Pocket knives, especially knives designed for an everyday carry (EDC) role tend to gravitate somewhere around the 3.25”-3.75” blade length region.  In my experience, this is a good usable blade length for most purposes – long enough to not feel like you’re using chopsticks to eat a steak, but not so long you need to use both hands.

But as the knife market has expanded in the past few years, there’s been a noticeable shift towards high-quality smaller sized knives.  This can be explained two different ways.  One is that some knives over a certain length are illegal in some places – which we won’t get into in depth here because knife laws vary state by state to an alarming degree.    The other is that small knives have a certain charm and an undoubtable utility to them.

Small, chunky and cheerful looking knives are a charismatic carry for knife nuts and generally less intimidating for an increasingly knife-wary public.  As much as we shake our heads at the notion that some people believe all knives are weapons (they’re tools) life is easier when people say “that’s a cool knife!” versus reporting you to the FBI.

They’re also easier to use in a lot of situations.  A lot of small-bladed knives tend to have a higher handle to blade ratio rather than having a proportionally tiny handle, so you’ve got much more leverage and control on the blade for more “surgical” operations that require precision.  So if you’re looking for a good small EDC knife here’s our shortlist of high quality mini-folding knives with blades under 3” that you’ll find useful in your day to day life.

The Spyderco Dragonfly 2 in FRN is arguably the king of mini pocket knives.  It does so much so right for so many people while weighing so little.  It’s a “sum is greater than the parts” kind of knife that’s equally appreciated by your uncle that “just needs a knife” just as much as it is by veteran knife nerds like Anthony Sculimbrene, who gave the knife a 20/20 Perfect score (a rare accolade indeed) and talked at great length about the perfection of it’s design.

What makes it so great?  Well, the devil’s in the details, and the Dragonfly 2 packs a lot of thoughtful details into a small package.  It’s extremely light – linerless FRN handles and compact dimensions keep the weight down to 1.20 ounces. Ergonomically it makes the most of its short length by including a full 50/50 forward finger choil allowing you to get a four finger grip with lots of leverage over the blade for finer control.  The second revision of the Dragonfly line added a light wire clip to replace the molded plastic clip, jimping at the choil and the spine, and other minor revisions to aid grip.

All Dragonflys feature a 2.25” leaf shaped blade with a full-length swedge along the spine.  It’s available in a number of different configurations. The standard Dragonfly 2 comes in full flat ground VG-10 steel and several different colors – black, orange, and a new Zome green that’s a quasi-camoflage pattern dye which looks very cool in person. There’s also a Salt version with yellow high-visibility handles available in rust-proof H1 steel with a thicker saber grind, either plain edged or a full serrated variant, as well as a fully serrated hawkbill blade.

The pick of the litter is the ZDP-189 model, with dark green handles and featuring Hitachi’s ultra-high-performance steel.  ZDP-189 steel is unusual among alloys for the huge quantities of carbon and chromium.  Carbon is the primary determinant of hardness in steel, and ZDP-189 has three times as much as VG-10 and more than double that of CPM S30V, as well as a ton of Chromium which prevents corrosion and aids in hardness and wear resistance.  ZDP-189 is still widely considered one of the best cutlery steels on the market and it makes sharpening a rare occasion even with heavy use.

The leaf-shaped blade combines the strong piercing capability of a clip point with the slicing power of a full flat grind, making it a great “do everything” design other than the top-to-bottom thickness when folded that takes up space in your pocket.  The Dragonfly 2 is loved because it pulls of an impossible trick – making a small knife cut and feel like a big one – and for that reason it’s the top of the heap when it comes to mini pocket knives.

Let’s be honest: Boker’s Urban Trapper line, designed by custom knifemaker Brad Zinker, is cooler than dry ice in the vacuum of space.  It was a virtual shoe-in for this list, just missing the top spot by virtue of function, not desirability.  And indeed there’s nothing wrong with the way the Petite Urban Trapper or it’s big (3.5” blade) brother functions – as a thin, minimalistic everyday carry it’s ideal for around-the-house tasks and it boasts a very impressive weight-to-features ratio.

In fact, that’s worth discussing: the real king of lightweight EDC’s the Al Mar Hawk Ultralight weighs only 1.00 ounces with its 2.75” stainless blade and lockback with linerless Micarta handles, no clip, and thumb stud deployment.  At near-as-doesn’t-matter the same weight (a tenth of an ounce more) the Petite Urban trapper boasts titanium framelock construction, a ball bearing pivot, a flipper, and a pocket clip – and from personal experience, the flipping action on the Urban Trapper is absolutely incredible, with a soft detent but still a super-fast and firm opening.

In form the Urban Trapper somewhat resembles Boker’s well-known Kwaiken but with a thinner profile and more of a traditional vibe to it. The Petite Urban Trapper comes in four different variations – the standard bare titanium version has a series of holes drilled in the handle for weight reduction, and it comes in either a flipper or a nail nick variant.  There’s also a black contoured G10 version as well as a carbon-fiber scaled version.  All of them feature a satin finished VG-10 clip point blade that’s 0.10” thick for good slicing and food prep capabilities.  Hopefully they’ll see fit to offer the classy Cocobolo wood scales of the bigger Urban Trapper in the future.

Chris Reeve Knives has been the standard bearer for high-quality production knives for more than 20 years.  They don’t crank out 17 new models every 6 months and discontinue them a year later when sales cool off.  They don’t make flippers, bearing pivots, multi-tools, or toxic green with zombie blood spatter editions.  Chris Reeve makes top-shelf folding knives out of titanium and high end steel, they gradually refine them over their lifetime, and they can be counted on to be perfectly made and eminently useful tools.

The Inkosi is a new name on an old friend, the newest incarnation of the classic Small Sebenza.  It’s actually a renaming of the Sebenza 25, although in the case of the Inkosi the small version is even lighter on blade length than its forefather.  At only 2.75” the small Inkosi is almost a quarter of an inch shorter than the small Sebenza 21, but the Inkosi has slightly thicker blade stock at 0.13” along with Chris Reeve’s new “large hollow grind” – with a shallower radius to the grind to split the difference between the strength of a flat grind and the slicing ability of a full hollow grind.

Stonewashed S35VN steel (which CRK had a hand in developing) is run at a relatively soft 57-59 RC allowing for less chipping and easier sharpening.  An oversized pivot for strength is matched with a set of custom-made oversized phosphor bronze washers which are actually larger than the area of the blade they rest against, allowing for a super smooth and stable action as well as large pockets to retain lubricant.  The neatest Inkosi feature is the ceramic ball bearing lock interface – the detent ball is positioned on the edge of the lockbar serving as both a closed detent and a hardened lockbar insert to prevent lock stick – the only manufacturer to do this, in fact.

The Inkosi isn’t cheap – well, nothing from Chris Reeve Knives is cheap – but it brings the sort of high tech nerd-grade knife wizardry to the table you won’t get somewhere else, in a light and compact package.  They’re the standard bearer for a reason.

That’s not a typo – the Ultralight version of the Al Mar Hawk weighs one ounce.  For reference, that’s about as much as a slice of bread, or 5 US Quarters. That’s next-level light weight for a real knife, made with real steel, which has a real lock.  Of course that lack of weight comes from somewhere.

The Hawk Ultralight has canvas micarta handles with no liners, and it’s pinned together with polished rivets flush with the handles – no fiddling or dismantling this one.  It uses what Al Mar calls a “front lock” which is really just a lockback with the pivot point moved further forward for easier access. There are also no washers, the blade riding directly on the micarta, which gives Al-Mar’s Ultralights a unique feel when opening – slick and soft once they break in.  There is also no pivot adjustment on the Hawk, or for that matter a pocket clip – this is one you just slip deep into your pocket.

What it does have is a hell of a blade: whether you choose the standard Hawk with its full flat ground spear point blade, or the Hawk Talon with its swedged spearpoint, the super-thin AUS-8 blade (0.07” stock) and its perfect grinds make for an ideal slicer, for packaging, food prep, or any other household task.  Al Mar’s fit and finish is arguably the best in the business, with everything coming together with “how do they do this?” smoothness.  It makes the price tag easier to swallow, although in 2017 we can’t help but wish for an upgrade to the blade steel for the $105 retail price.  Still, an all-time classic that is so light you’ll accidentally grab a second knife because you forgot you already had one in your pocket.

The Folsom is a recent offering from The James Brand, following the success of the Chapter (a titanium framelock with a thumb stud) and the County (a slick slipjoint with natural materials.)  We recently got our hands on a Folsom for review, and it’s an excellent small EDC knife – which is what it was designed for.

Thin G10 scales and a low-profile clip make the Folsom remarkably thin – 0.39” means you hardly notice it at all in your pocket.  It’s light, too – 3.4 ounces despite the full stainless liners. The James Brand really sweated the details on this one and the fundamentals of knife design are right – the full flat grind and gentle drop point is a “how to” of a useful blade shape and a great cutter, the ergonomics are simple and effective, it’s quite well made, and the blade is just the right size for everyday tasks.

Carpenter CTS-BD1 blade steel is the new standard for good-quality low-cost steels, holding a decent edge and being remarkably easy to sharpen while resisting corrosion well.  A broad choice of colors adds to the appeal, with white, black, blue, or “electric moss” green handles and a satin or black finish blade as options. It’s a good bit cheaper than the Chapter too, coming it at a more reasonable $100 versus $275.  Has the potential to become an EDC hallmark in my opinion.

The Feist has been attracting a lot of attention in the knife community lately, some good and some bad.  The original batch of Feists were plagued with issues related to pivot grittiness caused by burrs in the channel the internal stop-pin traveled in, as well as lock stick and other minor gripes.  Kizer and designer Justin Lundquist worked together to correct these issues and a “second generation” Feist is replacing the original batch.  Which is good news, because the Feist is a really compelling design.

It uses a front-flipper, which is still a fairly uncommon deployment method. The flipper tab protrudes from the leading edge of the handle instead of perpendicular to the spine, and you use your thumb to flip it open, so the tab is hidden when the blade is opened all the way.  The Feist itself is a very minimalist design, with a 2.875” hollow ground drop point blade in stonewashed CPM S35VN steel, and a very simple “rounded box” handle design.

Like the rest of Kizer’s high-end line, it has a smooth contoured titanium handle with a stainless steel framelock insert, and the Feist flips on caged ball bearings sitting in stainless races to prevent galling.  A 3D machined pocket flip is configured for tip-up right hand carry, and the whole thing weighs in well under 3 ounces.  Light, simple, minimalistic with an intriguing flipping mechanism, the Feist may well follow the Gemini in helping to bolster Kizer’s reputation as a company that builds things for knife nuts.

The Reverb is a new model for Kershaw this year, aimed at the camping and outdoor markets.  It’s definitely a looker: a splash of carbon-fiber laminate can make anything look exotic, just ask the Leatherman Skeletool!  There are a lot of interesting features packed into this knife that’s both light in your pocket and on your wallet: only $22 means if you skip Starbucks for a week you can add this to your rotation.  Low risk, right?

The blade is a 2.6” drop point in 8Cr13MoV which is expected at this price, but what’s not is the two-tone satin/PVD blade finish.  Instead of a thumb stud or a flipper the Reverb has a flat thumb “slot” sort of like the Chris Reeve Mnandi for opening, Kershaw says “to avoid it catching on your gear.”  There’s a spring-gate carabiner built into the spine to clip it to your bag or belt loop, as well as a deep carry pocket clip for tip-up right hand carry.  Those who are beverage-minded individuals will also note that the opening of the carabiner serves as an impromptu bottle opener, as if we needed more in our lives (hint: we always do.)

The scale on the show side is cut away from the carabiner to save weight, and a single standoff at the end also serves as an anchor point for a lanyard if you’re so inclined. The lock is also interesting: technically it’s a liner lock, but it’s punched out of a rectangular slot in the lock side rather than coming all the way to the bottom edge of the handle scale to retain some additional rigidity.  The open construction of the show side allows access to this lock bar when the blade’s open to release it.  Since the lock doesn’t extend all the way to the end of the handle, the remaining portion of the handle also serves as an overtravel stop when your thumb hits it – clever stuff.  You wouldn’t want to baton through a Jeep with the Reverb, but that’s not the point – it’s a clever, ultra-light, inexpensive camping knife.  Plus, as mentioned earlier, it’s only about $20!

The Elephant in the room when it comes to small Benchmade’s is obviously the Mini Griptilian, which is similarly sized to the Valet.  Not that there’s anything wrong with the Mini Grip in its myriad of different configurations (especially the new G10/20CV models) but the Valet offers nicer materials and similar size in a smaller footprint, fitting more as the disappear into your pocket role than its chunkier brother.

It’s almost disingenuous to refer to the standard version of the 485 Valet as “standard” as it’s made with one of the best blade steels available today – Bohler M390, which is top of the line for wear resistance, hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance placing it firmly into “supersteel” territory.  The painfully expensive “Gold Class” Valet with its snazzy Damasteel blade and Titanium handle certainly looks the part, but paying exactly 3.5 times the price to get a blade that won’t hold an edge nearly as long strikes me as a bad deal.

There’s also a Shinola x Benchmade Valet collab for $200 with “Dymonwood” stabilized wood handles if you’re into hipster things.  Otherwise, your standard valet comes in grey G10 with a natural-looking grain pattern and either a plain edge or half-serrated blade.  The drop point blade has a long swedge to create a good piercing tip and a clean-looking satin finish.  A lot of the hardware on the Valet is smaller than typical Benchmades to make the Axis lock fit into the body, making the whole knife take up very little real estate.  It’s not a loud, shouty knife but the Valet mixes minimalistic design with high end materials in an extremely portable package, a knife that’s designed to be used, not passed around.

The Cold Steel Tuff Lite is a fairly odd product considering who it comes from – the purveyors of swords that can chop through an entire pig in one swing, and “lock strength contests” (which are pretty entertaining) pitting knife against knife in a contest of things people would literally never do to their knives featuring everyone’s favorite heavy duty knife designer Andrew Demko.  But I’ve always said that Cold Steel’s marketing hides the fact that they make exceptionally well made knives, and the weird little Tuff Lite is a great example of that.

It’s a “real knife” adaptation of the classic utility knife, a pure Wharncliffe blade with a totally straight cutting edge and a spine that radiuses all the way down to the tip, creating an ideal box cutter thanks to its tip downwards shape – that can also do “real knife” stuff.  Ergonomics are the Tuff Lite’s strong suit, with a pair of full finger choils giving you a firm grip and lots of leverage over the little 2.5” blade.  It also utilizes Cold Steel’s fantastic Tri-Ad lock, a lockback that’s fortified with a stop pin between the tang and the lock bar to eliminate wear on the lock surface and stress on the lock bar for a super-strong and reassuring lockup.

The Tuff-Lite hasn’t been upgraded to CTS-XHP steel like a lot of the rest of Cold Steel’s line (hello there American Lawman, looking good) but the upsides of the old-school AUS-8A Stainless are good corrosion resistance, ease of sharpening, and a low price point – $30 for one of these!  Carry is ambidextrous tip down with a polished double-bent spoon clip.  The handles are “Grivory” which is a textured, hardened polymer. There are no liners which helps keep the weight down at 2.50 ounces, and there’s a slot cut into the back of the handle for a lanyard if you want one.

Since the handles are injection molded you have choices for color, including red, flat dark earth (brown), OD Green, Blue, and Black – which is available as a straight or a serrated edge.  There’s also the charming Mini Tuff Lite with a lot of the same attributes, but a 2” blade, 1.70 ounce weight, and a $27 price tag.  It’s unconventional but the Tuff Lite is a must have for most knife nuts.

The CRKT Jettison Compact is the smaller version of the beefy Jettison framelock, but unlike a lot of “mini” versions of knives in this industry the Compact really is much smaller, 2.5” shorter in overall length and almost a quarter of the weight of the original.  It’s designed by Robert Carter, whose name may not ring a bell but who is the grandson of Mel Pardue of Benchmade design fame.

It’s actually designed as a keychain knife, evidenced by the backspacer that extends out past the butt of the knife to form a keychain hole – but which can also serve, more usefully, as a lanyard hole.  With a thick lanyard to help pocket retrieval you can also use it to extend the usable length of the handle when cutting.  Part of the reason for the featherweight is that unlike the full size Jettison, the Compact uses titanium handles instead of stainless steel, which is pretty unusual at a $30 price point.

There’s a Hinderer-style lockbar stabilizer to prevent overtravel, and the Jettison is opened with a flipper and traditional washers instead of bearings.  Blade steel is 8Cr13MoV, which is par for the course at this price range, and the blade shape is pretty unique – a dramatically styled modified Wharncliffe with a deep convex swedge leading down to the tip for piercing ability.  Since it was designed as a keychain knife there’s no pocket clip, which with a handle this small would just be an ergonomic hot spot anyway – better to just keep it in a coin pocket.  For the price, you can’t lose.

A Swedish proverb states that “the best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm”.  Tools that man can create through blood, sweat, tears, and the hands they use to forge such items can be incredible feats. However, now we have reached a time in history where perhaps the Swedish proverb needs adjusting. Seems in the cutlery industry, the best place to find a helping hand is at the end of a high-quality C&C machine… and what is even more impressive is that the items that are made on these machines are often as good or better than the finest craftsman in the world.

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More and more companies have moved to a machine model, and even further toward an outsourced machining of components model (aka – the Mid-Tech). But regardless of what these are called, and regardless of how they are made, a very strong case can be asserted that the quality of knives produces today, in whatever manner they are being forged and produced, is at the highest level in human history. Enter our product for review today – the Swish pocket knife from california-based Olamic Cutlery.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.75″
• Overall Length: 8.62″
• Closed Length: 4.75″
• Weight: 4.6 oz
• Blade Material: Elmax
• Handle Material: Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: USA
• Price Range: About $525

Already well known for fixed blade knives of intricate detail with prices that can easily span into the 4-digit mark, Olamic Cutlery, producing knives in the USA, has steadily been raising eyebrows with the folding pocket knives they make. Their popular custom Wayfarer is perhaps one of the greatest value customs of all time. The Olamic Swish is not a custom knife. However, it is also not a production piece by any means. Hours of pain staking time are spend finishing the Swish in a manner that machining just can’t due. Further, the Swish, a flipper knife that sports titanium handle scales, Elmax steel blade with, in our case, a satin finish on the blade has been given some love from a real craftsman.

The Swish has a very futuristic and sleek design aesthetic. Added to this modern appearance is the modified spear point blade that curves like a swish, hence the name, making for a very sharp point. Let’s get a bit more detail about this knife coming your way.

First Impressions

We have had our eyes on the Olamic Swish for some time now, and it was no surprise to us that when we received it, the knife looked just so. What was a surprise definitely turned out to be the level of detail on the knife. The Swish was not just your run of the mill mid-tech. No, this thing had curves, and rubbed satin finishes on both the blade, as well as the handle scale. We don’t know if it was hand or machine rubbed, and we just don’t even care anymore. All that matters to us at this point is the final results which in this instance was spot on perfection.

Looking at the color of the handle, we were surprised how much we enjoyed the anodization color of a sort of blueish purple with polished darker blue anodized hardware for the pivot, screws and even pocket clip. It is a slightly understated, and yet still striking knife to look at. On that note, the pocket clip is short, and sits differently compared to just about any other knife we have ever seen. It employs a large ball bearing (AKA – Todd Begg) on the clip to assist in easy operation of in/out of pocket. It all looks really good.

As for the blade, same deal. This thing looks stellar. The rounded spine provides a good example of the level of detail they employ at Olamic and on the Swish model. The satin finish, with the fuller that extends almost the entire length of the blade, and with a different finish of what appears to be a bead blast.

Oh, we forget to mention the best part, the action. You see, when we flipped the knife for the first time to check out the look of the blade, we noticed a quick and comfortable action. It is quiet, and smooth, just as you might expect given it is running on bearings. The flipper tab is reasonably sized, another way of saying not too big. The tab has some minimal jimping on it, but only assists to provide a minimal traction. As for the blade jimping by the way, it is non-existent. We don’t mind that call, as this is not really a knife you would necessary want to hard use to the point where you need jimping.

One more item to focus on is the pivot. It is simple. A flat looking polished and anodized blue that for some reasons stands out like a brilliant jewel. We really liked this element, and think the Swish looks absolutely great.

Feel in Hand

The swish feels better in hand than you might think by first looking at it. Though it has a rather severe upward bend to the frame and the blade, in hand it feels oddly comfortable. In fact, everything is rounded off. Not a single harsh or pointy area on the handle scales at all. The blade however, is exactly as pointy as it should be for a design of this sort. The upswept blade not only looks good, but seems to provide a unique cutting angle that might just be good for EDC tasks.

At only around 4.6 oz. the knife feels reasonably light and well balanced in the hand. The flipping action is consistent and reliable. The only gripe we can muster is to do specifically with the lock bar. The titanium frame-lock design works extremely well, however we all agreed that the lock-bar was causing some fatigue after repeated closing efforts. For most who are not going to endlessly flip open, closed and back open, and closed the knife it would not be of issue. However, for us we found it slightly bothersome. A slight relief contoured into the lock bar would be something we wish we’d see in future models. Regardless, we loved the knife so much it was worth the slight pain it caused after hundreds of repeated deployment and disengagement efforts.

Real Word Testing

Some knives are beaters, and some aren’t. Ever get a knife in your hand and just feel like you want to abuse the thing with hard tasks, dirt, water conditions and the like? Well, we certainly have. However, the Olamic Cutlery Swish was not one of those knives for us.

Truth be told, we barely wanted to do anything with this blade aside from look at it, and flip the knife. This by no means is a statement about the knife, but rather an obvious indication that we liked the look of the knife so much we couldn’t bring ourselves to muck it up.

Now don’t freak out, we did cut stuff. We cut open plenty of packages and boxes we received from our over shopping for early holiday gifts from Amazon. We also used it for pealing and cutting up apples we picked from an orchard to make apple pie. We must say that the blade shape words nicely for peeling, just as long as you keep away from that tip. Luckily, we did not get bitten, but we had a few close calls.

Slicing was a breeze with the Swish. Elmax steel is great, and the modified drop point helped us make smooth cuts confidently. The handle feel was secure; however, the relatively smooth handles could have been bothersome our hands got too wet. Then again, the handle allowed us a rather firm grip, and our medium sized hands fit spot on. Sorry lefties, this is a right-handed only game. Though, we are not sure if Olamic has any plans to make lefty models at any point.

As for the pocket clip, it looks the part but in terms of effectiveness, it’s just ‘meh’. It does not sit low in the pocket nor does it have a very deep grip.  We liked how comfortable it was to place into and out of the pocket, especially when wearing firm pants like jeans or cargo pants.  That said, we feel it’s just not big enough to really put your mind at ease that it will keep the knife in place.

All in all, our limited real world tested was very positive. We did not put it through the entire gauntlet of pain, but we can’t imagine most will EDC this knife beyond our usage either.

Competitive Offerings

At about 525 dollars, the Olamic Cutlery Swish is certainly not a cheap knife. That said, if you are still reading this review, I imagine you already know how much this knife will set you back. Olamic is one of those brands that don’t get a lot of buzz. Or at least in the past it has not garnered much talk in from the folding knife community. But we imagine that has already started to change. Regardless, here are some other brand offerings that can be considered if cross-shopping the Swish.

Zero Tolerance (ZT) 0452TIBLU (BladeHQ) – At round 215 dollars, ZT offers up a Blue anodized titanium flipper that was designed by the great Dmitry Sinkevich. With a CPM-S35VN drop point blade extending to 4.10 inches in length, this knife is both longer, and thinner when compared to the Swish. However, they both share similar blade concept profiles with drop points. At about 5.09 Oz. in weight, this knife is a bit heavier, but not by far. If you are into a longer blade production alternative, with a value proposition second to none, we would certainly suggest you have a look at this ZT.

Custom Knife Factory Decepticon-3 (BladeHQ) – We reviewed this knife some time back, and loved it. The DCPT-3 seems about on par with the Olamic Swish when it comes to mid-tech greatness. They are both extremely well made, but employ very different design approaches to achieve a similar concept. They both have modified drop point blades, however the DCPT-3 is about 4 inches in length compared to about 3.75 for the Swish. If you like a liner lock style opening, the DCPT-3 is an obvious choice. Otherwise these are both excellent and exclusive mid-tech offerings from very good companies. CKF is in Russia, while Olamic is made right here in the good ol’ USA. If you have the means, buy both!

Liong Mah Designs Tempest (BladeHQ) – The Tempest is a productionized mid-tech offering designed by Liong Mah, famed for his well-regarded knife designs. Created and machined in China by David Deng, the owner of Reate Knives, this dare-we-say collaboration piece (of sorts) sports a 3.75 inch S35VN blade steel, titanium stonewashed handle with polished flats, and bronze accents and hardware. At about 5.5 oz. this frame lock flipper knife has some similar qualities, but just a bit heavier. It flips like a demon, too. At about 350 to 400 dollars, the Tempest is a very nice model, and a worthy competitor when cross-shopping the pricier Olamic Swish.

Final Thoughts

Knives are tools, and the best tools feel like they are an extension of our hand. For some, the Olamic Swish may provide that type of feel. For us, it is yet another remarkable mid-tech knife in a string of mid-tech type knives that overachieves beyond our initial preconceptions. It is perhaps less about the knife, and more about what the Swish actually represents. The Olamic Cutlery Swish is an American made knife, produced by a predominately custom knife making company that has figured out the secret sauce of making a knife that is machined, and partially outsourced. Yet the Swish still looks, acts, and exudes a custom knife feel in practically every way.

We scratch our heads about what this means for true custom knives, the custom knife makers, and those that until recently would exclusively buy them? Will people continue to want to buy them at all if you can get something this good for half the price, or perhaps even less? Either way, we have indeed reached a tipping point where machine made knives, with some assistance from a craftsman to finish them, can produce a knife with the quality and detail of which were only creatable by masters of the trade a decade ago.

Perhaps the Swedish had it right, “the best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm”- and let’s just hope we can all rely on a knife like the Olamic Cutlery Swish held by that hand at the end of that arm. We are incredibly impressed with the quality coming out of Olamic, and we are extremely happy with the Olamic Cutlery Swish. This is mid-tech done right!

The Good: Beautiful aesthetic, excellent build quality, flips effortlessly
The Bad: Pocket clip is so-so, lock bar could use relief
Bottom Line:  A mid-tech marvel in both looks and performance

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The Helle Bleja is a traditional Scandinavian folding knife that is fully hand-crafted.  It is named after a Norwegian mountain and captures the same rugged character found there.  Just like any natural treasure, the Bleja requires a bit of extra care to properly maintain, though with such care this heirloom quality knife will also endure for generations.  To be fair, those future generations might notice that the uncompromising hand filling Bleja feels a bit like a mountain in their pockets.

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Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.3″
• Overall Length: 8.0″
• Closed Length: 4.6″
• Weight: 5.4 oz
• Blade Material: Triple laminated stainless/high carbon
• Handle Material: Curly Birch
• Locking Mechanism: Lock Back
• Deployment Mechanism: Nail Nick
• Country of Origin: Norway
• Price Range: About $200

Overview

Helle is a small company that makes every product focusing on the highest quality possible.  Their goal is to make the best outdoors blades for use in the real world.  As a hand crafted show piece you can feel the love that went into the Helle Bleja.  It is a full sized lock back outdoors knife with beautiful wooden scales. The sculpted Curly Birch scales are smooth and comfortable in the hand, with the natural sheen of amber and honey.  The Scandi grind blade is made out of triple laminated steel with an impossibly buttery smooth edge.  Out of the box the action was smooth with no need for break in.  Everything about the pocket mountain just feels “right” in your hand, though unfortunately a little big in your pocket.

Of course, one must pay for this level of hand-crafted excellence.  The retail price of around $230, is notably steeper than for many mass production knives featuring similar construction.  Though if you are choosing this knife, you are likely more concerned with how, why, and who made it.  I strongly suspect you would be choosing this knife explicitly for the craftsmanship and natural materials.  You are likely the a person who strongly values being outdoors using the sorts of tools that actually belong in that setting.  In short, you are likely the sort of person who identifies with the ideals of a real people from a real place, a people who have lived alongside the Bleja mountain and in harmony with nature for millennia.

The Blade

The blade of the Helle Bleja is a 3.2 inch modified Scandi grind as it has a small secondary bevel.  A traditional Scandi grind knife has only one bevel making the edge of the blade.  This makes for the finest, sharpest, but most fragile edge possible.  Helle has added a secondary micro bevel to increase durability by limiting the fineness of the cutting edge.  With this compromise, they may have lost a touch of the fine slicing prowess for which Scandinavian are famous, but you could never tell from the way it cuts.

The edge from the factory is just spectacular.  Despite its geometry the Bleja is razor sharp, silently wiping away arm hair with a velvety caress.  While it is not quite ‘scary sharp’, the edge has the feel enthusiasts lust for in the very best straight razors, as if the edge was made on a natural coticule hone in well practiced hands.  The bevels are all constantly even and uniform.  The grind is just immaculate.  It is clear that a master craftsman cared deeply for this blade.

The steel Helle uses is a little bit of mystery.  It is described as a triple laminated steel, having a heart of high carbon steel bound to layers of stainless steel on the outsides.  The high carbon steel at the center is extra hardened to maximize edge retention.  The outside layers of stainless steel are softer and more flexible to protect the center from corrosion and shock.  You can see the feint transition between steel types as your eye moves across the blade.  This layering effect is just one of the many features connecting the pocket mountain to the real Bleja mountain, in this case the sedimentary layers found in natural rock formations.

Layering steel is an expensive time consuming way to make blade stock.  Historically, before the advent of modern alloy steels, craftsman would use similar techniques to build functional tools out of the imperfect materials at hand.  Helle chooses to continue making their knives in this tradition, blending modern and ancient techniques.  This is a theme that runs deeply with Helle, their factory is even physically located on a Viking burial ground, literally connecting their place of manufacturing, their techniques, and their products to the long history found there.

Helle does not advertise the exact steels used, but they do use 12C27 Sandvik steel is some of the their other products, and with its high corrosion resistance is a likely candidate here.  Edge retention on the Bleja is in line with a quality high carbon steel.  It clearly surpassed plain 12C27 and is strikingly similar to the 1095 high carbon blade I tested against.  It did not seem have the edge retention of a super steel, but it was more than adequate for real world tasks.  Also of note is that I had no issues with chipping during any of my testing, the blade proved to be quite resilient.

The pocket mountain ran through normal paper/cardboard/food prep tests with no issues.  With a lock back, you have to be conscious not to over stress the lock, so this is not a knife meant for batoning or gross YouTube destruction test abuse.  Though fine carving, such as making feather sticks, was a pleasure with the remarkably smooth factory edge.  The Scandi grind easily bit into wood to cut notches.  As long as you respect the limitations of a lock back, this knife will excel at any task you might ask of it.

Sharpening the Bleja was no struggle.  The large bevels and minimal layer of high carbon steel made for easy hand sharpening.  Plus, with exceptionally large flats, clamping continuous angle sharpeners to the Bleja is very easy.  Maintaining this knife in the field with portable sharpening equipment will be no issue.  Just remember to oil after, as the non-stainless core will be the prone to rust, and as far as edge retention is concerned, that is the worst possible place for it.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is where the Bleja really shines.  Helle’s Curly Birch is an absolutely a thing of beauty.  There is a nearly holographic glow to the wood, the amber and honey highlights just dance as you they catch the light.  Helle uses a wax treatment on the wood that repels moisture but still lets the natural colors of the wood shine through in remarkable ways.  There is no heavy varnish obscuring the natural beauty here.  With exposure to the elements, the Bleja may over time become dirty, but soap, water, and a new coat of wax should bring it right back.

The handle and ergonomics of the Bleja are warm, hand-filling, and comfortable.  This is no surprise for a blade that was developed in Norway.  The winters of the region are notoriously cold.  Tools made of steel or titanium steal warmth from the user.  Curly Birch, on the other hand, transfers heat much slower and is more comfortable in the cold.  This focus on working utility continues into the well thought out handle shape.  The contours fit the human hand well and maintain adequate grip despite the wood scales having no added texture.  The belly and choils work well together to keep your hand in place, plus the flair at the butt end locks you in securely for hard use.  Combine all that with the 3/4ths inch handle width, and you have a knife that does everything in its power to fit your hand.

Unfortunately, there are a few hot spots to report.  The biggest being the angular surfaces on the upper butt end of the scales.  The wood here flares out and is not rounded like the rest of the knife.  Plus, under the handle the steel liners were left bit angular and could have also used more rounding over.  During use, these edges are minor distraction as your finger skin finds its way between them.  Overall the ergonomics of the Bleja are still very good, but the faults are there.

Deployment

Let’s get it out of the way: this is not a high speed, low drag, tactical knife.  This is a traditional two hand opening nail nick knife.  It came out of the box smooth, but not hydraulic smooth.  However, it was clearly more fluid than any modern lock back I have had my hands on.  The rocker bar slides into and out of the notch cut in the blade tang with no hang ups.  It take two hands, but opening and closing this knife are both smooth and secure.

Lock up is solid with a hint of up and down play, but no side to side play whatsoever.  In practical usage the up and down movement was all but invisible.  Minor play is the side effect of smooth operation out of the box.  The stick typically found during the break in of mass production lock backs was absent here because it has been polished into oblivion by the craftsman finishing this knife.

The placement of the lock back is in the ideal location, the top middle of the handle.  It is neither so far forward or so far back that the meaty parts of your hand accidentally actuate the lock.  The spring is also very well balanced: it is heavy enough to stay locked when it needs to be but light enough that it is not a struggle to depress.  You just need to push the lock back with reasonable but deliberate force.

I will note that I was able to open the knife one handed.  The action is light enough that you can jam your thumb into the nail nick and overcome the spring tension of the lock back to open the Bleja.  I manged to do it a few times, but I never felt like it was the safest thing to do.  That said, in a pinch it is possible to operate one handed.  I just don’t suggest doing it in anything other than an emergency.

Pocket Manners

The pocket mountain truly earns its name when you carry the knife.  This is a thick, hand filling folder that makes no compromise for portability or weight reduction.  The scales are full slabs of steel with no lightening cuts.  Curly Birch was clearly chosen for its raw, natural beauty.  Folded, the Bleja is wide and substantial.  The knife weighs in at 5.4 oz, while this is not boat anchor heavy it just feels bigger than that number might imply.

You will rarely forget you have a Bleja on your person.  Though with the nature (and price) of the blade, it makes more for a scene of security than of burden.  If this is the sort of blade you EDC, you are clearly not choosing it to forget about it.  This knife refuses to be just one more toy; it demands to be your partner.  Everything about it screams timeless dependability, and the knife is determined to remind you of this commitment with every step you take.

Fit and Finish

The Helle Bleja is beautifully hand fitted, all the way around.  This means that there are slight variations everywhere in the knife, where a real live human being used hand tools to make something ever so slightly unique.  The material’s mostly line up with the wood scales being just slightly more sanded down than the metal liners behind them.  There are slight variances in the shape of the two scales.  Metal parts are chamfered with slight variation on every corner.  In short this is an organic thing with its own “fingerprint”.  This is not just another sterile construct of modern mechanical uniformity.

The place where this is most apparent is in the lanyard hole; it is hand drilled and reamed.  The openings are not symmetrical to themselves or even one another.  The crags and outcroppings of the lanyard loop have a distinctly rocky appearance and feel right at home on the pocket mountain.  They add charm and are one more element tying the pocket mountain to the real Bleja mountain and the lifestyle found there.

As a knife enthusiast, I love modern manufacturing.  At it’s best it makes impossibly uniform blades that jump to life with the flick of a single finger, but something is lost in that equation.  With no variance from one knife to the next, you loose the connection to the people who made it.  Sure, the designers personality still shines threw, but they are just one member of a huge team working on a finished product.  Helle trust’s their craftsman to leave their own fingerprints all over Bleja.  There is a different presence on the blade, the scales, the lock, and the hardware.  You feel the human element that modern manufacturing processes relentlessly attempt to eradicate.  This is in no way an attack on the modern knives we all know and love, I have an embarrassingly large collection myself, I am just pointing out an organic quality that none of my other knives posses.

Last word about the packaging – it came in an ‘eco-friendly’ cardboard tube complete with attractive Helle cleaning cloth.  Nothing special but elegant in it’s own way.

Competitive Offerings

Below are some alternative offerings you may choose to consider before buying the Bleja.

Helle Dokka (Amazon) – The Bleja is a strengthened update of their older Dokka model.  The Dokka features the same triple laminated steel, Curly Birch scales, and lock back.  The cost is only $150; the weight is 20 grams lighter, and it includes a leather sheath for belt carry.  However, the lower weight is due to the omission of steel liners, so it might not stand up to as much hard use as its newer heavier brother.

Lionsteel Opera (Amazon) – The Opera is a smaller, lighter knife than the Bleja, and makes for a more gentlemanly carry.  The blade is made from mid grade 440C, so edge retention will be lower than the Bleja.  The olive wood scales are attractive in a less busy way than the Curly Birch of the Bleja and are cut focusing on continuous flowing lines rather than all-out working ergonomics.  The price is under $100 but it still captures a similar natural beauty.

Benchmade Crooked River (Amazon) – The Crooked River from Benchmade is the high speed, low drag alternative to the Bleja.  It make use of somewhat similar materials, but complements them with bright modern colors and has the mechanical feel mentioned above.  The Axis lock makes for instant, almost effortless deployment and safe one handed operation.  The clip point saber grind is tuned for hunting and skinning rather than general bushcraft.  The Crooked River is as tied to wilds of modern Oregon as the Bleja is tied to historical Norway.  Both of these knives capture the unique essences of the places they were made.

Cold Steel Finn Wolf (Amazon) – If you want the rugged capabilities of the Bleja but are on a budget, the Cold Steel Finn Wolf might be a great option for you.  The handle is plastic, and the blade is made from the soft-ish AUS-8, so you will have to sharpen it more often. However, it uses the legendary Triad lock and will clearly make for the strongest lock up in this group, making it the real work horse of the roundup.

Conclusions

The Helle Bleja is a knife that has a deep connection with the places it was made and inspired by.    The pocket mountain is not a perfect knife, but it is a knife who’s “flaws” present themselves as character not deficiencies.  This is a knife built with history and tradition.  It will speak deeply to a select few kindred spirits who can see past a steep price tag.  At it’s price point modern alternatives have an intimidating amount of bells and whistles to throw at a consumer, though in some ways they are poorer for it.  This is clearly not a knife made for the masses as not every one has an interest in finely crafted traditional cutlery.  Helle has purposely chosen a path between the modern and the traditional to created a knife that truly belongs on it’s own mountain, or on any mountain you happen to find yourself on.

The Good: Hand crafted and naturally beautiful, excellent blade
The Bad: Some hot spots, feels big in the pocket
Bottom Line:  A refreshing alternative to today’s factory machined offerings.

Check availability at Amazon | BladeHQ

Review by Seth Gunn

The CRKT Swindle is not your typical modern tactical folder.  Let’s be honest, the market is fairly saturated with a lot of cookie-cutter knives these days.  It’s not that there’s anything inherently wrong with a lot of this stuff, but it does follow a pattern.  A beefy drop-point blade, a stamped steel pocket clip, maybe some G10 – maybe some Titanium?  A high flat ground stonewashed blade with a swedge, a thumb stud, a lanyard tube, a thick frame lock.  How many knives does this describe that you’ll find any number of enthusiasts fawning over?  After a while it all gets a little… same old, same old.  I’m not saying I don’t like a LionSteel SR-1 or a ZT 0562, but variety is the spice of life.

Get the Swindle at: Amazon or BladeHQ

The Swindle is delightfully weird.  The idea was to make a modern rendition of the classic swayback pattern that’s popular in the slipjoint market.  The world of slipjoints is quite different in theory than more modern blades, with less of a focus on individual designs and more on iterations of classic designs referred to as “patterns.”  Patterns like the Trapper, Muskrat, Barlow, Stockman, Peanut, Jack, and dozens more have been produced by a staggering variety of companies and custom makers for decades.

There are infinite permutations of these basic patterns, and everyone does them slightly differently, but a Trapper is usually recognizable as a Trapper regardless of if it was made by Case or by GEC.  The Swayback is an interesting pattern, one that could be inadvertently held backwards by those unfamiliar with knives to obviously detrimental effects.  The swayback pattern is quite distinctive, with the handle typically having a pronounced convex “belly” and the blade following the shape of the handle sweeping upward in a gentle arc, usually in a modified wharncliffe shape.  The CRKT Swindle follows this swayback pattern very closely but adds a number of modern improvements, most notably flipper deployment, a bearing pivot, and a clever sprung clip positioned on the spine.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.25″
• Overall Length: 7.50″
• Closed Length: 4.25″
• Weight: 3.3 oz
• Blade Material: Sandvik 12C27
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $50

The Swindle is available in two versions: the standard Swindle has a smooth stainless steel handle and an 8Cr14MoV blade with a $60 retail price.  The Grooved Swindle is an upgraded model, with textured stainless handles and an upgrade to the excellent but infrequently seen Sandvik 12C27 steel, tested here, with a $70 MSRP.

The standard Swindle goes for about $35 on Amazon while the Grooved handle is about $50, the cheapest I’ve been able to find online.  As far as dimensions go the Swindle is small enough to disappear in your pocket, with a 4.25” handle and a 7.50” overall length open, weighing 3.3 ounces.  Handle thickness is 0.43” at its widest point, getting narrower towards the top and bottom.

The Blade

The grooved swindle uses Sandvik 12c27 steel, which was more commonly used about 10 years ago, mostly by Kershaw.  Sandvik isn’t a super well-known steel supplier in the US, but they supply a wide variety of industrial steel to Europe from Stockholm, Sweden.  12c27 is a chromium-enriched stainless steel, comparable in performance to AUS-8 or 8Cr13MoV.  While it has less Carbon than either of those, the Chromium content is higher yielding a better resistance to corrosion.  In my experience it takes a better edge than 8Cr13MoV, and holds it a little longer while being slighter harder to sharpen – but hardly challenging.

The blade shape is unique, a slender wharncliffe profile with an upswept edge.  It’s right in the sweet spot for size, 3.25” long and with a rarely seen feature – a full sharpening choil at the tang.  It does have a bit of a “beard” but it’s still a pleasant blade to sharpen.  Blade thickness is relatively thin at 0.12” at the spine.  A mid-height hollow grind thins the blade out nicely behind the edge allowing it to slice well, and the primary grind terminates pretty far up the spine giving the Swindle a narrow-angle, needle point tip.  The spine itself is rounded all the way from tang to tip, with a relatively long run of fine jimping running out past the termination of the choil for a forward grip.

The factory edge wasn’t great, with a toothy not-particularly-sharp finish but nice even grinds.  Some time spent on the Spyderco Sharpmaker, mostly on the fine stones, brought out a deep shine and an edge that scythed easily through paper and cardboard.  In this regard 12c27 is similar to steels like VG-10 or N690Co, in that it’s not a powdered-metallurgy alloy but it can still be refined down to an impressively clean edge without a ton of effort.

Deployment & Lockup

Both versions of the Swindle feature IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System, named after its creator Flavio Ikoma) which is a bearing-pivot system.  Unlike bearing pivots used in many other knives – like KVT used in Kershaw/ZT, MRBS used in Shirogorov, or the bearings in the Buck Marksman, IKBS does not use a self-contained bearing race.  The bearings instead are loose, and sit in a channel cut around the pivot hole in the blade.  While this is a massive pain in the ass for the purposes of disassembly and cleaning, it theoretically makes the knife thinner, as well as cheaper.  The bearings sit in a thick grease rather than a thin oil which can be a dirt magnet, requiring occasional disassembly and cleaning.

Deployment is good for the price point.  It’s not the best flipper out there, but its miles beyond what you’re usually getting at this price point – which from Kershaw would be an assisted opening knife with a torsion spring making up for sloppy tolerances and a gritty pivot.  It’s so much more pleasant to use than something like a Kershaw Cryo.  If you’re expecting Shirogorov or CKF perfection you’ll be disappointed, but a bearing pivot is a nice touch at this price point.

The detent on the Swindle is fairly weak, and the action feels more hydraulic that frictionless, but in my time using it the successful open rate is probably 99% – it’s hard to screw up. The light detent and the light blade combine to make an easy action that doesn’t require a ton of pressure on the flipper tab. With such a narrow handle, the Swindle relies heavily on proper finger placement for smooth opening, much like the ZT 0450 – if your middle finger wraps all the way around the handle and rests on the lock bar, you’re putting additional tension on the detent and can make the blade hard to open.  Resting your middle finger higher up – above the lock bar on the handle – avoids this problem.

Another unexpected nice touch at this price point is the surface of the handle that your finger runs along after you push the flipper tab, which has a mild chamfer to the inner edge so the pad of your finger doesn’t get torn up – an annoying and frequently overlooked misstep with flipper knives.  Closing is a different story, with a strange grittiness to the action when swinging shut that comes from the detent ball rubbing on the blade, almost feeling like it’s binding.  You can unlock the blade and get it past the detent ball in the open position then ‘shake’ the blade closed, but it’s not nearly as easy as some more high end folders are, and in practical use the Swindle requires you to close it by putting your finger on the spine of the blade after unlocking it.

Being a stainless steel frame lock, lock stick isn’t an issue with the Swindle.  Lockup is surprisingly late, with the entire surface of the lock bar interface resting inside the tang of the blade, and maybe another 20% of the tang remaining untouched past the inner edge of the lock bar.  There is barely noticeable side to side blade play when opened, and no vertical to speak of.

One thing the Swindle lacks and could really benefit from is some form of lockbar overtravel stop a la Hinderer.  Being a very thin piece of steel with a fulcrum point relatively far away from the tang, it’s entirely too easy to push the lock bar past the point you need to release the blade and outside the shape of the handle.  While stainless steel doesn’t suffer from the same drastic loss-of-tension issues that Titanium does when it’s hyper-extended, in my testing over the past few months I’ve still noticed some loss of tension from mild over-extension due to the lack of an overtravel stop – which is disconcerting for safety reasons.  While a Hinderer-style “bullet casing” lockbar stabilizer doesn’t fit with the design of the knife, a hidden stop on the inside of the lock bar would fix this problem.

Features, Fit & Finish

As has been my experience with newer CRKT knives like the Batum, the Swindle seems a lot more expensive than it actually is.  The blade itself is quite nice, with a clean satin finish, even, symmetrical grinds, and a smooth rounded spine.  Jimping is cleanly applied at the rear of the spine, and a smooth sharpening/small forward choil bridges the gap between cutting edge and flipper tab.  The handles on this up-level Swindle are a visual and tactile delight, with machined grooved running the length of the handle matching the curvature all the way.  The lockbar cutout also follows the grooves in the handle, terminating in a neat 90 degree angle right before the pivot.

The most noticeable feature of the Swindle – besides the shape and the snappy action – is the unusual pocket clip.  The pocket clip is integral with the handle, running from the butt up the spine.  It’s tensioned with a concealed torsion bar and has a nice snap to it for strong retention, and there’s a knurled thumb stud on both sides – just barely protruding from the scales – that allows you to pull the clip up and slide it over your pocket.  It’s a neat party trick, but a mixed bag when it comes to execution as we’ll discuss later.

The Swindle has flow-through construction and is held together with Torx screws – a T8 for the pivot and two T6 body screws that pass through the handle, backspacer (a short section behind the clip) and the pocket clip to hold everything together.  The knife is equally sleek closed as it is open – the spine of the blade matches the curve of the handle as it goes around the pivot along the belly.  When closed, the blade rests entirely inside the handle (other than the flipper tab, obviously) but due to the narrow shape of the handle one must exercise care to not brush their finger against the sharpened edge of the blade between the flipper tab and pocket clip when closed – the sharpening choil gets very close to the surface of the handle.

Field Test

Ergonomically, the Swindle is an interesting knife.  The Swayback pattern doesn’t look like it would work in your hand, but it does in most instances.  It’s not an especially large knife but the swell to the handle gives it some substance in hand, allowing an even four finger grip behind the flipper tab.  Normally I’m ambivalent on thumb jimping on the spine of knives, as that’s not how I grip things, but on the Swindle the jimping forms an important part of the grip, since the shape of the handle naturally has the top of your hand canted forward.

The clip is a hit and a miss at the same time.  I appreciate the effort CRKT and Onion went to in order to create something different.  Beyond the aesthetic appeal – the tensioned clip is a polished stainless contrast to the matte grey finish of the handles, and is a neat visual addition to the knife, somewhat resembling the tail of a scorpion.  The clip being integrated into the spine means that it doesn’t create a hot spot in the hand during use, and there’s no “lopsided” feel that small knives with big clips sometimes get.  This makes it feel more like a traditional swayback when you’re using it, since the vast majority of slip joints don’t have pocket clips either.

As far as retention goes, the Swindle grips your pocket strongly, with the combination of strong spring tension plus the grippy knurled thumb studs making sure it doesn’t accidentally slide out of your pocket.  But the clip being on the spine means the knife sits perpendicular to your leg rather than flat up against it.  You can place the knife further away from the seam of your pocket and lay the knife over flat, twisting the top of the pocket, but the knife will naturally work itself over anyway.  If you lay it over flat with the clip against the seam of your pocket, the blade is facing out into your pocket, which is potentially dangerous considering the soft detent.

As far as actual use goes, the Swindle makes a great around-the-house cutting implement, but you wouldn’t want to press it into heavy duty use in the same way you wouldn’t ask a fish to climb a tree.  The narrow blade stock and hollow grind leaves the blade thin behind the edge, and the satin finish helps to minimize drag cutting through materials.  It’s almost letter opener-esque in its abilities at fine cutting tasks. The modified wharncliffe blade shape has a more organic curve of the spine down towards the tip, and the shallow angle of the blade means the tip is extremely fine and needle-like.  You do not want to pry with the tip of the Swindle at all, and even using it to pick at something seems risky considering the thin geometry at the tip. It does extremely well piercing plastic packaging and packing tape, and also does an admirable job at food prep tasks like cutting up an apple or slicing a bagel in half.

Edge retention has been fairly good with the Sandvik steel, which is heat treated on the softer side and is more prone to rolling than chipping – easy enough to sharpen out on a Sharpmaker. It’s a joy to fondle and flip open – a perfect knife to tuck in a pocket when you’re around the house getting small things done.

Alternatives

The most obvious alternative to the Swindle is actually another Onion design – the sleek, snappy Kershaw Leek (reviewed here). It’s available in a mind-boggling array of varieties, and there are even more that have passed in and out of production by now. Like the Swindle, it also features a modified Wharncliffe shaped blade and a flipper tab, but uses Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening rather than a ball bearing pivot.  Prices range from $40 for a steel handled framelock model in Sandvik 14c28n, up to 85 and 90 for a carbon fiber/CPM-154 model or a Damascus steel model.

From CRKT itself, the large model Eros – also another Ken Onion design – fulfills a similar slim gentleman’s folder role.  With a narrow, needle-tipped 3” drop point blade in AUS-8, a snappy IKBS bearing and a unique clip, the Eros seems a great value at about $48.  There’s also an upgraded model with sculpted titanium handles and a blade made from Acuto+ that’s nearly half the weight of the steel handled version.  It’s a hard sell at $165 retail, though.

Another interesting knife to consider in this price range is the Vanguard-series Kizer Begleiter, a thin EDC oriented liner lock/thumb stud folder with a 3.3” VG-10 blade.  At $52 it’s worth taking a shot.  Hope springs eternal for a Vanguard Series version of the extremely popular Kizer Feist, which is a minimalistic front flipper with a bearing pivot, titanium handles, and a 2.9” S35VN blade.  At $168 retail it’s well out of the purview of the Swindle, though.

Spyderco doesn’t have a ton of products that compete directly with weird stuff like the Swindle, but the old-but-gold Centofante 3 folder definitely comes to mind.  Sleek, thin, and light (at 2.50 ounces) the Centofante has a curved 3” clip point blade in VG-10 and contoured FRN handles with a reliable back lock.  It’s a little pricier at $70 retail.  There’s also the UK Penknife, a lightweight slip joint with a 2.94” blade in CTS-BD1 steel – in either a drop point with a curved spine, or a classic Spyderco full flat ground leaf shape blade.  A deep carry wire clip and textured FRN handles are nice touches for the $52 price point that this inoffensive knife carries.  A great slim EDC option.

And finally, if you want a genuine classic Swayback, the GEC #47 Viper is an old-school slipjoint with absolutely top notch fit and finish.  They’re produced in small batches in a variety of handle materials, my favorite being the minimalistic linen micarta versions.  A full flat grind and a variety of easily managed steels – like 440C or 1095 high carbon – make the Viper an excellent user knife, and you’re getting a shocking amount of quality and character for around $80.

Wrap-Up

The CRKT Swindle is a knife I’ve wanted to get my hands on out of pure curiosity for some time now, and I was glad to get the opportunity to do so because it’s a fascinating piece of equipment.  The combination of the unusual shape, the snappy action, and the weird sprung clip make it a great conversation piece.  It also cuts really well thanks to the thin blade and helpful blade geometry.

It’s not without its issues, though: this is a framelock that really needs a lockbar stabilizer for safety reasons.  The tensioned clip is great in the hand but irritating in the pocket – which is sort of like buying a ¾ ton pickup truck as a daily driver because you tow a boat twice a year.  But overall, like a lot of the unique things CRKT puts out, the bottom line is this: it’s a cool, useable knife for not a lot of money.  You might not carry it every day but on the occasion you feel like throwing a light, funky pen knife in your pocket you’ll enjoy it.  A recommended buy for knife nuts.

The Good: Slick, modern take on the classic Swayback pattern, IKBS pivot opens super smoothly, remarkable fit and finish for the price, cuts well, no hot spots from clip, it’s something different
The Bad: Gritty action when closing, weak lock bar and no overtravel stop, clip doesn’t work well in pocket, ergonomics can be strange at times, a huge pain to disassemble and clean due to uncaged ball bearings
Bottom Line: A unique and worthwhile addition to your collection

Get the Swindle at: Amazon or BladeHQ

Doing a “best of” for a brand like Spyderco is a uniquely difficult challenge – we could easily list 15-20 knives here in a lengthy tribute to Colorado’s most famous purveyor of cutlery.  The brand, under the direction of the inimitable Sal Glesser, has grown from a fringe purveyor of odd knives to one of the most dominant names in the field of cutlery, with an impressively wide array of products to suit nearly every budget and purpose – and that’s not even including the budget Byrd brand or Randall knives.

Best Spyderco Knives: Summary

• Spyderco Paramilitary 2
• Spyderco Manix 2
• Spyderco Delica
• Spyderco Native
• Spyderco Tenacious
• Spyderco Sage
• Spyderco Chaparral
• Spyderco Dragonfly
• Spyderco Slysz Bowie
• Spyderco Nirvana

Spyderco recently celebrated their 40^th Anniversary in the form of this wild contoured, fluted carbon fiber Native V with a DS93x Damasteel blade.  Hell of a party it is, and it’s crazy to think Spyderco has been providing knives that are long on function and (to some eyes) short on form for four decades now.  They’re the type of knives that non-enthusiasts don’t understand until they actually get them in hand and use them, with natural ergonomics, strong locks, smooth actions, and a dedication to high-end and exotic blade steels keeping enthusiasts coming back for more year after year.  Here’s our favorite Spyderco knives currently available at the time of writing.

So much has been said and written about the Paramilitary 2 that it’s difficult to sum up this knife without restating clichés that have already been digested by thousands of knife fans.  Simply put, the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 is arguably one of the best everyday carry-oriented pocket knives ever made.  Some will argue that the Manix 2 or Benchmade’s 940 series fill this role better, but the nice thing about knives is that no one’s opinion is wrong.  I fall evenly down the middle between the Paramilitary 2 and the Manix 2 depending on my mood, and both are absolutely fantastic.

The PM2 (as most people refer to it) is an evolution of the original Paramilitary, itself a smaller derivative of the full-sized Military.  While the Millie sports a huge 4” blade and a long 9.50” overall length, the PM2 is more manageable coming in just under a 3.5” blade and 8.3” overall.  Differences versus the original include a four way clip, flush screws, a reshaped tang that doesn’t protrude from the handle when closed, a slightly longer blade, and a mild reshaping of the handle.  All PM2’s use Spyderco’s compression lock, which is similar in concept to a locking liner but accessed from the spine instead of the belly of the handle, taking your fingers out of the cutting path when closing the knife.  Our guide to lock types tell you everything you need to know about this and other locking mechanisms.

The blade is a clip point with a profile that’s nearly instantly recognizable to knife fans – a totally straight spine with a constant curve of the sharpened edge up to the tip.  It’s full flat ground for maximum slicing performance, with a beautiful satin finish.  Standard blade steel is CPM S30V but you can also opt for CPM S110V with “blurple” handles and now even in glorious Maxamet both as production models for a little extra dosh. Standard PM2’s come with either black or digicam handles and a satin or black DLC blade finish.  Of course there have been a staggering array of sprint run PM2’s or commissioned ‘exclusives’ in various different steels – Elmax, S35VN, S90V, M4, and now M390 just to name a handful.  Due to the limited nature of sprint runs, the price in the header only applies to the full-production S30V and S110V versions.

Ergonomics are the name of the game with the PM2.  It’s a knife that immediately feels at home in the hand, there’s just no learning curve to it.  It offers solid forward and rearward grip with a nice 50/50 choil, easy blade opening and closing with the compression lock, a slick feel in hand with textured G10 and flush screws, easy opening thanks to the oversized thumb hole – there’s everything you need and nothing you don’t.  Without doubt one of the greatest EDC knives in the world.  Spyderco also released the Para 3, a kind of sub-3” “shrunken” variant of the PM2 that we weren’t overwhelmingly fond of – but has sold very well by all accounts.

All this talk about the PM2 isn’t fair without mentioning its beefier counterpart.  The Manix 2 is another supremely well-designed mid-size knife intended for EDC tasks.  Like the PM2, the Manix 2 is a revision of an earlier design, but with more of a difference: the original Manix was a lockback, whereas the Manix 2 uses a caged ball bearing lock to secure the blade.  Like the lockback it’s fully ambidextrous, but it’s much easier to manipulate one-handed and it’s not prone to vertical blade play from wear or lint build up.  To make things confusing, they’ve brought back a lockback version of the Manix 2 for 2017.

Unlike the PM2 which only comes in one configuration (3.4” plain edge blade, G10 handles) the Manix 2 is actually a line of 3 distinct knives.  The standard Manix 2 features G10 scales with full stainless liners and a 3.375” leaf-shaped blade (full flat ground, with an oversized thumb hole) in CPM S30V steel for a 5 ounce weight.  The Manix 2 lightweight has the same blade but trades the lined G10 handle for a linerless FRCP (fiberglass reinforced co-polymer) handle as well as a lightweight wire clip for a weight reduction down to 3 ounces.  All variants allow for ambidextrous tip up carry.  Oh and if you want something bigger, there’s the powerhouse Manix 2 XL.

Being a mainstream Spyderco there is a head-spinning amount of special versions, starting with the full production S110V variants of the regular and the lightweight manix 2 with blue handles.  The lightweight Manix is the bargain of the bunch at about $80 for the standard version in CTS-BD1, a good mid-range steel that’s easy to put a scary edge on and comes in a cool translucent blue or black handle.  You can also get the lightweight Manix 2 in super-exotic Carpenter Maxamet Micro-Melt, which is a steel that’s so hard ZT gave up on using it halfway through a production run of high end knives to switch to M390.  With a Rockwell hardness rating somewhere between 67-68, it’s easily the hardest steel you can get in a production knife, surpassing former top end steels like Hitach ZDP-189 and Bohler M390.  It’s not particularly corrosion resistant and from anecdotal evidence it is terrible to sharpen, but you don’t buy a Lamborghini to get groceries and complain about the engine-out 30k service.  There have been a slew of other sprint runs with different handles and steels as well.

All of the Manix 2 line features stellar ergonomics, with a more hand-filling form than the PM2 at the trade-off of taking up more real estate in the pocket from top to bottom.  Like the PM2 it features a two-position grip with a deeply sculpted forward finger choil to allow the user to choke up on the blade, jimping in all the right places, and blade to handle geometry that puts the point slightly downward from the pivot, giving the user fantastic control.  A real pleasure to use in any of its various forms.

The classic Spyderco shape.  The Delica and its larger “brother” Endura have been around since 1990 in their original form, and they’ve undergone a number of evolutions and CQI improvements in the last 27 years, being in their fourth generation since 2006.  This entry references both the Delica and the Endura because they’re the same knife proportionally, just different sizes.  The Delica is the smaller of the two with a 2.9” blade and a 7.125” overall length, while the Endura’s blade is 3 ¾”.  Both utilize FRN scales with “bi-directional texturing” for grip and skeletonized stainless liners for strength and weight reduction.  They’re drilled for four-way carry and use a traditional lockback design with a Boye detent to prevent accidental release when gripping the handle.

The standard steel for both models is VG-10, a non-powdered stainless that holds a decent edge and is highly corrosion resistant.  They’re available in saber ground and full flat ground versions, as well as with an optional Emerson Wave Opener that catches the corner of your pocket and pulls the knife open and locked as you draw it.  There is also the option of upgrading to Hitachi ZDP-189 steel for both models, a super hard steel that’s still one of the highest performing on the market despite having been around for quite some time.  While Spyderco has come out with some really captivating designs in the ensuing nearly 3 decades since these debuted, they’re still a great starting place for anyone looking to get into Spyderco and thanks to their light weight and pocketable dimensions they make excellent daily carry knives.

The Native wasn’t really a knife design destined for greatness, it just sort of ended up there.  It was actually originally designed as a knife to be sold through big-box retailers like Wal-Mart, as a less-expensive alternative to the Delica, but over time has evolved an identity of its own.  The name comes from the fact that the Native is entirely domestically produced, a rare feat these days.

In its current iteration the Native is in its fifth generation, which came out around 2012 to replace the long-running Native III.  Differences are numerous, including a full-flat ground blade versus the III’s sabre grind, refined ergonomics, a four way carry clip, and an upgrade to CPM S35VN steel, turning it from an also-ran in Spyderco’s lineup to a true EDC star.  Linerless construction on the FRN model makes it extremely lightweight, weighing in at only 2.45 ounces compared to the G10 models at a full two ounces heavier.  Ergonomics are again the story here: a full forward choil allows a solid choked-up grip, and a run of jimping behind the thumb hole on the spine offers a secure grip.  The Native isn’t a hard-use special, with 0.13” blade stock and a slicey full flat ground leaf shaped blade ideal for day to day tasks.

Like most other mainstream Spydercos the Native comes in a variety of configurations.  The FRN version is available in standard S35VN steel, with a satin blade in plain edge, half serrated or fully serrated, as well as a black blade half or full serrated around $90.  There’s also an upgraded CPM S110V model with a dark blue handle for $115, or if you want the latest greatest super steel the gray-handled Maxamet version rings in at a hefty $140 or so.  The G10 versions are a little spendier, starting at about $130 for S35VN and $150 for S110V.  Finally, there are a plethora of special edition Natives, including the stunning 40^th Anniversary version with fluted 3D contoured carbon fiber handles and a beautiful Damascus blade made from DS93x Damasteel at $360 retail.

Note: there’s also the new Shaman which has just come out, which has a lot in common with the Native – like the overall profile – but has a larger 3.5” blade (available plain edge or serrated), contoured G10 handles, and most importantly a compression lock.  It’s different enough to be considered a separate model but good enough to warrant inclusion on this list if initial impressions are right.

For many people, the Tenacious series of knives is their introduction to Spyderco – and the start of a fairly expensive habit for some.  It’s actually part of a line of “value” folders made by an unnamed OEM in China for Spyderco, which are similar in design but different in size.  There’s the miniscule 2.25” Ambitious, the 2.75” Persistence, and the big 4” Resilience – with the “just right” 3.4” Tenacious right in the middle.  All of the Tenacious line knives use the same materials and design: textured G10 scales over stainless liners, a liner lock, a four way clip, phosphor bronze washers, and a drop point blade in 8Cr13MoV steel.

For a lot of people, the Tenacious is the “just right” affordable EDC folder, competing with the likes of the Ontario RAT, Kershaw Leek, Buck Vantage, and CRKT M16 for mainstream appeal at an affordable price.  It’s not hard to see why it sucks people in: it offers a lot of the things that make a Spyderco a Spyderco without making you shell out hundreds of dollars.  The blade, of course, is a model of practicality: a full flat ground drop point shape does a little bit of everything well, the thumb-hole opener draws your eye and quickly becomes the natural way to open a knife, the bronze washers make for a smooth deployment, and at under a half-inch thick the Tenacious carries well.  For a lot of people it’s the first step between throwing away your gas station knife and your family staging an intervention because you’ve blown your kid’s college savings on buying every version of the Paramilitary 2.

There are some choices when it comes to versions of the Tenacious.  Standard is black G10 with a satin finish blade, with a choice of plain edge, part and full serrated. There’s also the option of a black coated blade, and there’s a number of different handle colors available from various retailers including checkered red, bright blue, tan, camouflage, and even a carbon fiber laminate.

The Sage series is a unique concept: a series of knives where the blade is identical, the overall shape of the knife is the same among iterations, but each version uses a different lock type to celebrate the innovation and creativity of various knife makers who’ve changed the landscape of the industry over the years.  Spyderco’s been making the Sage for a while now and is currently in its fifth iteration, although some earlier versions of the sage are still readily available – primarily the Sage 1 & 2.

As far as the basics, the Sage is a supremely useful day-to-day knife regardless of which lock type it uses.  The Sage is a perfect mid-sizer with a 3” spear point blade and a 4” handle, making it shorter than a PM2 or Manix 2 but longer than a Delica, and incorporates a 50/50 forward choil to allow the user to choke up on the handle.  All versions of the Sage are made with CPM S30V stainless steel, which offers a durable edge and reliable corrosion resistance.

As mentioned, each version offers a unique lock as well as different handle materials and design.  The original Sage uses a Michael Walker-designed liner lock combined with carbon fiber-laminate G10 handle scales and weighs a scant 3.2 ounces.  These same scales are also used on the newest Sage 5, which features Spyderco’s unique compression lock.  Sage 2 pays homage to Chris Reeve’s sturdy Integral Lock – commonly referred to as a frame lock – with a slightly contoured titanium frame.  The Sage 3 used the Bolt Action lock, accredited to Blackie Collins, in either a checkered carbon fiber laminate or a bright blue G10 handle option.

The Sage 4 was a bit of a departure from the modern/tactical looking Sage line, with Arizona Ironwood scales and titanium bolsters. It uses a backlock, credited to Al Mar who moved the location of the lock bar from the end of the handle up to the middle for easier access and stronger lockup.  All versions of the Sage use Spyderco’s excellent deep carry wire clip configured for ambidextrous tip down carry.  It’s a cool concept: if you like the knife, pick the lock you want.  Personally, I’ll take all 5.

The Chaparral is named after a bush.  Exciting, right?  Or in Spyderco’s much more eloquent words, the Chaparral is “…a shrub native to the Western United States with the unique ability to perennially survive, revive and regenerate after being destroyed by drought or fire.”  Okay, that makes a little more sense.  It’s a series of recurring knives that use the same overall shape (“pattern” in traditional parlance) and blade but showcases a variety of different handle materials and construction techniques.

The basics of the Chaparral make it an excellent gentleman’s knife, but absolutely not a hard-use one.  The blade is a full flat ground drop point that measures a scant 0.08” thick, one of the thinnest blades on a modern folding knife which makes for exemplary slicing performance.  Hell, there are probably Medfords with thicker blades than the Chaparral’s handle (0.34”) – it’s a supremely slim, light knife ideal for pocket carry.  Blade steel is Carpenter CTS-XHP, a powdered stainless high-end steel.  The blade is 2.81” long and includes a forward choil.  All versions of the Chaparral use a backlock.

Handle materials and price vary widely.  The “basic” Chaparral has carbon fiber laminated G10 handles and a 2.5 ounce weight for a pretty reasonable $125.  A new version will be available soon with lightweight bi-directional textured FRN handles and nested stainless skeletonized liners for strength, while still weighing only 2 ounces.  The price drops even further to ~$80 on this user-oriented model which is bound to be a hit with the Spyderco community.  There’s also the recently Raffir Noble variant of the Chaparral, made with a unique scale material that is layers of brass and bronze mesh suspended in epoxy resin.  It’s almost impossible to properly capture it in photos, but it looks incredibly cool in person.  This isn’t a bad buy at ~$120 retail either, and it features contoured handle scales unlike the other models.

The titanium handled versions of the Chaparral are considerably more expensive.  The flat titanium version is about $190 and has a geometric square pattern vaguely visible.  The “stepped titanium” models are a hefty $340 retail a piece, supposedly being one of Spyderco’s most expensive to manufacture knives because of the extreme amount of machining involved with the intricately 3D-textured handles.  All versions of the Chaparral provide something that’s altogether uncommon in this day and age: a slim, light, simple gentleman’s knife that cuts exceptionally well and doesn’t even pretend to be “tactical.”  A charming knife indeed.

The Dragonfly measures a scant 5 ½” inches from stem to stern, (in most versions) isn’t made of even remotely exotic materials, has a miniscule 2 ¼” blade, and isn’t designed by a trendy name in the knife industry.  Why, then, has it widely been considered one of the best small EDC choices in the market for years?  Simple: it does more with less.  A lot less.

The Dragonfly is a case study in maximizing what you’ve got.  Yeah, it’s a short blade, but it’s not wasted – the blade is full-flat ground with a pronounced swedge on the spine, for an ideal slicing and piercing shape.  It’s got a full finger choil integrated into the tang and the bolster, allowing for a much more secure grip of what would otherwise feel like trying to squeeze the last little bit of toothpaste out with an oven mitt on.  It’s tiny but it’s not half-baked.  There are fully nested skeletonized stainless liners under the FRN scales, which feature Spyderco’s bi-directional texturing for added grip. It has an ambidextrous tip up deep-carry wire clip – the lightweight version only weighs 1.2 ounces.  It gives you an actual ergonomic option in a market flooded with knives that feel like they were designed for children’s hands.

Standard steel is VG-10, nothing exotic, but there are also “Salt” versions that come with rust-proof H1 steel as well as a funky hawkbill variant.  There are also stainless steel Dragonflies if you like additional weight, as well as a cool foliage green G10 version.  The ones to go for if you’re really a knife nut: either the cool new Zome dyed Green FRN version, or the high-performance ZDP-189 model, with its extreme edge retention qualities.  It received the coveted 20/20 Perfect rating from Everyday Commentary, a rarely bestowed mark from one of the most function-oriented EDC sites on the internet.

The Slysz Bowie is the second production collaboration between the renowned Polish knifemaker and the Colorado brand, following the wildly popular Techno “little big knife” – with its diminutive 2.55” blade and beefy framelock build.  The Slysz Bowie has a lot in common with the little Techno – mainly, its materials.  The frame is titanium with a distressed stonewashed finish, with a stout framelock design.  The blade is a dramatic clip point with a slight concave profile to the spine (thus the Bowie designation), full flat ground from high-performance CTS-XHP stainless steel.

Nice details abound on the Slysz Bowie.  The spine of the blade, for instance, is rounded seamlessly past the transition from the thumb ramp all the way down to the tip, making it more comfortable to use when you’re choked up forward on it.  The handles themselves look slab-sided but actually are contoured, rounded from top to bottom to make the knife more comfortable to use while filling the hand more ergonomically.  The top of the blade sits relatively low in the handle when closed, but the show side has been cut away to open up access to the thumb hole, much like the Sebenza 21.  In fact, the comparison is apt: the Slysz Bowie is probably the closest Spyderco has come to making their own version of Chris Reeve’s iconic do-everything high end folder.  Sad news: it was recently announced that it’s on the discontinued list for 2018, so grab one while you still can.  If you like Slysz’s designs but want something different, the SpydieChef is a compact folding kitchen knife-style design with LC200N steel.

The Nirvana is the proverbial cream of the crop for Spyderco.  It pushes the boundaries between a production and a custom knife, and is by far the most expensive knife the brand has ever produced.  Like the beloved Slysz Bowie above, it’s getting the ax for 2018 – rumor has it that Spyderco lost money on every one they sold, even at $740 MSRP.  The Nirvana experienced more than its fair share of delays between debut and production, and some have made complaints that it’s prone to lock stick.

Ignore all that.  All of it.  Look at how glorious the Nirvana is.   What a technical tour de force the team at the Taichung facility have created.  The Peter Rassenti-designed Nirvana is based on his custom of the same name, and to be honest it wasn’t dumbed down much for production.  The calling card here is integral construction: the handle is a milled from a single block of titanium, not screwed together from two or three pieces.  On top of that they’ve CNC-machined a random geometric pattern that sort of looks like glass cracking, which wraps all the way around the handle itself.  It’s wild and subtle at the same time.

The blade is no slouch either, being one of a handful of production knives made of CPM-S90V steel, an extremely hard powered alloy that’s notoriously hard to sharpen – experts only.  Not that your average Joe would just stumble into owning a Nirvana.  A stonewash finish gives the saber ground blade a smooth appearance. As mentioned, the Nirvana is on its way out for 2018 – but Rassenti may have another collaboration in the works in the near future.

What do you think?  Did we miss your favorite Spyderco?  Don’t hesitate to drop us a line.

The James Brand is a relative newcomer to the knife scene, having only been around since 2012.  They formed in Portland Oregon in 2012 with the intention to “design and make the knives we use every day.”  We recently published an interview with the new CEO of The James Brand, Mike Hoefer, which shed some insight on the fledgling brand.  In this review we’re looking at the Folsom.

Compare Prices: Amazon | BladeHQ

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 2.75″
• Overall Length: 6.75″
• Closed Length: 3.87″
• Weight: 3.4 oz
• Blade Material: CTS BD1
• Handle Material: G-10
• Locking Mechanism: Liner Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Thumb Hole
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $100

The Folsom is the newest addition to their lineup, which is preceded by the Chapter, a Titanium framelock in D2 tool steel, and the County, a traditional-style slipjoint in 12c27 steel.  Both are a little fancier in terms of materials and higher priced than the Folsom (which retails for $99), with the Chapter coming in around $275 and the County near $150.  The Folsom is designed as a more affordable, Everyday Carry-oriented liner lock knife that does a little bit of everything for everyone.

The Folsom comes in five variants: white with a black coated blade, black with a satin or black coated blade, and blue or “electric moss” with a satin blade.  Our tester was the electric moss color, which is also the James Brand’s signature shade – found on the thumb studs on the Chapter, as well as the lanyard tube of the Folsom.  It’s thin, light, not too big, practical, and a little eccentric – let’s take a deeper look at the Folsom and see how it stacks up as an EDC knife and against the competition.

The Blade

The Folsom does a lot of things right in conventional ways, and the blade is absolutely one of them.  It’s a classic drop point shape, with a generous belly for roll cuts and slicing.  It’s a full flat grind with a diagonal plunge line running from the middle of the thumb hole to just slightly ahead of the bolster, making the ricasso very small.  Blade stock is 0.11” and total blade length comes in at 2.75”.

The Folsom’s blade is made of Carpenter CTS-BD1, which is a relatively recent addition to the market.  As far as composition goes, CTS-BD1 is fairly similar in makeup to VG-10 but with less molybdenum and silicon making it softer and less fine grained, while having significantly more carbon and chromium (the two primary contributors to hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance) than 8Cr13MoV, which is commonly used in a lot of Chinese-produced knives.  In practice it’s a fairly soft steel, happiest in the 57-58 RC range, but it’s got a clean grain structure, it takes a great edge with remarkable ease, and it’s very rust-resistant – all ideal qualities for an EDC knife.  A super-slick satin finish suits the Folsom’s handsome appearance well.

Deployment & Lockup

Deployment on the Folsom is done via a triangular-shaped thumb hole with rounded off corners.  When the blade is closed, the bottom of the hole is obscured so the actual area to get your thumb into is more of an oval, and in my opinion the Folsom could use more of a cutaway on the show side of the handle so less of the thumb hole is covered.  As it is, it’s a bit tricky to get a proper purchase on it for reliable deployment.  The detent is well tuned, though, and using the pad of your thumb you can flick the Folsom open with a satisfying “click” once it’s worn in.

A significant amount of friction was observed when the knife was new, which was solved with gradual break-in as well as a little assistance from polishing the washers with the flat sides of a Sharpmaker’s fine stone.  I wished for a better overall balance between a slick action and side-to-side play when tuning the pivot – something like the Gayle Bradley Folder – and ended up settling for a slightly tight action when closing and no blade play.  Not that you needed to use two hands to close it, but more that it felt like it was dragging unless you held the lock open to  keep the detent off the tang.  This is a matter of personal preference but at the $100 price point a lot of knives do offer “no compromise actions.”

The Folsom uses a liner lock, which engages the tang without issue 100% of the time – no vertical blade play was observed during my time testing it, and the only horizontal blade play was a result of juggling pivot tension.  With the Folsom’s overall resemblance to the Spyderco Chaparral I can’t help but think that a backlock would suit the dimensions and overall demeanor of the Folsom better.  The James Brand adds a line of jimping to the surface of the lock bar that your thumb comes in contact with when you’re closing it but the whole thing still feels “cramped” – considering the entire knife is only 0.39” thick there’s  a lot of real estate to pack two scales, two liners and a blade into.  A lockback would suit the shape of the knife in hand well and seem to better fit with the overall design idea better, offering a stronger lock than the narrow liner could with less ergonomic difficulty.

Features, Fit & Finish

The Folsom is a well made knife, and even during a full disassembly no defects in manufacturing could be found.  We’re not sure who is making these knives for The James Brand, but they’re doing a good job and it’s clear that James is particular about the quality of the products they’re putting out.  All the hallmarks of a well-made knife are here.  The scales, liners, and stainless backspacer are all completely smooth when you run a finger across them.  The three counter-sunk screws that secure the pocket clip sit perfectly flush with the surface of the clip when you tighten them all the way down.  Blade centering is optically perfect.

The bright-green lanyard tube is press fit evenly on both sides and has a chamfered edge on one side to make passing a piece of paracord through easier.  The plunge line tapers smoothly all the way from the tip to the ricasso, and the grinds are perfectly even from the miniature sharpening choil all the way to the tip.  Speaking of sharpening choil, this one’s done right: not big enough to drag on materials, only a tiny bit of “beard” and very short so as to not waste cutting length.  It’s not a fancy knife like, say, a ZT 0392, but holding it in your  hand you can tell that the details were poured over and they wanted to make sure this knife was made right.  An inspiring outcome for such a new brand; if only Buck made knives this well!

There aren’t a ton of funky, weird features to this knife.  In fact the most noticeable is probably the bright green handle scales, with their smooth texturing.  They look great but they attract dirt like Pig-Pen, quickly tarnishing with brake dust and grease.  As I’ve mentioned before, a Magic Eraser (or any melamine foam cleaner) works wonders on dirty G-10, but this Electric Moss may not be the color of choice for mechanics, even if it is so choice for Instagram.

The clip is relatively wide and split in the middle, coming to a single point just shy of the mid-body screw.  It’s not a deep carry affair but it’s otherwise totally excellent, leaving a half-inch of the knife protruding from your pocket to grab and pull.  Spring tension is remarkably strong, but the shallow ramp angle that extends out relatively far at the end of the clip makes it easier to slide over your pocket seam as well as less of a wall scratcher, and it’s very firmly secured by the three screws.  The Folsom is tapped for tip-up right or left handed carry.  The angle of the upper bends leaves enough of a gap between the peak of the clip and the scale so that it can be pushed all the way down against the seam.

The pivot screw is what I’d called “mildly decorative” with a muted radial pattern milled in on both sides, but thankfully it’s just a Torx fitting – as are the body and clip screws, so no worries about annoying proprietary hardware.  Branding is fittingly minimal – the show side of the blade has “J A M E S” etched on in front of the thumb hole, a serial number on the lock side up against the bolster, and the James Brand’s odd geometric symbol on the clip.  No shouty logos or text here.

Field Test

Other than the aforementioned sticky action when closing, the Folsom is really a pleasure to use.  Carry is superb, disappear-in-your-pocket good thanks to the great clip and the remarkably thin cross-section of the knife.  At under 0.40” thick and with flat scales it doesn’t take up much depth, and with the spine only barely protruding from the handles it doesn’t occupy much width either.

At 3.40 ounces it’s heavier than some other similarly sized knives: it’s almost an ounce heavier than a Delica 4, 0.8 ounces heavier than a standard plastic-handled Mini Griptilian, and a half-ounce heavier than a small Sebenza.  The full stainless liners as well as the rather large solid stainless backspacer are probably to blame – skeletonizing the liners and switching to standoff construction could probably save at least half an ounce, but the knife does feel extremely solid in hand in a way the Delica doesn’t.  Still, owing to the ratio of handle to clip length, the Folsom doesn’t pendulum around in your pocket at all – so overall carry is very good.

It’s a great cutter for normal tasks.  Slicing abilities are superb thanks to blade geometry that leaves the Folsom thin behind the edge, with a narrow flat grind and a smooth satin finish leaving very little friction for whatever you’re cutting to grab onto.  Piercing ability isn’t as strong as slicing, with a rather high tip at a wide angle above the centerline of the handle that’s fairly thick on the spine side – but this is an all-purpose blade and it gets the job done.

The factory edge was great, able to shave hair or slice printer paper with ease.  I’m not sure who’s doing the heat treating on the blades, but considering the physical properties of CTS-BD1, the Folsom held an edge far longer than I expected it to, being more comparable to 154CM or S30V than AUS-8A or 8Cr13MoV in terms of retention – maybe this is also due to the edge geometry, but it’s very impressive.  It’s also a snap to sharpen, like AUS-8A or 14c28n and easier than VG-10 for sure.  No corrosion was noted during my testing despite frequent use cutting food, partially due to the satin finish which leaves less of a porous surface area for moisture to intrude into and also the composition of the steel.

Ergonomics are simple but solid.  The lack of a forward finger choil is a demerit but it would admittedly eat up some sharpened edge real estate which is already at a premium with a 2.75” blade.  Jimping is appropriately placed, wide and not overly sharp – there’s a run along the blade’s spine up to about midway through the thumb hole, and the jimping underneath on the locking liner also extends out past that to the end of the scale providing extra grip for your index finger.  The swell in the middle of the handle fits in between your index and ring fingers nicely, and the pocket clip is low enough against the scales to not provide any sort of hot spot or be noticeable when you’re using the knife – as it should.  The same thinness of the handle that makes the Folsom great to carry makes it feel flat in your hand in a way that a Delica or a Native doesn’t; a touch more depth to the handle scales would help but it’s a trade-off.  After several weeks of carry and daily use the Folsom is still solid with no weird wiggles in the frame or sloppy lock-up to speak of.

Alternatives

The first thing that came to mind when I held the Folsom was Spyderco’s excellent lockback gentleman’s folder series, the Chaparral.  The new version with Raffir Noble acrylic handle scales is a fascinating knife on an aesthetic level, but even the standard version in carbon fiber-laminated G10 is a good comparison.  It’s got a 2.81” blade with a 50/50 forward choil (so an actual cutting edge of 2.3”) and a very thin handle profile (0.34”) but with a lockback instead of a liner lock.  It’s extremely light at 2.50 ounces (CF/G10 version, 2.30 for Raffir Noble!) and the blade steel is CTS-XHP, a step up in performance from BD1.  The blade is full flat ground from ultra-thin 0.08” blade stock so it’s a natural slicer, and the deep carry wire pocket clip is a rarely seen bonus. The Raffir Noble version runs about $120 on BladeHQ, and the CF/G10 version is about $125.

There’s also the Lightweight Native 5 – more heavy-use oriented but still with similar dimensions.  It has a 3” full flat ground leaf shape blade, a full forward choil, and the featherweight FRN handles are linerless which explains the 2.45 ounce weight.  It’s also a backlock like the Chaparral, and it’s available in three different versions in lightweight configuration: the standard S35VN steel is only $87, CPM-S110V is $113, and the insane Maxamet Micro-Melt steel version is a hefty $143.

The standard Benchmade Mini Griptilian (556) with a drop point blade and thumb stud opener is close in size (2.93” blade) but considerably thicker in the handles (0.51”) compared to the Folsom.  Plastic handles and skeletonized liners help keep the weight down to 2.6 ounces, and the standard version in 154CM steel is about $90.  The Axis Lock is always a joy to use.  There’s also the super-thin Benchmade 530 axis-lock knife, at only 0.37” wide, but with a slightly longer 3.25” spear point in 154CM for $102.  The brand new 535 Bugout is even lighter, weighing in at a remarkable 1.86 ounces(!) with a 3.24” S30V drop point blade for $115.

There’s plenty to choose from Kizer Cutlery in this size and price range, too.  Generally, their Vanguard series comes in under the price of the Folsom, with G10 scales over stainless liners and VG-10 steel.  The Vanguard Vigor is a great deal at about $60, with a thumb stud opener and stainless liner lock, and a 3” hollow ground drop point for EDC tasks.  There’s also the Small Hunter designed by Justin Gingrich, with a 2.5” hollow ground drop point in CPM-S35VN steel and green or black G10 handles.  At $82 it looks like a great deal and a unique, useful design.

If you want to spend a little more, the Kizer Envoy at about $135 and the Active Bantam at about $125 offer titanium framelock handles with bearing pivots and flippers, also in S35VN steel.  The hammertone-style texturing on the bolster of the Envoy in particular looks cool, and the Envoy’s 3” full flat ground drop point looks like a solid slicer while the Bantam’s hollow ground drop point and chunky handles give it the appearance of a Kershaw Cryo, only better.

And finally, there are three different small knives from CRKT that all warrant your attention.  One that’s currently hotter than a campfire is the CRKT Pilar, which ranks as the #2 folding knife between 2”-3” on BladeHQ when sorted by popularity (right behind the personally underwhelming Spyderco Para3).  It’s heavy for its size – 4.20 ounces with a 2.40” blade and only 5.90” overall.  The materials aren’t exotic either – solid stainless handles with a framelock, 8Cr13MoV blade, plastic washers – but at $25 it’s solid, well built, and has Jesper Voxnaes’ design execution all over it.  0.15” blade stock and a beefy forward choil mean it’s a baby knife designed for big work.  You can check out our review of the pocket cleaver/sheepsfoot bargain blade here.

There’s also the CRKT Batum, the baby version of the CRKT Batum we tested here a few months ago.  Thankfully it’s a good bit lighter than the chunky original at 3.6 ounces, and the 2.5” 8Cr blade has a high flat ground to make the best out of it’s wide 0.15” stock.  Finally, the Burnley-designed Squid is a virtual no-brainer, especially in this cool smokewash finish, for only about $20.  A 2.25” 8Cr blade with a thumb stud, stainless framelock, a good clip, and tons of character for less than $20?  Why not?

Wrap-Up

The Folsom is The James Brand’s first earnest attempt to truly go mainstream with a knife, and with only a few exceptions they’ve succeeded.  You can tell by looking at the “Alternatives” section that they’d made a wise choice – there aren’t a ton of knifes that truly resemble the Folsom so it doesn’t come off as “cookie cutter” at all to me.  Things that I think could be improved are the closing action, which is still a bit stiff, and the price.  I think for the materials the Folsom offers the price is maybe $20-$25 too high, but in its defense it is an extremely well-made knife, with the kind of fit and finish that’s surprising from such a new company.  The price would also be totally in line if they made the blades out of S35VN or Elmax.  I also think in general the design of the knife lends itself more to a lockback than a liner lock due to the narrow dimensions of the handle, but that’s a matter of preference – the liner lock secures the Folsom just fine.

As an EDC knife for normal tasks the Folsom is a pretty sweet tool – the type of thing you get attached to because of the way it works rather than the way it looks.  I get the feeling this was the idea when James was designing it, wanting their knives to be used not put on a display shelf.  It carries extremely well, it’s solid, it cuts well, and at least on our sample the color itself is eye-catching.  The super-thin handles are a two edged sword, feeling a little hollow in the hand, but it’s not a deal breaker.  Overall, the Folsom fills the small EDC role very well, up there with the Delica, Chaparral, or Native 5 in my book.

The Good: Close attention to detail with fit and finish, great slicer, good lock, super slim and carries very well
The Bad: About an ounce heavy for its size, stiff closing action, a little overpriced for the steel, would work better as a backlock
Bottom Line: A compelling EDC choice from a brand you may not have heard of – but surely will soon.

Compare Prices: Amazon | BladeHQ

The Olamic Wayfarer 247 Harpoon is not just some trivial knife. It represents the shift that Olamic has successfully achieved by creating mid-tech knives that once again can blur the lines of a brands product offering.  Where once we would have looked at this time as if it must have been a custom, now we can see a productionized process at work, capable of creating top end Wayfarer 247H to the masses… well, the masses that can afford a 500 dollar (or more) folding piece of kit.

Check price at BladeHQ

Olamic is no stranger to the cutlery game. We have talked about them before, and reviewed the Olamic Swish several weeks back. The Company is a family operated business that has been officially building knives since about 2010 in California. Though they continue to stay true to the passions of fixed blade knife making, with one off materials, and altogether wild Damascus steel blades, they have garnered even more notoriety in late 2013 when they introduced folding knives. The Wayfarer line, the most reputed folder line continues to evolve. Once a very large 4 inch plus design by partner Michael Vagnino, the wayfarer has expanded to smaller versions, and multiple blade type offerings as we can clearly see with the Wayfarer 247 Harpoon.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.5″
• Overall Length: 8.12″
• Closed Length: 4.75″
• Weight: 4.9 oz
• Blade Material: M390
• Handle Material: Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: USA
• Price Range: About $500

First Impressions

Pictures can be such a cruel thing. In picture form, the 247H (as we will call it for the remainder of this article), is a nice to slightly unusual looking specimen. Truth be told, regardless of the many variations of finish that are made, they all seemed a bit odd to me.

The particular style of this knife we reviewed is called Olamic Wayfarer 247H Hybrid Molten – and we immediately fell in lust with the appearance of it. Pictures are indeed cruel trickery. I cannot explain this, but for me us, it was indeed true. What a welcome surprise to see this gorgeous folder just waiting to get some pocket time.  Our version had what looked like faux-copper hammed bolsters with a stonewashed dark titanium finish for the rest of the handle scales. As this is an all titanium frame-lock folder, it did not actually have any copper, nor any real bolster. But the look, with that hammered titanium anodized to a rich copper tone looked on point.

Did we mention that our version of the 247H has a stonewashed M390 stainless steel Harpoon and compound grind blade style? It looks really good, and very complicated. As we touched the edge of the knife blade for the first time, we were easily able to tell that it was extremely sharp. To disclose even further, it took a slight bite out of us. Just from testing with our thumb, the M390 blade managed to give us a love bite. The respect we need to give the 247H blade is apparent.

Like every Olamic folder we have ever seen, our version had perfect centering, and no blade-play at all. It locked up very well.  So far so very good.

Feel-In Hand

The Olamic 247H is not a particularly heavy knife. With that said, in the hand it feels substantial. From the moment we touched it, we felt as if it was very well balanced, and contoured to the hand very well. An index finger relief choil and finger guard (the flipper tab) is used functionally for the knife. It allows a medium sized hand a perfect fit for a 4-finger grip.

However, what feels so right in the hand in a standard position grip, feels less comfortable when the knife is folded away. Parts of the knife felt a bit rough, and edges caught part of the skin on my hands. When the 247H is open, the frame-lock relief area seemed to be sharp, with little or no effort to chamfer to corners to relieve the edge created. These are true nitpicks of the 247H, but as we noticed them right away, and not during testing or EDC carry-time, we felt it important to mention.

As for the action, the flipper is a bit large, and very easy to use. Olamic has been using the cutout flipper tab for years, and though we have now seen several other company’s barrow from this design, Olamic still implements it best. When we pushed the flipper tab down, we feel a somewhat strong detent. This lets the blade scream right out of the handle scales. It locks up at about 30 percent, which is just fine for us.

As a righty, this knife has a well-positioned clip for us, that seems to get out of the way of the hand when held in the open position, even though the titanium clip is reasonably large for the size of the handle. Sorry lefties, no left conversion option we can see, though we are unsure if one can be ordered as a lefty model… perhaps yes, but we just don’t know.

Regardless, in our jeans pocket the knife slid right in, and the fit was tight, without any chance of getting loose and wiggling out of pocket. The ball bearing on the end of the clip helped the knife smoothly get into the pocket. Extraction was also easy and seamless. We were able to smoothly take the knife from pocket after our first effort, indicating a rather small learning curve with quick deployment from the pocket. Our first impressions were indeed favorable.

Real-World Usage

We carried the Olamic 247H for over two months on, and off. We have become rather familiar with most elements of this knife. With that said, we did not perform any crazy cutting tasks with it. Instead it was a common companion that got a bunch of pocket time and practical usage.

For instance, we used the 247H to cut rope that we needed for holding down some outdoor furniture from flying away in a particularly bad patch of weather we had a few months back. We also used it to cut up boxes… lots and lots of cardboard boxes. Using gloves, we cut what must have been 70 to 80 boxes down within the span of about 8 weeks time. The 247H was our primary box cutter. Why, you might ask? Well, the answer is because it was so damn good at it. Yup, the shape just works like the wind for cutting apart boxes. We could make minced meat out of card board in no time flat.

However, it was not all sunshine and gumdrops.  As we said, we used gloves, and for our hands and thinner work gloves, it was quite comfortable to use together.  But without gloves the knife was something of a hand killer for us. Hot spots plagued our standard grip to the point of either wearing gloves, or using a different tool to get the job done. Even still, on the topic of tools, with gloved we preferred to use the 247H with gloves on to cut boxes over an actual box cutter. The knife can cut, and it can hold a darn good edge.

Other workouts that the knife received were related more toward one off this or that usage, just like a pocket knife often gets used for. In this capacity, the knife works great. It is not too large, feels secure, and has a blade shape that is pretty good at doing almost anything. I would not call this a hard use tool, nor a true tactical knife for defensive carry at only about 3.44 inches, but the Olamic 247H is a very versatile knife all the same.

Competitive Offerings

The cost of the Wayfarer 247H ranges from about 450 to upwards of almost 700 dollars depending on the variant purchased. Some have a great deal of hand workmanship, and others less so. Further, some have very unique materials, which makes it a bit hard to compare with other mid-techs as the price range is somewhat large. Regardless, if we were to look at alternatives to the Olamic 247H, they would be:

Reate Mini Horizon-D (BladeHQ) – Also found in several model variants, the mini Horizon-D provides a 3.44 inch blade which is just the same size as the Olamic, but with a slightly more conventional shape. It is also a ball bearing flipper and made of titanium with a frame-lock configuration. The Reate can be had for a bit less. For instance, a Damasteel version runs about 495 smackers.

Hinderer Knives XM-18 Harpoon Tanto (BladeHQ) – At about 425 dollars, Hinder’s XM-18 with Harpoon style tanto blade can make for a rather nice consideration. Though in less demand as previous years, this knife is iconic. Build tough, and with a more tactical resolve, the Hinderer sports a 3 inch blade, though after you account for the usable blade length, it may seem more like 2.7 inches. It is a knife that can be had at this price with 3D textured G10 and Titanium, and offers a similar flipper and frame-lock design.  It is a classic for sure.

Viper Larius (BladeHQ) – Out of left field we feel that the Viper is a very interesting knife. If you are looking to same some bread, the Larius offers similarities to the Olamic 247H. It sports a 3.38 inch satin M390 flipper out of titanium, though it employs a liner lock, instead of a frame lock. At about 200 bucks American, this is perhaps the value option out of the bunch. Feel in hand is actually somewhat similar to the 247H, though less contoured in design. What is not less is the weight, this little guy comes in at a hefty 5.30 oz. So, if you like your Viper small and heavy, this one may just be ready to take a bite out of your wallet.

Final Thoughts

Olamic is usually a winner when it comes to knives, and by that we mean basically any knife they make. The difference with the later crop of knives is that they are mid-techs. This moves Olamic into the realm of the big boys. The design of the 247H, and all the Wayfarer models is one of our personal favorites. To see them compete against the likes of more traditional knives, and win in the marketplace must be extremely vindicating to all those who are in the Olamic camp.

Though the model variant we had was certainly hand finished with painstaking care, even the base model is attractive and extremely well built. It is also extremely functional. If you like things practical with a bit of flare, the Olamic Wayfarer 247H is certainly your cup of tea. If you can afford one, get one!

The Good: Beautifully made, unique blade shape, superb flipper
The Bad: Some rough edges and hot spots,
Bottom Line:  Another mid-tech wonder worthy of your consideration

Check price at BladeHQ

What’s the best knife for self-defense purposes?   The evidence points to – not using a knife for self-defense in the first place. The legal ramifications for drawing a knife in a self-defense situation are tenuous at best even in knife-friendly locales.  The combination of luck and skill required to successfully use a knife as a self-defense tool is daunting.  The likelihood of injuring yourself versus who is attacking you must also be considered.  Did we also mention that a knife that’s good as a self-defense tool is typically dramatically impractical for day to day tasks.

Best Self Defense Knives: Summary

• Spyderco Matriarch
• Fox Knives Folding Karambit
• Ka-Bar TDI
• Spyderco P’Kal
• Cold Steel Urban Edge
• Emerson CQC-13
• CRKT Tecpatl
• Al Mar SERE 2000
• Microtech Combat Troodon
• Chris Reeve Professional Soldier

So, with all that common sense stuff, why bother creating a list of self-defense knives in the first place?  Two reasons.  One, it’s better to be prepared for something that won’t happen than be surprised by something that does – and something is better than nothing.  Two, some of these knives are cool.  It’s OK to like cool things because they’re cool.  You’re among friends here.

The Spyderco Matriarch is an offshoot of the larger Spyderco Civilian, which is probably the most ironically named product since the Ford Aspire, as there is nothing civil about it at all.  According to Spyderco, the Civilian was a result of a request from “A government agency” for a knife to be used in last-ditch situations as a defensive tool for people not trained in knife fighting or close quarters combat in general.  So it’s the closest a knife gets to a being an idiot-proof self-defense tool, being designed to be used in a forward-facing “claw” motion.

The Matriarch is the same concept as the Civilian, but scaled down and sharing its bones with the Endura 4 to lower costs and weight, and it also offers the advantage of an available Emerson Wave opener.  For those not familiar, it works in the tip-up carry position – a hook cut into the spine of the blade catches on the edge of your pocket as you draw the knife, pulling the blade open and into the locked position as soon as it’s free of your pocket.

Like the Civilian, the Matriarch has a unique blade shape – a reverse “S” shape with a dramatic recurve to the belly, and a sharp downward-pointed tip.  The grind is a very stout low saber grind for strength, and the whole length of the blade is serrated.  An “EDC” knife this is not – even according to Spyderco, who says “Because of its distinctly specialized features it is not intended or designed for general utility or everyday use.”  We appreciate the honesty.

The Karambit is a knife style designed expressly for fighting and generally regarded as one of the best knives for self defense.  It has almost no useful value as a day to day cutting tool.  Opening your boxes from Amazon or bags of dog food with a Karambit is harder than using your finger.  But it is a devastatingly effective self-defense tool, provided you know how to use it properly.  There are a number of brands that make folding Karambit knives besides Fox, including Brous Blades, Emerson, Medford, Boker, Bastinelli, Spyderco/Byrd, QTRMSTR, Cold Steel and others – but the Fox Folding Karambit from Italy is probably the most well-known and purpose-designed among them.

If you want a basic guide to defensive Karambit use, this video by Blade HQ does a good job of explaining how to utilize this unique knife.  There are a number of identifying characteristics to a Karambit.  The “chapter ring” on the end of the handle is one, and the steep hawkbill profile to the blade (an inward curve) is another.  The chapter ring serves two purposes – it allows you to pass your finger through it when you draw the knife from your pocket making retrieval easier, and it also serves as a means of securing the knife in your hand when the karambit is held in a reverse (“ice pick”) grip as it’s intended.

Once deployed, a Karambit’s primary purpose is slicing cuts – not jabbing, obviously.  The design of the knife favors a reverse grip and allows you to use the blade in a swinging rather than a thrusting motion.

Fox’s Karambits are well regarded among the defense community, and also don’t break the bank like pricier ones from Brous or Emerson.  The wave opener gives it the benefit of self-opening when it’s drawn from the pocket, and sturdy G10 scales with a stainless liner lock serve the purpose of a self-defense knife.  There’s also an aluminum handled version if you like the feel better.

The Ka-Bar TDI has been around unchanged for quite a long time, because it serves a very specific purpose and doesn’t require constant updates to remain relevant.  The TDI is designed as a back-up knife to a handgun, an easy-to-access secondary option if your primary defense tool can’t be reached or doesn’t work.  To that end the TDI is designed around compatibility with gross motor skills rather than fine techniques.

It’s a modified karambit shape – the nearly 90 degree angle of the handle to the blade makes that much obvious – but it’s designed to be used in a forward grip, cross-drawn from a belt holster on your non-dominant side to quickly and effectively cut at close range with a straight wrist.  The angle to the handle isn’t a coincidence: it’s designed to be drawn from a holster in a similar manner to a pistol.

It’s an extremely specialized knife design, but it does still hold some day to day practicality that a traditional karambit doesn’t.  AUS-8 steel is a reliable choice, black coated here, and contoured polymer handles give you a solid grip with a deep finger choil right behind the bend for control.  There’s also a partially serrated variant as well as a large size (3.6”) if you want something bigger.

The P’Kal is one of the most unique Spyderco’s, and like the Matriarch it has a decidedly impractical MO.  It’s designed around the Filipino martial art of Pikal.  Pikal uses a knife held in a reversed ice pick grip to make cuts in a tearing motion using the strength of your upper arm.  That explains the rather unusual appearance of the P’Kal, which is designed to be held in a reverse grip with the sharpened edge facing in to make pulling cuts.  The deep groove along the spine above the lock is actually a finger choil to anchor your hand when you’re clenching it.  Once drawn, the P’Kal makes a powerful and agile defense tool as a natural extension of your arm – good for concise, short movements as well as a defense technique for someone attacking you.

The P’Kal uses the caged ball bearing lock, similar to the system in the Manix 2 lineup, as a way to squeeze a strong lock into a small space as well as making the knife easier to close one-handed.  It also has a unique implementation of the Emerson Wave opener, a protrusion from the spine of the blade that catches on your pocket on the way out to pull the knife open.  On the P’Kal the wave opener is actually a removable post that threads into the spine of the blade.  S30V blade steel and textured G10 handles with nested stainless liners should be familiar to Spyderco aficionados.

Here’s a budget option for those with slim wallets. The Urban Edge is a series of push daggers from Cold Steel that straddle the line between the enormous 4.5” Safe Maker and the miniscule 1” Mini Pal, balancing out usability with portability.  At only 1.42 ounces the Urban Edge is light enough to be forgotten, with the sheath designed to be used in a neck knife setup – although a series of rivets on the sheath means it could be adapted to belt carry or just shoved into a pocket, since it’s only 4” long total.  Blade steel is AUS-8A, in a broad dagger shape with a hollow grind and flat on the back.  The handle has a molded rubberized grip.  You have three choices for the grind – plain edge, 50/50 serrated (serrated on one side, plain on the other) or fully serrated.

The push dagger is designed to be held in a closed fist, with the blade protruding through your ring and middle fingers away from your knuckles, in a defensive situation for use in a pushing/punching/thrusting motion rather than swung in arcs like the karambit or TDI mentioned above.  At only 2.5” it’s not an outrageously large knife, which gives it the benefit of being easy to carry and conceal but it’s long enough to make a difference.  A push dagger is even more reliant on gross motor skill than the TDI, and probably less useful for day to day tasks – a real single-use self-defense tool.

Ernest Emerson is one of the most well-known names when it comes to tactical knives.  He’s been making knives that appeal to “operators” (real and imagined) under the brand of his own name since 1996, and well before that as customs.  Emerson is the progenitor and patent holder of the Wave device, a deceptively simple feature that when used correctly will open a knife into the fully locked position as you pull out of your pocket using a small protrusion on the spine.

A knife that opens itself is about as tactical as it gets, and his innovation has spread to many other brands including a broad collaboration with Kershaw.  But if you want the most tactical of Emersons, it has to be a Bowie, doesn’t it?  The combination of Ernie’s expertise in all things tactical and the traditional fighting-knife shape of a Bowie makes for one intimidating piece of equipment.  It’s got all the things that make an Emerson an Emerson, of course: black G10 scales, normal fasteners (the pivot screw is a flathead!  Imagine that!), the thumb “disc” opener, and a chisel ground blade in 154CM with a unique dual-texture finish: satin on the grinds, stonewashed flats.  At 3.85” it’s on the large side giving you extra reach, and like all Emersons it has excellent ergonomics.  The ZT Emerson collaborations are now discontinued but are worth an honorable mention.

How cool is the Tecpatl?  Aside from its function as a self-defense tool, it’s a neat knife to look at.  The Tecpatl is part of CRKT’s Forged by War series, knives and tools designed by military veterans with 10% of proceeds going to charities of the designer’s choice.  In the case of the Tecpatl, it’s designed by Michael Rodridguez, an Army vet with proceeds going to the Special Operations Care Fund and the George W Bush Institute.

It’s a unique knife to be sure, a push dagger with two finger guards – one complete, one partial – that’s designed to be clenched in your fist facing outwards.  The blade shape is a modified wharncliffe, with a full length swedge that switches over to a sort of reverse-tanto shape towards the tip, while the belly has a long continuous curve up to the tip.  This is all designed to give the Tecpatl strong piercing abilities while retaining enough material behind the tip to give it strength to penetrate without breaking off.  The steel is SK5 high-carbon non-stainless steel, so a black powder coat is applied to prevent corrosion.  This is the canvas for the unique “Sugar Skull” (Calavera) markings and a host of other Easter eggs.  The Kydex sheath is Molle compatible too.

The SERE 2000 was the brainchild of the late Al Mar and Nick Rowe in the 1980’s as a knife designed for use in the Army SERE training course – Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape – which prepares soldiers for unexpected occurrences in the field.  To this goal, the SERE 2000 was designed to be a knife that can be relied on in any situation to do what’s needed.  It’s not a complicated knife, but it is a tough one – arguably one of the strongest tactical folders around.

A 3.6” (or a 3” on the Mini-SERE) VG-10 blade has a spear point shape with a pronounced swedge and opens with dual thumb studs.  A beefy liner lock and flow-through construction makes this knife simple, reliable, and easy to disassemble and clean.  The handles flare out at the hilt to help keep your hand from slipping forward in rough situations, as do the textured G-10 handle scales.  A deep carry clip mounted to the butt of the handle helps keep a low profile.  The SERE 2000 series is available in a variety of configurations: satin finish or black ceramic coated blades, and black, digicam or olive drab handle scales.  Solid self defense option.

It can be argued that part of self-defense is mental over physical, and a giant powerful OTF knife popping open is the blade equivalent of the unmistakable sound of a 12-gauge pump shotgun being racked.  Microtech’s are impractical, expensive, overly ornate, needlessly aggressive knives – that will scare the &!#% out of anyone with bad intentions who picked the wrong guy.  Theoretically, anyway.

The Combat Troodon is Microtech’s biggeset, baddest OTF. It features a dual action slider on the spine of the handle that both deploys and retracts the blade under spring pressure.  Blade steel is Bohler Elmax powdered stainless as standard, although there are a staggering array of variations available: six blade shapes, serrations or no, three different hardware sets, seven finishes, and fifteen colors – including the fairly offensive Zombie Splatter. Aluminum handles keep it light, and a glass breaker on the butt of the handle also serves as the anchor point for the pocket clip – as well as a makeshift kubotan if you’re so inclined.

Most people are familiar with Chris Reeve Knives for the iconic Sebenza folder – maybe the newer Inkosi or Umnumzaan folders too.  But a lot of people aren’t even aware that CRK makes fixed blades. The Professional Soldier is designed by Bill Harsey (yeah, that Bill Harsey!) in collaboration with the professionalsoldiers.com forum for the Special Forces.  It’s a minimalist fixed blade made of – what else? – CPM S35VN stainless steel, PVD coated black as well as some in flat dark earth, with your choice of three blade shapes: a traditional drop point, a modified tanto, or the Inkosi – CRK’s take on a modified wharncliffe.

Designed to be a versatile carry, the Professional Soldier comes with a kydex sheath that’s Molle compatible, and has some hidden features you wouldn’t notice at first glance.  The void in the handle is actually a shackle key to loosen shackle bolts up to 5/8”, and the paracord that’s threaded through the two holes in the rear of the handle has been carefully placed so the knife doesn’t make noise when it’s set down.

It’s arguable that above all else a good self-defense tool doesn’t make itself difficult to carry or use, and that’s what earns the Professional Soldier a spot on this list.  It’s slim, simple, easy to carry and conceal, and it has the kind of basic but correct ergonomics you need in an emergency situation.  Also, CRK’s build quality is second to none and the Professional Soldier can be reliably passed on to your grandkid’s children assuming it isn’t lost.

BONUS: Medford Marauder

No, not to cut things or slash things.  The Medford Marauder, ringing in at around $800 retail, weighs over 11 ounces.  The blade is more than a quarter-inch thick.  Cut things?  Why bother?  Just throw it at your attacker – overhand, like a baseball.  Knock them clean out, steal their wallet and buy a real knife.

The Agile is a recent addition to the Kershaw lineup, designed by Rick Hinderer.  It’s based off of his MP-1 model, itself an acronym for “Modular Platform 1.”  Like the MP-1, the Agile’s party trick is it’s modular backspacer design, providing multitool functionality to the user with very minimal effort required to change components – something we’ll cover more in depth in the “Features, Fit & Finish” portion of this review.

Compare prices: Amazon | BladeHQ

While the Agile is based on the MP-1, it’s not a carbon copy.  For one thing, it’s smaller: while the MP-1 has a 3.375” blade and is 8” overall, the Agile is significantly smaller with a 2.75” blade and 6.25” overall length, putting it closer in size to a Delica than a Manix like the real deal.  While the Agile certainly does a good impression of the real deal MP-1, handling both back to back the differences are evident.  While the MP-1 is larger, it feels lighter and more balanced thanks to a titanium handle.  Still, with the Agile retailing for around 5-10% of what MP-1’s sell for, some functional differences are to be expected.

Let’s take a closer look at the Agile and see how it holds up as an interpretation of Hinderer’s unique design concept as well as how it fills the role of an affordable EDC knife.

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 2.75″
• Overall Length: 6.25″
• Closed Length: 3.50″
• Weight: 3.9 oz
• Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $30

The Blade

The Blade is arguably the Agile’s strong suit, but not necessarily because of its steel – see “field test” for more on this.  The blade has is a wonderfully practical shape for day to day use – a Sheepsfoot profile with a flat grind, and a nicely balanced tip relative to the centerline of the blade thanks to a recurve on the spine.  Speaking of the spine, a hollow ground swedge leaves the blade thin enough behind the tip to do a decent job at piercing hard plastic or thick cardboard.

Blade steel is 8Cr13MoV, which is to be expected at this price point.  It’s nothing particularly special, but it does take a nice edge.  In comparison to some similar steels, 8Cr offers less carbon (primary contributor to edge retention and hardness) than CTS-BD1 or VG-10, along with less chromium (hardness, corrosion resistance), molybdenum, but similar vanadium.  It’s primarily chosen for cost and regional availability, but it does an OK job as a blade steel.

The Agile has a stonewash finish on the blade, unusual at this price point, which has less friction when cutting and also helps ward off corrosion in addition to looking nice.  There’s a sharpening choil right behind the termination of the plunge grind with only a very slight “beard” at the end to complicate sharpening.  Dual thumb studs are press-fit into the blade with a rounded step design, inexplicably slightly longer on the lock side than the show side. A short run of jimping runs up to the thumb stud on the spine.

Deployment and Lockup

The Agile uses Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism.  If you’re unfamiliar, it’s basically a way to create a knife that functions like an automatic but legally isn’t considered one.  It’s got a flipper tab and a thumb studs for deployment.  A torsion spring is hidden on the show side between the handle and the liner that fits into the tang of the blade on one side and is anchored to the scale on the other.  Basically, you open the knife the first ten percent and then the spring takes over for the rest of it.  Once you get the blade past the detent ball the spring propels the blade into the locked position with a loud “snap.”

As far as implementation of assisted opening – well, Kershaw did it first, and in my opinion Kershaw does it best.  That’s not to say there isn’t variance between SpeedSafe models.  The Cryo has never flipped particularly well in my experience, needing a stronger spring or smooth washers or both.  The ZT 0300 just has too heavy of a blade to make SpeedSafe seem especially impressive.  But the Agile is good – not quite Leek good, which flips open like an actual switch blade, but good.  The rate of mis-fires is low enough to not matter, it engages the lock solidly every time, and the detent isn’t overly stiff.  It works.

That being said, I’m not in love with assisted openers for a number of reasons, and they’re starting to feel a little tired.  Primarily, closing them is more work than the benefit opening them provides.  Since it uses a torsion spring to open, you have to overcome that spring when you close them – which with practice can be done with one hand, but to do safely really requires two.

In comparison to things like Benchmade’s Axis Lock or Spyderco’s Compression Lock, which require opening the lock with one finger and swinging the blade shut, the process of releasing the lock bar with your thumb while you press on the spine with your forefinger, moving your thumb out and around the blade to the spine near the tip, and pressing the blade down while you cradle the handle in your palm seems like – well, it seems like extra work.  And these extra steps are required every time you close the blade so that it opens a little faster – but for sure not faster than a ball bearing flipper or even any smoother than a well-tuned washer knife.  I’d just as soon go without the assisted opening.  Thankfully Kershaw gives you this option, since you can disassemble the knife and remove the torsion spring, then reassemble – it still has a detent ball to hold the blade shut.

Lockup is great.  The Agile uses a stainless steel framelock so it doesn’t suffer from any of the potential complications that a titanium framelock would.  Engagement is around 60-70% of the lockbar depending on how hard you flip the knife, with no vertical or horizontal blade play out of the box.  Carrying the knife for a few weeks I noticed a touch of horizontal blade play – after closer inspection it turns  out this was a result of the pivot screw backing off about a quarter of a turn.  Reassembling the pivot with a dab of blue Loctite solved this issue. Lockbar tension is well judged, sometimes an issue with CRKT’s products but well dialed-in here.  Kershaw proves here that they know how to make a cheap knife work right.

Features, Fit & Finish

Features are the Agile’s calling card.  For a knife that retails for $30 this thing has a lot of goodies.  The primary part trick here is the trio of backspacers that come with the knife.  Like the MP-1, the Agile is designed such that you can swap backspacers out without disassembling the knife, by only removing a single screw, with a tiny spanner that’s included with the knife.  How does it work?  Basically, the backspacers have angled slots cut into them that allow them to slide onto the standoffs from the rear of the handle.  The screw passes through a hole in the backspacer in front of the rear standoff and threads into the bottom of the backspacer, pressing the screw forward of and into the standoff to secure it in place.  It’s remarkably simple but it works, all three different modular backspacers mounting securely and not moving at all once the screw is tightened.

You have a choice of three backspacers: the Agile comes from the factory with the lanyard hole version installed, and there is also the choice of a straight screwdriver (that includes a tiny lanyard hole) or a cap lifter/bottle opener.  They’re made out of metal and seem fairly solid.  While it is somewhat gimmicky, it works and they are remarkably easy to swap out depending on what you’re doing that day.

Other features are less headline-grabbing but still noteworthy.  Just like the real deal, the Agile has a recessed pocket clip mounting point (set up for tip up left hand carry, or tip down right and left hand carry, so it also has flush “filler tabs” in the spots not being occupied by the clip with screws protruding out.  The clip itself is decent, a spoon style clip that is relatively long compared to the handle. There is a “diamond plate” pattern machined into the handles on both sides for added grip, which is filled in with black paint for a visual contrast.  Speaking of which, it’s subtle enough that you might miss it, but the handle itself has a two-tone finish: the flat portions are stonewashed, while the chamfered edges and lockbar relief are blackwashed, giving the knife a “distressed” finish like an old pair of jeans.

Another unique element of the Agile that’s derived from the MP-1 is the floating stop pin.  If you look at the lock side ahead of the pivot you’ll see what looks like a ball bearing in the handle – it’s actually the end of the internal stop pin. A normal stop pin sits outside of the blade and butts against the tang when the knife is open; a floating stop pin is set into an arc-shaped track in the tang and the blade slides around it when it opens.  While this is weaker by design than an external stop pin, it’s usually smoother when opening as well, and it frees up space for other components – like the SpeedSafe mechanism and the flipper tab.  This is something of a controversial design choice but in my experience it makes knives smoother – like the excellent full-sized Kershaw Junkyard Dog from years ago.

Other than the aforementioned filler tab screws, all the hardware on the Agile is flush, a nice touch on a $30 knife.  They’re all standard Torx fittings as well so there’s nothing complicated required for disassembly or adjustment. The Agile features a Hinderer-designed lockbar overtravel stop that is screwed to the frame as well.

Fit and finish is decent, with a few minor exceptions.  One is a strange divot in the blade, just in front of the flipper tab in the choil on the show side; which is not evident in press photos or other photos of the Agile.  It doesn’t seem to have any effect on performance, of course.  Both filler tabs stand slightly proud of the handle scales, moreso the one on the lock side. At first glance, blade centering looks off but it’s not: the handle scales are considerably thicker on the show side to accommodate the SpeedSafe mechanism, which throws your eyes off.  It seems well put together for the price point, with most of the fit and finish concerns related to aesthetics rather than functionality.

Field Test

The Agile is a great blade with mediocre steel.  That’s par for the course from Kershaw, and I hope in the future they expand use of steels like 14C28N or CTS-BD1 in their products, because 8Cr13MoV isn’t great.  It does take a razor sharp edge with ease, requiring only a few minutes on a Sharpmaker to tune up the factory edge, but I had the opportunity to really put the Agile’s blade through its paces with a job-related move, and a day’s worth of breaking down cardboard boxes and other various moving tasks left the blade so dull it couldn’t cut open an envelope rather than tearing it.  It was easy to bring back to a shaving-sharp edge but a steel upgrade would make this a more appealing knife for EDC use.  Corrosion is sometimes an issue with 8Cr13MoV but I had no issues – I’m pretty attentive about cleaning my knives off, and the stonewash finish also helps.

The blade itself is great aside from edge retention, though.  The Sheepsfoot shape is probably one of the best (along with the drop point) for EDC tasks like cutting up boxes and opening bags, etc. the downward cant of the blade and the continuous curve of the belly combine to make a blade that does a little bit of everything well: slicing tape, cutting food, scraping, cutting rope, it does it all.   The size is a little smaller than what I normally go for, but a smaller blade with a longer handle means better control over the task at hand.

Ergonomics, like most of Hinderer’s products, are solid.  There’s no forward finger choil, but there isn’t really the real estate available for it here. The handle has an organic feel to it, with three separate grooves on the underside for your fingers and a gradual arc to the spine that fits comfortably in your palm.  The chamfered edges are a nice touch, making the Agile feel polished and three-dimensional in hand.  The flipper tab makes an effective finger guard, and a four finger grip is possible even with my large hands. The jimping on the spine is well placed when you’re bearing down on it and stabilizing the blade with your thumb.  Flipper ergonomics are unremarkable which these days is a good thing; it doesn’t jab your phone in your pocket or tear your thumb up, relying on angle rather than jimping for grip, and thankfully they’ve skipped jimping on the spine where your thumb lands.

How successful are the modular backspacers from a usage standpoint?  A mixed bag.  The one that comes equipped – the lanyard hole – holds little use for me as I’m not a lanyard kind of guy, but it does comfortably extend the footprint of the Agile in your hand.  The screwdriver backspacer is the most useful in day to day activities (I particularly like it for loosening the quarter-turn screws that secure the latches on my home HVAC filter vents, no need to go grab a screwdriver) but the actual face of the screwdriver is a little thinner than it needs to be.  The bottle opener got a good bit of mileage in my care as a craft beer junkie, and it does a good job of decapping an IPA.  It’s got plenty of leverage, unlike my other “oh, it’s right here” bottle opener: the Gerber Shard that resides on my keys.  It’s a bit awkward to position the blade above the cap but with practice you get used to it.

Both the screwdriver and the bottle opener suffer from the same problem, though: they present a significant hotspot to the palm of your hand when they’re installed, the pointy screwdriver more noticeably so.  The bottle opener rises up from the profile of the handle and makes the Agile feel bigger in the pocket, and your hand tends to rub against it accidentally when reaching into your pocket for a cell phone, etc.

Speaking of carrying, the Agile has a great clip – well, it does what it can.  The Agile is a dense knife.  When closed it only measures 3.50” long but it weighs four ounces, so it tries to move around when you walk.  The ratio of clip to handle is good, and the angle directs most of the mass towards the seam of the pocket.

Alternatives

At around $30 retail, the Agile is cheap enough that the chances of buyer’s remorse are low.  Not quite “throw it away when it gets dull” cheap like a Sanrenmu or a Mora, but still.  For your hard earned bucks there are some other choices.

The Kershaw Cryo has been an immensely popular knife for a while now.  I’m not the biggest fan but it’s been successful for a reason – it’s a practical, tough, well made knife.  Materials and dimensions are similar enough to the Agile to not matter – a 2.75” 8Cr blade, stainless framelock build, SpeedSafe assisted opening action.  It has the added benefit of a deep carry clip, offset by a rust-prone bead blasted finish on the blade.  It even costs the same.  For my money I’ll take the Agile over the Cryo 7 days a week and twice on Sundays.  If you like the recipe, you’ll also like the stainless version of the RJ Martin-designed Zing.  It’s got a 3” drop point blade with a high hollow grind, a nice pointy tip, and assisted opening via a flipper tab paired with a stainless framelock.  Bead blasted 8Cr steel and a $30 price tag sounds pretty familiar.

If you move outside of Kershaw, the Esee Zancudo is hard to beat. It’s available in two versions: the standard variant uses AUS-8 stainless steel and runs about $30, or there’s a new version with D2 tool steel – which has much improved edge retention but isn’t stainless – for $35.  Both have a 2.94” drop point blade with a full flat grind, manual thumb stud opening with a well-tuned action, and a textured polymer handle scale on one side with a stainless frame lock on the other.  They’re utilitarian but not clunky, and they represent an immense value.  The Ontario RAT 2 is similar as well, with a polymer handle, a stainless liner lock, and an AUS-8 blade.

For another $10 you can pick up the FRN-handled Steel Will Cutjack Mini Flipper, a knife which has been making waves in the community lately.  It doesn’t have the M390 steel or ball bearing washers of its high-end sibling, but it’s also $100 cheaper, and D2 steel and phosphor bronze washers work just fine.

Other options include the Buck Vantage Select flipper (2.7”) in 420HC for just under $30 if you want to play QC roulette, or a whole bag of different Kizer Vanguard series knives.  There are a number of G10 handle/VG-10 steel Kizers designed by Matt Cucchiara and Mikkel Willumsen around $40 retail, which seems like a killer deal considering the quality Kizer is putting out.

Wrap-up

Kershaw makes a lot of different knives, which as knife enthusiasts we should be thankful for.  If you have $40 to spend you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Kershaw products, and choice is good.  Thing is, they’re all starting to sort of blend together.  Trying to separate out one stainless framelock knife with an assisted opener and 8Cr13MoV steel from another is a pretty difficult task, and the Agile isn’t much different from the unlovable Cryo in theory.  It’s much more likeable in practice, a sign that Kershaw is continually improving their products.  It feels polished, smooth, solid and considered in a lot of ways that the Cyro doesn’t.  The texturing on the grip, the chamfered edges, the stonewashed finish, they are all improvements to how the knife feels when you use it.

Could the Agile benefit from a steel upgrade?  Absolutely.  I’d love to see this knife in another affordable steel like CTS-BD1 or Sandvik 14C28N, but there’s a reason they can retail these for $30, and it gets the job done.  The modular backspacers are sort of like the “tiptronic” function on an automatic – a cool selling point when you buy the product, which you will undoubtedly play with when you first get it, and then pretty much be left alone the rest of the time.  They work, although they do cause hot spots in the grip.  What the Agile comes off as, then, is a second-generation Cryo with a sheepsfoot blade.  And that, friends, is reason enough to buy one and throw it in your tool box or your car for when you need it.

Is this a surprising conclusion?  No.  It’s a Hinderer Kershaw.  Of course the bones are good.  I’d love to see a Zero Tolerance version, though – titanium with G10 inserts, KVT bearings, S35VN blade, titanium backspacer inserts and custom hardware from the Hinderer factory.  We can dream, right?

The Good: Smooth in the hand, one of the better assisted openers, reliable lock, love the Sheepsfoot blade, modular backspacers are clever and work as designed.
The Bad: Heavy for its size, 8Cr13MoV steel goes dull too quickly, backspacers cause hot spot.
Bottom Line: A second-generation Cryo with a party trick and improved ergonomics, a good value for a work beater.

Compare prices: Amazon | BladeHQ

Making an integral folding knife is not easy. In case you are not familiar, an integral knife is one that has a single piece of material for the handle scale. No other screws are needed to make the handle stay together because it is all one single piece. The WE Knife 702 “The Integral” is yet another Chinese produced high quality integral folder that has made an effort to produce a production model at a relatively affordable price. What makes the WE Knife 702 a standout hit is the value when compared to ANY other integral knife we have ever seen.

Buy It: BladeHQ

We can happily tell you that the first integral design from WE Knife is both a beautiful and affordable flipper that in our opinion is the best deal in the market for an integral folder. If you have ever wanted an integral flipper folder, I would strongly suggest you buckle down and keep on reading… this may just be the knife you have been waiting for.  Let’s get into some of the specifications…

Key Specs

• Blade Length: 3.9″
• Overall Length: 8.9″
• Closed Length: 5.0″
• Weight: 5.1 oz
• Blade Material: M390
• Handle Material: Titanium
• Locking Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Deployment Mechanism: Flipper
• Country of Origin: China
• Price Range: About $300

This knife is not done justice by looking at the numbers, except for the sub 300-dollar price tag stat. The MSRP is about 350 bucks. In fact, we got our model for 268 dollars so you can often find some great pricing on these models. It is one of those knives that really should be felt in hand and seen in person.

First impressions

In truth, we ordered the WE Knife 702 “The Integral” as an impulse purchase. We had not necessary intended to review it. However, once we received it and opened her up, we could barely believe what we were looking at. The 702 Integral is absolutely stunning. It is like the Aston Martin of Integral knives. It is contoured everywhere and has a black finish on the entirety of the titanium handle. Accents include the classic WE pivot screw design in gold, and a 3D sculpted gold pocket clip. The color combination really works (our model was the 702B).

The shape of the knife is very nice indeed and is ergonomically wonderful in hand. It is also a lean looking knife design, and that makes the WE 702B stealthy in appearance. Added in the appearance is the partial line design cutout on the front handle that has 3 small holes for additional design aesthetic.

The blade also looks fantastic. It reminds us of how the Sebenza gets finished. It almost looks like unfinished titanium from a distance, yet the M390 clip point flat grind blade is perfectly satin finished.

The 702 is by no means a lightweight knife. It is about 5.13 ounces, but at a blade length of about 3.875″ we more than feel the slight weight gain from the integral design handle.

Feel in hand

Unlike some other Integral flippers, we find this knife to be excellent ergonomically. It has a mild milled line pattern that provides very thorough traction in the hand. It is a thin handle that is fully contoured but is relatively long so it will accommodate most sized hands. It feels extremely solid in hand. Additionally, the pocket clip sits rather close to the handle, and connected with a single customized screw.

The flipper tab is not very large. It works well and when deployed the knife flies right out. The ceramic ball bearings and pivot system are excellent. Overall it’s a very good flipper. The frame lock is also well executed. The long satin blade falls freely when the lock-bar is disengaged. It is also nice to note that the added steel lock bar insert assists in making sure that the lock-bar has absolutely no stick whatsoever.

We flipped this knife open, closed, and open again seemingly a thousand times since we received it. We love the feel of the knife in every way. The sound is also interesting in that it is very muted. After all those flips, the blade remains perfectly centered. The 702B also has this nice looking arrow style point at the end of the blade spine.

Overall, the feel of the knife is among our favorites of any production or custom knife. It’s that good, providing a solid feel and a heft that reassures.

Real world testing

The obvious initial thought about an integral folder is that it is more sturdy and hard use capable when compared to standard screw connected folding knives. This however is likely an incorrect assumption. Though the handle itself is certainly more rigid and will take much more abuse, as a single piece of titanium it is also harder to affix the elements the blade needs to stop and lockup as easily. We are specifically referring to the stop-pin. The so-called Achilles heel of any knife is its weakest point. We would argue that point is indeed the stop pin. Less room to work means that it is harder to get parts in or out of the handle.

Most integral designs handle these issues in different ways. In the case of the WE Knife 702B The Integral, they seem to have created space by drilling or boring out an area visible on the back side of the integral handle scale. You will notice additional gold accent anodizing extending toward the flipper tab of the knife. This area was used to add the stop pin the blade sits against when deployed. This one piece in fact is the only thing that keeps the knife from stopping and staying in place when the knife is opened and used with pressure upward against the blade.

WE Knife has approached this differently then we can recall with others. We personally think it does not detract from the look, but rather we wonder if it may ultimately affect the overall hard use potential of this knife. Generally, for reasons like this we personally do not consider integral knives any more hard use than other more standard 2-piece handle scale construction folder knives. With all that stated, we carried this knife for well over 2 months on and off as our primary carry when used. We did not consider this a hard user, and therefore only standard tests were performed. Such tests all proved that the WE Knife 702B The Integral can handle itself under most general EDC conditions.

Though no formal testing was performed, we cut lots of stuff with this knife. From cardboard to plastic, this knife could handle itself well. We will mention that as an EDC the pocket clip might be polarizing to some. It is a 3D sculpted clip that looks wonderful with a design line in the middle and three accent holes that make this look consistent with the front design of the handle scale. What can be annoying is the rigidity and stiffness of the titanium clip. It is a reasonably thick piece of titanium, and as a result it doesn’t benefit from conventional spring action. It can be a chore at first to get the knife in the pocket. Two hands are needed, but this is something that you get used to and becomes second nature over time.

Removal of the knife, a far more important task is much smoother, and with some minor resistance come loose from the pocket as one would expect. It stays nicely firm in the pocket as well, which is of course a very good thing. Sadly, like many higher end production knives, the WE Knife 702B The Integral is geared toward the right-handed folks. Lefties would certainly have some issues with this design, and pocket clip. This is far from unusual in the world of integral production folders. We can’t think of any production integral flipper that has a left hand option. Perhaps this will be rectified in the future.

As for cutting, we can recall cutting cardboard to process it, and our hand slipping slightly of the handle. Though the handle scale offers machined milled lines that can assist with traction as mentioned above, the reality is that the handle scale is still very slick. The spine of the handle is very smooth and flat. Visually nice, but users with a sweaty hand should put on gloves. We did just that, and we were off and rolling. The knife shape proved excellent in the cardboard and box cutting arena. The longer handle allowed our hands comfort with gloves on, and we quite enjoyed how quickly we were able to make work of the tasks at hand.

For EDC use, we can certainly say that the knife holds up. The M390 blade is awesome, and the finish makes it look like it is new almost always. Simply clean after use and it will look like it did out of the box. As for the edge holding capability, we have not sharpened this knife yet. It came almost razor sharp, and has kept a wicked nice edge. We assume the combination of blade steel and well performed heat treat had much to do with this. The Rockwell hardness is listed at about 59-60 RC. Pretty standard but somehow the blade itself feels a bit stiffer – perhaps it is the integral element. Either way, we like the feel and that is very important in practical usage.

Competitive offerings

When looking for a high-end production Integral design knife, a few come to mind immediately. The nice part about the WE Knife 702 The Integral is that at a sub 300 dollar street price point, you might actually tend to use and EDC it. Regardless, here are some other options you might want to put on your shopping list when cross-shopping.

Spyderco Nirvana (Amazon) – This integral designed folder based off of Peter Rassenti’s custom model by the same name flaunts a titanium integral design, as well as a 3.74 inch S90V blade steel. Come for the integral design, stay with the S90V super steel. This is a spydie hole opening system, and not a flipper, but has been well received by those willing to spend about 450 bucks for a Spyderco.  Sadly, it’s been recently discontinued but still available on the secondary market.

Custom Knife Factory Tegral (BladeHQ) – The Tegral (reviewed here), produced by Custom Knife Factory (CKF) offers great value and unique design cues. The overall design was created by Anton Malyshev, and enjoyed a limited production run almost 2 years ago. This knife can be hard to find these days, and variants of this model with customized engraving work can tend to raise the price quite high. However, if you can find one, you will enjoy a 3.66 inch  M390 blade that resembles something of a modified sheepsfoot. The light weight of this flipper knife at about 4.8 ounces relative to most other integrals, along with the unique design may entice.

Final thoughts

Value is an important thing. Usually value and integral knives are not something that can be easily put into the same sentence. In the case of the WE Knife 702 The Integral, we can say that these words indeed must go together. Under 300 dollars can now buy a wonderful looking integral with M390 blade steel that flips very well.

Though we look forward to seeing what new and surprising products are around the corner, the WE Knife 702 in our opinion represents the best value for any high end production integral designed titanium handle knife to date. If this is a sign of things to come by WE Knives, we wait in anticipation of what they will release for an integral folder next.

The Good: Stunning looks, excellent ergonomically, tremendous value for money
The Bad: Clip is a little too stiff, no left handed option
Bottom Line: You’ll struggle to find a better integral folder at this price point

Buy It: BladeHQ

If you’re an avid Instagram user and you follow a good amount of knife-related accounts (guilty as charged) then chances are you probably follow USA Made Blade or at least have seen posts from them at some point.  Their feed is filled with well-shot pictures of high end knives, a lot of them with slick custom anodization jobs.  I was excited to find out that USA Made Blade wasn’t too far from where I live, located in Salisbury, North Carolina.  When I heard they were going to have an open house with a handful of well-known makers and brands in attendance I thought the time was right to make the trip from Raleigh and see the store.

I spoke with Scott Whittington at USA Made Blade about the business and about his custom anodization work to get a better feel for what they’re doing.  Scott and the crew at USA Made Blade were very gracious in holding this event for the community and taking the time to talk with me.

Knife Informer: How did you get into anodization and etching work?

Scott Whittington: I watched a Youtube video about anodizing and decided to try it.   It was not hard to learn and everything kind of snowballed from there.

KI: How many ano/etching jobs do you typically do a week/month?  What’s your equipment like?

SW: The number of jobs really varies.  We rarely charge any extra for the work we do on the knives we sell so I do it when I have free time.   I would say anywhere from 10-40 depending on the week.   My equipment is a standard power source and for the laser work we have a fiber mark laser.

KI: What do you like doing ano/etching on?  What don’t you?

SW: I love doing work on any full Ti knife made in the USA.   I hate working on knives not made in the USA and have stopped doing it.   Just a big difference in fit and finish on a lot of Non-USA made Knives, which makes getting them back together much more difficult.

KI: What is operating a brick and mortar like in 2017?  What percentage is online versus in person?

SW: We are in Salisbury, NC which is a very small town.  If we relied on local customers to keep us in business we would be out of business pretty quick.   We do about 90% of our sales online.  That has been changing lately as folks from Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte and other surrounding areas find out about us.  The retail store is a challenge but totally worth it.   We goof off a lot in the shop and it makes it fun.

KI: How’d you come up with the idea for a US-only sales model?

SW: I have always made sure the knife in my pocket is made in the USA.   I just felt like every morning I woke up and got dressed and there was nothing I owned or wore each day that was American Made.  Clothes, Watches, Shoes, Phones are almost never made in the USA.   So you are darn straight when I am getting done getting dressed, the knife going in my pocket will be!    When I decided to start my company the choice of American Made Only was a pretty easy one to make.

KI: What’s in your pocket today?

SW: It varies day to day but everyone who knows me knows at least one knife in my pockets is a Hinderer Half Track.   It is the best ‘Every Day and Everywhere’ overbuilt pocket knife I have seen to date.   Besides that I always have a knife in my lower cargo pocket.   That knife changes often.   The latest rotation has been a ZT0456, Southern Grind Penguin, Hinderer Jurassics, Chris Reeve Inkosi or ZT 0801Ti.

Also in attendance at the show was Southern Grind, a knife company based in Georgia that is the brainchild of Zac Brown, one of the most well-known names in modern country music (with the Zac Brown Band.)

The Southern Grind makes an interesting variety of high-quality knives ranging from small folders to throwing axes(!) and proceeds from the brand benefit Camp Southern Ground, an inclusive camp that brings together typically developing children, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), learning and attention issues such as ADHD, and Dyslexia, social or emotional challenges and those with family members serving in the military.  I had an opportunity to handle a number of their products and to speak with some folks from Southern Grind and ask a couple questions about the brand and its products.

Knife Informer: I’ve been dying to know: how involved is Zac Brown with the brand?  Does he carry a knife on a regular basis?  What does he carry?  How did he decide to get into this market?

Southern Grind: Zac is definitely involved and has input on all knife designs and materials.  Nothing is made in Grind without Zac signing off.  He does carry a knife daily and I think he has a different knife in his pocket every time I see him.  His go to knife is a black Bad Monkey Emerson tanto with serration.

Zac has always been a big knife enthusiast since a very young age.  He is creating businesses to support and sustain camp southern ground.  What better way than with businesses he can be passionate about.

KI: You guys make some crazy stuff – one could almost say the Bad Monkey is normal compared with the Gran-Daddy, Jackal, and Rhino.  Is Southern Grind aiming for a specific market, or more of a widespread lineup?

SG: I’d say a wide spread market.  We like to build items where Zac feels there is a need or just something that he really likes and knows it will contribute to the industry and our fans.

KI: The Penguin is very cool, high-end materials and an interesting look to it.  It’s a fantastic flipper and fit and finish is top notch. Is it being made in-house?  Who designed it?

SG: Obviously Zac has a ton of influence on all designs, but the work was done by Mike Trull.  Mike has been with Grind for years and has always been a great asset around designing and spec’ing all Grind Knives.  We make 80% – 90% percent of the Penguin in house.  We have used outside vendors for things like handles and hardware, but do make some of them here as well.  More of a capacity decision at different times.  Have recently brought bevel grinding in-house which has really helped with lead times and prototypes.

KI: Are you planning to do any maker collaborations in the future?

SG: We always have things up our sleeve.  Look for future projects with the likes of W.R. Case and Sons, Diamond Back Firearms, Kimber and DPX Gear.

KI: Some of Southern Grind’s washer pivot knives are smoother than some bearing pivot knives I’ve handled.  What’s the trick?  How are these so smooth? What is the brand’s take on washers versus bearings?

SG: Not sure we can provide and tricks for you, but we really like phosphorus bronze washers and have used them almost exclusively until the penguin.  Mike designed a patent pending multi track bearing that is in the Penguin and it seems to work pretty well.  I’d say we will use both in the future.  It just depends on the application and knife design.

KI: What’s in your pockets today?

SG: Bad Monkey Custom with Black Tanto Serrated Blade and Desert Tan Handles.  One of my favorite color combinations.

Hinderer Knives was also in attendance and had a huge quantity of knives on hand to demo.  The new Half-Track is quite an impressive little knife in hand, smooth titanium handles and a lot of interesting curves.  A strong flipper action is a change for Hinderer, whose flippers tend to run on the softer side.  There were a number of the limited run Slipjoint XM-18’s there as well, which have a great backspring and very positive engagement.  The Jurassic is another neat design, with a 3.25” S35 blade and a framelock with some more organic lines – and the Gears variant with sets of intertwined gears on the scales and pocket clip that turn is a visual treat.  The Maximus dagger is a refreshing addition to the lineup, too.

Getting to handle some Spartan Blades was eye opening as their market penetration has been pretty small.  This is a brand to keep an eye on.  Mark Carey of Spartan was carrying the new Kranos folder in anodized blue and black G-10 and oh man is this knife the business.  A subframe lock is smoothly integrated into the design, the G10 inlay forming the outline of a Spartan helmet (ah ha!) and superb flipping action making this one of the unsung “must have” knives of the year.  The Pallas button lock folder is also a joy to use.  These are top notch knives that need more exposure.

The show was a great event to attend.  Beyond the hospitality of USA Made Blade, I also had the pleasure of meeting Rick Hinderer and Ethan Becker, as well as Mark Carey of Spartan Blades.  The store was packed from counter to counter with knife enthusiasts of all types.  If you’re in the area for this open house next year, I highly recommend attending – and if you are looking for a new knife or anodization work, check out USA Made Blade’s website here.

Story by James Mackintosh.

It’s becoming harder and harder to stand out these days when you’re making titanium framelock flipper knives.  They’re the midsize sport utility vehicles of the pocket knife world, with new ones appearing at a dizzying pace in what surely cannot be a sustainable long term market trend.  So if you’re going to make one, you should really do something to make it different, make it stand out.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

The Bit is a new offering from Factor Equipment, who also made the Absolute that we reviewed previously.  That knife came off as a good value in terms of materials for the money but lacking some of the polish and refinement that’s expected for a knife that retails for nearly $200.  The Bit, I’m happy to tell you, has fixed a lot of those issues.  Its calling card, though, is its size: it may not look it in pictures, but the Bit is absolutely tiny: the blade measures 1.875” long and the whole knife is 4.75” open, and it weighs around 1.5 ounces.

Despite the micro size, it retains all the features and build quality of a modern mid-tier knife.  We’re talking coin-pocket small while still being usable day to day.  It’s very cool, and I ended up liking the Bit quite a… Bit more than I was expecting to.  Let’s take a closer look at this miniature masterpiece.

The Blade

Isn’t it adorable?  The Bit’s blade measures 1.875” from tip to tang, a traditional drop point that’s flat ground with a very shallow swedge along the spine.  The edges of the spine are rounded aft of the swedge and through the jimping to make the back of the blade smooth, which is always a nice touch and makes the Bit more comfortable to use.  The plunge grind is diagonal and doesn’t intersect with the swedge, leaving a flat portion near the top where Factor laser etches their logo – a stylized “F” inside a hexagon shape.

Considering the diminutive length, the 0.10” blade thickness is appropriate in proportion.  At 0.625” wide the blade is pretty narrow, avoiding a “stubby” look that a lot of mini-knives have. There’s a shallow forward choil ahead of the flipper tab that if the knife were multiplied by 1.5x could probably serve as a finger choil, but is obviously too small here for such a task.  It serves as a sharpening choil though, thanks to a perfectly ground blade with no “beard” at the transition – allowing you to sharpen the entire blade.

The Bit’s blade has a very nice vertical satin finish that’s fairly reflective and a bit of a fingerprint magnet.  Blade steel is Crucible CPM-S35VN stainless steel, one of the best-rounded modern powdered stainless steels.  Compared to 8Cr13MoV, S35VN offers almost double the carbon content (for hardness and edge retention) and a ton more vanadium and molybdenum.  Compared with S30V, it trades off vanadium for small amounts of Niobium, increasing toughness.  It was designed to offer improved performance over S30V while being easier to machine and sharpen, and short of supersteels like M390 or true exotics like Maxamet it’s at the top of heap for daily use.

It came sharp enough to slice printer paper from the factory, but with a visible “toothy” finish to the edge bevel. Factor hardens their S35VN to between 58-60 HRC, right in the ideal range for a balance between edge retention and being able to actually sharpen it on a normal setup of some sort.

Deployment and Lockup

Boy, who knew that such a small knife could be such a great flipper?  Deployment on the Bit is superlative.  This is probably owed to Factor using ceramic ball bearings, an unusual luxury at this price point.  They offer less friction and greater wear resistance than steel.  They’re contained in a bronze race which makes disassembly easier and helps with durability, being less deformable than plastic when the pivot is tightened.  The detent is well judged here considering how hard it is to get proper leverage on the knife – provided that you aren’t accidentally pressing the lock bar with your middle finger, which is easy to do considering the miniscule size of the knife.

They’ve done a good job with the design of the flipper tab too, avoiding having it chew your finger up on deployment or landing – a good idea considering this knife will probably be fidgeted with more than it’ll actually be used.  Can I tell a difference between a stainless ball bearing pivot and a ceramic one?  Hand to God, no.  They’re both fast enough to make assisted openers irrelevant, but they feel good here – firing the blade open with great reliability and speed.

Closing isn’t drop-shut smooth like a ZT with KVT or the Buck Marksman, requiring you to shut the blade with your finger.  This is due to a lack of a detent ball ramp and the detent ball digging into the tang of the blade – enough to make an arc shaped scratch through the “S35VN” marking, actually.  This was also a complaint with the Absolute, being a not particularly smooth closing knife even if it did open well.  It has a gritty feeling that is somewhat unpleasant when you’re folding it back up from the detent dragging on the blade, a weird feeling.  At least it doesn’t suffer from the overly stiff detent that the Absolute did.

Lockup is perfect, though.  Side to side and vertical bladeplay are nonexistent, and lockup is around 20% of the lock face to the blade tang.  Lock bar tension is good and there’s no lock stick thanks to the steel insert.

Features, Fit & Finish

The Bit is a well-made knife that packs a ton of features into a tiny footprint, but it’s not perfect.  Factor is still working on it – but they’re getting there, especially considering the age of the company.

Features wise, the Bit packs a lot of stuff in that big knives skip.  The most noticeable is the handle finish – it has a dual-tone anodization with a purpley-blue color on the flats of the handle and the backspacer, and a matte gold finish on the chamfered edges, the pocket clip, and the pivot collar.  This contrast makes for an eye-catching knife, but even if it were just flat grey the handles themselves would draw attention because of how much machining is involved.

The chamfer on the spine side of the scales is actually three separate planes running parallel, a top/side/corner that move and flow around the handle sort of like circuits on a motherboard, with lots of intricate details to pour over.  The center plane spreads out and the two outer planes shrink as the machining heads towards the butt of the knife, twisting outward radially to great a smooth transition.

Rounded cutouts on the underside of the handle are hollowed out while the rest of the machining is flat, giving it some depth.  The grain structure of the titanium is visible through the blue anodizing but not through the yellow, even creating a contrast in textures.  It’s a knife you can stare at for a long time and keep finding new details.

It’s got the whole check list of gadgets, too.  A lockbar stabilizer is bolted to the frame to prevent lock stick and galling, but it also serves as an overtravel stop with a protrusion that sticks up behind the pivot on the inside of the frame, out of sight. Rounded pivot collars dress the knife up, and the pivot barrel (a Chicago screw style setup) blends perfectly with the collar on the lock side.

Like a lot of modern high-end knives, the pocket clip is 3D-machined titanium – which is not always a blessing, see the “Field Test” section below.  It is configured for tip up right hand carry only.  The backspacer is structural, with the body screws on both sides (one each) threading into it – and it also forms the lanyard hole, which protrudes from the butt of the handle.

There’s a short run of jimping on the spine that runs to the end of the plunge grind.  Hardware consists of Torx T-6 screws for the body and the pocket clip, and a single straight head screw for the pivot.  The pivot barrel is not keyed to the frame, but friction fit, and did not spin when I adjusted it (thankfully!) Unlike the Absolute, the Bit didn’t suffer from excess branding – with the sole logo being the Factor symbol etched onto the blade on the show side, along with “first production” and “S35VN” etched on the lock side.

Fit and finish is OK with a few exceptions.  The pivot on the show side stands proud of the pivot collar by enough to make your OCD forehead twitch a bit.  The blue anodizing has a bit of color variance that you notice in certain light.  The detent ball visibly scratching the tang is annoying, but the uneven edge bevel grind is probably the most annoying factor here, with the angle getting inexplicably wider in a few spots on the belly of the blade and gradually narrowing towards the tip.

It’s worth noting that our review sample is marked with “1^st Prod. 004/240” on the lock side of the blade, so these quality issues might be due to the production tolerances still being dialed in.  Outside of that, the Bit seems well made – the backspacer fits perfectly flush with the scales, the spine of the blade lines up flush and level with the handle when open, and as mentioned earlier, the machining on the handles is impressively complex and clean.

Field Test

The Bit is a tiny knife, which somewhat limits its real-world applications, but you can certainly do more with this knife than you might think.  I’ve got rather big hands, so the Bit is a 2 ½ finger grip for me.  With fingers wrapped around and a thumb on the spine the Bit feels pretty awkward, like a giant trying to use a child’s tea set.  It’s better used scalpel-style, pinching the pivot with your thumb and middle finger and using your index finger to press down on the spine.  Here, the wide pivot collars make sense: giving you a wider platform to grab makes the knife more stable to use.  This grip makes it awkward to cut open envelopes, but gives you great control for slicing open packaging and seals, and other household tasks.  This is a knife that would likely benefit greatly from the addition of a lanyard to extend its usable grip length.

S35VN is a not an exotic, unfamiliar steel.  It’s used on tons of modern knives, and with good reason: it’s a fantastic steel.  The Bit is no exception.  It takes a screaming sharp edge fairly easily, the fine grain structure helping out quite a bit, and edge retention is good.  It is more prone to rolling than chipping compared with S30V, and it’s great at resisting corrosion.  Sharpening the Bit is awkward, though, due to its size.

Carry is a mixed bag.  I’m not sold on the concept of 3D machined pocket clips, and the Bit doesn’t help.  Sure, the clip looks nice and is an impressive bit of machining work – especially the rounded outer edge.  And it is an improvement over the Absolute, which had a sharp cone shaped point on the end of the clip that destroyed denim pockets at an alarming rate, combined with far too thin of a ‘bridge’ for proper spring tension.

By contrast, the contact point on the Bit is rounded and it slides onto a pocket with relative easy – although some fiddling is required, again due to the small size of the knife overall, getting enough lavage to overcome the spring tension is awkward.  The issue is how it’s mounted.  The clip is held onto the scale with a single screw.  It does not sit in a recess in the handle that locates it, rather it just sits flat on the surface of the scale.  As a result, it can rotate under normal use, usually onto the lock bar itself.  This is irritating as it puts additional tension on the lockbar making it quite hard to open and close the knife before you notice what’s happened.  Tightening the screw down further is a risky exercise – as it’s threaded into the titanium handle scales, stretching or even stripping the threads is far too likely of a consequence.  But since the Bit weighs only around an ounce and a half, and is less than 3” long closed, it’s perfectly fine to just take the clip off of it and slide it down into your pocket.

The Bit is honestly so small that it’s not something you’re going to carry and use on a daily basis due to the size.  That doesn’t mean it isn’t useful around the house for small tasks – opening boxes, mail, cutting strings, that kind of thing – but it’s uses are somewhat limited by its reach – cutting up an apple with the Bit would be an exercise in frustration.  As a tool for light duty tasks around the house it’s OK – as a less embarrassing alternative to a fidget spinner it’s even better.  It’s not that it lacks in any form of stability, strength or design – it’s just too small to effectively cut a lot of things or to get a solid grip on.

Alternatives

There is not an overabundance of knives in the “sub 2 inch blade, Flipper opening” category when viewing Blade HQ – 37, in fact, with a lot of that inventory actually being one-off customs that have already sold.  At $100 retail on Blade HQ the Bit is in a middle ground between a couple of considerably cheaper mass produced knives, and a handful of pricey high-end options.

The Rike Knife Hummingbird makes the Bit look large; while it comes with a pocket clip, Rike is at least realistic about carry options considering they include a Kydex sheath with a ball chain to carry it as a neck knife.  The drop point shaped blade is made of Damasteel, and the skeletonized handle is intricately engraved.  Like the Bit, the Hummingbird has all the trappings of a high-end knife: bearing pivot, 3D-machined titanium clip, lockbar insert with an overtravel stop, flipper deployment, the works.  It even comes in a variety of shocking colors – neon green, bright blue, pink, or silver.  Quality on Rike products is typically top notch, but $150 seems like a lot of money for a blade that’s less than 4” long from tip to butt!

On the other side of the price scale, there are two options from CRKT.  The Compact Jettison is a neat compact folder by Robert Carter, a 2” wharncliffe blade in 8Cr13MoV with titanium scales incorporating a framelock.  $30 seems like a good deal considering the construction.  There’s also the Snicker, a chubby little compact EDC from Phillip Booth.  The blade shape is a dramatically recurved 1.8” drop point with a flipper, made from stonewashed 420J2.  Textured GFN handles are contoured for a solid grip, and the Snicker also has a deep carry clip.  Retail is only about $20.

The Stedemon Vouking T03 is a remarkably similar offering to the Bit, with an anodized titanium framelock handle, lockbar stabilizer, machined titanium clip, bearing pivot, and flipper opening.  It’s offered in a variety of colors (green, black, blue, silver) and the 1.8” clip point blade is made from ultra high-end Bohler M390 steel.  It’s pricier at $150 retail, though.

Another contender is the Tactical Geek Variable X, which is an absolute dice-roll of a knife from a brand with no name recognition.  It’s quite pricey at $190 but it’s certainly interesting to look at.  The blade is CPM S35VN steel, measuring in at a scant 1.625”.  It has a full flat chisel grind with a reverse swedge, a steep tanto blade shape, and an impressive looking skeletonized titanium handle including a steel lockbar insert.   It’s a lot of money, but it’s a cool product.

Wrap-up

The Factor Bit is a refreshing bit of weirdness in a pretty repetitive market.  I wasn’t really expecting to like it as much as I did, my preconceived notion being that it was a well-executed joke instead of a functional piece of high-quality machinery, but here we are.  It has everything that makes a high end flipper enjoyable, but it’s the size of a large paperclip.  It’s small enough you might accidentally run it through the washer.

As an exercise of “look what we can do!” it’s pretty impressive, and I can confirm after carrying it (and no other knife as a backup!) that you can do 90% of the cutting tasks that you would normally do with a tiny knife like the Bit.  They could mount the clip better and do something about the dragging detent ball, but this is not an overly flawed knife by any means.  It cuts well, flips well, is well made, and it puts a smile on your face.  People ask about it, want to play with it, it generates interest in people that normally don’t care.  If you’re just looking for a knife to break down boxes at work this isn’t it; if you already have a lot of knives and want to try something truly different, it’s money well spent.  It’s delightful.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

Tactical is a word that gets thrown around a lot when it comes to modern pocket knives.  Well, pocket knives and a lot of other things.  A trip to AliExpress and you can find tactical bracelets, pens, boots, rings, axes, lights, hairpins, probably even toilet seats and owls.  It’s the kind of word that people know what you mean when you say it, but defining it isn’t so cut and dry.

Tactical knives are designed for combat or emergency use versus the more pocket-friendly modern EDC knife, with feature sets that assist in such roles.  Common tactical features include things like black-coated blades (for low visibility and drag), tanto blade shapes (better for push cutting/piercing), automatic deployment or deployment aids such as waves and flipper tabs, “overbuilt” construction, flow-through backspacers, and general focus on toughness over practical considerations.

Best Tactical Knives: Summary

• Emerson CQC-7BW
• Spyderco Military
• Boker Kalashnikov Auto
• Cold Steel Recon 1
• ZT 0301
• Hogue X-5
• CRKT M16-KS
• Benchmade AFO II
• Kershaw Emerson Launch 5
• Gerber 06 Auto

Tactical knives are tough, dependable, and have an air of preparedness that some people like – whether you’re deploying overseas or just stuffing it in your pocket before you go to the grocery store.  Here are ten great tactical knives you can rely on.

The CQC-7 (Close Quarters Combat) is the prototypical Emerson folder, with all of the things people love – and hate – about Ernest’s knives.  Emerson makes a wide array of knives but the 7 is arguably the most closely aligned with the brand.  And there’s a large number of variations of the CQC-7, but perhaps the most “tactical” is the recent 7BW Flipper variant, which features three – three! – different deployment methods.  Primary is the wave, Emerson’s industry calling card and arguably the fastest method of deploying a folding knife from the closed and concealed to the open, locked, and in-hand position.  There’s a hook that protrudes from the spine of the blade towards the tip, that as you draw the knife from your pocket grabs on the corner of the seam and pulls the blade open by itself.  There’s also a thumb disc – an unusual departure from the normal stud or hole most knives use – and new to this knife is the addition of a flipper tab.  To aid in deployment, this version of the CQC-7 utilizes stainless steel GTC ball bearings for a frictionless action as opposed to the normal 7’s washers.

The 7 does the unique trick of taking premium materials and appearing normal.  Blade steel is upgraded to CPM S35VN from the regular 154CM, on this knife with a handsome stonewash finish that hides scratches.  The 3.3” blade has a pronounced tanto tip with a long swedge and – most characteristically Emerson – is chisel ground, meaning the primary and edge bevels are only on one side.  It’s said this is done to make the knife easier to sharpen in the field – although with S35 steel that seems like an unlikely event versus just sticking to the brand’s core features.  The CQC-7 also uses full titanium liners underneath rough textured black G10, and the whole thing is held together with Philips screws for the body and a large straight head screw for the pivot – again, for ease of service.  Carry is right hand tip-up only (tip up is the only way the Wave functions.)  It’s not pretty, but it’s a design that’s been refined over decades to be useful and dependable in the field.

Most knife nuts give the nod to the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (colloquially referred to as the PM2) as the best EDC knife out there, capable of tackling big jobs and small with equal ease and polish.  They’re not wrong of course; the PM2 is my answer to that weird hypothetical “if you had to keep only one knife forever” question some people like to ask.  But its big brother the Military is probably better suited to a tactical role, thanks largely due to its size.  Stretching nearly 10 inches(!) from tip to butt when open yet only weight 4 ½ ounces, the Military packs a ton of blade into a pocketable package.  It weighs so little by sweating the details.  The liners are nested inside the G10 scales and skeletonized, provide strength without weighing you down.  All of the hardware (including the lanyard hole) sits flush with the handles for a smooth grip as well.  One odd thing about the Military: right hand tip down carry only, with a clip that spans the pivot screw.

The Military’s blade shape is a long, thin fully flat ground clip point with a perfectly straight spine and a continuous curve to the edge that stretches out a full 4” compared to the PM2’s 3.4” blade.  Standard steel is CPM S30V for around $175, but you can also upgrade to CPM S110V and “blurple” G10 scales for $191.  There’s also a “fluted titanium” military with intricately machined, contoured titanium scales (and a frame lock) for $225, but larger size and weight (5.6 ounces) doesn’t match the high-speed-low-drag ethos of tactical knives.  The Military is rock solid but featherlight, a great slicing and piercing knife, and made from top notch materials.

What’s more tactical than a knife named after the world’s most prolific assault rifle?  Boker received the approval of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the father of the infamous Russian AK47 rifle, to build knives under the Kalashnikov name before his passing in 2013.  The Kalashnikov’s are a line of push button autos from the Boker Solingen line (German built) and the Boker Plus line (Chinese built) that all feature similar handles and blade steels.  The standard Kalashnikov has a simple flat ground drop point blade in AUS-8 steel, with aluminum handles with individual finger grooves and a grainy texture to increase grip.

It retails for $40 and comes in a variety of configurations – dagger, tanto, reverse tanto, black coated or plain blade, partially serrated variants, and a few different handle colors.  There are also a few upgraded versions in the $70-80 range – most appealing is the 70^th Anniversary edition, which has a satin finished drop point blade in CTS-XHP steel, as well as some limited editions with Damascus blades in a bowie or a tanto configuration.  All of them have a deep carry clip that’s configured for right hand tip up carry only.  They all offer a remarkable value for money and no-nonsense automatic deployment for people that need it.

Cold Steel is probably the mainstream knife company most closely associated with “tactical” knives. They make all kinds of crazy combat and self-defense oriented products: push daggers, swords, a kubotan that looks like a Sharpie, that kind of thing.  But when it comes to actual rely-on-it-when-it-counts dependability and performance, Cold Steel’s the real deal.  Their line of folders that have been designed with input from Andrew Demko includes his Tri-Ad lock design, which is a modification of a lockback that includes a stop pin fitted between the lock bar and the tang of the blade, which eliminates vertical blade play and reduces the effect of wear on the two surfaces.  In practice it’s a very solid lock, with a characteristic “thwack” when it opens.  The added strength of the Tri-Ad lock makes tasks that you wouldn’t normally put a knife through – like batoning – less likely to damage the knife.

The Recon 1 is beefy but fits well in the pocket- two thick slabs of grippy G10 handle scales with two deep finger choils don’t require the use of steel liners, so the handle is pretty thin in the pocket while still having solid ergonomics.  There’s a reversible tip down carry clip that’s set into a square recess for added stability.  The blade on the Recon 1, like a lot of Cold Steel’s lineup, was recently upgraded from the old standby AUS-8 steel up to Carpenter CTS-XHP, a very high performance steel that’s got interesting chemistry.  Compared to an industry stalwart like S30V, it’s got a bit more Carbon and Chromium, but also portions of Manganese, Nickel and Silicone giving it great hardness and wear resistance.  It’s available as a spear point, clip point, or tanto – all blades come black DLC-coated – and either plain edge, partially, or fully serrated.  The Recon 1 isn’t fancy, it doesn’t flip on bearings or have Mokuti anything.  But it’s ergonomic, tough as nails, has a top notch blade steel, it’s thin enough to disappear in your pocket, and it’s yours for $100.  A must-have.

Yeah, you read that right.  The ZT 0301 weighs more than half of a pound.  This is what built the house of Zero Tolerance: ridiculously, meticulously overbuilt knives that you can bring into hell and back no worse for the wear.  The ZT 0301 actually went out of production, and is back for a brief sprint run because retailers and consumers alike were upset it was gone – despite its old age.

The 0301 is a co-design between Mick Strider and Ken Onion, and there’s a lot going on to be certain.  The blade is 3 ¾” long and cut from beefy 0.17” blade stock, made from CPM S30V steel – which was top of the heap when this knife was introduced!  It features a dramatic recurved drop point shape, with a two tone “tiger stripe” finish to the blade.  It uses Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted open technology to get the big blade out, so there’s no worries of sand or other grit getting into a bunch of ball bearings.  Everything about the 0301 is heavy duty, and none more visibly than the pivot.  Instead of a T10 screw, the 0301 uses a 3/8” hex bolt to secure the pivot, which you can adjust with pliers if you need to.

Build on the handle side is similarly chunky, with full titanium 3D-machined scales on both sides.  The thumb studs double as the blade stop here, and the titanium frame lock features a bolt-in stainless lockbar interface to avoid premature wear and sticking.  The clip is four-way positionable, and the entire handle is textured for a secure grip – although there are runs of jimping on the spine and the butt as well.  The 0301 has never been an everyday carry knife that you slice your mail open with at the office – it’s been the one folding knife you’d want if you were dropped on a deserted island.

Hogue is primarily known in the firearms industry for their gun grips, holsters, and other high quality accessories.  So it’s a natural fit that their knives would have a tactical element to them.  What sets Hogue knives apart from other “gun brand” knives are two things: one, they actually make their own knives (most all other gun-branded knives are outsourced, and in fact Hogue is now making H&K’s knives after Benchmade sold the rights) and two: they’re actually good.  Anyone who’s used a “Smith & Wesson” branded knife is familiar with this concept.

The X-5 is a design by Allen Elishewitz, and its design is… noticeable.  Much like the EX-04 I reviewed previously, the X-5 is not what you’d call a conventionally-styled knife.  Like that knife, you have a choice of two blade shapes and two sizes: here, a spear point (although I’d say it’s more of a “harpoon point” with the dip in the spine) and a modified wharncliffe – highly modified.  It has a compound grind with a thicker primary bevel towards the pivot, a reverse-tanto tip, and a smooth concave curvature to the spine.  Both blade shapes come in CPM-154 steel, a great mid-level stainless that’s easy to sharpen and holds an edge pretty well.

The X-5 uses a unique deployment method: it’s a flipper with a plunge lock, but it uses a separate detent to give it a strong opening action.  The detent is actually mounted on a steel plate that’s inset inside the handles.  This is done because a plunge lock, while smooth, doesn’t provide the strong detent needed to make a flipper really impressive, and also gives the knife additional safety when closed.  I’ve handled an X-5 at the excellent USA Made Blade showroom and from experience can say that it flips like a knife on bearings – without any bearings.  It’s a remarkable experience.  Speaking of safety, the plunge lock (button lock) is an incredibly strong design that – in my experiences – requires a little break in to be fully smooth.  If that’s not enough, the X-5 also features a secondary lock safety switch that can be slid forward in the open position to prevent accidental release of the lock during use for extra piece of mind.  There’s also a fully automatic version using a coil spring and the plunge lock (where the safety switch works in both open and closed positions) if you’re so inclined and permitted.

The X-5, like all Hogue knives, is tough, capable, impeccably built, sharp beyond belief from the factory, and also offers impressive deployment without the added complication and vulnerability that a bearing system can present.

Kit Carson’s M16 design has been the cornerstone of Columbia River Knife & Tool’s lineup seemingly forever, selling in a bewildering array of variations – blade shapes, sizes, coatings, steel types, you name it.  For a lot of people (your author included) the  M16 was their introduction to tactical knives.  I remember the first time I held one – my uncle had found it under a seat in a used car he bought, with the cheeky “1*” stamp on the blade.  Feeling it pop open with a press of that flipper tab had me hooked, realizing there was a world beyond the Swiss Army Knives I’d known.

That was a decade and a half ago, and the M16 is still with us- sadly, Kit Carson isn’t.  The M16 KS line is an update to this classic design, keeping all the things that make it a function driven tool but adding a few updates.  The KS is available in 4 variants that all share some common attributes but different sizes and blade shapes.  The 01 and 02 are a spear point and a tanto around the 3” mark, the 03 is a 3.5” spearpoint, and the 04 is a beefy 3.9” tanto.  For this new line they’ve switched from a liner lock to a stainless frame lock – the handles are all stainless instead of the normal polymer scales with stainless liners – which also means the removal of the sometimes-awkward LAWKS secondary safety system.  Like the normal M16, the ambidextrous thumb studs also serve as the blade stop in the open position.  The KS line has also been upgraded to Sandvik 12c27 steel from the AUS-8 the M16 line normally uses which offers slightly better edge retention as well as corrosion resistance – it’s the same steel on the uplevel Swindle I reviewed which I rather liked.

At around $40 these upgraded M16’s are very affordable, and they’re imminently practical.  Two deployment methods, a four-position pocket clip, flow-through construction for easy cleaning, simple but effective ergonomics, and a thin profile in pocket – these are less than 0.40” wide – means the M16-KS line is a tough knife you can rely on that won’t drag you (or your wallet) down.

The Benchmade 9051/9052 – better known as the AFO II – is a revision of the original AFO, which was Benchmade’s first automatic knife.  It’s a push-button automatic where the button is both the lock and the deployment method, and it’s a favorite choice of military members serving overseas for its reliable one-handed deployment, solid build, and no-nonsense blade shapes.

The AFO II comes in two variants – the 9051 which is a drop-point blade, and the 9052 which is an American tanto shape.  You have the choice of satin finish or black DLC coating on the blade, as well as option of plain edge or partially serrated.  All AFO II’s use 154CM stainless steel, a mid-range non-powdered “do everything” steel that’s an excellent balance between edge retention and sharpen-ability.  Compared to the original AFO, the lock button is larger and has a stronger spring to prevent accidental firing, as does the sliding safety on the spine of the blade.  The AFO’s handles are made out of 6061 anodized aluminum with a series of grooves milled in, and are tapped for a four-position clip carry – unusual for an automatic.   These knives spring open with a satisfying “clack” and have a reassuring pressure to the deployment button – they feel great to use and they last a long time.  They’ve also included a carbide glass breaker on the butt of the handle.  In keeping with the military oriented role, AFO II comes with a nylon sheath that is Molle compatible if you prefer to carry it that way.

When Kershaw launched the Launch series a few years ago, no one was prepared for how popular they would become, but it’s not a tremendous surprise.  There is a pretty significant gap in the automatic knife market in between affordable knives like the Boker Kalashnikov ($40, on this list) and pricey high-end automatics like Protechs, Microtechs, and Benchmades.  So combining Kershaw’s well-regarded approach to quality, consistency and value with a modern tactical automatic folder was a sure-fire win at a mid-range price.  It’s even more of a win when you include a design from Ernest Emerson in the mix, a man who knows a thing or two about tactical knives to be sure!

The Launch 5 is visually identifiable as Emerson’s work, but also as a modern high-line Kershaw product, with high quality finishing and details.  Blade steel on the Launch series is CPM-154, a powdered-metallurgy upgrade to 154CM which results in finer grain size for better sharpening.  The blade itself is a 3.5” clip point with a deep stonewash to it to hide scratches and resist rust. It uses an aluminum handle with a series of radial grooves milled in which extend to the bottom of the handle and taper off- a nice touch.  There’s also a lanyard tie-off in the handle, which uses an integrated backspacer for a stronger build and less parts.  Like the rest of the Launch series, the deployment button is highlighted with red rings- and on the 5, its set level with the surface of the handle to avoid accidental opening.  This whole series of knives from Kershaw has ridiculously good deployment.  It’s a no-nonsense automatic without all the frills and toys, just good materials, design, and ergonomics.

The Gerber 06 is another heavy duty automatic that’s favored by the military for its durability and ease of use.  If you’re used to Gerber’s that are cheap Chinese blister-pack knives sold in Wal-Mart you throw away when they get dull, the 06 is probably about as different from that as possible.  It’s not pretty, but it’s tough as nails and ready for anything.

Handles are 6061 aluminum with a tough anodized coating.  Ergonomically it’s got a rock-solid grip, with pronounced outward curves that your fingers rest against towards the pivot forming an effective finger guard.  Deployment is coil-spring automatic with a stout plunge lock, which also features a two-way safety.  When pushed towards the button, it locks the blade closed – and can also be engaged when the blade is open to prevent the lock from releasing.  Like a lot of firearms the safety switch has a red dot to indicate the safety is disengaged as well.  Unusually, the 06 doesn’t actually use washers – there is a raised surface integral to the handle that the blade rides against.

You have two choices for blade shapes: a flat ground drop point or an American tanto, both of which are available partially serrated as well as black-coated.  There’s also the new 10^th Anniversary edition, which features OD Green scales and a stonewashed drop point blade.  All 06 Autos also come with a backspacer that extends past the end of the handle to form a “strike pommel” – which also includes a lanyard hole if you need it.

That’s it for our top ten tactical knives rundown.  What did you think?  Did we miss your favorite tactical knife?  If so, drop us a line!

Sometimes being a knife enthusiast can be… tiring.  The industry likes to find a bandwagon, get on it, and then proceed to ride it until the wheels fall off.  I don’t have a problem with titanium framelock flippers with drop point blades, but there are a lot of them.  10 years ago, there sure were a lot of aluminum handled assisted opening knives with liner locks.  In a few years I’m sure we’ll all be tired of “modern traditional” knives too.  Maybe not, but it’s nice to see something different every once in a while, isn’t it?

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

The Crossbones caught my eye from the first time I saw a press photo of one.  I reached out to the unfailingly friendly folks at Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) and inquired about getting one for the purposes of a review.  Tellingly, there was a bit of a wait – it seems I’m not the only one that wanted a Crossbones as the initial allotment of this knife sold out extremely quickly.  It seems like this is happening with CRKT quite a bit, which is great news – they also had issues making enough Pilars to satisfy demand.  That’s the kind of problem you want to have as a company!

The Crossbones is designed by Jeff Park, which may be an unfamiliar name but judging by this effort won’t remain that way for long.  Jeff has spent the last twelve years working with Ken Onion (heard of him?) in his shop in Hawaii, and after a decade of learning he put out his first custom design. Thanks to CRKT’s close relationship with Onion, the design was picked up and a production version debuted at the 2016 SHOT Show.  I was able to reach out to Mr. Park and ask a few questions about this interesting knife to provide some insight into its design and purpose.  It’s a fascinating interesting design from tip to clip, and it’s a refreshing departure from the endless stream of “me too!  Me too!” folders that’s permeating the market these days.

The custom, called the Bones, was designed with input from Onion – “Ken did have a lot of input in this design.  He’s understanding of the knife industry is an amazing thing to the point he can tell you if a knife will sell or not but better he can tell you how to make an ok knife into a great knife.” The name comes from the shape of the handle – it’s supposed to resemble a dog’s bone.  The idea was to create an ideal EDC knife – one that “cut meat real well, opens mail real well – heck, what else do you do with your knife?” according to Park in his video on the knife on CRKT’s website.

Normally, when a company makes a production version of a custom knife there are some significant changes.  Not so much with the Crossbones.  According to Jeff, “CRKT really did a great job on translating the custom version “Bones” folder into the production “Crossbones”.  CRKT used my CAD file and had a custom prototype to work with so looks wise there is not a lot of difference.”  While the custom and midtech versions of the Bones are made from titanium handles and CPM-154 steel, the Crossbones was made in aluminum and AUS-8 to keep costs down.

The Blade

The Crossbones blade is interesting.  In his video on CRKT’s website about the Crossbones he describes it as “modified semi-tanto shape” but to my eyes it’s more of a trailing point – the tip being above the pivot and rising steadily along the spine. Some would describe it as a folding filet knife or a folding steak knife – that’s not far off the mark considering the physical attributes. About the blade, Park says: “The blade on this knife was originally a clip point but sort of evolved into what it is.  Went with a slightly Asian flavor since I’m Asian.”

Slightly over 3.5” long, the Crossbones blade is cut from 0.13” blade stock that’s full flat ground all the way up to the spine for maximum slicing performance.  Blade steel is AUS-8, a well-known stainless steel that’s similar in composition to 8Cr13MoV or to VG-10.  It’s not the latest greatest hypersteel with edge retention like a lightsaber, but it’s got good corrosion resistance, it’s easy to sharpen, and it takes a fine edge much like 8Cr or 14c28n.

The geometry of the blade gives the Crossbones a very fine tip, but ergonomically it’s not the easiest to use (as we’ll get to the Field Test section of the review.)  Grind lines on my example of the Crossbones were clean and even, and the edge itself was symmetrical but could have benefitted from being taken down to a finer grit on a grinder, with a visibly rough finish.  A few minutes on the fine stones of a Sharpmaker were enough to get the Crossbones quite keen.

Deployment and Lockup

The Crossbones is a flipper and uses a liner lock to secure the blade open.  Deployment and lockup are a mixed bag, good in some circumstances but not great in others.

The pivot uses IKBS (Ikoma-Korth Bearing System) bearings, which are not contained in a plastic bearing race like, say, Kershaw’s KVT or Shirogorov’s MRBS setup.  The upsides of IKBS versus a thrust washer setup are obvious: less friction means a smoother deployment and closing.  The case versus caged bearings is more give-and-take, though.  IKBS run directly on a channel cut into the blade and the handle, so there are less parts, less cost, and less machining complication and expense.  They’re also thinner enabling their use in smaller products.  The downsides are somewhat nitpicky.  In my experience it’s possible to overtighten an IKBS pivot and create binding that slows the movement down and potentially damages the ball bearings or the handles themselves.  They’re also more prone to dirt and junk intrusion and fouling of the action because the bearings and races aren’t protected.

The big issue with IKBS is disassembly, though.  After accidentally (I swear…) putting the Crossbones through the washing machine, most of the factory grease was removed and the knife had a gritty, sad feel.  I disassembled it and discovered that all the stories people tell about IKBS maintenance were true: it’s a legitimate pain in the $^% to clean and reassemble one of these knives.  You must use a relatively viscous grease, not a thin oil, that is capable of holding the ball bearings in place since you’ll need to arrange them on one side of the tang, assemble the scale and pivot, and then arrange them on the other side of the tang without them sliding everywhere and disappearing. I used synthetic high-temp brake/axle grease (what was available) and felt after reassembling that it was the wrong viscosity for properly smooth operation.

Deployment is good though, all quibbles about grease viscosity aside.  It’s not as snappy as the CRKT Swindle despite having a heavier detent, which may just be down to blade weight or to production tolerances.  It is still a reliable flipper, being basically impossible to “mis-fire” and does not require any wrist movement to deploy the blade.  It’s funny, we’ve gotten so used to bearing pivot flippers that sometimes they don’t draw the amount of “oohs and aahs” they used to, but they’re still fun and effective.

Not so impressive is the lock, unfortunately.  It’s a thin liner lock that sits entirely inboard of the handles, and it’s prone to heavy lock stick which didn’t improve with wear-in and use.  Normally this is only a result of flipping the knife open too hard or forcing the blade further open when using it, but the Crossbones is prone to lock stick even when just flipping it open normally.  Because the lock is almost totally covered by the handle, getting the lock to “unstick” in these situations can required something like a pocket screwdriver, which is irritating.  Apparently this isn’t an isolated issue as other people have reported this elsewhere.  Blade play is nonexistent, though – primarily a benefit of the large surface area of the bearing pivot.

Features, Fit & Finish

Like a lot of CRKT’s recent offerings, the Crossbones looks and feels a lot more expensive than it actually is with the handle being the most noticeable element.  It’s made of aluminum so the knife is fairly light (2.4 ounces) and the handles have a unique two-tone finish.  The raised surface in an X-shape is smooth satin finished, while below it’s been tumbled, bead blasted and anodized grey.  A series of raised peaks provide traction, while the top and the bottom of the handle (on the outsides of the “X” pattern) is fluted in a tight radial pattern that makes the knife more comfortable in hand. The backstrap forms a lanyard hole where the rear of the handle is cut away and is also DLC coated to match the rest of the design.  The handles are extremely well made with no visible defects and a very even, symmetrical appearance.  The pocket clip is a polished stainless spring clip, deep carry style, that’s configured for tip up right hand carry only.

Hardware is thankfully conventional, with a pair of stainless torx screws serving as body screws and a single sided pivot screw with a large, domed blank pivot on the show side.  Like a lot of CRKT products, there is entirely too much branding on what is otherwise a very tasteful and attractive blade – a large CRKT logo on one side, and “CROSSBONES” with the IKBS symbol on the other, with “park design” in small letters below.  It’s not a functional issue at all, but the relatively large branding seems a little tacky.  The blade itself is beautiful, with an even satin finish on the grind and – praise the lord! – a perfectly shaped sharpening choil at the ricasso.

The Crossbones arrived nicely centered, and went back together with good centering after disassembly and cleaning – thanks again to the bearing pivot.  The flipper tab is also nicely though out, with a slightly rounded-over peak and an angle that’s biased towards the front of the blade to give you a more positive purchase on it when flipping.  There’s jimping on the flipper tab but it’s soft enough to not chew your finger up, hard enough to be easy to get a hold of.  The tab isn’t much of phone-destroyer in the pocket thanks to its relatively low profile and soft peak – this is good design.  Beyond that, there’s not a lot of additional features to mention – this is a pretty basic knife!

Field Test

Boy does this thing cut great.  Let’s not beat around the bush: a full flat grind, 0.13” blade stock, and a smooth satin finish on the primary grind means that the Crossbones just sings through stuff.  After tuning up the edge a little bit on the Sharpmaker the Crossbones could easily slice diagonally through printer paper, whittle wood with ease, and broke down cardboard boxes like a champ.

What it’s really good at is cutting food, though.  The filet knife shape works great when you pinch the pivot with your thumb and middle finger and use your forefinger to press down the spine, which pushes the handle up into the palm of your hand for detail work, and it does fantastic at cutting up apples, slicing sandwiches, and other high-end culinary tasks like piercing the film on a Lean Cuisine microwave dinner (I kid, I kid.)  The fine tip is also great for piercing cuts, such as stabbing the sidewalls of scrap tires for disposal, but the Crossbones is quite thin behind the tip and this is more of an academic exercise – not recommended for regular use this way to avoid snapping the tip off!

The ergonomics are a little harder to get your head around.  The handle is very straight, thin, and box shaped, and there’s no forward or rearward finger choil to lock into – just the nub of the flipper tab to butt your forefinger against in a “full hand” grip versus the pinch grip described earlier.  In this way the Crossbones is more like a traditional knife in that it doesn’t force your hand into a set grip because it doesn’t have one.  During his video about the knife on CRKT’s website, Park talks about how the rear of the handle is kicked up so that when you’re pushing down on the spine with your forefinger it helps to lock the handle into your palm – an unusual but effective technique when doing detail work like cutting tape.  Beyond the neutral grip, the Crossbones has a great feel in hand – the aluminum handles are a tactile sensation, devoid of hotspots that make work uncomfortable.

While the basic square shape isn’t God’s gift to ergonomics, it does make the Crossbones carry exceptionally well. According to Park, “I like nice slim, light, smaller profile knives and really wanted the Bones to be something that you could carry and not notice it was even there til you needed it.”  The deep carry clip is just right: wide enough at the top to comfortably fit over the seam of jeans, enough of an angle at the edge to slide easily into a pocket but not so much that it scrapes on anything you walk near, and not overly long or super tight considering the light weight.  When closed the blade is almost entirely concealed into the body of the knife creating a very slim profile in pocket, taking up much less room than – say – a Manix 2.  The lack of different carry positions doesn’t bother me, but southpaws may take offense.  The light weight and slim profile make you forget you’re even carrying the Crossbones – an excellent EDC in that regard.

Care and maintenance is a mixed bag.  I personally hate disassembling IKBS knives, but like anything with practice and patience you get the hang of it.  Sharpening is a snap, with a nicely shaped sharpening choil allowing you to reach the entire sharpened edge.  Standard Torx screws are a relief for disassembly and fiddling.

Alternatives

The Crossbones retails for about $70 on BladeHQ and at the time of writing was about $60 on Amazon, with a $99 MSRP from CRKT themselves.  This is a relatively sparse section of the knife market, with most things either being down in the $30 range or above the $100 range, but there are a few candidates that stand out as being similar in execution and price.

The most similar in terms of profile and concept is the Brad Zinker-designed Boker Plus Urban Trapper in its standard 3.5” size (Boker also  makes a 2.75” “Petite” and a 3.8” “Grand”).  Like the Crossbones, it’s very thin and relatively straight, making for a sublime pocket carry.  The blade shape isn’t quite as adventurous – a hollow group clip point – but it’s also exceptionally light (under 2 ounces) and flips on IKBS ball bearings.  VG-10 steel is in my experience comparable to the Crossbones’ AUS-8 blade.  Prices are higher, though – $70 for G10, $85 for Titanium, and $100 for carbon fiber – and in my experience Boker’s build quality isn’t as good as CRKT’s.

From CRKT itself, the Crossbones has some competition from the Onion-designed Swindle, a modern interpretation of the classic Swayback pattern popular on slipjoint knives.  With IKBS ball bearings, a slick flipping action, and a unique pivoting pocket clip on the spine the Swindle is a fascinating knife for not a lot of money.  The standard flat-handled version retails for about $40 with 8Cr steel, while the upgraded version with textured handles and 12c27 steel is around $60. The blade is a hair smaller at 3.25” and it doesn’t carry as well, but it is a cool piece of work for sure.

Kizer’s Vanguard series (G10 handles, VG-10 steel) offers up some very compelling values, and the Begleiter (German for “Companion”) seems like a great comparison for the Crossbones.  The 3.5” blade is DLC coated VG-10 steel, with a choice of black or OD Green G-10 handle scales.  A thumb stud opens the knife up, and a liner lock secures the blade. It’s a bit heavier at 3.80 ounces but it’s not going to challenge your belt at that weight.  Kizer makes excellent quality knives, and this one at about $50 seems like a screaming deal.

Finally, who knows more about slim, light EDC knives than Al Mar?  And while you’re certainly not going to get an Al Mar branded knife for this kind of money, you can get an Al Mar designed knife for about half what the Crossbones costs.  The Kershaw AM 4 offers a 3.5” spear point blade with a prominent swedge that does a remarkable impression of Al Mar’s “talon” blade shape made out of 8Cr13MoV steel.  At $30 the feature set is remarkable: there’s SpeedSafe torsion bar assisted opening, a flipper and pair of thumb studs, contoured G10 scales, flow through construction with red anodized standoffs, a deep carry pocket clip with the Al Mar logo (so you can fake the funk) and a steel framelock.  It’s much heavier than a real Al Mar at 3.02 ounces, but that’s still light by regular standards!

Wrap-Up

If this is the first design Jeff Park has made, then he’s bound for greatness, because it is really quite good.  A combination of clean but fascinating design, sublime carry, great materials, and a uniquely honest MO make the Crossbones a compelling EDC option for anyone who’s into knives, and even people just getting into knives.  True story: after carrying the Crossbones for purposes of this review, I sent it off to an internet friend who was enamored with its design and in need of a new knife to replace a beat up old Kershaw as he moved into a new house.  The seed of knife enthusiasm has already been planted – CRKT’s recent offerings seem to have that effect on a lot of people, like the Pilar, Squid, Batum, etc.

The Crossbones is a nice option if you’re looking for a general purpose day to day knife and you’re not pretending you use your pocket knife to split logs or fight ninjas.  It’s fun to fidget with, it feels nice in the hand, and it slices extremely well.  At the price point the issues present with the knife aren’t a no-sale for me, and if you like trying out different things I highly recommend adding the Crossbones to your rotation.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

Review by James Mackintosh

Ruike is a relative new-comer to the budget and mid-priced knife market.  They are quickly earning a reputation for high value folding knives, so much so that Boker has outsourced with them to produce their Tech-Tools line of multi-function knives in the traditional Swiss Army style.  Ruike also produces their own versions of these knives in a multitude of configurations.  Today we will be looking at the LD-51 from Ruike’s full size Trekker series.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

These tools all feature textured G10 scales and a locking blade with a thumb stud for maximum grip and one handed operation. The Trekker line, with its four inch frames, fill a niche between the standard three inch Swiss Army knives and four inch pliers based folding multi-tools for users who want more effective tools that can be accessed and used more conveniently.

The Ruike Trekker LD-51 is a full sized, five layer Swiss style tool with an impressive 23 tools.  Just like every multi-function knife Ruike offers, it has textured G10 scales for a much more positive grip than its Swiss style competition.  Plus, with a body that is an inch longer than the standard Victorinox tool, it fills the hand much better and allows for bigger, more useful tools to be included.

While you do not get the sheer number of functions that the biggest, most dense multi-tools offer, the proper blade, superb saw, and excellent scissors all put to shame the ones found on such offerings.  Additionally, the LD-51 sneaks in a corkscrew and tweezers that are rarely included in smaller Swiss and folding stile multi-function tools.

LD-51 Tool Set

The Ruike Trekker LD-51’s tool-set as listed by the manufacture includes 23 features:

1. Large Blade – 3.3 inches of 12C27 Sandvik stainless steel
2. Pliers – These pliers are smaller and more rounded than the pliers found on most full size multi-tools. They do not provide as good a grip and tend to wear on the items being turned, but they will get the job done most of the time.
3. Wire cutter
4. Fishing line pliers
5. Scissors – These are among the best spring loaded scissors that can be found on a multi-tool.  They cut exceptionally well and are a size larger than can be found elsewhere.
6. Wire bender
7. Bottle opener – There is no can-opener on this tool.
8. Large flat head 6.5mm screwdriver.
9. Wire stripper/bender.
10. Wood Saw – This excellent 4 inch double row wood saw is a full inch longer than the three inch saws found on most other multi-tools. Plus, inch for inch, it cuts as well as the best of them.
11. Facer – Although useful in some situations, the edge here makes opening the tool a bit tricky as it covers most of the area you would grab to lift the tool.
12. Awl – This and the Philips bit are a bit challenging to deploy as you must deploy a tool opposite of them to make room and then use their stiff flipper tabs to deploy them.
13. Wire stripper
14. Spoke wrench
15. Reamer with sewing eye
16. Philips Screwdriver – This is clearly a step up from a two dimensional flat head bit found on many multi-function knives as it works well on new Philips head screws. However, it is still is not ideal for turning worn or partially stripped screw heads as the teeth are not all that deep.
17. Belt cutter – This tool opens to a 45 degree angle, and with a tooth pattern different than the dedicated saw, it gives a solid second option to cut various materials.
18. Small flat head screwdriver – This second, smaller flat head screwdriver here is almost useless. The tip is rounded and at a 45 degree angle to the tool.  On top of that, it sits at the end of a saw that does not lock and rests above your fingers as you grip the Trekker.  This is needlessly dangerous design, and its use should be avoided if possible.
19. Pocket clip – The clip is located in a poor spot for pocket carry as it holds the LD-51 in its second widest dimension in the pocket. A better spot might have been on the back locking side to keep a slimmer profile in the pocket.
20. Corkscrew – The wine bottle opener works flawlessly, though it does protrude slightly outside of the frame while folded.
21. Glass breaker
22. Lanyard loop
23. Tweezers – These tweezers have more flex than I would like, but with some effort still work quite well.

The Blade

The 3.3 inch high, saber grind, drop point blade is made of Sandvik 12C27 and features a single thumb stud positioned for one handed, right hand opening.  The real selling point of the LD-51 is that it has a liner lock on the main cutting blade, a feature found very rarely on multi-tools of any kind.  Out of the box, the blade was moderately sharp and would easily cut paper, however it was not shaving sharp as it would only cut arm hair with a very steep angle and somewhat heavy pressure.  Despite the short belly, the blade slices quite well as the blade stock is not overly thick.

The long narrow profile makes food prep a snap, especially spreading condiments.  It will also tackle small outdoor tasks with ease.  The thumb ramp, textured G10, and hand-filling handle make wood working easier than with other multi-tools.  This combination allows for great leverage on tasks such as carving notches and making feather sticks.

Edge retention is in line with other Swiss style multi-function knives.  Sandvik 12C27 is reportedly very similar to the steel used in Victorinox knives, and also boasts excellent corrosion resistance.  That is to say, it holds its edge in line with budget steels like 8Cr13MoV.   While this is a compromise compared to the blade on a dedicated $70 folding knife with a true mid-range steel like Sandvik 14C28N or VG-10, it is in line with most all of its competition.

Sharpening the LD-51 will be easy with traditional hones or rod sharpening systems as the blade features a sharpening choil and a long straight blade.  Although there is a long flat on the top portion of the blade that would normally be ideal for clamping style continuous angle sharpening systems, the fact that the blade is on the outside of a wide heavy tool makes it very clumsy to use on one.  These systems require constant flipping of the knife, and although it is certainly possible, the process just feels awkward when applied here.

Deployment

Deployment of the knife blade is unassisted and requires more force than most folding knives and catches in a few spots as it travels.  However, with a vigorous wrist flick the knife will deploy without trouble.  Lock up is good, but there is a little play in all four directions.  Most of the tools on the Trekker deploy more in line with the tools found on other multi-tools, with focused two handed effort.  The tools move smoothly enough, but as with the knife blade the locking surfaces are rounded over squares, so they catch at one or two points in their travel.

Most of these tools are deployed by the use of a nail nick.  However the awl and Philips head screw driver deploy with a flipper tab, and the saw and corkscrew  both flip out by lifting under their ends.  These all work practically enough, but they just do not have the buttery smoothness Victorinox products are famous for.  That said, they all work much easier than the typical knock off multi-tools that are far better at abusing finger nails than actually deploying their tools.  Lock up on most of these tools is quite good for slip joint tools.  They have a very strong spring, and the square locking surfaces that hinder deployment make the lock up better than on most Victorinox tools.

Handle and Ergonomics

Let’s get this out of the way: the Ruike Trekker is a brick in the hand.  Though to be fair most large multi-tools are.  The liners are all steel making for a very strong but heavy tool.  In contrast, Victorinox products save some weight by using aluminum to great effect.  The four inch handle, with it’s almost square profile, is similar in diameter to a full size hand tool like a hammer or saw, and grips well for it.

During hard use, there are some hot spots around the edges of the G10 scales as they are not particularly well rounded over.  The tip down only pocket clip is also a hot spot when using the larger tools as they are all located on the same end of the Trekker as the pocket clip.  Though to be fair, the vast majority of multi-tools are a mess of right angles, slick surfaces, and exposed steel edges.  Fitting the maximum amount of functions into a portable tool comes with real compromises, and creature comfort is almost always the first to go.  With that in mind the Trekker is still more comfortable in hand than the vast majority of its competition.

As stated several times already in this review, the Trekker shines over its competition in that it has textured G10 scales with cut outs around the edges for enhanced grip.  Most multi-tools use smooth scales or bare steel that can be unwieldy with wet hands. The Trekker on the other hand is secure in most any condition.

Pocket Manners

The Trekker is too wide and heavy for easy pocket carry.  That is to say, it is more suited for a belt, bag, or glove box.  At nearly 10 ounces, and a wide 10 ounces at that, it just feels ponderous in your pocket as you go about your day.  The tip down only pocket clip forces the tool to sit in the pocket in its second widest orientation.  While you can rotate the Trekker in your pocket so that it sits with the wide back to your body, it rarely stays flat. Your pants pull the LD-51 around so that the corner is pushing into your leg as you walk.

I feel that having the clip tip up and mounted on the back of the tool might have been a more ideal placement.  It would ride more flat to the body and eliminate a hot spot all at once.  That said, tucked into a belt pouch, or more ideally in the pocket of a bag, this tool carries as well if not better than a full size multi-tool.

Fit and Finish

The fit and finish on the Trekker is generally quite impressive.  The tools all have a beautiful, near mirror polish.  The logos are all crisp and black.  My favorite aesthetic touch is the stone wash on the slip joint springs.  It has a wonderful warm finish to it, and it gives a beautiful contrast to the mirror finish on the tools.  Despite these attractive touches, trouble comes in with the brick pattern on the G10.

I will stand behind the textured G10 being the single best feature of this multi-function tool, however it is the same texture found on many low-end folding knives.  It adds wonderful grip to the knife, but it just looks a little sloppy and out of place with its ill-defined edges.  All together, at a price point of $70 street, there is a lot of polish on the LD-51, and it is a handsome tool.

Competitive Offerings

Victorinox Ranger Grip 179 ~$70 – The Ranger Grip 179 features a serrated 3.3 inch locking blade with one handed operation.  It is only 3 layers with 12 tools, so it has fewer uses than the Trekker.  However, it is one of the few four inch framed alternatives.  It features rubberized grip inserts and a more ergonomic shape than the Trekker, and it weighs in at just 6 ounces.  Even though it would be more ideal for pocket carry with the narrower handle and light weight, it does not have a pocket clip.

Victorinox Hercules ~$85 – The 4 inch Hercules has 18 tools, uses aluminum spacers, and comes in 2 ounces lighter than the Trekker.  Its tools are smoother to deploy, and it has a can opener and a few extra (and slightly better) screw drivers on board.  Unfortunately, the scissors are smaller and harder to use, and its smooth plastic scales lack  the all-star textured grip of the Trekker.  Worst of all, the locking 3.3” blade opens only with a nail nick.

Trekker LD42 ~$60 – The 4 layer LD-42 model features 19 functions, but it omits the pliers and Philips driver included in the LD-51.  Doing so concentrates on the things the Trekker line does better than other multi-tools, namely the long saw and knife and exceptional scissors.  While less well rounded by itself, this makes for a slightly less ungainly knife in pocket.  It could also pair with a purposely chosen pliers based multi-tool to give you access to the tools they both do best.  This has the potential to be an ideal two-piece, portable tool system for a car or backpack.

Boker Plus Tech Tool City 4 ~$60 –  The Boker Plus Tech-Tool City 4 is a slightly scaled down 3 inch version of the Trekker.  It has a non-locking 2.8 inch blade accessed with a nail nick.  It boasts tip up or down right handed carry as it has additional drilled and tapped holes for the pocket clip.  It also has handsome polished G10 scales look fantastic but diminishes the tool’s traction.

Leatherman Super Tool 300 ~$80 – The Leatherman Super Tool 300 is the quintessential pliers based multi-tool.  In the same 9 ounces, it features 19 functions including pliers, ruler, wire cutters (with changeable blades), and a file that far exceed the others in this roundup.  The blade, however, is only 420HC.  While it is very resistant to out-right abuse, its edge retention seems to fall behind the others listed here.  The fit and finish is also the most tool-like seen here.  It is functional to be sure, but there are the far more imperfections then on the Swiss style tools listed above.

Conclusions

The Ruike Trekker LD-51 has proved to be a step forward for Swiss style multi-function tools.  It addresses a few of their biggest shortcomings with well-textured scales and a full size locking blade that is accessible with one hand.  There are clearly a few compromises, but that is a frustratingly universal issue with all forms of multi-tools.

Of course, one has to make real sacrifices to force the utility of a cluttered tool box into a single gadget.  The big LD-51 with it’s 23 functions might be better suited for belt, glove box, or pack carry than for the pocket.  Fortunately, there are many slimmer options in Ruike’s Trekker lineup that would make for perfectly acceptable EDC.  In summary, the Trekker LD-51 packs many very usable tools into an easy to use package and fills the gap nicely between a Swiss Style knife and a folding multi-tool.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

Review by Seth Gunn

One of the most beloved knives  in our collection is the GTC airborne SLT. A remarkable Gus T. Cecchini custom knife that is both beautiful to look, as well as mechanically unique. Our custom airborne sports inlays of Westinghouse micarta, and multiple finishes that can barely be believed. Then we heard that Zero Tolerance (ZT) was collaborating with Gus to make an airborne style model that included the SLT mechanism. Truthfully, we did not know whether to be thrilled or a bit aggravated.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

As a collector, you want to have something unique, and something that the hordes and masses can’t just attain without some serious pain in terms of time and money spent. But at the same time, the knife enthusiast in us loved the idea that anyone willing to take a few hundred bucks out of the pocket might be able to enjoy a unique knife with a rare and superb flipper mechanism – Enter the Zero Tolerance GTC 0055.

Gus T. Cecchini of GTC knives is no stranger to making the top tier, uber-high-end knives that command premium dollars. The airborne model became popular beyond just his reputation because of the SLT hidden flipper tab. This tab is concealed when the knife is closed and can be used when deploying the blade by pulling back on this Spring Loaded Tab (SLT) tab to activate the flipper mechanism. The tab once again completely disappears when the blade is open.

With the ZT collaboration model 0055, the GTC Airborne takes the SLT mechanism, slightly modifies it, but keeps the lines, and general mechanics that make the Airborne so well regardes… or at least that is what ZT has claimed – Let’s find out!

First Impressions

I was excited to compare the ZT 0055 model to our custom. When we received the ZT 0055 for the first time and unboxed it from the standard ZT packaging we were pleasantly surprised to see that the overall appearance of the knife looked about the same. Sure, perhaps some minor dimension changes, and no inlays or insane hollowed out compound grind with a mirror polish like on ours, but it was a cool looking knife.

For those who have not seen an original airborne in person, the ZT GTC 0055 model is certainly unique looking. Some may love the look, others may find it odd. This model is certainly polarizing for certain.  ZT used titanium on the handles, like the custom, but used machining techniques to create a grooved pattern on the handle scales.

The 0055 includes a blue anodized back spacer, along with a black unique pivot screw that tries to capture some of the custom pivot screws appeal. It is a nice touch in our opinion, and makes the knife feel more expensive. Unlike the custom, the 0055 has a reverse pocket clip for those lefties who seldom get love from knife manufactures. More on the clip, the tip-up configuration will suite most enthusiasts just fine. We wish the clip was a 3D style clip, but the bent spring style does work more functionally.

Overall, this is a very impressive effort from ZT, and it is no wonder why Gus was willing to collaborate with them to achieve this.

Feel In-Hand

The Airborne is not designed to be the most comfortable folder, or even the most usable. Sure, it will cut, as will the ZT 0055, but if function over form is your key factor, this is not the pocket knife for you. For sure you feel a sense of uniqueness but it’s not for everybody. With a 5-inch handle length, and 0.56” handle thickness, the knife is not small. It weighs in at 5 oz on the nose and has an overall length of 8.75 inches. Blade length is a bit smaller than the numbers might have foretold at about 3.75”.

The first time we held the ZT 0055 we immediately recognized it as a GTC Airborne design by feel alone. Now for the more important part, the flipping and the SLT compared to the original – Well the ZT 0055 did flip well from the get go. We were very surprised how good the flipping felt. If you have never used an SLT flipper before, it is a very different feel, and requires a bit of getting used to. For us, we already had the experience, and the ZT 0055 delivered.  One downside is that it’s loud.

Though ZT chose to reveal the tab a bit more, keeping it further upward, and colored in black to that it can easily be seen, this did not really take away from the experience. The knife flips well. No, it is not as smooth as the custom, and no it is not as stealthy. But for one tenth the price (or less), it is extremely good. We flipped the 0055 at least 200 times for first day we got it. It is a very good feeling knife in hand, especially for flipping. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for cutting as we describe later.

Real World Usage

For well over two months we have used the ZT 0055 as our primary large carry folder. During this time, we have grown to both love and hate the knife for very different reasons. We love the knife because it looks unique, sits reasonably well in the pocket, has a very usable pocket clip, and with its reverse tanto grind on the 3.75-inch S35VN blade can really pierce items when needed.

What we dislike about the knife is the unconventional hand position and feel, lack of finger guard, loud opening, non-standard blade shape, and that it draws attention to itself when used in public.

Not everything is black and white with this knife, or the results. Some days we would love the knife, and other times we wished we had something more traditional. For this, we feel that the quirky nature of the knife will suite those who are a bit outgoing, and perhaps willing to take some risks.

To try and be more specific, let us take you through some tests we performed.   We took the opportunity to test the ZT 0055 under somewhat unconventional means. These tests are designed to put the knife through limits greater than what might be common for must EDC users. However, some traditional testing was also performed.

Build Quality Test

We always wanted to drive over something to see if it lives up to its hard use and rugged roots. As a ZT, regardless of who initially designed it, the product should be able to take a beating and keep on going. So, to test this we placed the knife on our driveway and ran over it with the car. Oh and we did it again, and again, and again. The result?  No major damage noted.  I suppose this thing is made tough indeed. Certainly some reassurance that it’s built to last.

Elements Test

Just for kicks, we left that knife on the driveway for 5 days… these days included sun, rain, and eventually snow. After five days we collected the knife from the driveway to see if mother nature could be more brutal than our 3500-pound SUV. In this case, we observed wetness and dirt and grime, but no observable rust or corrosion. The blade seemed just fine, and the handle and hardware did not seem bothered. Oh, did we mention that the blade was nicely centered out of box, and stayed centered without blade play after all our tests?

Good Samaritan Test

For another test, we decided to find out less about the usage, and more about the usability for those not in the know. Specifically, we asked family, friends, and some co-workers to open the pocket knife. Interestingly, only 2 people out of about 20 succeeded in opening the knife. All others could not get the knife to deploy or were unable to determine how. What does this tell us… probably nothing, but it is interesting to know that if you leave it on the counter, chances are your wife or kid might not figure out how to open the ZT 0055. For better, for worse? You decide.

Cardboard Cutting Test

We haven’t performed all too many cardboard cutting tests in the last few months, so we had a mound of boxes waiting for breakdown. Our addiction for online purchasing was evident as we had almost 25 boxes that needed some serious Zero Tolerance 0055 time. We carefully first tried to cut some down without gloves, and as expected the results were poor at best. Though the blade was able to puncture the corrugated board, we were unable to sustain a proper grip position with comfort and without slip.

With gloves on the task became both easier and safer. The blade is very well suited with the reverse tanto and compound grind. It can puncture and cut well, but again even with gloves it was a bit of a challenge. Would be cut with this knife if we had to seriously breakdown items such as this again? We would likely say other better options exist that would make the ZT 0055 an observer for these types of tasks.

Final Thoughts

The Zero Tolerance 0055 GTC collaboration can be purchased for about 200 dollars at most online retailers. We have even seen it as low as 150 dollars at one point in time. For that price, this knife is incredibly appealing. Further incentive of knowing it is made right here in the USA makes the value proposition even stronger. But price aside, how did we feel about the ZT 0055, and how did it compare to the GTC Airborne SLT which it was inspired by?

Some perspective… it took us over 3 years to build up the funds, courage, wait-time, and brain-damage to shell out serious cash for our GTC custom. Sure, we love it, but for around 200 dollars you can have a similar experience at a fraction of the cost. We love that it is unique, and we love that it is usable as long as you are aware of the limits and limitations that the design brings forth with it.

If you want to get a GTC custom from the perspective of a collector, the ZT will probably not best appeal to your taste. Unless of course you want a usable approximation of your safe-queen GTC airborne. This is likely the type of folder that will serve the style forward EDC’er really well. For occasional use as a large pocket knife, the Zero Tolerance 0055 delivers.  So much so it made the list of our favorite ZT knives.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

It is extremely exciting to be surprised. When something that you have not been expecting just leaps out in front of you and demands to be noticed. Joe Holt of Holt Bladeworks did just that when he introduced the Specter model line folding flipper pocket knife. The Specter mid-sized custom titanium scaled flipper, available in three grade finishing’s comes in either “Refined”, “Prestige”, or soon “Utility” variants.

We will dive into these grade options in more detail later, but what you really need to know up front is that the “Refined” grade finish starts at about 495 dollars. This Holt Specter Refined version is what’s up for review today.

For those who are more about the bottom line, and less about the details, here is the scoop –  For the coin, the Holt Spector may just be one of the best custom knife values on the market today in any grade variant selected. To find out why, just keep on reading.

Background

Creating knives out of Robins, Iowa, Holt Bladeworks is a small family operated business that has not been around for all that long. In fact, the Holt Specter is the first folding knife sold to the public in mass by this knife company as of early 2017. Back around 2008 Joe Holt started putting serious effort into making fixed blades.  Prior to that point, Joe was more of a hobbyist making the occasional fixed blade here and there.

However, like most great makers, a prior trade/skill-set fundamentally underpinned his ability to entertain the idea of producing quality knives.  Joe’s background is in drafting, mechanical/software engineering. His partner Angey is also an engineer. They are currently both engineers for an avionics company.

When we asked Holt Bladeworks to tell us more about themselves, the company, and design philosophy, Angey graciously replied to us with the following information:

“Holt Bladeworks consists of just Joe and me.  We both have full time jobs outside of this working as engineers for an avionics company.  The part-time knife business is our fun job.  Joe loves the design/machining aspect, and I love interacting with all of the customers.  So, it is a great fit for us!  There are 3 areas that are most important to us, and this is where we have chosen to focus our attention.  These areas are wicked smooth flipping action, durability, and clean/elegant lines.  As we work through designs and processes, we really try to do things in the most efficient way with the end user in mind.  For instance, we buy screws and pivots from TiConnector.  They have a phenomenal product, and this is their specialty.  In the end we get a great product from them that allows us to have a lower price point, and frees us up to focus on the areas that we want to specialize in.”  

The apparent attention to detail and desire to build classic style pocket knives is evident. The Holt Bladeworks website stresses a focus on minimizing the time between orders and expected delivery of those orders.  With delivery estimates between 8-12 weeks, based on material availability, Holt Bladeworks is indeed living up to the promise they claim on their website. Such a fast build-time for custom knives is extremely uncommon. The use and command of modern equipment such as the Tormach PCNC1100, and several self-built grinders (made when Joe was still focused on fixed blades) all plays into the precision and speed of his work.

It is also worth noting that on the “Prestige” and “Refined” grades, a slew of customizable options is selectable. Colors, blade finishes, and more are available to choose from. The “Prestige” variant of the Specter lets you change out the blade type to Damasteel, get custom inlays, etc. but comes at a price premium… though still a great value for a custom folder.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Holt Specter is the ‘Utility’ grade version that will be available later this year. Price is expected to be around 300 dollars, and includes 2D milled handles, a working type blade finish (stone wash, black wash, DLC), and will maintain the same flipping action and hardware found on the higher-grade models.

First Impressions

Our Specter model grade was the “Refined” variant, with a polished blade, and blue anodized accents on the hardware, pivot, back spacer, and 3D pocket clip. The handle scales offered thin machined lines (throughout) that not only looked attractive but added to positive grip.  When it comes to the customization options, especially as it relates to anodization, the choices can be a little overwhelming.  You find yourself agonizing over that perfect color set. Thankfully, the website has a good selection of imagery to help you decide.  Overall, we opted to keep it simple yet stylish (that’s who we are!).  Our full set of customization options is shown below.

• Blade Material: M390
• Blade Finish: Near Mirror
• Handle Material: Titanium
• Handle Pattern: Pinstripes
• Handle Finish: In the Nude
• Handle Anodization Color(s): None
• Spacer Material: Titanium
• Spacer Finish: Satin
• Spacer Anodization Color: 27V
• Clip Material: Titanium
• Clip Finish: Satin
• Clip Anodization Color: 27V
• Pivot Pin Style: 3 Spoke Relief
• Pivot Pin Anodization Color: 27V
• Screws Anodization Color: 27V
• Bearing Type: Ceramic

It took about 7 weeks to receive our Holt Specter, which is indeed within the time that was suggested on the website.

Like all current models, our Specter came with an integral ramp style detent. This type of detent is most often synonymous with Brian Nadeau, the credited, and popularized customer maker of this integral ramp detent design. The detent allows for a unique action, and sturdy feel of the knife. Without getting to much into the feel of the knife just yet, it is very likely that this integral detent ramp (sometimes referred to as detent nub) has been slightly adapted to work best for the Specter model – Meaning, it may be a bit longer when compared to others that employ this system, such as Brian. Given that the Holt Specter “Refined” model is custom knife, we specified the details of the knife in advance online, and have been waiting in anticipation to see it come to life ever since.

As we opened the knife for the very first time, we were indeed impressed. Our very first thought was how the Specter reminded us a bit of the Grimsmo Rask, another one of our top custom knives reviewed at Knife Informer (more on that later). Though this was mainly result of the size and shape of the design, which are extremely similar in overall length in most regards. Aside from that, the knives are quite different animals.

Back to the Holt Specter, we can most happily say that it flipped open extremely smoothly. It has an almost mechanical feel, and the sound that is made when the knife is deployed is unique, though not particularly loud by any stretch of the imagination (think Sebenza sound in terms of volume level). The obvious use of ball bearings in the pivot were apparent. The knife opens with authority and really instills confidence in the user.

The Specter has beautifully sculpted 3D milled handle scales, and an almost complete mirror-polished blade. Sure, the Prestige model grade could have provided us with custom handle inlays (like timascus, damasteel, zirconium, mokume, Mammoth, or Wood), but we feel that this knife looks great as is without the extra expense. We did notice the handle carried light fingerprints but it’s barely noticeable.  Overall we are very impressed with the appearance of this knife.

The pocket clip looks very nice as well, and it is made for right handed folk (since we are indeed right handed). Still, opting to hide the pocket clip screw would have been a nice touch in our opinion (and in fact I hear may be an option in the future).  As for the back spacer, this is a very good look, and fitting with the knife design. We tend not to prefer full back spacers, (harder to clean, can cause extra weight, etc.), but on the Specter it makes the knife stand out, and really adds to the balance of the knife in the open position.

As we began to inspect the Specter even more, the fit and finish was without doubt top notch. We noticed severe milling out of the inner part of the handle scales, which certainly accounts for its reasonably slendor weight of about 3.6 oz. Furthermore, the blade was perfectly centered, and when deployed no play at all. The knife locked up at about 30 percent, making contact with the steel lock insert provided on the knife.

Now to the pointy bit – the gorgeous blade itself was just lovely. A simple and well executed flat grind drop point blade. Perfectly symmetrical, and even provided a proper plunge grind that will make it easy to sharpen the entirety of the blade. The knife also seemed very sharp at the edge and tip. A few brief touches with our thumb on the edge practically bit us.

M390 is of course a phenomenal blade steel and one we admire tremendously.  The care taken with the blade finishing, between the mirror polish on our particular model, and the almost razor finished edge indicates that this is not just any new knife maker trying to get into the knife making game.

Overall, our first impressions were stellar. Yes there are minor flaws but not a single thing on the knife was worthy of major negative comment. Trust us, we spent over an hour just looking at the knife trying our best to find something notable to criticize.

Feel In-Hand

The Holt Specter feels solid in the hand. It is not too small for our medium sized paws. It is reasonably light, but at the same time it does not feel dainty or fragile. Further, the simplistic contour of the handle scales and overall design shape make it very comfortable to hold. One area we may like to see improved is the slightly sharp edges on the scales (back and shoulders), and toward top of the pocket clip near where it is fitted to the handle.

The clean straight design lines make the Specter look fantastic, but also give it slightly less perfect smoothness. As a result, the knife can feel a bit biting to the hand if harder task cuts are performed and will likely exhibit hot spots in those areas near the back-shoulder section of the knife handles. But for us, the Holt Specter is intended for light to normal EDC duty, and perhaps collectability. Therefore, these minor issues that most may not even notice will not present any issues for us, or even 99% of the people getting into a folder such as the Specter.

As for flipping action… the Specter does not disappoint. For all you fidgeters out there, this is a primo flipping knife. The flipper tab is small and very comfortable. The detent does not feel too strong, but strong enough to hit that sweet spot where it flips hard and fast out for deployment. Disengagement of the Specter is equally smooth.

Closing the knife is very easy, as the integral frame-lock is precision crafted, and the lock-bar with the built-in steel insert exhibited no stick. The knife blade falls gently down with a simple flick down of the wrist after disengaging the lock bar properly. Other nice touches include a lock bar stabilizer/overtravel stop made of stainless steel effectively built-into the lock insert.  With zero stick from the lock bar, this knife is very usable, and will likely be trouble free as long as it is not abused.

Real World Usage

Sorry folks, we just could not bring ourselves to subject the Holt Specter to any unnecessary testing or punishment. Do we feel it can take the abuse? Well, maybe, we suppose. But the fact is that this is not a heavy-duty user type knife for us. This is a very well-designed folding pocket knife, but it is not going to be used for tactical purposes, and should not be used for hard-use applications in our opinion. Sure, it has a drop point blade, the pivot seems strong, and the handles have no flex, but with our Holt Specter (Refined) model coming in at over 500 bucks all in, we would rather use it for it for its most commonly intended purpose – straight up suburban commando EDC usage. Therefore the testing reflected that type of usage scenario.

We carried the Holt Specter “Refined” model for about one week straight as our primary EDC. For those who prefer a smaller knife, this will be great as a primary carry. However, others might want to consider it as a secondary blade carry option, or perhaps a primary summer shorts carry option, or even still a formal gentleman’s carry option if you are into such things (and depending on how you select to have the knife custom finished).

We carried the knife in all the above ways. As a lighter weight folder, it was very easy to live with. The pocket clip is for tip-up carry, which is our preference. It is also designed for right handed persons only. We are not sure if special requests can be made for lefties. The clip is a 3D sculpted design that works well with the knife. It is not exactly a deep pocket carry design, but the small amount of blade handle that sticks out of the pocket as a result is no more than a few inches. This is actually the way we prefer to have it. For us, it allows ability to grab onto something easier to put it out of pocket without fumbling and wasting time. Sadly, no lanyard hole is provided though.

During our time with the knife we did use it for its intended purpose. We used it for light office duty to open boxes that had arrived from the local office supply store. We also used it in our backyard deck to cut all the rope tie downs we had over the outdoor furniture. The blade made simple work of the twine rope we cut. The blade is sharp and did not exhibit any give or play while in use. The handle scales did not seem slippery, though we would imagine that with wet hands, the Specter knife might not be the sturdiest… most folders aren’t.

We used it when we were out and about, the standard tasks that likely an SAK could handle, but felt oh so much cooler with the Holt Specter.

Though we can’t claim to have used the knife to any level that would properly try out the jimping on the knife, the jimping was indeed well executed it appears. If we did need to cut more serious items with this knife, we feel it could handle it well.

The Competition

As a custom knife, the best comparisons are between other customs with similar style folders. You may consider these when cross-shopping against the Holt Specter:

Grimsmo Rask  – The Grimsmo brothers have been making custom knives for several years now, though only a few official models exist. The Grimsmo Rask is a custom knife that we have reviewed in the past. It is also one of our absolute favorite small, to mid-sized flipper folders. Every single piece on Rask knife is made by the Grimsmo brothers in-house. Not many makers can boast that claim. At 3.4 inches in blade length, and 3.0 oz. overall weight, the Rask is just a bit smaller when compared to the Specter. Other dimensions are almost exactly the same… overall size, and closed size are almost spot on the same.

Like the Specter, the Rask is very customizable. We find the Rask is a titanium frame lock designed flipper that is truly special. Every part of the knife scales is smoothed, and not a single hot spot can be found. It is refined beyond the levels of standard refinement you may often see on most custom knives. As a result, the Rask is really a bit of a different animal when compared to most other custom knives for these reasons (Holt Specter included).

However, the Specter shares some traits that make the Rask so special as well… it has a very good size fit in hand, silky smooth action (Rask is more organic feeling, and Specter being somewhat more mechanical), and thin carry friendly capability. What the Specter does not share with the Rask is the price tag, all custom parts, or the difficult accessibility and wait times that the Grimsmo brothers current have. At the moment, if you want either of these makers knives, you best get your info on their mailing list, because they are both very busy.

Neither maker is currently accepting open orders (at the time of this writing), but it is clear that the Grimsmo Rask is considered a very exclusive knife, adding to collectible appeal. For a collector, the Rask will make more sense. However, for the value conscience, the Holt Specter is really the obvious choice. At a 495 base price for the Specter “Refined” knife grade versus at least 795 or well more for the Rask, those looking to maximize value can do so with the Holt Specter.

Chris Reeve Inkosi – A long standing favorite and evolution of the uber-popular Sebenza design is the Inkosi which costs about $450.  Similar in size with 3.6″ blade (though overall slightly longer) the Inkosi is notably heavier at 5.0 oz.  For us, the Inkosi is indeed a wonderful knife and just begs to be used more so than the Specter.  The build quality on the Inkosi is simply near perfect and the Specter falls ever so slightly behind in that respect but on the other hand we find the Specter to be classier with a more advanced feature set.

SharpByDesign Mini Typhoon – Also tested is the Mini Typhoon model that Brian Nadeau created, and is now discontinued. This 3.5 inch titanium flipper may share more with the Holt Specter compared to any other knife we can consider. The unique feel of all of Brian’s knives are a direct result of the detent that is used. This non-traditional detent system does not employ a detent ball, but rather a “detent ramp” that was created by Brian. This detent ramp system is available as an option on the Specter. What the Mini Typhoon also offers is an S90V blade steel, and name recognition for a company that has received numerous awards and recognition in the recent past. If you can find a Mini Typhoon, it is worth a consideration when compared to the Specter. For the price however, the likely option may still be the Specter.

Ferrum Forge Septer – The Septer is a mid-tech offering by Ferrum Forge, a well-respected custom and mid-tech knife maker. Though this is a smaller folder, it may appeal to those who prefer a more solid feeling, yet smaller blade to accompany the daily EDC chores. Lest we forget that some locales have blade restrictions that prohibit concealed carry bladed larger than certain sizes. At around 500 dollars depending on the finish, this 3.0-inch folder packs a punch in a small package size, employing CPM-20CV blade steel, and a very reliable and easy to use flipper. The heavier 4.04 oz Septer is an alternative to the smooth operator Specter, for those more in favor of utility.

Final Thoughts

It goes without saying that the Holt Bladeworks Specter is a magnificent folding knife, at an even greater value. Even more, it seems to have come out of nowhere. Sure, it is not perfect, with slightly sharp edges on some areas of the handle scales, but it is very close. Once we begin to consider the “Utility” grade version that will hit the market at about 300 dollars (or less), this may be a revolution for the knife world. The Holt Specter design in this extremely affordable version will certainly be a very big hit in our opinion.

Without the need for whimsy or witty banter, we can plainly say that the Holt Specter is an incredible custom flipper, and an amazing value, regardless of the trim you decide may be right for you.  It’s a surprising knife at a surprising value. It surprised us so much that it has become one of our top 5 favorite small to mid-sized flipper at any price point. We must presume that this is of no surprise to Holt Bladeworks… Simply amazing results!

The Factor Equipment Hardened knife is a full size, semi-overbuilt folding knife that focuses on smooth operation and all-out tactical grip.  The Hardened knife is a breath of fresh air in a knife market filled to the brim with overly similar knives.  That said, proprietary hardware, fragile bearings, and dirty internals out of the box keep the Hardened from being a smash home run.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

The Hardened knife is a sophisticated new design from the fairly new knife company Factor Equipment.  They are an American company with manufacturing in China.  Some of their early knives they brought to market were criticized for copying existing designs.  To their credit, Factor Equipment listened to their critics and have responded with a compellingly original knife.  There are a few flaws in this knife to be sure.  However, if Factory Equipment can make a few improvements, the Hardened knife indicates there is a bright future for them and this knife.

The Hardened knife is an absolute, hand-filling joy to cut with.  The recurved AUS-10 blade, aggressive texturing, and superb ergonomics just make cutting a dream.  However, the all out, stick to your hand tactical grip will also shred your pants pockets.  Lock up is achieved through a stout stainless steel frame lock with aggressively textured and 3D-sculpted G10 inlays.  Deployment is actuated by a sharp but effective flipper tab or by a textured section on the blade that, at best, works part of the time.  The action is smooth but slightly mechanical feeling, running ceramic ball bearings and detent ball.

The Blade

As stated above, the Hardened knife is a truly wonderful cutter.  The drop point recurve blade is literally all belly, so it is almost always draw cutting regardless of how you use it.  The tip is somewhat acute, but the high saber grind and drop point combine to keep a good amount of material at the tip.  Therefore, it is far from fragile.  The blade is made of the uncommon mid-grade Japanese AUS-10.  It is very similar to VG-10 in composition.   Sharpness out of the box was very good and could shave arm hair with a steep angle and mild pressure.

Edge retention was a bit tricky to nail down with this knife, as the wonderful recurve just wants to keep  cutting even when dull.  However, in side-to-side testing against more typical non-recurve Sandvik 14C28N and VG-10 blades, the Hardened knife held its own, staying sharp slightly longer than the 14C28N, and cutting better than the non-recurve VG-10 when both dulled to a similar point.

The big drawback of the recurve blade is that it makes hand sharpening considerably more difficult than on non-recurve knives.  Unless your flat hones are very narrow, generally you will not be able to sharpen all the curves on this blade.  Thinner stones (common with continuous angle clamping sharpening systems), draw-through systems, and ceramic rods are all much better suited to working on this sort of blade shape.  The flat ribbed section on the blade would make for a good location to anchor clamping systems to this knife, however they will wear on the bead blast finish that covers them.

With the proper tools, the Hardened is not overly difficult to sharpen.  It takes a few more passes than a softer, budget steel but that said working on this steel is not punishing.   Also of note, there is a sharpening choil at the rear of the blade, so there is little chance of damaging the flipper tab during sharpening.

Deployment

Out of the box the deployment on the Hardened knife was quite gritty.  There was a considerable amount of dirt and grease in the action left by the factory.  After a thorough cleaning and break in, the ceramic ball bearings and detent make for a smooth if slightly mechanical feeling action.  Just be aware that it will take some time and work to get there.  The lock up is fantastic with no play at all in any direction.  Out of the box, the lock bar was quite stiff to operate, though it broke in nicely and now takes a very comfortable amount of force to actuate.

There are two deployment options available on the Hardened knife.  One is a flipper tab that is a bit sharp, but is very reliable.  It also features a somewhat gimmicky ribbed section of the blade that can be used unreliably to flick the knife open.  Flicking the ribs like a thumb stud will sometimes open the knife, though it quickly irritates even a well-calloused thumb.  Overall, I would just suggest avoiding the ribs as the flipper tab works wonderfully.  The flipper tab works well with both the light switch and push button techniques.  It features a somewhat aggressive hook giving that gives you loads of traction even with out any texturing.  The flipper tab is tuned for no-nonsense, reliable deployment but will quickly becomes a hot-spot if you over use this knife as a fidget toy.

My biggest concern with the action on the Hardened knife is that the ball bearing cages are quite fragile.  As stated above, the knife came with a good amount of grit in the action and needed to be disassembled for a full and proper cleaning.  Furthermore, ball bearing pivots get dirty and need regular maintenance; this goes double for slightly over-built knives intended for hard use.

Disassembly clearly voids the Factor Equipment warranty.   It is frustrating that the manufacturer discourages end-users from maintaining the tools they have purchased, especially considering that during the tear down and reassembly process bearings from both bearing cages became dislodged despite purposely gentle handling.  I was lucky enough to find both lost bearings, and they did snap back into the bearing races with little trouble, allowing me to return the knife to full working order.

As a gear enthusiast, I tinker with most of my knives.  I have disassembled dozens of ball bearing knives and never damaged a set of bearings before, even on the cheapest of budget knives.  The fact that I lost bearings from both assemblies is very concerning for a knife that otherwise begs for hard used.  Though to be fair, under normal use (as suggested by Factor Equipment) I have had zero problems whatsoever with the bearings.  Just bear in mind that long term maintenance could be an issue.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Factor Equipment Hardened is a knife that focuses single-mindedly on all-out, never slip out of your hand grip.  There are choils for each finger, wonderful gimping on the thumb ramp, and a very aggressive pattern milled into the 3D-sculpted scales.  This all adds up to one of the most positive and comfortable grips I have ever felt.  There is virtually no risk of this knife ever slipping out of your hand no matter the conditions under which you use it.

Many overbuilt knives with aggressive texture end up feeling like bricks covered in sandpaper, however Factor Equipment has balanced out the human element here quite well.  The shape works wonderfully for my large large hands.  I put this knife into several sets of hands, and it was either love at first “grip” or perceived as a mess of hot spots with little in-between.  The largest factor here seemed to be how the point on the ring finger choil lined up with your fingers.  If your ring finger does not line up, you likely will not like this knife.

The second consequence of the aggressive texturing is that the knife will wear on the material of your pants pockets when drawing the knife.  The pocket clip is more flexible than many and there is generous clearance under it.  These factors do mitigate the abrasion this knife will do to your pants, but they do not eliminate it.

Pocket Manners

The big hand filling Hardened knife is surprisingly easy to carry.  It is long (4.75” closed) wide (.65”) and heavy (6.4 oz.) but organically shaped, so it carries much smaller than these measurements would suggest.  The 3D-sculpted G10 overlays complement the shape of the human hip, and while you won’t completely forget you have a knife this size in your pocket, you come shockingly close.  As you move and bump into things, the knife rolls and shifts in your pocket moving with and around your body.  Most big knives are much more boxy and feel like you have a brick in your pocket.  However, this was not the case with the Hardened knife.

The deep carry pocket clip came from the factory with ideal retention.  The clip itself is a nice, long, broad piece of bent steel stamped in an original and handsome pattern.  The pocket clip is right-hand tip up only with are no accommodations for left-handed carry.  With dedicated right hand carry, it would have been nice to have had the aggressive pattern in the G10 smoothed out under the clip.  This would have remedied the pocket wear issue and not changed the aesthetics or ergonomics of the knife.

I have carried this knife for two months in testing, and a slight downward bend has developed in the pocket clip.  Also, the spring retention of the clip has also weakened a bit.  It is subtle but it does raise concerns about the long-term durability of the clip.  The bend along with the lose of retention is a mixed bag as they combine to reduce the wear the heavily textured Hardned knife does to your pants pocket.  A slightly thicker and more springy metal stock might have been a better long-term choice here.

Fit and Finish

Fit and finish on the Factor Equipment Hardened is all over the map.  The knife itself is excruciatingly well machined.  Every detail is crisp and well defined.  The parts all mate together exceptionally well.  Every finish is even and well applied.  The most impressive part is that the action works best when the pivot is fully torqued down.  This is indicative of very very tight tolerances.  You just fully tighten the pivot and the action is perfect with no play at all.  This is a feat rarely found on production knives at any price and should be commended.

The ugly side of the fit and finish is that, as stated above, the action was filled with grit out of the box.   There was a good amount of oil and dirt throughout the knife, but mostly in the bearings which clearly negatively affected the action of the knife.  The second flaw with the fit and finish is a proprietary hardware on the pivot.  Instead of a traditional torx or flat head screw driver slot, there are three cut-outs in an offset semi-triangle shape.  I was able to use a traditional flat head screwdriver to disassemble the knife with out too much difficulty, however it was clumsy with the offset.

Past that, the screws are all high quality, and none felt soft or as if they would strip out.  Seeing as Factor Equipment does not want end users to break down their products (for maintenance or otherwise) the proprietary hardware is not surprising.  Unfortunately, as this knife was shipped with significant debris, it was a necessary obstacle to overcome.

Competitive Offerings

Real Steel T101 Thor – (BladeHQ) – The Real Steel Thor is a lighter (5.1oz) but boxier alternative to the Hardened knife.  The blade is made of 14C28N steel having slightly less edge retention but better corrosion resistance, and the non re-curve will be much easier to sharpen with out specialized tools.  However, the knife carries much less comfortably in pocket.

Ganzo G750 – Ganzo is our budget alternative priced around $20.  It is lighter still (4.5oz) and thinner than the other two.    It runs on an Axis lock and features a 440C steel blade.  You are giving up a bit in fit and finish and edge retention, but you still get a big working knife that features high grip by way of multiple finger choils and comfort for bigger hands.  While Ganzos do not come hospital clean, even the $20 G750 comes out of the box with minimal grease and grit in the action.

ZT 0562 – (BladeHQ) – The 0562 is the granddaddy of the aggressively overbuilt, ergonomic working knives seen in this roundup.  The knife comes at a premium price of $200 for S35VN and titanium construction.  This is a knife that has been tested used and abused for years, and has been a very popular offering for ZT for good reason.  The ergonomics are quite good, but without the 3D-sculpted texture, not quite as good as on the Hardened knife.  It is also a much simpler design.  Some will appreciate the elegance of that simplicity and others will find it less sophisticated.  The flipping action of the two are shockingly similar to one another with the ZT being slightly smoother and the Hardened being slightly more mechanical.

Conclusions

The Factor Equipment Hardened is an excellent cutting tool, though the drawbacks are substantial.  It took a deep cleaning out of the box to get the knife running, the warranty discourages user maintenance, the pocket clip and bearing races lack durability, the knife wears on your pants pocket, and it takes specialized sharpening tools to maintain.  That said, as a first effort in producing an original hard-use knife, this is an impressive offering.  It is sophisticated, the machining is shockingly precise, the ergonomics are just stellar (at least for big hands), and it just keeps cutting when other knives in similar materials are too dull to use.

Furthermore, if you compare the Hardened to the early offerings of most major knife manufacturers and designers it is staggering how much Factor Hardened has gotten just right.  If they fix the issues here, the Hardened will be a fantastic knife.  As it stands, the flaws of the Hardened knife prevent the best parts of this knife from shinning half as brightly as they should.

Buy It: Amazon | BladeHQ

Balisongs, better known as Butterfly Knives, have been rapidly gaining popularity in the knife market. They originated from the Philippines and later introduced in the USA by Benchmade (then Balisong USA). Since the inception of social media, people of all ages are slowly discovering the fun sport of “flipping”, a term that balisong owners use to describe the tricks they perform. For decades, balisongs have been usually depicted in films as gangsters’ crude weapon of choice, but the knives in today’s knife market are completely different beasts. Companies like Benchmade, BladeRunnerS Systems, and Hom Design have been putting out modern, precision machined balisongs that are nothing like the ones you’ll find at the local flea market. Whatever your budget is, this guide will provide you with the best butterfly knives and trainers your money can buy.

Best Balisongs: Summary

• BBBarfly Bottle Opener
• Squidmaster Squiddy
• Squidmaster Squidtrainer
• DogBite Knives DB 3.1W
• BRS Replicant
• Hom Design Rhapsody
• BRS Alpha Beast
• Hom Basilisk
• Benchmade 87
• Benchmade 51

For those who aren’t familiar, balisongs are essentially gravity knives but with two nearly symmetrical handles instead of one. Instead of a button or switch to release the blade, a balisong utilizes a “latch” which sits on the end of one handle and latches onto the other handle. This part keeps the knife in open or closed (locked) position.  Once the latch is unlocked, you open the blade by the force of inertia.

All balisongs are built with the same core features, but they’re usually separated into two categories: live blades and trainers. As their names suggest, the live blades are sharp-edged knives and the trainers are merely dull plates of steel meant to represent the weight and feel of a live blade. Although veterans of the butterfly knife community recommend starting with a live blade to learn proper handling habits, trainers are a popular choice for users who want to practice first without the danger of cutting themselves. In addition, live bladed balisongs are illegal in many states and overseas countries making trainers a great alternative to those who want to join the flipping community.

Know Your Balisong

As a precursor to our guide, we suggest familiarizing yourself with the anatomy of the balisong and some key terms.

• Channel Construction – The handles are machined from one solid piece.
• Sandwich Construction –  The handles are made by connecting two slabs of material and separating them by a spacer.
• Handle Tolerance – The amount of movement the handles can move perpendicular to their rotation (how much they wiggle). This also referred to as handle play. Although most users prefer minimal handle play, it doesn’t have any real impact on a balisong’s maneuverability.
• Bushings – A metal ring that resides inside the blade and wraps around the pivot. It is a device used to increase fluidity and reduce handle tolerance.
• Ball Bearings – Small spherical balls that are typically encased. These sit on the surface of the blade or in the underside of the handles and are used to greatly increase fluidity and reduce handle tolerance.
• Scales – The surface material of the handle that typically sits on top of the liners. These would be the black slabs in the picture above.
• Liners – Metal plates that serve as the back bone of the handle, residing beneath the scales. These would be the blue anodized plates sitting beneath the black G10 scales.

The Top Butterfly Knife Brands

• Benchmade – They don’t call it the Butterfly brand for nothing.  Benchmade is the OG then it comes to balisong knife production in the USA.  Since those early days the competition has increased but Benchmade continues to manufacture high quality butterfly knives at the higher end of the price range.
• HOM Design – Created by Jerry Hom the Hom Design brand has gained tremendous reputation among the butterfly knife community.
• BladerunnerS Systems – Founded by flippers, BladerunnerS Systems is now synonymous with high performance balisongs which typically command premium pricing.
• Bear & Son Cutlery – Aimed at the lower end of the market, Bear & Son offers entry level balisongs with decent quality for beginners.
• Bear Ops – Basically the ‘tactical knife’ division of Bear & Son with slightly higher priced offerings and a corresponding step up in quality.

In addition to the main brands above, you’ll find other established knife brands also with several butterfly knife offerings such as Brous Blades, Emerson, Microtech and Quartermaster.

The Law

It’s important to know the law when it comes to butterfly knives.  The reality is that many jurisdictions consider these knives in the same category as switchblades and are illegal to carry.  We recommend you do your research on the knife laws in your area – a good starting point is AKTI’s guide to state knife laws.

Our Top Balisong Picks

Now that you’re familiar with balisongs/butterfly knives check out our list of the best live blade and trainers in today’s market (from low budget to premium).

The BB Barfly Bottle Opener Butterfly Trainer is the perfect party trick and beginners trainer. It features a 4.75-inch training blade with 5.125 inch handles and uses roll pins as pivots, so you’ll never have to worry about losing screws or performing any maintenance. It utilizes large, blocky, Aluminum channel construction handles and a generic stainless steel for its blade. Although the BB Barfly is among the heavier options on this list at 6.23 ounces, it’s still decently balanced and great for learning the basics.

In comparison to the rest of the balisongs on this list and to every other balisong in existence, the BB Barfly Bottle Opener is arguably the loudest balisong of them all. The blade collides with the inside of the channel, creating extremely loud clacking noises, which can be a positive or negative depending on the environment.

The BB Barfly Bottle Opener comes in a variety of colors and decals for just $25. It also comes in a PRO version at around $90 which has a few more upgrades that make it a better flipper. If you’re looking for a cheap, durable trainer that has some utility, the BB Barfly Bottle Opener is a great place to start.

The Squid Industries Squiddy is a balisong trainer CNC machined from plastic. It features a 4.325-inch training blade and 5.50-inch handles which are both CPVC. CPVC stands for chlorinated polyvinyl chloride and this chlorination process makes the material more impact and heat resistant. The Squiddy is an astonishing 2.50 ounces, significantly lower than most balisongs of similar size, but with the placement of steel weights in the bottom of the handles, it can carry momentum and flip well. In addition, the channel style handles make the Squiddy much more durable than most people would expect.

With it’s light weight, round edges, and friendly face cut out on the blade, the Squiddy is a great option for people of all ages, especially kids. It’s also a great option for flipping in public areas where live blade balisongs might not be appropriate. The Squiddy is currently only offered in white and can be found on Squid Industries’ website for about $40.

The Squidtrainer V2 is the ideal choice for people who are looking a high-quality flipper at a budget friendly price. It features 5.50-inch channel style handles machined from 6061 T651 aluminum and plated with a type II anodized finish. The handles are also milled with a unique surface texture for additional grip. Another notable feature is the steel rods at ends of each handle which give the handles more momentum and control while flipping.

The 4.50 inch blade uses a heat treated 410 stainless steel and comes with a unique feature known as the “tooth”–the sharp curve on the bottom edge of the trainer blade near the pivot area. This small protrusion is meant to simulate the blade edge by giving the user a slight scratch on their finger when accidentally flipping on the wrong side of the balisong. If you can flip the Squidtrainer without touching the tooth, chances are that you’ll have more success avoiding the sharp edge on live bladed balisongs.

The precision machining on the Squidtrainer V2 gives it an impressive handle tolerance and fluidity that’s typically only seen on more expensive balisongs. The Squidtrainer V2 is available on the market starting at $150 and comes in a variety of other colors including silver, red, blue, and black.

The DogBite Knives DB3.1 is a fierce contender in today’s current market of knives considering its competitive price and impressive specs. The DB3.1 features sandwich construction 6Al-4V titanium handles and a 440C stainless steel blade. It utilizes an extremely smooth bushing system with virtually no handle tolerance. Coming in at 4.98 ounces, the DB3.1 is relatively average weighted but can feel a bit small considering its only 9.125 inches in overall length. Although the handle length isn’t ideal for most flippers, we think it’s a great balisong to EDC (every day carry) considering its small form factor and utilitarian drop point blade design.

Starting at around $220, the DB3.1 comes in the standard silver and a variety of anodized models. DogBite Knives plan to release another version to implement some of the balisong community’s feedback and improve their design to better suit flipping. If DB can keep the price low with these new features, the next balisong they put out could be game changing.

The BladeRunnerS Systems (BRS) Replicant is the quite simply best bang for you buck when it comes to balisongs. The Replicant is the second major flagship model in BRS’ balisong line and you’ll find that its among the most popular balisongs in the current market. It uses G10 scales and 6Al-4V titanium liners in a sandwich handle construction measured at 5.50 inches. The Replicant also has a variety of aftermarket accessories and replacement parts such as custom G10 scales and spacers to change the feel and balance to the owner’s preferences.

Like most balisongs in this price range, the Replicant uses a refined bushing pivot system for minimal handle tolerances and smooth motion. It features a wicked 154CM steel scorpion tanto blade that measures 4.50 inches in length and like all the other BRS balisongs, has a crowned spine which makes flipping more comfortable.

The Replicant starts at around $270 and comes in many different configurations such as a spear point blade style. If you’re looking for an upgrade in EDC experience, the Premium version at around $310 comes with anodized titanium liners and a pocket clip.  Want to up the premium even more? The Select Replicant features black PVD coated blades and multi-colored G-10 scales. There’s even a carbon fiber scaled Replicant, so we’re sure you can find a variation that you enjoy.

The Benchmade 51 Morpho is the oldest balisong on this list with its release in 2009 and was designed for EDC purposes. It uses the same revolutionary technology pseudo spring latch technology from its predecessor, the Benchmade 32 Mini-Morpho. This spring latch is easily releasable by squeezing the handles together and it also prevents the latch from getting jammed in between the handles–a common issue on other balisongs.

The G10 scale handles and blue titanium liner configuration in the 51 also comes with a classy blue anodized titanium pocket clip. The 4.25” D2 steel blade holds an incredible edge and its spear point blade shape makes sharpening a breeze. In addition, the BM 51 surprisingly only runs on pivots and washers instead of the more popular bushing configuration which most of the competing balisongs in this price range use.

It may seem very similar to the BRS Replicant listed above, but the Benchmade 51 is significantly lighter at an 3.3 ounces. With this feather-like weight, the BM 51 is an excellent knife to carry without feeling bogged down. However, this reduced weight does affect the maneuverability as it directly impacts how much momentum you feel during flipping. For a flipper of advanced skill level, this can be easily adjusted to, but we wouldn’t recommend this knife for those who looking to learn the basics.

The Benchmade 51 Morpho retails for about $275 and has several variants from both Benchmade and third-party manufacturers. The stock handles come with black G10 scales and blue anodized titanium liners, but companies like Flytanium offer hot swappable parts like replacement titanium scales and a different spear point blade which utilize bushings. Benchmade offers the 51 Morpho blade in both silver and black and a blue G10 scaled model exclusively through BladeHQ.

The Rhapsody by Hom Design is among the highest quality balisong trainers your money can buy. The 5.50inch  6Al-4V titanium handles display a gorgeous milling design with incredible fit and finish—you’d be hard pressed to find any issues on a HOM Design product. The Rhapsody’s 4.50 inch 154CM stainless steel trainer blade also comes with an excellently tuned bushing system.

The HOM Design Rhapsody starts at about $290 for the stonewashed version but you can also find anodized variants for closer to $315. If you’re looking to pick up a durable, premium material trainer, the Rhapsody is your best bet.

BladeRunnerS Systems is famous for their motto: For flippers by flippers. The first balisong produced by this vision and their first flagship model was the BRS Alpha Beast. This knife was revolutionary for the flipping community as it was the first production balisong to use the now common 5.50 inch 6Al-4V titanium handles—one of many dimensional choices that BRS made to make this knife the ultimate flipping experience.

The Alpha Beast is also an excellent hard use knife with its 4.50 inch 154CM stainless steel scimitar blade. The Alpha Beast 3.0, released in late 2015, has significant improvements to the hardware over the original 1.0 version produced in 2010.

The BRS Alpha Beast 3.0 can be found at a variety of online retailers starting at around $370. Like the BRS Replicant, the Alpha Beast is offered in an alternate blade style and has many renditions including the Premium, Infinity, and Venom series. From green anodized handles to pocket clips to acid washed blades, BRS has provided every modification possible. If you’re looking to purchase a top tier flipper that also serves as a great cutting tool, the Alpha Beast 3.0 is nearly unbeatable for its price.

Jerry Hom founded Hom Design in 2006 with the goal of creating quality balisongs that could excel in both function and form. The Basilisk was his first venture into the industry as a custom balisong producer and despite its success and positive reception by the community, the Basilisk wasn’t up to Jerry’s standards. He upgraded his manufacturing sources, improved his designs, and continued to put out ground breaking designs across the next decade with the Tempest, Prodigy trainer, Specter, and Arashi. 11 years after the first run, the Basilisk returned to the market completely reimagined and re-engineered in the form of the Basilisk-R (Basilisk Revenant).

The Basilisk-R has a longer 154CM stainless steel blade using the original recurve bowie profile and sports major upgrades to the hardware. It also uses longer, thicker handles in the popular 10.00” total length which has proven to be ideal for most flippers.  These handles feature jimping along the sides of for additional grip. Another unique trait of the Basilisk is the asymmetrical titanium spacers—the bite handle (handle that houses the latch) spacer is slightly lighter so that both handles, even with the latch on one, are similarly weighted. Like the rest of Hom Design’s balisongs, the Basilisk-R uses a high precision bushing pivot system.

The Hom Design Basilisk-R comes in G10 or Carbon Fiber scale with titanium liners for around $370 and $400 respectively. It’s also offered in a full titanium build known as the Basilisk-R Ti, starting at around $420. This titanium version is often regarded as the best rendition of the Basilisk-R for flipping.

The Benchmade 87 was the first balisong to be produced in 5 years after Benchmade released their 6X series in 2012. After receiving heavy criticism with the 6X series which was widely regarded as a major downgrade from its 4X predecessor, the balisong community has been yearning for Benchmade to release another major hit. While the 87 didn’t receive much acclaim due to its relatively high price and poor flipping mechanics, we consider it to be an incredible feat of engineering and an excellent EDC knife.

The Benchmade 87 uses CNC machined 6Al-4V titanium channel style handles and a CPM-S30V blade. More noticeable than the buttery smooth ball bearing system is the incredible magnetic latch. This patent pending device is a true marvel for the balisong world and it’s no surprise that it was developed by Benchmade—A company that pioneered the first spring latch. The magnetic latch functions identically to the spring latch, releasing itself by a simple squeeze of the handles, except that it’s made to function for a lifetime (the spring in a spring latch will slowly diminish in strength over a long period of time).

The Benchmade 87’s high quality blade steel and wharncliffe profile makes it the best cutting tool on this list. In addition, the solid channel titanium handles machined from large billets of titanium have milled recesses on the sides for additional grip during cutting. The Benchmade 87 is without a doubt the most rugged and sturdy of all production Benchmade balisongs to date. If you want the ultimate cutting utility that sports next generation technology and don’t care too much for flipping, this is the balisong for you.

Wrap Up and Honorable Mentions

We hope you enjoyed this balisong buyers guide. Our honorable mentions include the BRS Barebones and Microtech Tachyon III. Please keep in mind that the flipping ability and potential of each balisong is heavily based on subjective taste. This means that balisongs widely acclaimed for their flipping characteristics may feel awful in your hands whereas other unpopular balisongs may end up being your favorite to flip.

Bear in mind that a large majority of the balisongs in our list are consistently sold out and evaporate off the shelves within minutes of each batch release for good reason—they’re the best of the best.

Balisongs are an exciting niche industry that has been experiencing explosive growth within the past decade as knife companies such as Emerson, Brous Blades, Quartermaster, and WE Knives join the mix. If you haven’t picked up one yet, you’re sure to be missing out on the flipping sensation that’s sweeping the nation.

Anyone that’s new to Knife Informer or the world of knives can find it all a bit overwhelming, from the myriad of brands, material types, and terminology can all be too much.  What are we even talking about?  What do you need a knife for?  And what should you go for when you decide to purchase something?  Everyone has different tastes, budgets, and intended purposes for their knife.  How do you pick?  With this guide we’ll try to hit on all of the basics: why you might want a knife in the first place, things to look for in a knife depending on what you want to do with it, an idea of what you’ll find with some of the major brands, and some recommendations at various price points.

Why you need a pocket knife

One of my favorite questions when people find out I’m a “knife person” is – “what do you do with a knife anyway?”  Glad you asked!  The most obvious answer is “I use this knife to open packages containing new knives” but truth be told there are a million and one uses for a pocket knife, from mundane to creative to serious.  Opening packaging is by far the most common, but you can also use a knife to do daily tasks like cutting up food, trimming loose strings, cleaning under your nails, punching a new hole in your belt when you lose some weight (good job!), sharpening a pencil or popping off an errant staple.

Then there are outdoors-oriented tasks, like cutting fishing line, dressing game, whittling wood, batoning firewood, cleaning fish, and loosening knots in rope.  What about emergency situations?  Always good to have a knife.  Come across a car wreck?  Someone might need to be cut out of their seatbelt. Crushed windpipe?  Emergency tracheotomy.  Bleeding profusely?  Make a tourniquet from their shirt sleeve with a knife.  Busting out a window, cutting clothing away from a wound, trimming bandages, a knife is a useful thing to have.  Do you work with your hands?  You can use a knife to strip wire, tighten a loose screw, trim insulation to fit, use it to mark a spot to drill into drywall, cut rope, you name it.  And at the end of the day you can use it to open a beer.  I don’t, however recommend you use one to defend yourself – but when it comes down to it, something is better than nothing.

Our Favorite Knives

There are great folding knives available at basically any budget, depending on how much you’re willing or able to spend on one.  These are a few of our favorites in each price category – Budget being around or under $40, mid-tier in the $100-$250 range and High End being $400+ for the truly committed.  Note if you’re into fixed blade knives check this out instead.

This dynamic duo is the product of Randall’s Adventure Training (thus the acronym) and is produced by the Ontario Knife Company.  It brings excellent ergonomics and usability to an affordable price point, around $30 for the smaller RAT II or a few dollars more for the larger RAT I.  A reliable liner lock, AUS-8 or D2 steel, and a slick thumb stud opener make this a great affordable EDC choice.

The Kershaw Skyline has been around for quite a while and it’s gone up in price, to around the $50 range now, but it’s still an excellent example of minimalistic design.  Its unique construction (the show side scale is just G10, as is the backspacer) makes it exceptionally thin and light, and a simple manual flipper is paired with thumb studs which serve as the stop pins giving you opening options.  Sandvik 14C28N steel is a great mid range steel for EDC use.

Steel Will is a relative newcomer to the knife world, but if the Cutjack is anything to go by then they’re going places.  It’s available in a 3” and a 3.5” variant with D2 steel, a surprisingly good flipper, ergonomic FRN handles with nested liners and a great user blade shape for around $40.  A must-buy.

Spyderco’s Paramilitary 2 (commonly referred to as the PM2) is widely considered to be one of the best EDC pocket knives in the world for the money.  It has G10 scales, nested liners, a super-slick Compression Lock, and a full flat ground clip point blade in CPM S30V steel.  There are also a mind-boggling number of special versions in different colors and upgraded steels.  If you’re going to buy one pocket knife, it should be this.  Starts at around $130.

Benchmade’s Osborne-designed 940 series is a modern classic, an unconventional yet nearly perfect folder for everyday tasks.  The reverse-tanto blade shape is unique, giving it a good tip for piercing that’s still strong enough to survive light prying.  The narrow, thin profile carries exceptionally well, as does the sub 3-ounce weight.  The standard 940 uses aluminum handles and comes in at around $180, but there’s also a 940-2 with G10 scales for about $170 or the fancy 940-1 with carbon fiber and upgraded S90V steel for around  $270.

ZT makes a lot of great knives, but the 0562 is arguably the best of them. It’s a Rick Hinderer design, based off the Spanto-ground XM18, but it’s half the price and adds niceties like a ball bearing pivot.  It comes as a standard version with G10 and a titanium framelock with S35VN steel, or the upgraded 0562CF with a carbon fiber handle scale and CPM-20CV steel.  It’s a bit heavy but it makes a compelling argument for “only knife” status just like the PM2.

Everyone should own a Griptilian (or Grip for short) at least once.  It’s Benchmade’s biggest seller by a wide margin, available in two sizes (3” and 3.5”) and various blade shapes and steel types, but they all have two things in common: excellent ergonomics, with that big flared out handle, and the ultra-smooth Axis Lock.

The Norseman is the product of the Grimsmo brothers, two machinists that post videos about their work regularly on YouTube.  “CNC Machined” is almost a bad word in the knife community but they’ve elevated it to a real art form, and the Norseman is a testament to that.  It’s all about the crazy details: Intricate machined grooves in the blade, drop-shut smooth action, crazy blade shape (a Japanese tanto with a dramatic recurve) and some of the best fit and finish in the world make it easier to swallow the near-$1000 price tag.

The Sebenza has long been the standard bearer of the top end of production knives.  At $385 for a plain (unadorned scales) large Sebenza 21, it’s not cheap.  And maybe other high end knives have moved past the Seb in terms of features (bearings, flippers, blade interface inserts, machined clips, contoured handles, etc) but the things that made the Sebenza so great never left.  It uses super-wide windowed bushings that distribute the tightening torque on the pivot and hold grease to make the Sebenza a smooth opener.  Titanium handles and a variety of useful blade shapes in CPM S35VN make this knife an excellent user.  And the remarkable build quality has to be held to be believed.

Shirogorov knives makes a lot of fairly similar-looking models, so I’ve included some of them here.  They’re nearly impossible to acquire new, they’re all around or above a thousand dollars(!), they don’t look like anything special to the average Joe, and they’re absolutely incredible.  Shiro uses MRBS (Multi Row Bearing System) in some of their newer knives which makes for the absolute smoothest opening and closing action anywhere.  They all use exotic steels – M390 is their “base steel” these days and the quality is unbelievable.  In many ways these are the Grand Seiko of knives – expensive, rare, excellent, but not flashy.

Things to Consider

When picking a knife, you should consider how much blade you’re looking for as well as how much blade you’re allowed to carry in your locality.  If you need more information on local knife laws, check out the AKTI’s guide.  After many years of carrying a variety of knives, my taste in blade length has gradually shifted downward and settled around 3” flat, with 3.5” being the absolute upper end of usable length, and 2.5” being just too short for a lot of things.  There’s nothing wrong with the Factor Bit (1.875”) or the Spyderco Military (4”) but the Bit feels like you’re trying to cut things with a golf tee, and whipping out a 4” blade anywhere in public is a risky exercise – and accurately cutting things is harder, unless you’re Andre the giant.  A good thing to think of is: buy on what you’re going to do with it, not what you want to do with it.  You’ll probably break down boxes, you probably won’t baton through a Jeep.

Blade steel, and the way it’s heat treated and finished, matters.  I rate blade steel on a few different metrics: How well it holds an edge under “regular” use, how well it resists corrosion (rusting/staining), how well it resharpens (both difficulty of sharpening and how sharp it gets), and how the edge “wears” (whether it rolls versus chips.)  All of these attributes depend on what contents are in the steel and how its heat treated.  In general, Carbon content is related to edge retention (the higher the better), chromium is related to corrosion resistance (above 10.5% being considered a “stainless” steel) and elements like Molybdenum and Vanadium increasing performance in various ways.  Hardness is measured on the Rockwell hardness scale, expressed as HRc.  Anything over 60 is generally very hard.  There are also other metrics of edge retention such as the CATRA test which attempt to serve as a unit of measure for edge retention.  Below is a summary of some of the popular knife steels and you can read more in this definitive knife steel guide.

Lower End: BD-1, AUS-8, 8Cr13MoV

8Cr13MoV is by far the most common low-end steel in the knife industry at this point.  Which is a shame, because it’s… not great.  It has decent corrosion resistance but is otherwise a worse-performing version of AUS-8.  A newcomer to this segment of the market is Carpenter’s CTS-BD1, a non-powdered stainless steel that packs more carbon and manganese for performance and chromium for corrosion resistance than the other two.  I liked it quite a bit in the James Brand Folsom that we reviewed earlier.  Most of these steels won’t hold an edge for very long, but usually are a snap to resharpen, even on basic equipment.

Mid-Tier: 154CM, S30V/S35VN, D2, CTS-XHP

A lot of these mid-tier steels strike the perfect balance between good edge retention and ease of sharpening.  154CM is a product of Crucible, one of the better-known steel foundries in the US, and is a favorite of Benchmade and other brands (like Hogue) for their mid-level knives. It’s a newer version of the classic 440C stainless steel with Molybdenum added, and there’s also a newer version called CPM154 which is made using powdered metallurgy for a cleaner grain structure resulting in improvements in sharpening and edge quality.  It features increased carbon content as well as a big dose of Vanadium over low end steels.

S30V and S35VN (a newer revision of S30V) have been massively popular cutlery steels for years now for their price, performance and widespread availability – they pack nearly 50% more carbon and lots more vanadium in, although they can sometimes be difficult to sharpen (especially S30V) due to their high hardness when heat treated.  D2 is another popular mid-range steel, which is technically not a stainless steel (11.5% Chromium) but does have a big dose of carbon and is an excellent steel for EDC use, provided you keep it away from acidic materials and keep it oiled.  Carpenter’s CTS-XHP is recent addition to the market, and was up until recently what Cold Steel was using on most of their knives.  It performs similarly to D2 and has a similar composition, but includes more Chromium so it’s not as prone to rusting, making it a well-suited material for knives.

High End: M390/CTS-204p/CPM-20CV, S90V, S110V

This is where we get into some noticeably expensive high performance steels, things you’ll usually see as a “calling card” on high end knives. Some of these steels will hold an edge for an extremely long time, and are understandably hard to sharpen as a result. Bohler’s M390, Carpenter’s CTS-204p and Crucible’s CPM-20CV all have fairly similar chemical composition and thus similar performance – in fact, all three have been used at different times on Zero Tolerance’s 0562CF model during its lifespan.  All have 1.9% Carbon, 20% chromium, and nearly equal amounts of other trace elements- meaning they hold an edge exceedingly well and also have very high corrosion resistance.  These steels are expensive but worth it.

Two other powdered metal steels that are getting some attention in the high end market are Crucible’s CPM S90V and S110V, which are available in limited quantities in some production knives like the Benchmade 940-1 and the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.  They both feature tons of carbon (2.3 and 2.9% respectively) as well as very high vanadium content of around 9%.  Both hold an edge extremely well and are remarkably unpleasant steels to sharpen.

Exotic: ZDP189, Maxamet, LC200N, SM100

Hitachi’s ZDP189 has a ton of carbon; 3% puts it higher than nearly any other stainless steel out there.  Even though it has a relatively high 20% chromium content, the carbon content still makes it very prone to corrosion and staining, especially when cutting acidic foods.  The upside is top-level edge retention.  Maxamet has only recently begun being used in production knives; it’s notorious difficulty in machining lead to Zero Tolerance only getting halfway through a run of their 0888MAX Halo knives in the steel before switching to another steel.  It has a larger carbon content, but huge amounts of Cobalt, Tungsten and Vanadium which allows it to be hardened to a crazy high 67 HRC.  It is very prone to corrosion, though.  LC200N is another interesting steel: the low carbon content points to poor performance, but the addition of Nitrogen adds back edge retention and additional corrosion resistance, making this steel almost totally rust-proof but able to hold a good edge, unlike earlier highly rust-resistant steels like H1.

Another thing to consider when picking out a knife is to find a blade shape that suits your intended use for the knife. There is a wide variety of blade profiles that range from “pretty good at most things” to “extremely specialized.”  You don’t want to use a Karambit to open your mail, trust me.  Check out our guide to knife blade types for more detail.

• Clip Point – often also called a Bowie. All Bowies are clip points; not all clip points are Bowies!  It features a portion of straight spine that transitions into a concave curve to the tip, and compared to a Drop Point it has a finer tip – which is better for fine piercing work, but easier to break.
• Drop Point – the Drop Point blade shape was popularized by Bob Loveless, and it’s the standard go-to for a pocketknife. It’s defined by a gentle curved slope on the spine to the tip, and a more pronounced continuous curve on the sharpened edge.  This is the “do anything” of blade shapes, adept at roll cuts (like cutting food) as well as piercing/jabbing or digging thanks to a sturdy tip.
• Sheepsfoot – Similar to a Wharncliffe, but a Sheepsfoot blade has a rounded profile as the spine approaches the tip, and usually a straight sharpened edge. The rounded tip is to avoid accidentally piercing what you’re cutting, which makes these a favorite of first responders.  These aren’t good at piercing cuts.
• Wharncliffe – the Wharncliffe style is identified by its straight (or nearly straight) sharpened edge, and a less rounded spine profile than the Sheepsfoot, giving it a more piercing-capable tip. Great for utility work.
• Tanto – a Tanto blade has two separate cutting edges, with the forward portion of the blade angling upwards towards the tip. This allows it to pierce objects in a thrusting motion (with the large sharpened area) but is much less adept at fine detail work.  There are two styles: a Japanese style tanto has a smooth transition to the leading edge, while an American tanto has a sharp corner between the two edges.
• Recurve – This describes the shape of a sharpened edge on a knife and can be applied to various blade shapes. A recurve means that instead of a single convex curve from the ricasso to the tip, at some point along the blade the sharpened edge transitions from convex to concave.  This effectively increases the amount of cutting area versus blade length as well as provides a “well” to pull materials like rope into when pull-cutting.  It’s also a pain to sharpen.
• Karambit – a Karambit or a Talon blade shape is a curve or hooked blade shape that is used exclusively for self-defense in a pulling/slicing motion.
• Dagger – a Dagger grind is fully symmetrical, the point level with the centerline of the blade, and sharpened on both sides. This is used as a combat knife.  Usually found on fixed blades or out the front knives as it would be very impractical on a folder.
• Spear Point – a spear point is very similar to a Dagger grind, but features a false edge on the backside and sometimes has slight asymmetry. These are more common on folding knives as there isn’t a sharp edge protruding when closed.

There are a number of opening methods for folding knives, and many of them are capable of one-hand opening with little or no practice. Other opening methods are more common to two-hand-opening knives like slipjoints.  It’s best to try a few and see what works best for your own personal preferences.

• Thumb Stud – perhaps the most common opening method, a thumb stud is a protrusion on one or both sides of the blade, high up towards the spine and close to the pivot, which you press on the back side of with the pad of your thumb to open the blade.
• Thumb Hole – a thumb hole works similarly to a thumb stud, but uses a cut-out in the blade that your thumb drops into to rotate the blade open. This way there isn’t a solid object on the side of the blade to get in the way of what you’re cutting.
• Flipper – Flipper tabs have become increasingly popular in the last ten years, and they provide an easy and fun way to open a knife. When the knife is closed, the tab protrudes from the back of the handle.  You pull or press on it with your forefinger and it rotates open, sometimes with a flick of the wrist for momentum.  Modern knives have been focusing more on the strength of the detent – a small metal ball on the lock which holds the blade closed and provides some tension to build up pressure against when you open the knife.  When open, the flipper normally serves a second purpose as a hand guard.
• Wave – invented by Ernest Emerson, the wave is a hook-shaped protrusion from the spine of the blade. With the clip configured for tip-up carry, pulling the knife out of your pocket at an angle will cause the wave to catch on the corner of your pocket and pull the blade open as you draw it.  This is not “socially friendly” but it’s great for one-handed ease of use and quick response.
• Nail Nick – commonly used on slipjoints like Swiss Army Knives, the nail nick uses your thumb nail on a shallow cutout of the blade to pull it open. These are not one-hand-opening compatible.
• Thumb Disc – This works similarly to a thumb stud or a thumb hole, but is a flat plate that is (usually) screwed to the top of the knife which you use to push the blade open with.
• Front Flipper – a recent addition to the knife market, front flippers are similar to regular flippers but they protrude forward instead of up relative to the pivot, and you use your thumb rather than your forefinger. The upside is that the tab doesn’t protrude outward in your pocket to jab your cell phone or your leg; the downside is the learning curve and the lack of a finger guard when open.
• Automatic – this is used to describe a knife that is opened with a spring actuated either by a button or a slider (like an out-the-front knife). These are illegal to carry in a lot of places.

There are a wide variety of lock types when it comes to folding knives, each with their own pros and cons. We’ve talked about this topic much more in depth on Knife Informer before, so we’ll only cover the basics here, but feel free to read all about it here.  Picking the right lock depends on what you’re doing with your knife as well as your own personal preferences.

• Liner – on a liner lock, one of the handle liners is precisely cut out and then bent to provide inward tension. As the blade opens, this tension pushes the locking liner inward and it engages the back of the blade, locking it in place.  A stop pin (internal or external) limits the upward motion of the blade to the exact spot where the liner lock is flush with the tang of the blade.  This was made popular in modern times by Michael Walker. Arguably the most popular lock type today.  Easy one-handed operation, a good opening action and not particularly susceptible to dirt intrusion are benefits; the non-ambidextrous nature and having to put your finger in the cutting path of the blade to close are downisdes.
• Framelock – a derivative of the Liner Lock, but with a single piece handle scale with a cutout for the lock, rather than the locking liner being underneath a separate scale. The advantages to this design are obvious: it’s simpler to make, and owing to the increased thickness of the lock bar, it’s stronger than a liner lock.  Some frame locks can be prone to the lock sticking to the face of the blade due to galling, and you can accidentally hyper-extend the lock bar and fatigue the metal if you’re not careful.  (this is avoided by using an overtravel stop like Hinderer.)  Popularized by Chris Reeve and sometimes called a Reeve Integral Lock (RIL.)
• Lockback – more common on “traditional” style locking folders like the Buck 110, but also common on modern tactical knives like the Spyderco Delica. On a lockback, the spine of the handle is steel, and it pivots near the center against a torsion spring set into the handle which pushes the front of the lock bar downward.  This serves as the closed detent, but when you open the knife the square cutout on the bar drops into a matching cutout on the blade locking it closed.  You must press downward on the lockbar to lift the front and release the lock.  Upsides are ambidextrous operation and generally strong lockup; downsides are susceptibility to dirt setting in the lock cutout and difficulty of disassembly and cleaning as well as usually not having a smooth action.
• Compression Lock – invented by Spyderco, a compression lock can be thought of as an inverted liner lock in a way. Instead of the lock cutout being on the bottom of the liner, it’s on the top – and when the blade opens allowing the lock bar to spring in place, it wedges itself between the top of the blade tang and the stop pin.  These locks are very safe as your fingers stay out of the way, they’re quite strong, and they’re fun to fidget with – but they aren’t ambidextrous.
• Axis Lock – the Axis Lock is most identifiable design element of Benchmade, hands down. It’s very clever – a bar passes through both handles and is sprung by two Omega-shaped springs which place forward tension on it.  When the knife opens, the springs push the bar forward and on top of the blade tang, locking it in place.  The same tension from the axis bar holds it shut.  On the upside, the Axis lock is incredibly smooth and fast, very easy to use and safe (keeps your hands out of the blade’s path), and fun to play with.  On the downside, disassembly is extremely difficult, the omega springs can break leaving the knife inoperative, there isn’t much detent strength so it works very poorly with a flipper, and the design is prone to slight vertical blade play.

Years ago, pivots were relatively simple. There either were washers or there weren’t any.  Many knives still pivot directly on the handles – like a Swiss Army Knife – but these days there are a variety of different pivot types which provide different levels of friction.

• Direct pivot – this is usually formed by a “raised” section on the handles themselves which contact the blade. If done right – like by Hogue, or in the Gerber 06 Auto – these can actually be very smooth as they break in, and obviously they’re easy to clean and maintain.
• Teflon washers – one would think Teflon would be a fantastic materials for a pivot washer, as it’s famous for having one of the lowest friction coefficients of any material. In most cases it’s not great for reasons beyond friction.  Some knives actually have great action on Teflon – like the Hinderer Half-Track – but the downsides are related to durability.  Teflon can compress or even tear if overtightened, and they wear much faster than other alternatives.  They’re very particular about proper pivot tension.
• Phosphor-Bronze (PB) washers: these are standard fare on most folding knives these days. Phosphor-Bronze have several advantages over Teflon/Nylon – the biggest is that they don’t compress and “squish” when tightened down, giving you a more stable pivot.  They also don’t tear or pick up grit like Teflon.  Another nice thing about PB washers is they’re self-lubricating: as they wear, a fine layer of dust from the washers builds up to prevent galling.
• Bushing pivot: used in knives like the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and the Chris Reeve Sebenza, a Bushing pivot is slightly more complicated than a standard pivot, but it precisely sets the depth that the pivot can be tightened down to, allowing the user to fully tighten the pivot and still have a smooth action while eliminating horizontal blade play.
• Assisted opening – the brainchild of Ken Onion while he was working for Kershaw, I consider AO to be more of a pivot system than it is an opening system. It was created to get around a legal loophole: that in most places, automatic knives that require the push of a button are illegal. Assisted opening uses a specially shaped torsion bar seat in the handle and attached to the blade to help you open the knife, but because of the specific shape you must open the blade the first 10% before the spring takes over and snaps it open.  The upside is that it’s very fast and it’s cool to look at, the downsides are that it’s harder to close one handed (since you’re pushing against a spring) and the spring can break.  This is falling out of favor these days to ball bearing pivots.
• IKBS bearings: IKBS stands for Ikoma-Korth Bearing System, named after the inventors (Flavio Ikoma and Rick Lala of Korth Knives) and it’s the most basic of bearing setups. Compared to a washer system, bearings like IKBS are orders of magnitude smoother both in opening and closing, giving you a fast deployment and drop-shut smoothness when closing.  IKBS in particularly is a total pain to disassemble, clean, and reassemble due to the loose ball bearings, but it’s narrower and simpler than bearings in a race like KVT and MRBS.  It’s very smooth and opens lightning-fast.
• Caged bearings – Kershaw/ZT refers to these as “KVT” (Kershaw Velocity Technology) but other brands call them many things. This is the most common form of a bearing pivot, and it’s much easier to disassemble and maintain.  The bearings are kept in a plastic or metal bearing cartridge, which helps to keep junk out as well as makes assembly a snap.  These can range from cheap (plastic cartridge and steel bearings) to pricey (aluminum or bronze cartridge, ceramic bearings).  One big plus of bearings over washers is the ability to tighten them all the way down without making the pivot bind up and the blade slow to open.
• Multi-row bearings: a recent development in pivot technology used by high-end companies like Reate and Shirogorov. Multi-row bearings pack many more ball bearings into the same area as traditional setups, making for a more even load distribution and (theoretically) faster deployment, but this is sort of like discussing the performance difference of a regular Veyron and a Veyron Super Sport – they’re both incredibly fast beyond what people can actually notice or practically use.

Handle materials fall into one of three categories – natural, synthetic, and metal. What will work best for you depends on what you’re doing with it as well as your own personal and aesthetic preferences.  Below is a summary of the more popular choices and our ultimate guide to knife handle materials provides more info.

• FRN – short hand for “fiberglass reinforced nylon” – or plastic. A lot of people look down on FRN for feeling “cheap” but it has a lot of upsides – it’s light, it’s extremely resistant to chemicals or oil, it doesn’t stain, and it doesn’t start to swell if it’s wet.  In a lot of ways, reinforced nylon is easily the best handle material – but a lot of people dislike it anyway.  Hey, we’re allowed to have preferences.  A common example of a knife with an FRN handle is the Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight.
• G10 – G10 is another synthetic material that’s very popular with the knifemaking crowd. It’s a fiberglass epoxy laminate that’s made by impregnating layers of glass cloth with resin and pressing it flat under pressure and heat.  G10 is generally preferred as a handle material for a lot of reasons – it can be sanded, machined, tapped, textured, and treated like a much stronger material.  In fact, some knives use only G10 (without any steel liners) as the handle and the anchor point for the lock, like the excellent Cold Steel American Lawman.  It’s light, strong, chemical resistant, and versatile.  The James Brand Folsom uses G10 handles.
• Micarta – Micarta is also a synthetic laminate material, usually make with sheets of linen canvas impregnanted with phenolic resin and cured under pressure to stabilize it. Micarta is more prone to absorbing moisture and oil than G10 but it is still a relatively stable material and can be machined and sanded as well.  It generally feels softer and more “organic” in hand.  A good example of a Micarta handled knife is Benchmade Proper slipjoint.
• Natural materials – organically sourced materials such as wood and bone have a lot of character and are frequently used in traditional knives. They are prone to swelling and shrinking with temperature and humidity, as well as trapping oils and moisture.
• Metals – many modern folding knives use full steel handles now – the upside is cost and strength, with the downside being weight – a full stainless handled knife can be quite heavy. There are also higher-end folding knives which use Titanium handles – like the Chris Reeve Sebenza – which trades the weight for cost.

In today’s knife market, a lot of purchasing is done online, which is a double-edged sword. Generally speaking, you can get a much better deal on a knife from an online retailer than you can from buying it in a “Brick & Mortar” or physical store.  The downside is that you usually can’t handle a knife in person beforehand, and arguably one of the most important aspects of a knife is how it fits in your hand – not how it fits in an online reviewer’s hand.  As much as I’d love to think my opinion is the rote truth, the reality is that you need to see if a knife actually works for you.  There are a few things to consider, of course.

• Forward choils vs cutting edge length – Something you’ll see referenced frequently in our reviews are forward choils, also referred to as 50/50 choils – as opposed to a sharpening choil. This is a rounded cutout in the base of the blade behind the ricasso (or the start of the sharpened edge) that allows you place your forefinger further forward when gripping the knife.  The upside to this is additional control when using the knife: you have more leverage over the blade, making fine tasks easier.  The downside is that this eats up part of the available blade length.  To put this into perspective, the Spyderco Manix 2 (highly recommended!) has a 3.4” blade and a very pronounced forward choil, so it has a cutting edge that is 2.875” long – let’s round that to 2.9.  The Spyderco Delica only has a 2.875” long blade, but no choil, so the sharpened edge is 2.6” – meaning the Manix uses up almost twice the available real estate for a choil.  I personally love choils and will always put ergonomics over total sharpened blade length, but your mileage will vary!
• Finger grooves aren’t everything! – a lot of knives feature pronounced, dramatic finger grooves cut into the handle. This certainly looks   There’s a spot for your whole hand!  But these finger grooves can end up limiting your options for how you hold and use your knife.
• Hot spots – these are things that might not be readily apparent the first time you hold a knife but show up with extended use – a hot spot is something on the handle that puts too much pressure on your hand and makes the knife uncomfortable to use. Usually the clip is the worst hot spot on a knife, but sometimes protrusions on the handle can do this.

Pocket clips are obviously an important part of a pocket knife – and frequently overlooked. Ideally you want a clip to do two things – hold the knife securely in place, but also not be impossible to insert or remove from your pocket.  It would also be great if it didn’t chew your pocket up over time or have a tendency to catch on things.  A lot of this is down to how the end of the clip is designed.

• Deep carry? – a lot of clips on knives these days are advertised as “deep carry” – which usually means that the clip goes up from where it screws to the handle, does a 180 degree turn and flips back down, which allows the knife to sit lower in your pocket than a traditional clip.  This is a nice option if you live in an area where a knife sticking out of your pocket could be a liability, but it does generally make the knife harder to get out.
• Positioning options – a lot of knives only offer one clip position – usually right-hand and tip-up – but some offer reversible (tip up and tip down) or ambidextrous (right or left hand) positioning – or both, like the Spyderco Endura. A four position clip like this offers you the most carry options.  You almost always need tools – usually a Torx T6 or T8 and a bit driver – to move the clip.
• Stamped vs machined – many high end knives these days, like the Factor Bit, use machined clips – these are milled from a single block of aluminum or titanium, and they look very cool. In most cases, a bent steel or titanium clip actually functions better – they have stronger retention and they’re easier to slide in and out of a pocket.  This is a classic battle of form versus function

There is an absolute horseload of different brands making knives out there right now, and this guide cannot possibly cover all of them. These are just some of the most common brands you’ll run into and what you can expect from them.

Benchmade

Benchmade is arguably the closest a mid-to-high end knife brand gets to mainstream recognition. If you ask a random person to name a good knife, there’s at least a decent chance they’ll name drop this brand from Oregon City; after all, they’re now one of the largest manufacturers of folding knives in the US with established distribution channels in several major retail outlets like REI and Bass Pro Shop.

For over three decades, Benchmade has manufactured knives in the US with a focus on quality.  They have targeted the EDC, tactical, survival and rescue markets with well-made offerings typically falling in the mid-range ($50-$150) and premium ($150-$250) price brackets.   Best known for the Axis Lock mechanism and the ever-present Griptilian, they’ve recently been overcoming some QC issues and cranking out some really top notch products.  Check out our summary of the best benchmade knives you can buy.

Spyderco

An eternal favorite of many knife snobs, this Colorado-based brand has been in the business of making knives since the late seventies.  Initially focused on serving military and law enforcement personnel, the brand has become one of the leading knife manufacturers in the US in terms of both reputation and sales volume.  Spyderco’s focus is largely on folding knives, most of which feature their trademark ‘spyder-hole’ which allows for one-handed opening and promotes brand recognition.   They place emphasis on blade steels and ergonomics over good looks, but they sometimes arrive there anyway.  They’re also the originator of the Compression Lock, used in the universally highly regarded ParaMilitary 2.

Spyderco is known for collaborating with a multitude of makers and designers while also being an innovative company.  In fact, several common features found on many of today’s pocket knives were first introduced by Spyderco.  Check out our list of the best spyderco knives you can buy.  Unlike Benchmade, however, Spyderco has chosen to manufacturer some of the knives overseas in low-cost hubs like China and Taiwan.

Kershaw

Based in Tualatin, Oregon Kershaw is actually owned by Japanese parent company KAI Group along with its sister brand Zero Tolerance.   They have a relatively large product portfolio spanning a wide range of styles including everything from flippers to automatics.  Like Benchmade and Spyderco, the company has collaborated with several big name knifemakers/designers on a number of its existing product lines.  While Zero Tolerance aims at the high end of the market, Kershaw is a volume business.  Its target market is mainstream consumers of EDC and tactical folding knives with the majority of its offerings falling in the budget (<$50) and mid-range ($50-$150) price brackets.  You’ll find them in stores like Wal-Mart and DICK’s Sporting Goods, and chances are you know someone that has one.

You can’t go wrong with a Kershaw if you just simply need a knife that cuts things, nothing fancy.  They’re well known for SpeedSafe, the name they use for torsion-bar assisted opening that is guaranteed to look like a magic trick the first time you use it, as well as the eponymous Leek pocket knife.  Kershaw manufactures knives both in the US and overseas, largely in Asia to keep production costs down.  We list our favorite kershaw knives here.

Zero Tolerance (ZT)

If Kershaw is Toyota, then ZT (Zero Tolerance) is Lexus. ZT has taken over making high end knives for KAI USA (Kershaw’s parent company) with a range of excellently made folders using exotic materials like titanium, S35VN and slick ball bearings.  They’re known for overbuilt folders, solid pocket knives built like a tank and manufactured to a high tolerance using top end materials.  A huge favorite among knife enthusiasts and collectors, the ZT brand continues to grow in terms of reputation and market share.   They used to be focused primarily on ultra-hard-use knives like the ZT0300, but lately they’ve been focusing on some EDC options as well as a plethora of custom maker collabs that allow mere mortals to get their hands on unobtanium, like the GTC Airborne-based ZT0055.  Our favorite ZT knives are shown here.

Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT)

Frequently mispronounced as “Cricket,” CRKT is a relative newcomer, starting business in the mid-nineties and built their success on a series of unique patents and a strong warranty program.   They produce most all of their knives in China and Taiwan but focus their design and innovation efforts here in the US.   They are, in your author’s humble opinion, the absolute king of high-value products.  Your brother/friend/uncle probably has or had a variant of the Kit Carson-designed M16 flipper folder.  They’re also well known for maker collaborations and have been bringing some fascinating designs to the $40-$60 dollar market, like the Pilar and Crossbones.   Here are our picks of the best CRKT blades.

Kizer

Kizer is a Chinese company that produces many of their own designs and production collaborations with other designers, as well as doing OEM work for other companies. They have been one of the companies doing the most to erase the preconception of Chinese knives being low quality; almost everything they make is extremely well made.

Boker

Boker Solingen is based in Germany, but produces knives all over the world – Boker Magnum and Plus in China, Boker in Germany, and some knives in Italy and the USA. They make a huge array of different styles of knives ranging from cheap to pricey, all with a unique look and feel.  They’re well known for the Lucas Burnley Kwaiken collaboration series lately.

SOG

Specialty Knives & Tools (aka SOG) plants itself squarely in the tactical knife and tool market.  Based in Lynnwood, WA they produce fixed blade and folders (largely overseas in Asia) with heavy marketing towards the armed forces and their ‘mall-ninja’ counterparts.  Perhaps their most recognizable offering was the MACV-SOG bowie knife which was popular with Vietnam war veterans.  Today they have a wide product range, largely comprised of budget and mid-range offerings with a recent foray into the multitool market.

Gerber

The Gerber brand has been producing knives for over half a century with headquarters in Oregon but owned by the Finnish conglomerate Fiskars.   Like CRKT their focus is on the budget (<$50) and mid-range ($50-$150) markets and they produce largely in China but with some models manufactured in the US.  The company has skewed its focus towards tactical and survival niches and invests heavily in marketing, as evidenced by their recent collaboration with TV star Bear Grylls.

Buck

Regarded as a classic knife brand, Buck has been producing fixed blade and folding knives for almost a century  with their headquarters in Post Falls, Idaho.   Buck’s rise to fame was helped in part by the tremendous success of their Model 110 folding hunter, which remains one of their best selling models today.  Focused on the value end of the market, Buck now splits production between the US and China but is committed to staying innovative and employing adequate levels of quality control to stay competitive.  We find they’ve been on an upswing lately with great new designs like the Grant & Gavin Hawk designed Marksman.

Reate

Another Chinese OEM that started making their own products, Reate has among the highest production standards of any knife maker in the world, routinely cranking out innovative and world-class products. They also produce the Steelcraft series for Todd Begg.

Chris Reeve Knives

Arguably the single most influential knife brand on the planet, Idaho based CRK is best known for the iconic Sebenza – the father of the modern titanium framelock knife, still in production more than 25 years later.  Most consumers will never own one due to the steep prices (think $400+ for their most popular Sebenza model) but the fact remains that no other brand holds the same amount of prestige as Chris Reeve.  Whether that accolade is warranted or their knives ‘live up to the hype’ is a debate for another day, but you cannot deny the universal appeal and commitment to US-made quality that Chris Reeve has created over the years.

Of course, they make other things, but the focus has always been on the highest quality manufacturing and dependability, and they are very much an “evolution over revolution” company, never one to jump on industry bandwagons.  Expensive but understandably so.

Victorinox

Swiss based Victorinox is the 800 lb gorilla of the pocket knife world, with sales basically exceeding all the other brands put together.  They owe it all to the Swiss Army Knife, an affordable but indispensable tool which comes in a mind boggling array of varieties and has a place in every home.  Victorinox produces tens of thousands of Swiss Army Knives each and every day – with impressive quality control that has rarely waned over the years.

Final Words

We hope you found our massive guide to finding the best pocket knife useful.  With this guide, you should have a better starting point for picking a knife based on what you’re going to use it for.  There are a lot of different aspects to what makes a pocket knife and they all apply differently to the user and the situation, so careful consideration of these things will lead to a happy purchase.  As always we appreciate your feedback to don’t hesitate to drop us a line.