Folding Knives

Victorinox Hunter Pro Alox Review

The term “Swiss Army Knife” conjures up a certain image. It’s arguably the most universally recognizable pocket knife, spanning the gulf between lay person and hardcore knife enthusiast. These knives are universally popular in part because they are universally useful. Sure, the models with 20+ tools begin to border on the absurd. Fun, but maybe not functional. But models like the Cadet and Pioneer can be appreciated by the collector and average person alike.

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And for many these will be the first knives they handle. Whether it was quietly taken from dad’s bureau on a long summer afternoon, or openly handed around the camp fire in Boy Scouts, the SAK conjures up all manner of nostalgia.

In many ways it’s that standard Swiss Army Knife formula that makes these endearing. They haven’t changed a whole lot since childhood. Little pill shaped handles housing tools we have come to know and love. The penknife, the bottle opener, the nail file, the tweezers and tooth pick. They follow us along through life and settle comfortably into a shelf on the closet, or in a desk drawer, for our own children to eventually discover. It’s a virtuous cycle, and not a terrible business model either.

Victorinox has made small innovations over the years, but the designs remain largely unchanged. The Hunter Pro Alox is a significant departure from the pill shaped slip joints. It’s a big knife with a single blade. It comes with an ergonomic handle, a back lock, and pocket clip. It may seem trivial to you and me, but this is something of a big deal to a company whose product has remained mostly unchanged for over 100 years.

The question is whether the Hunter Pro is truly something significant. Does it mark a change in how we think of Swiss Army Knives? Or is it merely a novelty? This knife was provided to me by Victorinox free of charge. All thoughts are my own.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Hunter Pro Alox has an overall length of 8.875″, a 3.875″ blade, weighs 6.25 ounces, and is made in Switzerland. This is a large folding knife. Not just for Victorinox, but for any company with the exception of Cold Steel. I was puzzled by the purpose of this knife. Puzzled to the point where I had to look to the company’s literature to understand what they were aiming for with this piece. According to Victorinox, this is a “cross-over” between an outdoors knife and an urban EDC. I don’t know.

Here’s a size comparison with the Spyderco Endura. Sorry for the blown out picture, and the dark pictures on this review. Was playing around with the camera settings and it was not a particularly good idea.

The knife is massive, which doesn’t necessarily bother me, but the weight of it is distracting. Admittedly I have the Alox version, which is the heaviest. Victorinox also offers the Hunter Pro with walnut handle covers or plastic handle covers. Either one of those shaves about 3/4 of an ounce off the weight. The Hunter Pro could be a fun choice for a camp or hunting knife, but this ain’t no EDC. Not in my book at least.

The blade is a near 4″ drop point. It curves gracefully like a whale, lending a utilitarian vibe to what may otherwise be considered a big freaking knife. This gentle giant has been designed for utility. There is a saber grind, and small swedge. The entire blade has been given a matte bead blasted finish. The Victorinox logo and “Swiss Made” have been engraved into the blade.

I am unsure on the blade steel for the Pro Hunter. Presumably it’s the same stuff used in their other knives. So far it has proven to be servicable. It takes a fine edge, holds it for a decent amount of time, and is easy to sharpen with a ceramic rod. Victorinox also offers the Pro Hunter with a Damasteel blade as part of a limited edition release they did for 2020. This limited edition is retailing for $400, so I’m not sure how many of those you will see in the wild.

In practice I’ve used my knife on cardboard and some light food prep. It’s starting to get hot in Florida, and most of my time outdoors has been spent on my bicycle, or mowing the lawn. Can’t say there have been many camp fires since the temps breached 90 degrees. And that may be where the Pro Hunter really belongs: at a camp site dicing root vegetables, and sharpening sticks.

The name “Pro Hunter” implies that this would be a choice for dressing game. Alas I’m not much of a hunter, and haven’t had the chance to butcher anything with it besides a bag of bacon. It creates lardons with the best of them.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Pro Hunter Alox has full steel liners, aluminum handle scales, and a solid steel backspacer. The closed length is almost 5.5 inches, so that’s a lot of material and a lot of weight. But everything has been nicely finished. All the parts line up neatly, and the Hunter Pro feels well made. The bright aluminum handle and jaunty bias to the Victorinox cross give it an almost ceremonial appearance. As if this knife could be used at a coronation… or perhaps a circumcision.

One nitpick is that the handle is riveted together. That’s fine for a $30 knife, but given the price tag of this model hovers around a hundo, I’d like a knife that can be disassembled and cleaned. Especially if it’s geared towards hunting.

The Pro Hunter feels cool and comfortable in hand. The edges of the alox handles are rounded, and even though there are a series of finger depressions, there are no hot spots to speak of. And there is no lack of room on this oversize handle either. For traction, you have the signature Alox pattern on the sides of the handle, and a short run of mild jimping on the spine of the blade. Aluminum has never been considered a high traction material, and this knife is not a paragon of traction, but for normal use I found it comfortable. Wood or plastic would be a good choice for outdoor use, but the nice thing about this bright red handle is that you won’t lose it on the forest floor.

This is the first Swiss Army Knife that I have seen with a factory pocket clip, and Victorinox appears to have put a lot of thought and energy into it. This is right side, tip up only deep carry clip. It’s large, and I think that was necessary given how hefty the knife is. The clip’s spring tension is good, and the knife is held in place, but this is a knife that you will notice in the pocket. I’ve never been a belt and suspenders guy, but the Pro Hunter has me thinking about it.

This is a somewhat discreet knife in the pocket. The knife buries completely, but the large pocket clip stands out next to denim. Here is you in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

You get 2 choices with the Pro Hunter: a thumb hole or nothing. I opted for “nothing”, and the result is a 2 hand opener. It’s an easy knife to open with two hands. There is an expanse of blade flat to grab onto and a mild back spring, so it doesn’t need a nail nick. The thumb hole version is more practical, but this version works too. The two hand opening might make it legal in certain countries. The action is fluid, and there appear to be some washers inside the knife.

The Pro Hunter uses a lock back to lock the blade in place. The lock works well. The spring retention is strong enough to keep the knife from opening by gravity, but the blade opens with a satisfying clack. The lock up is rock solid. No blade play at all in any direction. Disengaging the lock is easy enough. Everything works as it should and feels good.

Here is a parting size comparison with a more traditional SAK. This is the new 93mm Alox Farmer X:

Blade centering is perfect. Rounding things out is a large slotted lanyard hole.

Victorinox Pro Hunter Alox Review – Final Thoughts

The Pro Hunter Alox doesn’t quite work for me. On one hand, it’s well made and functional. Victorinox has always made a nice knife, and this Pro Hunter is well made. The red aluminum handles are striking, the fit and finish is excellent, and everything works as advertised. The pocket clip and lock back are both well done.

The problem is the knife is way too heavy. Maybe if they ditched the liners, thinned the blade, and re-worked the steel backstrap you would have something that could cross-over between outdoor use and Urban EDC without pulling your pants off. As it stands the Pro Hunter strikes me as an oddity in my collection. Large and heavy, which makes it less practical. I hope it won’t stop Victorinox from attempting to innovate, but it doesn’t entirely feel like a step forward for the brand.

Sale

Victorinox Hunter Pro M Alox Folding Knife Red Aluminium Handle - Red

COMPACT AND SLEEK: the sleek and handy every day carry for the modern man
VERSATILE: Its iconic design and perfect form combined with the sturdy blade make it the ideal cross-over from outdoor to urban jungle
DURABLE: The standout feature are the hugely popular Alox scales, known and loved for their durability
OTHER FEATURES: Add in the new smart clip, spring integrated lanyard hole and paracord pendant and you have hunting’s new generation go-to multi tool

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Victorinox Pro Hunter Alox at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Zero Tolerance 0308 Review

by Travis Pike Leave a Comment

I got a little silly with my knife purchases in the last few years. If it wasn’t an automatic knife, my purse strings got tight. I’m not saying I’m a cheapskate, but I was ignoring some great knives in the premium market if they didn’t have a button to flip them into action. A friend told me I needed a Zero Tolerance because I had never owned one, and he sent me the Zero Tolerance 0308, and upon my reception of the knife, I saw how silly I was being.

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The ZT 0308 is a sweet knife that’s designed for heavy-duty work, and it doesn’t have that fancy button I love to press to deploy a blade. I’ve always known that Zero Tolerance makes great knives but never had one I could personally experience. I quickly figured out how much I’ve been missing out on when it comes to ZT knives.

The Zero Tolerance 0308 is a new knife in the ZT line up and is a good choice for those who prefer a bigger knife for everyday carry.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0308 has a 3.75-inch blade that is 1.375 inches wide, and .16 inches thick. The overall length of the knife is 8.875 inches long, with the blade open. The ZT 0308 weighs 7 ounces and is a big, beefy knife. This big knife is certainly not for everyone, and it may be a bit much for many looking for an EDC knife.

The 0308 is an excellent knife for those in the first responder field who need something a bit bigger than the standard pocket knife. This does offer those in that role a knife with a big, thick blade, a superbly secure lock-up system, and a grip that’s perfect for gloved use. I work in a field that takes me in and through the woods at times, so I do prefer a bigger knife for my daily carry.

The big, beefy blade does provide a very nice belly that gives you 4 inches of cutting edge and a drop point tip. The upswept drop point design does give you the ability to slice deeply and cleanly. The swedge on the top of the blade certainly helps when cutting straight through soft materials. It also reduces weight and does give the blade an eye-pleasing appearance.

Speaking of eye-pleasing, the stonewash finish is evenly applied and looks fantastic. It’s not overtly bright or eye-catching, but quite handsome. The top of the blade is jimped for texture, and the flipper is also jimped to ensure your finger latches on as you press the edge into service. At the bottom of the blade, we have a sharpening coil, which is a nice touch.

The 0308 steel is made from CPM-20CV steel, which is a Crucible Industries creation. This is very high-quality knife steel that is hard and extremely durable. It’s not difficult to sharpen and seems to stay sharp for absolutely forever. The CPM-20CV is an excellent all-around steel that stands up well to abuse. I batoned wood with it and have yet to see a cheap or bend, or anything else. Batonning wood is typically a function of hard, heavy-duty fixed blade knives, but the ZT 0308 is also up to the task.

During my quarantine blues, I’ve been setting up a bit of a home gym, and to hang a punching bag, I strung up some 10mm climbing rope. The ZT 0308 chewed through that thick rope without any difficulty. It just cut and sliced through that material exceptionally smoothly.

For more traditional cutting, the 3.75-inch blade chewed through cardboard, 550 cord, envelopes, heavy-duty clamshell packaging, and even fabrics including thick 5.11 Tactical pants.

I had a spare pair of work pants with blown-out knees, and I wanted to see how fast I could cut through them. This would replicate what a first responder may have to do to access a wood, cut through a seat, and more without stuttering the ZT 0308 cut right through them.

It’ll also cut right through chicken for my famous chicken fajitas.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

As a guy with big hands, I love a big grip. The ZT 0308 has a significant grip that is a must for such a big blade. One side of the handle is a G10 panel, and the other is titanium. Both sides are textured aggressively but comfortably as well. Hot spots are only an issue at the area where the pocket clip sits. Loosen that grip a bit near the rear, and the knife comfortably works and works hard without rubbing you raw.

The texture is also well suited for glove use, which many first responders will undoubtedly be wearing. With my thick and heavy fire rated gloves, the ZT is still easy to wield, and both deploy the blade and put it away. Once the flipper is locked into place, it also acts as a tiny finger guard.

The pocket clip is broad and clings tight to the knife. This prevents it from catching on an armrest when you sit down, and as someone who does that all the time, I appreciate it. The pocket clip is reversible, and according to the ZT website, the knife is compatible with aftermarket pocket clips as well. On top of that is a lanyard loop, which is another good option for military and first responders.

Deployment and Lock-up

I was surprised by how fast and how easily and smoothly the blade deployed. A big heavy blade would be seemingly slow and rough to deploy. It’s just physics, right?

ZT utilized KVT Ball bearings in the action, and the blade slides out incredibly smoothly. It locks into place with a loud and satisfying thwack. The jimping in the flipper is also a must-have for gloved use, and ZT was smart to include it.

The titanium frame lock is beveled for smooth engagement, and you get plenty of real estate for pressing it inwards and allowing the blade to close. The frame lock is outfitted with a hardened stainless steel lock bar insert to protect that always wonderful titanium.

The lock-up is remarkably strong, and the blade doesn’t budge in any single direction. I can’t force this thing to give.

Zero Tolerance 0308 Review – Final Thoughts

The ZT 0308 is a very well made knife. It’s designed to be a big, hard-working tool with a big belly and a lot of power. It can take some serious abuse and still keep kicking. It’s big, and some will feel like 7 ounces is a boat anchor, but it gives me a feeling of confidence. The ZT 0308 showed me that my obsession with expensive automatic knives made me ignore some very well made and designed flippers. The ZT 0308 is my work and field knife for here on out, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Zero Tolerance 0308 Folding Knife, Premium CPM 20CV Blade Steel, Manual KVT Opening, Coyote Tan G10 Handle, Made in The USA, 3.7 Inch

Large 3. 7 Inch razor sharp blade, premium CPM 20CV Steel provides exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and edge retention
Coyote Tan G10 Handle on the front scale with a titanium back - above average weight at 6. 9 ounces
Stonewashed blade finish helps hide use scratches while a titanium framelock holds the knife open while in use
KVT opening mechanism is manually opened with a flipper; the blade glides smoothly open on ball bearings. Pocket clip is reversible and compatible with many aftermarket pocketclips.
Made in the USA - All Zero Tolerance Knives are produced in our Oregon facility

Zero Tolerance 0308 – $300.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0408 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Benchmade Mini Bugout Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

If you have handled the original Benchmade Bugout, then it won’t take any explaining to understand why the Mini Bugout is such a big deal. The original Bugout was a home run for Benchmade. Slim, lightweight, capable, and attractive with its classic drop point hunter lines and vibrant blue handle.

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So the thought of shrinking down the full size Bugout to something approximating the dimensions of a Mini Griptilian is a no brainer. The question is whether it works. Most of the time you can’t simply shrink down a knife and expect it to feel and perform properly. Did Benchmade get it right with their Mini Bugout? That’s the eternal question.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mini Bugout has an overall length of 6.49″, a 2.82″ blade, and weighs 1.5 ounces. Captain Obvious tells me this is a thin, light, and small knife. It’s perfect for EDC. It would be a great choice hiking, perhaps as a backup knife depending on what you are asking of your blade. The high visibility orange handle seems to suggest it was designed with outdoor use in mind. Personally, I use it for urban EDC, but in a situation where “ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain” this knife should save you some pain.

Here’s a size comparison with the full size Benchmade Bugout:

An obvious comparison would be with the Spyderco Dragonfly II. I’ve referred to the Dragonfly II as a “magic trick” in the past, and the Mini Bugout helps illustrate that point. While the Mini Bugout is very small, the Dragonfly II is still smaller thanks to it’s curved handle and finger choil. The DF2 is just a crazy small knife and it’s amazing that it still offers a full grip and all the utility of a larger folding knife.

Here’s the Mini Bugout next to the Dragonfly 2:

The blade is the same simple drop point on the full size Bugout. It has been shrunken down, but it’s still a lot of blade. That is one place where it outshines the DF2; you are getting a significantly longer blade, which could be more useful in some situations. That long blade is paired with a thin full flat grind and a simple swedge. The end result is excellent slicing blade geometry and a good tip.

My particular knife came with a blade made of S30V steel. S30V is now considered to be a classic stainless steel. Back in the day it was almost considered a super steel. It’s still a good upgrade over budget blade steels like 440c, AUS 8, 8Cr13MoV or even VG-10 and 154CM.

I have found that the heat treat plays a significant role in S30V. Obviously a good heat treat is significant for any knife, but I’ve found S30V blades on factory knives perform differently. For example, I’ve always considered the S30V on my Para 2 and Sage 1 to be reluctant to sharpen. In contrast, Benchmade heat treats their S30V in a way that is much easier to sharpen. That combined with their thin blade and edge geometry make their S30V blades a blast to use. For example, their old Volli model is a beast of a knife in S30V. All this to say, Benchmade seems to have mastered S30V and the Mini Bugout is no exception.

I’ve used mine mostly for opening packages. Lately I have been doing a lot of bulk buying and re-selling (of all sorts of things), so I’ve been working with a lot of cardboard. Whether that’s opening packages, resizing packages, or breaking down boxes, I have gone through an inordinate amount of cardboard in addition to my usual every day carry tasks. The Mini Bugout has been a laser. It is excellent at slicing, is easy to control, it holds a great edge, and is simple to sharpen. If you want a lightweight user this little Bugout will get the job done with style.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is a shock of bright orange Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN). You will have a harder time misplacing this knife, and it’s a great choice if you are going to take this knife camping. Benchmade also offers the knife with a white handle. That could be a cool. I’ve never owned a white knife before, and wonder how it will hold up with use. Hopefully they will offer some more colors in the future.

Inside the handle you have tiny steel liners. Contrast that with the heavier Mini Griptilian, which has steel liners stretching almost the entire handle. Despite the short liners, the Mini Bugout is still extremely rigid. That is likely due to the way they placed the standoff, and the engineering of the handle.

And much like the full size Bugout, Benchmade color matched the standoffs and thumb stud. That gives the knife almost a jewelry like quality. It’s a little thing, but I think it’s nice touch that you don’t see on many knives at this price point.

I had concerns regarding the ergonomics of the Mini Bugout. You can’t always shrink down a knife handle and expect it to work. In this case, it works. The Bugout had a simple handle design to begin with, which allowed the good ergos to shrink with the rest of the design. There is room for a full 4 finger grip (just barely), and Benchmade has used an appropriate amount of texturing. Mild jimping, diamond plate, and a soft texture to the rest of the handle all come together to offer grip without gripe.

Let’s turn to the pocket clip. It’s the exact same clip found on the full size Bugout. It’s a black oxidized deep carry clip. This is a shorter clip compared with Benchmade’s standard offering found on models like the Griptilian, but it still gets the job. And if you like deep carry clips, then you might say it gets the job done better then Benchmade’s standard clip.

Here’s your in the pocket shot:

As you can see the knife disappears into the pocket. It is uber discreet. And the clip has excellent spring retention as well. The knife is held firmly in place and doesn’t float around. As for how the knife carries, well, I hardly notice the knife. Much like the Dragonfly II I quickly forget it’s there until the time comes to use my knife. The original Bugout carried well, but it was a longer knife so it took up some real estate. This Mini Bugout is even less noticeable.

Deployment and Lockup

Like many Benchmade knives, the Mini Bugout comes with dual thumb studs and an axis lock. The thumb studs are easy to get to, and the blade pops out with the flick of a thumb. This knife comes with phospher bronze washers and the action is smooth and reliable. Really there isn’t much novel about the thumb studs or washers here. It’s exactly what you would expect if you have owned a Benchmade like this before.

And the Axis Lock is just like all the other axis lock knives I have owned. It works great, and continues to be one of my favorite locks. In fact, I think Benchmade may have made tiny improvements over the years as this knife has absolutely no blade play, up or down. In the past a common critism is that Axis lock knives would have a little side to side blade play in them. I wouldn’t be shocked if that developed over time, but I’ve actually used this knife pretty hard.

We have had a lot of rain here in Florida, and our stand of bamboo in the back corner of the yard has started sending out runners all over the place. Within a few days you can have a 6 foot tall bamboo shoot sprout up. A few dozen of them came up in our yard and I used the Mini Bugout to slice through them. Probably a bit much for a little knife like this but the Mini Bugout was up to the task.

Here’s a parting size comparison with the Benchmade Mini Griptilian:

I like both knives, but the Mini Bugout is even thinner and lighter. Personally, the Mini Bugout gets the nod over the Mini Griptilian.

Blade centering is off by a hair, but still acceptable in my book.

Benchmade Mini Bugout Review – Final Thoughts

The Mini Bugout is a smaller version of the already great Bugout. And the nice thing is that you don’t give up much with this smaller knife. I have done everything with the Mini Bugout that I would have done with the original Bugout, and I suspect that’s going to be the same story for a lot of people. Sure, there is the occasional use case where it’s better to have a bigger folding knife, but for most tasks you will be fine with the Mini.

The knife is well made from premium materials. Fit and finish is great, and there are enough details to make it feel special. Unless you have Andre the Giant sized hands, I suspect you will find this Mini Bugout to be fully functional. It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t. It’s a great ultra light EDC piece and I can easily recommend it.

Benchmade Mini Bugout – From $250.00
From: BladeHQ

Benchmade - 533BK-1 Mini Bugout Folding Knife, Drop Point Blade, Plain Edge, Satin Finish, Orange Handle, Made in the USA

LIGHT AS A FEATHER: And incredibly tough; Ideal for hiking, camping, and backpacking, and made for everyday use; A lightweight, go-anywhere tool
AMERICAN MADE CPM-S30V STEEL: For first-rate edge retention and corrosion resistance; Precision drop-point construction for strength and versatility.
FULLY AMBIDEXTROUS GRIVORY HANDLE: Has an ergonomic textured grip and is molded from glass-filled nylon for superior durability.
AXIS LOCKING MECHANISM: Ensures safety and a smooth open and easy close; Reversible clip; Lanyard hole for versatile carry options.
GUARANTEED FOR LIFE: Benchmade's limited Lifetime Warranty and LifeSharp Service keeps your knife in the best condition. If your knife needs repair or sharpening, Benchmade will take care of it. Available for knives purchased from an authorized dealer.

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Mini Bugout at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Chris Reeve Knives Impinda Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Chris Reeve Knives doesn’t release many new models. And when they do it’s often a variation on a theme rather than a brand new design. That’s part of the reason why the last time I reviewed a CRK was a review of the Sebenza 25 back in 2014. Another interesting tidbit about CRK is that founder and namesake of the company retired in 2016. He passed the company on to his ex-wife, Anne, in 2016. As a divorce lawyer with an overactive imagination, I can only speculate about how that transition went down, but I won’t.

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By my math the Impinda is the first new design since Chris’ retirement (I’m probably wrong so see the comments section for the truth). And this knife a significant departure from their usual fare. The Impinda a slip joint, and lacks their signature ~~titanium framelock~~ integral lock, that they are so well known for. But as usual for CRK, this isn’t a cheap knife. In this case the Impinda retails for a cool $450. That’s a lot of scratch for a non-locking folding knife. Some may view it as a cash grab on the revival in slip joint folders, but CRK enthusiasts may beg to differ.

I’ve reviewed a couple of these modern slip joints and tend to enjoy them. Most recently I reviewed the Hinderer XM-Slippy back in 2018, so I’ve had a couple glasses of the high end slip joint Kool-Aid. Let’s see whether this Impinda still makes me a believer.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Impinda has an overall length of 7.15″, a 3.125″ blade, weights 3.38 ounces, and is made in the U.S.A. This one is designed by Bill Harsey. Bill is one of the greats, and for some reason his designs strike me as quintessentially American. Maybe because he has designed some iconic USA made knives, like the Lone Wolf T2.

Obviously a slip joint like this is going to be geared towards the enthusiast EDC crowd. Bougie bros like myself with a penchant for man buns, 3/4 sleeve tattoos, and pocket frosting. Or maybe silver haired Corvette drivers. Either way there is an aspirational element to the brand.

Here’s a size comparison with a couple other slippies in my stable. The XM-18 Slippy, and Fantoni Dewller:

I think it’s a little large to be considered a true “Gentleman’s folder”, but you are welcome to disagree. At nearly 3.5 ounces this is a chunky little knife, so you may want to opt for both belt and suspenders if you decide to take this one out on the town. It’s a good size knife, but nothing crazy.

The blade is an elongated drop point, with a thin swedge and a slight, near continuously curving belly. The blade features a high hollow grind, which is something of a CRK signature, and zero markings. The blade is surprisingly thick: .12″ or a hair over 3mm. This was likely done to match the overall proportions of the knife. Plus, another CRK signature is that they tend to make a stout knife. Their fanbase is notoriously fickle, so I wouldn’t surprised if they erred on the side of over engineering.

The Impinda comes in S35VN blade steel. That should be no surprise, as this is the steel Reeve himself co-developed with steel producer Crucible Industries to be a successor to S30V. S35V is an excellent choice for a working knife, as it’s shows a good blend of edge retention, easy sharpening, toughness and corrosion resistance. CRK tends to give their knives a softer heat treat. That makes the knives easier to sharpen and less prone to chipping, but you sacrifice a little edge retention.

In practice, I’ve found the Impinda to be a good all rounder for daily carry chores. I’ve done the usual stuff with mine, and it’s held up great. I’ve opened envelopes, broken down boxes, sliced apples, and performed countless odd jobs as I’ve navigated through my personal and professional life the past month. The Impinda has met every task with cheerful readiness. Sharpening hasn’t involved anything more than occasional stropping and one time I ran the edge over my Spyderco Golden Stone to get a feel for things. This is an easy steel to sharpen and I’ve had zero issues with rust or corrosion.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Impinda features thick full titanium handle slabs with a full stainless steel back spacer. The pieces all screw together, and CRK provides an allen wrench to take the knife apart. The handles are not 3-d machined, only chamferred. Construction is rock solid, and fit and finish is perfect. Just what you would expect. The oversize pivot is a nice touch, while the lanyard hole seems like an afterthought, although I’m not sure what else they could have done.

The Impinda feels decent in hand for a small utility knife. My biggest gripe is that there is a lot of meat in the tail, and the balance point is an inch behind the pivot. As a result the Impinda feels heavy. Some associate weight with quality, so maybe that was the idea here, but to me it’s a heavy knife. Everything about it feels slow and deliberate. Granted, this is a utility knife, and not a combat dagger, but those are my impressions in wielding the Impinda.

Beyond the weight the knife feels good. No hot spots. No texture or jimping at all for that matter. But the generous handle and deep finger choil offers plenty of space for your fingers, and I never felt like I lost control of the knife in use.

The pocket clip is a piece of 3-D machined titanium. It looks like they gave the clip design a lot of thought. It is highly sculpted. Spring tension is excellent on it. The knife stays firmly in place.

CRK ships this knife with a calf-skin slip sheath. That’s how I like to carry my Impinda. I got a new used car recently. It sits low to the ground, and I have been anal retentive about scratching up the seats and door jamb to the point where I’ve actually switched my style of carry to avoid pocket clips while driving around. Plus I’ve never liked using pocket clips at work. I’m a lawyer and wear suit pants most days. The pants are expensive and I don’t want to tear them up. Accordingly, the Impinda has been a great option for me. It has gotten a ton of pocket time with the slip sheath.

Still, the pocket clip works well if you want to carry the knife that way. Here is your pocket clip shot:

Deployment and Lockup

Everything about the Impinda is deliberate. That’s most apparent when you go to open the knife. It takes considerable effort to get the blade out. CRK designed it that way, as it makes the knife much harder to close accidentally as well. This gives the knife serious “Walk and Talk”. By comparison, the action is much stronger than the XM-18 slippy. The action of the XM feels comically light compared to this.

Personally, I like the action on the Impinda. It’s heavy and deliberate, but it’s also smooth. The knife comes with a couple large perforated phosphor bronze washers. I think those that are skeptical of slip joints generally, will find a little more solace in the Impinda. It feels nothing like the action on a Swiss Army Knife, and theoretically it could stand up to harder chores.

Closing the blade is also deliberate. According to a roadside shaman I consulted whilst preparing this review, it takes 5 pounds of force to close the blade on this knife. That may not seem like much, but it’s considerably more force than most commercially available slip joints. Apparently there is patent pending spring technology inside this knife that makes the draw tension only one pound, and the closing tension 5 pounds, but it requires a good amount of force in both directions by my hand. Regardless, I like the beefier action on this knife. As I mentioned, it lends a deliberate feel to the Impinda, and inspires more confidence than the typical slippy.

Here is a parting size comparison with my CRK Mnandi:

Unsurprisingly, blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Chris Reeve Knives Impinda Review – Final Thoughts

The Impinda is a difficult knife to review. It definitely won’t appeal to everyone. Price alone is going to alienate a lot of folks. It’s a lot of money for an unassuming non-locking folder. I don’t know what CRK’s costs are (obviously) but find the price tag to be a bit much, even for CRK. Certainly they are entitled to price their products however they like, but I wonder what the economics would have looked like at $300 or $350. After all, the Small Sebenza costs $375 these days, and CRK fans might argue that you “get less” with this one, as it doesn’t lock. I’m not sure if that is a fair argument, but the internet can be a cruel place.

And to be honest, I haven’t checked out other reviews or the forums on this knife. I don’t know how well the Impinda is selling or what the consumer temperature is on this model. My guess is that it’s a mixed bag.

Personally, I have found the Impinda to be well made and highly composed. Keep in mind, the concept of “value” in the absolute sense goes out the window as you venture into luxury brands like CRK. Certainly the blade on a $20 Swiss Army Knife will do 95% of what this knife can (while opening bottles, driving screws, and helping you assemble an airplane on the way down). But that’s not the point, and is akin to comparing a Casio to a Rolex. While you get more for your money, the returns diminish considerably with each additional dollar spent. The person who buys an Impinda isn’t trying to optimize bang for buck. They want the experience and they don’t care if it costs $350 or $450.

And in that sense the Impinda delivers. It’s solidly made, carefully considered, and totally unique. It’s an experience. It’s the Chris Reeve quality many have come to know and love, in a sleek non-locking package. If the design appeals to you and you can afford it, then I think you will enjoy the Impinda. I’ve enjoyed mine. And like the Mnandi, I plan on keeping my knife for the long term.

Chris Reeve Knives Impinda – From $450.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Impina at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading!

Begg Knives Steelcraft Kwaiken (3/4) Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

I really enjoy Blade Magazine. I’ve subscribed for years, and smile when their magazine finds its way into my mailbox each month. Part of what I enjoy is how they write articles I could never write. Deep dives into the history of custom knife making, coverage of high end customs pieces, and interesting commentary on the intersection of industry, law, collecting, and commerce as it relates to knives.

Buy the Begg Knives Streelcraft Kwaiken at BladeHQ

Sure it isn’t a perfect publication, but Blade Magazine is a treasure trove of sorts, and that magazine combined with the BLADE Show often feels like the glue that binds this whole knife thing together.

Blade Magazine also offers knife reviews, which I also enjoy for obvious reasons. Usually they grab a trio of lower end knives and put them to work. The reviews are genuine and focused on real world applications. The writers are straightforward guys with an obvious passion for the products. I enjoy these reviews for what they are.

However, it’s rare for them to review an expensive production knife. Seems their reviews hit between the $20-$100 range. That’s great, as that’s the price range for a lot of user knives, but we don’t see much on the higher end. That’s where I think BladeReviews and other online “media outlets” can offer something. We can cover the high end.

Which brings me to this Begg Knives Steelcraft Kwaiken. This knife is somewhat ridiculous and expensive, yet undeniably cool pocket knife. As I sat down to write this review, I thought “Why am I even reviewing this?” Because I can and it’s what I enjoy doing. Plus, who else will do it? I don’t see much on this knife if you are looking for a long form written review. Plenty of YouTube videos and forum posts, but that’s about it.

Not that I do this out of any sense of duty. Frankly I enjoy exploring these higher end knives in addition to the more practical stuff. A knife like this would never kick my Para 3 out of my pocket, but they celebrate what’s possible in the world of production folders. I reviewed the Steelcraft Bodega a few years ago and enjoyed it. And I recall handling the pre-production prototypes of the Steelcraft Kwaiken years ago at a Blade Show. This is technically the 3/4 “Sun Tzu Kwaiken”. Time to check one out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kwaiken has an overall length of 8.37″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 4.5 ounces, and is made in China by Reate for Begg Knives. As I mentioned, this is actually the “3/4” or “mini” version of Begg’s original Kwaiken, but it’s still a large knife and I’ll simply refer to it as the Kwaiken throughout this review. The full size Kwaiken is no longer for sale as of the time I am writing this article, but it came with a 4″ blade and weighed just under 5 ounces. Too much pocket knife for my purposes.

Here is a size comparison with the Endura and Delica:

This Kwaiken is cold to the touch and it feels heavy. “Dense” may be the better word. It could make for an expensive paperweight if you aren’t careful, and it occasionally serves that purpose in my office. The balance point is back maybe an inch behind the pivot. This is due in part to the heavy titanium backspacer. While I will never consider this to be a heavy duty user, I have carried and used this knife quite a bit.

The blade on the Kwaiken is a large sweeping trailing point. Trailing points are sometimes referred to as a “Persian” style blade due to the exotic look. This is a little different from what is often associated with a Kwaiken, which is inspired by a traditional Japanese short sword. This blade reminds me much more of the Benchmade Bedlam than the Boker Kwaiken.

That said, the blade of the Steelcraft Kwaiken is much more detailed than either the Bedlam or Boker Kwaiken. There are 3 clean grinds on each side. The primary grind is hollow ground, and then there is a long swedge on top. In between those grinds is another faceted grind. Then you have the flat with a deep fuller. Everything has been left with a gleaming satin finish. It has been meticulously ground. The grinds are all crisp, but edges of the quillions have been relieved slightly. So there is nothing sharp on your hand. It’s a thing of beauty.

Begg went with S35VN steel for the blade. If you have an interest in a high end pocket knife like this, S35VN will need no introduction. It has been discussed ad nauseum here on the site and is a staple for makers of high end knives.

But to be thorough, S35VN is a stainless steel developed by Chris Reeve and Crucible Industries especially for blade steel. It’s a successor to S30V, and I have found it to be an improvement over its predecessor. What’s great about S35VN is that it still achieves high hardness (approximately 61HRc) and excellent edge retention, but it’s noticeably easier to sharpen over S30V. It is also corrosion resistant and takes a beautiful finish as you can see.

In practice I found the blade of the Steelcraft Kwaiken to be as functional as it is beautiful. That trailing point tip can be a little awkward for things like coupon clipping and other fine tasks involving the point, but the long curving edge provides lots of leverage and is highly effective at larger tasks like carving long peels of wood off a 2 x 4, and breaking down cardboard boxes.

Blade stock on this piece is relatively stout at nearly 4mm. That thick blade combined with the partial flat grind means this knife doesn’t produce translucent slices of apple, and it tends to “pop” materials open at the shoulder of the blade, but this is a larger knife. If you don’t mind potentially marring the delicate finishes, then you could accomplish significant tasks with it.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

While there is a lot going on with the blade, it pales in comparison to the handle. The handle is where you can really show off, and here the Kwaiken has been richly detailed. This is a full titanium handle, but the eye is immediately drawn to the millwork and carbon fiber inlays. These have been executed brilliantly. Running the pads of my fingers over them, I can feel where the carbon fiber ends and the titanium begins, but they are pretty damn flush.

And the entire handle has been fully contoured. This is what I was referring to when I recently reviewed the Gerber Fastball. Here you have a fully 3-D machined handle that has been executed brilliantly. It’s hard not to be impressed.

In addition you have details like a chunky high polished titanium backspacer with integrated lanyard loop, and custom pivot. The body screws are beautiful machined screws and the holes in the titanium have been slightly countersunk and given a high polish. It’s hard to find fault with the material selection, fit, or finish in this handle. My only complaint is that all this glitz adds heft to the knife. Especially that backspacer.

The ergonomics of the Kwaiken are simple yet satisfying. The handle is long and mostly straight. Plenty of room for all 4 fingers. The two guards or quillions encourage you to hold back on the handle rather than choke up. You can rest your thumb on top of the guard like I did for the photo, but it’s not particularly comfortable. Choking back coincides with the balance point, and suggests to me that the Kwaiken was designed to be more of a tactical knife than a utility knife.

There is little texture save for the geared backspacer and the signature groove running laterally down the handle. Still, I don’t find myself wanting for much more texture. This handle works and easily stays in the hand. If you would like you can choke up on the blade, and there is even a large choil, but it’s not quite large enough to safely accommodate my index finger. I think it’s more for looks and sharpening.

The pocket clip is definitely different. Fans of Begg Knives will instantly recognize it, but the uninitated will no doubt marvel at the milled titanium and oversized ball bearing. It’s a ceramic bearing, but is almost opalescent in it’s reflectivity. It’s a unique detail that you can easily get sidetracked with.

Here is your in the pocket shot:

But how does it work as a pocket clip? Actually, surprisingly well. There is excellent spring rentention and the clip holds the knife securely in the pocket. It’s also a deep carry clip, burying 98% of the handle in your pocket. Only the base of the clip, a couple gears, and that lanyard hole peek out from your pocket. This is a heavy knife, and the bearing does a decent job of holding the knife in place. It shifts a little over time, but doesn’t slide around freely.

Deployment and Lockup

The Steelcraft Kwaiken is a bearing equipped framelock flipper. The generously sized flipper tab is easy to get a grip on. The detent is good, and helps pop the blade out quickly. I’d say the action is around a “7” out of 10. It’s good, but it won’t blow your hair back like a Shirogorov or something. The action is smooth thanks in part to the caged bearing system.

The framelock is excellent. There is a stainless steel lockbar insert, and the lock engages early and is rock solid. There is absolutely no blade play in any direction. There are a couple small thumb reliefs on the inside of the lock bar and frame, that allow your thumb to easily access the frame and release the lock. There is not lock stick or funkiness of any kind. This is how a titanium frame lock should be.

Here is a parting size comparison with the Para 2 and Benchmade Griptilian:

Begg Knives Steelcraft Kwaiken 3/4 Review – Final Thoughts

The Steelcraft Kwaiken isn’t cheap, but at least you get a lot of well made knife for your money. You also get something unique. Begg’s designs strike me as a “like it, or leave it” proposition. You will either immediately gravitate towards the ornate designs, or it will remind you too much of True Religion jeans and Affliction T-shirts. Personally, I like the unique look, and I can’t argue with the execution. If they didn’t make it well, the Kwaiken would seem like costume jewlery. But the fit and finish is outstanding on this knife.

And while there is a heavy emphasis on the artistry, the Kwaiken doesn’t suffer for lack of utility. At the end of the day, this is a well made and fully functional knife. It’s comfortable, cuts well, and carries nicely for what it is. I think the full size would simply be too much for my style of daily carry, but I EDC’d this 3/4 version and was surprised with how well the Kwaiken worked. It’s more than mere pocket frosting, but the design and build quality is what sets it apart.

Will it replace my lightweight knives from Spyderco and Benchmade? No. But, if you have been wanting to check out one of Todd Begg’s designs this Kwaiken is beautifully made and has a lot to offer.

Begg Knives Steelcraft Kwaiken – From $399.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Steelcraft Kwaiken at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for checking out the review.

Gerber Fastball Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

I haven’t reviewed much Gerber stuff on here. That’s because these days Gerber’s best known products are plastic handled collaborations with Bear Grylles, or is just super low end, or something like the Downrange Tomahawk – cool, but not something I can review well. I enjoy the occasional fixed blade, but confess that I’m mostly a folding knife guy these days. Thankfully I’ve had some great contributing writers to fill in some of my deficiencies as a reviewer. We actually have a handful of Gerber knife reviews.

Buy the Gerber Fastball at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Gerber Fastball is interesting because it’s a folding knife made for a normal person who likes higher end tools. It’s a USA made knife, features premium materials, retails for around $100, and it lacks a celebrity endorsement. Instead, it’s a bearing equipped flipper. It isn’t some novelty knife you can buy at the Wal-Mart sporting goods counter.

And enthusiasts appear to have taken notice. The Fastball has appeared on both EveryDayCommentary and KnifeInformer. That sort of begs the question of whether I needed to review it, but the folks at Gerber contacted me about reviewing the Fastball. Given that Tony and Matt both liked it I agreed to check it out.

So this knife was provided to me from Gerber free of charge to review and keep for long term testing. As usual, all thoughts are my own.

Speaking of which, is it possible to change my thoughts on a brand with a single product? We shall see.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Fastball has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 2.79, and is made in Portland Oregon. I know, because it says so right on the blade.

The Fastball is targeted firmly at the enthusiast EDC crowd, so it’s no surprise that the proportions of this knife are ideal for daily carry. It’s a great size and weight for my kind of carry, and the Fastball kept gravitating towards my pocket. Here it is next to my Spyderco Delica:

Although I’m not the biggest fan of the Delica, I like the size of it. And I like the size of the Fastball too. It’s small enough to forget you are carrying it, but large enough to get all sorts of work done.

The Fastball comes equipped with a distinct reverse-tanto blade. In a way it seems polygonal. Or maybe it is a study of triangles. I didn’t do particular well in Geometry. Looking back, that was the beginning of the end for me. My parents always wanted be to be a doctor, but I always struggled with math. Calculus evades me to this day. Now I’m a divorce lawyer who only needs to know how to divide by 2. Regardless, I get a futuristic vibe from this model due to all the aggressive angles. Was the Fastball actually sent from the future to protect us from being enslaved by a race of cybernetic beings? Quite possibly. It doesn’t take many cues from the traditional drop point hunter.

Despite it’s non-traditional styling, the blade of the Fastball is fully functional. Reverse tantos can be among the best EDC knives. Just look at the Benchmade 940. Here we have a little less belly, but a low and fine tip. The blade comes with a shallow partial hollow grind, and has been left with a lustrous stonewashed finish. Details include a small swedge, and a long even edge.

Gerber selected S30V blade steel. In some circles S30V may be getting a little long in the tooth, but it is still highly serviceable blade steel and remains a totally appropriate choice at this price point. In some cases I have found S30V be a little tough to sharpen, but no one can argue with its good edge retention and high resistance to corrosion.

In practice my Fastball has proven highly capable. That low thin tip easily gets underneath envelopes and in between the folds of boxes. The edge is wide and shallow so it’s easy to keep sharp. The Fastball also excels at fine tasks like preparing strawberries. Here in Florida we are just getting into strawberry season, and they happen to be my girlfriend’s favorite fruit. So the Fastball has been deployed to process cartons of strawberries. Neatly trimming the leafy tops, and excising any bruised flesh with surgical precision. Usually that’s a task I reserve for my nimble Dragonfly 2, but the Fastball has been a great stand in.

Speaking of the Dragonfly 2, here the Fastball next to it and a Mini Griptilian:

All said I find little fault with the blade of the Fastball. Perhaps an upgrade to S35VN would have been nice, but that’s nit picking.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Blade Details

The Fastball comes with aluminum handle scales. The show side is solid aluminum, while the flip side is aluminum over a stainless steel liner. The handle is screw-together construction with a geared black FRN backspacer. The fit of this handle is good. All the parts line up and come together solidly. There are some nice details including a custom pivot, countersunk holes for the body screws, and a slotted lanyard hole that looks like more than an after-thought.

Where the Fastball impresses a little less is in the the finish of the stainless steel pieces. You can see machining marks on the edges of both the steel liner and the pocket clip. Also, the aluminum handles have some attempts at chamferring around the edges, but no true 3-D contouring like you see on a lot of titanium handled pieces. I also don’t like how the body screws thread directly into the aluminum handle. If you take the knife apart often they could eventually strip out. Steel standoffs or bushings would have been more robust.

Are these deal breakers? Absolutely not. Given the price, the materials, and the fact that this is a USA made product, something probably had to give. These are areas where compromise is evident. It gives the knife a less premium feel, and more of tool vibe.

The ergonomics are also strictly business, but in a good way. The Fastball feels at home in the hand. The handle itself is generous, and easily accommodates a full 4 finger grip. While the handle isn’t heavily contoured, the chamferring Gerber did works. As a result, the Fastball is comfortable. The only area that pokes out a little is the release tab for the liner lock, but that’s so you can easily unlock the blade. It also provides a little texture underneath your index finger, not a bad idea given the knife is not otherwise heavily textured. The Fastball provides the ergonomic assurance of a dedicated work knife.

The pocket clip is simple stamped steel. Like I mentioned, it’s a little rough around the edges. Literally. But it’s fully functional and a solid design. It’s set at a slight angle on the handle for some reason. I don’t know if there is a practical purpose for that, possibly to keep the clip from too close to the edge of the handle. It might drive the OCD slightly more insane. Present company included.

In pocket the Fastball performs great. The clip is strong and secure. It buries the knife deeply in your pocket, but still provides a little sumpin’ to grab onto. And the knife is thin, light, and basically disappears into the pocket. The smooth aluminum handles are easy on your pockets, making the knife a joy to draw out and use. I think the carry-ability factor of this knife is another high point.

Here is your in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

The Fastball is a liner lock flipper. Some might view that as a poor man’s framelock flipper, but the Fastball stands on its own. The Flipper action is very firm. Firing the Fastball sounds a little like the crack of an air rifle firing. It has a very mechanical feel. I’d put the action at a solid 8.5 or 9 out of 10. It’s crisp, and the sharp jimping on the flipper tab further accentuates that. If you are a fan of stiff action flippers you will like the Fastball.

Inside there is a caged bearing system. I haven’t taken the knife apart, but you can see it at the right angle, and a bearing symbol is also printed on the blade. The bearings are smooth and work well at propelling the blade out.

The liner lock works well. It engages fully, and holds the blade securely in place. I noticed my pivot kept loosening up, so a little lock tite is a good idea. With the pivot tightened everything works, but there is a small amount of side to side blade play in my knife. Nothing dangerous, but noticeable. The lock bar disengages easily and there is no lock stick.

Blade centering is good on my knife but not perfect. It falls towards the show side as the pivot loosens.

Gerber Fastball Review – Final Thoughts

The Fastball is a solid effort from Gerber. If you are looking for a no-nonsense higher end work knife I think it’s worth considering. While the design doesn’t reach the iconic status of the Para 2 or Griptilian, I found it to be a great size for an EDC knife. For example, it falls in between the Mini Griptilian and the full size Griptilian, giving it Goldilocks “just right” appeal.

The knife is also practical in other regards. Regular readers know I’m a sucker for a good work knife, and the Fastball strikes me as a small but refined work knife with a lot of versatility. It could work well in an office setting, but it also would work underneath the hood of a car or on a hike. The combination of capable blade, comfortable handle, and excellent carry make it a surprisingly sweet EDC piece. The snappy action, smooth bearings, and lightweight construction all serve to subtly elevate the knife. It’s not perfect, but it gets a lot right.

Where the Fastball falls short is that it doesn’t quite deliver that premium knife experience. The machine marks on the edges of the pocket clip and liner, the use of aluminum rather than titanium, the lack of true 3-D contouring on the handle, the slight bit of blade play. Knife users may be willing to overlook these quibbles for a practical work knife, while knife collectors may turn their noses up. But then again, this is a $100 made in USA folding knife. Not a $150-$200 Chinese folder.

At first glance the Fastball struck me as a humble offering, but it quickly grew on me. Mostly after I started to carry and use it. I wasn’t immediately impressed when I pulled the Fastball from it’s box, and as a collectible I’d probably pass. But as a user piece I can easily recommend it. When you consider that a Delica costs ~$85 these days, I’d pay the extra $15 for a Fastball. I think it’s well worth it.

Check it out if you want a well made and practical flipper for around $100. The fact that it’s a made in the USA is a big plus in my book.

While the Fastball hasn’t completely changed my view of Gerber, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Good job, Gerber.

Gerber Fastball Folding Knife with Lock Release - Flat Sage

Features an S30V Wharncliffe blade with precision detent that provides "lightswitching" operation
Easy-off Liner Lock release with ball bearings for consistent, smooth deployment
This pocket knife features a 3-position pocket clip; switch it up as needed or remove it entirely
Balls of Stainless Steel technology leverages a ball-bearing system, providing smooth deployment
Proudly made in USA at Gerber's Portland, Oregon factory

Editor: I recommend buying the Gerber Fastball at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.