Olamic Cutlery Wayfarer 247

The Wayfarer 247 is a variation of the original Michael Vagnino designed Wayfarer model. The Wayfarer is Olamic's signature folding knife design with their motto "Never the Same" ringing true as there are many MANY different examples of it. The Wayfarer is a custom knife fully furnished in-house while the 247 is not.

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The 247 is a new project for Olamic as their first "mid-tech" (I use quotes here because that phrase means something different to everyone). The majority of the knife is machined in Italy and the final finishing done by Olamic. Some might argue that this is more of a production knife but this has largely become an argument of semantics and I will avoid that for this review. Instead we'll focus on the knife itself and what is gets right and wrong.

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I've handled two of the three 247 models that will be available, the darkwash and the plain Ti. There is also a fancier version that is similar to the plain model but with a mokuti pocket clip and inlay, with the possibility of more options down the road. The darkwash type finish is not one I am very fond of, I much prefer the plain ti. I will focus this review on the plain one as the darkwashed one was also a prototype and not 100% indicative of the production run. 

So enough backstory, lets get moving. 

The overall shape of the Wayfarer is very unique. With the handle growing towards the rear, it has, what some may call, a booty. The larger portion of the handle near the rear might look strange at first glance but actually lends itself well to a proper grip. The sloping of the handle seats nicely in your hand with plenty of room for all four digits. 

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The blade shape is a combination of a drop point and a spear point. There is a downward slope towards the tip of the knife and there is a nice swedge that gives a spearpoint profile. The blade is well finished with noticeable grind lines and a polished treatment. It's both handsome and utilitarian. The blade steel is Elmax which, despite past claims, is a great steel. 

The hole in the blade is actually useful as an opening method if done slow and deliberate. I can't use it quickly with my thump or middle finger, though. The main way to open the knife is, of course, the flipper tab. 

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Keeping in mind that the knife I have is only a week or so old, the action on the knife is smooth but not free-falling. This is not necessarily a knock against the knife. There are lots of collectors who dislike a completely free-falling blade. Opening is extremely fast due to proper flipper geometry and just-right detent strength. There is a neat area above the flipper on the frame that is a perfect seat for your finger to sit. This makes light-switching a breeze to get right despite the lack of any meaningful traction on the flipper tab. 

The 247 is a frame lock design with a stainless lock insert/over-travel stop secured by two titanium screws. This has become the standard set of improvements to the Reeve Integral Lock. The over-travel stop prevents damage to the lock while the insert provides a more solid surface which to lock up. There is a cutout ramp to allow the detent ball to ride up so there is no hard shelf to overcome when closing. This is not something that is present on all designs and it's welcomed. 

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The pivot required custom hardware and the tool is included. I am not a fan of this practice. I understand the design aesthetic etc. but I would rather have a more standardized hardware slot. Sure it looks good but lose that little tool and you're in for a wait to just adjust your knife. 

The pocket clip is interesting. It's a flat titanium clip attached by 3 standoffs that are threaded into the frame then tapped to accept the screws that hold the clip and it uses a large ceramic ball to secure it in pocket. This is all in place of any bending and adds a lot of parts and detail to an otherwise mundane part of the knife. It works well and it's nice to see the attention. 

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Overall the knife is very well done. There is a lot of attention paid to smaller details that really show that Olamic cares about knife design. Not only that but the knife is perfect. It's perfectly centered, the grinds are even, the finishing is even, the backspacer ( a solid free-floating unit) is centered and matches the frame, etc.. I really can't find any flaws in the finish. Combine the expert build with a great attention to details and I predict the 247 will make a lot of knife guys happy. 

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Spyderco Rubicon

The Spyderco Rubicon was a surprise to me. Upon it's release, I had written it off due to it's high price tag and lowly S30V steel (for the price that is, I know S30V is just fine). Even when handling one in a shop, I was unconvinced. It took me a while but now I understand. I not only understand the knife but it has helped me understand something about Spyderco as a whole; Spyderco doesn't so much make "collaborations" as much as they make production versions of customs. Looking at the features and design of the knife, along with some of Spyderco's own language on this and other models, I don't think they get in the way of the maker's vision very much. It is more that they take a design and make it. If they can't, they work on it till they can. Case in point is the new Brian Tighe design the Tighe Stick. They stated that they have had that design for years and only now are able to produce it true to Brian's design. That is what makes the Rubicon so attractive to me now. I don't see it as a Spyderco designed by Peter Carey so much as I see it as a production version of a Peter Carey. Anyway, let's get on with the review. 

The knife is a short and stubby. I am able to get four fingers on the handle but just barely. The scales are carbon fiber on both sides and are nicely rounded for comfort and polished to a high sheen. They are very attractive and a highlight feature of the knife. Additionally, the orange g-10 on the pivot and backspacer really set off the knife. The finish on them is top notch as I've come to expect from Spyderco's Taichung factory. 

The pocket clip is a custom design. It holds the knife in just fine but it's not my favorite. I appreciate the effort put in here, though.

The liners are titanium and the knife is held open with a liner lock. If I had one complaint, it would be that there is no cutout to allow easier access to the lock bar. It's a minor complaint though as unlocking becomes easier with practice and there is traction cut into the lock to allow for a better purchase. 

The blade shape is quite unique. The best way to describe it is a modified spear-point with a recurve. The blade is fairly short at just about 3" but it is wide. The grind is a double hollow grind that works well and adds to the look of the knife. There is a modest tip that could be a little pointier but it works fine. 

The blade rides on bearings and is very smooth. It doesn't quite drop free on it's own but, for a small knife, it is very good. The flipper tab is expertly designed. It is set up to guide you in which way to use it as it is flat and directional with traction cut into it. The detent is fairly mild but the knife fully opens every time. If the detent were any stiffer, It would be too difficult to operate the lock. It is well balanced. 

As I see this knife as a production version of a Peter Carey custom, it is fantastic. I think they nailed the execution and design. I don't know if the knife holds up on it's own as a pocket knife, for me, but there is no doubt it is a very nice piece. 

Zero Tolerance ZT 0600

The Zero Tolerance Knives ZT0600 is a limited edition model designed by R.J. Martin. The knife won collaboration of the year in 2012 from Blade Magazine but while I think it is the closest production knife to a custom R.J., it's not really in the same league. That should really go without saying but I feel the need to express it in light of this review. I'll explain later. 

The 0600 is a big knife. I mean really big. It's got a 4.25" blade and it weighs in at 7.3 oz. The size and weight wouldn't be a huge issue if it weren't for a few things that I'll get into later. The blade stock is equally as hefty at 4.8mm on my calipers.

The grind is a hollow grind with a recurve and is distinctly R.J. Martin. The blade steel is B75P which is a powdered version of BG-42, a ball bearing steel.  

The handles feature a really nice 3D machined diamond pattern that I like a lot in comparison to, say, the 0560. The presentation side in inlaid with carbon fiber and I find the whole look interesting and elegant.

The handle is also sculpted to provide a good feeling in hand. While this knife is big and heavy, it is easy to hold. 

The knife features a sculpted Ti clip that could use a bit more tension, especially for a knife this big. It does a good job of keeping the knife where you want it though. 

The 0600 also features a full titanium backspacer that is milled to match the traction at the butt of the knife as well as a cutout for a lanyard. I think there is a few ounces in this piece alone. The execution is there but it does not match both sides of the frame evenly, being a bit more raised on one side than the other. 

The knife features a bearing system for the pivot and it is quite smooth. That combined with the heavy blade stock let the blade freely fall on it's own weight. This might also be due to the relatively light lockbar tension and detent. This knife was made before ZT moved to the stiffer detent they are using now and, in my opinion, it could use a bit more detent as the action of the knife is not that great. The heavy blade and weaker detent don't really allow it to rocket out. A few pain points for me are the flipper tab and the back of the knife right under the flipper. The tab itself has no traction cut into it at all. This makes it slippery if you're not paying attention and I've slid off it a few times. Under the flipper, there is no jimping but the frame is cut harshly on the inside and, being that the blade is so thick, creating a large gap between the slabs, your finger goes down into the gap and it doesn't feel great hitting the harshly cut handle scales. 

The frame does not feature two screws on each side but rather just one side for the handle. The reveals a rather rough tap for the screws and looks unfinished. I will probably take a deburring tool to it or sand down the inside just to finish it a little better. 

Overall I am disappointed with this knife. An R.J. Martin custom is one of my grail knives and I was hoping that this would be close enough to keep me from wanting too hard (a custom R.J. is in the thousands not hundreds of dollars) but alas, it has not. I think with some tweaking, this knife would be fantastic. Looking ahead, it seems ZT has stepped away from features like custom milling and moved more toward good basic designs. The 0392 was one of the best production knives I've handled and that philosophy shows there. If that philosophy was applied to a R.J. design, that may do it for me. Are you listening ZT? 

Zero Tolerance ZT 0900

The ZT 0900 is an offering in a new spirit for Zero Tolerance. ZT used to be a division dedicated to the overbuilt and the oversized. The smallest knife they had at one point was the not-so-small 0350. Then last year, the company released two models that somewhat bucked that trend. The 0566 and the 0770 were two knives that were smaller and more pocket-friendly than the established group. I'm willing to bet those models were very successful for ZT because this year we have knives like the 0900 and the 0450. 

The 0900 is the shortest knife ZT has ever produced. With a blade length of 2.7", it is significantly smaller than the previous record holders, the 0770 and 0566 (both around 3.25"). The knife is interesting, though, in that it is not necessarily small. Yes it is short, but it is pretty heavy for that length (4.3oz) and is much thicker than, say, the 0770 for example. It is firmly in the "little-big knife" category. That is not a bad thing, though, as similar models (like the Spyderco Techno) have been favorites in the knife community. 

The 0900 is designed buy Les George of Les George Knives. Les is known in the knife community for his customs, "mid-tech's", and production collaborations. For the 0900 he brings his Harpy model. The blade shape is purely Les' with a simple drop point with a good amount of belly and a spine that meets a row of thick cut traction. The chunky jimping pattern is a signature of his designs. The blade material is Crucible S35VN, a fine powdered steel that is great for EDC uses. Going along with the overall theme of the knife, the blade stock is a hearty 4mm. Taking 4mm down to the edge and tip of such a small blade using a flat grind is naturally going to result in a relatively thick cutting edge and tip. Filet knife, this is not. 

The handle of the knife is composed of two titanium slabs with a frame lock cut out for right hand use. The lock cutout does have a unique pattern that adds a little something to the design. The handle is larger than the blade and enough to get a good solid grip on the knife. 

There is a little milling on the slabs that break up the flatness and It looks good. Going along with ZT's new more sterile look is the addition of the words "ZERO TOLERANCE" on the show side of the handle along with the subtraction of any markings on this side of the blade. I like. 

The pivot  closely matches some others we have seen but this one is not black but satin. In fact, the hardware on the knife is all the same satin. I prefer this to the black coated parts as it will wear much better over time. 

The action..... The action is amazing. The combination of a great flipper design, smooth pivot bearings, and lightweight blade make this a rocket of a flipper. 

With pressure, it will fire with authority and without is just as addicting. My "touring test" for flippers is if my wife can operate it. She carried this knife for weeks and absolutely loved it. Not only could she flip it, but could do so effortlessly (My wife is 5'4" 105lbs). This is one of the best designed flippers I've ever used, it's really that good.

Rumor has it that Les is working on another offering with ZT and I really hope is is a larger version of this knife. That would be a home run if this knife is any indication. I think the trend towards smaller designs is a good one for ZT. I love my 0452cf and I wouldn't trade that knife for this, but I appreciate the design and function of this knife so much, I want them to keep doing it. 

Great Eastern Cutlery #54 Tidioute Big Jack

I'll just get this out of the way; reviewing a traditional is not like reviewing a modern tactical folder, the nuances are different. The best place to find traditionals I have found is Knives Ship Free. 

The Great Eastern Cutlery #54 is my first real foray into the current modern traditional knife (oxymoron?). I have handled plenty of Case knives and I've never been that impressed with them. Since that was my only exposure, I was hesitant to buy anything site unseen. But when I got this knife in, I immediately knew it was different. 

The knife is pretty large, about 4" closed, with the blade coming in about 3" long with 2.75" of usable cutting edge. It's fairly heavy too but that is par for the course with traditionals. I like the weight though, it gives it a great balance toward the handle and you know it's in your pocket. 

The scales are dyed camel bone and are beautiful. They have a nice yellow to orange fade that is really nice. The bolsters were nicely polished (I've dinged them up a bit) and everything on the handle is finished very nicely. 

The knife comes with two blades opening from the same side both made of 1095 steel. 1095 is a carbon steel but I like the way it behaves. Easy to touch up and maintain, it will developed a patina over time. The first blade is a spear-point profile and the second a clip point. Both start life around 2.25mm and reduce to .68mm-.65mm near the tip and about .4mm behind the edge. I don't normally measure these specs but it's worth noting how thin the blades on these are. I was cutting some fruit with it and the ease in which the blades cut was addictive. 

The pulls are hard, not too bad but they take a good amount of force. They are both nice and smooth to open though and include a half-stop. They are nice and centered and once open, there is no movement. Very nice. 

I can say that I have been really impressed with this knife. My interests have been peaked and I already plan on picking up a few more. I've really got my eye on the Indian River Jack that is coming out later in S35VN. 

Zero Tolerance ZT 0452cf

The time has finally come. The 0454 was a groundbreaking knife for ZT and the knife community. It caused a stir unlike anything I saw or have seen since. With such a fever surrounding it, it should come as no surprise that ZT released not one but two new knives based off the 0454 design. The first is the smaller 0450 and the next is the full size spiritual successor the 0452cf. 

The knife is very slim for what you are getting. This knife reminds me of a Spyderco Military but without the hole, a better blade to handle ratio, a clip on the correct end.... OK scratch that, it's nothing like the Military. But it is nice and thin. 

The 0452cf is a lean long knife. With a blade length of 4.1" it is the largest blade I own in a folding knife. The shape is a nice classic drop point with a full swedge. The blade is fairly short, however, giving it a thin, sharp, and long profile. The grinds have all been left polished and the flats stonewashed. This two tone look is not as pronounced on this design as some of the others but it does not detract from the attractiveness. 

The steel is CPM-S35VN, a standard of the knife industry at this point. The move to S35VN from Elmax is a smart one. It allows them to get more knives into the hands of the customers while not losing any appreciable performance. The edge was very sharp and the point is nice and well.. pointy.

There is a run of traction on the top of the spine as well as the front when the knife is closed. That section is clearly for aesthetics only. The flipper tab is perfectly shaped. Allowing for either method of deployment. 

The handle consists of Titanium on the lock side and a carbon fiber scale over a liner on the other. I wish I could tell you what the stonewash was like on mine but as you can see, mine has already undergone a unique anodized finish. The Liner side is the same carbon fiber used on the 0562cf and it works well in it's appearance as well as provide decent traction. It's a nice balance.

The pivot is straight of the Kershaw Ruby and really fits this knife's look. It is coated black in the recesses and polished on the surface. 

The lock features a stainless lock insert that has become par for the course on new ZTs. The lockbar is short and provides good lock engagement but is still easy to release. 

The action on the 0452cf has been the subject of much discussion recently due to it's strong detent (another feature par for the course for new ZTs). I find it perfectly dialed in on my example. I can light switch or push button the flipper tab and it opens every time. The knife is very smooth and will only get smoother as it breaks in. 

This knife was long awaited for me. I missed out on the OG 0454 and I am glad to see this in the lineup. The knife is long and sharp but sits well in a slacks or jean pocket. This one of my favorite knives that has come out in recent years and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes knives in this category. 

Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 25

I have a sorted past with Chris Reeve Knives. A bad experience with their warranty almost made me swear them off forever. However, thanks to the Sebenza 25, I came back around. I'm glad to own a CRK piece again as I do believe he still sets the standard for production quality in the knife industry (even as companies like ZT continue to challenge that title). 

The 25 is a bit of an amalgamation; a hybrid of design and feature of two other CRK knives. The first being the venerable Sebenza 21 and the  second the aggressive Umnumzaan.  The 25 shares its profile and overall aesthetics with the Sebenza family but the guts of the knife are all Umnum.

The blade profile is a classic drop point but differs a bit from the 21 in it's execution. The stock used is thicker than the 21 and the same as the Umnum. This gives the 25 a bit more heft on the blade as does the grind.

The grind on the 25 is what CRK refers to as a high hollow grind. If you did not measure it, you would swear it was a flat grind. I prefer this blade to that of the 21 or the Umnum as it give the classic shape of the Sebenza but more to work with. The blade steel is CPM-S35VN, a great edc powdered metal steel. S35VN was actually developed jointly by Crucible and Chris Reeve. 

The 25 comes standard with double thumb studs. This is a nice feature for all the lefties out there and they are indeed easily accessible from both sides. The jimping cut into the blade is sharper than that of both the 21 and the Umnum but, again, I prefer the 25's as it provides excellent grip without any discomfort. The pattern is a repeating set of threes that is a nice touch. 

The 25 I have sports the micarta inlays. I like the extra width it provides as well as the break up of solid titanium that would otherwise dominate the flat surface. The handle shape is unique to the 25 in that it includes two finger grooves. I find that they fit my hand well and do not cause any hot spots during use. The handle slabs are also thicker than the 21 which, in conjunction with the thicker blade, give this knife a much more robust feel in hand than the 21 or even the Umnum in my opinion. 

Contacting the blade tang is not raw titanium but a ceramic ball. This ball also acts as the detent for the knife. This system was first introduced in the Umnumzaan and, from my experience, is a superior design than raw titanium. I don't have to worry about the soft titanium wearing against the hardened steel. 

The 25 is an incredibly smooth, strong, and beautiful knife from Chris Reeve Knives. If you are on the fence, you might at well go ahead and get one (you can always sell it later and not lose too much off what you payed). 

Zero Tolerance ZT0392

The ZT0392 is the latest collaboration between Rick Hinderer and Zero Tolerance Knives. The 0392 is a limited edition piece that is currently sold out. According to ZT, they will not be producing any more of these for sale (a little bird may have mentioned another model based off this design coming soon). The 0392 is based off Rick Hinderer's Eklipse model and is the first of the line ZT calls their "Factory Customs". I'll get into what that means along the way. 

The 0392 sports titanium on the show side and the lock side. The handles are nicely finished with no perceivable machining marks. The handles are stonewashed but have a bit of a darker color like a bead-blast. I believe ZT/Hinderer call this a working finish. This should do very well at hiding any wear over time. The handles are thick but not overly so. I like the balance they strike with them.

The standoffs, LBS, pocket clip, filler tabs, and pivot on the 0392 are all supplied directly from Hinderer's shop. On this model, they are anodized a nice subtle blue. The ability of ZT to manufacture the handle slabs to such a tolerance that Hinderer's hardware fits so well is a true testament to their manufacturing prowess. In fact, the only machining flaw on the knife is on one of the filler tabs by the pivot. I'm not saying Hinderer's quality is bad, it just says a lot about how good Zero Tolerance is. You can purchase replacement hardware on Rick's site to further customize your 0392. 

The Eklipse design leads to a fairly narrow package compared to the XM line and I find that this knife carries very well. The pocket clip is mounted high and hold the knife securely. I was unsure about the cutouts for your thumb and first two fingers but after holding it, I think they really add to the ergonomics.  There is a run of traction at the bottom of the handle but nothing on the spine. I appreciate this as there is no worry about hurting your finger during flipping. This knife also sports a stainless lock bar insert that acts as an over-travel stop in addition to the lock bar stabilizer. I think there is not a good reason for this other than ease of design. They were probably going to add an insert anyway and figured they might as well keep it congruent with their product line.

And it does flip. This has the heaviest detent of any knife I've owned (the previous record went to the 0801s110v). It took a minute to get used to but once you get it, this things has a fantastic action. The flipper tab is a bit pointy but if you use it like a light switch, there is no issue there.  It deploys with authority and locks up solidly using dual stop pins seated into the blade that directly contact the Ti handles. The stop pins are located in the place where thumb studs normally reside but they are not designed to be used to open the blade. As this is the intended design, I have no issue with them. 

The blade is a very attractive drop point design with a harpoon swedge. The blade profile is thinner than that of the XM series of knives and it gives the 0392 a sleek fast look. There is no choil on the blade which I appreciate as it gives more usable edge. I find that when a knife with a choil is inserted into material to cut, if your not there to stop it, the material will ride into the choil. The blade steel on the 0392 is CTS-204P. This is a carpenter steel analogous to Bohler M39 and DuraTech 20CV. It is a highly corrosion resistant steel with great wear resistance and good toughness. It's one of my favorite cutlery steels. 

The 0392 is one of the best knives to come out of the ZT factory that I've owned. I appreciate the lack of dress on the knife and it makes for a great EDC. It's a bit unfortunate that they are limited to what has already been sold but that doesn't detract from what is a fantastic knife. 

Hinderer XM-18 3.5" Slicer Grind

The Hinderer XM-18 is a great knife. There is a lot of history behind this knife that I don't really want to get into. I will say that these are some of the most popular knives among the knife enthusiast community. Since Rick has started ramping up production, these are becoming more and more available, which is great for the average enthusiast. 

The XM I have here is the 3.5" model. 3.5" is just about my favorite size for an EDC knife. The blade is a classic drop point blade with a flat grind that Rick refers to as a "Slicer Grind". The grind does not terminate parallel with the spine of the blade but, rather, it is ground at an angle such that as it moves from the heel to the tip, the grind steadily climbs till it reaches the spine. The blade steel on my example is DuraTech 20CV. This steel has very high corrosion resistance, high wear resistance, and good toughness.  Here is a data sheet from Alpha Knife Supply. Being that this is 20CV, there are no markings on the blade. The standard models come with S35VN, one of my favorite EDC steels, and have the Hinderer logo and the steel laser etched on the blade. I prefer the sterile look myself. The blade is finished nicely with a stonewash and Rick's is one of the cleanest I've seen.  There is a small run of jimping on the spine of the knife that is chunky but sharp and provides good traction. 

the slicer grind creates a slightly thicker angle at the heel than towards the tip where it is fairly thin. I say fairly because in terms of Hinderers it is thin but this is certainly still a stout grind. I have had some of the other styles and this one certainly emphasizes cutting rather than tip strength or prying. Rick has a spearpoint model coming soon that I am very interested in. 

The knife features both thumb studs and a flipper tab to open the knife. The thumb studs act as the blade stops as well as an opening mechanism. They seat securely and the blade has no play in any direction.

The flipper works to open the knife but it does require some attention. The knife uses teflon washers and while it is very very smooth, the detent is not as strong as some dedicated flipper knives. The lack of a strong detent is responsible for the slow flipping but, because this is how it was designed, it is perfectly acceptable to me.

And the lighter detent makes using the thumb studs very easy and smooth. There is a bit of added traction on the flipper tab that works well as designed. The angle of the jimping forces you to "pre-load" tension on the tab, making it flip out securely. 

The handle on the XM is very well appointed and finished. The titanium on my example is bead blasted instead of stonewashed. The finish is even and there are no noticeable machining marks. The word "HINDERER" is rolled into the TI across the top of the knife.

The knife use the frame lock mechanism and this one is very well "tuned". There is very little effort required to unlock the knife yet when it opens, it locks nice and securely. The knife does not sport a stainless steel insert of any kind so it is bare Ti against the blade tang. While I would prefer an insert, I've never had any problems with mine and I doubt you will either. 

The hardware on the XM-18 is fantastic. Hinderer machines his own screws, standoffs, pivots, and pocket clip. The clip is blasted to match the handle but the rest is nicely polished. The contrast really adds visual appeal to the knife. The knife uses Hinderers lockbar stabilizer that works to prevent accidental overextension of the lock bar. Rick says he came up with the design after doing that very thing to a knife he had. 

The pivot accepts a standard flat bit but the opposite side requires the use of a spanner wrench. I see this as a bit of a detractor but it might not be a big deal to some.

Near the rear of the handle, there is a hole that can accept a lanyard. The hole is rectangular and rounded and is designed to be compatible as a oxygen tank wrench (although I have no idea about that). 

The show side of the knife is covered by a G10 handle scale. Mine is plain black but they are available in a variety of colors. Part of the appeal of these knives is the customizability. You can purchase replacement scales and hardware from a variety of sources to add you own touch to the knife. 

Overall I love the XM-18. The shape fits the hand perfectly, the grind is useful, and the build quality is at the top of production knife standards. Forget all the history and focus on the knife and you have a great knife with impeccable finish and a hard-use flair. I'd gladly recommend this knife to anyone (especially now that you can find them readily).