Fixed Blade Knives

Schrade Frontier SCHF52 Review

Sometimes, you just need a big, dumb knife. Thus was the rationale behind my purchase of the Schrade Frontier SCHF52, a tool designed “with extreme wilderness survival situations in mind.” While I don’t consider myself an extreme sort of guy, I do certainly enjoy both the wilderness and the thought of surviving.

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I tested this full-tang terror over a few blustery days in New Mexico, tackling fallen trees and dry timber on the banks of the San Juan River. It was, like many of the best things in life, a truly surprising experience. Let’s dive in.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

As always, we begin with some stats. This is one of the larger offerings in Schrade’s Frontier line, with a reach of 13-inches overall. Seven of these make up the coated blade, with 6.25-inches worth of sharpened surface. The handle adds another five, with the downward sweep of the pommel rounding out its foot-plus length. As expected on a survival-minded knife, the blade stock is wide across the shoulders – 0.23-inches, to be exact. The grip is fairly substantial, with 0.83-inches of girth where the rubber meets the palm. All told, your $30-$36 buys just over a pound of drop-point, hollow ground 1095 steel. That’s a heck of a lot of tool for not a lot of money.

Here’s something you’ll hear echoed a few times throughout this review: I did not expect the SCHF52 to slice worth a damn. I figured chopping, cleaving, and other brute force tasks would be the Frontier’s forte. But the first time I swiped its edge across a branch, I was shocked to see a long, thick strip of wood go flying through the air. The hollow grind bit deep beneath the bark, leaving a flattened swath of wood in its wake. I did this over and over until I’d completely stripped a foot-long stick. Then I picked up another and did it again.

Once this initial delight wore off, I set to testing the tasks for which the Frontier was ostensibly designed. As expected, its substantial weight and durable steel make it an excellent chopper. The heft of the blade and security of its rubber grip allows you to generate impressive force on the swing, and the edge bites hard into fallen timber. The hollow grind also proved to be surprisingly durable. After bashing through a log or two, I was still able to generate some pretty fine wood shavings.

Next up was every internet troll’s favorite use for an outdoor blade – Batoning. While I generally avoid this with smaller blades, the SCHF52 is built for these sorts of tasks. So, driving it through a three-foot length of dead timber should be no problem, right?

Right.

So, what can’t the 52 do? Well, it’s not going to be the greatest asset when it comes to food prep. The hollow grind will do better than others, but the overall thickness isn’t terribly helpful at the cutting board. And, as you can see, the blade coating will rub off when driven through slabs of wood. But overall, the performance of this sub-$40 knife blew me away. I expected it to be good, but not this good.

Handle and Ergonomics

The overall ergos on the SCHF52 are excellent. The texturing on its rubber cladding locks into the palm, inspiring confidence through a variety of uses. The pistol-grip style forward finger choil is excellent for delicate maneuvering, and the downward curve of the pommel fits well against the heel of my hand. You can even use this area for increased chopping leverage, wrapping your ring and middle fingers against its gentle hook. This allows for a bit more force on the swing, though the impact can be rough on gloveless hands.

Speaking of rough, the lone sore spot here is the jimping just aft of the upper blade guard. It works fine during light carving work, but it bites at the webbing of my thumb during heavy use. It’s not the end of the world, but I’d recommend wearing gloves for impact tasks.

In addition to my rubber model, Schrade offers the Frontier 52 in Micarta, as well. Personally, I think the slightly spongy texture of the rubber is better suited to impact tasks, while being more attractive to my particular eye.

Sheath

Sheaths tend to be the weakest point on most budget fixed blades. Happily, I found Schrade’s sheath to be markedly better than expected. The nylon strap and body hold the knife securely, with a surprisingly comfortable ride for such a hefty blade. The knife slides in and out effortlessly, once you find the narrow slot in the integrated plastic sleeve. This takes a bit of attention, so be careful until you’ve developed a feel for it.

The biggest weakness I see here comes from the belt loop. It’s secured by what amounts to two pieces of folded over Velcro, pressed together around the pass-through. I think anyone who’s ever had a long-term pack, pouch, or pair of shoes with this sort of closure can see where this is going. Eventually, those sticky surfaces attract dust, fabric, and all sorts of material to their tiny claws. This limits the lifespan of the material, especially on what I consider to be a hard-use tool. If you’re looking to the Frontier as long-term companion, you may want to fuse these strips together somehow.

Other than this one issue, however, the sheath appears to be up to snuff. Even the little leg-loop at the bottom works well despite, as my wife and her friend put it, looking “really silly.” They’re right – Walking around with a boot lace tied around your thigh does look kinda dumb. But in the wild (or your own back yard) who really cares?

Let’s quickly touch on the included ferro rod and sharpening stone. In truth, I expected both of these add-ons to be junk. And while I was half right (the included striker steel is garbage), I was able to make fire using the ferro rod and the back of the blade. The spark output isn’t massive, but it was enough to catch the dry tinder I pulled from the side of a fallen tree. The rod is pretty thin, though, so don’t expect it to last for more than a handful of trips.

As to the sharpening stone, I haven’t had occasion to test it. The 1095 held its edge quite well, and a quick visit to the strop set it back to hair-shaving sharp. While it may not generate the polished edge of a bench stone, I have no doubt it’ll be serviceable in the field.

Schrade SCHF52 Review – Final Thoughts

This is a knife I expected to like from the get-go. It wasn’t, however, one I expected to love. But from the first slice across its very first twig, I really fell for this blade. It’s a simple, straightforward, and eminently capable design, backed with materials that walk the line between durability and disposability like no tool I’ve ever tested.

What I mean is this – I’m confident that the 1095 can hammer through a log. But, should it fail, I also know that I’m only out $30. This sort of confidence is very liberating, allowing you to focus on the fun of your outdoor adventures without babying the blade. I even brought along my Steel Will R300 Roamer for comparison, a D2-bladed knife costing twice as much. And you know what? I think I actually prefer the Schrade.

Overall, the SCHF52 gets an unqualified recommendation from me. It plays the part of the big, dumb knife to perfection, while packing just enough smarts to keep things interesting. At this price point (or even twice that), you’d be hard pressed to do any better.

Schrade Delta Class Bedrock High Carbon Steel Fixed Blade Knife with 7in Drop Point Blade for Buschcraft

DIMENSIONS:Blade Length 6” - Handle Length 7” - Overall Length 13” - Weight 23.4 oz
MATERIALS: AUS-8 steel drop point style blade
SECURE: Overmold handle for confidence in your grip
BE PREPARED: Injection molded sheath for convenient carry
WARRANTY: This knife includes a limited lifetime warranty. If you have questions or concerns please contact Schrade Customer Service

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Schrade SCHF52 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Mora Garberg Review

by Josh Wussow 7 Comments

Last Updated: July 15, 2019
You’re familiar with the concept of being “fashionably late,” right? It’s the idea that, by showing up to a party well after the festivities have begun, you’ll gain coolness-points by joining in just as the fun hits its stride. While no one has ever accused me of being either fashionable or cool, I am a bit late to the coming-out bash for the Mora Garberg.

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But, when Morakniv offered to send me a sample for review, I knew I couldn’t pass up the invitation. This party of two took me from the dry winter of New Mexico to the snows of Colorado, with food, fire, and woodworking along the way. Now that the festivities have faded, here are my thoughts on the Mora Garberg.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

There are two major differences between the Garberg and its more budget-minded cousins like the Companion. First is the main thrust of its existence – That glorious, full tang construction. See that bit of metal peaking from the back of the pommel? Wonderful!

Then there’s the steel. While most of Mora’s lower lines employ carbon blades (yes, I know you can get the Companion in stainless), the Garberg utilizes Sandvik 14C28N. According to the maker’s website, this is a steel intended for situations placing “Very high demands on edge sharpness, edge stability and corrosion resistance such as chef’s knives, pocket knives, hunting and fishing knives.”

Mora has put 4.25-inches of Sandvik’s finest into the Garberg’s clip point blade, 4-inches of which are sharpened. The square-edged spine is fairly broad, with a lateral measurement of 0.12-inches. Add in 4.75 for the handle, and you’re left with an overall length of 9-inches. It’s a pleasing, medium-range design from the Swedes, weighing in at a hair under six ounces.

So, how does it perform in the field? In short, it’s a Mora. Carving, spine scraping, and wood shaving are an absolute breeze. And, thanks to its full tang toughness, I had no trouble batoning through small and medium sticks. This knife was a pleasure to use in the field.

One important note – While most Mora’s come with a scandi edge, they’ve opted to include a tiny micro-bevel on the Garberg. It’s an interesting departure from their usual MO, but not one that causes a whole lot of concern. Anyone looking to remove the bevel can do so with relative ease, given enough time at the sharpening stones. Plus, look at these ultra-fine shavings I was able to get. This, ladies and gents, is a precision instrument. Full scandi or not, the edge gets the okay from me.

Out of the dozen or so fixed blades to come across my review table, the Garberg is one of the two best fire starting implements I’ve tested. The other is the Cold Steel Finn Wolf, which I jokingly referred to as the “Finn Dragon” due to its ability to draw fire from a ferro rod by essentially breathing on it. The Garberg is the only other knife I’ve used capable of generating this sort of spark shower.

There are a few weaknesses here, however. As good as the Garberg is at striking a cooking fire, it’s not much help when it comes time to prepare your dinner. Slicing onions and other produce was a rather unpleasant experience, in fact. But, this is a known quantity with scandi grinds. Even with the microbevel, the Garberg’s edge geometry and thickness are ill suited to the kind of delicate slicing needed to produce evenly-shaved foodstuffs. It’ll do the job, but it’s happier squaring off against branches as opposed to brie.

Speaking of kitchen nightmares, I did encounter one issue with the microbevel. When rinsing the blade in the sink, I tapped its edge ever so slightly against the faucet. This produced a tiny, tiny roll that I’ll try to capture below.

Now, this is purely my fault. The knife still cuts with no noticeable difference, and I’m sure I can buff this right out. But if you’re using the Garberg in the wilderness, be sure your woodworking area is free of rocks.

Handle and Ergonomics

Per the folks at BladeHQ, the Garberg features a “polyamide handle with textured TPE inserts.” That’s a fancy way of saying “This is a $90 knife with a plastic handle.” And I’ll be honest – That choice of materials doesn’t exactly thrill me. I understand the reasoning (mass production, durability, lifespan, etc.), but I actually prefer the slightly softer and grippier handles on the Companions.

The ergonomics, however, are just fine. Its gentle ovoid swell fits my medium/large hand like a glove. And speaking of such, the polyamide handle actually works well with gloves. Cold weather testing for knives is a relatively new thing for me (despite growing up in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin), and the Garberg performed significantly better than the Condor I tested a while back.

Let’s briefly revisit the blade or, more specifically, the tip. It held up fine during a stab/pry test on wood, but the lack of a forward finger guard makes this a somewhat risky process. Grip is great for carving and other lateral cutting, but the impact of direct thrusts could slide your finger down onto the edge. This is especially true if you’re wearing gloves, because of the slight tactile buffer between the hand and handle. I’m not overly concerned about this, however. 99-percent of the time, the Garberg’s grip is solid.

Sheath

In standard trim, the Garberg arrives with two options – an unobtrusive leather belt loop and a MOLLE-compatible multi-mount setup. I didn’t test the more military minded option because, well, I’m not that hardcore. Truth be told, I don’t think I own a pack with MOLLE webbing, unless you count my Vanquest organizer pouch. But affixing the MORA to my backup kit would look a little strange.

The ride on the Garberg’s plastic sheath and belt loop is light and effortless. So much so that, when I got home from the woods, I left it on my belt for the rest of the day. While I’m not sure about the longevity of the leather loop (the material is a bit thin), it’s going to be great while it lasts.

The hard, plastic profile of the Garberg’s stock stowage fits the knife pretty well, and I enjoy the reverberating clack on the draw and return. It’s a sound I associate with Mora as a brand, so that’s part of the charm for me. Blade retention is only okay, however. Given a medium-strength shake, it will pop out of place. Part of the multi-mount system includes a leather fold-over clasp, but this slide-on accessory occupies the same space as the belt loop. So, you choose one or the other.

Mora does offer a full leather sheath for those willing to pay a slight premium. This option has a more substantial fold-over flap with snap closure and a belt loop. I didn’t get a chance to sample this option, but it certainly looks interesting. If you’re after a more traditional outdoor aesthetic, you may want to give it a go.

Morakniv Garberg Review – Final Thoughts

My three-word summary of the Garberg is as follows: Confidence in hand. From the moment I drew it from its sheath, I knew this was going to be a solid tool. While I’m not the biggest fan of the handle’s material, its shape and performance eventually won me over.

The biggest knock on the Garberg isn’t the microbevel, or the sheath, or its lack of foodprep prowess. It’s the price, plain and simple. Most folks are used to paying $15-$30 for a Mora, and this model costs at least three times that. Personally, I can see where the angst comes from. Steel Will and Buck make blades that are almost as good functionally, while costing substantially less.

But what it boils down to is this – Of all the fixed blades I’ve tested, the Garberg is the one I’d want to take with me into the wilderness. It’s an all-around performer from a storied company, perfect for buyers who are looking for a single, do-it-all bushcraft blade.

Do I think it costs too much? Absolutely. But in the field, far away from your bank and bills, this is an excellent knife.

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

Condor Swamp Romper Review

by Josh Wussow 4 Comments

Quick – What’s the first name that springs to mind when someone mentions “budget blades?” For me, the response is usually “Morakniv.” But there’s another answer out there in this Pictionary of the mind – Condor.

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Though generally known for the Bushlore knives, this El Salvador-based manufacturer offers a wide line of outdoor blades, most of which clock in around $50. This puts them well above the plastic and partial-tanged Mora Companions, but in the same neighborhood as the Kansbol and Bushcraft Black. Add in their full tang construction and leather sheaths, and the Condors become quite the value proposition.

But that’s just the bird’s eye view. I recently got up close and personal with the Condor Swamp Romper, a scandi-ground model operating in the $50-$60 realm. Here’s how it held up in the kitchen and on the trail.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

When dealing with budget knives, my first question is always the same – “What’s the steel?” In the case of the Condor, we’re looking at 4.5-inches of 1075, which is a lower-carbon version of the 1095 found on ESEEs and other popular outdoor knives. It’s easier to sharpen (which is saying something, if you’ve ever breezed through a touch-up session with 1095) and less prone to chip. On the downside, it’s also more rust prone and doesn’t have the same edge retention.

Speaking of edges, the Swamp Romper’s scandi grind runs the length of its drop point, satin blade. Width across the squared-off shoulders is 0.12-inches, a nice medium-size for both splitting and slicing. The overall length and weight come to 9.5-inches and 5.34-ounces, respectively. It’s a fairly lightweight tool, considering its full tang and the scope of its cutting edge. There’s even a sharpening choil at the back end, a welcome addition for do-it-yourselfers like me.

Here is a shot of it next to the Benchmade Bugout for reference:

Let’s talk about performance. Though it may hail from the Swamp, I found this knife to be a Romper in the kitchen, as well. Tomatoes, onions, carrots – It handled foodstuffs with ease. The tallness of its scandi grind and the thinness of its blade made it a surprisingly excellent culinary tool – Better than most of the Moras I’ve used.

Field testing was a different affair. There aren’t a whole lot of wetlands where I live in New Mexico, but an hour’s drive north to Colorado yielded a snowy canyon trail and frozen river banks. After finding a dry spot, I gathered some small timber to make a fire. The Swamp Romper proved to be an admirable cutting companion, feather-sticking and batoning with no issues to speak of. The rough spine is capable of striking a fire steel, though perhaps not quite as well as I’d expected.

Now, the downside. I knew the 1075 would be rust-prone, but I wasn’t prepared for just how rust prone it was. It discolored almost immediately, showing marked stains by the time I returned home. Now, this isn’t something I necessarily mind in a field-use tool. Patina tells a story, and I like it so long as there’s no structural weakness behind the pretty picture. But I am a little concerned, given that I don’t think the blade actually touched any snow during testing. Whatever moisture that came into contact with the blade was probably from some slightly damp wood. A quick cleaning, stopping, and application of mineral oil brought it mostly back, but it did take some of the bloom off this particular rose.

Handle and Ergonomics

Here’s where things get muddy. The Swamp Romper’s ergonomics are solid overall. Its 5-inch long and 0.85-inch thick handle resembles the broomstick-style found on some of my favorite outdoor knives, and the knife fits my medium/large hands very well. The scales themselves are made of contoured walnut. And what are walnuts famous for?

That’s right – They crack. Somewhere along the line (I think when I was gently chopping at a dead branch), a piece of the handle sheered completely off. You can see the glue marks where it broke free, leaving me without a finger guard on one side of the knife.

For me, this was the turning point of the review. Up until this failure, I’d been generally pleased with the rugged, tool-first aesthetic the Condor was projecting. But when I say I was gently chopping, I mean it. Is the knife still usable? Sure, but who wants to carry a broken tool? It was a disappointment, akin to flushing a $50 bill down the toilet.

Sheath

You know what makes things worse? I really like the sheath. One of the main things that brought the Swamp Romper to my attention was the firesteel loop on its leather carrier – Something you don’t get on the more popular Bushlore. It’s not the best-finished leather I’ve ever owned (Steel Will’s Druid series beats it pretty handily), but it had that same rugged quality that I found in the knife itself.

Retention was good, if a little tight at first. There was also a strange swipe of what looked like fresh paint on one side. Again, nothing I was concerned about at this price point. But once the handle broke, the knife began to move a bit more freely when stowed. What would you expect, right? Half of the widest point is now missing. The worst part about this, however, is that this altered ride geometry brings the blade into contact with the interior leather. Each time I draw it, the edge is now covered in tiny brown fragments. Not good.

Condor Swamp Romper Review – Final Thoughts

In the beginning, I was fairly pleased with this knife. It performed well in the kitchen and around the campfire, leaving me with positive vibes. But then it broke. Next, it rusted. And then, thanks to its newly misshapen nature, it started to eat its own sheath.

So, is it worth $50? Man, I just don’t see it. It’s a roughly finished knife comprised of materials I’d call slightly below average. The nicest thing about the whole package is the firesteel loop. And even the sheath came with a strange stain. So, where exactly is the money going here?

In the end, the Condor Swamp Romper is a knife that inspires little to no confidence. The steel rusts quickly, the handle is fragile, and its rough-around-the-edges charm turned out to be, well, just rough. It’s good in the kitchen, sure, and it’ll strike fire. But none of this justifies the price point. This is one swamp I’d steer clear of.

Condor Tool & Knife Swamp Romper - Camping Fixed Blade Knife - 1075 High Carbon Steel - Walnut Handle - Hand Crafted Welted Leather Sheath - Bush Crafting Knives - 4.5in Blade | 5.6oz

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in El Salvador

Editor: I recommend buying the Condor Swamp Romper, or perhaps something else, at Condor Swamp Romper 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.

Emerson PUK Review

by Travis Pike 1 Comment

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
Emerson is well known for producing a wide variety of knives, but they are most famous for producing a tactical folding knife known as the CQC 7. The CQC 7 is popular among spec ops troops around the world. The CQC 7 is what caused Ernest Emerson to turn the company from a garage operation to one of the most well-known knife companies in the world.

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By trade I’m a gun guy, and as a gun guy I find it easy to identify guns in movies. I’ve slowly become more and more of a knife guy and now I’ve started to notice knives in movies. Does this influence my interests? Sometimes… So, was Bruce Willis and Tears of the Sun on my mind when I snatched up an Emerson PUK? Sadly no, but once Tears of the Sun hit Netflix I got a little confirmation bias.

The Emerson PUK, or Police Utility Knife, is one of the few fixed blades Emerson produces. The PUK is not a big knife. It’s short and thin, but easy to carry. If Rambo has set the baseline for your commando knife, you’ll be disappointed at the subtle and small nature of the PUK. The PUK was made for police use, but according to Emerson has found its way into the hands of elite units like the British SAS.

I’m sure it’s a great knife for Bruce Willis’ Navy SEAL, but I wanted to find out what the PUK offered the everyday Joe.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Emerson PUK has an overall length of 8.5 inches with a 3.6-inch blade and weighs only 5.5 ounces. The PUK is one of the many Emerson knives made in the USA.

The Emerson PUK blade is only .125 inches thick. This thin blade helps keep the knife both balanced and lightweight. The blade is designed for heavy duty cutting and is made from a single piece of 154CM steel. 154CM is better suited for heavier cutting than standard stainless steel and has excellent edge retention. The biggest downside to this steel is its corrosion resistance. It’s far from perfect, but Emerson took steps and coated the blade to protect it against corrosion.

With the words Police and Utility in the name it’s safe to say this knife was designed to be more tool than weapon. However, I wouldn’t want to find myself on the wrong end of the PUK. The intent of the blade is for tactical use and the situations most police will find themselves in.

The cutting work of police is likely going to be heavy duty. Officers may be tasked with cutting through seat belts, through clothing, into the seats of cars and trucks, and much more. This kind of cutting requires a strong and capable knife. This is one of the advantages of using a fixed blade over a folding knife. With this in mind the blade’s V grind makes a lot of sense. V grinds tend to be better suited for heavy duty cutting. The PUK certainly has no qualms about slicing through materials both thick and thin.

I’ve taken the PUK to task by cutting through cardboard, an old pair of jeans, a ratchet strap, and some half inch thick rope. It glided through the cardboard and jeans, and only took a little effort to rip through the rope and ratchet strap. I’d like to try it against a seat belt but the Highway Patrol likely wouldn’t accept that as an excuse for why I’m not buckled up.

The blade’s short length makes it nice and handy. A 3.6-inch blade is something more common on folding knives, but it makes the PUK compact enough for easy carry. For plain clothes officers or civilians this thin and relatively short knife is easy to conceal.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is made of two pieces of G10 glass laminate material. G10 is a tough and easy to texture material. Oh boy, are the PUK’s grips textured. The grips are heavily scalloped and between the scalloping is a rough stippling. Near the inside of the grips is a step style texturing all the way to the center of the handle. The combination of these three-different grip texturizations gives you a one helluva grip on the knife. This grip isn’t shy about being rough.

In the hand this is nice because the knife isn’t going anywhere. You can chop, slash, and stab and the knife is staying put. The downside is that heavy work sans gloves really starts to rub into the hand. I developed a few hot spots during testing. This is one knife where tactical gloves are a must have for long term use.

Another downside occurs when carrying the knife concealed. It really rubs against the body to the point where it’s just plain painful. I would suggest an undershirt between the knife and body.

The handles form and shape is nice and comforting. It gives you a sure grip and the handle naturally forms a bit of a cliff to protect the index finger. On the opposite side a slight ridge rises and provides you a good point to rest the thumb for extra leverage.

Sheath

The old PUK’s came with nylon sheaths and this is what you see in Tears of the Sun. The new PUKs come with I’ve found to be one of the most robust and versatile sheaths options out there. It’s a kydex sheath that comes complete with a Tek Lok belt attachment.

The Tek Lok, from Blade Tech, is an incredibly versatile sheath mounting system. With the appropriate sheath you can easily change the orientation of the knife. You can do anything from add a little forward cant to mounting and carrying the knife horizontally.

The Sheath uses a passive retention system that ensures the knife stays put. It doesn’t take much to remove the knife, but it feels secure. I’m comfortable running the knife horizontally, and even upside down on tactical gear. The sheath is even compatible with MOLLE Lok components if you want to attach it to a vest or battle belt.

Emerson PUK Review – Final Thoughts

The Emerson PUK is a nice working mans fixed blade knife. It does nothing but excel at its role as a compact fixed blade utility knife. This short, but strong knife is an excellent companion for police and soldiers who want something more compact than your average fighting knife. I could see it being an excellent knife for first responders as well. The PUK could be a camping knife, but a heavier, more robust knife like the ESEE 4 would likely be a better outdoors option.

It’s not exactly a cheap knife, retailing at over 200 dollars. I will say I think the knife is worth the money, but it may not be a knife needed by your everyday Joe. If you are looking for a compact, lightweight and dare I say easy to carry fixed blade utility knife the PUK fills that role. It’s a high quality blade that lives up to its namesake.

Emerson Police Utility Fixed Blade Knife, Stonewashed Finish, 3.60 in Blade, PUK-SF

If you are thinking of buying an Emerson PUK, please consider purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. By purchasing things through any of the links on this website you support BladeReviews.com, keep the website free of annoying banner ads, and help produce future reviews. Thank you very much.

ESEE Expat Cleaver CL1 Review

by Travis Pike 2 Comments

Gripping the Esee Expat Cleaver leaves you feeling a little overwhelmed. You’re filled with the sudden urge to cleave things. There is something about its weight, its grip, and the fact you just know it can slice through most anything. It’s hard to put into words.

The Esee Expat Cleaver is the first in the Expat line of knives and tools. The knives are inspired by Esee forum member and world traveler ‘Expat.’

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Expat travels the world doing what I assume are fun and interesting jobs in dirty places. He has served as an instructor with Randall’s Adventure Training, Esee’s parent company. He’s an experienced outdoorsman, and his series looks to be an exciting development. The Expat CL-1 Cleaver is a beast of a tool and its design details are subtle. It’s more versatile than it looks.

Don’t call it tactical. It’s not designed to be a weapon, and it’s not for mall ninjas. It’s primarily designed for food prep in the wild. In a pinch it can be used to do some moderate chopping and campground clearing. However, at the end of the day this is a tool for food prep. Calling this tactical is like calling a mess kit tactical.

The Esee Cleaver is designed to take your meal from barely dead to ready to cook. It’s there to clean and dress animals as much as it is to prepare them for the skillet.

Esee is well known for their brand of survival knives and tools. Dan has reviewed the Esee 3 and Chad has reviewed the Esee 4. I personally own an Esee 4, and the Esee Advanced Survival Kit.

Esee designs the knives, but most are built by Rowen Manufacturing in Idaho. This explains the cutout of Idaho at the top of the Cleaver.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The CL1 is made in the USA. It has an overall length of 11.5″, weighs 25.5 ounces, and has a 5.5″ blade. Speaking of blades, this one is massive. The cutting edge is 6 inches long, while the blade is 3.125 inches wide and .19” thick. It weighs a mighty, Mjolnir-like, 25.5 ounces. You can really feel the heft in this blade and it’s a good feeling. The cleaver sports a full tang construction with a black stonewash blade.

The finish looks amazing and serves a critical purpose. The blade is made from 1095 carbon steel. It’s easy to sharpen and holds a nice edge, but it also tends to rust. Esee is up front with this. They clearly state that it’s your responsibility to bust rust and keep the blade clean.

The only portion that will rust is the actual unfinished cutting edge. A light oil coating, and ensuring the cleaver is cleaned is important.

Side note – Since this is a tool designed for making food you really don’t want to slap petroleum based oil like CLP on it. I like Citadel Black’s food safe knife oil for this one.

If you look closely you’ll notice the blade isn’t fully square. The edge rounds towards the “tip”, and that provides some belly. This gives the cleaver a little more versatility and makes it more than a chopper. The rounded edge makes it useful for skinning game and detail work. You can also make fine and accurate slashes through meat with the CL1 like a kitchen knife.

That rounded edge also allows you to ‘rock’ the cleaver to cut through veggies with ease like a kitchen knife. Without a doubt a kitchen knife would be better, but kitchen knives are made for the kitchen. The Expat Cleaver is made for the adventure.

The pommel has a slightly extended tang designed for small crushing tasks, and it’s outfitted with a lanyard loop. A cleaver is meant to chop, and when chopping it’s important to be able to keep the cleaver in your hand. The lanyard hole makes it easy to tie the cleaver to your wrist when chopping. This way you walk away with all your toes.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Expat Cleaver features the same handle as the Junglas. However, unlike the Junglas the handles on the Expat Cleaver are made from G-10 rather than micarta. G-10 is a proven handle material that’s resistant to the harsh nature of the great outdoors. Environments with moisture, heat, and questionable cleanliness aren’t an issue for it. This peel-ply G-10 is also grippy, so the cleaver stays put in the hand. This is important for a tool that’s doing chopping work.

The G-10 grips are mated perfectly to the tang and are completely flush. Three massive Allen head screws hold the grips in place. Even after months of use they haven’t loosened.

The grip features an excellent wave that gives you a nice and comfortable grip. The bottom and top of the grip are curved to keep your hand centered and provide a comfortable pivot point. The handle on the Junglas is a known quantity, and it was a no-brainer to bring the design over to the CL1 Cleaver.

The handle is also a fat bottom girl and fills my XL paws nicely. The wide grip really helps disperse the shock of hitting something hard over and over. The shock travels throughout the entire handle instead being focused in one area. This reduces fatigue and prevents pain.

Sheath

“Sheath” is a bit of a generous term here. The Esee Cleaver comes with a leather blade cover, but I wouldn’t call it a sheath. It simply goes over the blade and protects it from you and you from it. Personally, this isn’t a big deal to me. This isn’t a tool you carry on your belt for immediate use. The cleaver is kept in the pack until it’s needed.

The blade cover is made from a tough leather that secures via a simple button. For what it’s worth, it looks nice. I would have liked to see some type of tie down point. This would be handy to make sure the leather cover isn’t lost when the tool is used in the wild. If I could tie it to the pack I keep the cleaver in, I’d be good to go.

ESEE CL1 Cleaver Review – Final Thoughts

Even after owning the Esee Expat Cleaver for months I still get excited when I pick it up. I’ve used it lop the heads off fish, cut branches down, and chop up meat, veggies and more. Something about its size and weight makes it a blast to use. I find myself finding excuses to use it when cooking. Do I really need a cleaver to cut up chicken breast? No, I don’t, but I like using it.

ESEE Knives Expat Knives Black G10 Handle Cleaver CL1

ESEE Expat Knives Brand, MADE IN THE USA
Overall Length: 11.5", Maximum Width: 3.25", Thickness: 3/16"
1095 Carbon Steel Blade, Weight: 25.5 ounces
Finish: Tumbled Black Oxide, Handle: Black G10
Leather Sheath Included

I recommend purchasing the ESEE CL1 Cleaver 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.

Editor’s Note: Please join me in welcoming Travis Pike as a new contributor to the site. Travis has written in the guns, gear, survival, and self-defense realm for years, and is looking to expand his writing to include his interest in knives. In addition to writing for years he is also a United States Marine infantry veteran, so he has plenty of real world experience. I think he’s going to bring a very practical approach to his knife reviews. Plus, you know he has excellent taste when his first review is of a cleaver. Welcome Travis!

Spartan Blades Horkos Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

Spartan Blades has a reputation of producing a premium product geared towards military applications. Founded by a duo of retired Special Forces operatives, I always considered Spartan Blades to have a unique position in the market. Their approach is simple: manufacture high end fixed blade combat knives in the USA out of premium materials.

Buy the Spartan Blades Horkos at BladeHQ

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The only other company that shares this approach and readily comes to mind is Chris Reeve, and CRK is best known for their folding knives. Spartan Blades has since branched out into high end folders, but I will always associate Spartan Blades with high end fixed blades.

And the Horkos is arguably Spartan Blade’s flagship fixed blade knife. It may not be the most expensive, but it strikes me as their most approachable model and emblematic of their lineup as a whole. This knife was apparently commissioned by the Combat Weapons Team of the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY and is given to graduates of their elite program. A review of a Spartan Blades knife is long overdue, and given its pedigree the Horkos almost begs for evaluation.

This knife was provided to me for review by Spartan Blades.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Horkos has an overall length of 10-7/8″, a 5-11/16″ blade, and weighs 9 ounces. Like all Spartan Blades the Horkos is made in the USA. This is a combat / utility knife. Versatility is the name of the game with a combat knife. Obviously it needs to be capable in a defensive role, but most of the time the knife will be used for utility work. So it needs to be a practical knife, but still capable in a defensive role. I consider the Horkos to be an evolved Ka-Bar USMC knife.

Of course I’m a mild mannered suburbanite, so my experience with the Horkos has been purely as a utility knife. And thankfully the Horkos is a practical enough tool that I could effectively test it.

The Horkos sports a modified drop point blade with a dramatic harpoon tip. Spartan Blades has incorporated the harpoon tip on a number of their designs. It’s a nice aesthetic touch and lends a nod to the Spartan warriors that the company was named after. Beyond the harpoon tip you have a fairly typical partial flat grind and swedge. There is a little bit of belly, a nice strong tip, and plenty of cutting edge. The grinds on this knife are beautiful. In fact, all the machining is top notch. My favorite feature of the knife is that all the edges have been chamferred. This detail provides a premium feel and distinguishes the Horkos from all the other knives in my collection.

The Horkos is made from a single piece of S35VN steel. Although I have tested dozens of folders with S35VN blades before, this was my first experience with a fixed blade in S35VN. At 3/16″ (~4.75mm) thick, this is a substantial knife. I have come to appreciate S35VN in folding knives, but was unsure how it would hold up in a knife like the Horkos. After all, a blade of this size will need to hold up to the rigors of chopping, prying, and perhaps even batoning.

Spartan Blades offers the Horkos in a black DLC coating or a tan Zirconium Nitride (ZrN) coating shown here. Although the ZrN coating is described by Spartan as a “flat dark earth” color it seems to me more like a metallic brown gold. It has an almost etheral sheen to it. It’s subtle, but also totally different from something like a flat brown powder coat.

I was curious to see how this ZrN coating and the S35VN blade would hold up under use. I first used the knife on some cardboard. This is a thicker grind, and thick stock, but the keen edge cleaved through cardboard as you would expect it to. You will never mistake the Horkos for a kitchen knife, but it cuts cleanly and gets the job done. The coating and edge both held up fine.

I then worked with the Horkos on some seasoned oak logs that I keep for camp fires and grilling. The grind on this knife is pretty stout, but it handled the oak capably, shaving away the bark and and then peeling off thick curls of wood. I chopped quite a bit, performed some light batoning, and then moved to a large stump of grapefruit wood. Grapefruit is much softer than oak, but it allowed me to drive the tip of the Horkos deeply into the stump and test the tip strength. There was no edge deformation and the tip held up perfectly.

I have since used the Horkos on several other occasions. Mostly breaking down boxes and prepping wood for fires. It continues to be a capable tool.

The ZrN coating also held up well. There is some light surface scratching (perhaps from rubbing up against bits of sand on some of the wood), but the coating remained largely intact. It didn’t peel off like a teflon coating or flatten out like a powder coating. ZrN is a premium coating and I’d say it performs close to DLC. I also like how this coating does not bind up or effect the cutting ability of the knife.

I am keeping this knife for long term testing and will update the review as I gain more experience with this knife.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Horkos is a full tang knife overlayed with textured micarta handle scales. Once again everything has been thoughtfully designed and meticulously executed. I cannot find fault with the material selection or the fit and finish of this knife.

The scales on this knife have a large diamond pattern texture to it. I was concerned that this would make the knife uncomfortable to use. In fact the number of ergonomic features on this knife had me concerned: the beak of the pommel, the finger groove on the handle, and the saw cut jimping on the thumb ramp, and this aggressive diamond texture. I was pleasantly surprised to not develop any hot spots after extended use. While this won’t handle like a purpose built bushcraft knife, it still handles well. All the ergonomic features aided in the grip rather than getting in the way and I walked away from my testing sessions appreciating the Horkos more.

Sheath

The Horkos comes with your choice of a Kydex or Nylon sheath. My particular knife came with a nylon sheath in multi-cam. This is one of the most robust nylon sheathes I have owned. This is high denier nylon, triple stitched, molle capable, and threaded with paracord. The retention strip is adjustable and backed with velcro. This is a high quality sheath and strong departure from the bargain bin cloth sheathes you get with budget knives.

The plastic insert is lined with what appears to be the loop side of velcro. This gives the knife a secure friction fit, even if you don’t use the retention strap. There is a velcro lined belt loop at the top of the sheath, and a thick plastic D-ring at the bottom, so you can carry this knife in a number of different ways.

The kydex sheath is a $30 option and is probably worth the extra money, but I think as far as nylon sheathes go this is about as good as it gets.

Spartan Blades Horkos Review – Final Thoughts

The Horkos is an impressive combat knife. At over $300, this is a high-end product. The materials are top notch, every detail has been considered, and the knife performs. I think this is an instance where you get what you pay for. It’s overkill for a backyard bushwacker like myself, but if I needed to carry a combat knife on a daily basis I think the expense is easily justified. You certainly get something more for your money over a $100 knife.

I have enjoyed experimenting with a 10″ S35VN fixed blade. I continue to be impressed by the qualities of this steel. The combination of good edge retention and easy sharpening make it tough to beat. And I was also pleasantly surprised by the mild nature of the handle.

If I had to pick apart the Horkos, I think my approach would be more of a general commentary on combat knives. Combat knives ride that precarious line between utility and defensive use. It’s an exercise in compromise, and compromise by it’s very definition won’t leave everyone 100% happy. If you are looking for a pure utility knife to split wood all day I might suggest an axe or a Fallkniven A1. If you are looking for a straight up fighting knife, then the something like a ROSarms Kisten would probably be a better option.

But the Horkos still does a good job of riding that line between practical and tactical. There is no compromise in the materials, and the design is refined enough to get all manner of jobs done. If you need a tough, do it all utility / combat knife then you will be hard pressed to find a finer tool than the Spartan Blades Horkos.

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I recommend buying the Horkos 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.