Folding Knives

Spyderco Southard Flipper C156GBN Review

Last Updated: July 30, 2019
If you have been following the production knife scene the past couple years, then you know that titanium framelock flippers have gotten extremely hot. This has a lot to do with custom and mid-tech makers that often set the trends, which eventually trickle down into production knives. Larger companies have finally taken notice, and now they want their piece of the framelock flipper pie.

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This has resulted is something that Andrew and I refer to as the “framelock flipper arms race.” When Zero Tolerance released their 0560 model not too long ago, it upped the ante in terms of materials selection, build quality, and technology. ZT loaded their knife to the gills with features like a caged bearing system, 3D contoured handles, and even going so far as to pocket out the titanium to lighten the knife. The 0560 continues to be a technological marvel as far as the production knife industry is concerned, but other companies, including Benchmade and Spyderco, have stopped to take notice – to the point where both companies have released their first models featuring a flipper in 2012-2013.

In this case we have Spyderco’s addition to the framelock flipper arms race: the Spyderco Southard Flipper. They decided to damn the titanium torpedoes and embark on a high-end collaboration with acclaimed custom knife maker Brad Southard. Known for his practical and well engineered designs, Brad has slowly carved a name for himself since he started making knives full time in 2009. Brad subscribes to the ideology that form should follow function, and he ultimately believes that good design is a marriage of aesthetics and performance. Technology also plays a key role in his knives, and this collaboration with Spyderco is a veritable cornucopia of the latest and greatest. Unfortunately for the consumer the price tag reflects this as well, with the knife arriving with a whopping $399.95 MSRP.

Does the fabled Southard Flipper deliver enough bang for the buck to make it worth adding to your collection? How does it stack up to something like the ZT 0560? Lets find out…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Southard Flipper has an overall length of 7.96″, features a 3.46” blade, and weighs a solid 4.1 ounces. This is a jewel of a knife, beautifully manufactured for Spyderco in Taichung, Taiwan. Proud Americans may dismiss the knife offhand for having both a $250 retail price and the words “Taiwan” laser engraved on the blade, but I assure you the quality is 100% there. The knife is beautifully made and has a reassuring heft to it – made possible by thick slabs of steel, titanium, and G10.

As for the knife’s intended use, I mainly see the Southard Flipper as a collectible or high end EDC option. I have mostly been carrying mine on the weekends, as I find it a little too chunky to be paired with slacks in an office EDC. Your mileage will certainly vary.

The blade is a signature Brad Southard modified drop point design. Cut from a thick piece of Carpenter CTS-204P stainless steel, the profile swoops and slopes into an abrupt tip. The partial hollow grind terminates at a neatly applied edge, and the entire blade has been given the ever popular stonewashed finish.

CTS-204P is apparently the latest in a line of high performance steels from Carpenter. According to their data sheet this steel has been specifically formulated for high end cutlery applications. This is the part of the review where more sophisticated reviewers would spend a few moments to wax poetic about the chemical structure and technical merits of the steel, but I have neither the time nor the inclination for such diversions. Instead, I elected to simply start cutting stuff. Hey, at least I’m honest.

My knife came with an extremely sharp and aggressive edge. It almost reminded me of the M4 on my Gayle Bradley in how razor sharp and aggressive it was out of box. I actually moved to a new house in the middle of my testing phase, so the Southard Flipper got a chance to open up many cardboard boxes. It zipped through cardboard with alarming speed and efficiency. I decided at this point I wanted to try a more formal cut test to get a better feel for the knife and the steel.

I started out with a 6″ length of 3/8” sisal rope. I made cuts every inch. In some cases this is a difficult and painful test for me to get through. The Southard Flipper crunched through the rope without even blinking. It was one of the easier rope cut tests I have done, and the knife could have easily handled 2-3x as much rope.

I then moved on to some more cardboard boxes. The Southard flipper once again worked with impressive speed and agility as I cleanly cleaved a couple pieces of 3-ply commercial grade cardboard into confetti. At this point in the test I felt the edge could use some help, so I stropped it briefly. The 204p came back to factory sharpness with little effort – surprising considering how the blade has likely been heat treated to well over 60 hrc (Spyderco does not list the actual hardness of the steel).

I wrapped things up by whittling some 2x2s. It worked through the wood, but I was not super impressed with the carving performance of this knife. This shouldn’t be too surprising as the blade is 4mm thick and features a partial hollow grind. I found it was not the most efficient tool for cutting up apples either.

At the end of the day I was pleased with the performance of both the knife and the 204p steel. The steel is capable of taking an amazing edge, I had no issues with rust or corrosion, and the edge held up well. It’s a nice knife and is well suited for EDC tasks.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Southard Flipper is primarily comprised of titanium and g10. On the locking side you have a full titanium frame lock with a G10 overtravel prevention mechanism. On the non-locking side there is a brown G10 scale over a thick titanium liner. Everything is screwed together, and features flow-through (pillar) construction.

The knife is immaculately finished. The hardware gleams, every corner has been meticulously finished, and the knife feels like an absolute gem. The titanium liner has been drilled out to reduce the weight somewhat, but this is still a knife that I feel in my hand and in my pocket.

One thing to note is the asymmetry of the thickness of the handle; the non-locking side is noticeably thicker than the locking side. I am not sure if this was a conscious design decision, or if Spyderco was not willing to have the G10 side 3d machined like on the ZT0560. Since the knife is equipped with an internal stop pin and captured ball bearing system, it is necessary to have a metal liner of some sort. At any rate the asymmetry is interesting. In my video review I talk about the character of the knife and the odd juxtaposition of high end materials and meticulous finish next to the somewhat quirky and almost primitive design. I think it’s an interesting contrast, although I’m sure the asymmetrical handle will drive some people nuts.

Moving to ergonomics, I find the Southard Flipper to be extremely comfortable. A rope cut test is always a good workout for the handle of a knife, and hard carving / whittling can also quickly reveal hot spots and ergonomic issues. I found that the Southard performed fantastically in the rope cut, and was decently comfortable when carving. The knife is pretty thick and that chunkiness serves it well when putting some extra force behind the edge. The jimping on the spine of the blade is damn near perfect in my book. It’s got a little bit of traction without being obnoxiously sharp or painful. It’s just a comfortable knife.

In contrast, the pocket clip is a little underwhelming. Stylistically it looks cool, and is plenty sturdy / well made. However, I find it’s a little sharp on the tip, doesn’t exactly run with the lines of the handle, and doesn’t carry particularly well. I think a thick and heavy knife like this could benefit from a deeper carry clip. Although none of this strikes me as a deal breaker, I’ll openly confess that I feel the pocket clip is the weakest link.

Deployment and Lock

The more reviews I write the more I wonder how painfully obvious this section is. Of course what we have here is a flipper mechanism, and Spyderco’s first at that. I find it generally works pretty well.

When you have a firm grip on the flipper the detent is strong enough to easily pop the knife open. That said, I’ve flubbed the flip many many times, and wonder if an even stronger detent would be appropriate here. I’ll be the first to admit that this is me being nit picky, but on a knife of this caliber I might as well provide the entire story.

The knife does open nicely however, and the blade rotates smoothly around an over-sized pivot and caged bearing system. There is also the “trademarked” Spyderco thumb hole on the blade, but it’s impossible to use with your left hand, and a challenge to actuate with your right, so I find myself not having a whole lot to say about it.

Lockup is exceptional. My lock engages around 40-50%, and has been like that since the day I bought it. The lock engages easily, has no stick at all, and the knife is absolutely rock solid in every direction. The pivot must have some industrial strength [easyazon-link asin=”B0043EK14O” locale=”us”]loctite[/easyazon-link] on it, because I have been opening the knife obsessively for weeks and have yet to have a need to adjust it.

There is also a small g10 lock bar stabilizer inset into the framelock that matches the G10 scale on the opposing side. It looks interesting and does a good job of preventing the lock bar from over-extending. All said and done I am impressed with the lockup on this knife.

Spyderco Southard Flipper Review – Final Thoughts

So, Spyderco’s first flipper… did they nail it or fail it? I have to say, I like the knife a lot. Brad’s design is sexy and sophisticated, and the Taichung factory has once again produced an amazingly well built knife. Say whatever you want about overseas manufacturers, but the Southard Flipper is immaculately made.

The Southard Flipper also performs. It’s comfortable, balanced, and cuts nicely. I had a blast working through rope and cardboard. It’s not the keenest slicer, so chores like cutting apples and carving wood won’t be it’s forte, but overall the Southard Flipper is a capable tool.

If I had to point out the weaknesses of the knife, I’d say the pocket clip could use a little work, the flipper could benefit from a stronger detent, and I could live without the lanyard tube. Aside from that I find little fault with the knife. I will say once again that this is a heavier knife and in my pocket it is more appropriate for jeans or casual clothing – this is not a gentleman’s folder.

And lets spend a moment on the “value proposition” of the Southard Flipper. Some will balk at the $220 price tag, and I can appreciate that – this is an expensive knife, and it isn’t for everyone. But frankly, discussions about value don’t interest me much. Sure, I appreciate a good deal, and understand the value of a dollar, but much like a Chris Reeve Sebenza or a Strider SNG, we are looking at luxury items. No one ‘needs’ a Southard Flipper.

As someone who owns a wide range of folding knives I think the Southard Flipper will be well worth it to fans of high end Spydercos, and fans of titanium framelocks / flippers. It’s a beautiful knife.

And where does it stand next to the ZT 0560? Personally, I prefer the Southard. The 0560 is a cool knife, but I prefer the size of the Southard more and the knife has this wonderfully solid and well balanced feel to it. Practically speaking I find it more comfortable to cut with too. Sure, the 3D machining on the 0560 is nice, and it’s great to see the 0560 being made in the USA, but I still prefer the Southard more. Have an opinion? Feel free to leave it in the comments section below.

Spyderco Southard Folder G-10 Plain Edge Knife, Brown

Made using the highest quality materials
Tested for quality and durability
The most trusted name in you cutlery needs
Flipper blade opening device
CTS 204P hollow-ground blade

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Kershaw Turbulence Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

Last Updated: September 17, 2019
I’ve mentioned in previous reviews that I sometimes find that Kershaw’s product line falls into a bit of a slump. In the $20-50 range you have a number of what I feel are quite frankly, forgettable knives. Typically it involves some sort of black handle, and bead blasted blade. Many come assisted and are made overseas. To be fair there are designs that stand out in the crowd, and you occasionally get a Skyline or even a Cryo (far from perfect, but definitely a little different). Unfortunately, for every Skyline there are at least half a dozen others that really don’t do anything for me.

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But occasionally a knife will fly under the radar, unfairly profiled as another unexciting knife. I certainly feel that way about the design I am reviewing today, the Kershaw Turbulence. The Turbulence is designed by maker and in-house designer for Kershaw, Tim Gaylean. Tim was a prodigy of sorts. His website is kind of frozen in time, but you can see some of the custom pieces he made at the age of 24 (and younger). It isn’t all to my taste, but Tim has made some really interesting stuff, and shows a ton of talent.

These days Tim still does some custom work, but it can be really tough to find. This production model Turbulence is based off of his pro-series version that is just uber cool. Unfortunately, his custom version is (as you would expect) extremely expensive – if you even have the privilege of finding one for sale. I can’t believe I missed out on this very affordable production version of the Turbulence when it was initially released about a year ago, but there isn’t much I can do besides admit a mistake was made and soldier on – in the form of a detailed knife review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Turbulence has an overall length of 7.75 inches, sports a 3.25 inch blade, and weighs 4.4 ounces. This has been a nice EDC knife for me, and has served well on some projects around the house as well. Kershaw frames the Turbulence in a more “tactical” light, but for me it’s primarily an EDC.

The blade shape is probably best described as a modified drop point, but really it almost defies convention. I love how the swedge and slight curve of the blade forms into a very fine yet capable tip. It’s a wicked and non-traditional shape that really works from both an aesthetic and practical perspective. The flat ground blade is a decent slicer, and the tip stays plenty strong. There is enough edge to get a lot of work done, and I like how Kershaw decided to finish the knife with a subtle stonewash rather than their go too bead blast. The stonewashed finish will resist rust much better than a bead blast will.

The Turbulence’s blade comes in Sandvic 14C28N stainless steel. This is a Swedish steel that Kershaw commonly uses in their USA-made high value folders like the Skyline. 14C28N held up well in my cut tests. It’s a hearty steel capable of getting a lot of work done, is tough, and is fairly corrosion resistant. It won’t hold an edge forever, but I love how quickly and easily it sharpens. I’d compare it with a good AUS 8 or 440C – totally respectable given the price and intended use of this knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is tried and true black G10 over full stainless liners. For a relatively inexpensive knife Kershaw made this handle right. They selected surprisingly thick slabs of G10, crisply cut and mated to liners that are partially skeletonized to reduce the weight. I like how the Turbulence is a flow through design with just 2 stand offs and the pivot holding the knife together. The resulting handle is relatively thick, but still elegant, comfortable, and sturdy. Overall, fit and finish is good, but I did notice a couple marks leftover where the laser cutter shaped the liners.

In hand the Turbulence feels extremely comfortable. The relatively thick handle gives you a satisfying grip, and the textured G10 provides both traction and feedback. You have enough handle here to accommodate a large hand, and the thumb rests easily on the spine. There is no jimping anywhere on the knife, and I don’t mind that fact at all. The lack of jimping makes for a very comfortable tool if you ever need to do extended cutting, and I never once ran into a situation where I was slipping off the knife. If you are considering the Turbulence as a tactical knife, it does work alright in a reverse grip.

The pocket clip is goofy looking, but it works well and could have been a lot worse. I say ‘it could have been worse,’ because I really don’t care for the clip on the Junk Yard Dog – another one of Tim’s designs. At least the clip on the Turbulence is small and relatively discrete, even if it is kind of funny looking. You do have the option of 3 corner carry, and the knife buries low and stays secure. A blackened clip would have been nice, and I also would have liked something a little less artistic, but functionally speaking this one is fine.

Deployment and Lockup

The Turbulence makes use of a flipper for deployment, and also comes with Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism. The action is fast and the knife opens easily. I don’t have any complaints with SpeedSafe per se (actually, it does rattle and make a fair amount of noise in the closed position, so I guess I do), but I’d much rather see this knife unassisted. Tim makes his pro series version with an IKBS bearing system, and I would have loved to have seen this Turbulence come unassisted with KVT (Kershaw’s bearing system found on knives like the ZT 0560). An unassisted flipper with bearings would have been really cool.

The liner lock on the Turbulence engages early and without play. I’ve got no issues here, the knife is rock solid, yet is still easy to intentionally disengage. It’s worth noting that the “thumb studs” actually are blade stops and work as stops in both the open and closed position. They do not work as thumb studs at all (fine by me).

Kershaw Turbulence Review – Final Thoughts

The Turbulence is a really nice knife, and has rapidly become one of my favorite Kershaw designs. The MSRP is something like $120, but they currently can be had for as low as $50. Compared with something like the $32 Chinese-made Cryo, there isn’t even a competition – the Turbulence just blows it out of the water. The materials are great, fit and finish is good (not perfect – blade centering on my knife is off a smidge, and there were a couple little marks on the liners), the design is amazing, and they managed to get it all done right here in the United States. It’s a practical EDC item, but it also is a beautifully balanced and visually pleasing knife.

If I could offer anything in the way of constructive criticism, I’d say remove the assisted opening and throw in some bearings. Also, swapping the pocket clip out for something a little more discrete would be nice.

But even without those modifications the Turbulence is still a great knife. If you are itching for a unique and well made flipper that deploys with a snap, and won’t break the bank, the Turbulence gets my full recommendation.

Kershaw Turbulence – 50.74
~~Retail Price: $119.95~~
You Save: $69.21
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Turbulence at BladeHQ. Purchasing anything at BladeHQ through these links helps support the website, and keep this review train running. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated!

Strider SnG Review

by Dan Jackson 15 Comments

Last Updated: February 13, 2018
For many knife collectors the Strider SnG is a holy grail of sorts. Much like the Chris Reeve Sebenza, the Strider SnG represents the top of the line for production grade folders. Toss in a Hinderer XM, and you have what many knife collectors like to call “the holy trinity” of high end production blades.

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I am by no means an authority on Strider, but if you are unfamiliar with the brand Strider was founded some time in the mid 90’s by custom knifemakers Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer. The company is headquartered in San Marcos, California, and their designs draw heavily from the strong military background at Strider. They make a number of fixed blade and folding designs, and have fulfilled contracts for the U.S. Military in the past.

Strider knives aren’t cheap, but the company has built a reputation on quality and has gained an extremely loyal following. I have always found the bold lines of their folders intriguing, and the rugged nature of the knives further piqued my interest. The SnG is their mid size folder, resting comfortably between the large SMF and the small PT.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SnG has an overall length of 8.25 inches, a 3.5 inch blade, and a weight of 4.4 ounces. The SnG could work well as a larger EDC, or as more of a large utility / tactical (self defense) knife. I will say that I was surprised at how lightweight the knife felt. With the SnG’s reputation as a hard use blade I expected some sort of folding brick to show up in my mailbox. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised with how manageable the knife felt. It quickly found its way into my pocket.

The blade on the SnG is a modified drop point design. My particular SnG happens to be flat ground, but I have seen hollow ground blades and tanto versions as well. Of course there are custom versions of the knife in every grind imaginable. Blade thickness on this knife is just over 4mm thick (.165″) and tapers down to a stout tip. Despite being a near full flat grind the SnG is quite thick behind the edge, and I found the cutting performance underwhelming. This is surprising considering the $400 price tag (intuitively, I would somehow expect the knives to cut better as the price went up), but when you consider the hard use nature of the blade it does make sense – this knife is designed to stand up to more than just cutting. The signature Strider tiger stripes are a result of a black oxide coating that has been partially sandblasted off. The tiger stripes are optional, but it’s a unique feature that is distinctively Strider.

Blade steel on this particular model is S30V. S30V is interesting because it was formulated specifically for knives, and is something of a collaboration between Chris Reeve and Crucible. S30V is a proven steel, and my experience with the steel has generally been very favorable. S30V sharpens without too much trouble, holds a nice edge, and is resistant to rust and corrosion. Strider’s heat treat for S30V was originally formulated by Paul Bos, an innovator in the world of heat treating who is perhaps best known for his in-house work with Buck (Strider used to collaborate heavily with Buck). Again, the thick geometry of the blade didn’t make this the most exceptional cutter, but S30V got the job done whether it was rope, cardboard, or wood.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handles of the SnG are special because they feature a one-piece G10 scale and backspacer mated to a titanium integral lock. You do get a choice of color with the SNG (green, black, and brown are standard – various other colors are occasionally available), and Strider also offers them in concealed carry and Gunnar grip configurations as well. What is shown here is their standard “lego” style handle with brown G10 and a flamed titanium locking side. Everything is nicely cut out, well finished, and perfectly mated together. Oddly enough, what really impressed me about the handle of the SNG is the hardware. The body is held together with over-sized black domed screws, and the pivot is an equally beefy proprietary piece. However, I did notice one issue with the handle. The blade partially blocks the lanyard hole. C’est la vie if you want a Strider SnG.

From an ergonomics standpoint the SnG is a good size knife packed with features. I had plenty of room to maneuver my larger hand around this knife, and it accommodates a good number of grips. In the traction department the SnG is loaded down with jimping on both the spine and pommel for a secure hold in both forward and reverse grips. This is great if you plan on putting the SnG into a more “tactical” role, but I found the jimping extremely uncomfortable under hard cutting. Plan to wear gloves if you want to seriously test the SnG. The forward finger choil is great for choking up and does give you some versatility under use. All in all I found the SnG reasonably comfortable for a folding knife, but it’s not my first choice for sustained cutting.

Strider includes a removable right side tip-up carry pocket clip on every SnG. The clip is made of titanium, features good retention, and slips in and out of the pocket with relative ease. It’s a nice secure clip – a must when you are toting around a $400 folder. I’m sure many southpaws would prefer a reversible clip as lefty SNGs are quite rare and expensive.

All in all, I found that the SnG carried really well. The pocket clip doesn’t carry the knife very deep, but the knife itself is slim and feels light for its size. While it isn’t my first choice for school or the office, I do not mind having this as my primary EDC, and didn’t find it overly bulky or uncomfortable in the pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The SnG uses an oval thumb hole for deployment. The thumbhole is easy to get at and the knife opens fast and smooth. It’s not a knife that flies open, but with a little wrist action I can get it done. Inside there are two bronze washers surrounding that massive pivot. The action is smooth and very pleasant. There are what appears to be thumb studs on the blade, but they are actually stop pins and don’t work super well as thumb studs. The ball detent on this knife is very good and it’s fun to watch the blade get “sucked in” upon closing.

Lockup is of course established via a beefy titanium framelock. This particular knife is a 9th generation SnG, and benefits from newly redesigned flat cut lock geometry. I have heard stories about Striders developing blade play, but this knife has held up really well. I have a very slight amount of side to side play, and no up and down. I’d tune up the pivot, but it requires a proprietary wrench that I haven’t acquired yet (really, it should come standard at this price). Lockup is pretty early and the titanium lock bar doesn’t stick at all. It’s also worth mentioning there is a small Hinderer lockbar stabilizer on the handle to prevent over extension of the lock.

Strider SnG – Final Thoughts

For many knife collectors the SnG will be something of a final destination in their knife collecting journey. It is an iconic American hard use folder with bold lines, contrasting finishes, and that kind of rough and tumble bravado that pairs well with a low slung Harley Davidson, a strong cigar, and several fingers of really good bourbon. I can totally see the appeal, and it’s been a lot of fun carrying, using, and admiring this really sweet folding knife.

However, I gotta be real here for a moment. If you are looking at knives from a purely practical perspective the SnG is functionally no better than something like a Spyderco Paramilitary 2. It’s not going to cut any better, the lock isn’t going to be any stronger, and it won’t feel any better in hand. But that’s ok, this is the nature of a luxury good. My $40 Casio keeps better time than a $5,000 Rolex – but I’ll be damned if I don’t own a Submariner one day. You buy a knife like this because you want it, and have a few extra dollars to spare.

That said, as a collector and an enthusiast I do think you get something more with the Strider. The G10 backspacer seamlessly integrated with the handle scale, the beefy custom hardware, the flamed titanium lockbar – these are a few details that make the SnG stand out in a crowd. You get something unique, tough, capable, and strangely refined. The only issue I could spot was the partially blocked lanyard hole – besides that this is a really meticulously executed knife. When it comes to titanium framelock hard use folders the guys at Strider know how to do it right, and the quality, materials, fit, finish, warranty, and U.S. manufacturing are all there. Simply said, it’s a great knife.

So if you want to buy an SnG, I say buy an SnG. I don’t think it’s perfect, and it’s definitely a luxury item, but at the end of the day it’s a really nice knife. While it may be the first Strider in my collection, I guarantee it wont be the last.

Strider SnG – $400
From: BladeHQ

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

Kershaw Cryo Review

by Dan Jackson 13 Comments

Last Updated: March 18, 2019

At long last, the Kershaw Cryo. This is another one of those Hinderer/KAI collabs that tantalized knife collectors back at SHOT Show 2011 (or was it 2012? the years just blend together). Whichever year it was, we waited what seemed like forever for this little knife. Finally, after eons of patiently waiting, this much anticipated design hit the shelves. Reactions ran the gamut from exalted praise to abject horror.

Buy the Kershaw Cryo at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I’m not going to lie, the mixed reviews turned me off from checking out a knife I was initially interested in. But then I realized, “Hey, that’s what I do – I check out knives.” And I’m guessing people want a review on this one, so I finally picked one up. So lets get on with my review of the Rick Hinderer designed Kershaw Cryo.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Cryo has an overall length of 6.5″, it features a 2.75″ blade, and it weighs 4.2 ounces. This is a small (albeit chunky) folder primarily meant for EDC. I’ve been carrying mine as an EDC knife, and it gets the job done.

Guys who like larger knives will probably want something else, and guys who like lightweight knives will also probably find something lacking in the footprint of the Cryo. Personally? I don’t mind the weight and have a soft spot for small knives – this made for a reasonable EDC in my book.

The blade is an attractive drop point design, reminiscent of Rick’s other creations (and collaborations with KAI, including the ZT 0550 and ZT 0560). You have a good amount of belly, a small swedge, and a high hollow grind. The Cryo has a fine tip and gets reasonably thin behind the edge. It makes for a capable slicer when working with materials like leather and cardboard. The entire knife (blade and handles) have been given a gray titanium carbo-nitride coating. It’s an attractive finish and a refreshing departure from Kershaw’s standard value folder formula of a black FRN handle with a plain bead-blasted blade.

Kershaw went with 8Cr13MoV stainless steel for this knife. 8Cr is a Chinese stainless and the choice makes sense when you realize the entire knife is made in China. Given the price I don’t have a problem with the steel or the origin of manufacture. 8Cr13MoV is capable. I cut about 60 pieces of 3/8″ manilla rope with the knife before moving on to several cardboard boxes. At that point the edge was more or less done, but it quickly came back to life with some swipes on a diamond stone. I then carved some 2x2s with the Cryo, testing edge strength and the overall capabilities of the knife. Then I did it all over again because I lost my original video footage (d’oh!). All things considered, the 8Cr held up well – it’s about as good as it gets these days with a $30 folding knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Cryo features full stainless steel handles. The gray handles are mated to contrasting black hardware. No doubt the stainless steel construction adds greatly to the weight. I can’t help but wonder what this knife would have been like with a G10 handle scale (a la Hinderer’s real knives) or maybe even G10 and stainless steel liners. Either way construction is solid and reasonably well finished. It’s a flow through design and the decorative black pillars and lanyard tube look nice against the gray steel. All the corners have been more or less rounded and everything lines up. I have no major issues with the way this handle has been constructed.

For light use the Cryo feels pretty good in hand. This is a smaller knife, and I was able to just get a 4 finger grip on it. I take a large glove so I think most people will be able to comfortably grasp the knife for daily tasks. The steel handles are fairly slick, but this is a little EDC blade, and jimping top and bottom side adds a lot of traction in hand. Under harder use (stuff like cutting rope and carving wood) the knife isn’t particularly comfortable, but for more EDC type tasks (cardboard, plastic, etc) the ergonomics were fine. If you are going to sit down and do half an hours worth of cutting like I did you will definitely notice a few hot spots, how rough the jimping is, etc. So it’s not the most comfortable knife, but for casual use and the occasional chore you should be able to get stuff done without huge issues.

The pocket clip is a blackened low rider clip allowing for 4 corner carry. The clip is small and discrete, and it inserts and removes easily from the pocket. This is a relatively new pocket clip design for Kershaw, and I happen to like it. The Cryo carried well considering and was there when I needed it. As for the 4.2 ounce carry weight, well, I’m sure some will notice the Cryo’s presence more than others. I found that I didn’t like carrying this knife with dress pants, but had no issue with shorts or blue jeans. It’s one of those “your mileage may vary” things, so please plan accordingly.

Deployment and Lockup

The Cryo features both thumb studs and a flipper, and the knife makes use of Kershaw’s Speedsafe assisted opening technology. The flipper is nice and easy to reach, and the blade springs to life with very little effort. The thumb studs on the other hand are almost impossible to use. They really serve no function. I think Kershaw should have spent some more time on this, either figuring out how to make the thumbstuds usable or removing them from the finished knife. As it stands, it seems half baked, like something was lost in translation from design to realization. As for the Speedsafe, I happen to like it on this knife. The Cryo is small and can be difficult to orient in your hand, so a spring assist to ensure deployment every time works well for me.

Lockup is accomplished via a stainless steel framelock. This pays homage to Rick’s custom and production titanium framelock knives. Lockup is early and relatively secure. Sometimes my knife gets a little side to side play and requires a twist of the pivot screw – not a huge deal. There is also Hinderer a lockbar stabilizer installed on the knife to prevent over extension of your steel framelock. This is a cool high-end feature found on knives like my $400 Strider and of course the ZT/Hinderer collabs as well.

Kershaw Cryo Review – Final Thoughts

On paper the Cryo seems like a decent little knife – and it is. It’s small, cool, and functional. It comes with acceptable blade steel, a nice pocket clip, and fast action. I don’t regret the purchase, and think the knife is fairly priced at $32. It’s not amazing, and certainly isn’t a hall of fame budget knife like the Spyderco Tenacious, Kershaw Skyline, or Ontario Rat 1, but it’s a unique knife for Kershaw, is decently made, and I’d generally say it’s a win.

That said, the knife is a little rough around the edges, and I feel like it could have been so much more. For example, the blade is massively off center (not rubbing, but almost), the thumb studs are useless, and at 4.2 ounces, well the knife is heavy for what it is. There just seems to be a lack of attention to detail that slightly derails the knife. I find it especially ironic considering that the biggest selling feature is the Hinderer name – a name built on extreme quality and high end knives. I’m not expecting a $30 XM-18, but no doubt people interested in a Hinderer designed knives are “knife people” – not the average person contemplating the purchase of a $30 pocket knife at Wal-Mart. Real knife people care about stuff like material selection, fit & finish, and functional design. Perhaps this knife could have played in the $50 price point and appealed more to higher end enthusiasts as well.

So a big part of me wishes Kershaw spent some more time on this one – ironing out the kinks, making it in the USA, and delivering something of real substance. Sure, it may have to retail for $50+ instead of $30, but I think people would pay for it, and the knife would have real staying power. As it stands I view the Cryo more as a flavor of the week than a timeless tool that will become a new benchmark in its class.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that the Cryo isn’t a “bad” knife. $30 isn’t much money for a folder these days, and I enjoy the knife for what it is. But I still can’t help but wonder what it could have been.

Kershaw Cryo Knife, 2.75" Stainless Steel Drop Point Blade, Assisted Opening Everyday Carry Pocket Knife

KERSHAW CRYO POCKET KNIFE: Designed in collaboration with custom knifemaker, Rick Hinderer, the Cryo is a sturdy, aesthetically pleasing knife that feels good in hand. Voted Blade Magazine’s 2012 Best Buy of the Year and 2013 Men’s Journal Approved Gear.
DROP POINT PLAIN EDGE BLADE: 8Cr13MoV pure stainless steel blade and handle with titanium carbo-nitride coating for added protection and unified look. Corrosion resistant for a knife that’s functional and durable. Matte gray handle and blade.
DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: assisted opening with flipper opening for quick, secure one-handed blade deployment. Frame lock features Rick Hinderer’s lockbar stabilization, to prevent lockbar over-extension.
FEATURES 4-POSITION DEEP CARRY POCKETCLIP for right/left and tip-up/down carry. For use in everyday and work environments. Ideal as an EDC or for use while working, hiking, hunting, camping, and more.
SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 2.75in. Closed Length: 3.75in. Overall Length: 6.5in. Weighing in at 4.1oz. Backed by Kershaw’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Cryo 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.

Spyderco Techno Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
The Spyderco Techno is a small titanium framelock folder with all the fixings. It is designed by Polish maker Marcin Slysz, who doesn’t seem to have much in the way of background information on the internet. According to Spyderco, Marcin is an extremely talented knifemaker of international repute.

Buy the Spyderco Techno at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I must admit, the knife designer’s pedigree isn’t what drew me to this one. Rather, I was taken in by the Techno’s charming design. Featuring bold lines and plenty of personality, this one really struck a chord with me. The fact that this knife also includes CTS-XHP supersteel and 6AL-4V titanium handles further piqued my interest. And when I learned it would be produced at Spyderco’s now legendary Taichung Taiwan facility, well, that sealed the deal.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

With an overall length of 6″, a 2.55″ blade, and a weight of 3.6 ounces the Techno falls firmly into what Spyderco likes to call “little big knife” territory. This a nice little nugget of a knife. It’s a great size for EDC and would also do well in anyone’s collection of titanium framelock folders.

The drop point blade has been fully flat ground from a very thick (4.5mm) piece of steel. Out of the box I wasn’t super impressed with how this knife cut paper, but I quickly gained respect for the Techno after attacking some super tough 5/8″ manilla rope, and carving up a pressure treated piece of pine. While the thick blade is not the most amazing slicer, the knife is ground relatively thin so you still have a capable cutter on your hands. The thick stock carries out all the way to the tip, leaving you with a stout blade able to handle a large variety of tasks.

Spyderco selected CTS-XHP steel, which has previously never been used on a production level Spyderco knife. This is also my first experience with CTS-XHP, and I was eager to try it out.

So far my experience with CTS-XHP has been extremely favorable. It’s a powdered stainless steel with an ultra fine grain structure. When I sharpened the knife I didn’t have any issues and it has held a hair shaving edge through a number of nasty cutting chores including the aforementioned rope and wood tests, a good deal of cardboard, and a number of little EDC tasks that I encountered in my several weeks of carry time. The edge holding was extremely impressive, I had no issues with chips or rolling, and saw no signs of rust or staining either. I would definitely place CTS-XHP above something like S30V, and I look forward to spending more time familiarizing myself with this steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle slabs are full titanium, and they have been given a tumbled finished for an attractive and easy wearing look. The handles have a smooth feeling to them (contrast it with a blasted finish on something like the small Sebenza), but it feels really high quality, and there actually is a decent amount of grip. There is a partial backspacer made of blue G10. I know some guys will really like the blue G10. Personally, I would have preferred to see titanium or carbon fiber instead. This is one of those “your mileage may vary” situations, so feel free to disagree. Overall, handle construction is rock solid. Everything screws together and all the edges have been nicely chamfered and meticulously finished. It’s really very impressive, and difficult to describe in a single paragraph.

The ergonomics on this knife are surprisingly good. It’s a small blade so naturally I wasn’t sure how it would fit my larger hand, but I can get a comfortable 4 finger grip here without issue. There is a run of coarse jimping on the spine that looks good and provides a little traction for your thumb. The back of the blade is also wide enough to accommodate your thumb, giving you plenty of room if you desire it. There is more jimping on the backspacer. Again, it is more for decoration than anything, but it does offer some traction. There are definitely more comfortable knives on the market (consider the Sage 2 if you want to keep it reasonably small and also in the Spyderco titanium framelock family), but all in all I am very pleased with how this knife feels in hand.

The pocket clip is the excellent Spyderco wire clip. This is a proven clip design that I personally have had a lot of experience with. This one has been sandblasted for a unique finish that will wear well, and it is positioned for ambidextrous tip up carry. I happen to be a big fan of the wire clip, and think Spyderco did an excellent job integrating it with the Techno. The knife rides very deep, and makes for an extremely discrete carry. At 3.6 ounces I did tend to notice this one in my pocket but, it’s not going to weigh you down.

Deployment and Lockup

Since this is a Spyderco, deployment is made possible by a thumb hole – this time of the 13mm variety. It is well placed for right hand access, and is easy enough to get at with your thumb. Unfortunately, lefties will have a slightly different story. The thumb hole is partially blocked by the titanium lock bar, and it is difficult to access with the left thumb. I can pinch out the blade with my thumb and middle finger, but don’t expect to open this like a normal Spyderco. I can also sort of flick the knife open with my index or middle finger, but really it is a design with right handed people in mind. I still like the knife despite these issues, but it’s definitely something to consider if you are a lefty eying this design.

The detent is firm, but the blade gives way to very smooth action aided by the phosphor bronze washers. Initially the knife was a little stiff, but that is because the tolerances are so tight. Mine almost immediately started to break in, and within a week or so of use it is became very smooth.

For lockup we have a titanium frame lock. Spyderco pays homage to the lock’s designer Chris Reeve, and refers to it as a Reeve Integral Lock (RIL) in the Techno’s documentation. This is a nice touch in an era of intellectual property shenanigans.

Practically speaking, I am extremely impressed with how this knife locks up. I hate to use hokey catch phrases like “this knife locks up like a bank vault,” but this knife locks up like a bank vault. It’s really impressive to slowly move the blade and hear the chunky framelock fall into place. My lock engages early (around 25%), hasn’t budged a millimeter (even after hard use and repeated flicking of the blade open), and there is zero blade play to speak of. Much like the finish of the titanium handles, you just have to feel this one for yourself to truly appreciate how nice it really is. It blows the Sage 2 out of the water, and gives the Chris Reeve Knives I’ve owned a good run for their money.

Spyderco Techno Review – Final Thoughts

Spyderco has another winner on their hands here. From a fit and finish perspective this knife is immaculate. If you have owned any of Spyderco’s other Taiwanese knives you will begin to understand where I am coming from, but even for their Taiwanese factory this knife is impressive. No doubt fans of Spyderco and titanium framelocks will find a lot to like with this little knife. It’s just really well done.

Now that I am done gushing over the knife I do have some caveats for you. First of all, it is expensive and small. I don’t necessarily have a problem with either of those things, but I’m not going to say this knife is for everyone either. From a cutting perspective the geometry is a little chunky. Spyderco did thin the blade out, but the relatively narrow profile and thick stock has its limitations. Also, the ergonomics are good, but not outstanding. So the Techno is far from a perfect knife – at least on paper. However, if you are willing to overlook that sort of thing, and approach the knife from a wider perspective, then I think you will be very pleased with the Techno. It’s one of the most solid folding knives I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, and the feeling of quality I get from this knife is difficult to describe.

I also have to “keep it real” for my fellow lefties. This really isn’t a knife designed for us. I’ve managed to overcome the opening adversity, but unless you really like the design I don’t think it is worth the struggle.

All in all I’m really impressed with the Techno. If you like smaller knives and have the money, check it out. It’s a very cool little knife.

Spyderco Techno Titanium Plain Edge Knife

Collaboration with knifemaker Marcin Slysz
Fully flat ground CTS-XHP blade
Titanium handle with blue spacers
Chris Reeve Integral Lock (RIL) with a deep pocket wire clip
Closed Length (Inches): 3.43, Overall Length (Inches): 5.98, Blade Length (Inches):2.55, Blade Steel: CTS XHP, Grind: Full-Flat

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Techno at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Brous Blades Silent Soldier Flipper Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

Last Updated: August 10, 2019
Ah, it seems like only yesterday I was sitting down with up and coming knifemaker Jason Brous. Jason is a maker that caught my eye early on – his wild designs and youthful ambition told me this would be someone to watch. Lo and behold a year later he has sold hundreds (if not thousands) of Silent Soldier neck knives, signed some sort of deal with major manufacturer SOG, and continues to find time to release one off completely custom blades. Oh, and he also designed and manufactured the Silent Soldier Flipper that I am about to review here.

The Silent Soldier Flipper (or SSF) is Jason’s first midtech folding knife. Limited to 500 pieces, once these are gone, well, that’s it. I happened to snag mine by complete chance, winning a YouTube contest of all things. This fortuitous turn has afforded me the luxury to carry and use this fairly exclusive knife. It’s my pleasure to share this unique folder today.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SSF has an overall length of 6.375″, a 2.7″ blade (from tip to handle), and it weighs 4.2 ounces. The knife feels surprisingly lightweight, and has made for an interesting EDC knife. The SSF and it’s predecessor, the Silent Soldier neck knife, have large holes in the blade for you to wrap a finger around. For that reason it has been advertised as something of a self-defense blade. Personally, I haven’t carried the knife as such, but I don’t doubt that some will appreciate the versatility. This review will be examining it from an EDC perspective.

The blade is a distinctive wharncliffe shape, with a sort of half moon profile, a small partial swedge, and of course the very large finger hole. The blade has a partial flat grind and the knife arrived extremely sharp. Despite the blade being 3/16″ (4.76mm) thick the SFF still cuts well. There is no belly, and the chunky stock means this is not the kind of blade you will want to cut up a tomato with, but it’s great for opening boxes and the fine tip of the wharncliffe is always nice for detail work.

Jason went with D2 for the blade steel, a steel he is very familiar with. I like D2 alright, it’s tough stuff and takes a nice edge. It’s technically not a stainless steel, but I have had no issues with rust or corrosion – and that’s in the Florida summer. No complaints with the steel selection for me, I think it’s a fine choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle features carbon fiber scales over full titanium liners. There is a partial backspacer made of stainless steel. The stainless steel has been bead blasted leaving “BROUS BLADES” lightly stenciled in a kind of art deco font. It’s a neat little detail, and is the only sign of branding on the knife. Overall, construction is very good. Everything is held in place with torx screws, the scales are nicely chamfered, and everything fits flushly together.

The ergonomics are where things start to really get interesting. Jason’s original Silent Soldier neck knife is known for the variety of grips you could hold the knife in, and the SSF is cut from the same cloth. You can grip the knife traditionally, or make use of the large finger hole and forward choil – or any combination thereof. And of course you also have reverse grips to play around with. I found at least half dozen different ways to handle this knife, and I’m not even that creative. As far as comfort is concerned, the knife feels very good. It’s a wide handle (to accommodate that wide blade) so it fills the hand nicely. As I mentioned earlier, the edges have all been rounded so you never butt up against anything sharp. The jimping that runs the spine of the blade is nice and aggressive, and will definitely hold your thumb in place.

The pocket clip is a small piece of stainless steel that snakes around the pivot. It’s drilled and tapped for right side tip down carry only – lamentable for us tip up fanatics, but not the end of the world either. Retention is good, and I like how it has been given a semi-glossy finish. The clip isn’t particularly deep, but I found that the knife carries well. It’s a solid pocket clip and works for my purposes.

Deployment and Lockup

Being the Silent Soldier Flipper you could guess that some sort of flipper is involved in getting the blade out. That guess would be absolutely correct. That said, Jason’s design departs a little from your typical flipper, as it requires you to press down rather than back. I’ll admit I flubbed the deployment on the first couple tries, but once you get the hang of it the knife comes out quickly and reliably. Jason has installed a bearing system in the knife (similar to something like IKBS or KVT). This makes for a very smooth knife, even if you crank down on the pivot.

For lockup we have a titanium linerlock. I have to say, I am not a huge fan of titanium as a locking liner material. I love how it’s lightweight, but it tends to wear faster than stainless and also tends to get sticky. That said, lockup is good on this knife. It sticks a little, but there is no play, and the liner lock engages early. My advice to Jason would be to consider using stainless steel next time – at least on the locking side.

Brous Blades Silent Soldier Folder Review – Final Thoughts

Reading back through the review it seems like I covered the bases here. It’s a premium knife with premium materials. Everything works well and feels good. What the review doesn’t really talk about is the overall design. That’s a shame because you can tell that a lot of time, thought, and effort went into tweaking this design. It’s a compact knife and it looks great opened and closed. When open, it has this pleasing symmetry to it, following a single graceful arc. The large hole in the blade is also a real landmark, and I love how the that circular motif is mirrored by the choil created from the flipper. It’s a very unique design, nicely balanced and carefully refined. I think that this point is really worth emphasizing.

As for everything else, well, this is a well built mid-tech knife. Premium steel, carbon fiber, titanium, and oodles of cool factor all coalesce to bring a very rich experience. It’s definitely a departure from my drop points and G10. The knife isn’t cheap (retailing well north of $250), but Jason apparently had no problem selling them, and I don’t think this was an inexpensive knife to make – especially when limited to 500 pieces. Who knows, it may even go up in value.

In conclusion, Jason has accomplished a lot with his first folding knife. It’s unique, functional, and very well made. I’d love to see a stainless steel liner lock, and the option for tip up carry, but besides that I find very little fault with his design. Jason set the bar high on this one, and no doubt many people will be eagerly anticipating his next folding model – the Triple Threat Folder.

Silent Soldier Flipper – $279
From: BladeHQ KnifeCenter

Although the SSF is limited to only 500 pieces, there are still a few available at BladeHQ.