carbon fiber

Zero Tolerance 0452CF Review

When it comes to folding knives, I am extremely selective in what I choose to carry, especially if it is a blade that I am going to carry for self-protection. It has to be light, reliable, sharp, and geometrically efficient. These are just a few of the qualities I look for in a folder. After all, a folding knife is already at a disadvantage over a fixed blade, due to the fact that it has to rely on mechanical functions.

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I had been a fan of Zero Tolerance’s quality and construction ever since they came on the market a few years ago, but I wasn’t crazy about their designs. They built tanks, but I wanted something that was as tough as a tank, but as sleek as a Ferrari at the same time. Finally, I discovered the 0452CF.

The 0452CF is a streamlined, mass production version of the award-winning 0454, designed by Dimitry Sinkevich, who is an artist in the realms of both beauty and function. I was instantly drawn to this knife because of its long, narrow blade and slender profile. I had finally found a Zero Tolerance that would suit my personal needs. It was destined to become one of my favorite EDC knives.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0452CF has a blade length of 4.10”, a handle length of 5.17”, an overall length of 9.27”, and is made in the USA. The knife weighs in at 4.64 ounces, which is extremely light considering the size of the knife. In fact, if it were any lighter, it would probably be too light. This knife has just the right amount of weight to it. Plus, it is perfectly balanced right at the first finger grove.

The blade of the 0452CF is a flat-ground, drop point design with a satin finish. The blade is constructed of 0.16” CPM-S35VN. This is an excellent steel made by Crucible and designed specifically for knife making. This steel has excellent properties in the areas of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance, which make it an excellent choice in for an EDC blade.

One of the primary reasons I chose this particular knife as an EDC defensive blade is the blade geometry. The long, narrow drop point with the ¾+ false edge is an excellent thrusting blade. Of course, it does a fine job cutting as well and came razor sharp right out of the box. The 0452CF is just a great all around defensive blade.

The first thing I did when I took the knife out of the box is do some cutting tests. First, I did a paper test and the blade sliced off slips of paper with laser precision. Then I set up a couple of full 12-ounce water bottles and slashed away at them one at a time. The knife cut almost completely through each water bottle. Very impressive for a 4.1” folding knife!

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 0452CF is carbon fiber on one side and titanium on the other side, which is the reason this knife is so light. It has a slender profile with very subtle finger groves where the index and pinky fingers rest. The curvature at the back causes the handle to sit comfortably in the hand, giving it a subtle forward cant for perfect wrist alignment. When closed, the blade sits so deeply inside the handle that it adds very little to the handle’s profile, resulting in a slender package that tucks nicely along the seam of the pocket.

One of the things I love about Zero Tolerance is their deep pocket clips. This knife is no exception. The deep pocket clip mounted low on the handle allows this knife to sit almost completely concealed inside the pocket. The clip on this knife has a very small signature as well, causing the knife virtually to disappear in the pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The 0452CF has a flipper mechanism for quick, one-handed opening. Unlike its 0454 predecessor, the flipper mechanism on this model has some nice jimping to ensure positive finger contact with the flipper. A strong detent system not only locks the blade in place when it is in the closed position, but also adds counter resistance so that the blade launches open when the pressure on the flipper breaks free of the detent.

When I first got the knife, the detent was pretty stiff. I had to use a hard wrist flick to open the knife. During the 2016 SHOT Show, a product rep stopped me and asked if he could demo some of his micro-particle oil on my knife. He put a small drop on the detent pin using a needlepoint dropper, and that was all it took to make the blade deploy with a simple flip of the index finger. It has been silky smooth ever since.

The 0452CF employs the KVT (Kershaw Velocity Technology) ball bearing system, which rotates around a large, beautiful five-spoke pivot pin. The titanium side of the handle provides a durable frame lock. Combined with a hardened steel locking bar, the titanium frame lock ensures a solid lock up. I feel very confident with this knife’s locking system.

Zero Tolerance 0452CF Review – Final Thoughts

I am not at all displeased with my Zero Tolerance 0452CF. This knife is everything I expected it would be and more. It has become a regular part of my Every-Day Carry kit. I typically carry multiple knives, but this is the one knife that always goes with me. I have been carrying this knife every day for about 4 months now. It has held its edge like a champ, and the opening has only gotten smoother over time.

I cannot say enough good things about this knife. If you are looking for a high-quality, tactical folder, then you would be doing yourself a favor by purchasing the ZT0452CF. I’m very glad that Zero Tolerance decided to run this production run of the Dimitry Sinkevich collaboration. In fact, not to diminish the artistic beauty of the 0454 in any way, but I would even go so far as to say that some of the features of this production run (i.e. the jimping on the flipper) are upgrades over the original. I have no doubt that others will enjoy this knife as much as I have.

Zero Tolerance 0452CF; Pocket Knife with 4.1” Dual-Finished S35VN Steel Blade, Carbon Fiber Front and Titanium Back Handle Scales, KVT Ball-Bearing Opening, Frame Lock, Deep-Carry Pocketclip; 4.6 OZ.,Large

4.1-inch S35VN steel blade shows amazing toughness and resistance to edge chipping, with improved edge retention
Handle features carbon fiber front and titanium stonewashed back for comfortable in-hand feel, increased strength and excellent size/weight proportion
Handsome, dual blade finish with a non-reflective satin finish on the grind and stonewashed finish on the flats and blade thickness is 0.156 inches
Great companion for hunters, business professionals, wilderness guides, survival experts, first responders, military, law-enforcement and more
Ideal gift for any special occasion such as birthdays, holidays, graduations, anniversaries, promotions, weddings and more

I recommend purchasing the ZT 0452CF at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Positron Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
The original Southard Flipper was a landmark knife for the Spyderco. The company’s first flipper, and a collaboration with popular knifemaker Brad Southard, the Southard Flipper helped prove the flipper concept for Spyderco and set the bar for things to come. Subsequently Spyderco released the Domino, an in-house Spyderco design, and the extravagant Rubicon, an over the top high end collaboration with Peter Carey. But everything leads back to the Southard Flipper.

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The Positron is Spyderco and Southard’s second collaboration. At first glance it more resembles a piece of modern art than a knife, blending Brad’s primitive lines with gleaming steel and carbon fiber. But the simplicity to Brad’s design belies a refinement matched by few knife designers. The Positron was a knife I couldn’t help acquiring.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Positron has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 2.6 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a smaller and more gentlemanly offering than the original Southard Flipper. A 3″ blade is appropriate for most settings, and 2.6 ounces is feather light. However, at slightly over half an inch thick, the Positron is a chunky folder. I may be spoiled by my Boker Urban Trapper, but at first glance the knife seemed very thick – especially given the thin and slender blade.

Speaking of blade, the Positron shares the same hook-nosed profile of many of Brad’s designs. This time things have been scaled down, and the gently curved spine meets with with a gently curved edge. There is a slight belly and the entire blade is set on a slight negative angle to the handle. Spyderco went with a full flat grind, and the blade has been given a sparkling stonewash over a highly polished finish.

Spyderco chose CPM S30V for the blade steel. I am not wild about this decision, especially for a higher end 2015 release from Spyderco. I would have preferred S35VN or CTS-XHP, but lets no kid ourselves into thinking S30V isn’t capable of peeling apples or opening mail – which is most of what I have done with the Positron. I also broke down a ton of cardboard boxes. It performed well. The bitingly sharp blade combined with a thin grind blade and fine finish make the Positron a good slicer. The narrow blade and thin grind remind me of a traditional knife, and it is slicier than the hollow ground Southard Flipper or the Domino.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle is where things start getting interesting with the Positron. Spyderco and Brad decided to nest skeletonized stainless steel liners into a full 3-d contoured carbon fiber handle with a low profile black G10 backspacer. The result is a dramatic yet understated handle. The carbon fiber has been left with a matte finish, and there are no voids in the carbon fiber. The end result looks simple, but only because it has been executed with such technical precision. The fit and finish is perfect on my example, and it makes for an impressive knife.

This is a smaller handle, and a number of smart design decisions make the most of it. The thickness and deep finger choil make the Positron a natural in the hand. There is a short run of jimping on the spine and backspacer. Both serve their purpose to index and secure the hand. If you are careful you can perch your index finger on the small forward finger choil and choke up. There is no texture on the handle, but that never bothered me. The matte finish of the carbon fiber is not slippery, and the Positron is comfortable for normal use.

The Positron makes use of Spyderco’s wire clip. I have come to enjoy it on a variety of my favorite Spydercos, including the Sage 1 and Dragonfly 2. This is one of the most discrete pocket clips on the market, and I can easily clip this knife to a pair of slacks without raising eyebrows from co-workers or shredding your pants. The handle has been milled for ambidextrous clip up carry.

As far as carry is concerned, the Positron is thick, but at 2.6 ounces I never noticed it. It carries discretely. I have enjoyed my Positron in the office and in the back yard. It’s a versatile tool that you quickly forget is in your pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

This is a rare Spyderco folder that doesn’t feature a functional thumb hole. Instead, you get a “trademark” thumb hole and a flipper as your sole means of opening the knife with one hand. The flipper is snappy and pops the knife open easily enough, but it’s still possible to “flub the flip” if you aren’t paying attention. I’d put the detent strength at a “6” on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being ZT 0454 thumb chafing tough, and 1 being totally non-functional. So it’s a good flipper, but not on par with a Zero Tolerance 0562 (which I might peg at an 8). There are caged bearings inside and the action is smooth.

For lockup we have a nested steel liner lock. The lock engages early and the blade is free of play. Being a steel liner lock, there is no lock stick either. I like the liner lock for a couple reasons: the knife is lighter than if it had a titanium frame lock, and it gives the Positron more of a gents folder vibe. It’s a nice change of pace from all the framelock flippers that grace these digital pages.

Readers have commented that the jimped lockbar is a little difficult to disengage, because there is no cut out on the show side handle scale. I must have fat thumbs, because I never had a problem disengaging the knife, but I see what people are saying. This is worth mentioning.

It is also worth mentioning that blade centering is perfect.

Spyderco Positron Review – Final Thoughts

The Positron is a solid offering from Spyderco. I think it carries the torch established by the original Southard Folder and the Domino and moves things into an interesting direction. This is a more refined knife making use of real carbon fiber, nested liners, and 3-d machined scales. The blade is thin, the knife is a good size for EDC, and it carries well. It’s not as wild as the Rubicon, and strikes me as something that I actually want to carry. As usual, fit and finish from the Taichung Taiwan factory is superb. I showed the knife to my dad and he commented that it shared similarities to his Kershaw Skyline, an interesting observation that puts the Positron in excellent company.

I also think the price is fair for what you get. Retailing for well under $200, it almost seems like an affordable Spyderco – a rarity in a sea of $200+ offerings. It’s not a value monster like the Urban Trapper, but it’s not highway robbery either.

The biggest con I can come up with is that the handle is a little thick. It’s comfortable in hand, and I don’t notice the knife in pocket, but at over half an inch thick it still looks thick. The lack of a cutout for the lock release is another potential con.

Ultimately, this is a beautiful knife, and a step in the right direction for Spyderco. I look forward to seeing how their line of flippers continues to evolve. I recommend the Positron to Southard and Spyderco fans, and for those wanting a discrete and refined daily carry blade.

Spyderco Positron Flipper PlainEdge Fold Knife W/3.01" Blade

Made of highest quality material
Manufacturer: Spyderco
Spyderco positron Flipper PlainEdge fold knife w/3.01 inch blade

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Positron at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Benchmade 940-1 Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 22 Comments

Last Updated: July 13, 2019
Benchmade is a company that prefers iteration over innovation. Most of the new knives fall comfortably, and somewhat uninspiringly, within the boundaries of its recognizable, slow-to-change design language. Even really good new Benchmade knives, like the Valet, aren’t that differently from the Benchmades of five, even ten years ago.

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I can understand Benchmade’s adherence to its own unchanging vision to a certain extent. When the stars align it results in some unforgettable knives. To my mind there are few knives under $100 that compare to the Mini-Griptilian as an all-purpose EDC knife, and I’ve always thought the 710 looked like an incredible large folder.

But, for a lot of folks, the Warren Osborne-designed 940 is the Benchmade knife, and one that I was long overdue in trying out – partly because I prefer smaller knives, and partly because in the gleeful, dizzying descent that is the first few years of knife collecting, you’re bound to miss a few standbys in all that whirl and headiness.

Once the honeymoon phase of my collecting was over, I wanted to settle down with a nice, mid-sized Benchmade, and started to consider the 940 seriously. By the time I was ready to pull the trigger the Benchmade 940-1, a ‘premium’ rendition of the beloved blade, had released.

‘Premium’ doesn’t always mean ‘better,’ (unless there are performance benefits to Damasteel I am unaware of), and, with Benchmade’s Gold Class models it also means a 100+% increase in price. Thankfully Benchmade kept the 940-1 in their Blue Class line – the standard line for knives intended to be used. And while there is an increase in price over the vanilla 940, all of the changes Benchmade made – the carbon fiber scales and the slightly retooled handle, S90V steel – are performance-oriented. In short, while the 940 was already a classic, and I would’ve adored owning it, the 940-1 is, to my mind, the ideal version of an already incredible knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 940-1 has a blade length of 3 7/16”, a handle length of 4 ¾”, and an overall length of 7 7/8”. The weight is the first indication that the 940-1’s premium materials were chosen with performance in mind: this medium-sized folder weighs just 2.44 oz. To put that in perspective: the Spyderco Paramilitary 2, a knife that is widely lauded for the way it crams a lot of blade into a fairly lightweight package, is more than an ounce heavier (still a wonderful knife though).

The 940-1 features the iconic Osborne modified reverse tanto blade shape. Normally when I hear ‘reverse tanto’ I roll my eyes and expect tacticool sub-par performance, but thankfully that is not the case here. As a mid-sized knife, the 940-1 does everything I would expect it to do well. Punching through cardboard, whittling, even slicing an apple – it’s versatile and accommodating. Like all the best blade shapes, you feel like it was designed to do specifically whatever task you’re currently performing. I don’t love it for fine or delicate cutting tasks, but really there’s only one larger folder I know of that works well in those roles (smooches, PM2, sorry I called you fat earlier).

This good all-around performance can be attributed partly to the grind. When it comes to blade grinding, Benchmade has a lot of bad habits – swedges, facets, that sort of thing. Indeed, on paper, this grind is a mess: big swedge, the thinning-and-then-thickening out of the blade, the somewhat bulbous tip. You’d think there would be no way to make this a good slicer, but the bladesmiths at Benchmade pulled it off – if only just.

The reverse tanto can slice, pull cut, pierce, everything. It’s hardy without feeling bulky. I can cut up plastic or wood but when I slice up an apple with it I don’t get that ‘driving a railroad spike’ feeling I do from my Strider PT CC. My 940-1 is adequately thin behind the edge, but with such a small primary bevel I can see (and have heard of) unnecessary thickness before the edge bevel. In short, it’s a fine line, but, on my 940-1, they managed to walk it and make a good performer out of a very flamboyant design.

The other half of the equation is the steel: S90V. This is an exotic steel. I use the word ‘exotic’ purposefully because, even more so than something like ZDP-189 or M390, S90V feels very different from your standard steels. Its edge retention is totally singular – not in terms of how long, but rather in what manner it holds an edge.

I’ve written at length about my preference for ‘clean’ edge retention, and S90V flies in the face of my predilection: even when very sharp I found its edge quite toothy. For a long time I thought I didn’t like S90V. I didn’t expect such vicious-feeling edge from a super steel.

But when I started testing the 940-1 for review, I came to appreciate it. Again, the 940-1 is a mid-sized knife, and for mid-sized tasks that toothiness is a boon: this thing chews through wood, cardboard, plastic, and other materials, with no appreciable diminishment in its cutting capabilities. S90V is aggressive, and I approve. Don’t let the classiness of the CF fool you: the 940-1 is a barbarian in a tuxedo.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

The 940-1’s handle is a textbook example of the grip-neutral handle, and I love it. A straightforward, clean-lined handle that lets you hold it however you need to – more of this please, knife makers.

Whereas the vanilla 940’s handle is composed of two aluminum scales with a titanium spacer between them, the 940-1’s carbon fiber scales are separated by two gorgeous blue standoffs. There are nested partial liners, and everything feels sturdy and durable in the hand. The carbon fiber isn’t slick, and all the edges are rounded to avoid hotspots. The knife is slim and narrow: you will barely noticed this medium-sized knife in your pocket. The clip stays nice and low and doesn’t muck up your grip.

That clip is the standard Benchmade number, the same you see on the Mini-Griptilian – although here it appears to be Parkerized instead of painted. It’s a real B+ of a clip: better than adequate, less than stellar. I like the way at looks, and I like that it’s tough, because I’m pretty hard on clips, but in a perfect world the deep-carry butterfly clip from the Contego would come standard on the 940-1.

At least, if they can get the fit just right. I know Everyday Commentary did the swap and it worked great, but when I gave the Contego clip a try, it didn’t sit flush against the scales, and clacked obnoxiously every time I held the knife, so I went back to the default clip – which, lest we forget, is good at worst.

All of these good things come together and make the 940-1 a top-tier carry in-pocket. Narrow, thin, easy to retrieve, and totally unnoticeable in carry. Wonderful. Better even than my beloved PM2 (I’m sorry baby, come back!).

Deployment and Lockup

When you’re talking about an Axis Lock, deployment and lockup are intertwined, to the extent that the nature of the Axis Lock allows for a very recognizable, friction-free deployment. Once you break in an Axis Lock you have a glass-smooth deployment for years and years. I only own one other Blue Class Benchmade knife, a Mini-Griptilian, and as good as that feels to deploy, the 940-1 is even better: this thing closes on its own if I disengage the lock and it is at any kind of angle. This is a classic Benchmade-ism I wouldn’t change.

Here is a shot of the 940-1 next to the Spyderco Para 2:

The only downside to this super-smooth deployment is a modicum of side-to-side bladeplay. Not enough to worry me on my pass/fail system for bladeplay, but definitely noticeable. But I’ve personally never had a larger knife that didn’t have a little play. It doesn’t make cutting any harder, and it doesn’t signify a weak lock. If I were using this knife for hard-use tasks it might bother me more (and I also wouldn’t want an Axis Lock for true hard use), but in the sort of things this knife is designed to do, it’s great.

And here is a parting shot of the 940-1 next to the Benchmade 551-1 G-10 Griptilian:

Benchmade 940-1 Review – Final Thoughts

When I first picked up the 940-1, I was really hoping that it would quickly get discontinued so that it became a collector’s piece and I could flip it for an exorbitant, Hinderer-esque profit. Now that I’ve really thought about the thing, though, I’m glad it’s still around. I’m fairly comfortable calling this the version of the 940 to get: you get a really rad steel and better-looking and lighter scales on top of all the other things that make the 940 a classic, and it deserves to be carried, used, and loved by as many people as possible. And when you consider that, depending on where you shop, you’re only paying about a $70 premium for it, it seems like a no-brainer.

The 940-1 is the best version of one of the best pocket knives ever designed.

Sale

Benchmade - Osborne 940 EDC Knife with Black Carbon Fiber Handle (940-1)

ALL-AROUND UTILITY: A quintessential EDC tool that combines simplicity with unmatched function, no matter the application; Ideal for pretty much everything.
HIGH-END CPM-S90V STEEL: Uniform microstructure gives it a superior edge when it comes to wear and corrosion resistance ; Reverse tanto blade is nimble, versatile, and made for the outdoors.
ULTRALIGHT CARBON FIBER HANDLE: Exceptionally strong with a featherweight feel in the hand and gnarled texture across the board for a sure grip
AXIS LOCKING MECHANISM: Ensures safety and a smooth open and easy close; Standard clip; Light as a feather for easy carrying and a comfortable grip.
EVERYDAY CARRY: With its slim profile and lightweight design, the 940-1 is the perfect addition to your gear collection, backpack, survival kit, tackle box, and more.

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade 940-1 at Amazon and BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Viper Odino Review

by Dan Jackson 16 Comments

The “Italian Renaissance” of knife making has been on my radar for a few years now. Manufacturers like LionSteel, Fox, Fantoni, and Viper are getting more traction stateside. The Italians have been doing some interesting stuff with manufacturing and innovation over the past few years, and the level of quality is often exceptionally high.

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However, if the end goal is selling knives in the USA, one way these companies have totally missed the mark is by failing to collaborate with high profile custom knife makers. This is a technique that has been leveraged to great success by companies like Spyderco, Kershaw, and CRKT. Viper has worked with some great Italian designers in the past, but if the goal is selling knives in the US market you need to play the game. That game involves working with designers that are popular in the US.

Viper finally got the memo, and entered into a bold high end collaboration with custom knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes to bring us the Odino. When I went to Blade Show 2014, the Odino was in pre-production, and all they had were some prototypes to handle. The knife was one of the highlights of the weekend, and I predicted that it would be a substantial success for the company when the knife eventually released. When I returned for the 2015 show, the Odino had been in production for the better part of a year and was a best seller for Viper. Jesper Voxnaes’ designs are as in demand as ever, and the quality in Viper’s manufacturing is top notch. I was not about to let another year slip away without reviewing the Odino.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Odino has an overall length of 7.25″, a 2.875″ blade, weighs 4.35 ounces (the carbon fiber version), and is manufactured in Maniago Italy. I would describe the Odino as a medium size every day carry (EDC) knife. It is more substantial than something like the Anso/Vox Pingo, but it won’t pull your pants down. The sub 3″ blade make it acceptable to carry in many locations. It comes in a variety of handle configurations, including full titanium, G10 / titanium, and carbon fiber / titanium (shown here). I prefer the carbon fiber version because it is lightweight and a little cooler than than the G10 model. The full titanium Odino is nice, but is a little hefty for my taste.

The Odino features a dramatic clip point blade. The knife has a wide profile, and the blade is relatively stubby when compared to the handle. The result is a substantial belly that meets at an acute tip. The blade is 3.8mm thick, and has a high flat grind, and comes with either a PVD coated blade or satin finish. The spine is rounded and the edge has been neatly applied.

Viper went with Bohler n690 stainless steel for the blade, a common choice among Italian manufacturers, and a steel that I am experienced with. I like n690 for an EDC knife. It reminds me somewhat of 154CM: it holds a nice edge, exhibits good corrosion resistance, yet is easy to sharpen and won’t break the bank. It takes a nice finish and strikes me as a great all round steel for a folder.

My Odino came sharp and was quickly taken to task on some plastic and cardboard. These can be challenging materials for a pocket knife, and I was pleased with the way the Odino’s thin flat grind handled them. Having carried the Odino for several weeks now I have found it capable as a daily carry piece. It is a good slicer, and has held up well under normal use.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Odino includes a titanium locking side, your choice of titanium, carbon fiber, or G10 for the show side, and an anodized titanium backspacer. Construction is screw together, and the knife is simply finished with chamfered edges. The carbon fiber on my knife is nice, and I can’t detect any voids in the surface of it. The titanium has been stonewashed and left with a pleasant matte finish. The backspacer is arguably the nicest detail of the knife. It juts from the back of the handle, is designed to accept a very large lanyard, and is contoured and jimped. The powder blue anodizing provides a touch of color without being over the top. It’s a lovely feature. Everything has been beautifully implemented.

The Odino benefits from good ergonomics and is a solid performer in the kitchen and around the house. Naturally, being an Italian knife I had to make a pizza with it. There is no jimping on the spine, and none of the surfaces are especially “high traction”, yet the smart design kept the knife in hand without issue. I find myself choking up quite a bit on the ricasso, although the default grip sets you back on the handle a bit.

The pocket clip of the Odino kind of like a deep carry Strider SnG clip. Viper milled a slot into the handle, and a tab on the clip sits into the slot and allows the clip to be mounted with a single screw. It’s simple, but the end result is functional and elegant. The clip itself is nice. It does a good job burying the knife discretely into the pocket, has good retention, and isn’t funky. The clip has been bead blasted and it compliments the rest of the hardware.

Deployment and Lockup

The Odino makes use of an oval thumb hole to open the knife. Due to the low profile of the blade in the closed position, this isn’t the most convenient knife to open, but the thumb hole works well and is still relatively easy to get at. The detent is tuned to a good balance of blade retention and easy access. There are caged bearings inside and the action is extremely smooth.

The framelock on the Odino is simple and well executed. There is no steel lock bar insert or overtravel stop mechanism (2 features that have become increasingly common on titanium framelock knives). Some might be disappointed with the omission of these features, but the Odino’s lock performs great. Lockup on my knife is early and solid. There is no lock rock or blade play to speak of. The lock disengages smoothly from the blade and there is no stick. This is one of the better true titanium framelocks I have handled.

Blade centering is also perfect on my Odino.

Viper Odino Review – Final Thoughts

The Odino has sold well for Viper. In my weeks of carry and use, it is easy to see why. The design is thoughtful and elegant, the materials are top notch, the build quality is superb, and the price is reasonable for what you are getting. Viper was smart to pair up with Jesper Voxnaes for their first big collaboration. Vox is not just a respected name in the knifemaking community, he is a talented designer that brings function and restraint to his work. Viper did a beautiful job rendering his design, and the resulting knife is likely to appeal to audiences on both sides of the pond.

I especially like the G10 and Carbon Fiber versions for EDC. Weighing a full ounce less than the full titanium version, this compact folder has a very capable blade, is comfortable to use, and carries well. The full titanium version is tank like, and may appeal to folks who appreciate more substantial knives.

I don’t see much in the way of downsides when examining the Odino. The profile is a little chunky, and an oval thumb hole is not my all time favorite means of opening a folding knife, but if you are a fan of the design I think you will love the Odino. It is beautifully done and hopefully a sign of more high profile collaborations to come from Viper.

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Viper Odino – From $169.00
From: BladeHQ

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I recommend purchasing the Odino at BladeHQ or [easyazon_link asin=”B00SNANNFI” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Amazon[/easyazon_link]. Please consider that buying anything through the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Zero Tolerance 0620CF Review

by Dan Jackson 13 Comments

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
I have given Zero Tolerance over the past year. So I actually had to pause and think when my pre-order for the 0620CF popped into my inbox. I try to feature a variety of knives from different manufacturers. Would I purchase and review this knife? I slept on it for a few days, and decided that this collaboration with Ernest Emerson was special enough to justify another Zero Tolerance review.

Buy the Zero Tolerance 0620CF at BladeHQ

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I’m glad I made that decision, because when this knife arrived I could immediately tell it was significantly different from the other ZT offerings I have sampled.

General Dimension and Blade Details

The 0620 has an overall length of 8.5″, a 3.6″ blade, and weighs 6.2 ounces. While the Kershaw / Emerson collabs are scaled down offerings, the 0620 more like a full size Emerson. This thing is large and in charge. It suits the nature of the collaboration well, but relegates the knife to a more dedicated defensive role or collector’s item. At least for me. I don’t doubt some will every day carry (EDC) this knife, and there is nothing wrong with that if you can manage the size and weight.

The blade has always been one of my favorite aspects of an Emerson. The crisp grinds and beautiful finishes of the blade contrast oddly with the often crudely finished handles. I am pleased to say that ZT did Ernest right by the 0620. This is an immaculate American tanto complete with Emerson’s 2 tone finish: satin bevels and stonewashed flats. The multi-faceted grind has been beautifully done and the blade catches the light almost like the real deal.

Where this collaboration departs from a real Emerson is that ZT decided to V-grind the edge. Say what you will about chisel edges… easier to maintain “in the field”, cut better, blah blah blah – I’ll take this standard V-grind edge any day.

I have never been a huge tanto fan, but this version features a subtle curve between the tip and secondary point. It speaks to me the same way the Lum Tanto did – a tanto blade for guys who don’t prefer tantos.

The natural geometry of a tanto blade is excellent for stabbing, and this one with its clipped point is no different. While this is a beefy slab of steel, the flat grind is lean enough to make this a reasonable slicer, and the edge has been expertly applied.

If you aren’t a modified tanto guy, ZT is releasing the 0630, featuring a modified clip point blade, much like the CQC-8 Horseman that may be more to your liking. Personally, I have been enjoying the tanto as I currently don’t have a lot of tantos in my collection.

Much like the 0562, ZT is offering the 0620 in two flavors: M390 blade with a carbon fiber handle scale (shown here), and an Elmax blade with a G10 handle scale. M390 is a super steel and I have always treated it with a little apprehension because super steels have a reputation for being difficult to sharpen. I put my big girl panties on for this review and have been actually, like, using both my 0620 and my Benchmade Valet which is also in M390. Edge retention is exceptional and so far the steel has responded well to light stropping. This is all I have had to do over the past 8 weeks or so of use. This is excellent stuff and I look forward to continuing to evaluate M390 in earnest.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The 0620 has as thick titanium locking side and the show side is carbon fiber (or G10) over a full stainless steel liner. Construction is robust, to say the least. This is an extremely solid knife and it’s difficult to describe the feeling you get in handling the 0620. Each edge is rounded, the liners and carbon fiber are seamless. Beefy hardware sits securely in the handles. The heft of the thick titanium lock side adds to the gravitas of the knife. It is impressive.

While ZT didn’t include Emerson’s signature flat head pivot and Phillips head body hardware, they did borrow the oversize hex head pivot from the 0300 and included some beefy torx hardware and stand offs. They also included a lanyard post, which seems redundant placed next to the two stand offs, but looks to be removable.

In hand the 0620 feels like a beefed up Emerson – not a bad thing at all. The simple handle design is Emerson ergonomics at its finest. A forward finger groove indexes the finger nicely, and the wide thumb ramp is gently jimped for control and tactile feedback. The rest of the handle is simple and accommodates a wide variety of hand sizes. The 0620 is a pretty thick knife – not amazing in pocket, but excellent in hand. After working with the 0620 for several months I haven’t noticed any hot spots. Job well done by both Ernest and ZT.

The pocket clip looks almost as if it were plucked from the Emerson parts bin – it’s a carbon copy of what you would find on the real deal, except of course for the Zero Tolerance Logo emblazoned on it. It is a blackened steel clip, much like what you would find on a Benchmade Griptilian if you have never handled an Emerson. The handle has been drilled and tapped for ambidextrous tip up carry. It’s not super deep carry, but fairly deep. The 0620 is neither small, thin, nor light, but the sturdy clip holds the knife securely in pocket. It carries well for what it is.

Deployment and Lockup

Like a real Emerson, the 0620 makes use of both a Wave and thumb disk. Perhaps the most notable point regarding the deployment is the detent – it’s very strong. While it’s possible to flick it open with the thumb disk, the detent is so strong that flecks of my thumbnail often depart with the blade. The wave works well, although frankly waves have never graduated beyond a novelty for me. ZT went with classic phosphor bronze washers for the 0620. Bronze washers are all well and good, but it would have been cool to see them put KVT bearings in like on the 05620.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, ZT has really dialed in the lockup on their frame locks. Like the past few titanium framelocks from Zero Tolerance I have reviewed, this one comes with a stainless steel insert. Lockup is early (~30%), rock solid, and without stick or blade play. It’s perfect. The 0620 in particular inspires a lot of confidence. The blade slides in to place with a satisfying snap and I wouldn’t hesitate to use the 0620 for harder tasks if necessary. Blade centering is perfect.

Zero Tolerance 0620 Review – Final Thoughts

The 0620 is arguably the best “Emerson” ever. The 0620 is built better and finished better than a real Emerson. It lacks quirks like chisel edges, and a right side tip up carry only pocket clip, but it has been upgraded with carbon fiber, M390 blade steel, and a beefy titanium frame lock. Most astonishing is that the 0620 is still made in the USA and priced for about what a similar size Emerson would cost. Case in point: the Emerson Roadhouse, probably one of my favorite Emerson patterns retails for around $230. This ZT collab comes in a at $240, and is right at $200 if you opt for the less-fancy version with Elmax blade and G10 handle scale.

There is little to nothing I would change about the 0620. In a perfect world I’d mill out the titanium frame lock to try and lighten the knife, and possibly add bearings to make this indulgent piece even more over-the-top. These are minor quibbles. Sure, it is big and impractical for normal person daily carry, but so is a real Emerson.

Zero Tolerance has once again delivered a superior product: high quality materials, beautiful construction, and designed by a legend in the industry. I highly recommend the 0620 for Emerson fans and fans of big, well made folding knives.

Zero Tolerance 0620CF Emerson Tanto Knife

Made in the USA; Wave shaped opening feature; Thumb disk for manual opening
Reversible clip (left/right); Frame lock, hardened steel lockbar inserts
Steel: Carpenter CTS-204P, stonewashed and satin finish
Handle: Carbon fiber front, bead-blasted titanium back
Blade Length: 3.6 Inch (9.1 cm); Closed Length: 4.9 Inch (12.4 cm)

I recommend purchasing the ZT 0620 at Amazon and BladeHQ.

Spyderco Rubicon Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
Spyderco has released a number of high end knives of the past year. Blades like the Slysz Bowie, K2, Firefly, and Burch Chubby are all retailing at north of $200. Meanwhile, there doesn’t seem to be much of interest going on in the ~$100 price point or sub $100 price points – both of which have been sweet spots for Spyderco in the past with cherished blades like the Paramilitary II, Sage, Caly 3, Dragonfly, Manix 2, and of course the Endura and Delica.

Buy the Spyderco Rubicon at BladeHQ

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So I have been forced to pick my battles a little bit. I can’t review everything Spyderco turns out, especially if the majority of their stuff is going to set me back 2 bills+. So as 2014 drew to a close I decided to acquire one of their most ambitious pieces to date: the Rubicon. Retailing for over $300, this is the most expensive Spyderco I have ever acquired.

The Rubicon is a collaboration with custom knife maker Peter Carey, a designer / maker that I have previously had zero experience with. The Spyderco Rubicon is an interpetation of Peter’s custom Rubicon. Peter’s knives are meticulously hand finished and coveted by collectors, and one of Spyderco’s goals with the collaboration was to celebrate that aspect of his knives. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a production knife, but the end result, while expensive, is unlike any other Spyderco I have handled to date.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Rubicon has an overall length of 7.48″, has a 3.03″ blade, and weighs 4.2 ounces. This folder is compact enough for daily carry, but to me it is more of a collectible. It feels very lightweight for its size, which is fantastic for daily carry, but I can’t say I remodeled a bathroom with this knife, or had it clipped to my pocket while swapping out the transmission of my truck.

The blade is a bulbous piece of S30V and the shape is faithful rendition of Peter’s custom Rubicon. I think the blade shape is a little too curvy, but it’s faithful to the original design. Of course being a Spyderco collab this blade features a thumb hole. Both the primary bevel and swedge are belt finished and the hollow grinds ripple in the light. A nice touch is the horizontally polished satin flats. This is a high end detail you don’t see on many Spyderco’s. No doubt this was done to mimic the “hand rubbed” flats of a real Carey. The end result is something lustrous and difficult to photograph.

At this point, Spyderco’s CPM S30V is a known quantity. I own several Spydies in S30V (some for 4+ years) and have been reasonably happy with their edge retention and performance, although at this stage in the game I may have preferred something a little different: S35VN or CTS-XHP come to mind. I am not too concerned about squeezing every last drop of performance out of this knife, but I would be remiss if I didn’t lightly admonish Spyderco for not springing for an even more premium steel given the price point. I suppose that just goes to show how good we actually have it.

The hollow grind is lean, the edge is keen, and I have been happy with the way this knife carves through cardboard and paper. There is a slight recurve, which has a way of improving cutting performance, but hampering your ability to easily sharpen the edge. The recurve is mild so I’m not expecting too much difficulty, but this is a knife that I will relegate to my Sharpmaker and strops for touch ups, rather than flat stones.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is where things really start to get interesting. The star of the show is the 3-D machined high polished carbon fiber handle scales with bright orange G10 pivot collars surrounding an oversize decorative pivot. As an avid knife collector I have had the opportunity to get my hands on all kinds of carbon fiber handled knives over the years. I can say that this is the nicest carbon fiber and the best finished carbon fiber handle I have ever seen in the production world. The weave of the carbon fiber is ultra tight, and there are no pin holes or voids. The polish has almost reached mirror like qualities and rotating the knife in your hand reveals a depth and character to the carbon fiber unlike anything else I have seen. I have often been critical of Spyderco for using cheap carbon fiber overlays over G10 on their knives (like the Sage and Domino). They didn’t skimp in this instance.

The pivot collar, while entirely decorative, has been beautifully and seamlessly integrated into the handle. The two-tone tri-tip pivot is the nicest I have seen. The carved g10 backspacer, while bold, has also been beautifully rendered. I realize that this is starting to sound like a Jim Skelton video, but if these kinds of details mean anything to you then you will be impressed with the job done on the Rubicon. And construction of the handle is perfect. There are 2 thick stonewashed and skelotonized titanium liners. A couple simple button head fasteners hold everything together, allowing you to revel in the gloriously finished handle.

The Rubicon is comfortable and is a nice knife to work with if you can bring yourself to actually use it. Those 3-d finished handles don’t just look good, they provide plenty of meat for you to hold on to. The handle shape itself is thoughtful, allowing your fingers to wrap around it easily and naturally. You do have a forward choil of sorts that you can use to choke up on, and a short run of jimping on the spine provides tactile feedback without being overly sharp and aggressive. As for the polished carbon fiber being “smooth” and “slippery”, I haven’t had any issues holding onto this knife. The handle shape provides lots of traction naturally by virtue of its design. That said, I didn’t take the Rubicon into the shower with me, so this could be one of those “Your Mileage May Vary” situations. If you really need a high traction handle on every knife in your collection, buy a Griptilian and call it a day.

In comparison to the rest of the knife, the pocket clip seems like something of an afterthought. The clip on the custom knife is similar, so there is that to consider. The clip isn’t offensive to look at or anything, but next to the rest of the knife the simple stamped clip seems basic and stock. I will say that this is a sturdy titanium clip, and this is a step up from the clip on the Southard Flipper. I will also say that it functions fine as a pocket clip. It has strong retention and buries decently low in the pocket. The Rubicon feels lightweight for its size and I don’t notice it that much in my pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The Rubicon gives you the option of a flipper tab or thumb hole, and both work well. This is the 3rd flipper in the Spyderco flipper dynasty, and the action is smooth and reliable. The detent isn’t super stong, but the way the flipper tab is canted ensures that the blade will gracefully flip open without fail pretty much every single time. The bearings are very smooth and the blade floats around the pivot.

The Rubicon makes use of a thick titanium liner lock to hold the blade in place. Mine is a little sticky. I have never been a huge fan of titanium liner locks, but I am not sure I would have built this knife any differently myself. The beautiful carbon fiber handles are the star of the show, and I think it would have been a shame (and boring) to make this another titanium framelock knife. The lock bar isn’t the easiest to get at to disengage. It’s not impossible to wedge the meat of your thumb in to free the blade, but when compared with other knives it’s a little less convenient. To be fair I think that is how Peter designed the knife – perhaps favoring aesthetic considerations over raw functionality.

Blade centering on my example is perfect.

Spyderco Rubicon Review – Final Thoughts

The Rubicon is an ambitious piece from Spyderco. Overall I would say it’s a great success. Spyderco should be proud to have put together such a nice knife. Lately, Zero Tolerance and LionSteel have both been making most of the waves in the high end production knife world. In many ways Spyderco has raised their bar in terms of high end finishing and production quality. I am excited to see some of this trickle down into future offerings. No knife is perfect, and I have a couple minor quibbles with the Rubicon, but I its pros easily outweigh its cons. As a tool the fundamentals are there: it’s comfortable, lightweight, and it cuts well. That said, there were some form over function considerations with this knife, and for me it’s more of a collectable than a true tool knife. I don’t have a problem with that, but for some folks that just won’t work.

Like most expensive things, one question many will ask is, “Is it worth the money?” I can’t answer that question for you. I will readily admit that $325 is a lot of money to pay for a production knife, and I can understand if some view this simply as needless pocket frosting. I will say that I can see where the dollars go when comparing this with a Domino or Southard Flipper. The handle is truly amazing and one look at the material selection and finish work shows you where the $100 or so went. Personally, while I don’t deny that $325 is a lot of money for a pocket knife, I don’t think they are out of line with the asking price. You are welcome to disagree.

If I were to make any refinements I would address the lockbar area. I am not a knife maker so I couldn’t tell you how to take the slight amount of stick out of the lockbar. I might have opened up the lock release area to make the liner lock easier to disengage. And some sort of 3-D machined pocket clip would be uber cool. My guess is that would make the knife even more expensive.

All in all I am impressed with the Rubicon and can recommend it to die hard Spyderco fans and fans of high end production folders. The Rubicon is something truly different from Spyderco, and I am glad I selected it out of the melange of high end 2014 releases.

Spyderco Rubicon 3.04" Folding Knife C187CFP

Folding Knives, Knives & Tools

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