Folding Knives

Svord Peasant Knife Review

Last updated: September 20, 2018

Over the years I’ve had the fortune to be friends with several excellent chefs. What’s funny is that when I ask them what and where they like to eat, they don’t tell me about some 5 star restaurant or spout off some obscure or complex dish. I was surprised to learn that many professional chefs prefer simple honest meals made from a few quality ingredients at the end of the day.

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I often wonder if that same observation holds true with knifemakers. Whether they carry the high end knives they sell or reach for something simple, tried and true. Perhaps if they did subscribe to the less is more philosophy a Svord Peasant Knife might land on their work bench. After all, it doesn’t get more basic than this friction folder from New Zealand. Something about this simple knife has always intrigued me, so it’s high time to one out in the form of a full written review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Peasant knife has an overall length of 8-1/4″, a 3-1/4″ blade, and weighs 2.53 ounces. There is also a mini version with a 2.5″ blade, and a giant version with an 8″ blade. The standard Peasant knife is on the larger side for my typical EDC, but it is carriable enough if that is what you want to do with it.

The blade is a classic drop point shape, best characterized by the dramatic contrast of the dark scale left over from the heat treat with the bright satin finish of this hand ground blade. This is a knife that practically begs to come with a convex edge, but the edge is a traditional “V” bevel. I’ve heard some reports of people being dissatisfied with the out of box edge, but both of my Svords came sharp, and the grind itself is nice and thin. This is a decent slicer, and fared well in a variety of daily tasks.

Svord went with L7 for the blade steel. L7 is a Swedish high carbon steel. It has all of the characteristics that I like about high carbon steels, mainly it exhibits good toughness and easily takes a very fine edge. Much like the rest of the knife, this is an honest hard working steel and it’s capable of getting a lot of work done. It does patina and will rust if you aren’t careful. Keep it oiled and there shouldn’t be any problems. If found it plenty tough for my purposes, and it held a nice edge under basic tasks like carving wood and breaking down boxes.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle of the peasant knife is about as simple as can be. You have two generous slabs of plastic or wood, a single internal stop pin, and two oversize brass screws to hold it together. For what it is, it’s well finished but there isn’t a whole lot to write about.

The Peasant knife is comfortable to hold. The handle slabs are simple and nicely contoured, so they will accept all sizes of hand without any issue. There is a fine texture on the plastic handled version, which feels good and offers a little grip. Despite the absence of any kind of lock, this is still a knife that you can get some hard work done with, and the comfortable handle makes the work all the more enjoyable.

The peasant knife doesn’t have a pocket clip, so typically you will either carry it free-floating in your pocket, or perhaps on a belt sheath. It’s not impossible to EDC, but it’s a far cry from something like my Victorinox Cadet. The long protruding tang needs to be carefully negotiated, and it is not my go to pocket knife. However, it’s relatively light weight and the corners of the handle are all nicely chamfered; it is possible to daily carry this knife.

Deployment and Lockup

Once again, as I venture further into the world of traditional knives I find that my typical system of organizing a review is a little less on point. For “deployment” you have the stick tang poking out of the back of the handle, and you can open the knife up by pressing on the tang. There are no washers or bearings or anything; the blade presses directly against the plastic handles. Oddly enough the knife is still smooth and satisfying to open. True to its name, there is a good deal of friction this folder, and I found that opening the knife was deliberate and purposeful.

For “lock up” you have perhaps the worlds oldest folding knife design in place. While it isn’t the sexiest solution, as long as you have a firm grip on the handle the blade isn’t going anywhere. It’s actually very secure, even when doing some hard carving. No complaints with this non-locking folder.

Svord Peasant Knife Review – Final Thoughts

The Svord Peasant knife is about as simple as can be, and therein lies its charm. The low part count, slim and sturdy design, and quality materials make for a serviceable and robust folding knife. Staying true to it’s name this is a simple working man’s blade, and is about as comfortable outdoors as it is nestled next to my i-phone. If you haven’t checked one out, you really can’t go wrong. For $15 I can easily recommend it.

Svord SV145 Fixed Blade,Hunting Knife,Outdoor,Camping, One Size

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in New Zealand

I recommend purchasing the Svord Peasant Knife at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and allows me to keep the site independent. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Chris Reeve Knives Large Sebenza 21 Review

by Dan Jackson 29 Comments

Last Updated: July 28, 2019
For many the Sebenza 21 is a knife obtained on the steep ascent to the upper echelons of production knife collecting. It’s not a starter knife. It is something to be gradually aspired to, pined over, and then climatically acquired.

I had such an experience when I bought and reviewed a small Sebenza 21 back in 2011. Although no stranger to nice knives at the time, it was one of my first forays into the $300+ knife category. And much like an exhausted mountaineer in awe of the view having reached the summit, I was suitably impressed with the CRK Small Sebenza.

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In that space between 2011 and now I like to think I have matured in both my appreciation for knives as well as my approach to reviewing products. I also now have the budget to buy and hold more expensive offerings, like this Large Sebenza, and compare them with other expensive folding knives. I’ll spare you the essay on my “philosophy” towards reviewing knives, but the cliff notes are that I have no allegiance to any one brand. I run this website for fun, fund it independently (thanks in part to generous readers who purchase products through the links on this site – thank you for supporting my efforts and for supporting independent journalism), and have no problem telling it like it is. That also means I have no economic interest in selling you on a particular knife. My goal ultimate goal to assist you in finding the right knife.

The point of this is that my goal is to provide you with a review of the Sebenza 21 that benefits from my experience and lacks hype, gamesmanship, or “post purchase rationalization”. Sure, as an individual I will always have my own tastes and bias, but I try to point that out when I can to allow you to reach your own conclusion. That said, this is a damn fine knife, so lets get on with the review…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Large Sebenza has an overall length of 8.335″, has a 3.625″ blade, and weighs 4.7 ounces. As the name might suggest, this is a large folding knife and compares well in size to classics like the Strider SnG, Benchmade Griptilian, and Spyderco Paramilitary 2. I have to say that it irks me to no end when people refer to this as a “tactical knife”. It’s not. While I don’t doubt it could stab someone as well as anything else, in my mind it’s a large utility or EDC knife, and wasn’t designed with high speed/low drag operators in mind.

As an aside, it’s worth mentioning that my particular Large Sebenza is not your normal Large Sebenza. This one is from 2008 and is a special version of the knife with dual thumb studs (or thumb “lugs” as CRK calls them). It features S30V blade steel and lacks the “IDAHO MADE” moniker that, in my opinion, takes away from the appearance of the newer CRKs. So it’s a little different from what you would buy new today, but shares enough similarities for me to call this a review of the Large Sebenza 21 without hesitation.

The blade shape is a classic drop point, with CRK’s signature high hollow grind. The tip is extremely fine and the knife is ground thinly. One of my favorite details is the rounded spine. Overall, it’s a great shape for EDC, combining classic lines with precision manufacturing. The entire blade has been given a very fine tumbled finish, which looks nice and hides wear well.

Steel on my particular model is S30V, but these days the knife comes in S35VN. Both are fine steels. CRK seems to heat treat them on the softer side which is a decision by Chris Reeve that is not without its fair share of controversy. Personally, I like a relatively soft steel as it’s easier to sharpen. I’ve occasionally had a hard time putting great edges on S30V in the past, so if this blade Rockwells out to 58 RC rather than 60 then so be it. I will say that from the factory the knife comes laser sharp. It’s a high performance blade and it cuts very well. Compared to my SnG there really is no comparison, I would liken it more to the SJ-75, which has proven itself to be an excellent cutter. It slices beautifully and the edge polishes up easily on my strop.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

For many, the luxurious full titanium handle is what the Sebenza is all about. The two slabs of titanium are simply adorned with a bead blasted finish, and, in this case, accented with silver hardware. The more standard version of the knife comes with blue anodizing on the thumb stud, and you can of course get the knife any number of unique graphic designs on the handle or exotic inlays. Personally, I really like my sterile silver and blasted knife.

Handle construction is simple but very well done. Chris Reeve made its name on tight tolerances, and my knife is no exception. Here you have flow through construction with a single stand off, and an interesting floating lanyard assembly. I’m not a big lanyard guy, but on this knife I decided to leave it on. There is something very traditional about the lanyard, and the unique floating lanyard pin makes it less obnoxious.

In hand you have a relatively comfortable handle. This knife doesn’t have anything in the way of 3-D machining, but all the edges have been contoured to break the handle up in your hand. The Large Sebenza is plenty big to accommodate all kinds of hands, and the jimping is near perfect in my book; there is enough texture to provide some traction without rendering the thumb ramp into a throbbing hot spot under harder use.

The pocket clip is another one of my favorite details of the knife. The “double dip clip” locks the knife in place like nothing else I own, and provides for discrete no-nonsense carry. Hands down this is a great pocket clip. The knife itself carries well for a large boxy knife. It’s reasonably slim, and the matte titanium tucks neatly into the pocket of my jeans.

Lockup and Deployment

When people talk about smoothness of a knife’s action “Sebenza Smooth” is about as high an accolade as you can offer in the production knife realm. At least, that’s how it was back in 2011. These days CRK has a little more competition with knives appearing on bearings and all, but it’s still a pretty smooth knife. Some guys like to disassemble their Sebenza and lap the washers with 2000+ grit wet sand paper to thin them down and further reduce the friction; kind of like how billionaires turbo charge their Ferraris. You have to be careful, because if you take off too much material you risk throwing off the tolerances entirely, but if you are one of those guys that can’t leave well enough alone then the option certainly exists. Most Sebenzas come with a single thumb lug, which, as a lefty, I really don’t like. I understand that they make a dedicated lefty model, but I would rather see double thumb lugs more common.

There is something eminently enjoyable about opening the blade on my Large Sebenza and feeling the lock fall into place with its soft and satisfying click. It’s almost like shutting the door on a German car. There is a level of security and refinement that I haven’t experienced with my other knives. This may be due in part to the relatively late lockup. Mine is around 90%. There is nothing to be concerned about with the late lockup, although I am sure some folks will find that aspect of the knife disappointing.

Something else to note is that there is absolutely no lock stick and no “break in” or tricks with magic markers are required. The Sebenza is designed to be simple, smooth, and dead nuts reliable. It can be taken completely apart with a single tool.

Large Sebenza 21 Review – Final Thoughts

The Sebenza 21 is a great knife and a worthy target for those ascending the ladder of production folders. BladeHQ did an excellent series of videos on the Chris Reeve factory. If you haven’t already seen them, they should give you further appreciation for these deceptively simple knives. Chris and his team have spent decades refining the tool and the processes behind it, and the end result is a high performance knife built to exacting tolerances.

With all of that said, there is an increasing amount of expensive knives competing for our dollar. High end production knives from larger companies like Zero Tolerance and Spyderco are continuing to gain ground, while an explosion of mid tech and custom offerings from boutique manufacturers dip down into Sebenza range. Chris Reeve spent decades building his reputation the hard way, attending knife shows and working with traditional media, but the age of Youtube, USN and Instagram is upon us. This new media is bringing consumers closer to the bespoke brands, and allowing young upstarts to accelerate on higher demand and wider margins. Whereas even in 2011 a titanium framelock alone would be enough to push the bleeding edge, today flippers, bearing systems, exotic steel, and 3-D machining are what grab at the attention of the increasingly savvy consumer.

Still CRK continues to do very well, and I don’t doubt that success will continue for a long time. The Large Sebenza is a great example of this, as it is both great knife and modern a classic. I think it’s worth having in any higher end collection. It’s the knife for guys that want a no-frills, highly functional tool. CRK gets so much right, it’s hard to find fault with the Large Sebenza. But in the midst of a golden era of mid tech knives, I can’t help but wonder whether the Sebenza will continue to be regarded as the peak of the mountain, or serve more as a stepping stone into the great white north…

Large Sebenza 21 – From $410.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Large Sebenza 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.

Strider SJ-75 Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

I have come to really enjoy my Strider SnG. Perhaps its because I won it in a contest, and therefore, had no qualms about carrying and beating the crap out of it. Regardless, it is a knife I have really enjoyed. But honestly, if my money was on the table, I’m really not sure the SNG would have been the first Strider in my collection. I have enjoyed the classic Strider look, but something really spoke to me about the refined lines and deep hollow grind of the SJ-75, and I always thought it would be my first Strider. Oddly, it’s my third, purchased after experiencing both the SnG and the PT. But under different circumstances it probably wouldn’t have been that way, and I think in the eyes of many collectors I’m not alone.

Strider really created something different with the SJ-75, and it merits further consideration…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SJ-75 has an overall length of 7.125″, sports a 3″ blade, and weighs 3.8 ounces. Strider describes this as the bridge in their lineup between the SnG and PT, but I’d say it’s more akin to the SnG than anything. The knife is definitely more compact than the SnG, but the cutting edge is pretty much the same length. It can make for a nice EDC and compares favorably in length to my Sage 1, which as you may be aware is my self-described “perfect EDC.”

The leaf shaped blade of the SJ-75 features a very prominent slanting hollow grind. It’s a neat look and an interesting departure from the flat chunky grinds found on both my PT and SnG. Apparently, some of the very first SJ-75’s were hand ground by Mick Strider himself. I bought my knife used, so I have no idea if it has been hand ground (or even what steel the blade is), but I am a big fan of the deep lean grind and the lustrous satin/tumbled finish that the entire blade has been given. I will say that I am not as crazy about the decorative file work that has been applied to the spine of the knife. I think the filework looks busy, and is something I would have left out if it were my design.

Steel choices seem to range on this model from 154CM to S35VN. There may be other offerings in the mix, special editions and whatnot, but tried and true 154CM and S35VN make up the majority. This is a good thing, as I like both blade steels, and Strider’s heat treats have proven themselves capable many times over. Again, I don’t really know what blade steel my particular knife has, but it’s stainless, holds a nice edge, and sharpens easily enough. Beyond that I really don’t care.

I ran my SJ-75 through the usual battery of tests and it performed really well. My SnG and PT, while fun knives to carry and admire, aren’t particularly keen slicers. The SJ-75 on the other hand positively zips through materials. I crunched cord, carved cardboard, and worked my way through several pieces of wood. The deep hollow grind is a significant improvement over the blocky flat grinds of my other Strider knives. And at the end of the day I was able to restore my edge with a few licks on a loaded strop. This, my friends, is how a $400 knife should cut.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the SJ-75 is an angular affair of G10 and titanium. Compared to my SnG, it looks like they took the fit and finish up a notch. It shares the same hardware, but the the edges have all been nicely chamfered, the lock bar is precision cut, and the handle pieces are suspended between a pivot and a single spacer; the ultimate flow through design. Again you find the filework on the back of the handle slabs, which is something I could live without. Aside from that I’ve got no complaints with the handle.

The G10 and titanium are both smooth. There is fine lined texture on the TI while the layers on the G10 show side exhibit depth like a piece of wood. The result is a handle that is visually interesting without being uncomfortable and obnoxious. The handle slabs have been “CC’d” to melt in the palm, and the absence of atrocious jimping, is noted and appreciated. This is a stout knife, but there is plenty of room even in larger hands for 4 fingers, and the humpback handle rests comfortable in the crook of your palm.

The pocket clip is classic Strider, and has been lifted off their other models. It’s right side tip up carry only, and the combination of a single screw and and slotted handle keeps it firmly in place. This isn’t the ultimate deep carry pocketknife, but they mounted the clip about as deep as they could. There is just enough poking out to easily grab the knife, yet it remains reasonably discrete and very secure.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment you have Strider’s ubiquitous oval thumb hole, and it’s positioned high on the handle for easy access. The knife isn’t as smooth and easy to open as my SnG, maybe due to the tighter tolerances or lighter blade, but the knife still opens purposefully with the brush of a thumb. Strider went for large phosphor washers giving the knife smooth and purposeful action. They are only going to get smoother as the knife continues to break in.

The 3-D machined titanium is deceptively thick, and makes for a substantial frame and lockbar. My knife locks up around 40% and it is extremely tight. There is not even a hint of play in any direction and no stick whatsoever. Strider has had plenty of chances to refine their titanium framelocks, and the result here is highly refined.

Strider SJ-75 Review – Final Thoughts

The SJ-75 may very well be the Strider for guys who don’t like Striders. Compared to the overbuilt SnG and SMF, the SJ is practically a gentleman’s folder. What is impressive to me is the high level of fit and finish. Strider, much like Emerson, has earned a reputation of creating knives that are slightly imperfect users, but this is a knife that is extremely well made and meticulously finished. The reasonable size and weight and a practical grind means this is arguably their best EDC offering yet.

If I could change anything I’d do something about the file work on the inside of the handles and on the spine of the blade. Sometimes less is more, and I think now would be one of those times. Aside from that it’s a great knife, provided, of course, you can overcome the $400.00 price tag. Whether you want an upscale EDC or something for the collection, the SJ-75 is worthy of your attention.

Strider SJ-75 – From $400.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Strider SJ-75 at 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.

Zero Tolerance 0566 Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

Last Updated: July 13, 2019
I have recently been making regular appearances on the GearGeeksLive podcast with Tony and Andrew. Tony and I recently had Thomas Welk from KAI (Kershaw/Zero Tolerance) on the air for an episode about KAI. I found it fascinating to get inside the head of a prominent representative of a major cutlery company.

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One part of the show that really stuck with me was Thomas’ point that many knives are designed to fit into boxes. And no, I’m not talking about those fancy cardboard wrappers we have all come to know and love. I’m talking about MSRP. Most knives coming out of high volume manufacturers are designed around a price point, because these large knife manufacturers work with major retailers and these major retailers put manufacturers under tremendous pressure to deliver product at certain price points. If a manufacturer decides to base their business around working with large retailers, then this can make up a large part of their bottom line.

Ultimately, the point Thomas was making is that production knife making is usually a study of compromise, oftentimes to the chagrin of enthusiasts like you and me. Not every knife coming out of KAI’s doors can be a 0888. Hell, they can’t even just produce the 0560. Instead, these companies must appeal to a broad range of consumers with a varied budget. This is why we see everything from a $250 Zero Tolerance 0560, to a $25 Kershaw Cryo. ‘Tis the nature of the big production house beast.

And then we have the 0566, which fits in between the 0560 and the Cryo – both in size and in MSRP ($180 – $150 at retail). More interesting is that the 3 blades share a Rick Hinderer design pedigree, and loosely resemble his coveted XM series of folding knives.

This time around Zero Tolerance has tried to appeal to the persnickity middle market, attempting to tow the fine line between high end and high value. As I am sure Thomas will tell you, that isn’t always easy. I see the 0566 as a real exercise in compromise. There is a certain danger to trying to make everyone happy, and the goal of my review is to determine whether ZT struck a sweet spot, or pissed everyone off.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0566 has an overall length of 7.7″, has a 3.25″ blade, and weighs 5.3 ounces. While substantially smaller than my 0560 it only weighs .7 ounces less. This is due to the stainless steel frame lock and full steel liner. Depending on your perspective, the knife either feels “substantial” or “heavy”. Thomas talks on the podcast about how some consumers equate weight with quality. I’m not sure I am one of those customers.

Weight issues aside, I like this size for a robust EDC or, for lack of a better phrase, folding tactical knife. The size compares favorably to classics like the Benchmade Griptilian and Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

The blade shape is classic Hinderer drop point and looks identical to the 0560. Mine was ground evenly, came with a very rough stonewash, and came from a fairly thick piece of Elmax steel. The blade geometry is middle of the road. You aren’t going to win any cutting competitions with this knife, but it’s sturdy and will hold up well under regular and sustained use. It’s not nearly as thin as my Volli, but then few production folders in my collection are.

Elmax steel and Zero Tolerance is a pairing not without its controversies. People have said that ZT jacked up the heat treat on some of the earlier Elmax knives or burned the edges in the final sharpening. I did not find that to be the case on my 0566. I went through my usual favorite cutting demonstrations, which included working through sections of 3/8″ and 1/2″ manilla rope and some commercial grade cardboard. The Elmax held up well. It continued to hold a good edge, and when it was all said and done sharpened back up easily with stops and a fine Spyderco Sharpmaker stone.

The only thing to note, was that after a period of hard cutting I would get a little lock stick with the steel framelock. Nothing I couldn’t pop open with one hand, but definitely note worthy. The lock stick went away after I disengaged the lock.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Although the shape of the 0566’s handle mirrors the 0560, ZT definitely approached it with a $180.00 MSRP box in mind. You have flat peel ply G10 over a full stainless steel liner, pillar construction, and a solid steel frame lock. It’s a far cry from the 3D machined scales of the 0560 with swiss-cheesed liner and pocketed titanium frame, but it’s still a sturdy and well made handle. ZT went with relatively beefy hardware and finished everything nicely. Everything lines up well, and the pieces are cut out clean and crisp, while the edges of the handle are all nicely broken and comfortable to hold. While this isn’t cutting edge tech found in ZT’s higher end offerings, it’s still a well made handle.

Ergonomically you have a relatively thick and comfortable handle. The jimping, which is the biggest problem with the 0560 because it is so hellaciously sharp, has been fully addressed on this model. There is still some jimping, but it has been flattened out to reduce the chances of slicing your thumb open on an aggressive cut. The flipper tab limits your grip options, but the knife holds nicely in forward and reverse grips.

The pocket clip is an enlarged version of the clip found on the Cryo. It’s a black deep carry style clip. It works well, and offers the user discrete deep pocket carry. It’s a 4 position clip, which is appropriate on this user/tool grade knife. Thomas points out that pocket clips are the hardest part of the knife to design as you will always piss someone off regardless of the design, and they are one of the most expensive parts of the knife to manufacture. All things considered I think they did a good job with this clip.

Deployment and Lockup

I often wonder if dedicating an entire paragraph to “deployment” is worth my time and your attention, but with the 0566 at least there is some interesting stuff to talk about. The knife comes assisted with Ken Onion’s speed safe mechanism. What is interesting is that the 0566 also comes with a ball detent. Thomas said that ZT did that purposely so that the user could de-assist the knife if they wanted to. He stated that it would not perform as well as something like the 0560, which is fully designed to be a manual knife, because the combination of spring tension and a strong detent would make the knife very difficult to open with the spring in.

The assisted opening was snappy and there wasn’t any annoying torsion bar rattle like on most other speedsafe knives I’ve reviewed, but being a fan of manual action knives I took the speed safe torsion bar out early on in the review process. It took a little fiddling to get the blade centering and deployment to play nicely together, and my blade still heavily favors the G10 side (although it does not rub). But that is OK, as I understand the knife wasn’t designed to be a manual flipper.

All things considered, the flipping action is actually pretty good on this knife, especially after an application of TUF-Glide and a break in period. Don’t expect Spyderco Domino level performance, but if you preload and “push button” (as opposed to pulling back on the flipper like flicking a light switch) the flipper the blade pops out nicely. This knife uses phosphor washers, and they are really smooth. I am actually pretty happy with the manual action on this knife.

I’ve trolled the forums a little on this knife and some people have good results like me, while others haven’t gotten their knife to flip as well, so this is one of those your mileage may vary type things…

Lockup on the 0566 is solid and without play in any direction. You would expect that out of a 5.0+ ounce knife with a stainless steel lock bar. It met my expectations. Lockbar disengagement was nice and easy, and as I mentioned previously, I didn’t notice any blade stick unless I was using the knife hard.

Zero Tolerance 0566 Review – Final Thoughts

The 0566 is a pretty good tool knife. If you were like everyone else I spoke with, and liked the 0560 but found it to be too big, the 0566 might be a good choice. That is of course just as long as you aren’t expecting an actual mini 0560. Practically speaking, the 0566 checks many boxes. It’s a comfortable knife, and it cuts well enough. I have to say that it is heavy. If I had to give it a number rating, I’d go with maybe a 6.5 out of 10. Not a bad knife, but far from perfect. I could live without a bearing system and 3-d machined handles, but would have really loved to see KAI make the jump from stainless steel to titanium framelock on this model.

While I like the 0566 alright, I don’t think it will make as many waves as the 0560 or the Cryo. A danger with being too middle of the road is that you risk getting ignored. I don’t doubt that ZT will be able to move some product, as it is drafting off of the wildly popular relationship KAI and Rick Hinderer have formed, but whether it will remain as memorable (or infamous) as some of the other KAI/Hinder collabs remains to be seen. As a businessman myself I don’t have a problem with companies making money, but I must admit the enthusiast inside of me would have loved to see just a little more here. I think that a ZT/Hinderer collab with a ~3″ blade and most of the high end fixings would do really well, regardless of the MSRP.

Zero Tolerance Hinderer Folder Pocket Knife (0566); 3.25” Stonewashed S35VN Steel Blade; Handle with G-10 Front and Steel Back, SpeedSafe Opening, Frame Lock, Quad-Mount, Deep-Carry Pocketclip; 5.4 OZ

Collaboration between Zero Tolerance and custom knifemaker, Rick Hinderer with open construction, steel tube spacers, flat rounded edges, high-quality materials and solid lock up
Premium S35VN steel blade has enhanced toughness and long-lasting sharpness; resistance to edge chipping, wear and corrosion
SpeedSafe Assisted Opening for quick, fast, easy, safe, secure, one-handed blade deployment
Stonewashed blade finish has a roughed-up, non-reflective, scuffed, desirably worn look
Durable, stable, lightweight, textured, black G-10 front handle scale; all stainless-steel back handle scale

I recommend purchasing the ZT 0566 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.

Case Sod Buster Jr Review

by Dan Jackson 27 Comments

Last Updated: July 20, 2019

I recently reviewed the Victorinox Cadet. This is a time honored knife, but frankly I was unsure whether many people would be interested in reading a review on it. The feedback was actually really good. So much so that it has encouraged me to write a review on another classic slip joint in my collection, the Case Sod Buster Jr.

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I got into the Sod Buster Jr after realizing how much I enjoyed carrying the Cadet, and wanted to venture further into the world of traditional slip joint knives. I’ve been into modern EDC and Tactical knives for 5 years now, but really know very little about traditional slip joints. So when I knew that I wanted to try another slip joint out it wasn’t long before I stumbled across the Sod Buster Jr. Three things really drew me to this knife: 1. It’s made in the USA 2. It’s under $25 and 3. it features a nice carbon steel blade (although you can get the knife in stainless steel if you want). Throw in the fact that it’s made by Case, a company that I know has a serious pedigree in the world of traditional American knives, and I figured it was a great starting point.

I have to say though, I’m not much of a historian. If you are looking for a definitive history of the sod buster pattern then this won’t be the place for it. My understanding is that the pattern or style of knife is anywhere from 100-130 years old, and emerged from Germany as a kind of a folding butcher’s knife or a clasp knife. It can be loosely classified as a type of peasant or farmer’s knife. Case apparently associated the name “sodbuster” with their knife design in the 1960s. If any historians want to correct me or drop some knowledge in the comments section, by all means be my guest. I’ll be approaching the knife purely from a utilitarian/general knife enthusiast’s standpoint.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Sod Buster Jr has an overall length of 6.45″, sports a 2.8″ blade, and weighs 2.19 ounces. For a mild mannered suburbanite these are great numbers. Much like my trusty Cadet, I can easily slip this knife into a pair of slacks and not miss a beat. Of course if you are looking for something a little larger, Case does offer the full size Sod Buster, and it could easily be carried as well.

The blade is a classic drop point design with a short belly and tough tip. The knife was designed to be used as a utility blade, and it certainly functions that way in the 21st century. The grind is a full flat grind, or something close to it, and it gets nice and thin behind the edge. It is a tool knife and it cuts quite well.

Case actually offers the knife with 2 distinct steel choices. You have their “TrueSharp Surgical Stainless Steel” and their Chrome Vandium (CV) high carbon steel. I opted for the high carbon steel version as the thought of a pocket knife with a carbon steel blade was intriguing (and, believe it or not, is actually a first for this website), and what little preliminary research I did do before buying the knife suggested that the CV steel superior to the TrueSharp stainles steel in the arenas of sharpening and edge retention. Whether that is true in practice is impossible for me to say at this point, but I did notice a good deal of info floating about the web comparing CV to TrueSharp, if that sort of question tickles your fancy.

In practice the CV steel exhibited a lot of the qualities I like about carbon steel. It was easy to sharpen and it held a decent edge. It’s not a super steel in the edge retention department, but for my purposes it got the job done.

I will say that the CV steel does patina (and will rust if you aren’t careful). The knife arrives from Case with something of a mirror polish to it. My blade started to get some color after cutting up an apple, and I actually noticed a couple little spots of rust forming on my knife when I left it in a drawer for a few weeks (without oiling it first). At that point it wasn’t the nicest knife to photograph so I tried my hand at forcing a patina with some mustard. My results were interesting. The knife definitely darkened and I think it looks pretty cool. It would be even nicer to “earn” that patina over decades of use, but I guess there is still plenty of time for that.

At the end of the day for a $20 slip joint the performance of the blade and steel definitely surpassed my expectations. This is a nice little cutter and you will have a hard time finding much else that will exceed it’s performance given the price tag.

Handle and Ergonomics

My Sod Buster Jr came with yellow synthetic handles. They offer the knife with black plastic handles, but there is a bunch of writing on the blade, and that didn’t appeal to me. The synthetic yellow material is actually quite dense and has a quality feel to it. The yellow has some old school charm to it, almost as if it were made of bone or ivory, and I enjoy that aspect of it. The handle is of pinned construction with brass pins and pivot and brass liners. The backspacer / spring is stainless steel.

Ergonomically, the chunky yellow scales fill the hand nicely and there is just enough room for a 4 finger grip (with large hands). There is no jimping or texturing anywhere on the knife. I wouldn’t call the handle slick, but it’s not a traction machine either. I was able to comfortably accomplish normal EDC tasks including opening my mail, cutting up fruit, and breaking down boxes. If I had a rocking chair I could easily spend an afternoon whittling on the porch with a corn cob pipe and a fat slug of whiskey.

While we are discussing the handle, it’s worth noting that the handle is pretty thick. For example, it is way thicker than my Alox Cadet:

This also isn’t a bad time to point out that the blade centering on this $25 knife is dead nuts center.

Deployment and Lock Up

For your “deployment” you have a nail nick, and the knife doesn’t have a lock, so this section once again proves to be a little off point. The action or, “walk and talk” as slip joint aficionados call it, seems pretty good. I don’t have enough slip joints to form a frame of comparison, so I won’t attempt to rank it on a 10 point scale (slip joint enthusiasts sometimes rank the pull or strength of the spring on a 1-10 scale). I will say that this knife sure as heck isn’t opening up by accident, and the blade makes a satisfying snap when it pops open. There is no half stop on this knife.

The lock up is pretty good considering that there is no lock. I didn’t have any issues with the knife closing on my hand, but I was careful in using it. If you mind your p’s and q’s and use the right tool for the job then you should be able to get a fair amount of work done with this knife.

Case Sod Buster Jr. Review – Final Thoughts

I am frankly very impressed that they can still make these in the US and sell them for under $25. Little details like a centered blade a sharp even edge bevel are present at a price point where these kinds of details often cant be found. Case in point, I bought a little plastic handled Buck lockback knife a couple years ago, and the thing was such a piece of junk that I didn’t even bother reviewing it. The Sod Buster Jr is legitimately a nice knife. Much like the Cadet, this would also make a great gift knife.

What else can I say? The Case Sod Buster Jr is an absolute classic. There are folks who have dedicated their collections to traditional slip joint knives, and could lend far keener insights than I have. So I hope I didn’t do it too grave of an injustice with this review. I still wanted to take an opportunity to talk about it, because I can appreciate the knife even as a relative outsider to the world of traditional folders. It’s a nice gateway knife, and a safe starting point for a traditional collection. I like and recommend it.

Case Sod Buster Pocket Knives, Yellow, Small

Chrome vanadium (CV) steel blade
Skinner blade; smooth yellow synthetic handle
Great everyday pocket knife for projects around the house, the outdoors, and hunting
Length: 3.63 inches closed and 2.1 ounces
Limited Lifetime Warranty

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Case Sodbuster Jr. 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.

Viper Start Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

Last Updated: September 9, 2019
I got my first introduction to Viper at the 2013 Blade Show in Atlanta this past summer. A couple of my favorite reviewers, the EdgeObserver and Stefan Schmalhaus, have sampled Viper’s offerings quite extensively. It has taken me a little while longer to warm up to this interesting Italian brand.

Buy the Viper Start at BladeHQ

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I really enjoyed the blend of rugged utility and flowing lines in the last Viper model I reviewed, the Carnera, and the Start has caught my eye for the same reasons. Fabrizio Silvestrelli is the designer of Start, and he knows how to capture my attention while Viper knows how to take the designs’ muscular lines and pair it with a blend of modern manufacturing and old world charm. The result is an offering unlike anything else in the marketplace.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Start has an overall length of 9.25″, features a 4″ blade, and weighs 6.4 ounces. Any knife with a 4″ blade is going to be big, and the Viper is no exception. This is a serious departure from what I would consider an EDC knife. Viper has crafted a full on tactical folder, and the result is a suitably large offering.

The blade is a modified drop point design that excels at piercing and slicing. The deep belly has a slight recurve. It’s not impossible to sharpen like a serious recurve, yet it still feeds material into the edge. Given its size the Viper is still ground thinly. I found that it slices cardboard and other soft materials with ease yet it still has enough beef behind the edge to hold up under harder use. One thing to note about the blade is that the tip is extremely acute. It is great for stabbing things and detail work, but the the user needs to be careful not to damage it.

The Start is offered in 2 blade steels, PVD coated D2 and N690. I opted for the version with N690. This is steel I have heard a lot of nice things about, but haven’t had a ton of experience with. So far I am a big fan. I found that the N690 on my knife sharpens easily, takes a very nice edge, and holds onto it for a decent amount of time. I might consider it a beefed up 154CM. Certainly the thin grind has also done the knife a lot of favors. It’s a terrific slicer and is very fun to use. N690 is also a stainless steel, and despite the knife coming with a bead blasted finish (which is notorious for attracting rust) I have had zero issues with rust or staining.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

My Start came with black canvas micarta handle scales. I should point out that the knife is available with cocobolo or carbon fiber scales as well. Relief cuts have been placed by the finger choil, which lends itself to being held in a pinch style grip, although in practice I prefer a more conventional hold. Underneath the micarta you have thin stainless steel liners and a full stainless steel backspacer and lockbar. The pivot is hidden and the handles are put together with a series of small torx screws. I love how the edges of the spine, the lockbar, the backspacer, and even the liners have all been rounded. It’s such a nice little detail. The scales themselves are gently contoured and all the parts and pieces line up well. All in all the handle is sturdy and well executed.

In terms of ergonomics, Viper provides you with plenty of handle, and it affords a wide variety of grips. There is a finger choil, but there is also plenty of room left to choke back on the knife, providing reach that may even give some Cold Steel offerings a run for their money. The flared pommel does have a bit of a sharp corner, but overall this is a comfortable knife to use. The canvas micarta affords a sure grip in both wet and dry conditions, while a short run of jimping provides enough feedback to index the thumb without making the thumb ramp uncomfortable under hard cutting conditions.

The pocket clip of the Start is a straight forward stamped out piece of steel. It offers reasonably low right side tip up carry with no other options for placement. The clip is very secure and the knife rides well given its size and weight. Given the polarizing nature of pocket clip designs, Viper went with a safe route. I think they could have done way worse with the clip.

Deployment and Lockup

The Start makes use of stylized ambidextrous thumb studs pressed close to the back of the blade. I find them easy enough to open at my desk, but acknowledge that the knife takes some work to get open. I don’t mean to detract from the action, as it is very smooth and very purposeful, but this is not a knife I can flick open with my thumb, and it may provide some challenges if you are operating it under duress. It is also worth noting that the pivot is hidden, and you need to take off the handle scales to service it. So far I have had no need to do that, as the blade is well centered and the lock is free of play.

Here is a shot of the Viper Start next to my Spyderco Paramilitary 2:

The Start features a back lock, but this is not like your traditional back locks. It is extremely smooth and refined, and the blade falls into place with the softest click. Upon further examination you will notice that the tang of the blade and the lock face are both given a satin finish, and the two pieces of steel fit together extremely well. The result is effortless play free lockup, and a really satisfying knife to open and close. This is a durable lock design and it has held up well in all my testing.

Viper Start Review – Final Thoughts

If you are in the market for a high end large folding knife, the Viper Start could be an excellent option. The knife is beautifully executed, and that enhances the sumptuous curves of Silvestrelli’s design. But the Start isn’t a creampuff either. It is definitely built to be carried and used. The end result is an elegant knife that performs as good as it looks. The high performance blade and generous handle offer the end user plenty of performance, with the added bonus of this knife being thoughtful and unique.

I also like how Viper offers the Start in several flavors, including satin, beadblasted, and PVD coated blades, and handle materials varying from classic choices like micarta and wood, to hand-laid carbon fiber. Finally, the price is also very reasonable considering what you get. You can get into a Start for well south of $150 shipped, while the highest end versions can be currently had for $175. Not bad for a European made knife of this size with these materials.

The only potential cons I can really think of are that the knife isn’t the absolute easiest and fastest to open, and that the pocket clip is right side only. For some these gripes will matter, for many they will not. This is all assuming you are in the mood (or have the need) to carry a 6.5 ounce knife. By and large this is a very nice offering from Viper and I do recommend it if you are in the market for a unique large folding knife.

Viper Knives 5840CB Viper Start Lockback with Brown Cocobolo Wood Handles

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Viper Start – From $133.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Viper Start at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.