucked away in the cutout compartment of the pouch with just about 2 inches visible, but boy were those 2 inches something to behold.

Clad with MoKuti inlays on both sides of the perfectly machined handle, our Reate Future was adorned with an integral titanium slab with mokuti on the top faux-bolster section as a cutout/inlay as well as on the pocket clip. The remainder of the knife appeared titanium grey, with machine finishing that would rival custom knife makers. These knives were limited in release, so we were fortunate to get one, let alone the specific style we wanted. Others with DLC coated, partial carbon fiber, partial marbled carbon fiber, and Damasteel blade options were also on offer.

Back to the knife at hand. Getting a full glimpse of the Future (yeah we worded it that way on purpose) for us was almost like opening up that briefcase from the movie Pulp Fiction – with a glowing shimmer cast on our face as we gazed at it in reverent disbelief. Ridiculous as it may sound, this knife truly made us feel special. We removed it from its case carefully, ripped away the plastic bag it was further packaged in and held this knife for the first time.

The feel of the knife was wonderful. Dare I say almost perfect for mid to large handed folks. The handle contours a bit down in the back making for a downward swooping element that we rather enjoy. We can see how some however may not like this style, but to each their own. Forward position hand grip seemed very comfortable. As we moved Reate Future integral knife to the reverse position we were even more enamored with the style as the downward swoop made for a great place to perch a thumb. The ergonomics for us were great (though we had yet to cut anything at this point). It only seemed to get better once we used the flipper for the first time revealing the large 3.75 inch M390 blade steel with hand-rubbed satin finish.

Feel in Hand

As we started to describe earlier in this article, the Future feels very nice in the hand and seems to feel special for lack of better description. The look and feel of the knife is distinctively Tashi, and that is indeed a very good thing. The flipper tab was very easy to access with a large cutaway which allowed excellent feel to operate the flipper.

The flipper basically melds into the blade tang which certainly provides for a unique look. The small fuller groove make the knife look finished and contrasts with the look very well.  As for the flipping action itself, we can tell you that it is very smooth and very authoritative. The 3.75 inch Bohler M390 flat ground blade swoops up with a very definitive motion. The lockup is bank-vault tight, and lock-bar rests at about 35 percent. This is really not all that different in feel to many other Reate knives as the ceramic bearings he uses, along with the detent and tuning David Deng provides for these knives is exceptional.

When closed, the tip of the blade rests at what appears to be exactly center between the integral titanium slab. The knife appears almost dangerous even closed since the swan shape of the butt of the handle looks like it could be used to adjust someone’s perception if you get our drift… blunt trauma anyone? Unfortunately, nothing is truly perfection. The Future is no exception to that statement.

What makes the Reate such a clean looking beautiful knife that any knife enthusiast would enjoy looking at and collecting, also makes it very slippery and tactile-less (okay, we know that is not a word, but you get the idea).  Even with that out in the open, it should also me noted that the handle design allows for an excellent grabbing hold in the forward position. Meaning that although the knife is slippery as rolled out backyard Slip-N-Slide in the summer, the Future is also shaped in such a way that for most non-water related tasks it may not really matter as you can grab this thing hard and still maintain comfort. Let us test this thing out for real and see how it really performs.

Real World Testing

This is not a daily carry EDC for us. Sure we have carried it for several weeks on and off, and will continue to since we really enjoy the knife, but it was never meant to be a serious EDC in our rotation. We purchased this knife for our collection first, and as a user second. So it should come as no surprise to you that the testing of this knife will be a bit limited to standard chores and suburban EDC duties only. No hard use cutting or rust educing tests have been performed on the Reate Future. But what we may lack in those aspects, we make up for in true real world carry usage over the course of several weeks.

Let us start with the pocket clip. It is a bit long but given that ours in made of Mokuti that is not an issue for us… just more beautiful Mokuti for us to look at. It is 3D machined, and is not a deep carry, but holds in the pocket very well. However, getting into the pocket is a two-handed affair that for us required at least several seconds of effort each and every time. Getting it out of the pocket is a bit easier, but also not a perfectly easy transition for us. The clip is very tight. These sorts of things bother us, as they make it harder to use the knife and gain access to it at the drop of a hat.

With all that said, once the knife is in your hand the flipper is very reliable and quick. It is very comfortable to use as well as to disengage. The lock bar is very easy to push over and the knife basically falls on its own weight once you get past the detent.

We used the knife to cut open some boxes received from online orders, and several children’s toys with those awful anti-theft plastic crud that seems to be packaged with everything smaller than a breadbox these days. It was like cutting through swiss cheese with the Future. The flat ground blade is one of our favorites, and is a very versatile cutting shape. We should also mention that the Reate Future was screaming sharp! We often tend to touch-up production knives after an initial test of the stock edge, but this was an exception. We did not need to touch this thing at all. It was scary sharp. The blade is a beautiful thing to behold. Awesome grind, edge, and overall shape, not to mention really nice hand-rubbed finish, and crowned (rounded) spine.

The blade shape is classic Tashi, and the usable cutting edge of about 3.55 inches extends very close to the open specs of the 3.75 inches. This makes the blade to 5.0 inch handle ratio pretty solid overall. Even the weight of the knife at about 5.57 oz. which is not exactly super-light works well with the hand to assist in forward cutting motions.

Speaking of forward motions and cutting, we did try this knife out in the kitchen. We though the blade stock might be a bit thick for this task, but we were incorrect. It really works very nicely as a mini chef’s knife. After some testing, we felt confident to cut everything from fruit, veggies, and meat with the Future. It was very competent in the kitchen. We made sure to only cut on our favorite BOOS cutting board as we did not want to prematurely degrade or even roll the knife edge. The result is we used the Reate Future for all of our cutting needs in the kitchen for 2 days straight and it performed admirably.

If you are the kind of person willing to take a 650 ish dollar knife for a spin in the kitchen, this one is certainly one to consider as a permanent fixture in the kitchen. But as capable as it is in the kitchen, take care not to get the knife handle too wet as our initial suspicions of the Reate Future having a slippery handle are accurate. On the other hand, the knife handle design does a great job keeping your fingers far from the blade while cutting at any task.

We can’t say we cut all that many things with the Future, but we can tell you that what we did cut with it was no match for this knife. It can cut through things with ease. We would suspect that the Future would pass any test we throw at it, and would likely excel at cutting things such as rope.

Competitive offerings

In the high-end production integral knife game, we have seen several competitors, all with rather solid offerings. To us, the Reate Future may be at the top of the bunch, but we are not accounting for price, or personal usage needs. Depending on the variation of model, the Future can range from the very upper 400’s all the way to about 800 plus smackers. Even still, the Reate future seems to be sold out just about everywhere to our knowledge, but perhaps you may find one or two lingering around an online reseller somewhere. Otherwise the options are to look in the secondary market, or consider one of these competitive offerings listed below.

Rike Thor 3 (BladeHQ) – Recently tested and reviewed here, The Rike Thor 3 is the third ‘Thor’ named integral flipper offering from Rike in as many years. The knife attempts to be less beautiful as we see with the Future, and instead be more hardcore EDC and tactical purposed. We thing the Thor 3 with the cool futuristic aesthetic and M390 blade steel match up rather well against the Reate Future. At about 550 bucks for the Thor 3 you may not be saving any money, but it may be more accessible to purchase. Collectors may want to consider the Future, whereas true EDC users may want to consider the Rike Thor 3 as a serious contender.

Spyderco Nirvana (C199TIP) (BladeHQ) – It’s hard to compare production integrals without discussing the Nirvana, a collaboration between Spyderco and Peter Rassenti. Unlike the other competitive offerings, the Nirvana is not a flipper, but it brings to the table S90V steel that some might consider one of the top attainable super steels. At about 450 bucks, this knife has been considered by some as a must buy, and others as a must pass. However you want to look at it, it is indeed a competitor to the Rike Thor 3, and an imposing knife in terms of its size of blade and shape. We personally like the Nirvana, but might consider the Thor 3 a more usable knife for EDC.

Rowdy HiTech – Another Tashi Bharucha designed collaboration is the Rowdy HiTech mid tech knife. Though not an integral, this knife offers much of the same style and feeling of the Reate Future. With manufacturing performed by Gerry McGinnis who is a respected custom maker in his own right, this unique collaboration offers a 3.5 inch CPM-154 stainless steel clip point blade. For those looking for the Tashi design, but want a lighter alternative to the Future, this titanium frame-lock flipper is an interesting option at about 575 bucks. For those who are also all about made in the red, white, and blue, you will be pleased to know that these knives are (partially) hand made in the USA.

Final Thoughts

We have fallen in complete love with the Reate Future. It looks amazing, feels amazing, and seems to have the chops to be a true EDC, if you are able to stomach the idea of pocketing a knife of this cost on a daily basis. The idea of owning a Tashi integral custom knife personally appeals to us. Given that such a knife may cost well over two thousand dollars, the Reate Future is an amazing option that seems to check all the boxes. Additionally, we feel this knife will be collectible… if that does anything for you one way or another.

David Deng has proven that a production integral knife can blur the line between custom knife and production knife. The Reate Future integral style flipper exemplifies production knife making, and truly pushes knife manufacturing further into the future, today. We are really happy to have one of our own.

The Good: Awe-inspiring design, operates wonderfully, feels amazing in hand, uber-unique
The Bad: Overly tight clip, slippery handle
Bottom Line:  Fine example of production manufacturing at its best

Check availability at BladeHQ