Knives By Purpose

Spyderco Tuff Review

Ed Schempp’s designs are something of an acquired taste. The man isn’t afraid to try new things, and his “function over form” design philosophy aligns nicely with Spyderco’s credo. He has worked on a series of ethnic folders with Spyderco which have intrigued me, although never to the point of acquisition. I have always found his designs to be a little strange.

Buy the Spyderco Tuff at BladeHQ

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That said, the Tuff slowly grew on me. Not so much from a visual standpoint, but from the idea of designing a knife that is such an unapologetically hard use folding knife. We often see “hard use” folding knives that fit inside a lot of the tropes of well established knife design. The Tuff looks more at home in a scene from Aliens than it does sitting in the display case of a cutlery shop. The Tuff is extreme. That is what drew me to this knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Tuff has an overall length of 8.85″, a 3.7″ blade, and weighs 6.3 ounces. This ain’t no normal EDC knife. Surprisingly, it feels lightweight for its size, and carries most of its weight in its 4mm thick blade. I am not sure who this is good for as a daily use knife. It would be good for a camp site, a farm, or maybe if you were 350 pounds and rode in a motorcycle gang for a living.

As for self defense applications, I certainly would not want to be stabbed with this knife… for whatever that is worth. I have enjoyed carrying the Tuff on the weekends and for purposes of putting this review together, and wouldn’t mind having one in my pocket while traversing a dark alley, but I can’t say that I need a knife like this to accomplish my basic daily tasks.

The blade of the Tuff is almost like a beak. The tip is insane. It’s a thick piece of 3V steel, with a dramatic fuller running almost the entire length of the blade. The fuller looks cool, lightens the blade up a little bit, and offers an alternate means of opening the knife. The flat grind is thick, but that’s par for the course with this kind of knife. It still cuts pretty well for what it is. The large forward choil leaves you with a mere 3 inches of cutting edge, not a ton given it’s overall size. What else can I say? It’s a brutish blade. The satin finish is handsome and lends almost a surgical appearance to the tool.

3V steel is a high carbon tool steel known for it’s combination of edge retention and extreme toughness. This is actually my first knife in 3V, so I was especially interested in examining its performance. I know that Strider has been using 3V on their toughest folders and I have seen it showing up in a lot of custom and mid tech offerings as well. It has been received very well by the knife community as a hard wearing no-nonsense premium steel for those wanting extreme toughness and good edge retention.

There are folks on YouTube using 3V knives to bust up cinder blocks. I’m not nearly that hardcore. But I ran the knife through a series of tests with cardboard, rope, and wood, and even did some light chopping with it. The edge (and lock) held up well. The edge seemed toothy and cut very aggressively – kind of like M4.

While this is a thick blade and the geometry isn’t ideal for fine slicing (forget cutting up an apple with it), the knife cut surprisingly well. Much better than say, my SnG, which also is a very stout blade. When it came time to sharpen I did not have any issues with a strop and fine Spyderco Sharpmaker stones. Like many high carbon steels, 3V felt like it wanted to take an edge. No issues with rust or corrosion either, although this is not a stainless steel knife and you need to exercise some care with it. I found M4 on my Gayle Bradley took a patina faster than this 3V.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Tuff’s handle features a black G10 scale over a full stainless steel liner, a partial G10 backspacer, and a thick titanium framelock. Oh, and there are dimples all over the handle. The dimples are visually interesting, lighten the knife up a little bit, and are well executed. This knife has come from Spyderco’s Taiwan-based manufacturer, and the fit and finish of this handle is immaculate. The stainless steel liner has been drilled out to keep the weight down, the oversized pivot is a custom piece, and all the pieces line up perfectly. This is what I have come to expect from Taiwanese Spydercos, and I’m pleased to say I haven’t been disappointed.

The Tuff is a surprisingly comfortable knife. Or maybe that isn’t a surprise given how ugly this thing is. Regardless, it’s comfortable. With the forward choil the handle is so big I can almost get 2 hands on it, so you have options as to hand placement. You can choke up on the blade for more precision work. You can also lean far back on the handle for light chopping. The knife is almost like a folding kukri. There is a run of jimping on the spine, choil, and lock relief. All of the jimping works well without being overly annoying. The handle design itself has a strong negative angle, which has a way of putting the blade on target. Overall I found the Tuff to be comfortable and easy to work with.

The pocket clip is a 4-position blackened stainless steel spoon clip. It has good tensile strength, and is planted in place with three fasteners that fit over the pivot or lanyard hole. The clip has been finished with something of a black chrome look, and it gives the clip some depth and character. It isn’t an ultra deep carry clip. I suspect it has been designed to be strong and easy to access. In pocket the Tuff carries well for it’s size. It’s a flat knife and is relatively lightweight give its size. For a working knife like this I think they did a good job with the pocket clip.

Deployment and Lockup

Spyderco included a generous thumb hole with the Tuff. I can flick the knife open but it usually involves shaving off a good portion of my thumb nail. The heavy blade, strong detent, and sharp thumb hole do not make this the easiest knife to flick open – but it is possible. I tend to prefer using the fuller to push the blade open. It catches the thumb nicely and gets the job done. The action of the knife was very smooth straight out of the box thanks in part to generous phosphor bronze washers.

For lockup the Tuff is equipped with a short throw titanium frame lock. It’s a sturdy lock further reinforced with a stainless steel lockbar insert. The lock bar insert also doubles as a hidden lockbar stabilizer. The stop pin on this knife is about as thick as I have ever seen. It’s a really impressive stop pin.

In an earlier version of the knife I handled, I recall the lock being real “tuff” to disengage. I bought my personal knife a few months ago, and this version is easier to disengage. I realize that this is a knife designed for he man alpha males, but I appreciate that this lock bar is easier to disengage. Also, the knife is very smooth. The blade will fall close when you disengage the lock.

As for lock strength, I haven’t taken this knife to the moon or entered it into a robot fighting competition (yet), but so far it has held up well under normal use and a few trips to the back yard to beat around with some heavy cardboard, rope, and fire prep. So far so good.

Also, as an aside, I love the sound this blade makes when opening. Opening the blade slowly makes for a very satisfying “ker-thunk”.

Spyderco Tuff Review – Final Thoughts

The Spyderco Tuff lives up to it’s name. Next to the Hinderer XM-18 this is one of the most heavily built folders I have reviewed, although the Benchmade Adamas and ZT 0550 are pretty damn beefy too. Compared with a run of the mill production folder this a huge difference in build. If overbuilt is what you are looking for then check out the Tuff. For $200.00 is a serious piece of hardware.

Of course a knife like this is not for everyone. I can’t seriously EDC this thing, and I’m guessing most readers won’t. Also some people will be turned off by the looks of it. Between the dimples, huge fuller, and elongated shape I am sure it doesn’t appeal to everyone’s design tastes.

Spyderco Schempp Tuff G-10 Plain Edge Knife, Black

Flat-ground drop-point Crucible CPM 3V steel blade
Black G-10 scales
Dimpled texture pattern
Oversized pivot assembly and hardened steel lock interface

I recommend purchasing the Tuff at at Amazon.com and BladeHQ. Thank you very much.

GEC #47 Viper Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
I have recently seen a resurgence of interest in classic slipjoint knives. Maybe folks are getting tired of shelling out $200+ for the latest framelock flipper. Or maybe they like the idea of carrying something their grandpa may have carried. Who knows for sure.

Buy the GEC Viper at KnivesShipFree

Personally I know over the past couple years my carry tastes have trended toward the traditional. I still enjoy the latest and greatest, but 2 of my favorite EDC folders in recent memory have been the Victorinox Cadet and Chris Reeve Mnandi. I loved the slim utility of the Cadet, and the leather ensconced classiness of the Mnandi. They are such excellent knives for my basic daily purposes.

Then reading Tony’s review of the Indian River Jack piqued my interest in GEC knives. I view some of these GEC slip joints as almost a cross between a Cadet and Mnandi: simple tools matched with higher end materials and finishes.

So today’s review is of the GEC Viper. Or the #47 as some call it. I don’t know what it is exactly about the classic swayback slip joint pattern, but I really dig these traditional wharncliffes. The Viper is a newer model, and it’s garnered a fair amount of enthusiasm amongst the traditional knife crowd, so I figured it would be a nice model to acquire for review.

I don’t proclaim to be an expert on these traditional knives. Heck I’m not an expert on knives at all (just ask Kershaw Thomas). But I enjoy cutlery and will do my best to share my opinion of this fine folder from Great Eastern Cutlery.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Viper has an overall length of 6.81″, a 3″ blade, and it weighs 2.7 ounces. I must not have researched this knife very carefully because when it arrived in it’s cardboard tube I was surprised at how big it was. This is a good size slippie, especially when compared to something like a Cadet. I grew to enjoy the size of the 47. After all, it was originally designed to be a working knife. It is also fine as a suburban EDC.

The Viper comes with a beautiful 1095 carbon steel warncliff blade. Mine has a high flat grind and swedge. The edge is very fine. It’s more of a microbevel than anything. The high carbon steel has been given almost a mirror polish. It looks good and I imagine it helps cut down on rust and corrosion. 1095 is not a stainless steel, and I have had it rust on a few of my fixed blades. By giving the blade a polish there is actually less surface area for rust.

But the cool thing is that the polished 1095 will patina. On my Sod Buster JR I decided to play around with a “forced” patina by slathering the blade in mustard. With the Viper I want the patina to form naturally, so I’ve just been using the knife as I normally would, and resisting the urge to dip it in a vat of honey dijon. So far the results have been cool. I like the character it has developed over the past couple months, and look forward to seeing how things progress.

One small complaint is the amount of branding that GEC etches onto the blade. In my pictures the etching has faded, but from the factory it comes with a very overt “NORTHFIELD UN-X-LD” logo smack dab in the middle of the beautiful blade. Yeah… no thanks. Mercifully, most of the logo rubbed off after an application of Barkeeper’s Friend, a cleaning product that should consider sponsoring the website given how much I talk about it.

The 1095 isn’t just good to look at. The blade of my Viper has been given a super keen edge, and the cutting performance has been really nice. The blade easily tracks through paper, and I’ve also used the knife for mild food prep, opening packages, etc. But the other weekend I really put the knife through it’s paces. I was tasked with cutting up a large quantity of cardboard with drywall joint compound on it that wouldn’t fit into a trash can. These slip joints are usually ground thin, and the Viper is no exception. It is a keen slicer and made easy work of the cardboard. At the end of the the edge had slowed down a little, but 1095 is very easy to touch up on a strop or corner of my Spyderco Sharpmaker.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

GEC offers the Viper in a variety of handle configurations. Mine is bolstered with Che Chen Rosewood scales over brass liners. This is my first knife with rosewood. It’s a beautiful wood and I have seen it on many high end guitars. I love the fine cord-like grain and deep shimmering quality of the wood when you hold it up to the light. The handle has been beautifully finished. The edges are nicely chamferred, there are no gaps in the liner or backspring, the pins and lanyard tube are meticulously sanded down, and the silver medallion inset into the handle is flawless. When you turn the knife over to examine the back of the handle there is no gap or bump in between the back spring and spine of the blade. It’s a really nice and well made handle.

In hand the Viper feels like a spacious work knife should. Don’t let the wood handles fool you: this is still a high performance tool. Back before the days of titanium, G10 and stainless steel, these were the kinds of knives folks used every day. Working with the Viper you can understand why these kinds of handles have stood the test of time. They are basic and comfortable. You can definitely whittle some sticks, cut cardboard, or handle most other daily tasks with ease.

The Viper is without a pocket clip, but it came with a leather slip sheath. I enjoyed using a slip sheath with my Mnandi, and use a slip sheath with my Fantoni Dweller as well. This sheath is wider and thicker than I’m used to, but it’s sturdy and feels good in the pocket. I like this kind of carry – especially when working in an office. If the sheath is too bulky you could always throw the knife directly into your pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

I should probably change this section to “Walk and Talk” to fall more in line with the idiosyncrasies of traditional folders. After all, this is a slip joint with a nail nick. The knife doesn’t “deploy” and there is no lock up. The nail nick is easy to get at, and the backspring on the slip joint is surprisingly strong. This is a purposeful two handed opening knife. There is a dedicated half stop, and the backspring is almost flush at the half stop.

When closing the knife you need to use some level of care due to the strong back spring. There is a half stop, but if you aren’t careful there is still room for the meat of your finger to get pinched in between the ricasso and handle. The slip joint is sturdy and reassuring, and inspired enough confidence for me to take on tougher jobs. The spring itself is tempered high carbon steel. Still, you need to use some care when working with a knife like this. It’s not a locking folder, and it sure as heck isn’t a fixed blade. Make sure you are using the right tool for the job.

GEC Viper Review – Final Thoughts

The Viper has been a wonderful introduction to higher end US made slip joint knives. I really like the look of single bladed slip joints, and traditional wharnies, so it was easy to pick this one out of the GEC lineup when thinking of my first knife.

That said, I was still surprised at how much I have enjoyed the 47. This is a larger folder, but it is still innocuous enough to bring to work. It carries well, cuts cleanly, and is satisfying to open and use. The materials are great, the fit and finish are on point, and the price is reasonable. The knife is also made in the USA. At the end of the day I have an extremely hard time finding any kind of fault with the Viper. I could do without the lanyard hole, but I see why they included it. I am also not a huge fan of the amount of branding GEC etched onto the blade. Thankfully, that faded with cleaning. Beyond that I have no complaints.

I highly recommend the Viper if you are looking for a traditional folder or just an excellent EDC.

GEC Viper – From $82.36
From: KnivesShipFree

I recommend purchasing the Viper at KniveShipFree. 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.

Kershaw CQC-6K Review

by Dan Jackson 27 Comments

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
Occasionally a knife comes along that I feel almost obligated to review. Almost as if I would be doing the site a disservice by not reviewing the knife. My goal with the website from day one was to build a resource, and a resource on folding knives would be pretty crummy if I didn’t have reviews of things like the Benchmade Griptilian or Kershaw Skyline. These kinds of knives have become so ubiquitous to our understanding of what a modern folding knife is, to the point where I feel that it would be a failure on my part not to include a review on them.

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I think that the CQC-6K could be another one of those knives. The CQC-6K is one knife in a series of collaborations between Emerson knives and Kershaw. That alone is reason enough to review it. Ernest Emerson is known for his quirky designs and relatively expensive knives. Between chisel grinding the edge, drilling and tapping the pocket clip for right side tip up carry only, and retailing the blades for (usually) over $180, his work is inaccessible to lots of people. These Kershaw collaborations can be had for under $40, and feature creature comforts like ambidextrous clips and v-ground edges. These knives could be perfect for someone who doesn’t want a cask strength Emerson.

I decided to pick out the CQC-6K specifically because it seemed like their flagship model. If you want to see an overview of the entire collaboration I invite you to check out the awesome work The Edge Observer did on the series. He really did a fantastic job and it gives you a good feel for the entire lineup. I am entirely too cheap and too lazy to purchase and review the entire collection.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The CQC-6K has an overall length of 7.75″, a 3.25″ blade, and weighs 5.1 ounces. Kershaw has produced a number of smaller designs in the Kershaw/Emerson lineup, but I feel like this is a good size for my needs. 3.25″ is a good size blade for EDC, it fits the hand well, and just feels right.

I will say that at over 5 ounces, my biggest complaint is the weight. I don’t mean to sound like NutnFancy, but I think it is a valid criticism of the knife. Part of me wants to justify the heavy build because of the stainless steel frame lock, but with knives like the ESEE Zancudo being stainless steel framelocks coming in a full 2 ounces lighter than this 6K, I can’t help but wonder if things could have been done differently to save some weight. The flip side is that this knife appears to be very tough.

The CQC-6K comes with a classic clip point blade. Fans of a tanto blade may prefer the CQC-7K, which is basically the same knife with a tanto. You don’t need to be a history major to realize that the clip point is a very functional blade shape that has stood the test of time. I really enjoyed my CQC-13, which is an even more aggressive clip point. Here you get a capable tip, a good belly, and plenty of edge, all mated to a hollow grind. I like this blade shape a great deal.

Emerson’s blades are one of my favorite aspects of his knives. The grinds are beautiful and I love the 2-toned finishes found on his stonewashed models. Here Kershaw attempted a 2 tone effect: satin flats and a stonewashed primary bevel. It’s not nearly as nice as a real Emerson, but I give them props for trying something different. I like this touch.

For steel Kershaw went with 8Cr13MoV. I don’t mind 8Cr13MoV on a $30 knife. As I have mentioned dozens of times before, it sharpens easily and it takes a good edge. Sure it won’t hold onto that edge forever, but that’s part of the game. My blade has held up well under normal use. Can’t say I did anything too crazy with the knife, but it broke down boxes, carved wood, and opened up plastic packaging on several occasions. If the intended use is EDC, the CQC-6K should do just fine.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The CQC-6K has a G-10 handle scale and stainless steel liner on the non-locking side, and a stainless steel framelock on the locking side. There is a partial G-10 backspacer. Construction is solid. The framelock and liner are both substantial, and is where this hefty knife picks up several of its extra ounces. I like how Kershaw went with Phillips head hardware for the body screws, and a slotted pivot, paying homage to Emerson’s original creations. The fit and finish of the handle is also quite good. The corners of the framelock were all chamfered, and the pieces line up well. One thing I did notice is that this framelock will rust if you aren’t careful. I am not sure what I was doing with my knife (maybe I used it prepare food or carried it around in a sweaty pocket), but one day I picked it up and noticed little rust spots on it. Bar Keeper’s Friend saved the day yet again, but it’s an observation I wanted to mention.

Ergonomically, the CQC-6K feels like an Emerson. That’s a great thing. This is a ridiculously comfortable knife. The handle is thick and spacious, and you have a deep finger groove that locks your hand in place. There is a prodigious amount of jimping on the knife, a feature I have shied away from, but it’s subdued and works well here. There is plenty of space to grab this in forward and reverse grips. This is just a good handle design.

The pocket clip on the CQC-6K is modeled after the standard Emerson clip. It has been scaled down to fit the proportions of this smaller knife, but it’s the same shape of the clip regular Emersons come with. The clip is a proven design and was well implemented here, especially since Kershaw decided to drill and tap this thing for ambidextrous tip up carry. It’s a Christmas miracle – an Emerson with holes on both sides of the handle! (In case you couldn’t tell, I am very happy to see this.)

As far as carry goes, this is not a deep carry knife. There is room to easily grab the knife and make use of the wave feature. This is a heavy and relatively thick knife, but it carries well thanks in part to the sturdy clip design. The clip has also been laser etched with Emerson’s skull logo, an interesting detail that I could probably live without.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment, you have the option of either using the wave feature, or the thumb disk. For the uninitiated, the wave feature is essentially a hook on the spine of the blade that catches on the corner of your pocket when drawing out the knife. As the hook catches on your pocket it forces the blade open. The wave feature is a lot of fun and it works well on this smaller knife. The thumb disk also works well and I actually find it a little easier to use on this compact design than on Emerson’s full size offerings.

As I mentioned earlier, this knife makes use of a stainless steel framelock. This is a departure from Emerson’s liner locks. It adds a lot of unnecessary weight to the knife, but most people seem to prefer frame locks for the perceived increase in strength, so I can see why they did it. I am happy to report that this is a good stainless steel frame lock. My knife locks up around 50%. The blade is secure, and is without any sort of play. Also the lock doesn’t stick, and is easy to manipulate. At this price point I can’t ask for much more than that.

Kershaw CQC-6K Review – Final Thoughts

By and large this knife is a winner. Kershaw has successfully brought Emerson’s designs to the mass market. Most of the stuff that makes an Emerson an Emerson has been ported over, and you also get things like a “V” edge, and ambidextrous pocket clip. Fit and finish is very good and the end result is a well made, satisfying knife, with classic Emerson attitude and ergonomics. I am thankful for the fact that they didn’t make this a Speedsafe knife. Kershaw loves to do that on budget blades (because their market research has shown most people prefer assisted openers), and I’m glade this one was spared. This price is also hard to beat. KAI has been on fire with their collaborations with Hinderer, and these new collaborations with Ernest Emerson may just make KAI the collaboration king.

If I were to lodge a complaint against the CQC-6K it would be the weight. Some might try to cut the 6K some slack because it’s a $30 knife, but the Zancudo is similarly priced but is much lighter. For that reason this one doesn’t quite make my best EDC knives list, but it comes pretty close. This is an otherwise great knife so I feel the need to point out this potential issue. The flip side is that it makes for a very tough knife, and this could be a good choice for a beater / work blade. Emerson purists may bemoan the fact that this knife is made overseas. If that is such a big issue I would suggest saving up and buying a real Emerson.

At the end of the day I think you are getting a lot of nice knife for the money, and I recommend it for fans of Emerson’s designs or those looking for a tough and compact EDC that won’t break the bank.

Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K Folding Pocket Knife

3” blade is made of 8Cr14MoV stainless steel with dual blade finishes offers excellent edge retention and wear resistance
Modified clip-point blade is ideal for delicate handiwork, opening packages, cleaning small game, aggressive animal defense and preparing kindling
Designed by Emerson Knives and precision engineered by Kershaw for uncompromising function, fit and finish
Versatile pocket carry and ideal companion for wilderness guides, hunters, backpackers, landscapers and knife enthusiasts
Manual blade opening with a thumb disk, Emerson’s patented “wave shaped feature”, a favorite feature among military, rescue and law enforcement

I recommend purchasing the CQC-6K at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading!

Buck Marksman Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: December 2, 2019
You may have noticed a lack of reviews of Buck knives. I have nothing against Buck. I reviewed the Vantage a couple years back, and haven’t gotten around to reviewing anything else because nothing else in their lineup interested me that much. That is, until I saw the Marksman.

Buy the Buck Marksman at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Marksman is a collaboration with Grant and Gavin Hawk. Grant and Gavin are known for pushing the envelope with unique designs and locking mechanisms. They have done a number of collaborations with Kershaw, Chris Reeve, and Zero Tolerance. I think it was especially cool that they teamed up with Buck, because Buck is so well known as a traditional brand, and Grant and Gavin are so well known for re-imagining the folding knife. It is an interesting juxtaposition, and it definitely got my attention. Toss in a 154CM blade, bearings, “made in the USA” quality, and a retail price of under $100, and I’m thinking there might be room for another Buck review on this website.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Marksman has an overall length of 8.25″, a 3.5″ blade, and weighs 4.3 ounces. This full size knife feels surprisingly lightweight thanks to the aluminum handle. I have mostly been using the Marksman for yard work and weekend chores, and it has made a great carry for those heavier duty applications. I have cut down bamboo, busted open zip ties, broken down boxes, and performed mild food prep. The Marksman cuts well and is lightweight and functional.

It’s the kind of user knife like the Benchmade Volli, Hogue EX04, and Cold Steel American Lawman, that manages to remain in my collection. For whatever reason, most of my fancier knives end up getting sold, but I have a hell of a time parting ways with a good user.

The blade shape of the Marksman is classic Buck drop point. It has the oval thumb hole that they seem to favor, and the design is mild mannered when compared to the handle. It’s also a functional blade shape with a sturdy tip and high hollow grind. The blade has been left with a matte finish which isn’t anything too spectacular. You can still see some rough grind lines and the finish will pick up scuffs and scratches. The laser etched logos on the blade also has shown signs of wear and have faded after the occasional application of Bar Keepers Friend (a metal cleaner). I photographed the knife after using it regularly for a couple months and you can see how the black laser etching has been scrubbed away. I consider this a “happy accident” as I’m a big fan of sterile blades.

Buck went with good ole 154 CM stainless steel heat treated by Paul Bos. The edge has held up well and the Marksman is a fantastic cutter. I have mentioned earlier how I have been using this knife pretty hard (for me at least) and I have been pleased with the performance. It keeps a good edge yet remains easy to sharpen. I have always been a fan of 154CM so I am not particularly surprised by my experience. I will say that I have had 154CM rust on me a little on more than one occasion, so you need to keep an eye on it, especially if you are going to use the knife for food prep and not clean it like I have on several occasions. If you don’t let the knife get too crusty, a little of that Bar Keepers Friend will bring it back to new.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Marksman has a black anodized aluminum handle with a steel backspacer. This makes for a lightweight and strong handle. The anodization on the aluminum has held up well and there are grooves milled into the handle for a little texture and visual interest. The backspacer integrates with the strap lock (more on that below) so you have something of a “closed construction” design. While aluminum isn’t the most sexy of handle materials, it is very practical. I think it suits the design of this knife. Although it first appears as if there is a lot going on with this knife, at the end of the day construction is simple and sturdy. All the pieces have been nicely finished and the handle has been well executed.

The Marksman is a full size knife. Ergonomically it is straightforward and performs like you would expect. What impresses me most when I use the Marksman is how nice and light it feels in hand. I will say that the strap lock is uncomfortable to use repeatedly – at least until you build some callouses up on your hands. The serrations on the lock are no joke, and they tore up my thumb at first. Having used the knife for months now I don’t feel anything uncomfortable, but it took some getting used to.

Buck went with a deep carry reversible pocket clip mounted on the butt of the handle. This is a lot like the clip found on the LionSteel SR-1. The clip itself is simple and sturdy. It buries the knife discretely into the pocket. I like the clip and the way the Marksman carries. It’s worth mentioning that the knife is fully ambidextrous.

Here is your pocket clip shot:

Deployment and Lockup

Grant and Gavin really know how to shake things up in the deployment and lockup section. Sometimes I find myself starting to yawn when I put this part of the review together, but the Marksman really gives me something to talk about.

So you are probably already aware that the Marksman uses a “strap lock” to lock the blade in place. Chances are you have never encountered a strap lock on a knife before. It’s a big strip of stainless steel that runs the length of the back of the handle and snaps into place over a protrusion on the back of the blade. What makes it cool is that in the closed position, it serves as a big spring, and when you hit the flipper the knife launches open effortlessly.

Here is a size comparison with a Spyderco Delica and Spyderco Endura:

I have never been a huge fan of assisted openers, but the action on the Marksman is really cool and satisfying. It’s unlike any other spring assisted knife I have handled, to the point where I am reluctant to even identify it as an assisted opening knife. Closing the blade is kind of like setting a bear trap, and the trigger takes only a very light touch. It makes a very distinct tinny sound when you deploy it. Even my girlfriend could pick up on the fact that something was different with this knife. If the novel deployment system wasn’t enough, Buck also included a caged bearing system. The bearings work great and the action is so smooth that the blade just falls shut. This is a knife that you can easily open with the flipper or the thumb hole.

To disengage the blade you have to pull up on the strap with the serrations on the side of it. The serrations are rough and your thumb will get chewed up when you first start using the knife – especially if you obsessively open and close it like I did. The initial pain is definitely a negative, but overall I found the strap lock mechanism endearing, and like it more than I thought I would. With some practice you can learn how to open and close the knife one handed. It takes some tough thumbs and a little finesse but even this southpaw has managed to figure it out.

Another interesting aspect about the lock is that it is fully adjustable with a set screw on the pommel. I have used the knife for months and have opened it thousands of times. I have yet to notice any blade play, but if some were to develop you could tune it out with the set screw and pivot.

Here is a parting shot with my Spyderco Para 2:

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Buck Marksman Review – Final Thoughts

The novelty of the Marksman is what made me buy it. The thoughtful design, solid build quality, and excellent performance are what made me keep it. I would have never guessed that I would like the Marksman as much as I do. I wrote this review back in 2014, and as I update it in 2019, the Marksman is still part of my rotation. It’s a truly excellent knife. Perfect for those looking for a workhorse EDC that’s different.

The knife definitely has some novel features to it, and it doesn’t disappoint in that respect. But at the end of the day what impresses me most about the Marksman is that it’s actually a really good knife. The strap lock is unique, and I love how the blade deploys. The knife is also lightweight, tough, and functional. The materials are all high quality and it’s nicely put together – especially at the price point and considering that it is USA made. It carries well, cuts cleanly, and is a lot of fun to open and close. The Marksman has really grown on me. I would go so far as to say this is one of my favorite designs in 2014. I am glad I gave it a chance.

With all of that said I realize that this knife isn’t for everyone. The futuristic design is bound to polarize people, and the strap lock and it’s sharp edges could be a deal killer as well. But if you are in the market for something different and like a good user blade, then the Buck Marksman should definitely be on your radar. I liked it so much it earned a spot on my recommended EDC knives page.

Buck Knives 830 Marksman Folding Knife with One Hand Opening Action

RAZOR SHARP BLADE- 3-1/2" Drop Point 154CM Steel Blade delivers excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and is suitable for heavy cutting applications. Closed Length 4-3/4" Weight 4.0 oz.
AMBIDEXTROUS ONE HAND OPEN - Opens with the flick of a finger. The unique SLS Strong Lock System is one of the strongest locking mechanisms on the market. Once deployed, it offers the strength of a fixed blade knife
SAFE AND SECURE GRIP - The Black anodized aluminum handle provides a comfortable and secure grip while you work. This tactical knife will hold up in the most demanding situations
CONVENIENT CARRY - Includes a removable, reversible, tip-up discreet deep pocket carry clip for easy attachment to your belt, pocket, or in your bag
MADE IN THE USA - FOREVER WARRANTY - Since 1902 Buck Knives has offered a lifetime warranty on our knives because we believe in the integrity of our products. This knife is proudly made in the USA.

I recommend purchasing the Marksman at Amazon.com 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.

Boker Kwaiken Flipper Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

Last Updated: January 10, 20198
Back when the original Boker Kwaiken came onto the scene I was pretty excited. Modeled after knifemaker Lucas Burnley’s custom offering, this sleek design looked too cool to resist. That is, until, reviews started to pour in. People stated that the knife was difficult to open and the tip of the blade protruded out from the handle to the point where it would inadvertently cut you. No bueno. My excitement instantly turned to disappointment. Rather than buy the knife, and then slog through writing a review of something that I knew I wasn’t going to be happy with, I just decided to skip the Kwaiken entirely.

Buy the Boker Kwaiken at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Despite the poor reviews, the Kwaiken developed its own cult following. This is thanks in great part to those in the knife customization crowd. Knifemaker / knife modder Alexander Dietz developed his own cottage industry around the “Dietz modded Kwaiken”. Clever dremel work converted the clunky Kwaiken into a nice little flipper. Whether Boker listened to customer feedback, or was planning on doing this anyway, they eventually offered their own flipper version of the Kwaiken.

This knife was hotly anticipated by many collectors, including myself, partially because it appeared to address some of the issues that plagued the original Kwaiken: the inability to open the knife easily, and the renegade tip. If that wasn’t enough, this time Boker decided to slather the knife in titanium. Bearings, flipper, titanium, and a fresh design from a hot custom knifemaker – yup, this one follows the formula that many enthusiasts are looking for these days.

I am going to see if this updated model is worthy of the hype, or is more of the same.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kwaiken Flipper has an overall length of 8.375″, a 3.5″ blade, and it weighs 5.4 ounces. I hate to sound like a weight weenie but the first thing I noticed was how heavy this thing felt. It is a chunky knife and feels like a little metal brick. You would think that the relatively thin titanium scales would actually shave weight off the Kwaiken, but it’s over an ounce heavier than it’s non-flipper counterpart. Personally, that relegates the Kwaiken Flipper more towards the collectible category, and away from being a true EDC. Regardless, I am sure plenty of guys will enjoy carrying this knife, and there is nothing wrong with that.

The blade shape is a modified drop point. It is a sleek and dramatic blade shape that tucks perfectly into the thin handle. The tip is very fine and the knife is well suited for stabbing things. It has a hollow grind and the blade finish is very nice. The lustrous stonewash hides wear well and is more resistent to corrosion than a beadblast. For what it is, I like this blade shape.

Steel on my particular knife is Aus8. Given that this knife sells for more than $100, I heard quite a few grumblings about the choice of steel on both this and the original Kwaiken. Given that this knife was made in China, I don’t think Boker had a ton of options to choose from. Still, 154CM, S35VN, or some other higher end steel would have been nice given the price point. Personally I don’t have a problem with AUS8. It’s a hearty steel that sharpens easily and is fine to see on user knives. I can totally understand if some folks take issue with the AUS8.

Since purchasing the knife months ago, it looks like Boker now offers the Kwaiken flipper in an “upgraded” steel: V10. I wouldn’t call VG10 a huge upgrade over AUS8. In fact, I prefer Aus8 because I find it a little tougher than V10. Neither are fantastic edge holders but for EDC work they will get the job done.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The compact handle of the Kwaiken flipper is built like a little titanium tank. Thick full steel liners are under generous 3-d machined pieces of titanium, all supported by a solid titanium backspacer. Construction is simple and solid.

I really like the minimalist look of this handle. The way the liners shadowbox the titanium scales, and how the closed blade hides completely within the handle make for a very attractive design. The handle has a monochromatic appearance, although upon close examination the steel and titanium are slightly different colors. I am sure many knife modders view this piece as something of a blank canvas. I hate to spoil the party, but I enjoyed the look of the original Kwaiken with its micarta handles, and would prefer the contrast and lighter weight of micarta over the heavy titanium version. Still, the build is very good and the added weight does make the knife feel very substantial.

The Kwaiken Flipper feels good in hand. The simple design means this knife will work for a lot of people with different size hands. There is no jimping or really texture to speak of, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. The only ergonomic “feature” is that the flipper doubles as a forward finger choil, allowing you to choke up on the blade a bit for more controlled cuts. All said I don’t have a problem with the way this knife handles and didn’t notice any hot spots or other ergonomic issues.

The pocket clip is a right side tip-up only affair that mirrors the design of the handle shape. It is simple and unobtrusive, and I like the way it looks. It holds the knife in your pocket pretty well, although I think the spring could be a hair stiffer. This is a heavy knife and the handle is smooth. While it has never fallen out of my pocket it doesn’t take a ton of effort to pull it out. I think a little more clip strength would be valuable here.

Deployment and Lockup

Obviously this knife uses a flipper for deployment. I am somewhat puzzled by the design of the flipper tab as it actually bows out where the index finger goes for deployment and is sort of slippery. It works but I think it could been designed to be a little easier to open. Still, the knife opens with a snap and flips well, thanks in part to the IKBS bearing pivot system. The detent is OK. It’s not going to flip like one of the new ZTs or anything, but the detent is adequate and the knife flips open with a snap.

For lockup you have a stainless steel liner lock. Mine engages around 90%. The steel is thick and the lockup feels very reassuring. There is no blade play or lock stick. This is a well implemented liner lock. The blade on my knife is pretty much centered.

Boker Kwaiken Flipper Review – Final Thoughts

The Kwaiken Flipper is a cool design and has been well implemented. I know it has been a good seller for Boker, and when you look at it on paper it is easy to see why. That said, I’d love to see Boker continue to refine this one as it is such a nice design. They have already moved in that direction by upgrading the blade steel, but I think they should also explore offering a lighter weight version of the flipper with a different handle material. I think the inclusion of both stainless steel liners and full titanium handle scales is a bit overkill and adds unnecessary weight.

I haven’t mentioned this yet in the review, but this is part of Boker’s “Plus” line, and is manufactured in China. Fit, finish, and general quality is very high on this knife despite being manufactured in China.

Also, I’m almost glad they didn’t go with a framelock here given Boker’s history of issues with titanium framelocks. I’d rather see a well implemented liner lock, than a messed up frame lock.

In closing, this is a cool little design and a memorable offering from Boker. I recommend it if you are into the design and are OK with the weight.

BOKER Plus 01BO296 Kwaiken VG-10 Pocket Knife, Titanium

VG-10 steel blade with flipper
Titanium handle scales
Liner lock mechanism

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

Rick Hinderer Knives XM-18 3.5 Review

by Dan Jackson 16 Comments

Last Updated: June 23, 2019
In the past I have compared knife collecting to mountain climbing. Certainly there isn’t the element of physical accomplishment, as the only thing that really gets a workout is your wallet, but there is that spirit of pursuit and of course the ascent up a pile of incrementally more expensive knives. When considering the “summit” in the realm of production knives three big players in the US market come to mind: Chris Reeve, Strider, and Hinderer.

Buy the Hinderer XM-18 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I have been tooling away at this website for the better part of 4 years now, and have already covered multiple Chris Reeve and Strider products, but I’ve yet to review a Hinderer. That is because I had yet to purchase a Hinderer until 6 months ago.

The reason it has taken me so long to review a Hinderer is the same reason why many people get so hung up on Hinderer knives in general. They are difficult to purchase unless you win a lottery at one of the knife shows Hinderer goes to, happen to qualify for Hinder’s active military / first responder program and buy directly from Hinder, or want to pay a substantial mark up for a Hinderer on the secondary market. With a retail price from Hinderer of $385, these knives were selling for $700, $800, $900+ on the forums. We could get into a huge debate as to whether they are “worth” the money. At the end of the day, they are worth what you will pay for them.

Over the past few years I have seen the secondary prices creep down a little, and was able to snag this new XM-18 3.5″ for $550. At that price I was comfortable buying the knife knowing that I could eventually sell it and recover most if not all of my money. Your mileage will vary.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 3.5″ XM-18 has an overall length of 8.25″, weighs 5.6 ounces, and of course it sports a 3.5″ blade. This is a very substantial tool. It is over half an inch thick, and was definitely not designed for desk jockeys like myself. Rick comes from a firefighting background, and built the XM with first responders in mind.

It’s a big and heavy knife designed to perform under the hugely demanding situations first responders run into. I run a small law office on the coast of Florida. The closest thing I come to being a first responder is responding to the office manager’s announcement that someone dropped off a dozen donuts in the break room. On weekends I mow the lawn, go to the beach, and occasionally write articles about pocket knives. Some might suggest the 3″ XM for someone like myself, but I have always wanted to check out a 3.5″ flipper slicer. So here we are.

The blade of the XM is Rick’s classic drop point shape. We have seen something similar to it in the myriad of KAI/Hinderer collabs that I have covered over the years. My particular XM has been given Rick’s “slicer” grind, which is his leaner more cutting oriented grind. Contrast this with his thicker reinforced “Spanto” grind. Even though this is the slicier of the two grinds, it’s still quite thick behind the edge and favors durability over raw slicing performance. I’m okay with that as it seems to suit the beefy, reinforced nature of the rest of the knife.

Hinderer offers their knives in a number of different blade finishes, and even a wharncliffe version now. Mine has been given a nice tumbled finish although you can also get them beadblasted, coated, or even hand ground by the man himself if you have the cash.

Over the years Hinderer has offered the XM in a proverbial cornucopia of different steels. The blade steel of this particular XM is S35VN which is probably what most of them are being made out of these days. S35VN is a good steel and has been adopted by Chris Reeve and Spyderco. The blade is heat treated to 60-61 HRc. This is a touch harder than what Chris Reeve has been heat treating his S35VN to, and the result is better edge retention, but it’s theoretically a little harder to sharpen. In use I have found that the edge stays keen, and I have only had to strop it to maintain sharpness. I haven’t had issues with rust, chipping, or anything else. No complaints here.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the XM is very well done. You have a G10 scale over titanium liner on one side, and then a full titanium frame lock on the other. Holding everything together is a bunch of custom hardware. This handle is beautifully made and you can really get to understand the quality of the XM by closely examining it. The parts are all overbuilt, but wonderfully finished. My titanium locking side has been completely stonewashed and this nice hard wearing finish compliments the blade nicely. It really is a beautifully made handle.

In hand the XM 18 is all business. Again, Rick designed this knife with firefighters and military in mind, and it’s a no-nonsense tool that works in a variety of grips. I have always been a fan of forward finger choils, and even without the choil there is plenty of room on this handle for large gloved hands. This is also a thick knife, and it really fills the hand. I can only imagine what the XM-24 is like. It’s probably akin to driving around in an S-Class Mercedes all day – solid and roomy. There is jimping on the spine, lock release, and pommel, but it’s wide soft jimping and doesn’t tear up your skin. I’d say the ergonomics are pretty solid with this one.

Hinderer equips the XM 18 with a reversible pocket clip. It’s not a deep carry clip and favors ease of access over concealment. It’s a big heavy knife, so you will feel the XM-18 in your pocket, but it carries alright for what it is. The clip sets into a recess in the handle so it’s a very sturdy design. I think it’s interesting that they include a “filler tab” for the clip mounting position you don’t use.

Deployment and Lockup

Hinderer offers these knives in flipper and non-flipper variants. Here of course I have the flipper version. Many view this as the knife that got the titanium frame lock flipper craze going, and the ZT0560 collab really brought that front and center to the masses.

What is sort of ironic about the XM-18 is that it’s not a particularly good flipper. Back when these first came out I am sure the flipping action was considered to be fine, but these days even my $30 Swindle out flips this knife. There are teflon washers inside and while I can pushbutton the blade open it isn’t a rocket launcher flipper by any stretch of the imagination. But that isn’t necessarily a kiss of death. This is still a very nice smooth knife with good action, and reliable deployment. You just need to decide whether you are looking for a really fast flipper or not. I will say the thumb studs work fine on this XM.

Lockup on this knife is the stuff of legends. The thick titanium lockbar engages early against the tang of the blade and there isn’t even a hint of play. The thumb studs double as blade stops and the stop pin is sleeved to avoid peening. There is zero stickiness to the lock despite not having a stainless steel lockbar insert. Also, lets not forget the inclusion of the Hinderer lockbar stabilizer. I’ve mentioned it in scores of other reviews, but this is where it all began. Lockup is just super duper good.

Hinderer XM-18 Review – Final Thoughts

Politics and price points aside, this is an impressive knife. I feel that there is a substantial bump up in beefiness and build quality when compared with a Strider or Chris Reeve offering, and it’s a big jump from Spydercos, Benchmades, and even new ZTs.

When I compare the XM to everything else I have reviewed before, I have to say that the XM is a different knife. It’s difficult to put into words, but it feels like every piece of this knife was first carefully contemplated, and then overbuilt and meticulously finished to a fanatical degree. This is an extremely solid knife and I am glad that I have finally been able to acquire one for long term testing.

That said, the 3.5″ XM-18 does have its potential draw backs. The fact that it’s heavy, and doesn’t flip very well are the biggest draw backs that come to mind.

This XM has been in my collection for several months now, and I’ve tried my best to approach the review cautiously given the enormous amount of hype built into these knives. While I can’t say I would spend $800 for one of these, I do think they are easily worth the $385 MSRP. At $550 I am less enthused, but still respect the knife for what it is. Like any other luxury good, some will love it while others will blast it as a ridiculous extravagance. Those that don’t like it can simply vote with their dollars and spend their money elsewhere.

Personally I view this as either a dedicated tool or a collectible. It’s not a daily carry item for me. But again, I don’t work as a first responder. I “need” this knife for work much like I “need” a Hummer to accomplish my 20 minute suburban commute every day. That said, I realize there are plenty of people who may actually need, or want, an over built knife like this. And if that’s the kind of knife you are looking for, Hinderer delivers in spades.

I can say without hesitation that the XM-18 is a beautiful knife, and I recommend checking one out if you are at all interested in it. I am glad I did.

Rick Hinderer Knives XM-18 3.5 – $550.00
From: BladeHQ

RICK HINDERER XM-18 3.0 SPANTO-WORKING FINISH

KnifeArt has a great selection of Hinderer XM-18s, and they pop up on BladeHQ as well. And lately Amazon has been stocking them as well. I recommend purchasing them at these retailers. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.