Dmitry Sinkevich

Kershaw Pub Review

Well, it’s finally happened: After several years of buying almost all of the models I really wanted, my knife purchases are slowing down dramatically. (Heretical, I know, but bear with me.) Today, I have a drawer full of knives with great ergonomics, good steel, and excellent blade shapes for particular tasks. I also have several knives that deliver superb combinations of those qualities at tremendous value. Recently, I’ve read glowing reviews for knives like the Civivi Ortis and Kershaw Link, but I’ve yet to bite on a purchase. I’ll sometimes ask myself, “How different are these from what I already have and am already comfortable with?” It’s a question that has chilled many an impulse buy.

Buy the Kershaw Pub at BladeHQ
Buy on Amazon

Let’s come at this from another direction: I imagine that a lot of you are like me in that you know how to cook a steak or make a martini just the way you like it. And if so, you’ll understand why it’s hard for me to go out to a restaurant and pay top dollar to get something more or less equivalent to what I have at home. Instead, I’m attracted to bizarro cocktails and esoteric ingredients when I eat out.

By the same logic, If I do buy a new knife, I’m drawn to designs that offer me something I’ve never seen before. I won’t necessarily say that I’m jaded, or even that I’m picky, but there’s something about a knife like the Kershaw Pub that makes me smile. And let me tell you, it’s all the more thrilling when a product like this turns out to be more than just mere novelty.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

In the hand, the first thing you’ll likely notice about the Dmitri Sinkevich-designed Kershaw Pub is that it’s light and flat. There’s not much bulk at 1.87oz, and the knife is only about 5/16” thick. Laterally, the Pub sits about 1” wide and just a touch over 3.5” long. Here it is between two industry stalwarts: the Spyderco PM2 and the Ontario Rat II.

About that blade—Boy, howdy—this thing slices all out of proportion to its lilliputian size. With a hollow grind that begins to narrow aggressively starting a quarter inch or so from the spine, the Kershaw Pub is like a miniature straight razor in the hand. While this wouldn’t be my choice for breaking down boxes, opening them is stupid easy with the Pub in hand.

Blade steel is 8Cr13MoV. 8Cr13MoV is an inexpensive Chinese steel. It easily takes an edge and holds it for a decent amount of time. All in all, this is serviceable steel that fits the sub $30 price point.

In addition to the blade, you get a flathead screwdriver and a bottle opener. Both are certainly better to have than nothing.

That said, in almost all cases it’s better to use a screwdriver that actually fits the slot of what you’re working with. This isn’t what I’d use to disassemble Grandpa’s heirloom-grade Winchester rifle. As for the bottle opener, it certainly works, but not nearly as well as whatever you have laying around your home bar.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry Options

The Pub follows the Kershaw playbook of having the scale material on the “show” side and leaving the other face stainless. The only real texturing is along the spine of the blade, which I think is unnecessary for the light use the Pub is designed for. This is not going to be the first thing you reach for when you need to split a cord of firewood.

Kershaw has a few options for the scale material, including a blue anodized version, a black G10 model, and the carbon fiber pictured here. The upgrade to the carbon fiber was a whole four dollars, so I was happy to pay it.

Ergonomically, and let’s be honest, the Pub is not going to amaze. For nearly everything you’d want to do with this knife, you’re going to most probably settle into a pinch grip with the thumb resting along the flat of the handle. That’s more than enough purchase to accomplish the normal gamut of opening boxes, letters, tape seams, and various kinds of scraping tasks.

While there’s a scallop on the frame that one might suspect is intended to work as a finger groove, it’s (curiously) on the wrong side. Open the blade and it’ll now be filled by the spine of the knife. If the Pub had a more pronounced cutout for the index finger on the opposite side, it might be better adapted for more vigorous push cuts through thicker material. Without this feature, it seems a little slippery for me to entrust it to anything more serious than light office and household tasks.

As you’ll note, there’s no pocket clip here. In transitioning from the open to the the closed position, the rear portion of the Pub’s blade can be hooked around a belt loop, key ring, or carabiner in order to stay put on the move. A handy touch.

Deployment and Lockup

I would imagine most people who see the Kershaw Pub for the first time engage in a fair bit of mental gymnastics as they try to figure out how it works. I certainly did. Until you get the knife in your hands, it’s not wholly apparent from most product shots as to how it transforms from a weird keychain looking thing to a tiny, futuristic wharncliffe.

In essence, the Pub is foldable metal origami. With this non-locking friction folder, the user simply rotates the blade to overcome the detent, which will then hold the blade in the open position after 180 degrees of travel. That’s all there is to it. Just a pivot and some clever angles.

Can you deploy this one-handed? It’s slow and awkward as all get-out, but possible. Most sane people will use their weak hand to grasp the body and their strong hand to pivot the blade out and around. It’s actually easier to close the knife one-handed by holding it upside-down with the strong hand and pushing the spine of the blade against your leg or whatever other surface is handy.

I did have some gripes with the construction. The blade is secured by two opposing pairs of T8 screws that really, really want to back out from one another. I’m not a guy who likes to disassemble knives unless they’re not functioning correctly, so I’m constantly re-tightening my screws to get the detent into that “goldilocks” spot of being neither too stiff nor too loose. Those who really want to throw their Kershaw Pub on a belt loop for a mountain biking trip would be advised to grab some Loctite, assuming my problem is representative of all Pubs.

On a harder-use knife, I’d be a little more concerned about a design that could theoretically shake itself apart, but considering the use and price this isn’t something I’m going to lose sleep over.

Kershaw Pub Review – Final Thoughts

Is there such a thing as “house” EDC? When I get home at the end of the day, I dump my pocket contents: keys, phone, wallet, and whatever other gear I decided to pack. However, there are a lot of days where the Pub doesn’t get thrown into a drawer, but instead stays in the pocket—I like having a usable utility blade on me without any consideration of bulk or weight.

Beyond that degree of everyday performance, I like what the Pub represents: a “budget” knife that doesn’t cost a lot simply because it’s, well… simple. The budget category is often populated by a lot of knives each trying to give you the biggest blade with the strongest construction and the best metal that price will allow. That’s been a real boon for consumers as a whole, don’t get me wrong, but it’s refreshing to fiddle with a knife that’s running in a completely different race. Based on what Kershaw and Sinkevich have given us with the Pub, I’d love to see more products like it.

Sale

Kershaw Pub Carbon Fiber Multifunction Pocket Knife (4036CFX); Small 1.6-in 8Cr13MoV Stonewash Blade and Carbon Fiber Handle, Screwdriver Tip, Pry Bar, Key Chain Attachment, Bottle Opener; 1.8 OZ

Multipurpose tool with 5 functions is ready for any task, and is even safe for use at a pub hanging out with friends
Manual opening of this carbon fiber knife offers users enhanced stability and control during various general everyday activities
Small and compact in size, the Pub is great for traveling and carrying around urban, suburban and outdoors settings
The Sheepsfoot style blade provides users with excellent versatility in function abilities
Tools include, but are not merely limited to, a bottle opener, pry bar, screwdriver, and lanyard hole

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Pub at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Zero Tolerance 0470 Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

Reviewing the Zero Tolerance 0470 is about as safe as it gets. We have reviewed countless Sinkevich / Zero Tolerance designs. It is well within our comfort zone of review material.

Buy the ZT 0470 at BladeHQ

So why review the 0470? Well, it’s a beautiful knife, it appears to be built differently than the other ZT/Sinkevich collabs I’ve reviewed, and I bought the knife at a fantastic price. I hope no one minds.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0470 has an overall length of 7.8″, a 3.4″ blade, weighs 3.3 ounces, and is made in the USA. Like the recently reviewed 0609 this model is aimed towards the EDC enthusiast. This 0470 is thinner, lighter, and more discreet than the ZTs that got the ball rolling for the company.

I still remember the halcyon days of the 0560 and the 0300. Those models put Zero Tolerance on the map, but those were some big knives. Totally impractical for most people, but they paved the way for blades like this 0470. Personally, I’m glad ZT is continuing to head in this direction. I’m sure they will still release some big knives as well.

Lets talk about the blade. It shares the same low slung lines that make a Sinkevich a Sinkevich. It’s a beautiful triangle of steel with a high flat grind, partial swedge, and two-tone satin and stonewashed finish.

A detail I love on the blade of this knife is how the spine has been subtly chamferred up by the jimping. This is a feature on my Shirogorov F3 and on the Sebenza. To see this detail brought to a ~$250 knife is awesome. That chamferring has also been brought to the flipper tab. It eliminates any sharp edges on the flipper that can cut your finger. Another small touch is the generous sharpening choil. Frankly, a sharpening choil something I would expect to see, but it doesn’t always make it into every pocket knife.

A blade shape like this can do no wrong, unless perhaps you are wanting to skin a buck with it. In that case the tip is probably a little too prominent, but for everything else this is a versatile and functional blade shape.

As a quick aside, here is a size comparison with the ZT 0609. They compare favorably in size, but are built differently:

For blade steel ZT went with CPM-20CV. CPM-20CV is made by Crucible Industries in Solvay, New York. CPM-20CV is chemically similar to M390, a high end European steel I have long appreciated. Crucible has a long track record of making high end specialty knife steel. Their catalog includes 154CM, S30V, S35VN, and S90V. They are specialty steel makers and know what they are doing.

CPM-20CV and M390 have both earned a reputation for high hardness and excellent edge retention, while not being as stubborn to sharpen as something like S90V or ZDP-189. CPM-20CV is also stainless and tough. It’s arguably the best all-round blade steel money can buy as of early 2019.

In practice, the blade of my 0470 has been a excellent performer. The blade came razor sharp. The edge bevel was neat and even, and the stock blade easily popped hairs off my arm. After sanitizing the blade thoroughly (ie, wiping it on my shorts), I put the knife into my daily carry rotation. I used it at home and at work for opening mail, breaking down boxes, and food preparation. I used the 0470 in place of my paring knife for vegetables and fruit.

The blade has performed admirably. It tracks through cardboard and holds up well under harder use, but the geometry is nimble enough to slice apples cleanly, route the tops off of strawberries, and mince garlic. Edge retention has been excellent. When the edge begins to slow I show it to my near mythical Spyderco Golden Stone, and all becomes right in the world again. No issues with the edge chipping or rolling, and no signs of rust, staining, or corrosion either.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is where things get interesting. If you peruse our pretty decent catalog of ZT reviews, you will notice there is nothing quite like this 0470 with it’s 3-d machined titanium handles and marble carbon fiber inlay. It’s a level of complexity and workmanship I haven’t seen on any of their other production knives.

That’s what drew me to this knife. If the handle didn’t have this unique twist I probably would have passed on it. The end result is an simple and classy handle. It’s elegant, not ornate. And it has been done beautifully. There is not a stray mark on this knife. And I love the simplicity of the handle construction. There is only one body screw at the tail end.

Inside the titanium handle pieces have been deeply milled out to reduce the weight. Holding it all together is a black aluminum backspacer with an integrated lanyard hole. Again, this integrated lanyard hole is a feature found on my significantly more expensive Shirogorov. Since I’m not a big lanyard guy, I appreciate how they avoided drilling a big ugly hole into the handle of the knife. It’s a level of care you simply don’t see on most pocket knives.

There used to be a nice ZT 0470 disassembly video on YouTube that showed the tight tolerances and attention to detail of this knife. It has since been taken down unfortunately, but the inner workings of the 0470 were surprisingly complex. I would not be quick to disassemble this knife.

The ergonomics of the 0470 are excellent. It’s a simple open design that will accommodate most hand sizes, and the spine of the canted handle meets my palm easily. The balance point is just behind the pivot, making the knife feel light and natural in hand.

Texture has been used strategically on the 0470. A run of fine jimping on the spine of the blade is balanced by coarser jimping on the back of the handle. The handle pieces aren’t heavily textured, but they are deeply contoured to meet your fingers and given an attractive end mill finish. The net result is a positive grip and a knife that isn’t going anywhere. It’s comfortable to hold in forward and reverse grips.

The pocket clip is a simple metal spring clip. No 3-d machining on this model. I’m OK with that. The clip design is simple and effective. It was designed for this knife and follows the lines of the handle. It also lacks any overt branding. It offers good spring retention and is easy to insert and remove from your pocket. The handle is drilled and tapped for ambidextrous tip up carry. It’s not a deep carry clip, but most of the handle is buried.

Here is your in pocket shot:

In practice the 0470 carries well. With a near 3.5″ blade, the 0470 is still on the larger side of a true EDC knife for me. It is substantially bigger than the Dragonfly 2, the most pocketable folding knife of all time.

But I don’t think comparing the 0470 to a DF2 is fair. In defense of the 0470, it isn’t a huge knife, and it has a gentleman’s folder quality to it. It’s just a little over 3 ounces. For its size the knife carries well and the pocket clip does a good job keeping the knife in place.

Deployment and Lockup

The 0470 is a titanium framelock flipper running on caged bearings. The flipper keeps a low profile and heavily jimped. The action is smooth and easy. After disengaging the lock the blade will fall shut with a flick of the wrist.

Here is a size comparison with my Shirogorov F3:

However, the detent on this knife is surprisingly light. The blade doesn’t fall out of the handle, but it’s not the level of snappiness I’m used to. The best way to open this blade is using the light-switch technique. Push buttoning it gives me mixed results. The angle of the flipper tab seems to be designed for light switching.

I find the light detent highly unusual given ZT’s long track record of dialed in detents. I would often comment in my reviews how they are the industry standard in my book. But here the 0470’s detent was surprisingly light, and I don’t think I’m alone either. The knife works fine and with the right technique there are no issues opening the knife, but those expecting the typical action of a ZT flipper will be disappointed. At least initially. Now that I know to lightswitch it I’m able to get the blade open every time, but still this came as a surprise.

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with stainless steel lockbar insert. Thankfully there were no surprises with the lockup on this knife. Perfectly rock solid, with early engagement, and easy to disengage. No sticking, and absolutely no blade play. This is exactly what I would expect from a Zero Tolerance blade.

Blade centering is also perfect on my knife.

Zero Tolerance 0470 Review – Final Thoughts

If you are like me, and think there is no room for another ZT in your collection, then the 0470 might just change your mind. It’s a different knife from this company. Just when I was beginning to lose interest in their offerings they tempted me with this dressed up EDC knife.

I think this constant evolution of their products is what keeps the brand interesting and relevant. They continually step out of their comfort zone, and don’t mind pivoting in different directions. Another example of this is their 2019 0022. It’s the smallest knife they have made, and I just might have to grab one.

But lets get back to the 0470 in particular. I love the classic Sinkevich lines paired with the heavily machined and highly engineered titanium handles. The carbon fiber inlay adds a touch of class. The blade cuts well, the handle is comfortable, the fit and finish is top notch. It’s everything you would expect executed near perfectly.

The only surprise was the light detent. Frankly when I first got this knife I thought something was wrong with it. I was shocked. But now that I’ve had the chance to carry and use the knife for a few months, I have no issues getting the blade open. And my understanding is that this is typical on the 0470. If you own the knife please let me know how the flipper action is for you.

At the end of the day I think the pros far outweigh any cons cons. At ~$250 this is not a cheap knife, but you can see where the money went. I have enjoyed mine and can easily recommend it if the design intrigues you.

I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0470 at Amazon, or BladeHQ. Please consider that by purchasing things through any of the links on this website you support BladeReviews.com, and help produce future reviews. Thank you very much.

Fantoni C.U.T. Review

by Andrew Gene 6 Comments

Last Updated: November 3, 2019
The C.U.T. is a knife conceived by Dmitry Sinkevich and produced by Fantoni Knives. Sinkevich is an interesting Russian custom knife maker who creates a wide variety of designs, a folding version of this knife being one of them.

Buy the Fantoni C.U.T. at KnifeArt

C.U.T stands for Contrast Utility Tactical. I’m not really sure what that means but it doesn’t detract from the fact that this is an awesome knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The C.U.T. has an overall length of 9.06″, a 4.00″ blade blade, weighs 6.173 ounces, and is made in Italy. Fantoni makes a production C.U.T. folder as well that comes in black with either a flipper or a stylized thumb hole. The fixed blade also comes in a ‘tactical’ variation with black G10 handle scales and a Kydex sheath. This version, which is marketed toward the outdoor crowd ships with a natural or black, top grain leather sheath.

The blade steel, S-30V, contains 1.46% carbon. With more than 1.2% it is enough to be classified as an “ultra high carbon” alloy. The addition of 14% chromium also makes it a stainless. 2% molybdenum and 4% vanadium has been added to improve the edge qualities through grain refinement and an even distribution of stable carbides.

The unique composition of S30V is achievable through a powder metallurgy (sintering) process that allows the combination of contrasting elements. The result garners the “super steel” classification. Although an impressive title, there are many other competitive super steels, notably Böhler M390, Damasteel RWL-34 and Carpenter CTS 204P.

The blade has an up-swept profile that increases the cutting surface and creates a long, sloping belly. This is similar to a trailing point except that the opposite edge drops to meet at the tip producing a straight point, rather than a hooked one. The steel has an over-all thickness of .154″ (4mm) and has been reduced with a high flat grind ending in a good sized choil for maintenance. A secondary bevel creates the keen, final cutting edge. A long swedge is ground along the majority of the spine for easy push cuts. From the side it would appear to be a double edge but it isn’t. Rounding things out is an interesting choil like notch at the ricasso.

The grinds are well rendered and the blade has received a fine stone wash finish. Fantoni and Sinkevich’s logos and word marks along with the steel type are tastefully laser etched on the sides of the blade.

While .25″+ blade stock has been popular in fixed knives these days, it is apparent that this thinner blade is a great choice for users who don’t abuse their tools and want performance over brawn. That’s not to say that the C.U.T. won’t hold up to serious use. It’s just well balanced, with a slight lean toward high cutting efficiency.

Handle and Ergonomics

For the handle scales Fantoni has used G10. This glass reinforced epoxy laminate has a high resistance to solvents and is extremely tough. The material has a slightly abrasive finish that provides good grip.

As with many higher end fixed blades the C.U.T. has a full tang construction. This means that the handle is backed up by the same piece of steel that makes the blade and travels to, or extends past the handle scales. While a full tang construction normally adds some weight, it is superior in strength to a partial, hidden “stick tang”. To keep things lean, Fantoni has removed a substantial amount of stock beneath the handle scales to keep the knife at a modest 6.2 oz.

The ergonomics one the knife are also well thought out. There is a row of jimping on the thumb ramp with more on each edge of the pommel working to add traction in a standard or reverse grip. The inner edge of the handle has subtle finger grooves that help to lock the hand in place without feeling restrictive. Toward the blade there is a front guard that prevents your hand from sliding forward. The detailing here is exceptional. The way that the guard appears to be wrapped by the blade and blends into the grind is beautifully executed.

The back side of the handle has a slight peak that creates a convex shape that nests against your palm. While slightly angular it doesn’t create a noticeable hot spot for my medium sized hand. The scales are a good, filling thickness. All edges have been contoured for comfort and the corners are cleanly chamfered. The same is true for the edges of the tang which extend slightly past the orange G10’s edges. An exposed pommel includes a lanyard cut-out and can be leveraged as an impact tool.

It’s welcome that there isn’t a heavy texture on the handle nor is the jimping saw-like. The features that the handle has are already enough for extended, safe use and won’t abrade your hands.

Sheath

For carry the knife ships with an elegant top-grain leather sheath. The belt loop and two sides are made from one piece of leather. This smart construction is form fitted to the handle then glued and stitched for strength.

The version in this review has a classic, natural color with a fine glossy finish. Fantoni’s logo is embossed on the front side with “Made in Italy” on the back. The sheath also comes in black but this version has a more dynamic look in my opinion.

Fantoni C.U.T. Review – Final Thoughts

When everything is considered the C.U.T. is an exceptional belt knife. The materials are a solid choice while the fit and finish is outstanding. The design has some elements that remind me of classic eastern European hunting knives. That aside the clean, angular lines and precise execution of all the elements are very modern. They could easily have the C.U.T., along with other Sinkevich knives, comfortably residing somewhere in the future.

Fantoni has done a great job teaming up with talented designers like Tommaso Rumici and William Harsey in the past. Their collaboration with Dmitry Sinkevich also falls into this category, combining key elements in a effective, winning combination.

Fantoni CUT
From: KnifeArt

Editor: I recommend buying the Fantoni C.U.T. at KnifeArt. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website, including links to Amazon and BladeHQ, helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Additional Specifications:

Overall length: 9.06″(230 mm)
Weight: 6.173 oz (175g)

Blade

Length: 4″ (102 mm) (measured to out most point of the scales to the tip)
Thickness: 0.154″ (4 mm)
Blade: CPM S30V
Hardness: HRC 61-62
Finish: Stonewashed

Handle:

Length 4.92″ (128 mm)
Full Tang Construction
Orange or Black G-10

Sheath: Black or Tan Leather or Kydex

Made In Maniago, Italy

Kershaw Concierge Knife Review

by Josh Wussow Leave a Comment

Dmitry Sinkevich and Kershaw are on a roll. Following the success of the critically-acclaimed Atmos, they’re leaping back into service with the Concierge – A slightly larger pocket knife boasting the same sci-fi elegance and everyday accessibility.

[easyazon_cta add_to_cart=”default” align=”center” asin=”B07BC93ML6″ cloaking=”default” height=”42″ key=”tall-orange” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ width=”120″]Kershaw Concierge[/easyazon_cta]

With an out-the-door cost of $38 at BladeHQ, the [easyazon_link asin=”B07BC93ML6″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Kershaw Concierge[/easyazon_link] is a compelling entry point into the mind of one of the world’s premier knife designers. Its dapper handle houses a deceptively simple blade, ready to trim the foil from your morning champagne or cut the rind from your brie at brunch. I spent a few weeks chauffeuring this knife between work and play, thanks to the generosity of the folks at Kershaw. Here’s what I’ve learned over my stay with the Concierge.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Concierge boasts a contoured, upswept blade some 3.25-inches in length. The stock is rather narrow across the shoulders (0.11-inches), with a hollow grind outfitted in a dapper gray titanium nitride coating. Beneath this lies Kershaw’s ever-present 8Cr13MoV steel.

Now, I won’t go too far down the steel rabbit hole, since the similarly equipped Atmos has proven to be a capable worker. I’d still like to see something like 154CM or 14C28N on Kershaw’s budget models, but at least their 8Cr runs better than most.

The rest of the Concierge’s 7.25-inches is comprised of nicely crowned G-10, within which lies a stainless steel linerlock and KVT ball bearing system. Think about that for a second – Up until a few years ago, this would almost certainly have been running on Teflon or (if we were lucky) phosphor bronze washers. As it is, this newly affordable mechanism is sandwiched in a 0.55-inch thick handle, bringing the knife’s total weight to 4.3-ounces.

Now that we’ve covered the stats, let’s take a minute to talk about the knife’s real-world usage. The long, gentle curve of the blade is well suited for daily tasks. Its hollow grind had no trouble dealing with my typical mediums – apples, onions, cardboard, envelopes, and plastic wrap. The knife came sharp from the factory, and I’ve stropped it back to life with no issues. We’ll cover the details of the ergonomics in a moment, but I’m generally impressed with the everyday ability of the Concierge.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

This is a knife that’s smooth all over – Like a tactical otter, or a slippery maitre d’. The subtle swells and arcs of the Concierge’s handle are really something to appreciate, especially when examined up close. Dmitry Sinkevich is known for his sleek, futuristic designs, and his style is in full force here.

The texturing of the G-10 handles is subtle and smooth. The large, dimpled pivot screws provide an interesting focal point for eye and thumb alike, and the chamfered steel liners are easy on the palm. I appreciate the jimping on the long backspacer, as well. Beyond its ergonomic appeal, it’s another point of visual grace in the knife’s overall design.

One of the more unique aspects of the Concierge lies in its recessed pocket clip. This single tongue of steel dips below level of the rest of the handle, thanks to a pair of unique cutouts. The tip peeks just above the horizon of the surrounding G-10, allowing users to slip the knife in and out of the pocket with ease. It takes a bit of practice, but I’m a big fan of the concept here. A recessed clip translates into a reduction of hot-spots in the hand, and Mr. Sinkevich has nailed its implementation. True, this means you’re left with a non-reversible clip. But for the majority of the knife-buying audience, this should be a hit.

Deployment and Lockup

The Concierge employs some of the best fit and finishing I’ve seen on a sub-$100 blade. But once we transition into the functional realm, several budgetary bugaboos rear their ugly heads.

Let’s start with the positives. The opening action is strong, thanks to a solidly designed detent. The blade’s long flipper tab is well-ground and smooth, preferring a button-style press to the old light-switch flick. As mentioned earlier, it’s great to see a KVT bearing system at a price point formerly reserved for Teflon or phosphor bronze washers.

So, deployment is a breeze. Stowage, however, is an entirely different story. My particular test model came with some pretty significant lock stick. Even after a thorough breakdown, cleaning, and repeated application of graphite and Sharpie, it’s still not a terribly smooth process. Combine this with the rather thin (though well-chamfered) lock bar, and you’ve got a recipe for tenderized thumb meat.

This removes much of the fidget-factor that made the Atmos so appealing. I’ve spent a decent amount of time messing around with the Concierge, and the lockbar hang-up isn’t as bad as it used to be. But, at least on my test model, the stickiness took some of the fun out of the experience. It’s a shame, especially given the KVT bearings and the perfect position of the flipper tab.

There’s also an odd note of metallic chatter upon closure, most noticeable between the disengagement of the lock and the blade tang hopping up over the detent. This is a minor issue, and I’m not concerned about the mechanical soundness of the lock system. But, it’s a small annoyance not present on the cheaper Atmos.

Kershaw Concierge Review – Final Thoughts

By this point, my preference should be clear – I ditched the $150 ZT0450 in favor of the Atmos, and the Concierge (while certainly a nice knife) isn’t going to kick its smaller cousin out of the collection. This is largely due to personal aesthetic (I prefer the uncoated blade), but the lock stick comes into play as well.

Minor production hang-ups aside, I still think this is an excellent knife. The recessed pocket clip and upscale aesthetic alone are enough to warrant the price of entry. I’d advise potential purchasers to adopt the try-before-you-buy attitude, in order to avoid picking up a model with the same lock stick issue I encountered. But, this is another strong collaboration between Kershaw and Dmitry Sinkevich. It’s a solid option at a respectable price, especially if the Atmos is too small for your palm.

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Editor: I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Concierge at [easyazon_link asin=”B07BC93ML6″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Amazon[/easyazon_link] or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Custom Knife Factory Decepticon 2 Review

by Andrew Gene Leave a Comment

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
Ever since the explosion of the Shirogorov brother’s knives, there has been an increased interest in what is being produced in Russia. This has been pushed further along by a growing amount of breakout designers, most notably Dmitry Sinkevich.

Buy the CFK Decepticon 2 at BladeHQ

Sinkevich, a long time Shirogorov collaborator, has also worked extensively with KAI USA. The outcome was a high end knife in the Limited Edition 0454, mid range knives in the 0452CF and 0450 as well as budget conscious models like the Kershaw Nura.

The KAI collaboration has resulted in wider exposure and greater accessibility to Russian designs outside of Shirogorov, who were previously the go to brand. The issue with enjoying a Shirogorov has always been the initial price point and/or inflated after market cost, partly due to available knives and a near monopoly on their distribution in North America. While somewhat inaccessible, the popularity of Shirogorov has opened up a wider market for other Russian designers and manufacturers. At the same time, the KAI collaboration put similar designs into more peoples hands.

Enter Custom Knife Factory. Custom Knife Factory is a relatively young manufacturer headed by Mikhail “Mike” Kulygin. The aim of the brand is to work with some of the “newer” talent on the Russian Knife scene. I quote ‘newer’ as some of these designer/makers have been around for quite some time. It’s just that they are only coming into our popular North American knife culture as of late.

One such designer is Alexey Konygin the creative mind and craftsman behind the knife in this review. I personally have been very interested in Alexey’s designs after seeing a video of a custom Decepticon “1” on YouTube in 2012. Impressively 2011 is when the designer came onto the scene, hitting the ground running with his original offerings. Three years and a new iteration later, I’m very happy to present a review of the Konygin/CKF Decepticon 2.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Decepticon 2 is a large folder, produced in a limited run of 300 natural-finish titanium handle versions. The over all dimensions are 9.69” with a substantial 4.33” blade and weight of 6.06 oz. It’s difficult to perceive the size of the knife based on the numbers alone, it’s best to hold one to get the idea. The designer has stated a liking for big knives and this certainly fits the bill. Despite its size, it actually feels quite light in hand due to the handle’s structure.

The blade is made from Crucible’s S35VN, a widely used powder metal “super steel”. It is considered an upgrade to S30V through the addition of Niobium and has pretty much taken its predecessors place in mid to high end folders. Overall, this stainless has great edge retention and toughness, yet is still fairly easy to maintain.

The profile is a stylish modified drop point. A high flat grind adequately reduces the .156” stock at which point it receives a secondary edge bevel. The spine has a slight concave curve for thumb placement which changes direction mid-spine, arcing downward to meet the belly at a fine tip. The upper portion of the blade is detailed with a stylized thumb hole that is accented by a deep swedge grind and line milled into the upper corner of the opening. Visually, the line here continues up to a small thumb ramp that has a row of fine jimping. The blade has a light stone wash finish and is kept clean of markings except for text indicating the steel type. To help with sharpening, there is a good sized choil allowing you to work the edge right to the heel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is constructed of sculpted slabs that stack together integrating to define the Decepticon’s distinct aesthetic. The two inner parts of the frame include all of the key mechanical components, like the lock and a channel for the stop pin. The outer scales add more width for a full feeling grip while their cutouts create counterpoints with the inner, latticed frame. At each end, the layers shear off at contrasting angles adding another interesting aspect to the multi-faceted design.

Although the shapes appear to have several hard angles, the overall profile, coupled with some nice chamfering makes for a surprisingly comfortable grip. The only exception to this for me, is the end of the clip which can feel sharp if you hit it the wrong way.

While on the topic of the clip, it works well with a good amount of tension. It blends into the rest of the design and has been nicely machined. As another feature, the partial back-spacer raises away from the frame creating a spot for a lanyard. The back-spacer is marked with the knife’s unique serial number, this one being #67 of 300. The CKF logo also appears etched on one of the exposed surfaces of the liner.

Deployment and Lockup

While there is the thumb hole, the Decepticon 2’s main deployment method is its flipper. As with most details of the knife it is also embellished with a cutout. Functionally it works well, snapping the substantial blade into place with a push or pull, equally well.

The lock up is very solid with good tension allowing it to seat and disengage easily. The end of the lock arm has a steel insert with a similar configuration to Zero Tolerance’s knives in that the part also includes the detent. To help comfortably unlock the knife and to provide easier access to the lock arm, the inside of the scales are chamfered. The mechanism travels on thrust bearings for smoothness and lateral stability. Everything is held in place by an over-sized custom pivot.

Custom Knife Factory Decepticon 2 Review – Final Thoughts

Although individual taste will vary, it is undeniable that the Decepticon designs are unique. If looking at it objectively, all of the key functional components are there. The blade is useful, handle comfortable, lock strong and materials premium. More impressively the design does this while visually setting itself apart from anything else currently out there.

I think that the name might be a little confusing when approaching this design because of it’s association to the movie franchise. Michael Bay might narrow the market appeal. As a note, Konygin named the knife after designing it and has stated that it was not inspired by the movies…

Personally I really enjoy this iteration and production of the Decepticon. It has achieved a delicate balance of generous embellishment without looking gaudy or ostentatious. I would equate this to the approach of creating shapes and lines by removing stock, instead of piling on extra details, like moku-ti or engraving. It clearly shows off a creative, innovative liner lock assembly with an intelligent utilization of modern methods and materials.

I especially appreciate how well thought out the lines and shapes are on this design. Alexey Konygin has paid great attention to the interaction of all the elements when the knife is both open and closed. From a manufacturing perspective the knife is very well made with a top end fit and finish. I’m looking forward to seeing more CKF collaborations and Konygin designs in the future. I’m sure that these collaborations will help quench the healthy thirst for more Russian designs.

CKF Decepticon 2
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Custom Knife Factory Decepticon 2 at BladeHQ or Amazon.com. The knife is no longer in production, but BladeHQ offers plenty of CKF knives, including the Decepticon 4. Thanks for checking out the review.

Photo Credits: Andrew Gene

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.