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.

Cold Steel American Lawman Review

by Dan Jackson 27 Comments

Last Updated: March 9, 2018
When I hear the words “hard use folder” it’s often accompanied by a mental image of dollar signs. For whatever reason, we have equated hard working blades with titanium, super steel, and triple digit price tags. Those knives are cool, and I am sure some are capable of getting work done, but not everyone has that kind of cash – and even if you do it can be hard to really buy a knife like that and drive it like you stole it.

Buy the Cold Steel American Lawman at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

That’s why I like the Cold Steel American Lawman. For around $85 you get a rock solid knife that you aren’t afraid to beat on. After all, what’s the point of a hard use knife if you can’t actually bring yourself to hard use it? I have thrashed on my review sample for years. Lets take a closer look at one of my favorite every day working tools.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The American Lawman has an overall length of 8-1/8″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 4.5 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a nicely proportioned medium sized folder designed by Andrew Demko. I found it reasonable enough for every day carry, but could definitely see this as a dedicated work knife or tactical blade. The “Lawman” designation seems to fit well.

The Lawman features a simple drop point blade with a high hollow grind. The knife is thinly ground, making it an aggressive slicer, and the tip is reinforced to hold up against hard use and thrusting. I like the blade shape. It’s not as aggressive as many of Cold Steel’s other offerings but is still very useful. There is plenty of belly, the tip gets nice and sharp, and the knife generally cuts really well.

Originally, Cold Steel used AUS8a for the blade steel, which is basically the same as AUS8. AUS8 is known as a softer steel and a lot of people don’t like it. I like AUS-8 because a couple swipes on a Spyderco Sharpmaker restores the knife back to hair shaving sharpness.

In 2015 Cold Steel updated their lineup of knives to include CTS-XHP steel, an American stainless steel forged by Carpenter. This is a superior steel to AUS-8, although it adds approximately $30 to the price tag of the knife. I have experience with CTS-XHP with other knives, and have had hands on experience with the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter in CTS-XHP. CTS-XHP will hold an edge longer than AUS-8, and it is still easy to sharpen.

Cold Steel also upgraded to blade coating from a cheap black teflon coating, to a high end DLC coating. DLC is probably the best coating there is, so it’s a great upgrade.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the American Lawman is made primarily of two thick pieces of black peel ply G10. There are no liners of any kind inside the handle and the G10 screws directly into a black aluminum backspacer and stainless steel lock bar. In practice the handle is quite strong. The G10 is thick and I was not able to flex the handle at all – so I would not worry that this handle will not be up to hard use. Fit and finish is nice too. All of the edges have been nicely rounded and everything lines up well. This is a strong and well put together handle.

I really like the ergonomics of the Lawman. The handle is plenty large and allows for a comfortable grip. There is some shallow jimping on the top of the handle. It’s not aggressive but provides some texture and feedback for your thumb. The G10 is extremely high traction and provides a good deal of grip. One of my favorite ergonomic features is the forward choil. Much like the Spyderco Sage or Paramilitary 2, this forward choil allows you to choke up and really get some detail work done. I am a huge fan of the forward choil. Cold Steel usually doesn’t include this feature so I think it’s worth mentioning. Finally I want to say that the knife also feels comfortable in a reverse grip.

The pocket clip is standard fare for Cold Steel. It’s small black coated stainless steel clip. It’s very tight. The tight clip combined with the aggressive G10 means it can tear up your pants if you aren’t careful. The clip is reversible (they actually include 2 clips since it’s a curved design) and it allows for tip up carry only. In pocket the American Lawman carries well. The small clip buries the knife deep, so it’s a discrete carry, and the slim profile and relatively light weight makes for an easy carry.

Deployment and Lock

The CS Lawman uses a thumbstud and a half to get the blade out of the handle. The thumbstud is not entirely ambidextrous out of the box, but it is swappable. This is not the fastest deploying knife and it will require some wrist action if you really want to snap the knife out. This is mainly due to the strong backspring of the triad lock. I don’t mind the slow and purposeful deployment of the American Lawman, but if you are one to habitually flick your knife open and closed the Lawman be advised that this isn’t really that kind of knife.

The lock on this knife is quite interesting. It uses the Cold Steel Triad locking system. The Triad is a modified lock back system that utilizes a “stop pin” to redistribute pressure placed on the knife and lock and in theory it provides for a stronger lock. My experience with the Triad lock suggests that it is in fact very strong. Lockback knives are very strong in general and the Cold Steel version is at least as strong as a regular lockback. I like how this lock is designed to break in with the knife so it won’t require maintenance. The lock feels very crisp and nice and secure.

American Lawman or the Recon1 or the AK-47?

Chances are, if you are interested in the American, you may also be interested in the Cold Steel Recon 1 or the AK-47. If that is the case, I recorded a video where I do a detailed comparison of these 3 models that you may find useful.

Cold Steel American Lawman Review – Final Thoughts

If you are in the market for a hard use folding knife and have around $50 to spend, the American Lawman should be on your short list. This is an extremely rugged knife that feels good in hand and is capable of some serious cutting. The relatively light weight design and non-threatening blade make this a good choice for EDC, although the knife could definitely flex into a more “tactical” role. No doubt this is why Cold Steel has marketed the knife toward law enforcement.

The biggest gripe with this knife was always the sub-par AUS-8 blade steel and cheap teflon coating. Cold Steel blew those complaints out of the water, when they upgraded this knife to CTS-XHP and a DLC coating. At this point, the only grievance I can raise is that the pocket clip can be a little small / tight for some. It’s not my absolute favorite clip, but it’s not that bad either.

All said this is one of my favorite folders from Cold Steel. They don’t make a ton of stuff in the 3.5″ blade length and the subdued looks really gels with me. I highly recommend the American Lawman if you need hard a wearing utility knife and don’t want to shell out a ton of cash.

Cold Steel American Lawman Black Folder

Blade thickness: 3.5 mm
Blade length: 3 1/2 inch
Handle: 4 5/8 inch long. G-10

I recommend purchasing the American Lawman at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 25 Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

How do you improve on perfection? That may have been a question asked by the engineers at Chris Reeve when they approached the Sebenza 25. I wasn’t in the room, so I really have no idea. The Sebenza has received incremental improvements over the years, but for it’s 25th anniversary CRK really wanted to up the ante, or at least do something different from the tried and true Sebenza 21. The Sebenza 25 is that knife.

Buy the CRK Sebenza 25 at BladeHQ

The 25 is beefier and has more attitude than the 21, but there is still no mistaking it for a Sebenza. Is the 25 a worthy buy? Should you get it instead of a Sebenza 21? How does it compare with other knives in CRKs lineup? Having owned a Unumzaan, and presently owning a large Sebenza 21, I decided to pick up a Sebenza 25, give it a whirl, and attempt to answer some of these questions.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Sebenza 25 has an overall length of 8.375″, a 3.625″ blade, and it weighs 5.2 ounces. It’s similar in size to a large 21, but it’s definitely a more heavily built knife and weighs a full half ounce more. Offhand I would consider it as a hybrid between the 21 and the Umnumzaan. Unlike the 21, CRK does not currently offer a small version of the 25. Will we eventually see a mini 25? Only time will tell. I know plenty of people like to EDC the large 21, so I don’t see why you couldn’t EDC a 25. Personally I prefer a small Sebenza or a Mnandi for EDC, but I did make a point to carry the 25 around a bit to understand how it performs as a daily carry.

The blade of the 25 is a classic CRK drop point, with a few subtle (or not so subtle) changes over the 21. First of all the blade stock is visibly thicker at .14″ (which is approximately 3.5mm – the blade on the Sebenza 21 is about 3.1mm thick). Chris Reeve also gave the knife what they are calling a “large hollow grind” which is billed as a compromise between the thinness and slicing performance of a hollow grind and the toughness of a full flat grind.

I recently expanded my office at work and bought some new office equipment including a monitor, printer, computer, etc. As a result I had a lot of extra cardboard on my hands and decided to give the ole 25 a whirl at breaking down all of the boxes. I wasn’t blown away by the performance of the 25 on cardboard, but I wasn’t disappointed either. My large 21 slices a little better, but then again, so does my Benchmade Volli with it’s thin flat ground blade. It’s still miles ahead of the Strider SnG. The 25 is more heavily built than the 21, and it comes with a thicker grind. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, just different. Speaking of different, there is also a little depression in the blade after the jimping. I have no idea what it is for, so I’ll wait for someone to let me know in the comments section.

Steel on the 25 is S35VN, which is what CRK is using on pretty much everything these days if my understanding is correct. The blade on the 25 is heat treated to 58-59 HRc, and at that hardness it seems like a good combination of edge retention and sharpenability. Some might find it a little too soft, but I like a knife that easily takes a good edge, and the 25 has been very easy to maintain with my strop. I will say after testing the blade out thoroughly on cardboard the edge didn’t feel that sharp, but it still sliced paper with no problem. A few swipes on the strop brought it all the way back. If edge retention is super important for you, then you are probably better off finding something in M390 or S90V (harder more exotic steels), but if you are OK with the idea of regularly maintaining the edge of your knife then I don’t see a big problem with S35VN and this milder heat treat that CRK favors.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 25 is the typical full titanium goodness you would expect from Chris Reeve. Construction is simple and elegant, with a pivot, stop pin, and single standoff. Some may lament the lack of a lanyard hole, but it looks like CRK designed it so you can loop some cord around the standoff. Personally, I don’t miss the lanyard doohickey on my large 21 at all. Construction is top notch, as expected. This is a Sebenza after all. I like the choice of beefier hardware. The pivot has seen a serious upgrade and the domed body screws are beefed up as well. The disadvantage to this setup is that 2 allen keys are required (and supplied), rather than just the one required to take down a standard Sebenza.

Perhaps the biggest change in the Sebenza 25 is the inclusion of double finger choils. It certainly adds a visual element to the knife not previously evident on CRK models. In practice I think the choils work well and capture the index and middle finger nicely. My hand feels very at home with the standard grip. A revision I am less enthused about is the razor wire inspired jimping installed on the back of the blade. I would say that the jimping on my large 21 is a damn near perfect blend of traction and comfort. Why Chris Reeve felt the need to mess with that winning formula is a mystery to me, but it certainly looks more aggressive. The jimping is fairly abrasive, but I only really noticed it on hard cuts, like cutting rope. Still I think they could have toned it down a bit. All said the 25 is a reasonably comfortable knife. I’m not sure I would call it an improvement over the 21, but it’s definitely different.

The pocket clip for the 25 is the same legendary double dip clip found on the 21. I’m glad they didn’t fool around with this. It works well and is one of my favorite clip designs. In pocket the 25 carries pretty good. It is a big knife, and is full titanium, but with that in mind I’d say it still carries well for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

The term “Sebenza smooth” is something of a gold standard in knife collector circles when considering the action of a pocket knife. So it’s interesting to see that CRK made some tweaks to ensure the deployment of the 25 is even smoother than its predecessors. In addition to a much larger pivot, the knife features extra large perforated phosphor bronze washers. According to the Chris Reeve website these were installed to carry more grease and make the action smoother. In practice I think it has worked. My 25 is noticeably smoother than my 21. Granted I am testing a pretty small sample size here, and some may disagree because the 25 doesn’t include the 21’s famous bushing pivot system.

The knife flicks open easily via the ambidextrous titanium thumb studs. Speaking of thumb studs, or thumb “lugs” as CRK calls them, I think it’s about damn time that dual thumb studs came standard equipment on a Sebenza. I also can’t help but wonder if CRK has plans to introduce a bearing equipped knife in the future. Bearings are by no means a necessity, but since that is where a lot of the industry is going I would be curious to see them offer a knife with bearings.

For lock up Chris Reeve went with a ceramic ball detent. Just like on the Umnumzaan, it serves double duty as both an interface between lock and tang, as well as detent to hold the blade in place. It works well and I have no complaints. The blade locks open with a satisfying thunk and lockup is steady at right around 50%. No blade play at all and the blade is perfectly centered.

CRK Sebenza 25 Review – Final Thoughts

For whatever reason I always find myself under some pressure to come up with a poignant parting thought on Chris Reeve products. Perhaps it’s to justify the price in my own mind, or justify the level of excitement and expectation that has been built up around these knives, or attempt to get ahead of the inevitable discussion about Chris Reeve knives and “value”. I’m going to avoid that this time around, and instead focus on my honest take on the knife.

I think the 25 is a solid and well made product. I consider it a hybrid between the Umnumzaan and 21. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you already have a 21 or an Umnumzaan I don’t really see the “need” for this knife. Then again, I don’t really see the “need” for a $450 pocket knife in general, yet I have owned dozens, so that is beside the point. Like other high end knives, people will buy this because they want it. I’m here to tell you that if you want it, it’s a nice knife. But I’ll also play the role of devil’s advocate:

The 25 is thoughtfully designed and well made, but isn’t a huge enough leap from Chris Reeve’s other offerings for me to truly get excited over it. Maybe if they installed bearings, milled the handle from a single piece of titanium, or did a flipper or something like that it might move the Richter scale a bit further. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly fine knife, and if this is your first CRK I think you will like it, but when you compare it with the rest of the CRK product line I can’t help but feel like it’s more of what we have already seen. I’m glad I got to check one out, and recommend you to do the same if the 25 interests you, but I don’t feel compelled to hang onto both the 25 and my large 21 or to tell you that this is the most amazing thing since the titanium frame lock.

Chris Reeve Sebenza – From $445.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Sebenza 25 at BladeHQ or KnifeArt. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Emerson Roadhouse Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
I’ve mentioned a couple times before that every now and then I get the urge to pick up an Emerson, and make it my EDC. I know the knife is going to be too large for me to comfortably carry, and way overboard when I stop to consider my actual needs for a daily carry knife. But still, like a moth to flame I convince myself that this time things will be different as I hit the “buy” button on yet another Emerson. This is probably like a gal that brings home the guy with bad credit and a pack a day habit, thinking that she will “change” him to one day become the man of her dreams.

Buy the Emerson Roadhouse at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Well this time around I have no such delusions of grandeur. I bought the Emerson Roadhouse not because I intend to carry it in the pocket of my skinny jeans next to my mustache wax and Starbucks card, but because I really dig the design and wanted to add it to the collection. I know the knife is going to be too big for me to actually want to carry and use, and I could care less.

At least this time around I’m being honest with myself. This is a beastly blade and I have always been drawn to the low slung modified tanto design. Frankly, it’s about damn time I reviewed the Emerson Roadhouse and I’m not going to apologize for it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Roadhouse has an overall length of 8.90″, a 3.80″ blade, and weighs 6.2 ounces. This is a full size folder and was likely designed with law enforcement and military personnel in mind. I’m just a guy with a website and a day job, so my perspective on the knife will be limited to daily carry and use as a tool, rather than a defensive option. The design has proven popular enough for Emerson to roll the Roadhouse out in a variety of sizes. We have the regular (shown here) the Super Roadhouse (4.2″ blade), and the Mini Roadhouse (3.4″ blade).

The blade of the Roadhouse is a modified tanto and is one of my favorite shapes from Ernie. I’m not a tanto guy, but I really like this modified tanto. There is a little belly and something of a harpoon and swedge that give the knife some extra attitude. In the product description Ernie tells you to think about Jack Daniels and Harley Davidson’s. I can almost see Patrick Swazye in a dusty corner, the glint of the Roadhouse flitting through thick cigarette smoke and half empty bottles. Oh yeah. I really like this one. Mine blade is a two tone satin finish with stonewashed flats. Like all my other Ermersons, this knife is ground beautifully with a v grind and chisel edge. The blades are the best part of these knives although I see a fair amount of tooling marks on the spine around the wave and jimping.

The steel is tried and true 154CM. If it works why mess with it? I certainly don’t have a problem with 154CM, and Emerson has always done a good job heat treating it. People who actually use their knives will tell you that the chisel edge is ground on the wrong side for right handed users, but I don’t let that get in the way of a good time or a cardboard box. I have found the 154CM to be a serviceable steel, but if you don’t believe me feel free to read through my handful of other Emerson reviews.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Roadhouse’s handle is standard black peel ply G10 over a titanium locking liner, and a steel non-locking liner. My knife has a thick partial G10 backspacer. I am pretty sure if you were to buy one new Emerson now offers their knives with standoffs over a backspacer. We have been trained to think that flow through construction is better, but there is something endearing about the G10 backspacer. The hardware is Emerson’s signature phillips head fasteners for the body screws and oversized slotted pivot. There are some tooling marks on the edges of the liners, but beyond that everything is nicely finished.

In hand is where the Roadhouse really shines. This is a full size knife and it provides ample room for all your standard grips. In addition to being a long handle, it’s also quite thick. Much like every other Emerson I’ve handled the knife is extremely comfortable. The black G10 offers plenty of traction, and the jimping on the thumb ramp holds your thumb but isn’t overly aggressive. If you can get away with carrying a big knife it’s hard to beat Emerson’s offerings from an ergonomic standpoint.

For the same reasons the Roadhouse feels so good in hand, it will be noticed in the pocket. It’s a large knife and there is no getting around that. Even small Emersons have a way of feeling big. The Roadhouse has been outfitted with Emerson’s standard black parkerized clip. It rides low, but not so low that you can’t access it easily. This is a proven clip design and is very comparable to Benchmade’s offerings. As always the knife comes drilled and tapped for right side tip up carry only.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment you have a choice of thumb disk or wave feature. I’ve never been a huge fan of thumb disks. They always seem awkward to me. But they are low profile and stay out of the way when you are waving the knife open. The nylatron washers aren’t amazingly smooth, but they get the job done. I’d prefer good ole phosphor bronze, but this isn’t Burger King. I can’t have it my way. I can flick open the Roadhouse with a little effort, but for rapid fail-safe deployment the wave is the way to go.

For lock up you have a thick titanium liner. The locking liner is visibly thicker than the non-locking steel liner and I find that reassuring. Lock up on my knife is early and secure. There is a little bit of lock stick, but nothing bad. I prefer a steel locking liner over titanium, but it is what it is. Apparently Emerson’s warranty service is good if you manage to wear down the titanium. I have never had to use their warranty service personally.

Emerson Roadhouse Review – Final Thoughts

It’s big, it’s bad, it’s surprisingly expensive. I have always enjoyed the look of the Roadhouse on paper and am happy to report the knife looks just as good in hand. It’s a solid tool, with Emerson’s signature quirks. Despite some tooling marks on the back of the blade and liners, the knife has been carefully put together. The parts line up, the blade is centered, the lock doesn’t stick (badly) and everything feels sturdy and secure. The super nice blade and comfortable handle are high points. The steep price tag and impracticality of the knife (for my suburban purposes) are low points. Regardless, I am pleased to add this one to my collection and recommend the knife if you are a fan of Emerson’s offerings or if the allure of the Roadhouse is just too strong to resist.

Emerson Roadhouse – $227.66
From: BladeHQ

Emerson Roadhouse SF Plain Stonewashed Blade

I recommend purchasing the Roadhouse at BladeHQ or Amazon. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Zero Tolerance 0801 Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

Last Updated: August 7, 2019
Titanium framelock flippers. Are we sick of them yet? No? Great, because I’ve got another titanium framelock flipper review for you today. Given the rapid influx of titanium framelock flippers on the market, I initially thought that I would pass on the Zero Tolerance 0801. The wide shape, chunky build, and monochromatic look of the knife all lead me to quickly dismiss the knife.

Buy the Zero Tolerance 0801 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

It wasn’t until I handled the 0801 in person that I decided to buy the it. Oddly enough, I became so intrigued that I ended up acquiring 2 of these at once – the standard version, as well as the 0801CF “Copperhead” limited release version of it. This review will focus on the 0801, as the 0801CF is a true collectible that I ended up selling off and never using.

Designed by acclaimed custom maker, Todd Rexford, this understated design is based off of his Singularity custom offering. The 801 is the second in a string of collaborations Todd has done with KAI (the previously reviewed Kershaw Injection being the first). This is his first high end collaboration with Zero Tolerance.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0801 has an overall length of 8.2″, a 3.5″ blade, and weighs 5.85 ounces. The 0801 is a substantial knife and you will feel it in your pocket. It isn’t quite as chunky as the 0550, but it’s pretty darn close. No doubt that is due in part to the thick full titanium handle. I can’t think of any other production full titanium flippers on the market at the moment, so that is something to keep in mind. I like the fact that ZT has introduced a full TI handle into their lineup. Just understand that the 0801 ain’t no feather.

The blade on the 0801 is a spearpoint shape with a high flat grind. There is also a swedge that terminates well before the point to support the tip. The blade shape, like the rest of the knife, is pretty sober looking. But it certainly functions well in normal cutting tasks like breaking down cardboard boxes, doing light wood processing, and other general utility tasks. The blade is pretty thin behind the edge and the knife comes very sharp. It’s nice to see a high performance grind on this kind of knife, as the ZT/Hinderer collabs seem to favor strength over slicing.

The 0801 comes in Elmax steel. Elmax has become a staple in Zero Tolerance’s higher end line up. I have come to enjoy Elmax for its combination of good edge retention and relative ease of sharpening. I have had zero issues with rust or corrosion. I think Elmax is a good choice in this higher end offering.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The 0801’s full titanium handle slabs are separated by three black standoffs. This knife has been well executed. There are no visible machining marks, all the parts line up well, and everything has been nicely finished. The oversized decorative pivot is a nice detail, and the black hardware serves as the only contrast on the knife. The handle slabs themselves have been milled out with grooves and has a sort of sweeping faux bolster look. I am not wild and crazy about the grooves or the “ZERO TOLERANCE” brand engraved into the handle, but I have to admit Jim Skelton’s customized version with blue two-tone anodizing job really pops.

The 0801 works fine from an ergonomic standpoint. I wear a large glove and there is just enough room for a 4 finger grip – those with freakishly large hands may run out of real estate. There is something of a forward choil, so you can choke up and get a little more out of the handle if you need to, or lay back for more powerful cuts. There isn’t any jimping on this one, so you don’t have to worry about hot spots for your thumb, but I readily acknowledge that the absence of jimping may be a turn off for some. The rest of the handle feels good. This isn’t a funky handle shape so it should work well for most people.

The pocket clip on the 0801 is straight out of the KAI parts bin. A slightly smaller version of the clip can be found on the Cryo. Visually it’s not the most amazing clip, but it is very practical, especially if you are into deep carry. The 0801 buries into the pocket, but even if your co-workers won’t notice it, you certainly will. At near 6 ounces this is not a lightweight pocket knife. That’s the trade off when you go for a thick full titanium handle. It would be cool to see ZT pocket out the inside to lighten things up, but I know that is probably cost prohibitive. If you are into bigger, heavier knives this obviously won’t be an issue, but weight weenies need not apply.

Deployment and Lockup

As far as titanium framelock flippers go, the 0801 is up there with the best on the market. I’m not saying it’s as good as the freakishly fast 0454… it’s definitely nothing near that, but fans of snappy flippers should still be satisfied with this knife. The Elmax blade rides on KAI’s KVT captured bearing system, and you can see the guts of it peeking out by the lock face. I thin it is somewhat unseemly to have the bearing cage poke out like that, but I guess that is what needed to be done to make the knife work right. All said, fans of flippers will find a lot to like with the action of the 0801.

ZT incorporated a stainless steel lockbar insert into their frame lock, and the steel on steel contact makes for a secure and stick free engagement. I couldn’t detect any sort of blade play. The lock geometry of this knife has definitely been dialed in, and the blade centering is perfect. These details are important to find in this higher end knife.

Zero Tolerance 801 Review – Final Thoughts

There isn’t anything else out there filling the full titanium framelock flipper niche, so off the bat that puts the 0801 into a league of its own, unless of course you are willing to venture into custom, midtech, or aftermarket territory. The full titanium handle does have its potential drawbacks, mainly the weight, but there are plenty of people willing to forgo an ounce or two for full TI goodness.

Despite not having any direct competition, the 0801 doesn’t rest on its laurels. It is a very solid and well made knife. Build quality and materials are both excellent. The flipping action and lock up are superb. The design is austere and based off of Todd’s coveted custom offering. There is a lot to like here for fans of high end production knives and frame lock flippers. If you are interested in the 0801 I can safely recommend it.

Zero Tolerance 0801 Titanium Flipper Knife

Made in the USA; Manual open, KVT ball-bearing system
Frame lock; Reversible (left/right), deep-carry clip
Steel: ELMAX, stonewashed finish; Handle: Titanium
Blade Length: 3.5 Inch (8.9 cm); Closed Length: 4.7 Inch (11.9 cm)
Overall Length: 8.2 Inch (20.8 cm); Weight: 5.8 ounces (164.4 g)

I recommend purchasing the 0801 at Amazon or BladeHQ.

Spyderco Chaparral Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

Last Updated: September 28, 2017
They say that a good way to measure the quality of a production knife is to take it apart and then put it back together. A high quality knife will come back together just as easily as it comes apart.

Buy the Spyderco Chaparral at BladeHQ

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I recently took apart my Spyderco Sage 1. I have sung praises about the Sage 1 for years now, even going so far as to call it the “perfect EDC knife”. Whether the knife is “perfect” or not is debatable, but I have really enjoyed the Sage and it has remained in my collection for years now. But the action of my Sage had gotten pretty stiff. It was obvious to me that the pivot had become caked with dirt and the knife could use a good cleaning. I popped the Sage apart, and spent a good 15 minutes cleaning and oiling all the pieces. The knife came back together without a hitch, and the blade fell dead center as I gave the pivot a final twist. The action is smoother than it ever was. This, my friends, is still an excellent knife.

Which leads me to today’s topic of conversation, the Spyderco Chaparral. It shares many similarities to my beloved Sage 1: The profile is near identical, both knives have faux carbon fiber scales and a wire pocket clip, and both made in Taichung Taiwan.

The biggest difference is the size. The Chapparal is about an inch shorter in overall length, but the blade is less than a quarter of an inch shorter. Of course you also have different steel and different locking mechanisms, but in many ways the Chapparal can be seen as sort of a mini Sage 1.

As I’ve matured I have grown to appreciate a smaller knife for my kind of EDC needs. Could the concept of the “perfect EDC” be a moving target? Could the Chaparral usurp my fabled Sage 1 as best and brightest?

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Chaparral has an overall length of 6.375″, has a 2.812″ blade and weighs 2.5 ounces. Next to my Spyderco Sage 1, with its 3″ blade, the Chaparral is significantly smaller in every dimension. This knife is imminently pocketable and works just as well with jeans and a t-shirt or slacks and a tie. For those seeking a smaller pocket knife in the Spyderco lineup, but don’t want to go all the way down to a Dragonfly, the Chaparral fills the niche. Having owned both the Sage 1 and this Chaparral I personally prefer the size of Chaparral for office use.

The blade is a classic Spyderco leaf shape, complete with full flat grind. This blade shape has proven itself to me many times over, but what I especially like about the Chaparral’s blade is the 2mm thick blade. This is a relatively thin piece of stock that has been ground even thinner. This is a very slicey knife, and I really like that. This wouldn’t be my first choice to pry open an ammo crate, but its a great choice for cutting stuff. Especially stuff that you come across in the general suburban EDC context.

Spyderco selected Carpenter CTS-XHP stainless steel for the blade material. I have had some experience with CTS-XHP with my Spyderco Domino which oddly enough was the last Spyderco knife I have reviewed. This is a nice steel and I am glad Spyderco is rolling it out on more products. It has good edge retention, and decent corrosion resistance, but it’s surprisingly easy to sharpen and takes a very fine edge. Apparently these originally come in S30V, which is what my Sage 1 is equipped with. The S30V on my Sage 1 can be a little stubborn to get super sharp, so I think the upgrade to CTS-XHP was a smart one.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Chaparral is faux carbon fiber over full stainless steel liners. The carbon fiber has a quilted feel, providing just enough texture. The liners have been skelotonized to keep the weight down. Fit and finish of the handle is very tight, like all of the other Taichung Taiwan Spydercos that I have examined, with crisp lines, a flush backspacer, and polished steel. I like how Spyderco has only 2 exterior bolts showing; one at the pivot and the other securing the pocket clip (and rest of the handle) together. Underneath the scale there a couple hidden screws and even an internal stop pin – interesting construction for a lockback knife.

Spyderco also offers the Chaparral in a couple titanium handled variants. These retail for $200 and $300. Personally I purchased the Chapparal as a user, and had no problem with faux carbon fiber, but I want to acknowledge the fact that other more expensive versions of the knife do exist.

In hand the Chaparral feels like a Spyderco. The handle is unassuming yet receptive. The “50/50″ choil accepts the forefinger without issue and affords a very comfortable grip for an under 3” blade. The jimping on the spine grabs the skin of your thumb without irritating it. Spyderco has made a name for themselves designing “little big knives” so I am not surprised that the ergos are on point. Frankly, Spyderco probably considers the Chaparral a medium size knife in their lineup. There is plenty of room here to get work done and the ergonomics of the Chaparral are as thoughtful and refined as you would expect from any other knife designed by Sal Glesser.

Spyderco went with their wire clip for the Chaparral – the same clip found on the good ole Sage 1. This is a proven clip design. I noticed the clip on my Sage 1 loosen over time. I thought that was the metal losing its spring tension for some reason, but it turns out that all I needed to do was tighten down the pocket clip screw. This clip is discrete and it buries the Chaparral deeply. I can get away with clipping this knife to a pair of dark slacks if I want to and most people wouldn’t give the clip a second thought. Spyderco set this knife up to accommodate ambidextrous tip up carry, and I think that is a nice compromise between form and function.

Deployment and Lockup

It should come as no surprise that the Chaparral features a thumb hole. It is sharp and catches the thumb easily. The spring on the lockback is sturdy, and the action is smooth, although if I put any lateral pressure on the blade when opening I detect a faint grinding sound near the pivot. There are very thin phosphor bronze washers inside that can’t be seen unless you take the knife apart.

Lockup on the Chaparral is very sturdy. As I mentioned before, there is an internal stop pin that prevents the up and down flex you often get with lockbacks. This is similar in concept to the tri-ad lock Cold Steel uses, and it makes for a very solid lockup. The lockbar is a little sharp and the spring is strong, so this is not a knife you will idly open and close for hours on end, but it works well and is satisfying to open and close.

Spyderco Chaparral Review – Final Thoughts

I think the Chaparral is a great little knife. I may be a bit biased because I enjoy my Sage 1 so much, but the Chaparral seems to tick a lot of boxes for me. Small, slim, well made and carefully designed, the Chaparral is a sleeper EDC knife that straddles the gap between Dragonfly and Spyderco’s 3″ bladed offerings (of which there are several). I can’t find much to fault with this one; certainly not the performance. It’s an excellent cutter and vanishes in the pocket. It’s nice that the knife is fully ambidextrous as well.

Is it “better” than my Sage 1? Is it the “perfect EDC knife”? It could be, depending on who you are and what your preferences are. I will always have a soft spot for my Sage 1. Now that I cleaned it out the knife is just uber smooth, and the blade pretty much falls shut on its own after releasing the liner lock. For my needs the Chaparral is plenty of knife, but I love the smooth action of the Sage and the convenience of a liner lock. Both are worthy buys, and I don’t think the Sage 1 is ever leaving my collection.

If you are interested in the Chaparral or are looking for a small “do it all” EDC knife that doesn’t sacrifice blade steel or ergonomics then I recommend it.

Spyderco Chaparral Prestige Folding Utility Pocket Knife with 2.80" CTS XHP Stainless Steel Blade and Black Carbon Fiber Laminate Handle - PlainEdge - EDC Gear - C152CFP

Superior Blade Material: Crafted with a 2.80-inch CTS XHP stainless steel blade, renowned for its exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance, ideal for a variety of cutting tasks.
Elegant and Functional Design: Features a black carbon fiber laminate handle, providing a sophisticated look while ensuring durability and comfortable handling.
Precision Cutting Performance: Blade is full-flat ground with a plain edge, offering optimal cutting performance and non-skid jimping on spine and choil for enhanced control.
Compact and Lightweight: With an overall length of 6.38 inches when open, and a weight of just 2.50 oz, this knife is designed for easy everyday carry and use.
Versatile and User-Friendly: Accommodates both right and left-handed users, making it a practical choice for a wide range of individuals.

I recommend buying the Chaparral at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Fantoni CUT Flipper Review

by Dan Jackson Leave a Comment

Last Updated: August 30, 2019
We are in the midst of another Italian Renaissance. This time around it’s not a blossoming of politics and art, but of steel and titanium. The Italians are making some absolutely beautiful knives, and I can think of few examples that typify this as much as as the Fantoni CUT Flipper. At its core the CUT Flipper is a meat and potatoes knife. It is sturdy and well made, unpretentious, and intended for real use. Yet this knife has been elevated. The elegant design coupled with a fanatical attention to detail lifts the CUT Flipper from object to art.

Buy the CUT Flipper at KnifeArt

The CUT Flipper has been on my radar for several years. Carried by boutique purveyors and retailing for around $400.00, the CUT Flipper has eluded my grasp for some time. This is a collaboration between Fantoni and Dmitry Sinkevich, the same designer who brought us such things as the Zero Tolerance 0454 and many Shirogorov designs. The problem with the ZT 0454 and Shirogorov flippers is that you can hardly find them, let alone find them for a reasonable price. The CUT Flipper, while no means widely circulated, can still be found at retail (at least at the time of this article and for the past few years – Fantoni has never been known for high production volume). That places the CUT Flipper at a unique spot in the marketplace, and practically begs for a closer examination.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The CUT Flipper has an overall length of 3.5″, has a 8.375″ blade, and weighs 5.3 ounces. This a larger knife meant for work. Some might call it a tactical knife. It’s obviously too big of a knife to carry around in an office setting, but it works fine with jeans and could certainly be an EDC item if you like carrying larger knives. There isn’t anything wrong with viewing this as a collectible either.

The blade shape of the CUT Flipper is an upswept modified drop point. I really love this blade shape, and I think it is part of the reason why I gave the Kershaw Turbulence such high marks. You have a high flat grind, swedge, and a neatly applied edge. The finish on this knife is very nice. It’s a high polish with a stonewash over it (or maybe a stonewash that was then high polished – hard to tell really). Regardless the blade has a deep luster that looks great and hides wear. It’s also a low friction finish, and it helps the blade slide through material.

Fantoni went with tried and true CPM S30V for their blade material. I have no complaints with the steel selection. I’ve had some issues with S30V in the past, but done right S30V is a proven steel. Here Fantoni has heat treated the blade to 60-61 HRc, and the knife takes a nice working edge that touches up easily on a strop or my ceramic rods. The CUT Flipper isn’t super thin behind the edge, but it thins out enough to be a capable slicer. It’s a good compromise between strength and agility. The upswept tip is strong, but the steep angle means that it isn’t my first choice for clipping coupons or other fine tip work. All in all, the blade lives up to its namesake, and it performs if you are looking to put the CUT Flipper to work.

As an aside, I know that Renzo Fantoni, the founder of Fantoni Knives, is a big fan of super steels. Don’t be surprised if Fantoni ends up producing a limited run these in S125V or some other insane steel.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the CUT Flipper has a lot of really nice details – there is lot for a collector to admire here. 3-D machined slabs of G10 rest atop thick cut pieces of sandblasted titanium. All of the edges have been painstakingly radiused. At the end of the day construction appears simple, but that is only because they have pulled it off so flawlessly. I love the oversized hardware and how the backspacer was finished and slots around a lanyard pin. I’ll try to do my best with the pictures, but you really need to examine one of these in person to get a true feel for the workmanship.

In hand the CUT Flipper feels fantastic. It’s a larger knife and the handle is pretty thick, so those two factors add to this, but the slight pistol grip to the handle shape leave great spots for your palm and thumb. There is a a run of mild jimping that looks nice and serves its purpose, while the rest of the knife is devoid of aggressive texture. This knife feels natural in the hand and I had no problem breaking down boxes and carving up 2x2s with this.

The pocket clip is a simple bent titanium clip, and is given the same sandblast as the liners and laser engraved with Fantoni’s subdued logo. This is a small detail, but I like the choice of domed pocket clip screws – even they seem to be of very high quality. It is a sturdy clip that holds the knife steady, and reasonably low in the pocket. The handle is tapped for ambidextrous tip up carry, a nice nod to this knife’s utilitarian roots. At 5.3 ounces, the CUT Flipper is definitely something that you will notice in your pocket, but I don’t think the weight or the way the CUT carries is unreasonable given the size and construction of the knife.

Deployment and Lockup

The CUT Flipper is obviously a flipper style knife. If you prefer a non-flipper variant, check out the aptly named CUT. The flipping action on this knife is not something to write home about. You need to pushbutton (preload) the flipper to ensure a speedy and complete deployment, and that is a mild let down for such an otherwise fantastic knife. Still, the CUT Flipper is quite smooth and I still enjoy opening and closing it ceaselessly, periodically pausing to admire the blade or the gentle play of titanium and G10.

The CUT Flipper is a liner lock. The generous titanium liner engages fully and the blade locks up solidly and without play. It looks like Fantoni may have heat treated or carbidized the lock face, as there is slight discoloration in the last quarter inch of the liner lock – right where it meets with the tang of the blade. Performance of the liner lock is excellent and the blade centering is dead center.

Here is a shot of the CUT Flipper next to my Strider SnG:

Fantoni CUT Flipper Review – Final Thoughts

I can think of few folding tactical knives that have that holy trinity of form, function, and uber tight finish work. Some may argue that the “holy trinity” is just that: the Chris Reeve Sebenza, the Strider SnG, and the Rick Hinderer XM-18. Having owned two out of the three and handled several XM-18’s, I think the CUT Flipper belongs right next to these standard bearer blades. The CUT Flipper may not have the track record (or the marketing effort) of these other knives, but it certainly has the design chops, build quality, and functionality of these other knives.

This is a knife I have been drooling over for some time. Sometimes when that is the case I get a little underwhelmed when the actual knife arrives. Not so with the CUT Flipper. I think I actually like the knife more now that I have it. The CUT Flipper hangs with the best of them and has earned my wholehearted approval and recommendation. If you are at all on the fence about this knife, my suggestion would be to buy it with confidence. You will not be disappointed.

I would recommend buying the CUT Flipper at KnifeArt, as they are Fantoni’s only US dealer. However, their stock is limited.

I would also recommend purchasing the CUT Flipper at Amazon or BladeHQ, however, neither retailer seems to carry Fantoni Knives. Regardless, please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Thank you very much.