Boker

Boker Plus Kalashnikov AK-74 Automatic Knife Review

My recent review of the Microtech Stitch ignited my interest in automatic knives. I think it’s easy to see why. The Stitch is a beautiful and unique knife. It is also a $400 knife. That’s a significant chunk of change. I wanted to check out a more affordable segment of the market.

Buy the Boker Kalashnikov at BladeHQ

The Boker Kalashnikov is an easy knife to consider in the budget auto category. It has been a best seller for BladeHQ for years. But for whatever reason I’ve been ignoring it. Maybe it’s the Kalashnikov schtick. Not really my thing. That combined with it being an auto dropped it far down on the list of knives to review.

But lets check it out. For $40, its about 10% the cost of the Microtech Stitch, so it will be interesting to compare the two. Lets see how it holds up.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kalashnikov, which is sometimes referred to as the 74 or “AK-74″, has an overall length of 7.625″, a 3.25” blade, and it weighs 3.70 ounces. It’s a good size for EDC, provided that it’s legal for you to carry an automatic knife where you live. In many parts of the world it’s not legal to carry an automatic knife, so check your laws carefully before pocketing the Kalashnikov in public.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that this knife was designed by Dietmar Pohl of Pohl Force fame. I didn’t realize this until I sat down to write the review. Good to know.

Boker offers this knife in a variety of blade shapes and colors. I happened to get the spearpoint bladed version with the BladeHQ exclusive “Smokewash” finish. My knife has been evenly ground. The blade stock is right at 3mm thick. It gets reasonably thin behind the edge, and has a fine tip. The edge has been applied evenly, and the smokewash finish has an attractive distressed look. All in all, the blade has been well done.

If a spearpoint isn’t your thing Boker offers the knife with a drop point, tanto, or clip point blade. There are probably other versions. This has been a successful model for Boker and like the Kwaiken it has been released in a myriad of configurations over the years.

The Ak-74 comes in AUS-8 blade steel. This seems to be their standard offering for this model, although you may be able to find different steels in various limited releases. Those who have been around the budget knife market for a minute know that AUS-8 is a softer steel. Edge retention isn’t great, but it does take a nice edge and is easy to sharpen. For $40 I’m not complaining. I think AUS-8 is appropriate given the price point.

In practice the Kalashnikov held up to all the little EDC chores I put it through. This includes the usual stuff like opening mail, breaking down boxes, and cutting fruit. This sort of stuff is no problem for the Kalashnikov. When the edge eventually dulls a couple swipes on my Sharpmaker or DMT stones bring the edge back without issue. This is an easy steel to sharpen.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The AK-74 features an anodized cast aluminum handle. The handle is contoured and heavily textured. It has 3 bands running down it, designed to mimic the magazine of an AK-74 rifle. The handle pieces are held together by torx hardware and 3 stand offs, providing a decent view into the guts of the knife. There’s not much to see. Just more black aluminum. The hardware is black, save for the pivot which has a little extra decoration on it.

All the parts line up. There are no sharp edges. When I shake the knife it doesn’t rattle. The handle appears to be dialed in.

The Kalashnikov has decent ergonomics. The first thing I noticed are the 3 finger grooves. Typically these can cause hot spots, but I had no issues with my size “XL” hands. There is a row of jimping on the spine of the blade and back of the handle. It works well. It’s on the aggressive side, but for basic EDC tasks it didn’t bother me.

The handle itself is loaded with texture. It has a faux stippled look to it. Kind of like a Pebble Tec swimming pool but even milder. All said the ergonomics on this knife aren’t bad. It’s not the world’s most comfortable knife, but it’s not offensive either.

The pocket clip is a large black deep carry pocket clip. It carries the same motif as the handle with 3 ridges. I’m not a huge fan of the styling, but beyond that this is a functional and discreet pocket clip. It buries the knife in your pocket, and the good spring retention keeps the knife tucked away.

In practice the Kalashnikov carried as I would expect it. At a little under 4 ounces the knife is relatively small and light. For the most part I didn’t notice it.

Deployment and Lockup

The Kalashnikov is a coil spring automatic. To release the blade you depress the button. Very simple and effective. The spring action is excellent and the blade slams open with a loud smack. No complaints in the deployment department.

For lockup we have a button lock. This setup is just like the Microtech Stich, although everything done has been on a much smaller scale. Lockup is tight, but I detect a slight amount of side to side play when I pull on the blade. Nothing crazy, but it’s there. The lock disengages easily, with no lock stick or binding.

Blade centering is close to perfect on my knife.

Boker Kalashnikov Review – Final Thoughts

I still find the entire premise of the knife to be slightly goofy, but I’m glad I picked up the Boker Kalashnikov. I think if you are looking for a sturdy automatic folder for $40 or so, then the Kalashnikov is well worth considering. It’s well made and fully functional. I don’t think there is anything else out there that touches it.

I see Smith and Wesson makes a series of “Extreme Ops” autos for $20-30, but I’d bet my bottom set of dentures that they won’t be as good as this AK-74. Kershaw makes a nice series of USA made automatic knives, but these are going to cost you at least twice as much money. Anything by Gerber or Benchmade is going to set you back at least $150. So for $40 I’d say this is a nice sweet spot if you are wanting to add an automatic folder to your collection but want to keep the cost below $50.

And the knife works well. It benefits from a simple design, decent materials, and sturdy construction. It cuts well, is reasonably comfortable to use, carries nicely, and has a snappy push button automatic action. There is really nothing wrong with it. I think it represents good value for money given its price. It is easy to see why this knife has sold well over the years and continues to stay in production with a wide variety of different configurations.

Does it impress me like the $400 Stitch? Not really. But it’s still a good knife for the money. Recommended for a sub $50 auto.

Boker Kalashnikov – From $39.95
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Boker Kalashnikov 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.

Boker Patriot Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Last Updated: August 30, 2019
The Boker Patriot started with a great premise. A lightweight, affordable utility knife made in the USA with a 154CM blade. Who can argue with that? I for one was excited about the Patriot.

Buy the Boker Patriot at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

But for whatever reason it hasn’t gotten a ton of traction. I say that because the Patriot only got a handful of reviews on Amazon. Hardly any. Contrast that with the Delica 4, which has about 1,500 reviews. Granted the Delica has been around for decades, but still. When a $70 knife released a couple years ago has a grand total of 5 reviews on Amazon, it makes you question its commercial success.

But that doesn’t dissuade me. If I bought my knives solely based on what the bright bulbs at Amazon suggested, we would be flooded with Gerber Gear (Bear Grylles edition – yeah!), M-Tech, and iridescent gas station knives. Thankfully I have too much self-respect for that. Just barely.

So when our very own Ben Schwartz told me he had a Boker Patriot for sale, I jumped at the opportunity. But it gets better. Ben is such a generous guy he gave me the knife. Thank you, Ben. I’ve wanted to check this one out for a while. I need to return the favor.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Boker Patriot has an overall length of 7.5″, a 3.375″ blade, and weighs 2.11 ounces. It’s a great size for EDC. Light, thin, but full size and uncompromising in utility. And the Patriot is nicely made. All the parts line up. Good fit and finish. A satisfying knife that gave me a good initial impression right out of the box.

The Patriot comes with a compressed drop point blade. Low slung and thin, it’s the perfect size for getting under the corner of an envelope, or slicing away at errant packing tape. Despite this you still get some belly and a fine tip. The knife also has a high flat grind and has been left with a satin finish.

One thing I noticed is that this blade came screaming sharp out of the box. Sharp enough where I still remember it, and I’ve had this knife at my office for several months now. I use it mostly for mail, but I’ve taken it to task on some other EDC chores. I brought it home a couple weeks ago and have been EDCing it on the weekends. Out of the box sharpness is only a minor facet of a knife review. After all, you are going to need to sharpen a knife anyways, but I noticed it here.

And the Patriot has held onto that sharpness for a long time. I’ve been using this knife casually for a few months now, and I have yet to sharpen it. It’s made of 154CM, which is a nice steel, especially at this sub $75 price point. Excellent stuff. It’s got a fine grain structure and takes a great edge. For regular duty EDC chores 154CM will hold strong for a good while.

So the blade and steel are both excellent. Perfect for daily carry tasks.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Patriot’s handle is comprised of glass filled nylon handle slabs, a plastic backspacer, and a stainless steel back lock. The handle is held together with high quality torx fasteners. This knife is linerless, so I wouldn’t use it for anything but cutting chores, but it feels remarkably solid. They offer the Patriot in a number of colors, including standard black. Orange is a good change of pace. There is no losing this knife if you drop it on the forest floor.

I know some will poo-poo the Patriot due to its plastic handles, but I don’t mind a plastic handled knife when it’s done right. And here it has been done right. The plastic pieces have been finished nicely. No gaps, no extra plastic left over from the molding process. It doesn’t feel cheap. And the satin hardware contrasts nicely with the matte handle. There is also an unobtrusive lanyard hole for those that like lanyards.

In hand the Patriot feels secure. It’s a thin handle, but thanks to some smart ergonomic decisions the Patriot fills the hand and is comfortable to use. First, the handle is relatively thick. Not Cold Steel Voyager thick, but thick enough to provide something to hold onto. Then they have included a couple finger grooves. This can be hit or miss, but here the grooves work perfectly for my hands. A short row of jimping provides ample traction for your thumb, and there is a forward finger choil on the blade if you want to choke up. It’s a small finger choil, but it works. Rounding things out is a high traction triangle pattern on the handle.

The end result is that the Patriot is comfortable to use. It feels natural in the hand in both forward and reverse grips. There is a lot of traction, so if you decide to use this for food prep, hunting, or some other messy chore you won’t be disappointed. But the knife is still comfortable thanks to the molded edges.

The pocket clip is a standard stainless steel deep-carry clip. It is simple but effective. Spring tension is about perfect. The knife is easy to insert and remove from the pocket, yet it remains securely in place. It’s also swappable for left or right handed tip up carry. It has good tension and is relatively discreet.

The Patriot carries easily. It’s a lightweight knife with a sturdy clip, so you quickly forget about it and there is little chance of it falling out of your pocket. I will say that the aggressive texture of the handle can make this a pants shredder. I won’t use this knife with suit pants or slacks, but it’s fine for my $15 K-mart shorts.

Deployment and Lockup

The Patriot is a thumb stud knife. If you have read my last few reviews you would have thought I forgot about these. Everything is a flipper these days.

But the Patriot comes with two thumb studs that appear to have been bolted onto the blade. The thumb studs are prominent and I can flick the knife open with my thumb most of the time. There is a decently strong backspring, so adequate force needs to be applied to pop open the knife. All things equal I prefer the more reliable thumb hole of a Delica over this, but it’s not bad.

The action is smooth and fluid. Peering into the handle I can’t see washers, but would be surprised if there were not phosphor bronze washers hugging the pivot of this knife.

For lockup we have an old school back lock. It’s actually more like a mid lock. It has a Boye Dent (the little dent on the lockbar release), which makes the knife more difficult to accidentally disengage. Lockup is secure. The blade falls into place with a satisfying snap.

Here is a shot of the Patriot next to a Medium Cold Steel Voyager:

There is no blade play in any direction, a remarkable feat given this is a liner-less plastic handled knife. Delicas and Enduras are notorious for up and down play. Cheap plastic lock backs like the Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter often have some play in them. A little blade play isn’t the end of the world, but its absence here goes to show that the Patriot is firing on all 6 cylinders.

The blade centering on my knife isn’t perfect. It’s maybe off by a mm. Still “centered” and not rubbing, but not perfect.

Boker Patriot Review – Final Thoughts

The Patriot is an excellent mid-priced EDC knife. The market has become so top heavy expensive knives that it has become easy to lose track of more humble offerings like the Patriot. But ignoring this knife would be a shame. It’s a solid design that has been nicely executed with good blade steel.

In many ways I prefer the Patriot over the Delica: better blade steel, stronger lockup, and nicer ergonomics. But the Delica is an icon, and I prefer the blade shape and thumb hole on that knife.

Here is a shot of it next to a Spyderco Sage 1:

Still, I can’t help but wonder how the annals of knife history would look if this Patriot was released at the same time as the Delica. Would it be as widely recognized? Who is to say. I think it would have more than 5 reviews on Amazon – that’s for sure!

Will the Patriot blow your skirt up like a $400 titanium framelock flipper? Probably not, but this is a knife you can use guilt free on a daily basis. It is easy to carry and does a good job cutting stuff. You won’t cry if it gets scratched up by your keys and loose change.

It’s an excellent daily carry tool and I’ve enjoyed having mine at the ready for several months. I’ll probably bring it back to my office after I’m done with this review. It’s perfect for mail, packages, and anything else I need it to do. Recommended.

Boker Plus USA Folding Knife Steel Blade with Orange Handle, 3.38"

Fiberglass reinforced vibrant orange nylon handle
Premium 154CM steel blade
Includes reversible pocket clip and lanyard hole
Blade length: 3-3/8 in. Overall Length: 7-1/2 in. Weight: 2.1 oz.
Limited Lifetime Warranty

I recommend purchasing the Boker Patriot at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.

Boker Plus Tech-Tool Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

When I visited Smoky Mountain Knifeworks over the Thanksgiving holiday, one of my favorite parts of the store was the Boker booth. With a lot of production knife companies I already either handled most of their product line, or have a good feel for what their product line is like. Boker is a company I have less of a bead on.

Buy the Boker Tech-Tool at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

For starters, the breadth and depth of Boker’s catalog is a little intimidating. Boker is best known for making knives in Soligen, Germany, but they have their value-oriented Plus Line made in China and Taiwan, and are also making knives in Italy and the U.S.A. It’s just harder to know what you are getting into, especially when you compare this with all the other major knife manufacturers. For example, if I buy a Zero Tolerance knife, I basically know what level of quality I am going to get before the knife arrives. All of this is to say that I am less in tune with Boker’s offerings.

Also, Boker’s image was tarnished by a series of poorly executed titanium framelock knives. The Boker Anso 67 was a hot design a few years ago, made popular in part by guys like TuffThumbz. The Boker collab was a chance to get a faithful reproduction of the design for not a ton of money. The problem was that the knives were fraught with lock rock. That, and some spotty fit and finish issues on other knives, shook the confidence of the online knife community.

But Boker has been releasing all sorts of cool stuff over the past few years, and they have also been working on their quality control. The result includes fan favorites like the Kwaiken Flipper, home runs like the Urban Trapper, and a slew of other interesting collaborations and original designs. The Tech-Tool is another possible home run. This is Boker’s answer to the Swiss Army Knife.

According to Boker, this is actually a modern reinterpretation of their original Camp Knife. When the Tech Tool first came out I wasn’t sure what to make of it. After all, Swiss Army Knives have been around for decades. It seemed rather ambitious that a company like Boker was going to come in and change the game that the Swiss have dominated for so long. But then again, Boker has been making slip joint multi-tools for almost 150 years now.

Handling one of these Tech-Tools made me realize it was (once again) wrong of me to dismiss this knife. This is an interesting value proposition that deserves to be on more people’s radars.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Being a multi-tool, Boker offers this knife in a wide range of configurations. Anything from a single blade slip joint, to a 4 layer, 10-tool load out.

I struck a compromise and selected the “2”, which has 2 layers, 8 tools, and is similar to my Victorinox Spartan (shown in some of the pictures for comparison). This is model number 01BO812. They call my version of the knife the “Outdoor” version thanks to the olive green handle scales. The knife is also offered as a the “City” version with black G-10 scales, and there is also a carbon fiber clad version. For ease of reading I refer to my Tech-Tool 2 as simply the “Tech-Tool” at some points the review.

My Tech Tool has an overall length of 6.5″, a 2.75″ blade, and it weighs 3 ounces. The Tech Tool is made in China. The Tech Tool 2 is aimed at the thicker celo-handled Swiss Army Knives (SAKs), and it compares favorably to those. It is the same length as my Spartan, and is just a hair thicker unless you include the pocket clip; in that case it’s a lot thicker. The Tech Tool also weighs a good .85 ounces more than the Spartan, thanks in part to G-10 handles, stockier tools, and a pocket clip. The Tech Tool has less tools than the Spartan, but the tools it has are thicker and more substantial. The whole knife feels heavier duty than your average SAK.

The blade of the Tech Tool is also more impressive than the blade found on your standard SAK. It is thicker and wider, and shaped like a more traditional drop point hunting knife. Aesthetically it balances with the handle a little better, although it’s the same length of your standard 91mm SAK. The blade has been given a thin hollow grind and something of a mirror polish. There is very little ricasso, so you need to be careful in closing the blade. This is a slip joint, so there is no lock. There is no half stop either, and the heel of the edge can come in contact with your finger as you close the blade if you aren’t paying attention.

This is a simple and functional blade shape. It’s perfect for packages and mail, for cutting up food, and for harder tasks like whittling, cutting rope, and breaking down heavy cardboard. A knife like this is great to have at a camp site, and reminds me somewhat of a Scout’s knife on steroids. The blade is wider than your standard SAK, but it’s still thin and great for tasks like cutting apples. The tip is fine and is ideal for tasks like clipping coupons and piercing through fabric and leather.

Boker selected Sandvik 12C27 as the blade steel for their Tech-Tools. I have always been a fan of 12C27. It’s one of my favorite budget steels. It’s hearty, easy to sharpen, and holds a nice edge. It’s also fairly rust resistant. I am sure the mirror polish on the blade will further help with corrosion resistance. I consider 12C27 to be an improvement over the already capable steel Victorinox uses in their knives, and am glad to see it here on the Tech-Tool. My knife came sharp out of the box with a good edge.

The Other Tools

In addition to the main blade, the Tech-Tool 2 also features 2 flat head drivers, a bottle opener/cap lifter, a wire stripper, a serrated blade, a cork screw, and a carbide-tipped glass breaker.

At this point I want to say that the fit and finish and general construction of all the tools is on par with what you would find on a Swiss Army Knife. Boker did an excellent job here. Victorinox has really dialed in their production after making their knives for years (and making millions of them), so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this new Tech Tool. My expectations were exceeded. The only strange thing was a little red schmutz in the screw hole for the pocket clip. This turned out to be leftover red Loctite.

The cap lifter is basically a mirror image of the standard Victorinox cap lifter, only it has been made out of thicker stock. It has been mated to a nice back spring, and the tool makes a great snapping sound when you open it. It doesn’t have a true half-stop, but it comes close.

The serrated blade / screw driver tool is unique to the Tech-Tool, and it’s interesting for a number of reasons. First of all it’s obviously not shaped like a standard serrated knife. Instead, the profile of the edge features has a slight concave arch. That is coupled with the blade opening to a 135 degree angle rather than 180 degrees. The end result is a unique tool ideally suited to cutting rope and fabric. It could also be used as rescue cutter of sorts, or perhaps even to open up clamshell packaging without damaging the contents with the sharp tip of the main blade.

This serrated blade replaces the can opener found on most Victorinox models. I think it is an interesting choice, and is arguably more useful then a can opener. Thankfully the material in tin cans is soft, so you could still use the cap lifter and possibly this serrated edge to get a can open, although it will take a little more time.

The corkscrew is something I could live without. I’m not a big wine drinker, especially on the go, so a tool like this just won’t get much use. But if you find yourself at a picnic or party with no other corkscrew you will save the day. Another gripe is that the corkscrew is also quite bulky, and sticks out a couple millimeters past the handle scale. I’d much prefer a Phillips driver here or the awl found on some SAKs.

Boker includes a carbide glass breaker on every Tech-Tool. It’s an interesting addition, and combined with the serrated blade it provides the Tech-Tool with a rescue knife flair. Can’t say I have used mine on any glass yet, but “dry firing” it on some wood it appears to do a good job as a force multiplier. Although mine won’t get much use, its a nice addition and it doesn’t hurt to have it.

Finally, Boker included a fold away lanyard loop. I am not a big lanyard guy so I think this is a great feature. It is there if you want to use the knife with a lanyard, but if you don’t you can fold it away so it doesn’t interfere with the ergonomics of the knife. What a nice idea. Bravo, Boker.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The standard Tech-Tool comes with contoured G-10 handle scales that fit over steel liners. The handle is screwed together, and you can take this tool apart with a torx driver. As I mentioned earlier, fit and finish is excellent on this knife. The pieces all line up perfectly, there are no stray tooling marks. I think the finish is actually better than my Victorinox knives.

I did start to take my Tech Tool apart out of curiosity. It comes apart with a standard T5 driver. Inside everything is put together nicely. All the parts are precision machined and fit, there are even little phosphor bronze washers on the tools. It took some fiddling to get the liner off so I decided not to completely disassemble the knife. If I decide to do this again I’ll snap some pictures.

Rather than being a pill-shaped handle, the handle of the Tech-Tool has been given a more traditional shape. This offers the end user a slightly more ergonomic feel over your standard Swiss Army knife. The handle molds to your hand nicely. The smooth G-10 offers a little traction, and it’s definitely a step up over the plastic handled Victorinox models. There is no jimping, but you don’t need jimping on a slip joint like this.

One of the greatest draws to the Tech-Tool is the inclusion of a pocket clip. Lets face it, enthusiasts of modern pocket knives love pocket clips. They are great for a number of reasons. The clip on the Tech-Tool is a deep-carry clip, and it has excellent spring retention. The knife buries away discretely in your pocket and is there when you need it. If you decide to use the Tech-Tool as a secondary knife, or don’t want to use the clip for whatever reason, it’s fully removable. It’s also swappable for tip up or tip down carry. Finally, a SAK with a pocket clip. It only took us until 2015.

Boker Tech-Tool 2 – Final Thoughts

I think there is a lot to like about the Tech-Tool. First of all, it has been done really well. The build quality is easily on par with Victorinox. In some cases I think this knife is built better than a SAK. I think build quality is a big part of the charm of these little folding multi-tools, so if the quality wasn’t there that would hurt the success of this knife “bigly”.

There are also some thoughtful refinements to the Tech Tool. The use of contoured G10 for the handles, a bigger blade, screw together construction vs. pins, the inclusion of a pocket clip, the glass breaker, the fold away lanyard hole, and the serrated blade. All of these refinements add up to make the Tech-Tool unique and special. A lot of this stuff adds extra weight to the knife, but I think you get something for that additional weight. I certainly don’t mind it. Many of these features are things Victorinox should have offered years ago. It’s a heartier Swiss Army knife. I like it.

As far as cons to the Tech-Tool 2, I do miss the tweezers and tooth pick found on the celo-handled SAKs. Also, your Spartan does offer a couple extra tools, like the awl, and can-opener. You lose the can opener for the serrated blade, and you lose the small secondary blade on the Spartan for a bigger and thicker primary blade. I don’t think those are bad trade offs. I’m not a fan of the cork-screw and would like to see that go the way of the Dodo in favor of a Phillips driver, awl, or both.

There is also the price to consider. This Tech-Tool 2 is a good $15 more expensive than a Victorinox Spartan (~$35 vs. ~$20). I think the higher price tag is easily justified by the better primary blade, the G-10 handles, pocket clip, and screw together construction, plus I doubt Boker is employing the economies of scale Victorinox does, but I realize value is subjective.

If you were on the fence about the Tech-Tool, I think it’s a quality tool and it exceeded my expectations. I will always have a place for the ultra-thin, ultra-light Alox Cadet, but this gives the plastic handled SAKs a serious run for their money. I also think it’s better executed than the Spyderco ClipIt Tool.

Check out the Tech Tool if you want an upgraded Swiss Army style knife. I am glad I picked one up.

Boker Plus 01BO812 Tech-Tool Outdoor 2 Multi-Tool Knife with 2 4/5 in. Blade, Green

Multi-tool knife
Tools: glass-breaker, screwdriver with bottle opener and wire stripper, small serrated blade with screwdriver tip, corkscrew, foldable lanyard hole, pocket clip
Green handle scales
Weight: 3.1 oz.
Limited Lifetime Warranty

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

Boker Plus Urban Trapper Review

by Dan Jackson 32 Comments

If you have been following knife trends at all, you will know there is big interest in both titanium framelock flippers and traditional folding knives. So it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to come up with the idea of combining these two trends, but they have really been viewed as two mutually exclusive phenomena. That is of course, until now.

Buy the Boker Urban Trapper at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Enter the Boker Plus Urban Trapper. Designed by fellow Floridian and custom knife maker, Brad Zinker, the Urban Trapper is exactly what it sounds like: the melding of a traditional trapper pattern with modern features and materials. The end result, is everything you love about traditional folders (their light weight, and wickedly thin blades) combined with the bells and whistles of a titanium framelock flipper.

It sounds great, but given Boker‘s quality control issues some might pass this model over. That would be a mistake. This is arguable the best knife I have handled in 2015. No joke. Boker has had a spotty history with quality control, and their titanium framelocks have been notoriously bad, so I probably have my work cut out for me if I am to try and convince you that this is the best production knife I handled in 2015, but they absolutely slammed this one out of the park. Let me explain to you why.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Urban Trapper has an overall length of 7.75″, a 3.5″ blade, and the all titanium version (shown here) weighs a mere 1.78 ounces, is made in China, and currently retails for around $60. The knife is insanely light yet still packs a healthy 3.5″ blade. I am not one to bother with blade to handle ratios, but Brad used up every spare millimeter when cramming the blade into the handle. The end result is both thoughtful and elegant.

The Urban Trapper was designed to be an Every Day Carry (EDC) knife, and I have used mine in that capacity. Although the blade is on the long side, but it’s thin profile means I have not had any issues using the Urban Trapper in public. I think you could also argue this is a gentleman’s folder.

The blade of the Urban Trapper is an elongated clip point, featuring a lean clip with a thin swedge. It is definitely a modern take on a classic blade pattern, and isn’t your grandpa’s clip point. Most of the spine is taken up by the swedge, but the part that isn’t is capped (rounded). The blade has a high flat grind and precise tip. I have always found clip points to be utilitarian, and this version is no exception. The tip is excellent for detail work, and the thin grind slices like a traditional folder (meaning, it slices wonderfully).

An interesting detail on the knife is the satin finished blade. If you watch YouTube knife reviews of custom folders, you will invariably hear the reviewer go on about how the knife is “the best flipper I have ever handled” and/or gush over the “hand rub satin finish”. While I think both of those reviewer tropes are more than a little tired, I can’t deny that the blade is well done and the satin finish, running horizontally from ricasso to tip, was intended to mimic the hand rubbed finish of a custom offering. It’s a nice touch, especially at this price point.

Boker went with VG-10 steel for the blade, a middle of the road Japanese stainless. I don’t mind VG-10 on this knife given the price point. I have used my Urban Trapper quite a bit, and have had the chance to test it on a variety of materials. It’s great for breaking down boxes, and slices apples with ease. Speaking of slicing, the thin flat grind is a tremendous slicer, much like many of the traditional folders I have used like the Indian River Jack or Alox Cadet.

The UT also held up well as a utility knife. I have used the knife for several home improvement projects, cutting thick plastic and even wire in a pinch. I don’t recommend cutting wire with the Urban Trapper, but I didn’t have anything else on me at the time. The knife held up fine, although the edge definitely rolled. VG-10 will not hold an edge forever, but it’s an easy steel to sharpen. No issues with rust, and I routinely rinsed the knife out in the sink after using it.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

There are a surprising number of details to enjoy when examining the handle of the Urban Trapper. The handle is comprised of 2 pieces of titanium and a single stand off. All of the edges have been neatly rounded, and a series of holes have been drilled into the handle to provide visual interest and lighten the knife. The holes are countersunk and the edges have been given a mirror polished edge. Everything has been executed flawlessly. There is a nice decorative pivot, and the seat of the pocket clip is inlayed into the handle. The titanium is given a tumbled finish which hides wear well. For a simple slab built handle, Boker did a lot to bring Zinker’s custom design to life.

If naked titanium is not your thing, Boker is also offering the UT with a variety of handle covers including Cocobolo, G10, and carbon fiber. I haven’t checked these out yet and prefer this minimalist version.

The Urban Trapper is a thin and lightweight knife, but it’s not cramped for space. I am able to get a comfortable grip on it without any issues. That said, there is not much in the way of traction on the handle. The stonewashed finish offers a little feedback. There is no jimping. It would not be my go to knife for a 3 month expedition through the Amazon, but it’s fine for urban EDC. I would suggest using this knife the same way you would use a slip joint. That said, I have gotten a lot of work done with the UT and I can say with confidence that this knife is comfortable for normal use.

The Urban Trapper comes with a nice fold over deep carry titanium pocket clip. The handle has been milled so the clip slots in to it and is held in place with 2 flush mount screws. This is nice because there is nothing for your pocket to get caught on when you insert the knife into your pocket. The drawback is that the knife is set up for right side tip up carry only. Not a big deal for me, but worth mentioning.

The UT carries well. At under 2 ounces you quickly forget it’s in the pocket. The knife is wafer thin and the clip is very unobtrusive. This is a fantastic knife for my style of daily carry.

Deployment and Lockup

The flipper tab on the Urban Trapper may take some getting used to. It’s squarish and has jimping, and I find that the knife opens best when you “light switch” the flipper by resting your index finger on the corner of the flipper tab. Personally I never had any problems getting the knife open, and I am able to push button the flipper too, but in reading up a bit for the review I noticed some people complain about the flipper. It works fine for me. The detent is solid and the knife is on a bearing system. It flips well, and fires hard. The action is smooth to the point where I can shake the blade closed.

For lockup we have a simple titanium framelock. There is no steel insert. Just simple titanium on steel. My knife locks up early (around 20%) and is secure and without play. This is after opening the knife hundreds of times and beating on it in a series of little remodeling projects. I realize Boker does not have the best track record with their titanium framelocks, but this Urban Trapper is trouble free after a couple months of use. I plan on keeping the knife and will update the review if anything changes.

Blade centering on my knife is basically perfect. The pivot has loosened up a couple times, but a twist of my allen wrench brings things back to true.

Boker Urban Trapper Review – Final Thoughts

Although I think it was released in 2014, the Urban Trapper is on my short list for “Best Knife of 2015”. For $60 I consider it a production folder masterpiece, blending two of the current hottest trends in knives while coming in at the notoriously tough $50-75 price range. When I first got the Urban Trapper I immediately compared it with another favorite of mine: the CRKT Swindle. The knives share some similarities: they are slim, inexpensive, bearing equipped framelock flippers. The Urban Trapper sells for twice as much, but I think it’s twice as nice of a knife. It’s much lighter and the pocket clip is way better. Well worth the price premium in my book.

And let me attempt to put any quality control fears to rest – my Urban Trapper has been problem free, and that seems to be par for the course based on my research. The fit and finish is excellent. There is no blade play, lock rock, or anything like that. Say what you will about Chinese knives, but this one is dialed in. The Urban Trapper truly is a combination of the things I love most about traditional folders (their pocketability, people friendly profile, and thin blades) with all of the creature comforts we have come to know and love with framelock flippers (one hand opening, pocket clips, lightweight materials). For $60 it’s a no brainer.

The Urban Trapper comes with my highest endorsement. It easily makes its way onto my best EDC knives page. There are nicer more expensive knives out there, but the Urban Trapper is a perfect storm of price, workmanship, and performance. This is something everyone can appreciate. Buy it and enjoy it. You can thank me later.

Sale

Boker Plus 01BO730 Urban Trapper Knives with 3-1/2 in. Straight Edge Blade, Silver

Vg-10 premium steel blade
Titanium frame lock
8mm grip thickness

I recommend purchasing the Boker Plus Urban Trapper at Amazon or BladeHQ. 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.

Boker Kwaiken Flipper Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

Last Updated: January 10, 20198
Back when the original Boker Kwaiken came onto the scene I was pretty excited. Modeled after knifemaker Lucas Burnley’s custom offering, this sleek design looked too cool to resist. That is, until, reviews started to pour in. People stated that the knife was difficult to open and the tip of the blade protruded out from the handle to the point where it would inadvertently cut you. No bueno. My excitement instantly turned to disappointment. Rather than buy the knife, and then slog through writing a review of something that I knew I wasn’t going to be happy with, I just decided to skip the Kwaiken entirely.

Buy the Boker Kwaiken at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Despite the poor reviews, the Kwaiken developed its own cult following. This is thanks in great part to those in the knife customization crowd. Knifemaker / knife modder Alexander Dietz developed his own cottage industry around the “Dietz modded Kwaiken”. Clever dremel work converted the clunky Kwaiken into a nice little flipper. Whether Boker listened to customer feedback, or was planning on doing this anyway, they eventually offered their own flipper version of the Kwaiken.

This knife was hotly anticipated by many collectors, including myself, partially because it appeared to address some of the issues that plagued the original Kwaiken: the inability to open the knife easily, and the renegade tip. If that wasn’t enough, this time Boker decided to slather the knife in titanium. Bearings, flipper, titanium, and a fresh design from a hot custom knifemaker – yup, this one follows the formula that many enthusiasts are looking for these days.

I am going to see if this updated model is worthy of the hype, or is more of the same.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kwaiken Flipper has an overall length of 8.375″, a 3.5″ blade, and it weighs 5.4 ounces. I hate to sound like a weight weenie but the first thing I noticed was how heavy this thing felt. It is a chunky knife and feels like a little metal brick. You would think that the relatively thin titanium scales would actually shave weight off the Kwaiken, but it’s over an ounce heavier than it’s non-flipper counterpart. Personally, that relegates the Kwaiken Flipper more towards the collectible category, and away from being a true EDC. Regardless, I am sure plenty of guys will enjoy carrying this knife, and there is nothing wrong with that.

The blade shape is a modified drop point. It is a sleek and dramatic blade shape that tucks perfectly into the thin handle. The tip is very fine and the knife is well suited for stabbing things. It has a hollow grind and the blade finish is very nice. The lustrous stonewash hides wear well and is more resistent to corrosion than a beadblast. For what it is, I like this blade shape.

Steel on my particular knife is Aus8. Given that this knife sells for more than $100, I heard quite a few grumblings about the choice of steel on both this and the original Kwaiken. Given that this knife was made in China, I don’t think Boker had a ton of options to choose from. Still, 154CM, S35VN, or some other higher end steel would have been nice given the price point. Personally I don’t have a problem with AUS8. It’s a hearty steel that sharpens easily and is fine to see on user knives. I can totally understand if some folks take issue with the AUS8.

Since purchasing the knife months ago, it looks like Boker now offers the Kwaiken flipper in an “upgraded” steel: V10. I wouldn’t call VG10 a huge upgrade over AUS8. In fact, I prefer Aus8 because I find it a little tougher than V10. Neither are fantastic edge holders but for EDC work they will get the job done.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The compact handle of the Kwaiken flipper is built like a little titanium tank. Thick full steel liners are under generous 3-d machined pieces of titanium, all supported by a solid titanium backspacer. Construction is simple and solid.

I really like the minimalist look of this handle. The way the liners shadowbox the titanium scales, and how the closed blade hides completely within the handle make for a very attractive design. The handle has a monochromatic appearance, although upon close examination the steel and titanium are slightly different colors. I am sure many knife modders view this piece as something of a blank canvas. I hate to spoil the party, but I enjoyed the look of the original Kwaiken with its micarta handles, and would prefer the contrast and lighter weight of micarta over the heavy titanium version. Still, the build is very good and the added weight does make the knife feel very substantial.

The Kwaiken Flipper feels good in hand. The simple design means this knife will work for a lot of people with different size hands. There is no jimping or really texture to speak of, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. The only ergonomic “feature” is that the flipper doubles as a forward finger choil, allowing you to choke up on the blade a bit for more controlled cuts. All said I don’t have a problem with the way this knife handles and didn’t notice any hot spots or other ergonomic issues.

The pocket clip is a right side tip-up only affair that mirrors the design of the handle shape. It is simple and unobtrusive, and I like the way it looks. It holds the knife in your pocket pretty well, although I think the spring could be a hair stiffer. This is a heavy knife and the handle is smooth. While it has never fallen out of my pocket it doesn’t take a ton of effort to pull it out. I think a little more clip strength would be valuable here.

Deployment and Lockup

Obviously this knife uses a flipper for deployment. I am somewhat puzzled by the design of the flipper tab as it actually bows out where the index finger goes for deployment and is sort of slippery. It works but I think it could been designed to be a little easier to open. Still, the knife opens with a snap and flips well, thanks in part to the IKBS bearing pivot system. The detent is OK. It’s not going to flip like one of the new ZTs or anything, but the detent is adequate and the knife flips open with a snap.

For lockup you have a stainless steel liner lock. Mine engages around 90%. The steel is thick and the lockup feels very reassuring. There is no blade play or lock stick. This is a well implemented liner lock. The blade on my knife is pretty much centered.

Boker Kwaiken Flipper Review – Final Thoughts

The Kwaiken Flipper is a cool design and has been well implemented. I know it has been a good seller for Boker, and when you look at it on paper it is easy to see why. That said, I’d love to see Boker continue to refine this one as it is such a nice design. They have already moved in that direction by upgrading the blade steel, but I think they should also explore offering a lighter weight version of the flipper with a different handle material. I think the inclusion of both stainless steel liners and full titanium handle scales is a bit overkill and adds unnecessary weight.

I haven’t mentioned this yet in the review, but this is part of Boker’s “Plus” line, and is manufactured in China. Fit, finish, and general quality is very high on this knife despite being manufactured in China.

Also, I’m almost glad they didn’t go with a framelock here given Boker’s history of issues with titanium framelocks. I’d rather see a well implemented liner lock, than a messed up frame lock.

In closing, this is a cool little design and a memorable offering from Boker. I recommend it if you are into the design and are OK with the weight.

BOKER Plus 01BO296 Kwaiken VG-10 Pocket Knife, Titanium

VG-10 steel blade with flipper
Titanium handle scales
Liner lock mechanism

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

Boker Plus 01BO188 Titan Drop Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
Have you ever bought a knife while drinking? I’m not sure if this is a common thing or not, but I was putting back a few beers one night while recording yet another morally suspect episode of GearGeeksLive when I decided to pick up this Boker Titan.

Buy the Boker Plus Titan Drop Point at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

It’s a pretty basic knife, but the price is right and I have been wanting to check it out for a while. Apparently I needed a couple IPAs to get properly motivated. I guess there are worse things you can do after having a few beers…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Titan has an overall length of 8.25″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 4.10 ounces, and is made in China. The first thing I noticed when I pulled this out of it’s box was how big it was. I guess I would have realized that if I considered the specifications in between swigs of beer and trying to top Andrew’s non sequiturs, but sometimes these details get lost in the ether. It is definitely too large to be a daily carry for me, but it’s nice and slim and could make a good EDC for some people or perhaps even a “tactical knife”. I’d say it compares favorably to a Spyderco Endura, and it’s a bit smaller than my large Sebenza. I’d love to see Boker make a version with a 3″ blade for EDC, but I don’t want every knife in my collection to be a 3″ EDC knife.

The blade shape is a classic drop point with a full flat grind and satin finish. The blade has been well ground and the 440-C blade steel came sharp enough to brush the hairs off my arm without much thought. In practice this is a really nice cutter. The edge has been neatly and uniformly ground, and in practice I have found that the Titan is excellent for your typical tasks like breaking down boxes, working in the yard, home projects, etc. The full flat grind is nice and lean and it’s almost surprising how much extra leverage you can generate with the longer handle and blade.

Although it’s not a substitute for a real kitchen knife I did do a little food prep with it and was pleased with the results there as well. The tip is also very fine, and is great for stabbing through stuff. I managed to jab myself in the pinky while pruning some tomato plants, and the fruit was not the only thing that ran red that day.

The 440C blade has been easy to maintain and edge retention is pretty good. 440C is a softer steel, and I’d place it around AUS8 or slightly better in the edge retention department. Like AUS 8 it sharpens easily, and all I need is a strop to keep this knife very sharp. The satin finished blade attracts finger prints, but so far it hasn’t attracted any rust. All said I am pleased with the performance, especially given the price.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is comprised of two slabs of titanium, a steel lock back, and a titanium backspacer. Everything is screwed together with matte stainless steel hardware. The dull gray titanium contrasts nicely with the satin finished blade and clip. Everything lines up neatly and is well finished. Boker’s Plus line often gets a bad rap for poor fit and finish, but the build quality here is very high. There is a simple elegance to the knife that draws me in. The full metal construction means that the knife is solid and sturdy, yet it is still slim pocketable. You still get some interest on the enthusiast level with the use of titanium, and it also helps keep the weight down quite a bit. It’s a great blend of form and function.

Being that this is a larger knife, it goes without saying that the handle is quite generous. I’m able to get my meat hooks onto it with plenty of room to spare, and this is a knife that is built to get work done.

Although this doesn’t speak directly to ergonomics in use, I will say that there are some sharper edges on this knife (namely the spine and lock bar) and if you are going to obsessively open and close the knife, you may develop some lingering discomfort on your thumb. This isn’t uncommon for a lock back knife, but I did want to mention this a potential negative as this review is largely very positive.

The pocket clip is very similar to what you might find on a standard Emerson or Benchmade clip. This is a proven pocket clip design. Much like its Benchmade or Emerson counterpart, it’s very secure and is easy to use. This one from Boker has been given a very bright satin finish. It isn’t particularly discrete, but it matches the satin blade nicely. The handle is tapped for ambidextrous tip up carry and it’s a relatively deep carrying knife. This is a very thin knife and despite being over 8″ long it carries very well. Again, I can’t help but compare this to an Endura, and in this case I think that is a good thing.

Deployment and Lockup

It is impossible to see what kind of washers Boker used without taking the knife apart, but I can say that the action is very smooth. My guess is they have phosphor bronze washers in there. The teraced thumb studs are easy to get at, and the backspring can be overcome with the push of a thumb.

For lockup you have a sturdy backlock. There isn’t much to write about here beyond saying that the lock works well. It engages crisply and there is no play. The fact that the knife is completely made of metal would lead me to believe you could run this knife pretty hard if you wanted to. I haven’t tested it beyond normal daily tasks, but it could definitely be beaten on like the Cold Steel American Lawman, another favored lockback knife of mine. Blade centering on my model is excellent.

Boker Titan Review – Final Thoughts

I think I need to shop for knives while drinking more frequently because I stumbled across a winner here. The Titan is very basic and is an extremely conservative design, but it has been done right and the inclusion of titanium handle scales lends it a touch of class.

In practice I have found this to be a great beater / user knife. It cuts and carries well, and is very functional. Boker’s fit and finish can sometimes be a mixed bag, but it’s hard to screw up a simple lock back, and the fit and finish is actually very good here. The pieces line up perfectly, there is no blade play, the action is smooth and the lock engages crisply. This is actually a really nice knife and think it gives the Endura a good run for it’s money – especially when you consider how damn expensive the Endura has gotten, and the Endura’s proclivity for up and down blade play. Here the Titan is rock solid, and retails anywhere from $20 to $40+ less depending on what kind of Endura you are looking for. Granted this knife is made in China rather than Japan, doesn’t make use of nested liners, lacks a Spyderhole, etc, but you are still getting a ton of knife for your money and it is well made. The only real downside I could find is that the edges of the lock and spine are pretty sharp. While by no means uncomfortable to work with, it was something I noticed when obsessively opening and closing the Titan.

At less than $40 the Titan is a no brainer and it makes my list of recommended high value knives. It may also make my list for recommended tactical knives, but the longer I run this site the less I really understand what tactical knife even means.

Boker Plus 01BO188 Titan Drop Knife with 3-3/4 in. Straight Edge Blade, Steel

Durable and sharp 440C stainless steel blade
Bead blasted titanium handle
Reversible, polished pocket clip
Blade length: 3 3/4 inches. Overall length: 8 3/8 inches. Weight: 4.5 ounces.
Limited lifetime warranty

I recommend buying the Titan at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.