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.

Sinn U1 Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

It has been a good while since I last updated my personal watch journey. Some may remember that it all began with the humble Seiko SKX173. That continues to be a great dive watch that can be had for under $250. I also bought a Casio G-Shock, another excellent watch that I still own and use to this day.

Those are inexpensive watches. Nothing wrong with that, but after graduating from school and finally entering the working world, a little money began to build up. The money began to smoulder and eventually burn a huge hole in my pocket. Around that time I got the itch for a high end dive watch. After a little research, and the decision not to spend $5k+ on a Rolex, I ended up with an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean in the older 2500 caliber movement. This was a great watch, but inexplicably after 6 months of ownership my eye began to wander.

On an impulse I picked up the Sinn U1. I bought this watch used on the forums. Frankly I should have held out for a better deal as the watch I bought was pretty beat up. But that was ultimately alright, because it turned into a daily wear for me and I have used my U1 mercilessly over the past 3 years. The first scratches are always the hardest anyways. The Planet Ocean was traded to a good friend, and the U1 hasn’t left my wrist since.

Specifications

Case Diameter: 44m
Lug to Lug: 22mm
Case Thickness: 14.3mm
Weight: 113 grams (head only)
Movement: Sellita SW 200-1

Fit

The U1 is substantial. You will notice it on the wrist. While it’s great that this is an overbuilt watch with 1000M of water resistance, I would much prefer to see less water resistance and a thinner case. I haven’t taken the watch 1000 centimeters underwater, let 1000 alone meters, and while I’m sure some folks dive with these watches, just as many don’t.

Maybe Sinn could offer a stripped down version, in the same way Rolex has the chunky Sea Dweller Deep Sea, and then the more practical Submariner. Give it 200M of water resistance and shave a couple millimeters off the height and I’d be even happier with the U1 as a daily wearer.

As an aside, some might say I’m a poser for wearing an over built dive watch in the first place. Do you need you fly an airplane to wear a pilot’s watch? Join the infantry to wear a field watch? Straddle multiple zones to justify a GMT? Summit mount Everest to wear a Rolex Explorer? Wear a dress to wear a dress watch? Give me a break, and feel free to wear whatever watch you like.

As it stands I don’t think the watch is comically thick. It actually seems pretty balanced on my 7.25″ wrist, and it hides beneath a standard shirt cuff easily. But still, it’s a thick watch and I’d like to see a couple millimeters shaved off here. The extra bulk was never a feature for me, but I like the rest of the watch so much that I’m OK with it.

Movement

The Sinn U1 features a Sellita SW 200-1 movement. This is a competitor of the ETA 2824-2 movement. It’s a 26 jewel movement, with hours, minutes, seconds, and date, hacking, and a 38 hour power reserve.

Personally, I’ve never gotten anything close to 38 hours of power reserve out of this watch, but it keeps decent time. I end up updating the time every month or so when I notice it has gone a couple minutes fast. I haven’t bothered with testing how many seconds a day it is off. Just not something I’m interested in doing.

This is a robust movement that is shock resistant per DIN ISO 1414, and anti-magnetic per DIN 8309. Good to know.

Practically speaking I’ve put this watch through a good deal of use. Plenty of weight lifting, swimming, yard work, and whatever else for a few years now (desk riding? cheese pizza eating?). I’ll take the watch off if I’m going to dig a hole or use a hammer, but beyond that the U1 watch has been my daily watch for years. It’s taken a few hard knocks, and has plenty of dings to show for it. But it keeps on ticking.

Case and Crown

The case is a chunk of bead blasted German submarine steel. It’s simple, but crisply machined with long tapered lugs protruding out from beneath the oversized bezel. The case itself is designed to look a little thinner than it actually is, giving it a more balanced look on the wrist, but there is a lot of case here and a domed steel case back adds to the bulk.

Sinn placed the crown at 4 o’clock. This makes the watch comfortable to wear on the left hand and decreases the footprint of the watch. There are no crown guards and the signed 7mm crown is large and easy to grasp. The threading on the crown is excellent. It’s easy to unscrew the crown, wind the watch or make whatever adjustments you need to the date or time, and screw it back in place. I’m paranoid about cross threading my watch crowns, so I’m glad to report this isn’t an issue.

Dial, Bezel, and Crystal

The dial and hands of the U1 are probably the most polarizing features of the watch. You will either love or hate the “lego” hour markers and hands. I happen to love this unique look. It’s one of the reasons why I bought the watch. I must admit it was something of an acquired taste, much like Spyderco knives with their distinct thumb holes. If you absolutely can’t get over the lego hands, but otherwise like the look of this watch, then the Sinn U2 may be the way to go.

Regardless of your personal feelings towards the aesthetics of the U1’s dial, I don’t think anyone can argue how legible this layout is. The crisp red and white hands and white hour markers jump out from the jet black dial. It is a relatively simple painted dial, but in that simplicity lies an elegance all unto its own.

And of course the markers and hands have been applied with luminescent green paint. The lume is good stuff. It’s not quite Seiko caliber, but it’s pretty good and the time is easily visible at night.

Of interest is the 60 click uni-directonal bezel. It is oversized and easy to grasp. Rotating the bezel is somewhat satisfying. The clicks aren’t the crispest, but it gets the job done.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the bezel is that it is made from tegimented stainless steel. TEGIMENT is a special surface hardening technology Sinn employs to make the steel more scratch resistant. That’s a good thing as I’ve whacked this protruding bezel into all sorts of things. Everything from door frames to kitchen faucets. I’ve managed to introduce some small scratches to the bezel, but by and large it has held up well over the years.

Strap and Bracelet

The U1 comes with a rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet. I like the bracelet and have not worn my U1 on a strap. Part of that is because the strap I got was already cut too small for my wrist. The lugs are drilled, so if you want to swap out the bracelet for a strap, theoretically it wouldn’t be too hard to do.

The bracelet is offered in regular steel or Sinn’s tegimented steel and features the same bead blasted finish of the case. My bracelet is the regular steel, and it shows plenty of wear, but has also developed a cool worn patina at this point. It’s very difficult to see in the pictures, but up close and in person the bracelet is covered in a fine pattern of scratches and rub marks.

The edge of the clasp is worn so much it appears polished at this point. You can kind of see it in this picture (on the left side of the clasp):

Doesn’t bother me a bit.

This is a chunky H-link style bracelet with solid end links. It is easy to adjust the bracelet as the extra links are held in place with small allen bolts. While these allen bolts make it easy to add and remove links, one of the bolts wiggled loose over time and fell out. So you will want to watch the bracelet closely and periodically tighten any loose bolts or perhaps apply a little thread locker. Replacement hardware can apparently be purchased from WatchBuys.

The deployment clasp is also solid and robust. You have 3 micro adjust points on the clasp that is held in place with a pin as well as a dive suit extension. All pretty standard stuff.

I have found that the clasp itself has a tenancy to pop loose. That is probably because I wear the watch tight on my wrist. If I do something like push myself up off the floor or out of a swimming pool, the force from the contracting muscles in my forearms will be enough to pop this clasp loose. This is my biggest gripe with the watch besides the thickness of it. I’d like to see the clasp lock more securely.

Personally, I’m a big fan of the bracelet. It looks great, and I find this watch wears comfortably.

Sinn U1 Review – Final Thoughts

I love this watch. The fact that it has been my daily wear for almost 3 years and that it kicked a watch twice as expensive off my wrist should speak volumes about it. I wouldn’t call myself a true watch aficionado by any means, but I appreciate watches and could justify buying a more expensive one if I wanted to. Yet every time I stare down at my U1 it makes me wonder why I would want anything else.

My favorite part of the U1 is how it is different from everything else on the market. It seems like in the world of dive watches all roads lead back to the Rolex Submariner. That is for good reason as the Submariner is the quintessential dive watch, but what I enjoy about the U1 is that it is not trying to be a Submariner. The unique design and solid execution allow me to appreciate it for what it is. Some might want something a little sleeker and more refined, but I like it. I would like to see the case be couple millimeters thinner, and the clasp be a little more secure, but beyond that I have no complaints.

I recommend the U1 it without hesitation. In a moment of weakness, I recently purchased another dive watch (the Seiko SBDC0053). The SBDC053 is an amazing watch, and I will review it, but I have to tell you I keep coming back to this U1.

I have had a lot of fun wearing this Sinn U1, and appreciate its unique take on the otherwise ubiquitous dive watch.

Sinn has only one dealer in the states, and that’s WatchBuys. So if you want to buy one new, that’s your only option here in the USA. I don’t have an affiliate relationship with WatchBuys. I do have affiliate relationships with Amazon and Jomashop, and really appreciate the people who have used my links to buy watches and gear through those sites. When you do that BladeReviews earns a small commission that keeps the website independent, and pays for our excellent writers. Thank you very much.

Also, if you like the watch reviews, here is a link to all our watch reviews.

Microtech Halo VI Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

“I tried being reasonable. I didn’t like it.”

Buy the Microtech Halo VI at BladeHQ

I always enjoyed that quote from Clint Eastwood, and couldn’t help but think about it as I wielded the Halo VI. There is absolutely nothing reasonable about this knife. Any justification that this would be my “new EDC” went completely out the window when I fired it for the first time and ~5″ of steel slammed out of the front with a terrific bang. Even more ridiculous is using the charging handle to recapture the blade. It’s something you would expect to see in a video game. This is a serious piece of hardware. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever owned before, and it revels in its unreasonableness.

But that’s part of what makes knife collecting fun. If everything was a Delica 4 there would be no point to it. Sure we would all have a practical knife clipped to our pocket, but the fun in collecting would be long gone. Thankfully we don’t need to worry about being confined to using a government knife to cut our government cheese any time soon. Unreasonable knives like the Halo VI are doing their part to keep the joy of collecting safely intact.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Halo VI has an overall length of 10.82″, a 4.5″ blade, weighs 6.5 ounces, and is made in the USA. It’s the closet thing I’ll come to owning a light saber. It’s big, it’s unwieldy. If comes from a long series of Halo knives. I won’t proclaim to be an expert on all things Microtech, but my understanding is that this is the first knife that the company produced. It’s a single action out the front automatic.

Here is a link to Microtech’s product page for the Halo VI. They give a detailed look at the knife in all its various configurations. Worth browsing if you are interested in the knife.

Here is a shot of the Halo VI next to my Microtech Stitch:

And as I mentioned before, the Halo VI is not a daily carry. In my book it’s mostly a collectible. Sure, it’s fully functional, and we will get into all of those details in the review, but it’s not a knife I see myself carrying. First of all, there is no pocket clip. Second, it has almost a 5″ blade. Third, it looks and sounds like a weapon of mass destruction.

My girlfriend, who is generally pretty cool with me having dozens of pocket knives scattered all over the house, is legitimately scared of this thing. I can only imagine how the old lady in line at the post office would react to me using this to trim packing tape. Probably by calling 911. Unless you are at a knife show there is no way you will be able to use this knife in public. It’s probably illegal for me to even take it out of the house without obtaining a concealed carry permit. On that note, you will definitely want to check your local laws carefully before carrying a Halo VI. This is not a knife that the general public will understand or appreciate.

But what the Halo VI lacks in practicality, it makes up in novelty. I think it may be the coolest knife I’ve ever owned. And I’ve owned some cool stuff over the years.

Lets check out the blade. At 4.5″ long, and over 4mm thick, it’s an imposing piece of steel. Microtech offers this in a modified drop point (or possibly a clip point) blade that they refer to as the “single-edge” or “S/E”, and they also offer this in an American tanto version with the “T/E” designation.

You also get your choice of serrations, and a number of finish options, including typical finishes like satin, bead blast, and stonewashed finishes. But they also have their “apocalyptic” finish, bronze, D.L.C., and then their painted finish shown here. Normally I’m not a big blade coating guy, but this is what was available with an unserrated edge, so that is what I got.

My blade is made from Bohler M390, a blade steel that needs no introduction at this point, seeing how we have reviewed dozens of knives running M390 by now. It’s a high end stainless steel and is widely considered to be one of the best steels for an EDC knife on the market today. It has that enviable combination of holding an edge for a long time while still being easy to sharpen. Usually a knife steel will either be extremely hard, so the edge holds a long time, but it’s very difficult to sharpen when the knife dulls. That’s not the case with M390, which is why it’s such a popular choice on high end pocket knives. It also finishes nicely, doesn’t chip easily, and is a stainless steel. It’s good stuff.

Given that this knife is a collectible, and not a practical EDC item, I haven’t done a ton of cutting with it. It came very sharp from the factory. It’s not a great slicer due to the thick blade and partial flat grind. It forms a wedge, kind of like a splitting maul, and will pop apart an apple rather than thinly slicing it like a Swiss Army Knife. But that’s OK. They didn’t design this thing to slice apples.

Handle and Ergonomics

A 6.125″ milled 6061-T6 aluminum handle encapsulates our big blade. If a black handle is too pedestrian for you, Microtech offers these in almost every color under the rainbow, including a couple camo variants. I’m fine with black, but then again, I’m boring.

The handle is held together with Microtech’s proprietary hardware. Normally this would be the part of the review where I bitch about proprietary hardware, but I have no intention of taking this knife apart. If there is ever a problem I’ll send it back to Microtech.

The fit and finish on this knife is absolutely top notch. It’s a precision machined piece of hardware. I can’t find a gap, unexpected sharp edge, or flaw anywhere. This may not be the most practical tool, but you have to admire how well it is built.

The Halo VI feels good in the hand. It’s kind of like a small light saber. There is no lack of real estate, and Microtech has created a funky pattern of jimped curves to it that adds some visual interest as well as spots for your fingers to rest.

I suppose the most practical application for the Halo VI would be in a martial arts capacity. I have no training in that regard, so can’t comment on the efficacy of the design in that role. As a layperson, I can tell you it feels fine in hand. There is plenty of room to grip this knife, and you can do so in a number of different configurations. The hard anodizing provides a tiny amount of traction. It’s not slippery, but it isn’t sand paper either.

The Halo VI doesn’t come with a pocket clip. Probably for a reason, as the last thing you would want is for this knife to accidentally deploy in your pants. Even with the new safety, I’d rather not take that risk. And with a closed length of over 6″, it’s not a pocket friendly knife anyways. I’d probably go with an Scarab or Troodon instead for daily carry.

It seems like the best option for carrying your Halo VI is with a sheath. You could requisition a large enough magazine pouch, make a sheath, or have a leather or kydex sheath made for it. There are companies that specialize in making aftermarket sheathes for the Halo VI. Linos Sheathworks currently has a kydex sheath on offer for less than $50.

Deployment and Lockup

This is where we get to the good stuff. This is a single action out the front, which means the blade fires out with a press of the button, but need to manually retract the blade when you are done by pulling back on the charging handle. Contrast this with a double action out the front, where the button is used to both open and close the blade. With the case of a single action Out-The-Front (OTF) automatic, all the spring power has been assigned to ejecting the blade. It’s a lot of fire power. Ejecting the blade of this Halo VI is arguably the single most satisfying knife event in my history as a reviewer. It’s fucking awesome.

For this 6th generation of the Halo, Microtech added a small safety to the firing button. This prevents you from accidentally firing the knife. Not a bad idea, especially if you are crazy enough to carry this thing loose in your pocket. The safety is built into the firing button. You pull down on it ever so slightly, and that allows you to depress the firing button and let the blade loose. Generally I’m not a fan of safetys on folding knives. They tend to get in the way. But this safety has been beautifully executed. Purists may not be a fan of this new addition, but I think it has been done so that it doesn’t get in the way of using this knife.

For lockup, this is essentially a button lock knife. So inside there is a cam that holds the blade in place. One of the prior issues with an OTF knife, is that you tend to get blade play in them. That is especially true for the double action OTF’s I have handled. I haven’t handles a Halo V to see what kind of play, if any, is in that knife, but I can tell you this Halo VI has no play in it. It’s absolutely rock solid.

Retracting the blade is a two handed affair. First you need to depress the button. Once again that requires you to use the built in safety. With the button depressed you then pull on the charging rod to recapture the blade. It takes a good amount of force to overcome the spring tension and bring the blade back. The blade slides back in place with a sharp metallic twang. It’s a great sound. I’ve never armed a bear trap, but I would expect it to sound something like recapturing the blade on a Halo VI. It’s significant and satisfying.

The charging rod and the mechanism that holds it into the handle is worth examining. It’s all precision machined. The retaining mechanism is a couple spring loaded tabs. Everything reeks of quality and when the charging rod is in the handle all the parts line up perfectly. I’ve taken a couple detail shots of this, but it has all been beautifully done.

Here is a parting shot of the Halo VI next to my Paramilitary 2. It gives you a good sense of how huge the Halo VI is.

Microtech Halo V.I. Review – Final Thoughts

The Halo V.I. is a lot of fun. It’s also completely ridiculous, which is sure to turn off some people. I’ve been writing knife reviews since 2010, so it’s taken me almost a decade to get around to reviewing a single action OTF. This is a knife that retails for $650, so the expense is one of the reasons I delayed this purchase, but the fact that this is not a knife I can carry and use is the biggest reason why I waited so long to buy one. I like my tool knives, and this Halo V.I. is about as far away from a tool knife as I can get.

But that doesn’t make the Halo V.I. any less fascinating. Part of what makes this knife so satisfying is how well built it is. This is a design that has been refined for 25 years, and it shows. Each detail has been considered and Microtech does a fantastic job with their machining. The resulting knife is borderline obscene, but it has been so well done I can’t help but be impressed with it. Much like the Rockstead Higo I reviewed a while back, it tests the outer limits of what is possible with a production knife.

But as I have continued on my journey of exploring production knives, I’ve ventured further and further from the Benchmade Griptilians and Spyderco Delicas. They are still great, and I plan on continuing to review practical knives, but exploring the outer limits is fun too. This Halo V.I. is certainly out there, but it is so well done that I can’t help but appreciate it.

Accordingly, I can’t recommend this knife for everyone, but if the Halo VI intrigues you, I’m here to say Microtech didn’t cut any corners. Recommended for unreasonable people that that like the idea of a high end single action OTF automatic.

Microtech Halo VI – From $650.00
From: BladeHQ

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

Manly Patriot Review

by Dan Jackson Leave a Comment

Oddly enough, I find myself writing the first draft of this review of the Manly Patriot on the morning of the 4th of July. Fitting to write a about a knife called the Patriot on a day set aside for patriots. But then again, I’m not sure how patriotic it is for me to write about a knife made in Bulgeria on Independence Day. I should probably be reviewing this Patriotic Eagle Head and USA Flag Folding Knife instead.

Back to the Patriot. I reviewed it’s folding cousin, the Manly Peak, a few months ago, and enjoyed its clean, utilitarian design.

The Patriot is even simpler. Not surprising given it was designed to be the fixed blade version of the Peak. I’ve had my heads in the clouds recently reviewing high end folders, so it’s almost odd to hold something this simple and spare. But let’s face it, these kinds of designs are the most practical, and most likely to see some use. Accordingly, my Patriot has seen a good deal of action. It’s one of those blissfully simple knives you can’t help but use. I’m ready to write about it.

This knife was provided by the manufacturer for review and long term testing. All thoughts are my own.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Manly Patriot has an overall length of 8.66″ (220mm), a 3.70″ (94mm) blade, and weighs 4.4oz (126g) ounces. Manly is a Bulgarian knife company, and that’s where the Patriot was both designed and manufactured.

I think the knife is a great size for general utility purposes. It wouldn’t be out of place if you lived on a rural property, and could accompany you on a hunting or fishing trip. Certainly it would work well on a camp site, and it’s perfectly fine for tooling around in the back yard. It has a good heft to it, so it’s not ideal for ultra lightweight backpacking, but it’s fine for day hikes. It’s too large to be an urban EDC fixed blade. It was designed to be an all-purpose utility knife and I think it’s dimensions are appropriate with that in mind.

The blade is an ultra simple drop point with a full flat grind. There is no swedge. The tip is fine without being delicate. The edge has been evenly applied and there is a small sharpening choil. The entire knife has been given a something of a satin finish. All of this is simple but nicely executed.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the blade is how it has been ground from 4mm thick stock. It’s relatively thick stock for a small knife like this. Still, the Patriot is ground thin behind the edge and is a capable slicer. I’ve used this knife quite a bit for cutting apples. It cuts beautifully in that capacity, and the simple fixed blade design makes the knife much easier to clean than a folder.

Just like the Peak series of folders, Manly offers the Patriot in a variety of blade steels, including S90V, 154CM and DIN 1.2379. My particular knives came in DIN 1.2379. DIN 1.2379 is a German steel and is equivalent to ANSI D2. Here is a link to the full data sheet for 1.2379 where you can review the chemical composition. Here is a link to DIN 1.2379 on the excellent ZKnives Steel Composition Chart. With a Chromium content of 12%, 1.2379 is more stainless than other variants of D2.

My experience with the Patriot in DIN 1.2379 has proven it to be a capable cutter multiple times. The toothy steel and full flat grind means the knife cuts aggressively. It’s a wonderful knife for breaking down large cardboard boxes, and tackling other large utility oriented chores. I’ve found the knife to be a capable carver, easily peeling off large strips of wood from some ficus logs I have in my back yard. It isn’t great for batoning, as it’s a relatively short blade, and a full flat grind, but you can baton little sticks and stuff with it.

I haven’t had any issues with rust or corrosion. I wouldn’t have guessed this steel came in a D2 analog. It’s nothing like the D2 on my old Benchmade 710. This DIN 1.2379 is easier to maintain and seems to be more stainless.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Patriot features contoured G10 handle scales permanently fastened to the handle with epoxy and eyelet rivets. Fit and finish is excellent. The parts all line up and are flush. The edges of the handle scales have been sanded down for comfort and rounded to provide some palm swell. The eyelet rivets are simple yet effective. The eye holes themselves are large and you can easily thread a couple strands of paracord through them. Perfect if you want to attach a lanyard or lash the knife to a stick for some reason. Rounding things out is a small amount of exposed tang at the pommel. This could be used as an impact tool.

The ergonomics of the Patriot are excellent. As I mentioned earlier, there are no sharp edges on the handle and the handle design itself is simple. The combination of contoured handle scales and thick blade stock fill your hand nicely. There is sharp jimping on the thumb ramp, and the secondary finger ramp right before the sharpening choil. This provides excellent grip, even in slippery situations. The G10 itself has a very light texture to it. Most of the grip comes from the jimping.

In practice I found this to be a comfortable handle. The knife has a natural feel in both forward and reverse grips. The balance point is about an inch behind the forward eyelet rivet, giving the knife a neutral feel if you choke back. Snugged up on the handle it has a slightly forward feel to it. The jimping strikes that nice balance of being present but not obnoxious. You can cut for an extended period of time without your thumb wanting to fall off.

All said this is a comfortable knife that will be easy to use in a wide variety of circumstances.

Sheath

The Patriot comes with a molded kydex sheath. The sheath has been finished in the same simple yet thoughtful manner that the knife has, and it serves as a good counterpoint to the knife. There is a large eyelet rivet so you can tie a lanyard to the sheath, or you can attach the included belt loop to any one of the 7 small eyelet rivets and thread a belt or strap through the loop and carry it that way.

The fit and finish on the sheath is excellent. It has been crisply cut, and it’s sturdy. There is a drainage hole near the tip. Retention is great. The knife slides in with a solid “snap” and the knife is held firmly in place. There is no rattle or shake of any kind.

This is the kind of sheath I would like to see with pretty much every production fixed blade knife. It’s a simple kydex sheath with good knife retention and plenty of mounting options. What else could you ask for?

I’m not as impressed with the belt loop. It’s the kind where you need to take your belt off to pass your belt through the loop, vs. a quick release system. It’s basic and it works, and I suppose if you wanted something fancier you could always mount a tek-lock to the sheath. But it’s not something I see myself using. I prefer to instead pass a length of paracord through the large eyelet rivet and tie that to my belt and then carry the knife in my waistband or pocket.

Here is a parting shot of the Patriot next to my Benchmade Nimravus:

I recently repurchased the Nimravus and have an updated review coming soon. It’s a bigger knife, and seems far more complicated than the Patriot.

Many Patriot Review – Final Thoughts

I’m a fan of the Patriot. It’s everything you need from a small fixed blade knife and nothing you don’t. At around $75.00 I think it is priced appropriately. You get a thoughtful design that has been nicely executed with high quality materials. The blade cuts well, the handle is comfortable, and the sheath is excellent. DIN 1.2379 is something of an unknown quantity here in the States, but I have found it holds a good edge, is easy to maintain, and I haven’t had any issues with rust or corrosion.

I have found myself reaching for the Patriot again and again. It’s great for dirty jobs whether they are big or small. While a simple knife like this won’t attract the attention of a high end production folder, it’s perfect for people that want a simple no-nonsense fixed blade for general use. Recommended.

My understanding is that Manly Knives are mostly sold through their distributors at this point. So I recommend purchasing the Manly Peak and Peak 2 at ManlyUSA if you live in the States or Manly Canada if you are in Canada.

I recommend buying knives at Amazon and BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

Hinderer Knives is a company best known for their overbuilt XM Series. Burly titanium framelock flippers that helped popularize the titanium framelock flipper. So to see them release the XM-18 Slippy, a slip joint using their XM pattern, is a bit of an oddity. But then again, it’s not that surprising given the recent resurgence of interest in slip joint knives.

Buy the Hinderer XM-18 Slippy at BladeHQ

And oddly enough this may be their most practical daily carry folder yet. Reasonably small, slim, lightweight, and retailing for under $300, this may be the Hinderer that you didn’t realize you needed.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The XM Slippy has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 3.71 ounces, and is made in the USA. It’s a great size for urban or suburban daily carry. It has similar dimension to the XM-18 3″, but is a hair thinner, .4 ounces heavier, and $150 cheaper.

I think if they had to borrow from one of the XM framelocks, the 3″ version was smart. This is all I need for an EDC knife. The 3.5″ version would have been way too much.

Hinderer has rolled this knife out in a couple of blade shapes, but shown here we have their classic drop point. It’s hard to go wrong with the clean look and practical features of a drop point. A good functional tip, plenty of belly, and Hinderer’s high flat “slicer” grind all work together to provide all-round performance.

Most of these early XM-18 Slippys appear to be coming with CPM-20CV blade steel. We are starting to see more high end knives in CPM-20CV. I’ve reviewed a couple Benchmade knives in this steel, including the G-10 Griptilian. Another notable knife in CPM-20CV is the Cold Steel 4MAX.

So at this point I have a few knives in my long term collection in CPM-20CV and I’ve put some miles on them. CPM-20CV is Crucible’s answer to Boeller M390. It’s the same chemical composition as M390, but it’s made by Crucible in the USA. I think it’s a great steel, and it provides a good blend of edge retention, ease of sharpness, corrosion resistance and toughness. Here is a link to ZKnives’ page on 20CV where you can get some more details.

In practice this is a slicey knife that has performed admirably in all the typical EDC chores. I have used my Slippy for your basic EDC knife stuff including opening mail, breaking down boxes, light food prep, and the random jobs that you invariably encounter when carrying a pocket knife. For each task the Slippy worked fine. It slices well and the stonewashed finish hasn’t shown much in the way of wear. Edge retention has been great, and when it’s time to touch it up, all I’ve needed to do is run the edge along the fine stones that came with my Spyderco Sharpmaker. I can’t ask for much more out of a daily carry blade.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocekt Clip

The handle is textured G10 scales over titanium liners secured with Hinderer’s custom hardware. One complaint is they have a lot of extra bolts on this thing. The show side has the pivot, 2 bolts by the lanyard hole, and then 3 button head bolts running across the handle. These may be necessary for their slip joint mechanism, but it’s not pretty. It would look much cleaner if they could ditch the button heads.

Beyond that, everything has been executed with Hinderer’s typical care and attention to detail. All the pieces have been beautifully finished, the parts line up, and any sharp edges have been broken. Anyone who has handled a regular XM will know what I’m talking about. The fit and finish is top notch.

This is a comfy little knife. The 3″ XM pattern is tried and true, and it’s just the same for this slip joint version. You have a good size handle with plenty of room for a full 4 finger grip. If you want to choke up on the blade you can with the forward choil. There is a run of mild jimping on the spine of the handle right above the pivot, and the textured G-10 scales offer grip without shredding your pocket like a fresh emery board.

The pocket clip is your standard XM-18 spoon style clip positionable for right side tip up or tip down carry. This is a proven clip that does a good job of keeping the knife mostly buried in the pocket. Hinderer includes a filler plate so you fill the void in the G-10 when you reposition the clip.

There isn’t much to complain about when it comes to this pocket clip. Some may favor a deep carry clip, but very little of the handle peeks up out of your pocket anyway. In practice the Slippy carried like a dream. Thin, lightweight, and discreet.

Walk and Talk

For the most part, all the stuff above is essentially a review of the 3″ XM-18 in CPM-20CV steel. Nothing earth shattering in my findings. This section is where it gets interesting. Our titanium framelock has been replaced with a slip joint, and our flipper and thumb studs have been replaced with an adjustable thumb disk.

The thumb disk is removable with an allen wrench, so this knife can be made into a 2 hand opener. Good for certain legal jurisdictions. Personally, I left the thumb disk on, but I did adjust it by loosening it with an allen bit from my WiHa bit set, and then sliding the thumb disk down the channel cut into the blade.

I positioned it to a good “sweet spot” where my thumb naturally brushes it when gripping the knife. In practice I think this is a cool feature. The groove in the blade may look a little weird at first, but I quickly got over it, and I like how the thumb disk can be adjusted to fit your hand.

Here is a size comparison with the Slippy next to my Spyderco Native 5:

Lets talk about the walk and talk, since this is a slip joint after all. The backspring on this knife is pretty good. I’d give it a “6” on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being floppy, and a 10 requiring significant force. I’d put most Swiss Army Knives around a 3 or 4. The Slippy has a good amount of resistance, but it won’t rip your fingernails off as you try to open the blade.

The blade opens up with a satisfying snap, and that same strong spring holds the blade open. There isn’t a hard half stop, but there is a “no man’s land” at the 90 degree point. From there you can push the blade closed and the spring takes up the slack to bring the blade home.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy Review – Final Thoughts

I liked this XM-18 Slippy more than I expected to. What I appreciate is the simplicity. The Slippy has everything you need, and nothing you don’t. I know everyone’s needs are different, but for me 99% of the time I don’t need a locking folder for my daily carry chores. So this slip joint version strikes me as streamlined and practical given what I require out of an EDC knife. For those wanting a more robust locking folder, there is always their regular XM-18 series.

In addition to the practicality of the XM-18 Slippy, I’m also drawn to the price. A sub $300 Hinderer is an accomplishment in my book. The Slippy is a full $150 cheaper than their framelock version. It’s still expensive, but this is a relatively small batch precision product made in the USA. It oozes the kind of quality you would expect from Hinderer. My example is flawless, and at this price I’m a little more inclined to roll the Slippy in my daily rotation carry than keep it as a collectible.

As for potential downsides, I’m not a fan of the extra screws featured on the show side. I haven’t taken this knife apart to see why the bolts are necessary, but probably should. If I do I’ll snap a picture and update the review. Also, some may not be able to get around the thumb disk and channel in the blade. It’s unusual and strikes me as an acquired taste, but I don’t mind it. Like the rest of the knife, it’s practical and it works.

In closing I think Hinderer did a nice job with their take on the slip joint. The slip joint bandwagon has been gaining a lot of steam lately, but Rick and his team have found away to offer a unique take on the slip joint that compliments their existing lineup. Recommended if you are looking for a premium non-locking EDC, are curious about the design, or are a fan of Hinderer knives in general.

Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy
From: BladeHQ

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I recommend purchasing the Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy at BladeHQ, Amazon, or Knife Art. 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.

EDC Update – June 2018

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

It’s that time again. About 6 months ago we did our first EDC update. I enjoyed it and hope everyone reading did too. With summer fast approaching I decided to check in with the guys and see what they were carrying these days. Without further adieu…

Grayson

For those not in the know, my carry for the average workday falls into a simple pattern. The specifics may change (especially if I have something in for review), but in general, I’ll always have a modern folding knife, a traditional folding knife, a small flashlight, a ballpoint pen, a watch, a fidget toy, and a handkerchief. It should go without saying that I have my phone, wallet, and keys on me as well, in addition to a bag I use to carry other necessities. On paper, it’s easy to imagine that I look like Napoleon Dynamite with a pocket full of tater tots, but in reality it’s not that bad. I’ve put a lot of thought into my carry, and everything in it has a purpose.

Over the last few months my carry has ossified as my work hours increased. If I’m just running out the door without putting any thought into my carry, odds are it’ll be the following:

Kizer Feist – It’s simply a great do-everything knife. Well-made, utilitarian, fun to fidget with, and looks good regardless of the setting.
Northwoods Big Bay – This is a relatively recent addition, as I picked it up in a trade a month or so back. At first I thought the red micarta would be off-putting, but the burlap weave adds a ton of depth to the material.
Veleno Designs Quantum DD – My first real flashlight, and one that I still carry regularly. It’s absolutely tiny, perfect for tossing into a pocket and forgetting (until you leave it in your pants and have to dig through the laundry to find it).
Tactile Turn Shaker V2 – I own both the V1 and the V2, and as much as I love the original, the updated mechanism and improved grip are definitely convenient on the job site. A review of this will be coming soon.
Seiko Alpinist – Still fantastic. I’ve since thrown it on a Strapcode Jubilee bracelet and it’s done a great job of handling daily wear as well as the odd formal event.
AroundSquare Titans – Make all the jokes you want, this little set of begleri is a lifesaver. I spend the majority of workday driving on the I-5, and anything that keeps my hands away from my phone is a godsend.

That’s about it. Feel free to lob any questions my way in the comments.

Editor: Follow Grayson on Instagram and Twitter. He has a great mix of gear and wildlife photos.

Ben

Last time I checked in for the EDC update, I was planning on getting rid of the majority of my knife collection. Nine months later, I’m still planning on it. Life, as ever, has gotten in the way of that final purgation; butting through the door like an unwanted, boorish relative and gobbling up weeks’ worth of my attention with one drama after another: a work trip, a personal trip, and most recently a move.

I have come a lot closer to being a One Knife Man, though. Outside of review carry, my go-to blade has been the Ferrum Forge Gent, obtained through Massdrop, produced by We Knife Co. Initially, this knife looked like a pass. But I really wanted a We-produced knife, and their in-house designs around the size I wanted looked even more pass-worthy to my eye, so rather than wait for some possibly-never-to-materialize ideal, I bought the Gent and waited for it to come in.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding this knife, but I have to say I’ve found little of that hype to be hyperbole. The Gent is just a great knife. While not prepossessing in pictures, in real life there’s some kind of inexplicable added dimension to the knife that’s truly appealing. The luxurious fit and finish deepens that appeal even further: something about the way We produces a knife makes me want to compare it to pastry-making or cookie baking. There’s something…delicious about their process, a fusion of cold machining muscle and hand-finished warmth. Cold, industrial materials like titanium and G-10 become softened into something positively delectable.

Most importantly the Gent, like the Chaparral FRN, makes no meaningful compromises while hitting a sub-$100 price tag. If we consider knives as tools first, and not collectibles, tchotchkes, or trinkets, then affordability is the final frontier for knife design, pure and simple. Making the best things the knife world has to offer obtainable by somebody who’s pulling in an average (which is to say, insufficient) paycheck each week, should always be lauded as the major advance that it is. Here, Massdrop/Ferrum Forge/We Knife Co. have delivered S35VN steel, titanium, ceramic ball-bearing pivot, and custom maker pedigree for not that much more than the price of a Delica. I find that more than a little astonishing, and more than a little laudable.

On the review side of things, I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the Steel Will Cutjack, which does a similar magic trick in the budget knife (as opposed to ‘affordable knife’) category. This is such a smart design. Materially, getting D2 steel at this price point steel feels like winning a minor jackpot, and the flipping action punches way above its weight. Even I, not a flipper fan by any means, enjoy the snappy, kinetic feel of the Cutjack’s washer-based pivot. During the move I really put the Cutjack through its paces on tape, cardboard, weeds, and more, and it powered through tasks both big and small with equal finesse. It’s not a perfect knife, but the Cutjack feels like the next generation of budget cutlery.

Follow Ben on Twitter. His Twitter account is great. Book recommendations, horror prompts, and some knife stuff.

Dan

There have been a few semi-interesting updates in my EDC over the past few months.

As usual, I’ve had the good fortune of testing out some interesting knives. Blades like the Rockstead Higo, DPx HEST/F Urban, Microtech Stitch, and Code Steel 4Max are each compelling in their own way. But the stuff that has scored some serious pocket time is a little more pedestrian. A good example is of the FRN Native 5. The humble Native 5 is just a rock star blade. I think folks forget how good the Native is, and this updated version with a fully flat ground blade of S35VN is superb. It’s an awesome no frills EDC piece.

Another surprise hit is the Hinderer XM Slippy. Hinderer is known for their overbuilt titanium framelock folders, so the fact that they hopped on the slip joint bandwagon is a little surprising, but the knife is kind of delightful. It’s slim, reasonably light, has a thinly ground blade that cuts great, and the slip joint is sturdy with good walk and talk. Even the price isn’t too bad at under $300 for a USA made Hinderer folding knife. I dig it more than the regular XM series.

Arguably the biggest change in my EDC is that I broke down and bought a nice pen. Grayson had his Tactile Turn Slider for sale and I couldn’t resist. And this is after resisting pens for many years. This pen is beautifully built and a lot of fun. I found myself obsessively clicking it when it first arrived. It has been a couple months now and I’m still enjoying it. While I don’t think I’ll go crazy and buy a ton of pens, I definitely appreciate them a little more now.

Another sizable change is that I’ve started to carry my Leatherman Wingman more often in a belt sheath. As a lawyer this is definitely a “nights and weekends” carry, but it’s found its way as standard equipment now. In part because I’ve gotten back into fishing. This is a great tool for cutting line, and having it on your belt is super handy. It may be a little dorky to have one of these on your belt, but I’m getting value out of it, so I’ll continue to roll with the Wingman. It remains an awesome inexpensive multi-tool.

For my light I keep finding myself returning to the Streamlight Microstream. It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t. Thanks again to Ben for gifting me this piece. I would definitely buy it again if I ever lost it.

For my watch the Sinn U1 reigns supreme. I fantasize about buying a Rolex on a somewhat regular basis, but I can’t justify the expense right now, and I love the U1. In many ways it is the anti-Rolex, and I think that is why I enjoy it so much. In a watch world where most dive watches pretend to be the Submariner, the U1 marches to the beat of its own drum. My watch in particular has been through hell. It was pretty beat up when I bought it used a few years ago, and since then I’ve added even more scuffs, nicks, and scrapes. But it still works great.

Finally for my wallet I continue to use a Big Skinny Bifold. Tony turned me on to Big Skinny wallets years ago, and the one I have now is holding up great. I’ve had it for a couple years now, but I can hardly tell. It’s broken in perfectly and continues to be a top notch piece of gear. I highly recommend it, especially if you carry cash and want a full size wallet.

Wrap Up

That’s it for now. Let us know what you think of our carries and all that good stuff in the comments section.

Rockstead Higo Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

Today I’ll be reviewing an expensive knife. There is no way around it. The Rockstead Higo retails for the better part of $1000. It’s insanely expensive, and it’s taken me the better part of 10 years of writing about knives to work my way up to purchasing one. I’ve considered it before, but always had something else I’d rather spend $800 on. Like food, rent, and child support. But recently I got my priorities straightened out and purchased a Rockstead for review.

Buy the Rockstead Higo at BladeHQ

So it may come as a surprise to hear that the Higo is actually one of Rockstead’s least expensive offerings. You can easily spend $1,500 to $3,000 on one of their knives.

The Higo is one of their simpler, more utilitarian models. Relatively simple duraluminum handles and a single stand off house a beautiful, smoky black DLC coated blade. And it’s not just any blade, it’s Rockstead’s beautiful “HONZUKURI” double convex blade shape brought to a flawless mirror polish. Yes, it’s high time we reviewed a Rockstead, and examined this knife in all of it’s expensive glory. By the way, I am writing this review from a cardboard box.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Higo has an overall length of 8.5″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 3.6 ounces and is made in Japan. It’s a larger knife but could be EDCd if you like the idea of daily carrying an ultra high end pocket knife. I think it is one of Rockstead’s more staid models, but personally, I wouldn’t EDC this thing. Not only is it too expensive for me to use without feeling guilty, I have major reservations regarding how I would sharpen the knife. I’ll comment on that further below.

The Higo comes with a long drop point blade. The tip on the knife is fairly high, and it provides a rather abrupt belly. The blade is saber ground, and there is a hole in the flat of the blade with a short milled fuller. I am not sure if that’s for decoration, or is part of the manufacturing process. I never think too hard about that because my eye is inevitably drawn to the beautiful mirror polished primary bevel.

As an aside, this polished blade is a bear to photograph. My photography has never been great, but I apologize for the especially schlocky photos accompanying this review. I did my best to keep my mug out of the photographs, but there are still all sorts of reflections in the shots showing the blade.

Rockstead’s process for finishing the blades this way is time consuming, and labor intensive. This is part of the reason why Rockstead knives are so expensive. Rockstead does a reasonable job explaining the process on their website. Apparently someone hand sands these blades starting at 400 grit going all the way up to 2000 grit. Then additional finishing work is done on the knife through some proprietary processes that are well beyond my pay grade as a lay person.

The net result is the most beautiful blade I have ever laid my eyes on. The grinds are beautifully crisp. The machining is outstanding. And the mirror polish is flawless. The net result is stunning. There is nothing else like a Rockstead blade.

Rockstead offers the Higo in two blade steels: a DLC Coated YXR7 version (shown here) or an uncoated ZDP-189 version. YXR7 is a high speed tool steel manufactured by Hitachi. YXR7 has the enviable combination of being tough, but also being able to be heat treated to a high hardness. Here is a link to the zKnives data sheet on YXR7.

Rockstead states that it’s the durability of the YXR7 that allows them to put an ultra thin 3 micron thick coat of DLC over the blade. Paired with a less shock resistant steel, the DLC coating would crack like an egg shell. But when paired with YXR7 the shock is dissipated and you are left with an otherworldly blade.

Each knife is individually checked for hardness, and Rockstead reports that on the information card that comes with the knife. My particular knife was heat treated to 65.2 HRc. Impressive.

OK, this is normally the part of the review where I comment on the real world performance of the knife after extensive carry and use. That never happened with the Higo. It’s just too nice of a knife for me to get down and dirty with.

Furthermore, I’m concerned that if I used the knife I’d be unable to sharpen it. Especially this DLC coated variant. With the ZDP-189 version you can probably maintain the edge with careful stropping. But here, only a teeny tiny bit of the edge is exposed. The rested is coated in DLC. How the hell do you sharpen this thing? Rockstead offers a “free sharpening service” but you need to ship the knife back to Japan for that. Sorry guys, but I didn’t want to go down that path with this knife.

I will say I’ve been to the Rockstead booth at Blade Show a few times and they had many samples available, and they would cut phone books and rope with the knives at the show. They can certainly cut, and from what I understand they hold an edge unlike anything else thanks in part to the insane hardness and unique blade geometry.

But I can’t speak from personal experience. Instead, I’ll embed a video from Rockstead showing some of their performance testing:

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Compared with the magnificent blade, the handle is a little less interesting. It’s still beautifully machined, but lets face it, few things can stand up to the blade of a Rockstead. Here we have black anodized duraluminum handles. A pleasant wave pattern has been milled into the handles. Execution of the handles themselves is great, but one area leaving me wanting a little more is with the hardware. The hardware almost appears like cheap pot metal compared to the blade. I’d love to see some decorative hardware or polished hardware to match the blade. As it stands, it appears more like an after thought. At this price everything needs to be special.

I have no complaints in the ergonomics department. This simple and straight forward handle design. There is plenty of room, and an absence of excessive curves and ‘ergonomic features’ means that the handle will be comfortable for most people. That said, you do get light jimping on both the top and bottom of the blade, toothier jimping on the handle, and a finger choil. All of this stuff has been exercised with a degree of restraint to the point where it all plays in the background. It’s the ergonomic equivalent of muzak. Present, but hard to register unless you pay close attention.

The pocket clip is downright primitive compared to the rest of the knife. It’s a DLC blackened spring style clip, mounted high on the handle for deep carry with a single torx screw. There is nothing wrong with any of this, but it is crudely stamped “MADE IN JAPAN”. Not the end of the world, but not the most elegant solution either. Given the attention of detail lavished on this blade I would have expected a little more.

The good news is that the pocket clip works great, and the knife carries well. It’s a long knife, but thin and lightweight, so you don’t notice it much. The pocket clip has good spring retention, so it keeps the knife planted in place, and it all but buries completely in your pocket. Not bad, but not amazing either.

The clip is also a fingerprint magnet. Much like the blade.

Deployment and Lockup

The Higo primarily makes use of dual thumb studs to get the blade open. The thumb studs are prominent, and the blade is easy enough to open with either hand. Additionally, the exposed tang when closed gives you the option of a “front flipper” of sorts. You can’t actually flip the blade open, but you can get the blade mostly open with this faux flipper.

The blade rotates fluidly on generous phosphor bronze washers. It isn’t a fast deploying knife, but it feels purposeful.

The frame lock of the Higo engages with a soft click. It’s an aluminum framelock with a stainless steel lockbar insert. I think it is interesting to note that the lockbar insert has also been given the DLC treatment. Little details like that are good to see. Frankly I expect them on a knife this expensive. Lockup is a solid 50% and there is zero blade play of any kind.

I struggled to find a good knife to use for the size comparison section. The blade of the Higo is so tough to photograph, that I ended up choosing the Zero Tolerance 0450CF. The matte DLC blade on the 0450CF made it possible to get a workable photo.

Blade centering is absolutely perfect on my knife. Once again at this price point I would expect nothing less.

Rockstead Higo Review – Final Thoughts

On one hand the Higo is a stunning knife. The blade is unlike anything else I have reviewed. It’s an otherworldly work of art. You simply won’t find anything else like it on the production market. That beautiful blade is combined with an elegant handle. It is a juxtoposition of Japanese elegance and their fanatical pride in what they do. Rockstead has taken the production pocket knife to extremes few of us would consider. In these ways the Higo is a truly special knife.

On the flip side I don’t think this is a particularly practical knife. It’s so expensive I’m hesitant to use it. And if I were to use the knife, it would be damn near impossible for me to sharpen it. Perhaps if I selected the non-DLC coated variant I could strop this thing, but I don’t know how I would sharpen this DLC coated blade with its impossibly small microbevel edge. The only answer is to send it off to Rockstead. They will sharpen it for free provided I can prove I’m the original owner, but I would need to ship the knife to Japan at a considerable expense and risk.

For these reasons I cannot recommend this knife as a daily carry, unless you are a talented sharpener and willing to use a near $1,000 folding knife. Most people won’t do that, and of the few that will actually purchase a Rockstead Higo, I suspect they will treat the knife like I have: gingerly. With so many great $50-200 folding knives in my collection, the Higo has been relegated to a safe queen and curiosity. It’s a beautiful safe queen, but a safe queen none the less.

Rockstead Higo
From: BladeHQ

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