Camp Knives

Victorinox Hunter Pro Alox Review

The term “Swiss Army Knife” conjures up a certain image. It’s arguably the most universally recognizable pocket knife, spanning the gulf between lay person and hardcore knife enthusiast. These knives are universally popular in part because they are universally useful. Sure, the models with 20+ tools begin to border on the absurd. Fun, but maybe not functional. But models like the Cadet and Pioneer can be appreciated by the collector and average person alike.

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And for many these will be the first knives they handle. Whether it was quietly taken from dad’s bureau on a long summer afternoon, or openly handed around the camp fire in Boy Scouts, the SAK conjures up all manner of nostalgia.

In many ways it’s that standard Swiss Army Knife formula that makes these endearing. They haven’t changed a whole lot since childhood. Little pill shaped handles housing tools we have come to know and love. The penknife, the bottle opener, the nail file, the tweezers and tooth pick. They follow us along through life and settle comfortably into a shelf on the closet, or in a desk drawer, for our own children to eventually discover. It’s a virtuous cycle, and not a terrible business model either.

Victorinox has made small innovations over the years, but the designs remain largely unchanged. The Hunter Pro Alox is a significant departure from the pill shaped slip joints. It’s a big knife with a single blade. It comes with an ergonomic handle, a back lock, and pocket clip. It may seem trivial to you and me, but this is something of a big deal to a company whose product has remained mostly unchanged for over 100 years.

The question is whether the Hunter Pro is truly something significant. Does it mark a change in how we think of Swiss Army Knives? Or is it merely a novelty? This knife was provided to me by Victorinox free of charge. All thoughts are my own.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Hunter Pro Alox has an overall length of 8.875″, a 3.875″ blade, weighs 6.25 ounces, and is made in Switzerland. This is a large folding knife. Not just for Victorinox, but for any company with the exception of Cold Steel. I was puzzled by the purpose of this knife. Puzzled to the point where I had to look to the company’s literature to understand what they were aiming for with this piece. According to Victorinox, this is a “cross-over” between an outdoors knife and an urban EDC. I don’t know.

Here’s a size comparison with the Spyderco Endura. Sorry for the blown out picture, and the dark pictures on this review. Was playing around with the camera settings and it was not a particularly good idea.

The knife is massive, which doesn’t necessarily bother me, but the weight of it is distracting. Admittedly I have the Alox version, which is the heaviest. Victorinox also offers the Hunter Pro with walnut handle covers or plastic handle covers. Either one of those shaves about 3/4 of an ounce off the weight. The Hunter Pro could be a fun choice for a camp or hunting knife, but this ain’t no EDC. Not in my book at least.

The blade is a near 4″ drop point. It curves gracefully like a whale, lending a utilitarian vibe to what may otherwise be considered a big freaking knife. This gentle giant has been designed for utility. There is a saber grind, and small swedge. The entire blade has been given a matte bead blasted finish. The Victorinox logo and “Swiss Made” have been engraved into the blade.

I am unsure on the blade steel for the Pro Hunter. Presumably it’s the same stuff used in their other knives. So far it has proven to be servicable. It takes a fine edge, holds it for a decent amount of time, and is easy to sharpen with a ceramic rod. Victorinox also offers the Pro Hunter with a Damasteel blade as part of a limited edition release they did for 2020. This limited edition is retailing for $400, so I’m not sure how many of those you will see in the wild.

In practice I’ve used my knife on cardboard and some light food prep. It’s starting to get hot in Florida, and most of my time outdoors has been spent on my bicycle, or mowing the lawn. Can’t say there have been many camp fires since the temps breached 90 degrees. And that may be where the Pro Hunter really belongs: at a camp site dicing root vegetables, and sharpening sticks.

The name “Pro Hunter” implies that this would be a choice for dressing game. Alas I’m not much of a hunter, and haven’t had the chance to butcher anything with it besides a bag of bacon. It creates lardons with the best of them.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Pro Hunter Alox has full steel liners, aluminum handle scales, and a solid steel backspacer. The closed length is almost 5.5 inches, so that’s a lot of material and a lot of weight. But everything has been nicely finished. All the parts line up neatly, and the Hunter Pro feels well made. The bright aluminum handle and jaunty bias to the Victorinox cross give it an almost ceremonial appearance. As if this knife could be used at a coronation… or perhaps a circumcision.

One nitpick is that the handle is riveted together. That’s fine for a $30 knife, but given the price tag of this model hovers around a hundo, I’d like a knife that can be disassembled and cleaned. Especially if it’s geared towards hunting.

The Pro Hunter feels cool and comfortable in hand. The edges of the alox handles are rounded, and even though there are a series of finger depressions, there are no hot spots to speak of. And there is no lack of room on this oversize handle either. For traction, you have the signature Alox pattern on the sides of the handle, and a short run of mild jimping on the spine of the blade. Aluminum has never been considered a high traction material, and this knife is not a paragon of traction, but for normal use I found it comfortable. Wood or plastic would be a good choice for outdoor use, but the nice thing about this bright red handle is that you won’t lose it on the forest floor.

This is the first Swiss Army Knife that I have seen with a factory pocket clip, and Victorinox appears to have put a lot of thought and energy into it. This is right side, tip up only deep carry clip. It’s large, and I think that was necessary given how hefty the knife is. The clip’s spring tension is good, and the knife is held in place, but this is a knife that you will notice in the pocket. I’ve never been a belt and suspenders guy, but the Pro Hunter has me thinking about it.

This is a somewhat discreet knife in the pocket. The knife buries completely, but the large pocket clip stands out next to denim. Here is you in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

You get 2 choices with the Pro Hunter: a thumb hole or nothing. I opted for “nothing”, and the result is a 2 hand opener. It’s an easy knife to open with two hands. There is an expanse of blade flat to grab onto and a mild back spring, so it doesn’t need a nail nick. The thumb hole version is more practical, but this version works too. The two hand opening might make it legal in certain countries. The action is fluid, and there appear to be some washers inside the knife.

The Pro Hunter uses a lock back to lock the blade in place. The lock works well. The spring retention is strong enough to keep the knife from opening by gravity, but the blade opens with a satisfying clack. The lock up is rock solid. No blade play at all in any direction. Disengaging the lock is easy enough. Everything works as it should and feels good.

Here is a parting size comparison with a more traditional SAK. This is the new 93mm Alox Farmer X:

Blade centering is perfect. Rounding things out is a large slotted lanyard hole.

Victorinox Pro Hunter Alox Review – Final Thoughts

The Pro Hunter Alox doesn’t quite work for me. On one hand, it’s well made and functional. Victorinox has always made a nice knife, and this Pro Hunter is well made. The red aluminum handles are striking, the fit and finish is excellent, and everything works as advertised. The pocket clip and lock back are both well done.

The problem is the knife is way too heavy. Maybe if they ditched the liners, thinned the blade, and re-worked the steel backstrap you would have something that could cross-over between outdoor use and Urban EDC without pulling your pants off. As it stands the Pro Hunter strikes me as an oddity in my collection. Large and heavy, which makes it less practical. I hope it won’t stop Victorinox from attempting to innovate, but it doesn’t entirely feel like a step forward for the brand.

Victorinox Hunter Pro M Alox Folding Knife Red Aluminium Handle - Red

Compact and Sleek: The Hunter Pro Alox is the sleek and handy every day carry for the modern man
Versatile: Its iconic design and perfect form combined with the sturdy blade make it the ideal cross-over from the outdoors to the urban jungle
Durable: The standout feature is the hugely popular Alox scales, known and loved for their durability
Other Features: Add in the new smart clip, spring integrated lanyard hole and paracord pendant and you have hunting’s new generation go-to multi-tool
Finish: Aesthetically it’s a hit too; the subtle shimmering finish showcases the knife’s key parts with style

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Victorinox Pro Hunter Alox at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Spyderco Moran Drop Point Review

by Travis Pike 3 Comments

I’m always amazed by what I don’t know. For example, before I got my hands on this Bill Moran and Spyderco collaboration, I never knew who Bill Moran was. That sounds like sacrilege on a knife website, but I’m being honest. This isn’t an article on the greatness of Bill Moran, but he makes some beautiful knives that go for a small fortune. He helped found the American Bladesmith Society, and has been making knives for decades. The Bill Moran and Spyderco collaboration seems to blend the simple but effective Moran designs with an affordable price tag.

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The Moran Drop Point knife is mass-produced, unlike Mr. Moran’s knives, and are made for heavy-duty use and not so much for collecting. This isn’t a wall hanger but a reliable and well-made working knife. I’ve had it most of hunting season, but sadly I’ve been an unsuccessful hunter. In the many months, I’ve been carrying it, and I’ve gotten a good bit of use out of it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Bill Moran’s designs are mostly known for their simple and elegant designs, and the Spyderco collaboration is no different. The blade is 3.875 inches long with an edge length of 3.375 inches. The blade is a standard .125 inches thick. The knife has a ¾ tang and the handle is molded directly to it. If you can’t tell by the knife’s name, it is a drop point design.

The stainless blade is quite shiny, but also very rust-resistant. The handle is made from FRN, and the overall length of the knife is 8.063 inches. It’s also one of the lightest fixed blade knives I’ve ever picked up. It weighs 3 ounces. 3 freaking ounces, holy crap is this thing light. I loved strapping it to my belt and never worrying about causing my pants slowly slide downwards on one side. I didn’t have to tighten my belt to an uncomfortable level to easily carry this knife.

From Spyderco, this knife was razor sharp. I always love it when companies send their knives out with a sweet edge, but get sad because I can’t replicate it. The Moran Drop Point is made from VG 10 steel, which is a very common kitchen knife steel. The main reason why is that it’s super resistant to corrosion. It’s stainless steel, but a solid and tough one. It’s perfectly suitable as a woods knife or a lightweight EDC blade for those working in more outdoor professions.

VG-10 proved to be a little challenging to sharpen for me, but to be fair, I suck at sharpening knives. Once you get it sharp, it stays sharp for quite some time. I only sharpened it, so I would have some perspective on sharpening it for this review. It’s also an ultra-sharp knife, and with a fine stone, you can get it very sharp.

I’ve used this knife for filleting trout, cutting chicken up for my famous chicken tacos, and doing typical knife work cutting tape, cordage, wire, boxes, and more. When it came to cutting up fish and chicken, I found the knife to be a delight. For the precise cuts required for cleaning trout, the knife was perfect. FOr cutting 4 pounds of chicken breasts into small chunks, it was a comfortable tool that made the task easy.

The same goes for your routine tasks. Admittedly when Christmas came and went, this knife got a lot of work. Why are toys so well secured in boxes? Holy crap, the number of cords, zip ties, and cardboard I had to cut before the day was over. The Moran powered through it with ease, though.

Handle and Ergonomics

What’s impressive is that the handle and the knife as a whole weigh about the same. This creates a super balanced knife that’s easy to control. The handle is made from fiberglass-reinforced nylon or FRN. This is a robust and lightweight material that provides a bit of grip to it. Spyderco is a master with FRN and uses it in some of their folding knives.

The FRN grips have non-removable Kraton panels. These are ultra-sticky panels that allow for a sure grip when working. Unlike most knives these days, there is no aggressive texturing. The combination of FRN and Kraton is enough to give you a no-slip grip under most conditions. I can testify that the grip is still strong even when your hands are wet and covered in fish slime.

Besides giving a sure grip, it’s also very comfortable. Aggressive texturing is excellent, but it tends to create hotspots. You’ll find no of those here. The grip is rounded off and ultra-comfortable in hand. The handle gives you excellent control of the blade and allows you to make fine cuts with little difficulty.

Sheath

The sheath is a lightweight boltaron model that comes with a multi-purpose G-Clip fastening system. The sheath’s G-Clip system is a polymer belt attachment with a sharp hook that connects under the belt to keep the knife in place. The system is reversible for lefties, and you can move the clip around quite a bit.

The angle of wear can be moved around for your comfort, and this includes wearing the knife horizontally if you so choose. The sheath comes up right over the blade and the knife locks in positively. It’s a good solid hold, and the knife stays put without the need for an active retention device.

The handle is also left with enough room for a good grip and an easy draw. The belt clip does its job well and hangs onto the belt without a hair of movement as the knife is drawn. The sheath is quite robust but keeps the theme of being lightweight, which keeps the entire knife system lightweight.

Spyderco Moran Drop Point Review – Final Thoughts

While the name Moran might not have meant anything to me before owning this knife, I can certainly see why Mr. Moran was such a popular bladesmith. This simple knife is far from tactical or high speed, but entirely practical. The ultra-lightweight and well-balanced design makes it an excellent tool. It’s one you can strap on and forget about, but when you need it, it’s there and razor-sharp. Plus, this is the only Moran knife I’ll ever be able to afford.

ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife w/Molded Polymer Sheath

Editor: I recommend buying the Spyderco Moran Drop Point at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

ESEE-6 Review

by Dan Jackson 1 Comment

It has been a while since I’ve reviewed a large fixed blade. Regular readers know I’m in S.W. Florida. It’s a nice place to live, but it’s not exactly a mecca of bushcraft. I mostly moved here to be by the beach. The land itself is either dry and scrubby, or dank and marshy. It’s a beautiful place to live in it’s own way, but was one of the last places in the USA to be settled for a reason.

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And while I enjoy trimming trees on our tiny 1/4 acre lot and even having a bonfire a couple times a year, I’m no Ray Mears. Plus, I already have my big bushwacker – the ESEE Junglas. I’ll probably be buried with that knife. Maybe sooner than later depending on how this coronavirus plays out. Regardless, it’s my go to yard tool, and I’ve had it for almost a decade. Why mess with success?

Well, when you run a site like this, people have certain expectations. And they vary somewhat wildly. Since I’ve reviewed some outdoor fixed blades in the past (aka “survival knives“), some visitors may believe that I am duty bound to keep that section updated. And they make a good point.

So I want to keep reviewing survival knives. I enjoy them even if I can’t use them as much as I would like. So take the review with a pinch of salt. I don’t proclaim to be a bush master. I’m just a schlemiel with a knife review website and too much time on his hands.

One knife we have been missing from the website for years is the ESEE-6. And frankly, it’s missing from my understanding of the ESEE lineup as well. I’ve reviewed the smaller ESEEs, and the big Junglas, but haven’t touched anything between the 6 and 4. I’ve had Chad write on the ESEE-4, and Josh write on the Laser Strike, but I have to understand these knives as well. So here we go, a long needed review of the ESEE-6.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The ESEE-6 has an overall length of 11.75″, a 6.5″ blade, and the knife itself weighs 12 ounces. This is a pretty big knife. It’s not a Junglas, which is more of a fortified machete, but it’s still pretty damn big. It could be a good choice if you are looking for something that packs a whallop for chopping tasks, something that can baton pretty big pieces of wood, yet is still reasonably packable, and is also usable as a knife rather than a machete or small sword.

Certainly this would be a good camp knife. It can carve, cut and chop with the best of them. And it’s stout. ESEE knives. are tough, and this ESEE-6 is almost 5mm thick.

Here is a family portrait with my Junglas and ESEE-3 for reference:

It could also be used in certain martial applications. While it’s not a dagger, I think this 6″ blade has pretty good reach for a hog hunt or in an emergency. So the ESEE-6 strikes me as a large all-round utility / combat knife. The trade off is the size and weight. I wouldn’t take this on the Appalachian Trail, but if I needed something robust for a camp out or day hike, then the ESEE-6 could be a good choice.

Let’s turn to the blade. Here you get 6″+ of powdercoated steel. The shape is ESEE’s classic drop point. It’s a subtle drop point, offering about 3″ of straight edge and a good 3″ of curving belly as well. Lots of room to work with the ESEE-6. The blade is simple. It’s fully flat ground and there are no swedges or anything like that.

Blade steel is 1095. 1095 is high carbon steel, and is the same steel found on their regular lineup. For those who don’t know, 1095 is not a stainless steel. In exchange for being not-stainless, you get a tough high impact steel that is easy to sharpen. 1095 holds a good edge when used on wood. I find it dulls pretty quickly when used to cut material like cardboard. However, it is very easy to sharpen. That said, you will get good life out of the edge assuming you will be using this knife more for wood and food prep rather than breaking down a pile of boxes.

The entire knife comes with ESEE’s thick powder coat. The offer the coating in various colors, but I prefer the classic look of black powder coat. I took pictures of this knife before I started using it. You can see how the coating looks new, and you can see on my Junglas how the coating will hold up after years of use. It wears pretty well, but it isn’t invincible. It will do a good job of keeping rust off of most of the knife.

Here’s another size comparison. This time I have it next to the Fallkniven A1:

It compares favorably to the A1, friends. That’s why I selected it. Also, both knives are quite thick.

Back to the blade. In practice this is an extremely capable knife. It’s big enough for significant chopping and batoning tasks, but it’s still small enough to use as a knife. Not my first choice for peeling potatoes, but you can certainly chop them up, whittle, etc. The trade off is that the ESEE-6 is significantly heavier than a knife like the ESEE-3. But with the 3 you won’t be chopping, and unless you are a talented woodsman you are going to have a hard time batoning anything significant with the ESEE-3 either.

Handle and Ergonomics

My ESEE-6 came with gray linen micarta handle scales with red liners. It’s a handsome look, and the gray linen micarta is beveled for comfort. ESEE also offers G-10 handles if micarta isn’t your thing, and their extra handle scales are reasonably priced.

Personally, I like the way micarta wears, and it offers excellent traction even when your hands get wet or sweaty. This is a full tang knife, meaning the blade and handle are one continuous piece of steel, and that tang extends down to the pommel. This provides room for both a lanyard hole and am impact tool. You can crack walnuts or crack skulls depending on what the situation requires. Nice.

The ESEE-6 comes with a comfortable “Cadillac” of a handle. There is plenty of room, and there is a forward finger choil if you need to choke up on the blade. The micarta handle fills the hand and offers plenty of traction. ESEE included an inch or so of jimping on the spine of the blade. It’s aggressive jimping and is the kind that is better suited for gloved hands. Personally, I find the jimping to be a bit much for a naked hand, but that’s just me.

In practice I found this handle to be comfortable for extended use. This whether you use gloves or not. I tend to avoid gloves and did not run into issues with hot spots. The jimping I could live without, especially for crunching cuts, but I understand why ESEE put it there. All in all, it’s a comfortable handle. However, I prefer the edge radiusing (contouring) on the handle of the Junglas over the ESEE-6.

Sheath

The ESEE-6 comes with a high density thermoplastic sheath. It’s riveted and is built similar to a kydex sheath (pancake style). As usual, the quality is there. The sheath is nicely finished and holds the knife securely in place. There is a small amount of rattle, but nothing crazy. It takes a fair amount of force to pop the knife out of the sheath with your thumb, and ESEE included a short run of serrations on the sheath for that purpose. This knife is not coming out accidentally. They also included a drain hole in the bottom of the sheath and plenty of rivets for mounting options.

While you can lash this sheath to something or use MOLLE clips, I suspect most people will want to use the included belt clip. It mounts easily and securely to the sheath with the included hardware and allows for amibidextrous up or down carry. All the components of the sheath and belt clip are simple and of high quality. The plastic is dense, the steel clip offers a good blend of ease of use and high spring strength, and everything is set up to provide years of trouble free use.

Here is a better shot of that spring clip. The spring clip easily slides over a belt, so you can add or remove the sheath without taking your belt off. Once you have a sheath with a clip like this, it’s hard to go back to your standard sheaths with a belt loop.

ESEE-6 Review – Final Thoughts

Once again ESEE demonstrates their ability to make a high quality fixed blade knife and sheath. Everything is thoughtfully designed, made of high quality materials, and finished neatly. Oh, and it has all been made in the USA and is backed by one of the most comprehensive warranties in the business. They are on the expensive side, but I’ve found when you buy an ESEE fixed blade you are going to get a no-bullshit product that is designed for the long term. My Junglas and ESEE-3 are excellent examples of that, and I’m happy to add this ESEE-6 to the permanent collection. I have no doubt that it will serve me well for years. That said, if something happens I’ll update the review.

Perhaps the hardest part of selecting a knife within the ESEE catalog is settling on a single piece. The ESEE-6 is substantial, so that’s arguably it’s biggest potential problem. If you are looking for a knife to take on extended hikes, then you will likely want to give this one a pass. But if you are looking for something to use on a campsite, or packed into a truck, or even used in the yard, then I think the ESEE-6 has a lot to offer. Also, while I’m fond of my Junglas, it’s not usable as a knife. The ESEE-6 strikes more of a balance between a compact chopper and a utility knife.

ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife w/Molded Polymer Sheath

Editor: I recommend buying the ESEE-6 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Manly Comrade Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

The Manly Peak and Peak 2 are a charming blend of modern knife design and utility. I still feel comfortable saying that there is unique value proposition with the Peak series. It’s hard to describe, but the design, materials, fit and finish, and price all came together like a perfectly seasoned stew. Humble origins, but a satisfying result.

So when Manly Canada, the Canadian distributor for Manly Knives, reached out asking if I was interested in reviewing their Comrade Folder, I was excited about checking out another Manly product. And this company doesn’t get much press, so here was another chance to share this little known brand. This knife was provided to me free of charge to review, but all thoughts are my own.

The Comrade is even simpler than the Peak. It’s a full size utility slip joint made of modern materials in Manly’s factory in Bulgeria. Does it resonate as loudly as the Peak and Peak 2? Let’s find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Comrade has an overall length of 8″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 4 ounces, and is made in Bulgeria. My initial reaction to handling the Comrade is that this a big and somewhat bulky knife. It’s kind of like the Svord Peasant Knife, in that maybe it’s designed for a peasant, except that it’s substantially heavier than the Peasant Knife.

Here is a size comparison with the Manly Peak 1 and 2:

The Comrade is only a little shorter than the Peak, but thicker and heavier. It’s a full size folding knife.

I could see someone working on a farm who needed a full sized folding utility knife, carry the Comrade. They probably wouldn’t worry about whether the knife could be a little thinner or lighter. The Comrade is for someone who doesn’t care much about things like weight, and instead values a simple and solid tool. It’s definitely more of a utility knife than a true modern daily carry piece. While a modern knife enthusiast could certainly carry it every day, I’m not sure most people would want to when a lighter knife could get the job done.

The blade of the Comrade is a simple drop point with a full flat grind. I actually quite like the blade. The simple full flat grind is geared towards performance. The Comrade gets thin behind the edge and the knife slices with the best of them. The satin finish is nice, and the edge is even.

The smart blade geometry combined with CPM154 blade steel makes the Comrade a real screamer. By far, the blade is my favorite part of the knife. Whether you are looking to break down boxes, cut vegetables, or perhaps even break down some game, the Comrade should get the job done (I say “should” because I didn’t actually skin a deer with this knife).

And it was nice to find CPM154 on a knife from Bulgeria, and a ~$40 one at that. CPA154 is a premium U.S. steel, and it was clearly selected to appeal to the North American knife market. I think that was a nice choice as CPM154 is a great working steel. It takes a nice fine edge and holds it for a good period of time, but it’s also easy to sharpen when the time comes. CPM154 also has decent rust and corrosion resistance.

Manly also offers this model in D2 and S90V. Personally, I’m happy I got the CPM154 version.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Comrade is basic. This is a slip joint with thick, black and blue G10 handle scales over full stainless steel liners. Manly has done a couple things to bring this knife into the 21st century. The liners have been skeletonized to reduce the weight a little, the knife is held together with screws rather than pins, and the jigged black and blue handles give the knife a splash of color.

However, at the end of the day this is still a very basic handle design. It’s thick, heavy, and simple. That’s fine if you are looking for pure utility and don’t mind the added weight and bulk, but I suspect most readers are like me in that they want it all: the comfort and utility in a thin and lightweight package. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by too many lightweight Spydercos. I have to keep reminding myself this is a sub $50 folder.

The ergonomics of the Comrade are nice. The large and simple handle will appeal to almost any hand size. There is plenty of room and nothing to get in the way. No scoops, choils, peaks, or beaks. While there isn’t any jimping, Manly still manages to add plenty of traction. The scales have a nice light texture, and the edges also give you a good amount of grip without being too sharp. And while a thick handle can be annoying in the pocket, you can’t deny that it feels good in the hand. This knife will get a lot of work done if you want it to.

A nice thing about the Comrade is that it comes with a pocket clip. And it’s a good pocket clip. It’s a simple steel clip, mounted high on the handle for right side tip up carry only, but it’s robust. Even though this is a heavy knife, the clip features excellent spring retention and the textured handle also helps keep the knife in place.

Here is your pocket clip shot:

Walk and Talk

Since this is a slip joint, the usual “Deployment and Lock Up” section is replaced with walk and talk, which is how we describe the action of a slip joint.

To get the blade open Manly has supplied a large nail nick. It gives you plenty to grab onto when you want to pull the blade open. The action is smooth, but ratchety, because the Comrade includes a few half stops. While you have the traditional stopping point at high noon, you also get stops at 11 and 2. And the stops require more and more force as you pull open the blade. I like this aspect of the knife, and would call it a feature rather than a bug.

I’d say on a scale of 0-10, the Comrade requires a “4” to get to the first quarter stop, a “5” to get to get halfway open, a “7” to get to the 3rd quarter, and an “8” to get fully open. And the knife makes some satisfying popping noises as you open the blade fully. While I won’t claim that it makes the slip joint “safer” it does slow things down somewhat. Given how big the blade is, I like these added stopping points, and the progressive resistance. I haven’t encountered this on any other slip joint knives. Perhaps Manly has been able to innovate here. Let me know in the comments section if you have run across this in other knives.

And there is a fair amount of resistance, which inspires the confidence to do more than open mail and cut room temperature cheese. You could take this knife into the woods and do the same camp chores as a locking knife. No chopping or batoning obviously, but certainly carving, food prep and the like would be no problem.

Manly Comrade Review – Final Thoughts

The Comrade scores high points for utility, but in other ways I think it misses the mark. The big and beautiful CPM154 blade, and multiple stops in the slip joint mechanism are high spots for me. I’m less enthused about the overall weight and bulk.

While I’m not obsessive about weight, I found the combination of thickness and heft an obstacle to enjoying the Comrade on a daily basis. It’s larger than what I usually EDC, and it isn’t particularly cool, so it’s not like I found some overwhelming desire to have the Comrade beat out the legion of other knives I have at my disposal. And as a suburban guy, I like thinner, lighter knives. So carrying the Comrade was something of a chore relative to what I’m used to.

That is what really excited me about the Peak. It has some old world charm, but maintains all the convenience of a modern knife, including it being thin and light. The Comrade doesn’t quite do that. It tries to, but the weight and thickness prevents me from enjoying it as much as the Peak. Nested liners would have gone a long way here.

That’s OK, because not every knife that crosses my desk needs to be a high speed low drag modern EDC knife. And my preferences in a pocket knife are just that, my preferences. You may have different preferences. If you are looking for high value utility the Comrade has it. It’s hard to think of anything that cuts this well, and features a CPM-154 blade at this price point. That alone might be enough for folks to consider it.

While the Comrade doesn’t wow me like the Peak did, it’s still worth checking out if you are looking for a large, functional, high value slip joint with some modern conveniences.

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

That said, please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website, including Amazon and BladeHQ, helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

ESEE Laser Strike Review

by Josh Wussow 9 Comments

Alright, I’ll admit it – I’m a huge fan of ESEE Knives. I own a Candiru, Izula-2, and JG3, and I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing an exquisite PR4. So, when the opportunity to sample their Laser Strike model landed in my inbox, you can guess the speed of my reply.

Buy the ESEE Laser Strike at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

While I’m hardly alone in this enthusiasm, much of the halo surrounding ESEE comes from inside the blade-enthusiast bubble. Their American-made pedigree and bulletproof warranty are great for nerds like me, but what about the regular folks who buy their camp knives at Walmart? Tell them you spent $115 on an outdoor blade, and they’ll shoot you some pretty strange looks.

I know this, because it’s exactly what I did. After a few weekends racing around the yard, the Laser Strike’s final lap came on an overnight trip to Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. A few of my friends were testing their camping kits, and they invited me along for the ride. We had a wonderful evening exchanging questionable decisions: Me, teaching them how to baton through logs and them introducing me to, well…

Don’t drink and play with knives, kids. Now, onward before that stuff kicks in.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

In a brand known for its rugged offerings, the Laser Strike stands out as a damage-duty champ. You’re looking at 10-inches of full tang 1095 carbon steel, with a blade nearly as thick as three US quarters stacked together (0.188-inches).

The blade length is a rangy 4.75-inches, 4.5 of which are sharpened. Its flat grind features ESEE’s rugged “Black Textured Powder Coat” over a 1.38-inch width, broken only by the maker’s marks. The knife’s total weight is 9.5-ounces, which is around half as much as a youth-sized aluminum baseball bat.

Now, let me be clear about the provenance of this particular tool. ESEE was kind enough to send it to notorious Youtuber and (I’m directly quoting him here) “big piece of doo doo” Advanced Knife Bro, who agreed to send it my way after mercilessly pummeling it.

As expected, the blade arrived in need of some love. But, that’s one of the beauties of 1095 – It’s easy to whip back into shape. A quick cleaning and Sharpmaker session were all it took to bring the edge back to shaving sharp. But, with a pile of firewood in the garage and a camping trip on the horizon, it didn’t stay that way for long.

So, how did it do with fire prep? Come on – It’s an ESEE. It powered through a half-dozen camp logs without so much as a hiccup. What really shocked me was its prowess at the picnic table. Our menu on this mosquito-rich evening featured ribeye steaks and flame-grilled veggies. I was recruited to help slice onions, peppers, and mushrooms on a small cutting board, which was probably just as thick as the ESEE’s blade. Here’s how things turned out:

Surprised? I certainly was. While it’s certainly no santoku, the Laser Strike turned out to be a more than adequate prep tool. And this was after I’d batoned through several pieces of damp firewood. You won’t be producing translucent onion slices, but for rustic fare like this, the ESEE is surprisingly adept.

Handle and Ergonomics

I love the way that ESEE’s tend to hold my hand. Is that creepy? Too bad, the statement stands. The company’s canvas micarta is on point, and the forward choil fits my index finger perfectly. I also enjoyed the widely spaced jimping, positioned at the step-down transition from blade to handle. It provides excellent traction for my thumb without any discernable discomfort.

A quick aside, for the sake of comparison: I took several knives on this camping trip, including my beloved L.T. Wright GNS and the Condor Swamp Romper (which I gave away to a buddy who didn’t know any better). I encouraged my friends to handle each blade, and the Laser Strike’s scales were the runaway favorite. This could be considered anecdotal, sure, but it was interesting to get some perspective from folks who’re just getting into the knife hobby.

Now, let’s take a moment to discuss the stuff inside the handle. See that metal washer hanging from the base of the sheath? Well, it’s not just for show. This metal disc acts as a flathead driver, allowing you to remove the handle scales. Stowed within are a fire steel and a couple tinder pellets, all included as part of the overall package.

This further pushes the Laser Strike’s “Survival Knife” image, though I do have a few qualms. While certainly serviceable, this small fire steel is pretty difficult to spark. And, given the powder coat, the only available striking surface is (shudder) the blade edge. Sure, the sharpening choil might work, but I’d need to be in a real-life “Fire or I perish” sort of situation before doing that much damage to the cutting surface.

The Laser Strike has another option built in. See that divot on the right handle scale? That’s for a bow drill, allowing you to make fire in an even more bushcraft-friendly fashion. Inefficient? Sure, but 100% cool.

Sheath

The Laser Strike ships with a black Kydex sheath setup, including an ambidextrous clip plate and the aforementioned lanyard/washer combo. It’s a far cry from the leather of the Camp Lore knives I’ve been testing, falling more into the ESEE’s number-knife family (3, 4, 5, etc.).

Retention on the Kydex is good, though it’s absolutely possible to shake 9.5 ounces of knife out of its grip with enough downward thrust. Tension can be adjusted using the sliding screw and washer above the choil area, so you can tighten things up if you feel the need. I like ride height, despite my usual preference for leather danglers. It also manages to be fairly slim, making the knife carry much easier than one would expect from a blade of this heft.

ESEE Laser Strike Review – Final Thoughts

Going into this review, I had no doubts about the Laser Strike’s capabilities as a field-first tool. But it impressed me in every application, from batoning to carving to cooking. Expectations aside, part of the joy of this particular test came from the look on my friends’ faces as they watched me hammer it through our firewood, and the smiles when I handed it over and said “Give it a shot.” Being able to follow up with “You’re not going to break it” and watching them realize it was true – Man, that was a neat moment.

Sufficed to say, I’m completely sold on the Laser Strike as a heavy-duty hacker. It’s not going to replace your smaller blades for ultralight outings and day hikes, but it’s a super-solid addition to a hard-use loadout or car camping kit.

Thanks again to ESEE Knives and Advanced Knife Bro for allowing me to check it out.

Sale

Laser Strike Knife, Black Blade, Micarta Handles, Kydex Sheath

Made in: USA
Category name: knives
Made in USA or imported

Editor: I recommend purchasing the ESEE Laser Strike 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.

TRC Knives K-1 Review

by Andrew Gene Leave a Comment

The K-1 is from TRC Knives, a company out of Lithuania. It is run by Andrius Tricius who is also the maker. I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing another one of Andrius’ knives, the Apocalypse-L which has helped to give me a little more insight into his work.

Buy the TRC Knives K-1 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

As with the Apocalypse, this knife leaves an immediate impression of quality. There aren’t any rough surfaces or inconsistencies in the symmetry from side to side. The sheath is cleanly made without damage or marks from thermo-forming and all of the surfaces are well finished, edges chamfered and holes carefully countersunk. From first glance the knife seems to have been CNC made by a high end manufacturer. On closer inspection it is much nicer with the subtle attention to details only a highly skilled craftsman will ensure are tightly buttoned up.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The TRC K-1 has an overall length of 9.25″ (235 mm), a 4.52″ (115mm) blade, weighs 6.95 oz (197g) and 10.01 ounces (286g) with the sheath. This knife is made in Lithuania. The knife is best described as a camp knife or large fixed blade utility knife. With a 4.5″ blade, it isn’t going to work as a daily carry for most people.

The blade on the knife is made from Böhler Uddeholm’s Elmax. This steel falls into the category of powder metallurgy (P.M.) steels and offers exceptional performance. By performance I’m referring to its ability to take and maintain a keen edge and its corrosion resistance. As a P.M. steel it enjoys a healthy mix of some otherwise tricky to alloy materials (in high amounts) such as carbon, chromium and vanadium. The exact composition is as follows:

Carbon	Silicon	Manganese	Chromium	Molybdenum	Vanadium
1.7	0.8	0.3	18	1.0	3.0

There has been a bit of a buzz surrounding Elmax as being overrated. The heat treat is often speculated as being the culprit. Personally I’ve had a positive experience with this knife and Elmax in general. It is somewhat tougher to sharpen than what most people are used to and perhaps this is partly where Elmax looses some points. If you let your knives get very dull and aren’t an experienced sharpener than a lower hardness or less tough steel may be a better choice.

The blade profile is reminiscent of the classic Bob Loveless drop point. It has a good amount of straight working edge followed by some belly toward the end. The spine drops down to meet the tip (hence the name) creating a better point for penetrating cuts, adding to the versatility. The grind is a high flat that is sharpened with a secondary bevel.

The spine of the knife is “capped” meaning that it’s rounded. This detail resolves the shape nicely while making it more comfortable in use when bearing down on the back of the blade with your thumb or other hand. This K-1 has a satin finish but the model can also can be had in a stone-wash. The flats have a coarse texture that contrasts the smoothly finished bevels adding an attractive detail. At the plunge there is a deep choil for sharpening. TRC knives is etched on one side of the blade with K-1 on the other and Elmax on the handle spine.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is a full tang construction meaning that the supporting handle material travels out to the edges of the scales and is visible. The tang on the K1 actually protrudes a little further and is rounded off for comfort. Having this extra steel around the edges helps to both protect the scales and allow the pommel to be used as an impact tool.

The scales are thick Olive Micarta. Micarta uses organic materials like paper, linen or in this case Canvas as a reinforcement in a resin matrix. Unlike other similar materials such as G10 (also called FR4) or carbon fiber that use glass fibers, Micarta has a natural look and feel. On its outermost surface it also slightly absorbent. Even when wet, Micarta has excellent traction making it a solid choice for an all-weather grip. For fasteners the knife has flat topped bolts that require a three pronged driver. While the bolts give the knife a modernizing look and add to the design interest, you’ll need a special tool if you ever have to re-tighten them or want to take down the knife.

Ergonomically the K-1 checks all the boxes. The handle has a great thickness and as mentioned, the Micarta provides excellent traction. All of the corners have been skillfully chamfered preventing hot spots and supporting prolonged use. The blade has a short front guard followed by a finger groove to keep your hand firmly in place without worry of slipping onto the edge. The groove is complimented by some deep jimping on the spine for thumb placement that adds control and feedback.

At about 4.75” long the handle should fit most medium to large hands with or without gloves. Both the inner and outer edges gently curve and resulting in a natural grip. They terminate at a slightly flared pommel that helps to prevent slipping off the handle. There is a lanyard hole where you can add a wrist lanyard to further secure you to the handle.

Sheath

For carry the K-1 comes with a Kydex sheath. It has a two piece, sandwich construction with the halves being held by black eyelets. The eyelets are spaced for modular attachment points using fasteners like Tek-Loks or other M.O.L.L.E. type rigging. A nylon belt comes standard with the sheath and can be removed if desired. At the bottom there is a small drainage hole for aeration.

The retention is good while still allowing the knife to draw easily. Removing the K1 is helped along by a flared out corner at the mouth of the sheath. This allows you to quickly push it away with your thumb. Overall the sheath is well executed, uncomplicated and versatile.

TRC Knives K-1 Review – Final Thoughts

To sum it up, there isn’t anything I dislike about the TRC Knives K-1. It is an excellent fixed blade. I think that the overall dimensions and weight fit perfectly into my outdoor knife preferences. It has enough size and brawn to make it capable of handling some harder tasks but isn’t over-built.

If you are looking for a higher end, medium sized handmade fixed blade than this may just be it. If not, TRC makes other models on the larger and smaller end of the spectrum that I’m sure will be equally well made, function flawlessly and last a lifetime.

TRC Knives K-1s Fixed Blade Elmax Steel Knife, Black G10 Handle, Kydex Sheath EDC/Hunting/Bushcraft Knife

It is the compact version of our best selling model K-1.It feels great in the hand and features classic drop point blade profile.With its razor sharp edge, it is large enough to tackle any chore.
The spine is rounded with elegant jumping cut into it providing control and confident operation.
The scales are made of indestructible sandblasted G-10 to provide excellent traction.
Elmax steel 60-61 HRC (heat/cryo-treated) 3.7 mm/ 0.14 in thick Overall length: 215 mm/ 8.46 in Blade length from the tip to handle : 100 mm/ 3.93 in Handle: Black G-10, Comes with Kydex sheath, Weight: 145 g / 5.1 oz
Created by a legendary Lithuanian Master Knife Maker Andrius Tricius. Made in Europe.

Editor: I recommend purchasing the TRC Knives K-1 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.

Additional Specifications:

Overall Length 9.25″ (235 mm)
Weight 6.95 oz (197g)
Weight With Sheath 10.1 oz (286g)

Blade:

Length: 4.52″ (115mm)
Thickness: .189″ (4.8 mm)
Steel: ELMAX 59-60 HRC (heat/cryo-treated)
Satin blade or stone washed blade

Handle:

Green Canvas Micarta (also available in black)

Sheath:

Kydex with detachable belt loop

Made in Lithuania