EDC Knives

Fantoni HB-01 Review

The Fantoni HB-01 is a collaborative design with William Harsey Junior. Harsey is a well known American designer and custom knife maker. He’s notably popular for producing several knives for, and with the collaboration of divisions in the U.S. Special forces. This design has its production roots in a discontinued iteration put out by Beretta knives.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Fantoni HB-01 has an overall length of 9.37” (238 mm), a 4.13” (105 mm) blade, weighs 5.93oz (168 g), and is made in Italy by Fantoni Knives. This is a large folding knife. Fantoni also makes the HB-02, with a smaller more EDC friendly footprint.

The limited edition model’s blade is made from CPM S125V, a very exotic, extremely wear and corrosion resistant stainless steel from Crucible. Notoriously difficult to machine on a production level; only a run of 100 of these limited edition knives were produced. Fantoni also offers a standard HB-01 and smaller HB-02 in CPM S30V with black, forest green or tan scales.

The blade steel has been made possible through Crucible’s Powder Metallurgy (C.P.M) process. It currently has the highest Carbon and Vanadium available in a stainless steel. To make a comparison against another popular Crucible “super steel” S30V, S125V has over twice the amount of Carbon and nearly four times the Vanadium.

Here is a comparison between the popular CPM S30V, 440C and CPM S125V

Steel	Carbon	Chromium	Vanadium	Molybdenum	HRc	Wear Resistance	Corrosion Resistance
CPM S125V	3.30	14.00	12.00	2.50	61-62	39.00	Very high
CPM S30V	1.45	14.00	4.00	2.00	61-62	9.50	High
440C	1.20	16-18	–	.75	57-58	4.0	Low

To yield the maximum performance from the alloy Fantoni utilizes an exacting heat treating process. First the steel is brought up to 2050ºF (1121ºC) (Austenite) with a 15 minute hold to homogenize the material. An inert gas quench is executed to avoid surface oxidation. It is then processed through a freezing treatment of -176ºF (-80ºC) for three hours to maximize the transformation from an Austentic to Martensitic phase. Finally two complete tempering procedures bringing the blades up to 356ºF (180ºC) for three hours and back down to room temperature results in the final hardness of 61-62 Rockwell.

Conservatively speaking, users can easily expect over twice the performance than that of S30V. When considering the specs this would likely be more like 3-4 times however there isn’t enough empirical evidence to fully claim that (yet).

The blade pattern is a very lean drop point that produces a fine tip optimized with a long swedge. The grind is a high flat that is finished with a secondary, edge bevel. As to be expected, with the steel’s specifications, the blade is very sharp and holds its keen edge for a long time. This is helped along by the high hardness. In fact, with all the cutting that I’ve been doing, I haven’t had to touch it up yet. When it does come time to sharpen It would be nice if there was a choil since I prefer an even edge right up to the plunge.

Cut from 4mm stock and with a length of 4.13” the blade strikes an exceptional balance between strength and function. It also has plenty of reach if needed. A fine stone-wash gives a clean, finished appearance. Fantoni’s logo and word-mark appear on one side of the blade while the designer name, steel type and unique number are on the other. This knife is 37 of 100.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The knife has great ergonomics. At 5.25” there is plenty of handle real estate to have a full grip with or without gloves. Slight grooves for your first two fingers followed by some coarse, deep jimping for the rest lock things in place. The inner jimping wraps around the pommel working as a grippy thumb rest in a reverse grip. The blade’s spine forms a ramp with finer, square slotted jimping followed by some corresponding texture on the handle for your thumb. For good measure, the G10 Scales have a fine, high-traction peep ply texture.

The handle is an open back, pillar construction. This will allow for easy cleaning and helps cut weight. At an over-all length of 9.37” the knife sits at a modest 5.93 oz. For its size it has enough heft to give a satisfying, quality feel and confidence in use without adding dead weight.

For carry there is a tip up, ambidextrous pocket clip. It works well and, with the G10’s texture has a great retention. The clip’s fairly low and wide profile doesn’t feel obtrusive in use which is a huge plus. The surface is blasted and laser etched with the Fantoni Logo and word-mark adding a tasteful detail.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment there are dual, ambidextrous thumb studs. These also serve as the stop-pin when the blade is both open and closed. Because of their function, the studs contact the edge of the scales in the closed position. Regardless, their size coupled with a tiered cap makes deployment easy.

While there is a flipper like protrusion, the knife isn’t a true flipper and requires a healthy wrist flick if you want to open it this way. On opening the tang meets a solid, play free titanium liner lock. A deep texture on the lock leaf allows for easy, one handed closing. The pivot is smooth and the components travel against phosphor bronze washers.

Fantoni HB-01 Review – Final Thoughts

The HB-01 is the third Fantoni knife I have reviewed and solidifies the company as one of my favorites. A strong focus on the fit, finish and foremost function, strips away superfluous details. High end materials, an exceptional heat treat along with William Harsey’s experienced time proven design has produced a true modern classic. The only downside to this folder is its extremely limited run of 100. If you are lucky enough to own and use one I’m sure it will satisfy.

Fantoni HB-01
From: KnifeArt

Editor: I recommend buying the Fantoni HB-01 at KnifeArt. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website, including links to Amazon and BladeHQ, helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Additional Specifications

Total Length: 9.37” (238 mm)
Weight: 5.93oz (168 g)

Blade:

Length: 4.13” (105 mm)
Thickness: .157 (4 mm)
Steel: CPM-S125V
Hardness: 61-62 HRc
Finish: stone wash

Handle:

Length: 5.24” (133 mm)
Thickness: .55” (14 mm)
Liners: 6AI4V Ti liners
Scales: black G10
Clip: Ambidextrous 6AI4V Titanium Tip Up
Lock: Liner

Made In Maniago, Italy

Photo Credits: Andrew Gene

Kershaw Emerson Collaboration Review

by Andrew Gene 3 Comments

For 2014 KAI USA and Emerson Knives have teamed up to deliver the first high volume, overseas produced Emerson designed ‘CQC’ knives. The release targets a thirsty market of consumers looking for the designer’s distinct ‘tactical’ aesthetic coupled with the wave opening feature at an affordable price point.

Buy the Kershaw Emerson Collaboration at Amazon

The CQC in the name stands for Close Quarter Combat suggesting a professional application amongst LEOs, Military Personnel, First Responders etc. They are also commonly sold as a self defence products. Regardless of the implied market I think that these will be popular with the EDC crowd and collectors who are fans of the category.

A total of eight 2014 models fall under the Kershaw brand. There will also be two knives positioned in the higher end market, the 0620 and 0620CF. These premium versions have their own designs and will be released with Zero Tolerance which is also a KAI property. The topic of this review will be the Kershaw models : CQC 1K through to the CQC 8K. They are roughly designated their model number (1-8) by overall dimensions (length, width, weight) and cost. They can also be visually differentiated by lock type, handle construction, blade style and finishes.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 1K, 2K and 3K models are quite small and range from 6.35” in overall length to 7.45”. The 4K and 5K’s are slightly larger in over-all dimensions and weight, but not quite as large as the designer’s standard line. The 6K, 7K and 8K will probably be the models that people will find the most like Emerson’s typical offerings. These are near to the size of the Mini-Commander or CQC 7’s, ranging from 7.75” to 8.1”. The Roadhouse that is being used as a comparison is an inch bigger than the largest Kershaw coming in at 9.1” in Overall Length.

All of the blades are made from the steel 8Cr13Mov. This is a stainless that has both reasonable edge retention and corrosion resistance for the price point. If you are looking for added corrosion resistance the black oxide models would be a better choice than the stone-washed editions. That said, I much prefer the aesthetics and well wearing surface of a stone-washed blade. The stone-wash covers the entire surface (not just the flats) and is a little less defined than a US made Emerson but it still looks good.

Patterns range from three tantos (CQC-3K,CQC-7K, and CQC-8K to four modified clip points (CQC-1K, CQC-2K, CQC-5K and CQC-6K) to one drop point (CQC-4K).

A flat grind produces a durable yet keen edge. Each has a standard V grind and edge bevel with the exception of the 8K where a chisel grind has been utilized. While all eight knives come sharp, the thicker stock favors strength over delicate slicing, typical of this genre. To make another comparison, Emerson uses a .125” (3.14mm) blade stock. The Kershaws are slightly thinner at 0.113” (2.9 mm). A model number and the manufacturer logo is etched on one side of the blade and a modified Emerson logo and skull appear on the other. Skulls aren’t for everyone but it’s pretty small. If you’re into skulls, you’ll be happy to know there’s one on the clip too.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handles are a partially closed back construction that uses an injection molded back-spacer. Since some models are liner locks and others frame-locks, finishes vary. All models have a grip thickness of .4 to .5” making them feel stout in hand and present in pocket. The CQC 4K and 5K are the only two with colored scales, all the rest have black G10 with black-coated frame or liner locks. The stone washed editions have bead blasted 410 stainless frame locks. The CQC 8 scales have some milled in surface detailing.

The G10 texture is less aggressive than the standard Emerson peel-ply stock. Some people may criticize this and others will appreciate the lack of pocket wear. I fall into the latter. The stainless frame-lock editions don’t have any texture so there will be little to no pocket wear. Addressing the pocket clips, it’s important to note that they are all tip up and unlike stock Emerson’s, reversible for ambidextrous carry. Retention is great and works well with the wave.

The ergonomics are varied throughout the line. The smaller editions feel a bit small in my hands with their 3 finger grip. The 1K and 3K’s straighter handles feels more comfortable since there’s less of a curve on the inner edge toward the pommel. All of the models above the 3K feel great to me with the exception of the 8K which has some pretty specific lines. That’s not to say it won’t fit like a glove for some, but I would suggest holding it in person first if possible.

Once again I feel that the 6K and 7K’s hit a sweet spot. The deep finger groove adds excellent retention and the rest of the handle’s contouring nests comfortably in hand. The jimping on all models is fairly smooth yet still provides some feedback and traction in use. On all the models, the wave also doubles as a thumb ramp for finer control.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment all models have both a knurled thumb-disc and the patented “Wave”. The Waves are, as far as I can tell, all the same size. Being familiar with the technique, I haven’t had a problem repeatedly and reliably opening the knives this way.

While most people who read this site know what the wave is, I’ll dial it back and briefly explain. The wave opening feature consists of a protrusion on the blade’s spine. When drawing the knife from a closed and clipped-on position, it catches on the rear seam of your pocket. With a quick up and backward movement the blade opens without additional manipulation. Because it all happens at the same time you produce the knife, it’s the fastest way to open a folder. This has made the wave a popular option on back-up or self defense knives as it combines easy carry with very fast deployment.

On the down side ‘waving’ a knife will undoubtedly be seen as an aggressive act if you’re doing it at the office. You’ll probably want to use the thumb-disc which allows you to deploy your CQC without the attention in those situations.

When open both liner and frame locks are solid and without play. Lock-up contacts close to, or at 100% of the lock face. I think that this is a good move. When opening with the wave is important to have a full and audible engagement for safety.

The fasteners used for construction are standard flat heads for the pivot and Phillips heads for the rest. This is great for easy adjustment when necessary. Any standard multi-tool or typical at hand screwdrivers will do.

Over-all the fit and finish of the knives is quite good. Some may be surprised that there are some areas where the Kershaw models are more resolved than their higher end counterparts. On the originals there is often rough tooling around the perimeter of the handles, liners and blade edges. The Kershaw models are quite clean. Blade centering on all eight of the knives received for review was spot on. Below are a couple of details that show differences in the fit and finish.

Kershaw Emerson Collaboration Review – Final Thoughts

All in, Kershaw did an excellent job bringing these designs to market. With all of the differences in sizes, shapes and finishes there should be something here for everyone. Releasing eight new models from one designer is a pretty bold statement but one that will likely be backed by excellent sales.

Personally I like the 4K through to the 7K, their ergonomics felt the most comfortable. The 6K and 7K stone-wash looks the slickest in my opinion. Personal taste aside, these are 30 to 40 dollar knives. About a quarter to a fifth of the price of a US made Emerson.

Kershaw Emerson Collaboration
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Kershaw / Emerson collabs at Amazon. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Photo Credits: Andrew Gene

Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

Hinderer Knives is a company best known for their overbuilt XM Series. Burly titanium framelock flippers that helped popularize the titanium framelock flipper. So to see them release the XM-18 Slippy, a slip joint using their XM pattern, is a bit of an oddity. But then again, it’s not that surprising given the recent resurgence of interest in slip joint knives.

Buy the Hinderer XM-18 Slippy at BladeHQ

And oddly enough this may be their most practical daily carry folder yet. Reasonably small, slim, lightweight, and retailing for under $300, this may be the Hinderer that you didn’t realize you needed.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The XM Slippy has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 3.71 ounces, and is made in the USA. It’s a great size for urban or suburban daily carry. It has similar dimension to the XM-18 3″, but is a hair thinner, .4 ounces heavier, and $150 cheaper.

I think if they had to borrow from one of the XM framelocks, the 3″ version was smart. This is all I need for an EDC knife. The 3.5″ version would have been way too much.

Hinderer has rolled this knife out in a couple of blade shapes, but shown here we have their classic drop point. It’s hard to go wrong with the clean look and practical features of a drop point. A good functional tip, plenty of belly, and Hinderer’s high flat “slicer” grind all work together to provide all-round performance.

Most of these early XM-18 Slippys appear to be coming with CPM-20CV blade steel. We are starting to see more high end knives in CPM-20CV. I’ve reviewed a couple Benchmade knives in this steel, including the G-10 Griptilian. Another notable knife in CPM-20CV is the Cold Steel 4MAX.

So at this point I have a few knives in my long term collection in CPM-20CV and I’ve put some miles on them. CPM-20CV is Crucible’s answer to Boeller M390. It’s the same chemical composition as M390, but it’s made by Crucible in the USA. I think it’s a great steel, and it provides a good blend of edge retention, ease of sharpness, corrosion resistance and toughness. Here is a link to ZKnives’ page on 20CV where you can get some more details.

In practice this is a slicey knife that has performed admirably in all the typical EDC chores. I have used my Slippy for your basic EDC knife stuff including opening mail, breaking down boxes, light food prep, and the random jobs that you invariably encounter when carrying a pocket knife. For each task the Slippy worked fine. It slices well and the stonewashed finish hasn’t shown much in the way of wear. Edge retention has been great, and when it’s time to touch it up, all I’ve needed to do is run the edge along the fine stones that came with my Spyderco Sharpmaker. I can’t ask for much more out of a daily carry blade.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocekt Clip

The handle is textured G10 scales over titanium liners secured with Hinderer’s custom hardware. One complaint is they have a lot of extra bolts on this thing. The show side has the pivot, 2 bolts by the lanyard hole, and then 3 button head bolts running across the handle. These may be necessary for their slip joint mechanism, but it’s not pretty. It would look much cleaner if they could ditch the button heads.

Beyond that, everything has been executed with Hinderer’s typical care and attention to detail. All the pieces have been beautifully finished, the parts line up, and any sharp edges have been broken. Anyone who has handled a regular XM will know what I’m talking about. The fit and finish is top notch.

This is a comfy little knife. The 3″ XM pattern is tried and true, and it’s just the same for this slip joint version. You have a good size handle with plenty of room for a full 4 finger grip. If you want to choke up on the blade you can with the forward choil. There is a run of mild jimping on the spine of the handle right above the pivot, and the textured G-10 scales offer grip without shredding your pocket like a fresh emery board.

The pocket clip is your standard XM-18 spoon style clip positionable for right side tip up or tip down carry. This is a proven clip that does a good job of keeping the knife mostly buried in the pocket. Hinderer includes a filler plate so you fill the void in the G-10 when you reposition the clip.

There isn’t much to complain about when it comes to this pocket clip. Some may favor a deep carry clip, but very little of the handle peeks up out of your pocket anyway. In practice the Slippy carried like a dream. Thin, lightweight, and discreet.

Walk and Talk

For the most part, all the stuff above is essentially a review of the 3″ XM-18 in CPM-20CV steel. Nothing earth shattering in my findings. This section is where it gets interesting. Our titanium framelock has been replaced with a slip joint, and our flipper and thumb studs have been replaced with an adjustable thumb disk.

The thumb disk is removable with an allen wrench, so this knife can be made into a 2 hand opener. Good for certain legal jurisdictions. Personally, I left the thumb disk on, but I did adjust it by loosening it with an allen bit from my WiHa bit set, and then sliding the thumb disk down the channel cut into the blade.

I positioned it to a good “sweet spot” where my thumb naturally brushes it when gripping the knife. In practice I think this is a cool feature. The groove in the blade may look a little weird at first, but I quickly got over it, and I like how the thumb disk can be adjusted to fit your hand.

Here is a size comparison with the Slippy next to my Spyderco Native 5:

Lets talk about the walk and talk, since this is a slip joint after all. The backspring on this knife is pretty good. I’d give it a “6” on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being floppy, and a 10 requiring significant force. I’d put most Swiss Army Knives around a 3 or 4. The Slippy has a good amount of resistance, but it won’t rip your fingernails off as you try to open the blade.

The blade opens up with a satisfying snap, and that same strong spring holds the blade open. There isn’t a hard half stop, but there is a “no man’s land” at the 90 degree point. From there you can push the blade closed and the spring takes up the slack to bring the blade home.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy Review – Final Thoughts

I liked this XM-18 Slippy more than I expected to. What I appreciate is the simplicity. The Slippy has everything you need, and nothing you don’t. I know everyone’s needs are different, but for me 99% of the time I don’t need a locking folder for my daily carry chores. So this slip joint version strikes me as streamlined and practical given what I require out of an EDC knife. For those wanting a more robust locking folder, there is always their regular XM-18 series.

In addition to the practicality of the XM-18 Slippy, I’m also drawn to the price. A sub $300 Hinderer is an accomplishment in my book. The Slippy is a full $150 cheaper than their framelock version. It’s still expensive, but this is a relatively small batch precision product made in the USA. It oozes the kind of quality you would expect from Hinderer. My example is flawless, and at this price I’m a little more inclined to roll the Slippy in my daily rotation carry than keep it as a collectible.

As for potential downsides, I’m not a fan of the extra screws featured on the show side. I haven’t taken this knife apart to see why the bolts are necessary, but probably should. If I do I’ll snap a picture and update the review. Also, some may not be able to get around the thumb disk and channel in the blade. It’s unusual and strikes me as an acquired taste, but I don’t mind it. Like the rest of the knife, it’s practical and it works.

In closing I think Hinderer did a nice job with their take on the slip joint. The slip joint bandwagon has been gaining a lot of steam lately, but Rick and his team have found away to offer a unique take on the slip joint that compliments their existing lineup. Recommended if you are looking for a premium non-locking EDC, are curious about the design, or are a fan of Hinderer knives in general.

Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy
From: BladeHQ

No products found.

I recommend purchasing the Hinderer Knives XM-18 Slippy at BladeHQ, Amazon, or Knife Art. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Kershaw Atmos Review

by Josh Wussow 4 Comments

Look – We all try to stick to a budget. But as knife enthusiasts, we sometimes have a bit more difficulty than most. This is one of the reasons I’ve gravitated toward the shallow end of the blade pool. So, when the Kershaw Atmos made a big splash with some fellow reviewers, I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

Buy the Kershaw Atmos at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Let’s get the obvious comparison out of the way – Yes, the Atmos looks like a budget version of the Zero Tolerance 0450. And it should, considering they share a common designer in the great Dmitry Sinkevich. But, as you’ll see in the comparison photos, the Atmos is between 10 and 15-percent smaller in most of its physical dimensions. We’ll come back to this comparison later, but let’s focus on the Kershaw for now.

The centerpiece of the Atmos is its 3-inch drop-point blade, wearing a satin finish over its hollow grind and upper swedge. It’s been crafted from a 0.10-inch thick piece of Chinese 8Cr13MoV steel, which is sure to illicit groans from about 90-percent of the audience. Look – I don’t like this steel any more than you do. But, hang with me for a while, and maybe you’ll learn to look past it.

Overall, the Atmos measures 6.9-inches, nearly four of which make up the G-10 handle. There’s a stainless steel insert on the clip side, housing the linerlock mechanism. Kershaw has included attractive carbon-fiber overlays on each handle slab (read: stickers), which somehow manage to avoid looking tacky on this budget-minded blade. I’m not usually a huge carbon fiber fan, but the added layer brings the handle width to a pleasing 0.43-inches. Weight-wise, the Atmos tips the scales at just 2-ounces. For those of you keeping track, that’s within 0.1-ounces of the Kershaw Fraxion, despite housing a bigger blade and far superior design.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Dmitry Sinkevich is a master of form, and the Atmos represents the very best aspects of his work. It cuts an attractive figure, with futuristic angles that somehow meld perfectly into my medium/large hand. It also manages to be more comfortable, practical, and carriable than its premium cousin.

Don’t believe me? Let’s break it down point by point. First, the grip. While I always adored the 0450 from an aesthetic standpoint, its hand-feel is always a bit of a disappointment. This is partially due to personal preference, since I find slab-sided titanium blades to be more difficult to grip. I’ll take G-10, Micarta, or even Grivory any day of the week. The Atmos’ G-10 and carbon fiber overlay provide solid purchase, even with damp or greasy hands. The jimping along the finger-facing portion of the flipper tab is a thoughtful touch, as well. While some may find it to be a bit aggressive, its extra friction really holds my index finger in place. Though we’re used to seeing flipper tabs pull double duty as blade guards, the setup on the Atmos feels extra secure.

Next, let’s cover the practicality of this blade. The hollow grind glides through onions, carrots, and cardboard with genuine ease. Yes, 8Cr13MoV is nowhere near as good as the 0450’s S35VN. But the grind, in conjunction with the thinness of the Atmos’ blade stock, allows it to cut far longer than you’d expect from a cheap Chinese steel. The ZT, on the other hand, features a saber grind with a tendency to split foods rather than slice.

We’ll wrap this portion of the review with a discussion of carriability. When I say that the Atmos is easier to carry than the 0450, I’m really making two different statements. On the scientific side, this is simply a more pocketable design. It weighs almost an ounce less than the titanium model (2-ounces vs. 2.9), and the deep-carry pocket clip is far superior to the semi-high ride affair on the ZT. It also manages to produce less of a hotspot under firm grip.

On the more personal side, I’ve found this to be an easier knife to use. Like, if someone asks me to cut a plastic tie-wire from a segment of steel grating, I’ll always hesitate before pulling out the 0450. It’s an attractive, expensive knife, and I find it difficult to shake the fear of dinging it up. But with the Atmos? Hell, it’s only $30. What do I care if the blade accidentally knocks up against a rock or piece of structural steel? It’s a more capable cutter, without the nagging pocket-jewelry connotation. Sure, it’s not the most hard-use tool on the table, but let’s be honest – Neither is the 0450.

Deployment and Lockup

The Kershaw Atmos is a fidgeter’s dream. I’ve spent more time playing with this knife than any other in my collection. Even the ZT0450 pales in comparison when it comes to fidget factor. There’s just something about the Atmos’ deployment – The snikt/clack that lands pleasantly on the ear.

The linerlock itself lands at a solid 40-50% lockup, with the blade flying through its arc after a firm press on the flipper tab. Kershaw has dialed in the detent to the point that it’s actually rather difficult to cause a misfire. Here’s a breakdown shot of the Atmos, showing the internal hardware responsible for its excellent action.

As you can see, Kershaw has included both metal washers and captive bearings. The setup works well, though the arrangement is a little strange. On the show side, the bearing is sandwiched between the washer and blade. On the clip side, the bearing rests between the washer and the linerlock steel. This is something you’ll need to remember during reassembly, if you want the blade to remain centered.

And you will need to take this blade down. See that deep hook on the blade tang? After household chores and a weekend of camping, gunk started to accumulate in its inner recesses. Thankfully, the simple screws and D-shaped pivot make disassembly a relatively routine affair. As mentioned, just be sure you’re putting the washers and bearings back in the proper order.

Even with proper oiling, however, the blade’s swing isn’t completely utterly smooth. I still encountered a bit of rolling friction when working it back and forth manually, but this is more than covered by the strength of its detent. When firing with the flipper, you’ll never notice.

Kershaw Atmos Review – Final Thoughts

Take a deep breath, fellow knife nerds. I have a confession to make: The 0450 is on its way out of my collection, while the Atmos is staying for the foreseeable future. It’s not a question of cost, since the ZT was provided to me for a previous review. Rather, it’s an issue of usability. Yes, the 0450 is fun. Its fit, finish, materials, and design place it in the pantheon of great EDC knives. But, for all of the reasons discussed above, I find myself drawn to the down-to-earth usability of the Atmos.

That isn’t to say the Kershaw is perfect, however. I’d love to see an upgraded version, maybe with 154CM, 14C28N, or another budget-friendly steel. Dmitry Sinkevich has come up with a world-class design here, and it deserves world-class materials. But, with an entry price of just $30, this is one of the best budget EDCs on the market.

Sale

Kershaw Atmos Folding Pocketknife (4037); 3-in. 8Cr13MoV Stainless Steel Drop Point Blade; Black G10 Handle with Carbon Fiber; Inset Liner Lock; KVT Manual Open; Reversible Deep-Carry Pocketclip; 1 oz

KERSHAW ATMOS POCKET KNIFE: The Atmos is a 2019 Bikepacker magazine top choice for a lightweight pocket knife. Designed by Dmitry Sinkevich with a slim, modified drop point blade that will handle the job without ever weighing you down.
DROP POINT PLAIN EDGE BLADE: Made from high-quality 8Cr13MoV stainless steel for edge retention and wear resistance. A satin blade finish with sanded flats reduces reflectivity.
DURABLE , ALL-WEATHER G10 HANDLE with a black eye-catching carbon overlay. A textured grip ensures a comfortable, secure feel in your hand. Includes a reversible deep-carry (right/left, tip-up) pocket clip for convenient, discreet carry.
DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: This folding knife opens manually, but just as smoothly as an assisted knife with the manual KVT ball bearings and built-in flipper. A liner lock secures the knife blade in place during use to ensure user safety.
SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 3in. Overall Length: 6.9in. Closed Length: 4in. Weighing in at 1.9oz. Backed by Kershaw’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Atmos 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.

UPDATE: Kershaw has chimed in on the Atmos’ use of carbon fiber. Here’s what they had to say: “The one thing is that the carbon fiber on the handle is not a ‘sticker’. It is actually an integral part of the G10 handle material. For this knife, when they are making the G10 (which is an epoxy-fiber material), they make it by layering sheets of fiber with epoxy…but in this case, the top is composed of two thin layers of carbon fiber. So rather than being stickered on, the carbon fiber is part of the handle—just like all the other fiber layers in the material. The black G10 below is exposed when we machine the contours of the handle. There’s no way the carbon fiber would peel off as a sticker might.”

Kershaw also takes issue with the idea that 8Cr13MoV is a “groaner of a steel.” As their representative pointed out, Blade Magazine/KnifeForums has singled the company out as having attained the best heat treatment for this particular metal. I stand by my desire to see the Atmos in something a bit higher-end, but it’s good to know that they’re getting the most mileage out of ol’ 8Cr.

Rockstead Higo Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

Today I’ll be reviewing an expensive knife. There is no way around it. The Rockstead Higo retails for the better part of $1000. It’s insanely expensive, and it’s taken me the better part of 10 years of writing about knives to work my way up to purchasing one. I’ve considered it before, but always had something else I’d rather spend $800 on. Like food, rent, and child support. But recently I got my priorities straightened out and purchased a Rockstead for review.

Buy the Rockstead Higo at BladeHQ

So it may come as a surprise to hear that the Higo is actually one of Rockstead’s least expensive offerings. You can easily spend $1,500 to $3,000 on one of their knives.

The Higo is one of their simpler, more utilitarian models. Relatively simple duraluminum handles and a single stand off house a beautiful, smoky black DLC coated blade. And it’s not just any blade, it’s Rockstead’s beautiful “HONZUKURI” double convex blade shape brought to a flawless mirror polish. Yes, it’s high time we reviewed a Rockstead, and examined this knife in all of it’s expensive glory. By the way, I am writing this review from a cardboard box.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Higo has an overall length of 8.5″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 3.6 ounces and is made in Japan. It’s a larger knife but could be EDCd if you like the idea of daily carrying an ultra high end pocket knife. I think it is one of Rockstead’s more staid models, but personally, I wouldn’t EDC this thing. Not only is it too expensive for me to use without feeling guilty, I have major reservations regarding how I would sharpen the knife. I’ll comment on that further below.

The Higo comes with a long drop point blade. The tip on the knife is fairly high, and it provides a rather abrupt belly. The blade is saber ground, and there is a hole in the flat of the blade with a short milled fuller. I am not sure if that’s for decoration, or is part of the manufacturing process. I never think too hard about that because my eye is inevitably drawn to the beautiful mirror polished primary bevel.

As an aside, this polished blade is a bear to photograph. My photography has never been great, but I apologize for the especially schlocky photos accompanying this review. I did my best to keep my mug out of the photographs, but there are still all sorts of reflections in the shots showing the blade.

Rockstead’s process for finishing the blades this way is time consuming, and labor intensive. This is part of the reason why Rockstead knives are so expensive. Rockstead does a reasonable job explaining the process on their website. Apparently someone hand sands these blades starting at 400 grit going all the way up to 2000 grit. Then additional finishing work is done on the knife through some proprietary processes that are well beyond my pay grade as a lay person.

The net result is the most beautiful blade I have ever laid my eyes on. The grinds are beautifully crisp. The machining is outstanding. And the mirror polish is flawless. The net result is stunning. There is nothing else like a Rockstead blade.

Rockstead offers the Higo in two blade steels: a DLC Coated YXR7 version (shown here) or an uncoated ZDP-189 version. YXR7 is a high speed tool steel manufactured by Hitachi. YXR7 has the enviable combination of being tough, but also being able to be heat treated to a high hardness. Here is a link to the zKnives data sheet on YXR7.

Rockstead states that it’s the durability of the YXR7 that allows them to put an ultra thin 3 micron thick coat of DLC over the blade. Paired with a less shock resistant steel, the DLC coating would crack like an egg shell. But when paired with YXR7 the shock is dissipated and you are left with an otherworldly blade.

Each knife is individually checked for hardness, and Rockstead reports that on the information card that comes with the knife. My particular knife was heat treated to 65.2 HRc. Impressive.

OK, this is normally the part of the review where I comment on the real world performance of the knife after extensive carry and use. That never happened with the Higo. It’s just too nice of a knife for me to get down and dirty with.

Furthermore, I’m concerned that if I used the knife I’d be unable to sharpen it. Especially this DLC coated variant. With the ZDP-189 version you can probably maintain the edge with careful stropping. But here, only a teeny tiny bit of the edge is exposed. The rested is coated in DLC. How the hell do you sharpen this thing? Rockstead offers a “free sharpening service” but you need to ship the knife back to Japan for that. Sorry guys, but I didn’t want to go down that path with this knife.

I will say I’ve been to the Rockstead booth at Blade Show a few times and they had many samples available, and they would cut phone books and rope with the knives at the show. They can certainly cut, and from what I understand they hold an edge unlike anything else thanks in part to the insane hardness and unique blade geometry.

But I can’t speak from personal experience. Instead, I’ll embed a video from Rockstead showing some of their performance testing:

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Compared with the magnificent blade, the handle is a little less interesting. It’s still beautifully machined, but lets face it, few things can stand up to the blade of a Rockstead. Here we have black anodized duraluminum handles. A pleasant wave pattern has been milled into the handles. Execution of the handles themselves is great, but one area leaving me wanting a little more is with the hardware. The hardware almost appears like cheap pot metal compared to the blade. I’d love to see some decorative hardware or polished hardware to match the blade. As it stands, it appears more like an after thought. At this price everything needs to be special.

I have no complaints in the ergonomics department. This simple and straight forward handle design. There is plenty of room, and an absence of excessive curves and ‘ergonomic features’ means that the handle will be comfortable for most people. That said, you do get light jimping on both the top and bottom of the blade, toothier jimping on the handle, and a finger choil. All of this stuff has been exercised with a degree of restraint to the point where it all plays in the background. It’s the ergonomic equivalent of muzak. Present, but hard to register unless you pay close attention.

The pocket clip is downright primitive compared to the rest of the knife. It’s a DLC blackened spring style clip, mounted high on the handle for deep carry with a single torx screw. There is nothing wrong with any of this, but it is crudely stamped “MADE IN JAPAN”. Not the end of the world, but not the most elegant solution either. Given the attention of detail lavished on this blade I would have expected a little more.

The good news is that the pocket clip works great, and the knife carries well. It’s a long knife, but thin and lightweight, so you don’t notice it much. The pocket clip has good spring retention, so it keeps the knife planted in place, and it all but buries completely in your pocket. Not bad, but not amazing either.

The clip is also a fingerprint magnet. Much like the blade.

Deployment and Lockup

The Higo primarily makes use of dual thumb studs to get the blade open. The thumb studs are prominent, and the blade is easy enough to open with either hand. Additionally, the exposed tang when closed gives you the option of a “front flipper” of sorts. You can’t actually flip the blade open, but you can get the blade mostly open with this faux flipper.

The blade rotates fluidly on generous phosphor bronze washers. It isn’t a fast deploying knife, but it feels purposeful.

The frame lock of the Higo engages with a soft click. It’s an aluminum framelock with a stainless steel lockbar insert. I think it is interesting to note that the lockbar insert has also been given the DLC treatment. Little details like that are good to see. Frankly I expect them on a knife this expensive. Lockup is a solid 50% and there is zero blade play of any kind.

I struggled to find a good knife to use for the size comparison section. The blade of the Higo is so tough to photograph, that I ended up choosing the Zero Tolerance 0450CF. The matte DLC blade on the 0450CF made it possible to get a workable photo.

Blade centering is absolutely perfect on my knife. Once again at this price point I would expect nothing less.

Rockstead Higo Review – Final Thoughts

On one hand the Higo is a stunning knife. The blade is unlike anything else I have reviewed. It’s an otherworldly work of art. You simply won’t find anything else like it on the production market. That beautiful blade is combined with an elegant handle. It is a juxtoposition of Japanese elegance and their fanatical pride in what they do. Rockstead has taken the production pocket knife to extremes few of us would consider. In these ways the Higo is a truly special knife.

On the flip side I don’t think this is a particularly practical knife. It’s so expensive I’m hesitant to use it. And if I were to use the knife, it would be damn near impossible for me to sharpen it. Perhaps if I selected the non-DLC coated variant I could strop this thing, but I don’t know how I would sharpen this DLC coated blade with its impossibly small microbevel edge. The only answer is to send it off to Rockstead. They will sharpen it for free provided I can prove I’m the original owner, but I would need to ship the knife to Japan at a considerable expense and risk.

For these reasons I cannot recommend this knife as a daily carry, unless you are a talented sharpener and willing to use a near $1,000 folding knife. Most people won’t do that, and of the few that will actually purchase a Rockstead Higo, I suspect they will treat the knife like I have: gingerly. With so many great $50-200 folding knives in my collection, the Higo has been relegated to a safe queen and curiosity. It’s a beautiful safe queen, but a safe queen none the less.

Rockstead Higo
From: BladeHQ

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

Benchmade Anthem 781 Review

by Aaron Shapiro 3 Comments

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.

Buy the Benchmade Anthem at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

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.

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.