Tactical Knives

Brous Blades Silent Soldier Flipper Review

Last Updated: August 10, 2019
Ah, it seems like only yesterday I was sitting down with up and coming knifemaker Jason Brous. Jason is a maker that caught my eye early on – his wild designs and youthful ambition told me this would be someone to watch. Lo and behold a year later he has sold hundreds (if not thousands) of Silent Soldier neck knives, signed some sort of deal with major manufacturer SOG, and continues to find time to release one off completely custom blades. Oh, and he also designed and manufactured the Silent Soldier Flipper that I am about to review here.

The Silent Soldier Flipper (or SSF) is Jason’s first midtech folding knife. Limited to 500 pieces, once these are gone, well, that’s it. I happened to snag mine by complete chance, winning a YouTube contest of all things. This fortuitous turn has afforded me the luxury to carry and use this fairly exclusive knife. It’s my pleasure to share this unique folder today.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SSF has an overall length of 6.375″, a 2.7″ blade (from tip to handle), and it weighs 4.2 ounces. The knife feels surprisingly lightweight, and has made for an interesting EDC knife. The SSF and it’s predecessor, the Silent Soldier neck knife, have large holes in the blade for you to wrap a finger around. For that reason it has been advertised as something of a self-defense blade. Personally, I haven’t carried the knife as such, but I don’t doubt that some will appreciate the versatility. This review will be examining it from an EDC perspective.

The blade is a distinctive wharncliffe shape, with a sort of half moon profile, a small partial swedge, and of course the very large finger hole. The blade has a partial flat grind and the knife arrived extremely sharp. Despite the blade being 3/16″ (4.76mm) thick the SFF still cuts well. There is no belly, and the chunky stock means this is not the kind of blade you will want to cut up a tomato with, but it’s great for opening boxes and the fine tip of the wharncliffe is always nice for detail work.

Jason went with D2 for the blade steel, a steel he is very familiar with. I like D2 alright, it’s tough stuff and takes a nice edge. It’s technically not a stainless steel, but I have had no issues with rust or corrosion – and that’s in the Florida summer. No complaints with the steel selection for me, I think it’s a fine choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle features carbon fiber scales over full titanium liners. There is a partial backspacer made of stainless steel. The stainless steel has been bead blasted leaving “BROUS BLADES” lightly stenciled in a kind of art deco font. It’s a neat little detail, and is the only sign of branding on the knife. Overall, construction is very good. Everything is held in place with torx screws, the scales are nicely chamfered, and everything fits flushly together.

The ergonomics are where things start to really get interesting. Jason’s original Silent Soldier neck knife is known for the variety of grips you could hold the knife in, and the SSF is cut from the same cloth. You can grip the knife traditionally, or make use of the large finger hole and forward choil – or any combination thereof. And of course you also have reverse grips to play around with. I found at least half dozen different ways to handle this knife, and I’m not even that creative. As far as comfort is concerned, the knife feels very good. It’s a wide handle (to accommodate that wide blade) so it fills the hand nicely. As I mentioned earlier, the edges have all been rounded so you never butt up against anything sharp. The jimping that runs the spine of the blade is nice and aggressive, and will definitely hold your thumb in place.

The pocket clip is a small piece of stainless steel that snakes around the pivot. It’s drilled and tapped for right side tip down carry only – lamentable for us tip up fanatics, but not the end of the world either. Retention is good, and I like how it has been given a semi-glossy finish. The clip isn’t particularly deep, but I found that the knife carries well. It’s a solid pocket clip and works for my purposes.

Deployment and Lockup

Being the Silent Soldier Flipper you could guess that some sort of flipper is involved in getting the blade out. That guess would be absolutely correct. That said, Jason’s design departs a little from your typical flipper, as it requires you to press down rather than back. I’ll admit I flubbed the deployment on the first couple tries, but once you get the hang of it the knife comes out quickly and reliably. Jason has installed a bearing system in the knife (similar to something like IKBS or KVT). This makes for a very smooth knife, even if you crank down on the pivot.

For lockup we have a titanium linerlock. I have to say, I am not a huge fan of titanium as a locking liner material. I love how it’s lightweight, but it tends to wear faster than stainless and also tends to get sticky. That said, lockup is good on this knife. It sticks a little, but there is no play, and the liner lock engages early. My advice to Jason would be to consider using stainless steel next time – at least on the locking side.

Brous Blades Silent Soldier Folder Review – Final Thoughts

Reading back through the review it seems like I covered the bases here. It’s a premium knife with premium materials. Everything works well and feels good. What the review doesn’t really talk about is the overall design. That’s a shame because you can tell that a lot of time, thought, and effort went into tweaking this design. It’s a compact knife and it looks great opened and closed. When open, it has this pleasing symmetry to it, following a single graceful arc. The large hole in the blade is also a real landmark, and I love how the that circular motif is mirrored by the choil created from the flipper. It’s a very unique design, nicely balanced and carefully refined. I think that this point is really worth emphasizing.

As for everything else, well, this is a well built mid-tech knife. Premium steel, carbon fiber, titanium, and oodles of cool factor all coalesce to bring a very rich experience. It’s definitely a departure from my drop points and G10. The knife isn’t cheap (retailing well north of $250), but Jason apparently had no problem selling them, and I don’t think this was an inexpensive knife to make – especially when limited to 500 pieces. Who knows, it may even go up in value.

In conclusion, Jason has accomplished a lot with his first folding knife. It’s unique, functional, and very well made. I’d love to see a stainless steel liner lock, and the option for tip up carry, but besides that I find very little fault with his design. Jason set the bar high on this one, and no doubt many people will be eagerly anticipating his next folding model – the Triple Threat Folder.

Silent Soldier Flipper – $279
From: BladeHQ KnifeCenter

Although the SSF is limited to only 500 pieces, there are still a few available at BladeHQ.

Hogue EX01 Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

Last Updated: March 9, 2019
Hogue, a company best known for their gun grips and rifle stocks, has recently entered the realm of high end production knives. This is a pretty bold move for any company. After all, to quote Borormir in the the Lord of the Rings, “one does not simply start manufacturing knives” …or something like that.

Buy the Hogue EXO1 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

So Hogue teamed up with one of the best in the business – award winning knifemaker Allen Elishewitz. Quite frankly, the results of this collaboration are extremely impressive. This is a very nice knife by anyone’s standards, and it’s hard to believe Hogue has never made a blade before. I had to acquire one of their knives for review. So lets take a closer look at the EX01, the knife that put them on the map.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The EX01 comes in two different sizes (3.5″ and 4″ blades), with two different blade shapes (drop point and tanto), and two different handle materials (G10 or aluminum). Shown here is the 3.5″ model drop point with a G10 handle. This particular knife has an overall length of 8″, and 3.5″ blade and it weighs 4.3 ounces. Its aluminum counterpart weighs slightly more at 4.6 ounces, but tends to retail for slightly less. All of the EX01 folders are made in the USA.

The 4″ version of the knife has an overall length of 8.875″ and weighs 5.1 ounces (5.6 for the aluminum version). I selected the 3.5″ model because I wanted to use the knife for every day carry, and I am very happy with that decision. The knife carries well, feels light for its size, and the drop point version is reasonably unassuming. The 4″ version strikes me as a bit much for EDC, but that is a choice that ultimately you will have to make.

The drop point version of the knife is nicely executed. You have a high flat grind with a long lean swedge that falls into a sturdy tip with an edge that has a good amount of belly. Speaking of the edge, the EX01 comes with the nicest edge I have ever seen on a production blade. It is a full mirror polished edge – perfectly formed, nice and even. Apparently these are all done by hand. With most production level knives the edge grinds are usually a little off, and some can be downright sloppy. Needless to say that wasn’t the case with this knife. And yes, the knife came extremely sharp. I guess the only problem is while I can sharpen a knife ok, I will not be able to maintain that mirrored edge with my usual stones. My advice is to instead try and maintain the edge with a strop while you can.

The tanto version of the knife is quite striking, featuring a wicked raised spine, and downward sloping blade. I would not mind adding a tanto EX01 to the collection at some point either!

Hogue went with tried and true 154CM for the blade steel. This particular 154CM has been cryogenically heat treated to 57-59 HRc. It takes a nice edge, and has held onto it after a good amount of use. I’m not saying it’s a super steel, but I have always been a fan of 154CM. Here my thoughts are no different. Not only does it polish up beautifully, it also stonewashes very nicely – as evidenced by the handsome tumbled finish on the EX01.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The EX01 is offered with either an aluminum or G10 handle. Hogue calls their G10 (shown here) “G-mascus.” Really it’s just layered G10 with some waves in it, finished to bring out a faux damascus look. Personally, I prefer the less busy look of regular G10, and probably should have gone with the aluminum version of the knife. That said, the G-mascus is a little different, and I’m some sure will like the effect.

More importantly the handle is superbly constructed. It’s made from 2 pieces of G10, and has been bolted together along with partial stainless steel liners. I love the hardware Hogue selected for the button lock, pivot, and safety. The bright stainless steel contrasts nicely with the handles, and the whole production just oozes of quality. The design features a lanyard pin, which is an elegant alternative to your more common lanyard hole. All in all construction is very solid, and the knife is beautifully finished.

In hand the EX01 is a solid performer – comfortable and capable. Allen apparently has a strong martial arts background, and I can see this in his “ergonomic plan.” The position of the finger choil sets you back on the knife a bit to maximize reach. In this position the EX01 feels very comfortable, with your palm melting into the rounded pommel, and your finger sliding confidently around the choil. There is some jimping along the back of the knife. It’s not super aggressive, but provides some grip and feedback. You can choke up on the handle, and that works well too. The knife feels very good in a reverse grip as well.

The pocket clip is an interesting and almost feminine contrast to the rest of the knife (especially the sharp lines of the tanto version). Rounded and bulbous, this spoon-style clip is securely held in place with 3 screws, and is tapped for right side tip up / tip down carry. Despite the contrast this is a nice pocket clip – secure and easy to use. It rides reasonably low, and is easy to insert and remove from the pocket. I really like how the EX01 carries (at least the 3.5″ version). The knife is light and comfortable, and I quickly forget it is on me. I think it’s a great choice for EDC.

Deployment and Lockup

The EX01 makes use of ambidextrous thumbstuds to open the blade. The thumbstuds are nicely positioned, and it is very easy to pop the blade out with your thumb. Deployment is both fast and smooth thanks to a unique design where large stainless steel washers are molded into the partial liners of the G10 handle. According to Allen these integral washers will burnish over time, and the knife will get smoother and smoother. The aluminum version does not have any liners. Instead, a raised portion of the type 3 hard anodized finish mates directly with the tang of the blade. Type 3 hard anodizing is extremely tough, and like the stainless steel washers it will burnish over time. Either way, deployment will be smooth, fast, reliable, and durable straight out of the box.

The EX01 makes use of a button lock to secure the blade open. The button lock has been nicely implemented. Lockup is very sturdy, and firm (but reasonable) pressure is required to disengage it. In practice the lock feels strong, and it has worked well for EDC tasks. I would put it right up there with an axis lock or compression lock for regular use. There is an added external safety that can be used to lock the knife open. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of external safeties, and I find that this one has got in the way on more than one occasion. It can be removed, but the handle doesn’t look as good without it.

Blade retention (or the “detent”) is pretty good on this knife. I had no issues with the knife opening accidentally in pocket, but if I wanted I could snap the knife open with a firm flick of the wrist.

Hogue EX01 Review – Final Thoughts

The EX01 strikes me as a big win for Hogue. I find it especially incredible considering that this is their first attempt at making a production knife.

The EX01 is a solid design, with a lot of interesting details. Stuff like matching circular hardware and thumb studs, the lanyard pin, the way the 2 piece handle perfectly fits together, the integral washers, the perfect blade centering, and of course the mirror polished edge all add up to something special and unique. There is an enormous amount of attention to detail, and Allen Elishewitz has provided a thoughtful design to lay the foundation. The only minor issues I could come up with is that I think the “G-mascus” is kind of hokey, and I could live without the external safety. Some might find the pocket clip too large or funky, but it wasn’t an issue for me. If that is the worst I have to say about the EX01 it leads me to believe Hogue did a damn fine job.

And when you consider how this knife sells for as low as $150, well it really is mind blowing. The fit and finish is outstanding, blowing something like the Paramilitary 2 out of the water. The fact that this knife is manufactured in the USA, is so well made, and features such a thoughtful design make it an instant classic in my book. Highly recommended.

HOGUE 34171 Aluminum Frame 3.5, Drop Pt. Blade, Tumble Finish, Matte OD Green

Overall length: 8 inch
Blade length: 3.50 inch
The 6061 T6 aluminum handle is anodized OD green

I recommend purchasing the Hogue EX04 at Amazon or BladeHQ. 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!

CRKT Eraser Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

The Eraser is a relatively new offering from CRKT and is arguably their most ambitious knife yet. Designed by Liong Mah, this large tactical folder is his first knife collaboration with CRKT although Mah has collaborated with numerous custom makers in the past. Mah’s designs typically blend old styles with modern materials, and he maintains an emphasis on low maintenance and functional beauty. I must say, the Eraser certainly fits that bill.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Eraser is a large and heavy knife with an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.875″ blade, and a weight of 6.2 ounces. For some I imagine the weight will be a deal breaker but personally I had no problem toting this folder around – the trade off is you get large and extremely solid knife. As for intended use the Eraser is perhaps most accurately labeled as a “tactical knife” but could easily be used as a large utility knife or carried daily. I also think an argument could be made that this knife is collectible. While it may not be to everyone’s taste, the bold lines and beautiful finishes do offer something not commonly found in sub $100 knives.

The blade is an intriguing reverse tanto shape, featuring beautiful grinds and a gleaming satin finish. It is an elegant and functional design, featuring a nicely reinforced tip, slight curving belly, and a broad hollow grind. This blade shape is a nice blend of form and function, marrying stabbing and slicing capabilities with graceful curves and hard angles.

The steel selected here is AUS 8, a popular Japanese stainless. AUS 8 is a relatively soft steel (58-59 HRC) not known for extreme edge holding qualities, but I still think it’s a nice choice here all things considered. AUS 8 is known for being easy to machine and makes for a beautiful blade. The various grinds on this knife are crisp and wonderfully finished, it’s very difficult to believe that a knife this pretty retails for $80. Practically speaking AUS8 will gladly take a razor edge. Sure for some the still will not be exotic enough for their tastes, but with everything in mind I have no real issue with the choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Eraser features G10 handle scales with aluminum bolsters over full stainless steel liners with a partial G10 backspacer. Construction is very sturdy. Everything lines up well and is screwed together, and the overall fit and finish is impressive. The aluminum has been media blasted to a nice matte finish and you can see the subtle grain of the smooth G10. No doubt these nice materials also a bit of weight to the knife, but it makes for a classy and strong handle.

Ergonomically speaking the Eraser’s handle is large and comfortable. For your more traditional forward / saber style grip the knife feels very natural with it’s wide modified pistol grip handle. The flipper doubles as a forward guard and there are contours for your fingers. It’s well thought out and quite comfortable. That said, where the Eraser really seems to shine is in a reverse grip. The back portion of the handle is heavily jimped and provides natural resting spots for your thumb and fingers. On the subject of jimping, this is a relatively smooth handle. For my purposes it works great (due to the design of the handle) but if you are part of the uber-tactical crowd don’t expect an Emerson or something.

The pocket clip is long, bulbous, and has been given a discrete black finish. I’m not wild about the look of it, but I’ve also seen much worse. The good news is that we have a very capable clip here offering firm retention, a relatively low profile, and the option of 4 corners placement. As mentioned before, this is a large and heavy knife, and it carries as such. That said, it’s nothing ridiculous, and for its size I found the Mah Eraser to be a reassuring and comfortable carry.

Deployment and Lockup

The Eraser makes use of a flipper for blade deployment and the near 4 inch blade glides along teflon washers. It took a maybe a couple flicks to break this pivot in, but I have since found the knife to open quickly and reliably with very little effort. Teflon isn’t always my first choice for washers but I have no complaints here and may even have come to like teflon washers a little bit (don’t tell anyone). It’s a very smooth and fast knife, and a lot of fun to open.

Lockup is accomplished by an extremely sturdy stainless steel liner lock. There is absolutely no blade play at all in my knife, which I something I can’t always say – even about knives twice the price of the Eraser. Seriously, I am extremely impressed with the early and solid lockup. CRKT has also included their LAWKS technology which gives you the option to lock the knife open. It’s not a feature I use, but it stays out of the way and could come in handy for some.

CRKT Mah Eraser – Final Thoughts

The Eraser is a very special knife. I love the lines of this thing, and the great use of materials. It is a bold design, obviously not to everyone’s tastes, but I love the fact that CRKT rolled the dice a little and produced something that steps outside the box. CRKT and Mah have taken the sub $100 production knife and elevated the ordinary into the extraordinary. Sure, there are lots of good blades out there for under 100 bucks, but few manage to fuse elegant design, high end materials, and beautiful finishes into a rock solid and highly functional folding knife like the Eraser.

Of course I can’t blanket recommend this one as the absolute answer to everyone’s folding knife needs, but if you like larger knives and are a fan of the design then I think you will find a lot to like with the CRKT Eraser.

I found the best deal for the Eraser on Amazon, although BladeHQ also has a good price.

[easyazon-block asin=”B006SK18HA” align=”center”]

Emerson CQC-13 Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 10, 2019
Emerson is one of the most American knife companies I can think of. Their blades are 100% made in the USA with American made materials, and when you thumb through one of their catalogs (or the pages of their website) you really get the feeling that these knives are distinctly American. There are plenty of references to the US Military, MMA, and hard rock – to the point where you can practically feel the bald eagles whooshing over your head.

Buy the CQC-13 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

So when you take a company like Emerson Knives and combine it with the iconic American bowie you get what is arguably the most patriotic production knife on the planet: the Emerson CQC-13 Combat Bowie.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The CQC-13 has an overall length of 9″, a 3.85″ blade, and it weighs 5 ounces. Like most of Emerson’s offerings this is a pretty big knife. Designed for military, police, and anyone else seeking a large and rugged tool, this is a no-nonsense tactical folder. Personally I tend to pair it with a smaller utility knife.

The blade is what really drew me to the CQC-13, which makes sense because Emerson’s knives all follow a similar formula. Besides different blade and handle shapes, they are all built pretty much the same. Here we have a mean clip point cut from thick stock with a needle sharp tip, a good amount of belly, and a partial flat grind. My preference is for the stonewashed version, but Emerson also makes them in a black coated and matte finished (shown here) versions as well. Like many Emersons this knife is V ground, but the edge features a chisel grind (ground on one side instead of both like most normal knives). According to Emerson this is done for ease of sharpening in the field.

Like every other Emerson knife on the market the CQC-13’s blade comes in 154CM stainless steel. The steel is heat treated to 57-59 HRC, which makes the knife easy to sharpen yet capable of holding a nice edge. 154 won’t retain an edge as long as some of the more exotic steels on the market, but it is a proven steel and remains an all-around good choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

In the handle department the CQC-13 continues to follow the typical Emerson format: roughly textured black G10 scales, a partial G10 backspacer, a steel liner, and a titanium locking liner. There is a lanyard hole and all the screws are phillips head (except for the flat head pivot screw). Emerson isn’t known for making the prettiest knives, but I am actually quite impressed with how well this knife has been finished. The blade is beautifully ground, everything lines up, and the liners are attractively finished.

The CQC-13 really starts to shine once you start handling it. The spacious handle is extremely comfortable. There is plenty of room for forward or reverse grips and the handle features a deeply scalloped finger choil, and a nice run of jimping on the spine. This is a capable work knife and it is a pleasure to use. Ernest has a strong martial arts background and it shows time and time again in his handle designs. Simply put the ergonomics rock.

The pocket clip is once again classic Emerson. It’s a simple matte black parkerized clip, discrete and functional. My only gripe (per usual) is that the handle is only drilled and tapped for right side carry. I know they apparently make lefty versions of the knife and that you can send knife in to be drilled and tapped for left side carry (for $20) but honestly this is one of those cases where they should have just done that at the factory. Not just for lefties but also for right handed people wanting to carry on their weak side. When you consider the intended use and near $200 price tag, the 3 extra holes should come standard.

As for actual carry, the CQC-13 carries well for a larger knife. The pocket clip is discrete but not ultra-deep, so the knife is easy to get at but stays out of the way. At 5 ounces this larger knife feels lightweight for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

Naturally, one of the big selling points for an Emerson is the classic wave opening feature, which allows you to open the knife as you remove it from your pocket. If you don’t feel like waving open the CQC-13, you can always make use of the ambidextrous thumb disk, something I’ve always found slightly more cumbersome than a thumb stud or opening hole, but with a little practice it can certainly get the job done. Opening the knife is fairly smooth, Emerson uses nylatron washers in all his knives. They get the job done, especially if you opt to wave the knife open.

For lockup we have a titanium liner lock. I am generally not a huge fan of titanium for a locking liner, as it is not nearly as hard as steel of a blade tang, but Emerson has been making them this way for decades. In practice my knife still locks up fairly early, and there is little to no blade play. As an added bonus the titanium helps lighten the knife up – always a plus. It is also worth mentioning that the pivot screw is of the flathead variety, so it is easy to adjust with pretty much anything handy.

Emerson CQC-13 Review – Final Thoughts

Ernest’s Combat Bowie is exactly as advertised; a rugged folding tactical knife making great use of an iconic American blade shape. I have no doubt that fans of Emerson’s other offerings will also find much to love about the CQC-13. But lets be real for a moment, clearly, this is not a knife for everyone. Those preferring something a little more subtle will likely pass this one up. And like the rest of Emerson’s offerings, the Combat Bowie has it’s share of quirks unique to the brand (including the chisel ground edge, non-ambidextrous pocket clip, titanium liner lock, nylatron washers, etc). Finally, it’s not a cheap knife – not at all. All of these things tend to polarize people, and I can appreciate the opinions on both sides. However, if this is a knife that interests you I can attest that it is comfortable and well made. In conclusion the CQC-13 is another well thought out tactical folder that compliments the Emerson line nicely.

Emerson CQC-13
from: BladeHQ

Emerson ECBF CQC13 BT with Plain Black Blade

I recommend buying the Emerson CQC-13 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.

Zero Tolerance 0560 Review

by Dan Jackson 30 Comments

Last Updated: July 27, 2019
Finally! A Zero Tolerance 0560 review. It feels like forever ago since the 560 was first announced at the 2011 BLADE Show.

Buy the ZT 0560 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Since then I have heard the rumors, ogled the pre-production photos, and even caught a glimpse or two of the knife in some 2012 SHOT Show coverage. But that wasn’t going to do it. I needed this knife. What is it about Hinderer’s designs that have us fiending like depraved characters on a rerun of The Wire? Needless to say, I pre-ordered this bad boy a long time ago, and didn’t think twice about plunking down over $250 for the chance to check out this knife. After all, compared to a real Hinderer it seemed like a steal.

And for me, that really was part of the allure. If you spend any amount of time in knife circles, Rick Hinderer is a name that constantly resurfaces. Known for making highly sought after custom and semi-production folding tactical knives, his pieces easily command prices of $600 and up. So his recent relatively inexpensive collaboration with Zero Tolerance really caught my eye. Much like the ZT 0550, the 0560 allows you to get your hands on a Hinderer design without paying the Hinderer price tag. And I will tell you, as someone who owns both the 0550 and 0560, the praise for Rick’s designs is well deserved. This is a phenomenal knife, and it’s not going to make resisting a XM-18 any easier!

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0560 has an overall length of 8.8″, a 3.75″ blade, and a weight of 5.8 ounces. So yes, this is a big knife. For me it isn’t the most practical size for EDC, although that certainly didn’t prevent me from cramming the 560 into my pocket the moment it arrived. I have to say that one thing you will not hear me complain about is the weight. The 0560 is an incredibly light and balanced knife for its size. For example, the 0560 is substantially larger than the 0550, but weighs the exact same. It’s wonderful. And next to something like a ZT 0300 there is no comparison at all. For such a large knife I had no problem carrying it as my primary blade.

The blade is a sturdy modified drop point design. It shares a number of similarities to the blade on the 0550, having a similar swedge, and being made from 4mm thick blade stock. Both designs have high flat grinds, neatly applied edges, and feature a stone washed finish. This is a highly functional blade shape. The tip is extremely sturdy, there is a lot of belly for utility work, and the knife arrived exceptionally sharp. Considering the thick blade stock this is actually a very decent slicer, and zipped through cardboard without issue. In my experience this well rounded blade shape works great for most of daily tasks.

Kershaw and Rick went with ELMAX for the blade steel. This is a high end powdered steel made by the Austrian manufacturer Bohler-Uddeholm. I don’t have a ton of experience with ELMAX yet, but my initial research revealed that this is very interesting steel. According to Bohler, this is a high Chromium formulation that is extremely wear and corrosion resistant, while also being quite tough. It does best heat treated to between 58-60 HRC, and is often used as a high speed tool steel in both the electronics and food processing industries, where wear and corrosion resistance are both extremely important. These same properties are also important for cutlery, making ELMAX a natural choice for high end knives.

This is exotic stuff, and my initial impressions are very good. ZT heat treated the blades to around 60 HRC, which is right in the sweet spot. As far as edge retention is concerned, I expect this to perform better than S30V, but not quite as well as as M390 or S90V.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

Handle construction on the 0560 is truly next level stuff. I have always been impressed by the extreme levels of fit and finish found in ZT knives, but the 0560 has really been kicked up a notch. What we have here is a black G10 scale over a stainless steel liner on one side, and a titanium framelock on the other. Zero Tolerance also makes the 0561, which is the same knife with a brown G10 scale. What I found especially impressive about the 0560 is how they have 3d machined these handles. The surface of the handles are slightly radiused and everything has been precision cut. The stainless steel liner has been thoroughly milled to reduce weight, and even the titanium side has been milled out. These “weight relief pockets” really lighten the knife up. It’s an ingenious detail that I haven’t seen before, and it really sets the 560 apart.

In hand the 0560 feels extremely secure. There is aggressive jimping on the thumb ramp and choil, and it really locks your hand in place. The ergonomics are aggressive, and some might find the jimping too sharp. Personally I found that they were not aggressive to the point where the knife was uncomfortable to use. This knife was designed to get work done in all conditions so I can’t fault the knife for providing all this traction. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The pocket clip is a brand new design for the 0560. This was especially interesting to me because with a big knife like this, the pocket clip will be the difference between making the knife a daily carry item, or a sock-drawer novelty. The clip ZT previously used was actually pretty good, so I approached this new design cautiously.

So I am very pleased to say that I like the new clip a lot. It’s functional, discrete and a little more refined than the old style of clip found on many Zero Tolerance offerings. It is an attractive deep carry clip that can be mounted on all 4 corners. I am also happy to say that retention is excellent. Additionally, I found the 0560 to carry very well. Living in Florida, I often wear lightweight shorts. The clip on the 0560 performed flawlessly, holding the knife exactly where I wanted it. This great clip combined with the thin and lightweight design made the 0560 a joy to carry.

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment on the 0560 is absolutely effortless thanks to a nice flipper design and Kershaw Velocity Technology (KVT). KVT is a bearing system that replaces a more traditional phosphor bronze or teflon washer with a series of small ball bearings. In this case, the bearings are pressed into a nylon race so when you take the knife apart, the bearings don’t go everywhere (contrast that with IKBS, where the bearings sit loose in a groove, and they can go everywhere if you disassemble they knife). In practice, KVT makes for exceptionally smooth deployment. The design gives you the option of a flipper or ambidextrous thumb studs, and either method results in smooth, near-effortless deployment.

I will say that I have noticed that some people have had issues deploying the 0560 with the right hand thumb stud. What can happen is if you try to deploy the knife with your right hand, you can you end up putting pressure on the lock bar. This makes it more difficult to overcome the ball detent with this particular design. The thumb studs actually double as a stop pin, so some argue that this knife was designed to only used as a flipper (like say, the Kershaw Skyline). As a lefty I had no problem with using the thumb studs, and found that I could even use them with my right hand if I was careful not to put a lot of pressure on the lock bar. I don’t think this is a huge deal at all, but since there are (very) few gripes with this knife I thought it was worth mentioning.

Like Hinderer’s in-house knives, the 0560 makes use of a beefy titanium framelock. The knife world knows Rick can design a frame lock, and Zero Tolerance has proven time and time again that they know how to make production framelocks right. My knife locks up early, there is no blade play at all. Also there is also no stickiness when you go to disengage the lock bar. This is pure framelock bliss, and is exactly what I expect from a high end titanium framelock knife.

Zero Tolerance 0560 Review – Final Thoughts

As far as I am concerned, the ZT 0560 is a marvel of a folding knife, and a technological masterpiece. The folks at ZT absolutely loaded this one to the gills with the latest and greatest features and manufacturing – and the resulting knife is absolutely wild.

The 0560 is impossibly light, the blade opens effortlessly, the machining and overall level of fit and finish is astounding, and the materials are absolutely top notch. I also think the design is quite attractive – that never hurts. The lightening pockets in the titanium handle slab is nothing short of revolutionary, and I don’t doubt that this will be a game changer for other manufacturers. This is easily another home run for Zero Tolerance and is without a doubt their most exciting offering to date.

Zero Tolerance ZT0560 Hinderer Design Black Folding Knife

Steel: ELMAX, stonewashed finish
Handle: 3-D machined G-10 front scale, 3-D machined titanium back handle, stonewashed finish
Blade Length: 3.75 inches; Closed Length: 5 inches; Overall Length: 8.8 inches; Weight: 5.8 ounces
Frame lock; Thumb stud; Lanyard hole; Flipper; Deep-carry pocketclip; Quad mounting
Made in the USA

I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0560 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews, and keeps this review train running. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated!

Benchmade 275 Adamas Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: February 21, 2019

Designed as a tool for law enforcement and military personnel, the 275 Adamas could be the epitome of a hard use folder. The 275 shares the classic lines of many “normal” folding tactical knives, but is massively overbuilt in every direction. Designed by custom maker Shane Sibert, a man who strives to build practical knives that aren’t afraid of hard work, the Benchade 275 Adamas is as rugged as it is functional. The Adamas dwarfs typical tactical folders, and has these striking proportions that intrigued me ever since the knife was first announced in 2011.

Buy the Benchmade Adamas at BladeHQ

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Having owned my 275 for a while, I will say that whether the 275 is “tactical” or “impractical” will rely heavily on your individual needs and preferences – but there is no question that this knife is solid, and well built.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 275 has an overall length of 8.7 inches, sports a 3.82 inch blade and comes in at a hefty 7.7 oz. Yeah I wasn’t kidding, this is a big knife. Holding this chunk of G10 and steel in the palm of your hand is an interesting sensation, weighing on both body and mind. There is no doubt that fans of feather-weight folders will be disappointed here, but those in need of a tool capable of taking a real beating might feel reassured by these extra ounces. For daily use I find the 275 to be too heavy, and for a mild-mannered student that should come as no surprise. So it really depends on what you need from your knife.

The 275 has a bold drop point blade that compliments the rest of the knife nicely. The blade has a partial flat grind that starts about halfway up the blade, and the edge has been neatly applied by a practiced hand. On top we have a small swedge that refines the 4mm blade stock into a sturdy tip. There is a small fuller (or “blood groove”) on the flat of the blade, a design element often found on Sibert’s custom knives. These components all combine to form a blade that is very strong and functional. While this thick blade doesn’t make for the finest slicer, the flat grind is surprisingly capable. The weight and geometry allows this knife to chip and I wouldn’t be surprised if this knife could hold up to even more demanding tasks like prying and batoning. It’s a surprisingly versatile design and allows the 275 to work in a variety of situations.

Benchmade went with D2 for the blade steel here. I don’t have a ton of knives in D2, but in my experience I have found it to be a very tough and durable steel. Here it has been hardened to 60-62 HRC, and in my experience it is not the easiest steel to sharpen. The good news is that it will take a nice edge, and edge retention blade is quite good. I generally like D2 but I wonder if it was the best choice for a knife meant to be used by soldiers in the field, where access to sharpening tools is limited.

Because D2 is often regarded as a “semi-stainless” steel (D2 technically isn’t stainless) it is more prone to corrosion than a true stainless steel. For that reason you will want to be careful to keep the blade clean and dry (and possibly oiled depending on where you live). Benchmade helped mitigate any potential corrosion by applying a durable black coating to the blade.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The 275’s handle is made of G10 over stainless steel liners. Everything is screwed together and there is a partial backspacer by the pommel. The liners have been milled out to reduce the weight (somewhat) and everything has been nicely finished. Like the rest of the knife, this is a very large and sturdy handle. Shown here is a limited edition of the knife with black handle scales and a black blade. I actually prefer the regular version of the knife that comes with tan scales and a black blade. It’s just a little different, and sets the knife apart from the sea of black handled knives already in my collection.

The ergonomics of the Adamas are as solid as the rest of the knife. The large handle offers plenty of room for any style of grip and there is jimping everywhere. The thumb ramp offers great control and additional texturing in the choil region prevents your fingers from slipping forward on the blade. The knife feels just as comfortable in a reverse grip with a great spot for your thumb and tons of texture.

If there were an Achilles heel on the 275, it would have to be the pocket clip. First off, I like how it’s a discrete clip that rides reasonably low and offers ambidextrous tip up carry – that is all great. Where the clip misses it’s mark (for me at least) is the lack of retention. You can see in the video that the clip doesn’t even touch the handle, and that the clip has a lot of spring to it. A knife this heavy really needs a stiffer clip to hold it in place. If Benchmade stuck one of their classic clips on there I think it would have worked out better – but the bolt pattern is different so it can’t be swapped out. [Update – I’ve since been told that the pocket clip issues have been fixed, and the clip now offers much better retention. Kudos Benchmade!]

Since we are talking about carry, I want to mention that the 275 Adamas comes with an optional carry pouch. The pouch is made out of nylon, is MOLLE compatible, and comes with a malice clip. For low-speed high-drag guys like myself it’s about as useful as an extra hole in the head, but if you are a military operator or regularly wear MOLLE compatible gear it could be a good way to carry this heavy knife.

Deployment and Lockup

The Adamas makes use of ambidextrous thumb studs. These thumb studs are easy to get at and allow you to flick this big blade open with surprising speed. The action is extremely smooth thanks to some oversized phosphor bronze washers. I love how Benchmade doesn’t skimp on details like the washers, it really gives the knife a quality feel. The 275 should deploy smoothly and easily under almost any conditions.

The 275 makes use of an oversized Axis lock. Not only is the lock bar extra wide to accommodate the huge handle, but it’s much thicker than the normal Axis lock found on models like the Griptilian. Benchmade claims this knife can withstand 800 pounds of force, and that is extremely impressive. And of course this axis lock is fully ambidextrous and the knife easily closes with 1 hand. It’s phenomenal.

Benchmade 275 Adamas Review – Final Thoughts

If tank like construction is your primary concern, and you can get around the 7.7 ounce carry weight, the 275 Adamas is pretty dang cool. But if you are looking for a lightweight EDC or folding tactical knife, then I would suggest looking elsewhere. I will say that the materials are all top notch, the knife is extremely well built, and the price is very reasonable. I would prefer a stiffer pocket clip (an issue that has now been addressed), and a blade steel other than D2. Aside from that I really couldn’t find much to complain about.

My guess is that the sheer size and weight of this thing will be the biggest deal breaker for people, and I totally respect that. But if you want a knife that will take a lot of abuse, and weight really isn’t a concern, then the Adamas could be just what you are looking for. I certainly have been enjoying mine.

Benchmade - Adamas 275BKSN Knife, Plain Drop-Point, Sand Handle, Made in the USA

HIGH-QUALITY: The D2 stainless steel blade holds an edge exceptionally well. The G10 handle is durable and stable enough for a wide range of temperatures, making it ideal for tactical use.
WELL-DESIGNED: Benchmade’s AXIS lock is exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous. The Adamas 275 is a manual knife that can be opened and closed single-handedly.
COMFORTABLE: The 275 is rugged yet comfortable to hold and use. The reversible pocket clip and Cordura sheath offer ultimate accessibility.
VERSATILE: The Adamas 275’s drop-point, utility blade style serves well for a variety of tasks. It’s one of Benchmade’s top picks for versatile, tactical knives.

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Adamas from Amazon and BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website earns a small commission to help support BladeReviews.com at no cost to you. This support keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.