slip-joint Archives - TACTICAL REVIEWS

Knife Review: Mercury Luc

11 December, 2025

In this detailed review of the Mercury Luc, Tactical Reviews presents a close look at Mercury’s modern take on the slip joint folding knife. Join me in this Mercury Luc Review for all the details.

The Mercury Luc is inspired by the classic hunting pocket knives from the 1960s; a traditional design, but now fitted with an Elmax stainless steel clip point blade. The handle is made from 6061 aluminium with choices of black or green anodising, and optional micarta/G10 inlays.

Of course the slip joint knife dates back far earlier than the 1960s, generally considered to have emerged in the 17th Century with the introduction of a back spring that revolutionised the folding pocket knife to create a simple, reliable and practical tool; popularised as the ‘penknife’ for shaping quills. For good reason this traditional design of knife mechanism remains popular and useful today.

What’s in the box?:
For this section there is no box or packaging to include, as the specific knives featured were ‘show knives’ at IWA Outdoor Classics 2025 (and possibly other exhibitions). It also means that in the following galleries, any imperfections will be due to each knife being handled by a lot of people during the trade fair.

A good look round the folded Mercury Luc – Things to look out for here are:
Starting off with a lot of different views round the folded knife to see it from all directions. The lanyard hole is ingeniously incorporated into an exposed section of the backspring, making it very accessible and easy to tie into. One side of the pivot bolt has the Mercury logo engraved into it, the other side is a domed torx screw head with decorative fluting. Peeled G10 is used for the orange handle insert, held in place the two screws. In keeping with the simple reliable design we have phosphor-bronze pivot washers.
As another option, the insert can also be micarta, a much softer feeling material, but one which will take on a patina through use.

A good look round the open Mercury Luc – Things to look out for here are:
Swinging out the Luc’s clip-point blade shows the modern touches on this classic. Elmax as the blade steel, an angled milled slot as the nail nick, and high tolerance finishes with the H clearly displaying this precision. A flat grind, clip-point blade, with bevelled swedge and stonewashed finish showcase its modern construction.

The Blade and Handle – Detailed Measurements:
For full details of the tests and measurements carried out and an explanation of the results, see the page – Knife Technical Testing – How It’s Done.

The blade is made from Elmax steel.

With the Mercury Luc being a slip-joint folder, the resistance to closing (and related stiffness of opening) is an important factor, so for this I carry out Torque measurements for opening and closing.

And the torque measurements for the Mercury Luc (for further reference values check the Technical Testing link):

The Factory edge up close:

Followers of Tactical Reviews will know my views on factory edges, but to recap:

Anyone using a knife will need to sharpen it. That first factory edge is just like the first tank of fuel that a new car comes with (or first charge of the battery).
A good factory edge is a ‘nice to have’ but not a ‘make or break’ for a good knife, as you will be putting your own edge onto it soon enough.
The factory edge does however indicate the care a knife maker has put into the final finish.
It is for this reason Tactical Reviews measures factory edge sharpness and specifications, and includes this information in the detailed technical testing.

As a further look at the factory edge, this section has been added to include some high magnification photos of the factory edges.

What is it like to use?
Mercury’s Luc reinforces why the slip joint folder pocket knife has been so popular and successful since its inception around 400 years ago. It is a daily tool for all the smaller every day cutting tasks that don’t need a larger, stronger and heavier cutting tool. A type of knife that allows quick, intuitive opening and closing without a lock, but with a spring to provide enough resistance to make it safe to carry and use. Just quickly unfold and fold as needed without having to unlock.
There are those who take the view that non-locking slip joint knives no longer have a place due to being ‘unsafe’ to use, and liable to close unexpectedly on your fingers. However this ‘problem’ with slip joint folding knives is due only to incorrect cutting technique, or inappropriate use of the tool for a cutting job it is not suitable for, and nothing to do with the design at all. Used correctly and appropriately, the slip joint is absolutely relevant and the ideal tool for most smaller cutting tasks. As long as you ensure the cutting force is applied in the direction that pushes the blade open, it cannot close on you, and is perfectly safe to use.

Shown here in my XL glove sized hands, the Mercury Luc is not an insignificant knife, but also not overly large. Easy to handle and comfortable to use for appropriate jobs (those not requiring heavy cuts), the Luc is extremely practical. When taking on slightly heavier cuts the spine is comfortable to press on with your thumb for that extra control and pressure.

Modern urban life, and those directing how we live, seem intent on diminishing the importance of every day tools, but even the tear-open packaging is much better when cleanly cut open. Let’s make the pocket knife an even more common every day tool, and use it how it should be used, to give us back control and provide choice for how we shape our experience in life.

The Mercury Luc gives us a simple, reliable, tool that just does what you need of it; no more, no less.

Carrying both the G10 and micarta versions on me constantly, despite this only being a difference in handle insert, the experience is quite distinct. The G10 has a crisper, brighter look, not just as it is orange, but the G10 has a sharpness. Peeled G10 is very grippy, but also abrasive and this can be fatiguing. With the canvas micarta, this material feels softer (despite also being resin based), warmer and much less harsh to hold. Though not really natural, the micarta has a more natural feel, and like a natural material is more likely to change in appearance through use. Personal preference will dictate your choice.

Mercury Luc Review Summary

The views expressed in this summary table are from the point of view of the reviewer’s personal use. I am not a member of the armed forces and cannot comment on its use beyond a cutting tool or field/hunting knife.

Something that might be a ‘pro’ for one user can be a ‘con’ for another, so the comments are categorised based on my requirements. You should consider all points and if they could be beneficial to you.

_______________________________________________
What doesn’t work so well for me
_______________________________________________
The sharpening choil is too small to fully access the heel.
Peeled G10 can be a bit harsh and abrasive.

_______________________________________________
Things I like
_______________________________________________
Elmax steel provides excellent edge retention.
Firm backspring and open/close action.
Nail ‘nick’ slot gives really good grip.
Handle width is both comfortable and slim.
Reliable and strong phosphor-bronze washers.
Choice of G10, micarta, or plain handles.
Super accessible lanyard hole.
Clean, modern, clip-point blade design.

Mercury Luc Review Videos

Starting with a short format sixty second review:

Onto a full video review covering many more details:

Discussing the Review:
Something new – will it work? A Tactical Reviews Subreddit.
TacticalReviewsChat on Reddit
Please visit there and start/join the conversation.

Knife Review: MKM Jaques Slipjoint

19 October, 2025

In this detailed review of the MKM (Maniago Knife Makers) Jaques – a modern slip joint Folding Knife – find out if it could be your ideal EDC companion.

The MKM Jaques is a slip joint folding knife designed by Jesper Voxnaes. The Jaques has a satin finish CPM MagnaCut Wharncliffe blade, and the version in this review features Fat Carbon DARK MATTER BLACK handles.

“The Jaques design is my modern take on the folders I have seen used by European winegrowers in both Italy and France but mixed with details from some of my favourite American slip joint patterns. A nice sized utility folder, in high-end materials, with great feel in hand. A perfect for EDC for urban and outdoor settings.” Jesper

Read on in this MKM Jaques Review for all the details.

What’s in the box?:
For this section there is no box or packaging to include, as this specific knife was a ‘show knife’ at IWA Outdoor Classics 2025 (and possibly other exhibitions). It also means that in the following galleries, any imperfections will be due to the knife being handled by a lot of people during the trade fair.

A good look round the folded MKM Jaques – Things to look out for here are:
With this version, the DARK MATTER BLACK handles compliment the bronze titanium bolsters/liners perfectly. Each and every knife with this handle material is unique, and the handle scales are secured to the combined bolster and liner with three screws. A single position stainless steel wire pocket clip, can be removed if you prefer not to use it. Only one side of the pivot bolt has a torx screw head, with the other being blank. The back-spring spacer is beautifully polished giving the Jaques a very refined look. The pivot specification states ball bearings. No bearings can be seen when looking into the knife, so these covered bearings should be more dust resistant than when you can see the ball bearings themselves.

A good look round the open MKM Jaques – Things to look out for here are:
Snapping the Jaque’s blade initially out to the half-stop position, we get a good view of the wide Wharncliffe blade. With the blade open we can more clearly see the handle shaping with two finger grooves; first finger and third finger. It’s a powerful full-flat grind Wharncliffe blade with elegant swedge sweeping down to the point, which also has an inconspicuously incorporated nail nick. MKM’s logo sits above the engraving of the steel type; Magnacut. Though not strictly a sharpening choil, the heel of the cutting edge does stand proud of the tang, and just forward of the plunge line; this allows the entire cutting edge to be sharpened. On the opposite side of the blade, the designer’s (Jesper Voxnaes) logo is engraved and onto more views of the blade.
Thumb grip jimping has been included across the ‘H’, and you can also see the small clearance step cut around the pivot to ensure the blade rotates without contacting the liner. Looking inside the handle you can see the stop pin for the blade tang to rest on when folded.

The blade is made from Magnacut steel.

With the Jaques being a slip-joint folder, the resistance to closing (and related stiffness of opening) is an important factor, so for this I carry out Torque measurements for opening and closing. The detailed video for this knife includes a section explaining this in more detail.

And the torque measurements for the Jaques (for further reference values check the Technical Testing link):

The Factory edge up close:

Followers of Tactical Reviews will know my views on factory edges, but to recap:

As a further look at the factory edge, this section has been added to include some high magnification photos of the factory edges.

What is it like to use?

The MKM Jaques immediately strikes you as both traditional and cutting edge design (pun intended), with a fusion of classic lines and styles with the very latest materials in a really easy to carry tool. Remember that ease of carry is what makes a tool the best one you have, as the fact you have it on you means it is the best tool for the job.
However, it is not only easy of carry, but that you choose to carry it, that is the final determining factor for being the best tool. For me, a Wharncliffe blade has always been one of the most practical choices, with the blade tip presented for immediate use, and the straight cutting edge easy to control, plus it is also easy to maintain the straight edge.
I take an XL size glove, and some pocket knives can feel too small in the hand; the Jaques does not. Compact, yes, but a very useful size. With the first and third finger grip grooves, it is very stable in your hand. Bearing in mind this is a slip-joint, so you are not going to be working it very hard, there is plenty of grip and plenty of blade.

I would prefer a slightly deeper carry clip so that only the clip is visible in your pocket and none of the handle, but the clip, as it is, is very neat. That would just be a slight change I would make if I could.

The action is nicely crisp, with a good resistance to closing (as proven by the torque measurements). In a slip-joint, I remain unconvinced about the benefits of using ball bearings; this is a personal view relating to the fact there is significant slip-joint back-spring pressure, and considering that over the full lifetime of the knife solid washers would removing the possibility of dirt/grit affecting ball bearings. However, it is very smooth in action, even with the spring resistance making that action very firm, so whatever my personal preferences may be, the blade action is very slick and pleasing.

Looking back at this gallery, I realise that all the jobs I have been using the Jaques for have been those smaller, make a cut – fold and stow, type of jobs and I wasn’t getting a camera out to capture it. Round the garden, at the post office, DIY, at work, all those jobs you use the knife you have on you to do. All done with ease and comfort, while appreciating the fit, finish, action and really effective blade. I’ve only once substituted the Jaques for one job where I preferred to use a disposable utility knife for – no point in knowingly damaging a quality knife for the sake of it.

As I write I also realise the edge has not needed any touch up, even considering this was the original edge that has been to big exhibitions and been used, dropped, handled so many times, yet it is still going strong.

Sadly these days, a knife’s looks are also important for the wrong reasons. What I mean by this is that some knives look ‘dangerous’ (in the words of others), but the Jaques has a gentle, traditional, look and feel which has been well received universally. In fact, it has been often complimented by people that might otherwise be critical of a knife. This allows you to feel more relaxed using the knife when others might see. A rare thing to really be able to enjoy using a knife wherever you are (at least in the UK).

MKM Jaques Review Summary

_______________________________________________
What doesn’t work so well for me
_______________________________________________
Pocket clip could be ‘deeper carry’.
Are ball bearings necessary for the pivot?

_______________________________________________
Things I like
_______________________________________________
Magnacut, Titanium and Carbon Fibre construction.
Traditional design styling.
Wide full-flat Wharncliffe blade.
Firm slip-joint action.
Integral bolster and liner.
Polished back spring detail.
Compact and easy to carry.
Excellent grip with first and third finger grooves.
Easy pinch-grip opening.

MKM Jaques Review Videos

Starting with a short format sixty second review:

Onto a full video review covering many more details:

Discussing the MKM Jaques Review:
Something new – will it work? A Tactical Reviews Subreddit.
TacticalReviewsChat on Reddit
Please visit there and start/join the conversation.

Knife Review: Hoo Knives V4

23 July, 2025

In this detailed review of the HOO KNIVES V4 Tanto, a UK EDC-Legal slip-joint, double-detent flipper folder; join me as we look at every aspect of this lovely EDC knife.

Hoo Knives are born from the founder’s true passion for quality knives, and Hoo Knives focus on non-locking, sub 3 inch, practical and safe use folding knives (UK EDC Legal requirements). A very approachable brand who are completely engaged in supporting and listening to their customers, along with the wider EDC community, and, case-in-point, they created the V4 Tanto due to high demand for a Tanto Style Blade in their line up.

What’s in the box?:
The V4 arrives in a proper, hinged, re-usable, plastic box, that you can either keep for storing the knife as part of a collection, or make use of it for other purposes. Contained in this box are the knife, a draw-string cloth case for the knife, a cleaning cloth, specification card, stickers, and warranty information.

A good look round the (folded) Hoo Knives V4 – Things to look out for here are:

This gallery shows the features you can see with the knife folded. Straight out of the box, the deep carry pocket clip has a protective wrap to prevent marks on the handle scale (both so it reaches you in perfect condition, and in case you decide to re-fit it to the other handle). The blade is almost fully contained within the handle, with only a thin part of the spine visible. Ambidextrous thumb studs and a flipper tab can be used to open the blade.
The titanium handles have a stonewashed finish, and while very flat, the edges are well eased for comfort.

A good look round the (opened) Hoo Knives V4’s blade – Things to look out for here are:

Once deployed, we can see details of the blade and the function of the knife’s mechanism. In the open position, the thumb studs come close to the front of the handle but do not touch the handle as they are not used as stop pins, instead this is done with an internal stop pin. A curved plunge line makes the transition from the hollow primary grind to the blade tang. The individual serial number is neatly engraved just in front of the handle. The blade swedge extends for the entire length of the spine, and combines with the outlines of the flat-ground tanto tip, and the blade’s main hollow grind, to give a pleasing mix of flowing curves and straight lines.
Finally looking within the handles you can see the double detent mechanism gripping the blade along with the internal stop pin.

The blade is made from M390 steel.

Being a slipjoint design the Tactical Reviews technical parameters also include peak torque measurements for opening and closing torque. This gives you an indication of the slipjoint mechanism’s blade stability. Comparative torques can be see on the Knife Technical Testing – How It’s Done page.

Explained by the Maker:
In this section I’m including words directly from the maker themselves.

“HOO DESIGNS LIMITED trading as HOO KNIVES was founded in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2021 with the goal of offering premium, British-designed folding knives at fair and competitive prices.

Since then, we’ve expanded our range to include a variety of unique models, each utilising high-quality materials, ensuring durability and top-notch performance.

With a focus on non-locking sub 3 inch practical and safe use folding knives, we’re proud our products are used by professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. We continue to engage with our customers through social media and strive to deliver exceptional performance in every product, alongside a high degree of customer service.

In relation to our name, HOO KNIVES, many may be curious about the connection to the Sutton Hoo site. Sutton Hoo is a significant archaeological site located near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, known for its medieval cemeteries dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries. The site is famous for the discovery of an Anglo-Saxon royal burial ship, and it has played an important role in British history and heritage. Our name pays homage to this rich historical connection, reflecting the craftsmanship, heritage, and timeless quality that we strive to embody in every knife we create.

Our logo was inspired by the Sutton Hoo helmet, one of the most iconic artefacts from the site. The helmet is part of what is widely regarded as the greatest treasure ever discovered on British soil. We chose to incorporate elements of this historic symbol into our branding to reflect the heritage, strength, and craftsmanship that define HOO KNIVES.

As we build on four years of history, HOO KNIVES continues to evolve and refine our designs. What started in 2021 with a vision to offer premium, British-designed knives at accessible prices has grown into a trusted brand among knife enthusiasts. With each model we release, we aim to offer a product that blends quality, functionality, and class while maintaining a focus on the needs of EDC users in the UK and around the world.

We’ve built a reputation for our commitment to design, performance, and customer service, and as we move forward, we’re excited to continue expanding our range and sharing our passion for knives with an ever-growing community. Every year, we learn, adapt, and strive to improve.

For the longest time members of the EDC community have asked if Hoo would ever make a Tanto Style Blade, we are very proud to reveal our intention to do just that! Introducing the Hoo Knives V4 Tanto.”

The Factory edge up close:

Followers of Tactical Reviews will know my views on factory edges, but to recap:

As a further look at the factory edge, this section has been added to include some high magnification photos of the factory edges.

What is it like to use?

Flat, stone-washed handles that look great in their natural Titanium grey, and the sleekness of an all metal knife, which is somehow softened slightly but the surface finish and easing of the handle edges. It wants to be held and turned over in your hand a bit like a worry stone.

Hoo Knives V4’s design, considering it is based around the sub 3″ UK EDC Legal requirement, is still a comfortable size knife to hold and has a useful amount of cutting edge. Shown in this gallery, with your first finger firmly placed in the handle finger groove, the flipper tab will prevent the blade closing accidentally. Keeping a tight grip ensures the blade can’t close on you. (Of course you would use correct cutting technique to prevent this as well, wouldn’t you?)

One minor detail that I appreciate, is that with the subtle shaping of the handle at the butt to create a low profile grip hook, this raised section helps to better enclose the tip of the folded blade. All too often the very tip of a folding knife blade is a bit too accessible and can actually catch on your finger. In the case of the V4, that handle shaping at the butt keeps the blade tip well covered.

Combining a flipper tab and thumb stud to open the V4 gives you good flexibility. My personal preference is always to open a blade under full control, so I lean towards using thumb studs. With the thumb studs being tight into the handle on the V4, for an easier start you can use the flipper tab to partially pop the blade open, and then take over with the thumb studs to fully open the blade under manual control. While you certainly can flip the V4’s blade fully open, and also fully thumb it open, I really like this combined method with the tab popping the blade out and finishing with the thumb stud.

The slipjoint action is crisp out of the box and so far the double detent remains nicely crispy. The slip-joint torque figures presented earlier in the review bear this out well, and the blade is held perfectly firmly enough for a slip joint.

With the spring pressure acting on the blade, a slipjoint mechanism tends to mask the true feeling of its pivot bearings. The V4 is fitted with the Hoo Knives’ standard ceramic ball bearings, as used across all models (except the original production run of the V1). Blade rotation on these ceramic ball bearings is slick and precise.

Thanks in part to those ceramic bearings, but also the double-detent blade retention, Hoo Knives have also achieved a truly flippable slipjoint. This is a rare feat in the slipjoint world, as in most cases the blade spring in a slipjoint completely prevents the ability to flip open the blade, instead you do need a detent type of blade retention.

Pocket carry is very unobtrusive, with the slim deep-carry clip being very subtle. All the more sleek in appearance due to the clip’s fixing screws being inside the handle. The only downside to this is if you do want to move the side the clip is fitted to, you do need to take the knife apart.

Tantos have that very useful secondary point and angled chisel-like tip, and initially I was less impressed with cutting performance than I expected. The factory edge average BESS of 272 is OK, if not great, though the 50 degree inclusive edge angle made this factory edge a disappointing under performer. Putting a new 17DPS edge (around 200 BESS) totally transformed the V4 – now that is more like it.

If a tanto is not you favourite blade shape, check out the other Hoo Knives models, all of which are created with the same care as the V4, and as I am writing this, the latest Phoenix and Dragon models have joined the line up.

Just today, I was actually chiseling (push cutting) with the V4’s tanto tip to free up the action of a folding wooden table. Now the V4 is positively asking to be EDCed, and is being put to work on all the every day jobs that present themselves. The V4 is firmly earning its essential EDC status along with those other EDC items I won’t be without.

Review Summary

_______________________________________________
What doesn’t work so well for me
_______________________________________________
Factory edge underwhelming (put your own on it).
Swapping the pocket clip side requires a full strip down.
Thumbs studs a bit scratchy/sharp.

_______________________________________________
Things I like
_______________________________________________
Super sleek deep-carry pocket clip.
A true flipper slipjoint.
M390 steel.
Full metal construction.
Natural stonewashed titanium handles.
Double-detent slip-joint.
Crisp action with good retention.
Ceramic ball bearings.
Flipper tab and Thumb studs.
Both easy to carry and a very useful size.
Great Hoo Knives customer service.

Review Videos

Starting with a short format sixty second review:

Onto a full video review covering many more details:

Discussing the Review:
Something new – will it work? A Tactical Reviews Subreddit.
TacticalReviewsChat on Reddit
Please visit there and start/join the conversation.

Knife Review: Fällkniven U1c slip-joint

9 March, 2021

For me, Fällkniven‘s U1 pocket knife has been flying under the radar. You might think it is not the most exciting knife, a small slip-joint with simple build, but then again perhaps it is….
Now that I’ve been living with and using this knife for an extended period, I have found it is one of those no-nonsense practical every-day-use knives that just does the job without any fuss.
Also seen in this review is the super handy FS3 Flipstone with combined ceramic and diamond sharpening stones.

The Video about the Fällkniven U1 I wasn’t going to make:
Originally I wasn’t going to include a video in this review, but after living with the U1c for several months, I felt compelled to add one. Before getting to the detailed galleries and the rest of the review, here it is:

A few more details:

What’s in the box?:
I also got the Fällkniven flipstone at the same time, so you can see it’s packaging here. An unfortunate reality, but the Fällkniven box also has the special authentication label to allow you to confirm it is a genuine Fällkniven. The U1c come in its own dedicated belt pouch.

The Belt Pouch:
As with any knife, the sheath or pouch is hugely important for how easy it is to carry and use. The U1 comes with a perfectly matched small fabric belt pouch with velcro closing. The belt loop design allows for vertical or horizontal carry.

A good look round the Fällkniven U1c – Things to look out for here are:
The construction is kept very simple, and is in fact a 100 year old slip-joint design. The blade pivot sits directly onto the handle liners (perhaps not really even ‘liners’ as they are exposed). The wooden grips of the U1c cover around 3/4 of the handle. Fällkniven are steel laminating experts, and the U1c is no exception, with the 3G-steel visibly laminated into the blade core.

What is it like to use?

It’s a small slip-joint. I say it that way on purpose, as that is the reality – it sounds a bit boring and not worth taking much notice. Yes, it is a Fällkniven, so that does make it more interesting, and it has a 3G laminated blade, so more interesting again.

But, wait, this does not do it justice in the slightest!

Fällkniven say it is a 100 year old design. Designs that don’t work, don’t stick around, and this has been proven to me again and again while carrying this knife. This is not just and EDC knife, it is an EDU knife (Every Day Use – coining a phrase). Carry it and you will use it over and over, every day.

In my hand, it is a three-finger size knife (I cannot get four fingers to fit on the handle). Remember that your first three fingers are where the majority of your hand strength is, so it is not a handicap at all. The size of the knife makes it all the more easy to carry, and this is massively helped by the dedicated belt pouch, which is itself small and easy to forget about on your belt.

Although there is a double nail-nick (one either side of the blade), I find it easy to open with a pinch-grip on the blade. The action is positive and the blade perfectly secure for every day tasks.

The slight full convex grind on the relatively thin blade allows it to slide through what you are cutting with ease. And that brings me to the 3G steel and the factory edge. Normally in the course of the review testing I will need to re-sharpen an edge, or improve/re-profile it to my liking; over the couple of months I have been using the U1c, it still has a hair popping original factory edge, and I don’t want to re-sharpen it until it really needs it. No noticeable loss in its eagerness to cut from day one – seriously impressed.

Popping on a small lanyard makes getting it out of the pouch much easier and is well worth doing.

There was something that stopped me loving the U1c straight away, and that was the sharp corner on the blade stop and back-spring. These sharp corners give the ‘H’ it’s precision and clean look, but every time I handled the U1c i kept feeling the catch of these sharp edges and it put me off.
Taking a diamond stone to these corners and just easing them slightly transformed the experience of handling this knife. Only a small thing, but suddenly no catching on these sharp corners, instead just appreciating the size, feel, handling and cutting ability. Such an easy fix, if this little detail did bother you, it is easily resolved and worth doing.

As you have already seen, I ended up making a video I hadn’t intended to, simply because this little EDU knife fell into the U1c-shaped hole we all have in our lives.

Review Summary

_______________________________________________
What doesn’t work so well for me
_______________________________________________
Slight sense of being unfinished with some sharp edges.
Nothing else.

_______________________________________________
Things I like
_______________________________________________
Superb cutting from the thin convexed blade.
3G steel just keeps holding its edge.
Compact three-finger size disappears on your belt.
Comes with excellent belt pouch.
Simple, classic, time-proven design.
Blade can be opened with a pinch-grip.
Firm spring and good resistance to closing.

Discussing the Review:
The ideal place to discuss this review is on the Tactical Reviews Facebook Page
Please visit there and start/join the conversation.

As well as the Tactical Reviews Facebook Page, please consider visiting one of the following to start/join in any discussion.

BladeForums – Knife Reviews (US based Forum for Knife Discussion)

CandlePowerForums – Knife Reviews Section (Largest and Friendliest Flashlight Community Forum)

The BESS Exchange – A forum discussing technical aspects of sharpness and truly understanding your sharpening process.

Knife Review: Heinnie Special Editions – CRKT Pilar, MKM Isonzo and Penfold

28 December, 2020

In the UK, Heinnie Haynes is an institution and essential in the search for knives as well as outdoor and EDC gear. Having been a specialist in knives for so long, not satisfied with just selling standard production knives, Heinnie Haynes have been commissioning customised and enhanced special editions, many of which are slip-joint conversions of lock knives (to allow UK EDC). In this review we are taking a look at three of these Heinnie special editions – a slip-joint conversion of the CRKT Pilar and MKM Isonzo, plus a the sleek Heinnie designed Penfold.

The details:

This video has a quick look at the Heinnie Penfold and MKM Isonzo, and then a much more detailed examination of the CRKT Pilar.

A good look round the Heinnie CRKT Pilar – Things to look out for here are:
The exclusive special edition features include the G10 scales and spacer in Heinnie red, plus the conversion to slip-joint using a double spring-and-detent concealed within the handle.

A good look round the Heinnie MKM Isonzo (Cleaver blade)- Things to look out for here are:
Originally using a liner lock, the remains of this lock are clearly visible, but with the addition of a detent on the sprung bar (previously the lock bar). Highlights of Heinnie red let you know this is the special edition.

A good look round the Heinnie Penfold – Things to look out for here are:
Entirely a Heinnie design, the Penfold takes the classic pocket-spring slip-joint knife, and streamlines it with a beautiful simplicity and clean look.

The Torque measurement:

What is it like to use?

As a little ‘cherry on top’ I’ve added a couple of Heinnie beads onto paracord lanyards.

This led me to make a how-to video for the lanyards I like to tie. See Tutorial Page Here.

Inspired by the rasp-like grip texture of the MKM Isonzo handles (plus noticing other ‘pocket ripping knives’ over the years), a new test was born – the pocket-shredder test. Taking some raw calico and fitting and removing the knife’s pocket clip onto the calico fabric as if it were a pocket edge. This was done only 5 times; here you can see the comparison of how aggressive the pocket clip grip is. The MKM is a shredder!

Heinnie Edition CRKT Pilar – It’s a compact knife, three-finger-grip size, so, frustrating for it to be a lock knife where carry restrictions prevent EDCing a locker. Heinnie Haynes special slip-joint edition makes this a lovely, and EDCable, working knife. It is a slight disappointment that it only has a tip-down pocket clip. I initially thought this might be a deal breaker and this does conflict slightly with the lanyard hole, as to use the pocket clips means stuffing the lanyard into your pocket, opposite to how it should be. However, thanks to its small size and ease of handling it actually hasn’t been a real issue.
The sheepsfoot blade shape is very practical, presenting the tip and edge nicely for draw cuts.
One-handed-opening is easy and the slip-joint detent is firm enough (assuming correct cutting technique). Thanks to the vision of Heinnie Haynes, we have a super usable, easy to carry, and inexpensive EDC pocket knife.

Heinnie Edition MKM Isonzo Cleaver – This knife drew me in as soon as I saw it, Jesper Voxnæs’ distinctive design, which was also originally a liner-lock knife. With Heinnie Haynes stepping in and arranging for a slip-joint conversion to open up this excellent knife’s EDC-ability.
In this version, it has the ‘cleaver’ blade (although effectively this is really a slightly deeper sheepsfoot shape), with the characteristic downward presentation of the tip, making it a very practical cutter.
The peeled G10 scales have a texture that almost reminds me of the rasp side of a box grater (the one you end up skinning your finger joints on). This texture is super grippy, and I feel I could keep hold of this despite oil or anything else slippery on my hands.
For its overall size, the Isonzo is quite wide when folded; wide enough I could not fit it into any of the knife belt pouches I have. The secure grip from the rough handle texture is actually really good, and feels fine for general use, so I definitely want to carry this. Despite being my preferred tip-up clip position, its ferocious grip texture makes the pocket clip something I won’t use, as it will rip pockets to shreds; so, I just popped it into the bottom of whatever pocket or pouch/bag I had.
With a deep full flat grind, the blade had the narrowest primary bevel angle of the three in this review, and proved a great slicer with lots of control.

Heinnie Penfold – Those sleek lines make the Penfold beautiful in its simplicity. This is a knife imbued with elegance and sophistication, and a joy to behold every time you bring it out. When this arrived, I got out an old leather belt pouch I’ve had for probably over 25 years, and it’s been on my belt every day since then (with the Penfold in it of course).
Initially I was a little put off by the thickness of the blade. In terms of visual design, the thick blade looks super, but a thick blade loses out in slicing ability, so I didn’t have high hopes for the usability. Well, I could not have been more wrong; every task I’ve used it for has been completed with ease and not impeded by the blade thickness. There will be some cutting jobs the blade thickness may end up slowing down, but so far this has proven a cracking daily carry!

Review Summary

_______________________________________________
What doesn’t work so well for me
_______________________________________________
Pilar – tip-down clip position.
Isonzo – pocket shredding grip texture.
Penfold – thick blade and steep primary grind angle.
Penfold – lanyard point fiddly and a tight fit for 7-strand paracord.

_______________________________________________
Things I like
_______________________________________________
Pilar – converted to a slip-joint for EDC.
Pilar – sheepsfoot blade shape.
Pilar – compact and easy to carry.
Isonzo – converted to a slip-joint for EDC.
Isonzo – super grippy handle texture.
Isonzo – very easy to one-hand-open.
Penfold – elegant and stylish design.
Penfold – S35VN and Titanium.
Penfold – slim and narrow making it a low profile carry.

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Knife Review: Fox Suru – Exclusive Heinnie Haynes Edition

8 January, 2019

In this review, the Fox Suru on test is not just any old Suru, it’s the ‘Heinnie Haynes Edition’. As well as having global reach, Heinnie Haynes is the UK’s largest seller of knives and EDC gear. With its roots in the UK market there is particular interest in knives which are UK EDC Legal. There is much confusion over the knife laws in the UK, thanks to plenty of misinformation, despite the law actually being very simple. Sticking to the basics of the law, any non-locking folding knife with cutting edge less than 3″ can be EDCed legally.

The Fox Suru in its standard form is a compact, integral-lock, flipper knife – an almost perfectly unsuitable knife for the UK market, but Bruce from HH had the vision to see great potential in the small robust folder, if only it could be made a flipper-free non-locker. After working out the details with Fox, we now have exactly that, a slip-joint Suru. Though intended for the UK market, the creation of the slip-joint Suru has streamlined the original design and resulted in a knife suitable for users around the world with, or without, similar EDC knife carry restrictions.

A few more details:

We’ll start of with the presentation of the knife, both from Heinnie Haynes and from Fox. The review sample was sent to me exactly as with any other HH customer order.

What’s in the box?:

That Red H is always a sign of good things to come.

A Couple of Extras:

With Heinnie Haynes having so many extras to choose from, also included for use during testing was the MAM slip pouch, and Maxpedition’s Micro Pocket Organiser.

A good look round the Fox Suru Heinnie Haynes Edition – Things to look out for here are:

This is one of four different colour options and has a black PVD coated Titanium handle (though this is actually more of a very dark grey) with Bronze coloured hardware. The Heinnie Edition Suru started as the frame-lock flipper Suru, but as you will see, nothing looks out of place, instead appearing as if it had always been designed this way.

Spot the difference from the standard Suru.

Also different in the Heinnie edition is the lock side handle. It has a detent spring instead of a lock-bar.

In this version, the clip and other hardware has a bronze finish.

The clip has a ball bearing for the contact point.

The handle spacer also has a lanyard hole.

Fox's logo sits next to the rounded plunge line.

The edge bevel width has been kept consistent over the entire cutting edge, despite the geometry and thicker tip.

A generous finger choil allows for fine control.

A couple of images showing the slip-joint detent action. Here it is engaged with the blade open.

Looking into the knife you can see the detent ball engaged in the blade tang. Also note the washer.

With the blade partially open the detent spring bar is pushed open.

Explained by the Maker:

The reasons for certain design choices may not be clear when simply looking at an object, so this section is intended to give an insight into the thinking behind a design by speaking to the designer themselves.

Bruce from Heinnie Haynes took the time to speak with me about the knife.

This particular ‘Heinnie Haynes Edition’ actually came about the very day before the Suru won knife of the year at Blade Show 2018. It happens to be Bruce’s favourite size of knife and he particularly liked the solid feel and thick blade coupled with the strong, precise, feel and operation. After seeing and loving the original Suru, with the UK market in mind, Bruce knew that the flipper was going to make it impossible to sell, so asked Fox if they could do a run without the flipper. Fox said they could do that but would need to cut a new blade shape separately, meaning a minimum of 300 being made. At a starting point of 300, with the knife being a lock-knife it would still limit the market for the flipper-free version. So Bruce took it one step further and asked that if a new blade is being made, can’t the rear be extended and an extra detent added. This would be so that the lock-bar doesn’t close behind the blade instead converting it to be non-locking (with detent holding the blade open). Initially Fox were concerned this would make it seem like the knife was ‘broken’ and the lock not working, so were very reluctant. Bruce stuck to his convictions and persuaded Fox to go ahead with the Heinnie Edition.

After placing the order, Bruce had to wait for the final production run to actually see the knife he had redesigned; it was a bit nerve-racking opening the first box. When they arrived it turned out that not only had the blade been changed, but the lock-side handle had also been changed and it was no longer a frame-lock handle; instead the detent spring has been moved to the centre of the handle. Bruce originally thought he was asking only for the blade to be changed and felt a little guilty the handle needed to be changed as well; however, the result is even better thanks to this extra work by Fox.

Making this knife EDCable broadens its appeal in the UK market considerably with the relatively limited choice of suitable knives. Being a Heinnie customisation HH currently have exclusive rights to the slip-joint version.

If the current run sells well enough Bruce would like to go for a few more variants than the initial four. Always a bit of a guessing game, the split in sales between these four variants is so far not as originally envisioned. The black/bronze one (in this review) is the most popular, followed by the black/blue and the plain level-pegging in second, with the plain/blue being the least popular (at the time of writing). It was the plain/blue one that Bruce most likes and thought would sell out first.

Interestingly, as the number of ‘flipper’ knives is still on the increase, and with this being a genuine problem in the UK, (as it not something that can be sold), Bruce (and I also agree) is starting to see flippers as ugly; the flipper tab sticking out makes the knife ungainly especially when folded. This Heinnie edition of the Suru looks much more streamlined without the flipper tab getting in the way.

The Blade and Handle – Detailed Measurements:

Now even more detailed!

Taking things far beyond most knife specifications, in this section I will be carrying out a detailed examination of geometry, balance, edge bevels, factory sharpness and structural edge testing using the industry leading measuring tools.

These measuring tools include a Vernier protractor, callipers, fixed radius gauges, the unique Arc Master adjustable radius gauge, Edge On Up’s BESS Certified PT50A and SET tester along with CATRA’s Hobbigoni LASER Edge Protractor.
The BESS ‘C’ scale of sharpness (Brubacher Edge Sharpness Scale) will be used to verify the sharpness of the factory edge and allow the knife to be brought to a minimum standard sharpness before testing a blade’s cutting performance.

A set of gauges and precision measuring equipment including a Vernier protractor, callipers, fixed radius gauges and the Arc Master adjustable radius gauge.

One critical parameter is the primary grind angle.

Using a straight-edge to confirm the primary bevel type.

The balance point is found using a pivot.

Sharpness is checked using an Edge On Up PT50A 'BESS Certified' tester.

A chart showing where on the BESS scale a blade is.

The CATRA Hobbigoni measures blade and bevel angles with a LASER.

The Hobbigoni provides a lot of information about the blade and cutting edge.

A CRK Inkosi with polished Wicked Edge bevel.

A fully convexed edge on the Fällkniven F1.

Movakniv's Bushcraft showing the Scandi-edge and micro-bevel.

Spyderco's Sliverax showing the effect of surface finish.

This is the Edge On Up SET (Structural Edge Tester). A precise load (the white tac on the platform is used to adjust the load) applies pressure to an 'impactor'.

The 'impactor' roller is at a 12 degree angle.

The impactor is moved along the edge to roll the edge apex. The amount of roll can then be measured.

After testing the blade is stropped to recover the edge.

The measurements have been tabulated and are presented along with a few reference blades. The ‘Balance relative to the front of the handle’ tells you if the knife will feel front heavy, or if the weight is in your hand (a positive value means the weight is forward of the front of the handle). The ‘Balance relative to the centre of the handle’ indicates how close to a ‘neutral balance’ the knife has in the hand.

The blade is made from M390 steel.

What it is like to use?

Having not previously handled the original Fox Suru, I was not familiar with the size of this knife. Certainly on first seeing it I was surprised how compact it actually is. From photos of it on its own, there is a sense it is a larger knife. Considering that this is intended to be an EDC knife, that compact size has proven to be a real benefit and just made it an easy carry.

Frequently, frame-lockers can be reluctant to open with the thumb as it is so easy to accidentally apply pressure to the lock-bar and so engage the blade retention detent more firmly. With Fox changing the lock-side handle as they have done, it make this version of the Suru very good at OHO using the opening hole. The action is crisp, with a good snap into the open position.
As you can see in these photos, the handle is really a three-finger-grip handle due to its compact size. You have two choices for the normal forward grip, firstly and most naturally, you choke up on the blade with your index finger sitting in the finger choil in front of the pivot with you remaining fingers on the handle. This grip will give you the most control and power, but if you want a little more reach for the blade, you can come back on the handle so your index finger is now behind the pivot. Not as safe (though perfectly safe if using the proper cutting style for non-lockers), but it does give a bit more reach.

Before discussing the next gallery, there was just one minor problem I came across during testing; the blade pivot loosened to the point the blade was quite wobbly and way off centre when closed. This was after a few hundred opening and closing cycles, but I had not thought to check the pivot screw before starting testing, so I don’t know if it was already loose when it arrived. A quick and easy adjustment later using a T9 Torx screwdriver bit, and the pivot was back to how it should be, with the blade having no play and opening smoothly. Concerned it had worked loose during normal use, I went about positively trying to get it to loosen up again and have unrelentingly opened and closed it (having to change hands frequently – and yes it works perfectly left or right handed) hundreds of times. I do apply a reasonable amount of sideways pressure to the blade when OHOing the knife and the pivot has loosened again. Once it starts to get loose, it then loosens even more quickly. Actually this doesn’t really impact on its use, giving you enough warning to tighten it up again before it gets too bad. I think a spot of thread-lock is imminent.

People like to carry knives in a few different ways. I’m not a fan of carrying a knife clipped to the edge of a pocket as I don’t like collecting pocket lint, wearing away the edge of the pocket, and those instances where as you move about and sit down, that a knife can be pushed up and off the pocket edge; lots of knives are lost that way. So this leads me to the two other options here. The MAM slip-pouch is a simple leather pouch to keep the knife dust and scratch free while in your pocket. It is a snug fit for the Suru needing a ‘toothpaste tube squeeze’ technique to get it out of the pouch, and has kept the Suru in perfect condition.

I am frequently swapping coats and bags and tend to loose track of my EDC gear if I have it distributed and doubled-up (tripled etc) across all those coats and bags, so prefer a small organiser pouch that gets moved from coat to bag to bag to coat, and means I know exactly what I’ve got.
Though the Suru came in a pouch, and that pouch is very nice quality, it is too big for the size of knife. I have re-used that pouch for a much bigger folder.
The Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organiser is the best size I’ve found so far. I would prefer it even smaller, as unlike many people I don’t like to cram my EDC pouch full of gear that then rubs up against each other. For me this is the essential ‘knife and light’ combination, placed in the pouch so they can’t make contact. The Suru has mostly been living in this pouch with an Armytek light.

Back onto the subject of size. Included in the gallery are a few size comparison photos with some classic slip-joint knives. There is also a direct comparison with the ultra-light Spyderco Dragonfly II, which you can see is equivalent in size. The Suru has a much more substantial build, with Titanium handles and thick blade, so gives you the feel of a heavier folder in a package that is small enough to easily EDC, yet have enough cutting power to be seriously useful.

These comparison photos also show the non-threatening look of the Suru. SAKs are universally accepted even by extremely-non-knife-people, but many of the UK EDC Legal knives look a little bit too ‘pointy’ to be as easily accepted. The Suru with its wide blade and upwardly sweeping cutting edge has a softer look that is much easier for non-knife-people to be relaxed around.

Is a 4mm blade too thick for a folder this size? It certainly could be. The Suru’s blade is however much deeper than your typical folder of this size and with a nearly full flat grind, it means the blade’s primary bevel is a fine enough angle to cut very well. Where you do lose out a little is as you near the blade tip. The primary bevel and thick blade stock combine to give a very strong blade tip, but a relatively thick one.

This brings me onto the factory edge. With the grind geometry, the blade thickness behind the cutting edge increases as you go from the heel to tip. Fox have very neatly executed a factory cutting edge bevel that has a consistent width along the entire edge. Consequently, this factory edge bevel angle changes from 20DPS (degrees per side) at the heel to about 35DPS at the tip. So that is a 40 degree inclusive edge bevel at the heel and a 70 degree inclusive edge bevel at the tip; that is more than I’d put on an axe! Fox did make that edge a good sharpness, but the angle means it is not the most eager cutter. A lot of urban EDC cutting tasks involve the point, and with the factory edge, the Suru comes up feeling lacking. What also doesn’t help is that the point angle is quite wide, and with the upward sweep of the cutting edge to the tip, the cutting edge sits almost parallel to the material being punctured and cut – like this is needs a finer edge to really work.

So, time for a re-profile of the cutting edge, and I’ve take it to 15DPS along the entire cutting edge. The width of the edge bevel at the tip is now four times the width at the heel, but that is the cost of having the consistent edge bevel angle.

With this new edge, the Suru has woken up, and with the point work transformed it has allowed me pay more attention to how well the rest of the blade cuts. With a nicely exposed blade heel (just in front of the finger choil), you can carry out very fine and controlled cuts. Despite the 4mm blade stock, this part of the blade cuts like a thinner blade would.

Having an all metal construction (Titanium handles) the Suru is not a super-light folder. Other knives of a similar size are thinner and lighter, but feel insubstantial in comparison. As a non-locker, it is possible to EDC this knife where other knives cannot go, and even though compact, it has a satisfyingly solid build that gives you the confidence use it for jobs you might otherwise be reaching for a bigger knife to do.

Review Summary

_______________________________________________
Things I like
_______________________________________________
Excellent fit and finish.
Titanium handles.
Solid construction.
M390 blade steel.
Ambidextrous OHO.
Compact.
Non-locking.
‘Friendly’ look.

_______________________________________________
What doesn’t work so well for me
_______________________________________________
Thick blade tip reduces piercing ability.
The blade pivot seems to work loose after a few hundred openings. (Needs some thread-lock)

Discussing the Review:

The ideal place to discuss this reviews is on a forum. If you started reading the shorter forum version of the review, but followed the link this full exclusive review, please return to that forum to discuss the review there.
If you read the review entirely on Tactical Reviews, please consider one of the following to join in any discussion.

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The BESS Exchange – A forum discussing technical aspects of sharpness and truly understanding your sharpening process.

Knife Review: Hinderer Knives XM-Slippy

2 July, 2018

Hinderer Knives’ XM-Slippy was designed to answer the high demand from the European market for a Rick Hinderer knife that could be carried in areas with more restrictive knife carry laws; as its name suggests, it is a slip-joint knife. The knife was debuted at IWA 2017 and is currently entering into its second production run. The XM-Slippy shown in this review is a first run knife and externally there is no visible change when compared to the second run. Designed to be as universally EDC legal as possible, the thumb disc can easily be removed for two-handed opening if required.

New Review Format 2018!

Tactical Reviews is known for very detailed reviews using many high quality images. This has meant quite a lot of scrolling to read most reviews. In the new format, the review contains ‘responsive image galleries’ to better display these images as a slide show with captions.
NOTE: On a PC it is best to use the arrow keys to move through the images. Captions can be hidden by clicking the small ‘x’ in the caption box. To enable them again, close the gallery and reopen it.