made in Taiwan

Cold Steel AD-10 Review

Of all the words used to describe Cold Steel knives here on BladeReviews.com, “refined” isn’t at the top of the list. That’s not a metaphor – I literally made a list, and “refined” only appears three times. You’re much more likely to see Cold Steel knives described with adjectives like “strong” (41 times), “large” (39 times; followed closely by “big” at 38), and “comfortable” (26).

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Speaking as a former Cold Steel skeptic, I was unsurprised to find that the AD-10 is indeed strong, large (big), and comfortable. What did surprise me was just how good this knife is. It delivers the essence of Cold Steel, refined. It might be the best knife they’ve ever made. And if you, like me, ever scoffed at Cold Steel’s marketing or rolled your eyes at their product names, read on, because the AD-10 will catch you off guard.

General Dimensions & Blade Details

The proportions of this knife are deceptive. Yes, it’s big, but the wide handle, snubnosed blade, and protruding backspacer make it look even bigger – as if there’s another knife trapped in there, bulging through the seams trying to get out. Makes sense, considering the AD-10 is a downscaled version of designer Andrew Demko’s gargantuan 4-Max. Here it is filling out a Spyderco sandwich, between the longer Military and shorter Paramilitary 2:

The AD-10’s blade is clearly optimized for strength. The tip is wide, thick, and feels practically unbreakable. It penetrates more like an armor-piercing round than a needle, meaning it’ll get you into just about anything so long as you don’t care what kind of hole you leave behind. Behind the tip, the grind thins out quickly to a relatively thin edge thanks to a nicely executed hollow grind. Don’t let anyone tell you that thick knives can’t slice – the AD-10’s substantial 3.9mm blade stock and deep hollow grind work together like a zipper, holding material apart from the blade after the edge separates it. Compared to a full flat ground knife of similar stock thickness, the AD-10 carves through cardboard with noticeably less friction, powering through the nasty two- and three-ply stuff rather than getting wedged in.

There’s no avoiding the laws of physics, however: a hollow grind can only do so much for a knife this thick. It’s graceless in the kitchen, where the tip mashes more than it pierces, and crisp produce is split, not sliced. Then again, the AD-10 isn’t anyone’s idea of a kitchen knife. For more utilitarian cutting it works with surprising agility, despite looking like a wrecking ball.

The blade steel, S35VN, has performed well for me. Edge retention has been good; stainlessness, excellent. As for toughness, it did not disappoint. I took the AD-10 on a hike and ended up using it to trim back a bush that had overgrown the trail. A careless chop glanced into a stone, damaging the edge where it hit. Thankfully, the steel was tough enough to roll, not chip, so the damage was easy to sharpen out.

Handle, Ergonomics, & Pocket Clip

At just over three and a half inches long, I wouldn’t call the blade oversized. The handle, though, is another story. Even if you ignore the extended pommel, it still measures in at 5.25 inches. For perspective, that’s almost as much handle as the Spyderco Military, with about as much blade as the Para 2. Yeah. If you’re someone who obsesses over high blade:handle ratios, this isn’t your knife. To top it off, the AD-10 is bulky, too; easily eclipsing my heretofore thickest knife, the Victorinox Alox Farmer.

These comparisons aren’t complaints. Because the AD-10 is the most comfortable folding knife I’ve ever used. Andrew Demko is a master of ergonomics. You’d think a knife with this many finger grooves – plus a front and rear guard – would feel awkward to move around on, but the AD-10’s smooth and deeply sculpted handle isn’t so prescriptive that you feel locked in to any single grip.

The pocket clip is wide, polished, and barely noticeable in hand. The lock bar and backspacer leave no palm-pinching voids in the back of the handle. Every edge, every corner is shaped or softened. It all feels very purposeful, allowing you to exert more force with less strain – this is a knife that makes “hard use” feel easier. One ergonomic caveat: the forward finger choil might be a little cramped for thicker fingers, although I didn’t have any issues.

The unavoidable problem with a knife this fist-filling is how awkward it is to carry in a pocket. I mean, it’s 6.8 ounces and thicker than a coin purse on laundry day. I can deal with large knives (see my review of the Spyderco Hundred Pacer), but the AD-10 stretches (literally) the capacity of my pockets. If you wanted to carry it in your waistband, you’d probably need to buy bigger pants. Even though it hurts to suggest something so shamefully uncool, your best option might actually be a belt pouch.

Still, despite the weight and bulk, I’d pick the AD-10 for my pocket before any of the other Cold Steel folders I’ve owned. The clip – while it could use a little more “ramp” at the lip to help it over thick seams – is an improvement over the too-short, too-stiff, death grip clips I’ve struggled with in the past. And unlike the pocket rasps Cold Steel typically uses for handle scales, the smooth G10 on the AD-10 makes stowing and retrieving the knife a cinch.

Deployment & Lockup

At this point, Cold Steel’s Tri-Ad lock needs little introduction – it’s simply one of, if not the strongest locking system on the market today. What impresses me more than its absolute strength is its tolerance for abuse over time. Even if you were to impact it hard enough to deform the lock face, the built-in play around the lock bar pivot preserves solid lockup, by allowing the lock bar to reset itself against the stop pin. It’s clever engineering, but that play in the lock bar can sometimes make the Tri-Ad lock sticky and hard to disengage. Not so here: the AD-10 unlocks cleanly without the need for any break-in.

Ambidextrous thumbstuds and glassy smooth Teflon washers make for satisfying deployment, whether you open it slowly or with a quick flick. Closing it back up one-handed is a little counter-intuitive. So long as you don’t pull your fingers away from the heavy falling blade, they’ll safely catch the choil and not the edge, though thicker fingers should proceed with caution.

Cold Steel AD-10 Review – Final Thoughts

The AD-10 feels like the latest and greatest result of an ongoing evolution at Cold Steel. I can’t pinpoint when it started, exactly, but I started to take notice when they upgraded their blade steel across the board in 2015.

Ever since then, it seems like they’ve been taking the cheesy machismo that built the brand and distilling it into impressive products that do more than just tactical wish fulfillment (not that there’s anything wrong with that – I once owned a Rajah 2, after all). The AD-10 doubles down on what Cold Steel have always done well – big, brash, and strong – but doesn’t swagger over the little details. It’s not a knife I can always carry, but definitely one I enjoy using when I do. If your pockets will stretch for it, you won’t find a more capable and comfortable folder at this price point.

Sale

Cold Steel AD-10 and AD-15 Tactical Folding Knife with Lock and Pocket Clip - Premium S35VN Steel Blade, AD-10

PREMIUM, ALL-PURPOSE BLADE: Features an ultra-wide saber ground blade with a sturdy drop point perfect for everyday carry (EDC), a big game hunt, dangerous expedition, or exciting adventure; Made with premium, ultra tough S35VN steel
HIGH PERFORMANCE IN EVERY SITUATION: Ground thin at the edge and honed to razor sharpness for unprecedented cutting, shearing, and piercing power in a sub 4-inch blade while remaining remarkably resistant to bending, breaking or chipping
COMFORTABLE, SECURE GRIP: The handle is strong and user-friendly with heat-treated, full-length aluminum liners, 3D machined G-10 scales, and oversized pins and bolts; Fits snugly in the hand due to precise contouring and integral finger guard
ULTRA-RELIABLE LOCKING MECHANISM: Uses custom knife-maker Andrew Demko's famous TriAd lock that has been proven over time to be unsurpassed in strength, shock resistance and durability and gives unrivaled protection for your irreplaceable fingers
USER-FRIENDLY FEATURES: Equipped with an ambidextrous thumb stud and dual pocket clips for lightning quick deployment and convenient carry

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Cold Steel AD-10 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.

Cold Steel Golden Eye Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

One visitor to the site commented that we are “a little biased towards Spyderco”. It’s probably because we have reviewed a lot of Spyderco knives over the years. More than any other brand. I like Spydercos and so does Ben, Grayson, Josh, and pretty much everyone who has written for the site. We all like their knives and consequently Spyderco has gotten a ton of air time over the years. If reviewing Spyderco knives is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

Buy the Cold Steel Golden Eye at BladeHQ

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Perhaps more controversial is my attraction to Cold Steel Knives. I have reviewed a bunch of them over the years. I’m a big fan, although most of them are too big and impractical for me to truly carry and use. I think I may have a fetish because none of the other authors appear to share the desire to review C.S. stuff. Ben reviewed the Large Espada and the Pro-Lite, so I suspect he may also have a little Lynn Thompson in him, and Chad reviewed the Kudu, but that’s it.

Me? I’ve reviewed 15 Cold Steel knives. 16 if you include this Golden Eye. Yeah… that’s an addiction. I blame it mostly on their excellent marketing videos. Also Cold Steel keeps coming out with stuff I want to review. Andrew Demko keeps turning out hits, and I keep buying them. The Golden Eye is no exception. It looked cool, and slightly different from the other Cold Steel knives with it’s golden thumb hole. Had to have it. Sorry (not sorry).

General Dimensions and Blade Details

For some reason I thought the Golden Eye would be smaller. Maybe that’s because Tony wrote a quick review on it a few years back, and he typically picks out smaller more practical knives. Who knows. This is not a small knife. It has an overall length of 8.375″, a 3.5″ blade, and weighs 4.3 ounces. It’s made in Taiwan like most of Cold Steel’s other folders.

This is a bigger knife. The handle in particular is pretty large, but that’s OK as we will soon learn it is comfortable. That said, it feels light for its size and will make a great work knife. Not a great urban EDC option.

The blade is a big beautiful drop point. The overall profile reminds me of the Terzoula Slipit with its angled thumb ramp extending into a swedged drop point blade. It’s the kind of no-nonsense blade shape that will serve you well in virtually any task. The blade is ground thin with a deep hollow grind, has been given a two-tone satin finish, and is finished with a neat and evenly applied edge.

Cold Steel selected S35VN for this knife. These days the vast majority of their premium folders come in S35VN, replacing CTS-XHP, which replaced AUS-8. S35VN should need little introduction at this point. It is an American made steel designed as a follow up to S30V. It is specifically formulated for knife steels and is great stuff. It takes a good edge, has good edge retention, doesn’t rust or stain easily, finishes nicely, is reasonably tough, yet is easy to sharpen. It’s an excellent blade steel.

And the S35VN really sings on the Golden Eye. I was borderline shocked with how well this knife performed. It slices cardboard with aplomb. It absolutely zips through the stuff. No issues with rope. Great for slicing fruit and other work in the kitchen as well. This is a sturdy knife but it’s ground to slice and has performed phenomenally well in my use and testing.

I’ve been touching up the Golden Eye on my [easyazon_link identifier=”B001JL1I6Y” locale=”US” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″]Spyderco Golden Stone[/easyazon_link], and the edge stays freaky sharp that way. Must be all the gold. No complaints with the blade or blade steel on this knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Golden Eye uses Cold Steel’s tried n’ true method of thick linerless G-10 handle scales. I’ve reviewed many of their knives with similar construction, and this knife works just as well as the others. The G-10 is thick and sturdy. There is very little flex when you try to squeeze the handle slabs together.

Fit and finish on the handle is excellent. Everything has been neatly finished. The parts are all flush and the handle screws together so the knife can be taken apart and maintained. The choice of forest green for the handles is a nice touch. It’s a little different without being too far out there, and contrasts with the gold hardware.

I wasn’t sure how the ergonomics would be on the Golden Eye. I guess that’s true for every knife I order, but the Golden Eye in particular had me guessing thanks to the multiple finger scallops. Complicated finger grooves can be a mistake if they force your hand into an awkward position. Here the groves are generous. They feel comfortable and work well for me. I think that most people will find this knife comfortable to use, but I haven’t taken a poll on this. Let me know in the comments section if you have this knife but don’t like the way it feels in hand. Personally, I’m a fan.

In addition to the finger grooves you have peel ply G10 for grip, and some light jimping along the back of the handle. These features provide a good amount of texture without going over the top. Overall I find this to be a comfortable knife to hold in forward and reverse grips. I’ve used this knife extensively and find it to be comfortable to cut with.

The Golden Eye comes with a large gold colored pocket clip and is configured for ambidextrous tip up carry. The clip appears to be designed for strength. You have milled recesses in the handle for the clip along with 3 screws. Spring strength is excellent and the knife is kept firmly in place.

In the pocket the Golden Eye carries well for what it is. It’s a bigger knife, so I tend to notice it, but it’s also a thin handled knife and it’s relatively light for its size. Not a boat anchor, but not a feather either. The strong clip keeps the knife firmly in place. All said I think the Golden Eye behaves nicely in the pocket for a larger knife.

Deployment and Lockup

This knife uses a stepped thumb hole to get the blade open. Cold Steel calls this the “Hollow Thumb Ramp” (HTR), and that acronym is pretty accurate. In practice the HTR works well and is a cool idea. It’s kind of a hybrid between a thumb hole and thumb stud. There is a lot for your thumb to grab onto, and this knife can be opened with gloves as well. The serrated thumb hole is held in place with a set screw, which is kind of interesting. It’s a nice design and one I wouldn’t mind seeing on more knives.

It’s worth noting that the gold plating on the thumb hole has worn off. I bought this knife off BladeForums in “Like New” condition, and it clearly was not like new. Disappointing, but given the price I paid and the fact I was going to use this knife I ultimately decided to keep it. However, the pictures you see here demonstrate that the gold finish is subject to wear.

The action of this knife is smooth thanks to a large pivot and phosphor bronze washers. Like most Cold Steel Tri-Ad lock knives, a good amount of force is required to open and shut the blade. This isn’t a blade you will be able to flick open. But you will find the action to be smooth and reliable, and that’s what I would expect from a rugged utility knife like this.

For lockup we have the aforementioned Tri-Ad lock. I’ve reviewed a dozen or so knives featuring this knife of lock, so forgive me if this sounds a little repetitive, but the Tri-Ad lock is a lock back reinforced with a stop pin. It’s an extremely strong lock design. The Tri-ad lock on the Golden Eye knife is no exception. You can’t muscle blade play out of this even if you try to move the blade out at the tip.

Here is a size comparison with another workhorse in my collection, the Buck Marksman. Still rocking the Marksman:

Disengaging the lock requires a good amount of force, but it’s not as bad as something like the 4-Max. Actually, I find the amount of effort it takes to open and close this knife to be reasonable. That said, this knife has been used quite a bit. Out of the box these can be stiff to open and close, so you may need to break your knife in.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Cold Steel Golden Eye Review – Final Thoughts

Cold Steel has done it again. This is a strong and practical utility knife. It handles well, cuts like a beast, and features the strongest lock on the market. The “Golden Eye” (Hollow Thumb Ramp) works great. The HTR combined with the unique profile, gold hardware, and green handles help distinguish this knife in Cold Steel’s lineup. With so many great Demko designs on Cold Steel’s roster you would think that they cannibalize each other. The Golden Eye is a unique knife, even if it follows Cold Steel’s formula in many ways.

Where the knife may fall short is that this is another large folding knife from Cold Steel. It’s a great performer if you can carry and use this knife, but this isn’t a knife I can pull out at the office or the grocery store. It’s just too big. If I worked on a ranch or something this would be a great choice, but as a mild-mannered couch commando I usually carry a smaller knife. Also, the finger scallops in the handle won’t work for everyone.

That said, I found this to be an impressive knife. Especially the way it cuts. It’s a joy to cut things with this knife. Andrew Demko knows what he is doing and Cold Steel has a track record of executing his designs to brilliant standards. The Golden Eye is no different. Well worth seeking out if you like the design or are an unabashed Cold Steel fan like me.

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If you are thinking of buying Cold Steel Golden Eye, please consider purchasing it at [easyazon_link identifier=”B019RSXKXO” locale=”US” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″]Amazon[/easyazon_link] or BladeHQ. By purchasing things through any of the links on this website you support BladeReviews.com and help produce future reviews. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Spydiechef Review

by Josh Wussow 3 Comments

I didn’t get it. After tearing open the box and turning the knife over in my hand, I simply didn’t get it. Flat colors. Slow deployment. Boring construction. This is the legendary Spydiechef? It’s a weird-shaped blade sandwiched between two pieces of gray titanium, with a retail price of $215. What manner of magic has bewitched my fellow knife lovers?

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And yet, I seem to land smack in the middle of the Spydiechef’s target market: Knife guys (check) who care deeply about edge retention and rust resistance (double check) and encounter a variety of daily cutting tasks (indeed) while also cooking on the go with some degree of regularity (bingo).

Designed by the legendary Marcin Slysz and manufactured by Spyderco’s wizards in Taiwan, this knife should be right up my alley. And, while it may not have been love at first sight, the Spydiechef spent the last few weeks working its way to the head of the table.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Dimensionally, there’s nothing too special here. You’re looking at a 3.32-inch blade, with a thickness of just under 0.12-inches. The handle/closed length is a middling-sized 4.46-inches, stretching the overall number to 7.78. Weight is low (3.8-ounces), thanks to the Chef’s flow-through titanium chassis. You’ve got the standard Spyderco wire clip, which can be mounted on either of the side slabs. Boring bronze washers, a snooze-inducing frame lock, and *yawn* a lanyard hole.

Here is a size comparison with the Spyderco Shaman:

But, it’s not the specs that make the Spydiechef such an excellent knife. It’s those delicious details that will bring one into my permanent collection.

Let’s start with the blade. Its LC200N steel has been formed with some sort of metallurgical witchcraft. While we’ve seen “rust-proof” steels before, such as H1 on Spyderco’s Salt line, this stuff is a whole new animal.

Here’s what the maker has to say about LC200N: “This state-of-the-art nitrogen-based alloy is extremely corrosion resistant and is actually used by NASA for the ball bearings used in aerospace applications.” Sounds great, but ball bearings aren’t known for holding an edge.

This is where Youtubers like Pete from Cedric & Ada come into play. His barrage of edge-retention and corrosion tests has established LC200N as one of the premier steels for EDC tools. While I didn’t subject the Chef to these sorts of extreme conditions, I can confirm that it showed no sign of rust after multiple cooking sessions. I’ve used this knife almost every day since it arrived, and the edge has yet to dull or dim.

The Chef’s blade shares two traits with many of my favorite cooks – It’s friendly to strangers, and it’s all belly. Despite its 3-plus inches of shiny steel, the graceful curve of Slysz’s design is easy for even the more paranoid to stomach. And, thanks to its flat grind and Nick Shabazz sharpening job, it’s been a slicer since day one.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Spydiechef’s handle is gray, like the color of boiled meat or the hair of an overworked cook. This titanium blandness was at least partially responsible for the knife’s poor first impression. But, once I got it in the hand, the subtlety of Slysz’s design became immediately apparent.

Take a look at my hand position:

Beyond its ergonomic excellence, the curve of the Chef’s titanium handle offers a significant advantage in the kitchen. It keeps the edge (mostly) below my knuckles, greatly easing the slicing and chopping process. Not as much as a dedicated kitchen knife, sure, but more so than any other folder I’ve handled.

The pocket clip offers another bit of subdued excellence. On the surface, it appears to be just another iteration of the classic wire clip. But take a look at that angle. It allows the knife to curve down and into the back of the pocket, keeping it out of the way of whatever else you may be carrying.

There are a few caveats here. While the reversible clip makes this technically an “ambidextrous” knife, the placement of the lock bar in relation to the Spydie-hole will make one-hand opening a challenge for lefties. And, though it’s technically stainless, the titanium handles do pick up smudges and snail trails. Neither of these is terribly troubling to me, though. I’m more than pleased with the Chef’s ergonomics, both in the hand and in the pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

As evolutionary as the rest of the Chef may be, the knife’s deployment and lockup are as basic as bacon and eggs. Not to say that chicken ovum and cured pork aren’t delicious (they are), but there’s a skill to handling even the most humble of ingredients. The combination of Spydie-hole and bronze washers is classic – Never flashy, but accessible and delicious. It’s a no-fuss, low maintenance setup for those who use their knives rather than playing with them.

If there’s one complaint I have with the Chef, it’s the closing action. Have you ever worked in a restaurant? The closing shift almost invariably sucks. Same goes for the Spydiechef. You have to nudge the blade up and over its detent, which requires applying force to the blade while your thumb is still in the slicing path. Exert too much pressure, and it could theoretically pop down and filet your knuckle. Now, I haven’t had this happen. The detent is soft enough that a gentle push will pop it over the ceramic ball. But, it’s definitely something that requires some fine motor skills.

Spyderco Spydiechef Review – Final Thoughts

This is a knife that’s put my collection in crisis. Between the Spydiechef, the FRN Chaparral, and the Kershaw Atmos, the other folders in my case aren’t getting much pocket time. The Native 5 has subbed in for a day or two, but the Kizer Begleiter, Steel Will Cutjack, and even my ZT0562 have been unable to crack the rotation.

This knife is so damned good that it’s dampened my enthusiasm for other knives. And honestly, I think I’m okay with that. This is a tool I feel good carrying, using and, in the near future, owning. It’s the Chaparral all over again – Nick Shabazz loans me a knife, and I wind up buying one. Thanks again, Nick, and a hearty “Well done” to Marcin Slysz and Spyderco.

Spyderco Spydiechef Premium Chef Knife with 3.32" LC200N Ultra-Corrosion-Resistant Steel Blade and Titanium Handle - PlainEdge - C211TIP

One of a Kind -The Spydiechef is an extremely refined folding knife that takes the user-friendly Ergonomics and balance of a world-class chef
Ultra Corrosion Resistant - It features a gracefully curved blade crafted from LC200N. This state-of-the-art nitrogen-based alloy is extremely corrosion resistant and is actually used by NASA for the ball bearings used in aerospace applications
Reliable High Performance - It offers an extreme cutting performance in a package that is immune to even the harshest environments
Versatile - For additional security when working around water, the handle also includes a lined lanyard hole for easy attachment of safety lines and lanyards
Ergonomic - To reduce weight, optimize balance, and simplify cleaning, the Spydiechef features an open-backed handle constructed with two precision-machined solid titanium scales

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Spydiechef 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.

Maxpedition Excelsa Review

by Andrew Gene 3 Comments

Last Updated: September 17, 2019
Maxpedition is a company best known for their military inspired backpacks. They offer a wide range of fabric goods, including packs, pouches, slings, and related accessories. This is a niche brand that has developed a loyal following over the years in the outdoor recreation and daily carry communities.

Buy the Maxpedition Excelsa at BladeHQ

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So it was a little surprising to hear in 2013 that Maxpedition was going to start selling knives. On some levels it makes sense, as knives definitely compliment outdoor and “tactical” backpacks, but on the other hand they are completely different products. I’d say it’s akin to Apple deciding to sell office furniture.

At any rate, the Maxpedition Excelsa is the second knife from the Maxpedition, the first being the Ferox. The design closely resembles their previous offering, but sees a significant upgrade in materials and construction.

While considerably more expensive, the Excelsa is still aggressively competitive for a titanium frame-lock. Coming in below $130, it has features found on knives over double the price, including an over-travel stop and tool-steel blade.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Excelsa comes in two sizes. The small version is 6.7” in total length with a 2.9” blade and weighing 2.9 oz while the large version is 8.3” in with a 3.6” blade and weight of 5.1 oz. Both sizes are good for Every Day Carry (EDC) depending on your needs and preferences in an EDC knife. The knives are made in Taiwan.

The pattern is a straight forward drop point. This is commonly used on sport and utility knives for its well rounded performance in both slicing and penetrating cuts. It is also easy to maintain with a bellied profile which lacks any kind of re-curve or otherwise unusual geometry. A full flat grind with a secondary bevel produces a keen working edge. A choil will make sharpening to the end of the edge possible. The spine is capped adding nice detailing and there is a jimped thumb ramp for added control.

The blade steel used is D2. In this case it has been hardened between 58-60 Rockwell.

Unusually, there are no markings on the blade denoting the materials or manufacturer. While I like this clean aesthetic, it would be helpful to have the steel type embossed on the ricasso to let the user know how to care for the blade. This is especially true since D2 is a semi-stainless tool steel that will require some maintenance to keep it free of corrosion. If you were the second owner of the knife and didn’t have or read the documentation, then you might be surprised to see the blade behave differently from a true stainless steel folder.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Excelsa has a simple two slab open build with a minimal amount of fasteners: three including the pivot. The inner edge has a first finger groove and another convex sweep that helps to lock the hand in place. The back edge is primarily straight with a slight turn down at the pommel that nests in the hand or serves as a thumb rest in a reverse grip. The titanium and hardware have been given a matching matte, bead blast finish.

The ergonomics are simple but comfortable. This relatively handle design will accommodate most people. You won’t be surprised to hear that the large version is larger and more comfortable for big hands. There is wide toothy jimping on the spine of the blade that captures the thumb without irritating it.

For carry there is a lanyard hole and right handed, tip up or down deep carry pocket clip. When you consider that there is only a single thumb-stud and frame-lock, this adds up to the knife being for right handed people only.

At under 3 ounces, the smaller version of this knife is imminently pocketable. It carries easily and something you will quickly forget thanks to it’s light weight, and the strong spring retention in the pocket clip. The large version is more noticeable in the pocket, but still carries well for what it is thanks to the discreet deep carry clip and thin design.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment there is a tiered thumb-stud with an angled face. Set a good distance away from the scale’s inner edge, producing the blade is easy with one hand. This is helped along by good tolerances and phosphor bronze washers. These thumb studs remind me of those found on the Kershaw Blur.

On opening the tang meets a solid, titanium frame-lock. On the review samples provided, both were play free in any direction and easily disengaged. In order to protect the spring integrity Maxpedition has added a small tab on the inner surface to prevent over-travel when unlocking. While there are several variations of this type of mechanism, Maxpedition is in the process of patenting theirs, asserting differences in the implementation.

Unlike the blade without any markings, the locking leaf has “Maxpedition” laser etched on the surface. The branding here is a little too bold for my taste and I feel the logo could definitely be dialed back a bit to uphold the sober aesthetic.

Maxpedition Excelsa Review – Final Thoughts

Over all the Excelsa is an interesting design. While I understand and very much appreciate minimal design, this may border on sterile for some. It could have been nice to add a little something to make it more personable. Something that wasn’t a large Maxpedition logo. Maybe some added texture or subtle anodized details? Possibly a greater departure from the Ferox design could have expanded the design vocabulary of the line-up? Outside of design taste my only real issue with this knife is the lack of marking for the steel type.

Criticisms aside Maxpedition has done an excellent job with the utility as well as the pricing. You would be hard pressed to find another folder that can boast the features, materials, fit and finish at this price point.

MAXPEDITION EXCELSA Large Framelock Folding Knife (D2 blade, Titanium handle)

Durable and Sleek Framelock Folding Knife with D2 Tool Steel Blade & Titanium Handle
D2 tool steel with cryo heat treatment to 58-60HRc
Full height flat grind for optimal edge geometry
6Al4V Titanium alloy handle and locking slab
Unique concealed lock over travel limiter mechanism with Stainless steel ramped thumb stud

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Maxpedition Excelsa at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Additional Specifications:

Small Version

Overall Length: 6.7″
Weight: 2.7 oz

Blade:

Length: 2.9″
Thickness: 0.11″
Steel : D2
Hardness : 58-60 HRC

Handle:

Slab and lock thickness: 0.12″
Length: 3.9″

Large Version

Overall Length: 8.3″
Weight: 5.1 oz

Blade:

Length: 3.6″
Thickness: 0.14″
Steel : D2
Hardness : 58-60 HRC

Handle:

Slab and lock thickness: 0.15″
Length: 4.7″

Made In Taiwan

Spyderco “S” – Discontinued But not Forgotten

by A Sharp Guest Contributor 2 Comments

Jealousy is often referred to as the Green-Eyed Monster. Being a little sister, I am all too familiar with this emotion.

As a kid, my big brother always had the nicest and newest gadgets. He is also incredibly smart, so he had the best grades. I looked up to him and was inspired to think that maybe someday day I’d have the nicest and newest things. Maybe I would be even smarter than him…

That last one didn’t come to fruition, but to this day, I strive to get something nicer and newer This determination peaked one summer day before my freshman year in college.

On that day a window was opened into the world of extraordinary pocket knives when my brother showed me his newest purchase. It was a Spyderco “S” Black. When I saw it, my hazel eyes turned to green.

This knife didn’t have a solid metal handle, it was intricately carved out like a web. Once the blade was revealed, I was blown away. The whole knife was one incredible black and silver web. I had never seen anything that strong look as though it might fold under the slightest pressure.

How was this possible for Spyderco to combine a delicate façade with such interior strength? Well, that’s easy to explain. The almost 2.5” long blade has been shaped, not cut out, to look like a web by a process called metal injection molding.

Basically, there are four ingredients, steel (which is Taiwan produced 440C steel), a binder, metal powder, and heat. The first three ingredients are mixed together and then molded to shape. Once in the shape the ingredients are sintered, or heated, to combine into a solid material.

The “S” was produced with option to choose between two different handle colors, black or silver. Both are made of anodized aluminum that has been cut with the same web pattern as the molded blade. It should come as no surprise that the entire knife weighs only 2 oz.

A wire clip is attached to carry in the tip-up position only but can be changed for left or right-handed carry. It’s a great length at 3.5” but the wire clip is positioned somewhat low on the handle so the top is visible when carried in a pocket.

Opposite of the blade in the handle is a Compression Lock. This incredibly strong lock has been developed and patented by Spyderco. It compresses just behind the blade and pops into place once open. The lock releases by pushing in on the tab and folding the blade back down. With four finger grips, you can be assured of a secure hold when cutting.

Fortunately, my eyes didn’t stay green for long. A few years later I was able to purchase my very own shiny, and new, “S” Silver. By far the best purchase I’ve made and one of my top five favorite knives of all time.

Even though the “S” isn’t an everyday use knife for me, it’s perfect for a special occasion or when you want to impress your friends. Unfortunately, Spyderco no longer makes the “S”, but if you want one bad enough, you’ll find it. Don’t let that Green-Eyed Monster get the best of you.

Editor: I hope you enjoyed this guest post from Jennifer Wood. As the PocketKnifeHousWife, she definitely brings a different perspective from your average knife reviewer. Jennifer and her reviews can be found at PocketknifeHousewife.com. Follow her on Instagram @Pocketknifehousewife or Twitter @PktHousewife.

Spyderco Chaparral FRN Lightweight Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 6 Comments

The word ‘refinement’ is one of those bits of critical shorthand that gets people nodding their heads without, most of the time, meaning anything. But in the case of the Chaparral FRN, the latest, least expensive entry in a series that began in 2011, we know it’s been worked over, thought about, maybe even agonized over. Sal himself has alluded to the Chapparral FRN project’s particular specialness to him and the company’s drive to get it done and get it right.

Buy the Spyderco Chaparral Lightweight at BladeHQ

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And the Chaparral series itself is part of a longer lineage. There’s a kind of “Ur-Spyderco” design at which many of the company’s most successful releases originate. Utility-oriented blade, friendly size, ergonomic handle with a half-and-half finger choil…this is the starting point for many seminal Spyderco knives. The Caly, Sage, Cat, Native, Dragonfly, and Stretch series all originate here, and so does the Chaparral – and it may, possibly, be the best of all those knives in terms of pure EDC.

Yeah, I don’t like to bury the lead like this, but it’s no use withholding the obvious truth here: the Chaparral FRN is a great knife. It’s probably perfect, and I knew that before I even got one. This is the rare case where there was little difference between imagining what a knife was like before I owned it and discovering what it was actually like after carrying and using it. There’s not a thing I would change about this knife and I think it would please anyone in the market for a knife of this size and use category.

But then again, knives aren’t like books or games, where each one offers a different experience you can’t find elsewhere. All knives fundamentally do the same thing. Is the Chaparral FRN’s Platonic perfection worth your attention and your dollars? Let’s take a look.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Chaparral has a blade length of 2.8”, with a cutting edge of 2.2”. Handle length is 3.5” without the finger choil, and with it is right at 4”. Overall length is 6.3” and weight is 2.0 oz. The Chaparral is made in Taichung, Taiwan.

In terms of size, the Chaparral falls between the Dragonfly 2 and the Delica 4. It has about .4” more cutting edge than a DF2 – enough to boost it into wider cutting capabilities – and compared to the Delica it’s more compact, albeit with .3” less cutting edge (not as crucial a size increase).

This will be a recurring motif with the Chaparral FRN, but the leaf shape blade does most things well and nothing poorly. And when it comes to detail work and surgeon-like snipping in particular, the blade really sings due to a thin, precise grind. Edge geometry and blade thickness rarely make or break a knife for me, but the Chaparral FRN’s configuration was noticeably optimized.

The Chaparral FRN marks my first long-term encounter with CTS-XHP. I’ve been so long acclimated to the solid performance of modern steels that it had virtually no chance to wow me, but that doesn’t mean it was bad. Edge retention and sharpening seemed about on par with S35VN, and maybe due to the generous edge bevel and thin blade it responded eagerly to stropping.

Now of course, seeing this kind of steel on an $80 knife plays into the value proposition with the FRN Chaparral, but I’ll discuss that further down.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The gentle central handle swell, the narrow butt-end, the forward half-and-half choil – any knife enthusiast knows these elements like the words to his or her favorite song. And as with a favorite song, familiarity has failed to breed contempt. I’m not tired of this handle design at all. Each time I returned to the Chaparral FRN after a day with something else, I was pleasantly surprised. It just feels right.

This is a very thin-handled knife, and thin handles don’t always make for good ergonomics. Narrow knives can twist and turn in hand or dig into your palm during hard cutting tasks. Thankfully the Chaparral FRN avoids these problems, with chamfered edges all along the perimeter, adding dimensionality and softening the places pressed against your palm and fingers. A subtle and smart detail that makes a world of difference.

Yes, the bi-directional texturing pattern here is new, but not really different. Spyderco opted for a hexagonal motif, but otherwise the new texturing provides the same sure grip (and fires off the same trypophobia if you look at it too long) as previous FRN-handled Spyderco knives.

The deep carry wire clip is here, and yes, I admit, it is good. I’ve overcome my distaste for this clip. It hides the Chaparral completely in the pocket, which is a nice, people-friendly flourish for a knife as urbane as this. Still, I think the method of securing the clip, a screw that goes over two little prongs laid into cutouts in the handle, is weak, susceptible to knocks and scrapes in a way the standard clip screws aren’t – but not everyone is as klutzy as I am and a little care will go a long way here.

Deployment and Lockup

The opening hole is, as always, great. Accessible, ambidextrous, able to be opened one- or two-handed. It’s a winner.

But take a moment to pity the poor lock back. Wrongly neglected, it does so much right and very little wrong. It’s strong, self-adjusting, innately ambidextrous, and keeps your fingers out of the blade channel when you close the knife. Why does it have this reputation as a stodgy, cumbersome contrivance of yore, in the days before the twin lights of Michael Walker and Chris Reeve brought us out of the dark ages?

Well if you’re looking for a good argument in 2018 for the lock back, the Chaparral FRN is it. Glassy smooth, it snaps into place with authority and holds the blade dead still, with nary a millimeter of play in any direction. The overall narrowness of the knife makes repeated disengagements slightly uncomfortable, but that’s only if you’re sitting there opening and closing it for extended amounts of time.

Spyderco Chaparral FRN Review – Final Thoughts

The Chaparral FRN is a great knife. But yeah , there are tons of great knives out there right now. What, if anything, makes the Chaparral stand out?

It comes down to price. Delivering real value in the crucial sub-$100 bracket takes doing. Real value comes from innovations, not sacrifices. A knife with bad steel and cheap materials is not a good value, it’s simply cheap (whether or not it’s a good knife). The Wharncliffe Delica 4, the Polestar and Alcyone, even the Byrd line upgrades all reflect attempts at real value, and so does the Chaparral FRN.

It may be more expensive than those others, but it goes further than they do, too, bringing excellent steel, perfect size, and as much pure Spyderco design excellence as you could wish for, all while hitting a price point within spitting range of the Delica – and that’s a pretty big deal. It won’t ever dislodge the Delica/Endura lines in terms of popularity, and there’re many knives from many manufacturers to consider, but there’s a distinct chance that for anybody in the market for a pure EDC knife, the Chaparral FRN is now the sub-$100 entry to beat.

The particular Chaparral FRN under review is a special one, a Christmas gift from my girlfriend Leslie that came engraved on the show side (hence why you only get pictures of the back throughout this review). It’s part of my permanent collection on that ground alone. But in addition to sentimental value it also happens to be a perfect knife that I unreservedly recommend. I think it’s the best version of the Chaparral to get, unless you crave the pizzazz some of the pricier versions offer.

Yeah, but is it better than the Delica? Only time – and a possible Showdown – will tell.

Spyderco Chaparral Lightweight Prestige Knife with 2.80 CTS XHP Steel Blade and Gray Durable FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C152PGY

An Improved Classic - One of the newest additions to this best-selling family is the Chaparral Lightweight, which offers the same design theme and functionality as its brothers, but with a simple, reliable, and affordable injection-molded handle
Iconic Design - Spyderco's unique Chaparral series of gentlemen’s folding knives expresses the same basic design platform with a variety of unique handle materials and treatments
Superior Blade Steel - Like the other versions of the Chaparral, its defining features include a full-flat-ground CTS XHP stainless steel blade
Ergonomic - The tough FRN construction minimizes weight and offers the high-traction advantages of our Bi-Directional Texturing pattern
Superior Steel - Nested in the handle are skeletonized stainless steel liners ensure excellent structural strength and precise alignment of all key components

$110.25
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Editor: I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Chaparral FRN Lightweight 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.