liner lock

Steel Will Modus F25-12 Review

For most gear geeks, big box stores are a disappointment. Generally the most you can expect to find are some of the nicer Kershaw models, or, if they cater to hunters and law enforcement, a few Benchmades. The one store that broke that model was Sport Chalet. In the year and a half prior to going out of business, the knife case at my local Sport Chalet expanded from the usual suspects – Kershaw, Gerber, Leatherman, a few Benchmades – to include some of the more exotic SOG knives, as well as a few offerings from a relatively new company: Steel Will.

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At the time, Steel Will was producing high-end backlocks and a range of fixed blades, and though the designs were attractive, I was never comfortable ponying up the $200+ dollars for a knife that was too big to carry on campus. After trying and failing to buy a Gekko 1552 on the cheap at my local Sport Chalet’s closing sale, I put the company out of mind, assuming that they wouldn’t leave much of an impact in the market.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Nick Shabazz’s review of the Cutjack caught me completely off guard, as not only was this not the Steel Will I was familiar with, but he compared it favorably to the Ontario RAT 1 and 2, both of which are stellar knives for the price. Steel Will was back on my radar, and it was only a matter of time before one of their products ended up on the review docket.

As it turns out, I didn’t have long to wait. Thanks to an informal giveaway hosted by @brancon (a reader, listener, and all-around great guy), I’ve been able to tote the Steel Will Modus F25-12 around for a few months and gather my thoughts on it, which are collected below. Since I came by the Modus because of someone else’s generosity, it only makes sense to pass it along to the community. Read on to learn how you could win one of the better value knives available.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Steel Will Modus is 7.625” overall, with a 3.25” blade housed in a 4.375” handle. Though it doesn’t approach the “voodoo” territory of the Kizer Feist, the Modus does fit a wide, long blade into a fairly compact handle. There is no sense of wasted internal volume like there is with, say, the Spyderco Manix 2LW. Due to the nested, skeletonized steel liners, it’s also relatively lightweight at just 3.39 oz, and thus manages to feel stout but not bulky. Fair warning: though it may not feel like a large knife in the pocket, the blade is probably a bit too long for some office environments, and is certainly too long for some city ordinances.

Size considerations aside, the profile of the Modus’s blade is one of my personal favorites, a modified sheepsfoot (which is arguably just a funky drop point). The gentle, continuous curve of the edge is perfect for everyday cutting tasks. It’s just as good at breaking down boxes as it is preparing a picnic lunch, and as most of the spine’s thickness is carried to the tip of the blade, it should be able to handle some incidental abuse without pause.

In keeping with the theme of general utility, the Modus features a high flat grind. When done right, flat grinds are lean cutters that don’t get bound up in stubborn material like cardboard. Done wrong, they’re sharpened prybars. The success of any given flat grind is mostly dependent on two factors: 1.) how thick the blade stock is, and 2.) where the grind starts. A thick blade can be a fine cutter if the grind starts high enough (the Spyderco Techno is a good example), and a thin blade can be robbed of its potential if the grind starts too low (for instance, the ZT0450). The Modus has the best of both: thin blade stock, at just .11” thick, and a high flat grind.

Unlike most imported value knives, the Modus does not have 8Cr13MoV stamped on the blade. Instead, its blade is made of D2, a not-quite-stainless tool steel with a reputation for toughness and edge retention. My experience with the Modus bears that reputation out. It retained a serviceable (if not outstanding) edge after breaking down a pile of boxes, and it didn’t pick up any chips during the task, either. Unfortunately, it is prone to staining, if not rusting, and I’ve gotten into the habit of wiping it down with some cleaner after carrying it for the day, whether I used it or not.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

The Modus’s handle is, in silhouette, a lean, organic, and slightly aggressive design. Its green FRN scales are supported by nested, skeletonized steel liners, as well as a black stainless steel backspacer. That sounds like a recipe for success, and it would have been, were it not for one problem: the handle pattern. The splotchy, mismatched flecks reek of the 1990s. If I more than glance at the handle scales, I’m immediately whisked back to the cartoons and advertisements of my youth.

Despite finding the handle ugly as sin, I can’t deny that it’s ergonomically superb. The finger indexes suggest rather than demand where your fingers fall, the steel backspacer serves as a counterbalance for the heavy blade, and the generous contouring of the FRN scales ensures that there’s no truly incorrect way to hold the Modus. Even the pattern is functionally excellent, as it lends grip without creating a single hotspot.

If a knife is comfortable to hold, it’s comfortable to carry, at least in my experience. The Modus’s slim profile, contoured handle, and unobtrusive weight all suggest that it should be a fine pocket companion. The pocket clip (often an afterthought for designers) is flawless, neither shredding the lip of my pocket nor making the act of stowing or retrieving it a nuisance. Unfortunately, Steel Will has the same problem with flipper tabs that Cold Steel has with, well, knives. Namely, that small isn’t a dirty word. At the risk of parroting Nick Shabazz, he was spot on in calling it a “pocket pecker”. It might as well be a woodpecker, tapping away at whatever else is floating around in my pocket. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s certainly not endearing.

Deployment and Lock Safety

Fortunately, the Modus’s flipper tab isn’t a total loss. It may not play well with others, but it does just fine as a deployment method. The tab can be pushed (like a button) or pulled (like a lightswitch) to deploy the blade, and each method works well. I’ve had slightly better luck treating it like a button, as the detent isn’t quite crisp enough to open the blade without a bit of extra force behind it. The pivot runs on washers, and the action isn’t especially smooth. (Take that with a grain of salt, however: I tend to overtighten pivot screws on my knives.)

You know you’ve seen too many framelocks when a liner lock feels like a refreshing change of pace. Snide commentary aside, liner locks – this one included – are great. Compared to framelocks, liner locks are less likely to screw up the ergonomics, they’re easier to replace if something goes wrong, and they’re more than strong enough to handle whatever a rational human would use a knife for. The lock on this particular model consistently engages 30-40% of the blade tang, and there is no lock stick, lock rock, or blade play. Disengaging the lock is simple, as the locking leaf is slightly proud of the FRN scales and machined for extra grip.

Steel Will Modus Review – Final Thoughts

My quibbles aside, the Modus is a great knife, especially for the price. Its D2 blade stands head and shoulders above the hoard of budget knives and their 8Cr13MoV steel; factor in the excellent ergonomics, sturdy pocket clip, and reliable (if not great) deployment, and it’s easy to forgive the Nickelodeon-esque handle pattern and oversized flipper tab.

Even so, the competition is quite stiff. Ontario’s RAT 1 and RAT 2 are highly regarded, feature the same materials, and come in at a similar price point. I suspect they’re even made in the same factory, so really, pick whichever model suits your fancy. The Kershaw Skyline is a perennial favorite, if a bit more expensive. I’d consider the 14C28N steel to be a step up from D2, but others can justifiably disagree. Still, the Skyline is a hair too nice to really abuse, and the more robust Modus is better suited to, say, a construction site.

There’s always room for a knife like the Modus in someone’s toolbox. Those on a budget will appreciate that it punches above its price point, and those who’ve long since abandoned rational purchases will be happy to know that their beater knife is still a well-made tool.

As stated in the introduction, I’m giving the Modus away. All you have to do is leave a comment below. A week after this post goes up, I’ll select one commenter using a random number generator, and ship the Modus out to them. Shipping is on me if the winner is within the United States. Apologies for that, but international shipping is a pain.

Next up: the Tactile Turn Shaker V2.

Steel Will Modus F25-11 Linerlock, Black, 3.27" Blade

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in China
Built To Last.

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Steel Will Modus at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Spyderco Polestar Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 3 Comments

When you have a thing as simple and relatively unchanging as a folding knife, the most meaningful innovation we customers can see is quality brought to affordability. A few years ago my sincerest wish for the knife market was that manufacturers would turn their attention away from the high-end and back to the sub-$100 arena.

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In a way that wish has been granted, albeit in a mild monkey’s paw scenario. The value scale has not so much been reset as it has been smashed to pieces, shattered by products and practices we wouldn’t have even thought of in 2010, blinded by our Tenaciouses. Companies like Real Steel are pumping out affordable knives with great materials and low price tags. Steel Will, Ontario Knife Company, and even knife world-adjacent companies like Statgear have laser-focused on delivering major bang for buck. And on top of all this, Kickstarter and Massdrop allow for small runs of finely made knives with premium materials at two-figure prices.

The problem is no longer a lack of value knives, but rather a surplus of such richness that it’s difficult to identify the real winners amid the churning ocean of contenders. Going knife-by-knife would be a full-time project, so we have to pick and choose – and so I started with Spyderco.

I’ve already talked about the Chaparral FRN, but after that I wanted to go lower on the price scale. This naturally lead to the Polestar, a sub-$100 Sal Glesser design. Where does this Sal Glesser design fall in terms of quality and worth? Let’s take a closer look.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Polestar has a 3.3-inch blade, a 4.5-inch handle, and an overall length of 7.81 inches. It weighs just under 4 oz. and is made in China.

There’s something distinctly old school about the Polestar. With its homely lines and wide profile, it looks like one of those lumpy, charming Spyderco designs from the 90s. At the same time it comes across as a more refined Tenacious: skinnier, with a streamlined handle and narrower blade. Given its price, however, the more relevant comparison lies with the Delica and Endura. It falls between the two of them in edge length but is wider than either.

Do we call this a leaf shape blade? Whatever it is, it works wonders. I’m by no means a full flat grind zealot, but Spyderco has a particular mastery of the form. Here the full flat grind enables this medium-sized knife to slice aggressively and cleanly, while still imparting a feeling of durability and sturdiness. The closest analog I can draw is the Paramilitary 2. If you like the way that knife cuts, you’ll find a lot to love on the Polestar too.

The Polestar’s BD1 steel places ahead of the 8Crs and AUS-8, and keeps a significantly cleaner edge than either, even as it dulls. This makes it a viable cutter even at greater levels of wear than its competitors, which often get toothy and uneven as they work. BD1 also shrugs off both rust and staining/smudging.

We’ve seen S35VN and D2 at shockingly low price points recently, but if I had to forecast what will be the next de facto budget steel, CTS-BD1 (and its successor CTS-BD1N) get my vote. CTS-BD1 is a hassle-free steel anyone can manage.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Before I held the Polestar myself, I wondered if it would be all that comfortable. I shouldn’t have worried: the Polestar feels 100% like a Spyderco. Like all of their best handles, it feels like it’s rushing to meet your hand as you close it around the knife. Despite the plain appearance there are some super thoughtful touches. A dip just behind the thumb ramp accommodates the lower part of the digit more comfortably than a straight line would. An area around the pivot curves inward, creating a pinch point between your thumb and forefinger for detailed, high-control cuts. The Polestar is an unmitigated success in the ergos department.

Carry… well, not so much. This is a wide knife. At its widest point it’s about 1.5 inches across, and unlike other wide Spydercos it maintains most of the width for its entire length. I wouldn’t classify it as an unforgivable pocket hog, but you’re going to notice this one anytime you reach into your pocket, and it probably isn’t a great carry for shorts or slacks. There’s also an inch or so of knife that sticks out during carry; in the tip-up configuration, you get a massive lanyard hole and the Polestar’s little tail out for all to see.

These issues combine to be, for me, a nearly fatal flaw. During the testing period I often just didn’t feel like carrying the Polestar because I had so many other knives, some with equivalent (or greater) blade lengths, that took up significantly less pocket space. On the bright side it’s a thin knife across the spine, thinner than a Tenacious.

The pocket clip is that stalwart standby, the Spyderco spoon. It’s the right choice for this knife, keeping the Polestar in place as you walk. It’s also four-way positionable, so both righties and lefties have a second configuration if the default one irks them too much.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spyderco Round Hole plus phosphor bronze washers is rarely a bad combination, but it isn’t always a fast one. Depending on the lock and structure of the knife, you might have to slow-open whether you want to or not. My Polestar, however, does not present that problem. Its medium-strength detent allows for thoughtless flicking, but it isn’t so jumpy that you can’t roll it out if you want to.

One note: the overall fit and finish on the Polestar were great, but the detent ball did rub harshly against the tang as the knife opened. If I was slow rolling, it made a hoarse, scraping noise. A dab of Nano-Oil on the detent ball fixed this problem, making for a smooth, silky deployment.

I don’t think a lot of people associate Spyderco with liner locks, even though the Military, one of their classics, is a liner lock knife. In fact, according to Sal Glesser, the Polestar idea originated as a concept for a smaller Military designed for the Boy Scouts to use. With this in mind, you can see that influence in the larger-than-normal cutout to access the locking leaf. I thought I wouldn’t like this but over time I got used to it, and I never accidentally disengaged the lock even when gripping the knife hard. And regarding strength, I never lost confidence. The entire locking face contacts the tang, and there is not a smidge of play in any direction. You won’t ever have an issue with this knife during regular use.

Spyderco Polestar Review – Final Thoughts

The Polestar is a good knife. I like it, but I like it more than I’ll carry it, and much more than I can recommend it.

It comes down to that teeming body of sub-$100 offerings right now, and where this knife falls into that ocean. The Polestar goes for about $64 as of April 2018. That’s only $10 cheaper than a Delica or Endura, two knives that it doesn’t beat out in any category, and loses to in several. And it’s only $15 dollars cheaper than the FRN Chaparral, the best knife money can buy for under $100.

Part of what made the Tenacious such a success was its original $35ish dollar price point. Few people would’ve picked it over a Delica or Endura if they cost the same, but access to that Spyderco smartness in a cheap package was an unbeatable combo.

The Polestar is a better knife than the Tenacious, but it doesn’t enjoy the added edge of a good price. Compared to Real Steel’s myriad offerings, or Steel Will’s Cutjack line, it has an unimpeachable Spyderco design pedigree, but it’s also pricier. You’ll have to decide how much more you’re willing to pay for that pedigree – and again, if you are willing to pay for it, you may as well drop another $10 and grab a Delica, Endura, or Chaparral FRN.

A truth is that we, the consumers, don’t really get to know what goes on to get a knife made. We can guess, but until companies become more transparent that guessing will remain a fantasy, not particularly helpful. But I will say that it’s a shame the Polestar isn’t cheaper. Alongside its little brother the Alycone it could have been a real highlight, a great design and value. But with that awkward price I can only unreservedly recommend it if you aren’t interested in the Chaparral FRN, Endura, Delica, Cutjack, the RAT 1 or 2, the Skyline, or virtually anything in Real Steel’s lineup.

Sale

Spyderco Polestar Value Folding Utility Knife with 3.33" CTS BD1 Stainless Steel Blade and Durable Gray G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C220GPGY

A Value Folder: Spyderco offers a unique breed of knives that truly live up to their name. They are perfect for novice knife buyers and as gifts for those you might want to "convert" into knife enthusiasts.
Superior Blade Steel: The heart of the Polestar is its full-flat-ground 3.33" blade, which is precision machined from American-made CTS BD1 Stainless Steel.
A Secure Grip: It has a gray scaled G-10 handle with a unique non-slip checked texture. Comfort in hand means easier use long-term.
Easy-to-Use: Its leaf-shaped profile includes a long, exceptionally capable PlainEdge working edge and a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole for swift, ambidextrous, one-handed opening.
Pocket-Friendly: The Polestar includes a Walker Linerlock and a 4-way pocket clip lets the folder be set in a variety of carry and draw positions: Tip-up/tip-down left-hand/right-hand.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Polestar 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.

Southern Grind Spider Monkey Review

by Dan Jackson 16 Comments

Last Updated: July 30, 2019
Southern Grind is the pet project of country musician Zac Brown. Zac has a strong interest in pocket knives, and he apparently created Southern Grind in part to explore that interest. Southern Grind produces their knives in house, in the USA, and the knives feature a number of design decisions that stray from the beaten path. What I find especially interesting is that they make their custom own hardware.

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Southern Grind’s first folder was the Bad Monkey, a quirky take on the large linerlock EDC knife. For whatever reason I never pulled the trigger on the Bad Monkey, but with the release of the smaller, lighter, and more refined Spider Monkey I finally moved forward.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spider Monkey features an overall length of 7.50″, a 3.25” blade, and it weighs 3.2 ounces. The Spider Monkey compares favorably to Sage 1. The blade on the Spider Monkey is a 1/4″ longer than the blade of the Sage, but the handle is the same size. While the original Bad Monkey was a large utility folder with a 4″ blade, the Spider Monkey is much smaller and geared towards the EDC crowd.

The blade is a gently sloping drop point shape with a prominent thumb ramp and small swedge. This knife also features a high flat grind and has been finished with a polish and stonewash. This is a classic no-frills blade shape, that gives you a little of everything. The tip is fine and ideal for piercing cuts, there is some belly, but also plenty of edge for draw cuts. The grind is thin and the knife slices well, and the edge has been applied neatly. This is a capable blade, ideally suited for daily tasks. I used my knife to open boxes, cut fruit, and help out with chores around the house.

Southern Grind also offers the Spider Monkey with a tanto blade shape, a partially serrated version, and with an optional black coating.

Southern Grind used S35VN steel for the blade, a good choice given the price point and intended use. I’ve written a lot about S35VN. We seem to see it crop up in more and more premium knives these days. I like how this steel holds a good edge, but is still is easy to sharpen. I prefer it over harder steels that are more difficult to maintain. I like how I can run this knife over a ceramic rod and bring it back to hair shaving sharp without a ton of work.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Spider Monkey features carbon fiber handle scales over titanium liners. The carbon fiber is contoured, and it features a ribbed texture that starts at the pommel and fades into smooth carbon fiber about half way into the handle. The handle is held together with custom hardware and pillars. The fit of all the parts is excellent. The profile of the handle is unique with its swayed back and large pommel, but it all works. Even the laser etched logo on the custom pivot is perfectly aligned. It is little touches like this that show the thought and care that went into engineering this knife.

I am also not a fan of the proprietary body screws. While I can appreciate the fact that these are custom machined parts, you need a special tool to take the knife apart, and it doesn’t ship with the knife. I’d prefer torx hardware for ease of disassembly, or at least charge me a little extra and ship the knife with the necessary take down tool.

The handle of the Spider Monkey may look a little boxy, but it is comfortable. The finger choil does a good job indexing your finger, and the rounded back corner of the handle is fits neatly into your hand. While the carbon fiber scales don’t offer tons of grip, there is some texture here. Plus, there is some aggressive jimping on the thumb ramp. I would dial that back or do away with it, but I know some people will appreciate the extra traction here.

The pocket clip is perhaps the most novel feature of the knife. This is a shortened version of the clip you will find on a Benchmade or Emerson. This is something Zack Brown himself developed after being frustrated with longer pocket clips. This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but I think it’s cool. The clip works well. Retention is strong and there is no danger of the Spider Monkey slipping out of your pocket. If you don’t like it you could always swap it out with a Benchmade or Emerson clip.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spider Monkey uses dual thumb studs to get the blade open. Again, we have proprietary hardware here, which is cool to see in this application. I found the action on my knife to be a little stiff, and because of the custom body screws I was not able to take the knife apart for a cleaning. I could flick the blade open with some wrist action, but that was it. The action is smooth thanks in part to phosphor bronze washers, but the blade doesn’t want to fly open like on some of my other knives.

The titanium liner lock is substantial and executed wonderfully. Lockup is early and secure. There is absolutely no blade play in any direction, and the lock is easy enough to disengage when you are ready to close the blade. This liner lock works so well, I thought it was stainless steel. I bemoaned titanium liner locks in my Emerson Gentleman Jim review because the titanium liner lock on my knife (and in most Emersons I have handled) stick like crazy. Clearly, not all titanium liner locks are created equal, and this is a great liner lock. It is easily on par with my Sage 1.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Southern Grind Spider Monkey – Final Thoughts

The Spider Monkey is a cool little knife. I have been intrigued by this company, ever since they arrived on the scene a few years ago, but I ended up liking the Spider Monkey more than I thought I would. It’s a great size and there are a number of details that set this apart from your typical slab construction liner lock folders. I like the stubby pocket clip, the custom pivot and thumb studs, and the contoured carbon fiber handles. In a way, this is how I would expect an Emerson knife to be made: beautiful construction, modern materials, and a ~~stainless steel~~ thick titanium liner lock that doesn’t stick with phosphor bronze washers. But like an Emerson, this Southern Grind knife has its quirks as well.

The biggest quirk, and my biggest beef with the Spider Monkey, is that I don’t like the proprietary body screws. I have found that being able to periodically disassemble and clean my EDC knives is essential to a piece being a true “user” knife for me. I don’t care if I never disassemble my 888, but I need to be able to take apart a simple liner lock EDC knife like this.

Still, the pros outweigh the cons with the Spider Monkey. Southern Grind is a young knife company, and they are coming out with some cool stuff. Plus, they clearly know how to make things. The tolerances are great, and the end result is a premium product. I enjoy this Spider Monkey and look forward to keeping it for long term testing and evaluation. In the meantime, buy it if you like the design. I can vouch that it is a quality tool.

Southern Grind Spider Monkey Drop Point Folding Knife with Carbon Fiber Handle

PREMIUM QUALITY: Made from S35VN steel for a strong and dependable knife. Your blade stays safe and secure with our 6AL4V Titanium lock and liner.
BUILT TO LAST: Our tough, durable USA-made tactical knives give you unmatched reliability - resistant to edge chipping and corrosion.
STRONG GRIP: Textured carbon fiber matte finish for a strong and solid, all-conditions grip. The short pocket clip ensures a secure pocket carry with minimal interference.
VERSATILITY: An all-around EDC knife perfect for every day use as well as tactical or military purposes. Foldable and compact to store in your backpack, survival gear kit, and more.
100% GUARANTEE, MADE IN USA: Your Southern Grind knife is guaranteed under our Limited Warranty for the lifetime of the original purchaser. A portion of each sale goes to benefit Camp Southern Ground.

I recommend purchasing the Southern Grind Spider Monkey at Amazon, BladeHQ, and 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.

Ontario Utilitac 2 8904 Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 6 Comments

Last Updated: August 26, 2019
Some knives never quite get their due. The community only has so much bandwidth for new product every year, and the criteria for making the transition from flash in the plan to fully qualified classic are hazy. We see not so good knives getting attention they don’t deserve, and good, even great designs collecting dust in obscurity a year after their release.

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While the fate of the Utilitac II isn’t quite that tragic, it seems like it’s well on its way to being forgotten. Which would be a shame, because it is a really good knife. Without even looking that closely, it checks a lot of boxes: great price, a lot of options, and a custom maker pedigree. But when you look closely, you see a knife that is thoughtfully designed, bringing a ton of consideration and character to budget knife design.

One thing to note: the Utilitac II comes in a variety of configurations, some of which are so different as to essentially be different knives. There are two different blade shapes – a tanto or a clip point – and two different handles – rounded or coffin-shaped – to choose from. You can get either blade shape with either handle. My Utilitac II has the clip point blade and the rounded handle.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Utilitac II has a blade length of 3-7/16”, a handle length of 4-5/8”, and an overall length of 8”. It is made in Taiwan for Ontario Knife Company. The Utilitac II weighs 5.6 oz., which puts it firmly in the Mid-Size category. For me, this is about as big a knife as I’m likely to EDC. I don’t mind the Utilitac II’s dimensions. It’s an integral part of its character. You either like this size and shape of knife, or you don’t.

The Utilitac II was designed by Joe Pardue, son of Griptilian designer Mel Pardue. The younger Pardue’s design style is more flamboyant than his father’s, but still conveys the same overarching commitment to functionality that makes the Griptilian so likeable. The most eye-catching element of any version of the Utilitac II is the blade. Both the tanto and the clip point have exaggerated comic book proportions. The clip point is wide and curvy. It is almost reminiscent of the blade on the Spyderco Rubicon, albeit with a more aggressive tip and a slight recurve.

I’m not crazy about recurves in general, but the one on the Utilitac II is inoffensive. And it does make the belly extremely aggressive. Combine this with the excellent overall grind and very competent edge bevel, and you get a great mid-size cutter. The Utilitac II chews through thickish media with ease. Cardboard, foam, plastic – these are the sort of cutting tasks the Utilitac II is made for. In delicate cuts it is less impressive, but by no means bad.

AUS-8 is good stuff. Anybody can sharpen it. It ls one of few steels that I feel genuinely confident with every time I take it to the stones. It offers reasonable toughness and reasonable edge retention. High end steels are pretty much all good, but in the budget realm AUS-8 is a good steel amongst merely acceptable ones. And on the Utilitac II, AUS-8 is really allowed to shine. The grind emphasize its good qualities and minimizes the bad. I have no complaints about the steel, and wouldn’t even if the Utilitac II was twice the price.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

For all the character in the blade shape, the Utilitac II’s handle is comparatively quiet. However, ‘quiet’ does not equal ‘bad,’ and while the handle won’t change your life, it’s certainly acceptable. The finger groove is big enough to be comfortable, and it transitions into the finger guard in a gentle way to avoid feeling cramped. If anything, it reminds me of Emerson’s handle designs – which is no bad thing at all.

I find that what material a handle is made of is less important than how well that material is executed. This must be why people hate on the standard Griptilians’ plastic scales but don’t seem as bothered by the Delica’s FRN. The Utilitac II’s plastic scales are done right. The stepped, three layers of texturing are all tactile, and make the handle feel contoured even though they aren’t. I like the visual interest that the faux bolster imparts to the design.

Pardue and OKC also nailed the width on this knife. I don’t think that thinner is always better in pocket knives. Sometimes, a design works better if it’s a little thicker, and that’s certainly the case here. The thickness of the handle functions as a counterbalance to the beefy blade, and gives you some exact and intuitive control over your cuts.

Of course, there is one way in which the thickness is less ideal, and that’s in pocket carry. As someone who doesn’t really carry anything else in my knife pocket, I don’t mind the chunkiness, but some certainly will. On the other hand the pocket clip, also a very Emersonian design, works well. In the tip down configuration (the way the knife comes), it travels just far enough across the knife to keep it stable in carry.

Deployment and Lockup

There really is no excuse at this point for pokey deployment on a knife, no matter the price. Obviously corners will be cut on budget knives, but the Utilitac II is yet another argument in the ongoing case that a good pivot is never something that needs to go. A simple phosphor bronze and Teflon washer setup and a punchy detent combine to give the Utilitac II a glass-smooth, lightning quick, and immensely satisfying deployment.

You kick off this satisfying deployment via ambidexterous thumbstuds. Another small thing that the Utilitac II absolutely nails is thumbstud placement. Holding the knife naturally, your thumb is exactly where it needs to be to flick the blade open. And once you deploy the knife, your thumb comes to rest exactly where it needs to be the use the knife. It sounds like a small detail, and it is, but anytime a knife can break down a time tax between you needing to cut something and getting that something cut, it should be pointed out and lauded.

This big and beefy knife uses a fairly thin liner lock, but one that has been utterly reliable in the four months I’ve owned and carried this blade. There was no play the day I got it. A little horizontal play, easily fixed by tightening the pivot, is all there is to report as I write this review. The liner travels over a fair distance, locking up at about 60%. I know that it isn’t a universally-held belief that early lock up is better, and that some makers favor late lockup on liner locks. I wonder if the late lockup here has something to do with its stability.

A generous cutout on the show side scale makes accessing the liner easy. One issue I have with the lock, however, is the jimping on the locking leaf. It’s pretty sharp and can start to irritate your finger if you’re opening and closing the knife a lot. The cutout is so effective on its own that this toothy jimping is redundant anyway, so if they ever updated this knife I’d like to see it go.

Ontario Knife Company Utilitac II Review – Final Thoughts

Judging by YouTube reviews and dusty old forum posts, the Utilitac II seems to have enjoyed a brief time in the spotlight before the knife community moved on to other knives. This is a shame because I would hazard to guess that this knife is outright better than just about any budget offering released this year (besides the Pro-Lite).

It’s likely better than any budget knife that came out last year, too. And I’ve never used a RAT 1 but I can’t imagine it being a substantial improvement over the Utilitac II. When it comes to visuals I think Joe Pardue’s design has the RAT 1 beat easily. The number of meaningful variations it’s offered in is also pretty impressive, even years later.

If you haven’t tried one, and if you can work with the mid-size EDC philosophy, I encourage you to give the Utilitac II a try. It’s actually a thoughtfully designed knife, and thoughtful design is refreshing at any price point. I don’t think that it’s been officially discontinued as of yet. Either way, it is still widely available, and well worth your time for any price under $40.

Ontario Knife Joe Pardue Utilitac II

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in Taiwan
3.5 inch plain edge blade
Knife Closed Length: 4.5-Inch

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Ontario Utilitac II at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Ka-Bar Jarosz Folder Review

by Dan Jackson 13 Comments

Last Updated: August 1, 2019
A couple things drew me to the Ka-Bar Jarosz Folder.

First, Ka-Bar doesn’t release a lot of folding knives. They are a knife company best known for their classic USMC combat knife, and have a reputation for being a traditional knife company with a lot of fixed blade designs.

Buy the Ka-Bar Jarosz Folder at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Second, Ka-Bar chose to collaborate with custom knifemaker Jesse Jarosz. Jesse is a maker that I have heard a lot about over the past few years. I have yet to handle any of his designs, so I was excited about the prospect of checking out this collab with Ka-Bar.

What’s interesting about Jesse is his unorthodox handle designs and decision to focus on non-flippers. This may not have been remarkable a few years ago, but these days most custom knifemakers are producing flippers. It has gotten to the point where someone producing a knife that is not flipper has actually become novel. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it.

His folder for Ka-Bar is based on his popular Model 75. This is a no-nonsense function-over-form design that appeared to be a great candidate for a production piece. With that in mind I bought the knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Jarosz Folder has an overall length of 8″, a 3.5″ blade, weighs 5.25 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a brute of a knife, with a thick blade and full steel liners. 5.25 ounces won’t pull your pants down, but it is substantial, and the Jarosz Folder is more of a weekend carry for me. Of course if you can get away with EDCing a bigger and heavier knife then this could be a daily carry.

The Jarosz Folder comes with your choice of a drop point or tanto blade. I went with the drop point, as that is my preference, and it seemed to hold truest to Jesse’s original Model 75. The drop point blade is simple. It is ground from near 4mm thick steel, and the blade has a saber grind. The knife came surgically sharp from the factory, which is always great to see. The edge is neat, but peters out a little towards the tip. Ka-Bar finished things off with a coarse tumbled finish. This is a durable blade shape. The thick stock provides strength, while the hollow grind allows it to cut efficiently.

Ka-Bar went with Aus8 steel here, which is par for the course for a sub $50 knife. Aus-8 won’t win any edge retention awards, but is fine for a beater blade like this. You probably know as well as I do that Aus-8 is tough, easy to sharpen, and corrosion resistant. It’s a good budget steel and Ka-Bar gives you plenty of it. I have used the Jarosz Flipper to for several projects, and have broken down a fair amount of cardboard with this knife. It slices well, stands up to hard use, and has proven to be a great work knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is comprised of fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) scales over full steel liners. There is a partial FRN backspacer that straddles a lanyard pin.

Handle construction is solid, but not perfectly executed. My handle scales were slightly proud of the liners in some spots, and the edges of the scales are rough. It was odd enough for me to post an inquiry about this on BladeForums to see if others shared that issue, or if I was just unlucky.

The feedback I received suggested that I was unlucky. Jesse himself was kind enough to post in the thread and recommend that I loosen the screws holding down the scales and nudge everything in place, or send the knife in for service. Adjusting the scales worked, and the problem mostly went away. In retrospect this seems pretty obvious but I haven’t run into the issue before. That said, the edges of my scales still catch the skin of my fingers slightly; especially the scale behind the locking liner. It’s not unpleasant, and it actually provides a little traction. Also, it is not noticeable when using the knife.

Once I resolved the issue with the handle scales I began to appreciate the sensible ergonomics of Jesse’s design. This is a funky looking handle, but in practice it works well. The handle shape is comfortable, and provides plenty of space for a wide variety of grips and hand sizes. There is a row of toothy flat-top jimping on the spine of the drop point version, and the FRN handles provide traction without being abrasive. The slightly rough edges of the FRN scales provide additional grip.

The pocket clip is an adaptation from the custom knives, and is a spoon style clip with Jarosz’s geometric logo. The clip is right side only, but is allows for tip up or tip down carry. It is uncoated stainless steel, but appears to have been tumbled to make it less shiny.

The Jarosz Folder carries OK. This is a substantial knife. I found that the combination of lightly textured scales, heavy knife, and light spring tension of the clip meant that the Jarosz Folder would continually slide down towards the base of my pocket. I mostly wear shorts with V pockets, and prefer to keep my knives higher up on my pocket for concealment and ease of accessing my wallet. This knife required regular adjustment.

Deployment and Lockup

The Jarosz Folder makes use of dual thumb studs and teflon washers. The blade is heavy and the detent is strong. You can flick open the blade, but it takes a fair amount of force. This is not a knife for the weak thumbed. The action is smooth, but I am not a fan of teflon washers, and would prefer phosphor bronze washers here. I am also not a fan of the decorative pivot on this knife. It’s nice and large, but Ka-Bar does not include a tool to adjust it. I don’t see this pivot on Jesse’s customs, so I don’t know where it came from. The good news is that the blade centering is excellent so there was no need to adjust the pivot out of box.

This knife makes use of a stainless steel liner lock. The liner lock is substantial and it engages the blade about 50%. The end result is a sturdy lock free of play in any direction. Initially my lock exhibited a slight amount of stick, but it has broken in and smoothed out over time. This is a solid liner lock.

Ka-Bar Jarosz Folder Review – Final Thoughts

Although I have raised some quibbles about the Jarosz Folder I think the pros outweigh the cons and this is a great work knife. In a perfect world I’d prefer a stronger pocket clip, a pivot with “regular” hardware, and phosphor washers, but when you get this knife in hand and actually cut stuff with it the design really comes together. It’s comfortable like a good pair of leather boots. I may not care for some of the details, but can’t argue with the results.

This is also a substantial knife designed to take some punishment. This is a hard use tool, not a slim daily carry, and that is OK if you know what you are getting into. Not every knife needs to be modeled after the Spyderco Delica. The unorthodox nature of the Jarosz Folder is part of what I enjoy about it, but it has also made this a tough knife to review.

Despite the Jarosz being unorthodox, I still want to contrast it with some other offerings that sell for around $40. Cold Steel offers the Pro-Lite and Voyager. These are 2 AUS-8 and FRN handled knives that are also tough. The Ontario RAT I is another excellent choice at this price point with similar construction and materials. You can venture into the $50 price bracket and find gems like the Blur and Aus-8 American Lawman.

While there are plenty of options to consider at the crowded ~$40 price range, I think the Jarosz Folder will appeal to the right buyer. This is especially true if you are looking for tank like construction. I don’t recommend it if you are looking for a lightweight every day carry. It is not that kind of knife.

The execution is not perfect, but the design is solid. This is a successful collaboration, and a good introduction to Jesse Jarosz if you don’t have the coin for one of his custom pieces.

Recommended if you are interested in Jesse’s designs, and want a no-nonsense work knife.

KA7505-BRK Jarosz Folder

Country of Origin: Taiwan
Package quantity: 1
Product type:KNIFE
Package dimensions:5.25" (L) x 2.0" (W) x 1.0" (H)

I recommend purchasing the Ka-Bar Jarosz Folder at Amazon or BladeHQ.

Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Covert Review

by Mike Teeples 5 Comments

The first knife I ever owned, even before my Swiss Army knife, was a Gerber that my Dad gave me. It awed me then and awes me now, and is being passed down within my family; hopefully for generations to come. When a couple of military buddies mentioned the Gerber Applegate Fairbair Covert to me as a “must have” for my collection, the were sure to mention the rich history of knife’s designers.

Buy the Gerber Covert at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I’m not crazy about tricking out a knife with logos and what not, but if you’re going that route they may as well be the signatures of some pretty accomplished dudes. Mission accomplished with the Covert. Both Colonel Rex Applegate and William E. Fairbairn were pioneers in close quarters armed and unarmed combat. Colonel Applegate was even inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 1994 Blade Show. Look them up some time and you are sure to be impressed by their accomplishments.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Covert has an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 4 ounces, and is made in the USA. A significant challenge in the tactical folder market seems to be balancing weight and size with concealability, and to do this without losing the knife’s function. The Covert walks that tightrope nicely. With a full 5” handle, it accommodates even large hands. One would think that would lead to a noticeable weight in your pocket, but the 4 ounces feels extremely light in hand and becomes an afterthought in the pocket in no time.

And if you are really size sensitive, Gerber also offers a Mini Covert with a 2.92 inch blade and weighing in at a mere 2.2 ounces.

The blade itself is .125” thick, and include signatures of its creators and “USA” proudly stamped under the Gerber logo. The spear point blade features a double bevel and serrations running halfway down the sharp side. The opposite edge could be sharpened to suit the owner. I’ve never been motivated to do so, but could see that being an option since this is a folding knife designed for hand-to-hand combat.

The Covert comes with a titanium nitride coated 154CM stainless steel blade, a nice departure from Gerber’s usual lineup of 420HC blades. 154CM is a great working steel that is reasonable to sharpen yet still good in the edge retention department. Seeing how this nice retails for close to $100, 154CM was an appropriate choice given the price.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The words “Glass Filled Nylon” (GFN) do not give justice to how the Covert feels in the hand. The material is dense and of high quality – it does not feel like “cheap plastic”. Many manufacturers use GFN and when you pick it up its clear why the choice is popular. GFN holds up well to abuse and can be molded into a near-infinite variety of shapes and textures. This one is ribbed for my pleasure, and bears a surface that’s easy to grip without catching on your favorite pair of jeans when removing it from the pocket.

The GFN itself is semi-smooth with the texture of a medium grit river rock and almost seems temperature neutral regardless of conditions. I know this knife isn’t going to slip out of my hand and don’t have to worry about blisters with extended use (as unlikely as extended tactical use is). About three quarters up the length of the handle you will find ambidextrous finger choils with mild jimping.

This knife was designed with combat use in mind, and the simple handle allows for the user to work with the covert in forward and reverse grips.

The finger notches provide an anchor point that give that extra bit off assurance and make for an overall high quality fit in the hand.

The clip falls short. It’s a decent size and sits in your pocket at about the right height, but allows for ambidextrous tip down carry only. Happy days for those of us that are tip down users. The rest of us will have to get over it or find another blade. One other point regarding the clip, and I’ll let it rest: I’m sure this is just an offshoot of the fact that nearly all of my clips are situated near the pommel, but the clip is bothersome when holding the knife for general use. The clip is my least favorite feature of the Covert by a long shot.

Deployment and Lockup

The Covert uses ambidextrous thumb studs for deployment. Personally, I love having thumb studs. The Covert’s thumb studs are accessible without being in the way, and they also serves as an external stop pin. This folder flicks open easily with a little wrist action. It glides open to a secure liner lock that is perfectly centered on my model. One thing I want to mention here is how well balanced the blade feels both while being snapped open and afterwards. Balance was obviously something the Colonel Rex Applegate and William Fairbairn wanted to be perfect. They achieved that goal.

The Covert features a liner lock with an external safety, called the “roto-lock”. The roto-lock is similar to CRKT’s Auto-LAWKS system, and requires the manipulation of a small lever on the spine of the handle prior to closing the blade. The locking mechanism naturally falls into place as your fingers find the deep finger choils and jimping. You pull the lever back (away from the blade) to disengage the liner lock. Although the liner lock and roto-lock are both made of relatively thin steel, everything is solid and exudes confidence. While I am not a huge fan of external safeties, I can see how this would make sense for a combat knife.

Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Covert Review – Final Thoughts

I honestly didn’t want to like this knife. Any time somebody puts a giant signature on the face of a blade it just rubs me the wrong way. I am also not a huge fan of the clip. My preferred blade carry position is tip up and I have to retrain myself when I decide to carry the Covert. This may not be a problem for some of you, and certainly not for folks that commit to one blade for universal everyday carry. I’m not that guy. For that reason, this knife doesn’t find its way into heavy normal rotation.

All that said, it didn’t take long for me to overcome those pet peeves when handling and using this knife. It just flat out does what it is designed to do and performance trumps aesthetics. I am glad I own the knife and many friends and colleagues seem to be drawn to it. I have every confidence in the workmanship of the blade and moving parts and really appreciate how it feels in your hand. I see it being a love-hate kind of knife depending on what features matter most to the buyer. Cost is always a factor and while the MSRP is $182, it’s readily available for under $100.

Gerber makes a ton of inexpensive, low quality blades in the lines they offer from overseas. The big retailers demand this (and so do consumers) and you can’t argue with demand for throwaway knives. The “Made in the USA” line appears to follow tradition of craftsmanship and attention to detail of old. If you’re a right handed, tip down carrier or if that isn’t a stumbling block, you should buy this knife. It may actually be a go-to tactical recommendation for those of you in that camp.

Regardless, you won’t be disappointed with the functionality of this balanced and functional folder designed by two of the biggest names in hand-to-hand combat training.

Gerber Applegate Covert Knife, Serrated Edge, Black, 154CM [05786]

Applegate-Fairbairn Covert double bevel titanium spear-style knife
154CM blade with titanium nitride coating
Features uncommon strength and balance
Includes patented Roto-Lock
An overall opened length of 8.7-inches and closed length 4.9-inches, with 3.78-inches of blade length; weighs 4.2-ounces

I recommend purchasing the Gerber Covert at Amazon or BladeHQ.

Editor’s Note: Please join me in welcoming Mike Teeples as a contributing author. Mike is from Colorado and brings his experience in hiking the Rockies and enthusiasm for all manner of edged tools to BladeReviews.com