Folding Knives

Hinderer XM-18 3″ Review

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
If you have been following Hinderer Knives on the secondary market, you will have noticed that the prices have fallen dramatically over the past couple years. A few years ago, it would have been hard to find a used XM-18 for less than $700. Some were fetching closer to a grand. Today, if you hunt around you can find them for close to retail ($385), and some online stores even carry Hinderer products. That’s right, you may actually have a shot at buying the knives from a retailer(!)

Buy the Hinderer XM-18 3″ at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I am not sure why the prices of Hinderers have dropped. It may be due to increased manufacturing capabilities so that supply actually begins to meet demand. Or perhaps the company is facing pressure from the rise of mid techs and high end Chinese knives. Or maybe it has something to do with excellent Hinderer / ZT collabs like the 0562CF driving down demand?

This is great news, regardless of the cause of the price drop. Personally, the reduction in price has allowed me to carry and use my 3″ XM-18. Don’t get me wrong, I carried and used my 3.5, but after shelling out over $500 for it I was pretty ginger with the knife. Plus it was really too big for me to carry regularly. I eventually sold it off. Now that the prices have come down to earth, I picked up a 3″ version of XM-18 to try.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The XM-18 3″ has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 3.6 ounces, and is made in the USA. While the XM-18 3.5 is an impressive piece of hardware, it is hardly an every day carry (EDC) item in my book. It is built like a tank, with a thick slab of titanium, meaty blade, and over-sized stand offs. The 3.5 is a much more substantial knife than the 3. The 3″ version of the XM-18 is better for my minimalist style of daily carry. As a result this knife has been getting a ton of pocket time. I would consider this to be either an EDC knife, or a collectible.

Hinderer used to only offer the production XM in a drop point (with a spanto or “slicer” grind). Over the past year or two they have rolled out a number of different blade shapes including a clip point, “skinner”, and the wharncliffe version shown here. Rick’s wharncliffe design has grown on me. The shape is attractive and the blade has been executed flawlessly. The knife is ground thin and cuts well. The edge is about as neat of an edge as I have seen. The grinds are crisp and the stonewashed finish is subtle.

My XM came in S35VN stainless steel – just like the blade on my 3.5, the new Chris Reeve knives, and a number of other higher end offerings I have sampled. So at this point I am very familiar with S35VN as a blade steel, but I have still taken the time to put this knife through its paces.

This XM-18 has spent many weekends clipped to my pocket, and has broken down innumerable boxes, and assisted with home improvement tasks. I like the combination of S35VN steel and wharncliffe blade; this is like the worlds most expensive box cutter. The blade tracks easily through material, and the straight edge results in pressure being uniformly applied throughout the entire cut. The absence of belly means that this won’t be a great hunting or filet knife, but the straight edge is useful for a lot of other jobs. I have had zero issues with corrosion and have not much need to sharpen (although it certainly dulls after use – this isn’t some miracle steel). I have mostly maintained the edge on my strop and it continues to shave hair and push cut paper with regular maintenance. S35VN is excellent stuff, and you will find the 3″ XM in S35VN to be a capable cutter.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Handle construction of the XM-18 3, follows Rick’s pattern of titanium lock side, custom stainless steel standoffs, titanium liner and G10 handle scale. A slotted pivot helps hold it all together. Everything has been executed with surgical precision. The titanium on my model has been stonewashed and has held up well. The filler tab is flush with the handle. Every detail has been carefully considered and masterfully executed. What I especially enjoy about the 3″ version of this knife is how light the handle is. It is significantly lighter than the 3.5, and despite everything being over built the knife still tucks away neatly into the pocket.

The XM series includes one of my favorite ergonomic features: the forward finger choil. As demonstrated on some of my all time favorites like the Paramilitary 2, American Lawman, and Sage 1, this forward choil gives the user several options in gripping the knife. I find myself using the choil for detail work, and not using it when breaking down a box or engaged in an extended cutting chore. If you ignore the forward choil, the rest of the handle is plenty adequate for a full grip, and the simple shape naturally conforms to the hand. There is a run of jimping on the spine. The jimping is wide, and it strikes a good balance between providing traction and not shredding your thumb. The corrugated G10 handle scale and jimping by the pommel provides additional traction. This little XM is not going to fall out of your hand easily.

The 3″ XM features the same titanium pocket clip found on the rest of the XM line. It’s a spoon style clip that fits into a recess machined into the handle. This is not a deep carry clip, but when mounted for tip up carry the knife buries into the pocket decently. While it isn’t my all time favorite clip design, it certainly works. The clip has good retention and is reasonably discrete. The handle has been milled for right side tip up or tip down carry, and a “filler tab” is included to cover up the recess in the handle.

I like the way the 3″ XM carries. It feels even lighter than it’s 3.6 ounces would suggest, and the knife is as thin as my beloved Sage 1. For these reasons the 3″ has been getting a lot of pocket time, and it has proven itself to be a viable EDC option for me.

Deployment and Lockup

Hinderer sells the 3″ XM-18 in flipper and non-flipper variants. I have a flipper version, but it might as well be a non-flipper. The flipping action is pathetic. The blade barely makes it out to half mast – even when preloading the flipper. This is a shame. I still like the knife, but when you consider that a $30 Swindle flips better than this, it makes you wonder what is going on at Hinderer HQ. I have heard rumors that Hinderer was going to fix the weak detent on their new knives. I am not sure when this wharncliffe was made, but I don’t think they have been offering the blade shape for longer than a year. Thankfully, thumb studs are also included on the knife, and they can be used to “coin flip” the blade open. All XMs come with teflon washers, and my little 3″ is no different. The action is smooth, but personally I still prefer phosphor bronze (and suspect bronze washers would help the action).

The titanium framelock on this knife is extremely nice. It engages early and without stick. There is no blade play and the blade is perfectly centered. Hinderer has this part down to a science and it shows. This is an excellent framelock and it is certainly up for heavy cutting. Blade centering on my knife is perfect.

Hinderer XM-18 3″ Review – Final Thoughts

The high end titanium framelock flipper market has become fiercely competitive over the years, and shows zero sign of slowing down. Hinderer’s XM series has long been considered a gold standard for titanium framelock knives and high end carry pieces. If you get your hands on one it will not take long to understand why. The knives are beautifully made to exceptionally high tolerances.

Although the prices have dropped these are still far from cheap. Most people reading this probably think I am nuts to own a $400 knife, and that is OK. I’ll spare everyone the “value” discussion – either you want an XM (and are willing to pay for it) or you don’t. But at close to MSRP I think these are excellent knives, built extremely well, and I am surprised at how much I have enjoyed the 3″ XM. I bought it on a whim, and it has won me over. This is a great high end EDC option because it carries and cuts well, and oozes quality. I just wish the flipper actually flipped. That would be the cherry on top of this knife sundae. But as it stands there is still a lot to enjoy.

This is a rugged no-nonsense tool that will serve it owner well for many many years, and I think the 3″ version is practical for a normal guy to EDC if you can get around the price tag and sub-par flipping action. Recommended.

Rick Hinderer Knives XM-18 3″ – $425.00
From: BladeHQ

RICK HINDERER XM-18 3.0 SPANTO-WORKING FINISH

KnifeArt has a great selection of XM-18s, and occasionally they pop up on BladeHQ as well. And lately, they have been popping up on Amazon too. I recommend purchasing them at these retailers. Thank you for read.

Spyderco Air Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 6 Comments

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
Although working with custom makers has become common practice for knife companies, many of these collaborations end up feeling like compromises. Whether it’s because of restrictive budgets, or sub-par execution, or whatever else, rare is the collaboration knife that feels like an unhindered expression of a maker’s vision and style.

Buy the Spyderco Air at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Spyderco Air, a knife made in collaboration with Gayle Bradley, quite conspicuously unsettles that trend; it is a considered collaboration, and the result is a knife that is fully a Gayle Bradley even as it is clearly a Spyderco. It feels thoroughly thought-out in a way most knives do not. It isn’t the perfect knife for every task, but for the tasks it is designed for, I can’t think of a knife that performs any better.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Air has a blade length of 2 5/8”, a 3 ½” handle, and an overall length of almost exactly 6”; thanks to a combination of milled out titanium liners and thin silver twill scales, it weighs just 1.3 oz. Its lightness is one of the reasons why the Air is billed as a gentleman’s folder, but it is surprisingly robust (more on that later). The Air is made in Taichung, Taiwan.

Although the whole knife benefits from Bradley and Spyderco’s attention to detail, the blade is the heart and soul of the Air – as it should be with any knife. It begins with the shape, a Wharncliffe with a few small, but very important, tweaks: first, a subdued swedge that not only reduces material and weight but gives the Air genuine piercing capability for biting into packaging or cardboard or the like. Second, either a slight cant to the blade or an actual curvature that gives it a little belly, making the traditionally neutral -feeling Wharncliffe shape a little more aggressive with material.

The Air’s blade is made from CPM-M4 steel, a tool steel with a reputation for extreme edge retention. Looking at the composition chart for M4, the standout element is the amount of Molybdenum; at 5.25%, that’s significantly more than any steel I know of or was able to find. Molybdenum makes a steel tougher and keeps the grain size small, allowing for finer edges – and indeed the edge on my Air came clean and has remained so despite a fairly rigorous couple years of use. It doesn’t get toothy or cut rougher as it dulls – and it hasn’t dulled much in two years of fairly rigorous use.

I think the grind is responsible for the edge’s longevity; although the Air is ground thin, the stock isn’t as thin as you’d maybe expect, and there’s still a fair bit of material right behind the edge, which keeps the edge stable. I would take issue with this grind if it affected cutting performance at all, as I’d gladly trade toughness for slicing ability with a knife of this size, but it doesn’t; Bradley and Spyderco seem to have really understood what makes M4 appealing, and ground the Air to best take advantage of that appeal. The end result, as Gayle Bradley discusses in this video interview, is that you have a small, discreet knife that can actually be used pretty hard.

That’s not to say that M4 is perfect. It is a tool steel, which, at least when we’re talking about knives, tends to mean something non-stainless. In my experience M4 tends to tarnish where it is handled a lot, such as around the Spyder Hole. I don’t cut a lot of food with my knives, so my Air wasn’t exposed to the acidity of an apple or a tomato very often; if you use your knife for food prep you may see more discoloration than I did. Even if that were the case, such discoloration is an aesthetic issue, and doesn’t affect performance.

During the testing period for this review I forgot to take the Air out of my pocket and sent it through the wash. When I found it, it was spotted with surface rust over one side, but thankfully a few minutes with a polishing cloth and the rust was gone. This isn’t an indictment of M4, because most steels would rust in that situation; just a public service announcement to check your pockets before doing laundry.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Air is interesting: like the full-size Spyderco Bradley folder, it consists of scales laid over slightly larger liners. This allows the Air to fill the hand while still looking sleek; I think if the twill scales were extended to covert the liners entirely that it, along with the then-necessary chamfering, would make the Air look chunky. All that aside, the arrangement is visually interesting, and I can’t complain about the functionality either: the Air fills the hand better than something like the Al Mar Hawk Ultralight. You can fit all four fingers on the Air, and there’s even a divot in the spine of the knife to rest your thumb during harder cuts – another sign that it was meant to do some heavy-duty cutting.

The Air doesn’t have a pocket clip. Apparently Spyderco conducted a survey, and half of the people asked wanted a clip, and the other half didn’t. Ultimately, I think going clipless with the Air was the right decision. The Air is so sleek and lightweight that you truly don’t notice it in your pocket. I always notice a knife that I have clipped to my pocket, no matter small and unobtrusive. Also, I feel that Spyderco would have opted for the wire clip like on the Dragonfly II and, as nice as that clip looks and performs, I find it too easy to break. Finally, the materials the Air is made of are conducive to in-pocket carry; whereas I worry about my Hawk or my Indian River Jack if I carry it without a slip, the Air looks as good today as when I got it, and seems impervious to wear and tear.

Deployment and Lockup

We all know that the Spyder Hole is an excellent deployment method. Mr. Bradley buried the hole pretty deep into the handle, and although it is slightly occluded, there is more than enough exposed to get purchase with your thumb, and the super smooth deployment takes care of the rest.

For lockup there is a titanium liner lock. Although I don’t remember quite how far the liner travelled when my Air was brand new, after two years it is quite close to the opposite side:

Whether this is how it was when I got it, or if it’s a result of the titanium deforming over time, I’ve never had the least amount of bladeplay, and there are very few knives in my collection about which I can say that. And, one of those “The More I Use Knives” things I’ve learned is that the amount of travel on a liner lock isn’t a clear indicator of how well it will work.

One interesting note about the Air: it has an internalized stop pin that’s set into the back of the tang and rides in channels around the pivot. Mr. Bradley talks about the aesthetic merits of this design in the previously-cited interview, and I can’t say that there’s any other concrete benefit to it, but it’s certainly very cool.

Spyderco Air Review – Final Thoughts

In its product class – an EDC blade, or perhaps the increasingly nebulous ‘gent’s folder’ designation- the Air is about as good as it gets. There are knives that I like as much, like the Indian River Jack or the Hawk Ultralight, but I can’t say that either of those knives are objectively better- and in fact there are definite advantages the Air has over either: one-handed opening over the IRJ, and better steel than the Hawk.

Ultimately, when we’re looking at a collaboration knife like the Air, the faithfulness of the collaboration isn’t the point: what matters is what the faithfulness resulted in, and in this case the result is a knife of unmistakable quality.

Spyderco Air Glass Fiber Plain Edge Knife

Made using the highest quality materials
Tested for quality and durability
The most trusted name in you cutlery needs
Clip less folding knife
Walker Liner Lock

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

DPx Aculus Review

by Grayson Parker 12 Comments

The first time I noticed a gear company use the words “executive protection,” I was browsing the Goruck website. I was in the market for a backpack (my Jansport had succumbed to a combination of heat, dirt, and heavy loads) and saw that Goruck had recently released a sleeker bag that was stripped of the exterior MOLLE webbing. Their product literature claimed that these design changes were meant to appeal to individuals working in high-end private security. While I thought the justification was a little silly, the design was still attractive to me – all the moreso because I am (contrary to what you may have heard) not working in executive protection.

Some time passed, and I had entirely forgotten about it. Then it cropped up again: Triple Aught Design had finally gotten around to releasing a pair of jeans, but marketed them to the corporate security crowd. I can tell you from personal experience that the jeans are awesome, but again the marketing was confusing.

Enter the DPx Gear Aculus: another lust worthy piece of gear that was apparently designed with undercover operations in mind. While I can’t speak for its effectiveness in that regard, I can tell you that it’s what I would expect Robert Young Pelton’s version of a “gentleman’s knife” to look like. If you believe the rumors, the Aculus was first designed on a napkin – though with R.Y.P.’s reputation, that doesn’t sound like a tall tale. The design was then licensed to LionSteel, who produced it as the TiSpine. Under the terms of the agreement, DPx would sell the Aculus in limited quantities and only sell it directly from their website.

DPx sells the Aculus as their “gentleman’s knife”; and, compared to the rest of their product line, that makes sense. However, when you are not comparing it to blades that are ¼” slabs of tool steel, that claim falls apart. I can’t presume to be a gentleman, but I’ve found myself in a suit on a few occasions, and none of them were situations where a knife like the Aculus would be appropriate. Does that mean that the Aculus is a bad knife? Far from it, but there are some caveats you need to be aware of.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Aculus has a blade length of 3.35”, a closed length of 4.33”, and weighs 3.53 oz. Overall, it’s a bit smaller than a Spyderco Paramilitary 2, but has a cutting edge about as long. Although I can’t quite see the resemblance to a scorpion tail (the namesake of the knife), I have to admit the blade shape is very attractive. There is plenty of belly, but not so much that the blade slips during fine cutting tasks. The swedge takes away a moderate amount of steel—not enough to compromise the tip geometry, but certainly enough to help with piercing tasks. It adds a nice aesthetic touch to boot.

Sadly, that durability makes the Aculus a poor slicer. It handled cardboard just fine, but food prep was challenging. This was disappointing, as picnic lunches seem to be one of the few true occasions where a “gentleman’s knife” is warranted. For some reason I had always assumed the Aculus featured a hollow grind. While that wouldn’t make it an insane cutter, it would be a big help. If you have an Aculus and feel that the blade is too thick behind the edge, I’d look into having it reground. However, that’s assuming that you do a lot of slicing. Many of today’s cutting tasks are just that: cutting. Breaking down boxes, opening packages, and other utility jobs don’t often require a thin blade, and in some cases it can even be a liability. As for me, I use my knives at lunch frequently and would prefer a hollow grind.

This was my first experience with Niolox steel, and online research provided confusing and often contradictory information. In this iteration, the steel was very impressive. I used the Aculus to prepare food, break down cardboard boxes, and even shave some drywall. It handled everything I threw at it, kept a working edge for a long time, and stropped easily. From what I saw online I expected corrosion to be an issue, but that hasn’t come up. DPx loves their tool steels, and I can’t see any reason why they shouldn’t.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Of course, the handle is the draw of the Aculus. Integral frame locks (especially at the production level) are technical marvels and a sign of how far the cutlery industry has advanced in recent years. DPx and LionSteel knocked it out of the park. The diamond pattern is striking – almost like corrugated steel brought to a high polish. Between the attractive curves, slight contouring, and aforementioned machining, the Aculus is quite pleasant in the hand. The handle is a bit slim, but the traction from the 3-D machining makes up for that. It’s comfortable in just about any grip, including when the knife is closed.

The Aculus is slim, contoured, and features an over-the-top pocket clip. Said pocket clip meets the butt of the handle at an angle, and while it does increase the rate of pocket wear in jeans, it nestles pleasantly in slacks and suit pants. Honestly, the only complaint I can make about the clip is that DPx etched their skull logo on the clip. I’m not one for logos, especially on a knife that’s supposed to be unobtrusive. It’s not that the logo is garish or without charm; it just feels out of place. I’d like to see the same approach they take with the ‘Triple Black’ series applied here, where most of the branding is hidden or left off. Robert Young Pelton’s design motif speaks for itself – you won’t mistake his style for someone else’s.

Deployment and Lockup

After doing some research on the internet, I was under the impression that the Aculus was – despite the cut out for the thumb – a two-handed opening knife. For the first three weeks that I had the Aculus, it was tricky to open it with one hand. It wasn’t until I saw a video on DPx Sean’s Instagram page that I realized the Aculus could actually be ‘coin-flipped’ open. Opening it that way is a little unintuitive, but once you get the hang of it it’s pretty easy, even addictive. I don’t know if that’s something I would recommend on a knife this nice, but if the folks at DPx can get away with it, I think the end user can too.

Throughout the testing period, the lock-up was fine. I didn’t have a problem with a sticky lock (which has plagued other DPx models) and the lock-up is stable at 70%. There is no blade play in any direction, and I never thought it would give. Still, integrals make me nervous. I can’t help but feel that if something goes wrong, you are up a certain creek without a paddle. A lock-bar insert (as featured on the LionSteel SR-1) would do a lot to put my mind at ease, but for whatever reason one wasn’t included here. Because of this, I have trouble with the “hard use” moniker. Bear in mind DPx has a stellar warranty service, so my fears are likely unwarranted.

DPx Aculus – Final Thoughts

I can’t refer to this as a “gentleman’s knife” or a “hard use” knife, much less both. The former because there is really no use for such a tool at an academic conference, at a cocktail party, a political function, or a courtroom. In some of those cases the Aculus would even be confiscated on the way in. If you’re the one doing the confiscating (for instance, working private security), then you probably need this knife for reasons that a twenty-something graduate student can’t relate to. As for the “hard use” claim, I’m skeptical enough of normal frame-locks in that role. Besides, the Aculus is really too pretty to shunt into rough tasks.

For modern knife enthusiasts, the Aculus pushes a lot of buttons. It is fun to fidget with, easy to carry, and drop-dead gorgeous. It doesn’t slice very well, but for most people that won’t be a big deal. Ultimately, even though the Aculus isn’t a “gentleman’s knife,” or a “hard use” knife, it’s quite impressive and undeniably attractive. For collectors and folks that don’t mind thicker blade grinds, I’d recommend this knife. However, if you regularly use your knives for food prep, this is one you might want to pass on. In either case, I’m excited to see what DPx will do in the future, even if I have to endure a bit of unnecessary marketing.

DPx Aculus – From $350.00
From: dpxgear.com

Note: The Aculus has been discontinued, so if you are looking to buy one at retail I think you will have a hard time. You may be able to snag a used one off the forums. I recommend buying other DPx knives at Amazon and BladeHQ. Please keep in mind that purchasing anything through the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com. Thank you very much!

Editor’s note – having reviewed the TiSpine myself, I thought it would be fun to get Grayson’s take on the Aculus. I think he makes some valid points. Not my first choice for a gent’s folder, or a hard use tool, but it’s undeniably a beautiful knife and a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship. Well worth considering if you are at all intrigued by the design.

Zero Tolerance 0808 Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
Zero Tolerance has had some interesting releases in 2015. What especially intrigued me was their addition of a few smaller folders to the line up. The 0450, 0900 and 0808 all feature 3.25″ and smaller blades and come in under 5 ounces. This may not seem like much of an accomplishment, but considering the brand’s origins – monster folders like the 0300 and 0560 – these new offerings are much smaller and more pocket friendly.

Buy the Zero Tolerance 0808 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Of course there is still plenty room for monster truck knives in their roster. Designs like the 0999 assure us that ZT has no intentions of cutting short the freak show any time soon. But at least part their line up is trending towards smaller, more practical daily carry blades.

The 0808 was designed by renown custom knife maker Todd Rexford. Todd also designed the 0801, which was a successful knife, but seemed a little plain. The 0808 strikes me as a much bolder design.

When originally commenting on the knife on an episode of Gear Geeks Live, I said that it reminds me more of a surgical instrument than a pocket knife. I still feel that way. The spare design, shiny hardware, and monochromatic color scheme all lend a futuristic feel to the knife. It was one of ZTs more intriguing offerings for the year, and with 2016 fast approaching I felt like it was high time to examine the 808.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0808 has an overall length of 7.625″, a 3.25″ blade, weighs 4.3 ounces, and is made in the USA. It is a good deal smaller than the 0801 and is noticeably lighter. Personally, I like that, and the knife is bound to appeal more to the urban Every Day Carry (EDC) crowd then some of ZT’s older offerings. Still, the knife has some heft to it, thanks to full titanium construction. This isn’t a gent’s folder or ultralight EDC.

The blade of the 0808 is what I would describe as a modified clip point, although I think you could also argue that it is a modified wharncliffe. Regardless, it’s an atypical and angular blade shape that seems more at home on the set of Aliens than it does in my pocket. It has a very fine tip and a high flat grind. There is a non-functional swedge that adds to the visual appeal of the knife and follows the line of the handle. The grinds are all “belt finished” satin while the flats are lightly stone washed.

Zero Tolerance selected S35VN for the blade, a USA made steel forged by Crucible. I have taken a shine to S35VN over the past couple years. I like it more than its predecessor, S30V, largely because I have found it easier to sharpen. S35VN displays all of the other characteristics I am looking for in a higher end steel, including decent edge retention and corrosion resistance.

The 0808 cuts well. The stock is thick for a smaller knife, but the flat grind gets thin behind the edge and the needle fine tip is excellent for detail work. I had no problem breaking down boxes, although the absence of belly made it less ideal for food prep. I have had no issues with rust or corrosion. The edge is easy to maintain and so far all I have needed to do to strop the knife and occasionally run it on the fine stones of my Spyderco Sharpmaker.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 0808 features titanium handle slabs, and a chunky polished titanium backspacer. Everything is held together with stainless steel hardware. I like the clean look of the 808 and the details are (mostly) subtle. The faceted handle and high polished pivot and backspacer lend to the knife’s futuristic look. I could do without the engraved “Zero Tolerance” logo on the show side, but it isn’t too bad and I suppose they have to place their logo somewhere. The handle slabs have been stonewashed, which helps hide wear. The fit and finish is excellent.

The ergonomics of the knife are simple and comfortable. I am able to get a full grip without any issue. There are no finger choils and there is no jimping except for 5 grooves on the flipper tab. Some may bemoan the apparent lack of traction. Admittedly, I have not used this knife to skin a deer or engage in hand to hand combat, but I had no issues with the knife slipping out of control under normal use. I didn’t notice anything in the way of hot spots either. But if you are looking for a serious “traction plan” then you will need to either bust out the skateboard tape or mosey on to stickier pastures.

I do want to mention that the titanium backspacer is substantial, and the knife does feel slightly off balance. This isn’t a chopper or a fighting knife, and it was not a big deal for me, but it is worth noting.

The pocket clip of the 0808 is not my favorite aspect of the knife. It shares some interesting similarities to the Hinderer XM-18’s clip, but leaves a lot of the knife exposed when it is in your pocket. That said, the handle looks like it will accept ZT’s deep carry flip found on knives like the original 0560.

I am not necessarily a deep carry clip snob, but I don’t like having a 3/4″ of a knife poking out of my pocket either. Retention is OK, but because this is a smooth titanium handle, and because we have a relatively heavy knife, I also have some concerns about the 0808 falling out of the pocket when the clip is used with lighter fabrics. While the clip isn’t a death knell for the review, it is my biggest gripe with the knife.

Deployment and Lockup

For my money, Zero Tolerance makes some of the best flippers. This 0808 is no exception. The knife comes with a caged bearing system and a dialed in detent. The blade flies open without fail every time, and is extremely secure in the closed position. My bearings are incredibly smooth and the blade falls shut upon disengagement. It is worth noting, that in the past ZT has used a blue nylon cage for their bearings. This time there is a metal cage – perhaps to accommodate the smaller footprint of the 808.

The 808 is a titanium framelock with a stainless steel lockbar insert. ZT makes a lot of titanium framelocks with steel lockbar inserts, and lockup is on my knife is early and secure. No blade play and no stick. This is how a framelock should be. My blade is not perfectly centered, but it is close.

Zero Tolerance 0808 Review – Final Thoughts

Once again Zero Tolerance has managed to deliver the goods. This is a design from one of the hottest knifemakers in the industry right now, and Todd’s design has been executed brilliantly with top notch materials and superior fit and finish. The knife is also priced reasonably when you consider that you are getting a USA made folder with premium materials and all the bells and whistles.

I like that Zero Tolerance decided to embrace smaller knives in 2015. Yet the 0808 isn’t short on quality or detail, and this is probably my favorite knife from ZT for 2015. The pocket clip is my biggest gripe, and that can be fixed with an aftermarket clip (I have seen some on Ebay for around $30, as time goes on the prices on these will likely drop). Besides that, I find little to complain about when it comes to the 808. I will be curious to see if Zero Tolerance continues in the direction of these smaller blades.

All in all, if you are at all interested in the 0808 I can safely recommend it. At the time of writing this review Amazon is selling these for around $150. At that price the 0808 is unbeatable if you are looking for a titanium framelock flipper. Not sure if that is a pricing error or what, but it’s a heck of a deal.

Zero Tolerance Kershaw KVT Pocket Knife, 3.25” Stainless Steel Blade with Manual Opening and Flipper, Titanium Handle with Deep-Carry Pocketclip, Small Folding Knife

FOLDING POCKET KNIFE: Made in collaboration with Todd Rexford, the Kershaw Zero Tolerance Titanium pocket knife is the perfect everyday carry. KVT ball-bearing system offers smooth function.
STAINLESS STEEL 3.25" BLADE: Made from S35VN stainless steel, the Zero Tolerance blade takes a sharp edge and is easy to resharpen when needed. Blade resists chipping and provides excellent edge retention.
COMFORTABLE, ERGONOMIC HANDLE: Textured and contoured for a secure grip, the Zero Tolerance’s titanium, stonewashed finish handle is prepared for any cutting action.
MANUAL OPENING mechanism and convenient flipper offers quick and easy access with simple, one-handed opening. Frame lock secures the blade when not in use.
ATTRACTIVE, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: Stonewashed and satin finish on the blade and stonewashed finish on the titanium handle presents a stylish look. This EDC pocket knife is sure to turn heads wherever you go.

I recommend purchasing the 0808 at Amazon or BladeHQ.

Opinel No. 8 Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 31 Comments

Do you want to hear another “the knife that got me into knives story?” No? Alright, I’ll spare you and just say that, a few years ago, it was the lines and material of the Opinel knife that caught my eye when I was wandering around labyrinthine hardware store/Boulder landmark McGuckin’s, and to this day I’m still plummeting headfirst down the rabbit hole.

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There are certain objects whose design is so complete that they have an innate, immediate appeal to the mind; the Opinel is such an object. And even now, years down the road, after many permutations in personal taste, I still carry and use my first real knife, the Opinel No. 8.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Opinel No. 8 is made in France. Each knife in the main Opinel line is given a number that is the approximate length of the blade in centimeters: the No. 8 is historically the most popular size. My No. 8 has a blade length of 3 3/16”, a handle length of 4 3/8”, and an overall length of 7 5/8”; it weighs just 1.6 oz.

The No. 8 is comprised of just five pieces: the blade, the wooden handle, a steel collar around the pivot, a pin to keep that collar in place, and the rotating Virobloc locking ring, which fits over the steel collar. It’s a hoary old quote, but since it’s from a French writer and we’re talking about a French knife, it seems appropriate: Antoine de St-Exupéry once said that “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” The five parts of the Opinel are all integral to its function; a single addition would be superfluous, and a single subtraction would impact performance. The smaller Opinels (nos. 2-5) lack the Virobloc ring, but with a blade as large as the one on the No.8, I think the lock is necessary.

That blade is a beautiful, sweeping clip point, with a glorious full flat grind, unadorned save for a nail mark, the words “Opinel Carbone,” and the famous main couronnée logo stamped close to the pivot. The length of the No. 8 allows for excellent food-slicing capabilities; generally I don’t cut food with my pocket knives, but the ease with which the No. 8 does it is impressive. Beyond food prep, although it doesn’t look the part, the No. 8 can perform medium-duty EDC tasks like breaking down boxes with grace: I used it to cut up a ton of cardboard and, besides a white-hot blade, I had no issues. It is also wonderful for whittling. It has been said in a thousand different places, by myself and others, but simple blade shapes are the best, and the Opinel is a textbook example of this fact.

This is a carbon steel model, made from XC90 steel. This a soft, durable carbon steel, and like all carbon steels can rust easily. It also sharpens easily-easier than any other steel I’ve ever used, in fact, including the famously easy-to-sharpen Victorinox steel. XC90 responds to the stones with a plasticity that is shocking if you’re used to more ornery modern steels: the No. 8 will go from dull to super sharp in ten minutes. XC90’s softness also means that it recovers from abuse quite well, tending to roll instead of chip. It also means, of course, that it doesn’t stay sharp for all that long, but with how easy it is to put an edge back on I find it hard to complain.

I will say, though, that when I pick up another Opinel, I will opt for a stainless steel model. Opinel’s stainless steel of choice is 12C27N, an excellent steel, especially when you consider how inexpensive an Opinel is ($15ish), that will significantly lessen rust issues, as well as eliminate the weird taste carbon steel imparts to food (I’ve had my No. 8 for years and I still notice it). And it will still sharpen up readily when the time comes. Carbon steel has its place in the knife world, but in my opinion that place is in big fixed blades; on an EDC folding knife, I think it’s a suboptimal choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

The standard Opinel handle material is wood, and the standard wood is Beech, which is (I believe, correct me if I’m wrong, woodsmen) what mine is made out of. It offers decent traction without any sort of gimping or other modern considerations. The handle is a sort of piscine shape, with a gentle curve instead of aggressive scalloping or finger grooves, and this, along with its round shape, make for an excellent knife in the hand. It’s really a ‘grip-neutral’ knife: it works equally well in all grips. The spine of the blade is flat, allowing for a place to put your thumb for extra control, and the flat butt-end of the knife creates a good spot for your thumb in a reverse grip.

There is no clip, of course. And you probably knew this the minute you saw the knife, but its round, hand-filling shape, although great from an ergonomics perspective, is less than stellar in the pocket; this knife will take up quite a bit of room if you want to EDC it. I don’t have an issue with it, but I generally go pretty light on pocketables, so your experience may differ. The good news is that it is made out of durable materials and won’t get dinged or scratched up by your keys and other paraphernalia, and at 1.6 oz. is very light.

Deployment and Lockup

The nail mark tells you that this will be a two-hand-opening knife. I know that some two-hand knives (like the Pingo) can be kind of ‘cheesed’ into opening with one hand, but you’ll have no such luck with the Opinel No. 8: the blade buries deep in the handle, so there isn’t any place for your thumb to gain traction.

The good news is that the No. 8 is a smooth, effortless opener. Unlike a slipjoint, it has no spring putting tension on the blade, and so it comes out without a struggle; indeed, I rarely use the nail mark, instead just preferring to pinch the blade and pull. The only time I’ve had issues with it is when the wooden handle has swollen some; this creates some tightness, but it’s temporary and doesn’t render the knife unusable regardless.

The No. 8’s blade comes out so smoothly, in fact, that I would feel uncomfortable using with without the Virobloc locking ring. This is a proprietary Opinel feature, and is basically a ring around the pivot collar of the knife that, when the knife is either opened or closed, can be rotated around until it meets up against the tang of the blade and locks it either open or closed.

I like the Virobloc a lot. As with deployment, locking it is a two-handed endeavor, but speed isn’t something you should come to the Opinel looking for. I can only guess how it would stack up in strength against other locks, because I’ve never had a lock of any sort fail on me, but if you use the No. 8 for the tasks it was designed for, I don’t think you’ll ever have any issue with the Virobloc.

One interesting historical note: there is a traditional opening method for the Opinel, called the Coup de Savoyard. You tap the beak of the Opinel’s handle on a table so the blade jumps out a bit, and then open it. Not any faster than just opening it normally, but undoubtedly classier.

Opinel No. 8 Review – Final Thoughts

The Opinel No. 8 is a great knife. It has one of the best blade shapes in the world, and a comfortable, attractive handle. The two major issues I have with it-the choice of steel and the bulky carry-can be addressed by getting a stainless steel model in a smaller size. But even as it stands, years after I first picked it up, and after a hundred other knives have passed through my hands, I still come back to the No. 8, and every time I do I am pleasantly surprised-although maybe I shouldn’t be; great design doesn’t get outmoded after all, and I think the No. 8 is one of the inarguable masterpieces of our hobby.

Sale

Opinel No.08 Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife with Beechwood Handle, Brown (2540089)

This essential tool is unchanged since 1890 and is a must have for outdoorsmen and handymen alike
The Stainless Virobloc safety ring has two sections, one fixed and one sliding for secure locking
Opinel's carbon steel is extremely hard, thereby guaranteeing excellent cutting quality
Handle is made from hard, durable Beechwood from France
Opinel products are guaranteed under normal use and exchanged in case of manufacturing defects

If you are thinking of buying an Opinel knife, I please consider purchasing it at Amazon.com. 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.

Fallkniven U2 Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

They say less is more. That is, until, less becomes less. That is the question with the [U2, an ultra minimalist blade from Fallkniven. The U2 is about as simple of a knife as you could ask for. A slim, refined folding lockback with plain black handles, a gleaming laminated blade, and just enough hardware to hold it all together.

Buy the Fallkniven U2 at BladeHQ

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I’m no stranger to Fallkniven’s minimalist approach. I have found it works wonderfully in the context of a fixed blade and I have enjoyed their A1 and F1 tremendously. So the time has finally come to examine this little U2, which is arguably the brand’s most popular folding knife, and is marketed as the first folding knife with a Super Gold Powder Steel (SGPS) blade.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The U2 has an overall length of 5.9″, a 2.52″ blade, weighs 1.5 ounces, and is made in Japan. This knife is made for Fallkniven by Moki. There really is not much to this knife. Oddly enough, when the U2 first arrived I was most surprised with how small the box was. It was not much more than a matchbox. Needless to say, but the U2 is extremely lightweight and eminently pocketable.

The blade of the U2 is a simple drop point with full flat grind. There is no swedge or distinguishing feature, save for the ambidextrous nail nicks, laser etched Fallkniven logo, and demarcation between the steels of this laminated blade. This is about as simple as it gets. The tip is capable enough for household chores and there is a slight belly to the blade.

Fallkniven selected a laminated blade with VG10 cladding, and a Super Gold Powder Steel (SGPS) core. I discussed this steel a little in my review of the F1, but this is my first experience with it. On paper SGPS is a very interesting steel. It is heat treated to 62 HRc, and is sold at a serious premium on the F1 series.

In practice my initial reaction to the cutting ability of the U2 was underwhelming. This is a thin and sharp blade out of the box. I expected laser like performance on cardboard, but my knife was hanging up on something when I tried to cut with it. Don’t get me wrong, it cut, but it wasn’t the silky smooth performance I was expecting from a knife like this. In performing a little research for the review I realized that I was not alone, and the knife benefited greatly from a re-profiling.

I’m no expert at re-profiling, but I first attempted to “relieve the edge” a little with the 30 degree feature of my Sharpmaker. That didn’t give me the result I was after, and I ended up running it on the diamond stones of DMT Aligner. Now the U2 responds a lot better to cardboard, paper, and other fine slicing tasks. The blade stock is very thin, and so is the grind, but for whatever reason I needed to spend some time tweaking the edge before I could realize the knife’s full potential.

I found edge retention to be merely “OK”. I’d say it was a step up over VG10 and AUS8, but not leaps and bounds ahead. When it came time to touch up the edge on the rods of my Sharpmaker, it came back without a ton of work. I would place this steel above VG10, but I would not put it on the same level as ZDP-189 (at least in terms of edge retention). I had zero issues with corrosion resistance.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

The handle of the U2 is injection molded Zytel, a high density plastic resin. It is lightweight, strong, and functional. However, fans of more substantial knives (including those that dislike the “plasticy” feel of the handles on the Griptilian) will likely not be a fan of the U2’s handle. Personally, I don’t mind the plastic feel of the handles. I have owned a number of zytel handled knives in the past, and have never had a problem.

However, this is one aspect of the knife that is tough for me to describe, and I don’t think pictures do a great job conveying the feel of the handle either. I will say the handle is nicely finished. The edges (save the inside edges) are nicely chamfered. There is as generous lanyard hole, and the pivot screw and single rivet give the knife a clean appearance.

The handle of the U2 is just big enough for me to get a full 4 finger grip on. Any smaller and this would become a 3-finger knife. I take an XL glove, so this handle should work for most people. There is no jimping to speak of on this knife. Not a bad thing if you ask me. The inside edges of the handle are a little sharp, but I otherwise found the U2 to be comfortable. The handle itself has a light texture to it. This isn’t a high traction handle, but it’s fine for normal tasks.

The U2 doesn’t have a pocket clip. The nice thing about the plastic handle, is that I have absolutely no reservations in dropping this knife into my pocket with my keys, loose change, etc. It wears well and I have zero concerns of marring the finish. At 1.5 ounces it is like carrying an Alox Cadet. You don’t notice the knife until you need it.

Deployment and Lockup

The U2 is equipped with dual nail nicks. These are generous nicks and they make it easy to open the knife. It is possible to open the knife one handed with a little finger gymnastics, but this was designed to be a 2 hand opener. At any rate, I have no issue with the nail nicks, but I did have an issue with the gritty and noisy pivot. I thought that was strange. I couldn’t see if there were washers inside the handle, so I ended up disassembling the knife and found that there were no washers. It’s metal on plastic.

I don’t need each knife in my drawer to be “Sebenza Smooth” but even my $20 Swiss army knife is smoother than the U2. For me that is a bummer and is one of my least favorite aspects of the knife. Bronze or even teflon washers would be welcome here like WD-40 on the hinge of a squeaky door.

For lockup we have a tried and true lockback mechanism here. The lock on the U2 is sturdy, although this isn’t a knife that I am going to start prying with. The blade snaps crisply in place, is free of play, and disengages with a press of the thumb. The lockback is perfectly fine for this kind of knife. I will say that the tang of the blade and the backspring of the lock do not have a particularly good transition. There is a noticeable “jump” between the 2 pieces of metal. Not a big deal for a user knife, but this is something I usually notice on a slip joint or lockback folder.

My blade is just a touch off center. Nothing rubs.

Fallkniven U2 Review – Final Thoughts

Frankly I am a little torn with the U2. Having had good results with Fallkniven’s fixed blade knives I was excited about finally acquiring the U2. It has generally received good feedback from Amazon and several other reviewers I respect, and I have been enjoying traditional knives and gentleman’s folders. So I thought I would really take to this one.

While I appreciate the practicality of it, I was disappointed by some aspects of the finish work of the knife. The edge required a good amount of tweaking to cut the way I wanted it to, I wasn’t blown away by the Super Gold Powder Steel, and the pivot and action of the knife is gritty thanks to the washer-less design.

On the plus side, it’s lightweight, pocketable, and cuts well once you get it profiled correctly. I think that it can be good as an urban carry or back up piece. So it really depends on what you care about. If you trend towards being anal retentive, then there are quirks with the U2 that may make it a deal breaker. If you are looking for an ultra-light, no-frills, EDC knife without a pocket clip, then it could be the perfect tool.

For my money, I would recommend either the Spyderco Dragonfly, Pingo or the Victorinox Cadet before the U2. I honestly like them more than this knife, and they are all significantly less expensive.

3D Peep Sight Fallkniven U2 Gemini Folding Knife

Closed length: 3.85 inches
Blade length: 2.52 inches
Blade material: lam.Sgps
Blade edge: plain
Point: drop point

With that said, if you are in the market to buy a U2, I recommend purchasing it 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.