Your reviews are consistently interesting, informative, and funny. I love how you break down knives, both figuratively and literally. It takes a selfless person to share knowledge of value and advise on life. The world is a better place because of Nick Shabazz...and that's a beautiful thing.
Once again, I find it really amazing how far the knife industry has come in past few years. Titanium flipper framelock on ball bearings from a known brand for 45 bucks? That's really impressive, they had to do some serious penny pinching, but other than missing filler tab/screws I don't really see it. I like blackwash, I like the micarta, and the overall shape. Size is the deal breaker for me though, it's really small.
@@bomtradym4027 Oh, for sure. As much as I'm a fan of fancy steels, I guarantee that 1095 and 440C would serve me just fine. Not to mention the relative ease of sharpening.
I have never had a -problem- with AUS-8, it was Cold Steel’s go-to for ages and those knives were fine. In fact I’d say I’d prefer a softer steel for a big dumb knife I’m going to beat to hell. Easier to restore at least. That said, we live in an age of $20 knives in D2, and I just don’t see why I’d pay more than that for AUS-8 on anything.
General bit of advice for anyone with a knife that has pins instead of screws - if you get crud into a pivot or action, a squirt of penetrating oil and a good blast from an air compressor will get a LOT (bordering on all) of contaminants out of the action.
I'd appreciate it if reviewers actually used a product for a few weeks before making a video. They'd talk about the product more confidently. A cutting test is a must in a knife review, IMHO. Unfortunately, the negative aspects most reviewers bring up are purely based on minimal (or actually irrelevant) characteristics of the knife, such as a screw here or there. Maybe if they carried the knife for a while they'd realize those things aren't even an issue. Also, I have yet to see a reviewer say something positive about the steel a knife uses. It's so curious to me that 100% of them suggest the steel could always have been better.
I bought this knife right when it came out, but gave it away. The spinning pivot was a huge disappointment. Mine also had a number of sharp edges that made it less comfy to hold. I loved the roughness of the micarta though. Definitely prefer it over the smooth micarta on so many other knives.
Most of the high end steels just need to be stropped after a day’s use and they’re ready to go. Unless you really mess up the edge or chip it, you don’t really need to sharpen it very often.
Could you do a review of the Sencut knives stuff? It's apparently the little brother of Civivi and I was wondering which brand to buy from for a first knife
I appreciate what OKC was going for, and I would still probably be using and carrying it, had the ball detent not fallen out after about 2 months of having it. As Nick mentioned, the detent is the big problem with this knife. When it failed, I did get cut. Not the worst cut of my life by any means, but most people would have considered it quite deep. The action is very nice, and the grind is good. It's a nice looking knife, and the micarta isn't good quality, but its colored nicely, and it feels just fine. Not the worst micarta at all, but not the best. If not for the detent, I would still recommend it, so If you like it, maybe it will be better than my copy.
They also have the Carter trinity which is a titanium frame lock for similar pricing, actually just checked. It’s almost twice the price.....so yeah, there’s that
Well one advantage they have is making the lock side ugly as hell. I hate frame lock knives. And I’m sick to death of flipper tabs. And one more thing..if you plan on carrying your knife and actually using it in anything dirtier than a cubicle, bearings suck. PB washers are far superior. Knives aren’t toys. Fidget factor is meaningless.
One of the main advantages is that the hand gripping the handle tighter will increase inward tension on the lock and keep it from opening during use. There's also a perceived advantage that because the lock face is larger (usually) than a liner, it has more strength in its lockup. It ends up coming down to preference, like most things to do with knives.
So I have some weekend projects where I need to cut through some drywall that has non live electrical wire, a few exposed nail heads and conduit backing it , open some paint cans and dig into a fence post to get a broken screw out. Now, I lost a knife and broke another on this project. Let’s see should I take a Sabenza or this knife? The quality, edge retention, toughness, hand feel of the Sabenza is far superior in every way as compared to this ok knife with its barely ok steel. Nope, it’s the Sabenza for sure, Thanks Nick! Seriously the review was good however I think we in the knife community are beginning to forget that knives are tools. And yes some, if not all of the activities suggested above are not what the tools was designed for, yet that is exactly what happens in the real world where a knife may be the only tool you have at the time. It’s interesting that some of the best and most capable knives will never be pressed into service that would ever test their “metal” due to their price and collectability. In contrast if this knife gets lost, chipped, broken , stolen, or God forbid scratched 😱, I don’t have to seek out professional grief counseling to deal with the tragedy and sell the other kidney to replace. Food for thought and as always your mileage may vary.
@@willydstyle Yes and that was acknowledged and explained in the post. No I am not encouraging abusing a knife. My time for evaluation. It seems to me like you opined without finishing the thread or your experience and exposer hasn’t included these sort of real world situations. So to break it down am I going take a $450 Sabenza on my next camping, kayaking or hunting trip where it might have to pressed into service greater that a paper cut test or having my friends ogle and awe over my expensive pretty knife? Not likely . Would I die of a heart attack if this $45 knife fell overboard while I was cutting bait or ,God forbid, I forget to drag my tool bag into the woods on impromptu day hike and I need to tight a screw with the tip? No. Are there working people that use, abuse their knives every day and can’t afford more than a $45 knife? Absolutely. Again your mileage may vary.
@Jesse Robinson thats why I don’t own a Sabenza! I do have some Bark River fixed blades well over $200. Will I take them out and use them, absolutely. I currently don’t own any safe queens and probably never will own I knife that I wouldn’t use.
The micarta is of the type you tend to find on a lot of outdoor fixed blades. More fiber and less epoxy to up the grip is the idea of it. It is worth mentioning that I have a Bark River Aurora Hunter with a smooth micarta handle that absolutely does not slip in my hand.
Had to send mine back for a refund. Blade alignment was off to the point of rubbing on the liner, which, due to the free-spinning pivot, could not be adjusted. Second, ; it just would lock up. From now on, I'll stick to the Rats.
Honestly imo titanium frame locks are just a dumb meme originating from the sebenza. Makes a thin handle even thinner when locked and softer than steel, I saw them bend so no thanks. Edit: just came back to this video a month later and I think I sound like a douche, if you like them that cool too. But I dont think they're practical or fun to use for aforementioned reasons and I usually at least try to justify my purchases with practicality and I only buy users so I don't think they are for me.
Ok this is idiotic. Why has titanium become a merit in and of itself? How come the handle material is more important than the blade material? Can't speak for everyone everywhere, but I'd pick a knife with a good blade and meh handle over a knife with a decent blade and the best handle in the world any day of the week. Yes, I have a ZDP-189 Endura.
He’s not saying that the titanium is a great, it’s that it’s titanium at this price. That said, using titanium probably also meant they then had to use lower quality steel and micarta to keep the price low, which kinda sucks.
I feel like this is one of your most non-committal reviews ever haha. Not a criticism, just an observation. But I think I could actually see the appeal of it. While my initial thought was "why the hell would you mix Ti and AUS8?" ... I think it actually does make sense in much the same way that (I think) the Delica does. It's a good size and fairly lightweight for carry, but is designed for someone who maybe doesn't use their knife constantly. In that regard, you'd want the lightweight and relatively small-ish size if it'll always be with you, but with the capability to handle a small job or two, without spending the unnecessary money on a higher end steel. I'll be honest, I love me some RAT knives as much as the next guy, but the plastic scales don't really do much for me. While I'm not a micarta nut, it could have potential to have nice grip and feel, like you said. I'll have to give one of these a try. The extra $10ish just might be worth it for the micarta. I bet it's much more grippy when wet.
The micarta is very grippy on this knife, wet or dry. Although. it would be more comfortable to hold if they tumbled the blade and smoothed over the top if the steel lock insert.
Even though I have a $200 small pocket knife as my edc. I would like to see some Large knife reviews. Until then the content is to narrow or small. And I will stay unsubscribed until then. Great review.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
Your reviews are consistently interesting, informative, and funny. I love how you break down knives, both figuratively and literally. It takes a selfless person to share knowledge of value and advise on life. The world is a better place because of Nick Shabazz...and that's a beautiful thing.
Once again, I find it really amazing how far the knife industry has come in past few years. Titanium flipper framelock on ball bearings from a known brand for 45 bucks? That's really impressive, they had to do some serious penny pinching, but other than missing filler tab/screws I don't really see it. I like blackwash, I like the micarta, and the overall shape. Size is the deal breaker for me though, it's really small.
Love mine. One of my favorite buys from 2020. And it came apart easy.
i actually like fuzzy micarta, rather than highly polished, smooth micarta
I agree 100%
Same here. I thought the main draw of micarta was supposed to be its grippy feeling anyway..?
@@PlantDaddy1991 right?
Yes
I agree but I think that would mean they didn't saturate it with epoxy properly unless that's the effect they were going for.
"Aus-8... is a steel." - Nick Shabazz, 2021
its just fine, im betting most of us dont use a knife hard enough in one day to completely dull it
@@bomtradym4027 Oh, for sure. As much as I'm a fan of fancy steels, I guarantee that 1095 and 440C would serve me just fine. Not to mention the relative ease of sharpening.
AUS-8 is ok in my book.
I have never had a -problem- with AUS-8, it was Cold Steel’s go-to for ages and those knives were fine. In fact I’d say I’d prefer a softer steel for a big dumb knife I’m going to beat to hell. Easier to restore at least.
That said, we live in an age of $20 knives in D2, and I just don’t see why I’d pay more than that for AUS-8 on anything.
I usually dislike Aus-8, but Ontario usually heat treats it in such a way that it gets pretty close to D2 retention in my experience.
Thanks for charing and keep up the great work...
Much love from Switzerland
General bit of advice for anyone with a knife that has pins instead of screws - if you get crud into a pivot or action, a squirt of penetrating oil and a good blast from an air compressor will get a LOT (bordering on all) of contaminants out of the action.
I'd appreciate it if reviewers actually used a product for a few weeks before making a video. They'd talk about the product more confidently. A cutting test is a must in a knife review, IMHO. Unfortunately, the negative aspects most reviewers bring up are purely based on minimal (or actually irrelevant) characteristics of the knife, such as a screw here or there. Maybe if they carried the knife for a while they'd realize those things aren't even an issue. Also, I have yet to see a reviewer say something positive about the steel a knife uses. It's so curious to me that 100% of them suggest the steel could always have been better.
I bought this knife right when it came out, but gave it away. The spinning pivot was a huge disappointment. Mine also had a number of sharp edges that made it less comfy to hold. I loved the roughness of the micarta though. Definitely prefer it over the smooth micarta on so many other knives.
Hey Nick did you see this knife in damascus and titanium for less than 90$ ??
The (Defcon Peregrine) is crazy
I don't like sharpening, which is why I don't buy knives with "super steels". I'd rather spend 1 minute every day than 3 hours every couple of weeks.
Most of the high end steels just need to be stropped after a day’s use and they’re ready to go. Unless you really mess up the edge or chip it, you don’t really need to sharpen it very often.
Myself
If your spending 3 hours sharpening your doing it wrong and if you don't strop your knives your only intentionally making it harder.
Dunno my s110v takes like 30min to an hour every month
@@Horde334 does stripping really do anything for you, I use cpm s110v and 1 micron diamond emulsion and I don't feel like it does much at all
This is my favourite knife of last year I have 3 now and there amazing action and for under 45$ I got 1 under 39.99 ..these rock!!!
Thanks for the Vid!
I would love to hear what you have to say about the Spyderco/Lionsteel Spyopera!
Did you delete your video on the hell raiser p ??
So you didn't try to break the pivot loose with heat ?
Could you do a review of the Sencut knives stuff? It's apparently the little brother of Civivi and I was wondering which brand to buy from for a first knife
I'm working on it, but I'd wait for Sencut to get some interesting designs first.
I appreciate what OKC was going for, and I would still probably be using and carrying it, had the ball detent not fallen out after about 2 months of having it. As Nick mentioned, the detent is the big problem with this knife. When it failed, I did get cut. Not the worst cut of my life by any means, but most people would have considered it quite deep. The action is very nice, and the grind is good. It's a nice looking knife, and the micarta isn't good quality, but its colored nicely, and it feels just fine. Not the worst micarta at all, but not the best. If not for the detent, I would still recommend it, so If you like it, maybe it will be better than my copy.
They also have the Carter trinity which is a titanium frame lock for similar pricing, actually just checked. It’s almost twice the price.....so yeah, there’s that
It's definitely fighting in a stacked class.
Am I missing something with frame locks? They seem annoying. What advantages do they have over liner locks?
Well one advantage they have is making the lock side ugly as hell. I hate frame lock knives. And I’m sick to death of flipper tabs. And one more thing..if you plan on carrying your knife and actually using it in anything dirtier than a cubicle, bearings suck. PB washers are far superior. Knives aren’t toys. Fidget factor is meaningless.
@@drameday all sounds good except my knife will mainly be used in a cubicle, and I do fidget a lot, so bearings I don't mind
One of the main advantages is that the hand gripping the handle tighter will increase inward tension on the lock and keep it from opening during use. There's also a perceived advantage that because the lock face is larger (usually) than a liner, it has more strength in its lockup.
It ends up coming down to preference, like most things to do with knives.
any good shops in uk that sell knives ?
Hiennie Haynes are pretty good.
I honestly like the micarta on mine. I've seen much worse. I agree on the flipper tab shape. It's a bit sharp.
Damn if you can't get it apart I'd be afraid to buy one. I've stripped too many screws.
Hey Nick do you think D2 would have been better?
I come for the reviews but I stay for the puns.😁
This reminds me a little of the Kershaw Leek
When is the Ace Riv review coming?
Once there's more availability!
So I have some weekend projects where I need to cut through some drywall that has non live electrical wire, a few exposed nail heads and conduit backing it , open some paint cans and dig into a fence post to get a broken screw out. Now, I lost a knife and broke another on this project. Let’s see should I take a Sabenza or this knife? The quality, edge retention, toughness, hand feel of the Sabenza is far superior in every way as compared to this ok knife with its barely ok steel. Nope, it’s the Sabenza for sure, Thanks Nick!
Seriously the review was good however I think we in the knife community are beginning to forget that knives are tools. And yes some, if not all of the activities suggested above are not what the tools was designed for, yet that is exactly what happens in the real world where a knife may be the only tool you have at the time. It’s interesting that some of the best and most capable knives will never be pressed into service that would ever test their “metal” due to their price and collectability. In contrast if this knife gets lost, chipped, broken , stolen, or God forbid scratched 😱, I don’t have to seek out professional grief counseling to deal with the tragedy and sell the other kidney to replace. Food for thought and as always your mileage may vary.
To me you've just described a bunch of tasks that there are way better tools to use than a folding pocket knife.
@@willydstyle Yes and that was acknowledged and explained in the post. No I am not encouraging abusing a knife. My time for evaluation. It seems to me like you opined without finishing the thread or your experience and exposer hasn’t included these sort of real world situations. So to break it down am I going take a $450 Sabenza on my next camping, kayaking or hunting trip where it might have to pressed into service greater that a paper cut test or having my friends ogle and awe over my expensive pretty knife? Not likely . Would I die of a heart attack if this $45 knife fell overboard while I was cutting bait or ,God forbid, I forget to drag my tool bag into the woods on impromptu day hike and I need to tight a screw with the tip? No. Are there working people that use, abuse their knives every day and can’t afford more than a $45 knife? Absolutely. Again your mileage may vary.
@Jesse Robinson thats why I don’t own a Sabenza! I do have some Bark River fixed blades well over $200. Will I take them out and use them, absolutely. I currently don’t own any safe queens and probably never will own I knife that I wouldn’t use.
Titanium framelocks are cool but sometimes companies want an arm and a leg for a relatively average looking and functioning knife
Hope they bring one out Rat 1 sized
It has a lockbar insert
I think the wharncliffe/cleaver version looks pretty nice.
Knifecenter has these on sale for $19.95 right now! 😳
I'm I the only one not getting this in 4k or is his content not in 4k yet?
That looks a lot like one of the Kershaw multi pack knives from Walmart Christmas 2020
thats a slick little dude
I read it as "Shakira" xD
This knife's hips DO NOT lie
I know what it's called, but I still read "Shakira" in my head every time.
same lol
Flips don't lie?
14c28n and fix the pivot
The micarta is of the type you tend to find on a lot of outdoor fixed blades. More fiber and less epoxy to up the grip is the idea of it. It is worth mentioning that I have a Bark River Aurora Hunter with a smooth micarta handle that absolutely does not slip in my hand.
Mine disassembles easily.
Had to send mine back for a refund. Blade alignment was off to the point of rubbing on the liner, which, due to the free-spinning pivot, could not be adjusted. Second, ; it just would lock up. From now on, I'll stick to the Rats.
EDIT: Second, the lock failed; it just would NOT lock up. From now on, I'll stick to the Rats.
Honestly imo titanium frame locks are just a dumb meme originating from the sebenza. Makes a thin handle even thinner when locked and softer than steel, I saw them bend so no thanks.
Edit: just came back to this video a month later and I think I sound like a douche, if you like them that cool too. But I dont think they're practical or fun to use for aforementioned reasons and I usually at least try to justify my purchases with practicality and I only buy users so I don't think they are for me.
I like mine, it has served me well so far
Nope - sticking with my late Rat II
I think I shall name you "The Punster". One of Batman's archenemy. 🤔😊🤣
Disappointed with mine for all the same reasons that Nick mentioned and throw in a defective lock up...I should've just bought a Rat 2.
Maybe Ontario can do something for ya about the messed up lock-up.
this knife is exactly the same as the boker ellipse, minus the titanium and micarta
Price gimmick, genius. very apt indeed!!
Looks like a Kershaw TRM collab
Ok this is idiotic. Why has titanium become a merit in and of itself? How come the handle material is more important than the blade material? Can't speak for everyone everywhere, but I'd pick a knife with a good blade and meh handle over a knife with a decent blade and the best handle in the world any day of the week. Yes, I have a ZDP-189 Endura.
He’s not saying that the titanium is a great, it’s that it’s titanium at this price. That said, using titanium probably also meant they then had to use lower quality steel and micarta to keep the price low, which kinda sucks.
Micarta scales on both sides with a different lock would be nice.
No shit a different lock. You just described a liner lock.
@@therealmccoy9948 Or a button lock, or a back lock or some copy of the axis lock. Anything but a frame lock.
I feel like this is one of your most non-committal reviews ever haha. Not a criticism, just an observation. But I think I could actually see the appeal of it. While my initial thought was "why the hell would you mix Ti and AUS8?" ... I think it actually does make sense in much the same way that (I think) the Delica does. It's a good size and fairly lightweight for carry, but is designed for someone who maybe doesn't use their knife constantly. In that regard, you'd want the lightweight and relatively small-ish size if it'll always be with you, but with the capability to handle a small job or two, without spending the unnecessary money on a higher end steel. I'll be honest, I love me some RAT knives as much as the next guy, but the plastic scales don't really do much for me. While I'm not a micarta nut, it could have potential to have nice grip and feel, like you said. I'll have to give one of these a try. The extra $10ish just might be worth it for the micarta. I bet it's much more grippy when wet.
The micarta is very grippy on this knife, wet or dry. Although. it would be more comfortable to hold if they tumbled the blade and smoothed over the top if the steel lock insert.
I think it would be ok for beginners that want to get into a titanium frame lock, but agree with the AUS8.
nice little titanium knife for the price but definitely not going to win any awards for top quality lol but I like mine so far 😉
i knew he would rip into the blade steel
It’s aus8 .... and that’s a thing
Aus 8 at 45$ hard pass imo but crkt seems to hate making good value for money right.
Bah. Asymmetrical scales. My #1 peeve.
Not to bad for the price, like stone washed blade.
A bearing knife you can't disassemble??? Pass.
Not a bad looking knife but I can’t stand AUS8,if they had it available in D2 or Sandvik 14C28N I might consider it but in AUS8,I’ll pass
AUS-8 and 14C28N are quite similar.
Ontario fixed blades for the win
Nooooooo Way. I’ll spend 300 + on. Spyderco...🤪
I hate this knife. I nearly break my index finger trying to operate the flipper. Sending it back pronto.
Knife: goodlooking!
Freespinning : ugly!!!
Verdict : not interested.....
Red Loc-Tite? OKC marketing must despise their customers.
I feel like these reviews are becoming a bit of a chore for ole' Mr. Shabazz 🤔
This was filmed a while back. But this one was definitely not one with a lot of enthusiasm.
Yeah..this is a easy pass for me
Ontario have lost the plot as a company
Kinda of a Shirogorov knock off for $45 bucks...not buying this one any time soon.
My advice is to skip this one. :-)
I gave mine away. Horrible ugly micarta ,lock stick ,you get what you pay for
Rat 2 ? Not a frame lock bro common man ...I don't get this rant apples and bowling balls
Why do they all have to be illegal flippers ???
I hate those knives which have some scale in one side and the other side is just bare steel plate :( looks just ugly, lazy made and cheap
Another ugly: made in China
100% right.
Even though I have a $200 small pocket knife as my edc. I would like to see some Large knife reviews. Until then the content is to narrow or small. And I will stay unsubscribed until then.
Great review.
I agree. Nick is a small guy so I guess he tends to review the knives that fit him.
Not feeling it too much; I would rather a modded rat 2.