High End Pocket Knives

Benchmade Anthem 781 Review

Last Updated: July 18, 2019

There was a time when Benchmade was kinda the sleepy “Gunshop Knife Brand.” There would always be a few dusty Griptillians sitting in the case next to the preowned Glocks, and while the Grips might be fantastic value-props, they a bit vanilla-icecream-y if you get my meaning.

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However, something has been changing in the last few years. I don’t know if someone put some sriracha on the break table over there in Oregon City, or what, but something has injected some pep into their design team. Introducing the Anthem 781, Benchmade’s first Integral Titanium folding knife. There are lots to say about this one, but before I get too deep let’s go over some specs:

(Please note these measurements are according to my ruler and calipers, manufacturer’s listed measurements may vary.)

Blade Length: 3.25” of cutting edge, 3.375
Overall Length: 8.125”
Thickness: .585” with clip, .421 handle only
Blade Thickness: .115”
Steel: 20CV
Weight: 3.7oz
Lock: The famed Axis Lock
Country of Origin: USA

Blade Details

With a knife like the Anthem, I believe that it’s intended to be a daily carry type piece. It’s not overly large, doesn’t have any sort of complicated aspect to it, and the functional bits are designed to be, well, functional.

The blade is a great example of this: drop pointed shaped with a rounded (or crowned) spine. Eyeballing it, I’d guess that it’s flat ground but I suppose it could be a shallow hollow grind as well; either way, it’s a great slicer. It came out of the box with a very nice, toothy, utility edge and I didn’t feel the need to change this on my wicked edge. In the couple of weeks that I’ve been carrying it I have had occasion to break down boxes, slice up food, and perform just daily “knife-stuff” tasks with it, nothing crazy, no batoning or zombie apocalypse type stuff, but in terms of daily EDC tasks, it excelled.

In terms of the steel, I will briefly comment on it: Benchmade chose 20CV for this blade, and I believe that to be an excellent choice for a knife like this. 20CV is a high toughness and corrosion resistance steel, that hardens to around 62HRC. I have no means testing to see if my knife is in that range, but I can tell you that it’s performed beautifully and has been easily maintained on a strop. 20CV is very similar to M390 (one of my favorite steels) and I have been really pleased with it in this application.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Ah yes… The INTEGRAL handle. This is really what makes this knife stand out, isn’t it? This is the first Integral from Benchmade. For those of you not familiar with the term: Integral means that the handle of this knife is milled out of a single block of Titanium as opposed to two that are screwed together. There aren’t any screws holding the knife handle together. In the past, this level of knife making was reserved to custom makers that had a lot of time on their hands (it takes a while to mill a channel out of a block of Ti) but recently a few companies have started incorporating integrals into their lineup.

One of the interesting things about Benchmade’s execution of the integral handle is how they incorporated the axis lock into it. When you look at the spine of the knife (the money shot of any integral) you’ll see two screws hidden in the decorative milling, these hold the locking method in place.

In the hand the first thing that came to mind for me was how thin the knife is; It carries very well in the pocket and feels great in hand. The handle itself is trim in both dimensions thickness and height, but there is a sort of faux-choil towards the blade that locks the hand in securely when holding the knife open. Otherwise, the milled texture gives you a little bit of grip on what would otherwise be a pretty slick knife.

The pocket clip is an ambidextrous milled Ti clip that is more than a little phallic, but it is also very functional. There are several makers out there that are offering custom clips made from Moku-Ti so if you want something different there are options for you. The knife carries well with approx 1/2” sticking out of the pocket, offering a perfect grip to withdraw it.

Deployment and Lockup

The blade on the Anthem opens by way of ambidextrous thumb studs. The blade deploys easily thanks in part to bearings washers. The action is smooth and easy.

For lockup, the Anthem comes equipped with Benchmade’s Axis lock. I’m not sure there’s much to say about the Axis lock that hasn’t already been said. It’s an incredibly solid lock mechanism that isn’t prone to lock rock, doesn’t really suffer from failures in the way a liner or frame lock might, and it is completely ambidextrous to use. The execution of the Axis lock is worth noting on the Anthem, there’s a block screwed to the spine of the knife that acts as the anchor point for the axis lock mechanism.

Benchmade Anthem Review – Final Thoughts

So to wrap all this up…the Benchmade 781 Anthem is a great step forward for Benchmade knives. I think it shows a focus shift on Benchmade’s part too, hopefully, starting to produce some higher-end knives. I am also very pleased to see their adoption of some different steels. I love CPM154 and S30V, but it’s good to have some variety. Between the 20CV here and the S90 in the 940-1, it’s been refreshing.

Now, the caveat to this entire review: This is an expensive knife. MSRP is around $500, with retail landing closer to $425 on BladeHQ and Amazon. Competitively, this puts you in the ballpark of a Chris Reeve, or above the ballpark of some really nice Zero Tolerances, but what you’re paying for here is the time and difficulty in making the handle. It’s a remarkable feat, but you have to decide if it’s worth it to you, for me it was too cool to pass up. The nice thing, however, is that you won’t be getting a gimmicky integral for that price—you’re going to be putting a knife that will make a great daily carry in your pocket.

Sale

COLD STEEL AD-10 3.5" S35VN Steel Ultra-Sharp Drop Point Blade 5.25" G-10 Handle Tactical Folding Knife with Tri-Ad Locking Mechanism

CONSTRUCTION - The AD-10 tactical folding knife features an ultra-wide, ground thin at the edge, honed to razor-sharpness blade that offers unprecedented cutting, shearing, and piercing power while resisting bending, breaking, or chipping
S35VN STEEL BLADE - Crafted from S35VN steel, the AD-10 folding knife's blade ensures super-fine cutting edges and exceptional edge retention; This premium steel is renowned for its durability and ability to maintain sharpness through rigorous use
STRONG HANDLE - The handle of the AD-10 knife boasts heat-treated, full-length aluminum liners and 3D machined G-10 scales, providing unparalleled strength and grip; Its precise contouring and integral finger guard ensure a snug and secure fit in the hand
TRI-AD LOCK - Complete with the Tri-Ad, the AD-10 offers unrivaled strength, shock resistance, and durability; This reliable locking mechanism provides peace of mind, safeguarding your fingers during use and ensuring the blade remains securely in place
SPECS - Weight: 7 oz (198.4 g); Blade Thickness: 3.8 mm; Blade Length: 3 1/2"; Blade Steel: S35VN; Handle Length/Material: 5 1/4" G-10; Overall Length: 8 3/4"; Knife Type: Folder; Blade Shape: Drop Point; Locking Mechanism: Tri-Ad Lock

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Anthem 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.

Cold Steel 4-Max Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

This is a knife that requires little in the way of an introduction. The Cold Steel 4-Max is arguably the most overbuilt hard use folding knife of all time. Modeled after designer Andrew Demko’s custom 4-Max folder the 4-Max brings Andrew’s clean design and attention to detail to life.

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This isn’t your garden variety Cold Steel offering. Built in the USA and retailing for about $400, this high end production offering is for those that want to get as close to an Andrew Demko custom as they can without buying and actual AD custom. I’ve wanted to check one of these knives out ever since they announced the project in 2014. 4 years later and I finally have one in hand.

Will the knife survive the hype? Read on to find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 4-Max has an overall length of 10.00″, a 4.00″ blade and weighs 10.2 ounces. This is a big honking knife. As you will be able to see in the size comparisons, if the Ultimate Hunter is a great white, then this 4Max is a megalodon. It dwarfs normal folding knives. It’s almost a caricature of a folding knife. It’s massive in every way. Some may view a knife this big as novelty item rather than an EDC. Personally, I like mine for trips to the supermaket and high stakes hostage negotiations.

My 4-Max is made in the USA, but Cold Steel has moved manufacturing over to Italy. They changed the G-10 from the tan shown here to a blue grey on the Italian version. Personally, part of the allure of the 4Max to me was that it was made in the USA. It’s a knife so ridiculous that it almost needs to be made in the USA. Otherwise it’s just an imposter. That said, my research shows the Italian 4Max is very nice, and possibly even a smidge better than this USA version in the fit and finish department.

The blade on this sucker is massive. It’s a simple drop point with a deep belly, high flat grind, and decorative swedge. The grinds are crisp and even. The edge has been evenly applied, although the sharpener did run up onto the choil a little. That seems to be consistent from knife to knife. I’m not a fan of how that looks, and is one of my gripes.

You would think a knife this overbuilt would be a poor slicer, but the 4-Max actually has great blade geometry. It slices beautifully thanks to the high flat grind that gets surprisingly thin behind the edge. I can slice apples like nobody’s business with the 4Max. The tip also displays a good balance between strength and practicality. It’s stout, but isn’t a pry bar either. The knife is fully functional and surprisingly good at performing day to day tasks.

For blade steel Cold Steel went with CPM-20CV. CPM-20CV is Crucible’s answer to Boeller M390. It’s excellent stuff providing a covetable blend of edge retention, ease of sharpness, corrosion resistance and toughness. It’s a high end steel. So far it has done everything I’ve asked it to. Admittedly that has mostly been EDC chores including breaking down boxes, cutting fruit, and opening mail. I’m keeping this knife for long term evaluation and will update this section periodically.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Handle of the 4-Max is G-10 over titanium liners with a titanium backspacer. Handle construction is solid. The G-10 scales have been nicely finished. All the parts line up, and the overall impression is solid.

So far the tan G-10 has held up well. I’m not a huge fan of light colored G-10 as it tends to pick up dirt and stain, but I haven’t had that issue with the 4-Max.

The ergonomics of the 4-Max are excellent. This is a huge knife, so there is plenty of real estate, and Andrew Demko is well known for his simple and ergonomic designs that accommodate a variety of grips and hand sizes. The ergonomic features include a generous forward finger choil, lightly textured G-10 handle scales, and a short run of toothy jimping. The jimping is nice because it captures the pad of your thumb without being overly aggressive.

All the edges of the G-10 have been chamferred. I haven’t noticed any hot spots. The balance point of the knife is an inch or so behind the pivot, so it has a forward heavy feel. It all but begs to be chopped with, an odd sensation from a folding knife. The pommel is large and angular and could be used as an “impact tool” if the need ever arised. The 4-Max is also comfortable in a reverse grip.

Time to talk about the pocket clip. This is a large titanium pocket clip. It allows for right or left side tip up carry only. It’s not a deep carry clip, but it’s oriented so that the knife buries fairly deep in the pocket. Spring retention is excellent.

In practice, this knife carries as you would expect. You need to wear a belt while EDCing the 4-Max, lest you wish to arrive at your destination in just your underwear. It’s big, it’s heavy, and it takes up a ton of space in your pocket. I wouldn’t turn up my nose at a belt sheath for this one.

Deployment and Lockup

The 4-Max makes use of large ambidextrous thumb studs. Quite a bit of travel is required to pop this blade open. Thankfully the going is smooth due to the massive phosphor bronze washers. When you finally maneuver the blade into the open position you are greeted with a hugely satisfying “click”. It’s kind of like closing the door of a German car.

Here is a size comparison with the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter, a large knife in its own right.

For lockup we have an oversized Tri-Ad lock. It’s got a stop pin bigger than most pivots. Lockup is absolutely bank vault solid. Not a smidge of play here, and according to Cold Steel this lock can handle ungodly amounts of punishment. No complaints with respect to the lock.

Where I do have a complaint is when it’s time to unlock the knife. Tri-Ad locks can have a reputation for being tough to disengage, but this 4-Max takes it to a new level. Not only is a good amount of pressure required to release the blade (understandable), you have to position your thumb dead center on the lock release. If you travel too far forward or back, you won’t have sufficient travel for the lockbar to raise enough to disengage.

Once you get the lock disengaged extreme care needs to be taken with this blade. The spring tension turns the 4-Max into a guillotine of sorts. Care always needs to be exercised when closing a folding knife, but extreme care should be taken with the 4-Max. The combination of strong spring, heavy blade, and razor sharp blade make this one a little disconcerting to use. I’ve never felt nervous closing a pocket knife before, but after catching the edge of my ring finger in this blade I have a new level of respect for the 4-Max. Be careful.

Here is another size comparison with the hugely popular Spyderco Paramilitary 2:

Blade centering is good, but not great on my knife. It’s a mm or so off. No where near rubbing, but at this price point I would obviously prefer something dead centered.

Cold Steel 4-Max Review – Final Thoughts

The 4-Max is the closest most of us will come to ever owning an Andrew Demko custom knife. It was built without compromise, and in that respect the 4-Max is a roaring success. If you are looking for the biggest, baddest hard use folding knife on the planet then I think the 4-Max should be at the top of your short list. It’s beautifully made, and it cuts surprisingly well. And I challenge you to find a more solid folding knife.

My biggest gripe is it’s a tough lock to disengage. Not only is there a lot of spring tension, you have to place your thumb right in the center in order to successfully disengage the lock.

However, if you are looking for anything resembling a practical pocket knife for urban EDC then I think you should look elsewhere. This knife is huge and heavy. No way I would want to carry it around on a daily basis. But it’s a beautiful and unique piece and I appreciate it for what it is.

With the 4-Max, you are either going to love the idea of it or hate it. If you are somehow on the fence about the 4-Max I would suggest picking one up. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Cold Steel 4 Max Folding Knife

CPM-20CV Steel
Pocket / Belt Clip

I recommend purchasing the Cold Steel 4-Max 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.

Microtech Stitch Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

Hot on the heels of my review of the Microtech Sigil, I decided to pick up the Stitch. This knife was designed by Sebastijan Berenji of Borka Blades.

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What I find interesting about Sebastian’s story is that he started out as an enthusiast. If I recall correctly, he was a friend and customer of Geoff Blauvelt of TuffKnives, learned the basics of grinding knives, and made some simple fixed blades. His designs and talents earned the interest of Anthony Marfione. Tony took him under his wing and now Sebastijan is a popular custom knifemaker selling knives for thousands of dollars. Some of his designs have been turned into production knives as well.

A cinderella story if I ever heard one.

The Stitch is an example of Sebastijan’s unique aesthetic. His designs are aggressive and the resulting knives are just plain cool. After being pleasantly surprised by the Sigil, I decided to check out Microtech Stitch and see what his designs are like in the metal.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Stitch has an overall length of 8.00″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 6.38 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a large and quirky folding knife. The first thing I noticed is the heft. I didn’t bother checking out the specs before purchasing, so I was a little surprised at how stout the Stitch was.

The second thing to note is the blade to handle ratio. Although the blade is technically 3.75″ long, the cutting edge is only 3″. Those who prize high blade to handle ratios will be sorely disappointed. Personally, I enjoy the weirdness of this knife. That is what drew me to the Stitch in the first place.

The Stitch features a unique blade shape. Maybe we could call it a modified clip point or something. Who really knows. Or cares.

The blade features a prominent harpoon, a high flat grind, a large swedge, and a tip that verges on being a trailing point. There is also a large decorative thumb hole. The blade is unique, and ground from almost 5mm thick blade stock. My blade has been given a bronzed “apocalyptic” (tumbled) blade finish. It is beautifully ground and meticulously finished.

My particular knife came with a blade made of Bohler M390 super steel. I believe they also offer this knife in Elmax, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they release this one in a number of blade steels.

M390 needs no introduction to the enthusiast of high end pocket knives. My guess is that if you are reading this review you already know that M390 is a top tier blade steel, and is among the best money can buy. That is because M390 has the covetable qualities of excellent edge retention and relatively easy sharpening. Most knives will either have great edge retention, or be easy to sharpen. Here you get the best of both worlds, along with good stain resistance.

The Stitch has proven itself to be a capable cutter in the last few weeks of my testing. It easily handles cardboard boxes and other EDC tasks. I’ll say the negative angle of the blade relative to the handle along with high point on this knife makes it a little different in some applications. Case in point, I was at an event and they gave me one of those plastic/paper wrist bands. I tried to cut it off with my Stitch and it took some finagling to get the tip low enough to cut the band off my wrist.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is a beautifully machined aluminum handle with a long geared backspacer and bronzed stainless steel hardware. Aluminum is 3-D contoured with details like a faux pivot collar, countersunk screws, and a fine triangle pattern for traction.

One thing to note, is that this hardware is not proprietary Microtech hardware, but standard torx stuff. That said, all the screws are oversized and look to be custom made. There are two blade stops inside the handle, and they also appear to be custom made.

The handle is immaculate and it’s hard to do it justice with a paragraph or two of text.

The Stitch is a supremely comfortable knife. This is in part because the cutting edge only takes up 37% of the overall length of the knife. So there is plenty of real estate. But it’s also due to some smart ergonomic features of the design. The handle is simple and comfortable. It has good texturing on the sides, and plenty of jimping on the backspacer. Sebastijan also included a large finger choil and a wide spine. That combined with the negative angle of the blade relative to the handle makes for a supremely comfortable knife, whether you are choked up or pulled back on the blade.

The pocket clip is a bent stainless steel clip, given the same bronze treatment as the blade and other hardware, and is a take on the Chris Reeve Knives “double dip clip”. Frankly, I’m not sure of the intellectual property history of this clip design: who came up with it, whether it was patented, licensed, etc. Since a version of this clip appears on their popular Ultratech series my guess is Microtech is well within their right to use it.

I am a big fan of the double dip clip on the Sebenza, and am a fan of it here on the Stitch. This is a wide clip. It has good spring action, and is easy to use. The double dip provides extra retention in your pocket. I’m a fan. The Stitch is a heavy knife, but the good pocket clip keeps it in place. It caries well for an almost 6.5 ounce folding knife. The handle is drilled and tapped for right side tip up carry only.

One interesting thing to comment on is how this knife looks with the closed blade. As you can see, quite a bit of the blade tang (by the thumb hole) is exposed. In the closed position it’s not nearly as resolved as something like my Spyderco Sage 1. Some might find this a little unconventional. I don’t mind it.

Deployment and Lockup

The Stitch is a push button automatic folder. I don’t review many autos, so I’m a little out of my element, but the push button is a generous pad of steel with intricate mill work. The Stitch uses a coil spring, and it does a good job kicking out this heavy blade. The knife shudders with kinetic energy when you press the button. It is snappy.

To close the blade you press the same button you use to open the knife. The force required to return the blade to its closed position is significant, and the blade slides into place with a satisfying snap – not unlike arming a rat trap.

The thumb hole is purely decorative, which is a small point of contention for me. Maybe it saves a little weight, maybe it adds a little visual flair, I’m not really sure what the rationale was. But it seems slightly out of place since you can’t use it for anything.

On that subject, I’d enjoy either a dual action or non-automatic version of this knife. The auto feature is fun, but it’s not necessary and limits where you can carry. Consult your local laws carefully before you decide to EDC this knife.

Still, I won’t fault the Stitch for being an auto. I knew that going into the review. Here’s a shot of the knife next to my Strider SnG:

The lock is a button lock, sturdy and secure. I detect the slightest amount of side to side play in my knife, but no up and down. The lock is easy to manipulate. There is no blade stick at all. It’s a well implemented button lock.

Centering is dead nuts perfect on my knife.

Microtech Stitch Review – Final Thoughts

It seems I have fallen down the slippery slope of Microtech. After resisting their knives for years, I have purchased 2 in a matter of weeks. The quality of these knives is apparent, and I’m now a believer. I’m also thinking I need one of their OTF automatics. Oy vey.

But the Stitch in particular is a cool knife. The design is one of a kind, and the execution is brilliant. All the parts are custom made. Each detail is refined to the point of perfection. I bought a Boker Kalashnikov a couple weeks ago to compare with this Stitch (and accidentally posted a draft of the review the other week – whoops). There is no comparison. This Stitch has been built with such fanatical attention to detail it’s not funny. Granted it costs 10x the Kalashnikov, but you get what you pay for.

I think if you like the concept of the Stitch you will like the reality of this knife. Quirky, but beautifully executed. I’m enjoying mine.

Microtech Stitch – From $364.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Microtech Stitch 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.

Todd Begg Steelcraft Bodega Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

Todd Begg is known for his heavily machined and highly ornamented knives. A few years ago it would have been inconceivable to think that his Bodega folder could be recreated as a mass market production piece.

Buy the Bodega at BladeHQ | Buy the Bodega at KnivesShipFree

But there it was, staring back and Andrew and I at the 2015 BLADE show. I believe it was actually his kwaiken model, but he had one of his original knives and the Steelcraft version sitting on the table next to each other. We couldn’t distinguish which was the real deal, and which was the mass produced version. The Steelcraft version was that good.

The Steelcraft series is a collaboration between Begg and Reate Knives. Reate is a high end Chinese knife manufacturer. Arguably they are the highest end, ousting WE Knives and Kizer with their build quality and finish. It’s another brand that I haven’t had the time to cover. In part because their regular lineup doesn’t inspire me that much. The knives look technically perfect, but the designs are largely forgettable.

However, this Steelcraft collaboration with Begg is the perfect vehicle to showcase Reate’s manufacturing chops. Todd Begg is an incredibly talented designer, and this collaboration with Reate is one for the ages.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Steelcraft Bodega has an overall length of 8.875″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 6.35 ounces, and is made in China. There is a smaller version of the knife, the Steelcraft Mini Bodega. If I had thought this through a little better before making my purchase I would have gone with that. But who actually researches knives before they buy them?

This full size version is quite large. It’s a bit excessive for my style of daily carry, but it’s a joy to behold, and I’m sure some will love EDCing this larger knife. The mini Bodega will be better for urban EDC, if you can bring yourself to carry something this pretty. That said, there is no shame in simply wanting this as a collectible.

The blade is a wide gleaming drop point with a high hollow grind, toothy jimping, a prominent harpoon tip, and Todd’s signature milled fuller running most of the length of the blade. This ornate blade has been meticulously ground, and this knife is all about the details. The grinds are symmetrical, the milling is crisp, and the satin finish is lustrous. I like how they even broke the edges along the flipper and finger choil. This makes the knife more comfortable to use.

The Bodega comes with a S35VN blade. This is a steel that needs no explanation for enthusiasts of high end knives. It’s a staple in Chris Reeve’s lineup, and has made an appearance on countless reviews of high end folders. This is the next generation of S30V. While it’s not a super exotic steel, it performs admirably. It’s easy to sharpen, holds a fine edge, and machines nicely. It’s a steel that was specifically formulated for cutlery, and I’m never sorry to see it on a knife.

My Steelcraft Bodega came with an even and razor sharp edge. I haven’t used this knife hard, but it has no problem with cardboard, paper, and food prep. The hollow grind gets thin behind the edge, and the knife slices neatly. I’ve been able to keep the Bodega sharp with my strops, and have had zero issues with rust or corrosion. While I haven’t given this Bodega a beat down, S35VN is a known quantity.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Where do I even begin with this handle? The handle is a thing of technical beauty. Like an aging escort, this Bodega has been drilled from every angle. The outer face of the titanium handle is curved and rounded. That in itself is nice, but then they added the fluted pattern and chased the outlines in silver.

Additionally, the backspacer has been checkered and jimped. The holes for the body screws have been counter sunk and polished. The lock bar has been given the same treatment as the fuller of the blade. Inside the handles have been pocketed out to lighten up the knife and improve the balance. Begg uses regular torx hardware for the body screws, but there is a nice oversized decorative pivot.

A cool thing about the Bodega is the variety of anodizations they offer. I’ve got the gray and silver monochromatic version, but if you prefer color the Bodega is offered in a variety of colors, including a striking Blue and Gold version that Tony reviewed. There is a black on black version that is also stunning. I like the austerity of my particular knife, but the anodized versions are striking.

This full size Bodega fills the hand nicely, and you have a couple options for finger placement thanks to the forward choil. Generally speaking this is a comfortable knife. However, I find the toothy jimping on the spine and lock bar to be a little much. Here it is almost a decorative element, providing a textural contrast, but at the end of the day this knife is designed for use and I find the super toothy jimping to be a bit irritating. Especially if I was to use this knife for aggressive carving, or crunching through a lot of manilla rope.

The pocket clip is an over the top Begg special. It’s a milled clip but uses a large ceramic ball bearing for the point of contact with your pocket. It is completely unique. More importantly, it’s fully functional. Titanium milled clips can be hit or miss, as it’s tough to get the tension right. This one works well, and visually it’s a unique detail. The Bodega carries as you would expect from a large full titanium folder. The relatively thin curved handle mostly stays out of the way, and at 6.35 ounces there is some heft, but not enough to pull your pants down.

Deployment and Lockup

The Steelcraft Bodega is an IKBS bearing equipped flipper. Flipping action is solid, and the bearings are buttery smooth. I’d give this an 8.5 out of 10 on my flipper scoring system. Action is crisp and snappy. The flipper tab is prominent. There isn’t any jimping on the tab, but I don’t think it needs it. There is plenty of steel here to get a finger on, and the blade deploys reliably with an excellent snap.

Here is a shot of the Bodega next to my Shirogorov F3:

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with a steel insert. Lockup is early on my knife. About 20% according to my eyeball. There isn’t a smidge of blade play in any direction. The lock is easy to disengage thanks to the toothy jimping, and a thoughtful design. There is no lock stick at all. The steel lock bar insert doubles as an overtravel preventer, so you don’t have to worry about hyperextending your lock bar.

Blade centering is dead nuts center on my knife. I would expect nothing less from a knife this meticulously machined.

Todd Begg Steelcraft Bodega Review – Final Thoughts

This Steelcraft Bodega is unlike any other knife. Todd Begg is a brilliant knife designer, and the folks at Reate knocked it out of the park. It’s a testament to how far Chinese manufacturing has come. I know some will still turn their noses up at this one because it’s made in China. Spend the money on NASCAR tickets, what do I care. I’m here to tell you this knife has been beautifully done.

This is everything you would expect from a high end folder. At close to $450, you will pay for the premium, but it’s damn hard to find a fault with this knife. The closest thing I could come to critical feedback, is that the jimping is a little rough for extended use. The knife is also too pretty for me to seriously use without feeling guilty. I don’t feel that way about my Strider SnG, which costs a similar amount of money. But the ornate nature of this knife makes it tough for me to beat up on. This is an immaculate knife.

Todd Begg’s in house version of the Bodega starts at $850 (for the “field grade” versions), and quickly go up from there. For $450 I think the Steelcraft version gives you an excellent feel for what his designs are all about. Well worth checking out if you have the money and are interested in exploring his designs.

Todd Begg Steelcraft Bodega – From $460.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Steelcraft Bodega at BladeHQ, KnivesShipFree, or Amazon.

Microtech Sigil MK6 Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

There is depth to the knife industry. So much depth that a reviewer can review knives for 5 years, hire on 3 other writers to review knives, amass a catalog of over 300 knife reviews, and still not review knives from all the major manufacturers. That’s case with this website and Microtech at least. It’s almost shameful that we haven’t reviewed anything by Microtech yet. Thankfully, that gets remedied today.

Buy the Microtech Sigil at BladeHQ

Microtech is a medium sized knife manufacturer located in Bradford, PA. The company was founded in Vero Beach, FL in 1994, by Anthony Marfione, but then moved to Pennsylvania a decade later. As a Florida boy I have no idea why they would pack up and move to PA after 10 years. Usually it’s the other way around. There must be a lot of steel up in PA.

Microtech is known for their automatic knives, and their aggressive designs. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to buy one. I’m not a huge fan of autos, believing that a good manual folder can be almost as easy to operate, and less likely to draw the ire of law enforcement. Plus, their styling is the equivalent of Affliction shirts for the cutlery industry. Shockingly, a Microtech was the 3rd knife Jim Skelton ever reviewed. And it was from the “Zombie Tech” series at that. There is a lid for every pot.

Aesthetic preferences aside, the blades are also pricey. Not that price has stopped me from reviewing a knife in the past. I just gotta get a good deal on it, or really want to check out the knife. Plus the recent ugliness with the Tony S. lawsuit didn’t rev me up about the company either. I have wanted to check their knives out, but something else always took priority.

That all changed when I picked up this Sigil MK6. What a cool knife. This Sigil is beautifully built and richly detailed. Whoever designed it clearly had a lot of fun. My version is the “Apocalyptic” flavor, with a full stonewash and copper accent piece. Lets dive in.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Sigil has an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 5.2 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a sizable knife. It’s a bit more than I typically like to EDC, but it provides plenty of canvas. Microtech took advantage of this and covered every inch in ornamentation.

The floor to ceiling stonewash lends the knife an aged appearance, although my blade is date stamped “02/2017”.

The blade is a long, sloping, modified drop point. The tip is dropped low, and you only get a slight amount of belly. The tip is also fine and delicate. The blade shape and thumb cutout resembles a prehistoric bird.

A lot of attention went into this blade, and the machining is top notch. The thumb hole has a series of steps milled around it. The finger choil is delicately chamferred. The flipper area has been pocketed. The grinds are beautiful and even. The edge has been uniformly applied. No detail has been overlooked on this blade.

And the blade is made of M390 stainless steel. M390 is about as good as it gets in blade steel, exhibiting the enviable combination of high edge retention paired with easy sharpening. Most super steels are a bear to sharpen, but M390 isn’t bad. It’s one of my favorite blade steels and Microtech gives you almost 4 inches of it here with their Sigil.

Cutting performance is pretty good. The stock on this knife is relatively thick, and the partial flat grind has its geometric limits. Still I had no problem breaking down boxes, opening mail, and cutting fruit. The M390 held up like a champ.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is a celebration of milling, and a thing of technical beauty. Microtech is a highly skilled manufacturer, and that comes out clearly in the handle of the Sigil. The titanium handle slabs have been meticulously tooled from all angles, to the point where this knife could pass for an extra on the Dark Crystal.

You can become lost in the complexity of the Sigil. The insides have been pocketed out to lighten the knife. There is also extra fine milling for the frame lock release, the hardware for the pocket clip is hidden, a full titanium floating backspacer, and a copper pivot shroud doubles as a lock bar stabilizer. Microtech’s trademark proprietary hardware holds it all together.

Speaking of the proprietary hardware, although a lot of people aren’t a fan of non-standard hardware, I think it adds something to the overall effect of the knife. It’s totally different and helps make the Sigil feel special. That said, it would have been great if they included a tool. Actually came loose a couple times. Keep in mind I got this knife gently used, so this isn’t a comment on how it came from the factory. I was able to tighten everything down with my finger nail, but this is far from ideal. Thankfully the pivot feels snug and I haven’t had to mess with it yet.

The simple handle shape and heavy chamferring of the titanium handle makes the Sigil a comfortable knife in hand. That should come as no surprise give how large this knife is. There is a small forward finger choil giving you extra options, but I find it to be a little tight relative to other knives with finger choils that I own. I’ve used it, but would advise against getting too aggressive with this finger choil. Good jimping is found on the thumb ramp, flipper tab, and backspacer. Although it lacks corrugated G-10, this isn’t a slippery knife by any means.

The pocket clip is made of milled titanium. Milled clips have done a bit of an 180 over the past few years. When they originally came out they were the bee’s knees. Then they sort of fell out of favor when people found them to be less effective than traditional stamped steel clips. I still like a milled clip if it’s done right.

I’d say the clip on this Sigil is pretty good. It is snug up against the handle and has some spring tension. It’s not crazy spring tension, and I wouldn’t recommend jumping out of an airplane with the Sigil clipped to your pocket, but there is spring tension and the knife is held in place in your pocket. The hidden hardware aspect of it is awesome, and the machining is top notch.

The Sigil carries about how I would expect. It’s a large full titanium folder. Not a total boat anchor, but you feel its presence in your pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The Sigil is a flipper on bearings. Flipping action is excellent. The generously jimped flipper, strong detent, and smooth bearing system scores the action of this knife a solid “8” on my somewhat arbitrary 1-10 scale for flippers. Better than average, but not a rocket launcher. In addition to the flipper there is an elongated thumb hole. It’s fully functional and you can open up the blade with the thumb hole if you want to be more subtle.

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with stainless steel lockbar insert. The engineering wizards at Miroctech did a fine job designing this frame lock. It is totally secure, with no blade play to speak of, yet the lock is easy to disengage. This is thanks to good lock geometry, and excellent milling on the portion of the lockbar where your thumb goes to release the lock.

As I mentioned previously, there is a copper pivot collar that doubles as a lock bar stabilizer. A nice touch and the only splash of color on an otherwise grey knife.

Here is a shot of the Sigil next to my Paramilitary 2:

It’s a little longer than the Para 2, but you get a lot more blade. Speaking of which, blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Microtech Sigil MK6 Review – Final Thoughts

The Sigil is an impressive knife. Microtech’s styling may not be to everyone’s taste, and this is a bigger knife, but you can’t argue that the Sigil has been beautifully executed with top shelf materials.

Almost every bell and whistle you could ask for is included. A milled clip, milled out handles, floating back spacer, hidden hardware, top shelf blade steel, and tons of machining. Fit and finish is outstanding. And this knife is made in the USA.

My only gripe is that the body screws come loose and they don’t supply the tool to tighten them.

This isn’t an inexpensive knife, but for just under $400 I think you get what you pay for. It’s almost on par with my old Shirogorov 95t, and that knife clocks in at 200%+ of the cost. Any interesting comparison is with a Sebenza.

While this is far from being an everyman’s EDC, I think those whose interests are piqued by the concept of the Sigil will be happy with this knife. It exceeded my expectations, and it makes me want to review more Microtechs in the future. Speaking of which, I really like the Sebastian Benja designed Stitch. I think that will be my next acquisition.

I know the Sigil is not a knife for everyone, so I won’t give it a blanket endorsement. But I give it 2 thumbs up if you are already in the market for this knife.

Microtech Sigil – From $390.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Microtech Sigil 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.

Mission Workshop x Kingdom Armory Unagi Review

by Dan Jackson Leave a Comment

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
The Unagi is a collaboration with boutique bag company Mission Workshop and David Rydbom of Kingdom Armory. I have long been a fan of David’s work. His Mini Samaritan is especially intriguing.

The PR team for the Unagi was kind enough to provide me with a sample to review. What follows are my thoughts on this limited edition knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Unagi has an overall length of 6.5″, a 3″ blade. I was unable to find a weight on this knife, but I’d put it around 3.5 ounces (just a guess). The Unagi is made in the USA by Nichols Damascus in the USA and hand tuned by David Rydom himself. The Unagi is a compact knife suited for urban EDC. Since it’s a release limited to a mere 200 pieces it could also be considered a collectible.

The blade of the Unagi is a distinctive clip point. You can tell David enjoys his work and that enthusiasm comes out clearly in all of his designs. The Unagi is no different, although I find this knife in particular to show a little more restraint. The profile does most of the talking, but it’s all backed up with beautiful execution. The blade is a good example of that. This stylized clip point is simple, but provides most of what you need and benefits from wonderful execution. There is ample blade, a sweeping belly and a fine tip. The stonewashed finish is visually pleasing, the full flat grind provides excellent slicing ability, and David put an excellent edge on this knife.

The only thing I find lacking with the blade is the absence of a sharpening choil. As a result the last quarter inch or so of the heel of the blade is unsharpened.

The steel is CPM154, excellent stuff, and capable of taking a fine edge. I found the performance on this Unagi to be impressive. Zipping through cardboard, and making easy work of apples, it certainly handled my basic daily cutting chores. This is a proven blade steel backed by years of data. It doesn’t hurt that this steel is supported by excellent blade geometry. No issues with rust or corrosion either.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

You typically see a lot of millwork and bolsters in Rydom’s work. By comparison the Unagi is almost completely sterile, but this allows the details in the finish work and and hardware to shine. The titanium handles have been stonewashed, save for the edge of the lanyard hole, which have been countersunk with a high polish. The two standoffs are custom made, and secured with flush mount torx bolts. The pivot is oversized, domed, and is of the bushing variety like what you would find on a Sebenza or Sage 1. The lockbar relief is cut on the inside of the handle, which provides a cleaner look and reduces the chance of your pocket material binding in the clip. It’s details like this that elevate the knife.

There are a couple deep finger grooves that provide an odd visual contrast to the sweeping open blade. These grooves are fully functional, and are the main ergonomic feature of the knife. There is no jimping, but the thumb naturally finds its way to the wide spine, and your palm meets the butt of the handle naturally. What I like about the finger grooves is that the forward groove is large enough to accommodate one or two fingers depending on your preference, and the transition between the two grooves is not sharp. For a small all metal knife, with no countouring to speak of, the Unagi feels natural in the hand.

The pocket clip is simple as can be. It’s bent titanium secured by two polished button head screws. The clip is “signed” with the Mission Workshop logo, but it’s unobtrusive and fits the minimalist theme of the Unagi. This is not a deep carry clip, and about half an inch of the knife lies exposed from the pocket for easy retrieval. Spring tension is strong, so there is little risk of the Unagi escaping. The absence of a framelock relief on the exterior of the handle makes it a cinch to insert and extract the knife from your pocket.

Deployment an Lockup

The Unagi uses a Strider-eqse oval thumb hole for deployment. In practice, I find the thumb hole impossible to use with just your thumb. Thanks to the placement of the hole and a stiff detent, you either need to pinch the knife open with thumb and forefinger, or use 2 hands to free the blade from the handle. This is my biggest criticism of the knife. It’s not an unforgivable sin, but is a feature I sorely miss on a work knife.

Here is a shot of the Unagi next to my Mini Griptilian. A good size comparison:

For lockup with have a titanium framelock. Lockup is early and secure without any blade play. There is a tiny amount of stick in my lock. Nothing crazy, and easy to resolve with a little pencil graphite or sharpie. A stainless steel lockbar insert would solve that completely, but would make the execution considerably more complicated.

Blade centering is dead perfect on my knife.

Mission Workshop x Kingdom Armory Unagi Review – Final Thoughts

The Unagi is a charming knife, beautifully constructed with many details to explore. What I most appreciate about the knife is the simplicity of it. Where some designs are liberally seasoned with decorative flourishes, the Unagi is restrained and the details are hidden in that restraint. This allows the non-traditional profile to shine.

Two points of constructive criticism are the flat spot on the heel of the edge, and the inability to flick this knife open with your thumb. The lack of easy one hand opening is unfortunate, as I’ve come to expect that on any work knife unless it is part of the design (like the Pingo or a traditional).

I think these compromises were executed for the sake of the unique design. While that may turn off some purists, I think its part of what makes knife design interesting. Not every knife needs to be classically “perfect”, and our definition of perfection varies. Otherwise we would all own one knife and leave it at that. In a way the Unagi is a blending of contemporary art with knifemaking. It’s a limited edition experiment, and won’t appeal to everyone. If you are looking for a more standard work knife from Kingdom Armory, then the Mini Samaritan is probably the way to go. But if you want something unique, then the Unagi could be the knife for you.

If you are interested in purchasing the Unagi, then I recommend buying it directly from Mission Workshop. It’s a release limited to 200 pieces so if you miss out then there is always Ebay and the forums. Generally, I recommend buying knifes at Amazon, BladeHQ, and KnifeArt. Thanks for reading.