I was just showing off the Spyderco Native Chief that I’m testing as part of a passaround facilitated by Rivers Edge Cutlery and a point came up that I wanted to address.
I realize that my articles often seem to shed an unrealistically positive light on the knives in question. I know that I rarely totally denounce a knife as a failure, and even often give counter arguments when I point out a negative characteristic of a knife.
There are a couple reasons for this tendency:
First, I generally know that I’ll like a knife before I buy it. What I mean by that is not that I’ve never been disappointed by the build quality of a knife or liked a feature less than I expected, but that I spend a lot of time (probably too much) researching and deliberating on what knives I want. This naturally weeds out most knives that would be likely to garner a truly negative review, because I know if there have been reports of quality issues and the like well before purchasing a knife.
Second, I am usually thoroughly excited to get a new knife and that can put a rosy tint on my perception of it. Being that I am a knife enthusiast through and through, getting almost any knife amounts to an overall good experience. Of course there are exceptions, but I generally find something to be happy with on a knife simply because I enjoy knives.
However, I try first and foremost not to allow my view of a knife and especially my published thoughts on a knife to be influenced by the manufacturer’s, dealer’s, owner’s, or general population’s expectations. I mean to give fully honest reviews based solely on my genuine feelings and experiences of the knife.
Authenticity is one of the core values of Knife Thoughts and I intend to ensure it remains a pillar of my writing and posting.
This article will tell you why the L.T. Wright GNS Tactical is a great knife that brings together some traditional and some tactical elements. The knife was donated by L. T. Wright Knives as a prize for the winner of the main event match at the Stout Fights Pro Grappling show this past weekend. Therefore, this will also be somewhat of a crossover article for me, as I refereed at the show. Being a prize knife I didn’t get to use or carry it, so unlike my other articles my thoughts here will be based mostly on first impressions. However, I do have experience with L.T. Wright knives so I think I can give a fair, honest, and full review (as always!).
Mike Wilkins, the winner of the main event at Stout Fights Pro Grappling SuperFights 2019, with his prize knife after the event.
Materials and Specifications
The GNS Tactical package actually includes two pieces, a “live” knife and a “trainer”, both with different materials. The live knife has a full tang blade of O1 tool steel, OD Green micarta handle scales, brass and steel handle rivets, and a leather sheath. O1 tool steel is a well liked and widely used steel for outdoors fixed blades. It is not stainless and not a super steel when it come to edge holding / wear resistance, but it is easy to sharpen and pretty tough. OD green micarta is a pretty classic choice for an outdoors or tactical knife, as it is low key but provides good grippiness even when wet. The trainer knife seems to have an aluminum blade, orange g10 handles, and aluminum pins. Many trainer knives are made with aluminum, although in this case there are some burrs that I would definitely file off before using the knife for training, as they could easily leave small cuts. The orange g10 is quite strikingly visible, which is a good thing both to differentiate if from the live knife and to help to see the knife in training. Both knives have a ~4.45″ blade and ~5.1″ handle. The live knife weighs about 8.5 ounces. With those specs, it would be considered a medium sized fixed blade by most. It’s big enough to get most tasks done, without being unweildy to carry or use. This knife, like all L.T. Wright knives, is built by hand in Ohio. Overall the GNS Tactical’s materials and specs are pretty standard for either a tactical or traditional knife.
The GNS with a Blind Horse Knives Woodsman Pro, both in O1 tool steel
Box label
Design
The GNS Tactical is very similar to many outdoor fixed blades. It has a blade shaped somewhere between a drop point and a spear point, similar to a Kephart style knife. It has a simple and comfortable handle with a slight palm swell, small guard, and small upturn at the butt. However, there are some small tweaks that push it more toward the tactical end of the spectrum. First, there is an added swedge near the tip. This swedge makes the tip pointier and better at piercing. Second, the handle has aggressive scallop texturing that make for a much grippier purchase than on the typical traditional fixed blade handle (even in the same material). Beyond those two modifications, it’s very similar to the normal L.T. Wright GNS, which is a pretty standard outdoor fixed blade design. The sheath is the same sheath that comes with several L.T. Wright knives. It is a classic vertical belt carry sheath. It can either be carried low, using the d-ring dangler loop, or higher with the built in loop. I think that, for a tactical knife, the built in higher carry belt loop would be the better choice because it would be kept in place better and would be easier to conceal. The sheath also has a firesteel loop, which is basically a holdover from the more outdoors focused knives in the L.T. Wright lineup. I was thinking that one might be able to put a flashlight in the firesteel loop, but it’d have to be a thinner flashlight than any I’ve seen. Still, even if the firesteel loop is redundant in the tactical usage of the knife, it doesn’t really seem like it’d get in the way. Overall, the GNS Tactical is a really classically designed knife with a few added tactical features.
You can carry it with the extended (and removable) loop…
or higher and more concealed with the built in loop
Both trainer and live knife feel great in both forward grip…
and reverse grip (as well as pinch grip, and really any grip)
Build
L.T. Wright built this knife simply, but very well. The blade is saber ground, meaning it isn’t ground all the way to the spine. Sometimes this kind of grind can be left too thick for my liking. For example, my Blind Horse Knives Woodsman Pro has a saber grind and didn’t cut as well as I’d like, so I had it reground by Razor Edge Knives. However, although I didn’t get to use this knife, this GNS Tactical looked to be ground quite well for good cutting performance. The swedge is also evenly ground. To be honest, the blade grind on this knife looks significantly better than the one that my older Woodsman Pro came with (more on why it’s a relevant comparison later). The handles are held on by steel pins peened into brass tubes and also glued, so they have both mechanical and chemical attachment. This double attachment makes for a sturdy handle. The handles on this knife have been sculpted in a way that I really enjoy. It’s what I’d call a scalloped finish across the entire handle, over top of an already sculpted handle. These finishes together make for a handle that feels great, with no hotspots, but also feels like it would be easy to hold onto even if it were wet or cold. The sheath is extremely well put together. In my experience, it’s clear as soon as you first look it over whether a leather sheath is high or low quality. This one seems built to last, with solid rivets/snaps and thick stitching on good strong feeling leather. As a whole, this knife exudes quality and a readiness to be put to use.
A thinner grind on the L.T. Wright than on my older Blind Horse Knives
The live blade with OD green micarta handles and the trainer with orange g10
The sheath is made of high quality feeling leather
Conclusion
This L.T. Wright GNS Tactical is a nice knife. It has a classic design that has been slightly modified for more tactical secondary features, and it is built extremely well. I do wish that it came with a sheath made more specifically for tactical type carry. Also, the trainer knife was far too pointy for use in the type of training I’m familiar with, as it could easily puncture and cause serious injury when grappling (beyond that, it was well made, and it could easily be ground down to be more safe). However, don’t let two small gripes make you think I don’t like this knife set. In fact, I think the GNS Tactical is a great knife whether you want an outdoors (hunting, fishing, bushcraft, etc.) or tactical (self defense, combat, etc.) fixed blade. I can tell you how it feels great in the hand, has a practical design, and classic materials but the best testimonial comes from the new owner of the knife. Mike Wilkins, who won the knife at the Stout Fights Pro Grappling Superfights, is not a knife enthusiast. In fact, I don’t think he’s ever owned more than a Victorinox Classic. However, after having the L.T. Wright GNS Tactical for a few days Mike said he really likes it, can tell it’s really well made, and he’s looking forward to using it! If you’re looking for a very practical medium sized fixed blade with a flare for the tactical, this might be a good option. You can find a list of authorized dealers at this link.
Do you hate when your knife blade rusts just because you left it setting in a puddle for ONLY A FEW days? Does it bother you when you can’t cut something just because you haven’t EVER sharpened your knife? Well boy have I got a knife for YOU!
There might be rust on this railing, but none on the Spyderco Pacific Salt!
Obnoxious infomercial intro aside, this article will focus on the Spyderco Pacific Salt. I’ll paint you a full picture of the knife, and tell you why it excels in certain realms of use.
The Pacific Salt with a Steel Will Gekko in n690co steel, another steel sometimes chosen for its (inferior to H1) rust resistance
Materials and Specifications
The Pacific Salt is part of Spyderco’s Salt line of knives. The Salt line is purpose designed for use in marine environments. Specifically, it is comprised of knives with extremely rust resistant steel and design elements that lend themselves to uses like boating, fishing, and diving. The Pacific Salt follows suit, with H1 steel. H1 steel is a precipitation hardening steel with .1% Nitrogen, taking the place of much of the carbon found in most steel alloys. This unique makeup allows H1 steel to be heat treated to 57-58 hrc for admirable edge holding, while providing near absolute oxidation resistance. My specific knife is fully serrated. The internal hardware is also treated to resist rust, including a black coated titanium pocket clip. The handle is made of fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN for short) which is a lightweight and durable material, and it does not have liners. The blade is held in the open position with a classic Spyderco mid-lock, which is just a slightly modified back lock. The Pacific Salt’s blade is 3.81″ with a cutting edge of 3.375″, so it’s not a small knife. The handle is 4.938″ closed. The blade is .125″ thick, pretty standard for modern knives but not as thin as many Spydercos. Still, despite being a relatively large knife in size, it weighs in at a lean 3oz, so it won’t weigh down your pocket. All told, the Pacific Salt is a relatively large knife with function driven materials.
The Pacific Salt in comparison to a few well known models:
Case Trapper, GEC #15, Pacific Salt, Spyderco Native 5, Spyderco Endura
Design
The Pacific Salt is very similar in design to the well known Spyderco flagship model, the Endura, with a few modifications. The blade is a modified drop point with a gradually curved belly and a straight portion, which lends it well to both all kinds of cutting. However, the Pacific Salt’s spine has a more abrupt downward curve to the tip at the end, making for a kind of modified sheepfoot / drop point hybrid. This is another design element chosen specifically for the intended use, as it makes the knife less likely to puncture something inadvertently during use (for example, if your hands are wet and slippery or if you’re on an unstable boat). With the fully serrated, or “spyder edge”, my Pacific Salt is best used with pulling cuts (rather than push or rocking cuts). Spyderco offers all of the Salt series knives in a fully serrated blade because they posit that a serrated edge is better suited to cutting rope and for aggressive cutting. The Pacific Salt’s handle is also similar to the Endura’s, with a finger guard and three finger scallop areas. However, I find the Pacific Salt’s handle to be MUCH more ergonomic because the center scallop is longer than on the Endura, which allows me to fit my middle and ring fingers comfortable into that scallop and my index and pinky fingers into the others (whereas on the Endura my middle and ring fingers land directly on the bumps between the scallops, which makes for a less than intuitive and comfortable grip). The Pacific Salt has a slightly smaller finger guard than the Endura, but I didn’t notice that in use. Both the blade and the handle are taller than those on the Endura, making the Pacific Salt a less slender knife that is a little more noticeable in the pocket. Speaking of in the pocket, the Pacific Salt has an ambidextrous tip up only clip. I actually really like the clip Spyderco uses on the Pacific Salt (and some of the other older FRN models) because it can be removed or switched without any specific tools (just two coins). The FRN handle has Spyderco’s bi-directional injection molding, and although it isn’t the same pattern as the Endura (and isn’t quite as grippy) it definitely adds traction. In keeping with the form follows function theme, the Pacific Salt has an enlarged Spyder hole for easy one hand opening and closing, even when wearing gloves or with wet hands. The Pacific Salt’s design culminates in a purpose driven knife that closely resembles the Endura if it were overhauled for marine environment use.
Handles compared: Cara Cara, Endura (handle bumps sanded down), Pacific Salt
Blades compared: Cara Cara, Endura, Pacific Salt
Build Quality
If my knife is an indication of the model as a whole, the Pacific Salt lives up to Spyderco’s high quality standards. Mine is well centered, has no blade play, and can be opened and closed very easily with one hand. It isn’t quite drop closed smooth, but that can’t be held against it; it’s a linerless and washerless knife, and drop closed action isn’t a practical feature. It’s also a pinned knife, rather than a screw construction knife, meaning it can’t be taken apart. Some modern knife enthusiasts dislike pinned knives, but being that I am comfortable carrying and using traditionals that are almost universally pinned, I don’t mind it one bit. I’ve had several Spyderco pinned knives and haven’t had any issues with them loosening significantly, and they’re easy to clean with a little soap and water and an ear swab. So although the Pacific Salt isn’t made to be a flashy knife to surf the current trends and tastes, it is certainly a well made knife ready to be used and worthy of being depended upon.
Very well centered
Safe one hand closing
Not deep carry, and pretty noticeable with the yellow and black, but comfortable
Usage
So, obviously the Pacific Salt is designed to excel in marine environments. Its rust resistant steel makes it great for any use where it might get, or stay, wet. It’d be a great knife to keep in your tackle box for fishing, whether you fish with worms in a little creek every now and then or are a professional deep sea fisherman. It’d also be a great option for someone who participates in watersports like canoeing, kayaking, rafting, surfing, diving, etc. I have personally carried it on a rafting trip clipped to my personal floatation device and, although I didn’t need to use it in an emergency, I felt reassured knowing it was there if I did need it. Speaking of which, I don’t think I’ve mentioned the very noticeable color! My Pacific Salt is bright yellow, like many of Spyderco’s Salt line (although some models also come in black and / or orange), which makes it extremely easy to see and difficult to lose. I have also taken an Endura, which has VG10 steel, on canoe trips and although it’s a good knife and a good steel it definitely can start to rust by the end of a long float. H1 steel can be in the water for a full day, and probably more, without breaking a sweat (or rather breaking out in oxidation?). I also think the Pacific Salt would make a great gardening knife. Because a knife can often get and stay wet while being used for gardening, the Pacific Salt’s H1 steel could definitely come in handy. I also find a fully serrated edge to be helpful in gardening uses because it allows for more aggressive pull cuts, making for quicker work trimming branches and such. Finally, I think the Pacific Salt would be a good knife for someone who just doesn’t want to worry about maintaining their knife. Some people don’t want to have to wipe down their knife after each use and such, and with H1 steel that’s totally fine! I also think a fully serrated blade is well suited for someone uninterested in taking the time to sharpen their own knife. That is because a serrated blade can continue to cut, or rather tear, even after the edge has dulled. So as it turns out, the Pacific Salt might prove appropriate for more users (and uses) than you might think: outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, and anyone who doesn’t want to have to maintain their knife to keep it in working order!
The Pacific Salt in its element!
Conclusion
I wrote this article because I think the Spyderco Pacific Salt is a cool knife with some interesting features. If you would like to get one for yourself you can use my Amazon Affiliate links below. If you purchase through them it doesn’t increase the price for you at all, but helps me out by giving me a small portion of the sale. You can find the fully serrated Pacific Salt at this link and the plain edge Pacific Salt at this link. You can also get it for a great price at Northern Knives at this link, and get free shipping with code: KNIFETHOUGHTS. Tell them I sent you!
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the lessons handed down from our dads, grandfathers, and whomever we’ve been privileged to have as father figures. One of the things my father passed on to me is an appreciation for knives.
My dad is an avid outdoorsman. He was an Eagle Scout, fishes regularly, has gone on many extraordinary hunting expeditions that border on survivalist outings. His interest in knives stems mostly from the fact that they’re essential in those kinds of outdoors activities, as well their usefulness in everyday tasks. He isn’t a collector, though through the years he has accumulated a good number of knives. As a non-collector, he doesn’t often keep his knives in great shape and tends to get a replacement when his current carry breaks down. He originally used traditional knives and I remember him using them when I was younger, but he switched to assisted opening modern knives sometime in the 2000s. Due to his tendency not to hang onto knives like a collector, I haven’t been able to check out many of his older knives, especially from before he switched to modern knives.
My dad’s knife displayed in a geode
However, while visiting him this weekend I stumbled upon an old gem; his old fishing knife. The knife is a Case #48 Slimline Trapper. I knew right away from looking at it that it was Case’s classic Slimline pattern, and Case’s pattern number list confirms (linked here). It’s a knife that Case has made for decades and continues to produce today. It’s a great utility pattern; easy to carry because of the thin handle, good amount of belly for skinning and such, useful tip, and a long edge for the overall size. I am sure that the handles are jigged synthetic, but Case’s handle designation number system (linked here) only confirms that it’s either jigged synthetic, laminate, or bone. My dad said he bought it about 50 years ago and used it all the time as his fishing knife. I took a look at Case’s tang stamp dating system chart (linked here) and he wasn’t too far off; it’s a 1974 6 dot normal “s” model.
Case XX U.S.A. (normal “s”) 6 dot stamp
61048 pattern designation
It’s pretty dang cool to not only be able to look over a knife used by my dad for years, but also to confirm its identity and age. For a well used 45 year old knife, it’s in admirable shape. Sure, it has some blade play and lots of patina. Even some gaps around the scales and spring. But it has great action with snappy walk and talk, and a nice even grind and sharp edge. This Slimline Trapper is a real testament to the fact that a well made slipjoint knife can be used hard and last for decades. The knife below (bottom knife) is a Queen #11 Utility Trapper. It’s not called a Slimline Trapper because that term belongs to Case, but it’s the same pattern. It was a gift from my dad. I’ve used it many times while hunting and fishing, including on some trips with my dad. It already was a knife I’ll keep forever, but I appreciate it even more now knowing that my dad carried an extremely similar knife. Like lessons, our fathers can also pass down physical items like knives that are imbued with meaning.
Queen #11 Utility Trapper on the bottom
As an interesting post script note, upon looking closely I realized that the shield is not pinned even on this 1974 Case! So the glued shields must not be a new development for Case. This is very interesting to me, and I plan to do more research into when Case stopped pinning their shields.
Opinel; It’s a name brand name synonymous with a whole type of knife, and for good reason. If you are into knives, it’s pretty likely you’ve heard of the Opinel knife. If you haven’t, don’t worry! In this article I’ll explain what (an) Opinel is and give you 5 reasons why it makes a great every day carry knife.
Three of the 10 Opinel Sizes
First, what is Opinel? Opinel is a knife company based in Savoie France that has been making knives since 1890. They manufacture a variety of knives and knife related accessories including classic kitchen knives, specialty knives (mushroom, cheese, etc.), gardening tools, and outdoor multi-feature folding knives with modern materials. However, they are best known for their traditional wood handled pocket folding knives. These knives have an extremely recognizable design, with some great features:
The ViroBloc Ring Lock Allows an Opinel Knife to be Locked Both Open and Closed
1) There’s an Opinel Sized Just Right for Everyone
No matter what your knife needs or preferences, you can be pretty sure Opinel offers a knife that will work for you. Opinel offers 10 different sizes of pocket knives from teency tiny keychain knives (like the No. 2 with a 1.38″ blade) to massive camping knives (like the No. 13 with a whopping 8.75″ blade). Somewhere within that range there’s bound to be an option that fits your hand, pocket, and cutting needs.
2) The Handles are Great
Not only are the handles surprisingly ergonomic, there are lots of handle color and material options also! The classic standard handles are Beech harvested mainly from sustainably managed French forests, which are a nice light color. They also offer some colored handles, handles with designs, synthetic handles, and handles in more exotic woods. The classic wood handles are contoured with a palm swell to fill the hand and make for comfortable and easy handling in use.
3) The Price is Right
Opinels are eminently easy on the wallet. The different sizes of the standard models range in the $15-$25 range, which makes them a great budget option. You can get one for the house, one for your EDC, one for camping, and one for the car for under $100. Of course, the models with more exotic materials and limited editions cost more but they’re still not big ticket items.
4) They’re Safe and Non-Knife Enthusiast Friendly
The Opinel’s two hand opening and Virobloc lock features make them both safe to carry and use, and unalarming in public. Although I (and I’m sure you if you’re reading this) wish it weren’t the case, there are times when a big fast flashy modern knife isn’t situationally appropriate. Whether local laws disallow one hand opening or your work or social engagements require a more subtle touch, sometimes you might have to ditch the tactical knife for something more old school. The Opinel’s two hand opening nature along with the size and non-locking options make it a great choice in less knife friendly environments.
5) The Blades are Ground for Performance
Thin is in, and Opinel blades are ground to making cutting a breeze. Although a thick blade like those found on most modern or tactical knives can be useful and handle more rough work, the vast majority of cutting that the vast majority of people do is best done with a thin blade. A thin blade makes for less drag when moving through material while cutting. If you’re used to modern tactical knives, I think you’ll be surprised at how well a thinner blade like those on Opinels, and many other traditional knives, cut. The grind of the blades is probably my favorite thing about Opinel knives.
The Opinel No. 5 is Small but Mighty, and Non Locking
In conclusion, there are many reasons to put an Opinel into your EDC rotation! In Opinel’s own words, an Opinel knife is a must have for “savoir-vivre”, or “knowing how to live well”. Opinel has a long history that is worth checking out. I would write more about it here, but Opinel offers a fascinating look into that history on their site (linked here). If you’re looking for an Opinel knife, Northern Knives offers a great selection at this link.
