S35VN

Demko Knives AD-15 MG Review

There are knives that elicit feelings of elegance and delicate class, and then there are knives that make you feel like you’re carrying a tool that can handle damn near any task that you throw at it. Demko Knives belong solidly in the latter camp.

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For those of you that are hearing the name Demko and it’s sounding familiar Andrew Demko is the designer of Cold Steel’s famed Tri-ad Lock as well as some of their (in my opinion) coolest designs. Demko has also maintained his own custom knife shop, producing well built heavy-use folders that kept that distinct look that made his name famous among knife aficionados.

Based on my experience knives from Demko’s shop directly were a little difficult to come by when I first started getting into custom pieces. I’m not sure if that due to his work with Cold Steel, or maybe just the circles I ran in… but recently Andrew did two things that changed this. First he developed a new lock, the scorpion lock, that is not available from Cold Steel and secondly, he developed his Machine Ground (MG) series.

I would probably call his MG series mid-techs, although from what I have heard the only difference between Demko customs and the MG’s is the actual grinding of the blades themselves. Obviously his customs are hand ground, while the MGs are machine ground. More on that later.

First, the ever important specs of our Demko Knives AD-15 MG, the subject of this review:

Blade Length: 3.75”
Overall Length: 8.625”
Handle Thickness: .59”
Blade Thickness: .196”
Steel: S35VN
Weight: 6.4oz
Lock: Demko Scorpion Lock
Country of Origin: USA

(Please note these measurements are according to my ruler and calipers. The manufacturer’s listed measurements may vary.)

Blade Details

So, as I stated in the intro these knives are part of the “MG” series that the Demko shop is now putting out. I think the overall idea is to get some of their knives into customer’s hands without having to have the custom price-tag attached. In order to cut down on the cost, they have opted to put Machine Ground blades in these AD-15s. Apart from that I think there are minimal cosmetic differences between these and the customs.

So what does this mean for the end user? Well, nothing really. The knife is evenly ground, with crisp lines and a thin flat grind, and it is finished extremely well. For the run that was available at Blade Show, where I bought this knife, they had actually gone back and put a machine-satin or grind-line finish on the blade. This is generally my preference in a blade finish.

All that said, the knife came to me horrifyingly sharp, and I say this as someone that can sharpen a knife to a mirror–hair whittling edge. The Demkos did something to make this knife glide through paper like nothing I’ve seen. What makes this even more remarkable is the blade is made from 4.5mm thick stock. That is thick stock for a folding knife.

The steel choice is worth noting as well. S35VN is a weird pick for a knife that I’d consider a “heavy-use knife.” Don’t get me wrong as S35VN is generally a fine steel. I have it in my Chris Reeve knives and it’s performed great for me, but I would have expected 3V or M4 in this monster. Gimme something with some real brawn, Demko!

I suppose the choice of S35VN isn’t really a problem, as S35VN is still a premium steel with a well deserved reputation for all-round performance. It was just a surprising choice to me as this knife is otherwise entirely overbuilt. I think a tougher steel with a greater reputation for hard use would have been even better under these circumstances.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

To address the elephant in the room before we talk about anything else, the AD-15 MG is a big knife. I mean the thing is over eight and a half inches long. However, as a result Demko was able to figure out how to incorporate a very effective saber-style handle to the knife. This allows you to grab onto it and know that you’re not going to slip anywhere, and to add additional traction most of these knives are offered in textured G-10 or Micarta for even more grip.

As for the handle material itself, it’s okay. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I kinda wish I had gotten a G-10 version. The natural micarta has a raw edge that has turned out to not really be my favorite. His G10 knives were very nicely squared away, I’d love to see one in CF.

The Demko’s are also now offering these knives in full Ti handles. This was debuted at Blade 2018. In my opinion full titanium is a lousy “upgrade” as it adds nearly $200 to the price tag and a lot of extra weight, but the full titanium version offers no additional operational strength.

The clip is a ho-hum spoon style three screw clip that straddles the lanyard hole. This placement makes the knife ride a bit high in the pocket. I love and hate this high clip placement. On one hand, it allows you to have a really positive grip on this (expensive) knife in your pocket when you withdraw it, but the knife is also is going to dig into your side when you sit down. So this clip configuration has its pros and cons.

Deployment and Lockup

Dudes, this lock is super weird. Like, I get it, and I like it, but it took me a solid 2-3 days of playing with it where I stopped nearly cutting myself when I tried opening it. The knife is not that different from the famed Tri-ad lock that Demko licensed to Cold Steel. It’s essentially a titanium bar that runs across the top of the knife, that bar pivots around a pin towards the rear, when doing so it lifts the locking pin and allows you to close the knife. That same spring tension also serves as the “detent.” As a result, you sorta have to push away from the pivot when you open the knife otherwise it won’t budge.

As I said, it’s a different but ultimately intuitive way of opening a knife. Another result of this lock is that the action of the knife has a very hydraulic feel to it. It’s smooth, but slow. As if you were pushing the blade open through soft butter. This isn’t a knife that you’re gonna “pop” open with your thumb. The AD-15 MG’s run on poly washers, so that contributes to the slow hydraulic feel of the action.

Demko Knives AD-15 MG Review – Final Thoughts

How do you pin a bow on a knife this unusual? It’s a new style of mid-tech, with a new locking system, in a different size category than I normally buy. I never condone knife abuse, but the AD-15 seriously feels like a knife that could do pretty much anything and go pretty much anywhere. Need to stab through a car hood? No problem. This AD-15 MG is an absolute tank, and in that capacity this knife is phenomenal.

With a different steel I think the AD-15 MG’s would be perfect. S35VN is fine for a Sebenza, but for an overbuilt folder like this I’d love to see the jump to an even tougher steel like 3V. I believe that Demko has used different steels on the hand ground versions, so perhaps that will trickle down to the MGs eventually.

Also, these knives aren’t cheap. The base model (with G10 or Micarta) comes in around $675 and is readily available on BladeHQ or even Amazon. This AD-15 MG is a lot of money, but you’re essentially getting a custom Demko that has a blade that went through a double disk grinder. Practically speaking it’s very similar to what they’d call a “custom knife.” The hand ground version of this knife starts at $900, and if that’s if you can find one.

For these reasons, I recommend the Demko Knives AD-15 MG if you want a hard use folder from Andrew Demko without spending the cash on one of his full customs.

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Editor: I recommend purchasing the Demko Knives AD-15 MG 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.

DPx Gear HEST/F Urban Review

by Dan Jackson 2 Comments

DPx Gear has been at it for a while now. They caught everyone’s attention with the original HEST fixed blade knife in 2008. Their first folder was the HEST/F, a knife I reviewed back in 2012. It was promising in a lot of ways, but ultimately a sticky lock and ponderous footprint kept it from being a truly covetable piece of urban EDC gear in my book.

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Since then we’ve reviewed a couple other DPx Gear folders, including the elegant Aculus and the cherry bomb proportioned HEAT/F. Both were beautifully made Italian knives. The HEST/F Urban is different from the other folders in that it is their first folder 100% made in the USA. Some may remember that DPx ran a Kickstarter campaign for this knife back in 2015. The Kickstarter campaign was a success, and the knife has since made it’s way into production.

Robert Young Pelton himself reached out to ask if I would review a HEST/F Urban, and this knife was provided to me by DPx Gear for review. All thoughts on this knife are my own.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Urban has an overall length of 6.75″, a 2.875″ blade, and weighs 4.27 ounces. The knife is made in the USA. As the name suggests, this is a smaller folder designed for urban or suburban Every Day Carry (EDC). DPx Gear has made some big and interesting stuff over the years, including their HEFT 12 Chopper, so to see them move towards a true urban daily carry knife is interesting.

Here is a size comparison with the Urban next to my Spyderco Sage 1:

The HEST/F Urban features the same signature blade profile of their entire HEST series. It’s a drop point with a big sweeping belly, that tapers upwards towards the tip. The shape reminds me of the profile of a boat. The integrated cap lifter / wave feature is another novel aspect of the blade and a signature RYP design element. I’ll discuss the functional aspects of that further in the “deployment” section of the review.

The blade is ground from over 4mm thick stock. It’s substantial for a small folder like this, but the high flat grind gives the knife decent slicing performance. I found the Urban to be very capable with cardboard working through several thick cardboard boxes that I encountered in my latest round of work with my rental property.

The blade was extremely keen out of the box, and edge retention was excellent. The thick stock and partial flat grind means it won’t slice an apple like a traditional folder, but the knife will get the job done, and there are plenty of practical touches. The stonewashed finish on the blade hides wear and matches the hardware. There is a sharpening choil. And the edge has been evenly applied, a detail I always consider, as it can be a good indicator of quality control.

In 2015 the Urban was originally offered in S30V blade steel. These days the Urban has been upgraded to S35VN. I’ve reviewed dozens of knives in S35VN at this point. Although it may not be the most exotic choice of blade steel, S35VN is excellent stuff and was a good choice for the Urban. This is a proven steel that holds a good edge, sharpens easily, exhibits high corrosion resistance, and is reasonably tough which means it will not chip out easily. S35VN is a great all round high performance blade steel.

I find that if you don’t completely dull the knife, then all you need to do to maintain a hair shaving edge is run the knife along the fine stones of the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Those fine stones are all you need to keep a razor edge on this knife.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Urban is comprised of two thick titanium slabs and a black hard anodized partial aluminum backspacer. The handle has been beautifully executed. Fit and finish is top notch. The titanium handle slabs have been chamferred and left with a bead blasted finish. The silver hardware and all the pieces are perfectly flush. There is a decorative oversize pivot. Everything exudes a level of quality that you would expect from a knife at this price point.

The Urban is a small knife, but the spare design gives you plenty of room for a full 4 finger grip, and the thick build fills the hand. I found the Urban to be both a comfortable and capable work knife.

My only gripe with the ergonomics relates to the “wire stripping jimping”. Specifically, the biggest jimp farthest away from the tip of the blade. I find that to be too grabby for my tastes and would prefer either a smaller jimp, or more traditional toothed jimping. I levied this same criticism against the original HEST/F. While I understand that the Urban is designed to have a few multi-tool features integrated into the design, I’m still not sold on the wire stripping jimping.

The Urban features a reversible tip up deep carry pocket clip. The clip has excellent spring strength, and it buries the knife into your pocket. While the knife is relatively thick and over 4 ounces, I don’t notice it during carry thanks to the small footprint and the excellent clip. The knife stays in place and out of the way until you need it. That is exactly how I like my folding knives to carry.

Deployment and Lockup

The Urban is interesting because it is a bearing equipped folder with thumb studs or a wave opener. As a lefty I find the thumb studs to be a little tight as there is not as much room to access the stud on the locking side of the knife, but there is plenty of room on the right side and once you get placement on the thumb stud the blade almost explodes open thanks to the strong detent and bearings.

The bottle opener on the blade doubles as a wave opener. It’s an easy knife to wave off your pocket. Additionally you can use this as another spot to flick the blade open in addition to the thumb studs. The bearings are smooth to the point where you can easily shake the blade closed.

For lock up DPx Gear went with a titanium framelock reinforced with a steel lock bar insert. The steel insert doubles as an over-travel stop, but it also fixes the sticky lock issue that plagued the original HEST/F. Lockup is early. Around 40% of the lock face engages with the blade. Lockup is also secure. There is not a shadow of blade play in this knife. It’s rock solid.

Here is another size comparison with the ZT 0454CF:

I think DPx Gear nailed the lockup and deployment section. The knife rivals any Zero Tolerance folder I’ve handled. I think ZT is a good benchmark as their knives are consistently good. I think at some point DPx will need to use this OEM to build them a flipper of some sort.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

DPx Gear Urban Review – Final Thoughts

Hands down this is the best DPx Gear folder I’ve handled to date. I think they took all the lessons learned from their prior designs and built on those lessons to develop the Urban. I also think that the choice to work with a US based manufacturer is a good one. I like Lionsteel knives, but was never a big fan of the original HEST/F and the way it was built or the rotolock. This Urban is simply a better knife with its bearings and stainless steel lockbar insert. The rest of the knife has been beautifully built. The parts line up perfectly. The machining is crisp and clean. The finish work is superb.

For constructive criticism my biggest gripe is probably that one section of wire stripper jimping. It’s a little too sharp and toothy for me. But in practice I didn’t find that to be a deal breaker as I didn’t notice the jimping much when I actually cut things. Beyond that I don’t think I would change anything on this knife.

If you are a fan of sturdy little full titanium knives, knives like the Spyderco Techno, then I think you are going to enjoy this one. It’s nicely built, performs admirably, and is entirely unique. It’s not inexpensive, and the full titanium version here will set you back about as much as a Small Sebenza, but I think the quality is comparable. Additionally, DPx Gear offers a version of the Urban with a G10 scale that is around $200 and weighs about 3.6 ounces. At that price and with a near 1 ounce weight reduction, I think that is a highly competitive offering.

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I recommend purchasing the DPx Gear Urban 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.

Zero Tolerance 0450CF Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

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

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

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

General Dimensions and Blade Details

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

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

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

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

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

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

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

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

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

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

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

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

Deployment and Lockup

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

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

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

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

Blade centering is dead nuts center on my knife.

Zero Tolerance 0450CF Review – Final Thoughts

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

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

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

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

Zero Tolerance 0450CF Folding Knife, 3.25" DLC S35VN Blade, Carbon Fiber & Titanium Handle, KVT Ball-Bearing Opening, Frame Lock, 2.45oz

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

I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0450CF at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Kizer Feist Review

by Grayson Parker 1 Comment

Last Updated: July 13, 2019
The Kizer Feist is a knife that I’ve wanted to check out since seeing it in the 2017 catalog. At first, I almost missed it: it’s seemingly such a plain design that my eyes slid right over its page, and it was only during a follow-up perusal that I noticed it was a front flipper. Internally, that changed the design from “plain” to “minimalist.” Maybe a silly distinction on my part, but that was the train of thought.

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Unfortunately, the first run of Feists had issues. Some customers complained of gritty actions and stiff lockbars, so Kizer put a hold on production until they could fix those issues in the now-released second run (with the help of the designer, Justin Lundquist). Between the risks of buying a first generation model and the speed with which the second run sold out, I never had a chance to pick one up.

Luckily, someone offered to trade me their Feist a few months back, and I’ve been carrying it frequently ever since. Incidentally, that person is Tony Sculimbrene of Everyday Commentary. His review of the Feist was published back in September 2017, and I recommend checking it out. This is a rare occasion where two people review not only the same design, but the exact same knife. [This happens to be a high quality unit from the first production run, for the record]. On the whole we’ve come to similar conclusions, though I think I’m a bit more taken with the Feist than he is.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kizer Feist is a relatively small knife. It features a 2.875” blade housed in a 3.625” handle, and measures in at 6.55” overall. At 2.68 ounces it’s also pretty light. Numbers never tell the whole story, but I’m impressed by the size of the blade they manage to fit into the handle. The attention to detail is similarly impressive: the blade is perfectly centered, has a rounded spine, a curved plunge line, and a very attractive stonewashed finish. It also bears mentioning that the sub-3” blade of the Feist is legal to carry in a wide array of jurisdictions.

In addition to falling into my favorite size range, the Feist also features one of my favorite blade shapes. The modified drop point (especially this iteration of it) is far and away the most useful profile I’ve encountered for everyday tasks. It is comparable to the blade of the Viper Dan 2, or (if that’s too esoteric a reference) an ordinary paring knife. There’s enough belly to handle a picnic lunch, but not so much that the blade will slide out of prolonged cuts in, say, cardboard.

I have to admit that after reviewing the Alter Ego I was more than a little concerned about how the Feist would be ground. I needn’t have worried. Not only does the Feist have thinner stock (.12” thick as opposed to .14”), but the dished grind nearly reaches the spine of the blade, making for a much keener knife overall. As the picture below suggests, it didn’t cut the apples as cleanly as a paring knife, but it didn’t split them, either. It’s not perfectly ground – there’s a hair of wobble along the plunge grind – but that’s a fairly minor detail, and it doesn’t impact the cutting performance.

Crucible’s S35VN is a common choice for Kizer, so I wasn’t surprised to see them implement it on the Feist. That’s not to say it’s a bad choice, mind: S35VN is well regarded for its edge retention, rust resistance, and general toughness, especially compared to its predecessor S30V. I’ve sharpened the Feist once in two months, and truth be told it didn’t need it, I just wanted to polish it up a little. As always, regular stropping is recommended.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Simplicity is a wonderful thing. There is nothing extraneous to the Feist’s handle: no scallops, no inexplicable bumps or angles, just plain, contoured titanium. The only concession to vanity is a decorative pivot screw, but even that can be turned with an ordinary torx driver. Flaws would stand out on a design as simple as this, yet the handles are symmetrical, clean, and blemish free. The matte finish Kizer put on the Feist adds a bit of grip and contributes to the spare design language.

The themes that make the Feist’s handle visually appealing also make it incredibly practical. There is not a single line that forces the user to hold it in a particular fashion. Combine that, the excellent contouring, and a balance point just shy of the overtravel stop and you get a remarkably deft and responsive knife. There is no flipper tab, finger choil, or jimping that will stop your fingers from sliding onto the blade though, so be careful.

The Feist features a milled titanium pocket clip that’s mounted for tip-up, right-side carry. Unfortunately, that’s the only position to attach a pocket clip unless you want to modify the Feist or find someone who can. It’s fine as far as milled clips are concerned. The edges on it are buffed enough that it doesn’t generate a hot spot, and it has some (though not much) spring tension. Stowing and retrieving the Feist wasn’t an issue in jeans, work pants, or gym shorts, but for some reason I needed to use both hands to clip it to the pocket of my slacks. I honestly couldn’t tell you why.

Once stowed, the Feist is an excellent pocket companion. It’s lightweight, slim, fairly short, and has contoured scales to boot. There’s enough tension in the clip that it doesn’t shift in the pocket, regardless of what pants I wear. The clip leaves just under half of an inch of the handle exposed. An over the top style clip wouldn’t be unwelcome, but I’ve found the Feist discreet enough for my needs.

Deployment and Lock-Up

One of the reasons I really wanted to check out the Feist was because of its deployment method: the front flipper. Unlike traditional flipper knives (part of my brain is screaming as I type that), front flippers don’t have a tab that’s pulled to deploy the blade. Instead, the rear tang of the blade is elongated and machined to add a bit of grip, which in turn gives the user’s thumb enough purchase to pop the blade open. It’s a very elegant choice, and eliminates problems like accumulating gunk and snagging threads that other deployment methods are subject to.

Unfortunately, this new flipping has a learning curve to it, and Kizer’s execution of the front flipper was less than perfect. Many customers complained of gritty actions, which made opening and closing the knife more difficult. Apparently (and this is secondhand knowledge, so take care) the internal stop pin wasn’t press fit but left free floating, and that was responsible for the grit. If you own a first generation Feist, don’t worry: Kizer is running a redemption program where you can exchange it for an updated model. My review sample hasn’t exhibited this problem: the pivot is reasonably smooth, the detent is crisp, and deployment is easy, though there is a trick to it. Instead of trying (and failing) to describe how to use a front flipper, here’s a video that may help:

Once deployed, the Feist’s blade is held in place by a titanium frame lock. This particular lock features a stainless steel lock face, an inclusion that should be the industry standard by now. Not only do they reduce the need for maintenance, they also make it easier to service the knife, and thus prolong the life of the tool. Furthermore, it’s easy to incorporate a hidden overtravel stop into these inserts, which is exactly what Kizer did.

The lock’s performance has been excellent in the two months and change that it’s been in my possession. There is no blade play, no lock rock, and it consistently engages around 40% of the blade tang. Thanks to some careful machine work from Kizer, there’s enough room for my thumb to access the lock, and the internal edges are chamfered for comfort. Some users have reported overly stiff locks, but this seems to be limited to models from the first run. As before, mine has no problems.

Kizer Feist Review – Final Thoughts

Overall, I’m very impressed by the Feist. It’s a practical, elegant design that matches my needs perfectly, whether I’m in the field, the office, or enjoying a day off. That its debut was marred by reports of shoddy manufacturing is a shame, but by all accounts the second run has none of the problems of the first. The only cross-generational complaint is that the milled clip is a bit stiff, but that’s far from a dealbreaker, at least for me.

Unless you find a sale, the Feist costs around $170. That price bracket has some pretty stiff competition, including the Benchmade G-10 Griptilians, the Spyderco S110V Paramilitary 2, and the Zero Tolerance 0450. I wouldn’t turn my nose up at any of those, but for my money I’d rather have the Feist. Its unique, refreshing, and hopefully a sign of more to come from designer Justin Lundquist.

There are a few people that may want to steer clear of the Feist. Firefighters, EMS workers, law enforcement, and military personnel might find that the design is ill-suited to their needs. The design cues that make the Feist a fantastic everyday carry knife also make it a less than ideal rescue or ‘tactical’ knife. However, if – like me – your needs are fairly simple, and you’re just looking for a pocketable, elegant cutting tool, I think you’ll be more than happy with the Kizer Feist.

Next up: the Prometheus Lights Beta QR V2 in brass.

Kizer Feist – From $168.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend buying the Kizer Feist at BladeHQ or Amazon. 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.

Todd Begg Steelcraft Bodega Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

Todd Begg is known for his heavily machined and highly ornamented knives. A few years ago it would have been inconceivable to think that his Bodega folder could be recreated as a mass market production piece.

Buy the Bodega at BladeHQ | Buy the Bodega at KnivesShipFree

But there it was, staring back and Andrew and I at the 2015 BLADE show. I believe it was actually his kwaiken model, but he had one of his original knives and the Steelcraft version sitting on the table next to each other. We couldn’t distinguish which was the real deal, and which was the mass produced version. The Steelcraft version was that good.

The Steelcraft series is a collaboration between Begg and Reate Knives. Reate is a high end Chinese knife manufacturer. Arguably they are the highest end, ousting WE Knives and Kizer with their build quality and finish. It’s another brand that I haven’t had the time to cover. In part because their regular lineup doesn’t inspire me that much. The knives look technically perfect, but the designs are largely forgettable.

However, this Steelcraft collaboration with Begg is the perfect vehicle to showcase Reate’s manufacturing chops. Todd Begg is an incredibly talented designer, and this collaboration with Reate is one for the ages.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Steelcraft Bodega has an overall length of 8.875″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 6.35 ounces, and is made in China. There is a smaller version of the knife, the Steelcraft Mini Bodega. If I had thought this through a little better before making my purchase I would have gone with that. But who actually researches knives before they buy them?

This full size version is quite large. It’s a bit excessive for my style of daily carry, but it’s a joy to behold, and I’m sure some will love EDCing this larger knife. The mini Bodega will be better for urban EDC, if you can bring yourself to carry something this pretty. That said, there is no shame in simply wanting this as a collectible.

The blade is a wide gleaming drop point with a high hollow grind, toothy jimping, a prominent harpoon tip, and Todd’s signature milled fuller running most of the length of the blade. This ornate blade has been meticulously ground, and this knife is all about the details. The grinds are symmetrical, the milling is crisp, and the satin finish is lustrous. I like how they even broke the edges along the flipper and finger choil. This makes the knife more comfortable to use.

The Bodega comes with a S35VN blade. This is a steel that needs no explanation for enthusiasts of high end knives. It’s a staple in Chris Reeve’s lineup, and has made an appearance on countless reviews of high end folders. This is the next generation of S30V. While it’s not a super exotic steel, it performs admirably. It’s easy to sharpen, holds a fine edge, and machines nicely. It’s a steel that was specifically formulated for cutlery, and I’m never sorry to see it on a knife.

My Steelcraft Bodega came with an even and razor sharp edge. I haven’t used this knife hard, but it has no problem with cardboard, paper, and food prep. The hollow grind gets thin behind the edge, and the knife slices neatly. I’ve been able to keep the Bodega sharp with my strops, and have had zero issues with rust or corrosion. While I haven’t given this Bodega a beat down, S35VN is a known quantity.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Where do I even begin with this handle? The handle is a thing of technical beauty. Like an aging escort, this Bodega has been drilled from every angle. The outer face of the titanium handle is curved and rounded. That in itself is nice, but then they added the fluted pattern and chased the outlines in silver.

Additionally, the backspacer has been checkered and jimped. The holes for the body screws have been counter sunk and polished. The lock bar has been given the same treatment as the fuller of the blade. Inside the handles have been pocketed out to lighten up the knife and improve the balance. Begg uses regular torx hardware for the body screws, but there is a nice oversized decorative pivot.

A cool thing about the Bodega is the variety of anodizations they offer. I’ve got the gray and silver monochromatic version, but if you prefer color the Bodega is offered in a variety of colors, including a striking Blue and Gold version that Tony reviewed. There is a black on black version that is also stunning. I like the austerity of my particular knife, but the anodized versions are striking.

This full size Bodega fills the hand nicely, and you have a couple options for finger placement thanks to the forward choil. Generally speaking this is a comfortable knife. However, I find the toothy jimping on the spine and lock bar to be a little much. Here it is almost a decorative element, providing a textural contrast, but at the end of the day this knife is designed for use and I find the super toothy jimping to be a bit irritating. Especially if I was to use this knife for aggressive carving, or crunching through a lot of manilla rope.

The pocket clip is an over the top Begg special. It’s a milled clip but uses a large ceramic ball bearing for the point of contact with your pocket. It is completely unique. More importantly, it’s fully functional. Titanium milled clips can be hit or miss, as it’s tough to get the tension right. This one works well, and visually it’s a unique detail. The Bodega carries as you would expect from a large full titanium folder. The relatively thin curved handle mostly stays out of the way, and at 6.35 ounces there is some heft, but not enough to pull your pants down.

Deployment and Lockup

The Steelcraft Bodega is an IKBS bearing equipped flipper. Flipping action is solid, and the bearings are buttery smooth. I’d give this an 8.5 out of 10 on my flipper scoring system. Action is crisp and snappy. The flipper tab is prominent. There isn’t any jimping on the tab, but I don’t think it needs it. There is plenty of steel here to get a finger on, and the blade deploys reliably with an excellent snap.

Here is a shot of the Bodega next to my Shirogorov F3:

For lockup we have a titanium framelock with a steel insert. Lockup is early on my knife. About 20% according to my eyeball. There isn’t a smidge of blade play in any direction. The lock is easy to disengage thanks to the toothy jimping, and a thoughtful design. There is no lock stick at all. The steel lock bar insert doubles as an overtravel preventer, so you don’t have to worry about hyperextending your lock bar.

Blade centering is dead nuts center on my knife. I would expect nothing less from a knife this meticulously machined.

Todd Begg Steelcraft Bodega Review – Final Thoughts

This Steelcraft Bodega is unlike any other knife. Todd Begg is a brilliant knife designer, and the folks at Reate knocked it out of the park. It’s a testament to how far Chinese manufacturing has come. I know some will still turn their noses up at this one because it’s made in China. Spend the money on NASCAR tickets, what do I care. I’m here to tell you this knife has been beautifully done.

This is everything you would expect from a high end folder. At close to $450, you will pay for the premium, but it’s damn hard to find a fault with this knife. The closest thing I could come to critical feedback, is that the jimping is a little rough for extended use. The knife is also too pretty for me to seriously use without feeling guilty. I don’t feel that way about my Strider SnG, which costs a similar amount of money. But the ornate nature of this knife makes it tough for me to beat up on. This is an immaculate knife.

Todd Begg’s in house version of the Bodega starts at $850 (for the “field grade” versions), and quickly go up from there. For $450 I think the Steelcraft version gives you an excellent feel for what his designs are all about. Well worth checking out if you have the money and are interested in exploring his designs.

Todd Begg Steelcraft Bodega – From $460.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Steelcraft Bodega at BladeHQ, KnivesShipFree, or Amazon.

Spartan Blade Works Pallas Review

by Dan Jackson 8 Comments

Last Updated: August 8, 2019
Most of us who have been following Spartan Blades know the company started with high end fixed blade knives. A few years ago they launched the Akribis, a carbon fiber clad titanium framelock folder. I always appreciated the lines of the Akribis, but never got around to acquiring one. Although some of their old stock is still for sale on select retailers, Spartan Blades has since moved on from the Akribis and ventured into a number of different folder offerings.

Buy the Spartan Blade Works Pallas at BladeHQ

Perhaps their most notable new folder is the Pallas. This strikes me as their every man’s model: a sub 4″ blade, anodized aluminum handles, sturdy button lock, and your choice of flipper or thumb studs to get the blade open.

This is a less exotic folder designed for daily carry and use, and could be considered their version of a Griptilian or Para 2. I have always had a soft spot for utility knives in this size range, and have many in my permanent collection. How does the Pallas stack up against everything that has come before it? Lets find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Pallas has an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.75″ blade, weighs 4.9 ounces, and is made in the U.S.A. With an almost 4″ blade, my guess is that Spartan Blades wanted the Pallas to flex both into utility and folding combat knife roles. It is about as big a folder as I can realistically carry. Any bigger, and it would be more of a novelty for me, but a 8.75″ inches I can comfortably carry it and use it as a weekend warrior EDC here in Southwest Florida. I’ve used it extensively in that role. It has accompanied me on trips to fix up my rental house, and plenty of forays into the yard trimming back our “jungle”.

The blade of the Pallas is a modified drop point. This is a simple and functional design, but Spartan Blades has added their signature harpoon tip to give it a twist. At just under 4mm thick, the blade stock is substantial, but the knife is ground thinly behind the edge with a high hollow grind. When you add a fine tip and plenty of belly, you are left with a versatile and functional blade. Spartan Blades also took the extra steps of adding a long swedge across the harpoon tip, chamfering the spine of the blade, applying a nice stonewashed finish, and installing custom thumb studs.

Spartan selected S35VN blade steel for the Pallas. As I have mentioned in countless other reviews featuring S35VN, this is a great choice for a high end folder due to it’s ease of sharpening, corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention. It’s a great all round steel. It won’t hold an edge indefinitely, but it’s easier to sharpen then its older brother S30V. It’s no wonder companies like Chris Reeve Knives choose S35VN almost exclusively as their blade material.

The only downside I see to S35VN is that it forces knife reviewers to the very fringes of their creative writing capabilities as they tackle their XXth review featuring this now common blade material. As always you can find a deeper dive into blade steel in our blade steel section

In practice I found that the Pallas is a solid cutter. Thanks to a generous handle, you are able to make full use of the substantial blade. It came razor sharp out of the box, and I have spent a good amount of time breaking down boxes, carving, and even performing some mild food prep with this knife. This knife cuts for days, and the performance is impressive. While it’s not the most unique or beautiful blade I have worked with, you can’t argue with the results. The Pallas performs.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Pallas comes with a hard anodized aluminum handle, held together by 3 custom standoffs and the pivot. The handle is mostly flat. It has been chamfered around the edges, features 2 grooves for your index finger, and a series of diagonal cuts towards the butt for traction, but there is no 3-D milling. Overall, handle construction is neat and solid. Even the lanyard hole has been given extra attention.

That said, this handle loses style points in a few areas for me. First, I don’t care for how the logo and “U.S.A.” have been applied to the handle. I realize that this branding and source of manufacture information needed to be placed somewhere, and there is only a limited amount of real estate on the knife. I also know some have criticized companies like Zero Tolerance for putting too much text on their blades, distracting the eye and complicating the design. Still, I think the placement of the logo and “USA” on the handle looks a little random.

Also, I think a more generous decorative pivot would have looked nicer here then just a body screw. This choice was likely made so the end user doesn’t confuse the button lock with the pivot in the heat of the moment. Plus a decorative pivot does nothing for the performance. But many knives these days feature a decorative pivot. Finally, when you peer into the internals of the knife the pocket screws are a millimeter or proud of the handles. Screws poking out from inside the handle/liners are a pet peeve of mine, and I would love to see the screw length adjusted slightly so they don’t poke out like that.

Aesthetic quibbles aside, the simple handle designs provides ample room for your hand and fingers while the hard anodized aluminum provides you with that familiar fine texture. There is light jimping on the spine of the blade, and more aggressive jimping towards the butt of the handle. The end result is a knife that functions naturally in the hand. While hard anodized aluminum isn’t as grippy as peel ply G-10, I find there is plenty of traction here for all the tasks I put the Pallas up to.

The Pallas benefits from a simple pocket clip that has been thoughtfully executed. This is a humble spring clip, but it has been elevated with Spartan’s arrow motif cut into the clip. I vastly prefer this kind of branding over a “billboard” style pocket clip. The clip has been sunk into the handle and secured with 2 screws. It’s not likely to go anywhere. However, the handle is configured for right side tip up carry only. This happens to be my preferred placement for carry, but it may pose an issue for some.

In practice the Pallas carries nicely. It’s a bigger knife, but is relatively thin and light. I don’t notice it much in the pocket. It stays out of the way, but doesn’t carry super deep. When I’m ready for the knife the combination of handle and clip make for an easy retrieval. What else can you ask for?

Deployment and Lockup

The Pallas comes with a combination of flipper and thumb studs to get the blade open.

Lets start with the flipper. Because this is a button lock, there is no detent. Instead, the button lock is engineered to offer some resistance, and that friction in the lock allows you to pop the knife open. In practice the flipper works most of the time, especially if you are careful to pre-load it. Still, this knife will not flip open like a well tuned framelock or liner lock flipper. I would assign it a “4” on my arbitrary 1-10 scale of flipper performance, placing it slightly below my Spyderco Domino. It usually gets the job done, but nothing to write home about.

The thumb studs are ample, custom made, easy to access, and placed for ambidextrous access. These thumb studs are what you would want to rely on in a stressful situation. I’m glad Spartan Blades included them. They compliment the workman like nature of this knife.

Either way you choose to open the Pallas, the blade rides on caged bearings. The action is smooth and fluid.

Spartan Blades selected a button lock for the Pallas. The button looks similar to what you would find on a Hogue, and I can’t help but place the knife next to my EX-04 (shown above).

Button locks have the potential to be sticky, but the lock on the Palls is extremely smooth. I have yet to have the lock stick or bind up. I have owned this knife for several months now and it’s just as easy to operate as the day I got it. A nice benefit to a button lock is that it is a strong lock. Although every folding knife has its breaking point, I do not hesitate to use my Pallas for tough jobs. There is no blade play or wiggle in my knife. Also, I should note there is no secondary lock like you find on the Hogue series.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Spartan Blades Pallas Review – Final Thoughts

The Pallas is a no-nonsense tool in the same vein of many of my favorite utility knives. This includes fan favorites like the Para 2 and Griptilian, but also some of the unsung heros in my collection like the American Lawman, Buck Marksman, and Hogue EX-04. I don’t hesitate to carry and use the Pallas just like those other knives. The practical design, excellent tolerances, and quality materials, mean that the knife works, and it works well. If I’m in a rush I can grab the Pallas knife knowing it will do everything I need it to do – no questions asked.

Where the Pallas falls a short for me is with some of the aesthetic details like the placement of the logo on the handle. The flipping action also leaves something to be desired. For a knife you are going to use hard I can look past these issues, but would not be so forgiving if I was buying a collectible.

Also, at nearly $300 the Pallas isn’t cheap. It’s a serviceable design, nicely made, and performs beautifully, but it doesn’t have any mind blowing properties to it, and the materials are not particularly exotic. I realize that Spartan Blades is a boutique company that is offering a USA made product, and they likely lack the economies of scale that the bigger manufacturers can tap. Still, the Pallas is an expensive knife, and the price will prevent it from obtaining the mass appeal of a Paramilitary 2 or Griptilian.

In closing, I like this knife, but think the Pallas is for a narrower market. I recommend it if you are a fan of Spartan Blades, a fan of the design, or are looking for a high end and high performance tactical knife that is made in the USA.

Spartan Blades Blacked Out Pallas Folding Flipper Knife Button Lock Black SF3

Overall Length: 8 3/4" Blade Length: 3 3/4" Blade Material: CPM S35VN Stainless Steel, 58-60 HRC
Blade Thickness: 5/32"; Blade Finish: Black PVD Tungsten Black DLC; Blade Type: Plain Edge Drop Point
Closed Length: 5 1/8" Handle Material: Black Mil Spec Anodized Frame
Safety System: Button Lock; Carry System: Pocket Clip
Weight: 4.736 Oz.; Made in the US

I recommend buying the Spartan Blades Pallas at Amazon, BladeHQ or KnifeArt. Thanks for checking out the review.