Folding Knives

Gerber Fastball Review

I haven’t reviewed much Gerber stuff on here. That’s because these days Gerber’s best known products are plastic handled collaborations with Bear Grylles, or is just super low end, or something like the Downrange Tomahawk – cool, but not something I can review well. I enjoy the occasional fixed blade, but confess that I’m mostly a folding knife guy these days. Thankfully I’ve had some great contributing writers to fill in some of my deficiencies as a reviewer. We actually have a handful of Gerber knife reviews.

Buy the Gerber Fastball at BladeHQ

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The Gerber Fastball is interesting because it’s a folding knife made for a normal person who likes higher end tools. It’s a USA made knife, features premium materials, retails for around $100, and it lacks a celebrity endorsement. Instead, it’s a bearing equipped flipper. It isn’t some novelty knife you can buy at the Wal-Mart sporting goods counter.

And enthusiasts appear to have taken notice. The Fastball has appeared on both EveryDayCommentary and KnifeInformer. That sort of begs the question of whether I needed to review it, but the folks at Gerber contacted me about reviewing the Fastball. Given that Tony and Matt both liked it I agreed to check it out.

So this knife was provided to me from Gerber free of charge to review and keep for long term testing. As usual, all thoughts are my own.

Speaking of which, is it possible to change my thoughts on a brand with a single product? We shall see.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Fastball has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 2.79, and is made in Portland Oregon. I know, because it says so right on the blade.

The Fastball is targeted firmly at the enthusiast EDC crowd, so it’s no surprise that the proportions of this knife are ideal for daily carry. It’s a great size and weight for my kind of carry, and the Fastball kept gravitating towards my pocket. Here it is next to my Spyderco Delica:

Although I’m not the biggest fan of the Delica, I like the size of it. And I like the size of the Fastball too. It’s small enough to forget you are carrying it, but large enough to get all sorts of work done.

The Fastball comes equipped with a distinct reverse-tanto blade. In a way it seems polygonal. Or maybe it is a study of triangles. I didn’t do particular well in Geometry. Looking back, that was the beginning of the end for me. My parents always wanted be to be a doctor, but I always struggled with math. Calculus evades me to this day. Now I’m a divorce lawyer who only needs to know how to divide by 2. Regardless, I get a futuristic vibe from this model due to all the aggressive angles. Was the Fastball actually sent from the future to protect us from being enslaved by a race of cybernetic beings? Quite possibly. It doesn’t take many cues from the traditional drop point hunter.

Despite it’s non-traditional styling, the blade of the Fastball is fully functional. Reverse tantos can be among the best EDC knives. Just look at the Benchmade 940. Here we have a little less belly, but a low and fine tip. The blade comes with a shallow partial hollow grind, and has been left with a lustrous stonewashed finish. Details include a small swedge, and a long even edge.

Gerber selected S30V blade steel. In some circles S30V may be getting a little long in the tooth, but it is still highly serviceable blade steel and remains a totally appropriate choice at this price point. In some cases I have found S30V be a little tough to sharpen, but no one can argue with its good edge retention and high resistance to corrosion.

In practice my Fastball has proven highly capable. That low thin tip easily gets underneath envelopes and in between the folds of boxes. The edge is wide and shallow so it’s easy to keep sharp. The Fastball also excels at fine tasks like preparing strawberries. Here in Florida we are just getting into strawberry season, and they happen to be my girlfriend’s favorite fruit. So the Fastball has been deployed to process cartons of strawberries. Neatly trimming the leafy tops, and excising any bruised flesh with surgical precision. Usually that’s a task I reserve for my nimble Dragonfly 2, but the Fastball has been a great stand in.

Speaking of the Dragonfly 2, here the Fastball next to it and a Mini Griptilian:

All said I find little fault with the blade of the Fastball. Perhaps an upgrade to S35VN would have been nice, but that’s nit picking.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Blade Details

The Fastball comes with aluminum handle scales. The show side is solid aluminum, while the flip side is aluminum over a stainless steel liner. The handle is screw-together construction with a geared black FRN backspacer. The fit of this handle is good. All the parts line up and come together solidly. There are some nice details including a custom pivot, countersunk holes for the body screws, and a slotted lanyard hole that looks like more than an after-thought.

Where the Fastball impresses a little less is in the the finish of the stainless steel pieces. You can see machining marks on the edges of both the steel liner and the pocket clip. Also, the aluminum handles have some attempts at chamferring around the edges, but no true 3-D contouring like you see on a lot of titanium handled pieces. I also don’t like how the body screws thread directly into the aluminum handle. If you take the knife apart often they could eventually strip out. Steel standoffs or bushings would have been more robust.

Are these deal breakers? Absolutely not. Given the price, the materials, and the fact that this is a USA made product, something probably had to give. These are areas where compromise is evident. It gives the knife a less premium feel, and more of tool vibe.

The ergonomics are also strictly business, but in a good way. The Fastball feels at home in the hand. The handle itself is generous, and easily accommodates a full 4 finger grip. While the handle isn’t heavily contoured, the chamferring Gerber did works. As a result, the Fastball is comfortable. The only area that pokes out a little is the release tab for the liner lock, but that’s so you can easily unlock the blade. It also provides a little texture underneath your index finger, not a bad idea given the knife is not otherwise heavily textured. The Fastball provides the ergonomic assurance of a dedicated work knife.

The pocket clip is simple stamped steel. Like I mentioned, it’s a little rough around the edges. Literally. But it’s fully functional and a solid design. It’s set at a slight angle on the handle for some reason. I don’t know if there is a practical purpose for that, possibly to keep the clip from too close to the edge of the handle. It might drive the OCD slightly more insane. Present company included.

In pocket the Fastball performs great. The clip is strong and secure. It buries the knife deeply in your pocket, but still provides a little sumpin’ to grab onto. And the knife is thin, light, and basically disappears into the pocket. The smooth aluminum handles are easy on your pockets, making the knife a joy to draw out and use. I think the carry-ability factor of this knife is another high point.

Here is your in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

The Fastball is a liner lock flipper. Some might view that as a poor man’s framelock flipper, but the Fastball stands on its own. The Flipper action is very firm. Firing the Fastball sounds a little like the crack of an air rifle firing. It has a very mechanical feel. I’d put the action at a solid 8.5 or 9 out of 10. It’s crisp, and the sharp jimping on the flipper tab further accentuates that. If you are a fan of stiff action flippers you will like the Fastball.

Inside there is a caged bearing system. I haven’t taken the knife apart, but you can see it at the right angle, and a bearing symbol is also printed on the blade. The bearings are smooth and work well at propelling the blade out.

The liner lock works well. It engages fully, and holds the blade securely in place. I noticed my pivot kept loosening up, so a little lock tite is a good idea. With the pivot tightened everything works, but there is a small amount of side to side blade play in my knife. Nothing dangerous, but noticeable. The lock bar disengages easily and there is no lock stick.

Blade centering is good on my knife but not perfect. It falls towards the show side as the pivot loosens.

Gerber Fastball Review – Final Thoughts

The Fastball is a solid effort from Gerber. If you are looking for a no-nonsense higher end work knife I think it’s worth considering. While the design doesn’t reach the iconic status of the Para 2 or Griptilian, I found it to be a great size for an EDC knife. For example, it falls in between the Mini Griptilian and the full size Griptilian, giving it Goldilocks “just right” appeal.

The knife is also practical in other regards. Regular readers know I’m a sucker for a good work knife, and the Fastball strikes me as a small but refined work knife with a lot of versatility. It could work well in an office setting, but it also would work underneath the hood of a car or on a hike. The combination of capable blade, comfortable handle, and excellent carry make it a surprisingly sweet EDC piece. The snappy action, smooth bearings, and lightweight construction all serve to subtly elevate the knife. It’s not perfect, but it gets a lot right.

Where the Fastball falls short is that it doesn’t quite deliver that premium knife experience. The machine marks on the edges of the pocket clip and liner, the use of aluminum rather than titanium, the lack of true 3-D contouring on the handle, the slight bit of blade play. Knife users may be willing to overlook these quibbles for a practical work knife, while knife collectors may turn their noses up. But then again, this is a $100 made in USA folding knife. Not a $150-$200 Chinese folder.

At first glance the Fastball struck me as a humble offering, but it quickly grew on me. Mostly after I started to carry and use it. I wasn’t immediately impressed when I pulled the Fastball from it’s box, and as a collectible I’d probably pass. But as a user piece I can easily recommend it. When you consider that a Delica costs ~$85 these days, I’d pay the extra $15 for a Fastball. I think it’s well worth it.

Check it out if you want a well made and practical flipper for around $100. The fact that it’s a made in the USA is a big plus in my book.

While the Fastball hasn’t completely changed my view of Gerber, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Good job, Gerber.

GERBER Fastball Folding Knife with Lock Release - Flat Sage

Pocket knife made from high carbon S30V steel with machined aluminum handles
Manual finger flipper deployment and reliable detent make this EDC knife safe and secure
Finger flipper won’t tear fingers up, yet stiff enough for smooth flip knife deployment every time
Designed as a slim, lightweight knife with single liner for off-centered 3 in. blade
Gerber knife features Wharncliffe/drop point blade with shallow flat grind and needle tip point

Editor: I recommend buying the Gerber Fastball at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Spyderco Atlantic Salt Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

This review is a series of firsts. After over 400 reviews, this is the first time we have reviewed a knife with a fully serrated blade. It’s also the first time we have reviewed a knife with H1, an uber stainless blade steel. At first glance, that may hold some significance. But really, this is a purpose built knife. The Spyderco Atlantic Salt is designed for marine use. This is a mariner’s knife.

Buy the Spyderco Atlantic Salt at BladeHQ

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Actually, according to Spyderco this is a rescue knife adapted for marine use. They took their Spyderco Rescue, and outfitted it with a high visibility handle and rust proof H1 steel. It’s a purpose built tool and probably not something most people are going to consider for their Every Day Carry (EDC) knife.

I have wanted to check out a knife in H1 for a while. According to Spyderco this is a completely rust proof steel. That’s different from a “stainless” steel, as even stainless steel can and will rust. Stainless steel will simply “stain less” than a non-stainless steel.

And as most steel enthusiasts know, blade steel is an exercise in compromise. Improving one quality of a knife’s blade steel, like hardness, often comes at the expense of something else, like toughness, ease of sharpening, or stain resistance. So what will be the compromise with H1? Will it cut like a butter knife and be impossible to sharpen? Let’s find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Atlantic Salt has an overall length of 8.25″, a 3.678″ blade, weighs 2.75 ounces, and is made in Japan. This is a pretty large folding knife, but it doesn’t feel overly big thanks to the unusual blade shape, high visibility handle, and ultra-light construction. EDC knives this big typically give off a tactical or “weapon” vibe, but this Atlantic Salt reads more like a tool and doesn’t strike me as being particularly threatening.

For these reasons I’ve actually carried the Atlantic Salt quite a bit. I don’t own a boat, and while I live in South Florida, I don’t get on to the water as much as I would like. So at the time of writing this review I can’t say I’ve used it as a mariner’s knife. But I have carried it and used it, and plan on keeping the knife for long term testing. It will join me on fishing trips and the occasional boat ride.

Here is the Atlantic Salt next to my Delica and Endura. As you can see, it’s only a little shorter than the Endura.

The blade is purpose built, and will take some getting used to if you are a fan of drop points. It’s a hollow ground wharncliffe with a fully serrated edge after all. Of course this was done for a reason. It’s a wharncliffe to reduce the risk of stabbing yourself on the pitching deck of a boat. It’s serrated to cut through line, and possibly clothing, and to take advantage of H1’s unique properties. It’s hollow ground because some believe H1 is “work hardened” rather than heat treated. What that means, is that as the blade is ground and the metal is removed blade steel hardens due to the force on the steel rather than a heat treat. This phenomenon is also referred to as “plastic deformation”. So they need to grind both sides simultaneously to avoid warping the blade, and they can do that with a hollow grind. Each aspect of the Atlantic Salt’s blade was done for a reason.

And lets turn to H1 itself. H1 is a high chromium austenic steel. The term “austenic” has to do with the crystal microstructure of the steel. I won’t get into a chemistry lesson, but if you want a deep dive on H1 I recommend this article by Knife Steel Nerds. You will learn all you want to know about H1 in that article.

The takeaway is that H1 is structurally different from the typical ferric stainless steels you find in most knife blades. It’s hallmarked by being completely stain proof, but the sacrifice is hardness. Bro science and anecdotal evidence suggest that a serrated blade best takes advantage of H1, and provides better edge retention. But modern metallurgy doesn’t explain why that would work scientifically. The Knife Steel Nerd even says that grinding a blade shouldn’t be enough to work harden it, and he’s the Knife Steel Nerd. So who’s to say?

All I can really do is test this stuff out, so that’s what I did. The knife came surprisingly sharp out of the box. It cut paper cleanly and easily. It tore through cardboard. I bought this knife on Black Friday, so it survived the holiday season with me. Lots of boxes lay broken in the wake of the Atlantic Salt. The serrated edge is surprisingly effective. I got a lot of work done with the knife before needing to sharpen it.

In fact, the knife was still tearing through things effectively, but I decided to pull out my Spyderco Golden Stone anyways to see what a sharpening session would do for the H1 blade. I used the rounded corner of the Golden Stone and zipped the serrated edges along the edge of the stone. Spyderco recommends sharpening both sides of a serrated blade, and that’s what I did here. The results were great. The knife got extremely sharp quickly. The Atlantic Salt slipped through cardboard as if it were butter. This is an easy knife to sharpen if you have a rounded stone for the serrated edge. I happened to use my mythical Golden Stone, but the Sharpmaker works beautifully for a knife like this.

Here is another size comparison. This time I have the Atlantic Salt next to my Para 2 and Tenacious:

The blade steel also exhibits excellent toughness. I didn’t test this in any particular manner, but noticed that the steel is so tough that it scratches easily. I noticed this immediately after cutting cardboard, and this YouTube video shows the wear on an H1 blade after 5 years. I think it’s interesting how the person who made that video compared the wear pattern on the H1 blade more to titanium than stainless steel. I would agree. My other blades don’t wear like this.

All said, I was surprised with the utility of the H1 blade. Now I know H1 to sharpens easily, keeps a decent edge, and has the benefit of being completely rust proof. The serrations may be important. I need to buy another knife with a plain edge in H1 to test it out.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clips

In contrast to the unique and alien blade, the handle of the Atlantic Salt is familiar territory. Anyone who has handled a Spyderco Delica or Endura will immediately recognize the construction and materials of the Atlantic’s handle. That said, there are still plenty of things to note here.

First of all, the handle is a shock of bright yellow. That’s great for marine use and work knives in general. It’s possible you could drop this knife in shallow water and still locate it. Certainly it would stand out on the forest floor. The handle design is also completely devoid of metal liners. Instead, it’s 100% injection molded FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon). It still feels sturdy without the liners, but I wouldn’t consider the Atlantic Salt to be a hard use knife.

Continuing with the Mariner’s knife theme is the inclusion of a shackle key. That’s the elongated teardrop shaped hole in the handle. This is used to tighten screw pin shackles that you find mostly on sail boats. The Glessers were sailors, presumably before they settled in landlocked Colorado, so they are especially sensitive to the needs of a mariner.

It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the Atlantic Salt is comfortable in hand. The handle is generous, easily accommodating large hands, and balances high traction with comfort. There is contouring all around the handle feeding into the heavily textured flats. There is good jimping on both the forward “50/50” finger choil (meaning 50% of the choil is handle, 50% is blade), and the severely angled thumb ramp. Your fingers are unlikely to slip forward towards the edge, even if your hands are wet. The balance point of the knife is right behind the pivot, lending the knife a slightly blade heavy feel unless you use the forward choil. All said the handle is well considered and exceedingly comfortable.

Even the pocket clip of the Atlantic salt is different. Here it’s a spring clip made of powder coated titanium. That’s another first for the blog. It sits high on the handle in a tip up configuration, and can swapped to the right or left side. The screw that holds the clip in place is slotted and drilled through so you can run a thin lanyard through it. It’s an elegant approach to the typical awkwardly placed lanyard hole, and one I wouldn’t mind seeing in other designs.

In pocket the Atlantic Salt carries pretty well. It’s a lightweight knife, so that’s nice. It’s also relatively thin; about the thickness of a Delica. Where the Atlantic Salt falls a little short, is that it’s a very wide knife. That’s due to the unusual design. I definitely feel this knife in the pocket. That’s not the end of the world, but worth noting. There is some bulk associated with the Atlantic Salt.

The clip is secure and has excellent retention. While the knife rides low in the pocket, that canary yellow handle is tough to ignore. Here is your in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

The blade is opened by the prominent thumb hole. It is oversized and easy to access. I tend to take that granted on a Spyderco, but what caught me by surprise was how smooth the action is on this knife. It’s buttery smooth. I can’t tell by peering down into the handle, but this may be a washerless design. I don’t know, but whatever is going on works, so I’m hesitant to take the knife apart. Once you overcome that initial spring tension the blade opens easily and locks with a satisfying click.

Speaking of locks, the Atlantic makes use of a lockback. It’s secure, and my knife is free of blade play in any direction, but this is not a knife I’d use for serious woodwork or other hard use tasks. Sure, it can cut into a board, but where the Atlantic salt truly excels is in sawing through fibrous materials and cardboard. But the linerless design doesn’t inspire confidence with truly tough tasks, and I’d be careful not to test the limits of the design. That said the lockback performs flawlessly. It is secure when open, and disengages easily with the push of a thumb.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Spyderco Atlantic Salt Review – Final Thoughts

As a collector, I find the Atlantic Salt to be a quirky and charming knife. It’s different. That’s for sure. As a purpose built tool I think it’s a success. Granted I have yet to take this one on a boat, but I grew up on boats so I have some understanding of the application. And I live a quarter mile from the Gulf of Mexico so I’m around salt water regularly. The Atlantic Salt is well considered and a practical marine work knife.

What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the Atlantic Salt as an EDC. It kept finding it’s way back into my pocket. It’s wide, which is it’s biggest downfall in my book as a daily carry piece, but it’s lightweight and carryable. The H1 steel is actually a pretty decent blade steel. It’s nothing like M390 or a super steel in terms of edge retention, but I got a lot of work done with the serrated edge, and the knife sharpened quickly and easily. I was expecting a bigger compromise from a completely rust proof steel.

In the end, I’d buy another knife with a H1 blade. I’d like to try out a plain edge, just to get a better feel for how well the steel holds its edge.

For now, the Atlantic Salt will remain in my permanent collection. It’s unique, well considered, and fully functional. I’d recommend it if you need a rust proof knife, or are simply curious about it like I was.

Spyderco Atlantic Salt Lightweight Folding Utility Pocket Knife with 3.68" Corrosion Resistant H-1 Sheepfoot Blade and Durable Hi-Viz Yellow FRN Handle - SpyderEdge - C89SYL

Superior Quality - It is made from H1-Steel which is a precipitation-hardened steel containing nitrogen instead of carbon, which cannot rust.
FRN Handle - It is textured with a Volcano Grip pattern, the molded fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) handle is visible marine yellow, equipped with a reversible titanium pocket clip for right or left- handed use.
Game Changer - The serrated hollow-ground blade offers remarkable cutting performance in and around fresh and saltwater.
Corrosion Resistant - The knife is completely ambidextrous and utterly impervious to corrosion.
SPECIFICATION - It has a overall length of 8.25", blade length of 3.6" and a weight of 2.75 oz. This knife is made from Japan.

Editor: I recommend buying the Spyderco Atlantic Salt at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Gerber Key Note Review

by Travis Pike 5 Comments

Guns may be the main draw the SHOT Show, but there is a healthy amount of knives at the Show. One I saw at 2019’s SHOT Show that caught my eye was the Gerber Key Note. I loved the unique look, small size, and how lightweight it was. I saw it at SHOT, and after that never saw another hair of it until it popped up in my recommended items on Amazon. It was only 20 bucks and some change, so I promptly ordered it.

Buy the Gerber Key Note at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Even if it were a total piece of crap, I’d only be out 20 bucks. Luckily it’s not a complete piece of crap. The Key Note is a teeny tiny knife that lives up to its name. It’s almost the same size as my car’s key fob. As far as EDC knives go, this is about as small as it gets. The Key Note currently comes in both black and FDE, and as you can see, I have the FDE variant.

The Key Note is designed to be versatile and easily carried. The Key Note comes equipped with a key chain ring that’s hefty and well made. There is also a pocket clip that’s long enough to fit over a belt as well. The Key Note is a neat little knife, and it’s one that’s small enough that there is never an excuse to leave it at home.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Key Note sports a sloping blade that is 1 inch long at it’s very longest and a little over half an inch at the shortest portion. The blade is a stout 1.125 inches wide and .15 inches thick. The knife weighs only 2.33 ounces and is 3 inches longer overall.

It’s a small, but stout little blade. The blade is made from 5Cr15MoV. On a 20 dollar knife with an edge this short I wasn’t expecting 154 CM or S30V.

5Cr15MoV is cheap stainless steel. It is effortless to sharpen and resistant to rust. It won’t hold an edge very long. It’s not like you’ll be batoning wood or cleaning game with this little guy anyway. With a blade as short and as thick as this, you are unlikely to break it with regular use.

I’m not sure what to call this type of blade or point. It’s an exaggerated tanto that looks almost like a chisel with a weird lower level edge. Gerber classifies the blade into two different edges. The longer edge is a scraping edge, and the short bottom edge is the cutting edge. Both edges are sharpened, and both cut through everyday materials.

The Key Note’s blade size is a big limiting factor in its ability to do serious work. However, for the most common EDC tasks, the Key Note is entirely sufficient. It can cut through plastic, tape, cardboard, 550 cord, and similar cordage. The ledge like design gives the Key Note a little bite, and it can punch above its weight. The Key Note is sufficient for most mundane cutting tasks, and that is just about it.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is made from two aluminum panels connected by several different Hex head screws. The Gerber Key Note is a little knife, with a petite handle. The handle is textured with small serrated indentions on each side. The handle has an integrated finger groove that allows for easy access to the blade and to accommodate your pointer finger while gripping the knife.

The rest of the grip is pretty simple and is relatively unadorned. It’s short, won’t fill the hand, and is only 2 inches long. It’s 1.25 inches wide and .45 inches thick. The Key Note’s handle is comfortable enough. It doesn’t poke or jab, but don’t expect Emerson level ergonomics and comfort.

The pocket clip and keychain loop give you multiple ways to carry the knife. The keychain loop is removable to reduce the overall length and even weight of the knife. I’m tempted to remove the keychain loop. I don’t like the way it feels in my hand when using the knife, but I like being to connect it to my key fob. The big keyring is just awkward and more than a little annoying when using the knife to cut.

The pocket clip cannot be reversed, but it’s not a big deal. The knife isn’t designed to be quickly drawn and deployed, so it doesn’t matter which direction it faces in the pocket. The clip is 1.5 inches long and will fit over most standard belts.

This opens up the ability to wear the knife on your belt, but will only efficiently work for right-handed owners. It’s a stiff and strong pocket clip and its made from stainless steel. At the bottom, the steel rolls upwards allow it to hook onto the belt and prevent it from sliding off.

This is a big and beefy pocket clip. It’s thicker than most pocket knives, and it feels quite sturdy.

Deployment and Lock-Up

Opening the Key Note requires the use of a small nail nick built into the blade, but there is a built-in starter tab to push the blade out just a little. This little tab is a lifesaver when the knife is brand new or if you’re the type who has naturally short nails. It’s easy to deploy, but it’s not quick. I doubt you’d ever need to deploy this knife quickly enough to worry about it. You’ll need a few seconds and both hands to deploy the Key Note’s blade.

The blade is locked in place by a simple liner lock. It locks it nice and tight, and there is no noticeable play as you move the blade. It’s tight, but you can push it in with little effort overall and close the knife. The liner lock isn’t jimped for texture, but it seems to close just fine without it.

Gerber Key Note Review – Final Thoughts

The Key Note is a cool knife. It’s not a very versatile or handy knife, but for 20 dollars, you’re buying a unique design. An unconventional design that makes carrying a knife easy. It’s one you can toss on your keychain and never leave behind. Ultimately it’s somewhat of a novelty in its design. I’m sure a Gerber Airlift would serve you just as well for the price, but the Key Note has a sense of style and design that pushes it past boring.

Speaking of design, I spotted something about the look of the Key Note. If you take a quick look at Gerber’s symbol you’ll see a Sword and Shield make up the G in Gerber. If you close the blade, the Key Note most certainly looks like the Shield portion of that logo, and I thought this was a nice touch. If I feel Ho-Hum about a knife, I give it away and have gained an office reputation for it. The Key Note’s neat design keeps me from feeling Ho-Hum about this cheap little folder.

The Key Note is 20 bucks worth of cool, and I’m planning on holding onto mine and passing a few out for Christmas. It’s not a great knife, the design isn’t innovative, but it’s not a bad knife in any way. If you look at it and like the design from a nerd’s perspective, then buy it. You’ll be satisfied. If the looks and design don’t grab you, I’d pass on it.

Gerber Key Note, Compact Fine Edge Scraping & Cutting Knife, Coyote Brown [30-001692]

Throw It In Your Pocket Or On Your Keys And Forget It; With It'S Compact Design, The Key Note Was Intended For This Very Purpose: To Be On Hand When You Need It For Daily Tasks.
The Dual-Purpose Blade Caters To Two Separate Needs, With Cutting And Scraping Edges.
When In The Open State, The Blade Is Secured With An Easy-To-Operate Liner Lock.
Aluminum Scales Stand Up To Daily Abuse

Editor: I recommend buying the Gerber Key Note at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Kizer Yorkie Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Ray Laconico designs some elegant knives. I like the clean lines, and the practicality of his pieces. I’m not alone, and over the past few years his work has taken off. Kizer was smart to collaborate with him, and the results so far have been excellent.

Buy the Kizer Yorkie at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

We previously reviewed the Intrepid, and the Gemini. He has gone on to collaborate with other companies, including Alliance Designs, where the focus appears to be on higher end collaborations. The Kizer Yorkie is more approachable. It retails for around $150, still a lot of money but a fraction of what the Alliance Designs pieces cost, yet it still has a timeless look and is made from premium materials.

All knives reviewed are bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. I bought this particular knife with my own money. I’ve mentioned this before, but it probably bears repeating as Kizer has provided us with a few knives to review in the past.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Yorkie has an overall length of 6.125″, a 2.5″ blade, weighs 2.93 ounces and is made in China. On it’s own it doesn’t give me the impression of being a smaller knife, but the Yorkie is a smaller knife and it compares more favorably to a Mini Griptilian or even a Dragonfly II than the Delica. Here is a size comparison so you can see for yourself:

Kizer Yorkie vs. Benchmade Griptilian and Spyderco Dragonfly II

Perhaps part of what gives the Yorkie the illusion of being larger than it actually is, is the clean, near continuous line from pommel to blade tip. Laconico manages to tease out both a lot of handle and blade with this design. That, combined with substantial full titanium handles, lend the Yorkie some substance. Also, in hand the Yorkie actually feels more substantial than the slightly bigger Mini Griptilian.

The blade is an exaggerated drop point. It’s almost hawkish in appearance, yet it is also close to being a spear point. The simplicity of the blade shape is further accentuated by the almost full flat grind. You can see the slightest bit of flat at the top connecting with the ricasso, but beyond that you have essentially a full flat grind. The blade finish is a fine stonewash. It is a clean and functional look that matches the rest of the design.

Kizer Yorkie

For blade steel we have S35VN. Standard fare for a knife like this. For the uninitiated, this is a higher end American steel developed by steel manufacturer Crucible in conjunction with Chris Reeve, and was formulated as a predecessor to S30V and developed specifically for cutlery.

It may not have the “Gee Whiz” factor of some of the more exotic steels, but I certainly welcome it on this knife. I have always appreciated S35VN as a practical choice for a daily carry knife, and think it was a good selection for the Yorkie. In practice, this blade takes a fine edge and is easy to maintain. I haven’t had much in the way of issues with rust or corrosion with S35VN either.

Kizer Yorkie Blade

The blade geometry on this knife is quite good, and will easily accomplish the typical EDC tasks you would expect a small knife like this to tackle. Packages and mail are no problem. Light food prep, including cleanly slicing apples, is no problem thanks in part to the wide blade and lean grind. The Yorkie is also capable of tougher tasks, and I’ve used it while working in the yard. In a pinch it can pass through a palm frond, or assist with opening a bags of mulch. All told the blade is well considered and should meet most people’s needs.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Yorkie’s handle is 2 slabs of solid titanium separated by the pivot and 2 stainless steel stand offs. The Yorkie revels in its simplicity, and can pull it off by being so well executed. For example, the pocket clip screws are flush with the inside of the handle. No ugly screws are poking out into the handle like you might find on lesser knives. Also, the handles have been given just the slightest amount of beveling. You might need to squint, but the handles are not perfectly flat. Instead, there is a slight almost imperceptible radius to the entire outside of the handle. It’s these kinds of little details that subtly elevate the Yorkie. The overall fit and finish is great.

The only contrast on the handle is the bright stainless hardware, and the only ornamentation is a single hole fixed dead center on the show side. Even that hole has been given careful attention; there isn’t a machining mark to be found. I don’t know why exactly it was placed on the handle, except for perhaps to provide a little visual interest. I’m not sure if it rises to the level of addition by subtraction, but it does provide a focal point at least.

Kizer Yorkie Ergonimics

For a smaller knife, I’d say the ergonomics are pretty good. It’s not the magic trick of the Dragonfly 2, but there is a good amount of usable space on this smaller handle. This is thanks in part to the simple design and the small forward finger choil created by the flipper tab. There is just enough room to get your index finger in.

If you rely on just the titanium handle I’d say its a 3.5 finger handle for me, and probably a cramped full 4 finger grip for most. However, that finger choil allows you to spread out and really get comfortable with the Yorkie. The thick titanium handle also helps, and gives you something to grab onto. There is no jimping or texturing to speak of, but the simple boxy handle offers enough traction on its own. At least for my pedestrian purposes.

The pocket clip is a small milled titanium clip. I’ve always enjoyed a well executed milled clip, and I’m pleased to say that spring retention on this clip is excellent. The knife easily slides into the pocket, but is also firmly held in place. It isn’t a deep carry clip, but the Yorkie is still fairly discrete.

Kizer Yorkie Pocket Clip

There is a groove milled into the pocket clip that blends in with the lock bar cut out. I haven’t seen this on a knife before. It’s kind of arbitrary, but like the hole in the handle, I think it was an attempt at injecting a little personality into the design. I don’t mind it, but I don’t fully “get” it either.

Here is your shot of the Yorkie in the pocket:

Kizer Yorkie in the Pocket

Deployment and Lockup

This is a small titanium framelock flipper. The flipper tab pokes out from the back of the handle prominently. I think that is good as it doesn’t have any texture on it. With a small knife like this, a poorly designed flipper tab runs the risk of the knife being fiddly. The Yorkie isn’t fiddly, but still, there is a little compromise with a small flipper like this. This isn’t the easiest knife to flip open. The detent is also good, but not great. I’d say it’s a “6” on a scale from 1-10. I’d prefer to see it more like a 7 or 8. It’s good but not great. The knife runs on caged bearings, and the action is smooth and easy.

Kizer Yorkie Spine

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with a stainless steel lockbar insert. Kizer knows how to make a framelock, and the Yorkie is no exception. The lockup is early and rock solid. Disengaging the lockbar is easy thanks to some substantial cutaways in the handle. No complaints with the lockup. My knife also came with a perfectly centered blade and a nice nylon and felt lined pouch.

Here is a parting size comparison with the Delica and Endura:

Kizer Yorkie Review – Final Thoughts

Ray Laconico has built up significant momentum over the past few years. I think the Yorkie is another success for him. Kizer has managed to capture his “less is more” ethos, and to build a deceptively simple knife that is actually quite thoughtful and rich in detail. It is clear that everything has been well considered, and the knife not only looks cool, but it works quite well. Even as a smaller piece.

My main piece of constructive criticism regards the detent. I’d prefer a heavier action to help ensure the blade gets 100% open 100% of the time. Everything else is so neatly dialed in, so it’s odd that the detent isn’t a little crisper. Beside that I find little to complain about.

Even the price is reasonable. I paid around $135 for my knife. For some reason the price is now closer to $150. While that isn’t cheap, it’s not too bad for a titanium framelock flipper. The materials are top notch, the design is attractive, and the execution is almost perfect.

I would recommend the Yorkie if you are a fan of the design, or are looking for a smaller titanium framelock flipper for daily carry.

Kizer Folding Knife S35VN Blade Titanium Handles Pocket Knife Flipper Knife (2.57" Stonewash) Yorkie Ki3525 (Ki3525A1)

This knife Designed by Ray Laconico and precision engineered by Kizer
2.5-inch CPM-S35VN blade features excellent toughness, edge retention and wear and corrosion resistance
Handle Material:6AL4V Titanium /Blade Material:CPM-S35VN /Weight:2.93 oz /Overall:6.125"
Great companion for any hiker, landscaper, backpacker, hunter, wilderness guide, electrician or anyone in need of a reliable everyday carry knife
Excellent everyday carry for numerous tasks including opening packages, stripping wire, removing splinters, cutting zip-ties，aggressive animal defense

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

Manly Comrade Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

The Manly Peak and Peak 2 are a charming blend of modern knife design and utility. I still feel comfortable saying that there is unique value proposition with the Peak series. It’s hard to describe, but the design, materials, fit and finish, and price all came together like a perfectly seasoned stew. Humble origins, but a satisfying result.

So when Manly Canada, the Canadian distributor for Manly Knives, reached out asking if I was interested in reviewing their Comrade Folder, I was excited about checking out another Manly product. And this company doesn’t get much press, so here was another chance to share this little known brand. This knife was provided to me free of charge to review, but all thoughts are my own.

The Comrade is even simpler than the Peak. It’s a full size utility slip joint made of modern materials in Manly’s factory in Bulgeria. Does it resonate as loudly as the Peak and Peak 2? Let’s find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Comrade has an overall length of 8″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 4 ounces, and is made in Bulgeria. My initial reaction to handling the Comrade is that this a big and somewhat bulky knife. It’s kind of like the Svord Peasant Knife, in that maybe it’s designed for a peasant, except that it’s substantially heavier than the Peasant Knife.

Here is a size comparison with the Manly Peak 1 and 2:

The Comrade is only a little shorter than the Peak, but thicker and heavier. It’s a full size folding knife.

I could see someone working on a farm who needed a full sized folding utility knife, carry the Comrade. They probably wouldn’t worry about whether the knife could be a little thinner or lighter. The Comrade is for someone who doesn’t care much about things like weight, and instead values a simple and solid tool. It’s definitely more of a utility knife than a true modern daily carry piece. While a modern knife enthusiast could certainly carry it every day, I’m not sure most people would want to when a lighter knife could get the job done.

The blade of the Comrade is a simple drop point with a full flat grind. I actually quite like the blade. The simple full flat grind is geared towards performance. The Comrade gets thin behind the edge and the knife slices with the best of them. The satin finish is nice, and the edge is even.

The smart blade geometry combined with CPM154 blade steel makes the Comrade a real screamer. By far, the blade is my favorite part of the knife. Whether you are looking to break down boxes, cut vegetables, or perhaps even break down some game, the Comrade should get the job done (I say “should” because I didn’t actually skin a deer with this knife).

And it was nice to find CPM154 on a knife from Bulgeria, and a ~$40 one at that. CPA154 is a premium U.S. steel, and it was clearly selected to appeal to the North American knife market. I think that was a nice choice as CPM154 is a great working steel. It takes a nice fine edge and holds it for a good period of time, but it’s also easy to sharpen when the time comes. CPM154 also has decent rust and corrosion resistance.

Manly also offers this model in D2 and S90V. Personally, I’m happy I got the CPM154 version.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Comrade is basic. This is a slip joint with thick, black and blue G10 handle scales over full stainless steel liners. Manly has done a couple things to bring this knife into the 21st century. The liners have been skeletonized to reduce the weight a little, the knife is held together with screws rather than pins, and the jigged black and blue handles give the knife a splash of color.

However, at the end of the day this is still a very basic handle design. It’s thick, heavy, and simple. That’s fine if you are looking for pure utility and don’t mind the added weight and bulk, but I suspect most readers are like me in that they want it all: the comfort and utility in a thin and lightweight package. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by too many lightweight Spydercos. I have to keep reminding myself this is a sub $50 folder.

The ergonomics of the Comrade are nice. The large and simple handle will appeal to almost any hand size. There is plenty of room and nothing to get in the way. No scoops, choils, peaks, or beaks. While there isn’t any jimping, Manly still manages to add plenty of traction. The scales have a nice light texture, and the edges also give you a good amount of grip without being too sharp. And while a thick handle can be annoying in the pocket, you can’t deny that it feels good in the hand. This knife will get a lot of work done if you want it to.

A nice thing about the Comrade is that it comes with a pocket clip. And it’s a good pocket clip. It’s a simple steel clip, mounted high on the handle for right side tip up carry only, but it’s robust. Even though this is a heavy knife, the clip features excellent spring retention and the textured handle also helps keep the knife in place.

Here is your pocket clip shot:

Walk and Talk

Since this is a slip joint, the usual “Deployment and Lock Up” section is replaced with walk and talk, which is how we describe the action of a slip joint.

To get the blade open Manly has supplied a large nail nick. It gives you plenty to grab onto when you want to pull the blade open. The action is smooth, but ratchety, because the Comrade includes a few half stops. While you have the traditional stopping point at high noon, you also get stops at 11 and 2. And the stops require more and more force as you pull open the blade. I like this aspect of the knife, and would call it a feature rather than a bug.

I’d say on a scale of 0-10, the Comrade requires a “4” to get to the first quarter stop, a “5” to get to get halfway open, a “7” to get to the 3rd quarter, and an “8” to get fully open. And the knife makes some satisfying popping noises as you open the blade fully. While I won’t claim that it makes the slip joint “safer” it does slow things down somewhat. Given how big the blade is, I like these added stopping points, and the progressive resistance. I haven’t encountered this on any other slip joint knives. Perhaps Manly has been able to innovate here. Let me know in the comments section if you have run across this in other knives.

And there is a fair amount of resistance, which inspires the confidence to do more than open mail and cut room temperature cheese. You could take this knife into the woods and do the same camp chores as a locking knife. No chopping or batoning obviously, but certainly carving, food prep and the like would be no problem.

Manly Comrade Review – Final Thoughts

The Comrade scores high points for utility, but in other ways I think it misses the mark. The big and beautiful CPM154 blade, and multiple stops in the slip joint mechanism are high spots for me. I’m less enthused about the overall weight and bulk.

While I’m not obsessive about weight, I found the combination of thickness and heft an obstacle to enjoying the Comrade on a daily basis. It’s larger than what I usually EDC, and it isn’t particularly cool, so it’s not like I found some overwhelming desire to have the Comrade beat out the legion of other knives I have at my disposal. And as a suburban guy, I like thinner, lighter knives. So carrying the Comrade was something of a chore relative to what I’m used to.

That is what really excited me about the Peak. It has some old world charm, but maintains all the convenience of a modern knife, including it being thin and light. The Comrade doesn’t quite do that. It tries to, but the weight and thickness prevents me from enjoying it as much as the Peak. Nested liners would have gone a long way here.

That’s OK, because not every knife that crosses my desk needs to be a high speed low drag modern EDC knife. And my preferences in a pocket knife are just that, my preferences. You may have different preferences. If you are looking for high value utility the Comrade has it. It’s hard to think of anything that cuts this well, and features a CPM-154 blade at this price point. That alone might be enough for folks to consider it.

While the Comrade doesn’t wow me like the Peak did, it’s still worth checking out if you are looking for a large, functional, high value slip joint with some modern conveniences.

My understanding is that Manly Knives are mostly sold through their distributors at this point. So I recommend purchasing the Manly Peak and Peak 2 at ManlyUSA if you live in the States or Manly Canada if you are in Canada.

That said, please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website, including Amazon and BladeHQ, helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Victorinox Hiker Review

by Travis Pike 2 Comments

The Swiss Army Knife is likely to the most well-known knife in the world. Something about its name, distinctive red handle, and the fact it was one of the first successful multi-tools has cemented its place into our cultural collective. Swiss Army Knife is even a misnomer because American GI’s couldn’t properly pronounce the German phrase for Officer’s Knife. However, the new name stuck. The Swiss Army knife became an icon that went to the moon, gave MacGyver a favorite tool, and became a Boy Scout’s best friend.

Buy the Victorinox Hiker at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Swiss Army knife is more than a knife, as I mentioned above it’s a multi-tool. It contains anywhere from three to a dozen or so different tools. The Swiss Army Knife I have from Victorinox is called the Hiker and packs 9 tools in a pocket-sized package. The Hiker’s size, price, and tools make it one of my favorite Swiss Army knives. The Victorinox brand is the only real Swiss Army Knife and the Hiker is a great representative of the brand.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Hiker is a mid-size Swiss Army Knife with a long and short blade. The long blades is roughly 2.5 inches long and the short blade is 1.5 inches long. The handle is 3.5 inches long if you just measure the handle, with the lanyard attachment ring it’s about 4 inches total. The blade is a drop point that’s not exceptionally pointy.

Pointy enough to poke things and to open up cardboard, paper, and plastics. There is no lock on this model and this is a traditional slipjoint style knife. The blade has a nice fat belly to it for cutting deep with a short blade. Perfect for cutting up oranges nice and clean during a picnic, or cutting through thin rope and cordage. It’s a blade well suited for 99% of the tasks I put knives through. 95% when hunting season is in play.

Victorinox doesn’t advertise its steel type, but it’s nothing fancy. On a sub 30 dollar multi-tool, you can’t expect 154CM. The blade can get pretty darn sharp and it’s also really easy to sharpen. You can get it licked up in about 3 swipes per side on a wet stone. The downside is that it gets dull fast.

Not like after a day of work, but like an hour’s worth or even less. It dulls quick, one day while stocking the office printers I dulled it cutting through the plastic wrap around the paper boxes and the plastic straps holding their lids on. If you carry a pocket sharpener you can quickly get your edge back though. You can also swap to the smaller blade and keep going should the larger get dull.

Corrosion wise the knife holds up. Summers in Florida are no joke and they make me sweat a ton. Anything in my jeans pockets is going to be exposed to sweat, and this knife has never rusted. Living in a coastal air the salt is in the air and still it’s never seen a lick of the red death.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Hiker is a small, but a somewhat fat knife. The total length of the handle is 3.5 inches, but it’s also a little over half an inch thick. It’s thick because have to contain 7 folding tools, a tweezer, and a toothpick.

Five tools fold in the front and two in the rear. In total, you get three different drivers, a can opener, a bottle opener, a saw, a reamer, and the aforementioned tweezers and toothpick. While thick, the iconic, red plastic grip scales round it out for a comfortable overall grip.

The grip allows you to employ every tool comfortably. It’s thick and supportive nature does make it easy to work with and avoid pain and fatigue when doing something that takes time, like opening a can. As a side note, I’ve only used it once to open a can of Hormel chili and it works, just slowly. That thick handle is a must-have for opening cans or using any other leverage-based actions. It’s thick and isn’t going to bend, break, or slip.

The grip is texture free and doesn’t necessarily grip your hand. If your hands are wet you may not be able to keep a great grip when doing heavy work. While the tools all stick out just a hair from the handle I don’t find their presence uncomfortable when gripping the Hiker. My only discomfort is that key chain attachment piece hitting my pinky and annoying me when I use the blade.

The Hiker is a very light tool and only weighs 2.7 ounces. I often forget which pocket I put it in because I can hardly feel it. The smooth handles certainly make a comfortable to carry knife since nothing pokes or rubs your leg throughout the day.

Deployment and Lockup

The slipjoint system makes sure the tools and blades all stay in the handle until you force them out. There is never a worry of a tool or blade deploying in your pocket. The tools are all relatively easy to pull out, but you will need both hands to do so.

Once a tool or blade is out it takes a fair bit of force to put it back. However, you can close the tool with a single hand. Many of the tools are combination types and the lock-up and deployment work just as well when you are opening a can as it does when driving a screw.

Victorinox Hiker Review – Final Thoughts

The Victorinox Hiker is a handy little knife for everyday carry or the occasional trip to the woods. This little Swiss Army knife packs a ton of capable tools in it’s small and easy to use package. The Hiker is also a great choice for keeping a knife in a bug out bag, or in a car in case of emergency. It covers all your basics whilst still being relatively cheap and affordable.

It could also be a great choice for a young boy or girl responsible enough to own a knife. The Hiker is the absolute last knife many would compare to a weapon, and it’s short blades and lack of a lock ensures it’s legal across the board. Additionally, the somewhat dull point and easily dulled blade limits a young person’s ability to hurt themselves. The need for a good fresh sharpening will also hone their skills with a whetstone.

Whatever reason you choose the Hiker you can know that it’s a great knife at a low price.

VICTORINOX SWISS ARMY Hiker Pocket Knife

Editor: I recommend buying the Victorinox Hiker at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.