Protech Knives Archives - BladeReviews.com

Pro-Tech isn’t always the first brand that comes to mind when knife collectors start talking about automatic knives. We often default to Microtech or perhaps Kershaw. This makes sense, both of these brands have a large market share in the industry. They also possess a large social media presence and are very conspicuous at the tradeshows.

Buy the Microtech Dirac at BladeHQ

However, I think any true knife enthusiast would be sorely remiss to not spend some time looking at Pro-Tech. I’ve owned several knives from Protech over the years, they are one of the few swing-blade automatic manufacturers that make lefty dedicated versions of their knives. (Note to knife brands: I’ll literally throw money at you if you make lefty dedicated versions of your knives. I always support lefty manufacturers.)

Pro-Tech is a US-based knife company based out of Southern California. Their knives are all made in small runs in order to give the company the time to put human hands on each knife going out of their doors. They have done some great collaborations with Strider, Emerson, and Les George to name a few. They primarily focus on automatics but do have several “normal opening” knives in their catalog. Protech is also known for its (with a grain of sand) custom knives. These generally take the form of an existing production model made with premium materials. Check out this custom they made for Nick Shabazz a couple of years back.

The ProTech Newport is what’s up for discussion today, let’s touch on some specs:

(All Measurements are my personal measurements and may differ from manufacturers specs)

Blade: 2.75”
Overall Length: 7”
Thickness: .62” with the clip
Blade Thickness: .1”
Steel: S35VN
Weight: 2.2oz
Lock: Button Lock Automatic

Blade Steel

First things first, the business end of any knife is the blade. The Protech Newport has a very aggressive drop point blade made out of thin S35VN. When considering this particular knife I think it’s important to keep in mind the intended use-case here. This is a gentleman’s folder, not a hard use EDC blade. You want this knife to be ground thin and constantly sharp so that it’ll sing through the envelopes on your desk; that is what Protech has achieved here. With my calipers I’m seeing a blade stock that’s just under a tenth of an inch thick. Once ground down to the edge this knife becomes a lightsaber. My secret plan is to see if I can get this blade reground even thinner, to a zero-edge after the review. I like my knives to scare me by simply existing.

The steel Protech chose for the Newport is Crucible legendary S35VN. There has been plenty written about S35VN over the years. Suffice to say that this is a good choice for a knife like this. It retains an edge well, resists rust and corrosion, and is easy to sharpen when needed.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Newport is where it makes its intended purpose known. The slabs are made of anodized aluminum. The anodization has a “satin-y” texture to it providing the only grip surfaces on the knife. This just confirms in my mind that this is a more, “desk knife” than something you’d put into a hard use or tactical application. You’re going to open letters and packages with this knife.

Ergonomically the Newport sits well in hand. Protech has added a small palm swell in the handle that sits between my ring and pinky finger. This gives you a little bit more purchase on the knife when you’re working with it. The one thing to take into consideration is the size of the knife in general, I wear an L size glove and my hand occupies the entire handle. This combined with the lack of gimping would make me think twice about using this knife for any type of aggressive piercing tasks. I’d hate to run my hand onto that blade. As I said above, however; I think you’ll most likely be grabbing this knife for some pretty small jobs, so I wouldn’t sweat that too much.

The clip is excellent. It’s a deep carry clip with the fold terminating at the very end of the handle. What that means for you is the entire body the knife will sit inside your pocket. The Newport, being slim in profile already, is a good candidate for this. Plus, with it being an auto you may not want to draw attention to the knife in your pocket.

Speaking of which, here’s a shot of the Newport in the pocket:

Deployment and Lockup

The Newport is a traditional swing blade automatic. Protech describes it as having a “smooth and fast coil spring action.” To translate this, the knife fires hard and fast. You’ll want to brace your fingers against the clip and nestle the end of the handle into your palm when you activate it otherwise you may send this sucker flying. It kicks like a tiny little mule. This is a good thing, and it’s a ton of fun to play with, but when you hand the knife to your bud just make sure he knows what’s coming too.

Using the lock is simple: Press the button and close the blade. You’ll be pushing against the spring that fires the knife, so I always use two hands to close this one. The knife is solid in the open and closed position though, no play to be hand in the mechanism.

Competitive Options

There are a couple of other options that come to mind if maybe the Newport doesn’t tickle your fancy:

The first one that I can think of is the Boker Kalashnikov. More of a heavy-duty knife with the Boker’s spear point blade. MUCH cheaper, but with that costs savings will come quality differences.

Next, you might consider Kershaw Launch 1. It’s a little larger, a tiny bit cheaper, and totally different styling. Kershaw doesn’t make a dedicated lefty version but it does have a reversible clip. You’ll still have black aluminum handles and a push-button lock. This could be a good option for you.

The last option that pops into my head is the Hogue Knives EX-AO1. These knives are a little bigger overall but roughly the same price as the Newport. You may just want something that fills your hand better and Hogue makes an excellent auto.

Protech Newport Review – Final Thoughts

So to wrap up… I love Protech’s offerings, they are a US company that does all their small-batch manufacturing in southern California. Their knives are quality and have their own style to them that’s undeniably Protech. The Newport specifically fits the bill for a “gentleman’s auto,” or a “light duty desk knife” for me. It’s also an EXCELLENT fidget toy when I’m working at my desk. If you keep the intended use of a knife like this in mind I don’t think you’ll be displeased with the Newport.

The Protech Newport is available in several different handle configurations, coated and uncoated blades, and a couple of really premium options that involve inlays. You should be able to find something that suits your taste in their catalog.

Pro-Tech Newport – From $164.95
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Protech Newport at BladeHQ. Thank you for reading.

Last Updated: March 7, 2021
Over the last few years, pro-knife legislation in many states has contributed to a renewed interest in automatic knives. In part, these laws recognize the futility of banning automatic knives (also known as switchblades) when modern folders can be deployed just as quickly. The advent of the frame lock flipper begs the question: when manual knives can be reliably deployed at the same speed, but don’t require as many moving parts, is there still a justification for automatic knives? I argue that there is, but we’ll get to that later on.

Buy the Protech Runt at BladeHQ

Although several states have passed laws which legalize carrying automatic knives, others have not. My home state of California still bans the carry (but not ownership) of switchblades. However, the California penal code does not define automatic knives with blades less than two inches as switchblades, which has created a market for tiny automatics.

Apart from smoke shop specials, few manufacturers cater to this niche market. Benchmade and Microtech each have an offering, but I wasn’t impressed by either during my (admittedly brief) handling period. While I can’t speak for everyone’s taste, I can say that I’m glad I chose the Protech Runt J4. Pro-Tech has a robust selection of CA-legal autos. They are based in California, after all. They also have earned a reputation online for quality manufacturing practices.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Protech Runt J4 has a 1.94 inch blade, a closed length of 3.33 inches, an overall length of 5.27 inches, weighs just 2.1 ounces, and is made in the USA. I chose the spear point blade, although there is the option of a tanto, if you’re so inclined.

On this model, Protech uses 154CM blade steel, which is fairly typical choice along the Pacific coast. I’ve heard that 154CM was originally developed for the aerospace industry, and if so, some of its popularity in California would be partially explained. If anyone has more information, please leave it in the comments. 154CM is an excellent working steel: passably tough, stainless, with good edge retention and easy sharpening. Some may criticize it for its edge retention when compared to the new generation of super steels, but it has held its own (both on this knife and others) in my experience.

The blade is thinly ground, but the tip geometry is not as delicate as it appears. It is at least as tough as that of the Spyderco Dragonfly II. So long as you don’t drop it onto concrete, the blade should hold up fine. Between the thin stock and the high flat grind, the Runt is one of the best cutters I have owned. However the short blade makes certain tasks (among them slicing fruit – you only bite into an earwig in your apple once) slightly onerous, and some of the slicing potential is wasted on the short blade.

To date, rust has not been an issue, but others have had poor experiences with 154CM. The credit in this case should (in my opinion) go to the lustrous satin finish Protech put on the blade. Although the photographs don’t showcase it very well, this is one of the nicest finishes I’ve seen, and the satin finish on the main bevel is complemented by a high polish stonewash on the flats.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

When this knife arrived, I assumed that the “fidget factor” of the knife would lie in deployment – that is, after all, the allure of an automatic knife. I was surprised to find that it was just as pleasant to the touch as my traditional knives. While it lacks the organic feel that micarta does, the aluminum (which has been hard anodized to the HAIII rating) is smooth and lustrous, akin to obsidian. The finish has held up well to riding next to a pen and a light, although it is fading at certain contact points. Rubbing against knurled titanium will have that effect, and I’m honestly surprised at how resilient the finish is. I’m certain that more of the coating will chip or wear away over time, but that isn’t the biggest concern for me. Much like the patina on a traditional knife or the fading on good jeans, this wear is a sign of use and adds a level of character that it would not have were it pristine.

In the hand, the knife is comfortable, but I would not suggest it for hard use, or cutting for long periods of time. While there is technically enough room on the handle for four fingers, this is meant to be a three finger knife. To Protech’s credit it is a well-executed grip, and despite the lack of jimping I’ve never worried about my fingers sliding onto the blade (or dropping it, for that matter). A lanyard hole would be a great addition and allow the knife to have a pseudo four finger grip. The edges have all been nicely chamfered, which gives the knife some of that “warm” feeling I often see attributed to custom knives, and is a contributing factor in stopping me from obsessively firing the Runt repeatedly as some do with flippers.

The one issue that I truly have with this knife is how it carries, and before you ask, it’s not because it is tip down only. Would I like to have the option? Yes, and I see no reason why Protech didn’t tap the other end of the handle to accommodate it. As I carry this knife next to a small flashlight, I don’t mind tip up, as it plays nicer with other stuff clipped to my pocket. I do not like the clip, however. The tension is unnecessarily stiff and the lip is too low to reasonably slide onto thicker cloth. And if you notice farther down, two of the clip screws (the ones on the outside were borrowed from another knife) needed to be replaced, as the originals stripped almost immediately.

Deployment and Lockup

Of course, the deployment is the main reason many folks consider an automatic knife. Whether they want to feel like Batman, need a knife that reliably deploys on command, or simply admire the mechanical ingenuity, let’s be honest: the thwack you get after pushing the button is addicting. The high polish on the button (which is both the deployment method and lock release) invites this sort of behavior, despite the nasty and/or frightened looks you may receive. After reading Anthony Sculimbrene’s review of the Protech Sprint (a newer, smaller model) wherein he noted that the small handle made it difficult to keep your grip on the knife when it deployed, I decided to go for the Runt instead, and I’m glad I did. The Runt fires louder and with more force than any automatic knife I’ve handled, which happens to be quite a few after a trip to a wonderfully seedy Las Vegas knife store. For some, this will be a real detriment. Not only does it draw attention to the knife, but you may lose your grip if you aren’t expecting it. After owning this knife for seven months or so, I’ve dropped it once for just that reason. In the Runt’s defense, I was absentmindedly firing it while doing some research, so that may be due to human error.

This was my first button lock, and I have no complaints. I can easily open and close the knife and the lock has zero blade play in any direction. Although there is no secondary lock or safety feature to prevent the knife from opening accidentally, I don’t think one is necessary here. Despite my initial concerns that the placement of the firing button/lock interface would lead to inadvertently releasing the lock (see the earlier grip shot), it was never an issue in realistic use. The plunger is deep enough that barring truly extraordinary circumstances, your index finger won’t come close to compromising the lock. The Runt has never fired in the pocket, and I was not able to induce the knife to open in such conditions.

I did have to apply Loctite to the pivot screw on mine, but when I did, I realized the screw was as thick as those on some of the “hard use” knives I’ve handled. Some folks might balk at the relatively complex internals of a button lock, but as the guys at the Knife Thursday podcast went over, having a lot of parts isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For example, on a framelock (or God help you, an integral) if the lock is somehow compromised and needs to be replaced, then the entire lock side of the knife needs to be replaced as well. On a button lock or an axis lock, parts will fail, but typically can be fixed without too much hassle, as the offending component is just one part of the mechanism.

Protech Runt J4 Review – Final Thoughts

Ultimately, if you are legally able to carry an automatic knife and are interested in doing so, I would recommend you first look at Protech. If my experience with the Runt and the hype on internet forums is representative of their capabilities, you won’t be disappointed. It’s not just good in the niche role of California legal automatics, it’s a great knife for everyday carry. This knife is impeccably finished, significantly nicer than its competition, and costs far less to boot. Keep in mind, the Runt is not without its problems. It can be a pain to carry it using the pocket clip. The deployment can require some getting used to, and its less people friendly than its size would indicate. However, if you’re looking for a classy knife that is equally at home on the job site and in a suit, this is an option worth exploring.

Protech Runt – From $105.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Protech Runt at BladeHQ or possibly Amazon (as available). Thanks for reading.