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Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Weight
Cons: Pocket Clip
A good value
For those of us who still have love for slipjoint knives it's always nice to see a new entry. Growing up, the adults around me mostly carried stockman, muskrat, or trapper patterns if not a Buck 110 or a Leatherman multi tool. I almost never saw a swayback out in the wild and so the pattern appeared exotic to me and to this day I find myself drawn to them. This Bear and Son Wharncliffe is a relatively large handsome knife, but it is ruggedly handsome and you can tell that it is made for work. The stonewashed blade will hide scratches well and has a nice hollow grind that is thin enough to slice efficiently but still thick enough to inspire confidence to handle tough cutting tasks. My particular sample was centered and came paper slicing sharp but not hair popping sharp although it was easy enough to make it become so . We have definitely become spoiled in this day and age, with D2 steel having now become a budget steel. I have never had any issues with it or even a genuine need for something more. The pull is smooth with a good half stop. I personally wish it had a stronger pull, but that's just my own preference. People with bad finger nails or arthritis would probably disagree with me. The micarta is nice and I like the color. Reminds me of a tough pair of American Levi jeans. Or a hardworking individual who wears Levi jeans... Or something like that. The pocket clip was a little too stiff and I broke mine trying to adjust it. Bear and Son was able to send me another one for like $3.50. Fit and finish was well done, especially considering the price point and for me it's always a plus when the knife is made in the U.S.A. All in all, this American made knife is a good value and a great utilitarian tool.