Frame Lock

CRKT Pilar Review

For a long time, I didn’t really ‘get’ CRKT. When I first got interested in knives, the company was well behind the curve. It seemed stodgy, outdated. Companies like Spyderco and Benchmade opened my eyes to what a modern pocket knife could be; CRKT just confirmed the pedestrian image I had of knives before I became a nerd about them. My only CRKT purchases were the requisite Drifter and a secondhand Tribute that I paid too much for.

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This was back in 2012ish, and I don’t think my dismissive attitude then was totally unwarranted. But when CRKT had its renaissance a year or two later, turning to collaborations with trendy designers to give their lineup a shot in the arm, I continued – wrongly – to ignore them. Probably this renaissance coincided with the height of my own knife snobbery. I was laboriously ascending the ladder of production knives, one incrementally more expensive purchase at a time, and didn’t think I’d ever want to come back down.

But this year, my and CRKT’s wavelengths aligned – I finally understood the appeal of what it does. There is huge merit in putting out really good designs in universally affordable trim. It doesn’t move out of this zone – like, at all – but I would argue it owns it. Even other makers that trade in the affordable knife market lack either CRKT’s sheer range, commitment to price point, or both.

The Pilar, undisputed star of CRKT’s 2017 lineup, seems to embody all of the company’s strengths. It seemed like the perfect knife to reacquaint myself with CRKT, so I picked one up. It’s an intriguing, fun knife, but does it measure up as a tool? Let’s take a look.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Pilar has a blade length of 2.4” counting the choil, and an actual cutting edge of 2”. The handle is 3.5” long, and its overall length is 6”. It weighs 4.2 oz. and is made in China.

I’m going to spend some time discussing the appearance and style of the Pilar. While normally (and rightly) secondary to a knife, they’re a central part of the Pilar. Its very best qualities are intangible, non-performance things and it would be a disservice to the designer not to talk about them.

So, yeah: this is a great looking design from Jesper Voxnaes. His tamer designs don’t move me, but when he cuts loose and gets a little weird I’m interested. One thing I wonder about is whether designers save their “best” designs for high-end collaborations. In this case, though, there’s no question Voxnaes gave CRKT A+ material to work with. Swap out the low-end materials for ritzier ones and the Pilar could be a GiantMouse or Viper release without missing a beat. It’s fun to look at, fun to hold, and fun to use. There’s a reason the Pilar is all over social media. It’s a gear geek’s knife, a knife nerd-seeking missile. Quirk is our catnip and this one has character for days.

The Pilar’s blade shape is a combination between a cleaver and a wharncliffe. As an all-purpose EDC tasker I find it adequate, never inspiring. There’s an ergonomic issue that plays into this (see below), but the blade presents two issues of its own. The first is length – there are common chores that the Pilar’s blade won’t be big enough to accomplish. This wouldn’t be a huge sticking point, but at 4.2 oz. I really think we need more utility. A lack of an acute tip also hurts. Opening bags or clamshell packaging, you’re going to have to fiddle with the Pilar to align its snubby tip where you want it.

I think we need to start considering 8Cr13MoV an unacceptable choice for EDC steel. Yes, it is easy to sharpen, but so are all bad steels. Edge retention is poor, and it discolors and smudges with any contact with skin. My prediction is that we’re about a year or two away from either CTS-BD1 or 14C28N becoming the default budget knife steel – and that day can’t come soon enough, because I’m done with 8Cr13MoV.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

If you count the half-and-half choil, the Pilar is fully 2/3 handle – and I’m not complaining. The thick scales are made from a lightly textured stainless steel, held together with an aluminum backspacer. The entire handle has been given a generous chamfer, addressing virtually all potential hotspots

At the risk of splitting hairs, there are two major ways in which a knife can be ergonomic: 1) is it comfortable to hold? and 2) do the ergonomics facilitate actual use of the knife? The Pilar excels at the former and somewhat flubs the latter. When you look at a picture of its handle, you think “Yes.” When you buy one and hold it you think “YES.” But then you use it and think, “Oh. Hm.”

The problem is, the choil puts your forefinger right up against whatever you’re cutting. There’s no ‘dead zone’ between the end of the choil and the start of the cutting edge. Your knuckle drags across cardboard as you slice it. Cut up an apple and you’re going to have to wash your hands afterwards. With only 2 inches of cutting edge, you really need to be able to leverage every last centimeter, and the interplay of the finger choil and the cutting edge makes this hard to do.

Although configured solely for righties, the tip-up/tip-down pocket clip is straightforward, unobtrusive, and durable. One nice detail is that it is set into a cutout, eliminating side-to-side wiggle. But yes, 4.2 oz. is way too heavy. Weight distribution can make heavy knives seem reasonable, but when you have a blade this compact, those four full ounces have nowhere to go. In lighter clothing like shorts it felt like I had a hockey puck clipped to my pants. Often it was easier to carry it loose in my pocket. This knife should have had a G-10 front scale.

Deployment and Lockup

CRKT and Voxnaes buried the Pilar’s thumb oval as far down as they could while still making it accessible for both right- and left-handed people. It works well, flicking out with ease and not so detent-heavy as to make slow-rolling impossible.

The no-fuss deployment works alongside a well-executed stainless steel frame lock. Engagement is comprehensive, with nearly the entire lock face meeting the tang and no play in any direction. Bonus points for the stylish little cutouts on the lock bar for disengagement – they look cool and work well.

One issue of note here is the slickness of the scales. The Pilar is a small knife, and when closing it there really isn’t anywhere for your fingers to go. The barely-there texturing on the scales makes finding reliable purchase difficult. Glaringly unsafe? No, but annoying – and again, a G-10 scale would have fixed this.

CRKT Pilar Review – Final Thoughts

I have to applaud CRKT for this knife. With a design this good, many other companies would succumb to the temptation to bedizen it with all sorts of trendy features and materials, and price it in the $150-$250 range. This is clearly their best design of 2017 and it isn’t even the most expensive.

And yes, this knife cries – sobs, even – for a material upgrade. Me, I’d like to see a minor upgrade to G-10 scales, a liner lock, and CTS-BD1 steel. But the tradeoff with the current materials is that CRKT priced the Pilar at a stunningly low $25.

So check it out. It’s a deeply cool knife that I enjoyed reviewing, even when it wasn’t performing as well as I hoped. At $25 I can give it an unreserved recommendation.

CRKT Pilar EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Compact Everyday Carry, Satin Blade with Finger Choil, Thumb Slot Open, Frame Lock Stainless Handle, Reversible Pocket Clip 5311

List Price: $28.23

Price: $24.96

You Save: $3.27

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

Zero Tolerance 0562 cf Review

by Dan Jackson 45 Comments

Updated: 05/30/2016
By this point we have seen quite a few of Hinderer / KAI collabs hit the market, and I have covered them extensively on the blog. We started with the heavily built 0550, moved to the critically acclaimed 0560, a knife that raised the standard for high end production pieces, spent some time with the controversial Kershaw Cryo, and recently the EDC-friendly Zero Tolerance 0566.

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The KAI/Hinderer collaborations on go back a couple years, and surely by now everyone has had their fill of folders that resemble the XM-18. But still Zero Tolerance has insisted and recently released the 0562cf and the 0562.

“So what?” You might say, pointing to a drawer full of ZT boxes. You may be sick of hearing about ZT and Rick Hinderer pairing up. Well, the problem with the 0562 is that it may very be the best Zero Tolerance / Hinderer collaboration yet.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0562 has an overall length of 8.25″, a 3.5″ blade, and weighs right around 5.5 ounces. The knife is smaller than the 0560, and bigger than the 0566. I know that a 3.5″ blade is a sweet spot for a lot of people’s daily carrys and it also happens to be the same footprint of the 3.5″ XM-18, which I consider the flagship XM for some reason. The 0562 carries discretely in blue jeans, but is big enough to be used as a work or self defense knife.

This is a good point in the review from me to distinguish the 0562 from the 0562CF. The 0562CF (pictured in this review) is the upgraded version of the knife with a carbon fiber handle scale and satin finished M390 blade. The 0560 is more of a working man’s version with a G10 handle scale and stonewashed Elmax blade. For a detailed comparison of the two with beautiful photographs I invite you to check out my friend John Holbrook’s article and review of both knives here. Of course I’m only reviewing the 0562CF here, and went for the 0562CF because it was only $50 more and I was feeling fancy, but I think 95% of this review will apply to both models.

The blade on the 0562 is classic Hinderer drop point, modeled closely after his XM series of knives. The interesting thing about this particular model is that it has been given Rick’s “slicer” grind. The slicer grind is a slanting high flat grind that shaves quite a bit of material from his standard “spanto” grind. The slicer grind on this 0562 is actually pretty slicey, easily cleaving cardboard and rope. I find that Rick’s slicer grind on the regular XM is still pretty thick. This 0562 is the best slicing Hinderer collab I have handled.

The 0562 comes in either M390 or CTS-204P steel. My 0562 came in M390. M390 is a powered super steel by Bohler, and is capable of both being heat treated to 60-62 HRc and taking a beautiful polish. I have found edge retention to be excellent on M390. M390 is also relatively easy to sharpen for a super steel, making it a practical choice for someone that wants to regularly use the knife.

I am less familiar with CTS-204P, having only experienced it with my Spyderco Southard. In my experience CTS-204P also holds a nice edge and is reasonable to sharpen. I have had no problems with rust or corrosion. The jury is still out in terms of my long term opinion on 204P, but my gut reaction is that you will be fine with CTS-204P.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Just like a real XM, the handle of the 0560 is slab carbon fiber/g10 over a full stainless steel liner and then a titanium frame lock. You don’t have the extreme 3-d machining found on the 0560, which is fine by me because I think it’s part of the reason why they were able to keep the price down on these, but the edges are all chamfered. Construction is very good. Zero Tolerance is no stranger to the world of high end production pieces, and they have struck a nice balance here of providing us with a sturdy knife with simple high end finishes like blackened barrel spacers, an oversized decorative pivot, and very good fit and finish. Compared with a real XM-18 3.5″, the 0562 is a much slimmer knife.

I really like the way the 0562 feels in hand. Gone is the terrible overly sharp jimping on the 0560. In its place you have a short row of tasteful and practical thumb jimping on the spine and a little recessed jimping by the pommel. The rest of the knife is smooth as a baby’s butt, although you do have a couple finger choils in the handle. I think they struck a great balance here and the 0562 feels very good.

For lovers of deep carry pocket clips, the clip on the 0562 is a triumph. It’s a very deep and discrete stainless steel clip that mates to a standoff at the very back of the knife. The end result is a fully ambidextrous clip that doesn’t leave a lot of holes in the handle. I am impressed ZT went this more stayed route rather than a flashy “ZT” branded clip. This level of restraint and classiness isn’t always found on their models so I gotta give credit where its due. The spring action on the pocket clip is nice and strong and it holds the knife in place in your pocket. The 0562 is over 5.5 ounces, but it’s still a relatively thin knife and carries well for its size. All said I’m very pleased.

Deployment and Lockup

I am also pleased to report that the action on the 0562 is very good. Once again ZT has dialed in their detent and the blade explodes from the handle with the push of a finger. It doesn’t hurt that the blade rides on their proprietary “KVT” caged bearing system. Deployment is fast, reliable, and fun, and the blade falls back into place upon disengagement. The “thumb studs” are actually blade stops and I was not able to use them to open the knife.

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with a stainless steel lockbar insert. This is just like the lockbar insert found on the recently reviewed ZT 0808. It has been very well done. Lockup is early and confident, and there is no blade stick, lock rock, or any other malady that sometimes effects a framelock knife. Blade centering is dead on too. Rounding things out is a Hinderer lockbar stabilizer.

Zero Tolerance 0562 Review – Final Thoughts

I have handled all of the Zero Tolerance / Hinder collaborations prior to the 0560 and I also recently broke down and finally picked up a Hinderer XM-18, so I thought that I have pretty much seen it all. The 0562 is still a very impressive knife. They have done a great job combining fixing the things that I didn’t particularly care for about the original 0560 (the oversize knife, sharp jimping) and added some nice subtle refinements and upgrades. I think they also did a good job not bringing over some aspects of the XM-18 that I could avoid (the 3.5″ XM-18 is very heavy and the action isn’t particularly impressive). The end result is a practical and well made knife at a competitive price point.

I know that some will want to know if the 0562 is as good as an XM-18, or whether will replace an XM-18. I’m here to say that those are still two very different knives. My 3.5″ XM-18 is an absolute tank. It’s over the top in many ways. I prefer the 0562 because it’s slimmer, more pocketable, cuts better, and flips better, and can be had for a fraction of the price of the XM, but I still appreciate the XM-18 for what it is: a finely tuned overbuilt hunk of G10, steel, and titanium.

I realize that I’m somewhat jaded by running this website, but I thought $250 for the Zero Tolerance 0562CF was very reasonable for what you are getting, and the G10 version retails for right at $200. I know a $200+ folding knife isn’t for everyone, but if you can justify buying a $200+ pocket knife then I’m here to say the ZT 0562 is awesome.

Zero Tolerance 0562CF Hinderer Slicer Folding Knife; 3.5” CPM-20CV Stonewashed and Satin Steel Blade, Carbon Fiber Front Handle, KVT Ball-Bearing Opening, Frame Lock and Reversible Pocketclip; 5.5 OZ

List Price: $240.00

Price: $240.00

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I recommend purchasing the 0562CF at Amazon or BladeHQ . Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Chris Reeve Mnandi Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: January 10, 2018
When I think Chris Reeve Knives, I first think of the Sebenza, their flagship blade. Then my mind wanders to the Umnunzaan, their amped up tactical offering. Only after sampling both of those knives did I take a genuine interest in the Mnandi. It was one of those knives that I knew that I wanted to check out, but would have to get around to it eventually. My guess is that frame of mind holds true for a lot of collectors, especially those getting into knives within the past 10 years like I did in the middle of the tactical knife boom.

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And that really is a shame because the Mnandi is a really nice knife. Before moving forward with this review I will say that my Mnandi was built in 2011, and Chris Reeve has since made some subtle refinements to the knife. Most notably, the pocket clip has been changed to a hidden hardware design, and the blade steel has been upgraded to S35VN over the S30V model shown here.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mnandi has an overall length of 6.375″, sports a 2.75″ blade, and weighs 1.5 ounces. The knife is firmly in the EDC or gentleman’s folder segment. I carry mine to the office no problem and prefer it over a bulkier knife for EDC. It could easily fall into the collectible market given the wide range of inlays available, although I do believe that this is a knife that was made to be used.

The blade shape is a modified clip point design. I like the lean, aggressive profile of the blade, and the angular nail nick further accentuates that low slung profile. The short belly terminates at a fine upswept tip, and the hollow ground blade has been given a nice satin finish. Like the other CRKs I have handled, the spine is nicely rounded. This blade shape is fine for EDC, easily opening mail, breaking down packages, and taking care of other minor chores around the house and office.

Blade steel on this particular knife is S30V, although if you were to buy a Mnandi new today it would likely come in S35VN. I was surprised to get a little flak in my large Sebenza review for reviewing an old model of the knife with S30V instead of S35VN. Practically speaking there is very little difference between the two steels. At higher hardnesses the S35VN will be a little easier to sharpen, but beyond that most people won’t notice much of a difference. I found the S30V on this knife very easy to maintain. Chris Reeve Knives is known for heat treating their blades on the softer side to aid in ease of sharpening. I don’t have a problem with that when it comes to my EDC knives, but edge retention junkies would prefer a harder heat treat.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Mnandi is where things really start to get interesting. The knife is available with a large number of exotic wood inlays and is even offered with mammoth ivory bark and bone. My knife happens to have an African Blackwood inlay. Underneath the wood scales is full titanium construction. One thing I never really noticed about the Mnandi until I got one in my hand is that the titanium is actually two-toned. The flats have been given a satin finish while the edges are media blasted. It’s a really nice detail. On the back side of the knife you have a very nice flow through design. There is a single decorative standoff and a stop pin.

The Mnandi is a small knife but the handle offers plenty of room for a full grip and the knife is surprisingly comfortable to use. The arced handle supports your fingers much in the same way the Spyderco Dragonfly does, and you have some excellent jimping on the spine of the blade as well. CRK really knows how to get jimping right. It’s not thumb-shreddingly aggressive, but it provides enough traction to keep you in the game. Between the wood onlays, titanium handles, and 3d machined pocket clip you have a decently thick and comfortable handle. I wear a large glove and for a small knife, the Mnandi really works ergonomically.

The pocket clip is one of my favorite details of the knife. It is a 3-D machined stainless steel clip. It buries the knife in your pocket, is very secure, is discrete, but also has a nice decorative element to it. I’ve reviewed well over 100 knives on this site, and this is definitely the nicest clip I have come across so far. Chris Reeve recently updated the clip, making it a hidden hardware (no visible screws) design. It’s impressive that they figured out a way to improve on this already awesome pocket clip.

With all that said, my favorite way to carry the Mnandi is in the little leather slip sheath it came with. I haven’t tried to hide my love affair with the Victorinox Alox Cadet, one of my all time favorite EDC knives. A big part of the reason why I like that knife is because it’s perfect for pocket carry. Well, the Mnandi is also great for pocket carry, and if you use the leather sheath it helps protect the knife from getting beat up in your pocket. I highly recommend buying the leather slip sheath if yours doesn’t come with one.

Deployment and Lockup

The Mnandi relies on a stylized nail nick for opening. Visually, the nail nick really suits the design, and it works fine for one hand opening too. It’s ambidextrous, and I am pleased to report that I can open the knife left handed without much trouble. The action on my knife is super smooth. Like all of the other CRK offerings, this blade rides on phosphor bronze washers, and it has a smooth, glassy action that I find extremely satisfying. This is what owning a CRK is all about. It’s also worth mentioning that the pivot hardware is all custom, with the Chris Reeve logo engraved on the show side, and a collared pivot on the other.

For lockup you have a Chris Reeve Integral lock. My particular knife locks up late, but it’s very secure and there is no stick or issues with it. There isn’t much else to say although I will mention that blade centering is perfect.

Chris Reeve Mnandi Review – Final Thoughts

The Mnandi is the third model I have sampled in the CRK lineup, but it may very well be my favorite. Everyone is different, but these days I really get a lot of mileage out of small EDC knives that I can pocket carry. The Mnandi is about as good as it gets in that department. This knife is perfectly executed, has a lot of interesting details, and has been very satisfying to own. I can’t think of much to complain about, although I fully appreciate that for many, the $375.00 price tag will be a non-starter.

It’s small and expensive, so I’m not saying this one is for everyone, but if you have any interest in the Mnandi do yourself a favor and buy one. I have really enjoyed mine.

Chris Reeve Mnandi – From $375.00
From: BladeHQ

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

Strider SJ-75 Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

I have come to really enjoy my Strider SnG. Perhaps its because I won it in a contest, and therefore, had no qualms about carrying and beating the crap out of it. Regardless, it is a knife I have really enjoyed. But honestly, if my money was on the table, I’m really not sure the SNG would have been the first Strider in my collection. I have enjoyed the classic Strider look, but something really spoke to me about the refined lines and deep hollow grind of the SJ-75, and I always thought it would be my first Strider. Oddly, it’s my third, purchased after experiencing both the SnG and the PT. But under different circumstances it probably wouldn’t have been that way, and I think in the eyes of many collectors I’m not alone.

Strider really created something different with the SJ-75, and it merits further consideration…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The SJ-75 has an overall length of 7.125″, sports a 3″ blade, and weighs 3.8 ounces. Strider describes this as the bridge in their lineup between the SnG and PT, but I’d say it’s more akin to the SnG than anything. The knife is definitely more compact than the SnG, but the cutting edge is pretty much the same length. It can make for a nice EDC and compares favorably in length to my Sage 1, which as you may be aware is my self-described “perfect EDC.”

The leaf shaped blade of the SJ-75 features a very prominent slanting hollow grind. It’s a neat look and an interesting departure from the flat chunky grinds found on both my PT and SnG. Apparently, some of the very first SJ-75’s were hand ground by Mick Strider himself. I bought my knife used, so I have no idea if it has been hand ground (or even what steel the blade is), but I am a big fan of the deep lean grind and the lustrous satin/tumbled finish that the entire blade has been given. I will say that I am not as crazy about the decorative file work that has been applied to the spine of the knife. I think the filework looks busy, and is something I would have left out if it were my design.

Steel choices seem to range on this model from 154CM to S35VN. There may be other offerings in the mix, special editions and whatnot, but tried and true 154CM and S35VN make up the majority. This is a good thing, as I like both blade steels, and Strider’s heat treats have proven themselves capable many times over. Again, I don’t really know what blade steel my particular knife has, but it’s stainless, holds a nice edge, and sharpens easily enough. Beyond that I really don’t care.

I ran my SJ-75 through the usual battery of tests and it performed really well. My SnG and PT, while fun knives to carry and admire, aren’t particularly keen slicers. The SJ-75 on the other hand positively zips through materials. I crunched cord, carved cardboard, and worked my way through several pieces of wood. The deep hollow grind is a significant improvement over the blocky flat grinds of my other Strider knives. And at the end of the day I was able to restore my edge with a few licks on a loaded strop. This, my friends, is how a $400 knife should cut.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the SJ-75 is an angular affair of G10 and titanium. Compared to my SnG, it looks like they took the fit and finish up a notch. It shares the same hardware, but the the edges have all been nicely chamfered, the lock bar is precision cut, and the handle pieces are suspended between a pivot and a single spacer; the ultimate flow through design. Again you find the filework on the back of the handle slabs, which is something I could live without. Aside from that I’ve got no complaints with the handle.

The G10 and titanium are both smooth. There is fine lined texture on the TI while the layers on the G10 show side exhibit depth like a piece of wood. The result is a handle that is visually interesting without being uncomfortable and obnoxious. The handle slabs have been “CC’d” to melt in the palm, and the absence of atrocious jimping, is noted and appreciated. This is a stout knife, but there is plenty of room even in larger hands for 4 fingers, and the humpback handle rests comfortable in the crook of your palm.

The pocket clip is classic Strider, and has been lifted off their other models. It’s right side tip up carry only, and the combination of a single screw and and slotted handle keeps it firmly in place. This isn’t the ultimate deep carry pocketknife, but they mounted the clip about as deep as they could. There is just enough poking out to easily grab the knife, yet it remains reasonably discrete and very secure.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment you have Strider’s ubiquitous oval thumb hole, and it’s positioned high on the handle for easy access. The knife isn’t as smooth and easy to open as my SnG, maybe due to the tighter tolerances or lighter blade, but the knife still opens purposefully with the brush of a thumb. Strider went for large phosphor washers giving the knife smooth and purposeful action. They are only going to get smoother as the knife continues to break in.

The 3-D machined titanium is deceptively thick, and makes for a substantial frame and lockbar. My knife locks up around 40% and it is extremely tight. There is not even a hint of play in any direction and no stick whatsoever. Strider has had plenty of chances to refine their titanium framelocks, and the result here is highly refined.

Strider SJ-75: Final Thoughts

The SJ-75 may very well be the Strider for guys who don’t like Striders. Compared to the overbuilt SnG and SMF, the SJ is practically a gentleman’s folder. What is impressive to me is the high level of fit and finish. Strider, much like Emerson, has earned a reputation of creating knives that are slightly imperfect users, but this is a knife that is extremely well made and meticulously finished. The reasonable size and weight and a practical grind means this is arguably their best EDC offering yet.

If I could change anything I’d do something about the file work on the inside of the handles and on the spine of the blade. Sometimes less is more, and I think now would be one of those times. Aside from that it’s a great knife, provided, of course, you can overcome the $400.00 price tag. Whether you want an upscale EDC or something for the collection, the SJ-75 is worthy of your attention.

I recommend purchasing the Strider SJ-75 at BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Strider SJ-75 – From $400.00
From: BladeHQ

Zero Tolerance 0566 Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

Last Updated: September 22,2017
I have recently been making regular appearances on the GearGeeksLive podcast with Tony and Andrew. Tony and I recently had Thomas Welk from KAI (Kershaw/Zero Tolerance) on the air for an episode about KAI. I found it fascinating to get inside the head of a prominent representative of a major cutlery company.

Buy the Zero Tolerance 0566 at BladeHQ

One part of the show that really stuck with me was Thomas’ point that many knives are designed to fit into boxes. And no, I’m not talking about those fancy cardboard wrappers we have all come to know and love. I’m talking about MSRP. Most knives coming out of high volume manufacturers are designed around a price point, because these large knife manufacturers work with major retailers and these major retailers put manufacturers under tremendous pressure to deliver product at certain price points. If a manufacturer decides to base their business around working with large retailers, then this can make up a large part of their bottom line.

Ultimately, the point Thomas was making is that production knife making is usually a study of compromise, oftentimes to the chagrin of enthusiasts like you and me. Not every knife coming out of KAI’s doors can be a 0888. Hell, they can’t even just produce the 0560. Instead, these companies must appeal to a broad range of consumers with a varied budget. This is why we see everything from a $250 Zero Tolerance 0560, to a $25 Kershaw Cryo. ‘Tis the nature of the big production house beast.

And then we have the 0566, which fits in between the 0560 and the Cryo – both in size and in MSRP ($180 – $150 at retail). More interesting is that the 3 blades share a Rick Hinderer design pedigree, and loosely resemble his coveted XM series of folding knives.

This time around Zero Tolerance has tried to appeal to the persnickity middle market, attempting to tow the fine line between high end and high value. As I am sure Thomas will tell you, that isn’t always easy. I see the 0566 as a real exercise in compromise. There is a certain danger to trying to make everyone happy, and the goal of my review is to determine whether ZT struck a sweet spot, or pissed everyone off.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0566 has an overall length of 7.7″, has a 3.25″ blade, and weighs 5.3 ounces. While substantially smaller than my 0560 it only weighs .7 ounces less. This is due to the stainless steel frame lock and full steel liner. Depending on your perspective, the knife either feels “substantial” or “heavy”. Thomas talks on the podcast about how some consumers equate weight with quality. I’m not sure I am one of those customers.

Weight issues aside, I like this size for a robust EDC or, for lack of a better phrase, folding tactical knife. The size compares favorably to classics like the Benchmade Griptilian and Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

The blade shape is classic Hinderer drop point and looks identical to the 0560. Mine was ground evenly, came with a very rough stonewash, and came from a fairly thick piece of Elmax steel. The blade geometry is middle of the road. You aren’t going to win any cutting competitions with this knife, but it’s sturdy and will hold up well under regular and sustained use. It’s not nearly as thin as my Volli, but then few production folders in my collection are.

Elmax steel and Zero Tolerance is a pairing not without its controversies. People have said that ZT jacked up the heat treat on some of the earlier Elmax knives or burned the edges in the final sharpening. I did not find that to be the case on my 0566. I went through my usual favorite cutting demonstrations, which included working through sections of 3/8″ and 1/2″ manilla rope and some commercial grade cardboard. The Elmax held up well. It continued to hold a good edge, and when it was all said and done sharpened back up easily with stops and a fine Spyderco Sharpmaker stone.

The only thing to note, was that after a period of hard cutting I would get a little lock stick with the steel framelock. Nothing I couldn’t pop open with one hand, but definitely note worthy. The lock stick went away after I disengaged the lock.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Although the shape of the 0566’s handle mirrors the 0560, ZT definitely approached it with a $180.00 MSRP box in mind. You have flat peel ply G10 over a full stainless steel liner, pillar construction, and a solid steel frame lock. It’s a far cry from the 3D machined scales of the 0560 with swiss-cheesed liner and pocketed titanium frame, but it’s still a sturdy and well made handle. ZT went with relatively beefy hardware and finished everything nicely. Everything lines up well, and the pieces are cut out clean and crisp, while the edges of the handle are all nicely broken and comfortable to hold. While this isn’t cutting edge tech found in ZT’s higher end offerings, it’s still a well made handle.

Ergonomically you have a relatively thick and comfortable handle. The jimping, which is the biggest problem with the 0560 because it is so hellaciously sharp, has been fully addressed on this model. There is still some jimping, but it has been flattened out to reduce the chances of slicing your thumb open on an aggressive cut. The flipper tab limits your grip options, but the knife holds nicely in forward and reverse grips.

The pocket clip is an enlarged version of the clip found on the Cryo. It’s a black deep carry style clip. It works well, and offers the user discrete deep pocket carry. It’s a 4 position clip, which is appropriate on this user/tool grade knife. Thomas points out that pocket clips are the hardest part of the knife to design as you will always piss someone off regardless of the design, and they are one of the most expensive parts of the knife to manufacture. All things considered I think they did a good job with this clip.

Deployment and Lockup

I often wonder if dedicating an entire paragraph to “deployment” is worth my time and your attention, but with the 0566 at least there is some interesting stuff to talk about. The knife comes assisted with Ken Onion’s speed safe mechanism. What is interesting is that the 0566 also comes with a ball detent. Thomas said that ZT did that purposely so that the user could de-assist the knife if they wanted to. He stated that it would not perform as well as something like the 0560, which is fully designed to be a manual knife, because the combination of spring tension and a strong detent would make the knife very difficult to open with the spring in.

The assisted opening was snappy and there wasn’t any annoying torsion bar rattle like on most other speedsafe knives I’ve reviewed, but being a fan of manual action knives I took the speed safe torsion bar out early on in the review process. It took a little fiddling to get the blade centering and deployment to play nicely together, and my blade still heavily favors the G10 side (although it does not rub). But that is OK, as I understand the knife wasn’t designed to be a manual flipper.

All things considered, the flipping action is actually pretty good on this knife, especially after an application of tuf-glide and a break in period. Don’t expect Spyderco Domino level performance, but if you preload and “push button” (as opposed to pulling back on the flipper like flicking a light switch) the flipper the blade pops out nicely. This knife uses phosphor washers, and they are really smooth. I am actually pretty happy with the manual action on this knife.

I’ve trolled the forums a little on this knife and some people have good results like me, while others haven’t gotten their knife to flip as well, so this is one of those your mileage may vary type things…

Lockup on the 0566 is solid and without play in any direction. You would expect that out of a 5.0+ ounce knife with a stainless steel lock bar. It met my expectations. Lockbar disengagement was nice and easy, and as I mentioned previously, I didn’t notice any blade stick unless I was using the knife hard.

Zero Tolerance 0566 Review – Final Thoughts

The 0566 is a pretty good tool knife. If you were like everyone else I spoke with, and liked the 0560 but found it to be too big, the 0566 might be a good choice. That is of course just as long as you aren’t expecting an actual mini 0560. Practically speaking, the 0566 checks many boxes. It’s a comfortable knife, and it cuts well enough. I have to say that it is heavy. If I had to give it a number rating, I’d go with maybe a 6.5 out of 10. Not a bad knife, but far from perfect. I could live without a bearing system and 3-d machined handles, but would have really loved to see KAI make the jump from stainless steel to titanium framelock on this model.

While I like the 0566 alright, I don’t think it will make as many waves as the 0560 or the Cryo. A danger with being too middle of the road is that you risk getting ignored. I don’t doubt that ZT will be able to move some product, as it is drafting off of the wildly popular relationship KAI and Rick Hinderer have formed, but whether it will remain as memorable (or infamous) as some of the other KAI/Hinder collabs remains to be seen. As a businessman myself I don’t have a problem with companies making money, but I must admit the enthusiast inside of me would have loved to see just a little more here. I think that a ZT/Hinderer collab with a ~3″ blade and most of the high end fixings would do really well, regardless of the MSRP.

Zero Tolerance Hinderer Folder Pocket Knife (0566); 3.25” Stonewashed S35VN Steel Blade; Handle with G-10 Front and Steel Back, SpeedSafe Opening, Frame Lock, Quad-Mount, Deep-Carry Pocketclip; 5.4 OZ

List Price: $144.00

Price: $144.00

Price Disclaimer

I recommend purchasing the ZT 0566 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Domino Review

by Dan Jackson 22 Comments

The Spyderco Domino is a knife that I almost wasn’t going to review. I’ve been following the Titanium Framelock Flipper Arms Race closely ever since the ZT 0560 took the production knife market by storm. Like pretty much everyone else, I’ve enjoyed these knives, but felt some initial hesitance to the Domino for some reason. I talk about this in my video, but I feel like the knife was almost too easy for Spyderco. After all, it parrots many of their already successful designs only this time we have a flipper, framelock, and bearings.

Buy the Spyderco Domino at BladeHQ

Obviously I caved and bought the knife, and I am actually very happy I did. The Domino is a stellar performer and at a sub $200 price point I also think it’s a pretty decent value. Where else are you going to find the impressive feature set of the Domino, with a level of fit and finish that few companies can rival, with all the creature comforts of a Spyderco, for less than $200?

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Domino comes in with an overall length of 7.68″, a 3.13″ blade, and weighs 4.1 ounces. The knife is a decent size for EDC. It’s a little larger and heavier than my Sage 1 (the quintessential EDC knife), but it still pockets well and makes for a reasonable daily carry.

The blade is a classic Spyderco leaf shape, and includes a full flat grind, a very fine tip, and a slight curving belly. It’s everything you need for an EDC blade. The 3mm thick stock is ground thin and the knife slices well. Although I must say that I find the wide blade is a little precarious tasks like carving apples, a task I often relegate to my trusty Victorinox Alox Cadet. Still, it will slice and dice with the best of them and I find it a good match to common tasks like opening letters and breaking down boxes.

Spyderco selected CTS-XHP steel for the Domino. CTS-XHP is made in America by Carpenter, and is supposed to be formulated with cutlery in mind. In practice I think it’s a good steel. It combines moderate edge retention with an ease of sharpening that I find lacking in steels like S30V. I had no issues with chipping or corrosion, and the steel took very well to both my strop and Spyderco stones. For those interested in extreme edge retention, I must confess that I found the steel a little lacking, but I am one of those people who prefers easy sharpening to ultimate edge retention so I wasn’t disappointed. I discuss this in greater detail in my video review.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Domino sports a faux carbon fiber scale over a titanium liner with a titanium frame lock. You also get flow-through construction, a sleeved lanyard hole, and a steel lockbar insert that doubles as a lockbar stabilizer. My biggest beef with the knife has to be the ridiculous handle scale. I suppose Spyderco wanted to step it up a bit with an unusual handle appearance, but I could have done without the Domino patterned carbon fiber. Ruminating on this further, I think the knife would have been even nicer if they went for a full titanium handle rather than the carbon fiber (which is really just a thin veneer of carbon fiber over black G10 anyway). Some may appreciate this “unique” handle material, but I think the after-market knife modifier crowd will be in business for a very long time if companies continue to release knives with such blatantly distasteful handle materials.

The ergonomics of the Domino are good. This is what you would expect from a mid-size Spyderco. The bulbous handle fills the palm, while the double choils give you plenty of options for finger placement. There is a mild run of jimping on the spine of the blade that provides a little feedback without being overly aggressive, making the knife acceptable for extending cutting while still appealing to the TNP and mall ninja crowds. Although every folding knife handle is a study in compromise, I still found the knife reasonable to use in hard cutting situations like 1/2″ rope cuts and carving into bamboo.

The pocket clip of the Domino is sturdy and functional, although it won’t win any beauty contests. Spyderco selected a standard hour-glass clip and gave it a lustrous black chrome finish. It definitely beats a satin finished clip, while the chromed finish gives it a little depth and character. The handle is drilled and tapped for 4 corner carry, and the knife doesn’t ride too deep in any of the positions. On these more expensive knives I tend to like a knife with a one or two position clip over a knife with tons of holes in it, but functionally speaking there is no reason to complain. This knife itself is relatively thin and light and isn’t too obtrusive in the pocket. While the pocket clip and carry isn’t anything outstanding, the knife will certainly be able to get from A to B without issue.

Deployment and Lockup

Of course the Domino features a flipper, after all, that’s probably why you are interested in the knife. I am very pleased to report that the knife flips phenomenally. The detent is so well tuned that the blade practically explodes out of the handle when you press down on the flipper tab. I am very happy Spyderco took the time to ensure this aspect of the knife was squared away, as the action alone makes the knife worth the price. The over-sized pivot and caged bearing system certainly doesn’t hurt the performance either, and the knife is very fluid even when using the thumb hole.

For lockup you have a very nice stonewashed titanium framelock that includes a steel lockbar insert. In theory this steel insert should prolong the lifespan of the lock, and if things ever wore out you could (again, theoretically) replace the insert. In practice the knife is rock solid, without even a suggestion of blade play in any direction. Much like the other titanium framelocks I have seen come out of Spyderco’s Taichung factory, they got the geometry right and the lockup is worry free.

The steel insert also performs double duty as an overtravel-stop mechanism (sometimes called a “lockbar stabilizer”). This prevents you from hyper-extending the titanium when disengaging the lock. I’ve never had this problem, it’s a nice touch and aesthetically it doesn’t detract from the knife.

Spyderco Domino Review – Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Domino is one hell of a knife. Here we have classic Spyderco fare like a thumb hole, 4-corner pocket clip, and good ergonomics coupled with the latest crazes in modern knifemaking. That alone should be reason enough to give this one a try, but I am very happy to report that they really executed this right. As I mentioned alone, for a flipper aficionado the action alone will be worth the price of admission, and Spyderco has once again turned out a very high quality product from Taichung Taiwan.

Of course an obvious comparison would be with their previous flipper, the Southard, and it’s worth taking a second to differentiate the knives. First of all, the action on the Domino is vastly superior to the Southard. The detent on the Southard is acceptable, but it is weak in comparison to the crisp action in the Domino. Also, the design of Southard may be a little “out there” for classic Spyderco fans. Personally, I find the Southard to be a far more interesting knife, but to each their own. I am sure the Domino will appeal to traditional Spyderco fans.

Of course I do have a few issues with the knife, and I might as well re-cap them now. Mainly I wish they went a different route with their handle scale, but I could also do without 4-corner carry on a $200 knife, and same with a sleeved lanyard hole. I think both the lanyard sleeve and funky carbon fiber detract from the appearance of the knife. The pocket clip could use a little work too. But by and large this is a solid effort for Spyderco, and I think it will be an excellent addition to anyone’s collection of high end production knives.

Spyderco Domino Plain Edge Knife

List Price: $274.50

Price: $274.50

Price Disclaimer

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Domino at BladeHQ or Amazon. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated – thank you very much.