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Pros: Blade Material
Cons: None
Weird but Great
This one is bit of an oddball, but it's very cool. I saw it and knew I had to take a chance on it, and I'm glad I did. It's a non-locking friction folder with a scandi grind and 1095 steel, and it actually works! I mostly use it around the house, breaking stuff down, opening things, etc., and the blade is a great utility size, not too big to feel like a burden, not too small that you worry about it not being up to a task. The handle is 2 pieces of 3D milled micarta with a good swell at the midpoint that feels good in hand. Much better than most folders honestly. My hands are medium size, not small and not large either, and I get a strong 4 finger grip with no problem, but with not a ton of room leftover, so if you have larger hands it might be a bit cramped. The handle is angled such that when you grip it, the blade is angled slightly downward, which adds to the cutting power and is a good cutting position for preparing food or similar. In terms of safety, my thumb rests on the approximately 1 inch section of extended blade tang and provides good security so I don't feel like I'm going to chop my fingers off. There are two little scallops taken out of the handle on each side that are well positioned for a choke-up for fine cuts. In terms of build quality, the one I got is great. I love the black blade finish. The grinds are even enough, it opens and closes very smoothly, it came very sharp from the factory. Everything is tight, no rattle or play at all, really well put together. Not cheaply made at all. I haven't had a chance to use a ferro rod but the spine is sharp enough for it. It comes with a little taco-style sheath that is well made but not fancy. I carry the knife in my pocket and it isn't heavy enough to make me want to use the sheath. If there's any cons I can think of, it's that the micarta handles seem polished and can feel a bit oily/slick at times compared to other micarta I've handled. This may or may not be annoying to you depending your use and environment. And of course it's a friction folder, so if opening/closing it quickly is important to you or you need a locking blade, you'll want to look elsewhere. I wouldn't call it an amazing value, but I think the price is fair for a very well made USA-made product so I have no complaints there. Overall I'm glad I took a chance on it. It performs well, it's very well made, and it's unique. What more could you want?