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.

Opinion: YouTube’s Counterfeit Culture

by Dan Jackson 22 Comments

As someone who regularly creates video content, I often find myself watching a lot of YouTube videos about knives and gear. It is a fun pastime, living vicarious gear adventures through the many personalities populating the ‘tube. YouTube is a melting pot and a social network – a great way share ideas and to stay on top of the latest trends.

Unfortunately, the trends aren’t always pretty. No, I’m not talking about the inane zombie apocalypse gimmick where everything needs to be emblazoned with “toxic green” handles and bio-hazard symbols (although I must admit that is a most unfortunate turn). Instead I am talking about an even more disturbing trend, the alarming rise of counterfeit and knockoff goods gracing the silver screens of YouTube’s evanescent underbelly. I’m talking about blatant rip-offs of high-end American made knives mercilessly copied by overseas manufacturers and then readily sold for pennies on the dollar.

Now counterfeit and knockoff goods are nothing new, even in the knife industry. Although our first thoughts after hearing the word “counterfeit” might be dollar bills, Rolex watches, and designer handbags, the phenomena is widespread – extending to virtually every industry.

And really it shouldn’t come as a surprise, as counterfeiting is based on simple economics. When a company builds a successful brand based on high end products that people come to covet there is plenty of profit margin for overseas manufacturers to come in and make cheap copies.

These counterfeit companies don’t have to pay for bothersome things like research and development, licensing, advertising, patents, trademarks, and the other needless trappings of a legitimate business. Sure the finished product isn’t nearly as good as the real thing, but some consumers will accept the trade off when a decent fake can be had for a fraction of the price – to the point where the sale of counterfeit goods is estimated to make up as much as 8% of China’s GDP.

Now I know that ultimately counterfeiting will never end, and I’ve got no grand illusions that this rant will magically stop the purchase of these knives. Which is why my problem isn’t actually with the purchase of counterfeit knives in itself. Sure, counterfeiting is a terrible practice that is illegal and causes real companies real harm (currently to the tune of $800 billion a year, one fake Emerson at a time), but can we really stop it? In some ways, it’s like the war on drugs. The economics are there, the global political situation is what it is… sometimes you just need to pick your battles…

Which is why my beef is with some of the guys on YouTube and this bizarre situation where people are filming videos of their knock-off knives. A sub-culture is emerging where it has become socially acceptable to buy counterfeit goods.

It is still a relatively new trend, but is already gaining ground to the point where we tip-toe around the issue; creating euphemisms like “clones,” and setting aside the inconvenient moral analysis so we can get to the more weighty discussion of finding the most faithful ripoff. Such discussions are usually claimed to be for educational purposes only (of course). Like I said it is extremely bizarre, and I’ve yet to really see this phenomena in any other hobby. You don’t see videos of watch collectors ogling the latest Submariner knockoff, so why the hell are we so fascinated by how tight the tolerances are on the latest Hinderer “clone”?

The guys (and 4 gals) on YouTube currently filming knives represent some of the most dedicated enthusiasts in the space right now. These also happen to be the tastemakers and the trend-setters of our hyper-connected information age and they wield a lot of power. But with great power comes great responsibility, which is why it pains me to see this kind of technology used to encourage the purchase of counterfeit knives by giving them all this air time.

With that said, I’m not here to tell you how to spend your money. I may not agree with it but purchasing a counterfeit knife is not a crime, and I’m certainly no angel myself. So this wasn’t meant to be some sort of “holier then thou” thing either.

My point is, if we are going through the trouble of recording our misgivings in 1080p, lets at least be real with ourselves and call a spade a spade. If your Chinese made XM-18 says “Hinderer” on the side, it’s a counterfeit. If it doesn’t, it’s a knockoff.

So if you want to buy a counterfeit knife, fine. But please, if you are going to make a video about it, don’t piss on my leg and tell me its raining. Call it what it is, the purchase of a counterfeit. And think twice before glossing over the moral argument. In an industry where we claim to value things like original designs and USA manufacturing, the moral ambiguities are just as important as any issues concerning the fit and finish.

At the very least, do it for the people who don’t know any better. Or better yet, do it because it’s the right thing.

CRKT Eraser Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

The Eraser is a relatively new offering from CRKT and is arguably their most ambitious knife yet. Designed by Liong Mah, this large tactical folder is his first knife collaboration with CRKT although Mah has collaborated with numerous custom makers in the past. Mah’s designs typically blend old styles with modern materials, and he maintains an emphasis on low maintenance and functional beauty. I must say, the Eraser certainly fits that bill.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Eraser is a large and heavy knife with an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.875″ blade, and a weight of 6.2 ounces. For some I imagine the weight will be a deal breaker but personally I had no problem toting this folder around – the trade off is you get large and extremely solid knife. As for intended use the Eraser is perhaps most accurately labeled as a “tactical knife” but could easily be used as a large utility knife or carried daily. I also think an argument could be made that this knife is collectible. While it may not be to everyone’s taste, the bold lines and beautiful finishes do offer something not commonly found in sub $100 knives.

The blade is an intriguing reverse tanto shape, featuring beautiful grinds and a gleaming satin finish. It is an elegant and functional design, featuring a nicely reinforced tip, slight curving belly, and a broad hollow grind. This blade shape is a nice blend of form and function, marrying stabbing and slicing capabilities with graceful curves and hard angles.

The steel selected here is AUS 8, a popular Japanese stainless. AUS 8 is a relatively soft steel (58-59 HRC) not known for extreme edge holding qualities, but I still think it’s a nice choice here all things considered. AUS 8 is known for being easy to machine and makes for a beautiful blade. The various grinds on this knife are crisp and wonderfully finished, it’s very difficult to believe that a knife this pretty retails for $80. Practically speaking AUS8 will gladly take a razor edge. Sure for some the still will not be exotic enough for their tastes, but with everything in mind I have no real issue with the choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Eraser features G10 handle scales with aluminum bolsters over full stainless steel liners with a partial G10 backspacer. Construction is very sturdy. Everything lines up well and is screwed together, and the overall fit and finish is impressive. The aluminum has been media blasted to a nice matte finish and you can see the subtle grain of the smooth G10. No doubt these nice materials also a bit of weight to the knife, but it makes for a classy and strong handle.

Ergonomically speaking the Eraser’s handle is large and comfortable. For your more traditional forward / saber style grip the knife feels very natural with it’s wide modified pistol grip handle. The flipper doubles as a forward guard and there are contours for your fingers. It’s well thought out and quite comfortable. That said, where the Eraser really seems to shine is in a reverse grip. The back portion of the handle is heavily jimped and provides natural resting spots for your thumb and fingers. On the subject of jimping, this is a relatively smooth handle. For my purposes it works great (due to the design of the handle) but if you are part of the uber-tactical crowd don’t expect an Emerson or something.

The pocket clip is long, bulbous, and has been given a discrete black finish. I’m not wild about the look of it, but I’ve also seen much worse. The good news is that we have a very capable clip here offering firm retention, a relatively low profile, and the option of 4 corners placement. As mentioned before, this is a large and heavy knife, and it carries as such. That said, it’s nothing ridiculous, and for its size I found the Mah Eraser to be a reassuring and comfortable carry.

Deployment and Lockup

The Eraser makes use of a flipper for blade deployment and the near 4 inch blade glides along teflon washers. It took a maybe a couple flicks to break this pivot in, but I have since found the knife to open quickly and reliably with very little effort. Teflon isn’t always my first choice for washers but I have no complaints here and may even have come to like teflon washers a little bit (don’t tell anyone). It’s a very smooth and fast knife, and a lot of fun to open.

Lockup is accomplished by an extremely sturdy stainless steel liner lock. There is absolutely no blade play at all in my knife, which I something I can’t always say – even about knives twice the price of the Eraser. Seriously, I am extremely impressed with the early and solid lockup. CRKT has also included their LAWKS technology which gives you the option to lock the knife open. It’s not a feature I use, but it stays out of the way and could come in handy for some.

CRKT Mah Eraser – Final Thoughts

The Eraser is a very special knife. I love the lines of this thing, and the great use of materials. It is a bold design, obviously not to everyone’s tastes, but I love the fact that CRKT rolled the dice a little and produced something that steps outside the box. CRKT and Mah have taken the sub $100 production knife and elevated the ordinary into the extraordinary. Sure, there are lots of good blades out there for under 100 bucks, but few manage to fuse elegant design, high end materials, and beautiful finishes into a rock solid and highly functional folding knife like the Eraser.

Of course I can’t blanket recommend this one as the absolute answer to everyone’s folding knife needs, but if you like larger knives and are a fan of the design then I think you will find a lot to like with the CRKT Eraser.

I found the best deal for the Eraser on Amazon, although BladeHQ also has a good price.

[easyazon-block asin=”B006SK18HA” align=”center”]

Emerson CQC-13 Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 10, 2019
Emerson is one of the most American knife companies I can think of. Their blades are 100% made in the USA with American made materials, and when you thumb through one of their catalogs (or the pages of their website) you really get the feeling that these knives are distinctly American. There are plenty of references to the US Military, MMA, and hard rock – to the point where you can practically feel the bald eagles whooshing over your head.

Buy the CQC-13 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

So when you take a company like Emerson Knives and combine it with the iconic American bowie you get what is arguably the most patriotic production knife on the planet: the Emerson CQC-13 Combat Bowie.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The CQC-13 has an overall length of 9″, a 3.85″ blade, and it weighs 5 ounces. Like most of Emerson’s offerings this is a pretty big knife. Designed for military, police, and anyone else seeking a large and rugged tool, this is a no-nonsense tactical folder. Personally I tend to pair it with a smaller utility knife.

The blade is what really drew me to the CQC-13, which makes sense because Emerson’s knives all follow a similar formula. Besides different blade and handle shapes, they are all built pretty much the same. Here we have a mean clip point cut from thick stock with a needle sharp tip, a good amount of belly, and a partial flat grind. My preference is for the stonewashed version, but Emerson also makes them in a black coated and matte finished (shown here) versions as well. Like many Emersons this knife is V ground, but the edge features a chisel grind (ground on one side instead of both like most normal knives). According to Emerson this is done for ease of sharpening in the field.

Like every other Emerson knife on the market the CQC-13’s blade comes in 154CM stainless steel. The steel is heat treated to 57-59 HRC, which makes the knife easy to sharpen yet capable of holding a nice edge. 154 won’t retain an edge as long as some of the more exotic steels on the market, but it is a proven steel and remains an all-around good choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

In the handle department the CQC-13 continues to follow the typical Emerson format: roughly textured black G10 scales, a partial G10 backspacer, a steel liner, and a titanium locking liner. There is a lanyard hole and all the screws are phillips head (except for the flat head pivot screw). Emerson isn’t known for making the prettiest knives, but I am actually quite impressed with how well this knife has been finished. The blade is beautifully ground, everything lines up, and the liners are attractively finished.

The CQC-13 really starts to shine once you start handling it. The spacious handle is extremely comfortable. There is plenty of room for forward or reverse grips and the handle features a deeply scalloped finger choil, and a nice run of jimping on the spine. This is a capable work knife and it is a pleasure to use. Ernest has a strong martial arts background and it shows time and time again in his handle designs. Simply put the ergonomics rock.

The pocket clip is once again classic Emerson. It’s a simple matte black parkerized clip, discrete and functional. My only gripe (per usual) is that the handle is only drilled and tapped for right side carry. I know they apparently make lefty versions of the knife and that you can send knife in to be drilled and tapped for left side carry (for $20) but honestly this is one of those cases where they should have just done that at the factory. Not just for lefties but also for right handed people wanting to carry on their weak side. When you consider the intended use and near $200 price tag, the 3 extra holes should come standard.

As for actual carry, the CQC-13 carries well for a larger knife. The pocket clip is discrete but not ultra-deep, so the knife is easy to get at but stays out of the way. At 5 ounces this larger knife feels lightweight for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

Naturally, one of the big selling points for an Emerson is the classic wave opening feature, which allows you to open the knife as you remove it from your pocket. If you don’t feel like waving open the CQC-13, you can always make use of the ambidextrous thumb disk, something I’ve always found slightly more cumbersome than a thumb stud or opening hole, but with a little practice it can certainly get the job done. Opening the knife is fairly smooth, Emerson uses nylatron washers in all his knives. They get the job done, especially if you opt to wave the knife open.

For lockup we have a titanium liner lock. I am generally not a huge fan of titanium for a locking liner, as it is not nearly as hard as steel of a blade tang, but Emerson has been making them this way for decades. In practice my knife still locks up fairly early, and there is little to no blade play. As an added bonus the titanium helps lighten the knife up – always a plus. It is also worth mentioning that the pivot screw is of the flathead variety, so it is easy to adjust with pretty much anything handy.

Emerson CQC-13 Review – Final Thoughts

Ernest’s Combat Bowie is exactly as advertised; a rugged folding tactical knife making great use of an iconic American blade shape. I have no doubt that fans of Emerson’s other offerings will also find much to love about the CQC-13. But lets be real for a moment, clearly, this is not a knife for everyone. Those preferring something a little more subtle will likely pass this one up. And like the rest of Emerson’s offerings, the Combat Bowie has it’s share of quirks unique to the brand (including the chisel ground edge, non-ambidextrous pocket clip, titanium liner lock, nylatron washers, etc). Finally, it’s not a cheap knife – not at all. All of these things tend to polarize people, and I can appreciate the opinions on both sides. However, if this is a knife that interests you I can attest that it is comfortable and well made. In conclusion the CQC-13 is another well thought out tactical folder that compliments the Emerson line nicely.

Emerson CQC-13
from: BladeHQ

Emerson ECBF CQC13 BT with Plain Black Blade

I recommend buying the Emerson CQC-13 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.

Boker Pipsqueak Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

Last Updated: September 17, 2019
The Boker Pipsqueak is a “little big knife” designed by Neil Blackwood of Blackwood Custom Knives and manufactured by Boker in Solingen, Germany. As an urbanite who primarily carries a knife for utility purposes, I have grown quite fond of smaller EDC blades. In fact, I am perfectly alright with toting around the featherweight Spyderco Dragonfly or the Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. I find both these little knives to be unobtrusive, practical, and entirely adequate for my admittedly pedestrian purposes.

Buy the Boker Pipsqueak at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

But I must say, the Dragonfly and Tuff Lite don’t particularly excite me from a collector’s standpoint. They are purely functional, and rather spartan offerings. So I think that is what drew me to the Pipsqueak – it’s a little folder with some big balls. The kind of knife that satisfies my craving for titanium and high-end steel, but can be used at the office without raising any eyebrows. It’s a quirky knife, certainly not for everyone, but in my months of carry I have found the Pipsqueak to be a wonderful dichotomy of style and substance. A handsome little bugger that gets the job done. Lets take a closer look.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Pipsqueak is 6.15″ long, has a 2.625″ blade, and weighs 4.7 ounces. I have found the Pipsqueak to be ideally suited for EDC. It’s small enough to ride in a pocket without any fuss, but is large enough to get some real work done. The weight might be an issue to some, haven’t found it to be a problem personally.

The blade on the Pipsqueak is a stubby drop point design. The first thing you may notice is the very cool two-tone finish. The flats have been given a satin finish while the grinds have what appears to be an acid etched stonewash. Speaking of grinds, you have a pretty high hollow primary grind, a little swedge, and a nicely ground secondary bevel. The knife cuts well thanks to the thin hollow grind and recurve. It’s a very aggressive little blade and any material you feed into it accelerates along the curving edge. My one reservation was that due to the curves this knife would be difficult to sharpen. Thankfully, I was completely wrong. With a little care and a few minutes on a rod style sharpener (I used a Spyderco Sharpmaker) I was able to maintain a hair shaving edge.

Boker selected S35VN for the blade, which is a high end stainless designed to be a successor to S30V. I am really impressed with how well this S35VN has performed on the Pipsqueak. The out-of-box edge was extremely sharp, and it held that nice edge for well over a month. Even then it was still fairly sharp, but I wanted to see how the knife sharpened so I touched it up. S35VN takes a very nice edge, and I’ve had no issues with chipping or corrosion either.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The Pipsqueak’s handle is centered around two meaty slabs of titanium, one left bare to serve as a frame lock, and the other covered with a piece of olive green canvas micarta. Riding between the titanium is another piece of micarta serving as a partial backspacer. Like the rest of the knife, I found something really endearing with the way this handle was designed. The titanium is thick and has been given a tumbled finish to match the blade. Everything is nicely finished and feels extremely solid.

I also found the ergonomics on the Pipsqueak to be very good. As a lefty my palm butts up against the micarta side of the knife, and it feels quite comfortable. From other reviews I have read the knife is comfortable for righties as well. And despite being a smaller handle I can still get a full grip without issue. Rounding things out is a small run of jimping along the spine that adds a little texture for the thumb. It’s nothing crazy, but for EDC this jimping proves more than adequate.

The pocket clip is a folded over piece of steel. The Pipsqeuak is drilled for right side tip-up carry only, but I must confess the handle looks clean without a bunch of extra holes in it. The clip is shaped to mimic the silhouette of the knife. I wasn’t wild about this detail, but again to me it wasn’t a deal-breaker. Clip retention is good, and the knife rides comfortably in pocket. It’s a heavier knife, and the clip does a great job holding it in place.

Deployment and Lockup

One of the first things I noted with the Pipsqueak was how smooth the deployment was. The blade glides freely on 2 sets of phosphor bronze and teflon washers, and ambidextrous thumbstuds provide easy access with either hand. The knife is very fun to open, and can be flicked with a thumb or gently pressed into position. The ball detent is ceramic, and it works very well.

The knife makes use of a thick titanium framelock. The lockbar initially locked up very early, and after a few weeks it settled to about 50% lockup – where it remains today. All in all, I have found lockup to be strong. I noticed a little side-to-side play develop as the lock broke in, but I was able to tune it out with the turn of the pivot screw.

Boker Pipsqueak Review – Final Thoughts

The Pipsqueak is a knife not without it’s quirks. The chunky features, dramatic curved blade, and the relatively hefty carry weight all could be seen as potential negatives. But for some reason these quirks only draw me in closer. Naturally, this is a situation where “your mileage may vary” and I totally get that this one may not be everyone’s proverbial cup ‘o tea. But that’s quite alright, part of the fun of collecting knives is finding the stuff that you like, and that you want to carry and enjoy. So if you happen to be a fan of the design, well I whole-heartedly recommend the Boker Pipsqueak. It has served me well as both an EDC and a wonderfully unique pocket knife.

Boker 110623 Blackwood Pipsqueak Folding Knife with 2-5/8 in. Straight Edge Blade, Green

S35VN high performance steel with striking two-tone finish
Solid titanium frame with green canvas Micarta scale
Extremely sturdy frame lock mechanism
2-5/8 in. blade length. 6-1/4 in. overall length. 4.7 oz. weight
Limited lifetime warranty

I recommend purchasing the Boker Pipsqueak at Amazon.com or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Famars Lama Prima Edizione Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

A relative newcomer to the cutlery scene, Famars is a company best known for crafting extremely high end shotguns. In fact, they happen to be the largest high end shotgun manufacturer in the world. Headquartered in Gardone, Italy, Famars has been creating functional works of art for over 50 years now, and build guns that seamlessly fuse innovative technology with old-world craftsmanship. So needless to say when I learned that this ultra high end firearms company was building knives, it got my attention. The Famars Lama Prima Edizione is their first foray into the world of luxury knives, and it is a real privilege to take a closer look at this very unique knife.

Described as the world’s first pinless dual-action automatic knife, the Lama is anything but typical; so in some ways this will depart from my typical knife review. After all, these knives are designed to compliment shotguns that can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. But while Famars’ products are the epitome of a luxury good, often featuring precious jewels and gold inlays, everything is built to be used. Their shotguns are most commonly used for hunting birds, and their new line of knives are designed to accompany the guns on such excursions. Of course a sleek folding knife like this would also be quite at home in a suit pocket or display case – functioning as an upscale EDC or simply a collectible.

Presentation

The Lama I received for examination is not just any Lama, but a Prima Edizione or “Premiere Edition” of the knife. Limited to 500 pieces, the Prima Edizione arrived in a lovely velvet lined wood box, and was accompanied by a signed and sealed certificate of authenticity. Each knife is one of a kind, and is both serialized and categorized within a historical log at the Famars headquarters. I must say I don’t typically spend much time mentioning the packaging materials, but the box is quite nice and provides an excellent spot to store the knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Detail

Moving on to the knife itself, the Lama is slender tool with an overall length of 7-3/4″ (with both blades deployed, 5-1/2″ with one) and 2 2-1/2″ blades. The weight will vary depending on the options you select, but expect a weight in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 ounces. And there are countless options to choose from. The review will attempt to touch on some of those choices, but really the sky is the limit and each knife is custom made to the purchaser’s exact specifications.

Famars allows you to build your knife around a wide variety of blade and tool options. My particular model came with two clip point blades honed to a razor’s edge. The inclusion of two blades was interesting, a departure from most modern folders. According Famars this was done to give the user more options. If you were to use this knife to dress birds in the field and one edge were to dull, then the user could simply switch to the other blade. Additionally, you have the option of selecting from a variety of other tools including scissors, a magnifying glass, or even a divot tool for golf fans.

You also have a wide variety of blade steels to choose from. The Lama is available in 416 layer patterned damascus (with many different patterns to choose from) as well as virtually any stainless steel you desire. Like with every other aspect of the knife the sky is the limit when it comes to steel selection. I found the damascus that my knife came in to be quite good; attractive, razor sharp from the factory, and holding a keen edge after use.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle of the Lama is quite unique. When examining the exterior there is a distinct absence of any pins or screws holding the handle together. This is part of what gives the Lama it’s designation as the world’s first pinless dual-action automatic knife. The handle fits together thanks to some innovative design work, but more importantly the pinless design creates a wonderful canvas to showcase Famars’ exquisite engravings.

When it comes to the engravings everything is done in-house by hand, and there is no limit to what can be accomplished. Everything from gold leaf to jewels can be integrated into the handle of your knife, and their engravers can carve any motif desired. For those looking to have a knife that matches their shotgun, well, that is now possible. And naturally you get your choice of handle materials as too (including aluminum, steel, and titanium). Famars has also recently begun offering their knives with various exotic wood and animal hide inlays, more options if you somehow felt restrained by their previous selection.

Now, elaborate engravings and a dizzying array of materials is all well and good, but I am a stickler for performance and ergonomics. So I am happy to report that the Lama is just as pleasing to use as it is to look at. I am capable of getting a full grip without any problems and the thumb naturally rests on the spine of the knife. The handles have good thickness and fills the hand, and the “edgeless” design makes melt into your hand. And if you happen to be a fan of slimmer handles, Famars has you covered with their Piccolo model.

Deployment and Lockup

The Lama is a dual action automatic, and with the press of a button the blades spring to life. Both my blades fired fast and hard, and the flash of steel creates quite the conversation piece. Lock-up is solid thanks to a button lock, and the blades are also easy to release once you are done working. One interesting aspect about the knife is the absence of any kind of washers. The Lama is built to extremely tight tolerances so traditional phosphor bronze or teflon washers aren’t required. The fast action makes for a knife that is hard to put down, and with 2 blades at your disposal it is twice as easy to get carried away.

Famas Lama – Final Thoughts

Like something out of a James Bond movie, the Lama blends style and sophistication to create an exclusive tool with a lot of appeal. No doubt fans of the company’s beautiful firearms will also be interested in the Lama, and I can definitely see the allure to having a custom made knife that matches your custom made gun.

I can also see the Lama appealing to collectors of automatic blades and unconventional designs. There is currently nothing else like the Lama on the market, and for that reason alone it’s worth a closer look. Any way you cut it the Lama is a wonderful blend of old world craftsmanship and cutting edge technology, and should appeal to blade aficionados of all persuasions. It was an absolute pleasure to spend some time with this very exotic knife and I highly suggest checking one out if you have the opportunity.

For more information on the Famars Lama visit the knife’s official website at FamarsLama.com.

Benchmade 940 Review

by Dan Jackson 37 Comments

Last Updated: September 4, 2019
If you are as obsessed with knives as I am, you may be on the hunt for “the perfect EDC knife.” You know, the one blade that has it all. Naturally, it is the perfect size, features great materials, is beautifully designed, and carries like a dream. But in my mind a perfect EDC needs to go beyond that. It has to be greater than the sum of its parts, and a little “X factor” never hurt either. Lets be real, for a knife to earn some time in the rotation is one thing, but to stand the test of time the knife has to work for you on another level.

Buy the Benchmade 940 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

That is what drew me to the Benchmade 940. On paper it has all the basic requirements of a good EDC knife, which is always nice to see. But then the 940 had something else. Maybe it’s the unique handle, or the unconventional blade shape. Whatever it was, it drew me in like a moth to a flame, and I know that I am not the first to succumb to this emerald beauty. The 940 has been in Benchmade‘s catalog for well over a decade, and remains one of their most popular designs to this day. Needless to say, it is high time we gave this classic a thorough review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 940 (or “940 Osborne”) has an overall length of 7.87″, a 3.4″ blade, weighs 2.90 ounces, and is made in the USA. In my mind these are real nice numbers for EDC, and that is exactly how I have been using my 940.

But I can also appreciate how the 940 could go beyond a mere EDC item. With an almost 3.5″ blade and an equally generous handle, the 940 could easily be pressed into a self defense role (although I sincerely hope you will never need to use it that way). On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 940 is a beautiful and elegant knife. In many ways exemplifies a modern gentleman’s folder. This is a knife that would do just fine in a suit pocket, or carried on special occasions. So I really like the versatility of the 940. It is fancy enough to make for an upscale EDC, but is big enough to get a lot of work done.

The blade on the 940 is a reverse tanto design. Popularized by the 940’s designer, Warren Osborne, this unique blade shape is best known for providing a sturdy tip, although I think the main draw is just the unique aesthetics. Warren has designed a few reverse tanto models for Benchmade, including the Benchmade Rift and I have generally been impressed by them. This particular blade has been given a high flat grind, and features a swedge running across the top. The 3mm thick blade holds it’s thickness pretty much to the tip thanks to the reverse tanto design. This is an interesting blade shape, and I found it quite capable for all my daily tasks.

The 940 Osborne makes use of S30V for the blade steel, an excellent USA made stainless from the folks over at Crucible. I have spoken about S30V many times before, but as a quick recap S30V is widely regarded as one of the best high end steels commonly found on production knives. When properly heat treated S30V is known for good edge retention, high corrosion resistance, relatively easy sharpening, and a good level of toughness for daily use. I am a big fan of S30V and Benchmade always does a fantastic job with heat treating their blades. Treated to 58-60 HRC, this 940 was no exception.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle on the 940 is where things start to get interesting. First you have the striking aluminum handles. These have been bead-blasted to an attractive matte finish, and then anodized a deep green. I absolutely love the texture of these handles. They aren’t particularly aggressive, but they aren’t slippery either – given the intended use I found it to be a nice balance. Sandwiched between the aluminum handles is a single piece of anodized purple titanium. This backspacer compliments the green handles nicely, and provides a good deal of visual interest.

As for actual construction, the 940’s handle is top notch. There are partial stainless steel liners, and they have been polished to a lustrous shine. I like how when you peer inside the knife the liners reflect the titanium backspacer. It is a little detail, but some times it’s the small stuff that gets you going. Everything has been screwed together with black hardware, and all the pieces line up perfectly. The overall fit and finish of this knife is exceptional.

In 2015 Benchmade released the 940-1, a premium version of the 940 with carbon fiber handles and a S90V blade. It’s a beautiful knife and well worth considering if you are a fan of the original 940. Check out our review of the 940-1 here.

In hand the 940 is surprisingly capable. I say “surprisingly” because at a glance we have a rather thin handle here. In practice I found the handle long enough to comfortably accept my larger hand, and the rows of jimping on both the thumb ramp and finger choil provide a good amount of grip. It is a comfortable knife in forward grips, and I can get some good work done with it. The 940 also works well in reverse grip, and in the closed position as well. Actually, when closed, the 940’s thin profile makes it an excellent choice as a kubotan – another nice option to have.

The pocket clip on the 940 Osborne is a standard Benchmade clip – the same kind you will find in models like their classic Griptilian and Mini Griptilian. I am a big fan of this style of clip. It is simple, sturdy, and works quite well. Benchmade drilled and tapped this model for ambidextrous tip up carry. In pocket the 940 carries wonderfully. Thin and lightweight, this is a knife that you forget you are carrying.

Here is your pocket clip shot:

Deployment and Lockup

The 940 makes use of a pair of ambidextrous thumb studs and an axis lock. Much like many of the other Benchmade knives that I have reviewed with this configuration, deployment on the 940 is extremely fast and smooth. The thumb studs are easy to access allowing you to flick the blade out with alarming speed and very little effort. Phosphor bronze washers aid in that regard, and the net result is reliable deployment in any situation.

Similarly, the axis lock on my knife has also been really well done. Lockup is tight with no blade play, yet the lock is easy to disengage with a single hand, and the blade rotates freely into the closed position. It is no secret I am a big fan of the axis lock, and the 940 is a great example of why. If true one hand operation is important to you (as a righty or a lefty) then I find the combination of thumb studs and an axis lock very tough to beat.

Benchmade 940 Osborne Review – Final Thoughts

The 940 combines excellent materials with smart design and wonderful fit and finish to produce an exceptional daily carry item. On paper this has always looked like an awesome knife, so I was very happy to find that the 940 was just as awesome in real life. Everything works, and it works well. The way I see it, the biggest potential downside here is that the knife isn’t particularly cheap, but for a made in the USA folder with these kinds of features, I actually think the price is quite reasonable.

But what about beyond the specifications? Do we really have a “perfect” EDC knife? I must admit, there is something special about this one. The 940 has really distinguished itself as a design and it has a little something extra that keeps me coming back. I don’t doubt that for many people this will be a perfect EDC knife.

Sale

Benchmade - Osborne 940 EDC Knife with Green 6061-T6 Aluminum Handle (940)

ALL-AROUND UTILITY: A quintessential EDC tool that combines simplicity with unmatched function, no matter the application; Ideal for pretty much everything.
AMERICAN MADE CPM-S30V STEEL: For first-rate edge retention and corrosion resistance; Reverse tanto blade is nimble, versatile, and made for the outdoors.
DURABLE 6061-T6 ALUMINUM HANDLE: Is anodized, fully ambidextrous, has a smooth satin grip, and is suitable for just about any environment that requires a blade.
AXIS LOCKING MECHANISM: Ensures safety and a smooth open and easy close; Standard reversible clip; Light as a feather for easy carrying and a comfortable grip.
EVERYDAY CARRY: With its slim profile and lightweight design, the 940 is the perfect addition to your EDC collection, backpack, survival kit, tackle box, and more.

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