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Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Handle Material, Materials, Sheath/Scabbard, Weight
Cons: Finish
Very good tool, I got one with disappointing finish
I will get the only real complaint out of the way, but it is kind of a doozy: the ceramic bead finish was uneven. You can see large patches of unfinished (nicely ground but unfinished) steel underneath. This is not a terribly expensive or "premium" knife, but it's certainly a nice one. I expected a little better at this price point. Not a big deal, and clearly not all knives are affected. Just be aware of the possibility; I assume I got a slightly busted one from the factory.But the factory edge itself was outstanding - not always the case with MagnaCut, I've noticed - and I appreciate the wrapped handle took care and effort. It looks great and works well. I also really like the color-matched sheath. This was by no means a lazy or rushed blade, and a cool design. If the finish were better (or the price much lower) I'd definitely give it a 5 star rating. I recommend this blade with a slight qualification.I am excited about this knife as a tool. I am leaving on a long-term bikepacking/bushcrafting trip soon, and this seems like an especially good knife for bringing with me up a tree or into a (verified empty) ruin. In my testing the handle does not seem like it would be very good for fighting, despite the Bowie blade. It's hard to get a forceful hammer grip. Likewise this seems dicey for batoning and isn't much of a chopper: your hand is going to absorb too much of the kinetic energy that would otherwise be taken by the mass of the handle. For me, I find it much more comfortable and natural to have my thumb on the spine and use this knife for more delicate work: perhaps carving a basic shape, dealing with rope and paracord, cutting flowers or fruits in the field, etc etc. Seems good for "coarse" whittling. I am looking forward to testing it in the field in a few weeks. But I wanted to review it now, while I still had an internet connection.
