Tactical Knives

Combative Edge SALUS Review

Last Updated: September 18, 2019
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, one of my favorite parts of running this website is the excuse to check out sweet knives. I can try to do this under the pretense that I am offering the reader some noble service, and perhaps even some entertainment, but lets not kid ourselves here – it’s all about the blades!

Buy the Combative Edge SALUS at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

So when I got the chance to pick up a Combative Edge SALUS I didn’t waste any time. Limited to only 50 pieces, this thing epitomizes cool yet maintains a level of practicality that makes it work just as good as it looks. Regular readers will notice that this is a little outside the more “mainstream” knives I review. In fact, I’m sure quite a few people will be entirely unfamiliar with Combative Edge, as they are a relatively new boutique brand. Guys, I love to review these more exotic knives but it all comes down to money, time and availability… but with any luck this won’t be my last Combative Edge review.

I also want to mention that this knife was made for Combative Edge by Fox Knives of Maniago, Italy. I do not have a lot of experience with Fox Knives (or Italian knives in general) but due to the rising popularity of Italian blades I hope to remedy this quickly. I will say that my initial impressions of Italy’s cutlery capabilities are extremely favorable. This knife in particular is beautifully made and I will get more specific as we work through the review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SALUS has a 5-7/8″ blade, an overall length of 10-7/8″ and a weight of 10.5 ounces. Considering that this is a full tang knife made from 5mm stock I think this is a lightweight and carry-able knife (that is, if you can carry a foot long fixed blade in the first place). The almost 6″ blade gives you plenty of cutting space and a good amount of reach, while the handle allows for a comfortable grip in a variety of positions. This is a very practical knife that can be used in tactical and survival applications.

The SALUS is made from a large piece of Bohler N690Co stainless steel. Admittedly, I do not have much experience with this steel. However, Sal Glesser, owner of Spyderco Knives, refers to N690Co as a “European VG-10”. Additional research has found that this steel has a tight grain structure and is capable of taking a very fine edge. Also, this steel is supposed to be highly resistant to corrosion. My understanding is that this N690Co takes some work to sharpen (much like VG-10) but is overall a very good steel.

The N690Co on the SALUS has been given a black Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating. For those unfamiliar with DLC coatings, this is the bonding of a carbon material that displays some of the properties of diamonds to the bladesteel. Unlike more typical decorative coatings, DLC coatings can actually increase resistance to wear and have many industrial applications. Naturally, depending on the manufacturer the formulation of the coating and other variables, you will experience different results with a DLC coating on the blade of a knife. While I have not hard used this knife I have noticed that the coating is very durable. I’m sure if you were to really gouge the steel it would leave a mark, but DLC is generally one of the toughest coatings out there and Fox did a great job with the SALUS.

The blade itself is a large American tanto shape with a drop point and swedge on the front half. The American tanto blade shape offers awesome penetration power. The 5mm thick blade tapers down at the very tip, but by and large this is a very stout blade. A flat grind has been applied about half way up the knife. I have no doubt that in a the SALUS could baton and perform other bushcraft/wilderness survival tasks.

Handle and Ergonomics

The SALUS features a highly textured G10 handle. These are 3-D machined handle scales and they feel awesome. It’s obvious that a lot of time has been spent getting the palm swell perfect and all of the lines are flush and wonderfully finished. The texture that was milled on is aggressive yet comfortable, which ensures a firm grip as the handle seems to melt into your hand.

In addition to the awesome scales, ergonomic features abound on the handle. There are two finger choils and two thumb ramps providing a ton of options for the user. You can choke up or pull back on the knife, in forward, reverse and every grip in between. I’ll tell you it’s really hard to write about this (so hopefully the video can fill in a little) but the way this has been executed is near perfect. The jimping is sharp and meaningful and the choils are well spaced. Everything works, and there are no compromises. It’s obvious a ton of time went into designing this handle. It’s an outstanding part of the knife that separates it from the pack.

Rounding out the handle is a large exposed pommel (for a “non lethal” option – I would NOT want to get cracked with this thing) and a couple lanyard holes.

Sheath and Carry Options

If the excellent steel, superb design and marvelously finished handle weren’t enough to distinguish the SALUS, take a look at the sheath. In some ways the sheath impressed me the most because it shows how far the guys at Combative Edge went to ensure this is a 100% high quality product.

The sheath itself is made of kydex and is mated to a removable cordura carry system with a series of 4 velcro straps. The kydex sheath is snug, with a very secure fit and a small drain hole at the bottom. If you want to run just the kydex sheath there are plenty of slots and holes for webbing and paracord. However, I think the cordura part of the sheath is a nice option and has been reinforced with plastic and extra stitching. The blade is further secured with a double snap strap that falls out of the way when open so you don’t inadvertently cut into your strap when drawing the blade. The sheath is Molle capable and includes two genuine Blade-Tech Molle locks with all the hardware.

Combative Edge also included two adjustable straps for use in a thigh rig. And just like everything else, this isn’t some cheap strapping. This is high quality nylon and one side has been given a rubberized no slip coating. A small amount of elastic ensures a secure and comfortable fit. Details like this really impress me and show the level of thought that went into even the more minor details.

At first glance, the sheath does not appear to be lefty friendly, but if you mess with the velcro straps you can carry this for left handed draw – admittedly it’s not as elegant as the right hand setup, but it does work.

Combative Edge SALUS – Final Thoughts

All in all I am very pleased with the SALUS. The design, the materials and the fit and finish are all top notch. Rob Walker and the crew at Combative Edge really thought this one out and executed a brilliant take on the modern combat knife.

The SALUS is typically made and sold in small quantities. As of 2013 CE is no longer offering the SALUS with a tanto blade shape. Instead, they have decided to offer the knife with a drop point blade instead. Limited quantities give the brand an even tighter “botique” feel and in my mind, further distinguishes Combative Edge from other offerings.

Combative Edge CBE00404 Salus Fixed Blade Knife

10 7/8 inch
5 7/8 inch blade length
Black textured G-10 handles

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Combative Edge SALUS from Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Boker Plus S2 Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Last Updated: August 30, 2019
I’ve been drooling over Sniper Bladeworks custom knives for a long time now. For the uninitiated, Sniper Bladeworks is the brainchild of Lance Abernathy and Jody Muller. Jody handles fabrication and Lance comes up with the designs. The result has been a number of award winning tactical knife designs and superbly built tools that are revered by collectors and users alike.

Buy the Boker Plus S2 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Boker S2 is Sniper Bladeworks’ first collaboration with a production company. I recently got my hands on one of these knives and was really impressed by how well the knife worked and the level of fit and finish. The intriguing design lead me to contacting Lance himself in order to gain some insight on this unique knife. Lance was able to provide some of the details and explain why the S2 was built the way it was. It was a real pleasure speaking with Lance, and I hope our conversation helps provide a better review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

It should be no surprise that Sniper Bladeworks focuses on tactical knives. Lance comes from a heavy law enforcement background and served on a SWAT team for over 11 years. The Sniper Bladeworks custom knives are all built with utility, ergonomics and aesthetics in mind. The S2 is no different. This is a big knife so I would put it in the tactical and/or utility role. I think it’s big for EDC, but it doesn’t look that threatening so it could be a good choice if you like to carry a bigger knife.

The S2 has an overall length of 8-3/4″, a 4″ blade, weighs 5 ounces, and is made in China. This is not a small knife. By way of comparison, I find it holds it’s own next to a Spyderco Military (which also has a 4″ blade, but has a total length of 9 1/2″).

The blade is a big piece of 440C stainless steel. Boker uses a lot of 440C in their plus line and I welcome it with open arms. It’s a good mid-range steel and an all around performer. The width of the blade is impressive and it has a large flat grind that begins almost at the top of the knife. The long curved spine drops off into a nice functional tip. This tip isn’t reinforced and the overall bladeshape is faintly reminiscent of a sheepsfoot shape. Naturally there is a lot of utility with this blade for day to day tasks. I also think this could possibly serve as a rescue knife. And naturally I think the knife could also be used as an emergency defensive tool too. The excellent slicing capabilities of the flat grind mean you could use this knife for anything from cutting seatbelts to preparing food.

Finally, I wanted to comment on the stone wash Boker applied to this blade and hardware. It’s a rough and tumble stonewash and it has created a nice effect. Between the design and finishes of this knife, I get a really utilitarian vibe, and this knife just begs to be used.

Handle Details

The handle is one of the most interesting aspects of the S2. It’s construction is simple enough, with black G10 over matte gray steel liners. The liners have been milled to reduce weight and a black G10 backspacer runs a little over half the length of the handle. All in all, construction is good and all the pieces line up flush with no gaps or irregularities.

Ergonomics on the S2 are pretty special, and it’s where the knife really starts to shine. At first glance the handle is boxy looking and doesn’t appear to be that comfortable. I’ve heard some go so far to say that the handle is “ugly” – I disagree, but to each his own. I’ll say it’s a somewhat unconventional shape, but it really works in your hand. First off, it’s a pistol grip, meaning that the handle attaches to the blade at an angle and naturally orients the blade towards the cutting surface. Lance told me they like this style of handle because it puts the tip on target without bending the hand. In my experience, this design totally works.

The flat back of the handle fits the palm perfectly and your thumb falls into a nicely jimped thumb ramp. When I first picked up the knife I felt like this was a blade I could get some work done with. The flipper also acts and integral guard/choil so your whole hand wraps around the knife nicely. It’s a clever design and the guys at Sniper Bladeworks made the handle plenty big so you have lots of room to move and use various grips.

As a final touch there are some grooves milled into one side of the handle. This provides some extra grip to the already nicely textured G10 and adds some visual interest as well. Lance told me that they like designing knives that look good open and closed – the lines to add a little something extra.

The S2 actually ships with 2 pocket clips, for tip up or tip down carry. Its a good size clip that rides low in the pocket. Retention is good and I found it to be easy to insert into my pocket. Unfortunately the handle has been drilled for right hand carry only.

Deployment and Lock-up

The S2 is deployed by a large flipper on the back of the handle. This knife quickly broke in and I find that deploying this big blade is effortless. I think a flipper was a good idea for this wide blade because your thumb would have to travel far to fully activate a thumb stud. No complaints with the deployment of this knife.

Lockup is achieved through a liner lock. This is a pretty thick liner lock and it engages early with a crisp snapping sound. I found it to be easy to disengage, but because the handle isn’t cut away it does take a little more effort than other knives with a cutout for your thumb. I think for most tasks the liner lock will be more than adequate.

Boker S2 Review – Final Thoughts

All in all I am very pleased with my S2. To be honest, I can’t find a major fault with the knife (the lack of an ambidextrous pocket clip would be my biggest complaint). I think Boker was smart to pick up this cool design from Sniper Bladeworks. When I spoke with Lance he said that they wanted to create something big and functional – just like one of their custom pieces. I think Boker executed that concept wonderfully, as the fit and finish is very high on this knife, with the country of origin being China.

When you consider that the S2 can be acquired for around $50, it’s a pretty good value. I won’t be able to afford a custom anytime soon so this is the closest I will be getting to a real Sniper Bladeworks knife for a while.

Boker 01BO160 Plus S2 Knife with 4 in. Straight Edge Blade, Black

Durable and sharp 440C stainless steel blade
Structured G-10 scales for maximum stability
Reversible clip for tip-up or tip-down carry
Blade Length: 4 inches. Overall length: 8 3/4 inches
Limited lifetime warranty

I recommend purchasing the Boker S2 at Amazon.com and BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Cold Steel Spartan Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
Tired of reading reviews on wussy EDC knives? Need something capable of holding off an army of blood thirsty Persians? Consider the Cold Steel Spartan. Yeah, I enjoy reviewing EDC blades just as much as the next guy, but sometimes I need a little more. Thankfully, Cold Steel is around to supply me with all kinds of testosterone laden products. Lets take a look at this ridiculously awesome hard use folding knife.

Buy the Cold Steel Spartan at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Purpose

Let me start off by saying this is a heavy knife. Cold Steel claims it weighs 7.5 ounces. For the amount of knife you are getting I think it’s reasonable, but lets not mince around here; it’s still heavy. Naturally I made a point to carry the Spartan to get an idea as to how it handles. If you are wearing a decent belt it actually carried pretty well for me in a roomy pair of shorts. That said, for most this certainly isn’t an EDC knife.

Ultimately I want to call this a “hard use” knife and leave you to decide the specific application. You could carry it as a tactical knife, and you could also carry it as an outdoors knife. Honestly I think the Spartan would also make a great folding camp knife as it is more than capable of light chopping, batoning, and other tasks normally associated with a fixed blade. The shape of the blade is also really good for food prep (tons of belly, wicked slicer). And of course this could be a cool collectable as well. For some this will be a serious tool and for others this is just a cool knife to have in the collection.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spartan has a 4.5″ blade, an overall length of 10.5″ and a weight of 7.5 ounces.

The blade on this thing is impressive. The unique shape is designed after the ancient Greek “Kopis” sword, but in more modern terms it’s a drop point with a large recurve. This recurve offers incredible slicing power and as a defensive tool, well, lets just say I wouldn’t want to be cut with a Cold Steel Spartan. As you draw the blade over your cutting surface, the recurve grabs material and shears it with amazing precision.

The only downside to a knife with such a substantial recurve is that it’s difficult to sharpen. I ended up giving sharpening a try with my Spyderco Sharpmaker, and I managed to restore the factory hair shaving edge with some work. So sharpening the Spartan certainly isn’t impossible; especially if you have sharpening rods. Note that if you are going to carry the knife on extended outings, say, in some sort of military capacity, it could be tough to sharpen in the field.

And as a warning, seriously, be very careful with this blade. I inadvertently cut through my shirt and a cleaning cloth on multiple occasions when I tried to clean this blade up a bit – this is a first. The big recurve makes it behave a little differently from a more ‘normal’ knife.

The blade on this knife has a reinforced tip and a high hollow grind that begins about 3/4 of the way up the blade. The tip is great for penetration and the hollow grind is excellent for slicing. The Spartan has very versatile blade geometry and it’s a great performer. The knife has been given a beautiful blasted finish and the Cold Steel and “Spartan” logos have been nicely etched into the knife.

The blade on the Spartan is made of AUS 8A stainless steel. This is good mid range steel, and when you consider the price of the knife (around $50) this was very satisfactory. I like AUS 8A on my hard use knives because it’s a very tough steel that resists chipping. It does tend to lose it’s edge a little faster than harder premium steels, but it’s an easy steel to sharpen – a must with the challenging recurve.

Hande, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle scales on the Spartan are made of grivory, a kind of high impact plastic. The grivory handle scales are over full stainless steel liners. No doubt, this is where the chunky Spartan gets some of its weight from. I would have loved to have seen these liners milled out, but I’m happy to see how flush they are in the scales and how strong this knife is. Even if you milled the liners out I think you would still have a very heavy knife – it’s just built tough. Everything has been bolted together so you can take this knife apart as needed. The pommel is big and would serve as a very effective impact tool.

The ergonomics on the Spartan are really unique. One glance at the handle and you can tell something different is going on. First of all, the handle wraps around your hand. The textured scales have been given a tiger striped pattern that is both attractive and comfortable. When you grip the Spartan your hand feels secure. This is not a knife that will slip away easily. Potential negatives are that there is nothing in the way of jimping, and the thumb plate feels a little awkward when choking up. That said, I really like the ergonomics as a whole. This is a knife designed to cut through anything you put in front of it and the handle keeps the knife in your hand – it’s simple but effective.

All in all, the pocket clip on the Spartan is excellent. First of all you get two pocket clips; one for left hand carry and one for right hand carry. Cold Steel does this on a lot of their knives and I love it. The clip is black and has been given a very durable semi-gloss coating. The clip is also designed to ride low in the pocket – this is good for carry but can be awkward when trying to use the wave feature of the knife. In some ways I would prefer a clip placement that didn’t put the knife so deep in the pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spartan uses a large thumb plate to deploy the knife. You can use this plate like a thumb stud, or you can use this plate to wave the knife open off your pocket like an Emerson folder. The spring on the Spartan is pretty strong so flipping the knife open with your thumb is not that easy, especially because the knife is big and the thumb plate needs to travel a good distance to fully engage. For that reason I really like the wave. It pops the Spartan open with amazing speed.

The Cold Steel Spartan makes use of the now legendary Tri-Ad lock. Designed by Andrew Demko, this lock is probably the strongest locking mechanism in existence. There are videos of people absolutely wailing on this knife and the lock holds up. Once you get the Spartan in your hand it all makes sense. Lock up feels like a bear trap engaging – the “snap” the knife makes is incredible. It’s no wonder people have used this like a fixed blade.

Disengaging the lock took some effort. For reference, I’m 6’2″ 240 lbs. Over the years I have spent a fair amount of time in the gym and have developed pretty decent hand and grip strength. I’ll tell you, I have trouble unlocking this knife if I don’t have a good grip on it. It’s a very very strong spring on a very sturdy design. For many people I think the lock will take some practice. I might even suggest Cold Steel puts a weaker spring on there, but I wouldn’t want to look like a total wuss.

Cold Steel Spartan Review – Final Thoughts

I can’t help but feel like I’m having difficulty adequately describing the knife. Perhaps I wasn’t prepared for the tank that arrived in the Cold Steel box, but this big blade totally took me by surprise. I think Cold Steel once again raised the bar with affordable toughness. It is very well built and the Tri-ad lock is the toughest lock out there. For the money I do not think you will be able to find a bigger and stronger folding knife.

I was also very impressed by the Spartan’s build quality. This knife was made in Taiwan and they really paid a lot of attention to detail. The blade is centered, the grinds are even, and finishing is very nice. Everything is smooth and lines up. It’s a well thought out knife that has been expertly executed.

When it comes to negative aspects of the knife, the only thing I can really say is that the blade is somewhat difficult to sharpen and I might prefer a carry that isn’t so deep. These are minor issues and I generally think the Spartan is an awesome blade.

If you want something big and bomb proof, and don’t particularly care about things like weight and local carry laws (I’m joking but definitely check your local laws before carrying in public), check out the Cold Steel Spartan. I don’t think you will be disappointed with the knife but you have been warned – it’s big.

Sale

Cold Steel Tactical Pocket Folding Knife, Spartan

Super Sharp Knife - The stonewashed blade was designed to echo the aesthetics and cutting performance of the world famous Kukri, a Nepalese knife similar to a machete, cut through meats, rope, bamboo, and aluminum with ease
Kopis-Inspired Handle - Super thick spine with finger cutouts makes holding the Cold Steel Spartan comfortable and safe, handle is molded out of Griv-Ex with heat treated steel liners for extra security
Tri-Ad Lock - The safest folding knife locking system on the market, holding 800 lbs of hanging weight. The blade is shouldered around the stop pin for increased resistance to wear and tear. The full surface of the lock and blade tang sit flush, making the lock system more secure
Additional Features - Folding knife with ambidextrous pocket and belt clip for both right- and left-handed draws. Does not imprint in the pocket for a stealthy carry. Perfect for battle gear
Tactical Knife - A great everyday carry knife for self-defense. The Demko thumb plate can be used to open the knife at lightning speed by snagging on the edge of a pocket during the draw stroke

If you are interested in purchasing a Cold Steel Spartan, then I recommend purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

SOG Aegis Review

by Dan Jackson 19 Comments

Last Updated: August 26, 2019
The term “aegis” has ancient roots. Commonly used in Greek mythology, aegis means “protector” and has been often symbolized in the form of a shield. In many ways the ]SOG Aegis is emblematic of a protector as well.

Buy the SOG Aegis at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

If ever needed the Aegis could certainly offer its user security – be it helping in some emergency utility task. or perhaps by performing in a more tactical role. While the knife was not imbued with any mythical powers, the light weight and wicked blade are quite enchanting, and are among many reasons to consider adding this knife to your collection.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Aegis has a 3.5″ blade, an overall length of 8.25″ and a weight of 3.1 ounces. This is a medium sized folder and depending on who you are, could be on the larger side for EDC. The weight of only 3.1 ounces is exceptionally lightweight so if carrying a bigger blade appeals to you this is a good option.

The blade on this knife is a long leaf shape and comes with a plain (non-serrated) edge. Made from 1/8″ stock this blade terminates with a needle sharp tip. Seriously, the tip on this thing is incredible. The full flat grind and absence of a swedge enhances this feature and the blade shape is excellent for thrust cuts and piercing.

However, you will want to be careful with prying or stabbing into hard materials as the unenforced tip could break. This isn’t necessarily a negative, you just want to bring the right tool for the job. If prying is your modus operandi go to the hardware store and pick up a crowbar. The edge came absolutely razor sharp with a beautiful job done on the grinds. As an emergency tactical knife I think this blade shape is highly effective. For EDC tasks there is ample belly and great slicing capability with the full flat grind.

As you can see in the photographs, you have a couple different options for finishes. Shown here are the satin finished blade (with matching silver hardware) and black titanium nitride (TiNi) coated versions. Both are beautifully done. I love the satin finish SOG puts on their knives, but the TiNi coating wins points for hiding finger prints and the general “stealth factor”. I have found the coating to be very durable – this isn’t some inexpensive coating that will rub off. It will wear with use, but expect it to hold up favorably to cheaper painted teflon coatings.

The Aegis comes in AUS8 stainless steel – a very nice mid range Japanese stainless steel. I love the keen edge AUS 8 takes and the ease of sharpening. I haven’t noticed any issues with rust and the steel resists chipping. SOG cryogenically heat treats their AUS 8 which provided enhanced toughness and better edge retention. I think AUS8 was a good choice and SOG really knows how to work with this steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Like the Flash II, the Aegis has a glass reinforced nylon (GRN) handle and lacks metal liners. The GRN on the Aegis is of high quality and feels good (not cheap and plasticy). This is a closed back design. Due to the absence of liners, it’s a very lightweight handle.

The ergonomics of the Aegis is also very nice. With a 4.75″ handle there is plenty of room for my larger hand and it naturally offers a comfortable 4 finger grip in both forward and reverse positions. I love the flowing lines of the handle, it fills the hand and provides great visual balance.

Grip has further been enhanced with “digital” texturing and all the corners have been smoothed and rounded. SOG embedded rubber inserts into the handles which provide extra feedback and grip. Additionally, the back of the handle and spine of the blade have been given some jimping. Oddly, the jimping faces towards the tip but it does offer grip. Especially the TiNi version. I think the satin finish has rounded the “bite” off just a little. Personally, I think it would offer more grip if the jimping was oriented in the opposite direction, but the current configuration does provide some traction.

The choil area has been given some texturing, a sort of enlarged jimping or “scalloping” if you will. This helps lock the index finger in place and provides more tactile response. All in all I love the ergonomics on the Aegis – it’s obvious a lot of time was put into designing the handle.

The pocket clip is SOG’s bayonet style clip. The clip allows for ambidextrous tip up carry, rides ultra low, and provides excellent retention. “SOG” has been cut into the clip, which I don’t mind, especially on the blackened version. All in all it’s a discrete carry.

Deployment and Lockup

Like many of SOG’s folders, the Aegis is an assisted opening knife. The spring on the assist is very good at shooting the blade out with a satisfying snap. The thumb studs are large and ambidextrous. It’s easy for me to get my thumb behind the stud and the knife flips out effortlessly.

Lockup is done through SOG’s Arc lock. This style of lock is similar to a Benchmade Axis lock or the ball lock found on the Spyderco Manix 2. It is essentially a type of bolt lock. It’s a secure design that can be easily engaged. Lockup is quite secure on both of my Aegis knives with a microscopic amount of bladeplay in one and none in the other. This is a great accomplishment from a linerless design, and I was really impressed with how tight these knives locked up. One minor complaint (or wish perhaps?) would be to get the arc lock positioned on both sides. I know SOG does this on some of there more expensive folders, and would probably drive the price up (while providing a diminishing amount of utility). As a left handed user it would make the knife easier to close with one hand.

Also, like many of SOG’s assisted openers, there is a built-in safety. The safety is a nice option and I believe it’s part of the reason why SOG can offer this knife in tip-up carry (my preferred form of carry).

SOG Aegis Review – Final Thoughts

I have really enjoyed owning both of my Aegis’s (Aegi?) and believe that they could live up to their namesake.

Whether it’s helping you build shelter from a storm, or working as a tactical knife, the light weight and smart design is an excellent blend of form and function. And I have to admit, I love the form aspect of this knife. This is an awesomely balanced knife combining a big blade, fast deployment, robust lockup with a light and easy carry weight. Fit and finish is excellent, and the price (around $50) provides a lot of quality knife for your money.

SOG AE02-CP Aegis 3.5 in Tactical Folding Knife

3.5 INCH STAINLESS STEEL CLIP POINT BLADE: The SOG Aegis straight edge tactical folding knife is a field-tested EDC knife, hunting knife, camping knife and rescue knife; measures 4.75 inches in closed length
3.1 OUNCES W/ GRN HANDLE: This everyday carry assisted folding knife includes a glass-reinforced nylon grip; pocket folding knife handle requires zero upkeep and is nearly indestructible
SOG ASSISTED TECH (S.A.T.) & PISTON LOCK: One of the fastest opening knife systems ever; survival pocket knife opens single-handed and Piston Lock secures the blade
HARDCASED BLACK TINI FINISH: A scratch and peel-resistant straight edge pocket knife with clip for men or pocket knife for women that looks as tough as it is; a sleek black on black knife
SOG KNIVES FOR LIFE: Take care of your tactical pocket knives and we’ll take care of you; a SOG military knife is built to last, and we consider all repair and replacement requests

I recommend purchasing the SOG Aegis at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

Last Updated: August 26, 2019
I recently acquired a Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto. This is a sprint run (limited edition) knife limited to around 700 pieces. It’s a pretty unique offering designed by custom maker Bob Lum.

Buy the Spyderco Lum Tanto at BladeHQ

As you probably know, Bob recently passed away (RIP) and so this knife is very special for many reasons. In addition to being a limited edition run, the Lum has a tanto, which is a very uncommon blade shape for Spyderco. I absolutely love the simple lines and minimalistic look of this knife. I am very excited to share this unique Spyderco knife with you today.

Purpose

Being a limited edition knife, I get the feeling that most (myself included) will simply collect it. For many that will be the primary purpose. This is almost sad because what we have here is simply a wicked tactical folder. If you can bring yourself to use it, I see the Lum Tanto providing a ton of utility for it’s owner as a utility knife, or perhaps as an emergency defensive item. I’ll be reviewing the blade from a both a collectable and large EDC knife perspective.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Lum has a 3-7/8″ blade, an overall length of 8-3/4″ and a weight of 4.3 ounces. It’s a large and solid folding knife. This knife was made in Seki City Japan and has many of the details that I love from Spyerco’s Japanese knives.

The blade is on the Tanto is very impressive, made of an ultra thick piece of VG-10 steel. The blade is 1/8″ of an inch thick and due to the tanto blade shape, it holds this thickness for most of the blade’s length. Of course by now you know it has a tanto shaped blade, but what we have here is a more traditional, slightly curved tanto rather than the boxier American tanto. The blade is hollow ground about half way up and is given a combo grind. The knife starts out with a traditional V-grind that transitions into a convex grind once you get to the tip further enhancing strength and piercing power. Out of the box this knife was incredibly sharp. I love the grinds on this knife, it’s a beautiful polished blade that appears to glow under the light.

VG-10 is of course a Japanese steel. It is a hard steel that is among my favorites because it takes an awesome edge.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The gray G10 handle sets this knife apart. Spyderco previously released an all black version of the knife (in another Sprint run) which was very cool. The gray version is equally impressive (if not greater – I love the uncoated steel, this blade is too pretty to coat in my opinion). Unfortunately, the gray G10 gets dirty very easily. If I used this knife regularly, I would complain, but as a collectable I can set that gripe aside and appreciate that Spyderco wanted to make this knife unique. The handle has full stainless steel liners, and on the non-locking side they have been milled out to reduce weight.

The ergonomics on the Lum Tanto are good, mainly because we have such a large handle here. I have ample room for my 5 fat fingers and if I set my hand back on the blade I’ve got an extra inch of reach. Alternatively, you can choke up and make use of the large thumb ramp. There is no jimping, but the big thumb ramp makes it almost unnecessary (especially as a collector’s piece). Finally, the gray G10 is among the grippiest I have ever felt. The level of traction puts my Military to shame and almost feels like shark skin – my fingers just lock in place. It’s wonderful stuff.

The pocket clip is a pretty standard Spyderco clip. It’s mounted for right hand tip up carry only. It’s been placed near the center of the handle and isn’t designed for particularly deep carry. I feel like this knife wasn’t really designed with carry in mind. To be perfectly honest, I’m kind of glad Spyderco didn’t drill extra holes all over the knife, instead deciding to go with a cleaner look.

Deployment and Lockup

Being a Spyderco, naturally this knife has a thumb hole for deployment. The Lum Tanto uses a 12mm Spyderhole which is adequately sized and easily accessible on both sides of the knife. This knife uses white teflon washers rather than phosphor bronze washers. What this does is make for incredibly smooth deployment. It’s difficult to describe so let me say it’s “very very” smooth. As for speed of deployment, this is not a knife I flick open, the heavy blade makes that difficult.

The Lum Tanto makes use of a solid liner lock. There is no play at all when this thing is engaged and lockup is nice and early. This is a nice sturdy lock that rounds out a very nice knife.

Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto Review – Final Thoughts

Well, what is there to say? Really I’m sure anyone interested in this knife didn’t need to read my review to figure out that this thing is awesome (but I hope you enjoyed the pictures).

I fell in love with this knife at first sight. All in all, I am very happy with it. My blade is slightly off-center. Not a deal breaker, but for a knife with a $250 MSRP I have to mention that. In conclusion, this is just a sweet collectable and potentially a very effective tactical knife. I love the overall aesthetics, the ridiculously thick blade, the grippy G10 and solid construction. If you can get your hands on a Lum Tanto, I totally recommend it.

These are no longer being sold however I have noticed that BladeHQ sometimes gets one or two back in stock.

SOG SEAL Pup Review

by Dan Jackson 19 Comments

SOG got their start with one fixed blade combat knife. It’s hard for me to imagine a knife company’s future balancing on the edge of one blade, but that’s how it went. Thankfully that knife was popular so we now have many SOG knives to enjoy today. One of those knives is the SOG SEAL Pup, a fixed blade military inspired knife that can trace its roots all the way back to that original SOG blade. It’s got a definite pedigree and some proud traditions behind it.

Buy the SOG SEAL Pup at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Thankfully SOG doesn’t rest on their laurels, and their knives get continually updated. The SEAL Pup is one such example. I purchased this SEAL Pup in 2011 and the dimensions are the same as the SEAL Pup Elite, which is a slightly more expensive version of the knife. The only differences are that the Elite uses AUS8 blade steel, is made of slightly thicker stock, can come with a plain edge (vs partially serrated) and has some gentle jimping on the spine of the blade. These are nice improvements, but I think they are marginal. The major updates that the new SEAL Pup has are the bigger, ergonomically improved handle and longer edge. Those are the things that matter the most. I’ll try and get my hands on a SEAL Pup elite for a future review but for now, let me say, I was very impressed with this knife – especially with it’s sub-$50 price tag.

Purpose

First off, the SEAL Pup isn’t a large survival knife or a bushcrafting knife. All it takes is one look and you can see this knife is more oriented for tactical use and general utility. The partial hollow grind is not designed for batoning through wood. The steel is stainless, not a high carbon tool steel. Similar things can be said about the sharp tip and double clip blade shape – they aren’t dedicated survival knife features. While it could work in the woods, if you are in the market for a dedicated survival blade that you plan to use extensively in that role I would suggest looking elsewhere.

However, I understand we don’t always get to pick our survival situations, so many might view the Pup as a potential survival blade. If it’s all you have – rock on, I definitely think it will work. But in my mind the SEAL Pup is geared more as a smaller tactical/combat knife which means in addition to serving as a defensive tool, this knife will serve for basic functions like opening packages, cutting rope, preparing food and stuff like that. I think the SEAL Pup would make for a cool camp knife, and could be carried along on day hikes and similar excursions. I also think this could make a good BOB knife. It’s light enough to be an easy carry.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SOG website claims the SEAL Pup has an overall length of 9″ a blade length of 4.75″ and a weight of 5.4 ounces. Mine was closer to the SEAL Pup Elite, with a 4.85″ blade and overall length of 9.5″. I don’t have a small scale so I couldn’t weigh the knife, but I know with the sheath this knife still weighs under 10 ounces. That is a great carry weight, and like I alluded to in the “purpose” section, carry-ability is important. That big and bad 30 ounce survival knife might be the best wood splitter in the world, but if you are stuck out on a day hike and didn’t feel like strapping that high carbon beast to your back that morning, I’ll tell you – the SEAL Pup could literally be a lifesaver. So in short, I love the practical dimensions of this knife.

The blade shape on the SEAL Pup is a very cool modified bowie shape that calls back to the “One Zero” knife used by the original SOG special forces team in the Vietnam War. Visually, it’s a very cool design. The SEAL Pup is given a hollow grind and there is a big swedge along the top. Mine came with a combo edge although you can find a plain edge version if you buy the SEAL Pup Elite. Also, the SEAL Pup comes with an attractive metallic gray powdercoated finish. This is a durable finish; it’s not some cheap painted finish that will rub off in the sheath.

The SEAL Pup comes in AUS6 steel. AUS6 is obviously similar to AUS8 – it’s a softer steel that is easy to sharpen. I know it may turn some people off, but I actually find AUS6 to be very tough. For a utility blade and potential survival knife, I think AUS6 is decent because the steel resists chipping and cracking very well. However, it a softer steel and will lose its edge faster than AUS8 because it has a lower carbon content. I would recommend spending the extra money and upgrading to AUS8, which is found in the SEAL Pup Elite. All in all, AUS6 is ok here, not outstanding.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is one aspect of the SOG Seal Pup that has been recently updated. The handle is made of black glass reinforced nylon (GRN). GRN a tough handle material that has a nice solid feel in the hand. The handle does not feel light or cheap. This is a full tang knife (or near full tang) so it’s a very strong design. Everything feels very well made.

The Ergonomics on the SEAL Pup are great. The handle has been given 4 finger grooves and has a ramp for your thumb. All the edges have been rounded and almost every inch of the handle has been textured. I find the handle to be both comfortable and grippy. Also, the size of this handle is great too. The previous version had a smaller handle that was less comfortable. I take a large glove, and the upgraded handle fits me well in both forward and reverse grips. This is a very practical design that I am extremely satisfied with.

There is also a large lanyard hole in the pommel that could be a great option depending on how you plan on using this knife.

Sheath

I was extremely impressed with the sheath on the SEAL Pup. Keep in mind, at retail this is a ~$50 knife. I’ve said it before, but for many knives the sheaths can be a major drag on an otherwise great knife. The SEAL Pup comes with a nylon sheath. You have the option of buying a kydex sheath from SOG for around 20 bucks, which is not a bad. That said, I actually really like the nylon sheath.

First of all, the nylon is of high quality. Next, everything is well built. All the seems are double stitched and riveted. The backing is reinforced with plastic (in between the nylon layers) which provides form and rigidity. The sheath itself has a plastic insert that fits the blade of the SEAL Pup snugly. Even if you don’t use the retention strap, the knife will not fall or shake out. The retention strap is a snap AND velcro. This is an awesome touch. The outside of the sheath has a little pouch with the SOG logo stitched onto a velcro flap. That could be a good spot for a small sharpening stone. My only concern with the sheath is that the retention strap could get cut while quickly drawing the knife.

As you can see, there are multiple attachment points on the back of the sheath. You can thread it through all kind of belts, webbing, etc in addition to the 4 eyelets that can be used to lash the knife down. However, the sheath is not molle compatible. This strikes me as an unfortunate oversight as many people would assume that this style of sheath would work with molle webbing.

All in all I was happy with the nylon sheath on the SEAL Pup.

SOG SEAL Pup Review – Final Thoughts

What is there left to say? I am pleased with the SOG SEAL Pup. I have spent a lot of time talking about the design, but I didn’t mention that the fit and finish were also very good. Keep in mind this knife was made in Taiwan, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Everything is well put together. The finish on the blade looks awesome, everything fits together tightly.Combine that with the refined design of this updated version and I don’t think you will be able to find anything like the SEAL Pup at this price.

If you need fixed blade capabilities in your tactical, utility or light duty survival knife then I highly recommend the SOG SEAL Pup.

SOG Fixed Blade Knives - Seal Pup Tactical Knife Survival Knife and Hunting Knife w/ 4.75 Inch Blade and MOLLE Knife Sheath & GRN Grip (M37N-CP) , black

4. 75 INCH AUS-8 STEEL PARTIALLY SERRATED BLADE: The SEAL Pup outdoor knife is a perfectly balanced combat knife, boot knife and hunting knife with sheath; measures 9 inches overall length
5. 4 OUNCE WT. W/ BLACK GRN HANDLE: This stainless fixed blade military knife includes a nearly indestructible field knife handle; glass-reinforced nylon offers great grip w/ zero maintenance
MOLLE-COMPATIBLE SHEATH ATTACHMENT: Easily carry this versatile back pack knife, camping knife and compact belt knife with sheath with the nylon MOLLE knife sheath
FULL TANG, POWDER COATED AND HARDENED: Far stronger than your average belt buckle knife; SOG’s cryogenic heat treatment hardens the blade steel at the atomic level
SOG KNIFE FOR LIFE: Take care of your tactical knife and we’ll take care of you; SOG fixed blade knives with sheath are built to last, and we consider all repair and replacement requests

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