I bought this knife and have really been enjoying it. It’s nice in the hand and the pocket. It came nice and sharp so hopefully it’ll be awhile before I have to sharpen.
I’ve handled two bel airs so far. The first one I bought as a gift and the second I bought for myself because I liked it so much. Now they are on sale pretty regularly. It shouldn’t be hard to find one around 125 which I think is a good price. Both the bel airs I bought came with no loctite and I bought them more than a month apart. They also came with blade play because the pivots were loose. It’s a quick fix and once you tighten the pivot everything locks up like a vault. Just something I think they did a 180 on because of the reviews. I personally don’t mind because I am indeed a lefty. This made dealing with the pocket clip easier. Overall good knife. Even if the magnacut is on the soft side the bel air makes up for it with a blade that claps very easily in fixed angle systems and is very easy to sharpen. I feel the performance is better than benchmade s30v so when compared to the bugout it beats it on that front as well.
I like the blade shape and deep carry clip. I’ve had a Cryo and leek and was put off Kershaw after breaking Speedsafe springs. Thanks for the unbiased review.
Thanks brother. The leek was my first kershaw back in the day. Sadly I lost it.. worked its way out of my pocket when I was working. I had no idea till it was gone.
Fyi i changed the springs and put skiffs in that knife. Sorry, i assume everyone sees my videos 🤣. The springs are weaker stock. Action is about the same stock. Edit: you did see the video. I use Skiffs because i get better side to side stability, not really for action. I also just hate steel bearings. I wonder if it had a burnt edge. But at 60-63 (what they list) you wont see all the benefits of Magnacut. Hopefully they bump it up to 63-64 in the future
lol I think many people who watch me also watch you. I missed that you did the springs too, thanks. Ceramic definitely has advantages. Not all about feel, totally get that. Thanks again!
The thing is, they're saying they have a range. Most knife makers will give a 2, sometimes 3 point range. A 4 point range tells me that they are A) advertising the higher range based on the 1 in a 1,000 knives being at the top and/or B) their process control sucks that they don't dial it in tighter.
I heard someone say (I don't remember who) that a relatively lower heat treat on Magnacut (60-61 or below, I'm thinking) emphasizes its corrosion resistance. Where a higher heat treat makes the edge retention really shine, it supposedly compromises the corrosion resistance qualities. My understanding of the impetus for the creation of Magnacut was having an almost completely stainless steel (Spyderco Salt series) while also being pretty well balanced in other areas. Maybe this is spin to cover companies not dialing in the heat treat correctly... but I though Laren or someone else pointed this out about better corrosion resistance at relatively lower heat treats.
I love the way this one looks, but looks are subjective. Nice thorough review and I kind of miss the days we knew we would have to sharpen or touch up our knife. The super steels can be great but with a price tag and sometimes it's not worth it. Great review Dennis!
@@edc4fun I've never tried cruwear, but I'm assuming it's from Spyderco, and imo they must do a great job on the heat treat because it just seems like edges work better from them, but I am not even close to an expert. I love 154, but I have no choice because I have so much of it haha, but it's easy for a novice sharpener like me to put a good edge on it.
Great review. Mine came with very close to 17 degree bevels, I stayed at 17 and took it to 1500 grit and stropped. Chipped quick and badly. Stayed with 17 and after 3 sharpenings going to the same 1500 grit and stropped it is getting better. Like the knife. Scales are ok, but the magnacut is nothing like my spyderco native 5 in magnacut.
To be fair, this same type of chipping has occurred on a number of recent knives I purchased from a variety of brands and multiple different steels. Usually goes away after a sharpening or 2. Just a universal guess that it has more to do with how the factory sharpens more so than heat treat issues?
You carry a Spyderco most right? I have a buddy who just made a new attachment for a few poplar knives. It's metal not printed. It's a mix between karambit ring and the ultimate deep carry. He also makes actual karambit rings too that replaces the back spacer of your knife. That's what i got my wife and was going to send a pic. Hopefully will get that done soon. Depends on pain. Like the video but idk how much i like the bel though...
@@edc4fun one is printed ones metal. I own the printed and can tell you it's pretty good. Just found out about the metal deep carry. I guess it's for people who don't like pocket clips but want to keep the blade upright. I'll send clip
Great review of the Bel-Air, it's a pretty cool design. I'm sorry to hear your experience with MagnaCut has been poor. However, I have had great success with my Spyderco Native 5 LW in MagnaCut and it has performed extremely well; granted Spyderco usually gets their heat treats right--not all brands do the same. 👍Anyway, thanks for giving us your take on it and I hope you have better experiences with other brands using Magnacut steel in the future. Take care and Cheers!
Wow, crazy to me that it loses the edge so quickly. I'm guessing they are running heat treat way too low, especially after watching tests on Hogue Dekas and several other brands. I'll be steering clear of this for a while; maybe, like the Deka, they'll fix the heat treat and run the HRC up a bit on future runs. Thanks!
Great review Fam i didn’t think it was so small and definitely wish the jimping went further like the rubato that woulda been cool but I do like it. I recently switched the deep carry on my Towser k to abt that distance but it’s a bigger knife I agree it’s a lil too much for this knife lol love that it comes in magnacut but it dulled way too fast🤦🏼♂️🤙🏻🔥🔪
@@joelopez3954 you’re welcome. I have a McNees in magnacut now and it’s very nice. Took a very keen edge and stood up to me hacking some roots with it. I still want to try spyderco magnacut as well.
I like the looks on this one, too bad about the edge performance but still may pick this one up if my local shop gets one in I can handle. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t mind a small blade (around 3”) at all, but I like to see a handle at 4” or better. A lot of love going around for this model, but I think it’s a pass for me based on that.
I wouldn't characterize MagnaCut edge retention as fantastic. Even Dr. Larrin Thomas, it's inventor, scores it a 5. Compare that to a 9 for S90V and 6.5 for M390. It's claim to fame is excellent corrosion resistance and a good balance between edge retention and toughness. I have a Bel-Air and I really like it. It's an EDC for me and I mostly use it for cutting open packages and breaking down boxes when I don't have a box cutter available. I'm not batoning with it or building large campfires with it. BTW, there aren't that many refrigerators made in China - GE and Whirlpool in the US. Higher end LG and Samsung in South Korea.
@@ffbarnette I think I only posted an unboxing and some cutting shorts. I definitely recommend it though. I’m partial to the Sheepsfoot micarta version for sure. The blade geometry, jimping, action, ergos are all great.
In my experience on any given knife magnacut has slightly less edge retention than 20cv. It's still good but nothing crazy. I don't know why they changed the steel on a lot of Hogue's knives to magnacut from 20cv. I very much prefer 20cv from my experience based on those knives themselves. I tried the magnacut Deka and using it no more than I have the 20cv version I noticed it dulled faster than other steels. It also is no easier for me to shapen than other good steels. It seems to really shine in corrosion resistance. I think magnacut just got hyped up like m390 did. M390 isn't the best steel ever it's very comparable with many other high end steels it was just as good but a lot more expensive because of the hype. Now you can get pretty inexpensive knives with m390 and frankly I prefer m390 to magnacut.
@@edc4funtrue that. I do trust Hogue to have the best of or close to it so that settled it for me. Lc200n is honestly probably my favorite steel. I can't say that with certainty because I have only experienced it with spydercos but it has all of the qualities I want in a steel and doesn't sacrifice in any way that I can tell.
i've heard some knives need a couple of sharpenings because some companies can over heat the blade on the first sharpening trying to save time and money .
I don’t own a bugout but I’ve handled it before. They’re very similar. Not sure if the springs fit, but I did forget to mention this one does have aftermarket springs from kunwu (or kizer, I forget)
@@edc4fun n I will have to check those springs out. The Omega springs are such a pain in the ass putting on, I have issues dealing with any axis locks. I have a Bel Air coming in the mail, and I have a few Bugouts, a few people have been comparing. So, will see. nice review I subbed
@@edc4fun Yes, I’d like to know as well, as mine has just arrived. I can only hope that (if they now do 62-64) mine is not from an older batch of the 60-63 HRC or anything. Got it through Blade HQ
@@edc4fun Their customer service seems to be as bad as their quality control. I reached out to FB chat at the same time I emailed. The FB person first told me to return it where I bought it. I told him just to send me the missing spring. He sent me to a replacement part request form and told me to put spring on the description. The warranty email came back and send me to the form and told me to request torsion bar. Conflicting info and overly complicated forms for their mess ups.
Sometimes neutral is like Switzerland. Multiple languages, crazy ass skiing and buckets of money and character. Other times neutral is like apartment shade white in eggshell. BORING. This knife's neutral is the latter. It makes a base model Toyota Corolla seem exciting. Like the Corolla, I'm sure it's fantastically FUNCTIONAL, with all the vim and vigor of soft tofu. Fortunately for my avoidance record, this knife is smaller than I like, so I didn't jump on it. No regrets to cope with. I do hope it finds a home in many, many other pockets though.
It's much cheaper than a bugout and better in almost every way. Maybe you should stick to Chinese knives if you aren't willing to pay for USA made. It means something to some people.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought this knife and have really been enjoying it. It’s nice in the hand and the pocket. It came nice and sharp so hopefully it’ll be awhile before I have to sharpen.
I definitely like it. It’s a step in the right direction. I’m rooting for kershaw and other American companies 🇺🇸 thanks for stopping by.
I’ve handled two bel airs so far. The first one I bought as a gift and the second I bought for myself because I liked it so much. Now they are on sale pretty regularly. It shouldn’t be hard to find one around 125 which I think is a good price. Both the bel airs I bought came with no loctite and I bought them more than a month apart. They also came with blade play because the pivots were loose. It’s a quick fix and once you tighten the pivot everything locks up like a vault. Just something I think they did a 180 on because of the reviews. I personally don’t mind because I am indeed a lefty. This made dealing with the pocket clip easier. Overall good knife. Even if the magnacut is on the soft side the bel air makes up for it with a blade that claps very easily in fixed angle systems and is very easy to sharpen. I feel the performance is better than benchmade s30v so when compared to the bugout it beats it on that front as well.
Good points, thanks!
So cool that you got to check one out. Great video Dennis!
I appreciate you brother. Thank you!
I like the blade shape and deep carry clip. I’ve had a Cryo and leek and was put off Kershaw after breaking Speedsafe springs. Thanks for the unbiased review.
Thanks brother. The leek was my first kershaw back in the day. Sadly I lost it.. worked its way out of my pocket when I was working. I had no idea till it was gone.
Fyi i changed the springs and put skiffs in that knife. Sorry, i assume everyone sees my videos 🤣. The springs are weaker stock. Action is about the same stock.
Edit: you did see the video. I use Skiffs because i get better side to side stability, not really for action. I also just hate steel bearings.
I wonder if it had a burnt edge. But at 60-63 (what they list) you wont see all the benefits of Magnacut. Hopefully they bump it up to 63-64 in the future
lol I think many people who watch me also watch you. I missed that you did the springs too, thanks. Ceramic definitely has advantages. Not all about feel, totally get that. Thanks again!
The thing is, they're saying they have a range. Most knife makers will give a 2, sometimes 3 point range. A 4 point range tells me that they are A) advertising the higher range based on the 1 in a 1,000 knives being at the top and/or B) their process control sucks that they don't dial it in tighter.
I heard someone say (I don't remember who) that a relatively lower heat treat on Magnacut (60-61 or below, I'm thinking) emphasizes its corrosion resistance. Where a higher heat treat makes the edge retention really shine, it supposedly compromises the corrosion resistance qualities. My understanding of the impetus for the creation of Magnacut was having an almost completely stainless steel (Spyderco Salt series) while also being pretty well balanced in other areas. Maybe this is spin to cover companies not dialing in the heat treat correctly... but I though Laren or someone else pointed this out about better corrosion resistance at relatively lower heat treats.
I’m a big fan of Kershaws and the Leek is my all time favorite. I think this will be my next knife.
Cool 👍🏽
I love the way this one looks, but looks are subjective. Nice thorough review and I kind of miss the days we knew we would have to sharpen or touch up our knife. The super steels can be great but with a price tag and sometimes it's not worth it. Great review Dennis!
Thanks Doug. You know Cruwear is my favorite, but I do like 154 a lot too.
@@edc4fun I've never tried cruwear, but I'm assuming it's from Spyderco, and imo they must do a great job on the heat treat because it just seems like edges work better from them, but I am not even close to an expert. I love 154, but I have no choice because I have so much of it haha, but it's easy for a novice sharpener like me to put a good edge on it.
@@DogLegDoug yeah there’s a lot spyderco does really well, especially heat treat.
I like the looks, but it's a bit smaller than I usually carry. Good to see Kershaw stepping up their US made line though!
Agreed I’m rooting for USA companies to be more competitive like Spyderco who is by far ahead in that game imo.
Interesting take a very well explained brother. Thank you for the amazing upload! 💯🙌🏼
Thanks brother 👊🏽
Great review. Mine came with very close to 17 degree bevels, I stayed at 17 and took it to 1500 grit and stropped. Chipped quick and badly. Stayed with 17 and after 3 sharpenings going to the same 1500 grit and stropped it is getting better. Like the knife. Scales are ok, but the magnacut is nothing like my spyderco native 5 in magnacut.
Thank you. That’s very interesting, thanks for letting me know. I need to get some spyderco magnacut.
To be fair, this same type of chipping has occurred on a number of recent knives I purchased from a variety of brands and multiple different steels. Usually goes away after a sharpening or 2. Just a universal guess that it has more to do with how the factory sharpens more so than heat treat issues?
@@ajshoots5772 i could see that.. could be one, the other or both.
Appreciated the info on your sharpening experiences/angles and such
Thank you
You carry a Spyderco most right? I have a buddy who just made a new attachment for a few poplar knives. It's metal not printed. It's a mix between karambit ring and the ultimate deep carry. He also makes actual karambit rings too that replaces the back spacer of your knife. That's what i got my wife and was going to send a pic. Hopefully will get that done soon. Depends on pain. Like the video but idk how much i like the bel though...
Yeah spydie is my go too. That’s cool that they’re metal and not printed. How does your wife like it?
@@edc4fun one is printed ones metal. I own the printed and can tell you it's pretty good. Just found out about the metal deep carry. I guess it's for people who don't like pocket clips but want to keep the blade upright. I'll send clip
Great review of the Bel-Air, it's a pretty cool design. I'm sorry to hear your experience with MagnaCut has been poor. However, I have had great success with my Spyderco Native 5 LW in MagnaCut and it has performed extremely well; granted Spyderco usually gets their heat treats right--not all brands do the same. 👍Anyway, thanks for giving us your take on it and I hope you have better experiences with other brands using Magnacut steel in the future. Take care and Cheers!
Next time I handle magnacut it will be from Spyderco. Thank you!
I disagree. this is way better than the bug out!! 10x better!!
I never said it was better than the bugout. I would take this over the bugout.
Wow, crazy to me that it loses the edge so quickly. I'm guessing they are running heat treat way too low, especially after watching tests on Hogue Dekas and several other brands. I'll be steering clear of this for a while; maybe, like the Deka, they'll fix the heat treat and run the HRC up a bit on future runs. Thanks!
You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
Great review Fam i didn’t think it was so small and definitely wish the jimping went further like the rubato that woulda been cool but I do like it. I recently switched the deep carry on my Towser k to abt that distance but it’s a bigger knife I agree it’s a lil too much for this knife lol love that it comes in magnacut but it dulled way too fast🤦🏼♂️🤙🏻🔥🔪
It’s not bad, and I love that is made in USA. Just being real about what else is out there for the money.
Thanks! I still do NOT have a magnacut blade in my collection, AND I’m in NO HURRY to do so! Knowledge is Power, so I’m still gonna keep looking
@@joelopez3954 you’re welcome. I have a McNees in magnacut now and it’s very nice. Took a very keen edge and stood up to me hacking some roots with it. I still want to try spyderco magnacut as well.
@@edc4fun cool! Let me know, I like Spyderco as well and only own an endura 4. This hobby is $$$ expensive $$$ , lmao
I like the looks on this one, too bad about the edge performance but still may pick this one up if my local shop gets one in I can handle. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
Cool..like the blade..cool video
Thanks rich! The blade shape is cool and it’s crazy thin
Awww what a cute tip
So precious
I don’t mind a small blade (around 3”) at all, but I like to see a handle at 4” or better. A lot of love going around for this model, but I think it’s a pass for me based on that.
I wouldn't characterize MagnaCut edge retention as fantastic. Even Dr. Larrin Thomas, it's inventor, scores it a 5. Compare that to a 9 for S90V and 6.5 for M390. It's claim to fame is excellent corrosion resistance and a good balance between edge retention and toughness. I have a Bel-Air and I really like it. It's an EDC for me and I mostly use it for cutting open packages and breaking down boxes when I don't have a box cutter available. I'm not batoning with it or building large campfires with it. BTW, there aren't that many refrigerators made in China - GE and Whirlpool in the US. Higher end LG and Samsung in South Korea.
🍻
Do you have a review on the robotu?
@@ffbarnette I think I only posted an unboxing and some cutting shorts. I definitely recommend it though. I’m partial to the Sheepsfoot micarta version for sure. The blade geometry, jimping, action, ergos are all great.
In my experience on any given knife magnacut has slightly less edge retention than 20cv. It's still good but nothing crazy. I don't know why they changed the steel on a lot of Hogue's knives to magnacut from 20cv. I very much prefer 20cv from my experience based on those knives themselves. I tried the magnacut Deka and using it no more than I have the 20cv version I noticed it dulled faster than other steels. It also is no easier for me to shapen than other good steels. It seems to really shine in corrosion resistance. I think magnacut just got hyped up like m390 did. M390 isn't the best steel ever it's very comparable with many other high end steels it was just as good but a lot more expensive because of the hype. Now you can get pretty inexpensive knives with m390 and frankly I prefer m390 to magnacut.
Seems to be the case. I have been pretty happy with 20cv and lc200n. I’d like to try some magnacut from spyderco. That would settle it for me.
@@edc4funtrue that. I do trust Hogue to have the best of or close to it so that settled it for me. Lc200n is honestly probably my favorite steel. I can't say that with certainty because I have only experienced it with spydercos but it has all of the qualities I want in a steel and doesn't sacrifice in any way that I can tell.
Thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching
I got the Bel Air in blue, it's really a great knife all things considered
@@magritteetmoncouteau nice!
i've heard some knives need a couple of sharpenings because some companies can over heat the blade on the first sharpening trying to save time and money .
Right. Thanks for watching 🍻
It is a little small for me, but I bought it anyway. My first magnacut blade waiting for it to arrive hopefully not a disappointment.
It’s on the smaller side but it’s not bad to handle. Hopefully the steel holds up for you.
Overall it doesn't sound to bad. Great video 👍
Right. Thanks 🙏🏽
Oh awesome! A review on it.
how would you compare vs a Bugout? also, I got some omega springs for my bugouts, will those fit on this?
I don’t own a bugout but I’ve handled it before. They’re very similar. Not sure if the springs fit, but I did forget to mention this one does have aftermarket springs from kunwu (or kizer, I forget)
@@edc4fun n I will have to check those springs out. The Omega springs are such a pain in the ass putting on, I have issues dealing with any axis locks. I have a Bel Air coming in the mail, and I have a few Bugouts, a few people have been comparing. So, will see. nice review I subbed
Great job brother ❤
Thanks brother 🙏🏽
Off the bat it reminds me of the hogue Deka with a different blade shape
Right and aluminum scales
Good review.
There’s certainly a lot of hype around a lot steels… Marketing 101.
Good stuff as always brother 👊🏻
Yup. But there is only one savior lol. Thanks brother 👊🏽
@@edc4fun
You’re welcome!
They must have updated their heat treat, as their website now states 62-64 HRC
@@Metoxetron cool thanks. I wonder if anyone has actually verified that and if there was a difference with the first batch or not
@@edc4fun Yes, I’d like to know as well, as mine has just arrived. I can only hope that (if they now do 62-64) mine is not from an older batch of the 60-63 HRC or anything. Got it through Blade HQ
I would take this kershaw over anything Benchmade is making. Now if only Kai could put some of this energy into ZT…
I like the direction they’re going.
Just bought one and it came missing an omega spring. The lock bar action felt weak and unsafe.
That’s crazy. I assume you reached out to them and they’re going to make it right?
@@edc4fun Their customer service seems to be as bad as their quality control. I reached out to FB chat at the same time I emailed. The FB person first told me to return it where I bought it. I told him just to send me the missing spring. He sent me to a replacement part request form and told me to put spring on the description. The warranty email came back and send me to the form and told me to request torsion bar. Conflicting info and overly complicated forms for their mess ups.
Sometimes neutral is like Switzerland. Multiple languages, crazy ass skiing and buckets of money and character. Other times neutral is like apartment shade white in eggshell. BORING.
This knife's neutral is the latter. It makes a base model Toyota Corolla seem exciting. Like the Corolla, I'm sure it's fantastically FUNCTIONAL, with all the vim and vigor of soft tofu.
Fortunately for my avoidance record, this knife is smaller than I like, so I didn't jump on it. No regrets to cope with. I do hope it finds a home in many, many other pockets though.
That sums it up perfectly 😂👏🏽👏🏽🍻
Cardboard it horrible for knives!! So is copper!! Cool microscope Bill Nye😂
Yeah I’m a nerd 🤓 nothing is harder on knives than sausage 🤣
@@edc4fun hahaha, buttered sausage?
Little vanilla lol
dark chocolate is my jam, like 90% cacao lol
I cant get mine to take an edge. Maybe I need to make a bigger burr? Frustrating!
This one responded better to lower grit for me. What are you using to sharpen?
lol
😆
This is a $75 - $80 knife. Not even cose to what they're asking. The blade is really weak.
It's much cheaper than a bugout and better in almost every way. Maybe you should stick to Chinese knives if you aren't willing to pay for USA made. It means something to some people.
Thanks for the review
Thanks for watching