Frame Lock

Benchmade Proxy Review

Last Updated: September 7, 2019
Warren Osborne is one of the most recognized names in knife making. While he was an extremely talented custom maker, a large part of his renown is due to a series of high profile collaborations with Benchmade. The 940 is one of the most notable collabs, but Warren Osborne is also known for designing the Rift and Barrage, among others.

Buy the Benchmade Proxy at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Warren Osborn passed away in 2016, after a long a long struggle with a cancer. The Benchmade Proxy was his final collaboration with Benchmade. I happen to think it was an interesting design. Benchmade has only recently gotten into flippers, and this Proxy is one of their takes on a titanium framelock flipper. As Warren’s last collaboration with Benchmade I knew it was something I needed to get my hands on.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Benchmade Proxy has an overall length of 8.85″, a 3.87″ blade, weighs 4.86 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a substantial knife. A bit too much for me to carry on a daily basis, but I’m sure it will make a fine EDC for those that like larger knives. At under 5 ounces, it’s plenty light and pocketable for a near 4″ bladed folder.

The Proxy features a long sloping drop point blade. It kind of reminds me of the head of a shark. For whatever that is worth. It’s a strong blade cut from near 4mm thick stock. The knife has a high flat grind and has been left thin behind the edge. It’s fine for cutting boxes or fruit, and I suspect it would hold up under tougher chores as well. The tip is placed low on the knife. That shortens the belly but makes it good at stabbing things. Benchmade went with what appears to be a matte satin finish. It’s a utilitarian finish that hides wear well.

The most prominent feature on the blade is the oversized sharpening choil. That makes it easy to sharpen, but you lose some edge, and if you aren’t careful material you are wanting to cut can get caught up in the large choil.

Benchmade selected CPM-20CV for the Proxy’s blade steel. This is the same steel my G-10 Griptilian came in, and now that I’ve owned that knife for almost 2 years, I have a little experience with it. Manufactured by Crucible Industries, CPM-20CV is advertised as a steel with high corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and good toughness. Chemically it is similar to M390, which is an excellent steel. CPM-20CV has an extremely high chromium content, which results in its corrosion resistant qualities.

In practice I have found that CPM-20CV performs admirably. It exhibits a nice balance of edge retention and sharpenability, while exhibiting excellent rust and corrosion resistance. To be compared with M390 places it in excellent company, and I consider CPM-20CV to be top tier blade steel. A great choice for a high end folding knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Benchmade Proxy features a titanium frame lock mated to a one piece G-10 backspacer and handle scale. Everything is held together with torx fasteners. It’s kind of an odd combination between the light brown G-10, the sandblasted titanium, the satin hardware and the mirror polished clip. The varying textures and angular design almost make the Proxy feel like a small piece of modern art. The build quality is excellent. Tolerances are tight, the parts line up, and the 3-D machining on the handles is excellent.

I also like the omission of the lanyard hole. I’m not a big lanyard guy, but you see them on pretty much every knife. It’s refreshing to get something without a lanyard hole. While that is bound to piss some people off, personally I don’t miss it.

The Proxy is a large and comfortable knife. It’s got a big simple handle, so it will conform to most hand sizes. There is little in the way of texture on the knife, but still my fingers fall naturally in place. Warren did design a forward finger choil, and that feature allows you to choke up on the blade and get close to what you are cutting. You can also choke back on this handle, providing you a couple inches of additional reach. Potentially useful if you have to do some light chopping or use the Proxy in a “tactical” application.

The pocket clip is Benchmade’s split arrow clip, buffed up to a high shine. While I generally like the split arrow clip, I’m not a huge fan of the shiny version shown here. It’s kind of loud and it doesn’t match the rest of the knife. It feels out of place, although I’m not sure what I would have put instead of this clip. I probably would have reconsidered the entire hardware selection, finishes, and color choice.

The Proxy carries well considering it’s almost a 9″ folding knife. The sturdy split arrow clip, and bead blasted titanium handle work together to provide good traction without tearing up your pocket. At .5″ thick the Proxy is not the thinnest knife, but it’s not the thickest either. Benchmade milled out some large grooves to make it a little slimmer and more pocketable. All said, I think the Proxy is not a bad knife to carry.

Deployment and Lockup

This is a bearing equipped titanium framelock flipper. I haven’t reviewed a Benchmade framelock flipper before, so this is new territory for me. In practice it flips great. I’d say it scores a solid “7” on my 0-10 scale. Maybe a little behind the action you would find on a Zero Tolerance flipper, but not by much. It’s snappy and responsive action and the bearings are smooth. So smooth you can shake the blade closed. Nice.

The titanium frame lock is reinforced with a stainless steel insert. The insert does not double as an over travel stop mechanism, a feature I’ve come to find standard on most flippers from ZT, Spyderco, and Kizer. That said, the lockup on this knife is early, and free of any sort of play. It’s rock solid.

Here is a shot of the Proxy next to my Strider SnG. I chose the SnG because the Proxy borrows the integral G-10 handle / backspacer.

Blade centering is pretty good on my knife. Not perfect. It favors the G-10 side by a mm or so, but is nowhere near rubbing.

Benchmade Proxy Review – Final Thoughts

The Proxy is a curious knife. Warren Osborne made a name for himself providing unique designs, and I think the Proxy continues that legacy. Individually, there are number of seemingly dissimilar components. Added up they all come together. Sorta. Part of me can’t help but feel that this blade was put together with leftovers from Benchmade’s parts bin, but other parts of me appreciate the simple design. The knife is nicely made and is both comfortable to use and a capable cutter. It’s a great work knife.

While it may not be to everyone’s taste, I think the Proxy is a good knife. I appreciate the Proxy and I appreciate Warren Osborne for his contributions to the knife world. I can safely recommend the Proxy for fans of Warren and fans of this design.

Benchmade - Proxy 928, Plain Drop-Point

HIGH-QUALITY: The CPM-20CV stainless steel blade features excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and low maintenance. The G10 and titanium handle offers durability and great performance.
WELL-DESIGNED: The 928 features a highly strong and functional Monolock mechanism with the added convenience of a flipper. It's a manual knife that can be opened and closed with one hand.
ALWAYS READY: The 928 combines high performance and a highly modernized look. The reversible pocket clip offers ultimate accessibility.
VERSATILE: The Proxy 928's drop-point, utility blade style and all-around functionality make it ideal for everyday use, outdoor activities, and even tactical applications.
GUARANTEED FOR LIFE: Benchmade's limited Lifetime Warranty and LifeSharp Service keep your knife in the best condition. If your knife needs repair or sharpening, Benchmade will take care of it. Available for knives purchased from an authorized dealer.

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Proxy at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Zero Tolerance 0450CF Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I lust after knives for months, or even years, before pulling the trigger. That was the case with this Zero Tolerance 0450CF. The original 0450 was cool, but the carbon fiber version put me over the top. It’s a little lighter and sleeker, and the choice of green anodized accents isn’t something you see on a lot of knives. I decided I wanted one, but could never find a decent deal on it.

Buy the ZT 0450CF at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Fast forward a couple years later, and I received a trade offer that included this 0450CF. Right on. I immediately responded back that I was interested, and a few days later the knife was at my doorstep.

By way of a more formal introduction, the 0450 series is a riff on the original Dimitry Sinkevich designed 0454CF that I reviewed back in 2014. Chad McBroom reviewed the mass marketed 0452CF and Ben reviewed the shrunken down full titanium 0450. I’ve got the ultra light 0450CF for your consideration today.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 0450CF has an over all length of 7.375″, a 3.25″ blade, and weighs a mere 2.45 ounces. Like all Zero Tolerance knives, the 0450CF is made in the USA.

The 0450 and the 0450CF are reactions to the knife market. Zero Tolerance is know for large overbuilt knives, but they received feedback that everyone didn’t want to carry around a big honking pocket knife. So the 0450 hit the scene, and then this 0450CF took that even further by replacing the titanium show side handle with carbon fiber. This shaved over almost half an ounce off the already lightweight 0450. This, my friends, makes for an ideal EDC knife in my book.

The 0450CF shares the same low slung blade that made us all fall in love with the 0454CF when it hit the scene. It’s a long, sleek, modified drop point blade, featuring a little belly and plenty of tip. The knife has a high flat grind and a decorative swedge. The blade has been given a semi-glossy black DLC coating. The edge has been uniformly applied, and there is a sharpening choil so you can easily sharpen this blade from tip to heel.

ZT opted for S35VN for the blade steel. Regulars to the site or high end knives need no introduction to S35VN. It’s a high performance stainless steel from Crucible designed specificaly for pocket knives with the help of Chris Reeve. It’s an excellent all round blade steel and a good choice for small pocket knives like this as it offers a good balance of edge retention, toughness, and ease of sharpening. I like S35VN generally, and they did a great job with the heat treat on this 0450CF. As always if you want to dive deeper into blade steel check out our steel section for all sorts of additional info.

Practically speaking this little 0450CF is a capable cutter. The blade shape is perfect for getting under envelopes, breaking down boxes, cutting fruit, and performing all the little odd ball chores I require of my EDC knives. That said, I must agree with Ben that this knife is not the best slicer. The partial flat grind binds up in material. While it cuts, it’s no Alox Cadet. This is probably my biggest gripe with the knife.

The S35VN blade has held up great, and so has the Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating. DLC coatings are among the best money can buy, and unless you scrape this knife on concrete or metal it will hold up well.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 0450CF is a solid piece of carbon fiber on the show side, and a black DLC coated titantium framelock on the reverse. The knife is held together with two green aluminum standoffs and an oversized pivot. Construction is simple yet elegant. All the hardware is black save for the green anodized standoffs. The fit and finish is exceptional. The screws are all the right length, the parts line up perfectly, and the finish work is excellent. The carbon fiber is lightly textured, and shimmers slightly in the light. This handle has been beautifully done.

The 0450CF is a small knife, but it doesn’t compromise in the ergonomics department. Dimitry’s design is simple and it should work well for most people. I take an “XL” size glove and have no problem getting a full four finger grip on this knife.

There is a short row of jimping on the spine that provides you with a little traction and something to index your thumb on. Beyond that there is not much in the way of texture. That’s fine by me as I don’t think this knife needs aggressive texturing. It works well as is.

The pocket clip is a standard parkerized black spoon style pocket clip. It’s relatively discreet and unobtrusive. While it’s not a true deep carry clip, it buries the majority of the knife in your pocket and keeps the 0450CF tucked away. The clip is swappable for right or left side tip up carry. A deep carry clip would have been nice.

I have carried this knife quite a bit. The 0450CF is a knife that you forget you are carrying. At just under 2.5 ounces this is not going to pull your pants down. The clip has great retention and the knife stays where you want it to in your pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

This is a Dimitry Sinkevich designed flipper made by Zero Tolerance, so the flipping action is outstanding. The detent is perfectly tuned for crisp, snappy flipping action each and every time. I’ve never “flubbed the flip” with this knife and I’d say the action is a solid “8” on the 0-10 scale. It’s good. Inside you have a caged bearing system. It is exceptionally smooth and you can shake the knife closed easily.

Please note I’m a lefty, so I don’t have any issues with putting my fingers on the lock bar when flipping the knife. I tried flipping this 0450CF with my right hand. Beside it being incredibly awkward for me, it works fine. No issues flipping open this knife. I think ZT fixed the issue that plagued their earlier knives.

Here is a shot of the 0450CF next to another excellent EDC knife, the Spyderco Sage 1:

For lockup we have a titanium frame lock with a stainless steel insert. Zero Tolerance does such a good job with these, that I almost feel that writing this section is unnecessary. The lock bar engages early and securely. The lockup is rock solid with zero blade play in any direction. The lock is smooth and easy to manipulate with no lock stick. This is titanium frame lock perfection and continues to be something of a gold standard in my world.

Blade centering is dead nuts center on my knife.

Zero Tolerance 0450CF Review – Final Thoughts

Ben was a little lukewarm on his 0450. He didn’t like the way the knife cut, the ergonomics, and he had issues with the action. Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln tells me the play was OK.

I think Ben raises valid points. A little knife like this should zip through stuff, but the combination of narrow blade and partial flat grind impacts the 450CF’s slicing performance. It still cuts, but it could be better. Personally, the ergonomics were spot on for my hand, and I found that the 0450CF flipped great. Ergonomics will vary from person to person, and I think ZT addressed the flipping action.

All in all, I am glad I picked up this little 0450CF. It’s as cool in person as I always hoped. I like the look of it over the standard 0450 and how it’s even lighter with this carbon fiber handle.

The 0450CF is an excellent little EDC knife in my book. With a retail price at close to $200 it’s not cheap, but I’m glad I went for it. The 0450 is probably ZT’s most practical EDC offering for the average person. This carbon fiber version takes things up a notch.

Sale

Zero Tolerance 0450CF; Folding Knife with 3.25” DLC-Coated S35VN Stainless Steel Blade, All-Black Carbon Fiber and Titanium Handle Scales, KVT Ball-Bearing Opening, Frame Lock, Pocketclip; 2.45 OZ.

3.25-inch S35VN steel blade shows amazing toughness and resistance to edge chipping, with improved edge retention. Blade Thickness: 0.121 inches
Handle features a carbon fiber front and sturdy titanium back for comfortable in-hand feel, increased strength and excellent size/weight proportion
DLC-coating on the blade gives sleek matte-black look and enhanced performance characteristics
Great companion for hunters, business professionals, wilderness guides, survival experts, first responders, military, law-enforcement and more
Ideal gift for any special occasion such as birthdays, holidays, graduations, anniversaries, promotions, weddings and more

I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0450CF 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.

CRKT Pilar Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 12 Comments

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.

Buy the CRKT Pilar at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

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

Ambidextrous: Thumb slot allows blade opening with either hand
Classy Appearance: Satin finish blade has a modern look
Minimizes Reflectivity: Bead blast finish reduces reflection
Designed by Jesper Voxnaes in Loegstrup, Denmark
Limited Lifetime Warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see company site for details

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 0562CF Review

by Dan Jackson 47 Comments

Last Updated: July 14, 2019
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.

Buy the ZT 0562 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

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.

Handle 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 0562CF 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, Black

Ultra-premium, durable CPM 20 CV stainless steel blade with stonewash and satin finishes offer outstanding edge holding capability and corrosion resistance
Hinderer flat-ground “slicer” grind provides both slicing efficiency and a tough point; handle has carbon fiber front scale and stonewashed titanium back
Reversible deep-carry pocketclip for left or right-handed, tip-up carry
Ideal EDC essential for everyday tasks—slicing, survival tool, cutting boxes, self-defense, tactical use or as the perfect gift
High quality, general all-purpose knife great for EDC or use when camping, fishing, hunting, working, utility or outdoor activities.Handle Length:4.75 inch

I recommend purchasing the ZT 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 13 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.

Buy the CRK Mnandi at BladeHQ

And that is a shame because the Mnandi is a really nice knife. Before moving forward with this Chris Reeve Mnandi review, I need to disclose that my Mnandi was built in 2011. 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. Finally, the nail nick has been changed slightly. Some prefer the old style nail nick show.

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 Review – 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.

Strider SJ-75 – From $400.00
From: BladeHQ

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.