154cm

Emerson La Griffe Review

The La Griffe, which apparently means ‘the claw’ in French, is designed by Fred Perrin and produced by Emerson. Fred Perrin is a French SpecOps veteran and martial arts practitioner who also designs knives on the side. Most of his designs are more or less designed to be weapons and his designs come from a martial arts background.

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The La Griffe is really no different. It’s a short blade, with a short handle not necessarily designed for EDC tasks. Of course, a knife is a tool and is adaptable. Emerson makes a La Griffe called the White Water with an all serrated edge. As a kayaker, I can certainly see why one would want the finger hole for a good grip while on the water. I use the Gerber Remix as my kayak knife and it has a similar finger hole.

While it can be pressed into other tasks the La Griffe is a small, easily concealed weapon that most of us could find a way to carry with ease.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The La Griffe sports a short 1.75-inch blade that blends into a 3.125-inch handle for a total length of 4.875 inches. It weighs only 1.5 ounces and is .125 inches thick. The knife is made from 154 CM steel that seems to be a favorite of Emerson and a good all-around knife steel.

It can get quite sharp, isn’t terribly difficult to sharpen, holds a decent edge and is very strong. Additionally, it’s corrosion-resistant which is an important feature if you are wearing it concealed against the body where it can be exposed to sweat.

Another Emerson calling card is the use of a chisel grind blade. That makes this a rough cutter for fine work but does make it easy to sharpen and supposedly it’s a stronger edge. As a knife designed to be a weapon, the chisel grind makes sense. It doesn’t need to be an edge designed for super fine and controllable cuts. It does need to be strong though, and being easy to sharpen is another excellent benefit.

The blade also comes in a stonewashed or black cerakoted finish. Mine, as you can see, is the stonewashed variant. The black cerakote adds a layer of additional protection and would likely be less eye-catching if accidentally exposed while being concealed.

The short blade and handle, as well as the relativeness thinness of the entire package, limits the scope of use for the knife. When a knife is purpose-built to be a small weapon it’s difficult to put it in play for other tasks.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is very thin and is designed to be easy to conceal. The downside to this is that it’s not extremely comfortable for heavy use or work. It’s very short as well and offers little leverage. It seems to be best suited for quick stabs and slashes.

The finger hole ensures the knife stays put. This is a must-have because the handle is so short and smooth. Without it gaining a grip on this knife would be near impossible. The handle does conform to the hands though. The curve in the middle goes around the middle finger and leverages out over the ring finger.

Overall it’s comfortable to hold, but it’s not going to be a heavy-duty worker. Splitting cardboard boxes quickly makes your hands tired. Fatigue and pain set in around the finger ring as well. I attempted to use the knife to help cut USPSA targets from sheets of cardboard and found the knife difficult to control.

The short and thin handle does make the knife easy and comfortable to conceal. It can be worn as a neck knife, or you can purchase an IWB loop as I did. The knife disappears and is invisible under a t-shirt.

Sheath

The included sheath is very simple and made from kydex. It covers the blade perfectly and locks in on the front portion of the finger ring. A distinct snap is heard as the knife locks in and its held in very tight. The majority of the finger ring is left exposed and you can easily fit your finger in and draw the knife.

The sheath also offers plenty of places to add accessories through the six holes that run from the top to the bottom. Plenty of places to add an IWB loop or necklace for carrying. The sheath is naturally ambidextrous and also very lightweight and thin. It won’t add much bulk if concealment is your goal.

Emerson La Griffe Review – Final Thoughts

The La Griffe by Fred Perrin and Emerson certainly succeeds as an easy to carry knife. It’s a vicious little tool that’s sharp enough to cut deeply. In a pinch, it would appear to be an excellent defensive weapon. Something you can use to cause injury, make space, and escape from an attacker. The simple design makes it impossible to drop and very difficult to have it taken from you.

My advice would be to purchase the knife if you want something easy and lightweight to carry as a defensive weapon. If you are looking for a standard EDC knife I’d look elsewhere. That’s not an insult to the La Griffe, just a reality-based observation. The La Griffe is easier to carry than most knives, especially for women who may not have actual pockets on their clothing. The La Griffe is well built and fearsome, and that’s what a defensive weapon should be.

Emerson La Griffe Neck Knife with Satin Blade

I recommend purchasing the Emerson La Griffe at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Emerson Mini Commander Review

by Travis Pike 1 Comment

The Mini-Commander is my third Emerson folder and third in the line of CQC knives. I guess I’m an Emerson collector. I initially purchased a CQC-7BW during my Marine Corps days, then I purchased a Mini CQC-15 that I thought combined a cool tanto edge and a good belly to replace the 7. Now I have a Mini-Commander that I purchased for no real reason.

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Of course, it’s been serving as my EDC for several months now because you don’t buy a knife like this and not carry it. It’s a knife designed for guys and gals in the military as well as those who typically work in non-permissive environments, and its in a handier size. The Mini-Commander isn’t for everyone, and its combination of features do make it more or less suited for a niche group of users.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mini-Commander loses half an inch of the blade from the standard Commander model and has a 3.4-inch blade with a deployed length of 8 inches. The Mini-Commander’s blade is .125 inches thick and is made from 154CM. The handle is 4.6 inches long and the knife weighs 4.5 ounces.

It’s a convenient and easy knife to pocket carry. The Mini-Commander features a recurve blade design that sports a very prominent belly. You get a lot of cutting edge in a very compact package. It’s got a standard drop point tip and has a black cerakote finish. A stonewash finish is also available.

The use of 154 CM is pretty standard with Emerson knives and a great overall steel. It’s an excellent compromise of features and specs, but also makes an outstanding metal if you deploy to harsh conditions with your knife. Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, wildland firefighters, Border Patrol, etc.

154 CM is very corrosion resistant, and it is tough steel. It’s relatively easy to sharpen and can get quite sharp. 154 CM steel seems to be excellent steel when paired with a chisel grind. A chisel grind is quick and easy to sharpen, something I appreciated with the CQC-7BW when I was in the field and deployed.

You can get a good sharp edge with minimal tools and effort. The blade will also last. A chisel grind is a strong grind and when combined with a strong steel it makes a very dependable knife. When logistics suck you want something you won’t need to replace.

A chisel grind is great for most things, but don’t expect super smooth cuts. It has some grind to it while cutting. While it does cut, it doesn’t give me that tactile satisfaction I get from a super smooth cut. The belly of this blade makes it a great slasher.

The CQC knives and Emerson knives, in general, are designed to be weapons and EDC tools. I’ve never used a knife as a weapon, and likely never will. However, the belly on this knife would deliver deep, penetrating slashes in such an encounter. From my purposes, it’s perfect for cleaning game or cutting apples up for my kid’s basketball team. I do suggest washing the knife in-between those activities.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is designed to fully fit the hand and it does well. The handle curves slightly forward, reinforcing the blade’s slashing design. The grips are made from G10 material and its heavily textured for comfort and control. The finger guard is deep and ensures nothing will slip and cause an accident.

The rear of the grip has jimping on both the handle and blade. It’s quite a bit and the thumb feels comforting pushing on it. Combined with the deep fingerguard and you’ll have a hard time losing your grip. If you do the grip does have a lanyard hole to ensure you really can’t lose this knife.

The grip is very comfortable and the grip design is well suited for slashing and slicing.

The pocket clip is nice and robust, very durable and it clings to your pants well. It’s certainly strong and well made. As a reader and commenter pointed out in my Mini 15 review the knife is only tapped for right-handed use.

Left-handed models exist and a right-handed model can be tapped for left-hand carry but that costs money. However, for the price of this knife, it should be ambidextrous. Most of the knife is ambi so a left-handed clip option should be standard.

Deployment and Lockup

This model features the Wave opening system. This allows you to open the knife as you remove it from your pocket. It’s neat, and if you were about to get into a fight its faster than an auto knife. However, it takes practice to learn.

In addition to the wave feature you have a thumb disk that is ambidextrous and easy to use. A flick of the wrist and thumb will send the blade flying out and locking reliably with just the thumb disk. This takes time and a little wear. The blade is initially tight and opens slowly but over time mine has become easy to flick open with the thumb stud.

The lock is made from titanium and its slightly jimped for an easy push release. What’s interesting is that my Mini 15 seems to lock up all over the place. The Mini-Commander locks up in the same spot every time regardless of how fast or slow I open it.

The lock is nice and tight and hasn’t let me down yet. Titanium may wear with time but it seems like little pressure or force is exerted over this lock so I doubt we are going to see many issues. I still haven’t seen any of the CQC-7 I’ve owned for years.

Emerson Mini-Commander Review – Final Thoughts

This is an expensive knife, with the price being close to 200 dollars. There are admittedly knives out there at that price that cut smoother, are thinner, and have left handed pocket clip options. However, the Mini-Commander’s combination of features does fill a certain role in the military and frontier world.

It’s nice to have a traditional point with a deep belly for slicing when fall deer season comes around and for tasks with a bigger cutting emphasis. It’s better for EDC than the CQC-7 and the mini designation makes it more comfortable than the standard Commander.

It’s a rock solid and well-made knife and it joins what appears to be my ever growing Emerson Collection with its own rightful place.

Emerson Mini Commander SF Plain Stonewashed Blade

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Emerson Mini-Commander 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.

Emerson Mini CQC-15 Review

by Travis Pike 4 Comments

The Emerson CQC line of folding tactical knives are downright legendary. Mr. Emerson’s knives were the first folding tactical knives and are common to see among the armed forces, with police, and of course average Joes like me. CQC stands for ‘close quarters combat,’ and these knives are designed to be used as weapons as well as useful EDC tools. This particular model is the Mini CQC-15.

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The Mini CQC-15 is a compact option that retains the legendary quality and reliability of Emerson’s knives. The CQC series is quite expansive these days, and the knives come in various sizes, colors, and configuration. The Mini CQC 15 is a hybrid of the two most popular knives in the CQC line, the Commander and the CQC-7.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mini CQC-15 is smaller than the CQC 15, but it isn’t a small knife by any means. It’s an average size EDC knife with a 3.5-inch blade. The overall length with the blade deployed is 7.9 inches, and total weight is light 4 ounces. The blade is .125 inches thick and is made from 154 CM.

The Mini CQC 15 sports the piercing tanto point of the famed CQC-7B and the recurve blade of the Commander. This odd combination does give you a versatile knife blade that stabs and slices easily. The belly isn’t as prominent as the Commander, but it’s still enough to make it a good choice for skinning deer. You also get that extra cutting edge in a shorter profile. The tanto blade is, of course, a great piercer. If used as a weapon in a military scenario it will make quick work of clothing, web gear, or uniform shirts.

The blade is made from a durable and corrosion resistant 154 CM steel. Its Emerson’s steel of choice for these knives and is a good steel for these knives in particular. It’s tough, but not hard to sharpen. The blade is a chisel grind which has some strengths, but also weaknesses. It’s very strong, easy to sharpen and the edge lasts a good while. A chisel grind is a rough cutter and feels like it catches and jumps when you are trying to do precise cuts.

In my time as a Marine, I carried an Emerson CQC-7BW. At that time I knew nothing about knives, but I knew the CQC-7BW was ‘the’ tactical knife. Over time I grew to appreciate 154CM steel and the chisel grind as something that was easy and quick to sharpen in the field. Often I had nothing more than the sharpening rod on my bayonet sheath.

Getting the Mini CQC-15 ready can be done quickly with minimal tools, time, or effort. In the tactical world, you might not have the tools and time to get a nice sharpening in. Your day patrol may turn into a three-day mission, and all you have is what’s on your back and in your pockets. You also want the edge to last and the blade to be strong. If it breaks in country, you can’t exactly go online and order another

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Mini CQC-15 is a fat bottom girl, and I love it. The handle is wide and fills my paws well. The knife has a palm swell, and a decent jimping for the thumb. The handle fills my hand very nicely, and I have no complaints about its design or shape. The grip design reminds me of a more subtle version of the ancient Greek kopis handle. It’s designed to aid in retention when cutting or stabbing.

The G-10 grips panels are aggressively textured, and some people might find it uncomfortable. You should bear in mind that by order gloves are part of the personal protective equipment of the uniformed services. Gloves can challenge grip, so this aggressive texturing is a must have for a knife like this.

The clip is nice and straightforward. It’s robust and has never bent or accidentally grabbed my chair as I go to sit. It’s tight, so the knife stays planted in the pocket. As the mini variant, it’s a bit more pocket-friendly. I never noticed any discomfort when carrying the knife. I never notice its even there until I need it. Unfortunately, it’s for righties only, but left-handed models of these knives are available. Seems a little ridiculous not to tap the knife for lefties

Deployment and Lockup

The Mini CQC-15 has a titanium liner lock that’s strong, but the knife seems to lock-up at different points. This is especially true if you use the wave method of opening these knives. Sometimes it goes extremely far and other times barely at all. However, I have never had the lock fail me in any way. I will admit I find myself subconsciously checking to make sure the blade is locked before getting the work.

Deployment can be done through a top thumb disk that’s ambidextrous, well textured and feels strong. It’s a slow deployment method, but a functional one. If you want to go a little faster, you have the wave method. The wave is based on that little hook on the thumb rest that is supposed to catch on your pants and open the knife as you draw it.

It’s a neat feature, but it doesn’t always work. It seems to work better in some pants than others. Pulling the knife like that is not dependable enough to trust in a self-defense scenario. I will say it works way better in jeans than in the typical material uniform pants is made of, which is odd seeing as who these knives are designed for. I may also be bad at opening a knife this way. The utility is there, but I can’t seem to master the wave.

Emerson Mini-CQC 15 Review – Final Thoughts

The lens you view this knife through is likely going to significantly affect your opinion on it. It’s not a graceful tool, and for the cost, you can get a knife that cuts smoother, features an ambidextrous pocket clip, and a more natural method of deploying the blade.

The Mini CQC-15, as well as the rest of the CQC series, is designed for folks in uniform. They have a broad set of features that make them an excellent knife for those in uniform. I still love it, and my CQC-7BW, but I am aware of my own bias and nostalgia. That being said its an objectively good knife, and one I would suggest if strength and simplicity are your main desire.

Emerson Mini CQC-15 with Plain Black Blade

If you are thinking of buying an Emerson Mini CQC-15, please consider purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Hogue Knives OTF Automatic Review

by Travis Pike 5 Comments

There is an undeniable cool factor when it comes to automatic knives. As someone who owns several, I can’t seem to get enough of them. Generally, I’m a gun guy, but being a gun by default means being a knife guy. When a company that traditionally makes gun parts and guns accessories starts making knives my ears perk up. Needless to say now that Hogue has entered the knife market lots of us gun guys are paying attention.

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Hogue has jumped headfirst into the knife market with folders and autos, and now even producing knives for HK. Today I am looking at my favorite Hogue knife, their 3.5-inch OTF, or Out The Front, automatic knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Hogue OTF isn’t the most creative of names, but it’s descriptive enough. The Hogue OTF sports a 3.5-inch blade. The knife also has an overall length of 8.5 inches, a closed length of 5 inches, and weighs only 5.3 ounces. It’s a perfect size and weight for an EDC knife.

The Hogue OTF comes with either a clip point or tanto style blade. My model comes with a clip point blade which offers belly than a tanto blade, although the tanto would penetrate better. I find myself cutting more than stabbing, so a clip point made more sense. Plus I hate sharpening a tanto blade.

Hogue uses 154CM for the majority of their knives, and the OTF model is no different. 154CM is good steel, it’s pretty sturdy and offers above average corrosion resistance. I live in Florida, right on the Gulf, so it stays humid and salty but over the last year of use and carry it’s remained rust free. 154 CM is a decently strong steel, and it does seem to hold an edge very nicely and isn’t hard to sharpen. It’s not as easy as something like 1095, but it’s not frustrating.

The Hogue OTF has a thin blade without serration of any kind. It’s simple, smooth and functional. For extra protection, this particular model has a black finish, while other models come with a tumbled stainless finish.

The blade cuts well and chews through cardboard, rope, paracord, tape, and even more. I’ve used it as a lightweight EDC knife for over a year, and its never let me down. It’s cleaned fish, sharpened sticks to roast marshmallows and had a fair share of outdoors adventures on top of regular EDC work.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The OTF’s handle is quite large, as most OTF knives are. They have to house the mechanics of the knife as well as the blade. My gorilla sized hands love large handles like this. Hogue made their name initially making grips for guns, so they know a thing or two about ergonomics. They made the design with cuts and divots in all the right places.

The handle is designed to accommodate your grip with graceful rises and falls where your hands meet the handle. It allows for a firm and aggressive no-slip grip. The handle is machined aluminum and textured via machining as well. It gives the knife an overall effective grip and looks nice too.

The backside of the grip houses the push-pull release. Ergonomically its placed well and easy to reach. The button also acts as a thumb rest when using the knife and gives you a little extra leverage when needed.

The pocket clip is spoon-shaped and does its job. I do have one issue with it. The spoon sticks slightly up and has caught on chairs several times resulting in the pocket clip bending outward a bit. The design only accommodates a blade down carry.

The Hogue OTF is a big knife regarding pocket carry. This problem comes with all OTF knives, and they tend to have thick and somewhat bulbous handles. It’s something you can’t avoid with OTF knives. It jeans its fine, but in khakis or dress pants it leaves an imprint. My daily attire permits carrying it, so it’s not a personal issue.

Lock and Deployment

The Hogue OTF knife uses a push-pull device on the backside of the knife near the top of the blade. Push the device upwards, and the blade springs into action. Once the blade is deployed you pull it down, and the blade retracts. The button is positioned perfectly for the thumb to reach it in a standard hammer grip.

There is no extra lock or safety device on the knife, and the button is the only control. The switch offers enough resistance that it would near impossible for the blade to open or close without you wanting it to. If you keep your thumb on the button for extra leverage while using the knife the blade is not going to close accidentally.

The blade springs into action with some real force and makes a satisfying thunk as it opens. Every hundred or so opens I drip a little Zippo lighter fluid down the blade and allow it to dry. This fluid lubricates the knife and keeps it running for a good long time.

The Hogue OTF Automatic Review – Final Thoughts

The Hogue OTF is an excellent knife and a great OTF blade. It’s a good choice for EDC or self-defense. Its design is rock solid, and the ergonomics are on point. Admittedly its an expensive knife, but OTF’s are not simple knives, and the price reflects that. It serves two niches, guys like me who think their cool and people who need a one-handed solution with very little room to use a leverage-based knife. I’m betting most sell to guys like me, and that’s one of the joys of capitalism.

The Hogue OTF is a robust and well-made knife from a company that has quickly proved themselves as quality knifemakers.

Hogue OTF – From $229.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Hogue OTF at BladeHQ or Amazon

Emerson PUK Review

by Travis Pike 1 Comment

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
Emerson is well known for producing a wide variety of knives, but they are most famous for producing a tactical folding knife known as the CQC 7. The CQC 7 is popular among spec ops troops around the world. The CQC 7 is what caused Ernest Emerson to turn the company from a garage operation to one of the most well-known knife companies in the world.

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By trade I’m a gun guy, and as a gun guy I find it easy to identify guns in movies. I’ve slowly become more and more of a knife guy and now I’ve started to notice knives in movies. Does this influence my interests? Sometimes… So, was Bruce Willis and Tears of the Sun on my mind when I snatched up an Emerson PUK? Sadly no, but once Tears of the Sun hit Netflix I got a little confirmation bias.

The Emerson PUK, or Police Utility Knife, is one of the few fixed blades Emerson produces. The PUK is not a big knife. It’s short and thin, but easy to carry. If Rambo has set the baseline for your commando knife, you’ll be disappointed at the subtle and small nature of the PUK. The PUK was made for police use, but according to Emerson has found its way into the hands of elite units like the British SAS.

I’m sure it’s a great knife for Bruce Willis’ Navy SEAL, but I wanted to find out what the PUK offered the everyday Joe.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Emerson PUK has an overall length of 8.5 inches with a 3.6-inch blade and weighs only 5.5 ounces. The PUK is one of the many Emerson knives made in the USA.

The Emerson PUK blade is only .125 inches thick. This thin blade helps keep the knife both balanced and lightweight. The blade is designed for heavy duty cutting and is made from a single piece of 154CM steel. 154CM is better suited for heavier cutting than standard stainless steel and has excellent edge retention. The biggest downside to this steel is its corrosion resistance. It’s far from perfect, but Emerson took steps and coated the blade to protect it against corrosion.

With the words Police and Utility in the name it’s safe to say this knife was designed to be more tool than weapon. However, I wouldn’t want to find myself on the wrong end of the PUK. The intent of the blade is for tactical use and the situations most police will find themselves in.

The cutting work of police is likely going to be heavy duty. Officers may be tasked with cutting through seat belts, through clothing, into the seats of cars and trucks, and much more. This kind of cutting requires a strong and capable knife. This is one of the advantages of using a fixed blade over a folding knife. With this in mind the blade’s V grind makes a lot of sense. V grinds tend to be better suited for heavy duty cutting. The PUK certainly has no qualms about slicing through materials both thick and thin.

I’ve taken the PUK to task by cutting through cardboard, an old pair of jeans, a ratchet strap, and some half inch thick rope. It glided through the cardboard and jeans, and only took a little effort to rip through the rope and ratchet strap. I’d like to try it against a seat belt but the Highway Patrol likely wouldn’t accept that as an excuse for why I’m not buckled up.

The blade’s short length makes it nice and handy. A 3.6-inch blade is something more common on folding knives, but it makes the PUK compact enough for easy carry. For plain clothes officers or civilians this thin and relatively short knife is easy to conceal.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is made of two pieces of G10 glass laminate material. G10 is a tough and easy to texture material. Oh boy, are the PUK’s grips textured. The grips are heavily scalloped and between the scalloping is a rough stippling. Near the inside of the grips is a step style texturing all the way to the center of the handle. The combination of these three-different grip texturizations gives you a one helluva grip on the knife. This grip isn’t shy about being rough.

In the hand this is nice because the knife isn’t going anywhere. You can chop, slash, and stab and the knife is staying put. The downside is that heavy work sans gloves really starts to rub into the hand. I developed a few hot spots during testing. This is one knife where tactical gloves are a must have for long term use.

Another downside occurs when carrying the knife concealed. It really rubs against the body to the point where it’s just plain painful. I would suggest an undershirt between the knife and body.

The handles form and shape is nice and comforting. It gives you a sure grip and the handle naturally forms a bit of a cliff to protect the index finger. On the opposite side a slight ridge rises and provides you a good point to rest the thumb for extra leverage.

Sheath

The old PUK’s came with nylon sheaths and this is what you see in Tears of the Sun. The new PUKs come with I’ve found to be one of the most robust and versatile sheaths options out there. It’s a kydex sheath that comes complete with a Tek Lok belt attachment.

The Tek Lok, from Blade Tech, is an incredibly versatile sheath mounting system. With the appropriate sheath you can easily change the orientation of the knife. You can do anything from add a little forward cant to mounting and carrying the knife horizontally.

The Sheath uses a passive retention system that ensures the knife stays put. It doesn’t take much to remove the knife, but it feels secure. I’m comfortable running the knife horizontally, and even upside down on tactical gear. The sheath is even compatible with MOLLE Lok components if you want to attach it to a vest or battle belt.

Emerson PUK Review – Final Thoughts

The Emerson PUK is a nice working mans fixed blade knife. It does nothing but excel at its role as a compact fixed blade utility knife. This short, but strong knife is an excellent companion for police and soldiers who want something more compact than your average fighting knife. I could see it being an excellent knife for first responders as well. The PUK could be a camping knife, but a heavier, more robust knife like the ESEE 4 would likely be a better outdoors option.

It’s not exactly a cheap knife, retailing at over 200 dollars. I will say I think the knife is worth the money, but it may not be a knife needed by your everyday Joe. If you are looking for a compact, lightweight and dare I say easy to carry fixed blade utility knife the PUK fills that role. It’s a high quality blade that lives up to its namesake.

Emerson Police Utility Fixed Blade Knife, Stonewashed Finish, 3.60 in Blade, PUK-SF

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Boker Patriot Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Last Updated: August 30, 2019
The Boker Patriot started with a great premise. A lightweight, affordable utility knife made in the USA with a 154CM blade. Who can argue with that? I for one was excited about the Patriot.

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But for whatever reason it hasn’t gotten a ton of traction. I say that because the Patriot only got a handful of reviews on Amazon. Hardly any. Contrast that with the Delica 4, which has about 1,500 reviews. Granted the Delica has been around for decades, but still. When a $70 knife released a couple years ago has a grand total of 5 reviews on Amazon, it makes you question its commercial success.

But that doesn’t dissuade me. If I bought my knives solely based on what the bright bulbs at Amazon suggested, we would be flooded with Gerber Gear (Bear Grylles edition – yeah!), M-Tech, and iridescent gas station knives. Thankfully I have too much self-respect for that. Just barely.

So when our very own Ben Schwartz told me he had a Boker Patriot for sale, I jumped at the opportunity. But it gets better. Ben is such a generous guy he gave me the knife. Thank you, Ben. I’ve wanted to check this one out for a while. I need to return the favor.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Boker Patriot has an overall length of 7.5″, a 3.375″ blade, and weighs 2.11 ounces. It’s a great size for EDC. Light, thin, but full size and uncompromising in utility. And the Patriot is nicely made. All the parts line up. Good fit and finish. A satisfying knife that gave me a good initial impression right out of the box.

The Patriot comes with a compressed drop point blade. Low slung and thin, it’s the perfect size for getting under the corner of an envelope, or slicing away at errant packing tape. Despite this you still get some belly and a fine tip. The knife also has a high flat grind and has been left with a satin finish.

One thing I noticed is that this blade came screaming sharp out of the box. Sharp enough where I still remember it, and I’ve had this knife at my office for several months now. I use it mostly for mail, but I’ve taken it to task on some other EDC chores. I brought it home a couple weeks ago and have been EDCing it on the weekends. Out of the box sharpness is only a minor facet of a knife review. After all, you are going to need to sharpen a knife anyways, but I noticed it here.

And the Patriot has held onto that sharpness for a long time. I’ve been using this knife casually for a few months now, and I have yet to sharpen it. It’s made of 154CM, which is a nice steel, especially at this sub $75 price point. Excellent stuff. It’s got a fine grain structure and takes a great edge. For regular duty EDC chores 154CM will hold strong for a good while.

So the blade and steel are both excellent. Perfect for daily carry tasks.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Patriot’s handle is comprised of glass filled nylon handle slabs, a plastic backspacer, and a stainless steel back lock. The handle is held together with high quality torx fasteners. This knife is linerless, so I wouldn’t use it for anything but cutting chores, but it feels remarkably solid. They offer the Patriot in a number of colors, including standard black. Orange is a good change of pace. There is no losing this knife if you drop it on the forest floor.

I know some will poo-poo the Patriot due to its plastic handles, but I don’t mind a plastic handled knife when it’s done right. And here it has been done right. The plastic pieces have been finished nicely. No gaps, no extra plastic left over from the molding process. It doesn’t feel cheap. And the satin hardware contrasts nicely with the matte handle. There is also an unobtrusive lanyard hole for those that like lanyards.

In hand the Patriot feels secure. It’s a thin handle, but thanks to some smart ergonomic decisions the Patriot fills the hand and is comfortable to use. First, the handle is relatively thick. Not Cold Steel Voyager thick, but thick enough to provide something to hold onto. Then they have included a couple finger grooves. This can be hit or miss, but here the grooves work perfectly for my hands. A short row of jimping provides ample traction for your thumb, and there is a forward finger choil on the blade if you want to choke up. It’s a small finger choil, but it works. Rounding things out is a high traction triangle pattern on the handle.

The end result is that the Patriot is comfortable to use. It feels natural in the hand in both forward and reverse grips. There is a lot of traction, so if you decide to use this for food prep, hunting, or some other messy chore you won’t be disappointed. But the knife is still comfortable thanks to the molded edges.

The pocket clip is a standard stainless steel deep-carry clip. It is simple but effective. Spring tension is about perfect. The knife is easy to insert and remove from the pocket, yet it remains securely in place. It’s also swappable for left or right handed tip up carry. It has good tension and is relatively discreet.

The Patriot carries easily. It’s a lightweight knife with a sturdy clip, so you quickly forget about it and there is little chance of it falling out of your pocket. I will say that the aggressive texture of the handle can make this a pants shredder. I won’t use this knife with suit pants or slacks, but it’s fine for my $15 K-mart shorts.

Deployment and Lockup

The Patriot is a thumb stud knife. If you have read my last few reviews you would have thought I forgot about these. Everything is a flipper these days.

But the Patriot comes with two thumb studs that appear to have been bolted onto the blade. The thumb studs are prominent and I can flick the knife open with my thumb most of the time. There is a decently strong backspring, so adequate force needs to be applied to pop open the knife. All things equal I prefer the more reliable thumb hole of a Delica over this, but it’s not bad.

The action is smooth and fluid. Peering into the handle I can’t see washers, but would be surprised if there were not phosphor bronze washers hugging the pivot of this knife.

For lockup we have an old school back lock. It’s actually more like a mid lock. It has a Boye Dent (the little dent on the lockbar release), which makes the knife more difficult to accidentally disengage. Lockup is secure. The blade falls into place with a satisfying snap.

Here is a shot of the Patriot next to a Medium Cold Steel Voyager:

There is no blade play in any direction, a remarkable feat given this is a liner-less plastic handled knife. Delicas and Enduras are notorious for up and down play. Cheap plastic lock backs like the Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter often have some play in them. A little blade play isn’t the end of the world, but its absence here goes to show that the Patriot is firing on all 6 cylinders.

The blade centering on my knife isn’t perfect. It’s maybe off by a mm. Still “centered” and not rubbing, but not perfect.

Boker Patriot Review – Final Thoughts

The Patriot is an excellent mid-priced EDC knife. The market has become so top heavy expensive knives that it has become easy to lose track of more humble offerings like the Patriot. But ignoring this knife would be a shame. It’s a solid design that has been nicely executed with good blade steel.

In many ways I prefer the Patriot over the Delica: better blade steel, stronger lockup, and nicer ergonomics. But the Delica is an icon, and I prefer the blade shape and thumb hole on that knife.

Here is a shot of it next to a Spyderco Sage 1:

Still, I can’t help but wonder how the annals of knife history would look if this Patriot was released at the same time as the Delica. Would it be as widely recognized? Who is to say. I think it would have more than 5 reviews on Amazon – that’s for sure!

Will the Patriot blow your skirt up like a $400 titanium framelock flipper? Probably not, but this is a knife you can use guilt free on a daily basis. It is easy to carry and does a good job cutting stuff. You won’t cry if it gets scratched up by your keys and loose change.

It’s an excellent daily carry tool and I’ve enjoyed having mine at the ready for several months. I’ll probably bring it back to my office after I’m done with this review. It’s perfect for mail, packages, and anything else I need it to do. Recommended.

Boker Plus USA Folding Knife Steel Blade with Orange Handle, 3.38"

Fiberglass reinforced vibrant orange nylon handle
Premium 154CM steel blade
Includes reversible pocket clip and lanyard hole
Blade length: 3-3/8 in. Overall Length: 7-1/2 in. Weight: 2.1 oz.
Limited Lifetime Warranty

I recommend purchasing the Boker Patriot at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.