Knives By Purpose

Blackwater Ursa 6 Review

Blackwater Knives has recently released a cadre of new tools that caught my eye – both visually, and from a specification standpoint. The Ursa 6 is one of those tools, with an uncompromising design geared towards high speed professionals.

Buy the Blackwater Ursa 6 at BladeHQ

The Ursa 6 was designed by Robert Young Pelton, the same man behind the designs for DPx Gear. The knife is manufactured by Lionsteel in Maniago, Italy – a company known for high end offerings like the SR1. Upon arrival everything about the Ursa just reeked of quality. Even the box was cool, complete with iridescent embossed sleeve and black tissue paper lining. Inside was a something long and lean, yet full figured and deadly. My heart was already racing, and the blade wasn’t even out of the box – it was like a cross between a high school fantasy and comic book noir. Needless to say, if looks could kill I’d already be in the ground. But can she cut? Lets find out…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Ursa 6 has an overall length of 11.1″, has a 5.95″ blade, and it weighs 11.10 ounces. The spine is an extremely thick 6mm. I spent a good amount of time going over the intended use of this knife in the video, and I think it’s worth mentioning again here. This is a dedicated combat knife, designed for soldiers. It’s not a camp knife, bushcraft knife, or even your typical survival knife. It’s a purpose built tool for self defense (and in many cases, offense) as well as hard use utility work. The 6mm thick blade doesn’t make for the best slicer or the lightest backpacking knife, but it ensures that it will hold up against the demanding situations often thrust upon soldiers.

The blade itself is a modified drop point design. It sort of resembles a spear point or dagger blade shape, but it’s definitely a drop point of some sort (not that the semantics particularly matter here). One of the first features people will notice is the run of serrations along the spine of the knife. I like this feature because it keeps the main edge plain – leaving plenty of room for fine cutting. The primary edge is partially flat ground and the 6mm thick blade carries a good deal of steel all the way out to the tip. This is definitely a knife that can get some stabbing / thrust cuts in without a problem. The thick grind means it is not the best slicer, but I had no issues cutting through rope, cardboard, and wood. The entire knife has been given a PVD coating, which generally held up great, only scratching a little when I used the Ursa 6 to open up a can of potatoes.

Blackwater selected Niolox steel for this knife – a steel that I have previously had zero experience with it. Apparently it’s made in Germany by Bohler Uddeholm, and it has been well received. This particular piece of Niolox has been heat treated to 59 HRC, which is supposedly on the low end of what it can take.

In my cutting tests I found that Niolox was extremely tough, held a nice working edge, and sharpened easily on basic stones. The edge it took was extremely keen. I liken it to a high carbon steel such as 1095, but it’s stainless steel and seems to have better edge retention. It may not be quite as tough as 1095, but then again I didn’t have any issues at all with chipping or rolling. I also drove the blade through a 2×4 in a fairly extensive tip test without any issues. Based on that experience I think the Ursa 6 has the potential to be a good breaching tool.

I’m still relatively inexperienced with the steel, but so far I like it a lot. I think it’s a good choice for a combat knife because I found it very tough and extremely easy to sharpen – a must when you are out in the field, miles away from your regular sharpening equipment.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle of this knife is extremely impressive. The ultra wide piece of steel is flanked by 2 thick pieces of black peel ply G10. It really beefs up the handle and provides this rugged overbuilt feel that can’t help but inspire confidence. The spine of the handle is gently rounded and flows perfectly into the G10 scales. The scales themselves have been wonderfully finished with a series of finger grooves milled into the handle. All the corners have been meticulously rounded and everything is held together with 2 sets of flat head bolts. The bolts are easy to take down with a multi-tool or coin, and you can lash the knife to a piece of wood for a spear, or store small pieces of survival equipment in the hollow handle. Rounding things out are a generous lanyard hole, and an exposed striking pommel for hammering, prying, or using as a “non-lethal” defensive option.

Ergonomically speaking the Ursa 6 is well thought out and executed. The knife is well balanced, and the fat handle is extremely nice; providing excellent grip and a comfortable purchase. The knife feels solid in both forward and reverse grips.

My only gripe has to do with the jimping. Blackwater installed this interesting wirestripping jimping – it works as jimping but also can strip wire. It’s a cool idea, but I found the jimping irritated my thumb under hard use. If you are wearing leather gloves I doubt you would feel it, but it could tear up fabric gloves and can certainly eat into bare flesh. My advice would be to tweak the jimping so it isn’t quite as abrasive. Then again, perhaps I was using the knife differently from how a real professional would. All things considered I like how the Ursa 6 feels in hand.

Sheath

The Ursa 6 comes equipped with a full featured cordura sheath. There are multiple attachment points at the top and bottom for paracord and webbing. The back of the sheath is fully MOLLE compatible and can also accept a belt. There is a good sized pocket on the front of the sheath for a sharpening stone or whatever else you want to cram into it.

Inside the sheath is a molded plastic insert. It provides good retention for the blade, and is fully reversible for left or right side carry. There is a strong secondary retention strap with a metal snap. I like this style of retention strap because it is made of thick plastic that can be bent out of the way, and also will resist abrasion if you do happen to nick it when you withdraw the knife from the sheath. The metal snap is strong and does a great job further securing the knife.

All in all this is a well thought out sheath. It’s lightweight, secure, and you have multiple mounting options. I think for most people this will work very well.

Blackwater Ursa 6 Review – Final Thoughts

The Ursa 6 is a tank of a knife. Everything about it is overbuilt with durability and utility in mind. The 6mm thick backbone and tough tool steel make this knife practically indestructible. I beat the Ursa 6 though a 2×4 and it didn’t even blink. While I have zero military experience I think this is a robust design that will hold up well to the rigors of aggressive daily use.

Also, the folks at Lionsteel did an exceptional job realizing Blackwater’s design. The construction as well as fit and finish is outstanding. Everything from the cardboard box to the rounded spine oozes quality and attention to detail. The knife is so pretty I initially cringed at the thought of plunging it into a tin can – but I know this is a tool that was meant to be used, and I thought the very least I could do was give it a thorough test drive.

It’s also worth mentioning Blackwater offers an extended warranty for military personnel who register their knife. Under this policy the knife is protected against loss, breakage, defects, theft or any other issues for 2 years (and additional coverage can be purchased). This is another awesome detail that has me walking away from the Ursa 6 extremely impressed.

In closing, I definitely recommend the Ursa 6 if you need a high quality tool that will hold up well under hard use.

Blackwater Ursa 6 – $260
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Ursa 6 at BladeHQ. Buying the knife though the links on this site earns me a small commission and helps support the website. As always, thanks for reading – please let me know if you have any comments or questions in the comments section below.

Spyderco Techno Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
The Spyderco Techno is a small titanium framelock folder with all the fixings. It is designed by Polish maker Marcin Slysz, who doesn’t seem to have much in the way of background information on the internet. According to Spyderco, Marcin is an extremely talented knifemaker of international repute.

Buy the Spyderco Techno at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I must admit, the knife designer’s pedigree isn’t what drew me to this one. Rather, I was taken in by the Techno’s charming design. Featuring bold lines and plenty of personality, this one really struck a chord with me. The fact that this knife also includes CTS-XHP supersteel and 6AL-4V titanium handles further piqued my interest. And when I learned it would be produced at Spyderco’s now legendary Taichung Taiwan facility, well, that sealed the deal.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

With an overall length of 6″, a 2.55″ blade, and a weight of 3.6 ounces the Techno falls firmly into what Spyderco likes to call “little big knife” territory. This a nice little nugget of a knife. It’s a great size for EDC and would also do well in anyone’s collection of titanium framelock folders.

The drop point blade has been fully flat ground from a very thick (4.5mm) piece of steel. Out of the box I wasn’t super impressed with how this knife cut paper, but I quickly gained respect for the Techno after attacking some super tough 5/8″ manilla rope, and carving up a pressure treated piece of pine. While the thick blade is not the most amazing slicer, the knife is ground relatively thin so you still have a capable cutter on your hands. The thick stock carries out all the way to the tip, leaving you with a stout blade able to handle a large variety of tasks.

Spyderco selected CTS-XHP steel, which has previously never been used on a production level Spyderco knife. This is also my first experience with CTS-XHP, and I was eager to try it out.

So far my experience with CTS-XHP has been extremely favorable. It’s a powdered stainless steel with an ultra fine grain structure. When I sharpened the knife I didn’t have any issues and it has held a hair shaving edge through a number of nasty cutting chores including the aforementioned rope and wood tests, a good deal of cardboard, and a number of little EDC tasks that I encountered in my several weeks of carry time. The edge holding was extremely impressive, I had no issues with chips or rolling, and saw no signs of rust or staining either. I would definitely place CTS-XHP above something like S30V, and I look forward to spending more time familiarizing myself with this steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle slabs are full titanium, and they have been given a tumbled finished for an attractive and easy wearing look. The handles have a smooth feeling to them (contrast it with a blasted finish on something like the small Sebenza), but it feels really high quality, and there actually is a decent amount of grip. There is a partial backspacer made of blue G10. I know some guys will really like the blue G10. Personally, I would have preferred to see titanium or carbon fiber instead. This is one of those “your mileage may vary” situations, so feel free to disagree. Overall, handle construction is rock solid. Everything screws together and all the edges have been nicely chamfered and meticulously finished. It’s really very impressive, and difficult to describe in a single paragraph.

The ergonomics on this knife are surprisingly good. It’s a small blade so naturally I wasn’t sure how it would fit my larger hand, but I can get a comfortable 4 finger grip here without issue. There is a run of coarse jimping on the spine that looks good and provides a little traction for your thumb. The back of the blade is also wide enough to accommodate your thumb, giving you plenty of room if you desire it. There is more jimping on the backspacer. Again, it is more for decoration than anything, but it does offer some traction. There are definitely more comfortable knives on the market (consider the Sage 2 if you want to keep it reasonably small and also in the Spyderco titanium framelock family), but all in all I am very pleased with how this knife feels in hand.

The pocket clip is the excellent Spyderco wire clip. This is a proven clip design that I personally have had a lot of experience with. This one has been sandblasted for a unique finish that will wear well, and it is positioned for ambidextrous tip up carry. I happen to be a big fan of the wire clip, and think Spyderco did an excellent job integrating it with the Techno. The knife rides very deep, and makes for an extremely discrete carry. At 3.6 ounces I did tend to notice this one in my pocket but, it’s not going to weigh you down.

Deployment and Lockup

Since this is a Spyderco, deployment is made possible by a thumb hole – this time of the 13mm variety. It is well placed for right hand access, and is easy enough to get at with your thumb. Unfortunately, lefties will have a slightly different story. The thumb hole is partially blocked by the titanium lock bar, and it is difficult to access with the left thumb. I can pinch out the blade with my thumb and middle finger, but don’t expect to open this like a normal Spyderco. I can also sort of flick the knife open with my index or middle finger, but really it is a design with right handed people in mind. I still like the knife despite these issues, but it’s definitely something to consider if you are a lefty eying this design.

The detent is firm, but the blade gives way to very smooth action aided by the phosphor bronze washers. Initially the knife was a little stiff, but that is because the tolerances are so tight. Mine almost immediately started to break in, and within a week or so of use it is became very smooth.

For lockup we have a titanium frame lock. Spyderco pays homage to the lock’s designer Chris Reeve, and refers to it as a Reeve Integral Lock (RIL) in the Techno’s documentation. This is a nice touch in an era of intellectual property shenanigans.

Practically speaking, I am extremely impressed with how this knife locks up. I hate to use hokey catch phrases like “this knife locks up like a bank vault,” but this knife locks up like a bank vault. It’s really impressive to slowly move the blade and hear the chunky framelock fall into place. My lock engages early (around 25%), hasn’t budged a millimeter (even after hard use and repeated flicking of the blade open), and there is zero blade play to speak of. Much like the finish of the titanium handles, you just have to feel this one for yourself to truly appreciate how nice it really is. It blows the Sage 2 out of the water, and gives the Chris Reeve Knives I’ve owned a good run for their money.

Spyderco Techno Review – Final Thoughts

Spyderco has another winner on their hands here. From a fit and finish perspective this knife is immaculate. If you have owned any of Spyderco’s other Taiwanese knives you will begin to understand where I am coming from, but even for their Taiwanese factory this knife is impressive. No doubt fans of Spyderco and titanium framelocks will find a lot to like with this little knife. It’s just really well done.

Now that I am done gushing over the knife I do have some caveats for you. First of all, it is expensive and small. I don’t necessarily have a problem with either of those things, but I’m not going to say this knife is for everyone either. From a cutting perspective the geometry is a little chunky. Spyderco did thin the blade out, but the relatively narrow profile and thick stock has its limitations. Also, the ergonomics are good, but not outstanding. So the Techno is far from a perfect knife – at least on paper. However, if you are willing to overlook that sort of thing, and approach the knife from a wider perspective, then I think you will be very pleased with the Techno. It’s one of the most solid folding knives I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, and the feeling of quality I get from this knife is difficult to describe.

I also have to “keep it real” for my fellow lefties. This really isn’t a knife designed for us. I’ve managed to overcome the opening adversity, but unless you really like the design I don’t think it is worth the struggle.

All in all I’m really impressed with the Techno. If you like smaller knives and have the money, check it out. It’s a very cool little knife.

Spyderco Techno Titanium Plain Edge Knife

Collaboration with knifemaker Marcin Slysz
Fully flat ground CTS-XHP blade
Titanium handle with blue spacers
Chris Reeve Integral Lock (RIL) with a deep pocket wire clip
Closed Length (Inches): 3.43, Overall Length (Inches): 5.98, Blade Length (Inches):2.55, Blade Steel: CTS XHP, Grind: Full-Flat

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Techno at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

TOPS HIT-5 Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Last Updated: August 23, 2019
The TOPS Helo Insertion Team 5 (“HIT 5”) is a new fixed blade design by Chad Los Banos and manufactured by TOPS Knives. Chad is a Hawaii based designer who has made a name for himself with popular small folding designs like the Boker Subcom and Spyderco Lava. A corrections officer by day, Chad is also an avid martial artist, shooter, husband, and family man. His wealth of practical experience is what inspires his designs, and the HIT 5 is no exception.

Buy on Amazon

The HIT-5 was designed with Helicopter Insertion Teams in mind. These are the first responders of the military world – flying in to unknown locations carrying out dangerous and unpredictable missions. With that in mind he focused on developing something slim, relatively lightweight, and versatile enough to excel at everything from common utility tasks, to urban and outdoor survival, to hand to hand combat. Although I have never set foot in a helicopter, and am a far cry from an edged combat expert, I did spend a lot of time carrying and using this knife in an outdoor setting. Hopefully that will at least give us enough data to draw some meaningful conclusions about the knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The HIT 5 has an overall length of 11”, features a 5-1/2” blade, and weighs 8.7 ounces. From a size perspective I think the knife strikes the balance between fighting knife and utility blade well. The 1/16” thick steel is heavy enough to hold up to hard use, yet the knife isn’t overweight or bulky. There is a well placed choil for utility work, but still plenty of reach and an acute tip for thrusts. You can tell a lot of thought was put into striking a balance with this knife in effort to account for the unpredictable needs of a person flying in to unknown terrain.

The blade is a classic clip point, forming a stout but sharp tip, reinforced by a swedge along the top. The blade is pretty thick so even the relatively fine tip has good strength and held up well to tests in wood. The knife is partially flat ground, and sports a broad edge, strong enough for outdoor use, but able to cleanly slice paper from the factory. This isn’t a dedicated chopper, but I had no problems taking small limbs off trees, working through thick pieces of rope, and batoning. The entire knife has been given a black powdercoat finish, lightly textured and simply adorned.

TOPS went with 1095 high carbon steel for the HIT 5, heat treated to 56-58. 1095 is tough stuff and is among my favorite steels for outdoor use. TOPS did a nice job heat treating this one and the edge kept plenty of “bite” even after extended use. 1095 will rust if left neglected but the durable powdercoated finish does a great job protecting the steel – even having spent a couple weeks a stone’s throw from the Atlantic.

Handle and Ergonomics

The HIT 5 has a “naked” handle with several slots and holes drilled out for a cord wrap. I’m no Stormdrane, but even I was able to figure out a way to weave a little 550 cord around this knife. It made the hard handle a little more comfortable, but this knife is primarily designed to be slim, so it simply will not offer the comfort of a bulky handle. For that reason I wouldn’t recommend this as a dedicated camp or bushcraft knife.

In practice the handle offers a number of different grips for self defense. The lanyard hole on the back of the handle provides for extra leverage, and the thumb ramp keeps you from slipping forward. A forward choil gives you a little versatility allowing for more detailed work like carving. And the knife feels comfortable in a reverse grip, a detail that I am sure Chad spent great attention on given his heavy martial arts background.

Sheath

The HIT 5 comes with a rugged kydex sheath that follows the same thin minimalist lines of the knife itself. It’s a simple fold over design, nicely finished and held together with 4 torx bolts. For mounting options you have several holes for weaving in cordage, and a sturdy steel belt clip. This clip allows for quick and easy attachment to belts and straps. The sheath pivots around the clip so the knife can be positioned for horizontal and vertical carry (and every angle in between). The HIT 5 spent a lot of time on my belt, and I liked how easy it was to position the sheath as well as add and remove it from my belt. As far as retention goes, the knife slides into the sheath with a firm “thwack” and feels very secure. A drainage hole is included to help prevent rusting.

The only issue I was able to uncover is if you wrap the entire length of the handle with cord, it interferes with the retention in the sheath. You will not want to run cord through the hole closest to the blade if you plan to use the included sheath. In reality this is not a huge deal, as you can still wrap a majority of the handle, but it is something to note. This is especially important to note if you have your heart set on a paracord wrap or decide that you want to make your own handle scales for this knife.

TOPS HIT 5 Review – Final Thoughts

The HIT 5 is a quality tool that does exactly what it was designed to do; perform reliably in unreliable situations. It is a versatile knife – light, slim, and unobtrusive, yet strong enough to take some real abuse. I don’t doubt in the hands of a capable user it would be highly effective for self defense and utility work alike. Everything is very well made, with great attention taken to the fit and finish. It’s also worth noting that the HIT 5, like all TOPS Knives, is 100% made in the USA. I also thought the price was excellent given the materials, fit and finish, and USA construction.

That said, the scope of this knife is fairly narrow. I found it uncomfortable for extended cutting and see it as more of a fighter. But if you are in need of a slim line combat knife, I can attest that the HIT 5 is well made, tough as nails, and extremely capable. Chad’s latest creation is a far cry from the tiny folders that put him on the map, but the design is just as robust and inventive as everything else in his portfolio.

TOPS TPHIT05-BRK Hit 5 Helo Insertion

Category name: knives
Country of origin: USA
Brand name: TOPS

I recommend buying the TOPS HIT 5 review at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checkin’ out the review.

Brous Blades Silent Soldier Flipper Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

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

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

General Dimensions and Blade Details

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

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

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

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

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

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

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

Deployment and Lockup

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

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

Brous Blades Silent Soldier Folder Review – Final Thoughts

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

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

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

Silent Soldier Flipper – $279
From: BladeHQ KnifeCenter

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

ESEE Candiru Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 1, 2019
Small, sharp, and damn near indestructible. If you want the short version of my Candiru review, that was it. Coming from ESEE, a company with a pedigree for making tough as nails outdoors and survival blades, that should come as no surprise. Fans of their extremely popular Izula pattern will no doubt be intrigued by this smaller cousin. Named after a most nefarious of jungle catfish, the Candiru is meant to be lightweight, discrete, and versatile.

Buy the ESEE Candiru at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I carried mine for some time as an urban EDC, and also tested the knife outdoors on an extended trip to the rugged Canadian coast. Does it live up to expectations forged by ESEE’s other blockbuster blades like the ESEE 3 and Junglas? Lets find out…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Candiru is a small knife with an overall length of 5.13″, a 2″ blade, and a weight of 1.7 ounces (not including the sheath). The Candiru is made in the USA. This has been a nice backup knife for suburban EDC and has also served as a (very) small outdoors blade. ESEE also suggests this knife to round out your Personal Survivavl Kit (PSK), or as part of your First Aid Kit. I think all of these are legitimate uses for the Candiru.

Each knife ships with a fold-over cordura sheath, and the entire package makes for an extremely slim and discrete carry. I find the knife very easy to tuck away in a pocket and also would work well as a neck knife. Any way you carry it, the Candiru is the kind of blade that is soon to be forgotten until that moment arrives when you need something sharp.

The blade is a simple drop point shape with a partial flat grind. The entire knife is cut from a piece of 1/8″ thick 1095 high carbon steel, powdercoated in your choice of OD green, desert tan, or black. As I mentioned earlier, the entire package is damn near indestructible. The Candiru has held up well to heavy cutting, batoning, and even prying apart a particularly nasty piece of salt cured driftwood. The edge geometry on the Candiru is pretty stout, and the powdercoat finish is textured – so don’t expect the most amazing slicer. On the plus side you can pound this thing through a 2×4, and the knife will be no worse for the wear. I found the knife useful for everything from opening package, to building fires, to even helping dismantle a lobster dinner.

The choice of steel is 1095 – a high carbon non-stainless steel selected for it’s toughness and ability to easily take a keen edge. All ESEE knives come in 1095, and at this point I am very familiar with the steel. 1095 will rust if you aren’t careful, and I experienced some slight rust spotting on the logo and edge – so you will want to keep the knife clean and oiled. That said, I think the corrosive tendencies of the steel are well outweighed by the excellent toughness of the steel. I experienced no issues with chipping, and the tip passed some gruesome pry tests with flying colors.

Handle and Ergonomics

A stock Candiru ships without any handle scales. I didn’t mind this at first as it kept the weight down and the knife slim, but I have greatly enjoyed the micarta scales on my Izula II and I kind of regret not purchasing the optional micarta or G10 scales for the Candiru. My guess is they are well worth the $15, although I am sure an enterprising individual could fashion his own scales for a fraction of the price.

As far as ergonomics are concerned the Candiru is a 3 finger knife. For most of your EDC tasks this isn’t going to be an issue, but I found that for outdoor use the small knife tended to slip in my rather clumsy grip. A short run of jimping helps control the blade, but I found myself using this one in a pinch grip a lot. That said, this thing is plenty capable, and will be fine for small woodworking jobs as well as typical chores around camp. I managed to prepare food, cut rope, and whittle sticks without major issues. Like I said before I think the optional scales would have been nice on this one, and I would recommend the upgrade.

Sheath

The original Candiru came with a small black cordura sheath. It’s a fold-over style sheath with a little piece of velcro for the closure. Inside the sheath is a plastic lining where the blade fits snugly inside. Besides that the only other landmarks are a belt loop and a small metal grommet for attachment to a lanyard. The sheath works. It requires 2 hands to get at the knife, but given the size of the knife it all seems reasonable. That said, I am such a big fan of the plastic sheath on the Izulas that I would prefer that ESEE shipped the Candiru with a polymer (plastic) sheath.

Well, I was apparently not alone in my desire for a polymer sheath for the Candiru, and ESEE eventually switched over and now a polymer sheath comes standard. I have not had a chance to check it out personally, but from what I have gathered it is a nice upgrade over the original cloth sheath.

ESEE Candiru Review – Final Thoughts

The Candiru is a charming little knife. It manages to pack rugged functionality into a tiny sub 2 ounce package, and is built with the same practical and rugged mindset of everything else in the ESEE lineup. And of course the knife comes with ESEE’s legendary no questions asked use-or-abuse warranty, and the Candiru is 100% made in the USA. Those in need of an ultra light backup knife, or a small fixed blade for a PSK or First Aid Kit could certainly do much worse than the Candiru. I happen to like mine a lot. That said, I do have one lingering issue with the knife.

My biggest beef is with the price. ESEE knives are typically on the spendy side, and I tend to justify the premium with the USA craftsmanship and the killer warranty (well justified in my opinion). But the Candiru is priced at the point where it starts to compete with other blades in the ESEE lineup – which is where the real dilemma emerges.

As shown the Candiru sets you back $47. If you were to buy the OEM scales the entire package easily pushes the $60 mark. At that price, you are firmly in Izula territory. Around $55 gets you an Izula, and around $65 gets you the excellent Izula II (which includes the knife, micarta scales, and a nice plastic sheath). If you want an ESEE and are able to carry the larger Izula II, I would definitely go with the Izula II. I find it to be a much easier knife to work with as it includes full 4 finger grip ergonomics, a bigger and beefier blade, and a more convenient plastic sheath.

So for that reason I have some difficulty giving the Candiru my absolute full endorsement. It’s a cool knife, but unless you absolutely need something that small I think the Izula is a much better buy. That said, if you really do need something as small as the Candiru (maybe for ultralight backpacking or a PSK) then I can definitely say the knife is a cool piece of kit. It is also just as well built as anything else in the company’s lineup – which is saying a lot as ESEE’s build quality is typically excellent.

While I wouldn’t call the Candiru a “must have knife,” it’s certainly not a bad blade either. If you can get past the price you are left with a solid performer for urban EDC and outdoor use alike. Small, sharp, and damn near indestructible.

ESEE Knives Black CANDIRU Fixed Blade Knife w/Polymer Sheath

I recommend purchasing the Candiru at Amazon or BladeHQ.

Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
When you get into collecting knives it is easy to get caught up in the moment. There is so much cool stuff out there if you aren’t careful you can easily get sucked away in a torrent of carbon fiber and titanium. And really there is nothing wrong with that (although your bank account/significant other/retirement plan is free to disagree).

Buy the Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

But sometimes you just want a tool that will get the job done without having to spend a ton of money. This is how a lot of us got started with collecting knives, and for some level-headed individuals it remains their approach to this day.

Personally, I try to strike a balance when building my collection. I like smart designs that provide great value, but also am known to indulge in the new and shiny. So this time around we are going to head back to earth and check out a cool, reasonably priced knife from Cold Steel: the Mini Tuff Lite (or “MTL”). It isn’t the sexiest blade in the collection, but for those who don’t wish to shell out $200, $100, or even $50 for a quality knife, the MTL brings you edged excellence at a sub $25 price point.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite is 5″ long, sports a 2″ blade (1.25″ edge), and weighs a mere 1.7 ounces. What drew me to this knife are the striking similarities to one of my favorite little EDC blades, the Spyderco Dragonfly II. It’s right around the same size and weight, and also features thumb holes and a back lock. The biggest difference is the price – the Dragonfly goes for $45+ while the Mini Tuff Lite can be had for right around $25.

Needless to say both knives make for great little EDCs. I like pairing the MTL with a larger knife although it easily accomplishes 95% of my EDC tasks. It is also a nice little option for a first aid kit, pocket survival kit, or any other place you would like to stow a small folder. If you want something bigger, Cold Steel also offers the full size Tuff Lite.

The blade is a wharncliffe shape. It’s a very functional shape, with a precise tip and razor edge. The steel is thick enough for serious use (2.5mm thick), and the hollow grind makes for a capable slicer. I will say that the sharpening choil and ricasso can get caught up on material that I am cutting (eg, cardboard), especially if I’m trying to really blast through it. That is to be expected from a 1.25″ edge. If you have a big job, I recommend a larger knife.

Steel on this knife is Cold Steel’s AUS8a. Stainless and relatively soft, AUS8 won’t hold an edge forever, but it gets very sharp very fast. I have no problems maintaining a hair shaving edge with this knife, and it doesn’t require any special skills. No issues with rust or corrosion either. Given the price, AUS8 is a great choice here.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Mini Tuff Lite is some sort of plastic (Griv-Ex™ according to Cold Steel). It’s tough and lightweight – entirely adequate for my mostly suburban purposes. Construction is very good. Three bolts hold the small handle together, and everything is nicely finished. There is a large lanyard slot for those who like lanyards, and all the corners are nicely rounded.

From an ergonomics perspective the MTL is very impressive. Much like the Dragonfly II, the MTL makes use of a forward choil. This allows you to really choke up on the blade, but it also affords you a full four finger grip. I really like to have a full grip on my EDC knife so for me this is exceptional. The plastic handle is lightly textured, and the spine of the blade is sparsely jimped. I find that this is plenty of traction and makes the knife both comfortable and practical to use.

The pocket clip is where you start to feel the budget aspects of this knife. Satin finished, and positioned for right side tip down carry only, it’s not as feature rich as some of your higher end knives. That said, there is still a lot to like here – retention is excellent and the knife is very discrete. I tend to forget it is clipped to my pocket, often having to double check before heading out the door. I think the lack of multiple carry options is a really minor issue as the clip generally works well, and the knife carries like a dream.

Deployment and Lockup

The Mini Tuff Lite makes use of a oval thumb hole for deployment. It’s small, but the sharp edges of the thumb hole make it easy to get at, and with a little effort you can manipulate the blade open. This isn’t the fastest draw in the west, but once again given the intended use I find it adequate. There is a firm backspring holding the blade closed, so you don’t need to worry about accidental deployments, but care should be taken when closing the knife as the blade tends to snap down with speed.

For the locking mechanism Cold Steel went with their most excellent Tri-Ad lock. For the uninitiated, the Tri-Ad lock is an overbuilt lockback with an added stop pin. This makes for an extremely strong lock, and is far superior to your regular lockback. You can really feel this when aggressively carving. I tested both the Mini Tuff Lite and the Dragonfly out on some 2x4s, and you can feel the the lockback on the Spyderco flex under the pressure of a strong push cut while the Tri-ad lock remains rock solid under pressure – a testament to the exceptional design of this locking mechanism.

Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite Review – Final Thoughts

Lets face it, the Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite wasn’t designed to win any beauty contests. This is definitely an instance where form follows function.

But there is something endearing about the MTL. A face only a mother could love. And if you need a small, lightweight, and inexpensive tool to get the job done I think you will be hard pressed to find a more outstanding value. This little knife is rock solid and capable of providing years of service. Plastic and AUS8 are a far cry from cutting edge knife technology, but the MTL will still happily satisfy the vast majority of your EDC chores.

For those interested in a Spyderco Dragonfly or a Benchmade Mini Griptilian, but are unwilling to pay the $50 and $80 price tags I give the Mini Tuff Lite my full endorsement.

In fact, this is a great small EDC knife regardless of what you compare it to.

Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite Serrated Knife

Blade Thickness: 2.5 mm
Handle: 3" Long Griv-Ex
Blade Grind: Hollow
Steel: Japanese AUS 8A Stainless
Pocket Clip: Ambidextrous Pocket/ Belt Clip

I recommend purchasing the Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite 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.