Button Lock

Protech Newport Review

Pro-Tech isn’t always the first brand that comes to mind when knife collectors start talking about automatic knives. We often default to Microtech or perhaps Kershaw. This makes sense, both of these brands have a large market share in the industry. They also possess a large social media presence and are very conspicuous at the tradeshows.

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However, I think any true knife enthusiast would be sorely remiss to not spend some time looking at Pro-Tech. I’ve owned several knives from Protech over the years, they are one of the few swing-blade automatic manufacturers that make lefty dedicated versions of their knives. (Note to knife brands: I’ll literally throw money at you if you make lefty dedicated versions of your knives. I always support lefty manufacturers.)

Pro-Tech is a US-based knife company based out of Southern California. Their knives are all made in small runs in order to give the company the time to put human hands on each knife going out of their doors. They have done some great collaborations with Strider, Emerson, and Les George to name a few. They primarily focus on automatics but do have several “normal opening” knives in their catalog. Protech is also known for its (with a grain of sand) custom knives. These generally take the form of an existing production model made with premium materials. Check out this custom they made for Nick Shabazz a couple of years back.

The ProTech Newport is what’s up for discussion today, let’s touch on some specs:

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

Blade: 2.75”
Overall Length: 7”
Thickness: .62” with the clip
Blade Thickness: .1”
Steel: S35VN
Weight: 2.2oz
Lock: Button Lock Automatic

Blade Steel

First things first, the business end of any knife is the blade. The Protech Newport has a very aggressive drop point blade made out of thin S35VN. When considering this particular knife I think it’s important to keep in mind the intended use-case here. This is a gentleman’s folder, not a hard use EDC blade. You want this knife to be ground thin and constantly sharp so that it’ll sing through the envelopes on your desk; that is what Protech has achieved here. With my calipers I’m seeing a blade stock that’s just under a tenth of an inch thick. Once ground down to the edge this knife becomes a lightsaber. My secret plan is to see if I can get this blade reground even thinner, to a zero-edge after the review. I like my knives to scare me by simply existing.

The steel Protech chose for the Newport is Crucible legendary S35VN. There has been plenty written about S35VN over the years. Suffice to say that this is a good choice for a knife like this. It retains an edge well, resists rust and corrosion, and is easy to sharpen when needed.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Newport is where it makes its intended purpose known. The slabs are made of anodized aluminum. The anodization has a “satin-y” texture to it providing the only grip surfaces on the knife. This just confirms in my mind that this is a more, “desk knife” than something you’d put into a hard use or tactical application. You’re going to open letters and packages with this knife.

Ergonomically the Newport sits well in hand. Protech has added a small palm swell in the handle that sits between my ring and pinky finger. This gives you a little bit more purchase on the knife when you’re working with it. The one thing to take into consideration is the size of the knife in general, I wear an L size glove and my hand occupies the entire handle. This combined with the lack of gimping would make me think twice about using this knife for any type of aggressive piercing tasks. I’d hate to run my hand onto that blade. As I said above, however; I think you’ll most likely be grabbing this knife for some pretty small jobs, so I wouldn’t sweat that too much.

The clip is excellent. It’s a deep carry clip with the fold terminating at the very end of the handle. What that means for you is the entire body the knife will sit inside your pocket. The Newport, being slim in profile already, is a good candidate for this. Plus, with it being an auto you may not want to draw attention to the knife in your pocket.

Speaking of which, here’s a shot of the Newport in the pocket:

Deployment and Lockup

The Newport is a traditional swing blade automatic. Protech describes it as having a “smooth and fast coil spring action.” To translate this, the knife fires hard and fast. You’ll want to brace your fingers against the clip and nestle the end of the handle into your palm when you activate it otherwise you may send this sucker flying. It kicks like a tiny little mule. This is a good thing, and it’s a ton of fun to play with, but when you hand the knife to your bud just make sure he knows what’s coming too.

Using the lock is simple: Press the button and close the blade. You’ll be pushing against the spring that fires the knife, so I always use two hands to close this one. The knife is solid in the open and closed position though, no play to be hand in the mechanism.

Competitive Options

There are a couple of other options that come to mind if maybe the Newport doesn’t tickle your fancy:

The first one that I can think of is the Boker Kalashnikov. More of a heavy-duty knife with the Boker’s spear point blade. MUCH cheaper, but with that costs savings will come quality differences.

Next, you might consider Kershaw Launch 1. It’s a little larger, a tiny bit cheaper, and totally different styling. Kershaw doesn’t make a dedicated lefty version but it does have a reversible clip. You’ll still have black aluminum handles and a push-button lock. This could be a good option for you.

The last option that pops into my head is the Hogue Knives EX-AO1. These knives are a little bigger overall but roughly the same price as the Newport. You may just want something that fills your hand better and Hogue makes an excellent auto.

Protech Newport Review – Final Thoughts

So to wrap up… I love Protech’s offerings, they are a US company that does all their small-batch manufacturing in southern California. Their knives are quality and have their own style to them that’s undeniably Protech. The Newport specifically fits the bill for a “gentleman’s auto,” or a “light duty desk knife” for me. It’s also an EXCELLENT fidget toy when I’m working at my desk. If you keep the intended use of a knife like this in mind I don’t think you’ll be displeased with the Newport.

The Protech Newport is available in several different handle configurations, coated and uncoated blades, and a couple of really premium options that involve inlays. You should be able to find something that suits your taste in their catalog.

Pro-Tech Newport – From $164.95
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Protech Newport at BladeHQ. Thank you for reading.

Gerber 06 Auto Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

The Gerber 06 Auto has always struck me as a stand out piece for Gerber. A well worn trope in knife reviewing is to bag on Gerber for their decline from an American standard to a mass market, Wal-Mart oriented, overseas produced stuffed shirt of a brand.

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The poster child for that era of corner cutting was their plastic handled Bear Gryles Parang that would break in half if you tried to use it. I’m not sure you could even saber open a bottle of Dom with it on the hotel pool deck, much to Bear’s chagrin. If there ever was a rock bottom for Gerber, that was it.

The 06 Auto is a standout for the brand because it is USA made piece geared towards military and law enforcement instead of mall ninjas and glampers. It’s an automatic knife, so federal law forced Gerber’s corporate overlords to produce the 06 in the USA. The bean counters were pissed when they realized this, and groused about the diminished margins. But enthusiasts have referred to the USA made 06 as a “happy accident”, because the resulting knife was not an orange plastic encased turd best known for its propensity to break in half. Imagine that!

In the past few years Geber has attempted a turn around. Knives like the Fastball have shown the company is committed to making high quality blades again, but the 06 has been around for 10 years. In fact, the 06 I have here happens to be the 10 Year Anniversary variant with an OD green handle. It’s high time we check this modern classic out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 06 Auto has an overall length of 8.625″, a 3.625″ blade, weighs 7.14 ounces and is made in the good ole USA. This is a full size knife with a similar footprint to my Strider SnG or Spyderco Paramilitary 2, but it’s about twice the weight thanks to a thick blade, full steel liners under aluminum handles, and a chunky steel backspacer. It’s not my top choice for an urban EDC knife, but if you are looking for a heavy duty piece this 06 feels like it can be used to bust through cinder blocks.

Here is a size comparison with a Spyderco Delica and an Endura. All in green!

The blade is a handsome traditional drop point, with a saber flat grind and a long swedge. The blade of my 10th anniversary edition has been given a simple stonewashed finish, but generally the 06 comes with a flat black blade coating. The grinds are clean and even and the edge has been neatly applied, the last 1/8th of an inch at the heel is unsharpened for some reason. I’m not a fan of that as I find material can get hung up on the unsharpened portion. I suppose that could be ground out, but would prefer to see the edge completely sharp all the way to the heel straight out of the box.

Gerber runs S30V steel on their O6s these days. I have no real issue with S30V. It’s a fine steel that gets the job done, although these days there are more exotic steels available. Depending on the heat treat S30V can be stubborn to sharpen. I found that this 06 is easy enough to touch up on my Spyderco Goldenstone, so that’s good. No issues with rust or corrosion so far.

I’ve used this 06 a bit. It doesn’t leave the house much, as I prefer to carry smaller lighter knives when I’m on the go, but I’ve carried it around the house and neighborhood, and used it on many cardboard boxes. It’s an effective box cutter, tracking smooth cuts through cardboard and other packing materials. It also whittles well, peeling off long thin strips of wood and bark. It’s also a stout blade that should hold up well in harder use cases. I think it would be a good choice as folding camp knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

As I mentioned before, this knife comes with hard anodized aluminum scales over full steel liners and a thick steel backspacer. All the hardware has been given a black oxidized finish. This Ten Year Anniversary edition comes with OD green handles. I find that to be fun and a nice change of pace from the blacked out regular edition. Some of the finish is a little crude, most notably the tool marks on the backspacer, but the parts all fit together nicely. It’s a solid and well made handle.

You can also see Gerber went through the trouble of skeletonizing the steel liners. The big honking backspacer also provides room for a lanyard hole and an “impact tool”. As far as impact tools go, this 06 Automatic means business. I would not want to get hit with this thing.

The ergonomics of this knife are quite good. The handle is generous and can accommodate larger hands and gloved hands. The anodized handles offer a little texture without being abrasive. There is some millwork in the handle for extra traction, but it seems that the 06 benefits the most from its simple and large handle shape. The knife is a little pommel heavy, and I find the most balanced grip is when I am choking back on the handle. However if you decide to choke up, the flared handle shape prevents your fingers from slipping forward. All in all this is a comfortable handle that should work well for most people.

The pocket clip is large, and doesn’t provide for particularly deep carry. A good inch or so sticks out, which makes the knife easy to retrieve, but not super discreet. The pocket clip is secure with good spring retention. That is essential for a heavy knife like this.

Here is your in the pocket shot:

In practice I found the 06 to be a large and somewhat cumbersome knife to carry. If you are used to a heavy load out then the 06 is just another day at the office, but if you regularly carry a Dragonfly 2 or Mini Bugout like I do, then the 06 will take some getting used to. No surprise there, the knife is over 7 ounces.

Deployment and Lockup

Now for the fun part. As you know, the Gerber 06 is a push button automatic. The coil spring inside the handle is strong and snappy. It has no problem propelling the blade out. Gerber has also included a large safety button, or safety slide, that will lock the blade open or closed. Most safetys are fiddly and detract from the knife. The safety on the 06 actually enhances the experience. It’s surprisingly satisfying to use. It’s large and takes a purposeful amount of force to manipulate. I have yet to accidentally manipulate the safety. I don’t mind it at all on this knife.

For lockup the 06 comes equipped with a button lock. This is a robust locking mechanism, and the safety slide allows you to lock the knife open if you choose. I like button locks in generally, and think the button lock here is pretty good. The blade is secure although there is a small amount of side to side play. No up and down play. When it’s time to disengage the lock, an appropriate amount of force is required. There is no stickiness in the lock. It’s good. No complaints here.

Here is a parting size comparison with my Strider SnG. I still enjoy this knife, and imagine it’s a collectible at this point. I thought it would make for a cool size comparison.

Blade centering is good on my knife. I’d say it’s off by a hair, but is still good enough for government work.

Gerber 06 Auto Review – Final Thoughts

The 06 Auto has been on my radar for as long as it has been in production. It has that universal cool, and is a strong departure from Gerber’s standard stuff. It’s handsome, rugged, and overbuilt. Who wouldn’t want one?

Well, an argument against the 06 is it’s a heavy duty tool. If you are a normal person, you could carry one for the novelty, but I think you will find that it’s overkill for most EDC use cases. Certainly if you are in law enforcement, military, or have a reason to carry a heavy duty piece like this, then the 06 is a great choice. But if your typical carry is an ultralight EDC knife, then the 06 Auto will get old fast.

With those caveats aside I can recommend the 06 Auto. It’s a robust knife and it shows what Gerber is capable of if they put their minds to it. It’s a quality piece, and I’d love to see them riff on this design and offer lighter and maybe even non-automatic variants. More “happy accidents” please, and less orange plastic.

Gerber 06 Auto – From $169.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Gerber 06 Auto at BladeHQ. Thank you for reading.

Rockstead RYO Review

by Andrew Gene 2 Comments

The RYO is the latest folder from Rockstead, coming after their futuristic SHUN collaboration that was the work of Belorussian designer Dmitry Sinkevich. The SHUN was a tangent from the company’s previous aesthetic sensibilities, carrying much more futuristic lines in a larger form factor. Rockstead’s unmistakable mirrored blade grind and stylized fuller aside, the knife was definitely something more akin to other Sinkevich designs like the ZT 0452CF or his Shirogorov collaborations.

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The RYO design is a redirect back toward Rockstead’s other models, with a distinctly Japanese look that draws inspiration from an iconic friction folder. While most models reflect sword patterns, the RYO references the Higonokami (Higo for short) resulting in something similar to a modified wharncliffe, in Western cutlery terms. The blade shape is paired with an undulating handle texture reminiscent of waves, or in this case maybe black raku ceramics or “Japan Black” lacquerware. The name RYO translates to “good”. From my research it can be used to describe something of superior quality or character and is also used as a persons name.

As a side note, it might have been appropriate to call the RYO the HIGO however, Rockstead already has a knife named that. Although claiming the name, the model carries it in spirit only, and does not share a similarity in blade style.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Although the Rockstead RYO has a foot in the past, it’s clearly a modern knife showing off a finished product that is only possible through a combination of modern machining and the latest high-tech materials. The over-all length measures 7.716” (196mm) with a 3.125″ (79mm) blade, and a weight of 4.37 oz (124 g).

New to the folding knife collection, the RYO has a “concealable” clip design. We are also seeing a titanium handle, rather than the Duraluminum that’s has been used in the past. This isn’t that surprising as most of the newer, all metal handles (as seen in the SAI and SHUN) are full Titanium.

The 3.15” (80 mm) blade is made from one of Hitachi Metal’s flagship cutlery steels, ZDP-189. ZDP-189 boasts rather extreme specifications with a chromium content at 20%, nearly double the 10.5% needed to consider it a stainless, and a carbon content of 3%, just over four times the 0.7% needed to be classified as “high carbon”. The full specifications are as follows:

Carbon	Chromium	Molybdenum	Tungsten	Vanadium
3.00	20.00	1.50	1.50	0.10

Such impressive specifications are reached through a powder metal technology which helps to avoid the uneven (segregated) carbide micro-structure caused by cooling steel into a traditional ingot. During the process, molten alloy is pushed through a nozzle where it meets a high pressure stream of air. At contact with the compressed air, the molten metal rapidly solidifies creating a tiny, near-to segregation free, sphere-like particle. Because the cooling is so fast, the component elements are fixed in place with a more even micro-structure. The powdered batch is then mixed and sealed into inert-environment containers to avoid unwanted reactions. Finally it’s Hot Isostatically Pressed (HIP), trapping all of the ideal properties, evenly into place.

With such generous levels of elements that make for a high-performance steel, ZDP-189 is able to reach an incredible finished hardness and take an equally impressive edge. Rockstead measures each piece and the small dimple left from measurement is proudly displayed on the blades ricasso. The hardness of this particular RYO measures 67 RC.

While seemingly the end goal for a steel, the result does compromise other desirable attributes. The first is accessibility. Using ZDP-189 and finishing it to these standards increases cost. Secondly, such a high hardness makes the steel more brittle since it lacks any real ductility, limiting application to lighter duties.

This steel is chosen to support the grind, and as on all other Rockstead knives, the grind is nothing short of amazing. Rockstead defines the convex, zero geometry as Hon-zukuri which is traditionally reserved to describe sword patterns. The meaning loosely translates to “base style” and is Rockstead’s go to configuration. On other models they also offer flat grinds that include a secondary bevel as seen on the TEI-S DLC.

I’ve had the opportunity to handle three Rockstead knives and the mirrored finish is perfectly executed on all, only showing distortion from the curvature of the convex shape or on the compound angles that radius the belly of the blades. Because the mirrored finish runs right to the edge, the cutting performance is outstanding with a sharpness that seems to pass effortlessly while in use. This is partly because the blades are pretty much perfectly symmetrical and there isn’t any tooth to the edge that can catch on the material you’re cutting. While pretty legendary for a knife; as mentioned before the edge is fragile and it will micro-chip under normal use. This is where questions of practicality comes into play. Your flawless blade can be maintained – if you use Rockstead’s paid sharpening service. Otherwise you can do the job yourself at the expense of the perfect finishing.

As for the profile, the Higonokami-like pattern is very useful. The slightly curved edge is excellent for everyday tasks while the tip excels at fine work over something like a drop-point. For detailing Rockstead’s stylized fuller gives the blade an animated, vigilant stare while the media blasted flats provide a contrast that intensifies the polished grind.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The fully sculpted “3D machined” handle of the knife is very comfortable. The inner edge has a series of shallow finger grooves that conform to your hand nicely. At 4.566” in length you get a full grip for average sized hands. The area of use is extended by a deep choil that meets a curve toward the front of the handle, allowing you to choke up for more control. Added grip and tactile feedback is helped along by jimping on the clip’s back and a double row of jimping along the handle’s spine that’s continued by a run onto the blade’s thumb pad. There’s also a small swatch on the choil so you know exactly where you’re at when your finger is near the heel of the edge. Jimping mission accomplished.

The cross cut ridges add a significant dress factor to the polished handle, catching the light and defining the overall form. As you hold the knife in your hand, highlights roll across the surface giving the grip a jewel-like appearance that’s amplified by the dark, glassy DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating. The same reflective qualities that give the handle its presence also create some challenges. With so many surfaces and such a tricky polish, any small marks or areas of unevenness during the process tend to be exaggerated by the DLC and under very close inspection, some are visible. This can only really be observed when the knife is spotlessly cleaned up and under good light as was the case when producing the video overview. Also, it’s an epic finger print magnet. From one perspective I’d like to see the handle as immaculately rendered as the blade and from the other I appreciate the ambition.

An area where I definitely feel the handle could be improved however, is weight. Milled out pockets on the inner scales could trim fat from the 4.37 oz. While this won’t bother some and others will equate weight with value, I prefer a lighter folder, and sub 4 oz would feel better with this smaller form factor.

For deployment there are two ambidextrous thumb-studs. While polished, they have a conical shape that narrows at the base, sit high and are exposed by a handle cut-out so you can easily and repeatably use them.

When opened the blade is held solidly by a button lock. Most button locks I’ve handled have a small tick of movement that eventually settles in, and this seems to be the case with the RYO. As of now, after handling the knife for some time, the lock-up feels totally solid and without play. Although seating confidently under significant spring tension, the action is smooth and without stickiness. When unlocking, the polished button head feels good under your thumb.

Normally, a button lock’s plunger serves double duty and is also used to hold the blade closed. In many cases the tension in the closed position is light allowing the blade to more easily fall out of the stowed position than something like a liner or frame lock. With the RYO, Rockstead has smartly added a separate detent that holds the blade closed, so the tension can be dialed in independently. As a small gripe, I’m not overly fond of the high pitch click the knife makes when overcoming the detent, but in a luxury item I tend to split hairs. Regardless of any criticism, the sum of parts of this button lock equals one the nicest I’ve handled to date.

Rounding out the details there is what Rockstead calls their “concealable” pocket clip. This is primarily an ergonomic feature so you don’t feel the clip when cutting. The integration is nicely executed and works visually when the knife is both open and closed. To reveal the clip, you manually push on its end which sits slightly proud when hidden. Although the small tab is visible, you don’t really feel it under normal use. The clip sits on a larger base that supports it, for a smooth yet robust feeling action. Because the clip is oriented to the back of the handle, its attachment point is best at your pocket seam (as opposed to along the opening) and works better with thinner fabrics. The fact that the clip is machined rather than stamped and bent, makes for a strong tension and, because of the orientation, the knife can twist to the side with thicker materials. I guess this isn’t really a jogging pants type of knife anyway.

Apparently this concealable clip design infringes on a patent filed by knife maker Joseph Caswell, who has a design called the EDX with a clip that automatically changes position with the action of opening and closing the blade. As such Rockstead has had to license in order to stay above board. As an additional carry option there is a lanyard hole that is discretely milled into the pommel.

Rockstead RYO Review – Final Thoughts

From the material choices through to the finished functional design, Rockstead personifies the ethic of Japanese bladesmithing. An approach where there is a thirst for the best technology and materials while still respectfully integrating knowledge and concepts from the past in balanced measure. Rockstead’s ability to harmoniously combine historic patterns with contemporary features is unique to the brand. While costly, these knives are truly distinct, no small feat in a market that is increasingly more saturated. The RYO is certainly “good”.

Rockstead Higo
From: BladeHQ

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

Microtech Stitch Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

Hot on the heels of my review of the Microtech Sigil, I decided to pick up the Stitch. This knife was designed by Sebastijan Berenji of Borka Blades.

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What I find interesting about Sebastian’s story is that he started out as an enthusiast. If I recall correctly, he was a friend and customer of Geoff Blauvelt of TuffKnives, learned the basics of grinding knives, and made some simple fixed blades. His designs and talents earned the interest of Anthony Marfione. Tony took him under his wing and now Sebastijan is a popular custom knifemaker selling knives for thousands of dollars. Some of his designs have been turned into production knives as well.

A cinderella story if I ever heard one.

The Stitch is an example of Sebastijan’s unique aesthetic. His designs are aggressive and the resulting knives are just plain cool. After being pleasantly surprised by the Sigil, I decided to check out Microtech Stitch and see what his designs are like in the metal.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Stitch has an overall length of 8.00″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 6.38 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a large and quirky folding knife. The first thing I noticed is the heft. I didn’t bother checking out the specs before purchasing, so I was a little surprised at how stout the Stitch was.

The second thing to note is the blade to handle ratio. Although the blade is technically 3.75″ long, the cutting edge is only 3″. Those who prize high blade to handle ratios will be sorely disappointed. Personally, I enjoy the weirdness of this knife. That is what drew me to the Stitch in the first place.

The Stitch features a unique blade shape. Maybe we could call it a modified clip point or something. Who really knows. Or cares.

The blade features a prominent harpoon, a high flat grind, a large swedge, and a tip that verges on being a trailing point. There is also a large decorative thumb hole. The blade is unique, and ground from almost 5mm thick blade stock. My blade has been given a bronzed “apocalyptic” (tumbled) blade finish. It is beautifully ground and meticulously finished.

My particular knife came with a blade made of Bohler M390 super steel. I believe they also offer this knife in Elmax, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they release this one in a number of blade steels.

M390 needs no introduction to the enthusiast of high end pocket knives. My guess is that if you are reading this review you already know that M390 is a top tier blade steel, and is among the best money can buy. That is because M390 has the covetable qualities of excellent edge retention and relatively easy sharpening. Most knives will either have great edge retention, or be easy to sharpen. Here you get the best of both worlds, along with good stain resistance.

The Stitch has proven itself to be a capable cutter in the last few weeks of my testing. It easily handles cardboard boxes and other EDC tasks. I’ll say the negative angle of the blade relative to the handle along with high point on this knife makes it a little different in some applications. Case in point, I was at an event and they gave me one of those plastic/paper wrist bands. I tried to cut it off with my Stitch and it took some finagling to get the tip low enough to cut the band off my wrist.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is a beautifully machined aluminum handle with a long geared backspacer and bronzed stainless steel hardware. Aluminum is 3-D contoured with details like a faux pivot collar, countersunk screws, and a fine triangle pattern for traction.

One thing to note, is that this hardware is not proprietary Microtech hardware, but standard torx stuff. That said, all the screws are oversized and look to be custom made. There are two blade stops inside the handle, and they also appear to be custom made.

The handle is immaculate and it’s hard to do it justice with a paragraph or two of text.

The Stitch is a supremely comfortable knife. This is in part because the cutting edge only takes up 37% of the overall length of the knife. So there is plenty of real estate. But it’s also due to some smart ergonomic features of the design. The handle is simple and comfortable. It has good texturing on the sides, and plenty of jimping on the backspacer. Sebastijan also included a large finger choil and a wide spine. That combined with the negative angle of the blade relative to the handle makes for a supremely comfortable knife, whether you are choked up or pulled back on the blade.

The pocket clip is a bent stainless steel clip, given the same bronze treatment as the blade and other hardware, and is a take on the Chris Reeve Knives “double dip clip”. Frankly, I’m not sure of the intellectual property history of this clip design: who came up with it, whether it was patented, licensed, etc. Since a version of this clip appears on their popular Ultratech series my guess is Microtech is well within their right to use it.

I am a big fan of the double dip clip on the Sebenza, and am a fan of it here on the Stitch. This is a wide clip. It has good spring action, and is easy to use. The double dip provides extra retention in your pocket. I’m a fan. The Stitch is a heavy knife, but the good pocket clip keeps it in place. It caries well for an almost 6.5 ounce folding knife. The handle is drilled and tapped for right side tip up carry only.

One interesting thing to comment on is how this knife looks with the closed blade. As you can see, quite a bit of the blade tang (by the thumb hole) is exposed. In the closed position it’s not nearly as resolved as something like my Spyderco Sage 1. Some might find this a little unconventional. I don’t mind it.

Deployment and Lockup

The Stitch is a push button automatic folder. I don’t review many autos, so I’m a little out of my element, but the push button is a generous pad of steel with intricate mill work. The Stitch uses a coil spring, and it does a good job kicking out this heavy blade. The knife shudders with kinetic energy when you press the button. It is snappy.

To close the blade you press the same button you use to open the knife. The force required to return the blade to its closed position is significant, and the blade slides into place with a satisfying snap – not unlike arming a rat trap.

The thumb hole is purely decorative, which is a small point of contention for me. Maybe it saves a little weight, maybe it adds a little visual flair, I’m not really sure what the rationale was. But it seems slightly out of place since you can’t use it for anything.

On that subject, I’d enjoy either a dual action or non-automatic version of this knife. The auto feature is fun, but it’s not necessary and limits where you can carry. Consult your local laws carefully before you decide to EDC this knife.

Still, I won’t fault the Stitch for being an auto. I knew that going into the review. Here’s a shot of the knife next to my Strider SnG:

The lock is a button lock, sturdy and secure. I detect the slightest amount of side to side play in my knife, but no up and down. The lock is easy to manipulate. There is no blade stick at all. It’s a well implemented button lock.

Centering is dead nuts perfect on my knife.

Microtech Stitch Review – Final Thoughts

It seems I have fallen down the slippery slope of Microtech. After resisting their knives for years, I have purchased 2 in a matter of weeks. The quality of these knives is apparent, and I’m now a believer. I’m also thinking I need one of their OTF automatics. Oy vey.

But the Stitch in particular is a cool knife. The design is one of a kind, and the execution is brilliant. All the parts are custom made. Each detail is refined to the point of perfection. I bought a Boker Kalashnikov a couple weeks ago to compare with this Stitch (and accidentally posted a draft of the review the other week – whoops). There is no comparison. This Stitch has been built with such fanatical attention to detail it’s not funny. Granted it costs 10x the Kalashnikov, but you get what you pay for.

I think if you like the concept of the Stitch you will like the reality of this knife. Quirky, but beautifully executed. I’m enjoying mine.

Microtech Stitch – From $364.00
From: BladeHQ

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Hogue X5 Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
The button lock flipper is an intriguing concept. The fun of a flipper paired with a sturdy button lock sounds great in theory. We have reviewed a couple, namely the Spartan Pallas and Freeman 451. Ben reviewed the Freeman, and he reported that the flipping action was good, but the flipper on my Pallas left a lot to be desired. That’s because no one has been able to recreate the ball detent action that you find on a liner lock or frame lock knife that puts the “flip” into a flipper. That is, until Hogue released their X5 flipper.

Buy the Hogue X5 at BladeHQ

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Designed by Allen Elishewitz, and modeled after his Black Dolphin custom offering, the X-5 is a button lock flipper that has flipping action that will rival any framelock flipper. In fact, the action is so good you may mistake the X5 for an assisted opening knife.

When I first saw the X5, it was the wharncliffe version. I don’t mind wharncliffe knives, but this one was a little too odd for me to want to buy. The spearpoint version reviewed here has beautiful symmetry. I picked one up as soon as I could find a nice deal on one.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The X-5 comes in 2 sizes: a larger knife with a 4″ blade, and a smaller version with a 3.5″ blade. I opted for the 3.5″ version, which has an overall length of 8.25″, and a weight of 4.62 ounces. The X-5 is made in the USA. I’d like to mention that this knife is beautifully made just like all the other Hogue knives I have reviewed. The fit and finish is immaculate, complete with a mirror polished edge. From a manufacturing standpoint this is a top shelf knife.

I like the look of this spear point blade. The harpoon knives the knife some attitude, and it compliments the shape of the handle. Allen Elishewitz is among the best knife designers I have met, and this X-5 puts his talents on full display. At any rate, the blade features a simple high flat grind, a neat swedge and a fine tip. There is a slight amount of belly. Nothing crazy, but the edge is one continuous curve. This blade has been given a matte black Cerakote finish. They offer this knife without the coating if you prefer uncoated blades.

Once again, Hogue selected CPM154 as blade steel for this knife. That’s the same steel they have in all their folders, so at this point I have plenty of experience with CPM154, and Hogue’s version / heat treat in particular. This is a great steel that provides easy sharpening and good edge retention. I’ve had some issues with 154CM staining in the past, but obviously this coated blade is not going to rust at all.

In practice the X-5 cuts nicely. I had no problems breaking down boxes, opening mail, and using the X-5 for other EDC related tasks. The tip is servicable, the belly is nice, and the grind is thin enough to cut things. The knife came with a beautiful edge which I have maintained through regular stropping. The Cerakote has also held up OK. It will burnish and wear with use (you can see some of that wear on my EX-04 below). As far as coatings go it’s pretty robust but not as good as DLC. Overall I have no complaints regarding the performance of this blade.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The X-5 handle is made of 2 pieces of hard anodized aluminum with textured G-10 inlays. Again, the handles here are beautifully machined. I would not be surprised if Hogue won Blade Show’s manufacturing quality award one year. Details include a vented spine, custom pivot and hardware, an integrated lanyard hole, and body screws on only one side of the knife. Everything oozes quality and attention to detail.

The handle on the 3.5″ version of the knife feels a little cramped. I can get a full 4 finger grip on the knife, but it feels like my pinky is going to slide off the back. Adding to things is the inclusion of an aggressive finger choil that limits your hand placement options. This is probably my biggest gripe with the knife. That said, the handle certainly works and I’m sure the 4″ version will be more accommodating to larger hands. Part of what I enjoy about this knife is the unique aesthetic, and I’m willing to sacrifice a little for the sake of this unique design. However, this is coming from a guy with a 100 pocket knives. If this was my only EDC knife I’d want something with milder ergonomics.

The pocket clip is a deep carry affair, blacked out and swappable for ambidextrous tip up carry. Retention is extremely tight. Pants shredding tight. There is no way this thing will fall out of your pocket, but that’s provided you can actually get this ting into your pocket in the first place. I find the spring action of the clip to be too tight. I’m also not a huge fan of the large tip of the pocket clip that is exposed when this knife is clipped into your pocket. It will scrape car doors if you aren’t careful. I know folks have been critical of the large spoon clip in the EX series, but I think I prefer it over the clip on this X-5.

The X-5 is light for its size and carries easily enough. The nice thing about a matte black deep carry clip is that it makes for a discrete knife. This 3.5″ version is an easy EDC for me, but I would like to see this pocket clip tweaked a little bit.

Deployment and Lockup

The X-5 is a flipper. That should be pretty obvious. There are no thumb studs, thumb holes, or secondary means of opening the blade. That’s alright because the flipping action is outstanding. Like I mentioned in the introduction, the button lock flippers I’ve handled in the past haven’t flipped well. That’s because they never were able to recreate the detent action of a linerlock or frame lock flipper. The X-5 does that by embedding a ball detent into the handle. This YouTube video does an excellent job showing you what is going on. A ball detent is set into a stainless steel spring inset in the handle, and there is a hole and track on the blade for the detent to run in.

The end result is fantastic flipping action – to the point where you may mistake this for an assisted opening knife. But it’s not an assisted opener, and one way you can tell is by depressing the button lock: the blade swings freely. It’s also worth noting that there are no stand alone washers on this knife. Instead, the washers are milled into the aluminum handles. The end result is buttery smooth.

The button lock has been beautifully executed. There is no stick at all in my lock, and lockup is tight as a drum. There is an external safety. Typically I’m not a fan of these, but Hogue has dialed this in so the action of the safety is crisp and purposeful. Unlike most knives with secondary safeties, it doesn’t flop around, and you aren’t going to accidentally activate it on the X-5. While I don’t use it, I like how they did it.

Centering is dead nuts perfect.

Hogue X5 Review – Final Thoughts

All said I’m a fan of the X-5. Hogue makes a beautiful knife, and the X-5 may be the nicest model I’ve handled yet. And they have cracked the code for a button lock flipper. The flipping action is flipping outstanding. That alone earns some points in my book, and I hope Hogue applies this technology to other knives, or licenses it to other companies. I also happen to be a fan of this design. I find it visually appealing and the execution is top notch. For these reasons I appreciate and enjoy the X-5 as a knife collector.

That said, there are a couple issues with the knife that prevent me from giving it a perfect score (not that I really score anything on here anyways). First, the handle is cramped. This knife is not going to replace my Griptilian or other work knives any time soon. I could have gotten the 4″ version, but I usually don’t like to carry folding knives that large. Second, the pocket clip is too tight, and the tip of the clip pokes out too much. It shreds your pockets, is a chore to use, and the tip sticks out to the point where it can inadvertently scrape up cars if you aren’t careful. As a fan of the design, the ergonomic issues are forgivable, but I still think the pocket clip needs work.

So this isn’t a perfect knife, but for me the pros outweigh the cons. I have plenty of plain Jane pocket knives, but nothing else like the X-5 in my collection.

If you are looking for one Hogue knife to use as your EDC, I’d recommend the EX-01 or EX-04. They are more practical and more comfortable work knives.

But if the X5 speaks to you as a collector and enthusiast, then I’m here to tell you to answer the call. It’s mostly an awesome knife. Not my desert island EDC, but there is a lot to enjoy with this one. And like the EX-04, I don’t see myself offloading my X-5 any time soon.

HOGUE X5 3.5" Spear Pants Black Frame Stock Accessories

I recommend purchasing the Hogue X5 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for checking out my review.

Spartan Blade Works Pallas Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

Last Updated: August 8, 2019
Most of us who have been following Spartan Blades know the company started with high end fixed blade knives. A few years ago they launched the Akribis, a carbon fiber clad titanium framelock folder. I always appreciated the lines of the Akribis, but never got around to acquiring one. Although some of their old stock is still for sale on select retailers, Spartan Blades has since moved on from the Akribis and ventured into a number of different folder offerings.

Buy the Spartan Blade Works Pallas at BladeHQ

Perhaps their most notable new folder is the Pallas. This strikes me as their every man’s model: a sub 4″ blade, anodized aluminum handles, sturdy button lock, and your choice of flipper or thumb studs to get the blade open.

This is a less exotic folder designed for daily carry and use, and could be considered their version of a Griptilian or Para 2. I have always had a soft spot for utility knives in this size range, and have many in my permanent collection. How does the Pallas stack up against everything that has come before it? Lets find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Pallas has an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 4.9 ounces, and is made in the U.S.A. With an almost 4″ blade, my guess is that Spartan Blades wanted the Pallas to flex both into utility and folding combat knife roles. It is about as big a folder as I can realistically carry. Any bigger, and it would be more of a novelty for me, but a 8.75″ inches I can comfortably carry it and use it as a weekend warrior EDC here in Southwest Florida. I’ve used it extensively in that role. It has accompanied me on trips to fix up my rental house, and plenty of forays into the yard trimming back our “jungle”.

The blade of the Pallas is a modified drop point. This is a simple and functional design, but Spartan Blades has added their signature harpoon tip to give it a twist. At just under 4mm thick, the blade stock is substantial, but the knife is ground thinly behind the edge with a high hollow grind. When you add a fine tip and plenty of belly, you are left with a versatile and functional blade. Spartan Blades also took the extra steps of adding a long swedge across the harpoon tip, chamfering the spine of the blade, applying a nice stonewashed finish, and installing custom thumb studs.

Spartan selected S35VN blade steel for the Pallas. As I have mentioned in countless other reviews featuring S35VN, this is a great choice for a high end folder due to it’s ease of sharpening, corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention. It’s a great all round steel. It won’t hold an edge indefinitely, but it’s easier to sharpen then its older brother S30V. It’s no wonder companies like Chris Reeve Knives choose S35VN almost exclusively as their blade material.

The only downside I see to S35VN is that it forces knife reviewers to the very fringes of their creative writing capabilities as they tackle their XXth review featuring this now common blade material. As always you can find a deeper dive into blade steel in our blade steel section

In practice I found that the Pallas is a solid cutter. Thanks to a generous handle, you are able to make full use of the substantial blade. It came razor sharp out of the box, and I have spent a good amount of time breaking down boxes, carving, and even performing some mild food prep with this knife. This knife cuts for days, and the performance is impressive. While it’s not the most unique or beautiful blade I have worked with, you can’t argue with the results. The Pallas performs.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Pallas comes with a hard anodized aluminum handle, held together by 3 custom standoffs and the pivot. The handle is mostly flat. It has been chamfered around the edges, features 2 grooves for your index finger, and a series of diagonal cuts towards the butt for traction, but there is no 3-D milling. Overall, handle construction is neat and solid. Even the lanyard hole has been given extra attention.

That said, this handle loses style points in a few areas for me. First, I don’t care for how the logo and “U.S.A.” have been applied to the handle. I realize that this branding and source of manufacture information needed to be placed somewhere, and there is only a limited amount of real estate on the knife. I also know some have criticized companies like Zero Tolerance for putting too much text on their blades, distracting the eye and complicating the design. Still, I think the placement of the logo and “USA” on the handle looks a little random.

Also, I think a more generous decorative pivot would have looked nicer here then just a body screw. This choice was likely made so the end user doesn’t confuse the button lock with the pivot in the heat of the moment. Plus a decorative pivot does nothing for the performance. But many knives these days feature a decorative pivot. Finally, when you peer into the internals of the knife the pocket screws are a millimeter or proud of the handles. Screws poking out from inside the handle/liners are a pet peeve of mine, and I would love to see the screw length adjusted slightly so they don’t poke out like that.

Aesthetic quibbles aside, the simple handle designs provides ample room for your hand and fingers while the hard anodized aluminum provides you with that familiar fine texture. There is light jimping on the spine of the blade, and more aggressive jimping towards the butt of the handle. The end result is a knife that functions naturally in the hand. While hard anodized aluminum isn’t as grippy as peel ply G-10, I find there is plenty of traction here for all the tasks I put the Pallas up to.

The Pallas benefits from a simple pocket clip that has been thoughtfully executed. This is a humble spring clip, but it has been elevated with Spartan’s arrow motif cut into the clip. I vastly prefer this kind of branding over a “billboard” style pocket clip. The clip has been sunk into the handle and secured with 2 screws. It’s not likely to go anywhere. However, the handle is configured for right side tip up carry only. This happens to be my preferred placement for carry, but it may pose an issue for some.

In practice the Pallas carries nicely. It’s a bigger knife, but is relatively thin and light. I don’t notice it much in the pocket. It stays out of the way, but doesn’t carry super deep. When I’m ready for the knife the combination of handle and clip make for an easy retrieval. What else can you ask for?

Deployment and Lockup

The Pallas comes with a combination of flipper and thumb studs to get the blade open.

Lets start with the flipper. Because this is a button lock, there is no detent. Instead, the button lock is engineered to offer some resistance, and that friction in the lock allows you to pop the knife open. In practice the flipper works most of the time, especially if you are careful to pre-load it. Still, this knife will not flip open like a well tuned framelock or liner lock flipper. I would assign it a “4” on my arbitrary 1-10 scale of flipper performance, placing it slightly below my Spyderco Domino. It usually gets the job done, but nothing to write home about.

The thumb studs are ample, custom made, easy to access, and placed for ambidextrous access. These thumb studs are what you would want to rely on in a stressful situation. I’m glad Spartan Blades included them. They compliment the workman like nature of this knife.

Either way you choose to open the Pallas, the blade rides on caged bearings. The action is smooth and fluid.

Spartan Blades selected a button lock for the Pallas. The button looks similar to what you would find on a Hogue, and I can’t help but place the knife next to my EX-04 (shown above).

Button locks have the potential to be sticky, but the lock on the Palls is extremely smooth. I have yet to have the lock stick or bind up. I have owned this knife for several months now and it’s just as easy to operate as the day I got it. A nice benefit to a button lock is that it is a strong lock. Although every folding knife has its breaking point, I do not hesitate to use my Pallas for tough jobs. There is no blade play or wiggle in my knife. Also, I should note there is no secondary lock like you find on the Hogue series.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Spartan Blades Pallas Review – Final Thoughts

The Pallas is a no-nonsense tool in the same vein of many of my favorite utility knives. This includes fan favorites like the Para 2 and Griptilian, but also some of the unsung heros in my collection like the American Lawman, Buck Marksman, and Hogue EX-04. I don’t hesitate to carry and use the Pallas just like those other knives. The practical design, excellent tolerances, and quality materials, mean that the knife works, and it works well. If I’m in a rush I can grab the Pallas knife knowing it will do everything I need it to do – no questions asked.

Where the Pallas falls a short for me is with some of the aesthetic details like the placement of the logo on the handle. The flipping action also leaves something to be desired. For a knife you are going to use hard I can look past these issues, but would not be so forgiving if I was buying a collectible.

Also, at nearly $300 the Pallas isn’t cheap. It’s a serviceable design, nicely made, and performs beautifully, but it doesn’t have any mind blowing properties to it, and the materials are not particularly exotic. I realize that Spartan Blades is a boutique company that is offering a USA made product, and they likely lack the economies of scale that the bigger manufacturers can tap. Still, the Pallas is an expensive knife, and the price will prevent it from obtaining the mass appeal of a Paramilitary 2 or Griptilian.

In closing, I like this knife, but think the Pallas is for a narrower market. I recommend it if you are a fan of Spartan Blades, a fan of the design, or are looking for a high end and high performance tactical knife that is made in the USA.

Spartan Blades Blacked Out Pallas Folding Flipper Knife Button Lock Black SF3

Overall Length: 8 3/4" Blade Length: 3 3/4" Blade Material: CPM S35VN Stainless Steel, 58-60 HRC
Blade Thickness: 5/32"; Blade Finish: Black PVD Tungsten Black DLC; Blade Type: Plain Edge Drop Point
Closed Length: 5 1/8" Handle Material: Black Mil Spec Anodized Frame
Safety System: Button Lock; Carry System: Pocket Clip
Weight: 4.736 Oz.; Made in the US

I recommend buying the Spartan Blades Pallas at Amazon, BladeHQ or KnifeArt. Thanks for checking out the review.