flipper

SOG Twitch II Review

I’m hardly the first to say it, but the rise of well-designed manual flippers has really thrown the value of automatic knives into question. When already-good flippers are paired with assisted-opening mechanisms, true autos are obviated ever further.

That said, my beef with many assisted-opening flippers is that they’re chasing an aspect of autos I find unnecessary at best and obnoxious at worst: actions that kick the blade so vigorously into the stop pin that they generate recoil. So aggro! If you ask me, the spring assist only needs to be strong enough to work with the momentum of a moderate flip.

Buy the SOG Twitch II at BladeHQ
Buy on Amazon

While I can’t speak to SOG’s other assisted opening designs, the Twitch II is a knife built for me. Its action is decisive without being aggressive, and there’s a whole lot else to recommend it besides.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Twitch II puts a lot of performance into a small package. The body of the knife is just a hair over 3.5” long, a half inch at its widest point (including the clip!), and an inch and an eighth deep from flipper to closed blade spine. My brass-handled Twitch II was a relatively stout 3.58 oz measured on my digital scale, but you could trim that weight by a full ounce by opting for the aluminum scaled version if factory specs are to be trusted.

As you might note from the size comparison with a Spyderco PM2 and an Ontario Rat II, the Twitch II is a decidedly small knife. Often, I throw my Twitch II loose into a pocket. I notice the heft for the first few minutes I’m carrying it around, but it’s not long before I stop thinking about it. Just by feel, the clip and flipper tab make it very easy to orient and deploy the knife one-handed.

I can’t say enough good about this blade. At 2.75”, the drop point is long enough to perform medium-duty work. However, it is supremely, awesomely slicey. Fans of Spyderco’s blade grinds will find themselves comfortable here given the Twitch II’s full flat grind and well-sharpened, extremely uniform secondary bevel. Thanks to a thin stock that measures just 2mm at its widest point and a good amount of belly right where it needs to be, the knife cuts extremely well.

I’m not kidding. From the factory, my Twitch II came hair-popping sharp and made effortless confetti of stray paper. Having recently bought a Spyderco Chaparral, one of the company’s most well-lauded slicers, I think the Twitch II gives it a real run for its money at about a third of the cost.

The blade is made from AUS-8, which while being far from a “super steel” will likely hold its edge a bit longer on a small knife like this. And, if it happens to dull, even a novice can restore it back to a hellacious level of sharpness with only a modicum of effort.

What I can’t figure out is why SOG saw fit to put the patent number along the side of the blade. Do they imagine some Chinese counterfeiter is going to get the knife in hand and say “Aw, damn!” when he sees this arbitrary series of numbers? As if that’s what’s going to stop some unscrupulous overseas outfit from trying to reverse-engineer the design? It’s a frankly ugly and unnecessary detail that detracts from the Twitch II’s clean lines.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Ergonomically, there’s a lot to like. The balance point of the knife (at least on my brass version) lies almost exactly at the center of the handle, making the Twitch II feel very lively and precise in the hand. The very gentle inward slopes direct the thumb and fingers to little nooks where everything feels just right, and there are no sharp edges anywhere beyond the cutting edge. The Twitch II has the feel of a very precisely crafted tool in all respects.

Like a great number of pocket clips, I think the one included on the Twitch II is too stiff. It also exposes a good five-eighths an inch of knife, which is conspicuous for one as small as this. More reasons why I just throw mine in a pocket. However, I do really like the unintentional ergonomic function of the clip: it gives the middle finger a great little hollow to find its way into and provide a secure point of contact.

Even though the knife is extremely smooth, all of these little ergonomic details allow me to feel like I’ve always got a confident, secure grip on the knife. No aggressive texturing needed!

Deployment and Lockup

As mentioned before, the action is delightful. The flipper is designed as a “push button” style (as opposed to the “light switch” method I often employ on other knives). Overcome the detent, and the blade will deploy firmly, but not excessively. It announces itself with a gentle “snick” rather than something that sounds like a gunshot or an anvil falling off a table. However, if you want to rely on the Twitch II’s thumb studs, you can deploy the blade that way and watch it literally rocket out and into deployment.

I’d mentioned I often carry the Twitch II loose. Comforting for me is the safety, which I can click upwards and not have to worry about the knife deploying when I don’t want it to. The detent isn’t exactly weak, but the safety is an appreciated “belt and suspenders” option to ensure the blade stays closed. Additionally, those who want to push the knife a little harder can use the safety to lock the blade in place once it’s engaged. Just for that little extra piece of mind.

The Achilles heel of the Twitch II, if you can even call it that, is a little bit of blade play. There’s no wobble front-to-back, mind you, but you can induce a little lateral play if you grab the blade and move it. This is hardly a reason for me to throw the Twitch II into the nearest river.

As for centering, it’s pretty decent by default. Kicked into deployment and folded into closure, the blade is in perfect parallel with the liners. Assuming you’re not wiggling it merely to disappoint yourself.

SOG Twitch II – Final Thoughts

The word “gentleman’s knife” gets thrown around quite a bit, but I’m surprised SOG’s Twitch II doesn’t come up more in the discussion. It’s a very functional (but not aggressive) knife with an easy deployment system, great build quality, and svelte dimensions. Dress the Twitch II up in its rosewood or anodized aluminum variants, and it looks even more the part. My brass-and-black version has a neat steampunk aesthetic that I think would turn heads without freaking out one’s coworkers. I’d argue the Twitch II is too small and too sophisticated to threaten a reasonable person.

Naturally, I think the great action, excellent ergos, and superior cutting performance right out of the factory are enough to recommended the Twitch II to enthusiasts reading this site. However, I think this is a wonderfully giftable knife for any gearheads or gadget freaks who have a penchant for dense little simple machines that do a job well.

As a final side note, SOG’s product mix is better than ever. A neat knife like the Twitch II is proof enough the company is interested in diversifying beyond the “hard dude tactical operator” aesthetic a number of people (fairly) associated them with in years past. This is a great knife for a great number of different users, and remarkably easy to recommend.

SOG TWI8-CP Twitch II 6.20 Inch EDC Folding Knife, silver

2.65 INCH AUS-8 STAINLESS STEEL KNIVES: This ultra sharp knife is a discreet emergency knife, hunting knife and every day pocket knife for men or women; measures 3.55 inches in closed length with model number: TWI8-CP
SOG ASSISTED TECH (S.A.T.): Makes a great everyday carry, camping knife and outdoor knife; assisted opening knife system opens this straight edge clip knife one-handed
FOLDING KNIFE "KICK": Release this fast opening knife with either hand using very little pressure; flick the EDC tactical folding knife "kick" on the back of the Twitch II and the folding knife into action
TOUGH ALUMINUM HANDLE: These tough utility knives, camping knives and survival knives offer strength and durability with a hard-anodized aluminum handle
SOG KNIVES FOR LIFE: Take care of your pocket knife and we'll take care of you; SOG folding knives and pocket knives are built to last, and we consider all repair and replacement requests

Editor: I recommend purchasing the SOG Twitch II at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

SOG SEAL XR Review

by Clayton Walker Leave a Comment

For some, getting right up to the point of “too much” is exactly the point. I’d read once that Chevrolet didn’t see any need to put a stronger engine in the Corvette in the sixth and seventh generations because without a mid-engine chassis, adding more power would just spin the tires. Sensible enough. Meanwhile, Dodge threw a 1200 horsepower engine into the “Demon” variation of the Challenger, because you know, MORE. Muscle car guys threw their wallets at it.

Buy the SOG SEAL XR at BladeHQ

In the knife world, the efforts directed towards making a robust and bulletproof folder typically result in a design that ends up overly big and heavy. At a certain point, you cross a line where it would have been easier and more cost-efficient if the consumer found a good fixed blade and called it a day.

Enter the SOG Seal XR. Primarily designed as a law enforcement / military grade tool (the name is indeed a clue), the knife is additionally billed as being ready and willing to cut through any problem regular guys like us have to throw at it.

Now, the sensible part of my brain knows that there’s no shortage of sub-$50 machetes from name brands like Kershaw, Ontario, and Cold Steel that are up to the task of being batoned through a piece of firewood. What’s the use, then, of subjecting a folding knife retailing at $190 to that same degree of use and abuse?

The damndest thing happened on my way to trying to answer that question. Once I unboxed the knife and started using it, the Seal XR put “sensible” into a headlock from which it never emerged.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

As you might already expect, the Seal XR is a big boy. My specimen weighs in at 7.98oz on my digital scale. Closed, the knife is 5.25” top to bottom, about three quarters of an inch across the widest point of its body (not counting the clip), an inch and a quarter at its widest point when folded from back to front, and a hair over 9” in overall length when deployed. Here it is between our usual suspects, the Spyderco PM2 and the Ontario Rat II.

Note that these specs may preclude pocket carry for some. For real-world reference, my iPhone is about 4.7ounces in weight (with case). The Seal XR’s size and density is certainly enough to make it pants-saggingly conspicuous if worn all day in the front pocket of your shorts. Then again, and especially when it comes to overbuilt tools, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Personally, I’ve felt the Seal XR to be less burdensome when carried in a sturdier jacket pocket. It’s going to feel better clipped to thicker, utility-grade denim as opposed to skinny jeans. Those who actually might need to rely on the Seal XR as part of any kind of military or law enforcement use might have more kit to play with, from tactical vests to Batman-style utility belts, which might allow a more secure and confident carry. My point is that not all wardrobe is compatible if you want to EDC this thing.

The blade shape of the Seal XR is excellent: I always like the look and performance of clip points, and there’s a lot of belly that allows the knife to cut aggressively just based on geometry. By my measurements, the Seal XR provides about 3.5” of cutting edge and 4” of blade length. The stock on the blade measures a respectably beefy 0.19” across. Put all of these dimensions together, in combination with the always-great S35VN steel, and you end up with a big knife that can poke and cut with the best of them.

A word on this: if you’ve never used a big knife for normal household tasks, you’re in for a treat. The Seal XR positively decimates cardboard boxes, and it was a joy to use in breaking down a six-foot long branch that I woke up to find blocking my driveway. The Seal XR also pierced very well through some eighth-inch thick plastic to make several impromptu drainage holes in a makeshift planter. The blade remains paper-cutting sharp.

This is pedestrian stuff for a knife designed to withstand the rigors of fighting ISIS operatives or being run over by a Humvee, but I was surprised by how a hard duty knife made short work of light duty tasks. It certainly never felt like overkill.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The word of the day when it comes to the Seal XR is “jimping.” While the FRN handles are nicely grippy on their own, the finger grooves, blade spine, backspacer, liners, and flipper tap are all aggressively machined in order to really let the Seal XR lock into a gloved hand. With a solid grip, this thing is only getting away from you if you lose a couple fingers.

It seems excessive at a glance, but let me assure you: you can definitely come away from a bare-handed work session without feeling like you’ve been juggling a few cheese graters. The finger grooves are comfortably spaced, and the knife balances nicely just behind the XR lock, so despite the weight it’s never unwieldy.

As for the pocket clip: I don’t love it. Normally my biggest beef with knife clips is that they produce hot spots during use. Not so here: in this respect, the SOG clip is actually workable. It’s also aesthetically very nice, and the company’s logo is understated compared to other models like the Terminus. In the past, SOG has gotten a deserved amount of flack for pocket clips that seem to literally shout the branding at you, and for that reason I appreciate the no-BS approach here.

What irks me about it is that its size ends up blocking off the part of the knife where my middle and ring fingers want to land while operating the XR lock, as might be a little more evident below.

If I try to secure those digits on the clip, it’s slippery thanks to the mostly smooth steel. But secured just forward of the clip, it puts the meat of my fingertips a little too close to the blade’s closing path for comfort, and especially so given the momentum it has when it slams home. (More on this to come.) Without the clip, I feel a lot more confident and comfortable working the action.

Deployment and Lockup

No bones about it: the XR lock is a treat. I quickly found this to be my preferred deployment method. The beefy blade practically carries itself through the arc of travel with the laziest of wrist flicks, as the inner workings of the XR lock actually begin to push the blade out and away when the button is actuated, as seen below.

You can certainly use the eminently functional flipper tab, though it requires just a little more effort than the average pocketknife to kick out the blade. The “thumb hole,” if you ask me, is purely decorative and not a serious deployment option.

Lockup is as rock solid as I could ask for. Expect excellent centering open and closed, and no detectable play in any direction upon deployment. SOG has been getting deservedly good press as a result of its take on Benchmade’s AXIS lock. The verdict is that the XR lock is durable and reliable, and smooth enough to make every one of SOG’s manual folders fidget friendly. Unlike some of my Benchmades, however, there was no appreciable early stiffness or break-in period necessary. Right out of the box, I was flicking the blade open and closed with ease.

As for flicking the blade closed—it’s a little thrilling and a little scary. Disengage the XR lock and the blade slams home like a runaway vault door with an audible clack of metal against metal. (More reason I want my fingers firmly planted on the handle.)

SOG Seal XR Review – Final Thoughts

The Seal XR is proof positive that SOG has listened to the feedback provided by knife aficionados and is genuinely competing to stand neck and neck with stalwarts like Benchmade and Spyderco. The build is quality through and through, and the company has seemingly done the impossible in making a nigh-indestructible “serious business” tactical knife utterly fun and fidget friendly.

But with an MSRP of about $190, is an eight-ounce slab of S35VN built for the horrors of war something you need? For most, the answer is no. That said, my knife drawer would be a lot less crowded if I’d limited myself only to buying what I needed rather than what I found cool or interesting. Although the Seal XR was a little much for my personal EDC considerations, those who want a tough-as-nails folder like this will likely find a way to make the size and weight work. Big knife guys, you already know who you are.

At the end of the day, the Seal XR gets a big thumbs up. Sure, you can probably get through your household or workshop tasks with a smaller, lighter blade. But if you’ve never used a knife like this, you might be surprised by how it soldiers through whatever material you need to cut in less time and with less effort than you’re used to.

SOG SEAL XR
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the SOG SEAL XR at BladeHQ. They aren’t currently available on Amazon.

We Knife Co. Mini Buster Review

by John Burridge Leave a Comment

Snecx! If you haven’t heard of him yet, Snecx Tan is a Malaysian knife and tool maker who is, in my opinion, currently the most mechanically innovative knife designer in the world. His Instagram profile says “Just a hobbyist working on knives. Not a knifemaker.” That’s a bit of an understatement for someone who recently held an auction on Instagram for the one-of-a-kind prototype of his upcoming “Vision S” knife. It sold for $18,900.00 USD. That’s a pretty well-funded hobby.

Buy the Mini Buster at BladeHQ or GP Knives

There are a lot of knife enthusiasts like myself who have been eager to get our hands on a reasonably priced Snecx knife, and WE Knife Co. has delivered with the Mini Buster, which goes for $289. I’ve been using it every day for the last month, and here’s what I’ve learned: it’s a nearly perfect large-ish EDC knife with one major design flaw.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mini Buster is 4.5” (115 mm) closed, 7.8” (198 mm) open, and has a 3.4” (86 mm) blade made of CPM-20CV steel. The blade stock is 4 mm thick at its widest point, and the handle is about half an inch thick (13 mm) not counting the clip, which adds another 4.5 mm. So it’s no slim little Brad Zinker disappear-in-your-pocket folder, but it’s also no Cold Steel supersized monster knife either.

The blade is a very slightly curved sheepsfoot style, which I consider to be the ideal do-everything EDC blade shape. Its tip is pointy enough to pierce tough materials, and the blade is wide enough to use as a butter knife. I prefer the ergonomics of a
sheepsfoot (or wharncliffe) blade over a traditional drop point blade because, when holding the knife with my index finger on the spine of the blade to open a box, the low tip of the sheepsfoot blade keeps my wrist and arm at a more comfortable angle than when using a drop point blade.

The picture above illustrates how the Mini Buster’s sheepsfoot blade tip can cut while nearly parallel to a surface, while the drop point blade on the RealSteel Rokot needs to be at a much higher angle to utilize the tip of the blade.

The WE Mini Buster’s blade stock is Crucible CPM-20CV steel, which is a premium American-made blade steel with extremely high hardness and above-average toughness. To avoid taking an unnecessarily deep dive into metallurgy, I will just say the Mini Buster’s blade has excellent edge retention, but is more likely to chip than bend.

CPM-20CV is nearly identical to the European-made Bohler M390 steel, and these powdered-metallurgy “super steels” are THE go-to blade steels for high-end knives lately. In fact, of the 14 folding knife reviews BladeReviews.com has published so far in 2020, 35% of them had CPM-20CV or M390 blades. They’re great knife steels, and I’ve noticed that I need to sharpen my D2, CPM-154, and RWL34 knives more often than my harder steel M390 or 20CV knives.

Over the past month, I’ve been hacking away at everything in my vicinity that can be hacked at, including thick plastic packing straps, cardboard, annoying clamshell packaging, stray tangerine tree branches, and, when trying to cut a piece of baklava in half, I sliced up a metal catering pan. Despite all that, I have yet to scratch the blade’s black DLC coating or the handle’s anodizing. That’s quite impressive considering that I normally scratch my DLC coated steel blades and anodized titanium handles almost immediately.

The blade’s primary grind angle is known as a “flat” grind, which looks like a narrow symmetrical “V”.

In the kitchen, the blade’s uninterrupted “V” shape had no contours or additional angles to disrupt its slicing path through a bunch of tomatoes and cucumbers. As with nearly every folding knife, the Buster’s blade/handle configuration doesn’t allow food dicing without rapping my knuckles on the cutting board with every downstroke. Snecx tested the durability of his original Buster knife by slashing the tops off of green coconuts- I think the Mini Buster could handle that task, but it would definitely be easier with a non-Mini Buster…

I’m a pretty frugal guy, but I’m impulsive when it comes to my steel and/or gunpowder-related hobbies. It also usually takes me making the same mistake two or three times before I learn my lesson. For example, I’ve watched myself compulsively click the “buy” button on some limited-edition knives that I thought looked cool: a Dervish Knives Alchemy midtech ($395) and a Prometheus Design Werx/Strider Knives SMF “Frogskin” ($635). But my biggest impulse buy of all was in 2018 when I bought a Snecx/Jake Hoback Knives collaboration Buster ($775), which is the most I have ever spent (or ever will spend) on a knife.

Like my first marriage, I always knew I was making a mistake but went ahead with it anyway. I immediately regretted my decision- I didn’t really like them, I wanted to sell them (the marriage analogy definitely no longer applies from this point on), and so I never carried or even enjoyed them. I managed to sell the Dervish and the Strider at a loss, and I’ve tried to sell the Snecx/Hoback Buster twice with no takers. In early 2020 I saw one in the BladeHQ closeout section for $499. Maddening! I’m done with buying expensive knives.

A brief history of the Snecx/Jake Hoback Knives Buster: Snecx is indeed a knifemaker (despite his claims to the contrary) but is not a knife manufacturer, so in 2018 he launched two collaboration projects. The first was the Custom Knife Factory Terra, and the second was the Hoback Buster. According to what I’ve read on Snecx’s Instagram and Hoback’s website, Snecx’s core visual design was minimally modified, but a lot of details were changed, most notably the addition of a honeycomb pattern in the handle.

I definitely appreciate innovation and unique aesthetics, but (sorry Mr. Hoback!) I think it ended up looking like a mashup of two contrasting, not complimentary, design styles. Plus it’s huge. I give zero fucks about what the general public considers an “office-friendly” or non-scary looking knife, but the Hoback Buster is so big and heavy that it’s unwieldy.

I was surprised to see that the Hoback Buster isn’t much bigger or heavier than my Chris Reeve Knives Large Sebenza 21 (an expensive knife that I’ve never regretted buying) but in the hand, the Hoback Buster is a big manly beast knife. OK- out of the shame spiral and back to the review.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Mini Buster feels great in use, even though I can’t quite get a full four-finger grip with my medium-large hands. The handle is long enough overall, but the upswept end of the bottom of the handle (see arrow in picture above) removes some finger gripping space. The pad of my pinky finger ends up on the handle screw near the lanyard loop, and that’s enough for me to achieve a secure grip with all four fingers.

When held in a regular grip with my thumb on the spine, my thumb naturally rests in a little indentation where the backspacer ends above the pivot, but I can also comfortably shift my thumb forward onto a section of jimping on the blade spine if I want more precise control of the blade.

The jimping ends in a stylish little dip for the tip of my thumb, which is one of four places (see arrows in picture above) on the Mini Buster where Snecx used this dip-in-a-straight(ish)-line design cue.

The Mini Buster also has a number of subtle angular details, which are definitely accentuated by the artificial edge wear of the “antique bronze” finish version I bought. There are almost no straight lines on this knife. There’s an almost subliminal curve to every part of the Mini Buster, including the blade, which has a very slight belly. Another interesting design choice on the WE Mini Buster is how the angular front tip of the handle crosses the plunge line of the blade. This is a carryover from the original Snecx Buster design.

According to Snecx, he allowed Jake Hoback to “fix” the handle angle and plunge line so they’re parallel. You can see this difference between the two knives in the picture above. But when WE Knife Co. did the same “fix” to an early Mini Buster prototype, Snecx made them retain his original Buster handle/plunge line design.

Deployment and Lockup

The Mini Buster is a framelock with a unique Snecx twist: the H.D.P.S. system. That stands for Hybrid Detent Pin System, and my admittedly limited understanding of it boils down to this: the shiny round steel pin on the lockbar (see picture below) acts as both the stop pin, which keeps the blade locked into its open position, and as the detent ball, which keeps the blade in place in its closed position.

I can’t be sure if this is a function of the HDPS system, but the Mini Buster does a far better job than most other knives of easily opening while there’s pressure on the detent. I can squeeze the lockbar section of the handle (the part attached to the aforementioned shiny round steel pin) pretty hard without hampering my ability to flip open the knife. Snecx, however, isn’t the only recent innovator on this front. Zero Tolerance Knives recently released the 0707 framelock, featuring their new Tuned Detent System, which is designed to address the same problem, but using a different mechanical approach. I watched a video review of the 0707, and although it does an admirable job of opening irregardless of pressure on the lockbar, it does not smoothly swing shut like the Mini Buster.

I only have one criticism of this knife, and this is the major design flaw I alluded to at the beginning of this review: the little tiny nubby flipper tab becomes completely inoperable if your finger is even slightly wet or slippery.

Why? The face of the flipper tab is completely smooth, without any machined texturing like most flipper-actuated knives have. That in itself isn’t necessarily a problem, but it’s also so small there’s barely any surface area for your fingertip, so a single drop of water will defeat any attempt to flip open this knife. In my wet and slippery kitchen and gardening adventures with this knife, I found that the only way to open the Mini Buster was to pinch the spine of the conveniently “V” shaped blade and manually pull it open.

Snecx is known to be an absolute perfectionist, so I don’t understand how there could be such an obvious problem like this. According to what I saw in Snecx’s Instagram posts about the WE Mini Buster, he seemed quite pleased with it, so my theory is this: the lack of flipper leverage (a conscious design choice) was deliberately compensated for by using a somewhat weak detent. The detent, which in this context is the wall of force that my index finger on the flipper tab must overcome to deploy the blade, isn’t quite strong enough to guarantee the knife completely opening every time. I suspect that the detent was made as strong as was possible given the limited leverage on the flipper tab. That’s not a huge deal, but it does require more concentration and effort to deploy the blade than is required for most knives in this price range. I’m probably overthinking all of this, but I have seen several other people mention their knives have a weak detent, so it’s possible I’m right.

Nonetheless, once the blade gets going, the ceramic ball bearings surrounding the pivot give it a smooth and easy action. It locks open with a confidence-inspiring snap, and in use it feels as solid as a fixed blade knife.

We Knife Co. Mini Buster Review – Final Thoughts

Even with it’s flipper design issues, I stand by my initial claim that this is a nearly perfect large-ish EDC knife. According to Snecx, it’s also his final framelock design. He’s moved on to his “Vision” knife, for which he has invented two new technologies: the Superlock locking system, and the Zero Flex Pivot. It became very obvious to me that Snecx was onto something special when heavy-hitter designers like Ostap Hel, Rotten Design, and Tashi Bharucha all publicly commented on the same Instagram post about Snecx’s Zero Flex Pivot. Tashi B’s comment just said “Perfection”. The Vision looks amazing, but that doesn’t matter to me at all, because as I said, I’m absolutely done with buying expensive knives.

UPDATE: I bought a $160 titanium COVID tool.

It’s a very limited edition (only 15 pieces) handmade by one of my favorite knife designers, Tashi Bharucha, in partnership with his frequent collaborator Thierry Savidan. It’s part of a series called “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”. I bought “The Good” (pictured above), but did not get “The Bad”, which is the same design but with three knuckle spikes. Both versions came with a little COVID-19 shaped lanyard bead engraved with the words “THE UGLY”.

Like my Hoback Buster, it’s huge and expensive, especially compared to my $17 Civivi copper COVID tool also pictured. Unlike my Hoback Buster, however, I have NO regrets about buying this thing- it’s awesome and I smile every time I whip it out to open a door or punch in my PIN number.

Finally, the Hoback Buster that I’ve been whining about for the entire review is still for sale! Hit me up in the comments or on Instagram if you want to make this “As seen on BladeReviews.com” Hoback Buster all yours…

Thank you to Sara O’Neil for the use of her painting.

We Knives Mini Buster – From $272.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend purchasing the We Knives Mini Buster at BladeHQ or GP Knives. Thank you very much.

Kizer Yorkie Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

Ray Laconico designs some elegant knives. I like the clean lines, and the practicality of his pieces. I’m not alone, and over the past few years his work has taken off. Kizer was smart to collaborate with him, and the results so far have been excellent.

Buy the Kizer Yorkie at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

We previously reviewed the Intrepid, and the Gemini. He has gone on to collaborate with other companies, including Alliance Designs, where the focus appears to be on higher end collaborations. The Kizer Yorkie is more approachable. It retails for around $150, still a lot of money but a fraction of what the Alliance Designs pieces cost, yet it still has a timeless look and is made from premium materials.

All knives reviewed are bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. I bought this particular knife with my own money. I’ve mentioned this before, but it probably bears repeating as Kizer has provided us with a few knives to review in the past.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Yorkie has an overall length of 6.125″, a 2.5″ blade, weighs 2.93 ounces and is made in China. On it’s own it doesn’t give me the impression of being a smaller knife, but the Yorkie is a smaller knife and it compares more favorably to a Mini Griptilian or even a Dragonfly II than the Delica. Here is a size comparison so you can see for yourself:

Kizer Yorkie vs. Benchmade Griptilian and Spyderco Dragonfly II

Perhaps part of what gives the Yorkie the illusion of being larger than it actually is, is the clean, near continuous line from pommel to blade tip. Laconico manages to tease out both a lot of handle and blade with this design. That, combined with substantial full titanium handles, lend the Yorkie some substance. Also, in hand the Yorkie actually feels more substantial than the slightly bigger Mini Griptilian.

The blade is an exaggerated drop point. It’s almost hawkish in appearance, yet it is also close to being a spear point. The simplicity of the blade shape is further accentuated by the almost full flat grind. You can see the slightest bit of flat at the top connecting with the ricasso, but beyond that you have essentially a full flat grind. The blade finish is a fine stonewash. It is a clean and functional look that matches the rest of the design.

Kizer Yorkie

For blade steel we have S35VN. Standard fare for a knife like this. For the uninitiated, this is a higher end American steel developed by steel manufacturer Crucible in conjunction with Chris Reeve, and was formulated as a predecessor to S30V and developed specifically for cutlery.

It may not have the “Gee Whiz” factor of some of the more exotic steels, but I certainly welcome it on this knife. I have always appreciated S35VN as a practical choice for a daily carry knife, and think it was a good selection for the Yorkie. In practice, this blade takes a fine edge and is easy to maintain. I haven’t had much in the way of issues with rust or corrosion with S35VN either.

Kizer Yorkie Blade

The blade geometry on this knife is quite good, and will easily accomplish the typical EDC tasks you would expect a small knife like this to tackle. Packages and mail are no problem. Light food prep, including cleanly slicing apples, is no problem thanks in part to the wide blade and lean grind. The Yorkie is also capable of tougher tasks, and I’ve used it while working in the yard. In a pinch it can pass through a palm frond, or assist with opening a bags of mulch. All told the blade is well considered and should meet most people’s needs.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Yorkie’s handle is 2 slabs of solid titanium separated by the pivot and 2 stainless steel stand offs. The Yorkie revels in its simplicity, and can pull it off by being so well executed. For example, the pocket clip screws are flush with the inside of the handle. No ugly screws are poking out into the handle like you might find on lesser knives. Also, the handles have been given just the slightest amount of beveling. You might need to squint, but the handles are not perfectly flat. Instead, there is a slight almost imperceptible radius to the entire outside of the handle. It’s these kinds of little details that subtly elevate the Yorkie. The overall fit and finish is great.

The only contrast on the handle is the bright stainless hardware, and the only ornamentation is a single hole fixed dead center on the show side. Even that hole has been given careful attention; there isn’t a machining mark to be found. I don’t know why exactly it was placed on the handle, except for perhaps to provide a little visual interest. I’m not sure if it rises to the level of addition by subtraction, but it does provide a focal point at least.

Kizer Yorkie Ergonimics

For a smaller knife, I’d say the ergonomics are pretty good. It’s not the magic trick of the Dragonfly 2, but there is a good amount of usable space on this smaller handle. This is thanks in part to the simple design and the small forward finger choil created by the flipper tab. There is just enough room to get your index finger in.

If you rely on just the titanium handle I’d say its a 3.5 finger handle for me, and probably a cramped full 4 finger grip for most. However, that finger choil allows you to spread out and really get comfortable with the Yorkie. The thick titanium handle also helps, and gives you something to grab onto. There is no jimping or texturing to speak of, but the simple boxy handle offers enough traction on its own. At least for my pedestrian purposes.

The pocket clip is a small milled titanium clip. I’ve always enjoyed a well executed milled clip, and I’m pleased to say that spring retention on this clip is excellent. The knife easily slides into the pocket, but is also firmly held in place. It isn’t a deep carry clip, but the Yorkie is still fairly discrete.

Kizer Yorkie Pocket Clip

There is a groove milled into the pocket clip that blends in with the lock bar cut out. I haven’t seen this on a knife before. It’s kind of arbitrary, but like the hole in the handle, I think it was an attempt at injecting a little personality into the design. I don’t mind it, but I don’t fully “get” it either.

Here is your shot of the Yorkie in the pocket:

Kizer Yorkie in the Pocket

Deployment and Lockup

This is a small titanium framelock flipper. The flipper tab pokes out from the back of the handle prominently. I think that is good as it doesn’t have any texture on it. With a small knife like this, a poorly designed flipper tab runs the risk of the knife being fiddly. The Yorkie isn’t fiddly, but still, there is a little compromise with a small flipper like this. This isn’t the easiest knife to flip open. The detent is also good, but not great. I’d say it’s a “6” on a scale from 1-10. I’d prefer to see it more like a 7 or 8. It’s good but not great. The knife runs on caged bearings, and the action is smooth and easy.

Kizer Yorkie Spine

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with a stainless steel lockbar insert. Kizer knows how to make a framelock, and the Yorkie is no exception. The lockup is early and rock solid. Disengaging the lockbar is easy thanks to some substantial cutaways in the handle. No complaints with the lockup. My knife also came with a perfectly centered blade and a nice nylon and felt lined pouch.

Here is a parting size comparison with the Delica and Endura:

Kizer Yorkie Review – Final Thoughts

Ray Laconico has built up significant momentum over the past few years. I think the Yorkie is another success for him. Kizer has managed to capture his “less is more” ethos, and to build a deceptively simple knife that is actually quite thoughtful and rich in detail. It is clear that everything has been well considered, and the knife not only looks cool, but it works quite well. Even as a smaller piece.

My main piece of constructive criticism regards the detent. I’d prefer a heavier action to help ensure the blade gets 100% open 100% of the time. Everything else is so neatly dialed in, so it’s odd that the detent isn’t a little crisper. Beside that I find little to complain about.

Even the price is reasonable. I paid around $135 for my knife. For some reason the price is now closer to $150. While that isn’t cheap, it’s not too bad for a titanium framelock flipper. The materials are top notch, the design is attractive, and the execution is almost perfect.

I would recommend the Yorkie if you are a fan of the design, or are looking for a smaller titanium framelock flipper for daily carry.

Kizer Yorkie Pocket Folding Knife, 2.57" Stonewash S35VN Blade Titanium Handles Camping Knife, Flipper Hunting Knives, Small EDC Knives, Ki3525 (Ki3525A1)

This knife Designed by Ray Laconico and precision engineered by Kizer
2.5-inch CPM-S35VN blade features excellent toughness, edge retention and wear and corrosion resistance
Handle Material:6AL4V Titanium /Blade Material:CPM-S35VN /Weight:2.93 oz /Overall:6.125"
Great companion for any hiker, landscaper, backpacker, hunter, wilderness guide, electrician or anyone in need of a reliable everyday carry knife
Excellent everyday carry for numerous tasks including opening packages, stripping wire, removing splinters, cutting zip-ties，aggressive animal defense

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

Kizer Vanguard Mini Sheepdog Review

by Grayson Parker 2 Comments

Howdy knife nuts. It’s been awhile. Long story short, I’m working two jobs right now, so I haven’t really had time to focus on gear. Hopefully this review is a sign of more to come.

Buy the Kizer Mini Sheepdog at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I’ll be the first person to admit that I don’t “get” cleaver-style pocket knives. When they started to appear in catalogs and Instagram feeds, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d be a pain to carry and an easy way to spook people. From the oversized blades to the chunky grinds, there just didn’t seem to be a case for them. So when Dan asked if I’d be interested in reviewing the Kizer Mini Sheepdog, I was a bit reluctant, but ended up saying yes, in part to challenge my own prejudices. Fortunately, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Read on to learn more.

Full disclosure: this knife was provided cost-free by Kizer. While the company’s reputation for quality is high enough that I feel comfortable claiming that my sample is representative of the line at large, some of you might feel differently.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kizer Mini Sheepdog weighs 3.15 ounces, has a 2.63” blade, and measures 3.6” long while closed. It’s neither a featherweight nor a brick. The blade is short enough to be legal to carry in most US cities, and I’ve yet to encounter someone put off by it, despite the distinctive blade shape. On the whole, the quality of construction is excellent, and I was pretty impressed when it slid out of the box.

Depending on your point of view, the Mini Sheepdog’s blade is either the draw, or the drawback. If you like cleaver-style blades, then this should be right up your alley. The lines are bold, the modified wharncliffe reinforces the tip quite well, and the shallow belly of the blade makes it a fine utility cutter.

The blade steel is VG10, a Japanese steel whose reputation has suffered quite a bit over the years. When I first got into this hobby, VG10 was lauded for its rust resistance, ability to take a keen edge, and easy maintenance. Those haven’t changed. Nowadays, however, you are more likely to hear about how quickly VG10 loses an edge, and part of that is because of the rapid pace of technology. Amazing steels are available at hitherto unheard-of prices. Still, if you regularly touch up the edge on a strop, you won’t be disappointed. Just don’t try to break down a pile of cardboard boxes: the edge will disappear long before you’re done.

Despite the slightly outdated blade steel, the Mini Sheepdog is still a lean cutter. The combination of a tall blade, .125” stock, and keen flat grind make for a very effective slicer, especially during food prep. Don’t mistake my meaning: this isn’t a replacement for a Swiss Army Knife, let alone a kitchen knife. However, if you need a utility knife that can also slice an apple on your lunch break, this is a fine option.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Like most of the Vanguard line, the Mini Sheepdog’s handle is comprised of G10 scales over stainless steel liners. Both materials are excellent choices for working tools, provided that the manufacturer puts the time and effort into properly finishing them. G10 is lightweight, durable, and isn’t damaged by moisture, but if it isn’t sanded down or contoured it can be rough and uncomfortable in the hand. Stainless steel, depending on the treatment, isn’t necessarily rustproof.

Fortunately, Kizer knocked it out of the park here. The G10 scales are smooth enough that they won’t wear out your pockets (or hands, for that matter), yet have enough texture to remain grippy in adverse conditions. Likewise, the stainless steel liners are polished enough to ward off most incidental rust (though, full disclosure, I live in what is technically a desert).

The ergonomics on the Mini Sheepdog are perfectly serviceable. There’s little to complain about, but not much to write home about, either. I can get three and a half fingers onto the handle of the Mini Sheepdog, but most of the time it’s a three-finger knife. The hump-backed handle coaxes your fingers into a slight pistol grip, which might be annoying if that wasn’t how I used most of my work knives already.

As I mentioned in the introduction, one of my concerns regarding cleaver-style blades was that they’d be a pain to carry. Luckily those fears weren’t justified. Yes, the Mini Sheepdog is a bit wide, but it’s not so wide that you can’t reach past it to grab the keys at the bottom of your pocket (which is the real test, in my experience). The pocket clip is perfectly functional. It doesn’t damage pants, it’s not difficult to remove or stow, and it doesn’t generate hotspots. In a world filled with terrible pocket clips, “perfectly functional” is high praise.

Deployment and Lock-Up

The blade of the Mini Sheepdog is deployed with the quintessential modern flipper tab, and rides on a ball-bearing pivot. This combination is fairly common these days, and the Mini Sheepdog is a fine example of the breed. It has a crisp detent, a smooth pivot, and an intuitive flipper tab, making deployment reliable and effortless.

Liner locks tend to get a bad rap these days. Ever since framelocks started to dominate the market, liner locks have seemingly been relegated to the realm of budget knives, and that doesn’t seem quite fair. More often than not, a liner lock is actually more effective. They don’t change the geometry of the handle when the blade is deployed, they’re just as strong, and they’re much easier to replace in the event of catastrophic failure, so I’m more than happy to see a liner lock on the Mini Sheepdog. As the locking liner is made of steel, there’s no break-in period or galling issues. More importantly, there is neither horizontal nor vertical play in the lock, and lock-up is stable at around 50%.

Kizer Vanguard Mini Sheepdog Review – Final Thoughts

I didn’t expect to like the Mini Sheepdog at first, but it’s since won me over. The cleaver-style blade was neither off-putting to strangers nor did it make the knife a pain to carry. It’s a fine cutter, perfectly sized for everyday needs, and falls at a great price point, especially considering the materials and quality of construction.

Honestly, I’ve been out of the loop for too long to comment on what slice of the market the Mini Sheepdog is competing with. If I might borrow from fellow BladeReviews writer Ben Schwartz, the Mini Sheepdog, much like the Begleiter, “sails perilous close” to waters dominated by the sub-$100 Spyderco offerings, but these are old and well-established stalwarts. In my opinion, the Mini Sheepdog has enough charm to stand on its own, and its materials and quality of construction are at least as compelling.

If you like cleaver-style blades, but don’t need to perform ad hoc butchery, the Mini Sheepdog is right for you. It’s inexpensive enough to test the waters, innocuous enough to fly under the radar, and handy enough to keep around alongside much more expensive knives.

Kizer C01C (Mini) Pocket Knife, 2.6" 154CM Cleaver Sheepsfoot Blade Folding Knife with Black G10 Handle, Camping Knives with Flipper Opener, Liner Lock EDC Knives for Outdoor, V3488C1

Sharp 154CM Blade: The Kizer Sheepdog pocket knife boasts a 154CM steel blade that has been expertly refined and heat-treated to deliver outstanding sharpness, hardness, edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance for reliable everyday use; Additionally, the sheepsfoot blade shape enhances versatility and utility
G10 Handle: The black G10 handle of edc camping folding knife offers a combination of durability and lightweight properties; It is known for being waterproof and corrosion-resistant, making it well-suited for use in harsh environments; Additionally, it provides an excellent grip, enhancing safety and ensuring secure handling of the knife
Liner Lock & Flipper Opener: Kizer hunting pocket folding knife features a reliable liner lock mechanism that ensures the blade opens securely and prevents accidental closure; Its flipper design facilitates one-handed operation and is suitable for beginners; The knife strikes a perfect balance between safety and functionality, making it especially suitable for outdoor sports enthusiasts
Suitable for EDC Use: The Kizer edc pocket knife is highly versatile, suitable for daily tasks and more; Its razor-sharp blade slices effortlessly through meat, food, and packaging, and even handles delicate tasks like cutting pancakes or removing crumbs. Additionally, its convenient clip makes it easy to carry
Swift After-sale Service: Kizer survival knives and tools provide swift service against defects in material and workmanship; Kizer service center provides fast response to take care of your requests

Editor: I recommend buying the Kizer Vanguard Mini Sheepdog at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Reate T4000 Review

by John Burridge 3 Comments

Whenever there’s the thinnest excuse to use a pocket knife, I do so. Over the last month of carrying the Reate T4000 nearly every day, I’ve noticed that when I open it up in public to do any of the small innocuous things I use a knife for, I’ve seen people’s eyes light up with…not terror, but a distinct “What the hell is that?” look mixed with a tingle of atavistic fear.

Buy the Reate T4000 at BladeHQ or GPKnives

It looks like a large double edged dagger- which, to the subconscious mind of most people, looks like what the ruling classes have been using to kill people with for the last four thousand years, and/or what everybody gets stabbed with in Game Of Thrones. I have two friends who are into knives on almost the same nerdy level that I am, and even their first responses were “Whoa!”

The instant I saw the T4000, I knew I wanted it simply for the fear/thrill reaction it gave me. But when writing a knife review, I always try to determine the knife’s intended purpose. In this case, it’s easy: when Reate Knives began teasing the T4000 in July 2018, BladeReviews.com’s own Ben Schwartz wrote an article about it for KnifeNews.com. Here’s what the designer of the knife, Tashi Bharucha, had to say about it:

[It] does not pretend to be anything other than a stabbing pocket sword.

It’s intended purpose is to be a stabbing pocket sword? Sign me the fuck up!

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Reate Knives T4000 is part of a four-knife series, all designed by French knife auteur Tashi Bharucha. At the time of writing, only the smallest of the four, the T2500 and the T4000 have been released. The naming convention reflects the length of the blades in inches- the T2500 is 2.5” long, the T4000 is 4”, etc. The T3000 and T3500 have yet to be released.

I find it curious that a French designer and a Chinese knife manufacturer are using the antiquated Imperial measurement system for the names of these knives- I’m going to assume their target market is ‘Merica. I don’t know if the pricing scheme is also related to the blade length, but the T4000 cost me $400 USD. I suppose that’s a bargain compared to Tashi Bharucha’s custom, handmade knives, which cost at least $1,000. Even though I’m a big fan of his work, I’m not going to spend over a thousand bucks on something I can’t drive, ride, or shoot.

It comes with a bunch of nice, unnecessary stuff like a Reate Knives Zipper pouch, a cleaning cloth, a microfiber knife bag, a velcro embroidered “Reate” patch, and extra handle screws, which are actually a really nice touch.

There are three handle choices: Titanium with inlaid carbon fiber, inlaid brown canvas Micarta, or inlaid green canvas Micarta, which is what I bought. It’s an unusually large and heavy folder, even bigger in every respect than my collection’s previous champion of unnecessary size and weight, the Microtech Sigil MK6.

The T4000 weighs 5.3 oz (150 g), is 8.86” (225 mm) long when open, 4.92” long (125 mm) closed, and 1.75” (44 mm) tall when open or closed. Some knives disappear into your pocket- this definitely doesn’t. It’s not particularly thick though, at .68” (17.2 mm) at it’s widest point, pocket clip included.

The blade steel is Bohler M390, which is considered a “super steel” due to it’s extreme hardness and corrosion resistance. I’ve been reading up on blade steel, and want to give a shout out to knifesteelnerds.com for a lot of in-depth articles that a non-scientist like myself can understand. What I’ve learned about M390 is that it’s high hardness resists edge deformation, which keeps it sharp. The trade-off for high hardness is a reduction in toughness, which is basically resistance to chipping. A lot of these hardness/toughness qualities seem to be imparted into the blade during the manufacturing process known as heat treating. My limited understanding of heat treating boils down to this: you heat up the unfinished steel blade to get the individual molecules to bond together in a very specific way, then remove the blade from the heat to lock in the molecular structure.

Most knife manufacturers guard their heat treating methods as proprietary secrets, but Reate Knives has made this little nugget known: after the heat treating is complete, they use a technique called “freeze edging skill.” This process cools the blade while the cutting edge is being ground, so that the friction-induced heat of grinding doesn’t undo the specific molecular structure from it’s heat treating. It may just be marketing hype, but it makes sense to me.

I was recently talking to a guy who is several orders of magnitude higher than me on the Blade Steel Nerdiness spectrum, and he gave me an earful about how modern super steels like M390 are too brittle, and he prefers softer, “tougher” steel like VG10 or 154CM which are easier to sharpen. I totally get it because he’s way into sharpness- he sharpens his daily carry Sebenza with a leather strop every day whether he’s used it or not. Personally, I have a bunch of nice pocket knives that I carry and use, and I wait until they’re good and dull before I sharpen them. I would rather have a knife with a crazy hard edge that I can use longer between sharpenings. In a month of light duty cutting, I’ve barely dulled the edge of my T4000, so Reate’s M390 is working great for me.

The blade is surprisingly slim for such a big knife. It has a thin hollow grind with a decorative fuller, which briefly flares the blade’s maximum width to 3.8 mm in the center. I looked up a ton of information about blade fullers for this review, but it’s far too boring to include here.

Suffice it to say that fullers are basically for structural reinforcement on long blades and are not “blood grooves.” The T4000’s standout feature is it’s aggressive symmetrical dagger shape, but the top of the blade, which is exposed when the knife is closed, has a 1.1 mm thick unsharpened edge.

This knife has excelled at my usual mundane tasks of box and bag opening and loose thread cutting, but I like trying new things, and I’ve never used a dagger for food prep before. I stabbed and slashed and hacked my way through tomatoes, onions, artichokes, sausages, etc. My experience using the T4000 in the kitchen was pretty much like with every other pocket knife I’ve used in this capacity- I couldn’t dice anything like with a chef’s knife because my knuckles would hit the cutting board before the blade would. It’s thin blade slices well, and the fuller seemed to keep food from sticking to the side of the blade. The false edge on the top of the blade is wide enough to push down on for some extra leverage.

Other uses for the T4000’s false edge are:

Opening mail- the false edge opens envelopes perfectly without dulling the sharpened side.
Removing staples- slip the tip of the blade under the staple and twist towards the unsharpened side.
Pretending to slash my wrist- I’ve absolutely horrified several people.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

On the T4000, designer Tashi Bharucha used a variation of his signature handle shape. From an aesthetic standpoint I love it, but I find it’s ergonomics often make the knife difficult to use. The problem, in my opinion, is how far back my hand is from the blade’s tip. There’s no place on the handle to choke up and gain the mechanical advantage of having my hand closer to the tip of the blade.

That being said, I don’t really care, because I don’t buy his knives for the ergonomics. I would never classify myself as a “fanboy” because first of all I’m not a boy, I’m a goddamn man, but Tashi’s design style really speaks to me, and I now own five of his production knives.

The handle ergonomics on three of the others are similar to the T4000, with the exception being the Massdrop-produced Prism (far left in photo), which cleverly exchanges some sharpened blade length for the ability to choke up on the handle. The Tashi B./Reate Knives Baby Machine (not pictured) knife has a similar ergonomically friendly shape.

The T4000’s handle is made of two pieces of titanium and one piece of green canvas Micarta. This is my first knife utilizing Micarta, and I was dismayed that after a month of sweat and cooking oil and dirty hands, the Micarta’s color has permanently changed from light green to a darker olive drab. It’s somewhat grippy texture is unchanged. The mating of the Micarta into the handle is so precise I can see where the inlaid Micarta meets the titanium, but I can’t feel the seam.

Reate’s fit and finish on this knife are superb. Every angle machined into the handle looks sharp but feels smooth. The T4000’s shape is just so weirdly aggressive that I can’t stop looking at it- it’s the knife equivalent of an Italian sports car. Specifically, the Lamborghini Urus: a 641 horsepower all wheel drive SUV that, to my eye, shares many design cues with the T4000. Please forgive my crude Photoshop skills:

Both the car and the knife are fascinating combinations of severe lines and curves, and both come off as being large, lumpy and aggressive. I periodically see one of these big stealth tank-looking SUV’s rolling by, and my response is always “Whoa!” By the way, for an excellent review of the Lamborghini Urus, I suggest checking out the Amazon Prime TV show “The Grand Tour” season 3, episode 5 “An Itchy Urus.” Anyway, back to the knife…

The forward tip of the pocket clip is very sharp. Not cut yourself sharp, but certainly scratch the paint off your car door sharp.

Nonetheless, the clip looks great, and I think it’s pointy design is entirely appropriate for a stabbing pocket sword. The T4000’s titanium clip is milled into Bharucha’s signature stylish shape, and the clip’s shape and position mirror the titanium inlay inside the Micarta inlay on the show side. The amount of flex is great, it’s amount of offset from the body of the knife is great for thick denim jeans pockets, and it’s shape melts into the fold of my hand when I’m using it.

When carrying the T4000 while wearing reasonably tight pants (as I often do), the knife, though heavy, stays put due to it’s robust clip. But when wearing loose shorts, I feel that big hunk of titanium and steel rhythmically slapping my thigh as I walk.

Deployment and Lockup

The blade is heavy and the flipper detent is strong, so it takes a bit of finger muscle to open it. It swings smoothly on ceramic bearings, and has a nice strong magnet-like feel that snaps the blade closed when it’s open less than 6 mm. It’s a framelock, and locks up securely with about half of it’s 3 mm steel lock face in contact with the blade. It’s not a hard use knife like my DPX HEST F1, which has a 75% lockup on it’s 4 mm wide lockbar, but the T4000’s lock doesn’t seem to be likely to fail under reasonable use.

There is one weird thing about it though- it’s sound. When flipping it open, instead of the normal, satisfying “click” that I’ve come to expect from titanium knives, there’s a two-part sound like a metal soap bubble popping, followed by an unusually high-pitched snap. One of the nice things about having a lot pocket knives is that I have them on hand to compare and contrast with each other. At the moment, I have 16 reasonably good folding knives, and I sat down in a quiet room and flicked or thumbed open every single one. Through this highly scientific investigation I have determined that the sound the Reate T4000 makes when opening is utterly unique. The sound has nothing to do with it’s functionality at all, but it’s odd enough that I feel compelled to mention it.

Two last things: first, the T4000 has a party trick- it can stand on it’s head. Second, I was driving on US Interstate 5 on the East side of Los Angeles and noticed a 125 foot (38 meter) tall Tashi Bharucha pocket clip rising above the LA River. It’s the central spire of the North Atwater Bridge which is due to be completed in 2020. Say what you will about the evils of social media, but thanks to Facebook I was able to send the picture below to T4000 designer Tashi Bharucha. He responded that he hadn’t seen it before and, no, he did not design the bridge.

Reate T4000 Review – Final Thoughts

The T4000 is definitely a niche item. It’s not for everyone, it’s not perfect, and it’s relatively expensive at $400. But I dig the Reate T4000 stabbing pocket sword on a deep, visceral level – I don’t know if it’s an ancient, hardwired feeling of security or a Roman-Legionnaire-in-a-past-life kind of thing, but I sure do like it.

Reate T2500 – From $419.95
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Reate T4000 at BladeHQ or GPKnives. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website (including Amazon) helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Thank you very much.