aluminum

Microtech Exocet Review

In these uncertain times, it feels like an indulgence to sit down and write a knife review. I ask, should I even be doing this? To go about reviewing expensive pocket trinkets while the world unravels like a ball of yarn? The website has always been a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I’ve yet to actually feel guilty working on it.

The only comfort I can offer is that after every setback I have suffered, I’ve found the best medicine is to get up and get back to work. Well maybe in this case we should stay at home and get back to work, but regardless, keeping a routine and moving forward is the only option I know. The current situation a disaster in every sense of the word, but things will eventually get better. In the meantime, I hope you and your family are holding up OK.

And that is where the Microtech Exocet comes in. Today’s guilty pleasure. This knife is the epitome of a pocket bauble. Something I had no immediate need for, but I had to have the moment I saw it. God forbid my spare hundos gather some dust, or lack an expensive pocket knife to be clipped to. Not sure which is worse.

Regular readers know I’ve been on a Microtech bender lately. You could consider these the mid life crisis pieces of my knife collection. Hey, they are cheaper than a Corvette. But the reason I keep coming back is that Microtech makes an exceptional product. And the value proposition is actually pretty good when you consider what you are getting.

The Exocet is a new release. Maybe not hot off the press, but released sometime in late 2019. The name sounds cool, and apparently it’s French for “Flying Fish” and a French guided anti-ship missile. I kept admiring the knife on BladeHQ. I’ve made plenty of impulse purchases, but when you keep coming back to something weeks later, then you know it’s time to buy it. In that sense the Exocet was a carefully considered acquisition.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Excocet has an overall length of 5.625″, a 1.98″ blade, weighs 2.75 and is made in the USA. This is a California legal dual action out the front automatic pocket knife. Microtech advertises it as a money clip knife, and its has a prominent pocket clip where you can stuff some cards and cash. Here’s a picture of the Exocet in it’s native habitat:

I’ve been using mine as an EDC knife, albeit carefully. Check your local laws before buying this knife or carrying it in public. While it’s a “Cali legal” auto it may not be entirely kosher in your jurisdiction.

The Exocet features a broad, dual edge, dagger ground blade. This is a notoriously blade pattern to grind, as it’s actually 4 grinds, and the goal is to have them perfectly symmetrical and to line up. My knife is ground well, but if I study it I can see that it’s not perfect. Like I mentioned, this is a difficult grind to master, and Microtech is mass producing them. All things considered I think they did a great job on a $250 knife. As usual, they offer this blade in a variety of finishes. I went for the stonewashed with satin flats. I prefer the contrast of an uncoated blade, and the way an uncoated blade holds up to wear.

I think it’s also worth mentioning how exceptionally sharp this blade was out of the box. The edge will pop hair off your arm with the lightest bit of pressure. This is the kind of blade that is so sharp, you won’t even notice you have been cut by it. I’ve handled my share of knives over the years. It’s rare to impress me with out of the box sharpness, but I’m impressed.

Here’s another size comparison with the Endura and Delica:

Blade steel on this model is M390. At the risk of oversimplifying things, M390 is great stuff. A high end stainless made by Bohler Uddeholm, M390 is known for it’s fine grain structure and excellent edge retention while remaining relatively easy to sharpen and highly stain resistant. It’s one of my favorite steels. It’s a great choice on most folders, and was certainly an appropriate selection here.

In practice, the Exocet took care of all of the basic EDC tasks I put it up to. I’ll admit it has mostly been “dry” tasks like opening mail and packages. I didn’t cut an overripe pear or field dress a possum, but I’ve opened plenty of bags and packages.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is constructed of black anodized aluminum. The anodization looks great, but it will show wear with use. One commentor lamented that I didn’t disclose that in my Benchmade 940 review. Anodized aluminum shows signs of wear if it brushes up against hard objects. Keep that in mind if you like your knives to look new.

As usual for Microtech, the handle has been meticulously machined. Also typical is the use of Microtech’s proprietary hardware. Normally I service all my knives, but this is one I have no desire to take apart. If you wanted to do that you would have to purchase a special tool and possibly risk voiding your warranty. That’s a potential downside for sure if you were to religiously carry and use this knife. I know you can spray it out with compressed air or WD-40, but eventually it would need to go back to Microtech.

That said, the handle is immaculate. An interesting detail is the chunky triangular impact tool bolted to the pommel. It looks cool, is potentially useful, secures the pocket clip, and successfully integrates a lanyard hole.

You don’t buy a knife like this for stellar ergonomics. It’s basically like holding a stack of credit cards. Not the most comfortable handle for sure. However, it doesn’t feel terrible for light duty. There is plenty of traction thanks to a gratuitous amount of milling. The hard anodization offers a little grip as well, while your thumb rests naturally on the slider. That said, this design is not going to win any ergonomics awards. I can get 4 fingers onto the handle, but it most naturally works with a 3 finger grip.

The pocket clip is also a little unusual. Like the blade, it’s broad and flat. It’s designed to serve double duty as both a pocket clip and money clip. It doesn’t do either of those things particularly well. It holds cash and cards fine, but compared with a normal money clip it’s bulky. And as far as pocket clips go, well, it’s enormous. It works fine, but it’s not terribly discreet.

In pocket the Exocet carries pretty well. It’s reasonably thin and light, but it is also wide. I haven’t had any issues carrying it, but it isn’t exactly a Dragonfly II in the pocket either.

Here is your in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

If you already own an Ultratech, or a Troodon, or any other dual action out the front automatic by Microtech, then you will know what you are getting into with the automatic mechanism. The slider is stepped and easy to get to. The slider is also easy to use. It strikes an excellent balance between requiring a conscious amount of force, so it doesn’t open up accidentally, but it doesn’t require so much force that it wears out your thumb. I think they struck the perfect balancen.

The action is snappy and fun. As usual the blade shoots out with a satisfying “clack” and withdraws with a similar amount of panache. This is Microtech’s bread and butter, and their dual action system translates perfectly to the smaller Exocet.

Once deployed the blade has a little wobble as you would expect. Both up and down and side to side. Nothing abnormal or crazy, just what you would expect from a knife like this. Eventually I’d like to acquire a G&G Hawk Deadlock, just to see what that’s all about. In the meantime I’m cool with a little blade play. This Exocet still gets the job done.

Here’s a parting size comparison with my Troodon:

Microtech Exocet Review – Final Thoughts

This is something that will either immediately speak to you, or be a total turn off. For me, I had to have it. In practice the Exocet has been a lot of fun. That is what this knife is all about: fun. The novelty of a Cali Legal OTF that doubles as a money clip. It’s a pleasurable way to part with $250. I actually think there is a good amount of value here. All the parts are made in house in the USA. The fit and finish is beautiful. The action is a lot of fun. Sure it’s a luxury good, but you get something for your money.

That said, I’d be remiss to not point out that compromises abound with a knife like this. You may want to think twice if this is going to be your day in / day out, ride or die knife. It’s more of a secondary blade or a light user. I have a buddy who daily carried an Ultratech. He’s an electrician, so his knife saw some action. It got beat up quickly. I’m not saying a knife like this couldn’t be carried and used zealously every day, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it. That said, who am I to suggest what you do. Buy a Microtech and use the piss out of it. Enjoy it in good health. From what I’ve seen they are reliable knives. Just don’t be upset if it picks up some battle scars in short order.

If you are a Microtech fan then I think you will like the Exocet. I like mine and plan on keeping it. As always, be careful if you decide to carry it. Check your local laws before purchasing or carrying this knife.

Microtech Exocet – From $250.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Microtech Exocet at BladeHQ. Thank you for reading.

Microtech UTX-85 Review

by Aaron Shapiro 1 Comment

Buy the UTX-85 at BladeHQ

Knives function differently in a collector’s life than a normal person’s. They serve as a connection between people, a stress reliever, a sense of importance, a focus of learning, and yes, even sometimes a tool. Microtech, I think, is an excellent example of something that can occupy all of these roles. There’s nothing more satisfying than (safely) using an OTF as a fidget tool. There’s nothing more connecting (or dividing) than a room full of Microtech fanboys. The knives offer a depth and breadth of legitimate cutlery history for one to dive into. They are also very capable tools when used properly, we’ll get more into that later.

The Microtech UTX-85 is a smaller version of the long praised Ultratech. I believe the name comes from it being 85% of an Ultratech. As someone that always found the Ultratech to be slightly too large for my uses, I knew I needed to try it out.

Before we get too deep here, let’s go over some specs:

(All Measurements are my personal measurements and may differ from manufacturers specs)

Blade: 3”
OAL: 7.5”
Thickness: .696” with the clip
Blade Thickness: .126”
Steel: M390
Weight: 3.1oz
Lock: Out-the-front Automatic

Blade

The UTX-85 that I opted for has the traditional drop point blade shape. I’ve seen versions with tanto blades, double-edged daggers, serrations, and probably some I’m missing. I like the way the tanto looks, but for daily carry, I have found the drop point to be the most useful. It’s ground to a nice fine tip that should allow for detailed work, whereas the cutting edge is long enough to allow for effective draw cuts.

When it comes to practicality, this will be a lighter duty knife. So I’m more interested in sharpness and edge retention (I wound up putting my own edge on it) than I am robust/thickness of the blade. You won’t be prying, chopping, carving, etc. with this particular knife. It’s just not meant for that.

We’ve covered M390 in the past, but for those just joining us. I love this stuff. It’s not that dissimilar from 20CV or CTS-204P. After running mine through my Wicked Edge, I can attest that, while the initial bevel was tough to set, it took an excellent edge and has maintained it for a long time. It’s also famous for its stain and rust resistance. This is a superior all-around steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Microtech both nails and flubs on ergonomics, in my opinion. On the one hand, everything feels extremely functional but, the texturing and surface finish of the handle itself could be done better. I find the ridges milled into the top and bottom of the handle in place of gimping to be overly sharp. They do a good job of locking the knife in your hand but can be uncomfortable after extended use.

The anodized aluminum handles look great when the knife first arrives, however any bump or ding in the surface will leave behind a starkly contrasting scuff or scratch. This may or may not bother you, depending on your mindset regarding pocketknives. But I think it’s safe to assume that folks spending ~$250 on a tool like this enjoy it looking nice as much as they do it being capable.

In the same vein, Microtech uses a large bent steel clip on their OTFs. These function great (in my experience) and really remind me of the Chris Reeve clip with their dual detent style retention. The unfortunate thing about these clips, however, are that they are MASSIVE. The clip measures 0.4” wide and just over 2.5” long. The flare on the end also sticks up a decent amount as well and looks like it just wants to scratch your car.

Deployment and Lock

Microtech OTF’s are peculiar. Really, all OTF’s are unusual if you’re coming from a strictly “locking-knife,” background. They don’t have something that you disengage to close it. Instead, you “activate” the closing mechanism. From what I understand, the springs in Microtech OTF’s are not under tension apart from when you retract or extend the blade. The rest of the time, the spring is in a resting state. So, you’re essentially cocking and firing the blade in both directions during regular use. That’s cool. It’s hugely satisfying to play with, although it will drive your partner, roommate, pet, or anyone else in your immediate orbit insane after a short time.

Microtech has also come a long way with how this mechanism feels. I’ve owned several knives that used this OTF assembly, and the earlier ones were EXTREMELY difficult to actuate. The amount of force it took to withdraw and extend the blade would quickly make your wrist and hand sore. This is no longer the case; however, the UTX-85 has a much easier mechanism to operate.

It’s also worth pointing if you’re not familiar with Microtech’s double-action autos that these knives will disconnect if they encounter resistance while deploying. Then you have to pull the blade all the way to get it back on track again. These won’t deploy, “into,” something like a single action could (potentially).

Microtech UTX-85 Review – Final Thoughts

In the end, I think that the UTX-85 is an excellent choice for someone wanting to get into Microtech autos. They’re reasonably affordable, by comparison, and they’re made very well. I also personally prefer the size over the classic Ultratech. The Ultratech clocks in with a 3.4” blade vs. the 85’s 3”. It’s just a little more pocket-friendly for me and slightly less scary to civilians.

I think one competitive option that would be worth checking out with be one of the new OTF’s from Benchmade, the Phaeton. These are 3.45” OTF’s that also feature aluminum handles, S30V blades, and a reversible pocket clip. I’ve had the opportunity to handle both, and I think the action on the Benchmade’s is a little superior. The price, however, is also higher at around $323 on BladeHQ.

In the world of production automatics Microtech really has made a name for themselves. I’ve had the opportunity to own several of their models, and I can say that the UTX-85 feels the most EDC-practical to me. The blade size is right for daily tasks, but it also doesn’t make me feel like an assassin every time I pull it out to use. That may be what you’re going for, but I’m more a practical over tactical type gear-nerd. One of the beautiful things about how Microtech produces their knives is that they offer a ton of variety. Their models are generally available in a spectrum of blade shapes as well as blade steels.

The Microtech UTX-85 can be found from our favorite online knife retailer BladeHQ. At the time of this writing, they’re sitting around $250 give or take configuration. For more information check out microtechknives.com or bladehq.com

Microtech UTX-85 – From $247.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Microtech UTX-85 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Gerber Fastball Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

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

Buy on Amazon

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 Gear Fastball - Slim, Lightweight Folding Knife with Lock Release - Pocket Knife with 3-Position Clip - EDC Gear - 3", Flat Sage

Durable Pocket Knife: The Gerber Gear Fastball knife is precision-engineered with a high carbon S30V Wharncliffe blade for unmatched edge retention
Lightweight Pocket Knife: This slim, foldable knife has a lightweight design with a 3-inch blade and an easy-off Liner Lock release
Smooth Safety Knife: Our survival knife also features B.O.S.S. Tech for consistent, ball-bearing driven "lightswitching" operation, making it a reliable folding knife
Versatile Carry: Equipped with a 3-position pocket clip, this foldable knife offers adaptable carrying options and a black oxide coated blade for added resilience
About Gerber Gear: Since we made our start 85 years ago, we've been making blades and tools that have been companions on countless adventures

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

Benchmade Infidel Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

To be completely honest, my first association with the Infidel is nutnfancy. I recall his video review from years back. He may have replaced it with this one. The Infidel struck me as a cool knife, but a total novelty piece. At the time I watched his videos, buying a $400 automatic out the front pocket knife was exceedingly low on my list of priorities.

Buy the Benchmade Infidel at BladeHQ

But I’ve slowly gotten more into automatic knives. They are a sub-niche of the already niche hobby of knife collecting, but it’s a sub niche I’ve enjoyed exploring. For a layperson like myself, I see them more as a novelty than a daily carry tool, but the novelty has yet to wear thin. After checking out a few Microtech OTFs I’ve decided to venture into the realm of the Infidel, Benchmade’s flagship automatic.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Infidel has an overall length of 8.95″, a 3.95″ blade, weighs 5.00 ounces and is made in the USA. This is a big knife. Compared to the Halo VI it isn’t, but compared to everything else in my collection this this an objectively large knife. Benchmade offers a mini version, which may be better for daily carry, if you can carry it. This full size Infidel has a certain heft in the hand, and it stretches out in an instant. Definitely a piece for the professionals or the collectors.

Benchmade does make a Mini Infidel with a blade a little over 3″. I haven’t handled one, but it looks a little more pocketable.

The blade is a spearpoint affair, double edged and hallmarked by a long fuller that descends down the blade, terminating in a shape that resembles either a heart of set of dog testicles. The edge is applied to only the button side of the blade, a chisel edge not unlike an Emerson. Speaking of edges, the have been almost perfectly applied. This was either done by a robot, or some had an exceptionally steady hand at the grinding wheel. The 4 flat grinds are also all beautiful. Totally even and symmetrical. The blade has been well done.

You have a choice or an uncoated blade, or coated in Benchmade’s black BK1 coating as shown here. All things equal I would have preferred an uncoated blade, but I won’t complain about this coated option. It subdues the knife a bit and suggests that the Indifdel is strictly for business. Of course in my case “business” entails opening an especially stubborn bag of Cheetos, rather than assisting an outspoken insurgent shuffle his mortal coil, but as Nutn’ would say “your mileage may vary.” Indeed, Dude. Indeed.

Benchmade offers the Infidel in D2 steel. Back in the day when this knife first came out, D2 would have been a fine choice, but today it’s considered more of a budget steel, and we are even seeing it appear on bargain knives like the Rat 1. Benchmade needs to revisit this and update the blade steel.

My reasoning for this is that D2 has a reputation for being stubborn to sharpen. I believe that reputation is deserved with Benchmade’s heat treat. My 710 is a workhorse, but it’s a bitch to sharpen that recurved D2 blade. On the flip side, D2 has good edge retention and excellent toughness. It can be a real workhorse steel if you know how to keep it sharp, and the story goes that heat treat wizards like Bob Dozier have been able to heat treat D2 in a near mythical fashion that transcends what you get with a Benchmade.

But I’m writing this review at the end of 2019. In a few weeks it will be 2020. The D2 that was a good choice back in the early 2000s when this knife was originally produced, is not such a great choice today. Personally, I’d love to see M390 or an equivalent on this $500 piece. I think the price tag commands that. But even a decent stainless like 154CM or S35VN would be preferred here, although at the price point the consumer likely deserves M390 or CPM-20CV. D2 has the added wrinkle of D2 being “semi-stainles” and prone to patina. That’s another reason why springing for the coated version isn’t a terrible idea.

While the D2 blade can assuredly get the job done, I’m not a big fan of D2 on this uber expensive knife. And we live in a day in age where we don’t need such a compromise steel on a knife like this. Benchmade should at least give us another option.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is made mostly of black anodized aluminum. There are a couple visible liners that appear to be stainless steel or titanium. Everything is held together with torx bolts. Handle construction is solid. There are no unintentionally sharp edges, and the parts line up perfectly. The handle has a pleasant heft to it, and the entire package reminds me of a meticulously built tiny hard-anodized aluminum coffin. What’s not to like?

The Infidel feels great in hand. I like how the weight meaningfully shifts as you deploy the blade. The open knife is blade heavy, with the balance point back behind the thumb slide. That may have some significance if you are using the knife in more of a martial arts capacity, as if you hold the knife with your thumb behind the button it gives you a neutral feeling in hand. My plebian tasks for the Infidel don’t really take advantage of that balance. I find myself more forward on the handle, bearing down on a block of cheese, angling under the fold of an envelope, or slicing the top off a plastic bag.

Still, the knife feels good in the hand. There are 2 dramatic finger choils that make natural resting spots for your thumb, or they can be grasped securely in a fist. The anodized aluminum has that light texture that reminds me of a chalkboard. The handle itself is generous and is bound to work well for most people. I give the ergonomics high marks.

You know you have acquired a serious piece of hardware when your folding knife comes with it’s own MOLLE equipped pouch. I enjoyed that with the old Benchmade Adamas and I am enjoying it here with the Infidel. There is something satisfying in a “who let the dogs out?” kind of way when you pop open the pouch with your thumb and pluck out the Infidel. Of course a pouch like this could be practical for law enforcement, military, or some other use case where it’s appropriate to wear MOLLE gear. Sadly, I find those occasions are few and far between for me.

Thankfully, Benchmade also equipped the Infidel with a deep carry pocket clip. This is much more practical for a civilian like me. The pocket clip is large, black chrome, and has “THE INFIDEL” emblazoned on it in distressed lettering. Oy vey. It looks cool in the way a Ford Raptor looks cool, gauche and unnecessary. Again, not appropriate for every occasion, but when you can pull off a piece like this it fits the bill.

And the pocket clip itself works great. It’s large, offers excellent spring retention, and buries your pocket knife deeply and securely in the pocket. And I want a secure clip for my $500 pocket knife. The last thing I’d want to do is lose it, or have it clatter out onto the floor when I sit down.

Here is your overexposed pocket clip shot:

That shiny clip is tough to photograph.

Deployment and Lockup

The Infidel is a dual action out the front automatic, meaning you can both open and close the blade with the pull of a button. The button on this knife is a large stepped block of raw aluminum. It stands out from the handle, a stark point of contrast on my otherwise black knife. That’s fine as it is a very functional button. You press forward on it with your thumb to get the knife open. A good amount of travel and force is required, but when you push back hard enough the blade springs forth with a substantial clack.

I think the amount of force and travel required is just right. You don’t want this knife accidentally opening, and the long throw switch makes this a purposeful knife to use. But isn’t so bad that it tears up the pad of your thumb. I can absentmindedly flick this blade open and closed all day, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend or anyone else within earshot.

Here is another size comparison with the Spyderco Delica and Spyderco Endura:

Lockup is pretty darn tight. There is a little wiggle in each direction, but not much. There will almost always be that compromise in an out the front auto, unless you are willing to spring for something like the Deadlock. But those start at $1,000, assuming you can get your hands on one. I’ll review one eventually. But this is about the Infidel, and I’d say the lockup on the Infidel is pretty good for what it is.

Benchmade Infidel Review – Final Thoughts

The Infidel is beautifully made and over the top. While there are practical uses for a knife like this, “normal” knife users like me will mostly enjoy the Infidel for its novelty. I’ve enjoyed putting this knife through its paces around the house, but that’s about all I can do with it. That says more about me than the Infidel, but suspect that my use case represents a lot of the people that buy this knife. And that’s totally OK. I think the Infidel is a satisfying collectible, and it’s resting comfortably next to my Combat Troodon and Halo VI.

If I were to update the piece I’d select some different blade steel. D2 has almost always been considered a compromise steel. That’s inappropriate on a knife that has such an uncompromising price point.

I think there are some compelling use cases for a dual action out the front auto. It’s hard to beat the convenience of a knife like this. It’s true one hand use, and 4″ of blade appears at the touch of a button. It’s practical in that regard. And for some professionals, this is a legitimate tool. It’s not a toy and it’s not a novelty. I’ve enjoyed the Infidel and respect it for what it is.

Again, I’d draw an analogy between the Benchmade Infidel and Ford Raptor. There is a serious “want vs. need” conflict within this knife. Few people that buy the Ford Raptor actually will bomb it down the sand dunes of Baja California. Most will drive it to work, and maybe tow a boat or trailer with it on the weekends. Who knows, they may even play in the mud with it on occasion.

The Infidel offers a similar proposition. Totally cool, capably built, and entirely impractical for most people most of the time. But that’s OK. If you have the means and the interest, the Infidel is well done and worth checking out. And if you are looking to scratch this kind of itch, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a Raptor.

Benchmade Infidel – From $437.00
From: BladeHQ

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

Microtech Troodon Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

I’ve got a couple Microtech knife reviews under my belt at this point, and as far as their automatics go I’ve reviewed the Halo VI and the Stitch. Something that is obviously missing from the picture is one of their dual action Out The Front (OTF) knives. The OTF autos are are the knives Microtech is best known for making. And of course for some reason I waited to pick one up.

Buy the Microtech Troodon at BladeHQ

Oddly enough, it was when a buddy of mine in the real world told me he was picking up a couple Ultratechs to daily carry, it prompted me to think about a dual action OTF of my own.

I went for the Troodon because I thought it looked cool with its angled front. I went with a double edge spearpoint blade for added coolness, but as usual for Microtech you can configure this knife in a myriad of ways. Plus, the knife is named after a dinosaur. I’ll get an Ultratech soon.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Troodon has an overall length of 7.65″, a 3.00″ blade, weighs 3.00 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a nice size knife for EDC, provided you are in a jurisdiction that allows you to carry an OTF knife. They do make these with a single edge, so it’s possible this could be a daily carry for some. Personally, this has been more of a collectible than a true daily carry for me.

Here is a picture next to a Spyderco Sage 5:

As you can see it’s a nice size for EDC. Provided you are in a jurisdiction that permits you to EDC it.

For those wanting something significantly bigger, Microtech offers the Combat Troodon with an overall length of 9.5″ and a 3.8″ blade. Weight comes in at 5.35 ounces.

As I’ve mentioned a couple times, this knife has a dual edged spear point blade. You can also get the knife in a drop point, tanto, or hellhound tanto. Additional options include partial serrations, full serrations, coated, or uncoated in a variety of finishes.

My knife features a satin finish. It has been beautifully ground. All grinds are crisp and uniform. The edges are also nice and even, not an easy job for a double edged knife. There is a deep fuller down the blade that has been further pocketed. It looks cool.

Blade steel is the tried and true M390. I have waxed semi-poetic about this steel for a long time. It’s one of my favorite high end steels, blending the qualities of good edge retention and easy sharpening. It also polishes nicely and exhibits good rust resistance.

I can’t say I’ve used this knife a whole lot. Besides it probably being illegal to carry outside my home, the double edged blade is kind of dangerous for my usual box cutting, apple coring shtick. I’ve used it lightly and treated it as more of a collectible. While I know some people will daily carry their Troodons, a lot will keep them as collectibles.

I will say the Troodon came extremely sharp out of the box. It cleanly cuts thin receipt paper. It will open a letter or a package without a problem. And I have to confess these dual action OTFs are actually very handy because you can use them easily with one hand. My Troodon was epic in the kitchen for opening up bags of produce. It also sliced some roma tomatoes easily, although I was careful to clean the blade after prior to retracting it back into the handle of the knife.

On the subject of sharpening, it’s interesting to review Microtech’s FAQs. They say improper sharpening voids their warranty. I’d be curious to learn what that entails. I’m sure gentle stropping or running the edge on a ceramic rod like a Sharpmaker will not void the warranty.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Troodon features a hard anodized aluminum handle, fastened together with Microtech’s proprietary hardware. Usually, this is the part of the review where I’d take a moment to whine about the proprietary hardware, but this is a knife I have no desire to open up.

Fit and finish is excellent. All the parts line up perfectly, and everything has been finished to a high standard. The hard anodizing is good, but it’s not impervious to wear. My anodizing has worn slightly underneath the pocket clip, and my electrician friend’s Ultratech shows some significant battle scars after a couple months of heavy duty daily carry.

Capping things off is an aggressive glass breaker / “skull crusher” on the pommel.

The Troodon is comfortable in hand. There is a lot of traction on this handle thanks to deep scallops all over the handle. That, combined with the box handle shape, means that this is not a knife that will melt into your hand. But you can definitely get a good grip on it, which is essential for using the dual action button. More on that later.

While the knife will never be as comfortable as an Emerson, the handle design serves its purpose and looks good doing it.

The pocket clip is a deep carry “double dip” clip, a la Chris Reeve Knives. I’ve always liked double dip clips as they help anchor the knife in your pocket. That, combined with the good spring retention and aggressive texture under the clip, means that this knife isn’t going anywhere. Comforting when you shell out almost $400 for a pocket knife.

The clip is another precision machined part marrying form and function. It looks cool without being over-the-top, and is both serialized and production date stamped. It’s anchored in place with that impressively machined glass breaker pommel. The clip can be swapped for right or left side tip up carry, but you will need either a special tool or some patience to un-thread the pommel without marring its finish.

In practice the Troodon carries great. The pocket clip is secure and the knife is light. I’ve carried this knife around the house and quickly forgot the Troodon was in my pocket. I literally forgot I was carrying the knife, to the point where I ended up taking it on an hour long bike ride. Generally I don’t select $400 knives for bike rides, but the Troodon performed admirably, thanks in large part to that double dip clip.

Deployment and Lockup

This section is why you buy a Troodon. It’s a dual action out the front automatic knife. That means the blade both opens and closes with the push of a button. It’s an “Out The Front” automatic because the blade shoots and retracts out the front of the knife. None of this should come as a surprise, but it’s worth mentioning to be thorough.

So how does it work? The button is stiff, and takes a good amount of pressure to actuate. That’s a good thing, as you don’t want the knife to accidentally open up in your pocket. Thanks to the significant force required to actuate the blade, I think it’s almost impossible that the blade would open up accidentally.

When you do apply enough force to trigger the blade it shoots out with a satisfying snap. It feels punchy, but its actually not enough force to be considered a “penetrateor”. This means it’s not designed to be shot into it’s target like a light saber. If you hold an index card an inch or two in front of the knife, it will not punch through the card, and it will instead derail the blade. You can then reset the blade by pulling it out manually. I consider this to be a feature, not a bug. As it stands a knife like this requires a certain level of respect. It’s not a toy and you need to be careful with it.

Here it is next to my Halo VI:

When the knife is open there is a little blade wiggle. Not a lot, maybe half millimeter. That’s the nature of most dual action knives, although, the Deadlock is a notable exception. The blade wiggle is to be expected with these production dual action OTFs. The knives will hold up fine under normal use, but you definitely don’t want to do any prying or chopping with a knife like this.

The blade retracts by pulling back on the button. It shoots into the handle with the same speed and sound. The entire process is novel and satisfying.

Microtech Troodon Review – Final Thoughts

Each Microtech I’ve bought has encouraged me to buy another. They are unique and memorable knives. They aren’t cheap, but they are beautifully made in the USA. The visual flair, attention to detail, and robust nature of their offerings elevates their offerings beyond gimmick.

The Troodon is no exception. These dual action OTF knives are Microtech’s bread and butter, and it’s easy to see why. The action is smooth, satisfying, and undeniably cool. While this knife isn’t a daily carry for me, plenty of folks like to carry these D/A OTFs. Part of the appeal is that you can easily open and close the knife with one hand. In that sense, this is actually a practical tool. But it’s Microtech’s ability to blend form and function that keep me coming back.

Recommended to those who are interested in the design, or a high end dual action OTF automatic. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Microtech Troodon- From $374.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Microtech Troodon at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

CRKT Crossbones Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

It has been a good while since I have reviewed a CRKT knife. I wanted to remedy that situation, but struggled with selecting a knife. I like a lot of their designs, but sometimes weight gets in the way. For example, I like how they paired up with Eric Ochs to create the CRKT Avant, but at 5.4 ounces I couldn’t quite pull the trigger.

Buy the CRKT Crossbones at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Crossbones caught my eye in part because it weighs less than 2.5 ounces, but also because CRKT has decided to double down on the design and release a high end version of the knife. To me, that signals the design has gotten some traction, and we may have something special on our hands.

The story behind this knife and it’s designer is also intriguing. This knife was designed by Jeff Park. Jeff has worked for Ken Onion for 10 years in Ken’s shop in Hawaii. The job quickly blossomed into a mentorship, and Jeff collaborated with Ken on the design that ultimately became the Crossbones. CRKT did a superb video overview of the knife that offers back story and a view into the design considerations.

So after careful consideration I bought the Crossbones off Amazon and a few days later it was at my door. On that note, I bought this knife with my own money. This is the same for every other knife I review unless noted otherwise.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Crossbones has an overall length of 8.06″, a 3.54″ blade, weighs 2.4 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a lightweight big-bladed EDC not unlike the Boker Urban Trapper. Where the Crossbones differs from the Urban trapper is that the Crossbones is much thicker. On the flip side the Crossbones will hold up to harder use much better than the Urban Trapper.

Speaking of the Urban Trapper, here is a quick size comparison:

Another obvious comparison is with the CRKT Swindle. The swindle is about half an inch shorter and an ounce heavier. The Swindle is also half the price of the Crossbones. When you hold the two knives at the same time, you can see where the extra money went on the Crossbones. The machining, especially in the handle, is much more elaborate. Both knives fall into that “slim and slicey” EDC knife category, and the Crossbones in particular reminds me of a folding filet knife.

It’s worth mentioning that if you are looking for something much larger, CRKT also offers the Jumbones, which is a version of this pattern with a near 5″ blade. That is getting you even further into folding filet knife territory.

The Crossbones features a dramatic trailing point blade. Designer Jeff Park apparently took inspiration from the tanto blade shape, and he describes the blade as a “modified tanto”. Regardless what you have here is a long and thin blade. Blade stock is actually pretty robust at approximately 3.3 mm thick tapering down to a fine tip. The full flat grind gets pretty thin towards the edge and the satin finish is clean and easy to maintain.

CRKT selected AUS-8 for the blade steel. That is likely to get some grumbling, especially given the over $50 price tag. If you like the design and want to splurge, there is the premium version in M390, but it would be cool to see this in VG-10 or 154CM. I realize from a manufacturing logistics standpoint that could be expensive at best and impossible in some instances.

AUS-8 has a reputation of being a softer steel that is easy to sharpen but won’t hold an edge as a long as harder more expensive cutlery steels. On the plus side I’ve found AUS-8 to be a hearty steel that is tough, takes a nice finish, and is easy to maintain.

In practice the Crossbones performed as I would have expected. That slim blade is easy to get underneath the fold of an envelope, or into the seam of a box. The full flat grind aides in slicing, easily paring apples and breaking down boxes. The blade did slow down after some heavy cardboard cutting, but it was easy enough to bring back on my Spyderco Goldenstone. No issues with rust or corrosion.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is kind of wild and crazy, and I suspect this is where CRKT allocated the majority of their budget. The 6061 aluminum handles have been heavily machined and given a dramatic 2 tone finish with bead blasted and satin finished elements. The profile of the handle resembles a dog bone, and that inspired the name. Inside you can see that the aluminum handles have been pocketed to accept stainless steel liners. Rounding things out are a partial backspacer that doubles as a lanyard hole, and custom hardware.

Fit and finish on the handle is excellent. The machining is meticulous. There is a fine diamond pattern milled into the handles. Not sure how they do that, but it probably takes some small endmills to get that level of detail. I am especially impressed by how well the steel liners fit into the aluminum handle.

The ergonomics on the Crossbones are interesting. On one hand this is a knife with a lot of sharp edges. That satin “X” shape in the handle looks cool, but the edges are sharp. Not to the point of cutting you sharp, but it’s certainly noticeable. But what I find interesting is that these sharp ridges offer a lot of traction while using the knife. Certainly this is not a piece that will easily slip out of your hand. I think for normal use the traction will be appreciated. Under more hard use conditions such as heavy rope cutting and carving wood, I think the traction is excessive and this knife is going to develop some hot spots.

I’m left a little conflicted on the elaborate design work in the handle. Some people will like this, but I would have been OK with less detail and less sharp edges. I notice that Jeff’s knife in his CRKT overview lacked the crazy millwork. Part of me wonders how that knife feels in hand compared to this production version.

In contrast to the elaborate handle, the pocket clip is a small no-frills deep carry offering. The clip is positioned for right side tip up carry only, but it’s secure, offers good spring retention, and is discreet. The knife pretty much buries itself into your pocket. Great if you are looking for your pocket knife to fly under the radar. It’s also fairly easy to retrieve from the pocket.

This Crossbones carries well. The heavily textured handle and stout pocket clip means that the knife is not going anywhere. At 2.4 ounces this is a knife you will quickly forget you are carrying until the time comes to use it. The knife is thick, but it’s not unreasonable. All said I think it behaves well in the pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The blade of the Crossbones is accessed via a low profile flipper tab. The flipper tab is almost too low profile, thanks in part to a strong detent and rounded edges of the flipper tab. Rounded edges aren’t necessarily a bad thing. I noted in my SOG Terminus XR review that the sharp edges of the flipper tab on that knife actually cut my finger, so I’m glad that isn’t the case here.

But on the flip side, my finger has slipped off this tab without opening the blade many times. It takes both technique and concentration. So that’s a bit of a bummer, but the good news is the detent is crisp and dialed in. When the knife opens, it opens with authoritay. The blade rockets out thanks to a strong detent and IKBS bearing system.

For lockup we have a stainless steel liner lock. The lockbark engages fully with the tang of the blade, and it sits in the middle of the tang. There is no lock rock, or blade play in this knife. Out of the box the lockup was just a little sticky, but that has smoothed out with use.

Here is a size comparison with my Swindle. I still have this knife 5 years later, and it’s still an impressive budget knife. Time flies.

Blade centering is close to perfect on my knife. Maybe off by a hair.

CRKT Crossbones Review – Final Thoughts

The Crossbones is an interesting knife. I am not sure if it rises to the level of being an “iconic folding knife” but it’s certainly different, and everything and has been well implemented. Retailing around $65, it’s on the expensive side for CRKT, but they have dialed in the fit and finish on this blade and a lot of work was put into the handle. Visually the knife is striking, with it’s unique profile and monochromatic look. The heavily machined handle will read as busy to some, but I appreciate that they tried to do something different here.

Functionally the knife has a lot going for it. It’s lightweight and easy to pocket. It’s a long bold looking knife, so maybe not appropriate for all social situations, but the long thin blade can get into places other knives can’t. The handle is heavily textured and easy to grasp. I found the flipper tab a little slippery at times, but nothing egregious. Of course I’d always like to see a better steel than AUS-8, but jumping up to a better steel would probably require a corresponding jump in price. If you really like the design then perhaps snagging one of the limited edition versions is worthwhile.

At the end of the day, I can see why CRKT has offered the Crossbones in a few different configurations. It’s a cool design, and it has been well executed. While I can’t give it a blanket endorsement, I think if you are interested in the design, then the Crossbones is worth picking up.

CRKT Crossbones EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Gentleman's Knife, Everyday Carry, Satin Blade, IKBS Ball Bearing Pivot, Liner Lock, Brushed Aluminum Handle, Deep Carry Pocket Clip 7530

Smooth Opening: IKBS ball bearing pivot deploys the blade smooth
Fast Opening: The flipper deploys the blade fast
Easy To Sharpen: High carbon stainless steel blade takes an edge well
Classy Appearance: Satin finish blade has a modern look
Custom Stylings: Two-tone aluminum handle has distinctive look

I recommend purchasing the CRKT Crossbones at Amazon or BladeHQ.