Made in Japan

Al Mar Hawk Ultralight Review

From big to small, I review them all. That little jingle may be pretty lame, but it is also pretty true. My last review was of the ESEE Junglas, 16 inches of high carbon steel. Worth a look if want a knife that you can strap to your back and enter the breach with.

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Today’s topic is on the other end of the spectrum, a feather light folder by Al Mar knives. This is my first Al Mar knife review, and it’s a company I have had in my sights for a while now. For those unfamiliar with Al Mar, there is actually a long and rich history that could become an article of its own. In a couple sentences, Al Mar was the head of knife design for Gerber, and served in that position for over 10 years. Al then formed his own company in 1979, Al Mar Knives. The knives are made in Seki City, Japan and follow that area’s rich tradition of knife and sword making. Al Mar died in 1992, but the company is still producing knives to this day.

The Al Mar Hawk is the smallest knife in their series of traditional folders, and has some interesting quirks that are worth mentioning. Well built and hand finished, the details are what make this knife enduring, for better or for worse. If you are looking for something ultralight and a little different, the Hawk could be just the ticket.

Purpose

The Al Mar Hawk is a special little knife, and for many, it serves a special purpose. A quintessential “gentleman’s folder,” the Hawk could make a discrete and stylish companion anywhere from the grocery store to a black tie event. It is certainly a good choice for the office, as it is about as inconspicuous and people friendly as knives get. It could also serve as an EDC blade (or backup EDC blade) for those looking for something lightweight and high quality. It also a knife that appeals to collectors. I find it to be a handsome little blade that could easily be kept in my desk or dresser and admired (and perhaps even used) from time to time.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Al Mar Hawk has a 3.25 inch handle, with a 2.75 inch blade and an overall length of 6 inches. This is among the lightest knives I have handled, weighing in just under an ounce. This knife disappears into pockets and is literally a knife that you will forget you are carrying.

The blade, like the rest of the knife, is slender and understated. It is made of relatively thin stock, which combined with a flat grind makes it a phenomenal slicer. It features a simple drop point shape and is made from AUS-8 steel. AUS-8 isn’t a “wundersteele” by any stretch of the imagination, but again, you have to understand that this is a Japanese knife, made with a Japanese steel and certain traditions and eccentricities are part of what makes the knife special. In today’s world of high end super steels, now might be a good time to remind you that AUS-8 is by no means a bad steel. I find it takes a very sharp edge although it may not hold that edge as long as say, VG-10, another Japanese steel.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Al Mar Hawk is simple and elegant with it’s pair of piano black linen micarta scales. The hand rubbed micarta is smooth, but not slippery, providing a pleasant feel. The handle is punctuated by flush mounted nickle silver rivets given an almost mirror-polish. There are no liners or bolsters, which is part of the reason why this knife is so lightweight. Despite this omission the handle feels solid and secure, with a stainless steel lock back bar running the length of the handle.

Another feature absent from the Hawk is a pocket clip. For such a small knife, it hardly seems necessary, and in fact it may be somewhat offensive to have a clip hanging off of the otherwise svelte lines of this little folder. If a pocket clip is a “must have,” consider upgrading to the slightly larger Eagle or Falcon models. The clips are very nice with a black coating and red Al Mar logo. The Hawk does have a lanyard hole, which could aid in retrieval.

The ergonomics of the Hawk are surprisingly pleasant for such a small design. The knife fits comfortably in hand and I have no complaints. There is no jimping, thumb ramp or choil, so as for aggressive use, you will probably want to carry another knife. For the knife’s purpose I think the current configuration it works just fine.

Deployment and Lock-up

The Hawk utilizes a couple good sized thumb studs to facilitate easy deployment. The pivot point on this knife isn’t adjustable (in fact, the entire knife is riveted together), but due to the high level of quality control, you can be certain that the knife will come well tuned from the factory. The deployment starts off on the stiff side, but after some use the knife will break in and you will find that the blade deploys smoothly, and can be flicked out if necessary.

The Hawk uses a lock-back mechanism, located near the front of the knife. This is another classic design element and it holds the blade securely in place. Of course, from such a small and lightweight knife will have its disadvantages and one is that the lock is not particularly strong. For light EDC tasks that you would expect to do with a gentleman’s folder or dress knife, the Hawk will serve admirably. While there isn’t any play in the knife, the liner-less design lends itself to some flex. Don’t expect to chop down a tree or use the knife as a crow bar and I think you will be satisfied with the lock’s performance.

Al Mark Hawk Review – Final Thoughts

At the time of this article, the Hawk is hovering around $100. That isn’t cheap for a little knife. That said, it is very well built, made in Japan, hand finished, etc – in may ways you get what you pay for. The materials are good, but for the money I’d love to see VG-10 in place of the AUS-8. Also, I wouldn’t complain if they could squeeze a pocket clip on there (you could always take it off).

It goes without saying that you are also paying for exclusivity. It adds just a touch of class to your every day gear, any few people will have it, let alone recognize what it is. So I would conclude that as far as value goes, this knife is definitely more of a luxury item than a high value item. But, if you like fine knives, or don’t want to look like an evil knife guy on your next trip to the water cooler, the Hawk could be an easily justified purchase that will provide years of service and enjoyment.

Al Mar Hawk Folding Knives, Black Pearl

Made using the highest quality components
Tested for reliability. Satin blade finish
3 1/4 inch length

If you are thinking of buying an Al Mar Hawk, please consider purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Photo Credits: Many thanks to Bernard of EveryDay-Carry.com for the exceptional pictures of the Al Mar Hawk.

For those who are curious (and I know I was) the watch is a Seiko SRP027K1 and the Spyderco pictured is a Leafstorm that Bernard has modified by dying the handle black. If you didn’t already know, Bernard is a fellow gear and knife nut and he runs an endlessly entertaining blog on EDC options. It was really cool of him to let me feature his photography – thanks again!

Mcusta MC-1 Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

Nestled in the heart of Seki Japan, Mcusta has been a part of Japan’s renown knifemaking industry since 1964. Often compared to Solingen, Germany, Seki is a knife-nut’s dream. Rich in resources such as iron sand, charcoal and water, Seki has been the center of Japanese cutlery production for over 780 years.

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The odd thing is, when most American knife enthusiasts hear about Seki-City, Spyderco is often the first company to come to mind. Indeed, Spyderco has recently been producing some beautiful knives in Seki City, but their roots are 100% American. On the other hand, Mcusta’s roots run deep into the Seki-City soil, and the company has only recently arrived on to US market.

Today for your consideration is the Mcusta MC-1 series knife. This is actually their “Basic Series” folder although what you get is anything but basic. For those seeking a gentleman’s folder or a high end EDC option I highly recommend the MC-1. There are some interesting nuances that differentiate this knife from the typical “American Style” folder. Follow along as I share with you what I like so much about these simple Japanese blades.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The MC-1 has a 4.25″ handle, a 3.25″ blade, an overall length of 7.5″ and a weight of 3.4 ounces. To me these are almost ideal proportions perfect for EDC, and the knife is large enough to potentially be used as an emergency tactical knife (not recommended, but it’s better than nothing). The MC-1 features a plain edge drop point blade with a fine tip and a flat grind starting 3/4 of the way up the blade. This blade, like all of the metal components in Mcusta knives, is laser cut for a precision fit.

For blade material Mcusta gives you the option of solid VG-10 or the handsome laminated damascus and VG-10 option shown above. This laminated knife is actually a core of VG-10 sandwiched in between 2 pieces of 33 layer nickle damascus and heat-treated to a Rockwell hardness of 59-60. This results in a visually stunning blade that is also very functional. As far as the steel goes, I love VG-10, it’s a very tough steel that can get wicked sharp and has excellent edge retention. Some find it a bit of a chore to sharpen, but I have never had a problem unless I let the knife get way too dull.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

Mcusta offers a wide range of handle scale materials including micarta, Corian (an interesting option) and a variety of exotic hardwoods. The knife featured in this review has African Ebony scales and the photograph below shows some of the other options. These scales are fitted over more laser cut steel and are hand finished. The simple pillar construction is a clean look that allows for easy maintenance. The knife is bolted together so if you wanted to, you could take it completely apart for a full cleaning. I’ve noticed that the liners aren’t milled out, but at 3.4 ounces the weight of this knife is still more than acceptable to me.

As far as ergonomics are concerned the handles feature some deep finger grooves for comfort and control. These grooves provide good grip in both forward and reverse holds. One thing to notice is the distinct lack of jimping on the thumb ramp (to dismay of some I am sure). In fact, there isn’t much of a thumb ramp at all. For a classier knife, I don’t think you really need it, but Mcusta does make some other models with these features (I’ll be reviewing a tactical version soon) if you want something with a little more utility.

Pocket clips are almost always a source of issues and the MC-1 is no exception. The good news is that this clip is both sturdy and elegant. Also, the clip is positioned at the very top of the handle so the knife practically disappears into a pocket. The bad news is that the clip is absolutely not reversible and only accomidates tip down right pocket carry. Notches have been cut into the handle to accommodate this “low rider” clip so flipping it over for left pocket carry is simply not an option. This is disheartening for me and the other lefties out there, but thankfully Mcusta offers other knives with a reversible clip (better than nothing).

Deployment and Lockup

The MC-1’s blade is deployed with a flick of a thumb stud. Deployment is silky smooth thanks to a teflon washer system. Teflon is a departure from the phosphor bronze washers found in most high end knives, but the deployment is still incredibly fast. I haven’t heard of any issues (either short term or long) with these teflon washers. The blade is locked in place with a thick liner lock. This is a very solid liner lock that is capable of taking some abuse and there is zero play in the blade.

Mcusta MC-1 Review – Final Thoughts

One thing that needs to be commented on here is value. Depending on the materials you can pick buy a new MC-1 for as low as $90 and they top out at around $140. When you consider the materials and workmanship involved here this strikes me as an incredible value.

Also, I have to say that it’s been a while since I’ve been so moved by a knife. You really need to see one of these in person to understand where I am coming from. I’ll admit that I am a sucker for hardwood handles, but the simple design and beautiful craftsmanship really hits home with me.

Of course, the MC-1 isn’t without fault, and my main contention is the non-ambidextrous pocket clip. Others may like to see more jimping, milled liners and perhaps even phosphor bronze washers (I’m curious to see how the teflon washers will stand up to the test of time). I’ll concede that these are valid concerns however, lets not forget the purpose of this knife and also consider the potential differences in the Japanese knifemaking industry. My guess is that the physical disconnect between Mcusta and the American market is largely to blame.

In my Mcusta Tactility review I explore a knife that addresses some of my perceived issues with the MC-1.

Mcusta Basic MC-14DR Indian Rosewood Dasmascus w/Clip

I recommend purchasing the Mcusta MC-1 at BladeHQ or Amazon. BladeHQ has a great selection of Mcusta knives in general, and their customer service is bar none. Buying anything through any of the links on this site earns the site a small commission at absolutely zero additional cost to you. This is how I keep the site running. Thank you very much for any and all support.

Spyderco Endura Review

by Dan Jackson 15 Comments

Last Updated: July 14, 2019
The Spyderco Endura is a knife that you won’t fully appreciate until you hold it in your hand. I remember when I first saw this blade at a local gun show. I had heard a lot about the Endura from friends and on various knife communities but it didn’t click until I picked it up and flicked it open. This knife has a 3.75″ blade, yet it is deceptively thin and light.

Buy the Spyderco Endura at BladeHQ

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Spyderco has had the Endura in its catalog for decades, and the latest version features several refinements over its predecessors, and is offered in a variety of handle colors. As a lover of large EDC knives the Endura spoke to me, and it wasn’t long before I had one in my pocket.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spyderco Endura has a 3.75″ blade, a total length of 8.75″, weighs of 3.6 ounces, and is made in Japan. The appeal to the Endura is that it is a large knife, but is still lightweight and pocketable. You can use this as an Every Day Carry (EDC) knife, although I prefer its little brother the Spyderco Delica or the Dragonfly II for suburban EDC.

Here is a size comparison with the Delica:

The Endura features a long slender blade. It’s a pretty simple drop point shape, perhaps the biggest detail is that Spyderco has produced the 4th generation Endura with a full flat grind. A full flat grind is when the knife is one continuous grind from the spine down to the secondary bevel (the bevel that the edge sits on). Full flat grinds are very common in kitchen knives because they are so effective at slicing. The Endura is a great slicer, and the long slim blade is also good at penetrating soft targets. However, you will want to take care with the tip as it is fairly thin.

Spyderco selected VG-10 for this edition of the Endura. In my opinion, this was a decent choice. VG-10 is a Japanese steel that sharpens easily, offers good edge retention, and has great corrosion resistance. There are many higher end steels on the market these days, but given the price of the knife and its intended use as a working tool, I think VG10 was a reasonable choice here.

Handle Design, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Endura has a handle made of fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) with nested steel liners that have been milled to reduce weight. Generally, I like the FRN handle, it keeps the knife light, is comfortable, and comes in a variety of colors, including blue, white, gray, green, brown, orange and yes, even camo. I will say that it isn’t the strongest handle design, even with the steel liners, and that is probably my biggest issue with the FRN Endura. But for light to medium use, the Endura handle should hold up well and provide the user a lot of use.

Ergonomics on the Endura are good. It’s a long knife so you have plenty of room for multiple styles of forward and reverse grips. You can set you hand back on the knife to maximize reach, or choke up and make use of the well jimped thumb ramp for detail work. The FRN has rounded and contoured corners that work well with the aggressively textured flats. The texture is Spyderco’s proprietary “bi-directional texturing” and allows for a firm grip in almost any condition. All in all, the Endura has a solid handle design backed by smart ergonomics.

The Endura has a well implemented pocket clip. It’s a standard Spyderco spoon style clip, and it has been given a black coating. The clip rides decently low and offers good retention in the pocket. I especially like how the clip can be mounted on any of the 4 corners of the knife. This is truly a well done ambidextrous pocket clip.

Deployment and Lock

The Spyderco Endura makes use of a large 13mm thumb hole for deployment. Fans of thumb holes will no doubt be very satisfied with the one on the Endura. The “Spyder Hole” is well placed and provides lots of room for your thumb. My knife opens easily with the flick of a thumb thanks to the smart design and low friction phosphor bronze washers. Spyderco also makes a waved version of the knife, so if you like that kind of deployment you could consider the waved version.

The Endura utilizes a lock back to lock the blade in place. The knife I am reviewing began developing some blade play after months of daily carry. Today the bladeplay can be removed if the pivot is tightened down further, but it makes the deployment more difficult. Having done some research I’ve concluded that slight amounts of up and down blade play are not uncommon on the Endura.

I think this is due to the design of the knife. When you have a knife as long and as lightweight as the Endura with FRN scales and nested liners, it’s just not going to be able to hold up to hard use as well as other designs. If you are looking for a more hard use folder from Spyderco, I recommend checking out the Paramilitary 2.

Speaking of the Para 2, here it is next to the Endura:

Spyderco Endura Review – Final Thoughts

The Spyderco Endura has been a staple in Spyderco’s lineup for decades, and with good reason. This is a knife that is easy enough to carry every day, but big enough to be used as a serious tool or defensive option. Like with many of Spyderco’s offerings the company has been slowly refining it’s designs to improve their products and meet consumer demands. The current iteration of the Endura features an attractive full flat ground blade, a removable 4 position pocket clip, and it comes in a number of different handle colors. These are nice improvements on an already solid design that is based around Spyderco’s philosophy of making useful tools that can be appreciated every day.

I like pretty much everything about the Endura. The materials and fit and finish are both very good, I love how everything is fully ambidextrous, and the choice of handle color is fun. Generally speaking the Endura is a well thought out knife that gets the job done. Spyderco has massaged this design over the years and it remains a classic choice among enthusiasts. Although there are a lot more “gee whiz” options out there today with super steels and fancy materials, the Endura remains a no-nonsense choice for a larger EDC or tactical offering.

My only real gripe is that there is a potential for blade play to develop. For that reason I don’t recommend the Endura as a hard use tool, but rather as a light to medium use EDC knife. If you want a larger EDC or folding tactical knife that is slim and light weight, then the Endura should be high on your list of knives to consider.

Spyderco Endura 4 Lightweight Signature Knife with 3.80" VG-10 Steel Blade and Purple FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C10FPPR

Front-Runner: The Endura 4 sets the standard as one of the best-selling folding knives ever made. All members of the Endura 4 family include a four-position clip, a high-strength back lock mechanism, and Trademark Round Hole.
Wide Spectrum of Handle Colors: Whether you enjoy bright colors or neutrals, our Endura 4 Flat Ground knives are designed to suit every taste. We offer Black, Blue, Green, Gray, Orange, Purple, Zome Green and Brown.
Light and Durable: This Endura handle is fabricated with Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon. FRN is a polymer mixed with glass fiber that is injection molded and formed into a sleek textured handle, creating a lightweight yet high-strength knife handle.
Low Friction: This knife features a blade ground with flat bevels that extend from the spine all the way to the cutting edge. This grind reduces drag during cutting and decreases overall weight.
A Secure Grip: To provide a non slip grip, these knives are molded with our patented pattern, Bi-Directional Texturing. This texture pattern consists of opposing graduated steps radiating outward from the center of the handle.

If you would like to buy a Spyderco Endura, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon.com 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.

Spyderco Caly 3 Carbon Fiber Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Last Updated: August 7, 2019
Hands down the best part about operating a website like this, is the excuse to play around with bad ass knives like the Spyderco Caly 3.5 in Carbon Fiber. This special version of the Caly3 uses exotic Japanese laminated steel and carbon fiber handle scales to give the original Caly3 an extra touch of class. The original Spyderco Caly (short for Calypso) was introduced in 1998 and featured a 4″ blade and micarta scales. Spyderco has refined the knife over the years in their quest to get this knife to become “part of the hand”.

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Before I launch into the details of this review let me just say, this knife is really nice. I got one mainly as a collectible but this thing is built like a bank vault and Spyderco considered every detail so if you intend to use the knife for Every Day Carry (EDC) it will perform. My first impressions leave me with nothing but good things to say about this blade although I will do my best to find some weaknesses for those seeking the dirt on this high end production knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Specifics

The Spyderco Caly3 CF has a total length of 7 inches, a blade length of 3 inches, weight of 3 ounces, and is made in Japan. The knife is slender with a total thickness a hair under 3/8 of an inch. These strike me as ideal dimensions for an EDC knife and I think EDC is exactly what Spyderco had in mind when they put together the Caly3. It also makes a handsome gentleman’s folder.

The blade on this knife is very interesting. It’s a standard Spyderco leaf shaped blade with a thumb hole for deployment and a long curving belly for plenty of cutting space. The blade stock starts at 1/8″ thick and it tapers down to a fine, razor sharp point. The entire blade has been given a beautiful full flat grind and a 12.5 degree edge.

The blade steel Spyderco selected for the Caly3 CF is ZDP189/420J2, a Japanese laminated steel. This is accomplished by sandwiching a piece of ZDP189 between two pieces of 420J2. The 420J2 outer layers are incredibly tough. 420J is commonly used by high end knife manufacturers for liners due to the strength and corrosion resistance of the steel. The cutting edge is ZDP189, an ultra high end steel that is extremely hard. This steel gets incredibly sharp and holds it’s edge very very well. The problem with ZDP189, is that it’s extreme hardness makes it difficult for some to sharpen.

Another potential problem with the 420J2/ZDP189 combination is that 420J2 scratches relatively easily. That said, 420J2 is very stain and corrosion resistant, so the blade is less likely to rust. For those considering the Caly3 CF for EDC, scratching will happen with any knife. Arguments on the pros and cons of the 420J2 outer layer could go on for days, so I’ll just leave it at that.

And on the subject of scratching, one concern with this knife is that the tang rubs up against the knife when deploying and you get very fine circular rubbing marks on the tang. I’ve noticed that this doesn’t only happen with my knife, others have reported it too, and from a collectors standpoint it’s a bit problematic. Perhaps these marks can be carefully buffed out; I will update the review if I try this.

A very cool result of this laminated process is that you can see where the the 420J2 ends and the ZDP189 begins. At first glance, it almost appears as if the knife has been given a saber grind, but upon closer inspection you can see that it is in fact one full flat grind.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle has steel liners (that have been painstakingly and attractively milled out to reduce weight) and polished carbon fiber scales. The carbon fiber is lightweight and handsome however it doesn’t provide the kind of grip a textured G10 handle does. The handle does feel a little slippery when wet. Again I think if Spyderco was going for all out utility they would have selected a different handle material (they did in fact do that for their regular Caly3.5). Even with the lightweight carbon fiber the handle has a little heft to it.

As far as ergonomics are concerned, the knife has excellent jimping on both the thumb ramp and the finger choil. The design of the thumb ramp and choil make the knife fit very well in the hand. Despite the absence of textured handle scales when you are gripping the knife you feel in control, largely due to the excellent ergonomic design. The carbon fiber scales have been radiused and there are no sharp edges in the palm. I think Spyderco came very close to their goal of making the knife an extension of the hand.

The pocket clip is simple yet elegant. It is a single blackened piece of wire that is held in place with a star bolt. I like this style of clip for smaller knives because it is plenty strong and very discrete. Spyderco designed the Caly3 for tip up carry and the clip is reversible. The knife rides low in the pocket and the clip has good retention.

Deployment and Lock

The Caly3 CF uses the signature Spyderco thumb hole for blade deployment. I have found the deployment of the Caly3 to be slow. There is quite a bit of blade retention and it appears to be impossible to flick open. Maybe I need to loosen my pivot screw up? I’d love to hear some opinions. When you do open the knife it clicks in place very forcefully with a nice snap.

The Caly3 is a lockback knife and the lockback is positioned in the middle of the handle. There is absolutely zero blade play and it almost feels as if you are working with a fixed blade knife. This is one of the most solid locking knives I have handled and I am very impressed by the way this knife engages.

Spyderco Caly 3 Carbon Fiber Review – Final Thoughts

The Spyderco Caly3 CF is one hell of a knife. Beautiful materials, rock solid construction and an amazing attention to detail make this a near perfect EDC option. However, the steep price, slow deployment and non-textured handle scales may make people think twice about making this their go to blade. I will say that if you end up deciding on a Caly3 CF, you won’t be disappointed.

Spyderco Caly Prestige Knife with 3.40" ZDP-189 Stainless Steel Blade and Black Carbon Fiber Handle - PlainEdge - C144CFPE

Iconic Design: The Calypso is one of the classic mainstays that spawned numerous variations and converted legions of knife buyers to the benefits of flat-ground, thick leaf-shaped blades.
More To Love: Available now in a premium variant, is the Caly 3.5 with a ZDP-189 blade and carbon fiber handle. The Caly 3.5 combines beauty and functionality into a new Spyderco classic.
Superior Blade Steel: The leaf-shaped blade is made of three layers of steel. The core is high carbon ZDP-189 Japanese powdered steel, the outer laminated layers are softer, pliable 420J2 steel.
Pocket-Friendly: It comes with a gray carbon fiber handle and a mid-positioned back-lock. Its low-seated wire clip designed for right-hand deep-pocket, tip-up carry.
Ergonomic: Great Ergonomics means more control over the cutting edge. The Caly 3.5 accomplishes this with a substantial finger choil located where the handle and blade meet.

I recommend purchasing the Caly 3 Carbon Fiber at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.