Knives By Purpose

Maxpedition Excelsa Review

Last Updated: September 17, 2019
Maxpedition is a company best known for their military inspired backpacks. They offer a wide range of fabric goods, including packs, pouches, slings, and related accessories. This is a niche brand that has developed a loyal following over the years in the outdoor recreation and daily carry communities.

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So it was a little surprising to hear in 2013 that Maxpedition was going to start selling knives. On some levels it makes sense, as knives definitely compliment outdoor and “tactical” backpacks, but on the other hand they are completely different products. I’d say it’s akin to Apple deciding to sell office furniture.

At any rate, the Maxpedition Excelsa is the second knife from the Maxpedition, the first being the Ferox. The design closely resembles their previous offering, but sees a significant upgrade in materials and construction.

While considerably more expensive, the Excelsa is still aggressively competitive for a titanium frame-lock. Coming in below $130, it has features found on knives over double the price, including an over-travel stop and tool-steel blade.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Excelsa comes in two sizes. The small version is 6.7” in total length with a 2.9” blade and weighing 2.9 oz while the large version is 8.3” in with a 3.6” blade and weight of 5.1 oz. Both sizes are good for Every Day Carry (EDC) depending on your needs and preferences in an EDC knife. The knives are made in Taiwan.

The pattern is a straight forward drop point. This is commonly used on sport and utility knives for its well rounded performance in both slicing and penetrating cuts. It is also easy to maintain with a bellied profile which lacks any kind of re-curve or otherwise unusual geometry. A full flat grind with a secondary bevel produces a keen working edge. A choil will make sharpening to the end of the edge possible. The spine is capped adding nice detailing and there is a jimped thumb ramp for added control.

The blade steel used is D2. In this case it has been hardened between 58-60 Rockwell.

Unusually, there are no markings on the blade denoting the materials or manufacturer. While I like this clean aesthetic, it would be helpful to have the steel type embossed on the ricasso to let the user know how to care for the blade. This is especially true since D2 is a semi-stainless tool steel that will require some maintenance to keep it free of corrosion. If you were the second owner of the knife and didn’t have or read the documentation, then you might be surprised to see the blade behave differently from a true stainless steel folder.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Excelsa has a simple two slab open build with a minimal amount of fasteners: three including the pivot. The inner edge has a first finger groove and another convex sweep that helps to lock the hand in place. The back edge is primarily straight with a slight turn down at the pommel that nests in the hand or serves as a thumb rest in a reverse grip. The titanium and hardware have been given a matching matte, bead blast finish.

The ergonomics are simple but comfortable. This relatively handle design will accommodate most people. You won’t be surprised to hear that the large version is larger and more comfortable for big hands. There is wide toothy jimping on the spine of the blade that captures the thumb without irritating it.

For carry there is a lanyard hole and right handed, tip up or down deep carry pocket clip. When you consider that there is only a single thumb-stud and frame-lock, this adds up to the knife being for right handed people only.

At under 3 ounces, the smaller version of this knife is imminently pocketable. It carries easily and something you will quickly forget thanks to it’s light weight, and the strong spring retention in the pocket clip. The large version is more noticeable in the pocket, but still carries well for what it is thanks to the discreet deep carry clip and thin design.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment there is a tiered thumb-stud with an angled face. Set a good distance away from the scale’s inner edge, producing the blade is easy with one hand. This is helped along by good tolerances and phosphor bronze washers. These thumb studs remind me of those found on the Kershaw Blur.

On opening the tang meets a solid, titanium frame-lock. On the review samples provided, both were play free in any direction and easily disengaged. In order to protect the spring integrity Maxpedition has added a small tab on the inner surface to prevent over-travel when unlocking. While there are several variations of this type of mechanism, Maxpedition is in the process of patenting theirs, asserting differences in the implementation.

Unlike the blade without any markings, the locking leaf has “Maxpedition” laser etched on the surface. The branding here is a little too bold for my taste and I feel the logo could definitely be dialed back a bit to uphold the sober aesthetic.

Maxpedition Excelsa Review – Final Thoughts

Over all the Excelsa is an interesting design. While I understand and very much appreciate minimal design, this may border on sterile for some. It could have been nice to add a little something to make it more personable. Something that wasn’t a large Maxpedition logo. Maybe some added texture or subtle anodized details? Possibly a greater departure from the Ferox design could have expanded the design vocabulary of the line-up? Outside of design taste my only real issue with this knife is the lack of marking for the steel type.

Criticisms aside Maxpedition has done an excellent job with the utility as well as the pricing. You would be hard pressed to find another folder that can boast the features, materials, fit and finish at this price point.

MAXPEDITION EXCELSA Large Framelock Folding Knife (D2 Blade, Titanium Handle)

Durable and Sleek Framelock Folding Knife with D2 Tool Steel Blade & Titanium Handle
D2 tool steel with cryo heat treatment to 58-60HRc
Full height flat grind for optimal edge geometry
6Al4V Titanium alloy handle and locking slab
Unique concealed lock over travel limiter mechanism with Stainless steel ramped thumb stud

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Maxpedition Excelsa at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Additional Specifications:

Small Version

Overall Length: 6.7″
Weight: 2.7 oz

Blade:

Length: 2.9″
Thickness: 0.11″
Steel : D2
Hardness : 58-60 HRC

Handle:

Slab and lock thickness: 0.12″
Length: 3.9″

Large Version

Overall Length: 8.3″
Weight: 5.1 oz

Blade:

Length: 3.6″
Thickness: 0.14″
Steel : D2
Hardness : 58-60 HRC

Handle:

Slab and lock thickness: 0.15″
Length: 4.7″

Made In Taiwan

ESEE Avispa Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

I reviewed the ESEE Zancudo back in 2014. I gave it high marks, and since then it has gone on to be my pick for the best budget EDC knife. I stand by that recommendation, and still own and use the Zancudo to this day. It’s a great affordable every day carry knife and I’m hard pressed to name a better sub $35 folder.

Buy the ESEE Avispa at BladeHQ

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So what about its big brother, the Avispa? It came out a couple years after the Zancudo, and while it has been something I wanted to review, I never got around to it. Until now. Will it live up to the legacy of the Zancudo? Let’s see.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Avispa has an overall length of 8.5″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 4.51 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. It’s a big knife. Much bigger than the Zancudo. I think that’s pretty clear in the comparison photos. Personally, this is not a daily carry piece for me. It’s more of a weekend knife. I think it could make for a great folding camp knife. For opening mail and cutting apples I’ll stick with the Zancudo, but those wanting a bigger knife will get what they want with the Avispa.

The Avispa has a large drop point blade with a high full flat grind. While the blade design is unlikely to win any beauty contests, it’s extremely functional. The tip is dropped down towards the pivot, lending an almost spear point profile. There is a nice sharpening choil, and the edge has been evenly ground. Topping things off is an attractive stonewashed blade finish.

Here is a shot of the Avispa next to the Zancudo:

For blade steel we have tried and true AUS-8. AUS-8 is a Japanese stainless steel. It’s on the soft side, meaning it will dull faster than premium knife steels, but it’s tough, stain resistant, and easy to sharpen. Given the ~$40.00 price tag, I’d say it’s an appropriate blade steel. The Zancudo came in AUS-8 and frankly I never cared. It sharpens in minutes.

I have been using my Avispa around the house. We have tile floors, and recently had the grout professionally cleaned. This meant we had to move most of our worldly possessions into the garage. While I was moving all my crap out of the office I came across a cache of cardboard boxes. It was a great opportunity for my Avispa. The big blade and full flat grind make it a work horse of a knife. I had no problem breaking down the boxes. I also uncovered a little manilla rope from my YouTube days. The Avispa was able to make some crunching cuts, but it tested the ergonomic limits of this thin handle.

Where a knife like this shines is in basic food prep. I eat a lot of fruit and the Avispa’s thin blade is great for slicing apples. But that’s an EDC chore. I decided push the knife further and make a meal with it. We cook a good deal of chicken and vegetables at my house, so that’s the task I put it to. It works well for slicing and dicing, allowing me to make controlled even cuts. It’s not replacing my chef’s knife, but in a pinch I could see this thing cutting onions, carrots, and potatoes at a camp site. It certainly worked in my kitchen.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Avispa’s handle is a textured FRN scale over a nested stainless steel liner on the show side, and a stainless steel lock bar on the lock side. Holding things together is a series of 4 stand offs and a stop pin. This is an inexpensive knife, but it is well made and has some nice details, including a skeletonized liner and black hardware on the show side, with silver hardware on the lock side. Fit and finish is good with all the parts lining up. You can get this knife in a variety of handle colors. This time I chose a nice olive drab.

The Avispa benefits from a simple handle design. Neither the blade nor the handle look particularly impressive, but they function great. There is plenty of room for a full grip, and the knife offers plenty of traction. The handle scale is textured with a faux peel-ply G-10 look, and there is a good run of jimping on the thumb ramp. The jimping strikes that balance between providing traction and being too aggressive.

That said, this is a thin knife, so you do feel it in your hand. If you intend to use the Avispa for an extended period of time you will probably want to wear gloves. It’s fine for basic work, but if you are going to “hard use” this one, then have some leather gloves on stand by.

The pocket clip is where things get interesting. The Avispa is drilled and tapped for ambidextrous tip up / tip down carry. We call this a “4 corners” pocket clip. Out of the box the knife is configured for right side tip down. I’m more of a tip up guy, like most knife enthusiasts I know, so I swapped it to right side tip up. Doing that places the pocket clip directly onto the lock bar. I believe when this knife was originally released, that interfered with the lock bar.

My clip doesn’t interfere with the lock bar, but it also doesn’t touch the lock bar. There is a substantial gap. Take a look:

Obviously this isn’t ideal for a pocket clip. You aren’t going to get the kind of pocket retention most people seek out when using a pocket clip. For this reason I recommend right side tip down, or put the clip on the show side. This isn’t a deal breaker for me, but is worth pointing out.

Pocket clip issues aside, the Avispa more or less carries the way you think it would. It’s a big somewhat heavy knife. It’s thin so it won’t take up your entire pocket, but it’s definitely noticeable.

Deployment and Lockup

The Avispa makes use of ambidextrous thumb studs to get the blade open. The thumb studs are easy to access from the right and left side. The blade itself rides on phosphor bronze washers. The action is smooth and fluid. The detent is nice and strong, keeping the blade securely in place until you need it.

The stainless steel frame lock is sturdy and secure. No blade play on this knife, even when wiggling the blade from the very tip. The lock bar isn’t sticky, and it’s easy to disengage when you are done cutting. No complaints in the lockup department.

Heres a shot of the Avispa next to my Strider SnG. A $40 knife next to a $400 knife. There is a probably a viral video in there somewhere…

Finally I have to mention that my blade is perfectly centered. A great detail on a budget blade. I’m sure there are some slightly off center Avispa blades out there, but generally speaking you will be pleased with the QC on this knife.

ESEE Avispa Review – Final Thoughts

I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to review the Avispa. Maybe it was the pocket clip issue originally reported when the knife was released. Or maybe because I was so happy with my Zancudo I saw no need for the Avispa. Who knows.

Regardless, I’m glad I eventually added an Avispa to my collection. Unsurprisingly, I like this knife for many of the reasons why I like the Zancudo. I prefer it over the Rat II because it’s thinner. I love the little details they managed to shoe horn into this budget blade. And you can’t argue with the utility.

In a perfect world the pocket clip would work better in right side tip up, but that’s a minor complaint. I’ll swap mine back to right side tip down after this review and call it a day.

At the end of the day I recommend the Avispa if you are looking for a large inexpensive daily carry knife, or want a good folding camp knife. I can’t think of anything I prefer in this size at this price point. Like the Zancudo, on a dollar for dollar basis it’s a tough knife to beat. Recommended.

ESEE Avispa Stonewash Folding Knife,3.5in,AUS-8 Steel,Drop BRK1301OD Green Satin Blade

I recommend purchasing the ESEE Avispa 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.

ESEE Laser Strike Review

by Josh Wussow 9 Comments

Alright, I’ll admit it – I’m a huge fan of ESEE Knives. I own a Candiru, Izula-2, and JG3, and I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing an exquisite PR4. So, when the opportunity to sample their Laser Strike model landed in my inbox, you can guess the speed of my reply.

Buy the ESEE Laser Strike at BladeHQ

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While I’m hardly alone in this enthusiasm, much of the halo surrounding ESEE comes from inside the blade-enthusiast bubble. Their American-made pedigree and bulletproof warranty are great for nerds like me, but what about the regular folks who buy their camp knives at Walmart? Tell them you spent $115 on an outdoor blade, and they’ll shoot you some pretty strange looks.

I know this, because it’s exactly what I did. After a few weekends racing around the yard, the Laser Strike’s final lap came on an overnight trip to Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. A few of my friends were testing their camping kits, and they invited me along for the ride. We had a wonderful evening exchanging questionable decisions: Me, teaching them how to baton through logs and them introducing me to, well…

Don’t drink and play with knives, kids. Now, onward before that stuff kicks in.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

In a brand known for its rugged offerings, the Laser Strike stands out as a damage-duty champ. You’re looking at 10-inches of full tang 1095 carbon steel, with a blade nearly as thick as three US quarters stacked together (0.188-inches).

The blade length is a rangy 4.75-inches, 4.5 of which are sharpened. Its flat grind features ESEE’s rugged “Black Textured Powder Coat” over a 1.38-inch width, broken only by the maker’s marks. The knife’s total weight is 9.5-ounces, which is around half as much as a youth-sized aluminum baseball bat.

Now, let me be clear about the provenance of this particular tool. ESEE was kind enough to send it to notorious Youtuber and (I’m directly quoting him here) “big piece of doo doo” Advanced Knife Bro, who agreed to send it my way after mercilessly pummeling it.

As expected, the blade arrived in need of some love. But, that’s one of the beauties of 1095 – It’s easy to whip back into shape. A quick cleaning and Sharpmaker session were all it took to bring the edge back to shaving sharp. But, with a pile of firewood in the garage and a camping trip on the horizon, it didn’t stay that way for long.

So, how did it do with fire prep? Come on – It’s an ESEE. It powered through a half-dozen camp logs without so much as a hiccup. What really shocked me was its prowess at the picnic table. Our menu on this mosquito-rich evening featured ribeye steaks and flame-grilled veggies. I was recruited to help slice onions, peppers, and mushrooms on a small cutting board, which was probably just as thick as the ESEE’s blade. Here’s how things turned out:

Surprised? I certainly was. While it’s certainly no santoku, the Laser Strike turned out to be a more than adequate prep tool. And this was after I’d batoned through several pieces of damp firewood. You won’t be producing translucent onion slices, but for rustic fare like this, the ESEE is surprisingly adept.

Handle and Ergonomics

I love the way that ESEE’s tend to hold my hand. Is that creepy? Too bad, the statement stands. The company’s canvas micarta is on point, and the forward choil fits my index finger perfectly. I also enjoyed the widely spaced jimping, positioned at the step-down transition from blade to handle. It provides excellent traction for my thumb without any discernable discomfort.

A quick aside, for the sake of comparison: I took several knives on this camping trip, including my beloved L.T. Wright GNS and the Condor Swamp Romper (which I gave away to a buddy who didn’t know any better). I encouraged my friends to handle each blade, and the Laser Strike’s scales were the runaway favorite. This could be considered anecdotal, sure, but it was interesting to get some perspective from folks who’re just getting into the knife hobby.

Now, let’s take a moment to discuss the stuff inside the handle. See that metal washer hanging from the base of the sheath? Well, it’s not just for show. This metal disc acts as a flathead driver, allowing you to remove the handle scales. Stowed within are a fire steel and a couple tinder pellets, all included as part of the overall package.

This further pushes the Laser Strike’s “Survival Knife” image, though I do have a few qualms. While certainly serviceable, this small fire steel is pretty difficult to spark. And, given the powder coat, the only available striking surface is (shudder) the blade edge. Sure, the sharpening choil might work, but I’d need to be in a real-life “Fire or I perish” sort of situation before doing that much damage to the cutting surface.

The Laser Strike has another option built in. See that divot on the right handle scale? That’s for a bow drill, allowing you to make fire in an even more bushcraft-friendly fashion. Inefficient? Sure, but 100% cool.

Sheath

The Laser Strike ships with a black Kydex sheath setup, including an ambidextrous clip plate and the aforementioned lanyard/washer combo. It’s a far cry from the leather of the Camp Lore knives I’ve been testing, falling more into the ESEE’s number-knife family (3, 4, 5, etc.).

Retention on the Kydex is good, though it’s absolutely possible to shake 9.5 ounces of knife out of its grip with enough downward thrust. Tension can be adjusted using the sliding screw and washer above the choil area, so you can tighten things up if you feel the need. I like ride height, despite my usual preference for leather danglers. It also manages to be fairly slim, making the knife carry much easier than one would expect from a blade of this heft.

ESEE Laser Strike Review – Final Thoughts

Going into this review, I had no doubts about the Laser Strike’s capabilities as a field-first tool. But it impressed me in every application, from batoning to carving to cooking. Expectations aside, part of the joy of this particular test came from the look on my friends’ faces as they watched me hammer it through our firewood, and the smiles when I handed it over and said “Give it a shot.” Being able to follow up with “You’re not going to break it” and watching them realize it was true – Man, that was a neat moment.

Sufficed to say, I’m completely sold on the Laser Strike as a heavy-duty hacker. It’s not going to replace your smaller blades for ultralight outings and day hikes, but it’s a super-solid addition to a hard-use loadout or car camping kit.

Thanks again to ESEE Knives and Advanced Knife Bro for allowing me to check it out.

Sale

Laser Strike Knife, Black Blade, Micarta Handles, Kydex Sheath

Made in: USA
Category name: knives
Made in USA or imported

Editor: I recommend purchasing the ESEE Laser Strike 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.

Spyderco Native 5 in Fluted CF and S90V Review

by Aaron Shapiro 2 Comments

Several years ago I watched a Nutnfancy video while I was trying to research a new firearm that I had purchased (I did this backwards back then). This led me to the realization that my life wasn’t complete without a pocket knife. My first purchase was a Spyderco and that led to nearly a decade love affair with the brand.

Buy the Native 5 in Carbon Fiber at BladeHQ

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Spyderco as a brand started in 1978 in Golden Colorado by Sal Glesser, over the last forty years the brand has explored many different steel combos, opening methods, locking systems, and more. Recently, it seems like Spydero has been ratcheting their game up in order to compete with the KAI brands (Kershaw, ZT, etc) and Benchmade by adopting super steels, exploring more complex finishing methods, and partnering with notable custom knife makers/designers.

Today we are looking at the Spyderco Native 5, first introduced in 1997 as the Native, but not just “any” Native 5, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B0199VGG7Q” locale=”US” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″]Fluted Carbon Fiber/S90V[/easyazon_link] premium version of the knife. The Native has been in Spyderco’s catalog forever, and is arguably one of their best EDC blades. This special edition is like cranking the amp to 11. However, before we go any further let’s review some specs:

Blade: 2.875”
OAL: 7”
Thickness: .436” not counting clip .623” with clip
Blade Thickness: .127”
Steel: S90V
Weight: 2.8 oz
Lock: Lockback
Made in the USA

All Measurements are my personal measurements and may differ from the manufacturer’s specifications.

Blade

The Spyderco Native 5 is one of the brand’s famously leaf shaped, flat ground blades. I’ve always loved these because they simple excel at most daily EDC tasks. In my case that’s generally relegated to slicing some fruit for lunch, opening packages, and the like and it has been a joy for that.

The Native’s blade tapers to a sharp and delicate tip that will fulfill any and all of your puncturing desires. Aesthetically the flat grind is accented by a small but well placed swedge that runs the majority of spine but doesn’t interfere with the height of the grind.

As for the steel, I think this is where it really gets interesting; S90V is a powdered steel from crucible that’s known for its fantastic edge retention and stain resistance. In my experience I have found that S90V prefers a toothy “utility edge” if you will, which Spyderco happily provides from the factory—the nice thing is you won’t need to sharpen it for a long, long time.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Spyderco wanted to make this particular Native 5 to be as agile and unobtrusive as possible. To do that they made the handles out of two solid slabs of CF and opting to not use liners at all. The clip screws directly into a larger portion of the backspacer/spring assembly as opposed to a liner. This has resulted in a knife that weighs less than 3oz. Spyderco then went and added this starburst style milled texture to the handle scales which offers an excellent grip when in hand.

Grip texture aside, the shape and flow of the handle allows you to get a solid full hand grip on the knife—there’s a solid choil towards the front that will prevent you hand from sliding at all, or you can jump it with your index finger for a more “choked-up” grip if needed. The result is a great working knife that is comfortable in a variety of grips.

The clip is Spyderco’s their regular spoon style three screw clip. I feel like this is a fairly known-quantity at this point. They use similar clips all across their production line from entry level (think Tenacious) to high-end as you see here.

Not much that I’d really critique here. I like this clip and I feel that it does its job well. Some folks prefer deep carry clips, I do not, but I believe there are after market options available to you if that’s something you’re after.

Deployment and Lockup

Being a Spyderco the Native 5 makes use of a 12.6mm hole opener or “spydiehole.” I’ve always been a fan of these and this one is no exception. The “action” of the knife however is different than most Spydercos in that it’s a lock back, and because of that it has tension from the lock across the blade then entire time it’s opening. It’s not really a “flickable” knife in the normal sense.

The lockback itself is very well executed; smooth while opening, and pop’s into place with a resounding click. The tension on the spring isn’t too tight when releasing the lock, however closing the knife, for me, is a two handed operation or maybe one hand and the back of your leg—you get the idea. As you’d expect there’s zero play in any direction, the knife as a whole feels extremely solid.

Spyderco Native 5 in Fluted Carbon Fiber and S90V Review – Final Thoughts

In my mind there are two real competitive options when it comes CF/S90V production knives. The first is the Benchmade 940-1 and the second is this one. Before I wrap this review entirely, I want to give a little compare/contrast of the two and offer a personal opinion if you’re trying to choose.

BladeHQ currently has the Benchmade priced at $267.75 vs the Native at $233.97. The Benchmade is a larger knife in a slimmer profile, offering around half an inch more blade than the Native. Due to the Benchmade’s thinner handle it’s going to present a better profile in pocket than the Spyderco will. The Native, however, feels rock solid in every way once opened whereas I am able to muscle some movement out of the Benchmade’s lock when opened. This doesn’t mean that I’d expect the Axis lock to fail, but it will come down to personal preference as to whether you’re okay with some wobble. The two knives are the same thickness and roughly the same weight.

Basically I think it’ll boil down to a few things: The first and most obvious will be cost, the Spyderco is ~$30 cheaper, this might matter to you, and if it does there’s no need to go any further. The second is lock preference. While I think the lock back on the Native feels tighter then the Axis, I do prefer the Axis from a usability standpoint; it also allows you a knife that you can flick open and closed. The third and final thing to consider is just the overall appeal.

Personally, I love the finish to the Benchmade’s CF with the faux milled bolster and how it tapers towards the top and bottom. The Spyderco’s sunburst fluting is cool, but much more subtle and it gives the CF more of a matte quality dampening down some of the dimension in the weave. For those reasons, I think if I had to pick one, I’d still get the Benchmade… but that’s just me. The Spyderco, as my above review has shown, is an excellent piece and a capable tool.

In the end, I think either knife would be suitable for two people primarily… a newer collector that’s looking to branch into higher end materials but isn’t quite ready to make the jump to CRK or customs yet or the seasoned collector that’s looking for a piece to use around the house in the place of some of their more expensive knives. Just my .02.

Spyderco Native 5 Knife - Black Carbon Fiber Handle with PlainEdge, Full-Flat Grind, CPM S90V Steel Blade and Back Lock - C41CFFP5

An Improved Classic: The Native model has been a mainstay of Spyderco's product line for years as a result of it's Superior Quality and affordability. The state of the art Native 5 is available in an array of handle choices and colors.
USA Made: Spyderco takes tremendous pride in every knife we make, but the ones crafted in our Golden, Colorado factory are special because we invest a piece of ourselves in every USA-Made knife we create.
Superior Quality: This Carbon Fiber handle is made of graphic fibers woven together then fused with epoxy resin. This solid, yet lightweight handle is intricately machined with a fluted sunburst patern.
Dependable: If you are looking for control and precision, look no more. This knife features our PlainEdge grind which is known for creating a smooth and exact cut.
High-Strength Lock: The Back Lock mechanism is known for it's high-strength and ease of use. The locking system is positioned on the back of the handle.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Native 5 in Fluted Carbon Fiber 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.

Editor’s Note: The original Native 5 has grown on me steadily over the past few years. It is at the point where I prefer my Native 5 over my Sage 1 for daily carry (gasp). I like it more than the Sage because it is lighter, and the pocket clip is sturdier. The fact that it’s a USA made piece doesn’t hurt either. It’s a great size for EDC and has proven itself to be a tremendous work knife. To me this upgraded version of the Native 5 looks excellent and I’ll look to snag one for myself.

Zero Tolerance 0609 Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

This is a reader request. Proof that if you twist my arm hard enough I’ll review the latest full titanium Zero Tolerance flipper. Only for you guys.

Buy the Zero Tolerance 0609 at BladeHQ

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The Zero Tolerance 0609 is an R.J. Martin design, and is another step in ZT’s trend of releasing smaller, more EDC friendly knives. The last R.J. Martin / ZT collab I handled was the 0600, a massive, 9.5″ framelock flipper. It was big and beautiful piece, but few people are going to want to carry a folding knife with a 4.25″ blade on a regular basis. Plus it was a $400 limited edition knife.

The 0609 is much more reasonable in its footprint, price point, and availability. When you consider that I reviewed pieces like the 0300 and 0560 only a handful of years ago, it shows how the market has evolved. Big chunky knives are losing favor to more pocket friendly offerings. Lets take a deep dive into this recent release from Zero Tolerance.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0609 has an overall length of 7.4″, a 3.4″ blade, weighs 3.3 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a good size knife, but you may be surprised to learn that the 0609 is both smaller and lighter than a Benchmade Griptilian. I think this is a great size for those wanting a full size knife, but still something thin, lightweight, and special.

The blade is a twist on R.J.’s classic drop point, found on models from his Q36 customs, to the Kershaw Volt. This particular blade has been given a harpoon and swedge, lending a more exotic, technical look to the knife.

Blade stock is thin, clocking in at .12″ (just over 3mm thick), and the high flat grind combined with a wide edge makes for a knife that slices well right out of the box. I had no problem slicing apples, and the knife absolutely decimates cardboard.

Blade steel is CPM-20CV, which is chemically similar to M390, but made in the USA by Crucible. Edge retention has been excellent and there are no signs of chipping or rolling. No issues with rust or corrosion either.

The knife has served well in its role as a high end EDC or “gentleman’s tactical” folding knife. It’s a knife that has been built for speed. I can’t help analogizing it to a sports car. It’s low-slung and has a premium feel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The 0609’s handle is comprised of two heavily milled pieces of bronze anodized titanium. The anodization is interesting, as the bronze picks up hues of blue and purple from the oils on your skin. I think it’s a nice change of pace over standard raw titanium, but wonder how it will wear over time.

Handle construction is simple and clean. You have two simple handle pillars, and then you have the oversized See-Through Pivot (STP). The STP is an R.J. Martin creation that allows you to see through the pivot. It’s cool and different, but the draw back is you need to buy a special tool from KAI to adjust the pivot or take apart the knife. That’s a definite drawback to an otherwise practical offering from ZT. Still, the STP is one of the more interesting details of the knife.

The ergonomics of the 0609 are pretty good. The handle is long enough to accommodate a full 4 finger grip, while the textured titanium, jimped thumb ramp and spine, and finger grooves all serve to lock your hand in place. The only rub is that this knife is 1.125″ at its widest. Its very thin, making it great for carry, but less comfortable for extended use. Personally, I’m fine with sacrificing a little ergonomic comfort for a lighter and more streamlined knife, but if you are expecting this to fill the hand like an 0808, well, it won’t.

For carry the 0609 comes with a simple inoffensive pocket clip. Even the Zero Tolerance logo has been dialed back on the clip of this knife. Gone are the days of the big “ZT” billboard. Now we have “Zero Tolerance” lettered in a small and spare font. The clip offers good retention and the knife rides relatively deep in the pocket. The handle has been drilled and tapped for ambidextrous tip up carry.

In practice the 0609 carries great. It’s slim, and lightweight. You will quickly forget that you are even carrying it. The sturdy pocket clip keeps the knife firmly in place. Perhaps a deep carry clip would have been nice, but this clip is small and stays out of the way.

Deployment and Lockup

Like most ZTs, this is a titanium framelock flipper. And once again, Zero Tolerance demonstrates that they know how to put a titanium framelock flipper together. The flipper tab is prominent and lightly jimped. The blade pops open easily with either a push button or lightswitch flick. The detent is strong, and the blade rides smoothly on Kershaw’s KVT caged bearing system.

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with stainless steel lockbar insert. Lockup is early and secure. There is no play in any direction and the lockbar disengages easily without any stick. I often consider Zero Tolerance to be the best in the business when it comes to production titanium framelock flippers. The 0609 is another example of why that’s the case.

Here is a shot next to my ZT O450CF. It’s actually not much bigger than the 0450CF. Mostly it’s a wider knife than the 0450CF.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Zero Tolerance 0609 Review – Final Thoughts

I think this is the most refined non-limited production ZT I have handled to date. Clearly they have listened to customer feedback, and this strikes me as an evolution of the Zero Tolerance lineup. Some people may want big chunky folding knives, but there are plenty of us who want something thin and light.

While the brand has been obviously trending towards more practical knives over the years, this 0609 strikes me as the total package. A slick R.J. Martin design, a thinly ground blade married to a lightweight and strong titanium handle, with great flipping action and solid lockup. What’s not to like? The answer is “not much”. It’s a great knife.

Even the price is reasonable. These retail for a little over $200. Not cheap by any stretch, but not unreasonable for a USA made premium pocket knife either. This is easily my favorite regular production Zero Tolerance folder to date. Highly recommended.

Zero Tolerance 0609 Pocketknife; 3.4-inch CPM 20CV Drop Point Blade with Two-Toned Finish; 3D Textured Titanium Handle, Anodized Bronze; KVT Ball Bearing Manual Open; Reversible Pocketclip; 3.3 oz

CPM 20CV premium powdered steel selected for hard use; produced by Crucible with high volume vanadium carbides and highest level chromium to ensure blade’s polish, exceptional durability and longevity
Lightweight and razor sharp, 0609 measures 4. 25 inches closed, 7. 4 inches open; it boasts a titanium frame lock with angled lock bar for secure, reliable lockup that prevents unintentional closing
A perfect EDC, the multi-faceted 0609 can aid in self- and home-defense, emergencies, meal prep, wilderness survival, job site maintenance, daily chores, recreational activities and military maneuvers
Ultimate knife is memorable gift for a spouse, co-worker, close friend, graduate, parent, first responder, relative embarking on special journey, bride or groom, generous host or extraordinary retiree
ZT knives are designed for heavy-duty use and to provide maximum strength and versatility; they are domestically produced and against manufacturing defects in material and construction

I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0609 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.

Giant Mouse ACE Nimbus Review

by Josh Wussow 1 Comment

Last Updated August 14, 2019
Few names in the knife world garner as much respect as Jesper Voxnaes and Jens Anso. Together, they’re a veritable dynamic duo of knife design. So, when the folks at Giant Mouse Knives agreed to send over a loaner of the pair’s new ACE Nimbus model, the clouds parted and I beheld the aura of a truly excellent EDC blade.

Buy the Giant Mouse ACE Nibus at BladeHQ

Mythical and meteorological references aside, this is a surprisingly grounded tool. Based off a venerable midcentury motorcycle, Anso and Vox drew inspiration from the “rugged, utilitarian design objectives of the Nimbus.” The Giant Mouse website hails it as their “take on a great tool knife… the kind of knife you will love to use for years to come.”

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Let’s start with the Nimbus’ centerpiece – Three inches of flat-ground Bohler M390. This beautiful blade is a full inch tall, with a thickness of 0.14 at its well-chamfered peak. The satin finish provides a glow worthy of its namesake’s Merriam-Webster definition, with beautifully etched logos on the clip side. The teardrop opening hole is rounded along its top (where your finger is most likely to make contact), though the lower edge has been left square.

Behind the blade, users will be treated to 4.25-inches of textured G-10, with stainless steel liners and a reversable wire pocket clip. The Nimbus is fairly wide through the hips, exactly twice as tall in the handle (1.1”) as it is across (0.55”). This brings the weight to a not-inconsiderable 4.04-ounces – Hefty, but not bad for a heavy-use tool.

And indeed, this is how Giant Mouse wants us to consider the Nimbus. They advertise it as “the knife you’ll want to keep in your winter coat, backpack, working jeans or toolbox.” In that vein, here’s a comparison with the two other folders I reach for when the going gets tough: The Spyderco Native 5 and Zero Tolerance 0562.

So, how does it perform? Honestly, this one took a while to grow on me. The blade felt undersized at first, struggling to straddle apples and medium sized onions. The turning point came in the form of several large bookshelf boxes from my construction trailer. These paper behemoths fell to pieces in the face of the Nimbus. Its tall edge glided through six-foot swaths of quarter-inch cardboard, almost reminiscent of a razor knife. Consider me sold.

Performance aside, there are additional advantages to a sub-3.5 blade, legality being foremost among them. From city warehouses to country cabins, it’s a knife that can go where the work is.

A few nitpicks: While I love the cutting capability, I actually feel that the blade may be a little under-branded. The ACE and Giant Mouse logos are great, but the show side has been left completely blank. I’d like to see these split, perhaps with one logo on each side, in addition to a mark announcing the M390 steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Nimbus is a nice match for my medium/large hand. The humpback design creates a solid grip, especially when paired with the handle’s overall thickness. The thumb jimping is perfectly placed, just forward of the opening hole. The texturing of the G-10 is sublime, marking a nice balance between smoothness and grip. I’d compare it to the feeling of a Micarta handle from ESEE, making it a bit softer than the G-10 on the ZT 0562 shown above.

The weakest point of this ACE’s ergos lies in its lockbar. The slight scallops cut for thumb traction tend to rest in the joint of my index finger, causing a bit of a sawing effect under heavy grip. It’s not a major issue, and just mentioning it makes it sound like more of an issue than it really is. At no point did I develop a skin irritation because of this bit of texturing. Still, you’ll certainly know it’s there.

Speaking of touchy spots, take a look at the tip in the photo below. More specifically, check out how close it is to the top of the liners.

Yeesh. While it’s not close enough to catch a finger as it slides across the surface, this is my strongest criticism of the knife. A slight alteration in the blade’s angle would have dropped the point safely beneath the surface. As it is, it’s not close enough to be considered a fatal flaw. But you’ll definitely want to mind the gap, as our British friends say.

The wire clip, too, is something of a conundrum. While I’m a huge fan of its overall design and deep-carry function, it does create a minor hotspot in the palm. The pros outweigh the cons here, so I’m happy with it overall.

Let’s take a moment to talk about the internals. The folks at Giant Mouse were kind enough to allow me to take the Nimbus apart, and I’m very glad they did. Take a look at the full breakdown:

Beyond the solidity of its machining, there’s some excellent detail work here. The badging on the liners is very attractive, and obviously meant to be enjoyed by tinkerers such as myself. Then there are the washers, inset with a race track for the bearings. There’s so much to like here, and the disassembly process is relatively straightforward. My lone complaint lies in the free-spinning pivot, which requires a TORX driver on both sides for takedown and dial-in. Otherwise, this knife’s maintenance process was a breeze.

Deployment and Lockup

Giant Mouse said it best themselves: “If you are looking for a trick knife to middle-finger flick and play with during office breaks, we have other options coming in the ACE-line.” This held true throughout my time with the Nimbus.

While the finger hole is certainly capable of producing snappy opens, this isn’t exactly a fidget-friendly tool. For one, the lack of a flipper tab/blade guard makes it possible to flick the edge down onto your thumb during closure. It didn’t happen to me, but careless users may find themselves with a nick or two if they’re not careful. This isn’t something I’d consider as a flaw, especially since Giant Mouse straight up warns you that this is a function-first knife. Still, lockup is solid and satisfying, with the linerlock leaf snapping into place flush with the clip side of the blade tang.

Dialing the action in can take a bit after disassembly, due to the nature of a free-spinning pivot. But once you have the screws in right, you’re left with nothing but smooth solidity.

Giant Mouse ACE Nimbus Review – Final Thoughts

The Nimbus looks, feels, and cuts like a $175 knife – Every inch, every penny. From its excellent construction to the thoughtfulness of its design, this is a rare case where the silver linings outshine whatever troubles make up the cloud. Fans of Anso and Voxnaes will find a lot to like here, and newcomers can use it as a primer for their design philosophy. At the risk of making a pun, the folks at Giant Mouse… Well, they ACE’d it.

Giant Mouse ACE Nimbus – From $175.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Giant Mouse ACE Nimbus at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.