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Pros: Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight
Cons: Blade Material, Pocket Clip
The pictures do not lie - great design and execution
For those who avoid BUDK/United Cutlery/Chinese knives (myself included), you can't deny the excellence of a Gil Hibben design. Since you can't really experience this knife any other way, I decided to make an exception. After examining and carrying this knife, it looks like I will have to make a few more exceptions. Visually, the Hurricane is very handsome with dramatic lines and tasteful splashes of color. The grinds on the blade are crisp and symmetrical, and the fine satin finish makes every facet stand out from any angle. The aluminum has a nice horizontal brushed finish on the flats with a contrasting matte finish on the radiused edges. While the onlay is only on one side, and the clip is on the wrong end (for me), it's still functional and good-looking. Blade centering is perfect, deployment is swift and effortless, and lockup is just right. Very positive detents pop the blade into place. The edge was very sharp and uniform, zipping through envelopes and cardboard with ease. The build quality seems to be competitive with the recent proliferation of premium Chinese knives. It is certainly above and beyond the quality of United's own fixed blades. The only downside might be the budget grade steel, but it gets the job done at a fair price. The Hurricane is an easy recommendation, and I look forward to collecting the next Hibben folder.