Over the last couple years I seem to have become a fan of WE knives. First, I got the MassDrop Keen. The Keen was designed by Ray Laconico and manufactured by WE, and it isone of my favorite knives. WE gave the knife a level of quality that lived up to its beautiful design. Then, Ben Petersen of Knafs Co sent me a WE Banter for review. I enjoyed the design more than I expected, but there was no doubt that it was an extremely well made knife. Next, I took advantage of a Black Friday sale to finally get a knife I’d been wanting since its release, the CIVIVI (WE’s more budget friendly brand) Wyvern. I was particularly happy with the Wyvern; I felt that it kept the quality construction of the WE knives I had despite the more budget friendly (but still more than adequate for practical use) materials, and provided a really great value.
Then, I had an issue with the Wyvern. The detent, which keeps the blade securely in the handle, seemed to have loosened. This allowed the tip of the blade to rise above the frame of the knife, what you might call a “proud tip” in a traditional knife, which I wasn’t comfortable with. I contacted CIVIVI customer service and, frankly, was blown away by the experience I received. The people whom I emailed with were responsive, friendly, and helpful. Not only that, but my issue was fixed by the US based service center much quicker than I expected (or have experienced from some other brands).
After that process, CIVIVI asked if I’d be interested in reviewing any of their knives. Since I had about 10 of them on my (extensive) “To Buy” list, I was excited for the opportunity. I gave them a list of a few I was interested in, and they sent out a Dogma. So, because I always want to be upfront and transparent about these things, I want to be clear that I was given this knife for review and did not purchase it. That said, I always do my best to be impartial and consider how it would affect my opinion of a knife if I HAD purchased it at market price.
The Dogma immediately hit me as a knife strikingly well suited to my tastes. It had the practicality of a modern knife; a nice deep carry pocket clip, flipper opening mechanism, G10 scales, and D2 steel. At the same time, the traditional inspiration is obvious; it has the distinctive overall shape of a Lanny’s Clip slipjoint pattern and the G10 scales are clearly modeled after jigged bone covers. It also has the incredible snappy action I’ve come to expect from WE / CIVIVI, thanks to the dialed in detent and ceramic ball bearing pivot. Another thing that I think WE / CIVIVI does well, and remains true on this knife, is their primary grinds. This knife is made to cut things, but it looks good doing it with its big sweeping clip point blade shape.
Speaking of cutting things, I found the Dogma to work admirably in EDC usage. I cut cardboard, opened boxes, did food prep, assisted yard work, and even some house projects with the help of this knife and it handled all those tasks as you’d want it to. The D2 steel seemed to hold an edge like D2 should, which is pretty well. It’s not a “super steel”, but I don’t need a super steel for my knife use. I haven’t needed to full on sharpen it yet, as stropping has kept it hair shaving sharp. The finish on the steel is a bit unusual, as there is some horizontal wavy or cloudiness in addition to the vertical satin finish. I am not sure what is the cause of this reflection, but it doesn’t seem to affect the performance of the steel.
I do wish the blade cutout was functional. For example, on the CIVIVI Wyvern the blade cutout is a viable opening method (although it isn’t as easy to use as the flipper). On the Dogma I am not able to use the blade cutout for thumb opening, and it seems to be aesthetic only. I’m not sure that it adds much for me aesthetically, so I’d have preferred the cutout either be usable as an opening method or left out completely. It is possible that the cutout was included as a nod to the nail nick or long pull opening methods on the traditional knives that I believe inspired the design of this knife, but it’s not a connection that is immediately apparent.
Overall, I really like the CIVIVI Dogma. I’m happy to see the clip point blade shape more represented in modern knives lately, particularly in Chinese made knives (like the SRM 9201 above). I have found carrying and using the Dogma to be a pleasure, and it has proven to be both practical and enjoyable. I think CIVIVI is doing good things for the market, and there are several knives I’m looking forward to checking out soon from them. If you want a budget friendly modern knife with some traditional inspirations, I think the CIVIVI Dogma is a good option at ~$56.
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In this article I will provide a full review of the WE Knives Banter, designed by Ben Petersen. Ben became well known in the knife community through his work for CRKT and BladeHQ. The Banter is his inaugural knife design.
Couple of Spear Points (Video on the GEC 81 Bull Moose and its Unique Tang Stamp Linked)
The Background
Before I get to the review in earnest, I want to talk about how I came to test this knife. I, like most who search YouTube for knife videos, had watched several of Ben Petersen’s (lots of interesting posts on his site, btw) videos in the past. From them I learned that Ben and my knife preferences are… not exactly in line . That said, I appreciated his honesty and willingness to say what he didn’t like about a knife in what amounted to advertising videos. I also was aware of his knife information poster, which you can find on his website, and that it seemed to be a hit in the knife community.
So when I was browsing the Reddit r/knifeclub subforum early this year and saw the above preview of his upcoming knife design, I gave my thoughts on the knife. You can find the thread below:
Not exactly glowing praise
As you can tell, my “visual review” wasn’t all praise. However, Ben offered to send the real thing for a full review. I think that’s a really commendable reaction to criticism. It shows a genuine desire for feedback and a confidence in his work that I appreciate.
Fast forward about 6 months and the start of a pandemic later, and a package showed up at my door that I knew had to have some good stuff inside!
Speaking of the package, Ben went all in on these early release “Ben Banter Gift Boxes” as he called them in an Instagram post. It contained a work mat based on his poster, a WIUP (“What IIIISSS Up Guys?!”) t shirt, the new version of his poster, some stickers, a nice handwritten note, and of course the knife (oh, and a bunch of lifesavers). It also had a nice specs sheet and write up on how excited Ben is to bring his design to the market with WE Knives.
Lots of good stuff in there! (Unboxing video linked to the picture)
The Review
So, let’s get to the review! I’m going to base my review off of my initial visual review, with reference to Ben’s knife preferences (based on my YouTube research).
A little hard use. Can you really review a knife with honesty if you haven’t used it to eat a rotisserie chicken on the hood of your car? No, you can’t.
Ben did a great job bringing all his knife preferences together into a real product. One thing he talks about in some videos is how much he likes to be able to reach his finger to the end of the blade for fine cutting, and with its 2.875″ blade the Banter definitely passes that test. He also often mentions liking pocket clips in general but especially deep carry clips, and the Banter’s clip actually allows the entire knife to set below the lip of the pocket with no handle showing. It would be easy to mistake for a pen or flashlight, unless you’re a knife enthusiast and see the “BANTER” etch. Going along with the ease of carry theme, he also mentions appreciating a light knife and g10 handles. The Banter comes in at 2.86oz / 81g, with the help of nested minimalist liners in the light but strong (black or blue) g10 handles. Lastly, and almost inversely with the preference to be able to reach the tip of the knife with an index finger, Ben has sometimes tested a knifes ability to slice an apple fully and cleanly. Despite its short length, the thin .1″ blade stock makes for good cutting performance and I had no trouble slicing apples into pieces. All that together makes for a knife clearly designed to be Ben’s ideal EDC.
Slicing an Apple for Lunch at Work
So, how does it fare under my usage and preferences after about a week of carry and use?
Fits my wide hands surprisingly well.
Firstly, I like the looks much better than you might expect from my initial visual review. As I mentioned suspecting in the review, it does look different in some pictures than others and certainly in person. The handle and blade are not as squat as I had felt they looked initially, and in fact work well together aesthetically. The straight back isn’t an issue in person, and the blade doesn’t look to have an upward cant. I do like the look of the knife; it comes off minimalist and utilitarian in person in a positive way that I don’t think pictures convey. That said, a few people whom I’ve shown this knife have said it looked blocky. I still think the hard chamfering along the edges gives it an industrial look that differs from a lot of other knives, especially traditionals like those I often review. I appreciate the addition of the blue anodizing on the titanium thumb stud, and the “WE” logo on the pivot, that give it a little flair. I added a blue lanyard, which I think really emphasizes the blue of the thumb stud.
See how much less chunky it looks here than in the promo picture? Weird, right?
Second, as for its effectiveness as a utilitarian knife, I think it cuts the mustard. I did house projects, fished, cooked, cut cardboard, and general every day carry uses and never felt like the WE Banter was wanting in cutting ability. It is easy to open, even with gloves, with the thumb studs, well tuned detent, and caged ball bearing pivot. It is actually a lot of fun to open and close, as it’s extremely smooth and snappy. The thumb stud sits pretty close to the handle but I haven’t had any issues opening it with an upward movement of the thumb, or even on the other side with the middle finger. It drops closed, hitting the thumb nail, then can be closed the rest of the way by pushing on the tang of the blade with the index finger. It locks up solid with the liner lock, and I’ve felt no blade play (even side to side when unlocked). The blade does seem to be ground thinly for a modern style knife, so it slices well, but the saber grind makes for a sturdy tip. I used it to carve some wood for a house project and a little whittling, with no fear of breaking the tip. In use, I found the handle to be pretty comfortable. As I mentioned in the visual review, the cutoff at the end of the handle is a huge boon to the ergonomics because without it my pinky finger would sit directly on a hotspot. As designed, even in my wide hands it was easy to hold and grip in use, and the large guard at the front of the handle provided a solid anchoring point. While I do appreciate a good deep carry clip, the addition of a lanyard made it a bit easier to retrieve from the pocket without having to reach down amongst my phone and keys and such. I sharpened the knife a couple times (’cause I stupidly kept hitting the edge on hard stuff like aluminum and rocks) and, in my 0% scientific opinion, it does seem to be heat treated to a high hardness as advertised (59-61 s35vn). Speaking of the edge, in person the blade shape is more classic and fluid with less of a straight line from the belly to the tip than the picture seemed to show. I found it to be a very versatile blade shape, which shouldn’t be a surprise being that spear points are among the most common and oldest blade shapes. In fact, I think the WE Banter might be helping to open my eyes to the possibility that I don’t really need as much knife as I generally prefer.
Just a little whittling after losing my fishing line.
The Conclusion
Overall, I think this is a great first design from Ben Petersen. As Ben isn’t a knife enthusiast in the same way some of his viewers and customers are, the WE Banter presents a fresh take on an EDC knife design. It is minimalist, but with some touches of flair. It is simple, but effective in its design. For those who prefer, or are prescribed by law, a blade less than 3″ the WE Banter will be a good value considering the solid construction, high quality materials, and unique background at the price of ~$109. For me, and those who prefer a larger knife, I would love to see an XL version. Keep the same blade and handle width/height of ~1″ and the same design, but stretch the handle and blade another ~1″ or so. That would make for a knife that could compete with perennial favorites like the Spyderco Endura 4, Benchmade Griptilian, and Ontario Rat 1. It would also make for a duo of small and large Banters, like the Spyderco Delica 4, Benchmade Mini Griptilian, and Ontario Rat 2 respectively. I hope the WE Banter is a huge success, and that it facilitates the WE Repartee (Get it? longer version of Banter!). You can get the Ben Petersen designed WE Banter at BladeHQ starting tomorrow 6/23/20, at this link.
In all its glory.
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Chris Reeve Knives is well known within the knife community for designing and manufacturing some of the highest quality production knives on the market. Their Sebenza model has been the benchmark of quality modern folding knife manufacturing for years. They’ve introduced several major innovations to the modern pocket knife world: s35vn steel, the ceramic ball bearing lock interface, and even the frame lock itself. However, they come at a price point higher than my normal fare.
TL;DR? Here’s my video review of the Chris Reeve Inkosi
I recently was able to get a Chris Reeve Knives Inkosi at a very fair price from a fellow knife enthusiast. A few years ago I tried a Sebenza and Umnumzaan, but they didn’t stay in my collection long. So, I was excited to get the chance to carry and use a Chris Reeve knife for review, and also just to have one in my collection.
The Inkosi comes packaged like other Chris Reeve Knives in a both with a “Birthdate” Certificate of Authenticity, literature on the knife, and tools for disassembly.
The Inkosi is a newer model introduced in 2016 to replace the Sebenza 25. It has a mix of features from the Sebenza 25 and Umnumzaan. One of the features I really enjoy is the ceramic ball bearing lock interface. The addition of a press-fit ceramic ball to the lock bar, which also functions as the detent, makes the likelihood of lock stick much lower and also slows the wear on the lock face. It also has a canted clip, which makes for better ergonomics than the earlier Sebenza models. It has a floating pivot pin, which makes for simpler reassembly and better wear under heavy use. One thing that the Inkosi lacks, compared to the Sebenza models, is the bushing pivot. A bushing pivot allows the pivot to be tightened fully down while maintaining smooth opening and closing, eliminating the need for adjustment. I have to say, I wish the Inkosi included the bushing pivot, as it’s one of the features of the Sebenza that many point to when giving reasons for its quality. Finally, the Inkosi is said to have a thicker blade and pivot, for a sturdier feel. Overall I like the mix of features on the Inkosi, though I do wish it had the bushing pivot.
Like Chris Reeve Knives, Spyderco has always innovated and the Worker brought some of these innovations to the market.
The high quality of manufacture on the Inkosi is no surprise, but I am surprised at how much I like the design. The knife is superbly made. It locks up with the bank vault solid feel that Chris Reeve knives have come to be known for, with smooth opening and good blade centering. It’s not drop shut frictionless smooth, but rather a kind of silky smooth that has a satisfying feel. The blade locks with an assuring “thwock” sound. I find the clip to work really well, sliding into and out of the pocket easily. I have an aversion to things held on only by glue (like unpinned shields on traditional knives), so I wasn’t sure about the inlays, but I actually like how they feel in the hand. I enjoy the look also, but I do think I like the simple clean look of the plain titanium version. I expected to dislike the finger grooves, as such handles designs often don’t fit my wide hands. However, I actually really like how this handle feels in my hand. I like it better than I recall liking the handle of the Sebenza 21 or Umnumzaan I had a few years back. I’ve carried this knife a lot, and every time I used it the grip felt intuitive and locked my hand into place. The cone-shaped thumb stud takes a little getting used to, if you’re familiar with the typical thumb stud, but works well when pushed in a C shape. The blade shape is near perfection; a classic drop point with a nicely rounded spine (which adds a surprisingly significant feel of luxury), a good amount of straight edge and belly, a useful but strong tip, and a nice thing hollow grind. It’s an extremely well-made knife with a design worth the stellar reputation.
The Inkosi with two other smooth, solid, titanium handled knives: the MassDrop Ray Laconico WE Keen and the Spyderco Native 5 Fluted Titanium
Inkosi is a Zulu word that means “chief” or “king”, and I think that is a fitting moniker considering the history, and price, that this knife commands. It is an extremely strong feeling knife with the extra thick titanium frame lock, blade, and pivot. It also is imbued with Chris Reeve Knives’ history of innovation, excellence, and great warranty service. It certainly has kingly materials, with high-quality titanium handles and the s35vn steel blade. All that said, I find its dealer price of $550 to be more than I am willing to pay. Everyone has a different point at which the value to price ratio tips, and wherever that is for me the Inkosi falls above that point. Certainly I recognize that they might not be as complete a package, but I think there are plenty of knives at a lower price point with similar materials, features, and quality to the Inkosi. That is not to say that the Inkosi, or other Chris Reeve Knives models, isn’t an extremely good knife that isn’t worth having. Rather, I do believe that every knife enthusiast should try a Chris Reeve knife at some point… if it fits into your budget. For me, that means that when I am able to find one on the secondary market at a price that works for me, I jump at the chance to have such a high quality and prestigious knife in my pocket, even if I wouldn’t buy it at the dealer price.
I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts
Every year I travel to Columbus Ohio to compete in the Arnold Classic (specifically in the Grappling Industries tournament). It just so happens that River’s Edge Cutlery is a quick 15 minute drive from the Arnold. So over the last few years I’ve made it a habit to visit as an extra perk to the trip. This year I was able to go check out the selection at REC with my brother, and as always it was a great experience. There are always several people there willing to show you as many knives as you like, just talk knives, and they even sharpen knives (for a very reasonable fee). I ended up purchasing a couple Mora knives for review and a Spyderco Police 4 Lightweight that I’ve been wanting since it came out. When I went to check out, they offered to loan me a Finch Knife CompanyRuntly for review!
Check out my video review of the Finch Runtly
I have been seeing the Finch Runtly quite a bit on social media; it seems like there’s some hype surrounding this knife and brand. I had done a pass-around on the Spyderco Native Chief for River’s Edge Cutlery, the review of which you can find at this link, so I appreciated that they wanted my opinion on this new knife.
So, what is Finch Knife Company? It’s a knife producer that has been in the works for a while, but was officially started about a year ago according to one of the owners. The owners wanted to create a brand that felt like the old fashioned brands they most enjoyed: Hen & Rooster, Bulldog, Case. Finch Knife Company puts a modern spin on those classic knives. I think they do a great job of melding a traditional inspiration into the modern construction and design of their first knife design, the Runtly.
Finch Runtly with packaging
The Runtly is the first product to hit the market from Finch Knife Company. It is a small liner lock flipper. The first thing that struck me was the interesting design. It has a blade shape that is something like an enlarged, or heightened, mix between a sheepfoot and coping blade. This wide blade is fit into a particularly slim handle, that tapers from the pivot end to the butt end. This unusual design is based in the knife’s inspiration; vintage Heddon River Runt Spook fishing lures. As strange as it may seem, I can actually see the resemblance when they’re put side by side as in the picture below. The Runtly is even being offered in color options similar to those of the lures! Apparently the owner thought to design a knife based on these lures because with a young family he doesn’t have as many opportunities as he would like to get out and fish, so the Runtly was designed as something he can carry daily to remind him of days on the water. I really appreciate that Finch Knife Company is bringing knives to market with such unique inspiration. I think it’s a good thing to have something new and unexpected available like the Runtly.
Picture from Finch Knife Company
The Runtly is a well made little knife. River’s Edge Cutlery told me that the Runtly is made by Bestech Knives in China, which is not mentioned on the knife or packaging. Some people have an aversion to Chinese made knives, but the fact is that China is making a lot of really high quality knives these days. It flips so well, due to a crisp detent, that someone who I showed it to thought it was assisted. I believe it is a ball bearing pivot. It also came with good centering and solid lockup. The grind seems even and well ground. Overall it’s just a solid little knife with great action!
As for the design, I think it’s apparent that a lot of thought went into this knife. One thing I really appreciate is the rounded back end of the handle above the flipper tab. This simple little design element makes the knife much easier and more comfortable to flip (it’s a light switch style flipper). I also really like the simple sculpted titanium (I believe) clip, although I mostly carried it unclipped in my watch/coin pocket. They did think to add a slight cutout to help access and unlock the liner lock, but at least for people with big thumbs like mine I think it could have been made a little bigger without the aesthetic suffering. The blade has a nice two toned finish that accentuates the well executed grind. It also has a nail nick on both sides of the blade. I recognized that the nail nick was not necessary, as (aside from the availability of the flipper) the blade can easily be opened with a pinch grip. The owner said that the nail nick was added because he showed it to his father, who has a collection of only traditional knives, who tried to open it with two hands. Thus, the nail nick was added, and I think it’s an interesting addition that gives the knife another slight nod to the vintage and traditional aesthetic. My first thought, before asking the owner about the addition of the nail nick, was that it was intended to look like the eye on the fishing lures that inspired the knife. The handle has an inlayed shield, which I think is another nod to traditional knives. I didn’t realize it till seeing a post on social media, but the shield is actually glow in the dark. If you’ve read my reviews of Case knives you know I much prefer a pinned shield, but being that this is a modern knife and the shield is not metal (and therefore is unable to be pinned) I’ll give it a pass. I actually like the look of the shield from a purely aesthetic standpoint. Lastly, the blade is not “billboarded” with excessive branding. The front side says “Finch” in a font I like, and the back says “N690” and “Runtly”. The blade is 2.25″, which is a size I appreciate because it’s big enough to be used for things like breaking down cardboard and opening boxes but small enough to be legal almost anywhere (that a one hand open locking knife is legal). Overall, the Runtly is a small knife with an interesting aesthetic inspiration that I have come to appreciate in my short time carrying and using the knife.
Avery carrying the Runtly
I think the Runtly will be a hit, and I’m looking forward to what Finch Knife Company brings to market in the future. Right now they have two other models planned: the Tikuna and the Model 1929. Honestly, both these designs appeal to me and I hope to get to review them. I get the feeling that the owners of Finch Knife Company have a lot of passion for what they’re doing, and I think they’ll find success in the knife community. You can purchase your Finch Runtly at River’s Edge Cutlery at this link, and don’t forget to tell them Knife Thoughts sent you!
I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts
Recently, I found two surprisingly interesting and rare vintage Spyderco knives at a gun show. I am excited about these knives and the history they represent so I’ll be posting shorter than normal articles on both of them, starting with this unique edition of the classic Spyderco Police.
Just look at that classic Spyderco Police design that has made it one of the longest produced modern knives on the market.
Normally I don’t have much luck at gun shows, flea markets, and the likes. It seems that with eBay a click away, if someone an inkling of what a knife is they can look it up and find the highest price a niche collector was willing to pay for something at least similar… then price it right at that top dollar. At the same time that eBay can be a great market research tool for the collector, it can also mislead the non-collector.
In this instance, I was told that a detective was moving to California and couldn’t take his guns, knives, and ammunition with him. In a way that is sad, but it was an estate sale and the owner himself wasn’t actually there to tell me about his knives.
I noticed this knife first, because I have always been a fan of the stainless handled Spyderco Police. In fact, my uncle carrying one of these when I was young is one of the factors that got me interested in knives in the first place. It’s just such a classic design; the long slender blade, the sleek stainless steel handle, and the meant for business shape.
However, when I picked it up I knew right away it was something special. I’d heard of the “PIG” model only once or twice in my many wanderings of the Spyderco forums and Spyderco section on BladeForums, but it caught my eye right away. The blade has a factory, not aftermarket, engraving that reads:
Pride
Integrity
Guts
Being that the engraving is found on the Police model, it’s an easy connection to realize that this is an acronym for “PIG”. Apparently, this derogatory moniker for law enforcement officials has been turned on its head and made positive through this acronym. Being that Spyderco makes many models intended for first responder use and gives law enforcement and other first responders a significant discount, it’s no surprise that Sal (the founder and owner of Spyderco) decided to make a knife showing their support for police officers.
This interesting edition of the Police provides a great example of Spyderco’s willingness to make unique and quirky knives. It’s one of the characteristics of Spyderco that I most enjoy, and a large part of why I picked up this knife.
Another reason this knife is interesting and worth owning is because it is both old and rare. According to the Spyderco Wiki, this knife was produced between 1984 and 1986, and was one of the very first Police models released if not the very first. Also, it was made in relatively low numbers compared to today’s Spyderco run totals at 2400 made (with 80% being right handed, as mine is). All of this makes for an exceptionally old and rare knife.
Finally, it has aged well for being an almost 40 year old knife. It has what seems to be the factory edge, except for a blunted tip. The handle has scuffs as all stainless handles Spydercos do, but it doesn’t have any major gouges. The lockup is extremely solid, and opening and closing with one hand is easy and smooth. It’s just a great example of the fact that Spyderco has been making really good knives for a long time.
Check out the accompanying video, and don’t forget to subscribe to my channel!
Overall, I’m very happy to have found this piece of knife history in the Spydeco Police PIG edition. It’s an old, well made, and fun knife that’s made for use by people who rely on their knives for their lives. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to check out the Spyderco Police PIG knife!
I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts
Christmas is fast approaching, and if you’re like me then your gift list still has people without checks next to their names. However, at this point you might be getting a little tapped out. You’ve got lots of friends and family that you’re excited to give presents, but they don’t come free!
So, in this article I will recommend three great options of budget friendly knives that make great gifts. These are all modern knives with one hand opening, pocket clips, and locks. I have owned or handled several of each of these, so I am confident in their overall quality, especially considering they’re all under $30!
Byrd Cara Cara 2
The Cara Cara in a stainless steel handle is a great canvas for engraving
Byrd is Spyderco’s budget brand. They’re made in China with less exotic materials than the typical Spyderco, but they seem to be held to a high standard of quality control for their price point. I have actually examined 6 of these, and I’ve been honestly shocked at the consistent quality across all of them. They’ve all had smooth action, solid lock up, and good centering (not all 100% perfect, but none close to rubbing the handles). The Cara Cara 2 is the Byrd version of Spyderco’s well known and loved Endura. It has a 3.75″ blade, which provides ample cutting edge. It comes in several different blade shapes including the classic Endura-like drop point, a serrated sheepfoot, and a spear point with an Emerson Wave Opener. The handles are either fiberglass reinforced nylon, which come in several colors, or stainless steel. I particularly like the stainless steel, and it’s great for engraving. I find the handle to be very ergonomic; honestly it feels better in my hand than that of the Endura. The blade steel is 8cr13mov; lower edge retention and corrosion resistance than the VG10 of an Endura but still very capable and easy to sharpen. The Byrd Cara Cara is a great option if you like the Spyderco aesthetic and emphasis on utility, and offers a great value at around $30. You can find it at many dealers and Amazon, but there are a lot of options available at DLT Trading. There is also a smaller, Delica sized, version called the Meadowlark.
Ontario Rat 1
The Rat 1 with another classic, the Case Trapper
The Ontario Rat 1 is one of the most commonly recommended budget knives. It’s a classic that has been proven to be of high quality. I think I’ve had 3 through the years, and I’ve given at least 3 as gifts. They’ve all come well centered, with no blade play, and smooth. The Rat 1 has an almost straight backed drop point design with a lot of straight edge and an abrupt belly, at about 3.6″. This blade shape works fine for pretty much any usage, and is very similar to that on the classic Sod Buster pattern, although I do prefer blade shapes with less abrupt a belly. The blade steel is Aus8, on which Ontario seems to have really dialed in the heat treat. Mine have always held an edge extremely well, and I’ve seen them stand up to some real abuse. The Rat 1 is right around $30, although it can sometimes be found on sale for less, and most dealers carry it including Amazon. It is available at this link at KnifeCenter, where you can also find the smaller version the Rat 2.
Kershaw Thistle
Nice lines for an inexpensive knife
The Thistle is an interesting model from Kershaw that I really enjoy. I have had a couple of these and have gifted a good several, so I’ve gotten to look over 7. They all had solid lockup and smooth action. 5 of them had perfect or close enough centering, and 2 were a bit off but nowhere near rubbing the handles. The Thistle has a somewhat unique modified liner lock where you push a button on the handle that pushes a bar across and unlocks the liner. This lock allows you to close the knife without putting your fingers in the path of the blade, unlike a normal liner lock. The thing I really like about this knife though, is its design. The handle is nice and simple with great ergonomics and a good bit of grippiness with Kershaw’s “K-Texture”. The blade is a very practical drop point with a good section of straight edge then a nice long sweeping belly. It fits a considerable amount of edge into the handle also, although it’s shorter than the others on this list at 3.25″. The blade steel is 8cr13mov, like on the Cara Cara. Another great thing about the Thistle is that it’s on sale pretty much everywhere! I got mine for Christmas gifts from Smoky Mountain Knife Works at only $9 each, but I think this knife is EASILY worth $30 and offers a similar value as the others on this list.
I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts
T(oo)L(ong);D(idn’t)R(ead)? Here’s the accompanying video review.
The WarHorse is a modern slipjoint made by LionSteel for CollectorKnives. It’s one that I’ve been looking forward to trying for a while, as CollectorKnives announced it on their Early Reserve page early this year. I had previously tried the CollectorKnives Shuffler, which is the single clip blade version, and liked it other than the handle material. The main reason I decided to get this knife is a bit convoluted; Mike at CollectorKnives had an SFO made by Great Eastern Cutlery in 2014 of a #77 NorthField barlow with clip point and wharncliffe full sized blades. I decided not to get one and wish I had. When I saw Mike was doing one of his modern barlows with the same blade combination I decided to check one out.
Two big full blades, clip and wharncliffe
The WarHorse is an interesting mix of modern and traditional. First and foremost, it is a slipjoint. It is non-locking, and uses a backspring to stay open and stay closed. It also has the hallmarks of a traditional barlow; an elongated bolster on a jack frame. Additionally, it’s a two hand opening knife that uses long pulls. Finally, on the traditional side, the clip point and wharncliffe blades are traditionally shaped. However, that’s where the traditionality ends. Rather than being pinned, the WarHorse is held together with torx screws. It also has a pin that the blade kicks fall upon when closed, eliminating the risk of blade rap. Finally, rather than the blades pivoting directly against the liners like on a traditionally built knife, the WarHorse has phosphor-bronze washers between the blades and liners.
The grip is comfortable enough with either blade open due to the width of the handle
The grip is slightly more ergonomic with the Wharncliffe open
LionSteel did a great job making this knife. It came with nice action; great walk and talk, healthy snap, and a nice 5.5ish pull (just a little stronger than a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife). The blades are nice and tight, with no play or wobble, and they’re both centered dead down the barrel. The fit is different than on a traditionally made knife. Since the knife is held together with screws, the transitions between handle cover and bolster and liners and springs can’t be polished flat. Instead, all of the edges are nicely rounded so that they come together smoothly. The washers help to provide extremely smooth action without any blade play right out of the box, but they also create small gaps between the blades/springs. The blades seem to be ground quite thin, for good slicing capabilities, and evenly. The long pulls (which, unlike on the vast majority of traditional slipjoints, are on both sides of the blade) are a little more rounded than I’d prefer. A traditional long pull has a square / angled inside upper edge which allows the fingernail to catch securely, whereas the WarHorse long pulls are radiused. This radius can sometimes lead to my fingernail slipping off the blade, especially on the pile side wharncliffe blade. Although the WarHorse is not traditionally built, it is certainly built well.
Back springs with no spacer
Stop pin that eliminates blade rap
Brass washers for smooth action
Perfect centering and full blades
Really nice carbon fiber goes well with the titanium bolster
Collector Knives etch
One of the WarHorse’s biggest drawing points is its high end materials. It comes in several different handle materials including olive wood, ram horn, ebony wood, and carbon fiber. I went with the carbon fiber, because I think it really fits with the traditional meets modern aesthetic. Knives have been handled in synthetic materials for around a hundred years, like micarta and celluloid, but carbon fiber is a new age material and I felt that it represented the mix of modern and traditional in the overall WarHorse. It is handsome carbon fiber, with no noticeable voids and a nice even weave. The blades are M390 steel. M390 is a recent super steel that is well liked for its high performance across all categories: edge holding, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpenability. Finally, the liners and bolsters are a nice tumbled titanium, for strength and lightness. The materials on the WarHorse are high end, but I do believe (if the WarHorse was made with pin construction) the materials do not exclude it from being a traditional knife. I really appreciate the high end materials that make up the WarHorse, especially considering super steels are so rare on production slipjoints.
Ready to put in lots of work
Overall, I think the WarHorse is a knife that the slipjoint market needs. It brings to the market a knife with high end materials and newer build technology while retaining a respect for and homage to the traditional knives from which it draws inspiration. I don’t think it has the same spirit and soul as a traditionally made barlow, if I’m being honest, but it offers more muscle and utility to even things out. The WarHorse builds a bridge between the modern and traditional knife segments, and hopefully will continue the trend of production knife companies making knives with traditional designs.
Compared to some recent GEC patterns, the #29 and #97
Thickness compared to the single blade #97 and 3 blade/spring #29
Compared to the Spyderco Domino and Spyderco Native
The WarHorse is a CollectorKnives exclusive. You can get one for yourself from CollectorKnives.net (they are in stock as of 8/20/19). You can find all of the different versions for between $162 and $172 at this link. Tell Mike you heard about the WarHorse on Knife Thoughts!
I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts
The Spyderco Native Chief is a knife I’ve been waiting to get my hands on for a long time. I first dipped my toes into the world of knife enthusiasm in earnest when I found BladeForums looking for a longer version of the old FRN Spyderco Native. I had been given one and, although I do like the normal sized Native (especially the updated Native 5), I thought that a longer version would be a superior knife. In my head first dive into the rabbit hole that is online knife forums, I eventually found a picture of the Spyderco Native Chief prototype from 1999. There were whispers across the knife community that it was coming, but no one knew when. Then, without warning, this year Spyderco announced that the Native Chief would finally be released; the knife that was promised had come after 20 years!
The Native Chief with a couple other long slender knives, the Camillus made Remington Guide and Great Eastern Cutlery made Northfield Ben Hogan (top to bottom)
This article will give you my thoughts on the Spyderco Native Chief. My experience with this knife is facilitated by Rivers Edge Cutlery. Rivers Edge Cutlery recently started a knife pass-around program, wherein they select a group of knife enthusiasts to try out a knife for about a week then send it along to the next person on the list. I was very excited to see that the Native Chief was the first knife in the program, and jumped on the opportunity to get try out this knife. I really appreciate Rivers Edge Cutlery giving me the chance. I took full advantage of my time with the knife, and will provide a thorough and honest Knife Thoughts review of the Spyderco Native Chief.
The fabled Spyderco Native Chief prototype from 1999. Notice the swedged blade with a hollow grind, more like the older FRN Native. The production Native Chief that came to fruition in 2019 has a full flat grind and handle shape more like the Native 5. This image is not mine, I claim to ownership of it. It was found at this Spyderco forum thread.
Materials
The Native Chief has pretty standard materials for a U.S. made Spyderco. The handle is made of linerless black g10. The g10 has a fairly grippy texture, which lands pretty close to the center of Spyderco’s g10 when it comes to texture aggressiveness. The handle feels solid with no flex, despite the lack of liners. In my experience using knives, liners are more of an aesthetic thing than a structural necessity. I’ve used several linerless g10 and FRN handled Spydercos in what most would consider “hard use” with no issues. The blade is CPM S30V. CPM S30V is still a really good steel, and one that Spyderco certainly knows how to correctly heat treat to bring out its highest qualities. Some people might claim that a knife in this price range should have an even more modern steel, as there is a contingent of knife enthusiasts who see CPM S30V as less than current and not a super steel. I personally have used Spyderco’s CPM S30V a lot and am very happy with its mix of edge holding, sharpenability, stain resistance, and toughness (probably, roughly, in that order). It will hold an edge longer than VG10 or 154CM, is more stainless than AUS8 and 8CR13MOV, and won’t chip as easily and is less difficult to sharpen than things like CPM S110V and the like. On this knife in my use, slicing up vegetables for salads and cutting (a whole lot of) cardboard, the steel performed extremely well and more than what I consider a value for this knife’s price. However, I do find it strange that Spyderco went with CPM S30V, like on the older model Natives, rather than CPM S35VN, like on the Native 5. They made the Native Chief’s design more like that of the Native 5, so I don’t know why they wouldn’t go with the Native 5’s steel. I guess that’s a question for Sal!
The Native Chief sitting victoriously on a pile of cardboard it vanquished at work
Specifications
The Native Chief is not a small knife. It boasts a 4.08″ blade and a 5.08″ handle. Despite the 50/50 choil, this long blade makes for a solid cutting edge of 3.58″. In comparison to something like the PM2, this makes for a slightly better edge length to handle length ratio, meaning the Native Chief fits more usable blade into the handle. The blade is .125″ thick, with a full flat grind and distal taper. This means that the blade grind thins both from the spine down to the edge and from the handle toward the tip, making for a thin edge and pointy tip. Despite its ample length, the Native Chief weighs in under 4oz. The main thing to glean from the Native Chief’s specifications is that it packs a respectable blade and edge length considering its handle size and weight.
The Native Chief, Native 5, and GEC Tidioute #15 TC Barlow for size comparison
Design
By design, the Native Chief is an elongated Spyderco native 5. If you place the Native 5 on top of the Native Chief they line up perfectly for most of the design, the blade is just more gently curved toward on the edge and spine and the handle is continued on the same line. With an inch longer blade, the Native Chief has a long and slender blade somewhere between a spear point (like the older versions of the Native) and a leaf shape. It has some straight edge near the handle then a long gentle curve, pretty close to equal between the spine and edge, toward a very acute point. This blade shape has lent itself noticeably well to kitchen tasks. Some people scoff at using a folding knife for food prep, but it any pocket knife is cut out for it it’s the Native Chief. With a nice thinly ground blade, it slices as easily through peppers, tomatoes, and other food stuffs as it does through cardboard. Now, some people have commented on the thinness of the tip on the Native Chief. Admittedly, it does have a quite fine tip due to the distal taper. I do think that for the majority of knife users the tip is fine enough that you’ll be more likely to break the tip than on the average modern knife in this price range. However, this thin tip also allows for more precise cutting and piercing. So, although it might take some more mindful use, I do think when used correctly the tip should not be an issue.
A spectrum of peppers sliced with the Native Chief
Like the other knives in the Native family, it has a 50/50 finger choil. This means that a scallop is formed for the index finger half with the handle and half with the blade. On the Native 5 the main grip area, without the finger choil, is just short of providing a full 4 finger grip for me. On the other hand, the Native Chief’s main grip area is more than ample for a solid 4 finger grip with room to spare. I like the finger choil especially on a longer knife like this because it allows you to choke up on the blade and have more precise control for finer cutting tasks. I find the handle to be extremely ergonomic overall, and comfortable in all kinds of grips (pinch, hammer, reverse, etc.). I do find the sculpting on both sides of the handle help to orient my index finger in a normal pinch or hammer grip.
When the Native 5 is placed on top of the Native Chief it’s easy to see that the Native Chief is an elongated Native 5
The blade is opened, of course, by a Spyder hole. The opening hole on the Native Chief is the same size as that on the Native 5. It certainly works fine, and I don’t think it could be much bigger considering that the blade is not taller on the Native Chief than on the Native 5. The opening is smooth and consistent using the normal thumb opening, and it can easily be middle finger flicked and Spyder dropped. However, I have trouble getting enough purchase to flick the blade open, without using my wrist, using my thumb. I think this is in part due to my thick thumb, and also due to the fact that without a thumb ramp the Native Chief’s Spyder hole sits partially obscured by the handle.
A thumb ramp makes for a slimmer knife…
but can also mean the opening hole is partially obscured
The Native Chief’s blade is locked open and self closed by the classic Spyderco mid-lock. This lock is just an upgraded back lock and its simplicity, reliability, and ease of use make it one of my most favorite lock types. The mid-lock holds the blade open with absolutely no play in any direction and also pulls the blade closed once unlocked. This means you don’t have to worry about the knife closing in use, or opening accidentally when not in use.
A Spyder in the vines
Finally, the Native Chief has a 4 way reversible pocket clip. The clip itself is pretty standard for a U.S. made Spyderco. I tried both tip down and tip up right hand carry, and I have to say that I’m not sure which I prefer. Sometimes on knives as large as the Native Chief I prefer tip down, especially on flippers. Being such a long knife, whichever way you carry it you will have to do some adjusting in your hand when you pull it out of your pocket in order to open it. The good thing is you have both, or rather all 4, options available to you so that you can carry the Native Chief however you like.
Build
The Native Chief is built very similarly to other U.S. made Spyderco knives. It has screw construction and is fully disassemblable. As a pass-around knife mind came to me not brand new and somewhat broken in, but this example has very smooth action. Like I mentioned, it’s not the most easily flickable knife but that’s due to the nature of the mid-lock (it always applies pressure to the tang of the blade during opening/closing) more than the quality of the build. It is easy to open and close one handed with the Spyder hole and has consistent pressure throughout. It locks with no blade play whatsoever, and feels extremely secure in its open state. This knife seems to want to stay a little off center toward the pile, or clip (for right hand carry), side but it’s not rubbing the liners and hasn’t seemed to worsen in the time I’ve had it (see the companion YouTube video to see the exact centering). The blade seems to be ground quite well, both even and consistent. The edge came to me quite sharp even after someone else having and using it for a week, and it just took a few passes on my strop to bring it back to extreme sharpness. The edge also seems pretty even, and the angle seems set thin for aggressive slicing. Overall it’s a very well built knife, as is expected from a top line Spyderco.
Conclusion
The Native Chief is a knife I, and many other knife enthusiasts, have been waiting to see come to fruition for years; it doesn’t disappoint. It is exactly what I hoped it would be, simply an elongated version of Spyderco’s classic Native pattern. It provides more handle for a better grip and more blade for a wider range of suitable cutting tasks. Although the point is probably fragile in comparison to modern knives of more “tactical” or “hard use” designs and the opening hole could be more easily accessed if bigger, these minor gripes are far outshadowed by the good things the Native Chief brings to the table. In my time with this knife I have used it for food prep, opening and breaking down boxes, work usage (cutting paper, opening letters, cutting tape, etc.), and general EDC / every day carry type uses and it has taken everything in stride without breaking a sweat. Considering this is a large made in the U.S.A. knife with high quality materials and build, I think a price tag of ~$160 makes it a good value in today’s modern knife market. I hope to put the Native Chief into my permanent collection at some point, and if you’d like to also you can find it at Rivers Edge Cutlery by following this link. Tell them I sent you!
Rivers Edge Cutlery was generous enough to include me in this pass-around and share some stickers!
P.s. When Spyderco announced the Native Chief they also announced the Emphasis (linked here). I see the Emphasis as a budget version of the Native Chief. Due to their similarities, I hoped to write an article comparing the two. However, I might have to do a separate article on the Emphasis alone. Either way, if you like the general design of this knife but don’t care as much about the lock type or high end materials, and would prefer a more budget friendly price point, keep your eyes peeled for a review of the Emphasis (hopefully) in the future.
Pretty similar in size to the Spyderco Native 5, but with more cutting edge
Rough Rider is a brand of knives owned and produced by Smokey Mountain Knife Works, but sold through many dealers both online and at brick and mortar stores. Recently SMKW announced that they would be changing the name back to Rough Ryder knives. Apparently this was the originally trademark, and they’ve decided to switch back to that spelling. Either way, the knife discussed in this article was produced under the “Rough Rider” spelling, so I’ll be using that terminology. Rough Rider is a brand that offers a wide variety of knives and knife related paraphernalia. Although most of their knives fall under the traditional umbrella with classic designs and materials, they also make modern folders and occasional novelty style knives. This knife falls squarely within those latter two categories: it is in no way traditional, and it flaunts the obscure theme of a pastel color palette.
I bought this knife for just that reason; it slaps you right in the face with its weirdness and bold refusal to look like the typical modern knife. It has all the normal features of a low price budget modern knife: spring assisted flipper opening (but still manual, don’t let anyone hassle you into believing this is a “switchblade” or automatic knife), liner lock, steel handles, pocket clip, and stainless steel blade. But instead of sticking with the status quo when it comes to finish and color it leaves behind the typical black plastic/g10 handles, black or silver clip, and plain satin or black coated blade and instead goes with a dazzling combination of a neon pink handle, sky blue blade, and canary yellow clip. You wouldn’t be wrong to call it garish, and that’s exactly what I like about this knife. The coatings seem relatively durable. They’re certainly not cerakote or diamond like coating levels of toughness, and I’m sure if you used this knife hard the coatings would scuff and scratch, but they seem to be about on the level of the blade coating on an Ontario Rat or Cold Steel Micro Recon.
Surprisingly good ergonomics, with a design that lock in your thumb and forefinger for a pinch grip
As for the practical design of this knife, I am pleasantly surprised. The blade is an amalgamation of a drop point, spear point, and leaf shape and seems to work pretty well for general use. It came sharpened evenly but with a burr, so it just needed a one over on a stone and light stropping. The blade is just under 3″ with usable edge right around 2.5″. The handle proved to be well designed. As you can see above the finger scallop and thumb ramp combine for a secure and comfortable pinch grip, and other grips are also comfortable due to the simple handle. If you’ve watched my videos you know I appreciate the ergonomics afforded by a simple handle shape and, although this isn’t a particularly large handle at about 3.375″ overall with 3.25″ of usable grip area, this knife is a good example of how even a small handle can be comfortable with a simple design.
Blade off center to the non clip side, but not rubbing liner
The construction of this knife has to be viewed within the price range it occupies. It came with a significantly off center blade with some play in the closed position, but it doesn’t touch the liner and has no blade play in the open position. The action is fine with consistently solid opening, if not as snappy as the average higher end assisted knife. The detent isn’t super crisp and has a little slop in the closed position, but seems to hold the blade safely within the handle frame. It is only set up for tip down carry, which for me isn’t a deal breaker but I know some have strong preferences in this area. Overall I would consider this slightly less well constructed than the average Chinese made Kershaw or Byrd knife, but still a more than usable knife especially for the price. Remember though that I’m making my conclusions from a sample size of one, so you might get one that’s better or worse than mine.
