Tactical Knives

Bestech Fanga Review

by A Sharp Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

I love me a big knife. I particularly love a big, well designed knife. I recently acquired two similar big folding knives, and I’m going to do a full review of one and complain about the other one.

Buy the Bestech Fanga at BladeHQ

The Bestech Knives Fanga is the newest design from Polish knife designer Grzegorz Grabarski (AKA Kombou on Instagram), who’s on a real hot streak lately. In the last couple of years, a total of seven of his designs have been produced by BRR Knives in Poland, Custom Knife Factory in Russia, and five models from Bestech in China. Bestech’s website describes their company as “a professional manufacturer and exporter of medium and high quality knives in China for OEM in the past 10 years.”

I had never heard of Bestech until about a year ago, but apparently they’ve been making knives for other brands for a decade. Everything I’ve seen of theirs has been very well made, particularly the Bestech Malware, which I previously reviewed. The Fanga is also his least expensive folder to date, with the G10 handled version retailing for $80 and the carbon fiber/G10 version (the subject of this review) for $102 at BladeHQ.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Fanga is indeed a big knife at 9.375 inches (238 mm) open, weighs 4.75 ounces (135 grams), and has a 4 inch (102 mm) clip point blade that brings to mind a scimitar or Bowie knife. Research into scimitars and Bowie knives led me down a very deep internet rabbit hole, and when I climbed out I had two salient pieces of information:

1) curved blades are designed to aid in draw cuts, where the blade is being pulled across what it’s cutting. The outward curve of the blade not only provides a longer surface area to cut with than a straight edged blade of the same overall length, but the curved shape is also ergonomically designed to cut deeper than a straight blade when using a slashing motion. And

2) searching for information on Bowie knives led me to YouTube videos of the Mountain Dew drinking maniac Tom O’Dell on the QVC Cutlery Corner cable TV show from the late 90’s / early 2000’s. He would say “bowie” a hundred times an hour with amazing enthusiasm: “We have a set of 14 B o o o o o – ee knives with genuine jigged stag bone handles and top quality mirror polished stainless steel for only $39.99!” I have fond memories of watching that show at 2am in the 90’s- and now, even without the bong, it’s still captivating viewing.

The blade has 3.875 inches (98 mm) of sharpened edge, and it’s made of D2 tool steel. D2 was patented in 1927, and was primarily used for industrial cutting tools until the mid 1960’s when it started showing up in high-end knives of the time. D2 is a good middle of the road steel. It’s not quite rust-proof stainless steel (not enough chromium), it’s not as fine-grained as modern powdered steel (not easy to sharpen to a fine edge), but on the upside it’s a pretty “hard” steel, meaning it can take a lot of abuse without deforming. That quality of hardness gives D2 good edge retention, but is notoriously hard to sharpen to a very fine edge. I’ve been able to get a good sharp edge on mine using my Wicked Edge sharpener, but I had to resort to using a very coarse 400 grit stone to smooth out some slightly rolled sections of the edge. I usually only need much finer grit stones like 800 and 1000 grit for touch-ups on knives with premium modern steels.

The last decade has seen an explosion of new varieties of blade steel, and I think I know why. I started getting into pocketknives in the late 90’s when my father got me the Spyderco Civilian I’d been wanting for my birthday- thanks again Dad! I told him to go into Chicago Cutlery and ask for the scariest looking knife in the store- which, in 1997, was unquestionably the Civilian. The blade was stamped “GIN-1 STAINLESS”. This was towards the end of the pre-internet dark ages, so investigating the blade steel meant a trip to the library and checking out a book on metallurgy. So I lazily assumed whatever steel knifemakers used was the most appropriate steel.

I didn’t think much about it until 2012, when I bought a DPX Gear HEST/F with a D2 tool steel blade, which sounded really cool. I decided to look up the comparative properties of D2 online, and was shocked to learn that D2 wasn’t the greatest blade steel ever invented. Between 1997 and 2012, the internet had matured into a snarky criticism/pornography e-commerce platform that highly values new products. I learned about S30V and many other new blade steels that were becoming popular thanks in no small part to the internet’s hunger for new, improved things.

So, to keep up in modern business, new powder metallurgy “super steels” like M390, S110V and Vanax 37 have become the steels of choice for high-end knives. Now, D2 blades are generally relegated to lower-priced knives. In fact, the last D2 steel knife I bought was the OKC Carter Prime, which was disappointing in so many ways. But the Carter Prime is not the knife I’m going to complain about…

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The G10/carbon fiber handle is long, fat, and heavy, and fits my medium-large hands very well. As my daily EDC over the last month and a half, I’ve done a lot with it. I prepared an entire BBQ meal with the Fanga. It’s blade shape and the fact that the blade edge is higher than the bottom of the handle preclude it from being good at dicing onions, but it hacked open the packaging on the sausages and sliced the rolls just fine.

I needed to chop down a recently deceased banana tree in my yard, and why use a saw or machete when I have this bigass knife in my pocket? It was like cutting through seven inches of tough, soggy celery, and I gained a practical appreciation of the handle size and shape. The index finger cutout, along with the wide, flat thumb rest above the pivot, gave me surfaces to push and pull against as I sawed the banana trunk into sections that would fit into my yard waste bin. Afterwards, the knife and I were covered in bitter banana sap, so I cleaned us both with a garden hose. I was hoping that the Fanga’s machined G10/carbon fiber handle and G10 backspacer would be less slippery when wet than an all-titanium handled knife, but it was about as slippery as my titanium Sebenza.

Most of the time G10 appears on folding knife handles, it’s a flat slab with a square grid pattern molded or machined into the surface. It feels great and provides excellent traction, but looks boring. Notable examples of this are a lot of Spyderco knives, the Rick Hinderer XM series of knives, and pretty much every Emerson knife. But on the Fanga, this material is sculpted in a creative, organic way you that you feel more than you see.

Kombou, the designer of this knife, has added his signature design cue of several little scalloped cuts on the top of the handle behind the pivot. I’ve noticed this design in four of his other knives (the Ornetta, Volta, Kamoza, Bragga, and Buwaya) and I now notice a signature naming convention as well- all of his knife names end with an “a”. I really like his design aesthetic. It’s not quite as distinctive as knife designer Elijah Isham’s style but I find Kombou’s knives to be more practical. Like Isham, Kombou does 3D computer design, not physical knife making, and a close examination of the Fanga reveals many well-executed small details, like the deep blade fuller that can be used to open the knife like you would open a traditional slipjoint.

The pivot collar and the pocket clip are made of the same blue anodized titanium, and both have style. The pivot collar is subtly cone shaped, and the angle at which it rises above the handle matches the angle of the pivot screw, resulting in a volcano shaped pivot. The clip has a unique organic shape that compliments the shape of the handle. It also has a sufficient height above the handle to easily slide onto both my thickest denim jeans and my Triple Aught Design Force 10 AC pants which are extremely thin, but indestructible. The amount of flex in the clip has held on tight to everything I’ve worn in the six weeks I’ve been carrying the Fanga.

I scratched the anodizing on the clip somehow, and the blue anodizing is showing some fading on the edges. My Fox Knives Phoenix has similar blue anodizing and even more pronounced wear, but that’s also not the knife I’m going to complain about…

Deployment and Lockup

The Fanga stays open by utilizing a steel liner lock, which contributes to it’s weight. As D2 steel has gone out of fashion in high-end knives, so have liner locks been replaced by frame locks. I personally love a well done liner lock because it allows the handle design to be symmetrical in shape and materials. A frame lock knife, like the Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza, by definition must have a steel or titanium handle on one side that functions as it’s locking mechanism.

The design of the “lock side” of a typical frame lock knife is dominated by the lock. If a knifemaker wants to use a material other than steel or titanium for the non-locking side of the handle (the “show” side) they can use G10 or micarta or solid gold, but there’s no way to have symmetry of materials on both sides of the handle unless you use steel or titanium. Thanks to it’s liner lock, the standard Bestech Fanga has symmetrical G10 (or G10/carbon fiber) handles on both sides.

The lockup is solid with no blade wiggle, and the combination of the wide, heavy handle and thick blade stock prompted me to test the overall strength of the knife. My banana-watering garden hose burst at one end so I seized the opportunity to cut it with the Fanga. It took all my strength to cut through the extra-thick hose, so for the sake of science I sharpened it and cut a couple more slices much more easily.

The Flipper detent is a little stronger than I’m used to, meaning that it takes a bit of effort to get the flipping motion started. Once past that initial resistance it flips open smoothly on it’s ball bearing pivot system. It’s a big heavy blade and the detent feels appropriate to get that much mass moving and locked into place. I have never failed to completely flip it open using a normal index finger technique or by my wrapping my thumb over the top like a front flipper knife.

Every surface on the Fanga that’s able to be touched is chamfered or rounded a little bit, with the exception of a sharp two inch portion the back side of the liner lock, which is a) only exposed when the knife is locked open, and b) not sharp enough to cut you anyway. I would call that a design flaw, but that’s nothing compared to the design flaw of the knife I’m going to be complaining about, the Spyderco Tropen.

On paper, the Tropen is practically the same as the Fanga with the exception of the Tropen having better blade steel. Their weight, handle size and shape, blade size and shape, and full flat grind are very similar to each other. It’s in the differences between them where the Tropen falls short. The flipper tab’s pointy top jabs into your finger, the polished G10 handle scales are slippery even when dry, and the liner lock that keeps the knife open is only 1mm, while the Fanga’s liner lock is almost double the thickness at 1.8mm. In the picture it looks like the liner locks are the same size, but I bought digital calipers specifically so I could bitch about this and I assure you the measurements are accurate.

I also replaced the pocket clip with a $26 MXG Gear deep carry clip, but that was an aesthetic decision on my part. In my opinion, Spyderco knives are like Glock pistols: they’re usually OK right out of the box, but if you really want to get the most out of them, you have to install some aftermarket accessories and tinker with them a little. My Tropen had two serious problems when it was in the closed position that definitely required some tinkering.

First, the detent keeping the Tropen closed was so weak that it opened in my pocket several times. To remedy that, I turned to YouTube and learned how to increase the detent by taking the knife apart and using a dremel tool to enlarge the hole that the detent ball rests in. The second problem has perplexed me and the knife nerd community in general- when the knife is closed, there’s a half inch of sharp blade exposed next to the lock mechanism. The only fix is to dull the back end of the blade with a file. I haven’t cut myself on it yet, and I’m leaving the end the butt end of the blade sharp just to see if it actually does cut me while I’m holding it in my pocket. I’m willing to trade the pain for the knowledge.

Finally, the Tropen costs about $100 more than the Fanga. The only reason I bring up the Tropen at all is to make my final point about price versus value.

Bestech Fanga Review – Final Thoughts

Warren Buffett said this about price versus value:“Long ago, Ben Graham taught me that ‘Price is what you pay; value is what you get.’ Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.” When I first held the Fanga in my hands, I was surprised that this knife only cost $102, and the regular G10 version $80. The fit and finish, at least to my untrained eye, are excellent. That’s a lot of value at a low price. There are many quality knives out there that cost approximately the same amount, but I haven’t seen one that has this much style and meticulous detail plus a milled pocket clip at this price.

I bought the very similar Spyderco Tropen (which is also made in China by the way) for approximately double the price, and it ended up costing me even more in parts and labor. Despite it’s higher price, I feel like it’s value is significantly lower than that of the Fanga. The Bestech Fanga is, in my opinion, a great all-around knife and a tremendous value for the money. I recommend it.

Lastly, while fact-checking this review with the designer, Kombou, he told me that he has recently quit his regular 9 to 5 job to become a full time Product Designer for Bestech. My congratulations to him and to anyone who gets paid to do what they love. Keep making cool knives (with good value) and I’ll keep buying them.

Bestech Knives Fanga – From $102.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Bestech Knives Fanga at BladeHQ and Amazon. Thank you very much.

About the Author: This guest review was written by John Burridge. John Burridge is a Los Angeles-based lover of knives and other dangerous toys. He spends his days trying to make the world a better place by slipping subversive humor into reality TV shows. And playing with cats. He can be found on Instagram as @bunrudge.

Emerson Mini Commander Review

by Travis Pike Leave a Comment

The Mini-Commander is my third Emerson folder and third in the line of CQC knives. I guess I’m an Emerson collector. I initially purchased a CQC-7BW during my Marine Corps days, then I purchased a Mini CQC-15 that I thought combined a cool tanto edge and a good belly to replace the 7. Now I have a Mini-Commander that I purchased for no real reason.

Buy the Mini Commander at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Of course, it’s been serving as my EDC for several months now because you don’t buy a knife like this and not carry it. It’s a knife designed for guys and gals in the military as well as those who typically work in non-permissive environments, and its in a handier size. The Mini-Commander isn’t for everyone, and its combination of features do make it more or less suited for a niche group of users.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mini-Commander loses half an inch of the blade from the standard Commander model and has a 3.4-inch blade with a deployed length of 8 inches. The Mini-Commander’s blade is .125 inches thick and is made from 154CM. The handle is 4.6 inches long and the knife weighs 4.5 ounces.

It’s a convenient and easy knife to pocket carry. The Mini-Commander features a recurve blade design that sports a very prominent belly. You get a lot of cutting edge in a very compact package. It’s got a standard drop point tip and has a black cerakote finish. A stonewash finish is also available.

The use of 154 CM is pretty standard with Emerson knives and a great overall steel. It’s an excellent compromise of features and specs, but also makes an outstanding metal if you deploy to harsh conditions with your knife. Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, wildland firefighters, Border Patrol, etc.

154 CM is very corrosion resistant, and it is tough steel. It’s relatively easy to sharpen and can get quite sharp. 154 CM steel seems to be excellent steel when paired with a chisel grind. A chisel grind is quick and easy to sharpen, something I appreciated with the CQC-7BW when I was in the field and deployed.

You can get a good sharp edge with minimal tools and effort. The blade will also last. A chisel grind is a strong grind and when combined with a strong steel it makes a very dependable knife. When logistics suck you want something you won’t need to replace.

A chisel grind is great for most things, but don’t expect super smooth cuts. It has some grind to it while cutting. While it does cut, it doesn’t give me that tactile satisfaction I get from a super smooth cut. The belly of this blade makes it a great slasher.

The CQC knives and Emerson knives, in general, are designed to be weapons and EDC tools. I’ve never used a knife as a weapon, and likely never will. However, the belly on this knife would deliver deep, penetrating slashes in such an encounter. From my purposes, it’s perfect for cleaning game or cutting apples up for my kid’s basketball team. I do suggest washing the knife in-between those activities.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is designed to fully fit the hand and it does well. The handle curves slightly forward, reinforcing the blade’s slashing design. The grips are made from G10 material and its heavily textured for comfort and control. The finger guard is deep and ensures nothing will slip and cause an accident.

The rear of the grip has jimping on both the handle and blade. It’s quite a bit and the thumb feels comforting pushing on it. Combined with the deep fingerguard and you’ll have a hard time losing your grip. If you do the grip does have a lanyard hole to ensure you really can’t lose this knife.

The grip is very comfortable and the grip design is well suited for slashing and slicing.

The pocket clip is nice and robust, very durable and it clings to your pants well. It’s certainly strong and well made. As a reader and commenter pointed out in my Mini 15 review the knife is only tapped for right-handed use.

Left-handed models exist and a right-handed model can be tapped for left-hand carry but that costs money. However, for the price of this knife, it should be ambidextrous. Most of the knife is ambi so a left-handed clip option should be standard.

Deployment and Lockup

This model features the Wave opening system. This allows you to open the knife as you remove it from your pocket. It’s neat, and if you were about to get into a fight its faster than an auto knife. However, it takes practice to learn.

In addition to the wave feature you have a thumb disk that is ambidextrous and easy to use. A flick of the wrist and thumb will send the blade flying out and locking reliably with just the thumb disk. This takes time and a little wear. The blade is initially tight and opens slowly but over time mine has become easy to flick open with the thumb stud.

The lock is made from titanium and its slightly jimped for an easy push release. What’s interesting is that my Mini 15 seems to lock up all over the place. The Mini-Commander locks up in the same spot every time regardless of how fast or slow I open it.

The lock is nice and tight and hasn’t let me down yet. Titanium may wear with time but it seems like little pressure or force is exerted over this lock so I doubt we are going to see many issues. I still haven’t seen any of the CQC-7 I’ve owned for years.

Emerson Mini-Commander Review – Final Thoughts

This is an expensive knife, with the price being close to 200 dollars. There are admittedly knives out there at that price that cut smoother, are thinner, and have left handed pocket clip options. However, the Mini-Commander’s combination of features does fill a certain role in the military and frontier world.

It’s nice to have a traditional point with a deep belly for slicing when fall deer season comes around and for tasks with a bigger cutting emphasis. It’s better for EDC than the CQC-7 and the mini designation makes it more comfortable than the standard Commander.

It’s a rock solid and well-made knife and it joins what appears to be my ever growing Emerson Collection with its own rightful place.

Emerson Mini Commander SF Plain Stonewashed Blade

Patented Wave Feature
Plain Stonewashed Blade
154CM Steel
Black G10 Handles
Made in the USA

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Emerson Mini-Commander 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.

Bestech Knives Malware Review

by A Sharp Guest Contributor 3 Comments

Over the years, I’ve noticed that in polite society when I whip out a folding knife to open a box or cut a loose thread, most people’s reactions are some variation of “Oh God, why do you have/need/carry that?” My usual reply is that a knife is the most useful tool in the world, but I’ve found that no matter how “non-threatening” looking the knife is, I still get that same reaction. Therefore, why not carry whatever I want?

Buy the Bestech Malware at BladeHQ

So, a month ago I put down my already scary-looking Microtech Ultratech OTF switchblade and picked up the seriously murder-ey looking Bestech Malware.

The Malware was designed for Bestech Knives by Todd Knife and Tool. TKT was started in 2016 by prolific knife reviewer Teryl Todd (Zelrick42 on YouTube) and his brother Seth Todd. They went from being fans to designers, and have a thoroughly modern company. Teryl lives in Ozark, Missouri, and Seth lives in Houston, Texas. They jointly design their knives by sharing 3D CAD files online, then Seth makes physical prototypes that they both test. TKT have developed a distinct visual style also apparent in their We Knife Co. made Roxi folder, and in the many prototype images shared on the toddknifeandtool Instagram account.

General Dimensions & Blade Details

The Malware’s blade is 3.875” (9.8 cm) long, the blade stock thickness is 0.15” (3.9mm), and it’s full open length is 8.75” (22 cm). The long stabby blade folds into a titanium handle, the blade pivots on ball bearings, and it’s framelock has a steel lockbar insert. The steel lockbar insert is a theoretically replaceable part that protects the titanium framelock from rubbing against the lock face of the steel blade. My experience has been that often a titanium framelock rubbing against a steel blade tends to “stick” in place, but steel on steel doesn’t have the same problem.

Here is a size comparison with a large Sebenza Insingo:

It weighs 3.68 oz. which is technically a little more than a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 or a Chris Reeve Knives large Sebenza, but it feels lighter than either of them in the hand. I attribute this feeling to the weight balance of this knife. If I’m holding the Malware in a normal thumb-on-top grip, and I slowly open my hand, the knife will not fall to the floor, but will stay balanced on my index finger. This nearly perfect weight distribution helps the Malware feel very agile in my hand.

The titanium pocket clip is configured as a right side, tip up only, but there are dedicated left handed versions as well. I have the “Ti Black” version. The titanium backspacer and pocket clip are anodized a brassy gold color, and contrast nicely against the black stonewashed finish of the rest of the knife. The stonewashed treatment gives the edges and corners a worn-in look similar to Kershaw Knives’ “blackwash” finish.

It’s blade steel is S35VN, which was developed specifically for high-end knife blades by steelmaker Crucible Industries and Chris Reeve Knives. It’s a powdered metal steel, which has the advantage of more uniform blending of it’s elements (iron, niobium, chromium, vanadium, etc.) than conventional steel. The end-user benefits of this manufacturing process and the S35VN formula are excellent blade toughness (it can take a hit without breaking or bending), corrosion resistance, and edge retention.

So it’s a modern production knife made in China with premium materials and it’s priced accordingly at $196 on BladeHQ. What makes it different than every other new Kizer, Reate, We, and Rike knife? Style and details.

What I love about good pocketknives is that they’re pieces of functional art you can hold in your hand. The Malware is full of interesting details and I keep noticing more. The design is a strange futuristic combination of curves, straight lines, and, as on the cutting edge of the blade, straight lines that almost imperceptibly turn into curves. The blade has a finger choil which, although it’s a little too small for my index finger, is the full 3.9mm width of the blade stock, which is yet another design detail that I appreciate.

Handle, Ergonomics, & Pocket Clip

In pictures, the handle looks very thin, and in the days between ordering the Malware and receiving it, I wondered if it would be too small to properly wrap my medium-large-ish hands around. When it arrived, I found that it fills my hand very well, and the long, flat clip doesn’t create much of a hotspot any way I hold it.

Some edges are pretty squared off, like the machining on the backspacer, but almost every part of the handle that comes in contact with my hand is chamfered, making it quite comfortable to hold. And the more I have it in my hands, the more I keep discovering new functional design details that I had, at first glance, written off as being cosmetic- like the three holes in the show side near the flipper tab. Those holes are exactly where my right thumb needs traction when flipping the knife open.

On the lock side of virtually all framelock knives, there’s a machined indentation in the frame that allows the locking part of the frame to flex inward and lock the blade open. A lot of knives cover this indentation with their pocket clips, but as yet another example of how well thought out this design is, the pocket clip on the Malware sits right above, but not covering, the indentation. So when gripping the knife to flip it open, my ring finger is naturally pushed into that square indentation, which gives me a secure grip when flipping it open.

I don’t ordinarily use my pocketknives for food prep, but in the spirit of thoroughness I sliced up some veggies with it. The blade has a full flat grind and gets very thin at the bottom, which made slicing easy. The ergonomics for general food prep were fine as long as I didn’t try to spread anything- the thin blade definitely doesn’t work as a butter knife. The flipper tab extends below the cutting edge, so it can’t really be used for dicing either, but kitchen work is clearly not this knife’s intended use.

The pocket clip is rather long and thin and has more flex to it than any other milled clip I’ve handled. The good news is that it doesn’t chew up my (already chewed up) pants pockets, but the bad news is that it seems like it could easily get bent.

I carried this knife during a T.C.C.C. medic class, and when we were learning how to improvise tourniquets, I used the Malware as a windlass (the stiff piece that you twist to tighten the tourniquet.) Despite really cranking this thing down tight on my training partner’s arm, I had no fear of the knife breaking or bending until the instructor decided to show the class how to tie off the end of the improvised tourniquet using the pocket clip. He was bending the clip way out and jamming fabric under it, and I desperately wanted to ask him to stop so he didn’t break it. I resisted this urge because I didn’t want to seem like a weenie to our super-badass Los Angeles SWAT Medic instructor. So he manhandled the clip, and when he was done, it just sprung back to it’s normal state. It may be thin and flexible, but it’s not fragile.

Overall, the Malware isn’t an “overbuilt” knife like a Hinderer Knives XM or a Strider SMF, but it’s definitely tougher than it looks.

Deployment & Lockup

A gripe I have with every single framelock flipper is if I grip it in such a way that I’m putting a lot of pressure with my middle finger on the front of the lock near the pivot, then the knife becomes very difficult to flip open. The worst offender on this front that I have is a Brad Zinker midtech version of the Boker Urban Trapper. The only knife I have that is immune to this problem is my GiantMouse GM1, which is an awesome knife overall, but perhaps solves this problem by having a weak detent which makes it difficult to flip open. However, the ergonomics of the Malware naturally place my fingers where they don’t get in the way of the mechanism at all.

The Malware’s flipper tab is relatively small but has comfortably rounded jimping that provides good traction for flipping. The amount of detent tension that has to be overcome to flip the knife open is tough for me to objectively define- but subjectively, I think it flips perfectly. The Malware’s framelock engages at about 40%, which you can jam over to about 60% if you’re worried about it slipping (not that that’s ever happened to me or anyone I know.)

I don’t carry a knife specifically for self defense, but I must say that I certainly never felt under-prepared while carrying the Malware on the weird streets of Los Angeles. It’s never accidentally opened while in my pocket or while drawing it out of my pocket. It’s flipped and locked open securely every single time I’ve flipped it. I don’t think an especially scary-looking knife like this is going to make a bad man run away in terror, but it’s a long, mean looking blade with a big handle I can get a very firm grip on. So I’ll add self defense to the Malware’s growing list of positive attributes.

Bestech Malware Review – Final Thoughts

I carried the Malware every day for a month and primarily used it for un-challenging tasks like opening packages, slashing open bags of cat food, and as an improvised medical device. At the end of the month, the finish on blade, handle, and clip are unblemished. The S35VN blade was still very sharp in most places, but after a quick, ham-fisted touch up on a Wicked Edge sharpener, it’s back to 100%. There’s no sharpening choil, but I don’t really care if the last few millimeters of my blade are super sharp.

What is the Bestech Malware made to do? I don’t want to sound like a knife snob a-hole, but I tend to compare everything to my Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 21. The word “Sebenza” is literally the Zulu word for “work”, and the Sebenza feels like an indestructible precision tool. The Bestech knife doesn’t feel like a tool, it feels like a blatantly offensive weapon that can also open boxes from Amazon. Malware is the perfect name for this knife because it’s so badass. Not flaming skull badass, but sci-fi villain badass. It brings to mind futuristic heavy metal music by the band Voivod, it’s like the knife version of the Space Marines’ rifle from the movie Aliens, it should be a weapon in the DOOM video games, and I obviously really like it.

The deciding factor for anyone considering buying the Malware is definitely it’s looks- if you immediately like it’s vibe, I say get it. Nothing is perfect (except kittens), but the Malware excelled at everything I wanted it to do, and looked super-murder-ey doing it. Recommended!

Bestech Knives Malware – From $196.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Bestech Knives Malware at BladeHQ and Amazon. Thank you very much.

About the Author: This guest review was written by John Burridge. John lives in Los Angeles and has a deep passion for knives. I plan on adding to this section to include more info about John and where to find him. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this in depth review.

Emerson Mini CQC-15 Review

by Travis Pike 2 Comments

The Emerson CQC line of folding tactical knives are downright legendary. Mr. Emerson’s knives were the first folding tactical knives and are common to see among the armed forces, with police, and of course average Joes like me. CQC stands for ‘close quarters combat,’ and these knives are designed to be used as weapons as well as useful EDC tools. This particular model is the Mini CQC-15.

Buy the Mini CQC-15 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Mini CQC-15 is a compact option that retains the legendary quality and reliability of Emerson’s knives. The CQC series is quite expansive these days, and the knives come in various sizes, colors, and configuration. The Mini CQC 15 is a hybrid of the two most popular knives in the CQC line, the Commander and the CQC-7.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mini CQC-15 is smaller than the CQC 15, but it isn’t a small knife by any means. It’s an average size EDC knife with a 3.5-inch blade. The overall length with the blade deployed is 7.9 inches, and total weight is light 4 ounces. The blade is .125 inches thick and is made from 154 CM.

The Mini CQC 15 sports the piercing tanto point of the famed CQC-7B and the recurve blade of the Commander. This odd combination does give you a versatile knife blade that stabs and slices easily. The belly isn’t as prominent as the Commander, but it’s still enough to make it a good choice for skinning deer. You also get that extra cutting edge in a shorter profile. The tanto blade is, of course, a great piercer. If used as a weapon in a military scenario it will make quick work of clothing, web gear, or uniform shirts.

The blade is made from a durable and corrosion resistant 154 CM steel. Its Emerson’s steel of choice for these knives and is a good steel for these knives in particular. It’s tough, but not hard to sharpen. The blade is a chisel grind which has some strengths, but also weaknesses. It’s very strong, easy to sharpen and the edge lasts a good while. A chisel grind is a rough cutter and feels like it catches and jumps when you are trying to do precise cuts.

In my time as a Marine, I carried an Emerson CQC-7BW. At that time I knew nothing about knives, but I knew the CQC-7BW was ‘the’ tactical knife. Over time I grew to appreciate 154CM steel and the chisel grind as something that was easy and quick to sharpen in the field. Often I had nothing more than the sharpening rod on my bayonet sheath.

Getting the Mini CQC-15 ready can be done quickly with minimal tools, time, or effort. In the tactical world, you might not have the tools and time to get a nice sharpening in. Your day patrol may turn into a three-day mission, and all you have is what’s on your back and in your pockets. You also want the edge to last and the blade to be strong. If it breaks in country, you can’t exactly go online and order another

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Mini CQC-15 is a fat bottom girl, and I love it. The handle is wide and fills my paws well. The knife has a palm swell, and a decent jimping for the thumb. The handle fills my hand very nicely, and I have no complaints about its design or shape. The grip design reminds me of a more subtle version of the ancient Greek kopis handle. It’s designed to aid in retention when cutting or stabbing.

The G-10 grips panels are aggressively textured, and some people might find it uncomfortable. You should bear in mind that by order gloves are part of the personal protective equipment of the uniformed services. Gloves can challenge grip, so this aggressive texturing is a must have for a knife like this.

The clip is nice and straightforward. It’s robust and has never bent or accidentally grabbed my chair as I go to sit. It’s tight, so the knife stays planted in the pocket. As the mini variant, it’s a bit more pocket-friendly. I never noticed any discomfort when carrying the knife. I never notice its even there until I need it. Unfortunately, it’s for righties only, but left-handed models of these knives are available. Seems a little ridiculous not to tap the knife for lefties

Deployment and Lockup

The Mini CQC-15 has a titanium liner lock that’s strong, but the knife seems to lock-up at different points. This is especially true if you use the wave method of opening these knives. Sometimes it goes extremely far and other times barely at all. However, I have never had the lock fail me in any way. I will admit I find myself subconsciously checking to make sure the blade is locked before getting the work.

Deployment can be done through a top thumb disk that’s ambidextrous, well textured and feels strong. It’s a slow deployment method, but a functional one. If you want to go a little faster, you have the wave method. The wave is based on that little hook on the thumb rest that is supposed to catch on your pants and open the knife as you draw it.

It’s a neat feature, but it doesn’t always work. It seems to work better in some pants than others. Pulling the knife like that is not dependable enough to trust in a self-defense scenario. I will say it works way better in jeans than in the typical material uniform pants is made of, which is odd seeing as who these knives are designed for. I may also be bad at opening a knife this way. The utility is there, but I can’t seem to master the wave.

Emerson Mini-CQC 15 Review – Final Thoughts

The lens you view this knife through is likely going to significantly affect your opinion on it. It’s not a graceful tool, and for the cost, you can get a knife that cuts smoother, features an ambidextrous pocket clip, and a more natural method of deploying the blade.

The Mini CQC-15, as well as the rest of the CQC series, is designed for folks in uniform. They have a broad set of features that make them an excellent knife for those in uniform. I still love it, and my CQC-7BW, but I am aware of my own bias and nostalgia. That being said its an objectively good knife, and one I would suggest if strength and simplicity are your main desire.

Emerson Mini CQC-15 with Plain Black Blade

Plain Black Blade
Black G10 Handles
154CM steel
Titanium Liners

If you are thinking of buying an Emerson Mini CQC-15, please consider purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Cold Steel Golden Eye Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

One visitor to the site commented that we are “a little biased towards Spyderco”. It’s probably because we have reviewed a lot of Spyderco knives over the years. More than any other brand. I like Spydercos and so does Ben, Grayson, Josh, and pretty much everyone who has written for the site. We all like their knives and consequently Spyderco has gotten a ton of air time over the years. If reviewing Spyderco knives is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

Buy the Cold Steel Golden Eye at BladeHQ

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Perhaps more controversial is my attraction to Cold Steel Knives. I have reviewed a bunch of them over the years. I’m a big fan, although most of them are too big and impractical for me to truly carry and use. I think I may have a fetish because none of the other authors appear to share the desire to review C.S. stuff. Ben reviewed the Large Espada and the Pro-Lite, so I suspect he may also have a little Lynn Thompson in him, and Chad reviewed the Kudu, but that’s it.

Me? I’ve reviewed 15 Cold Steel knives. 16 if you include this Golden Eye. Yeah… that’s an addiction. I blame it mostly on their excellent marketing videos. Also Cold Steel keeps coming out with stuff I want to review. Andrew Demko keeps turning out hits, and I keep buying them. The Golden Eye is no exception. It looked cool, and slightly different from the other Cold Steel knives with it’s golden thumb hole. Had to have it. Sorry (not sorry).

General Dimensions and Blade Details

For some reason I thought the Golden Eye would be smaller. Maybe that’s because Tony wrote a quick review on it a few years back, and he typically picks out smaller more practical knives. Who knows. This is not a small knife. It has an overall length of 8.375″, a 3.5″ blade, and weighs 4.3 ounces. It’s made in Taiwan like most of Cold Steel’s other folders.

This is a bigger knife. The handle in particular is pretty large, but that’s OK as we will soon learn it is comfortable. That said, it feels light for its size and will make a great work knife. Not a great urban EDC option.

The blade is a big beautiful drop point. The overall profile reminds me of the Terzoula Slipit with its angled thumb ramp extending into a swedged drop point blade. It’s the kind of no-nonsense blade shape that will serve you well in virtually any task. The blade is ground thin with a deep hollow grind, has been given a two-tone satin finish, and is finished with a neat and evenly applied edge.

Cold Steel selected S35VN for this knife. These days the vast majority of their premium folders come in S35VN, replacing CTS-XHP, which replaced AUS-8. S35VN should need little introduction at this point. It is an American made steel designed as a follow up to S30V. It is specifically formulated for knife steels and is great stuff. It takes a good edge, has good edge retention, doesn’t rust or stain easily, finishes nicely, is reasonably tough, yet is easy to sharpen. It’s an excellent blade steel.

And the S35VN really sings on the Golden Eye. I was borderline shocked with how well this knife performed. It slices cardboard with aplomb. It absolutely zips through the stuff. No issues with rope. Great for slicing fruit and other work in the kitchen as well. This is a sturdy knife but it’s ground to slice and has performed phenomenally well in my use and testing.

I’ve been touching up the Golden Eye on my [easyazon_link identifier=”B001JL1I6Y” locale=”US” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″]Spyderco Golden Stone[/easyazon_link], and the edge stays freaky sharp that way. Must be all the gold. No complaints with the blade or blade steel on this knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Golden Eye uses Cold Steel’s tried n’ true method of thick linerless G-10 handle scales. I’ve reviewed many of their knives with similar construction, and this knife works just as well as the others. The G-10 is thick and sturdy. There is very little flex when you try to squeeze the handle slabs together.

Fit and finish on the handle is excellent. Everything has been neatly finished. The parts are all flush and the handle screws together so the knife can be taken apart and maintained. The choice of forest green for the handles is a nice touch. It’s a little different without being too far out there, and contrasts with the gold hardware.

I wasn’t sure how the ergonomics would be on the Golden Eye. I guess that’s true for every knife I order, but the Golden Eye in particular had me guessing thanks to the multiple finger scallops. Complicated finger grooves can be a mistake if they force your hand into an awkward position. Here the groves are generous. They feel comfortable and work well for me. I think that most people will find this knife comfortable to use, but I haven’t taken a poll on this. Let me know in the comments section if you have this knife but don’t like the way it feels in hand. Personally, I’m a fan.

In addition to the finger grooves you have peel ply G10 for grip, and some light jimping along the back of the handle. These features provide a good amount of texture without going over the top. Overall I find this to be a comfortable knife to hold in forward and reverse grips. I’ve used this knife extensively and find it to be comfortable to cut with.

The Golden Eye comes with a large gold colored pocket clip and is configured for ambidextrous tip up carry. The clip appears to be designed for strength. You have milled recesses in the handle for the clip along with 3 screws. Spring strength is excellent and the knife is kept firmly in place.

In the pocket the Golden Eye carries well for what it is. It’s a bigger knife, so I tend to notice it, but it’s also a thin handled knife and it’s relatively light for its size. Not a boat anchor, but not a feather either. The strong clip keeps the knife firmly in place. All said I think the Golden Eye behaves nicely in the pocket for a larger knife.

Deployment and Lockup

This knife uses a stepped thumb hole to get the blade open. Cold Steel calls this the “Hollow Thumb Ramp” (HTR), and that acronym is pretty accurate. In practice the HTR works well and is a cool idea. It’s kind of a hybrid between a thumb hole and thumb stud. There is a lot for your thumb to grab onto, and this knife can be opened with gloves as well. The serrated thumb hole is held in place with a set screw, which is kind of interesting. It’s a nice design and one I wouldn’t mind seeing on more knives.

It’s worth noting that the gold plating on the thumb hole has worn off. I bought this knife off BladeForums in “Like New” condition, and it clearly was not like new. Disappointing, but given the price I paid and the fact I was going to use this knife I ultimately decided to keep it. However, the pictures you see here demonstrate that the gold finish is subject to wear.

The action of this knife is smooth thanks to a large pivot and phosphor bronze washers. Like most Cold Steel Tri-Ad lock knives, a good amount of force is required to open and shut the blade. This isn’t a blade you will be able to flick open. But you will find the action to be smooth and reliable, and that’s what I would expect from a rugged utility knife like this.

For lockup we have the aforementioned Tri-Ad lock. I’ve reviewed a dozen or so knives featuring this knife of lock, so forgive me if this sounds a little repetitive, but the Tri-Ad lock is a lock back reinforced with a stop pin. It’s an extremely strong lock design. The Tri-ad lock on the Golden Eye knife is no exception. You can’t muscle blade play out of this even if you try to move the blade out at the tip.

Here is a size comparison with another workhorse in my collection, the Buck Marksman. Still rocking the Marksman:

Disengaging the lock requires a good amount of force, but it’s not as bad as something like the 4-Max. Actually, I find the amount of effort it takes to open and close this knife to be reasonable. That said, this knife has been used quite a bit. Out of the box these can be stiff to open and close, so you may need to break your knife in.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Cold Steel Golden Eye Review – Final Thoughts

Cold Steel has done it again. This is a strong and practical utility knife. It handles well, cuts like a beast, and features the strongest lock on the market. The “Golden Eye” (Hollow Thumb Ramp) works great. The HTR combined with the unique profile, gold hardware, and green handles help distinguish this knife in Cold Steel’s lineup. With so many great Demko designs on Cold Steel’s roster you would think that they cannibalize each other. The Golden Eye is a unique knife, even if it follows Cold Steel’s formula in many ways.

Where the knife may fall short is that this is another large folding knife from Cold Steel. It’s a great performer if you can carry and use this knife, but this isn’t a knife I can pull out at the office or the grocery store. It’s just too big. If I worked on a ranch or something this would be a great choice, but as a mild-mannered couch commando I usually carry a smaller knife. Also, the finger scallops in the handle won’t work for everyone.

That said, I found this to be an impressive knife. Especially the way it cuts. It’s a joy to cut things with this knife. Andrew Demko knows what he is doing and Cold Steel has a track record of executing his designs to brilliant standards. The Golden Eye is no different. Well worth seeking out if you like the design or are an unabashed Cold Steel fan like me.

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If you are thinking of buying Cold Steel Golden Eye, please consider purchasing it at [easyazon_link identifier=”B019RSXKXO” locale=”US” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″]Amazon[/easyazon_link] or BladeHQ. By purchasing things through any of the links on this website you support BladeReviews.com and help produce future reviews. Thank you very much.

Viper Rhino Review

by Andrew Gene Leave a Comment

The Rhino is a large folder from Tecnocut’s Viper brand. Honoring its namesake, it features an oversized frame, robust build and armored appearance. Created by long time collaborator and custom knife maker Fabrizio Silvestrelli, it has flowing considered lines and a distinct appearance.

Buy the Viper Rhino at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Rhino has an over-all length of 9.96”, a 4.25″ blade, weighs between 8.6 and 9.9 oz depending on the choice of scales, and is made in Italy. Don’t kid yourself, “Rhino” was not a misnomer. This is a big knife and is designed for those seeking something, well, built like a Rhinoceros.

The blade has an unusual shape that sits in between a sheep’s foot and a harpoon pattern. At 4.25” and with a maximum width of 1.375” it offers a long cutting surface along with resistance against lateral stresses. The nature of the sloping spine also provides excellent tip strength.

While a typical sheep’s foot blade is designed to avoid penetrating cuts, the combination of an elongated radius meeting a sloping belly results in an aggressive point. This is augmented by a swedge, improving the Rhino’s ability to perform thrust cuts. A dip after the nose-like tip adds visual interest as well as a practical place for your free hand for reinforced push cuts. The grind is a full flat with a secondary bevel. Because of the large width, the edge geometry is shallow, producing a fine edge despite the generous .157” stock.

The steel used depends on the finish. Satin blades are stainless Böhler N690 while the charcoal blades are D2 achieving their corrosion resistance through the applied PVD coating.

Both blade steels are good options and provide solid value for money. N690 in particular offers an excellent combination of stain resistance, ease of sharpening, and edge retention. D2 has a reputation for being more finicky, as it’s a tough semi-stainless steel that can be more challenging to sharpen, but it’s a good choice for harder use applications.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is substantial in both length and width. At 5.5” it will easily accommodate medium and large sized hands with or without gloves. The construction is closed with scaled, full stainless liners. You have your choice of carbon fiber or cocobolo handle scales.

Designed for maximum retention, there are three distinct finger grooves that lock your hand in place. A slight flare on both sides of the inside edge prevent slipping in either direction. The back side is convex and nests in the palm comfortably. The back spacer is rounded adding style and avoiding hot spots while an adequately jimped thumb ramp provides extra control and feedback. Another run of aggressive, file-like jimping can be found on the lock release leaver for easy disengagement.

Over-all the ergonomics are excellent. While several people don’t like finger groves I personally think they work well here. The grip is very secure. A full, natural feeling in hand is partly achieved by a palm swell equally .83” (21mm) at its apex. This could be somewhat of a downside when considering pocket carry as the knife tends to hog space. Even though the clip is deep riding, the ornate appearance along with the handles bulge might generate some unwanted attention. Is that a Rhino in your pocket….?

As an additional carry option there is a recessed lanyard slot in the pommel. I’m a fan of these as it keeps everything clean looking and orients your lanyard in a sensible direction. It would be nice if Viper also included a MOLLE compatible belt sheath. I could see a folder this size benefiting from the ability to carry it on a bag, vest or belt straight out of the box.

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment is achieved via ambidextrous thumb studs. Phosphor Bronze washers and a finely dialed in spring tension make opening very fluid and easy. The thumb studs are large and easy to access. One downside is that the pivot is not adjustable unless you remove the handle scales. That said, I have not needed to adjust the pivot on this knife.

Back locking knives aren’t often associated with smooth operation however Viper has, on a number of models, achieved a perfect balance between ease of use and a reliable, tough play free lock-up. The lock is easy to disengage when you are ready to close the knife. Blade centering is perfect on these knives.

Viper Rhino Review – Final Thoughts

Everything considered the Rhino is an unusual yet attractive knife. Unapologetically oversized, it will probably appeal to a very niche market of collectors and users. If massive appeals to you, it will surely impress in the over all fit, finish and value. With a maximum price of $200.00 for the the PVD D2 and Carbon fiber model, you are getting a ton of premium materials and craftsmanship for your money. I could easily see this knife in any collection, in the bag of an outdoorsman or on the vest of a serviceman.

7Regardless of its quirks it is undeniable that the Rhino is extremely well made and functional. It’s also great that Viper, as with many of their other models, offer the Rhino in a variety of handle and blade materials accommodating a variety of tastes. To further this, it might be good for the company to consider a scaled down version as an EDC for a wider audience.

Viper Rhino – From $175.00
From: BladeHQ

Viper Rhino PAU Wood

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in Italy

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Viper Rhino at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.