Folding Knives

Boker Kwaiken Flipper Review

Last Updated: January 10, 20198
Back when the original Boker Kwaiken came onto the scene I was pretty excited. Modeled after knifemaker Lucas Burnley’s custom offering, this sleek design looked too cool to resist. That is, until, reviews started to pour in. People stated that the knife was difficult to open and the tip of the blade protruded out from the handle to the point where it would inadvertently cut you. No bueno. My excitement instantly turned to disappointment. Rather than buy the knife, and then slog through writing a review of something that I knew I wasn’t going to be happy with, I just decided to skip the Kwaiken entirely.

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Despite the poor reviews, the Kwaiken developed its own cult following. This is thanks in great part to those in the knife customization crowd. Knifemaker / knife modder Alexander Dietz developed his own cottage industry around the “Dietz modded Kwaiken”. Clever dremel work converted the clunky Kwaiken into a nice little flipper. Whether Boker listened to customer feedback, or was planning on doing this anyway, they eventually offered their own flipper version of the Kwaiken.

This knife was hotly anticipated by many collectors, including myself, partially because it appeared to address some of the issues that plagued the original Kwaiken: the inability to open the knife easily, and the renegade tip. If that wasn’t enough, this time Boker decided to slather the knife in titanium. Bearings, flipper, titanium, and a fresh design from a hot custom knifemaker – yup, this one follows the formula that many enthusiasts are looking for these days.

I am going to see if this updated model is worthy of the hype, or is more of the same.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kwaiken Flipper has an overall length of 8.375″, a 3.5″ blade, and it weighs 5.4 ounces. I hate to sound like a weight weenie but the first thing I noticed was how heavy this thing felt. It is a chunky knife and feels like a little metal brick. You would think that the relatively thin titanium scales would actually shave weight off the Kwaiken, but it’s over an ounce heavier than it’s non-flipper counterpart. Personally, that relegates the Kwaiken Flipper more towards the collectible category, and away from being a true EDC. Regardless, I am sure plenty of guys will enjoy carrying this knife, and there is nothing wrong with that.

The blade shape is a modified drop point. It is a sleek and dramatic blade shape that tucks perfectly into the thin handle. The tip is very fine and the knife is well suited for stabbing things. It has a hollow grind and the blade finish is very nice. The lustrous stonewash hides wear well and is more resistent to corrosion than a beadblast. For what it is, I like this blade shape.

Steel on my particular knife is Aus8. Given that this knife sells for more than $100, I heard quite a few grumblings about the choice of steel on both this and the original Kwaiken. Given that this knife was made in China, I don’t think Boker had a ton of options to choose from. Still, 154CM, S35VN, or some other higher end steel would have been nice given the price point. Personally I don’t have a problem with AUS8. It’s a hearty steel that sharpens easily and is fine to see on user knives. I can totally understand if some folks take issue with the AUS8.

Since purchasing the knife months ago, it looks like Boker now offers the Kwaiken flipper in an “upgraded” steel: V10. I wouldn’t call VG10 a huge upgrade over AUS8. In fact, I prefer Aus8 because I find it a little tougher than V10. Neither are fantastic edge holders but for EDC work they will get the job done.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The compact handle of the Kwaiken flipper is built like a little titanium tank. Thick full steel liners are under generous 3-d machined pieces of titanium, all supported by a solid titanium backspacer. Construction is simple and solid.

I really like the minimalist look of this handle. The way the liners shadowbox the titanium scales, and how the closed blade hides completely within the handle make for a very attractive design. The handle has a monochromatic appearance, although upon close examination the steel and titanium are slightly different colors. I am sure many knife modders view this piece as something of a blank canvas. I hate to spoil the party, but I enjoyed the look of the original Kwaiken with its micarta handles, and would prefer the contrast and lighter weight of micarta over the heavy titanium version. Still, the build is very good and the added weight does make the knife feel very substantial.

The Kwaiken Flipper feels good in hand. The simple design means this knife will work for a lot of people with different size hands. There is no jimping or really texture to speak of, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. The only ergonomic “feature” is that the flipper doubles as a forward finger choil, allowing you to choke up on the blade a bit for more controlled cuts. All said I don’t have a problem with the way this knife handles and didn’t notice any hot spots or other ergonomic issues.

The pocket clip is a right side tip-up only affair that mirrors the design of the handle shape. It is simple and unobtrusive, and I like the way it looks. It holds the knife in your pocket pretty well, although I think the spring could be a hair stiffer. This is a heavy knife and the handle is smooth. While it has never fallen out of my pocket it doesn’t take a ton of effort to pull it out. I think a little more clip strength would be valuable here.

Deployment and Lockup

Obviously this knife uses a flipper for deployment. I am somewhat puzzled by the design of the flipper tab as it actually bows out where the index finger goes for deployment and is sort of slippery. It works but I think it could been designed to be a little easier to open. Still, the knife opens with a snap and flips well, thanks in part to the IKBS bearing pivot system. The detent is OK. It’s not going to flip like one of the new ZTs or anything, but the detent is adequate and the knife flips open with a snap.

For lockup you have a stainless steel liner lock. Mine engages around 90%. The steel is thick and the lockup feels very reassuring. There is no blade play or lock stick. This is a well implemented liner lock. The blade on my knife is pretty much centered.

Boker Kwaiken Flipper Review – Final Thoughts

The Kwaiken Flipper is a cool design and has been well implemented. I know it has been a good seller for Boker, and when you look at it on paper it is easy to see why. That said, I’d love to see Boker continue to refine this one as it is such a nice design. They have already moved in that direction by upgrading the blade steel, but I think they should also explore offering a lighter weight version of the flipper with a different handle material. I think the inclusion of both stainless steel liners and full titanium handle scales is a bit overkill and adds unnecessary weight.

I haven’t mentioned this yet in the review, but this is part of Boker’s “Plus” line, and is manufactured in China. Fit, finish, and general quality is very high on this knife despite being manufactured in China.

Also, I’m almost glad they didn’t go with a framelock here given Boker’s history of issues with titanium framelocks. I’d rather see a well implemented liner lock, than a messed up frame lock.

In closing, this is a cool little design and a memorable offering from Boker. I recommend it if you are into the design and are OK with the weight.

BOKER Plus 01BO296 Kwaiken VG-10 Pocket Knife, Titanium

VG-10 steel blade with flipper
Titanium handle scales
Liner lock mechanism

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

LionSteel TiSpine Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

Last Updated: July 27, 2019
Especially astute readers may note that I debuted a review of the LionSteel SR-1 a while back, and then published the world’s first review of the TM-1 not so long ago, but I conveniently skipped over the other folder in their SOLID lineup – the Ti-Spine. Rest assured it wasn’t because I wasn’t interested in the TiSpine. It was one of those instances of too many knives, too little time (or money… or both time and money). I am pleased to report that I have finally scrounged up both the time and the money to pen a review of this blade, and I am very excited to be able to do it.

Buy the LionSteel TiSpine at BladeHQ

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Oddly enough this almost delicate looking knife was designed by globe trotting gonzo reporter Robert Young Pelton, who is perhaps best known in the cutlery world for designing the hard wearing DPx HEST. Thankfully the bottle opener and wire strippers were left out of this model, allowing us to revel in the 4-axis machined goodness of this titanium beauty.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Ti-Spine has an overall length of 7.68″, a 3.35″ blade, and weighs 3.5 ounces. Out of the SR-1, TM-1, and TiSpine, the TiSpine is the most EDC friendly of the group. Although the blade is well shy of 3.5″, this knife still feels full sized, and I like how it doesn’t feel overweight. By way of comparison, I found the SR-1 a little ponderous in hand and pocket. The TiSpine is much more of a true EDC option for me. It would also make for a great special occasion / gent’s folder.

The drop point blade on the TiSpine is long and pointy, with a curving belly and potent tip. This classic blade shape has been treated to a high flat grind and swedge. The high flat grind will certainly cut stuff, although I have seen thinner grinds on other folders. My blade has been given a satin finish. It looks nice, although I do wish the transitions between the grinds were a little crisper.

LionSteel went with Elmax stainless steel for their blade material, and it’s a choice that I have seen pop up a few times on their blades. I have found Elmax to be a reliable choice for knife steel. It isn’t too difficult to sharpen, but it still has high hardness (here 59-60HRc) and holds an edge well. No problems with rust or corrosion either. A knife this pretty won’t get a lot of use in my collection, but it’s nice to know that they went with a quality steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Lets be real: most people will buy this knife for the handle. And what a handle it is. The 4-axis machined handle is so slick that it looks like it was cast from molten titanium. The way the handle catches the light and shimmers along its hundreds of grooves is tough for me to describe. It’s a gem of a handle. In this case, it has been further accentuated by a high polish and brilliant violet anodization.

Compared with the SR-1 it looks like LionSteel has further refined their manufacturing process. Being a monolithic handle, there isn’t much else in the way of hardware, but the pivot and stop pin are custom made and beautifully polished. The only downside to this pretty handle is that it picks up finger prints and scratches very easily. If you are looking for a “user” variant, I might suggest going with one of their less flashy matte finished options.

The handle of the TiSpine doesn’t just look good. This is also a comfortable knife. I doubt many will select the TiSpine for a month long trip to the amazon, or use it on a construction site, but this little knife feels good in hand and is capable of getting work done. I broke down boxes and opened mail without any issues. There is a short run of jimping which my thumb tended to pass over, and I found that I put most of my pressure directly on the rounded spine of the blade. Still, I was able to get a comfortable and secure grip on this knife.

The TiSpine features a long curving deep carry pocket clip. Mine has been given a bright polished finish to match the hardware and accentuate the almost jewelry like quality of the knife. This clip, while large, carries the knife discretely and I am not sure if many people would think you are carrying a pocket knife by looking at the clip alone. It is right side tip up only, but is completely removable if you want to and even more discrete option for carry. In pocket the TiSpine feels nice. It’s slim, flat, and relatively light weight. I had no problem carrying it.

Deployment and Lockup

The TiSpine makes use of an angular thumb hole for deployment. This low profile thumb hole looks great, and matches the sleek styling of the knife, but it is not particularly friendly for lefties. I had some trouble easily opening the blade with one hand, but I know that most people won’t have an issue. Inside there are teflon washers. The action is smooth and the tolerances are tight.

For lock up we have a sturdy titanium framelock. This is a nice titanium frame lock. My knife locks up early, and there is no blade play in any direction or lock stick. The monolithic construction makes for a super solid knife. Blade centering is a little off, but is no where near rubbing. I understand that is a common issue on both the TiSpine and the SR-1.

LionSteel TiSpine Review – Final Thoughts

I am sure many have fallen in love with the TiSpine at first sight. I know I did. I am pleased to report that the knife is even more impressive in person. This is a knife you need to handle to truly appreciate. The design is seductive and the craftsmanship is exceptional. I can find few faults with the TiSpine. I will say it’s not the most lefty-friendly knife. I’d prefer phosphor bronze washers and slightly crisper grinds. Beyond that it’s a beautiful knife and I wouldn’t change a thing. LionSteel has once again shown us that they are a company to be respected, and the sleek look of the TiSpine adds character and depth to their lineup of monolithic knives.

When contemplating the purchase of a TiSpine the real question is whether you are in the market for a high end collectible like this. It wont be to everyone’s taste, but if the TiSpine does appeal to you I definitely recommend it.

LionSteel TiSpine – From $385.00
From: BladeHQ

Lion Steel TiSpine Folder with Violet Handles

Violet color Titanium Integral handles
Elmax Steel with Satin Finish
Made in Italy

Lion Steel TiSpine Folder with Bronze Handles

Bronze color Titanium Integral handles
Elmax Steel with Satin Finish
Made in Italy

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

Zero Tolerance 0562CF Review

by Dan Jackson 47 Comments

Last Updated: July 14, 2019
By this point we have seen quite a few of Hinderer / KAI collabs hit the market, and I have covered them extensively on the blog. We started with the heavily built 0550, moved to the critically acclaimed 0560, a knife that raised the standard for high end production pieces, spent some time with the controversial Kershaw Cryo, and recently the EDC-friendly Zero Tolerance 0566.

Buy the ZT 0562 at BladeHQ

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The KAI/Hinderer collaborations on go back a couple years, and surely by now everyone has had their fill of folders that resemble the XM-18. But still Zero Tolerance has insisted and recently released the 0562cf and the 0562.

“So what?” You might say, pointing to a drawer full of ZT boxes. You may be sick of hearing about ZT and Rick Hinderer pairing up. Well, the problem with the 0562 is that it may very be the best Zero Tolerance / Hinderer collaboration yet.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0562 has an overall length of 8.25″, a 3.5″ blade, and weighs right around 5.5 ounces. The knife is smaller than the 0560, and bigger than the 0566. I know that a 3.5″ blade is a sweet spot for a lot of people’s daily carrys and it also happens to be the same footprint of the 3.5″ XM-18, which I consider the flagship XM for some reason. The 0562 carries discretely in blue jeans, but is big enough to be used as a work or self defense knife.

This is a good point in the review from me to distinguish the 0562 from the 0562CF. The 0562CF (pictured in this review) is the upgraded version of the knife with a carbon fiber handle scale and satin finished M390 blade. The 0560 is more of a working man’s version with a G10 handle scale and stonewashed Elmax blade.

For a detailed comparison of the two with beautiful photographs I invite you to check out my friend John Holbrook’s article and review of both knives here. Of course I’m only reviewing the 0562CF here, and went for the 0562CF because it was only $50 more and I was feeling fancy, but I think 95% of this review will apply to both models.

The blade on the 0562 is classic Hinderer drop point, modeled closely after his XM series of knives. The interesting thing about this particular model is that it has been given Rick’s “slicer” grind. The slicer grind is a slanting high flat grind that shaves quite a bit of material from his standard “spanto” grind. The slicer grind on this 0562 is actually pretty slicey, easily cleaving cardboard and rope. I find that Rick’s slicer grind on the regular XM is still pretty thick. This 0562 is the best slicing Hinderer collab I have handled.

The 0562 comes in either M390 or CTS-204P steel. My 0562 came in M390. M390 is a powered super steel by Bohler, and is capable of both being heat treated to 60-62 HRc and taking a beautiful polish. I have found edge retention to be excellent on M390. M390 is also relatively easy to sharpen for a super steel, making it a practical choice for someone that wants to regularly use the knife.

I am less familiar with CTS-204P, having only experienced it with my Spyderco Southard. In my experience CTS-204P also holds a nice edge and is reasonable to sharpen. I have had no problems with rust or corrosion. The jury is still out in terms of my long term opinion on 204P, but my gut reaction is that you will be fine with CTS-204P.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Just like a real XM, the handle of the 0560 is slab carbon fiber/g10 over a full stainless steel liner and then a titanium frame lock. You don’t have the extreme 3-d machining found on the 0560, which is fine by me because I think it’s part of the reason why they were able to keep the price down on these, but the edges are all chamfered.

Handle construction is very good. Zero Tolerance is no stranger to the world of high end production pieces, and they have struck a nice balance here of providing us with a sturdy knife with simple high end finishes like blackened barrel spacers, an oversized decorative pivot, and very good fit and finish. Compared with a real XM-18 3.5″, the 0562 is a much slimmer knife.

I really like the way the 0562 feels in hand. Gone is the terrible overly sharp jimping on the 0560. In its place you have a short row of tasteful and practical thumb jimping on the spine and a little recessed jimping by the pommel. The rest of the knife is smooth as a baby’s butt, although you do have a couple finger choils in the handle. I think they struck a great balance here and the 0562 feels very good.

For lovers of deep carry pocket clips, the clip on the 0562 is a triumph. It’s a very deep and discrete stainless steel clip that mates to a standoff at the very back of the knife. The end result is a fully ambidextrous clip that doesn’t leave a lot of holes in the handle. I am impressed ZT went this more stayed route rather than a flashy “ZT” branded clip. This level of restraint and classiness isn’t always found on their models so I gotta give credit where its due.

The spring action on the pocket clip is nice and strong and it holds the knife in place in your pocket. The 0562 is over 5.5 ounces, but it’s still a relatively thin knife and carries well for its size. All said I’m very pleased.

Deployment and Lockup

I am also pleased to report that the action on the 0562 is very good. Once again ZT has dialed in their detent and the blade explodes from the handle with the push of a finger. It doesn’t hurt that the blade rides on their proprietary “KVT” caged bearing system. Deployment is fast, reliable, and fun, and the blade falls back into place upon disengagement. The “thumb studs” are actually blade stops and I was not able to use them to open the knife.

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with a stainless steel lockbar insert. This is just like the lockbar insert found on the recently reviewed ZT 0808. It has been very well done. Lockup is early and confident, and there is no blade stick, lock rock, or any other malady that sometimes effects a framelock knife. Blade centering is dead on too. Rounding things out is a Hinderer lockbar stabilizer.

Zero Tolerance 0562CF Review – Final Thoughts

I have handled all of the Zero Tolerance / Hinder collaborations prior to the 0560 and I also recently broke down and finally picked up a Hinderer XM-18, so I thought that I have pretty much seen it all. The 0562 is still a very impressive knife. They have done a great job combining fixing the things that I didn’t particularly care for about the original 0560 (the oversize knife, sharp jimping) and added some nice subtle refinements and upgrades. I think they also did a good job not bringing over some aspects of the XM-18 that I could avoid (the 3.5″ XM-18 is very heavy and the action isn’t particularly impressive). The end result is a practical and well made knife at a competitive price point.

I know that some will want to know if the 0562 is as good as an XM-18, or whether will replace an XM-18. I’m here to say that those are still two very different knives. My 3.5″ XM-18 is an absolute tank. It’s over the top in many ways. I prefer the 0562 because it’s slimmer, more pocketable, cuts better, and flips better, and can be had for a fraction of the price of the XM, but I still appreciate the XM-18 for what it is: a finely tuned overbuilt hunk of G10, steel, and titanium.

I realize that I’m somewhat jaded by running this website, but I thought $250 for the Zero Tolerance 0562CF was very reasonable for what you are getting, and the G10 version retails for right at $200. I know a $200+ folding knife isn’t for everyone, but if you can justify buying a $200+ pocket knife then I’m here to say the ZT 0562 is awesome.

Zero Tolerance 0562CF Hinderer Slicer Folding Knife; 3.5” CPM-20CV Stonewashed and Satin Steel Blade, Carbon Fiber Front Handle, KVT Ball-Bearing Opening, Frame Lock and Reversible Pocketclip; 5.5 OZ, Black

Ultra-premium, durable CPM 20 CV stainless steel blade with stonewash and satin finishes offer outstanding edge holding capability and corrosion resistance
Hinderer flat-ground “slicer” grind provides both slicing efficiency and a tough point; handle has carbon fiber front scale and stonewashed titanium back
Reversible deep-carry pocketclip for left or right-handed, tip-up carry
Ideal EDC essential for everyday tasks—slicing, survival tool, cutting boxes, self-defense, tactical use or as the perfect gift
High quality, general all-purpose knife great for EDC or use when camping, fishing, hunting, working, utility or outdoor activities.Handle Length:4.75 inch

I recommend purchasing the ZT 0562CF at Amazon or BladeHQ . Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Cold Steel American Lawman Review

by Dan Jackson 27 Comments

Last Updated: March 9, 2018
When I hear the words “hard use folder” it’s often accompanied by a mental image of dollar signs. For whatever reason, we have equated hard working blades with titanium, super steel, and triple digit price tags. Those knives are cool, and I am sure some are capable of getting work done, but not everyone has that kind of cash – and even if you do it can be hard to really buy a knife like that and drive it like you stole it.

Buy the Cold Steel American Lawman at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

That’s why I like the Cold Steel American Lawman. For around $85 you get a rock solid knife that you aren’t afraid to beat on. After all, what’s the point of a hard use knife if you can’t actually bring yourself to hard use it? I have thrashed on my review sample for years. Lets take a closer look at one of my favorite every day working tools.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The American Lawman has an overall length of 8-1/8″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 4.5 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a nicely proportioned medium sized folder designed by Andrew Demko. I found it reasonable enough for every day carry, but could definitely see this as a dedicated work knife or tactical blade. The “Lawman” designation seems to fit well.

The Lawman features a simple drop point blade with a high hollow grind. The knife is thinly ground, making it an aggressive slicer, and the tip is reinforced to hold up against hard use and thrusting. I like the blade shape. It’s not as aggressive as many of Cold Steel’s other offerings but is still very useful. There is plenty of belly, the tip gets nice and sharp, and the knife generally cuts really well.

Originally, Cold Steel used AUS8a for the blade steel, which is basically the same as AUS8. AUS8 is known as a softer steel and a lot of people don’t like it. I like AUS-8 because a couple swipes on a Spyderco Sharpmaker restores the knife back to hair shaving sharpness.

In 2015 Cold Steel updated their lineup of knives to include CTS-XHP steel, an American stainless steel forged by Carpenter. This is a superior steel to AUS-8, although it adds approximately $30 to the price tag of the knife. I have experience with CTS-XHP with other knives, and have had hands on experience with the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter in CTS-XHP. CTS-XHP will hold an edge longer than AUS-8, and it is still easy to sharpen.

Cold Steel also upgraded to blade coating from a cheap black teflon coating, to a high end DLC coating. DLC is probably the best coating there is, so it’s a great upgrade.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the American Lawman is made primarily of two thick pieces of black peel ply G10. There are no liners of any kind inside the handle and the G10 screws directly into a black aluminum backspacer and stainless steel lock bar. In practice the handle is quite strong. The G10 is thick and I was not able to flex the handle at all – so I would not worry that this handle will not be up to hard use. Fit and finish is nice too. All of the edges have been nicely rounded and everything lines up well. This is a strong and well put together handle.

I really like the ergonomics of the Lawman. The handle is plenty large and allows for a comfortable grip. There is some shallow jimping on the top of the handle. It’s not aggressive but provides some texture and feedback for your thumb. The G10 is extremely high traction and provides a good deal of grip. One of my favorite ergonomic features is the forward choil. Much like the Spyderco Sage or Paramilitary 2, this forward choil allows you to choke up and really get some detail work done. I am a huge fan of the forward choil. Cold Steel usually doesn’t include this feature so I think it’s worth mentioning. Finally I want to say that the knife also feels comfortable in a reverse grip.

The pocket clip is standard fare for Cold Steel. It’s small black coated stainless steel clip. It’s very tight. The tight clip combined with the aggressive G10 means it can tear up your pants if you aren’t careful. The clip is reversible (they actually include 2 clips since it’s a curved design) and it allows for tip up carry only. In pocket the American Lawman carries well. The small clip buries the knife deep, so it’s a discrete carry, and the slim profile and relatively light weight makes for an easy carry.

Deployment and Lock

The CS Lawman uses a thumbstud and a half to get the blade out of the handle. The thumbstud is not entirely ambidextrous out of the box, but it is swappable. This is not the fastest deploying knife and it will require some wrist action if you really want to snap the knife out. This is mainly due to the strong backspring of the triad lock. I don’t mind the slow and purposeful deployment of the American Lawman, but if you are one to habitually flick your knife open and closed the Lawman be advised that this isn’t really that kind of knife.

The lock on this knife is quite interesting. It uses the Cold Steel Triad locking system. The Triad is a modified lock back system that utilizes a “stop pin” to redistribute pressure placed on the knife and lock and in theory it provides for a stronger lock. My experience with the Triad lock suggests that it is in fact very strong. Lockback knives are very strong in general and the Cold Steel version is at least as strong as a regular lockback. I like how this lock is designed to break in with the knife so it won’t require maintenance. The lock feels very crisp and nice and secure.

American Lawman or the Recon1 or the AK-47?

Chances are, if you are interested in the American, you may also be interested in the Cold Steel Recon 1 or the AK-47. If that is the case, I recorded a video where I do a detailed comparison of these 3 models that you may find useful.

Cold Steel American Lawman Review – Final Thoughts

If you are in the market for a hard use folding knife and have around $50 to spend, the American Lawman should be on your short list. This is an extremely rugged knife that feels good in hand and is capable of some serious cutting. The relatively light weight design and non-threatening blade make this a good choice for EDC, although the knife could definitely flex into a more “tactical” role. No doubt this is why Cold Steel has marketed the knife toward law enforcement.

The biggest gripe with this knife was always the sub-par AUS-8 blade steel and cheap teflon coating. Cold Steel blew those complaints out of the water, when they upgraded this knife to CTS-XHP and a DLC coating. At this point, the only grievance I can raise is that the pocket clip can be a little small / tight for some. It’s not my absolute favorite clip, but it’s not that bad either.

All said this is one of my favorite folders from Cold Steel. They don’t make a ton of stuff in the 3.5″ blade length and the subdued looks really gels with me. I highly recommend the American Lawman if you need hard a wearing utility knife and don’t want to shell out a ton of cash.

Cold Steel American Lawman Black Folder

Blade thickness: 3.5 mm
Blade length: 3 1/2 inch
Handle: 4 5/8 inch long. G-10

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

Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 25 Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

How do you improve on perfection? That may have been a question asked by the engineers at Chris Reeve when they approached the Sebenza 25. I wasn’t in the room, so I really have no idea. The Sebenza has received incremental improvements over the years, but for it’s 25th anniversary CRK really wanted to up the ante, or at least do something different from the tried and true Sebenza 21. The Sebenza 25 is that knife.

Buy the CRK Sebenza 25 at BladeHQ

The 25 is beefier and has more attitude than the 21, but there is still no mistaking it for a Sebenza. Is the 25 a worthy buy? Should you get it instead of a Sebenza 21? How does it compare with other knives in CRKs lineup? Having owned a Unumzaan, and presently owning a large Sebenza 21, I decided to pick up a Sebenza 25, give it a whirl, and attempt to answer some of these questions.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Sebenza 25 has an overall length of 8.375″, a 3.625″ blade, and it weighs 5.2 ounces. It’s similar in size to a large 21, but it’s definitely a more heavily built knife and weighs a full half ounce more. Offhand I would consider it as a hybrid between the 21 and the Umnumzaan. Unlike the 21, CRK does not currently offer a small version of the 25. Will we eventually see a mini 25? Only time will tell. I know plenty of people like to EDC the large 21, so I don’t see why you couldn’t EDC a 25. Personally I prefer a small Sebenza or a Mnandi for EDC, but I did make a point to carry the 25 around a bit to understand how it performs as a daily carry.

The blade of the 25 is a classic CRK drop point, with a few subtle (or not so subtle) changes over the 21. First of all the blade stock is visibly thicker at .14″ (which is approximately 3.5mm – the blade on the Sebenza 21 is about 3.1mm thick). Chris Reeve also gave the knife what they are calling a “large hollow grind” which is billed as a compromise between the thinness and slicing performance of a hollow grind and the toughness of a full flat grind.

I recently expanded my office at work and bought some new office equipment including a monitor, printer, computer, etc. As a result I had a lot of extra cardboard on my hands and decided to give the ole 25 a whirl at breaking down all of the boxes. I wasn’t blown away by the performance of the 25 on cardboard, but I wasn’t disappointed either. My large 21 slices a little better, but then again, so does my Benchmade Volli with it’s thin flat ground blade. It’s still miles ahead of the Strider SnG. The 25 is more heavily built than the 21, and it comes with a thicker grind. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, just different. Speaking of different, there is also a little depression in the blade after the jimping. I have no idea what it is for, so I’ll wait for someone to let me know in the comments section.

Steel on the 25 is S35VN, which is what CRK is using on pretty much everything these days if my understanding is correct. The blade on the 25 is heat treated to 58-59 HRc, and at that hardness it seems like a good combination of edge retention and sharpenability. Some might find it a little too soft, but I like a knife that easily takes a good edge, and the 25 has been very easy to maintain with my strop. I will say after testing the blade out thoroughly on cardboard the edge didn’t feel that sharp, but it still sliced paper with no problem. A few swipes on the strop brought it all the way back. If edge retention is super important for you, then you are probably better off finding something in M390 or S90V (harder more exotic steels), but if you are OK with the idea of regularly maintaining the edge of your knife then I don’t see a big problem with S35VN and this milder heat treat that CRK favors.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 25 is the typical full titanium goodness you would expect from Chris Reeve. Construction is simple and elegant, with a pivot, stop pin, and single standoff. Some may lament the lack of a lanyard hole, but it looks like CRK designed it so you can loop some cord around the standoff. Personally, I don’t miss the lanyard doohickey on my large 21 at all. Construction is top notch, as expected. This is a Sebenza after all. I like the choice of beefier hardware. The pivot has seen a serious upgrade and the domed body screws are beefed up as well. The disadvantage to this setup is that 2 allen keys are required (and supplied), rather than just the one required to take down a standard Sebenza.

Perhaps the biggest change in the Sebenza 25 is the inclusion of double finger choils. It certainly adds a visual element to the knife not previously evident on CRK models. In practice I think the choils work well and capture the index and middle finger nicely. My hand feels very at home with the standard grip. A revision I am less enthused about is the razor wire inspired jimping installed on the back of the blade. I would say that the jimping on my large 21 is a damn near perfect blend of traction and comfort. Why Chris Reeve felt the need to mess with that winning formula is a mystery to me, but it certainly looks more aggressive. The jimping is fairly abrasive, but I only really noticed it on hard cuts, like cutting rope. Still I think they could have toned it down a bit. All said the 25 is a reasonably comfortable knife. I’m not sure I would call it an improvement over the 21, but it’s definitely different.

The pocket clip for the 25 is the same legendary double dip clip found on the 21. I’m glad they didn’t fool around with this. It works well and is one of my favorite clip designs. In pocket the 25 carries pretty good. It is a big knife, and is full titanium, but with that in mind I’d say it still carries well for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

The term “Sebenza smooth” is something of a gold standard in knife collector circles when considering the action of a pocket knife. So it’s interesting to see that CRK made some tweaks to ensure the deployment of the 25 is even smoother than its predecessors. In addition to a much larger pivot, the knife features extra large perforated phosphor bronze washers. According to the Chris Reeve website these were installed to carry more grease and make the action smoother. In practice I think it has worked. My 25 is noticeably smoother than my 21. Granted I am testing a pretty small sample size here, and some may disagree because the 25 doesn’t include the 21’s famous bushing pivot system.

The knife flicks open easily via the ambidextrous titanium thumb studs. Speaking of thumb studs, or thumb “lugs” as CRK calls them, I think it’s about damn time that dual thumb studs came standard equipment on a Sebenza. I also can’t help but wonder if CRK has plans to introduce a bearing equipped knife in the future. Bearings are by no means a necessity, but since that is where a lot of the industry is going I would be curious to see them offer a knife with bearings.

For lock up Chris Reeve went with a ceramic ball detent. Just like on the Umnumzaan, it serves double duty as both an interface between lock and tang, as well as detent to hold the blade in place. It works well and I have no complaints. The blade locks open with a satisfying thunk and lockup is steady at right around 50%. No blade play at all and the blade is perfectly centered.

CRK Sebenza 25 Review – Final Thoughts

For whatever reason I always find myself under some pressure to come up with a poignant parting thought on Chris Reeve products. Perhaps it’s to justify the price in my own mind, or justify the level of excitement and expectation that has been built up around these knives, or attempt to get ahead of the inevitable discussion about Chris Reeve knives and “value”. I’m going to avoid that this time around, and instead focus on my honest take on the knife.

I think the 25 is a solid and well made product. I consider it a hybrid between the Umnumzaan and 21. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you already have a 21 or an Umnumzaan I don’t really see the “need” for this knife. Then again, I don’t really see the “need” for a $450 pocket knife in general, yet I have owned dozens, so that is beside the point. Like other high end knives, people will buy this because they want it. I’m here to tell you that if you want it, it’s a nice knife. But I’ll also play the role of devil’s advocate:

The 25 is thoughtfully designed and well made, but isn’t a huge enough leap from Chris Reeve’s other offerings for me to truly get excited over it. Maybe if they installed bearings, milled the handle from a single piece of titanium, or did a flipper or something like that it might move the Richter scale a bit further. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly fine knife, and if this is your first CRK I think you will like it, but when you compare it with the rest of the CRK product line I can’t help but feel like it’s more of what we have already seen. I’m glad I got to check one out, and recommend you to do the same if the 25 interests you, but I don’t feel compelled to hang onto both the 25 and my large 21 or to tell you that this is the most amazing thing since the titanium frame lock.

Chris Reeve Sebenza – From $445.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Sebenza 25 at BladeHQ or KnifeArt. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Emerson Roadhouse Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
I’ve mentioned a couple times before that every now and then I get the urge to pick up an Emerson, and make it my EDC. I know the knife is going to be too large for me to comfortably carry, and way overboard when I stop to consider my actual needs for a daily carry knife. But still, like a moth to flame I convince myself that this time things will be different as I hit the “buy” button on yet another Emerson. This is probably like a gal that brings home the guy with bad credit and a pack a day habit, thinking that she will “change” him to one day become the man of her dreams.

Buy the Emerson Roadhouse at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Well this time around I have no such delusions of grandeur. I bought the Emerson Roadhouse not because I intend to carry it in the pocket of my skinny jeans next to my mustache wax and Starbucks card, but because I really dig the design and wanted to add it to the collection. I know the knife is going to be too big for me to actually want to carry and use, and I could care less.

At least this time around I’m being honest with myself. This is a beastly blade and I have always been drawn to the low slung modified tanto design. Frankly, it’s about damn time I reviewed the Emerson Roadhouse and I’m not going to apologize for it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Roadhouse has an overall length of 8.90″, a 3.80″ blade, and weighs 6.2 ounces. This is a full size folder and was likely designed with law enforcement and military personnel in mind. I’m just a guy with a website and a day job, so my perspective on the knife will be limited to daily carry and use as a tool, rather than a defensive option. The design has proven popular enough for Emerson to roll the Roadhouse out in a variety of sizes. We have the regular (shown here) the Super Roadhouse (4.2″ blade), and the Mini Roadhouse (3.4″ blade).

The blade of the Roadhouse is a modified tanto and is one of my favorite shapes from Ernie. I’m not a tanto guy, but I really like this modified tanto. There is a little belly and something of a harpoon and swedge that give the knife some extra attitude. In the product description Ernie tells you to think about Jack Daniels and Harley Davidson’s. I can almost see Patrick Swazye in a dusty corner, the glint of the Roadhouse flitting through thick cigarette smoke and half empty bottles. Oh yeah. I really like this one. Mine blade is a two tone satin finish with stonewashed flats. Like all my other Ermersons, this knife is ground beautifully with a v grind and chisel edge. The blades are the best part of these knives although I see a fair amount of tooling marks on the spine around the wave and jimping.

The steel is tried and true 154CM. If it works why mess with it? I certainly don’t have a problem with 154CM, and Emerson has always done a good job heat treating it. People who actually use their knives will tell you that the chisel edge is ground on the wrong side for right handed users, but I don’t let that get in the way of a good time or a cardboard box. I have found the 154CM to be a serviceable steel, but if you don’t believe me feel free to read through my handful of other Emerson reviews.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Roadhouse’s handle is standard black peel ply G10 over a titanium locking liner, and a steel non-locking liner. My knife has a thick partial G10 backspacer. I am pretty sure if you were to buy one new Emerson now offers their knives with standoffs over a backspacer. We have been trained to think that flow through construction is better, but there is something endearing about the G10 backspacer. The hardware is Emerson’s signature phillips head fasteners for the body screws and oversized slotted pivot. There are some tooling marks on the edges of the liners, but beyond that everything is nicely finished.

In hand is where the Roadhouse really shines. This is a full size knife and it provides ample room for all your standard grips. In addition to being a long handle, it’s also quite thick. Much like every other Emerson I’ve handled the knife is extremely comfortable. The black G10 offers plenty of traction, and the jimping on the thumb ramp holds your thumb but isn’t overly aggressive. If you can get away with carrying a big knife it’s hard to beat Emerson’s offerings from an ergonomic standpoint.

For the same reasons the Roadhouse feels so good in hand, it will be noticed in the pocket. It’s a large knife and there is no getting around that. Even small Emersons have a way of feeling big. The Roadhouse has been outfitted with Emerson’s standard black parkerized clip. It rides low, but not so low that you can’t access it easily. This is a proven clip design and is very comparable to Benchmade’s offerings. As always the knife comes drilled and tapped for right side tip up carry only.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment you have a choice of thumb disk or wave feature. I’ve never been a huge fan of thumb disks. They always seem awkward to me. But they are low profile and stay out of the way when you are waving the knife open. The nylatron washers aren’t amazingly smooth, but they get the job done. I’d prefer good ole phosphor bronze, but this isn’t Burger King. I can’t have it my way. I can flick open the Roadhouse with a little effort, but for rapid fail-safe deployment the wave is the way to go.

For lock up you have a thick titanium liner. The locking liner is visibly thicker than the non-locking steel liner and I find that reassuring. Lock up on my knife is early and secure. There is a little bit of lock stick, but nothing bad. I prefer a steel locking liner over titanium, but it is what it is. Apparently Emerson’s warranty service is good if you manage to wear down the titanium. I have never had to use their warranty service personally.

Emerson Roadhouse Review – Final Thoughts

It’s big, it’s bad, it’s surprisingly expensive. I have always enjoyed the look of the Roadhouse on paper and am happy to report the knife looks just as good in hand. It’s a solid tool, with Emerson’s signature quirks. Despite some tooling marks on the back of the blade and liners, the knife has been carefully put together. The parts line up, the blade is centered, the lock doesn’t stick (badly) and everything feels sturdy and secure. The super nice blade and comfortable handle are high points. The steep price tag and impracticality of the knife (for my suburban purposes) are low points. Regardless, I am pleased to add this one to my collection and recommend the knife if you are a fan of Emerson’s offerings or if the allure of the Roadhouse is just too strong to resist.

Emerson Roadhouse – $227.66
From: BladeHQ

Emerson Roadhouse SF Plain Stonewashed Blade

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