Grayson Parker

Grayson is an avid knife and gear enthusiast. He began writing for BladeReviews in 2015, and has elevated reviewing knives to an art form. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter.

Tactile Turn Shaker V2 Review

by Grayson Parker 1 Comment

Well, Josh beat me to the punch with his review of the TWSBI Eco (which is great, by the way: I have an Eco as well and love it). I’ll admit to being a tad disappointed that mine wasn’t the first pen review to go up, but that’s what you get for falling behind. On the upside, I don’t have to explain what a pen review is doing on a site (supposedly) about knives, so thanks, Josh. Load off my mind.

Buy the Tactile Turn Shaker V2 at BladeHQ

As much as I love fountain pens, they’re ill-suited to my work environment. Most of my uses for a pen are quickly jotting down notes on a variety of surfaces, often using my hand in lieu of scrap paper, and even when I have the luxury of writing on a hard surface, a fountain pen wouldn’t apply enough pressure to imprint onto the graphite copy of the forms I fill out.

Most sane people would look at such a predicament and buy a box of cheap pens from the nearest office supply store, but my fascination with shiny objects will have no truck with that. Thus, when I read Tony’s rave review of the Tactile Turn Shaker a few years back, I knew I had to get one. It appears that my reaction wasn’t an anomaly, either, as the Shaker is without a doubt the most commonly asked-after part of my daily carry.

Unfortunately, Will retired the Shaker years ago, so all I could tell the curious was that the pen was no longer sold. This was true until fall of last year, when he unveiled the second generation of Movers and Shakers, complete with a new, in-house clicky mechanism. Since then, the question has changed from “Where did you get that” to “Is it as good as the first one?” The short answer? Absolutely. Read on for the long answer.

General Dimensions and Details

The Shaker measures in at a neat 5” overall, and weighs just 1.13 ounces. While certainly heavier than the plastic pens supplied by most employers, it’s by no means egregious in use or in the pocket. This is also one of the few categories in which the two generations differ, as the original Shaker is ¼ ounce heavier. Another difference (and one that matters far more) is that Will took the grip pattern from the original Shaker and extended it over the entire body of the new model. The texturing is fantastic: it prevents your fingers from slipping, even in wet conditions, yet isn’t rough enough to cause any discomfort.

Will has a well-earned reputation for stellar machining, and this is plainly evident in the details of the second generation Shaker. Every line from the grip to the clicky mechanism is perfect. One example of this is the seam between the two halves of the body tube, which, while not entirely undetectable, plays a fair imitation of it. The threading is crisp, even, and smooth.

Writing and Refills

Each Shaker ships with a Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refill. Prior to purchasing my original Shaker, the refill I was most familiar with was the Fisher Space Pen in black ink with a medium tip, and it’s probably the refill most folks in the gear community are familiar with. It writes anywhere, regardless of the conditions, and those are great attributes if you need them. If you don’t, there are significant shortcomings that may not be obvious if you haven’t tried other refills. Prior to using the Schmidt, I had no idea that it took an abnormal amount of pressure to write with the Fisher. Other than the weight of the pen, the Schmidt requires virtually no pressure to leave a smooth, consistent line on the page.

Fair warning to the left-handed: the Schmidt takes a few moments to dry, so if smudges are a concern, consider purchasing a different refill online or at a local office supply store. The Shaker accepts all Parker style refills, and I’ve been told it’ll take others if you trim them down to fit.

Deployment and Carry

What truly sets the second generation Shaker apart from the first is the new, in-house clicky mechanism. Good as it is, the original uses a brass Schmidt mechanism that’s prone to wearing out and jamming. It’s enough of a problem that I’ve had to replace the mechanism at least two times. By contrast, Will’s new design is constructed entirely of titanium, and thus far has proven to be quite robust. Despite the rough and tumble nature of fieldwork, the second generation exhibits none of the problems of its predecessor.

The Shaker is the perfect kind of pocket pen: unobtrusive and secure when it’s not needed, yet easy to access when it is. Will deserves a heap of praise for his clip design, which is so simple I can’t fathom why others aren’t using it. Clip aside, the new mechanism has a longer cycle length, which translates into fewer accidental exposures of the refill. More than a few of my old work shirts bear ink stains from the original Shaker.

Tactile Turn Shaker V2 Review – Final Thoughts

If you compare them side-by-side, it’s pretty clear that the Shaker V2 is substantially better. It’s lighter, has a better grip, a more robust mechanism, and in general is finished to a higher quality than the V1. I still carry my original Shaker on a regular basis, but frankly, for sentimental reasons rather than utilitarian ones.

There are a few competitors that operate in this little share of the market, but honestly, Will’s stuff is far and away my favorite. The Shaker V2 is my benchmark for modern ballpoint pens, and will remain so until someone manages to change my mind. If you need a pen that’s durable enough for fieldwork but elegant enough for the boardroom, look no farther.

Tactile Turn Shaker V2
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend buying the Tactile Turn Shaker at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Steel Will Modus F25-12 Review

by Grayson Parker 51 Comments

For most gear geeks, big box stores are a disappointment. Generally the most you can expect to find are some of the nicer Kershaw models, or, if they cater to hunters and law enforcement, a few Benchmades. The one store that broke that model was Sport Chalet. In the year and a half prior to going out of business, the knife case at my local Sport Chalet expanded from the usual suspects – Kershaw, Gerber, Leatherman, a few Benchmades – to include some of the more exotic SOG knives, as well as a few offerings from a relatively new company: Steel Will.

Buy the Steel Will Modus at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

At the time, Steel Will was producing high-end backlocks and a range of fixed blades, and though the designs were attractive, I was never comfortable ponying up the $200+ dollars for a knife that was too big to carry on campus. After trying and failing to buy a Gekko 1552 on the cheap at my local Sport Chalet’s closing sale, I put the company out of mind, assuming that they wouldn’t leave much of an impact in the market.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Nick Shabazz’s review of the Cutjack caught me completely off guard, as not only was this not the Steel Will I was familiar with, but he compared it favorably to the Ontario RAT 1 and 2, both of which are stellar knives for the price. Steel Will was back on my radar, and it was only a matter of time before one of their products ended up on the review docket.

As it turns out, I didn’t have long to wait. Thanks to an informal giveaway hosted by @brancon (a reader, listener, and all-around great guy), I’ve been able to tote the Steel Will Modus F25-12 around for a few months and gather my thoughts on it, which are collected below. Since I came by the Modus because of someone else’s generosity, it only makes sense to pass it along to the community. Read on to learn how you could win one of the better value knives available.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Steel Will Modus is 7.625” overall, with a 3.25” blade housed in a 4.375” handle. Though it doesn’t approach the “voodoo” territory of the Kizer Feist, the Modus does fit a wide, long blade into a fairly compact handle. There is no sense of wasted internal volume like there is with, say, the Spyderco Manix 2LW. Due to the nested, skeletonized steel liners, it’s also relatively lightweight at just 3.39 oz, and thus manages to feel stout but not bulky. Fair warning: though it may not feel like a large knife in the pocket, the blade is probably a bit too long for some office environments, and is certainly too long for some city ordinances.

Size considerations aside, the profile of the Modus’s blade is one of my personal favorites, a modified sheepsfoot (which is arguably just a funky drop point). The gentle, continuous curve of the edge is perfect for everyday cutting tasks. It’s just as good at breaking down boxes as it is preparing a picnic lunch, and as most of the spine’s thickness is carried to the tip of the blade, it should be able to handle some incidental abuse without pause.

In keeping with the theme of general utility, the Modus features a high flat grind. When done right, flat grinds are lean cutters that don’t get bound up in stubborn material like cardboard. Done wrong, they’re sharpened prybars. The success of any given flat grind is mostly dependent on two factors: 1.) how thick the blade stock is, and 2.) where the grind starts. A thick blade can be a fine cutter if the grind starts high enough (the Spyderco Techno is a good example), and a thin blade can be robbed of its potential if the grind starts too low (for instance, the ZT0450). The Modus has the best of both: thin blade stock, at just .11” thick, and a high flat grind.

Unlike most imported value knives, the Modus does not have 8Cr13MoV stamped on the blade. Instead, its blade is made of D2, a not-quite-stainless tool steel with a reputation for toughness and edge retention. My experience with the Modus bears that reputation out. It retained a serviceable (if not outstanding) edge after breaking down a pile of boxes, and it didn’t pick up any chips during the task, either. Unfortunately, it is prone to staining, if not rusting, and I’ve gotten into the habit of wiping it down with some cleaner after carrying it for the day, whether I used it or not.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

The Modus’s handle is, in silhouette, a lean, organic, and slightly aggressive design. Its green FRN scales are supported by nested, skeletonized steel liners, as well as a black stainless steel backspacer. That sounds like a recipe for success, and it would have been, were it not for one problem: the handle pattern. The splotchy, mismatched flecks reek of the 1990s. If I more than glance at the handle scales, I’m immediately whisked back to the cartoons and advertisements of my youth.

Despite finding the handle ugly as sin, I can’t deny that it’s ergonomically superb. The finger indexes suggest rather than demand where your fingers fall, the steel backspacer serves as a counterbalance for the heavy blade, and the generous contouring of the FRN scales ensures that there’s no truly incorrect way to hold the Modus. Even the pattern is functionally excellent, as it lends grip without creating a single hotspot.

If a knife is comfortable to hold, it’s comfortable to carry, at least in my experience. The Modus’s slim profile, contoured handle, and unobtrusive weight all suggest that it should be a fine pocket companion. The pocket clip (often an afterthought for designers) is flawless, neither shredding the lip of my pocket nor making the act of stowing or retrieving it a nuisance. Unfortunately, Steel Will has the same problem with flipper tabs that Cold Steel has with, well, knives. Namely, that small isn’t a dirty word. At the risk of parroting Nick Shabazz, he was spot on in calling it a “pocket pecker”. It might as well be a woodpecker, tapping away at whatever else is floating around in my pocket. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s certainly not endearing.

Deployment and Lock Safety

Fortunately, the Modus’s flipper tab isn’t a total loss. It may not play well with others, but it does just fine as a deployment method. The tab can be pushed (like a button) or pulled (like a lightswitch) to deploy the blade, and each method works well. I’ve had slightly better luck treating it like a button, as the detent isn’t quite crisp enough to open the blade without a bit of extra force behind it. The pivot runs on washers, and the action isn’t especially smooth. (Take that with a grain of salt, however: I tend to overtighten pivot screws on my knives.)

You know you’ve seen too many framelocks when a liner lock feels like a refreshing change of pace. Snide commentary aside, liner locks – this one included – are great. Compared to framelocks, liner locks are less likely to screw up the ergonomics, they’re easier to replace if something goes wrong, and they’re more than strong enough to handle whatever a rational human would use a knife for. The lock on this particular model consistently engages 30-40% of the blade tang, and there is no lock stick, lock rock, or blade play. Disengaging the lock is simple, as the locking leaf is slightly proud of the FRN scales and machined for extra grip.

Steel Will Modus Review – Final Thoughts

My quibbles aside, the Modus is a great knife, especially for the price. Its D2 blade stands head and shoulders above the hoard of budget knives and their 8Cr13MoV steel; factor in the excellent ergonomics, sturdy pocket clip, and reliable (if not great) deployment, and it’s easy to forgive the Nickelodeon-esque handle pattern and oversized flipper tab.

Even so, the competition is quite stiff. Ontario’s RAT 1 and RAT 2 are highly regarded, feature the same materials, and come in at a similar price point. I suspect they’re even made in the same factory, so really, pick whichever model suits your fancy. The Kershaw Skyline is a perennial favorite, if a bit more expensive. I’d consider the 14C28N steel to be a step up from D2, but others can justifiably disagree. Still, the Skyline is a hair too nice to really abuse, and the more robust Modus is better suited to, say, a construction site.

There’s always room for a knife like the Modus in someone’s toolbox. Those on a budget will appreciate that it punches above its price point, and those who’ve long since abandoned rational purchases will be happy to know that their beater knife is still a well-made tool.

As stated in the introduction, I’m giving the Modus away. All you have to do is leave a comment below. A week after this post goes up, I’ll select one commenter using a random number generator, and ship the Modus out to them. Shipping is on me if the winner is within the United States. Apologies for that, but international shipping is a pain.

Next up: the Tactile Turn Shaker V2.

Steel Will Modus F25-11 Linerlock

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in China

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Steel Will Modus at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Rike Thor4s Review

by Grayson Parker Leave a Comment

Rike doesn’t enjoy the same name recognition that Reate, Kizer, or WE Knives does. While those companies are easily recognizable as the leading names in the renaissance of Chinese knife manufacturing, Rike is often left out of the conversation. On one hand, that’s perfectly understandable: unlike Kizer, WE, or Reate, Rike hasn’t cultivated much cachet with trendy designers, relying instead on in-house designs. At the same time, they have the same reputation for quality as the others, and an aesthetic all their own besides.

Buy the Rike Thor4s at BladeHQ

To be perfectly honest, I never thought that Rike would produce a knife that’d suit my tastes. Most of their offerings have blades nearly four inches long, which is utterly out of bounds for my line of work. When I saw the specs for the Thor4s, I nearly spit out my coffee. A reasonably sized integral? From Rike, no less? I was intrigued, and luckily, my girlfriend noticed and passed that information along to my family.

It should be noted that this was a Christmas present from my folks, and if ever there was a cause for bias, it’s the knowledge that your family might read every criticism you level at an earnestly given gift. I don’t think this has affected my judgment, but all the same, it’s something you should know.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Rike Thor4s is among the smallest knives in my collection, with a blade length of 2.375”, a handle length of 3.125”, an overall length of 5.5”, and a weight of 2.08 oz. To be perfectly honest, I was caught off guard by just how small this knife is; to give you a sense a scale, the box is so small I mistook it for jewelry. The blade is short enough that it’s less than ideal on a picnic, but it’s more than long enough for standard office chores. It also bears mentioning that with a blade length less than 2.5”, it’s unlikely to spook any coworkers.

Despite Rike’s fascination with angles, they chose a simple drop point for the blade’s profile. Were it not for a few issues I’ll bring up momentarily, this would be the utilitarian ideal. Most of the spine’s thickness is brought to the tip, so there’s little concern of snapping the tip off, whether in a fall or a bit of prying. The belly is just wide enough to feed, say, the edge of an envelope into, but not so wide that it’ll slip out of a cardboard box you’re breaking down.

The grind on the Thor4s is immaculate. All the details are perfectly executed: the plunge lines are crisp, the swedge is even, and both the primary grind and cutting bevel are consistent and well finished. Unfortunately, the blade stock is thick enough that all that work at a grinder is functionally irrelevant. It cuts fine, don’t get me wrong, but it’s no slicer. That would normally be a deal breaker, but as mentioned above, it’s too short for most food prep anyway.

This is the first knife I’ve reviewed that has M390 steel, and truth be told I haven’t really put it through its paces. A knife this size is meant for intermittent office use, not breaking down a pallet of boxes. It’s held its edge without chipping or rolling, hasn’t rusted, and responds reasonably well to a loaded leather strop. The high satin polish has a remarkable rainbow sheen that undoubtedly helps with rust resistance.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Of course, the prime selling point of the Rike Thor4s is its integral handle. For the uninitiated, that means that the handle is milled from a single block of material, which in this case is titanium. It’s an expensive process with few (if any) practical upsides, and most of an integral’s appeal lies in its status as a feat of engineering. Rike’s design language carries this theme to its logical endpoint, as the over-machined aesthetic pushes the Thor4s into “pocketable sculpture” territory.

Overall, the ergonomics of the Thor4s are fine, with the exception of two distinct flaws. The first of those is the butt of the handle, which, as you can see, tapers down to a wide, flaired end that leaves a rather sharp point on either side of the handle. In turn, this generates a slight hotspot when the knife is opened, though not when it’s held normally during use. The second issue is the pocket clip. For what I can only guess are aesthetic reasons, the tip of the clip isn’t rounded, or even squared: instead, it ends in an angular point. Most of the time this isn’t a problem, but every so often it catches on the meat of my palm in an altogether unpleasant way.

Normally knives with questionable ergonomics are also unpleasant to carry, but such isn’t the case here. It’s lightweight, compact, and its ergonomic flaws are only noticeable in the hand. As much as I want to rail against milled pocket clips in general, the spring tension on the Thor4s is quite nice, neither fraying the lip of my pocket nor acting like a hook instead of a clip.

Deployment and Lock Up

The blade is deployed by a well-executed flipper. It’s definitely of the ‘pull’ variety: trying to push on the tab will only leave you with a bruised finger. Instead of washers, the pivot runs on caged bearings, which is to be expected at this price point. The detent is crisp, the action is smooth, and as far as deployment is concerned, there’s not a fault to be found.

Once deployed, the blade is held open by a titanium frame lock that features a stainless steel lock insert. There is no horizontal or vertical blade play, and the lock consistently engages around 30% of the blade tang. The decorative pivot collar also functions as an overtravel stop. This is exactly the list of features I want in an integral frame lock. By contrast, when I was working on the DPx Aculus review, I was always aware that if something happened to the lock, I’d be up a certain creek without a paddle.

Rike Thor 4 Review – Final Thoughts

Overall, the Thor4s is an intriguing – if imperfect – addition to the market. The blade stock is a bit chunky, and the ergonomics a bit pokey, but at heart the Thor4s is an office knife, and as such those two flaws are tolerable. Between the top notch manufacturing, high end materials, and the novelty of a sub-3” integral, there’s more than enough to redeem the design.

It’s difficult to find comparisons to the Thor4s. There are plenty of production integrals, but few at this price point, and none at this size. The Lionsteel SR-22 (when it debuts) will be the next smallest integral that I’m aware of, but even then it will be substantially larger than the Thor4s. If you’re in the market for reasonably sized integral, this is likely your only option.

Next up: the Steel Will Modus.

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Rike Thor4s at BladeHQ or Amazon.com. Thanks for reading!

Seiko SARB017 ‘Alpinist’ Review

by Grayson Parker 8 Comments

The internet is a terrible place. Sure, it’s led to countless advances, enabled markets that never would have existed otherwise, and allows us humans to keep in touch with each other in ways never seen before, but it also pushes me to make stupid decisions with my money on a regular basis. For example: if there were no internet, there’d be no 555Gear. If there were no 555Gear, I wouldn’t have stumbled across this video of the Seiko Alpinist. If I didn’t stumble across that video, I wouldn’t be typing this right now with a Seiko Alpinist on my wrist.

Buy on Amazon

Without the internet – or more specifically, the online watch community – it’s likely that the Alpinist would be relegated to obscurity outside of Japan. That’s not an indictment of the watch, mind. It’s just that the Alpinist doesn’t really have much name recognition to draw on prior to 1995. Versions older than that bear no resemblance to the modern SARB017, which was released in 2006 and has grown to be a hit among watch enthusiasts.

Fit

The Alpinist is a small watch by modern standards. At 38mm wide by 12mm tall, it’s an altogether different experience compared to my usual go-to, the Seiko Turtle. If the Turtle is the largest watch I can wear, the Alpinist is probably the smallest. The 38mm case doesn’t look undersized on my 7.25” wrist, but anyone with larger wrists should definitely try it on prior to purchase. Thankfully the case isn’t tall enough to attract the attention of nearby door knobs.

Movement

Ticking away inside the Alpinist is Seiko’s 6R15 movement, which is frequently found in middle and upper tier Seiko watches. Introduced in 2006, the 6R15 is a derivative of the venerable 7S26, though it adds hacking, handwinding, and a 50 hour power reserve. The product literature states that it shouldn’t gain more than 25 or lose more than 15 seconds per day, and my dalliance with a time tracking app indicates that the Alpinist is losing an average of 5.3 seconds a day – pretty good rate, all told. Resetting it once or twice a month has kept me on time, and doing so isn’t a hassle thanks to the hacking seconds hand. Additionally, the Alpinist’s movement features Seiko’s Diashock system, which allows the movement to better absorb impacts or falls.

Case and Crown

The case is stunning, if simple. Most of the surfaces have such a high polish that light runs across it like liquid. Yes, it will scratch easily: mine has picked up several already, despite all efforts to the contrary. They’re small enough that some polishing cloth could likely remove them, but for now they don’t detract from the aesthetics. As this is designed to be a mountaineering watch, it’s no surprise that the Alpinist doesn’t feature a display caseback, but instead has an engraved steel plate.

The Alpinist has a signed crown at 3 o’clock and a smaller, unsigned crown at 4 o’clock. The former is the primary crown, and is used to wind the watch and set the time and date, while the latter is used to rotate the internal compass bezel (which will be discussed below). Both crowns are expertly finished and feature large ridges instead of knurling or a similar pattern, although the ‘valleys’ between ridges on the primary crown are machined for a bit of extra grip. It’s a subtle touch, but appreciated.

Dial, Bezel, and Crystal

Of course, the true draw of the Alpinist is the sunburst green dial. It possesses an odd (and difficult to photograph) characteristic: the color and texture of the dial changes depending on the light. In shade, it’s darker, smoother, and softer, almost like mossy undergrowth; direct sunlight, on the other hand, brings out warm undertones and sharpens the slight texture on the dial. The golden hands, numerals, and indices work surprisingly well in both cases. Seiko’s choice of cathedral hands lends an elegance to the design, even if I can’t shake the feeling that they’d look perfectly at home in Middle Earth.

Given the dressy aesthetic of the dial and hands, one would expect some of the technical notes to detract from the cohesiveness of the design. Oddly enough, that isn’t the case. The interior of the hands are painted with Seiko’s Lumibrite, and there are lume pips on the dial just over (or under, depending on your perspective) each numeral and indice. They’re unobtrusive during the day, but sadly they’re also quite small, which means the luminance fades quickly, especially on the pips. The hands retain their glow – albeit faintly – for an hour or two.

As mentioned above, the Alpinist does have an internal rotating compass bezel, which can be used to approximate your bearing. It only works in the Northern Hemisphere, and you need to know the position of the sun to use it, but I suppose it’s a handy backup. I’d never forego a real compass because of this. Luckily, it works fine as a timer. It’s not as easy to use as the dive bezel on my Turtle, but I can still use it to time rest periods at the gym or flush cycles on the job. Regrettably, it wasn’t implemented all that well: when changing the bearing, it will, on occasion, derail from whatever track it’s on and shift a bit. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is an annoyance.

Strap and Bracelet

If the Alpinist has a true Achilles heel, it’s the included strap. There is not a single positive thing to be said about it. The faux-alligator leather looks and feels plastic; it’s not even suitable for formal wear, which is what such a strap -should- be ideal for. What’s more, it’s not simply ugly: it’s uncomfortable to boot. The padding in the strap prevented the Alpinist from sitting comfortably on my wrist, and it never broke in to a noticeable extent.

Luckily, there are plenty of good aftermarket straps available for the 20mm lug width. I alternate between a Worn and Wound Model 2 and a ToxicNATOS Shiznit in jungle green, and those suit my needs well. The stainless steel OEM bracelet is spoken well of online, though I can’t personally vouch for it.

Seiko SARB017 ‘Alpinist’ Review – Final Thoughts

Ignore my grousing in the introduction. Yes, the purchase may have been ill-advised, but it’s certainly not one I regret. The Alpinist is a beautiful watch that I wear all the time. It’s flaws – the awful strap and the wiggly compass bezel – are easy to fix and ignore, respectively.

There’s not much in the way of competition for the Alpinist, as there aren’t any other watches that fill the same niche. There are other field watches, other dress watches, other casual watches, but none of them have the look or feel of the Alpinist. That’s not to say that other watches aren’t as beautiful, accurate, or well made as the Alpinist – far from it – but that the Alpinist is unique enough that finding competitors is difficult.

Those unique characteristics are also why I can freely recommend this watch to anyone that’s interested in it. It can be dressed up or down depending on your needs, and there’s honestly nothing else quite like it out there.

Next up: the Rike Thor4s.

Sale

Seiko Men's Stainless Steel Japanese-Automatic Watch with Leather Calfskin Strap, Brown, 20 (Model: SARB017)

Automatic Movement with 50-hour power reserve
Sapphire Crystal and Inner Rotating Compass Ring
Japanese-automatic Movement
Case Diameter: 39.5mm
Water resistant 200m (660ft): in general, suitable for professional marine activity and serious surface water sports, but not diving

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Seiko Alpinist at Amazon. Please consider that buying 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.

Prometheus Lights Beta QR V2

by Grayson Parker Leave a Comment

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
Kickstarter projects – or rather, the resulting products – are rarely featured on this site. The lion’s share of responsibility for that lies with the Kickstarter crew itself: it wasn’t until 2015 that the prohibition on weapons was modified to allow knife-related projects on the platform, after all. That isn’t the only reason, however. Many projects are one-and-done affairs, and even a successful project doesn’t guarantee staying power.

Buy the Beta QR at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

One of those who stuck around is Jason Hui of Prometheus Lights. Now, saying that is a bit disingenuous, as he was in business before the advent of Kickstarter. He was (and is) known for making custom flashlights. His first Kickstarter project, the Prometheus Writes Alpha, was a huge success, and as that project was wrapping up, he launched another: the Beta QR. It was designed to be a keychain light that wasn’t shackled to your keys, and evidently it was a popular idea, as the project beat its $23,500 funding goal five times over. A year or two after that, he updated the design with a new quick-release mechanism, dubbing it the Beta QR V2. That light is the subject of this review.

A quick aside before getting into the meat of the review: I strongly recommend using rechargeable NiMH batteries. Not only will you save money in the long run, but you’ll get better performance along the way. Do not use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in the Beta QR, and though you can use standard alkaline batteries, be warned that it may corrode the interior of the light over time. Disposable lithium batteries won’t damage the light, but aren’t cheap, either.

General Dimensions and Construction

The Prometheus Lights Beta QR V2 is 2.95” long (3.5” with the QR insert), has a diameter of .55”, and weighs 1.58 ounces including the battery. It’s a compact and pocketable flashlight, even if the brass makes it a bit heavier than one might expect.

Only the brass and copper versions have three output levels, but the real reason I purchased the pricier brass model was simple aesthetics, and the Beta QR has that in spades. Though it arrived with a brilliant polish, it has since developed a patina that looks right at home next to a well-used traditional knife. To put it another way: it wouldn’t look a whit out of place in my grandfather’s tool shed.

If Jason wasn’t very clear that he has this manufactured in China, I’m not sure I would have been able to figure it out on my own. That’s not to disparage his own machining capabilities, but the level of fit and finish on my Beta QR can only be described as immaculate. The threads are smooth, the beam is clean, and it doesn’t rattle or flex in any way. A bit of online research suggests that this is the rule, not the exception to it.

Output, Runtime, and UI

The Beta QR has three output levels: 1 lumen, 15 lumens, and 80 lumens. In an age where thumb-sized lights can put out 900 lumens those numbers may not look good, but bear in mind that the Beta QR runs on a single AAA battery, and most other lights in its battery format have similar output levels. For an everyday carry light, these numbers are fine. The low doesn’t wake up my girlfriend if I’m staying up reading, the high is bright enough for any “bump in the night” situations, and the medium can handle everything in between.

As is standard for a light this size, the beam pattern is all flood, losing brightness between 30 and 40 feet. Jason’s choice of the Nichia 219 emitter is much appreciated, as the warmer tones render color far more accurately than a standard blue-tinted emitter.

The runtimes on the Beta QR are respectable if not stellar. It can put out 1 lumen for 55 hours, 15 lumens for 4 hours, and 80 lumens for 45 minutes. Practically speaking, I swap out the battery once every few months, but that swap is often precipitated by an event where I’m using the highest setting for an extended period of time. It’s only died on me once while I was using it, but then I was running it on high when medium would have done just as well. I only wish hadn’t made that mistake while I was in the bathroom of a processing plant that lacked power.

The user interface on the Beta QR is simple: twist once for 1 lumen, twice for 15 lumens, and thrice for 80 lumens. Though not as intuitive as a staged twisty (where all output levels are accessible through a single, continuous twist), it’s easy to use and to explain to others.

Ergonomics and Carry

It shouldn’t come as a revelation that the Beta QR is great in the hand. There are no buttons, crenelations, or awkward pocket clips, and every facet has been debuffed to the point that the brass feels almost soft to the touch. For most people (myself included), it’s a three finger grip, as your middle and ring finger will hold the body tube while your index finger and thumb twist the head. It works just as well in a cigar grip or between the teeth. The scallops on the body aren’t just aesthetic, either: they improve the grip at least as well as knurling would, just with more flair. It tailstands like a champ, but also has a tendency to roll away if left on its side.

Of course, the real selling point of the Beta QR is the Quick Release. The original used a push button mechanism occasionally seen on keychains, but the V2 features a canted coil spring that significantly improves the design. Instead of a mechanism that needs to be fiddled with, all that’s required to separate the Beta QR from your keys is a firm pull.

The redesign has led to the release of a pocket clip and a prototype flex arm, neither of which would work with the original. Sadly, I have to admit that as cool as the QR is, that’s not how I actually carry it. For the most part, I carry it in a leather slip or just toss it in my pocket. It was thrown on my keys a few times for the sake of due diligence, and there it did fine. Just not my cup of tea.

Prometheus Lights Beta QR – Final Thoughts

To recap: the Beta QR is a great light. Full stop. If I had to complain, I’d say that it’s not a terribly ambitious design, but that’s no sin. Judged in a vacuum, it’s practically flawless.

Its shortcomings only become apparent when compared to other 1xAAA lights. Three in particular stand out, the first of which is the SureFire Titan Plus. It boasts a significantly higher lumens count at 300, even if it lacks a true low setting and doesn’t feature a high CRI emitter. The Peak Eiger can get up to 200 lumens and has tons of customization options (plus a bit of cool tech), but is held back by a finicky UI and shorter runtimes. The third is, of course, the Lumintop Worm. Lumintop is likely the manufacturer Jason contracted to produce the Beta QR, and from what I can tell, the Worm predates the Beta QR. It’s not a rebrand: the Worm doesn’t have either iteration of the QR and doesn’t always have a Nichia 219 emitter, but if neither of those matter to you, the Worm might be something to look at.

That said, who would I recommend this light to? This may sound odd, but I think it’s for anyone who wants a 1xAAA light and doesn’t know what they’re looking for beyond that. The Beta QR has everything someone would (and should) expect out of a 1xAAA light, no clear flaws, and an innovative carry option that has tons of unexplored potential. The other options are good, and in some ways substantially better, but compromised in ways that require an informed opinion.

Next up: the Seiko Alpinist.

Prometheus Lights Beta QR – From $53.00
From: BladeHQ

Prometheus Lights Beta Quick Release v2 Keychain Flashlight with Multiple Light Modes, High CRI Pocket Flashlight for EDC (Copper)

QUICK-RELEASE KEYCHAIN FLASHLIGHT. The intuitive design allows you to easily detach the flashlight from your keyring when you need light. Accidental disengagement is virtually impossible and engagement is verified by a solid click every time!
SUPERIOR LIGHT QUALITY. See colors as you would on a bright sunny day. Cheap LED flashlights have a limited color spectrum that washes out your subject with a harsh "hospital" light. Our flashlight delivers 92+ CRI - a clear, natural light.
PROFESSIONAL GRADE IN A COMPACT SIZE. Precision-engineered components from premium materials make this flashlight lightweight and reliable. Fits in the palm of your hand. Add the Beta to your keychain without adding bulk and weight. Perfect for EDC.
EVERY DAY CARRY FLASHLIGHT. The quick-release mechanism lets you effortlessly take it on and off your keyring. Adapts to all your needs, whether it's in the lab, office or home. Made for every day carry convenience.
THREE LIGHT MODES. Low/Medium High. Low: 1 Lumen. Medium: 15 Lumens at 19 meters. High: 80 Lumens at 30 meters. Easy to use Twist On/Off function and Mode Cycling.

I recommend buying the Prometheus Lights Beta QR at BladeHQ or Amazon. Please consider that buying 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.

Kizer Feist Review

by Grayson Parker 1 Comment

Last Updated: July 13, 2019
The Kizer Feist is a knife that I’ve wanted to check out since seeing it in the 2017 catalog. At first, I almost missed it: it’s seemingly such a plain design that my eyes slid right over its page, and it was only during a follow-up perusal that I noticed it was a front flipper. Internally, that changed the design from “plain” to “minimalist.” Maybe a silly distinction on my part, but that was the train of thought.

Buy the Kizer Feist at BladeHQ

Unfortunately, the first run of Feists had issues. Some customers complained of gritty actions and stiff lockbars, so Kizer put a hold on production until they could fix those issues in the now-released second run (with the help of the designer, Justin Lundquist). Between the risks of buying a first generation model and the speed with which the second run sold out, I never had a chance to pick one up.

Luckily, someone offered to trade me their Feist a few months back, and I’ve been carrying it frequently ever since. Incidentally, that person is Tony Sculimbrene of Everyday Commentary. His review of the Feist was published back in September 2017, and I recommend checking it out. This is a rare occasion where two people review not only the same design, but the exact same knife. [This happens to be a high quality unit from the first production run, for the record]. On the whole we’ve come to similar conclusions, though I think I’m a bit more taken with the Feist than he is.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kizer Feist is a relatively small knife. It features a 2.875” blade housed in a 3.625” handle, and measures in at 6.55” overall. At 2.68 ounces it’s also pretty light. Numbers never tell the whole story, but I’m impressed by the size of the blade they manage to fit into the handle. The attention to detail is similarly impressive: the blade is perfectly centered, has a rounded spine, a curved plunge line, and a very attractive stonewashed finish. It also bears mentioning that the sub-3” blade of the Feist is legal to carry in a wide array of jurisdictions.

In addition to falling into my favorite size range, the Feist also features one of my favorite blade shapes. The modified drop point (especially this iteration of it) is far and away the most useful profile I’ve encountered for everyday tasks. It is comparable to the blade of the Viper Dan 2, or (if that’s too esoteric a reference) an ordinary paring knife. There’s enough belly to handle a picnic lunch, but not so much that the blade will slide out of prolonged cuts in, say, cardboard.

I have to admit that after reviewing the Alter Ego I was more than a little concerned about how the Feist would be ground. I needn’t have worried. Not only does the Feist have thinner stock (.12” thick as opposed to .14”), but the dished grind nearly reaches the spine of the blade, making for a much keener knife overall. As the picture below suggests, it didn’t cut the apples as cleanly as a paring knife, but it didn’t split them, either. It’s not perfectly ground – there’s a hair of wobble along the plunge grind – but that’s a fairly minor detail, and it doesn’t impact the cutting performance.

Crucible’s S35VN is a common choice for Kizer, so I wasn’t surprised to see them implement it on the Feist. That’s not to say it’s a bad choice, mind: S35VN is well regarded for its edge retention, rust resistance, and general toughness, especially compared to its predecessor S30V. I’ve sharpened the Feist once in two months, and truth be told it didn’t need it, I just wanted to polish it up a little. As always, regular stropping is recommended.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Simplicity is a wonderful thing. There is nothing extraneous to the Feist’s handle: no scallops, no inexplicable bumps or angles, just plain, contoured titanium. The only concession to vanity is a decorative pivot screw, but even that can be turned with an ordinary torx driver. Flaws would stand out on a design as simple as this, yet the handles are symmetrical, clean, and blemish free. The matte finish Kizer put on the Feist adds a bit of grip and contributes to the spare design language.

The themes that make the Feist’s handle visually appealing also make it incredibly practical. There is not a single line that forces the user to hold it in a particular fashion. Combine that, the excellent contouring, and a balance point just shy of the overtravel stop and you get a remarkably deft and responsive knife. There is no flipper tab, finger choil, or jimping that will stop your fingers from sliding onto the blade though, so be careful.

The Feist features a milled titanium pocket clip that’s mounted for tip-up, right-side carry. Unfortunately, that’s the only position to attach a pocket clip unless you want to modify the Feist or find someone who can. It’s fine as far as milled clips are concerned. The edges on it are buffed enough that it doesn’t generate a hot spot, and it has some (though not much) spring tension. Stowing and retrieving the Feist wasn’t an issue in jeans, work pants, or gym shorts, but for some reason I needed to use both hands to clip it to the pocket of my slacks. I honestly couldn’t tell you why.

Once stowed, the Feist is an excellent pocket companion. It’s lightweight, slim, fairly short, and has contoured scales to boot. There’s enough tension in the clip that it doesn’t shift in the pocket, regardless of what pants I wear. The clip leaves just under half of an inch of the handle exposed. An over the top style clip wouldn’t be unwelcome, but I’ve found the Feist discreet enough for my needs.

Deployment and Lock-Up

One of the reasons I really wanted to check out the Feist was because of its deployment method: the front flipper. Unlike traditional flipper knives (part of my brain is screaming as I type that), front flippers don’t have a tab that’s pulled to deploy the blade. Instead, the rear tang of the blade is elongated and machined to add a bit of grip, which in turn gives the user’s thumb enough purchase to pop the blade open. It’s a very elegant choice, and eliminates problems like accumulating gunk and snagging threads that other deployment methods are subject to.

Unfortunately, this new flipping has a learning curve to it, and Kizer’s execution of the front flipper was less than perfect. Many customers complained of gritty actions, which made opening and closing the knife more difficult. Apparently (and this is secondhand knowledge, so take care) the internal stop pin wasn’t press fit but left free floating, and that was responsible for the grit. If you own a first generation Feist, don’t worry: Kizer is running a redemption program where you can exchange it for an updated model. My review sample hasn’t exhibited this problem: the pivot is reasonably smooth, the detent is crisp, and deployment is easy, though there is a trick to it. Instead of trying (and failing) to describe how to use a front flipper, here’s a video that may help:

Once deployed, the Feist’s blade is held in place by a titanium frame lock. This particular lock features a stainless steel lock face, an inclusion that should be the industry standard by now. Not only do they reduce the need for maintenance, they also make it easier to service the knife, and thus prolong the life of the tool. Furthermore, it’s easy to incorporate a hidden overtravel stop into these inserts, which is exactly what Kizer did.

The lock’s performance has been excellent in the two months and change that it’s been in my possession. There is no blade play, no lock rock, and it consistently engages around 40% of the blade tang. Thanks to some careful machine work from Kizer, there’s enough room for my thumb to access the lock, and the internal edges are chamfered for comfort. Some users have reported overly stiff locks, but this seems to be limited to models from the first run. As before, mine has no problems.

Kizer Feist Review – Final Thoughts

Overall, I’m very impressed by the Feist. It’s a practical, elegant design that matches my needs perfectly, whether I’m in the field, the office, or enjoying a day off. That its debut was marred by reports of shoddy manufacturing is a shame, but by all accounts the second run has none of the problems of the first. The only cross-generational complaint is that the milled clip is a bit stiff, but that’s far from a dealbreaker, at least for me.

Unless you find a sale, the Feist costs around $170. That price bracket has some pretty stiff competition, including the Benchmade G-10 Griptilians, the Spyderco S110V Paramilitary 2, and the Zero Tolerance 0450. I wouldn’t turn my nose up at any of those, but for my money I’d rather have the Feist. Its unique, refreshing, and hopefully a sign of more to come from designer Justin Lundquist.

There are a few people that may want to steer clear of the Feist. Firefighters, EMS workers, law enforcement, and military personnel might find that the design is ill-suited to their needs. The design cues that make the Feist a fantastic everyday carry knife also make it a less than ideal rescue or ‘tactical’ knife. However, if – like me – your needs are fairly simple, and you’re just looking for a pocketable, elegant cutting tool, I think you’ll be more than happy with the Kizer Feist.

Next up: the Prometheus Lights Beta QR V2 in brass.

Kizer Feist – From $168.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend buying the Kizer Feist at BladeHQ or Amazon. Please consider that buying 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.