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Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish
Cons: None
Satisfying
I like folding knives, and have wanted a fixed blade to carry on my walks in the hills abutting my neighborhood. I take a dog, a cane, and a knife. The knife is to get cactus out the dog, and for defense from animals, not humans, and small animals like a coyote or a dog that isn't behaving. The cane is enough for dogs, but you never know.. There are mountain lions around, but they don't bother anybody here. That said, I also just like fixed blades and enjoy carrying them as long as they aren't tactical and all that. So I bought two previously and wasn't quite happy with either. I like them, but I'll explain. The two have cutting surface about the same as the Lapwing. I don't care about grind much. https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BO120503/boker-boker-fixed-blade-knife-n690-dark-stonewashed-clip-point-brown-burlap-micarta-handle-leather-sheath Now the boker. Ergos are good, but I feel the handle doesn't isolate my grip from the blade. That would only be a problem in defense as I see it. So I got this one: https://www.knifecenter.com/item/LNB35ST/lionsteel-b35-bushcraft-fixed-blade-knife-sleipner-spear-point-blade-santos-wood-handles-leather-sheath I'm isolated from the blade well enough. My hand is large, not x large, and medium gloves are two small. My bones are average. So the ergos ont he Boker, the feel of the handle is good. Nice tactile, but I'm afraid of slipping. The BS35 from Lion Steel. The handle is a little thicker, or wider, and the material, wood, is a little hard. It registers well and is comfortable. But. It's just that. The sheaths compared to the Lapwing's, are both more refined. The Lion Steel sheath borders on, oh, what's the word. Tinder foot? You know, more for a picnic, like you brie and cheese. It's alright, but, not my style As to those two, they look good, no question about that. Fine knives I'm sure of it. Cutting to the chase LAPWING The Lapwing is something a cut above. To me, I didn't see that from the picture. Looked OK, and DCA doesn't do burn job on knives. He's fair, balanced. And so he was when presenting the Lapwing on You Tube. The handle isolates a full grip from the blade. Hold the knife backward and upside down in that grip? Solid. And the normal grip? No hot spots, it feels like it melts into my hand, my pinkie covers half the lanyard hole. The tactile feel is smooth and solid as to grip. And the aesthetic is where I appreciate it, it has the look without seeming to know it has the look. It's just present. That's the design, it's in the pocket as guitarists say about being with the beat. If it had been available when I bought the Boker and Lion Steel knives above, I wouldn't have felt something was missing. The Lapwing feels settled in. Of the maybe 100 mostly folders I own, I can't really say that, and there are some among those that I do feel are exceptional. But not like the lapwing. Ok It's personal taste, and I perhaps overstate just to get the point across. You have to have not in a picture, but in hand to really see the talent manifest in the knife. So if you're on the fence as to what to choose, don't dismiss the Lapwing for not being as well known. It's in the first class for sure regardless of designer and maker.