Tactical Knives

Boker Plus 01BO188 Titan Drop Review

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
Have you ever bought a knife while drinking? I’m not sure if this is a common thing or not, but I was putting back a few beers one night while recording yet another morally suspect episode of GearGeeksLive when I decided to pick up this Boker Titan.

Buy the Boker Plus Titan Drop Point at BladeHQ

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It’s a pretty basic knife, but the price is right and I have been wanting to check it out for a while. Apparently I needed a couple IPAs to get properly motivated. I guess there are worse things you can do after having a few beers…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Titan has an overall length of 8.25″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 4.10 ounces, and is made in China. The first thing I noticed when I pulled this out of it’s box was how big it was. I guess I would have realized that if I considered the specifications in between swigs of beer and trying to top Andrew’s non sequiturs, but sometimes these details get lost in the ether. It is definitely too large to be a daily carry for me, but it’s nice and slim and could make a good EDC for some people or perhaps even a “tactical knife”. I’d say it compares favorably to a Spyderco Endura, and it’s a bit smaller than my large Sebenza. I’d love to see Boker make a version with a 3″ blade for EDC, but I don’t want every knife in my collection to be a 3″ EDC knife.

The blade shape is a classic drop point with a full flat grind and satin finish. The blade has been well ground and the 440-C blade steel came sharp enough to brush the hairs off my arm without much thought. In practice this is a really nice cutter. The edge has been neatly and uniformly ground, and in practice I have found that the Titan is excellent for your typical tasks like breaking down boxes, working in the yard, home projects, etc. The full flat grind is nice and lean and it’s almost surprising how much extra leverage you can generate with the longer handle and blade.

Although it’s not a substitute for a real kitchen knife I did do a little food prep with it and was pleased with the results there as well. The tip is also very fine, and is great for stabbing through stuff. I managed to jab myself in the pinky while pruning some tomato plants, and the fruit was not the only thing that ran red that day.

The 440C blade has been easy to maintain and edge retention is pretty good. 440C is a softer steel, and I’d place it around AUS8 or slightly better in the edge retention department. Like AUS 8 it sharpens easily, and all I need is a strop to keep this knife very sharp. The satin finished blade attracts finger prints, but so far it hasn’t attracted any rust. All said I am pleased with the performance, especially given the price.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is comprised of two slabs of titanium, a steel lock back, and a titanium backspacer. Everything is screwed together with matte stainless steel hardware. The dull gray titanium contrasts nicely with the satin finished blade and clip. Everything lines up neatly and is well finished. Boker’s Plus line often gets a bad rap for poor fit and finish, but the build quality here is very high. There is a simple elegance to the knife that draws me in. The full metal construction means that the knife is solid and sturdy, yet it is still slim pocketable. You still get some interest on the enthusiast level with the use of titanium, and it also helps keep the weight down quite a bit. It’s a great blend of form and function.

Being that this is a larger knife, it goes without saying that the handle is quite generous. I’m able to get my meat hooks onto it with plenty of room to spare, and this is a knife that is built to get work done.

Although this doesn’t speak directly to ergonomics in use, I will say that there are some sharper edges on this knife (namely the spine and lock bar) and if you are going to obsessively open and close the knife, you may develop some lingering discomfort on your thumb. This isn’t uncommon for a lock back knife, but I did want to mention this a potential negative as this review is largely very positive.

The pocket clip is very similar to what you might find on a standard Emerson or Benchmade clip. This is a proven pocket clip design. Much like its Benchmade or Emerson counterpart, it’s very secure and is easy to use. This one from Boker has been given a very bright satin finish. It isn’t particularly discrete, but it matches the satin blade nicely. The handle is tapped for ambidextrous tip up carry and it’s a relatively deep carrying knife. This is a very thin knife and despite being over 8″ long it carries very well. Again, I can’t help but compare this to an Endura, and in this case I think that is a good thing.

Deployment and Lockup

It is impossible to see what kind of washers Boker used without taking the knife apart, but I can say that the action is very smooth. My guess is they have phosphor bronze washers in there. The teraced thumb studs are easy to get at, and the backspring can be overcome with the push of a thumb.

For lockup you have a sturdy backlock. There isn’t much to write about here beyond saying that the lock works well. It engages crisply and there is no play. The fact that the knife is completely made of metal would lead me to believe you could run this knife pretty hard if you wanted to. I haven’t tested it beyond normal daily tasks, but it could definitely be beaten on like the Cold Steel American Lawman, another favored lockback knife of mine. Blade centering on my model is excellent.

Boker Titan Review – Final Thoughts

I think I need to shop for knives while drinking more frequently because I stumbled across a winner here. The Titan is very basic and is an extremely conservative design, but it has been done right and the inclusion of titanium handle scales lends it a touch of class.

In practice I have found this to be a great beater / user knife. It cuts and carries well, and is very functional. Boker’s fit and finish can sometimes be a mixed bag, but it’s hard to screw up a simple lock back, and the fit and finish is actually very good here. The pieces line up perfectly, there is no blade play, the action is smooth and the lock engages crisply. This is actually a really nice knife and think it gives the Endura a good run for it’s money – especially when you consider how damn expensive the Endura has gotten, and the Endura’s proclivity for up and down blade play. Here the Titan is rock solid, and retails anywhere from $20 to $40+ less depending on what kind of Endura you are looking for. Granted this knife is made in China rather than Japan, doesn’t make use of nested liners, lacks a Spyderhole, etc, but you are still getting a ton of knife for your money and it is well made. The only real downside I could find is that the edges of the lock and spine are pretty sharp. While by no means uncomfortable to work with, it was something I noticed when obsessively opening and closing the Titan.

At less than $40 the Titan is a no brainer and it makes my list of recommended high value knives. It may also make my list for recommended tactical knives, but the longer I run this site the less I really understand what tactical knife even means.

Boker Plus 01BO188 Titan Drop Knife with 3-3/4 in. Straight Edge Blade, Steel

Durable and sharp 440C stainless steel blade
Bead blasted titanium handle
Reversible, polished pocket clip
Blade length: 3 3/4 inches. Overall length: 8 3/8 inches. Weight: 4.5 ounces.
Limited lifetime warranty

I recommend buying the Titan at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

CRKT Obake Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Long time readers know that I have always had a soft spot for pocketable fixed blade knives, and CRKT has proven on a number of occasions that they know how to make them. So the announcement of the Obake, a compact fixed blade collaboration with CRKT and custom knifemaker Lucas Burnley, definitely caught my attention.

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Lucas is best known for his Kwaiken Flipper, an elegant Japanese inspired design. CRKT’s decision to pick up Burnley’s fixed blade variant of the Kwaiken strikes me as a smart decision given the immense popularity of his Kwaiken series of knives.

The result is a mash-up of traditional and tactical that marries a classic Asian aesthetic with contemporary materials all wrapped up at a sub $40 price point.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Obake has an overall length of 7.63″, a 3.64″ blade, and weighs 2.4 ounces. While some of my other favorite CRKT fixies; the Minimalist and SPEW, are firmly in the EDC knife camp, I think that the Obake is more of a “tactical” (self defense geared) offering. This is due to the relatively large size of the knife and its shank-like construction. The full tang knife is ground from .13″ thick steel and has a thick grind emphasizing strength over slicing performance.

This isn’t a knife that I like to peel apples with, but it definitely could blow through one if you felt so inclined. While I consider this larger than an EDC knife, it is still slim and streamlined, and tucks away discretely in your waistband or pocket (more on that below).

The Obake sports a slender drop point blade. The tip is fine but it has enough meat behind it to work into wood and get some work done. The spine has been gently rounded which is a nice detail that CRKT has integrated into more and more of their offerings. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the blade is the aggressive acid-etched finish. When I took this knife to my monthly knife collector’s club meeting, I had a couple people ask me if the blade was made of damascus. Nope, it’s just good ole fashioned 8Cr14MoV given a deep acid etched finish.

8Cr14MoV is a budget friendly Chinese stainless steel. I like it for its ease of sharpening and toughness, and the price is tough to beat. Here the knife has been heat treated to between 56 and 58 HRc. It has held up well against the mild chores I have put the knife to; mostly cardboard and some food prep. The knife is not an incredible slicer due to the thick blade stock, narrow profile, mid height hollow grind, and textured blade finish, but you can certainly open mail and break down boxes with it if you need to. My guess is that the Obake is best suited in a self defense type role, which is a role that I know very little about. That said, it doesn’t take a PhD in material science to realize that this design can stab very efficiently. So if a stabbing implement is what you need the Obake could be a good option.

Handle and Ergonomics

One of my favorite parts about the Obake is how they approached the handle. In paying homage to the Japanese roots of the Obake’s design, Lucas Burnley originally offered the knife with a traditional wrapped handle over rayskin. CRKT followed suit with a cordwrap over a synthetic ray skin. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a sub $40 knife, but they actually did a really nice job with this. The cord wrap is tight and well done, and the rayskin looks pretty legit. I really don’t know how well this will hold up under hard use, but in my daily carry the handle has worn well and still looks pretty good. Then again I didn’t roll it around in the dirt or go scuba diving with it, but if you are reasonably careful with it I see no reason why it won’t hold up for a good long time. Underneath the wrap and ray skin is a full tang blade.

From an ergonomic standpoint, the handle is generous enough to support a full 4-finger grip and the knife is as comfortable as you would expect. The cord wrap provides a lot of traction and the simple design fills the hand and works in both forward and reverse grips. I’m no martial artist so I really have no idea how this would stack up compared to other offerings, but I found it comfortable.

Sheath

The sheath for the Obake is a nice low profile molded plastic sheath. The sheath is almost always the Achilles heel on a budget fixed blade, so I’m pleased to report that CRKT has done this one right. Retention is very firm. At first I really needed to jerk the knife out, and to this day it requires a strong pull to break the knife free from the sheath. CRKT has also offered several eye holes and slots for various mounting options.

Lucas Burnely has an interesting suggestion for carrying the Obake. He has designed the knife for in the waist band (IWB) carry. Lucas suggests that you secure the paracord lanyard to your belt, stuff the sheathed knife blade first into the waist band, and then when you need to use the knife, grab the handle and pull it hard away from your body. The blade will pop out of the sheath, and the sheath will stay tethered to your belt. I’m probably not doing a great job explaining this, but the idea is that you can quickly and safely access the knife without losing the sheath.

In practice I have found this method of carry to work well. I’ve been a fan of using a lanyard with a small fixed blade, attaching the lanyard to my belt, and carrying the knife in pocket, but the Obake is a little longer than say, the Folts Minimalist. The knife is slim and light and disappears on your belt line if you leave your shirt untucked.

CRKT does supply a 550 cord lanyard and skull lanyard bead. I’m not big on skulls (I guess I’m not that hard), but I am sure this will appeal to a number of folks, and must admit that a bead of some sort rounds out the package nicely.

CRKT Obake – Final Thoughts

For those seeking a slim “tactical” fixed blade knife, the Obake is well done and priced to sell. I think that the juxtaposition of modern and traditional combined with a high level of fit and finish lend it broad appeal. I also found the selection of materials and finishes very interesting. Although I am not a martial artist by any stretch of the imagination, this is still a fun knife to have in the collection and it is easy to carry. Mechanically speaking, the 8Cr13Mov steel is adequate and while the sheath is excellent. I really enjoy the details like the faux ray skin and rounded spine.

One other thing I find worth noting about the Obake is that there is nothing else like this on the market at this price. CRKT has been hitting their stride lately with some bold collaborations with hot makers. While some companies have seemed to stagnate over the past couple years, CRKT is gaining ground as they straddle the crossroads of high value and high design. That kind of approach doesn’t always pan out, but knives like this and the Swindle strike me as great examples of when this strategy really pays off.

This is is something of a specialized tool, so I won’t give it a blanket recommendation to anyone browsing the site, but if you are interested in the Obake I would definitely recommend it. It is a complete package at a sub $40 price point, and they are going to have a hard time keeping up with the demand.

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CRKT Obake – From $37.95
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I recommend purchasing the Obake at BladeHQ or [easyazon-link asin=”B00I04SZMI” locale=”us”]Amazon[/easyazon-link]. 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.

Zero Tolerance 0566 Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

Last Updated: July 13, 2019
I have recently been making regular appearances on the GearGeeksLive podcast with Tony and Andrew. Tony and I recently had Thomas Welk from KAI (Kershaw/Zero Tolerance) on the air for an episode about KAI. I found it fascinating to get inside the head of a prominent representative of a major cutlery company.

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One part of the show that really stuck with me was Thomas’ point that many knives are designed to fit into boxes. And no, I’m not talking about those fancy cardboard wrappers we have all come to know and love. I’m talking about MSRP. Most knives coming out of high volume manufacturers are designed around a price point, because these large knife manufacturers work with major retailers and these major retailers put manufacturers under tremendous pressure to deliver product at certain price points. If a manufacturer decides to base their business around working with large retailers, then this can make up a large part of their bottom line.

Ultimately, the point Thomas was making is that production knife making is usually a study of compromise, oftentimes to the chagrin of enthusiasts like you and me. Not every knife coming out of KAI’s doors can be a 0888. Hell, they can’t even just produce the 0560. Instead, these companies must appeal to a broad range of consumers with a varied budget. This is why we see everything from a $250 Zero Tolerance 0560, to a $25 Kershaw Cryo. ‘Tis the nature of the big production house beast.

And then we have the 0566, which fits in between the 0560 and the Cryo – both in size and in MSRP ($180 – $150 at retail). More interesting is that the 3 blades share a Rick Hinderer design pedigree, and loosely resemble his coveted XM series of folding knives.

This time around Zero Tolerance has tried to appeal to the persnickity middle market, attempting to tow the fine line between high end and high value. As I am sure Thomas will tell you, that isn’t always easy. I see the 0566 as a real exercise in compromise. There is a certain danger to trying to make everyone happy, and the goal of my review is to determine whether ZT struck a sweet spot, or pissed everyone off.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0566 has an overall length of 7.7″, has a 3.25″ blade, and weighs 5.3 ounces. While substantially smaller than my 0560 it only weighs .7 ounces less. This is due to the stainless steel frame lock and full steel liner. Depending on your perspective, the knife either feels “substantial” or “heavy”. Thomas talks on the podcast about how some consumers equate weight with quality. I’m not sure I am one of those customers.

Weight issues aside, I like this size for a robust EDC or, for lack of a better phrase, folding tactical knife. The size compares favorably to classics like the Benchmade Griptilian and Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

The blade shape is classic Hinderer drop point and looks identical to the 0560. Mine was ground evenly, came with a very rough stonewash, and came from a fairly thick piece of Elmax steel. The blade geometry is middle of the road. You aren’t going to win any cutting competitions with this knife, but it’s sturdy and will hold up well under regular and sustained use. It’s not nearly as thin as my Volli, but then few production folders in my collection are.

Elmax steel and Zero Tolerance is a pairing not without its controversies. People have said that ZT jacked up the heat treat on some of the earlier Elmax knives or burned the edges in the final sharpening. I did not find that to be the case on my 0566. I went through my usual favorite cutting demonstrations, which included working through sections of 3/8″ and 1/2″ manilla rope and some commercial grade cardboard. The Elmax held up well. It continued to hold a good edge, and when it was all said and done sharpened back up easily with stops and a fine Spyderco Sharpmaker stone.

The only thing to note, was that after a period of hard cutting I would get a little lock stick with the steel framelock. Nothing I couldn’t pop open with one hand, but definitely note worthy. The lock stick went away after I disengaged the lock.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Although the shape of the 0566’s handle mirrors the 0560, ZT definitely approached it with a $180.00 MSRP box in mind. You have flat peel ply G10 over a full stainless steel liner, pillar construction, and a solid steel frame lock. It’s a far cry from the 3D machined scales of the 0560 with swiss-cheesed liner and pocketed titanium frame, but it’s still a sturdy and well made handle. ZT went with relatively beefy hardware and finished everything nicely. Everything lines up well, and the pieces are cut out clean and crisp, while the edges of the handle are all nicely broken and comfortable to hold. While this isn’t cutting edge tech found in ZT’s higher end offerings, it’s still a well made handle.

Ergonomically you have a relatively thick and comfortable handle. The jimping, which is the biggest problem with the 0560 because it is so hellaciously sharp, has been fully addressed on this model. There is still some jimping, but it has been flattened out to reduce the chances of slicing your thumb open on an aggressive cut. The flipper tab limits your grip options, but the knife holds nicely in forward and reverse grips.

The pocket clip is an enlarged version of the clip found on the Cryo. It’s a black deep carry style clip. It works well, and offers the user discrete deep pocket carry. It’s a 4 position clip, which is appropriate on this user/tool grade knife. Thomas points out that pocket clips are the hardest part of the knife to design as you will always piss someone off regardless of the design, and they are one of the most expensive parts of the knife to manufacture. All things considered I think they did a good job with this clip.

Deployment and Lockup

I often wonder if dedicating an entire paragraph to “deployment” is worth my time and your attention, but with the 0566 at least there is some interesting stuff to talk about. The knife comes assisted with Ken Onion’s speed safe mechanism. What is interesting is that the 0566 also comes with a ball detent. Thomas said that ZT did that purposely so that the user could de-assist the knife if they wanted to. He stated that it would not perform as well as something like the 0560, which is fully designed to be a manual knife, because the combination of spring tension and a strong detent would make the knife very difficult to open with the spring in.

The assisted opening was snappy and there wasn’t any annoying torsion bar rattle like on most other speedsafe knives I’ve reviewed, but being a fan of manual action knives I took the speed safe torsion bar out early on in the review process. It took a little fiddling to get the blade centering and deployment to play nicely together, and my blade still heavily favors the G10 side (although it does not rub). But that is OK, as I understand the knife wasn’t designed to be a manual flipper.

All things considered, the flipping action is actually pretty good on this knife, especially after an application of TUF-Glide and a break in period. Don’t expect Spyderco Domino level performance, but if you preload and “push button” (as opposed to pulling back on the flipper like flicking a light switch) the flipper the blade pops out nicely. This knife uses phosphor washers, and they are really smooth. I am actually pretty happy with the manual action on this knife.

I’ve trolled the forums a little on this knife and some people have good results like me, while others haven’t gotten their knife to flip as well, so this is one of those your mileage may vary type things…

Lockup on the 0566 is solid and without play in any direction. You would expect that out of a 5.0+ ounce knife with a stainless steel lock bar. It met my expectations. Lockbar disengagement was nice and easy, and as I mentioned previously, I didn’t notice any blade stick unless I was using the knife hard.

Zero Tolerance 0566 Review – Final Thoughts

The 0566 is a pretty good tool knife. If you were like everyone else I spoke with, and liked the 0560 but found it to be too big, the 0566 might be a good choice. That is of course just as long as you aren’t expecting an actual mini 0560. Practically speaking, the 0566 checks many boxes. It’s a comfortable knife, and it cuts well enough. I have to say that it is heavy. If I had to give it a number rating, I’d go with maybe a 6.5 out of 10. Not a bad knife, but far from perfect. I could live without a bearing system and 3-d machined handles, but would have really loved to see KAI make the jump from stainless steel to titanium framelock on this model.

While I like the 0566 alright, I don’t think it will make as many waves as the 0560 or the Cryo. A danger with being too middle of the road is that you risk getting ignored. I don’t doubt that ZT will be able to move some product, as it is drafting off of the wildly popular relationship KAI and Rick Hinderer have formed, but whether it will remain as memorable (or infamous) as some of the other KAI/Hinder collabs remains to be seen. As a businessman myself I don’t have a problem with companies making money, but I must admit the enthusiast inside of me would have loved to see just a little more here. I think that a ZT/Hinderer collab with a ~3″ blade and most of the high end fixings would do really well, regardless of the MSRP.

Zero Tolerance Hinderer Folder Pocket Knife (0566); 3.25” Stonewashed S35VN Steel Blade; Handle with G-10 Front and Steel Back, SpeedSafe Opening, Frame Lock, Quad-Mount, Deep-Carry Pocketclip; 5.4 OZ

Collaboration between Zero Tolerance and custom knifemaker, Rick Hinderer with open construction, steel tube spacers, flat rounded edges, high-quality materials and solid lock up
Premium S35VN steel blade has enhanced toughness and long-lasting sharpness; resistance to edge chipping, wear and corrosion
SpeedSafe Assisted Opening for quick, fast, easy, safe, secure, one-handed blade deployment
Stonewashed blade finish has a roughed-up, non-reflective, scuffed, desirably worn look
Durable, stable, lightweight, textured, black G-10 front handle scale; all stainless-steel back handle scale

I recommend purchasing the ZT 0566 at Amazon or BladeHQ. 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.

Viper Start Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

Last Updated: September 9, 2019
I got my first introduction to Viper at the 2013 Blade Show in Atlanta this past summer. A couple of my favorite reviewers, the EdgeObserver and Stefan Schmalhaus, have sampled Viper’s offerings quite extensively. It has taken me a little while longer to warm up to this interesting Italian brand.

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I really enjoyed the blend of rugged utility and flowing lines in the last Viper model I reviewed, the Carnera, and the Start has caught my eye for the same reasons. Fabrizio Silvestrelli is the designer of Start, and he knows how to capture my attention while Viper knows how to take the designs’ muscular lines and pair it with a blend of modern manufacturing and old world charm. The result is an offering unlike anything else in the marketplace.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Start has an overall length of 9.25″, features a 4″ blade, and weighs 6.4 ounces. Any knife with a 4″ blade is going to be big, and the Viper is no exception. This is a serious departure from what I would consider an EDC knife. Viper has crafted a full on tactical folder, and the result is a suitably large offering.

The blade is a modified drop point design that excels at piercing and slicing. The deep belly has a slight recurve. It’s not impossible to sharpen like a serious recurve, yet it still feeds material into the edge. Given its size the Viper is still ground thinly. I found that it slices cardboard and other soft materials with ease yet it still has enough beef behind the edge to hold up under harder use. One thing to note about the blade is that the tip is extremely acute. It is great for stabbing things and detail work, but the the user needs to be careful not to damage it.

The Start is offered in 2 blade steels, PVD coated D2 and N690. I opted for the version with N690. This is steel I have heard a lot of nice things about, but haven’t had a ton of experience with. So far I am a big fan. I found that the N690 on my knife sharpens easily, takes a very nice edge, and holds onto it for a decent amount of time. I might consider it a beefed up 154CM. Certainly the thin grind has also done the knife a lot of favors. It’s a terrific slicer and is very fun to use. N690 is also a stainless steel, and despite the knife coming with a bead blasted finish (which is notorious for attracting rust) I have had zero issues with rust or staining.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

My Start came with black canvas micarta handle scales. I should point out that the knife is available with cocobolo or carbon fiber scales as well. Relief cuts have been placed by the finger choil, which lends itself to being held in a pinch style grip, although in practice I prefer a more conventional hold. Underneath the micarta you have thin stainless steel liners and a full stainless steel backspacer and lockbar. The pivot is hidden and the handles are put together with a series of small torx screws. I love how the edges of the spine, the lockbar, the backspacer, and even the liners have all been rounded. It’s such a nice little detail. The scales themselves are gently contoured and all the parts and pieces line up well. All in all the handle is sturdy and well executed.

In terms of ergonomics, Viper provides you with plenty of handle, and it affords a wide variety of grips. There is a finger choil, but there is also plenty of room left to choke back on the knife, providing reach that may even give some Cold Steel offerings a run for their money. The flared pommel does have a bit of a sharp corner, but overall this is a comfortable knife to use. The canvas micarta affords a sure grip in both wet and dry conditions, while a short run of jimping provides enough feedback to index the thumb without making the thumb ramp uncomfortable under hard cutting conditions.

The pocket clip of the Start is a straight forward stamped out piece of steel. It offers reasonably low right side tip up carry with no other options for placement. The clip is very secure and the knife rides well given its size and weight. Given the polarizing nature of pocket clip designs, Viper went with a safe route. I think they could have done way worse with the clip.

Deployment and Lockup

The Start makes use of stylized ambidextrous thumb studs pressed close to the back of the blade. I find them easy enough to open at my desk, but acknowledge that the knife takes some work to get open. I don’t mean to detract from the action, as it is very smooth and very purposeful, but this is not a knife I can flick open with my thumb, and it may provide some challenges if you are operating it under duress. It is also worth noting that the pivot is hidden, and you need to take off the handle scales to service it. So far I have had no need to do that, as the blade is well centered and the lock is free of play.

Here is a shot of the Viper Start next to my Spyderco Paramilitary 2:

The Start features a back lock, but this is not like your traditional back locks. It is extremely smooth and refined, and the blade falls into place with the softest click. Upon further examination you will notice that the tang of the blade and the lock face are both given a satin finish, and the two pieces of steel fit together extremely well. The result is effortless play free lockup, and a really satisfying knife to open and close. This is a durable lock design and it has held up well in all my testing.

Viper Start Review – Final Thoughts

If you are in the market for a high end large folding knife, the Viper Start could be an excellent option. The knife is beautifully executed, and that enhances the sumptuous curves of Silvestrelli’s design. But the Start isn’t a creampuff either. It is definitely built to be carried and used. The end result is an elegant knife that performs as good as it looks. The high performance blade and generous handle offer the end user plenty of performance, with the added bonus of this knife being thoughtful and unique.

I also like how Viper offers the Start in several flavors, including satin, beadblasted, and PVD coated blades, and handle materials varying from classic choices like micarta and wood, to hand-laid carbon fiber. Finally, the price is also very reasonable considering what you get. You can get into a Start for well south of $150 shipped, while the highest end versions can be currently had for $175. Not bad for a European made knife of this size with these materials.

The only potential cons I can really think of are that the knife isn’t the absolute easiest and fastest to open, and that the pocket clip is right side only. For some these gripes will matter, for many they will not. This is all assuming you are in the mood (or have the need) to carry a 6.5 ounce knife. By and large this is a very nice offering from Viper and I do recommend it if you are in the market for a unique large folding knife.

Viper Knives 5840CB Viper Start Lockback with Brown Cocobolo Wood Handles

Viper Start – From $133.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Viper Start at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.

Benchmade Volli Review

by Dan Jackson 19 Comments

Last Updated: July 27, 2019
I’m not sure how to put this delicately, so I’ll just come out and say it: Benchmade hasn’t done a whole lot of exciting stuff in 2013, and it has resulted in a lack of reviews on new Benchmade knives. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the lack of cool new stuff to examine makes for boring blogging.

Buy the Benchmade Volli at BladeHQ

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One 2013 Benchmade has been on my radar for some time, and that is the Volli. It hasn’t gotten a lot of attention, probably because it appears to be some sort of a rehash between the Griptilian and Barrage, but again that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And frankly there is a lot to like here. In the time I’ve spent testing out the Volli I’ve found it to be a very functional and practical knife. We sometimes overlook those qualities as the industry focuses more and more on big names and exotic materials, but I still think there is room in many people’s pockets for a robust EDC/tactical knife without a lot of frills or hype.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Volli runs the gamut from an urban EDC to a “tactical” pocket knife depending on where your needs and preferences lie. For me, it’s more of a nights and weekends knife than a true daily carry, but for many I’m sure it would do well as an EDC. It has a feature set that I would think appeals to the law enforcement / military crowd, and I’m sure Benchmade also had those types of users in mind when they put this knife together.

The drop point blade is clean and simple with a high flat grind, and fine tip. My model comes in a bright satin finish although they do offer a black coated version as well. The grind lines are crisp and the knife came wickedly sharp out of the box. This is a simple drop point pattern but it has been done right.

The blade is S30V, a steel that I haven’t always been a huge fan of despite it’s popularity and billing as a premium knife steel. In practice I’ve found that S30V has a reluctance to take a really fine edge, especially on a couple Spydercos that I own, and I’ve sometimes dismissed it as more trouble than it’s worth. Well, I’m pleased to say that whatever Benchmade did with the S30V on my Volli, they really did it right. This is one of the nicest S30V blades I have owned.

The Volli came screaming sharp out of the box, which is always nice, but more importantly I’ve been able to keep that screaming edge with some judicious stropping. The knife has proven itself to be a really capable cutter. As always, I did test this knife thoroughly. I went through a great deal of 1/2″ sissal rope without any problem – it was almost comical how easily it cut through the rope. Eventually the edge slowed down, but I was able to quickly bring it back with my strop. Same went for wood and cardboard – it cut large amounts of both with no problem. This is because of the relatively (2.5mm) thin blade stock and the nice lean grind. 2.5mm isn’t alarmingly thin but many EDC blades (like my Spyderco Sage 1 – also in S30V) comes in at 3mm. While some may find the thinner stock a turn off, I like it because the knife cuts, and it cuts damn well.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Volli is G10 over full skelotonized stainless steel liners. Probably the first thing you will notice is the heavy texturing to the handle, but it’s also important to point out that it has a full plastic backspacer and you can’t access the pivot without taking off the display side scale. Construction is sturdy. All the parts line nicely while corner of the handle has been broken to accommodate your hand. There is a small unobtrusive lanyard hole and all the hardware is of the torx variety.

Ergonomically, this is a straight forward and practical handle design. Relative to something like the Griptilian this is a thin handle, but there is still plenty there to fill your palm and all the corners are nicely contoured. I found it to be comfortable, even under hard use. There isn’t any jimping, which is fine in my book. I was able to really bear down on the knife when carving and cutting and I didn’t notice any major hotspots. Much like the simple blade shape this is a practical handle, and I found it to largely be a pleasure to work with.

The pocket clip is Benchmade’s classic split arrow clip. This time it has been configured for ambidextrous tip up carry. The aggressive texture to the G10 means this knife will destroy your pockets if you aren’t careful (you will never find me carrying this with slacks), and that may be my greatest gripe. I understand that there is a fine line when designing a knife like this, and you don’t want something that offers no grip at all. Aside from the pant shredding texture the Volli carries well. This is a classic pocket clip and it holds the knife securely and discretely.

Deployment and Lockup

The Volli takes advantage of Benchmade’s axis assisted opening technology. It snaps opens quickly with the brush of a thumb. An assisted opening knife is mostly a novelty for me, but I can see the advantage if you are in a line of work where you really need your knife to open. Benchmade included a safety located on the back of the handle. It stays out of the way but can lock the knife in both the open and closed position, a nice feature when you have a tip up carry assisted opening knife.

For lockup Benchmade went with their trusty axis lock, a personal favorite. My knife came with a small amount of lateral play, and I had to tweak the pivot by removing the G10 scale. The covered pivot looks nice, but it’s a departure from the otherwise practical design and I’d be remiss to not consider it a problem with the design.

In addition to the axis lock there is a secondary locking mechanism on the spine of the handle. It allows the user to lock the blade in either the open or closed position. It’s not a bad feature to have on a tip-up assisted open knife. It’s unobtrusive and functional.

I have to say that after Michael commented on this post (see below) I both de-assisted the knife and I took the secondary lock out. I don’t proclaim to be an expert when it comes to disassembling knives, but I’ve taken down plenty. The Volli was a little tricky to take apart and the whole process took me the better part of a half hour. That said, if you are patient and don’t mind potentially voiding your warranty it shouldn’t be impossible. The knife works just fine without the spring and the safety.

Benchmade Volli Review – Final Thoughts

The Volli isn’t a show stopper. It isn’t the latest and greatest. It’s no ZT 0560 or Spyderco Domino as far as the “wow” factor is concerned. But I’m still pleased with the knife and it seems to fill a spot in Benchmade’s catalog. Detractors of the Griptilian’s plastic handles may have finally met their match, and I’m impressed with how nicely the knife cuts and feels in hand. The thinly ground blade is one of the best slicers I’ve handled in recent memory, and the S30V steel performed way better than I’m used to seeing out of S30V.

If I were designing it from scratch I’d tweak a couple things. I’d leave it so the pivot could be readily adjusted, tone back the texture slightly and (if it were me) remove the spring assist. But these are all pretty minor and subjective complaints that may not be relevant to your needs or preferences. While I’m not completely head over heels with the Volli, it is still a very nice knife, and I’d go so far to say that if you are someone looking for a robust folder in the 3.5″ blade category with S30V steel I’d put it above the Zero Tolerance 0350 and say it is very strong competition for the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

It may not be a runaway blockbuster blade of 2013, but that isn’t because it’s a bad knife, it’s because it has been overshadowed by some very interesting and very adventurous offerings in a very competitive marketplace. If you are in the market for a sturdy high performance folder in S30V with a ~3.5″ blade, then the Volli is well worth your consideration.

Benchmade - Volli 1000001 Knife, Plain Drop-Point, Coated Finish

HIGH-QUALITY: The CPM-S30V stainless steel blade is extremely well-balanced, offering superb edge qualities and rust resistance. The G10 handle is durable, impervious to moisture, and stable under extreme temperatures.
WELL-DESIGNED: The Volli 1000001 features Benchmade's AXIS Assist mechanism. It can be opened and closed quickly with either hand.
ALWAYS READY: The 1000001's quick, one-handed opening makes it easy to hold and use. The reversible pocket clip offers ultimate accessibility.
VERSATILE: The Volli 1000001's drop-point, utility blade style and all-around functionality make it ideal for everyday carry.
SERVICES AND BENEFITS: For information and terms regarding Benchmade's Limited Warranty and LifeSharp Service, please visit Benchmade's website.

Benchmade Volli – $153.95
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Volli at BladeHQ or Amazon. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated – thank you very much.

Hogue EX04 Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
It’s fun covering the latest knife trends. Case in point, the whole titanium flipper framelock schtick has has been an absolute blast. That said, I love it when a knife company completely bucks the trend and comes out with something that is bold, inventive and well executed.

Buy the EX-04 at BladeHQ

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Without spoiling the review for you, the Hogue EX04 is just that knife, and is one of the more interesting blades I’ve had the pleasure of handling in 2013. I must not be the only one who feels that way, as the EX04 won American-made knife of the year at the 2013 Blade Show.

Designed by world renown custom knifemaker Allen Elischewitz the EX04 marries an intriguing design with the same precision manufacturing and technical excellence that I gushed over when I penned my first Hogue review on the EX01. From the custom hardware down to the mirror polished edge, there is a lot to discuss with this knife, so lets get right into it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The EX04 comes in 2 sizes, the 3.5″ bladed version, shown here, and a version with a 4″ blade. My knife has an overall length of 8″ and weighs 4.48oz. I trend towards smaller knives for daily use, and found the 3.5″ version a good choice for urban EDC. That said, there is certainly enough knife here for use as a dedicated work or “tactical” knife.

The EX04 comes in 2 blade shapes, an upswept variant (shown here) and one with a modified wharncliffe blade. Both feature a unique double grind; a first for a production knife. I spoke with Allen Elischewitz about this personally, and he told me Hogue went to great lengths to consistently pull this unique blade geometry. I can’t say it does much functionally (although the knife is ground thin and cuts extremely well), but it is definitely a very cool detail that I really enjoy.

Hogue went with good ole 154CM which is an American stainless steel regular readers and knife aficionados should be well acquainted with. I have had a lot of good experience with 154CM, including Hogue’s 154CM when I reviewed the EX01 a while back. This time around I wanted to perform some more formal testing. The knife edge held up very well in performing a variety of EDC tasks including cutting rope, cardboard, and some basic carving. This is a useful blade shape made out of a nice balanced steel, and will provide years and years of service with very little maintenance.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The EX04 benefits from a full, sculpted G10 handle. There are no liners, although there are stainless steel bolsters that also function as washers. Like the rest of the knife the handle is superbly finished. The G10 is smooth and well contoured. The major hardware is silver and has been given a matte finish. Everything is just super refined on this knife – even the lanyard hole has been elegantly integrated.

From an ergonomic standpoint the EX04 continues to impress me. The simple sloping curves of the handle are also 3d contoured and lightly textured, which provides a good balance of comfort and grip. There is a distinct absence of jimping on the knife, which makes it very comfortable and practical for normal use. Mall ninjas will cringe at this obvious “oversight”, but as someone that actually likes to use his knife I assure you that the lack of jimping is actually a good thing.

The pocket clip is the same large spoon style offering found on the EX01. This time it has been given a durable black coating for a more discrete appearance. Some will probably find issue with the bulbous nature of the clip, but I think it’s practical and works well. The knife carries nicely in the pocket – it’s slim and lightweight and is the kind of I knife that I want to carry. If I were to give the clip a demerit, it would be for the right side tip up only carry. I understand that there may have been some design limitations requiring this clip placement, but for me tip up carry would have been preferable.

Lock and Deployment

The EX04 has ambidextrous thumb studs for deployment. They are easy to get at and the knife snaps open smoothly and crisply with little effort. An interesting feature of this knife is the absence of any kind of washer or bearing system. Instead, the blade mates up directly to stainless steel bolster plates that both reinforce the knife and serve as the “washers” for the blade to glide against. In practice this works very well, as evidenced by the very smooth and satisfying action.

As I mentioned in the intro, the EX04 makes use of a button lock to secure the blade. It’s a nice departure from the liner and frame locks that creep into many of my folding knife reviews, and Allen has gone to great lengths to ensure that the EX04 came with a robust and reliable lock. My lock occasionally sticks a little bit. I am not sure if I need to clean it, lubricate it, or break it in more, but I do experience a little stick in the button lock from time to time.

The knife also comes with an external safety switch that locks the knife open. On the EX01 I found that the safety was too easy to engage, and would inadvertently lock the knife open, but I was relieved to find that they have made the safety button much more purposeful. It doesn’t engage accidentally, and you really need to consciously push it to lock open the knife.

Hogue EX04 Review – Final Thoughts

The EX04 is a beautiful knife. I gave it a glowing review, and I think it’s well deserved. The knife has a unique design, has been flawlessly executed, and is very practical to carry and use. If I were to make suggestions, it would be to find a way to enable tip up carry.

Besides that, this is nothing short of an awesome knife, one that I find a true pleasure to have in both my collection and my pocket. It is a premium offering, and commands a premium price tag, but this is another one of those instances where you get what you pay for.

At the time of updating this review (end of 2015) the EX-04 remains one of my favorite 3.5″ folders. It’s a beautiful tool that speaks to me on a number of different levels. Highly recommended.

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I recommend purchasing the Hogue EX04 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review!