liner lock

Kershaw Injection 3.0 Review

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
These days in the world of high value folding knives we have some pretty stiff competition. Old standbys like the Spyderco Tenacious and CKRT Drifter continue to be tough to beat while recent contenders like the ESEE Zancudo, Ontario Rat II, and CKRT Swindle are re-defining what is possible with a low budget folder.

Buy the Kershaw Injection at BladeHQ

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But when you are paying less than $40 a pop there is plenty of room for more, which is why my reinterest in budget blades has led me to the recently released Kershaw Injection.

Sporting a Todd Rexford design and lots of “custom” details, the Injection has the potential to be an all-star budget blade. But will it join the ranks of elite inexpensive folders or fade away into the shadows of obscurity? There is only one way to find out…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Injection 3.0 has an overall length of 7″, sports a 3″ blade, and weighs 3.30 ounces. This knife feels pretty heavy for a 3″ blade, but the Injection is still firmly in the EDC camp. For those appreciating a larger knife, Kershaw has thoughtfully decided to offer this model with a 3.5″ blade, aptly named the Injection 3.5. Everyone is a little different when it comes to their ideal EDC blade length, so I think that it is fantastic that Kershaw decided to offer this model in two sizes straight out of the gate.

The blade shape on the Injection is a very basic drop point. It may be a little boring, but it certainly works well with its fine tip and full flat grind. This is a very practical choice for EDC. One aspect that I don’t particularly like about this blade is the bead blasted finish. This inexpensive finish is prone to rusting and doesn’t look particularly good. I think it’s a misstep on a knife that is trying to appeal to the consumer based on it’s details, but I guess you can’t have it all at $30. Beyond the blade finish there is very little to gripe about.

The steel in this knife is 8Cr13MoV, a staple in low-end Chinese knives that I have spoken about ad nauseam. But don’t let my familiarity with the steel turn you off, I don’t mind 8Cr13MoV when the price is right. It compares well to AUS8 in that it won’t hold an edge forever, but it is durable and easy to sharpen. Despite being a stainless steel it can rust, and my particular knife did stain a little when I left it unattended on a shelf for a few weeks. You definitely want to keep an eye on this steel and apply a little oil if you are looking to maintain a totally rust free blade. All said, for a ~$30 folding knife it’s tough to beat 8Cr13MoV.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle is where the Injection starts to get interesting. Taking center stage is the full G10 3-D machined handle scales. They feature a tasteful milled pattern and are subtly contoured. Intricately machined and 3-D sculpted handles are a feature often absent on $100 knives, let alone $30 ones, and this is the most impressive aspect of the knife. Further adding to the custom flair is the oversized decorative pivot and milled G10 backspacer with inset lanyard pin (rather than a lanyard hole). These are undeniably great details in a budget knife, and it elevates the Injection from beater blade to something much more interesting. The handle construction is also very solid. There are no gaps or cracks and all the pieces line up well. Underneath the G10 scales are solid stainless steel liners. It makes for a very solid knife, but it does add weight to the little Injection 3.0.

In hand the Injection 3.0 feels just a little short. Maybe that is because this is a very straight handle, which means that there is less surface area, but I found my fingers a little cramped. Granted I do take a large glove, so please keep that in mind. I will say that the basic handle shape makes the Injection easy to hold in a couple different positions and I didn’t notice any hot spots. Reverse grip is actually super nice with the angular shape of the pommel, but I can’t say I’ve actually used the Injection with a reverse grip yet. The entire knife is free of jimping which is fine for an EDC knife. This is a relatively thick knife and it fills the hand and has held up under harder use. If I were intending to use this knife for serious work I would opt for the larger version.

The pocket clip is simple, but it is also tasteful and well executed. The innocuous triangular clip is sure to appeal to a broad crowd, and it is positioned for decently deep tip up carry. The clip has a bead blast finish which further adds to the discrete look. The clip is swappable for left or right side carry, but fans of tip down carry are completely out of luck. Personally, this is not an issue.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment you have dual decorative thumb studs. Despite the interesting milled details on the thumb studs, they are still very easy to access and quite practical. I had no problem flicking the blade open with the push of my thumb. Inside, there are metallic washers that appear to be phosphor bronze. This isn’t the smoothest knife I have handled, but if these are real phosphor bronze washers then the knife will only get smoother with time.

For lockup you have a sturdy stainless steel liner lock. My knife locks up 100%, but is free of any play. The liner lock is also easy to disengage and doesn’t stick. The full G10 scales and full stainless liners make for a robust knife that inspires confidence. Blade centering on my knife is favors the non-locking side, but it doesn’t rub and is acceptable for a knife of this price point.

Kershaw Injection Review – Final Thoughts

The Kershaw Injection is a solid attempt at a value folder with some high end details. The 3-D machined G10 scales, decorative thumb studs and pivot, and G10 backspacer are all high end finishes more commonly found on a custom knife than a Chinese production blade. But the off center blade, stiff pivot, and bead blasted finish bring us back down to earth. I also was not a huge fan of the weight and cramped feel of the handle. These are all minor gripes, and I realize you can only do so much with a budget knife, but I feel obligated to say something. While I like aspects of the Injection 3.0, it doesn’t make my list of recommended budget knives. There are definitely knives I prefer over the Injection at this price point.

Still, the effort Kershaw put into this one is apparent and the Injection is certainly capable as an EDC. The fact that I am even nit-picking a $35 folder shows that we are truly spoiled to have so many interesting and high quality budget blades at our disposal. Ultimately, this is a decent buy at $35 and I recommend it to fans of the design.

Kershaw 3820 Injection 3.0 Folding Knife

Liner lock -Thumb stud -Reversible pocket clip -Steel: 8CR13MoV
Bead-blasted finish -Handle: 3D-machined G-10
Blade length: 3 in. (7.6 cm) -Closed length: 4 in. (10.2 cm) -Overall Length: 7 in. (17.8 cm) -Weight: 3.3 oz. (93.6 g)
Liner lock; Thumb stud; Reversible pocket clip
Steel: 8CR13MOV, bead-blasted finish

I recommend buying the Injection at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out my review.

Ontario Rat II Review

by Dan Jackson 19 Comments

Last Updated: March 9, 2018

Not everyone who reads the site knows about this, but I do have a couple sections dedicated to knives I have reviewed and recommend. Of particular interest could be the recommended EDC knives section, and the recommended tactical knives section, as these types of knives are generally pretty popular. When browsing those lists there are a few special knives that make the cross over to both categories.

Buy the Ontario RAT II at BladeHQ

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Typically, these are gold standard blades like the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and Benchmade Griptilian which are great knives, but clock in at $110+ and $70+ respectively. But then there is another category, the recommended high value knives section, where I try to limit the knives to $50 or less. It is quite rare to find a knife that can fall into all 3 categories. The Ontario Rat I is one of those knives.

I reviewed the RAT I a couple years ago, and I am still of the opinion that those seeking serious bang for their buck when it comes to a big EDC / “tactical” knives would be well served with a RAT I. That’s great for guys wanting a big knife, but what about the rest of us who are looking for a more pocket friendly EDC?

Enter the Rat II. It has everything we all know and love about the Rat I, but in a much more compact package.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Rat II is 7″ long, has a 3″ blade, weighs 2.75 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a great size for urban EDC. It is both pocket and people friendly, and you still have enough knife to get some real work done. Of course, if you are looking for something larger then the Rat I has you covered.

The blade is a modified drop point design. Nothing about this knife is particularly sexy looking, but this plain utilitarian blade gets the job done. The full flat grind is thin, and the knife zips easily through all manner of material. The tip is plenty pokey for detail work while the bright satin finish is both attractive and corrosion resistant. They do offer the knife with a shiny black coating, but it is not very durable. I prefer the satin finished version.

Just like the Model I, the Rat II comes in AUS 8 blade steel. Steel snobs may turn their nose up at AUS 8, but my own testing and use has proven again and again that AUS 8 takes a great edge, is super easy to maintain, doesn’t chip out easily, and resists rust and corrosion. For a $30 folder, AUS 8 is about as good as it gets.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle on the Rat II features the same robust design of it’s bigger brother. You have plastic scales over full stainless liners with pillar (or “flow through”) construction. It is simple and effective. I also like the choice of handle colors and the black hardware. This knife is made in Taiwan, and like many of the other Taiwanese knives I have handled, this knife features exceptional fit and finish. One nit pick is that the handle scales are plastic. I would prefer some G10, but some corners have to be cut when your are targeting the under $40 market.

From an ergonomic standpoint the Rat II is pretty good. Obviously it’s not going to be as comfortable as the oversized Rat I, but, given the size of the knife I was still able to get a nice grip on it with my larger hands. Extra large hands may run out of real estate, but you could always choke up near the ricasso and gain a little extra room. The plastic scales are comfortable. All the corners have been rounded, and a texture provides some feedback without being aggressive. The jimping on the other hand is pretty aggressive. Under extended use this jimping definitely bites into your thumb, and I don’t like that aspect of the knife. All said though, and this is a decent knife to work with.

The pocket clip is a classic shape (think Benchmade or Emerson), comes with a painted satin black finish, and can be put on any of the 4 corners of the knife. It’s simple, discrete, and totally functional. The painted clip does show wear easily, but this is a user so I don’t mind. In pocket the knife rides low and stays where you want it to. I really cant complain about its simple and utilitarian design.

Deployment and Lock Up

For a low end knife the Rat II is surprisingly smooth. The Aus 8 blade glides on sintered bronze washers. A gentle nudge of the ambidextrous thumb studs sends the blade cascading out with a satisfying “thwack”. The blade on my knife came perfectly centered, which adds another level of enjoyment to the knife.

For lock up, you have a robust liner lock. This is a beefy liner lock, and there isn’t even a suggestion of play when I tug the blade in any direction. This is a great choice for hard use tasks, and I don’t hesitate to use this as a work knife. In fact, it’s a great choice for those nasty jobs you don’t want to risk a more expensive knife with. The blade locks up tight and the lock bar disengages easily when you need it to.

Ontario Rat II Review – Final Thoughts

For the money the Rat II is a hall of fame blade that makes my lists for both recommended EDC and recommended high value knives. It may not be the prettiest pony in the stable, but if you subscribe to the philosophy of function over form, want a folding knife with a 3″ blade, and have around $30 to spend, then the Rat II could be just the knife you are looking for. My biggest gripes were about the plastic handle scales and aggressive jimping. Beyond that I find very little to complain about, and these are easy objections to overcome given the price.

Just like it’s big brother, the Rat II is a no-nonsense tool ready to provide years of service.

Sale

Ontario Knife Company Rat Ii Sp-Black Folding Knife, 7Inches

secure: the ambidextrous handle features textured black nylon 6 scales with an open-built steel linerlock frame
comfortable: the rat-2 knife is a handheld size designed for comfort and performance making it ideal for everyday carry
dependable: quick and easy access with dual thumb studs and a 4-way reversible pocket clip
"durable: the rat-2 comes equipped with a 3" plain edge blade made of reliable aus-8 stainless steel as well as a textured nylon handle"
"convenient size: the 4. 1" closed length handheld size is ideal for every day carry and fits in the hand and pocket comfortably"

I recommend purchasing the Ontario Rat II 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.

Cold Steel Ti-Lite Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Last Updated: July 28, 2019
The Cold Steel Ti-Lite is a knife that I received in a trade. As a collector I find myself often buying and selling knives, and I routinely get it hit up with trade propositions. I must confess, the decision to acquire a Ti-Lite was really a product of impulsiveness rather than a well researched and rationalized decision. All I knew was the general shape of the knife and that it was a fairly popular offering from Cold Steel.

Buy the Cold Steel Ti-Lite at BladeHQ

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A few days later the Ti-Lite was in my hands. Again, it’s confession time. The styling of this particular knife was not my cup of tea, and I was turned off by how unfriendly the design was to left handed people like myself. So I stuck the Ti-Lite on a shelf and would revisit it occasionally. It was a great knife for when I needed a little distraction. I’d practice waving it off my pocket and imitating some of the “sweet moves” you often find in Cold Steel’s promotional videos.

So when I first got it I really wasn’t interested in reviewing the knife, but the Ti-Lite has slowly grown on me. It still isn’t a part of my EDC rotation, I don’t think it’s a practical utility knife, and it really isn’t lefty friendly, but the Ti-Lite is a well made purpose-built tactical knife, and I’d still like to spend some time and talk about it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Ti-Lite comes in 2 blade sizes, the 4″ version shown here and a much larger 6″ version. I happen to have the 4″ version which sports an overall length of 8-3/4″ and weighs 3.6 ounces. This is a long and slim design, and I immediately likened it to a Spyderco Endura. However, a big difference between the Ti-Lite and Endura is that the Endura is a much more versatile design, and can excel at both utility and “tactical” (defensive/offensive) tasks. In my mind the Ti-Lite is much less versatile and really is best suited for stabbing stuff. As we will learn, this Ti-Lite does that job quite well.

The blade on the Ti-Lite is a spearpoint design. The knife is hollow ground, and grind line pretty much goes down the center of the blade and reinforces the very sharp tip. On the spine of the knife you have a long aggressive swedge, and the edge has been neatly applied. There is just a very slight amount of belly here – like I said earlier, I don’t think this would make a particularly good utility knife. A nice satin finish rounds things out. All in all the blade is very well done, and resembles a folding railroad spike.

The blade is made from a 3mm thick AUS 8A stainless steel. This is a mid range Japanese stainless steel known for it’s ability to be easily sharpened and take a great edge. It’s common on Cold Steel’s current offerings and I generally don’t mind it, even if it won’t hold an edge as well as higher end steels. Really you aren’t going to do much actual cutting with this thing, mainly you need something tough – AUS8 is tough and reasonably inexpensive. Given the price, the intended use, and the way you would primarily use this knife I think AUS8 was a good choice here.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

My Ti-Lite came with Zytel (reinforced plastic) handle scales over full stainless steel liners. A full Zytel backspacer rounds out the design. There is also a more expensive [easyazon-link asin=”B001DZNST6″]aluminum version[/easyazon-link] that weighs about an ounce more. I really don’t see any advantage to the aluminum version, but I know some people simply aren’t fans of reinforced plastic handles. The Zytel on my knife is nicely finished, and the stainless steel liners have been given a little polish. Everything is well lined up and fits flush together. I like the screw type construction and how light and sturdy the handle feels. All in all this is a well made handle.

Like the blade shape, the ergonomics of the Ti-Lite are fairly one-note. 2 sharp quillions dominate both the aesthetic considerations and ergonomic qualities of the knife. These quillions are great for deploying the blade (more on that later) but make actually handing the knife somewhat awkward in most normal positions. The quillion on the top of the knife is right where the thumb ramp would normally be, and is rather sharp and uncomfortable. Really the knife is best held in either a reverse grip or a ice pick style grip, although you could straddle the quillion and rest your thumb on the spine of the blade. In the more stabbing oriented grips, the handle really fills the hand and I found the knife to be plenty comfortable. Regular forward grips for utility work are much more awkward.

The pocket clip is a sturdy piece of steel that has been given a bright satin finish. On a knife like this I’d really prefer a blackened clip, but it does match the rest of the stainless steel hardware quite well. A bigger gripe might be that the clip allows for right side tip up carry only. But the good thing here is that the clip is sturdy and offers nice retention. Also, the knife rides rather high in the pocket, not really a big deal in my opinion because of the way the knife deploys.

Deployment and Lockup

With the Cold Steel Ti-Lite you have several options for deployment. My favorite by far is using the quillion to “wave” this knife off the right pocket. Of course what I’m referring to is the wave feature found on many Emerson knives that opens the knife as you draw it from your pocket by catching a protrusion on the blade on the corner of your pocket. This action it snaps open the blade almost instantly, and is easily the fastest way to deploy the knife.

Traditionalists may prefer using the included thumbstud. Southpaws beware, this knife only has a right side thumb stud, and it’s not reversible in the slightest. For that reason, you may prefer to use the quillions to open the knife. If this part of the review was kind of confusing, I suggest checking out my video review – I think I do a slightly better job of explaining the various deployment methods there.

Regardless of the method you choose to deploy your Ti-Light deployment will be very smooth thanks to some teflon washers. Typically I am not a huge fan of teflon washers, but they are well implemented here and I honestly didn’t even realize they were teflon until I closely examined the knife before review (after months of ownership). Blade centering is dead on as well, so I’ve got no complaints.

The Ti-Lite makes use of a large liner lock to secure the blade open. My liner lock engages about 3/4 of the way, and is extremely sturdy. I did not experience any blade play at all, even after waving the knife open hundreds of times. It is a strong lock.

Cold Steel Ti-Lite Review – Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a dedicated defensive knife and are a fan of the retro styling, then I can recommend the Cold Steel Ti-Lite. It’s well made, features good materials, and at around $40 new you aren’t going to break the bank. I will say that this is definitely a specialized knife. It is really only good for stabbing stuff in my opinion, and leaves much to be desired as an EDC or utility knife. Also, the knife is really not lefty friendly – if you are left handed I’d just leave this one alone.

But what the Ti-Lite does, it does really well. It’s a very strong stabbing implement. So ultimately the decision rests on the desires of the consumer. Is this a must have knife? Not in my opinion, but for what it is the Ti-Lite is a nicely done knife.

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I recommend purchasing the Cold Steel Ti-Lite 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.

Mcusta Tactility Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
I recently reviewed a Mcusta MC-1 and I was impressed by this relatively little-known Japanese knife manufacturer. Based out of Seki, Japan, Mcusta is part of the city’s proud cutlery making tradition that began hundreds of years ago. If you haven’t checked out my MC-1 review yet, I loved the high end materials and modern manufacturing integrated into its classic design.

Buy the Mcusta Tactility at BladeHQ

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Today I am looking at another knife from Mcusta, the Tactility. I had high hopes for the Tactility and it didn’t let me down, so lets dive right into the review.

Purpose

As the name suggests, the Tactility is designed to be a tactical knife. However, I would narrow that down to “fighting knife” or “emergency tactical” – I would reserve it as a last ditch defensive tool. It is a very well made knife, but it is slim and lightweight and has a fragile tip. This isn’t a knife you would want to bring into the dark heart of war. Rather I see this as a highly specialized fighting blade.

Also, because this knife is so beautiful, it easily fills the role of a collectible. It’s an exquisite knife, balanced and light. Many people will want the Tactility just for their collection.

I do not recommend this knife for EDC. The blade is almost 4″ long and has little belly. The choil is set back on the handle and is designed to maximize reach. Sure, nothing is preventing you from EDCing this knife – and I certainly wouldn’t try and stop you, but to me this is not an EDC knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Tactility has an overall length of 8.2″ and a weight of 3.4 ounces. The 3.75″ blade is a modified drop point design with a partial hollow grind. The blade design has a very sharp point, ideal for for piercing movements, while the long swedge reduces weight and provides strength down to the tip. The hollow ground blade is pretty thin, which makes this knife an excellent slicer. This knife practically melts through paper, the point is so fine and the edge is so keen. It cuts like nothing I have seen before.

You have a couple options for the blade steel, both of which center around VG-10. You can get plain VG-10 or a laminated blade; damascus over a VG-10 core (shown in the photographs). VG-10 is a proven steel that I have written on at length. Suffice to say, I like VG-10 a lot. Mcusta applies an excellent heat treat so the extreme sharpness, edge retention and corrosion resistance that you expect from a VG-10 blade is in full effect with the Tactility.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Tactility is ultra slim and can come in a variety of different handle scale materials (various colors of corian or micarta in addition to several hardwood options) over solid steel liners. The handle is a pillar, or flow through design (which I love) that is held together by 3 torx bolts and provides for a clean look and easy maintenance. The liners haven’t been milled out, which would typically be a complaint, but the knife is still a mere 3.4 ounces so I can’t complain. One thing I like about liners that aren’t milled out is that they are very easy to clean.

One thing to notice is the absence of a lanyard hole with this knife. I would never put a lanyard on this knife, but I know some people like the option so I wanted to mention it.

As far as ergonomics are concerned, when you consider the primary purpose of the Tactility, Mcusta did a good job with this knife. The handle is spacious allowing for comfortable forward and reverse grips. I like how the wood has been nicely contoured and features 4 finger grooves that fit the hand very well. There is a large choil that sits about an inch back on the handle. It makes choking up on the blade unnatural but it maximizes reach – critical for a tactical knife like this.

There isn’t much of a thumb ramp, and the only jimping is found on the liner. Given the position of the choil, I find the jiming more than adequate.

The Tactility has a very nice pocket clip. I like how it allows for reversible tip up carry. It rides ultra deep and has a classy decorative look to it – more of that laser cut steel for you. I found clip retention to be very good.

Deployment and Lock

Depeding on if you get the VG-10 or Damascus version the Tactility has either dual thumb studs or a nice “modified spyder-hole” for deployment. The hole looks something like a half moon and allows for very easy ambidextrous one hand opening. The thumb studs (shown) are oversized and mine were made of blued titanium. Mcusta uses their signature teflon washer system for “buttery smooth” opening. This knife deploys quickly and quietly. While the teflon washers may be a departure from what we are used to seeing, they do an excellent job getting the blade out of the handle.

The Tactility uses a very strong liner lock. Mine locked up super early and there was no blade play at all. When you deploy the knife it makes a soft “click” – very stealthy. I was super impressed with the lockup and included a picture to show you what I am talking about.

Mcusta Tactility Review – Final Thoughts

The Tactility is just an outstanding knife. The tolerances, finish and materials are all top notch. It’s going to be hard to find a deadlier folding knife in this price range. If you are looking for an all out weapon of a knife and enjoy extreme craftsmanship, the Tactility could be the knife for you. That said, for those seeking a “hard use” folder or tactical knife, I don’t think this would be the best fit. I don’t think it’s a fragile knife, but find this knife better suited to the collector or someone wanting a high end EDC or a gentleman’s folder tactical knife.

As far as value is concerned, at the time of this article this knife can be found in the $130-150 range depending on configuration. At that price I think this knife is a great value. I would liken the build quality to a comparably priced Spyderco (which is superb), and I rank these among the highest quality production folders money can buy. For those on the fence, I suggest taking the plunge because you will not be disappointed with this knife.

Mcusta MCU122DR Damascus Tactility

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in Japan

I recommend purchasing the Mcusta Tactility at Amazon or BladeHQ.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley C134CF Review

by Dan Jackson 13 Comments

Last Updated: August 26, 2019
The Spyderco Gayle Bradley (C134CF) is one of those knives that was built for use and abuse, but is so nice I wasn’t sure if I could bring myself to really scuff it up. I guess the only reasonable answer is to buy two of these, one for carry and the other to keep pristine in the bowels of the collection.

Buy the Spyderco Gayle Bradley at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The knife was named after its designer, Texas custom knifemaker Gayle Bradley. Mr. Bradley has been making custom knives out of his shop in Weatherford, Texas for over 22 years. He also has the distinguishment of winning BladeSports International Cutting competition in 2008 (he had the most points for the 2008 season).

The Spyderco C134CF is Bradley’s first production knife collaboration. The knife is made from heavy duty M4 steel – the same steel Mr. Bradley uses in his competition cutting knives. With Mr/ Bradley’s credentials and the use of such a high end steel you know that this knife has the potential to go the distance.

General Dimensions and Blade Steel

The Gayle Bradley has an overall length of 8.078″, a 3.438″ blade, weighs 5.5 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a large and thick folder with graceful lines and a rock solid feel. The knife is manufactured in Spyderco’s Taichung Taiwan factory. Sure, I’d love to see this knife made in Golden Colorado, but I can’t deny that some of Spyderco’s best knives, from a fit and finish perspective, are currently coming out of Spyderco’s Taiwanese factory.

The Gayle Bradley has extremely high build quality – it’s difficult to describe on paper but the moment you handle this knife it all comes together. The dimensions and feel of this knife make it slightly large and heavy for EDC, although it would certainly work in that role. This knife is a work horse and it’s intended use is heavy cutting tasks.

The blade is a modified drop point with a high hollow grind and a sloping swedge. The blade has been given a beautiful satin finish that gleams in the light. This blade is a thing of beauty from any angle. Blade thickness is right at 3mm. It is thick enough for tough tasks, but is still ground thin enough to be a capable slicer. This blade is almost all edge and the long curving belly provides tons of room for cutting.

The blade is made from Crucible CPM-M4 steel. M4 is a high quality tool steel and Crucible’s version uses their Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) manufacturing process to enhance the toughness and ensure the M4 has a consistent grain. What this means is that the knife will really hold an edge and is capable of getting extremely sharp (sharp enough to win Mr. Bradley a couple world records in cutting competitions). This is not a stainless steel so you will need to take care to keep the blade dry and (preferably) oiled.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The knife has a flow through, pillar construction handle made of textured carbon fiber and full-length steel liners. The liners have been milled out in an attempt to reduce the weight, but this is still a substantial folder. The handle is bolted together (rather than pinned) which is great if you ever have the desire to take this knife apart (perhaps you want to try and mill it out yourself). If you are thinking of milling the liners out I want to wish you good luck because these are some of the thickest liners I have seen. This is a very heavy duty handle.

The carbon fiber Spyderco selected is the textured version used on the Spyderco Sage (review coming soon). This has a “weave” like texture that provides decent grip considering it’s carbon fiber, a traditionally smooth material. There is light jimping on the lock bar and on the thumb ramp, which combined with the finger choil and flowing handle make for a very comfortable and ergonomic grip. This all helps to make the knife a great work knife. For those that intend to use this knife heavily I think the handle design and ergonomics will be great for that.

The pocket clip is also quite interesting. It has a smokey gray black finish that almost looks anodized although the clip is definitely steel. It is a unique looking finish that I really like and is another detail that makes this a special knife. I also like how the clip can be mounted on all four corners of the knife. The knife rides low in the pocket and the blackened clip won’t attract much attention (unless you are around a bunch of knife knuts).

Deployment and Lock

The Gayle Bradley uses an extra large (1/2″ diameter) Spyder hole and phosphor bronze bushings for deployment. This knife is very easy to open and it is super smooth. The deployment feels just as good as the rest of the knife which is great news indeed. The ultra thick liner lock sits snugly on the blade. This knife is constructed very solidly and with that extra thick liner lock I think this knife is capable of taking some abuse. Really the lock-up and deployment are both very impressive; it’s hard to put it into words.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley Review – Final Thoughts

Mr. Bradley said that he was very pleased with the way the knife came out, and he gave it his full endorsement. I have to say, the knife has my endorsement too. The beautiful design, the high quality materials and the excellent construction make this a great knife in my book. It also is a great value. The knife has a $225 MSRP but I am seeing it retail for right around $130. At that price I think it is a steal. Of course, this knife isn’t for every one. The weight may be an issue, and it may be on the large size as well, but overall I think this is a great knife and I look forward to more Gayle Bradley collaborations.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley Folder Carbon Fiber PlainEdge Knife

Carbon fiber handle. Screw-together construction.
4-way hourglass steel clip. Full-length internal liners.
Michael Walker LinerLock.
Hollow-ground blade.

I recommend purchasing the Gayle Bradley at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Spyderco Military Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Last updated: February 14, 2019
Those in the military, law enforcement and contract defense firms require high quality gear designed to meet the rigorous demands of these types of positions. The Spyderco Military was designed to meet these demands as either a large utility knife or a full on tactical blade. In addition to law enforcement and military use, this could be an excellent civilian self defense blade or an oversize EDC knife. Lets take a look at what sets this knife apart from Spyderco’s more civilian oriented offerings.

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General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spyderco Military has an overall length of 9.5″, a 4″ blade, weighs 4.2 ounces, and is made in the USA. It’s a large knife, but when you pick it up I think most will very surprised how light it feels. The knife is extremely light for it size, making it practical for both a hard working tool and as a dedicated self defense knife.

The blade on the Military is a modified drop point design. Spyderco started with 1/8″ blade stock, added a nice full belly, and applied a full flat grind. This is quintessential Spyderco blade, simple, elegant and entirely effective. There is no swedge or recurve – just a simple and utilitarian cutting surface. The tip is unreinforced, and is somewhat delicate if you aren’t careful with it, but I find the blade to overall be very well balanced and good at a variety of cutting tasks.

Spyderco selected CPM-S30V stainless steel for the blade. S30V is excellent stuff. It’s best known for holding a great edge, but it’s also fairly easy to sharpen and very corrosion resistant. I think for a combat knife S30V was a good choice here, provided that you are willing to occasionally sharpen and maintain the edge.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The Spyderco Military features a large handle, designed for serious use. As far as construction is concerned, Spyderco started out with large pieces of G10 and added nested partial steel liners. This provides a lot of strength and rigidity but is also what keeps this knife at an amazing 4.2 ounces. The steel liners are screwed into an aluminum backspacer. Everything can be taken apart and is extremely easy to clean. This is a simple and very effective handle design.

When discussing the ergonomics of the Military, the first thing to mention is how large this handle actually is. I can almost get a 2 hand grip on it – and I wear large gloves. This gives you plenty of room for forward or reverse grips with or without gloves. The G10 provides plenty of traction and Spyderco has done a great job of jimping the thumb ramp and choil. This is very aggressive jimping and it works very well. There is also a small choil so you can choke up on the blade. I’m a big fan of this choil – it allows the Military to flex between a defensive (or offensive) tool, and a straight up utility knife. The ergonomics on the Military are outstanding.

The clip is a simple affair, it’s been blackened and is made of tempered steel. One of the biggest complaints peole have with this knife is that the clip is tip down right side carry only. I know most people prefer tip up, and that would be my preference as well. However, there are no steel liners near the butt of the handle, so there really is no place to add a clip unless you want to significantly increase the weight by adding a larger liner. For people wanting left side carry, Spyderco has a separate left-hand version of the Military available here.

All in all, the clip is good. It rides decently low, it’s discreet and has good retention. Tip up carry would be nice but it’s not feasible given the overall design.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spyderco Military, utilizes an oversize thumb hole (or a “Spyder hole”) for deployment. Deployment on my knife is pretty fast. The thumb hole is a generous 14mm in diameter, which allows for easy access with bare hands or gloves. I can flick the blade out on my new Military, but it takes a little more force. With time the knife and it’s high quality phosphor bronze washers will break in, and deployment will only get smoother and easier.

After deployment the blade is locked in place with a thick steel liner lock. When the lock engages its sounds sorta like someone stepped into a bear trap – it makes a very crisp and satisfying “SNAP” when it locks in place. Lockup is very secure. There is no blade play at all. The partial liners are bolted together through the aluminum backspacer – this is just a rock solid design and again, I’m blown away by the fact that this knife only weighs 4.2 ounces. To have such a big knife with such a strong lock with this weight puts the Military in a class of its own.

Spyderco Military Review – Final Thoughts

The Spyderco Military is an amazing folding tactical knife. With its light weight, large handle and incredibly versatile blade, the Military is made with tactical use in mind. It’s a very well thought out design, and Spyderco has been refining the knife for years. I also really like how the Military is made in America.

In terms of potential criticisms, I would caution readers on the relatively delicate tip of the blade, and the fact that the pocket clip is designed for tip down carry only. If you want a folder that doubles as a pry-bar, I’d look elsewhere (the Zero Tolerance 0550 comes to mind), but if you want a practical tactical knife you will not be disappointed with a Military.

Spyderco Military Model Signature USA-Made Knife with 4" CPM S30V Stainless Steel Blade and Durable Camo G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C36GPCMO

Iconic Design: Originally created to meet the demanding needs of forward-deployed military personnel, it incorporates all the best elements of Spyderco's unmistakable style while exemplifying our commitment to "Reliable High Performance."
Superior Blade Steel: Since the steel is the spirit of the knife, CPM S30V seemed the logical choice for the blade given its reputation for long-term edge retention and rust resistance. It is available in satin finish or non-reflective DLC coating.
Light and Durable: The Military Model is modified with a clip-point profile and a full-flat grind for balance strength and exceptional cutting performance.
Versatile: A defining feature of the Military Model is the fully accessible 14mm Round Hole. It ensures swift, ambidextrous, one-handed opening: even while wearing gloves.
Dependable: Each knife includes a nested Linerlock mechanism, textured G-10 scales, lined Lanyard holes, and right-side, tip-down pocket clips that keep your knife poised and ready for immediate access.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Military at Amazon or BladeHQ . By purchasing things through any of the links on this website you support BladeReviews.com and help produce future reviews without any additional cost to you. Thank you very much.