Knives By Purpose

Cold Steel Spartan Review

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

Buy the Cold Steel Spartan at BladeHQ

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Purpose

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

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

General Dimensions and Blade Details

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hande, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

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

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

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

Deployment and Lockup

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

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

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

Cold Steel Spartan Review – Final Thoughts

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

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

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

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

Cold Steel Tactical Pocket Folding Knife, Spartan

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

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

Spyderco Delica 4 Review

by Dan Jackson 21 Comments

Last updated: February 10, 2018
Ah, the Spyderco Delica – is there a more classic EDC design? Well, if we are talking about modern folding knives, I’d argue there really isn’t. One of Spyderco’s most popular knives, the Delica 4, is the brand’s bread and butter; a simple, reliable folding knife that is built with easy carry and utility in mind.

Buy the Spyderco Delica at BladeHQ

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Many will wonder why it took me so long to review the Delica. Even the relatively new fourth generation version (hence Delica “4”) has been out for a while. The truth is, there are too many knives and too little time. Also, I reviewed the Endura 4 a while back, and since the knives are so similar it took me a while to get around to the Delica. Better late than never however, and I finally intend to give this knife the attention it deserves.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Delica has an overall length of 7-1/8″, a 2-7/8″ blade, weighs 2.5 ounces, and is made in Japan. This is a slim and lightweight design, perfect for every day carry (EDC).

The Delica features a leaf shaped blade, and is defined by its large thumb hole. This is a classic Spyderco blade shape. For the uninitiated the blade will almost look goofy, but for those that appreciate this unique aesthetic it’s a beautiful sight to behold. The 4th generation has been given a full flat grind and a beautiful satin finish. All in all, it’s a pretty unremarkable blade, just a simple look that is designed for performance. The tip is fine and lacks reinforcement so the user needs to take care and avoid any prying tasks.

The standard Delica comes with a VG-10 blade. VG-10 is a Japanese stainless steel. This is a serviceable mid range steel. It’s easy to sharpen, takes a fine edge, and holds on to it for a reasonable amount of time. It’s not a super steel, but it’s a step above budget blade steels like AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle on the 4th gen is fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) over full stainless steel liners. The liners have been nested inside the scales and are thoroughly milled out. This keeps the knife very slim and lightweight. Everything has been bolted together so you can take the knife apart if needed. Since the Delica has a backlock, this is a closed back design.

You can get the Delica 4 in a variety of colors including blue, purple, brown, white, green and of course black. Collectors like this, and I admit the choice of color is fun. I went with green for mine, it’s a friendly color that stands out from the sea of black handled knives in my dresser drawer.

The ergonomics on the latest generation of the Delica are quite nice. This is no surprise for a design that has spent over 20 years in the Spyderco catalog. That said, there have been a number of refinements to improve the already solid foundation. The FRN scales have been given what Spyderco calls a “bi-directional texture” – this allows for a slip resistant grip at any angle. Jimping extends from the back of the handle to the top of the thumb ramp, and it locks the thumb in nicely. The handle shape is smoothed on the edges and has plenty of room for large hands. This handle is very comfortable in all the normal grips.

The pocket clip is discrete and offers unparalleled carry options. This is a standard “spoon” style pocket clip and has been coated flat black. This is a removable clip and can be positioned on any of the 4 corners of the knife with 3 torx screws. I love the versatility of this clip, this is a truly ambidextrous design. Clip retention is excellent and the knife rides low in the pocket. The only negative I could find is that the coating does wear off with use, which happens with pretty much any pocket clip.

Deployment and Lockup

It should be no surprise that the Delica uses a thumb hole for deployment. This particular spyderhole has a diameter of 13mm. I have found this to be a good size for both gloved and bare hands. Deployment is smooth and the knife can be flicked out with a practiced hand.

The Delica uses a back lock located right in the middle of the handle. This is easy to access but it will take some technique to close this knife with one hand. The lock is very secure with no blade play at all. The spring on the back lock is very good so inadvertently opening the knife is highly unlikely. The Boyd dent on the lock bar helps ensure that the knife will not inadvertently close either.

Spyderco Delica 4 Review – Final Thoughts

It doesn’t take long to discover why this is one of Spyderco’s most popular designs. One thing that strikes me is how well built the knife feels. The nested liners are flush, the blade is centered, the FRN is well finished. I love the satin finished blade and shaving sharp edge.

I also can appreciate how lefty-friendly this knife is. The thumb hole, lock back and pocket clip are entirely ambidextrous. Add in the choice of colors and this really feels like a knife that was made for me.

As I struggle to find negatives about the knife, I’ll mention that at around $65, it is not a cheap knife. Especially if you are considering this as a step up from $20-30 knives. I think you get what you pay for. I would also say that it would be really nice if they made the Delica in America. These are really minor issues, and if its the worst thing I can say about the knife then it really says something.

In conclusion, the Spyderco Delica is an outstanding knife. It has been refined over decades and has become a measuring stick in the EDC knife world. If you are on the road to collecting pocket knives, the Delica 4 is a foundation blade. If you are simply looking for a practical EDC knife, then the Delica 4 fits that bill too.

Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight Signature Knife with 2.90" Flat-Ground Steel Blade and High-Strength Green FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C11FPGR

Wide Spectrum of Handle Colors: The Delica 4 now offers new vibrant tones including blue, green, brown, gray, orange, zome green, black and purple.
Superior Blade Steel: The blades are full flat-ground VG-10 Steel with a thinner highly refined cutting edge and a larger 13mm opening hole.
Ultra-Lightweight: Inside the handle are dual skeletonized Stainless Steel liners which strengthen the knife without additional weight and double as an anchor for external and internal components to attach through generating more sturdiness.
Ergonomic: Added to the blade's spine is slip resistant jimping. Phosphor bronze washers smooth out the open/close action and the clip is upgraded to a four-way tip-up, tip-down, left-or right-handed clip.
A Secure Grip: Molded onto the FRN Handle's surface is Bi-Directional Texturing for slip-free tactile traction. It provides resistance to slipping in the hand.

If you would like to buy a Spyderco Delica 4, I recommend purchasing it 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.

SOG Aegis Review

by Dan Jackson 19 Comments

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

Buy the SOG Aegis at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

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

General Dimensions and Blade Details

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

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

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

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

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

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

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

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

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

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

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

Deployment and Lockup

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

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

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

SOG Aegis Review – Final Thoughts

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

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

SOG AE02-CP Aegis 3.5 in Tactical Folding Knife

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

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

Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

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

Buy the Spyderco Lum Tanto at BladeHQ

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

Purpose

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

General Dimensions and Blade Details

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

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

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

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

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

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

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

Deployment and Lockup

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

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

Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto Review – Final Thoughts

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

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

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

Benchmade Bone Collector Mini Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Last Updated: May 22, 2019
I never grew up hunting. It was something my family never got into, and so I was deprived of that early introduction to the classic hunting knives that so many Americans get to enjoy. However, my family was big into fishing, so I’ve got some pretty mean filet knives – small consolation.

That said, I liked the Bone Collector series ever since Benchmade introduced the line, and picked up one of their the Bone Collector mini-folders (model 15030) for testing. I don’t use it for hunting, but the small size, great steel and solid construction make it a perfect EDC blade, and the Mini Bone Collector has been spending some serious time in my pocket this summer.

Purpose

Naturally, with the Bone Collector moniker and celebrity hunter Michael Waddell’s name etched on the knife, one would assume this is a small hunting blade. I’ve never used it for this purpose but the nice belly and gentle tip lead me to believe this would make a decent skinner. I’ve been using this knife as an EDC blade, and feel like it does the job just fine. This could also be a great (small) folding camp/utility knife. I’ll be examining the knife mainly from an EDC standpoint.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The mini Bone Collector (or “mini BC”) has a 2.95″ blade, an overall length of 7.08″ and a weight of 3.46 ounces. For an under 3″ blade, it may seem on the heavy side, but it’s a very sturdy design with a thick blade, full stainless steel liners and a full backspacer. It makes for a nice solid EDC knife.

The blade is a modified drop point design – modified to the point where it almost resembles a sheepsfoot blade. No doubt this was done in part to function as a skinning knife, but I found the good belly and relatively blunt tip to be both functional and friendly in appearance. The knife has a partial flat grind, that begins about 2/3 of the way up the blade, making for a strong design that slices well.

Benchmade used a thick piece of D2 tool steel for the blade. D2 is a high carbon tool steel that is very resistant to wear. Benchmade finished this steel to a rockwell hardness of 60-62, which is on the higher end for most EDC knife steels. Edge retention has been excellent and I haven’t noticed any chipping on the blade. One of the trade offs is that D2 is supposed to be more prone to corrosion than other steels. I’ve treated this knife like any other EDC knife (I keep it clean and dry) and have noticed zero corrosion down here in humid south Florida. In my opinion, if you are comparing this knife to a mini Griptilian or other axis lock knife in 154CM, D2 is a great upgrade.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The mini Bone Collector handle is made from G10 scales over stainless steel liners. The G10 on my handle scales came very cool black and green pattern, although you have the option of plain black as well. The scales have been sculpted in a “bone” pattern. It’s a little different and further distinguishes this knife in the Benchmade lineup. The liners have been given a black finish and are meticulously skeletonized. The knife has a black G10 backspacer that is finished in a pattern faintly reminiscent of a spinal column, completing the Bone Collector effect. Construction is all top notch and everything has been bolted together with black stainless steel hardware.

The ergonomics on the mini BC are good. There is nothing particularly outstanding about the ergos, but I managed to squeeze all 4 fingers onto the handle without any issues. The choil area has been carved out to better accept the fingers and there is some functional jimping on the back of the handle. It’s not super aggressive jimping, but it holds my thumb in dry conditions. The heavily textured scale provides both visual interest and some moderate amounts of grip. I am not sure how well this jimping will hold up if you are skinning a deer and have hands covered in blood.

The pocket clip is outstanding. The mini BC comes with a standard arrow style clip, the same clip found on the HK 14210. This clip has been given a durable black coating and can be swapped to either side of the knife – tip up only. The clip rides fairly deep (not ultra deep) and is very discrete. This is a proven pocket clip design and is among my favorites.

Deployment and Lockup

Benchmade decided to include a thumb hole for deployment on the mini Bone Collector. One gripe is that the thumb hole is small. I took a tape measure to it and it measured out at 11mm. By way of reference a standard thumb hole on a Spyderco Knife is 13mm. It may not sound like much, but those 2mm actually do make a difference here and I found the thumb hole to be relatively difficult to actuate. The fact that the hole is partially blocked by the handle only exacerbates the problem. That said, deployment was certainly not impossible – it just took some getting used to after carrying so many Spydies. I do think under stress or with gloves it could be a challenge. Deployment itself was smooth though, and the knife sailed on it’s phosphor bronze bushings.

The mini BC has an axis lock, which hardly needs an introduction here. I’ve written a lot on the axis lock, but suffice to say, it works very well with this knife. I detected absolutely zero blade play and I love the ambidextrous ease of the axis lock. In conclusion, lock up is awesome.

Benchmade Bone Collector Review – Final Thoughts

The Bone Collector is an interesting addition to the Benchmade lineup. I think the mini BC offers something a little different with the D2 steel, sculpted green and black scales and thumb hole. It’s a tough knife with its thick blade and full backspacer. If you are comparing this knife to other smaller Benchmade knives, I think part of the decision will be if you like the look of the knife. The aesthetics are unique and some will definitely be drawn to the distinct Bone Collector styling. And if you hunt, well, perhaps that will factor into the decision as well.

As for overall fit and finish, this is at the usual Benchmade standard of quality. My knife came razor sharp, everything fit together perfectly and blade centering was near perfect.

The mini Bone Collector has left me with a very favorable impression. If you want a rugged axis lock folder with a small footprint and premium steel definitely consider the Mini Bone Collector . It’s a very well built and practical knife that could work just as well out in the field as it could at your home or work.

Although the Bone Collector is has been discontinued, and you likely won’t be able to buy one in stores, I recommend purchasing knives at Amazon and BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Kershaw Needs Work Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 21, 2019
In my opinion the wharncliffe is one of the most under-appreciated blade shapes out there. Many may write the shape off as a novelty, but in my experience a wharncliffe blade can be incredibly useful for a lot of every day tasks. That’s why I wanted to make sure I eventually got down to reviewing one of my favorite production knives with a wharncliffe blade, the Kershaw Needs Work.

Buy the Kershaw Needs Work at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

At first glance this knife appears to be more at home on the set of an “Aliens” sequel than in your pocket. This is another Ken Onion design, and one of his more radical blades. I’ll admit, the look of the Needs Work had to grow on me a little, but I quickly warmed up to it. Today I really like the looks of this knife and the performance as well. I think Ken and Kershaw did a great job representing the “wharnie” here.

Purpose

To provide a little context, I would mainly classify this as a utility knife. That is, a knife that is used to cut a lot of boxes, leather, carpet, etc etc – a dedicated work knife for your shop or tool box, or to be carried while working a physical job with a lot of cutting tasks. The wharncliffe shape essentially provides a 3 inch razor blade, and the fine tip allows for unmatched precision.

I am hesitant to classify (or recommend) this as a full blown EDC knife, mainly because it doesn’t carry particularly well. However, it all boils down to what you want to use the knife for.

General Dimensions and Blade Detail

The Needs Work has a 3″ blade, a 4 1/8″ handle and weighs 3.5 ounces. This is a stout little folder designed for light and medium duty use. As you are well aware by now, the NW has a wharncliffe shaped blade. The NW’s blade is .12″ (3mm) thick – this is a thick piece of metal for a small folding knife.

From a design standpoint, Ken Onion gave this blade some of his characteristic flair. The blade includes gentle sloping curves and a nice little swedge. It’s a simple design that I really like. A hollow grind begins about half way down the blade.

The tip on this knife is exquisite, and will let you make very precise cuts. If you go through a lot of boxes, or cut stuff like carpet I highly recommend this blade shape. The angled handle only accentuates this feature. On the flip side, the fine tip means it could break – if you do a lot of thrust cuts or want a “hard use” knife I’m not sure the tip will hold up.

My Needs Work came with that gray matte finish popular on a lot of Kershaw knives (like the Skyline). You may also be able to find this knife with a black titanium nitride coated blade as well.

Kershaw went with Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel for the blade here, a steel I am very familiar with. It holds a very nice edge and sharpens easily. My only advice would be to keep an eye out for rust, I’ve noticed a couple small spots form on my Skyline.

Handle Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The Needs Work has a beefy handle with glass-filled nylon scales over full stainless steel liners. The thick handle offers good grip, but makes the knife a little harder to carry. The scales have been given a really unique pattern. It’s got a kind of organic alien looking vibe to it. I am not crazy about the pattern, but it’s not really seen as a negative either. There is a full backspacer and the liners have not been milled out.

The ergonomics on the Needs Work are pretty good. I noticed a lot of people raving about the ergos, but I found the handle to be a little small for my relatively large hand. I can squeeze all 4 fingers on the grip, but realistically, this is a 3 finger knife for me. It’s still a comfortable knife but my pinky does feel a little lonely there. The thumb ramp and choil are well defined and there is adequate jimping on both. The thick handle does feel good and the textured pattern provides some response. For some reason I really like throwing the NW into a reverse grip; the handle is well suited for it.

Perhaps the biggest ergonomic feature is the angle of this handle. This allows you to take full advantage of the fine tip. The Needs Work could be a great knife to cut dry wall, carpet or similar flat materials. I found it to be very convenient when I had to trim some posterboard for the background on my little photography studio. More conventional blade shapes (and handle angles) would make you rotate your wrist further to use the tip of the blade for precision cuts. The Needs Work is a much better design for those kinds of tasks.

Sadly, the pocket clip is something of an abomination. Right off the bat, you are limited to right-side tip-down carry only. Furthermore, the large (ugly) clip rides high in the pocket, adding insult to injury. In practice, I actually found the tip down carry to be OK given the flipper and assisted open. I’d much rather see some mounting options and a little more conventional looking clip. The clip and thick handle are the two main reasons why I am hesitant to recommend this as an EDC blade.

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment on the Needs Work is awesome. This is a speedsafe assisted opening knife, and the spring on this the NW shoots the blade of this knife out like a gun. This is a wicked fast deployment that makes an awesome cracking sound as the blade locks open. This is one of my favorite assisted openers; the cool blade shape and rapid deployment are too much fun.

Opening is only accomplished through the flipper – not an issue here at all.

Lockup on the Needs Work is equally impressive. The NW uses a very interesting liner lock that requires no stop pins. The tang of the blade locks into the liner at two different places. It’s hard to describe but very solid in practice. There is zero blade play in this knife, which is awesome when you consider how much force this lock is put under by the assisted opening.

Kershaw Needs Work Review – Final Thoughts

I really like this one. The unique blade, the chunky design, the lightening fast deployment and super solid lockup – these are all major plusses. Also, I found the wharncliffe blade to be uber useful. That tip allows you to do detail cuts like no other knife. I also love how the Needs Work was made in America, and can be found for right around $30. Also, the fit and finish on mine is great. Blade centering is perfect, the grinds are smooth and even – everything was well put together. This is a knife I am proud to add to my collection.

That said, I do ding the knife a little for it’s pocket clip – that’s my only real issue here, and to be honest it still carries pretty well considering. If you want a rugged utility knife, or are searching for something a little different I recommend the Needs Work.

Kershaw Work Knife with Black Injection-Molded Polyimide Handle and Sandvik 14C28N Stainless-Steel Blade

Just connect in the lightning flash drive, easily move photos, videos and other files off your iPhone or iPad and onto the flash drive, from the drive, you can also transfer these files into your Mac,PC or other devices.
Connect and play,enjoy movies or musics stored in the flash drive when you are on trip or travel, most video formats are supported: (VIDEOS: AVI, M4V, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPG, RM, RMVB, TS, WMV, FLV, 3GP; AUDIOS:FLAC, APE, AAC, AIF, M4A, MP3, WAV)
Every time you connect the flash drive in, use "Y drive" App camera to take photos/video ,which will be automatically stored into the flash drive.
Mfi Certified flash drive guarantees fast and stable data transfers,one HD movies ( approx. 1GB) only needs about 20s.
iPhone X 5 5s 6 6+ 6s 6s+ se 7 7+; iPad (iOS 8.0 or higher), Computer OS Support Mac OS X v10.6+, Windows 7/8/10

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Needs Work at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out my review.