Dan Jackson

Dan is the creator of BladeReviews.com. He founded the site in 2010, and for the first 5 years Dan wrote all of the reviews and recorded all of the video reviews. He grew up using pocket knives, and the decision to start the website stemmed from his fascination of all things sharp combined with a deep passion for writing. At this point he has personally reviewed almost 300 knives of all shapes, sizes, and price points. He is widely recognized as an authority on daily carry knives and has consulted with knife companies on product design and has been featured on national media outlets including the WireCutter. In 2016 Dan decided to branch out and experiment with the website by reviewing watches, flashlights, and multi-tools. Today BladeReviews.com features a number of expert authors reviewing a wide range of daily carry gear. He is proud to write detailed long format reviews with original photography. The website remains largely independent with the vast majority of the products reviewed being purchased by Dan personally. When he isn't writing knife reviews from his home in Southwest Florida, or talking about himself in third person, he enjoys practicing law, reading, fishing, cigars, and weight lifting.

At this point he has personally reviewed almost 300 knives of all shapes, sizes, and price points. He is widely recognized as an authority on daily carry knives. He has consulted with knife companies on product design and his opinions on pocket knives have been featured on national media outlets including the WireCutter. In 2016 Dan decided to branch out and experiment with the website by reviewing watches, flashlights, and multi-tools. Today BladeReviews.com features a number of expert authors reviewing a wide range of daily carry gear. He is proud to write detailed long format reviews with original photography. The website remains largely independent with the vast majority of the products reviewed being purchased by Dan personally.

When he isn't writing knife reviews from his home in Southwest Florida, or talking about himself in third person, he enjoys practicing law, reading, fishing, cigars, and weight lifting.

Hogue X5 Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
The button lock flipper is an intriguing concept. The fun of a flipper paired with a sturdy button lock sounds great in theory. We have reviewed a couple, namely the Spartan Pallas and Freeman 451. Ben reviewed the Freeman, and he reported that the flipping action was good, but the flipper on my Pallas left a lot to be desired. That’s because no one has been able to recreate the ball detent action that you find on a liner lock or frame lock knife that puts the “flip” into a flipper. That is, until Hogue released their X5 flipper.

Buy the Hogue X5 at BladeHQ

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Designed by Allen Elishewitz, and modeled after his Black Dolphin custom offering, the X-5 is a button lock flipper that has flipping action that will rival any framelock flipper. In fact, the action is so good you may mistake the X5 for an assisted opening knife.

When I first saw the X5, it was the wharncliffe version. I don’t mind wharncliffe knives, but this one was a little too odd for me to want to buy. The spearpoint version reviewed here has beautiful symmetry. I picked one up as soon as I could find a nice deal on one.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The X-5 comes in 2 sizes: a larger knife with a 4″ blade, and a smaller version with a 3.5″ blade. I opted for the 3.5″ version, which has an overall length of 8.25″, and a weight of 4.62 ounces. The X-5 is made in the USA. I’d like to mention that this knife is beautifully made just like all the other Hogue knives I have reviewed. The fit and finish is immaculate, complete with a mirror polished edge. From a manufacturing standpoint this is a top shelf knife.

I like the look of this spear point blade. The harpoon knives the knife some attitude, and it compliments the shape of the handle. Allen Elishewitz is among the best knife designers I have met, and this X-5 puts his talents on full display. At any rate, the blade features a simple high flat grind, a neat swedge and a fine tip. There is a slight amount of belly. Nothing crazy, but the edge is one continuous curve. This blade has been given a matte black Cerakote finish. They offer this knife without the coating if you prefer uncoated blades.

Once again, Hogue selected CPM154 as blade steel for this knife. That’s the same steel they have in all their folders, so at this point I have plenty of experience with CPM154, and Hogue’s version / heat treat in particular. This is a great steel that provides easy sharpening and good edge retention. I’ve had some issues with 154CM staining in the past, but obviously this coated blade is not going to rust at all.

In practice the X-5 cuts nicely. I had no problems breaking down boxes, opening mail, and using the X-5 for other EDC related tasks. The tip is servicable, the belly is nice, and the grind is thin enough to cut things. The knife came with a beautiful edge which I have maintained through regular stropping. The Cerakote has also held up OK. It will burnish and wear with use (you can see some of that wear on my EX-04 below). As far as coatings go it’s pretty robust but not as good as DLC. Overall I have no complaints regarding the performance of this blade.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The X-5 handle is made of 2 pieces of hard anodized aluminum with textured G-10 inlays. Again, the handles here are beautifully machined. I would not be surprised if Hogue won Blade Show’s manufacturing quality award one year. Details include a vented spine, custom pivot and hardware, an integrated lanyard hole, and body screws on only one side of the knife. Everything oozes quality and attention to detail.

The handle on the 3.5″ version of the knife feels a little cramped. I can get a full 4 finger grip on the knife, but it feels like my pinky is going to slide off the back. Adding to things is the inclusion of an aggressive finger choil that limits your hand placement options. This is probably my biggest gripe with the knife. That said, the handle certainly works and I’m sure the 4″ version will be more accommodating to larger hands. Part of what I enjoy about this knife is the unique aesthetic, and I’m willing to sacrifice a little for the sake of this unique design. However, this is coming from a guy with a 100 pocket knives. If this was my only EDC knife I’d want something with milder ergonomics.

The pocket clip is a deep carry affair, blacked out and swappable for ambidextrous tip up carry. Retention is extremely tight. Pants shredding tight. There is no way this thing will fall out of your pocket, but that’s provided you can actually get this ting into your pocket in the first place. I find the spring action of the clip to be too tight. I’m also not a huge fan of the large tip of the pocket clip that is exposed when this knife is clipped into your pocket. It will scrape car doors if you aren’t careful. I know folks have been critical of the large spoon clip in the EX series, but I think I prefer it over the clip on this X-5.

The X-5 is light for its size and carries easily enough. The nice thing about a matte black deep carry clip is that it makes for a discrete knife. This 3.5″ version is an easy EDC for me, but I would like to see this pocket clip tweaked a little bit.

Deployment and Lockup

The X-5 is a flipper. That should be pretty obvious. There are no thumb studs, thumb holes, or secondary means of opening the blade. That’s alright because the flipping action is outstanding. Like I mentioned in the introduction, the button lock flippers I’ve handled in the past haven’t flipped well. That’s because they never were able to recreate the detent action of a linerlock or frame lock flipper. The X-5 does that by embedding a ball detent into the handle. This YouTube video does an excellent job showing you what is going on. A ball detent is set into a stainless steel spring inset in the handle, and there is a hole and track on the blade for the detent to run in.

The end result is fantastic flipping action – to the point where you may mistake this for an assisted opening knife. But it’s not an assisted opener, and one way you can tell is by depressing the button lock: the blade swings freely. It’s also worth noting that there are no stand alone washers on this knife. Instead, the washers are milled into the aluminum handles. The end result is buttery smooth.

The button lock has been beautifully executed. There is no stick at all in my lock, and lockup is tight as a drum. There is an external safety. Typically I’m not a fan of these, but Hogue has dialed this in so the action of the safety is crisp and purposeful. Unlike most knives with secondary safeties, it doesn’t flop around, and you aren’t going to accidentally activate it on the X-5. While I don’t use it, I like how they did it.

Centering is dead nuts perfect.

Hogue X5 Review – Final Thoughts

All said I’m a fan of the X-5. Hogue makes a beautiful knife, and the X-5 may be the nicest model I’ve handled yet. And they have cracked the code for a button lock flipper. The flipping action is flipping outstanding. That alone earns some points in my book, and I hope Hogue applies this technology to other knives, or licenses it to other companies. I also happen to be a fan of this design. I find it visually appealing and the execution is top notch. For these reasons I appreciate and enjoy the X-5 as a knife collector.

That said, there are a couple issues with the knife that prevent me from giving it a perfect score (not that I really score anything on here anyways). First, the handle is cramped. This knife is not going to replace my Griptilian or other work knives any time soon. I could have gotten the 4″ version, but I usually don’t like to carry folding knives that large. Second, the pocket clip is too tight, and the tip of the clip pokes out too much. It shreds your pockets, is a chore to use, and the tip sticks out to the point where it can inadvertently scrape up cars if you aren’t careful. As a fan of the design, the ergonomic issues are forgivable, but I still think the pocket clip needs work.

So this isn’t a perfect knife, but for me the pros outweigh the cons. I have plenty of plain Jane pocket knives, but nothing else like the X-5 in my collection.

If you are looking for one Hogue knife to use as your EDC, I’d recommend the EX-01 or EX-04. They are more practical and more comfortable work knives.

But if the X5 speaks to you as a collector and enthusiast, then I’m here to tell you to answer the call. It’s mostly an awesome knife. Not my desert island EDC, but there is a lot to enjoy with this one. And like the EX-04, I don’t see myself offloading my X-5 any time soon.

HOGUE X5 3.5" Spear Pants Black Frame Stock Accessories

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I recommend purchasing the Hogue X5 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for checking out my review.

EDC Update – October 2017

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

After years of running this website, I thought it might fun to do a little EDC update. Tony used to do these and I enjoyed them. I don’t know if this will be a quarterly, or semi-annual update, but I felt like doing it and thought it would be cool. Ben also contributed so that’s great. Let us know if you like this sort of thing in the comments section, and it can become a regular segment.

Ben

Lately, the thrust of my EDC has been simplification. And I don’t mean carrying less stuff. I own and have enjoyed flashlights, pens, and watches, but the only things I ever regularly carry are knives (a pen would tag along in my pocket if I didn’t work from home).

No, I’ve been simplifying by scaling back my knife collection, and by extension my actual EDC rotation. As I’ve alluded to in recent reviews and podcasts the sheer number of knives I own is disproportionately large relative to my actual cutting needs. Thus I’ve begun to liquidate my 40-or-so knife collection, holding on to just the bare essentials – the few knives that I can justify owning for the purposes of carrying on a regular basis.

Ben's Benchmade 940

This means that, barring review samples, I might become a (more or less) One Knife Man. My current forerunner for permanent EDC knife is a standard Benchmade 940. It’s hard to beat – and hard to explain – the interplay of light weight, thoughtless deployment, and cutting performance that makes it so good and so ineffable. We’ll see if it still reigns supreme when we check in for the second Roundup.

The newest blades to hit the review table include are the CRKT Pilar and the Benchmade Bugout. The Pilar is a fun knife – probably more ‘fun’ than it is ‘good’ – that opened my eyes to the value of what CRKT does. It wasn’t a fun knife to carry throughout the hottest weeks of the year, but there’s a lot to like about it. With the Bugout, I hoped to find an alternative to the Griptilian as an entry-level Benchmade knife. When I got it I realized it’s probably too specialized to really compete with the Grip, but it’s an interesting knife nonetheless.

Dan

Arguably the most significant update to my EDC is that I streamlined my keys a few months ago. Over the years I had collected an assortment of keys from various apartments, houses, etc. I probably had a dozen keys and hadn’t used the majority of them in years. I stripped away the unused keys, kept the ones I do use, and color coded them for convenience. This made a huge difference in my EDC and is something well worth doing if you haven’t done a “key audit” lately.

As far as knives go, I’ve had the good fortune to check out all sorts of cool stuff. Much of it has been reviewed, but I have a number of items on deck including a Hogue EX05, a Benchmade Proxy, and a Todd Begg Steelcraft Bodega. All awesome knives.

Ben's Benchmade 940

As for my regular rotation, I repurchased the Strider SnG a few months ago and have been carrying it regularly. I sold my original SnG when I was in debt pay down mode, but now that I’ve paid off most of my debt I decided to bring a SnG back into the fold. This was right before the announcement that Strider knives was disbanding so I picked it up for a decent price. For whatever reason I really enjoy this knife, especially with the new “dagger grind”. This version of the SnG slices so much better than my old full flat grind variant. It’s a huge upgrade. There is nothing else quite like the SnG, and I don’t see myself getting rid of it any time soon.

Beyond that, when I need a flashlight I carry the Streamlight Microstream. Ben gifted this one to me, and I am really glad he did because it’s an excellent little light. Everything you need for daily carry and nothing you don’t. I’ve used the “hat light” feature a few times and it’s great for power outages, grilling, and other extended use situations. Ben was on point with his review and I echo his recommendations.

My watch has been the Sinn U1. I bought this watch a couple years ago and it hasn’t left my wrist since. It’s a unique piece that has held my interest for 2 years strong now. The fact that I haven’t moved on to something else says a lot, as this was a replacement for a more expensive Planet Ocean 2500. I will eventually review my U1, but Aaron and Grayson have been doing a great job with their watch reviews. I’ll probably release my review during a lull in the action.

For my watch, I have a black Big Skinny bifold. This wallet was recommended by Tony and it’s my second Big Skinny wallet. I got 3 or 4 years out of my first one, and this wallet is holding up even better. Great wallet and reasonably priced.

Mission Workshop x Kingdom Armory Unagi Review

by Dan Jackson Leave a Comment

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
The Unagi is a collaboration with boutique bag company Mission Workshop and David Rydbom of Kingdom Armory. I have long been a fan of David’s work. His Mini Samaritan is especially intriguing.

The PR team for the Unagi was kind enough to provide me with a sample to review. What follows are my thoughts on this limited edition knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Unagi has an overall length of 6.5″, a 3″ blade. I was unable to find a weight on this knife, but I’d put it around 3.5 ounces (just a guess). The Unagi is made in the USA by Nichols Damascus in the USA and hand tuned by David Rydom himself. The Unagi is a compact knife suited for urban EDC. Since it’s a release limited to a mere 200 pieces it could also be considered a collectible.

The blade of the Unagi is a distinctive clip point. You can tell David enjoys his work and that enthusiasm comes out clearly in all of his designs. The Unagi is no different, although I find this knife in particular to show a little more restraint. The profile does most of the talking, but it’s all backed up with beautiful execution. The blade is a good example of that. This stylized clip point is simple, but provides most of what you need and benefits from wonderful execution. There is ample blade, a sweeping belly and a fine tip. The stonewashed finish is visually pleasing, the full flat grind provides excellent slicing ability, and David put an excellent edge on this knife.

The only thing I find lacking with the blade is the absence of a sharpening choil. As a result the last quarter inch or so of the heel of the blade is unsharpened.

The steel is CPM154, excellent stuff, and capable of taking a fine edge. I found the performance on this Unagi to be impressive. Zipping through cardboard, and making easy work of apples, it certainly handled my basic daily cutting chores. This is a proven blade steel backed by years of data. It doesn’t hurt that this steel is supported by excellent blade geometry. No issues with rust or corrosion either.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

You typically see a lot of millwork and bolsters in Rydom’s work. By comparison the Unagi is almost completely sterile, but this allows the details in the finish work and and hardware to shine. The titanium handles have been stonewashed, save for the edge of the lanyard hole, which have been countersunk with a high polish. The two standoffs are custom made, and secured with flush mount torx bolts. The pivot is oversized, domed, and is of the bushing variety like what you would find on a Sebenza or Sage 1. The lockbar relief is cut on the inside of the handle, which provides a cleaner look and reduces the chance of your pocket material binding in the clip. It’s details like this that elevate the knife.

There are a couple deep finger grooves that provide an odd visual contrast to the sweeping open blade. These grooves are fully functional, and are the main ergonomic feature of the knife. There is no jimping, but the thumb naturally finds its way to the wide spine, and your palm meets the butt of the handle naturally. What I like about the finger grooves is that the forward groove is large enough to accommodate one or two fingers depending on your preference, and the transition between the two grooves is not sharp. For a small all metal knife, with no countouring to speak of, the Unagi feels natural in the hand.

The pocket clip is simple as can be. It’s bent titanium secured by two polished button head screws. The clip is “signed” with the Mission Workshop logo, but it’s unobtrusive and fits the minimalist theme of the Unagi. This is not a deep carry clip, and about half an inch of the knife lies exposed from the pocket for easy retrieval. Spring tension is strong, so there is little risk of the Unagi escaping. The absence of a framelock relief on the exterior of the handle makes it a cinch to insert and extract the knife from your pocket.

Deployment an Lockup

The Unagi uses a Strider-eqse oval thumb hole for deployment. In practice, I find the thumb hole impossible to use with just your thumb. Thanks to the placement of the hole and a stiff detent, you either need to pinch the knife open with thumb and forefinger, or use 2 hands to free the blade from the handle. This is my biggest criticism of the knife. It’s not an unforgivable sin, but is a feature I sorely miss on a work knife.

Here is a shot of the Unagi next to my Mini Griptilian. A good size comparison:

For lockup with have a titanium framelock. Lockup is early and secure without any blade play. There is a tiny amount of stick in my lock. Nothing crazy, and easy to resolve with a little pencil graphite or sharpie. A stainless steel lockbar insert would solve that completely, but would make the execution considerably more complicated.

Blade centering is dead perfect on my knife.

Mission Workshop x Kingdom Armory Unagi Review – Final Thoughts

The Unagi is a charming knife, beautifully constructed with many details to explore. What I most appreciate about the knife is the simplicity of it. Where some designs are liberally seasoned with decorative flourishes, the Unagi is restrained and the details are hidden in that restraint. This allows the non-traditional profile to shine.

Two points of constructive criticism are the flat spot on the heel of the edge, and the inability to flick this knife open with your thumb. The lack of easy one hand opening is unfortunate, as I’ve come to expect that on any work knife unless it is part of the design (like the Pingo or a traditional).

I think these compromises were executed for the sake of the unique design. While that may turn off some purists, I think its part of what makes knife design interesting. Not every knife needs to be classically “perfect”, and our definition of perfection varies. Otherwise we would all own one knife and leave it at that. In a way the Unagi is a blending of contemporary art with knifemaking. It’s a limited edition experiment, and won’t appeal to everyone. If you are looking for a more standard work knife from Kingdom Armory, then the Mini Samaritan is probably the way to go. But if you want something unique, then the Unagi could be the knife for you.

If you are interested in purchasing the Unagi, then I recommend buying it directly from Mission Workshop. It’s a release limited to 200 pieces so if you miss out then there is always Ebay and the forums. Generally, I recommend buying knifes at Amazon, BladeHQ, and KnifeArt. Thanks for reading.

Zero Tolerance 0055 Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Continuing on with my recent interest in reviewing unusual knives, the Zero Tolerance 0055 caught my eye for obvious reasons. This is an unusual looking knife. Designed by acclaimed Brazilian custom knifemaker Gustavo Cecchini of GTC Knives, the 0055 is a collaboration fusing the practical with the fantastical.

Buy the ZT 0055 at BladeHQ

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I think right off the bat, to even consider buying a 0055 you need to be willing to make some compromises. This knife is not going to work like a “normal” regularly ground drop point. If you are buying a knife to replace your well worn Griptilian or Para 2, then you will want to look elsewhere for that foundation piece for your collection. The 0055 is further out there, for those seeking something different at the expense of pure practicality. It’s not a knife for the masses. With that caveat out of the way lets explore this unique offering from Zero Tolerance.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0055 has an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 5.0 ounces, and is made in the USA. Despite being a larger knife, the 0055 feels agile for its size. It’s relatively thin, relatively light, and has a narrow profile. You can EDC it, but I’m not sure it’s something you will be able to easily use in public. It may be mistaken for a piece of Klingon hardware before being recognized as a utility knife.

The blade is what I would describe as a modified reverse tanto. You don’t see many reverse tantos, the most famous of which is found on the Benchmade 940. Still, it can be a practical shape, marrying the utility of a drop point with the reinforced tip of a tanto. Here, the profile is modified so that there is no belly, almost an abstraction of an American tanto blade. Adding to the intrigue is a compound grind.

My immediate reaction to the 0055’s blade was mild confusion, quickly met by acceptance for what it is. You have to suspend convention a bit to get into the spirit of this knife. It’s different. Otherwise there is no point to even considering the 0055.

The blade is no doubt configured to fit into the equally angular handle. The compound grind is odd in that the thinner grind is towards the tip. That seems a little backwards, as generally speaking I think you would want a thinner grind towards the handle for detailed cuts, and for chores like cutting food and rope, but the thin tip section is good for cutting up cardboard boxes, although it can be difficult to orient this knife properly with your cutting medium due to the non-traditional blade shape.

I will say that execution of the blade is nice. The grinds are even and precise. The edge has been nicely applied. The blade itself has been given an almost matte stonewashed finish. The quality is everything you would expect from Zero Tolerance.

ZT decided on S35VN for the blade steel. S35VN is a fine choice for any higher end folder. I continue to appreciate the combination of easy sharpening, edge retention, and stain resistance that S35VN offers. It’s a fine steel and a worthy upgrade over it’s predecessor S30V.

Having absolutely no belly to speak of, the 0055 is challenging to sharpen, especially if you want to maintain the crisp transition between the compound grind. This “inflection point” can get rounded over if you aren’t careful or decide to sharpen this on a rod sharpener like the Sharpmaker. You have to treat this like 2 separate edges to maintain the character of the factory blade, or otherwise you will slowly round this transition over like a rock in a stream.

And ironically it’s not always easy to evenly sharpen a straight edge. It takes some care. The 0055 is not a knife for novice sharpeners, and wouldn’t be my first choice for a field knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 0055 is technically rich. The outer surface of the titanium handles has been intricately machined. Inside ZT has milled out the pockets to lighten the knife further. A decorative pivot and elegant blue floating backspacer holds everything together. The technical precision of Zero Tolerance is on full display here, and it’s that ability to execute that makes their products so consistently good. This handle is no exception. Everything is dialed in, from the finish on the titanium to the black hardware. There is not an errant machining mark, or jutting screw on this knife. Everything feels purposeful and controlled.

The quality is unquestionable, so the real test is how you feel about the design. I happen to like it. The coffin shaped handle encapsulates the closed blade. It’s different, but cohesive. Gus Cecchini is a world renown knife designer, and his talents are apparent.

Surprisingly, the 0055 feels natural in your hand. That angular handle design doesn’t look particularly comfortable, but it subtly cradles the palm of your hand, while your thumb naturally finds its way to the spine of the blade. Although the handle looks complicated, the lines of the handle are actually simple. What is odd about the 0055 is the placement of the edge. The edge pulls away from you, so depending on the task you may find yourself re-orienting the knife towards the cutting media. Not the most practical configuration, nor is it my favorite, but the 0055 is still capable of getting work done if you are up for the task.

The pocket clip could have been an opportunity to really go off the deep end. Instead Gus and ZT went with a relatively simple spring clip. The shape is non-traditional, but not so far off the reservation that it becomes goofy. It also doesn’t have the typical “ZERO TOLERANCE” billboard, which is a welcome departure. The end result is a clip that compliments the knife, but isn’t remarkable.

The 0055 caries well for a larger knife. Again, ZT has taken steps to keep the weight down, and it’s a relatively thin design. While this isn’t a deep carry clip, the knife carries unobtrusively. The only issue is that the framelock relief is right next to where the clip meets the handle, and I have found that the fabric of your pocket tends to bind up and get caught in the framelock relief. Not a deal breaker, and you could always swap the clip to the show side, but it’s worth noting.

Deployment and Lockup

A part of what makes the 0055 unique to the production knife world is the use of Gus Cecchini’s Spring Loaded Tab (SLT) system. The SLT is a spring loaded flipper tab, which is used to open this manual flipper. You pull back on the tab lightly expose it, and then pull back with full force to release the blade like a typical flipper.

I have found that the SLT system works great. At least in the short term. It successfully opens up the knife, is fun to use, stays out of the way a little better then a traditional flipper, and it doesn’t spoil the lines of the knife as much as a traditional flipper.

The biggest con to the SLT system is that it’s more complicated then a regular flipper tab. Part of the beauty of a flipper is the simplicity. The SLT system is definitely an example of over engineering. It’s just like developing a special pressurized pen to write in space, when you can easily accomplish the same task with a pencil.

Personally I enjoy the novelty of the SLT system on this knife. When it comes to man’s oldest tool, it has become increasingly tough to innovate. Here Gus has managed to create something different. Even if it lacks the elegance of a standard flipper, it has at least been nicely executed and it’s fully functional. The knife flips great, thanks in part to a robust detent and a smooth caged bearing system. I’d rate it a solid “8” on a 1-10 scale. While I wouldn’t want the SLT system on every knife, it is a big part of what made the 0055 interesting to me.

Here is a parting shot of the 0055 next to my Griptilian:

For lockup we have a titanium frame lock with a steel lock bar insert. Just like on every other Zero Tolerance framelock I have reviewed, the lock has been beautifully executed. It’s rock solid and there is no blade play or lockbar stick at all. This continues to be something of a gold standard in framelock knives.

Zero Tolerance 0055 Review – Final Thoughts

The 0055 is a knife you will either connect with or dismiss, and it may take a while to grow on you. I happen to enjoy this funky design thanks in large part to Zero Tolerance’s brilliant execution. I think a lesser manufacturer would have a hell of a time getting away with a design like the 0055. Here the knife has been so finely tuned, that I couldn’t help but appreciate it.

The 0055 is not a knife for a 1 knife collection. Hell, I don’t think it’s a knife for a 10 knife collection. The 0055 is a knife for fans of Gus Cecchini and his work, or fans of unique designs. If your collection is crowded with the work of designers like G&G Hawk, and Serge Pachenko, then the 0055 could be right up your alley. But if you are looking for a more traditional Zero Tolerance folder, then I have to recommend something like the ZT 0562.

If the 0055 intrigues you, then I recommend checking it out. I have enjoyed owning mine, and appreciate it for it’s non-traditional nature. However, if you are considering this as your only premium pocket knife, then I’d suggest looking elsewhere.

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I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0055 at BladeHQ or Amazon.

Spartan Blade Works Pallas Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

Last Updated: August 8, 2019
Most of us who have been following Spartan Blades know the company started with high end fixed blade knives. A few years ago they launched the Akribis, a carbon fiber clad titanium framelock folder. I always appreciated the lines of the Akribis, but never got around to acquiring one. Although some of their old stock is still for sale on select retailers, Spartan Blades has since moved on from the Akribis and ventured into a number of different folder offerings.

Buy the Spartan Blade Works Pallas at BladeHQ

Perhaps their most notable new folder is the Pallas. This strikes me as their every man’s model: a sub 4″ blade, anodized aluminum handles, sturdy button lock, and your choice of flipper or thumb studs to get the blade open.

This is a less exotic folder designed for daily carry and use, and could be considered their version of a Griptilian or Para 2. I have always had a soft spot for utility knives in this size range, and have many in my permanent collection. How does the Pallas stack up against everything that has come before it? Lets find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Pallas has an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 4.9 ounces, and is made in the U.S.A. With an almost 4″ blade, my guess is that Spartan Blades wanted the Pallas to flex both into utility and folding combat knife roles. It is about as big a folder as I can realistically carry. Any bigger, and it would be more of a novelty for me, but a 8.75″ inches I can comfortably carry it and use it as a weekend warrior EDC here in Southwest Florida. I’ve used it extensively in that role. It has accompanied me on trips to fix up my rental house, and plenty of forays into the yard trimming back our “jungle”.

The blade of the Pallas is a modified drop point. This is a simple and functional design, but Spartan Blades has added their signature harpoon tip to give it a twist. At just under 4mm thick, the blade stock is substantial, but the knife is ground thinly behind the edge with a high hollow grind. When you add a fine tip and plenty of belly, you are left with a versatile and functional blade. Spartan Blades also took the extra steps of adding a long swedge across the harpoon tip, chamfering the spine of the blade, applying a nice stonewashed finish, and installing custom thumb studs.

Spartan selected S35VN blade steel for the Pallas. As I have mentioned in countless other reviews featuring S35VN, this is a great choice for a high end folder due to it’s ease of sharpening, corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention. It’s a great all round steel. It won’t hold an edge indefinitely, but it’s easier to sharpen then its older brother S30V. It’s no wonder companies like Chris Reeve Knives choose S35VN almost exclusively as their blade material.

The only downside I see to S35VN is that it forces knife reviewers to the very fringes of their creative writing capabilities as they tackle their XXth review featuring this now common blade material. As always you can find a deeper dive into blade steel in our blade steel section

In practice I found that the Pallas is a solid cutter. Thanks to a generous handle, you are able to make full use of the substantial blade. It came razor sharp out of the box, and I have spent a good amount of time breaking down boxes, carving, and even performing some mild food prep with this knife. This knife cuts for days, and the performance is impressive. While it’s not the most unique or beautiful blade I have worked with, you can’t argue with the results. The Pallas performs.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Pallas comes with a hard anodized aluminum handle, held together by 3 custom standoffs and the pivot. The handle is mostly flat. It has been chamfered around the edges, features 2 grooves for your index finger, and a series of diagonal cuts towards the butt for traction, but there is no 3-D milling. Overall, handle construction is neat and solid. Even the lanyard hole has been given extra attention.

That said, this handle loses style points in a few areas for me. First, I don’t care for how the logo and “U.S.A.” have been applied to the handle. I realize that this branding and source of manufacture information needed to be placed somewhere, and there is only a limited amount of real estate on the knife. I also know some have criticized companies like Zero Tolerance for putting too much text on their blades, distracting the eye and complicating the design. Still, I think the placement of the logo and “USA” on the handle looks a little random.

Also, I think a more generous decorative pivot would have looked nicer here then just a body screw. This choice was likely made so the end user doesn’t confuse the button lock with the pivot in the heat of the moment. Plus a decorative pivot does nothing for the performance. But many knives these days feature a decorative pivot. Finally, when you peer into the internals of the knife the pocket screws are a millimeter or proud of the handles. Screws poking out from inside the handle/liners are a pet peeve of mine, and I would love to see the screw length adjusted slightly so they don’t poke out like that.

Aesthetic quibbles aside, the simple handle designs provides ample room for your hand and fingers while the hard anodized aluminum provides you with that familiar fine texture. There is light jimping on the spine of the blade, and more aggressive jimping towards the butt of the handle. The end result is a knife that functions naturally in the hand. While hard anodized aluminum isn’t as grippy as peel ply G-10, I find there is plenty of traction here for all the tasks I put the Pallas up to.

The Pallas benefits from a simple pocket clip that has been thoughtfully executed. This is a humble spring clip, but it has been elevated with Spartan’s arrow motif cut into the clip. I vastly prefer this kind of branding over a “billboard” style pocket clip. The clip has been sunk into the handle and secured with 2 screws. It’s not likely to go anywhere. However, the handle is configured for right side tip up carry only. This happens to be my preferred placement for carry, but it may pose an issue for some.

In practice the Pallas carries nicely. It’s a bigger knife, but is relatively thin and light. I don’t notice it much in the pocket. It stays out of the way, but doesn’t carry super deep. When I’m ready for the knife the combination of handle and clip make for an easy retrieval. What else can you ask for?

Deployment and Lockup

The Pallas comes with a combination of flipper and thumb studs to get the blade open.

Lets start with the flipper. Because this is a button lock, there is no detent. Instead, the button lock is engineered to offer some resistance, and that friction in the lock allows you to pop the knife open. In practice the flipper works most of the time, especially if you are careful to pre-load it. Still, this knife will not flip open like a well tuned framelock or liner lock flipper. I would assign it a “4” on my arbitrary 1-10 scale of flipper performance, placing it slightly below my Spyderco Domino. It usually gets the job done, but nothing to write home about.

The thumb studs are ample, custom made, easy to access, and placed for ambidextrous access. These thumb studs are what you would want to rely on in a stressful situation. I’m glad Spartan Blades included them. They compliment the workman like nature of this knife.

Either way you choose to open the Pallas, the blade rides on caged bearings. The action is smooth and fluid.

Spartan Blades selected a button lock for the Pallas. The button looks similar to what you would find on a Hogue, and I can’t help but place the knife next to my EX-04 (shown above).

Button locks have the potential to be sticky, but the lock on the Palls is extremely smooth. I have yet to have the lock stick or bind up. I have owned this knife for several months now and it’s just as easy to operate as the day I got it. A nice benefit to a button lock is that it is a strong lock. Although every folding knife has its breaking point, I do not hesitate to use my Pallas for tough jobs. There is no blade play or wiggle in my knife. Also, I should note there is no secondary lock like you find on the Hogue series.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Spartan Blades Pallas Review – Final Thoughts

The Pallas is a no-nonsense tool in the same vein of many of my favorite utility knives. This includes fan favorites like the Para 2 and Griptilian, but also some of the unsung heros in my collection like the American Lawman, Buck Marksman, and Hogue EX-04. I don’t hesitate to carry and use the Pallas just like those other knives. The practical design, excellent tolerances, and quality materials, mean that the knife works, and it works well. If I’m in a rush I can grab the Pallas knife knowing it will do everything I need it to do – no questions asked.

Where the Pallas falls a short for me is with some of the aesthetic details like the placement of the logo on the handle. The flipping action also leaves something to be desired. For a knife you are going to use hard I can look past these issues, but would not be so forgiving if I was buying a collectible.

Also, at nearly $300 the Pallas isn’t cheap. It’s a serviceable design, nicely made, and performs beautifully, but it doesn’t have any mind blowing properties to it, and the materials are not particularly exotic. I realize that Spartan Blades is a boutique company that is offering a USA made product, and they likely lack the economies of scale that the bigger manufacturers can tap. Still, the Pallas is an expensive knife, and the price will prevent it from obtaining the mass appeal of a Paramilitary 2 or Griptilian.

In closing, I like this knife, but think the Pallas is for a narrower market. I recommend it if you are a fan of Spartan Blades, a fan of the design, or are looking for a high end and high performance tactical knife that is made in the USA.

Spartan Blades Blacked Out Pallas Folding Flipper Knife Button Lock Black SF3

Overall Length: 8 3/4" Blade Length: 3 3/4" Blade Material: CPM S35VN Stainless Steel, 58-60 HRC
Blade Thickness: 5/32"; Blade Finish: Black PVD Tungsten Black DLC; Blade Type: Plain Edge Drop Point
Closed Length: 5 1/8" Handle Material: Black Mil Spec Anodized Frame
Safety System: Button Lock; Carry System: Pocket Clip
Weight: 4.736 Oz.; Made in the US

I recommend buying the Spartan Blades Pallas at Amazon, BladeHQ or KnifeArt. Thanks for checking out the review.

Grant and Gavin Hawk MUDD Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

Last Updated: August 12, 2019
I haven’t reviewed many mid-tech knives. This is because I find a lot of them to be expensive and boring. Many follow the standard formula of slab sided titanium handles with a stainless steel blade.

In theory, mid-techs can be a great way for a custom knife maker to get their designs into more hands, have more control over production, and keep more of the profit then collaborating with a production knife company. But at an average price of $400, and thanks to advances in small-batch manufacturing, this has become a crowded segment of the market. After the novelty of this genre wore off I came to the conclusion that I can’t justify purchasing most of these knives.

Buy the G&G Hawk MUDD at BladeHQ

That said, there are some super inventive mid tech knives out there. Knives that offer the enthusiast something more special than a production knife, but at a fraction of the price of a custom. That was the original promise of a mid-tech knife, even if the semantics of what a “mid-tech” is remains unclear. I consider a mid-tech to be not a custom knife, and not a mass production knife. It’s sort of a bridge between the two. You can peel apart the onion further, but arguing the definition beyond that point seems unnecessary to me.

The Grant and Gavin Hawk M.U.D.D. is one of those inventive mid-tech knives. I have been intrigued by the design since Zero Tolerance released now discontinued the 0500, and have been tempted by that knife on the forums several times. More recently, Grant and Gavin Hawk developed a mid-tech line, and the M.U.D.D. was on their list. I found it impossible to resist the allure of this amped up rendering of the 0500.

MUDD stands for Multi-Utility-Dirt-Defiant. This knife is sealed with a rubber boot around the lock release button and polyurethane seals around the pivot. The end result is a knife that is resistant to dirt and grime. In addition to the unique concept, the MUDD is designed differently. This isn’t another titanium framelock flipper in S35VN. The MUDD is unique and detailed. To me this seems less like an effort to cash in on the mid-tech craze, and more an opportunity to produce something special on a larger scale. I think that’s something worth exploring.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The MUDD has an overall length of 7.75″, a 3.25″ blade, and weighs 4.88 ounces. The MUDD is made in the USA. It’s worth noting that this knife is almost 3/4″ thick. It’s almost twice as thick as my Para 2. This thickness is due to the “Hawk Lock” and the overbuilt nature of the knife. So it won’t win any lightweight EDC awards. Still, you can carry the MUDD if you want to, especially if overbuilt knives are your thing. I mostly purchased mine as a collectible and for the novelty of the knife. In that sense it doesn’t disappoint, but if I expected this to replace a Dragonfly II then I would be disappointed.

The blade is a modified drop point, but to leave it at that would be an injustice. There is a lot of intricate machining here. The ricasso features a series of stepped grooves lending a futuristic look to the blade. The grind is of the deep hollow variety, and there is a crisply applied swedge running along most of the spine. The “G&G Hawk” logo and “MUDD” moniker have both been engraved on the blade. A dark stonewashed finish round things out, although black Cerakoted versions are also available.

G&G Hawk went with Elmax for the blade steel. Elmax remains a high end offering from Bohler Uddeholme. I liken Elmax to steels like CTS-XHP and S35VN: good all around blade steel that is reasonably easy to sharpen and holds a good edge. This blade is about 3.5mm thick, but gets thin behind the edge thanks to the deep hollow grind. I found the MUDD to be a capable slicer. It came with a perfectly symmetrical beautifully ground edge and made quick work of cardboard and rope. I’ve had no issues with rust or corrosion and have been able to maintain my edge with routine stropping.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the MUDD is complicated. I am sure a ton of engineering went into this, but the end result appears effortless. There is a single stand off near the pommel. Two carbon fiber scales sandwich beefy titanium liners. The carbon fiber scales are 3-D contoured and the perimeter of the scale steps down to meet the titanium handle for further effect. The edges of the titanium are all chamferred. My particular knife has come with blue / purple anodization that contrasts with the raw stonewashed blade, pivot, and standoff. The fit and finish is outstanding.

The MUDD doesn’t look like a particularly comfortable knife. It’s an odd assortment of boxy lines and gentle curves. Despite all that the knife feels natural in my hand. The finger groove lines up with my index finger, my thumb naturally finds the thumb ramp and oversized thumb studs, and my pinky lines up with the last step down of the handle. There is plenty of room, and you can even choke up on the round “anti-choil” (my own term to define the round segment by the pivot). It’s atypical, but it works.

The pocket clip is among the most inventive clips I have come across. It’s 2 pieces of milled titanium. The portion serving as the spring is quite strong. There is a sizable tab for your thumb, and you need to depress this to lift the tip of the clip so you can make room for your pocket. It takes a little getting used to, and isn’t a design that I would want to see replacing my go-to EDC knives, but it’s different and it works. I think it is a great touch for this particular design, but practically speaking I don’t view it as an improvement over your standard clip.

As far as carry is concerned, this is a thick and relatively heavy knife. You definitely feel it in the pocket. That said, I think you get something interesting and unique for the extra bulk. Not every knife can carry like a Dragonfly II. Again, I don’t fault the MUDD for trying something new. The novelty is what makes it worth investigating. If you are seriously considering the MUDD, then you already have a raft of daily carry blades. This is for the collector that wants something different.

Deployment and Lockup

The MUDD features 2 oversized knurled thumb studs. They are easy to access. The pivot of this knife is on bearings and the action is smooth and effortless. The detent is pretty good. The blade flicks out easily with your thumb, and if I hold the MUDD by the tail I can shake the blade out with a snap, but it takes a strong flick of the wrist.

For our locking mechanism we have the Hawk Lock. This is manipulated by a button on the side of the handle that you slide back to release the lock. A simple way to explain the mechanics of the lock, is that there are a couple stop pins set into the blade, and a spring loaded pin holds the blade in the open and closed position. You manipulate the pin with the button, sliding it back to allow the blade to travel, in the same way you pull back on an axis lock.

As an aside, here is a shot of the MUDD next to my Para 2 for a size comparison:

I like the look and feel of the oversize decorative pivot. It requires a special tool to disassemble this knife, something I typically don’t care for, but I don’t mind it on this unique piece. This is because I don’t anticipate disassembling my MUDD any time soon. While that sort of attitude may dilute the hard use, dirt defiant spirit of the knife, that’s the reality of owning a $500 knife when you already have dozens of well worn inexpensive knives to do your dirty work. At least I’m being honest about it.

For those who are curious I found a good YouTube video on the disassembly. This can give you a better appreciation for how the MUDD is built and how the Hawk Lock functions.

G&G Hawk MUDD Review – Final Thoughts

The MUDD is one of a kind. It’s anything but your typical formula of slab sided titanium framelock flipper. That alone made it worth exploring. In practice, this is a superbly constructed knife. I suspect the Hawks were heavily involved in the production and finishing given how polished the final product feels. For $475+ you would expect that.

And $475 is a lot of money to spend on a knife. One critique is that I would have enjoyed learning more about how they made this knife prior to my purchase. How it’s manufactured, the level of hand work involved, etc. The quality is apparent to the point of being eerie. I assume a lot of work went into this, and I’d like to peek behind the curtain to better appreciate the process. On the other hand, maybe I don’t want to know exactly how the sausage was made. It’s an odd critique, but the knife is so well made that I can’t help wonder, “How did they do it?”

Lets quickly evaluate the knife on a more practical level. Where the design clearly falls short for me is in the thickness. This isn’t my idea of an EDC knife. It’s big, bulky, and impractical. Again, I don’t mind that as I didn’t buy it for daily carry, but I think it’s worth reiterating. The pocket clip is also not as practical as your standard spring clip. But every knife reviewed can’t be the Delica 4.

Regardless of my criticisms, the Hawks appear to be having no problems moving the MUDD. It’s sold out on their website, and sold out on BladeHQ and other online retailers. Holding the knife in my hand I can understand why. It’s solid and unique.

So if you are in the market for something overbuilt and different, perhaps with some dirt-defying capabilities, then the Grant and Gavin Hawk M.U.D.D. hits the mark.

G&G Hawk M.U.D.D. – From $475.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Grant and Gavin Hawk MUDD (or any other G&G designs) at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for checking out the review.