Folding Knives

Kershaw Volt II Review

Last Updated: August 8, 2019
It has been too long since I’ve examined a nice budget EDC blade. This time around I picked up a Kershaw Volt II, and could immediately tell that I grabbed a real winner. First off, the original Volt is a true collectors piece. It’s not a particularly old design, but it’s a limited edition titanium framelock with a composite steel blade. It will to run you a few hundred dollars at least. And that’s if you can find one.

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Kershaw went in the opposite direction with the Volt II. Here they opted for everyday affordability with nice, but inexpensive materials. The two blades do share a lot of similarities, as they are both creations from designer R.J. Martin and have generally the same shape. The major differences are that the original Volt is much larger (1.75″ longer) and costs about 15 times as much as the Volt II. For right around $20 pretty much anyone can afford the Volt II, and to be honest I think you would be foolish not to. Lets take a closer look to see what I’m talking about.

General Dimensions

The Volt II has an overall length of 7″, a 3.125″ blade and weighs 3.4 ounces. This is a nice size for EDC and should be a fairly friendly looking carry regardless of where you live.

The blade is a drop point shape, with a small swedge and nice sweeping belly. The entire blade has been bead blasted, which is familiar territory for a lot of Kershaw’s small EDC blades (like the legendary Kershaw Skyline). The tip on this knife is very good, holding a good amount of steel all the way to the very end. Kershaw finished this one off with a high hollow grind and a nice smooth edge.

Blade steel is the very high value 8Cr13MoV stainless from China. My experiences with 8Cr13MoV have been very good. For the money, I really don’t think you can beat it. It is capable of taking a very nice edge and has good rust resistance.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Volt II features full stainless steel liners with injection molded plastic scales. The plastic is actually pretty dense (Kershaw calls it Polyimide) and I am quite pleased with it. An attractive triangle pattern has been emblazoned over the scales and the liners have been lightly milled out. I’m sure some would prefer G10, but for price I am not complaining. I really like how the liners have been given the same blasted finish as the blade – looks real sharp. Rounding things out is an almost full backspacer made of the same Polyimide material as the scales.

Ergonomics on the Volt II are nice. First off, it is a smaller handle (~3.8″) so I found it slightly cramped with my larger hands. That said, I managed a full grip and liked how the thick and rounded scales felt in hand. There are two shallow choils and an integral guard to keep your fingers from slipping. A nicely jimped thumb ramp provide addition support on top. My only suggestion would be to make the handle a little longer to provide some extra room but I think for most people the ergonomics are going to work really well.

The pocket clip is a kind of funky looking Kershaw clip. Having handled a number of Kershaw knives I’m no stranger to their somewhat unconventional clips. As you can see this one is quite interesting. In practice, the clip works just fine and is not nearly as funky as some of the others I have run into. I would have liked to have seen it be a little bigger, but it’s discreet and offers a low carry. On the subject of carry, this is a chunkier folder with a thickness of about half an inch. For some, this may be a little difficult to carry. I don’t mind it but everyone is different. One last thing to note is that this tip allows for tip up or tip down carry but it is right side only.

Deployment and Lockup

The Volt II takes advantage of a nice flipper for deployment. This knife uses Kershaw’s Speedsafe assisted opening technology. This knife fires open hard with a really satisfying click. The flipper also doubles as a guard – a feature I have really come to appreciate with a lot of Kershaw designs. I’m also a big fan of the Speedsafe – Kershaw has done an excellent job with all of the assisted opening knives that I have handled. I predict that if you pick this one up you will spend way too much time playing with this one (at least I did).

Lockup is accomplished through a liner lock. This is actually a pretty thick lock bar and it locks up nice and early on my example. I noticed zero blade play and I love how the knife has come perfectly centered. A small amount of jimping on the lock bar makes this an easy one to disengage when you want to, but it still feels very secure in hand. For EDC tasks this lock will be able to handle it all.

Kershaw Volt II Review – Final Thoughts

Sometimes I get a knife in and the review just writes itself. I was impressed with the Volt II the moment it came out of the box, and I still haven’t put it down. If you want an EDC knife in the $20-25 this is a very strong option in my book. What really makes this one for me is the way it’s been put together. The fit and finish are phenomenal. The knife locks up nice and early, the blade is perfectly centered, deployment is smooth, the grinds are nice, the handle feels great – I could go on and on.

To me this is a great example of what Kershaw does best – putting together a rock solid EDC folder that everyone can afford. My only issue would be that I’d like to see an ambidextrous clip and perhaps a slightly larger handle. Aside from that the knife has exceeded my expectations in every way. I want to note that the Volt II is made in China, but the quality control is excellent. I would put the level of fit and finish above my Spyderco Tenacious and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone interested in the knife, or in need of an inexpensive folder that can take some real use.

Kershaw Volt II Pocketknife, 3.25" 8Cr13MoV Steel Drop Point Plain Edge Blade, assisted opening Folding EDC, Liner Lock System

KERSHAW VOLT II POCKETKNIFE: An updated version of the original, the Volt II is a workhorse of a pocketknife. With the same versatile blade and handle style, now with upgraded blade steel and textured handle to make it even more capable on the job.
DROP POINT PLAIN EDGE BLADE: Made from quality 8Cr13MoV stainless-steel that offers excellent edge retention, strength, and hardness. The bead-blasted blade finish provides a non-reflective, matte surface.
GLASS-FILLED NYLON HANDLE: The lightweight, black glass-filled nylon handle has textured scales and finger contours for a comfortable, secure grip during use. Includes a reversible pocketclip for right, tip-up, left, tip-down carry.
DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: Equipped with Kershaw’s assisted one-handed opening with the built-in flipper for fast blade release. Liner lock secures blade in place to ensure safety while handling.
SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 3.25in. Closed Length: 3.9in. Overall Length: 7.1in. Weighing in at 3.3oz. Backed by Kershaw’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. Suitable for EDC, hunting, camping, and more.

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I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Volt II at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Cold Steel Hold Out II Review

by Dan Jackson 22 Comments

Last Updated: August 23, 2019
Cold Steel has really been making a statement in 2011 with their new and improved lines of lightweight and ultra strong folders. Their updated series of Cold Steel Voyagers has really built up some buzz, and rightfully so. But keep in mind that the Cold Steel 2011 roster runs much deeper than that. Today I’d like to share another one of their light weight high value folders: the Holdout II.

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General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Hold Out II sports a 4″ blade, has an overall length of 9″ and weighs 4.2 ounces. This folder could work as a large EDC or tactical folder. Cold Steel also makes a smaller version, the Hold Out III. This knife has a 3 inch blade and weighs a mere 2.5 ounces. This would make a really sturdy EDC option/emergency tactical.

The blade on the Hold Out II is 3.5mm thick and tapers into a nice fine tip. It’s a simple drop point design and has been given a full flat grind. Thanks to the offset tip there is a good amount of belly on this knife and the Hold Out works well for a variety of tasks. The edge is beautifully ground and out of the box sharpness on my knife was excellent.

Cold Steel selected AUS 8A for the blade material, a mid range stainless steel that they use on a lot of their folders. I like AUS 8 alright as it is easy to sharpen and it helps keep the cost down. That said, I often wonder if Cold Steel would consider upgrading to something like 154CM. It would add some cost but I’d love to see the option of slightly better steel for improved edge retention.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Modeled after Skean Dhu knives carried by ancient Scottish warriors, the Hold Out has a long and slender handle. The handle is a linerless design made of two thick pieces of G10 bolted into steel and aluminum backspacers. The G10 feels very solid and I can just barely flex the handles when pressing down hard on them. This is a strong and lightweight handle design that I can really appreciate – especially after lugging around some heavy folders.

Ergonomics on the Hold Out II are good. It’s a big handle so you have plenty of room to position your fingers in a variety of grips. The G10 is very rough and provides a lot of traction. There is a small choil and the knife has neither a hilt nor a thumb ramp. Fairly sharp jimping has been applied to the bottom of the handle and less aggressive jimping has been applied to the top. There is no lack of traction with this knife.

At first, the lack of a thumb ramp or really aggressive choils was seen as something of a negative. But I noticed that when you consider Cold Steel’s entire lineup of knives there are a ton of blades in Cold Steel’s catalog that have much more aggressive ergonomics. So instead of knocking the knife for this, I’m going to note that it’s simply different. I will say I love the look of this handle, and the overall look of the knife. It’s a sleek design. Crazy ergonomic features would definitely spoil the clean lines of this knife.

The pocket clip on the Hold Out II is excellent. This is a simple polished clip but it allows for ambidextrous tip up carry. It rides deep and provides a good amount of retention. I like the clip a lot.

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment of the Hold Out is accomplished through a large thumb stud. This thumb stud is not 100% ambidextrous, but it is reversible with a flat head driver. I need to first mention here that the Tri-ad lock requires a good amount of force to overcome the spring tension and get the knife open. With that in mind, at first I found the thumb stud to be kind of slick and it took quite a bit of effort to flick the knife open quickly.

As the lock broke in (and I got some practice) it became easier to open the knife. Today I can flick the blade open pretty much every time. I still think some improvements could be made to the thumb stud to catch your thumb a little better, but I was happy with the way the lock broke in and the knife ended up deploying.

The Hold Out II uses Cold Steel’s Tri-Ad lock, which is just a beast of a lock (and I discussed it in many of my previous Cold Steel reviews). In a nutshell, this is an improved back lock that is able to withstand a ton of force. I regard this as the strongest locking mechanism on the market. So naturally lock-up on this knife was rock solid with no blade play at all.

I noticed some reviews on Amazon where people were saying it was very hard to disengage the lock. It will take a little force, but as the lock breaks in it becomes much easier. Compared to my Cold Steel Spartan, this lock was a piece of cake.

Cold Steel Hold Out II Review – Final Thoughts

There is a lot to like about the Hold Out II. The gently sloping shape of the blade and handle has timeless appeal. I like the overall size and proportions and have no complaints with the strength of construction or the materials themselves. That said, I did find flicking the blade open to be difficult given the shape of the thumb studs and the powerful spring on the Tri-Ad lock. A version with upgraded blade steel would be really cool too (and I think it would sell well).

All in all, this is a solid offering from Cold Steel. For folks wanting something a little smaller I think the Hold Out III will be a very attractive option too. If you like rock solid folders, the Hold Out II is very deserving of your consideration.

Cold Steel 11HL Hold Out II Plain

Plain Edge
Blade Length: 4"
Handle 5" Long, G-10
Japanese AUS 8A Stainless
Overall length: 9"

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I recommend purchasing the Cold Steel Hold Out at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Spyderco Dragonfly II Review

by Dan Jackson 21 Comments

Last Updated: March 29, 2020

Back in the day, I didn’t think I would like the Spyderco Dragonfly 2. I’m a big guy, and tend to carry medium size folding knives. I always felt that I would be under-equipped with a small knife. Maybe it’s a macho thing, I really don’t know. I like a good size knife. Something I can use comfortably.

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So the thought of packing a massive 5-7/16″ folding knife with me that weighs a whopping 1.2 ounces wasn’t super appealing. That is, until I got my hands on the Dragonfly II. It took me about 2 seconds to realize how badly I had underestimated this little knife. It punches well above its weight, and is one of the best EDC knives on the market. I originally wrote this review back in 2011, and I still carry and use my Dragonfly 2 to this day. This is a long term review that benefits from a decade of ownership. How many reviewers can say that? Let’s give this awesome EDC blade the full run down.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spyderco Dragonfly 2 or “DF2″ has a 2-5/16″ blade, an overall length of 5-7/16” and a weight of just 1.2 ounces. You hear about knives that “disappear” into the pocket. This is one of them. I’ve literally forgotten I’ve had it in the pocket many times. It’s been few the wash a few times too. I love the Dragonfly 2 for Every Day Carry (EDC), it’s perfect for almost any kind of urban environment and it’s got a big enough blade (and more importantly, a comfortable enough handle) for most EDC tasks.

Here is a size comparison with the Delica and Endura:

You can see how the Dragonfly II is significantly smaller than both knives. Here’s a video review I did many years ago:

The DF2 comes with a beautiful little leaf shaped blade. The blade almost resembles a dart with its triangular shape. The small swedge running across the top softens the feel of the spine and the whole blade has been given a full flat grind. There is adequate belly and the tip is both fine and strong. This blade excels at opening mail and packages. My only gripe with the blade shape, is that it lacks a sharpening choil. A small notch at the end of the edge that allows you to easily sharpen the entire length of the edge. You don’t have a sharpening choil here, so it will be difficult to sharpen the heel of the blade with a flat stone. Instead I’d recommend a rod sharpener like the corner of a Spyderco Sharpmaker stone.

This knife was made in Japan and like many of Spyderco’s Japanese production knives this one features VG-10 blade steel. VG-10 is a good choice as it holds a good edge and is capable of getting extremely sharp. I say “good” choice, not great, because these days there are better blade steels out there. VG-10 was fine back when this knife was first released, but times have changed. Still, VG-10 is serviceable blade steel and it certainly still works. What I like about VG-10 is how easy it is to sharpen, and how it is resistant to rust and corrosion. Newer, more exotic steels will hold an edge longer, but VG-10 gets the job done. I think it’s fine here, but wouldn’t complain if Spyderco upgraded it to S35VN or something along those lines.

In practice, the Dragonfly 2 cuts well and is an imminently useful knife. I have used my knife for years and years. Mostly for pedestrian things like opening mail and packages, and light food prep. I’ve never prepared dinner with just my DF2, but the knife has no problem with tasks like cutting fruit and cheese. It’s a small blade, but it’s all you need for basic stuff. And it’s a nimble blade. I reach for it when I have a delicate task. The tip is fine, and the angled thumb ramp allows you to get great control over the blade. This knife is a workhorse and it cuts great.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle on the Dragonfly is made of fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) and is covered in Spyderco’s bi-directional texturing. This is the same kind of texturing found on both the Delica and Endura and I find that it offers exceptional grip in both wet and dry situations. Unlike the Delica and Endura, the Dragonfly does not have stainless steel liners. That is not a problem for me because the handle feels plenty strong and it is a big part of the reason why this knife weighs so little. Fans of G10 and steel can rejoice because Spyderco also makes a G10 version. All in all handle construction is solid, I like that they used screws for easy take down and everything feels very well finished.

Ergonomics is where we really start to see this little knife shine. Most smaller blades suffer from poor ergonomics and get kicked out of my pocket pretty quickly. The Dragonfly has extremely refined ergonomics and squeezes big grip out of a small knife. First of all, you have a 50/50 choil and large thumb ramp. Both have been given a large amount of jimping. I am a huge fan of 50/50 choils, it really can transform the way a knife handles and what it’s done for the Dragonfly is no exception. But perhaps my favorite ergonomic feature is the way the back end of the handle has been shaped to support the pinky finger. This gives you a true 4 finger grip and allows for awesome leverage on the knife. In my mind, this little section of FRN is what really makes the Dragonfly work.

The pocket clip is another home run. This is a Spyderco wire clip and is perhaps my favorite pocket clip design of all time (really). Small, but very secure, this little piece of hardened steel gives you a deep and reliable carry. The handle has been designed to allows for ambidextrous tip up carry. My only suggestion would be to anodize it black like on my Sage 1 – then it would be virtually invisible riding in a pair of blue jeans or dress pants.

Here is your pocket clip shot:

Deployment and Lockup

The Dragonfly takes advantage of a 11 mm Spyder-hole. This is a good size for the knife and has been left kind of sharp, which ensures that you thumb will catch on it every time. Deployment is smooth and reliable and you can easily flick this knife open if you like. I have zero complaints with the deployment.

Lockup is achieved through a small lock-back positioned in the middle of the handle. I like the lock-back on this knife, it’s easy to get too and the spring isn’t too heavy. The lock-back makes this a fully ambidextrous knife as well (always a plus – especially when a lefty is writing the review). Lockup is rock solid on the FRN version, with zero play in any direction.

Here is a parting size comparison with a Benchmade Mini Griptilian and a Kershaw Skyline, two other all-star EDC knives:

Spyderco Dragonfly II Review – Final Thoughts

This has been the story of the little knife that could. I seriously have nothing bad to say about the Dragonfly. I am totally impressed by how well this thing works as an EDC blade. Since it weighs nothing I also like pairing this with a larger tactical folder; that way I always have the right tool for the job.

Perhaps the only downside is the price. With a price tag hovering in the $50 range, you are looking at Delica (and almost Endura) territory. Some might have a hard time justifying spending that kind of money on such a small knife, especially given the rest of Spyderco’s product line.

However, I love my Dragonfly II and it has remained one of my all time favorite EDC knives. It is hard to beat this small, lightweight package for daily carry. The knife is imminently useful when you need it, but disappears into your pocket. It has stood the test of time for me, and easily makes my best edc knives list. For fans of Spyderco and ultra lightweight EDC knives, the Dragonfly II is a no-brainer.

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If you would like to buy a Spyderco Dragonfly II, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon.com 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.

CRKT M16 Review

by Dan Jackson 24 Comments

Last Updated: July 16, 2018

My recent reviews of the CRKT Minimalist and the Drifter have proven that CRKT is legitimate contender in the affordable EDC game. But for many this is old news as knives like the popular CRKT M16 have been around for years delivering excellent every day performance at a price that can’t be ignored.

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In fact, I’m no stranger to the M16. I owned one years ago (a small black tanto version) and for around $20 it provided me with years of trusty service. At one point I thought that I lost the knife, but several years later I found it in the pocket of one of my fishing bags. In between losing and finding my original M16, I picked up the one shown here – a medium size version with a spearpoint blade and flashy orange handle scales.

Purpose

This is a very popular knife from CRKT. Designed by Kit Carson, this blade comes in a variety of sizes suitable for EDC all the way up to Tactical applications. My old M16 was pretty small but I feel like the medium sized one straddles the EDC / tactical gap nicely with it’s 3.5 blade and 3.5 ounce carry weight.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

As I said before, the exact dimensions will vary slightly depending on the exact model you select. There are so many variations I’m not going to even bother trying to cover them all, instead focusing on materials, fit and finish, and other more general aspects of the knives. The exact model in my review is a M16-13ZER and it has a 3.5″ blade, an overall length of 8.25″ and a weight of 3.5 ounces. This is the middle of the road for the M16 series as CRKT makes versions that are both smaller and larger than the 13ZER.

My model came with a spear point blade, although you also have the option of a tanto. I like the spear point because it has a great tip and a decent amount of belly. It’s not really my first choice for EDC, as I do like having even more belly, but it will get the job done fine. The knife comes with a hollow grind and the option of serrations.

I found the edge on my knife to be very asymmetrical – it’s almost like the knife has a chisel grind. CRKT states that they grind the knives this way to avoid thinning the serrations. While it may look a little different, my knife came very sharp; shaving hair and zipping through paper without an issue.

CRKT has offered the M16 in a variety of different blade steels over the years. The knife pictured here comes in AUS4, which is a lower end version of AUS8 (there is less carbon in AUS 4 than AUS 8, and the amount of carbon impacts edge retention and ease of sharpening). Performance on this AUS 4 blade is nothing to write home about. As of 2015 it looks like CRKT is now offering this in AUS 8, which is fine for the price. AUS 8 is a hearty inexpensive steel that takes a good edge, has decent edge retention, is easy to sharpen, and is relatively stain resistant. I would suggest acquiring this knife in AUS 8 steel or better if possible.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

Depending on the knife your M16 may come in aluminum or even titanium scales. For most people (including the knife shown here) the scales are made of Zytel (plastic) over full stainless liners. I don’t mind the Zytel scales as they are comfortable and help keep the knife light. I really like the choice in colors, I thought the orange version was cool (and practical, being a highly visible color) and kind of gives the knife a “rescue blade” vibe. A series of holes in the handle forms a basic yet attractive pattern. These holes will attract dirt and pocket lint and in my mind serve a purely decorative purpose on the FRN scaled versions.

Ergonomics on my medium sized M16 are nice. The reason I like the medium sized version (the M16-13Z) is because it has a larger handle allowing for a full grip. The zytel scales give the knife some thickness and the corners are nicely rounded so it comfortably fills the hand. The spine of the blade has some fairly aggressive jimping and the flipper forms an integral guard that keeps your hand from slipping onto the blade. These are nice ergonomic features on an otherwise basic (but highly functional) handle.

I am a little ambivalent about the pocket clip. The design is nice – it’s a simple clip that rides low and has good retention, but it’s located for right side tip down carry only. At the very least I’d like to see an option for tip up carry – let alone fully ambidextrous mounting options. Still, this medium size M16 carries reasonably for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

Deployment of the M16 is absolutely stellar. The first time I deployed the blade I literally had to check if it was an assisted opening knife – it’s that smooth and fast. Upon closer inspection it looks like the M16 uses a teflon and phosphor bronze washer. Whatever it is, it works and I’m not complaining. Deployment is accomplished by way of a flipper. At first glance it looks like the knife has 2 large thumb studs, but these are actually stop pins mounted in the blade. They sit flush with the handle and cannot be easily activated with the thumb. This is fine as I happen to like flippers.

The M16 uses a liner lock and it bites in nice and early. There is plenty of room for wear and I detected zero blade play. However, this is not your normal liner lock. This lock has been equipped with CRKT’s Auto LAWKS safety system. The Auto LAWKS system requires you to pull back a lever before you can disengage the lock – handy for aggressive use, but also a source of mild inconvenience for simple tasks. In fact, I know that for a lot of people, the Auto LAWKS is pretty annoying. Personally, I can deal with it, but would much prefer if it wasn’t spring loaded – so you could turn it on and off at will.That said, if it really bothers you you could take the knife apart and remove the LAWKS all together.

CRKT M16 Review – Final Thoughts

So how does the M16 stack up? Well, I’m sure for many the tip down carry and Auto LAWKS will be mild to moderate turn offs. It is not that hard to use, and some people have managed to disable the secondary locking system. Auto LAWKS aside, this is a good budget EDC option. I would avoid any AUS 4 versions and recommend acquiring the knife in AUS 8 steel or better.

At the end of the day there is a lot to like about the M16. It is one of CRKT’s oldest and most popular designs. The snappy deployment is a lot of fun and the fit and finish is nice. There are many different colors, blade shapes, and configurations so there is some element of collect-ability here as well. All in all the knife is solid and the price is right. Recommended if you secure one in AUS 8 steel or better.

COLUMBIA RIVER KNIFE & TOOL M16-13Z EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Everyday Carry, Serrated Edge Blade, Automated Liner Safety, Nylon Handle, Pocket Clip

Safe And Secure: Automated liner safety provides extra layer of lock security
Cutting Power: Triple Point serrations cut fibrous materials with ease
Strong And Lightweight: Glass reinforced nylon handle is durable and lightweight
Designed by Kit Carson in Vine Grove, Kentucky
Versitile Use: Built tough for use around the house, in the garage or at the shop

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I recommend buying the M16 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.

Boker Plus S2 Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Last Updated: August 30, 2019
I’ve been drooling over Sniper Bladeworks custom knives for a long time now. For the uninitiated, Sniper Bladeworks is the brainchild of Lance Abernathy and Jody Muller. Jody handles fabrication and Lance comes up with the designs. The result has been a number of award winning tactical knife designs and superbly built tools that are revered by collectors and users alike.

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The Boker S2 is Sniper Bladeworks’ first collaboration with a production company. I recently got my hands on one of these knives and was really impressed by how well the knife worked and the level of fit and finish. The intriguing design lead me to contacting Lance himself in order to gain some insight on this unique knife. Lance was able to provide some of the details and explain why the S2 was built the way it was. It was a real pleasure speaking with Lance, and I hope our conversation helps provide a better review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

It should be no surprise that Sniper Bladeworks focuses on tactical knives. Lance comes from a heavy law enforcement background and served on a SWAT team for over 11 years. The Sniper Bladeworks custom knives are all built with utility, ergonomics and aesthetics in mind. The S2 is no different. This is a big knife so I would put it in the tactical and/or utility role. I think it’s big for EDC, but it doesn’t look that threatening so it could be a good choice if you like to carry a bigger knife.

The S2 has an overall length of 8-3/4″, a 4″ blade, weighs 5 ounces, and is made in China. This is not a small knife. By way of comparison, I find it holds it’s own next to a Spyderco Military (which also has a 4″ blade, but has a total length of 9 1/2″).

The blade is a big piece of 440C stainless steel. Boker uses a lot of 440C in their plus line and I welcome it with open arms. It’s a good mid-range steel and an all around performer. The width of the blade is impressive and it has a large flat grind that begins almost at the top of the knife. The long curved spine drops off into a nice functional tip. This tip isn’t reinforced and the overall bladeshape is faintly reminiscent of a sheepsfoot shape. Naturally there is a lot of utility with this blade for day to day tasks. I also think this could possibly serve as a rescue knife. And naturally I think the knife could also be used as an emergency defensive tool too. The excellent slicing capabilities of the flat grind mean you could use this knife for anything from cutting seatbelts to preparing food.

Finally, I wanted to comment on the stone wash Boker applied to this blade and hardware. It’s a rough and tumble stonewash and it has created a nice effect. Between the design and finishes of this knife, I get a really utilitarian vibe, and this knife just begs to be used.

Handle Details

The handle is one of the most interesting aspects of the S2. It’s construction is simple enough, with black G10 over matte gray steel liners. The liners have been milled to reduce weight and a black G10 backspacer runs a little over half the length of the handle. All in all, construction is good and all the pieces line up flush with no gaps or irregularities.

Ergonomics on the S2 are pretty special, and it’s where the knife really starts to shine. At first glance the handle is boxy looking and doesn’t appear to be that comfortable. I’ve heard some go so far to say that the handle is “ugly” – I disagree, but to each his own. I’ll say it’s a somewhat unconventional shape, but it really works in your hand. First off, it’s a pistol grip, meaning that the handle attaches to the blade at an angle and naturally orients the blade towards the cutting surface. Lance told me they like this style of handle because it puts the tip on target without bending the hand. In my experience, this design totally works.

The flat back of the handle fits the palm perfectly and your thumb falls into a nicely jimped thumb ramp. When I first picked up the knife I felt like this was a blade I could get some work done with. The flipper also acts and integral guard/choil so your whole hand wraps around the knife nicely. It’s a clever design and the guys at Sniper Bladeworks made the handle plenty big so you have lots of room to move and use various grips.

As a final touch there are some grooves milled into one side of the handle. This provides some extra grip to the already nicely textured G10 and adds some visual interest as well. Lance told me that they like designing knives that look good open and closed – the lines to add a little something extra.

The S2 actually ships with 2 pocket clips, for tip up or tip down carry. Its a good size clip that rides low in the pocket. Retention is good and I found it to be easy to insert into my pocket. Unfortunately the handle has been drilled for right hand carry only.

Deployment and Lock-up

The S2 is deployed by a large flipper on the back of the handle. This knife quickly broke in and I find that deploying this big blade is effortless. I think a flipper was a good idea for this wide blade because your thumb would have to travel far to fully activate a thumb stud. No complaints with the deployment of this knife.

Lockup is achieved through a liner lock. This is a pretty thick liner lock and it engages early with a crisp snapping sound. I found it to be easy to disengage, but because the handle isn’t cut away it does take a little more effort than other knives with a cutout for your thumb. I think for most tasks the liner lock will be more than adequate.

Boker S2 Review – Final Thoughts

All in all I am very pleased with my S2. To be honest, I can’t find a major fault with the knife (the lack of an ambidextrous pocket clip would be my biggest complaint). I think Boker was smart to pick up this cool design from Sniper Bladeworks. When I spoke with Lance he said that they wanted to create something big and functional – just like one of their custom pieces. I think Boker executed that concept wonderfully, as the fit and finish is very high on this knife, with the country of origin being China.

When you consider that the S2 can be acquired for around $50, it’s a pretty good value. I won’t be able to afford a custom anytime soon so this is the closest I will be getting to a real Sniper Bladeworks knife for a while.

Boker 01BO160 Plus S2 Knife with 4 in. Straight Edge Blade, Black

Durable and sharp 440C stainless steel blade
Structured G-10 scales for maximum stability
Reversible clip for tip-up or tip-down carry
Blade Length: 4 inches. Overall length: 8 3/4 inches
Limited lifetime warranty

Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the Boker S2 at Amazon.com and BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Cold Steel Spartan Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
Tired of reading reviews on wussy EDC knives? Need something capable of holding off an army of blood thirsty Persians? Consider the Cold Steel Spartan. Yeah, I enjoy reviewing EDC blades just as much as the next guy, but sometimes I need a little more. Thankfully, Cold Steel is around to supply me with all kinds of testosterone laden products. Lets take a look at this ridiculously awesome hard use folding knife.

Buy the Cold Steel Spartan at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Purpose

Let me start off by saying this is a heavy knife. Cold Steel claims it weighs 7.5 ounces. For the amount of knife you are getting I think it’s reasonable, but lets not mince around here; it’s still heavy. Naturally I made a point to carry the Spartan to get an idea as to how it handles. If you are wearing a decent belt it actually carried pretty well for me in a roomy pair of shorts. That said, for most this certainly isn’t an EDC knife.

Ultimately I want to call this a “hard use” knife and leave you to decide the specific application. You could carry it as a tactical knife, and you could also carry it as an outdoors knife. Honestly I think the Spartan would also make a great folding camp knife as it is more than capable of light chopping, batoning, and other tasks normally associated with a fixed blade. The shape of the blade is also really good for food prep (tons of belly, wicked slicer). And of course this could be a cool collectable as well. For some this will be a serious tool and for others this is just a cool knife to have in the collection.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spartan has a 4.5″ blade, an overall length of 10.5″ and a weight of 7.5 ounces.

The blade on this thing is impressive. The unique shape is designed after the ancient Greek “Kopis” sword, but in more modern terms it’s a drop point with a large recurve. This recurve offers incredible slicing power and as a defensive tool, well, lets just say I wouldn’t want to be cut with a Cold Steel Spartan. As you draw the blade over your cutting surface, the recurve grabs material and shears it with amazing precision.

The only downside to a knife with such a substantial recurve is that it’s difficult to sharpen. I ended up giving sharpening a try with my Spyderco Sharpmaker, and I managed to restore the factory hair shaving edge with some work. So sharpening the Spartan certainly isn’t impossible; especially if you have sharpening rods. Note that if you are going to carry the knife on extended outings, say, in some sort of military capacity, it could be tough to sharpen in the field.

And as a warning, seriously, be very careful with this blade. I inadvertently cut through my shirt and a cleaning cloth on multiple occasions when I tried to clean this blade up a bit – this is a first. The big recurve makes it behave a little differently from a more ‘normal’ knife.

The blade on this knife has a reinforced tip and a high hollow grind that begins about 3/4 of the way up the blade. The tip is great for penetration and the hollow grind is excellent for slicing. The Spartan has very versatile blade geometry and it’s a great performer. The knife has been given a beautiful blasted finish and the Cold Steel and “Spartan” logos have been nicely etched into the knife.

The blade on the Spartan is made of AUS 8A stainless steel. This is good mid range steel, and when you consider the price of the knife (around $50) this was very satisfactory. I like AUS 8A on my hard use knives because it’s a very tough steel that resists chipping. It does tend to lose it’s edge a little faster than harder premium steels, but it’s an easy steel to sharpen – a must with the challenging recurve.

Hande, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle scales on the Spartan are made of grivory, a kind of high impact plastic. The grivory handle scales are over full stainless steel liners. No doubt, this is where the chunky Spartan gets some of its weight from. I would have loved to have seen these liners milled out, but I’m happy to see how flush they are in the scales and how strong this knife is. Even if you milled the liners out I think you would still have a very heavy knife – it’s just built tough. Everything has been bolted together so you can take this knife apart as needed. The pommel is big and would serve as a very effective impact tool.

The ergonomics on the Spartan are really unique. One glance at the handle and you can tell something different is going on. First of all, the handle wraps around your hand. The textured scales have been given a tiger striped pattern that is both attractive and comfortable. When you grip the Spartan your hand feels secure. This is not a knife that will slip away easily. Potential negatives are that there is nothing in the way of jimping, and the thumb plate feels a little awkward when choking up. That said, I really like the ergonomics as a whole. This is a knife designed to cut through anything you put in front of it and the handle keeps the knife in your hand – it’s simple but effective.

All in all, the pocket clip on the Spartan is excellent. First of all you get two pocket clips; one for left hand carry and one for right hand carry. Cold Steel does this on a lot of their knives and I love it. The clip is black and has been given a very durable semi-gloss coating. The clip is also designed to ride low in the pocket – this is good for carry but can be awkward when trying to use the wave feature of the knife. In some ways I would prefer a clip placement that didn’t put the knife so deep in the pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spartan uses a large thumb plate to deploy the knife. You can use this plate like a thumb stud, or you can use this plate to wave the knife open off your pocket like an Emerson folder. The spring on the Spartan is pretty strong so flipping the knife open with your thumb is not that easy, especially because the knife is big and the thumb plate needs to travel a good distance to fully engage. For that reason I really like the wave. It pops the Spartan open with amazing speed.

The Cold Steel Spartan makes use of the now legendary Tri-Ad lock. Designed by Andrew Demko, this lock is probably the strongest locking mechanism in existence. There are videos of people absolutely wailing on this knife and the lock holds up. Once you get the Spartan in your hand it all makes sense. Lock up feels like a bear trap engaging – the “snap” the knife makes is incredible. It’s no wonder people have used this like a fixed blade.

Disengaging the lock took some effort. For reference, I’m 6’2″ 240 lbs. Over the years I have spent a fair amount of time in the gym and have developed pretty decent hand and grip strength. I’ll tell you, I have trouble unlocking this knife if I don’t have a good grip on it. It’s a very very strong spring on a very sturdy design. For many people I think the lock will take some practice. I might even suggest Cold Steel puts a weaker spring on there, but I wouldn’t want to look like a total wuss.

Cold Steel Spartan Review – Final Thoughts

I can’t help but feel like I’m having difficulty adequately describing the knife. Perhaps I wasn’t prepared for the tank that arrived in the Cold Steel box, but this big blade totally took me by surprise. I think Cold Steel once again raised the bar with affordable toughness. It is very well built and the Tri-ad lock is the toughest lock out there. For the money I do not think you will be able to find a bigger and stronger folding knife.

I was also very impressed by the Spartan’s build quality. This knife was made in Taiwan and they really paid a lot of attention to detail. The blade is centered, the grinds are even, and finishing is very nice. Everything is smooth and lines up. It’s a well thought out knife that has been expertly executed.

When it comes to negative aspects of the knife, the only thing I can really say is that the blade is somewhat difficult to sharpen and I might prefer a carry that isn’t so deep. These are minor issues and I generally think the Spartan is an awesome blade.

If you want something big and bomb proof, and don’t particularly care about things like weight and local carry laws (I’m joking but definitely check your local laws before carrying in public), check out the Cold Steel Spartan. I don’t think you will be disappointed with the knife but you have been warned – it’s big.

Cold Steel Tactical Pocket Folding Knife, Spartan

Super Sharp Knife - The stonewashed blade was designed to echo the aesthetics and cutting performance of the world famous Kukri, a Nepalese knife similar to a machete, cut through meats, rope, bamboo, and aluminum with ease
Kopis-Inspired Handle - Super thick spine with finger cutouts makes holding the Cold Steel Spartan comfortable and safe, handle is molded out of Griv-Ex with heat treated steel liners for extra security
Tri-Ad Lock - The safest folding knife locking system on the market, holding 800 lbs of hanging weight. The blade is shouldered around the stop pin for increased resistance to wear and tear. The full surface of the lock and blade tang sit flush, making the lock system more secure
Additional Features - Folding knife with ambidextrous pocket and belt clip for both right- and left-handed draws. Does not imprint in the pocket for a stealthy carry. Perfect for battle gear
Tactical Knife - A great everyday carry knife for self-defense. The Demko thumb plate can be used to open the knife at lightning speed by snagging on the edge of a pocket during the draw stroke

$71.23
Buy on Amazon

If you are interested in purchasing a Cold Steel Spartan, then I recommend purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.