Strider PT CC Pocket Clip

The review is coming, but I don't think it is a huge spoiler to say that I am enthralled with the Strider PT CC.  For all of the folks on the internet complaining about fit and finish I don't know what to say other than this--this knife is superb.  It is in the same class as the Sebenza and the Al Mar Hawk Ultralight.

I like it a lot, but I do miss a pocket clip, especially during these hot months where stuff at the bottom of your short's pocket bangs you in the leg when you run (and I run a lot given I have a 3 year old). So I started the quest to find a pocket clip.  But you know what?  No one makes one.  I contacted Strider to no avail.  I know they tried to make one but it wouldn't stay put.  I contacted STR, the famous aftermarket clip maker on Bladeforums to no avail.  I scoured the internet and found nothing. 
 

What I wanted wasn't straightforward, and I get that, but there was NOTHING out there.  Then a coworker told me about her brother in law that did machining and gadget stuff and that he was local. Thrilled about the idea of supporting a local machinist, I reached out to him.  You can find his stuff here.   

 

The idea for the clip is to preserve all of the cool, sleek lines of your PT CC.  So after talking to Raven Workshop, the clip will attach by passing through the lanyard hole.  I have few ideas of how to do this, but Raven Workshop are the experts and I'll leave it to them.  The idea is that by passing through the lanyard hole you can remove the clip without leaving unsightly holes drilled into the lustrous, smooth handle scales of your Strider gem.  Raven Workshop has the exact specifications of the lanyard hole from the maker, so that is what they will be using.  

 

The purpose of this post is, like with the Aeon, to gather interested parties.  Like with the Aeon, I am not selling anything.  I am not making anything.  I do not have any affiliation with Raven Workshop.  All I am doing is telling you about it.  I am going to have a clip made, whether no one is interested or 30 people are interested, but the more people we get the cheaper it will be.  Think of it like this: I did the leg work to find this thing that I think a lot of Strider owners will be interested in and now I am telling you about it.  That's it.  Not selling.  Not making.  I just found something you might like.    

 

If you are interested, post in the comments below and stay tuned.  It looks like there will be a prototype by late July early August and once that is done we will have an idea about price, look, and design.  If you like what you see in July or August you can then contact Raven Workshop and we will see how many folks we get.  I asked for a deep carry clip that is very close to handle with a very simple look.  I also asked that it be made out of Ti, but besides that and the lanyard hole attachment point, that is all I know.

 

Commenting below represents no commitment whatsoever.  All it does is help Raven Workshop ballpark the number of clips to make.  Once we have the proto with price, then you can contact Raven Workshop yourself and make a commitment.  

 

Who's interested?

Spyderco Manix2 Lightweight Review

I am the first to admit that I have a strong bias against big blades. I have never found them to be all that useful, or more accurately--sufficiently more useful to justify the extra size and weight. Why bother, especially if self-defense is not a concern, with carrying a 6 or 8 ounce knife when all or virtually all of your tasks can be handled by a 2 ounce knife? It was a dilemma that meant that I hardly ever carry a big folder. If I want to do something heavy duty I have a few fixed blades I fall back on making the big folder the "neither foul nor fair" knife. It was something, because of the inherent increases in size and weight, that I had no interest in carrying.

This doesn't mean that I fail to see the non-self-defense advantages of a large blade. There are benefits in terms of increased grip, more blade length for better reach and more distribution of wear, and in terms of ease of deployment. But I am not about to "pay" 4-6 more ounces to get those things. My favorite big knife, the Paramilitary 2, tipped the scales at 3.75 ounces, just about the limit of what I like to carry. There is a reason it is and was one of my favorite blades. But it has been displaced. With basically the same blade length (3.44 inches v. 3.37 inches), the Manix2 Lightweight (M2LW) is almost a full ounce lighter. There are certainly differences in the steels, but I happen to like BD-1 a lot. Oh, and it also happens to be about $30 cheaper than the PM2. The M2LW is, in my opinion, the best option on the market for a large folding knife.

Here is the product page. The knife usually costs around $80. Note, however, that Spyderco's listed weight of 3.0 ounces is HIGH. My scale, borrowed from my wife's state of the art lab, lists the M2LW at 2.92 ounces. There are four variants--blue translucent FRCP with and without a partially serrated edge and black FCP with and without a partially serrated edge.  I strongly prefer the look of the translucent blue version, but I had the black one as a review sample. Here is a video review from Nutnfancy.  He kinda liked it too. Here is a written review.   Here is a link to Blade HQ, where you can find the Manix2 LW and all proceeds benefit the site when you purchase things through this link:

Blade HQ

Finally, here is the review sample:

Twitter Review Summary:  Big blade size, small blade weight=Large EDC perfection.

Design: 2

This was the "Innovative Knife" of the year at the 2010 Blade Show for good reason. Through the use of cutting edge design and materials, Spyderco has managed to make a large blade that weighs as much as a small one. It is the very epitome of what I like in gear--getting something for nothing. The overall shape of the knife is quite pleasing in the hand, choil is very pronounced and gives you excellent control in the event that you are doing detail tasks with such a large blade. The blade size itself is perfect. It is substantially larger than the Delica/Mini Grip class of knives but doesn't reach the never useful behemoth category of silly knives like the SOG Fatcat and the Cold Steel Espada (see? I can pick on other stupidly large knives too).

All of this is well and good, but here is the kicker--the M2LW is an entirely Made in the USA product. The steel is from a US company, Carpenter, and the knife is made and finished in Golden Colorado. This is truly stunning when you figure that usually you get USA made plus cutting edge design at a staggering price. Here all of this home grown innovation is yours for well under $100. Thanks Spyderco.

The ratios are, as you can imagine, strong with this one. The blade:weight is a delicious 1.15 (3.37/2.92). The blade:handle is .72 (3.37/4.66). Obviously neither is the record holder as the Al Mar Hawk's numbers (2.81 and .84 respectively) seem as untouchable as Cy Young's win record, but no other big knife is even close on blade:weight. Some, like the PM2 and the Cold Steel Mini Recon 1, are right with the M2LW on blade:handle. Here is the M2LW with the Zippo and in my meat hooks:

Meat hook shot:

Again, this is a big but not ludicrous knife (LUDICROUS SPEED!).

Fit and Finish: 2

The level of polish on the BD-1 is impressive and it gives the entire knife a clean, well finished feel. The detent on the ball bearing lock is excellent, holding the knife closed, but easy enough to overcome and flick the knife open with one hand and no wrist action. This is a sign that the knife has been built and assembled with extreme care. I also like the edges on the FRCP handle. The jimping, though nothing like the jimping on the regular Manix, is plenty good enough. The thumb hole is nicely finished as well. Very, very good.

Grip: 2

The texture pattern on FRCP handle is very good and the finger choils are awesome:

The jimping while not crazy is more than fine. It is really the pronounced choil that makes this thing a hand magnet. The width of the handle is an issue for small hands, but for average hands or larger it is fine. This is a WIDE knife, both in the hand and in the pocket.  I can hear people moaning right now.

"The handles flex under stress." Yep.

"They feel cheap." Well, that is a matter of opinion, but fine whatever.

"They don't give me confidence in the knife." Nope.

I never once felt like the knife would fail. If you are using folders for those kinds of tasks you asking for trouble. They make fixed blades for a reason and this knife felt fine doing any task I would do with a folder.

Carry: 2

This is a wide knife, but a total featherweight. It is also equipped with the always excellent Spyderco wire clip and the placement of the clip is JUST right. I like the fact that the clip is not deep carry here because deep carry seems to impact the knife's stability in the pocket, especially on big knives (see ZT560 review for more). None of the curves or cuts are a problem and the handle scales are all very nicely finished. I could see someone giving this knife a less than perfect score for its weight, but no big knife I have used has carried quite as easily as the M2LW. It also happens to be quite thin for a knife this size. Excellent.

Steel: 2

And here is where there might be some controversy. BD-1 is a new steel from Carpenter. It hardens to 58-60 on the Rockwell C scale and has done well on the total card cut (TCC) test used by CATRA, scoring a 570. For more TCC numbers, though not BD-1, see here. That places it ahead of Spyderco's version of S30V and right around the benchmark for independent tests of S30V. It performed better than both VG-10 and 154CM. For more on the CATRA machine and TCC numbers, check out Episode 9 of Gear Geeks Live or stay tuned, I am writing a piece on them to be posted soon.

BD-1's reputation is a little weird. Some see it as an American update to 440C. Others think it functions like Gin-1. Cliff Stamp placed it some where near ATS-34. Here is a thread with Sal's responses about the steel. He points out that it is a steel that wears well but is not impossible to sharpen like some of the new super hard steels like M390 and M4.

My experience with the steel confirms most of what was said in Sal's comments. It is a very fine grain steel that handled push cuts well. Compared to the Elmax on the ZT560 I was testing at the same time, it seemed sharper out of the box (which is probably a function of Spyderco's sharpening and not the steel), but did not hang in there as long as the Elmax. It push cut paper and cardboard with ease, but dulled quickly when forced to cut wood during whittling. The good news was that touching it up was easy. A charged strop was sufficient most of the time. My experience is that BD-1 is very similar to VG-10 in terms of sharpness and edge holding, maybe a smidgeon better. It was easier to sharpen than S30V and much easier than ZDP-189. It did not retain a high sharpness edge as long as Elmax or ZDP-189.

This is a subjective call here. I liked the combination of traits here, especially on a large EDC knife, but I could see why people would want Elmax or S35VN. If you are adverse to sharpening then give the BD-1 a 1 instead of a 2. If you feel comfortable touching up your blades you will be very pleased with the sharpness you can get.

Blade Shape: 2

No weird angles or beeps or borks along the cutting edge. No recurves or other impossible to sharpen lines. Just the leaf shaped blade we all know and love:

Thank you. Also, I like the thumb ramp quite a bit.

Grind: 2

The classic, full flat ground leaf shaped blade that Spyderco uses is well suited to this knife. I love the simplicity and the full flat grind gives this wide beefy knife a good approach to cutting material. It is a surprisingly good slicer for the size of the blade. Simple is best.

Deployment Method: 2

Like the PM2, the M2LW sports a positively massive thumb hole, one that is so big you can easily open the knife with no wrist action at all. Gloved hands still find the thumb hole with ease and it is well cut, sharp enough to grab but not so sharp as to slice. Perfecto.

Retention Method: 2

Perhaps it was added as a measure of modest weight savings, but whatever the reason I love the wire clip. This is a more sturdy wire clip, more like the one seen on the Dragonfly 2 than the Techno or the Caly 3.

I don't mind at all that it is not deep carry. It works well and actually aids in grip.

Lock: 2

The ball bearing lock has been loved or hated for a while. After poor performance on the useless and ridiculous spine whack test, it was redone and on the M2LW, there is a metal plate above the ball bearing. The lock works very well. It is easy to engage and disengage. I have found that it is both strong and stable. It does not seem to attract gunk and there is only one spring, a benefit over the more parts intensive Axis lock. Also, your fingers never pass through the blade path and it is fully ambidextrous. I love lock a great deal, second only to the compression lock and even then it is basically a toss up.

Overall Score: 20 out of 20, PERFECT

This is it. This is my new favorite large blade. The finish is better than the PM2, the weight is better, and the price is quite nice. If you are in the market for a larger folder, this is a no brainer. It is all USA made too. I'll make it easy, here is the Blade HQ link again:

Blade HQ

This is the first large blade I truly enjoy carrying and it works incredibly well. I like the steel a good deal too. There is really nothing I don't like.  It even photographs well:

Zero Tolerance ZT560 Review

The bleeding edge for gear is getting awfully crowded.  Super steels seems to drop out of foundries like leaves from a tree in October.  Innovative locks and deployment methods abound.  Designs and features that were cutting edge even two years ago are now common place even on the most inexpensive piece of gear.  In short, we are living in a golden age and few knives typify that golden age better than the Zero Tolerance ZT560.

The ZT560 is part of the Hinderer wave of designs that joined the Onion/Strider collabs as part of the Zero Tolerance line.  These Hinderer designs were all references or homages to Hinderer's own line of custom or mid tech knives, the XM series.  Known for their interesting blade shapes and ultra robust designs, the XM series was translated into a number of different KAI USA products, but none were as high end as the ZT560.  Rumor has it that Hinderer himself was spotted with a ZT 560 on his hip at the 2012 Blade Show.  It could have been a great bit of product placement for gear geeks or it could simply be that this is, like his own knives, one hell of a blade.

Here is the product page for the ZT560.  The tan G10 version is called the ZT561.  Both versions come in around $260.  Here is a guest review from my site that was submitted as part of the McGizmo giveaway.  Tom gave the knife an 18/20.  Here is another written review from Andrew at the Edge Observer (technically of the ZT561).  Here is a video review from Nutnfancy.  This review sample was sent to me by one of the site's two sponsors, E2 Field Gear.  You can purchase the ZT560 from E2 Field Gear and get a discount of 8% using the coupon code "Commentary" and the sales benefit the site and its giveaways.  Finally, here is the review sample:

Twitter Review Summary: Badass Behemoth: Big in the Pocket, Lock Problem Solved.

Design: 2

Even if you have carried big knives before, trust me when I tell you that you have not carried a knife like this.  The large size, generous flipper, and ultra smooth KVT bearing-based pivot makes this knife feel incredible in the hand.  Even slow and lazy flips drop the blade out with silken grace.  Once the lock kicks in you get a sense that you are holding something massive.  It feels more like a sword than a pocket knife because this is one HUMONGOUS knife.  It is big.  It is big even for a knife with a 3.75 inch blade.  And with the flipper all of that size and mass flies out of the handle with incredible speed and authority.

On paper this knife has a dream list of features: bearing pivot, titanium frame lock, flipper, high end steel, over the top, deep carry pocket clip, four way positionable clip, great blade shape, and 3D convex handle scales.  This is truly a blank check blade design.  The designer basically got to use the best of everything.  And unlike in other designs, all of these features play incredibly well together.  If you want an uber premium production blade and want to be big enough to behead a buffalo (or thereabouts), this is it.

The ratios are decent.  The blade:handle is .75 (3.75/5).  The blade:weight is .65 (3.75/5.8).  Both are well short of the record holder, the Al Mar Ultralight, but given the overall size and purpose of this blade as a pinnacle production hard use folder you knew there would be some trade offs.  Here is a shot of the knife in hand:

Here is the knife minus my hairy arms:

Fit and Finish: 2

The fit and finish on my review sample was flawless.  Nothing was poorly done.  The blade was perfectly centered.  The handles were meticulously finished.  The jimping was perfectly cut.  This is the apotheosis of American manufacturing skill, bringing together cutting edge technology, a relentless attention to detail, and a sterling design.  I have not handled a production knife that was superior in finish to this one, though the Al Mar and the Sebenza are clearly its equals and the Strider PT CC I am testing now could be in the same league.  There is a reason why KAI USA has won best overall knife for ages now at the annual Blade Show awards.

Grip: 2

The jimping is excellent, the handle shape is very good, the convex scales are awesome, the flipper and choil are nice, and the texturing from the CNC milling is outstanding.  There is nothing that makes this knife difficult to grip.  It makes a compelling case for big knives in general, but even accouting for the grip benefits inherent in the form, this is an excellent knife in the hand in virtually every position.

Carry: 1

KAI USA deserves a lot of credit for trying to make a beast carry like a button, but it is simply not possible.  Even with significant weight cutting efforts including milling of both the liner and the titanium lock side, the ZT560 is simply too big.  The guest review indicated that the clip, while good as a clip, impacted carry, and I think that is correct.  Using an over the top, deep carry clip here makes for a really challenging task--keeping all of that weight, especially the heavy pivot, from swinging around in your pocket like a pendulum.  Comparing it to the slightly smaller PM2 or the still under review Manix2 LW, this knife feels like your carrying a can of soda in your pocket.  Compared to an equally large and even heavier CRKT Eraser (which is also a flipper design), I think the deep carry clip is the culprit here.  The more traditional clip on the Eraser made for better carry.

Steel: 2 

I was unable to put this knife through the normal cut test of paper, cardboard and wood because I had some real cutting tasks to do and by the time I was finished, the blade was dull.  In addition to normal cutting tasks, opening packages and the like, I had two high volume tasks that really pushed the steel.  First, I cut down some branches and whittled them into roasting sticks for a fire. After that I cut up a very large amount of cardboard to make...well...a flamethrowing dragon.  My son's third birthday was during the testing period and someone is three only once, so after some serious cutting (like a couple of hours) I finally made a version of the dragon's head I liked out of cardboard and attached it my weed killing torch (it totally worked, BTW).  See:

These two less than serious cutting tasks were, nonetheless, very high volume and somewhat arduous.  The roasting sticks involved a good deal of chopping, both of green wood (mostly pine) and dry wood, and lots of whittling.  Overall I made something like 15-20 sticks.  Again, not the most punishing test, not like batonning, but a good test of the lock's stability and the blade's shock resistance and edge retention.  The cardboard was again not the most punishing thing in the world, but very high in volume.   

During both cutting tests the Elmax steel held up well.  The roasting sticks posed no problems whatsoever.  Even after chomping through sticky pine, the blade, once cleaned, was still shaving sharp (I will never have all my arm hair on my left arm at this pace of testing).   When I switched to cutting cardboard the Elmax did well for the first hour.  Towards the end of multiple dragon head prototypes, it started to slow down in push cuts.  I needed to do some sawing instead of just using down ward force.  In the end, the Elmax lost its edge and was no longer shaving sharp.  

Given the amount of cutting I did, even the relatively light tasks the Elmax was put through, I am confident that this steel warrants its reputation.  I am also confident that cardboard deserves its reputation as a superb testing medium and blade duller extraordinarie. 

Blade Shape: 2 

Some folks complained that the ZT560 didn't get the Spanto tip that the Hinderer made famous, but after using the ZT560 I can honestly say that I am more the satisfied with the ZT560's clip point blade.

It just works and is Exhibit 329 in the case for simple blade shapes.  I also like the swedge taken out of the top, that much steel gone will certainly save some weight.  

Grind: 2 

A nice, clean grind with an impeccable cutting bevel make the ZT560 a dream even with its thick blade stock.  Straight push cuts through what seemed like a metric ton of heavy duty cardboard were, well, not easy, but as easy as you could expect given the material and the blade size.  Like with the rest of the knife, the grind is superb.  

Deployment Method: 2 

The flipper is a "pull" flipper and an amazing fluid one.

This is my first knife with a bearing pivot and I can say that it is addictively smooth.  Only the Eraser approaches the level of smoothness in a flipper.  You need nothing more than mildly strong pull with your finger and the blade lops out of the handle.  A strong pull or a wrist flick sends the blade out with blinding speed.  It seems clear to me, having used a knife this big, that a bearing pivot is the final nail in the coffin of the need for an automatic knife.  You can do anything you need to do now without an auto, provided the knife is designed well. 

Retention Method: 2 

While I love the clip itself, I don't like its positioning.

That is more of a design and carry issue, as the clip itself is great--clean and well-designed.  I'd love to see this become the standard ZT clip or even better, the standard KAI USA clip.  It is really great. 

Lock: 2 

Aaron had issues with the lock.  See here:

After extensive use and actual attempts to recreate what happened with Aaron's ZT561 I could not duplicate it.  Be aware of the issue, but it seems to have been fixed, at least on newer ZT560s.

Overall Score: 19 out of 20

If you want cutting edge cutlery and you need it to be large, this has got to be a top choice.  I am unable to decide which I like better, this or the PM2. The PM2 carries better, but this deploys cleaner.  Both are amazing knives.  I like the Elmax steel a lot and that might be the tie breaker, if I were forced to choose (of course, sprint run PM2s are a different issue).  This is a great knife, really great, and an impressive exemplar of just how great gear is right now.  We are living in a golden age of gear and the ZT560 is proof of that.

CORRECTION:  This is not my first knife with a bearing pivot, obviously some of the CRKT blades have a bearing pivot as well.  It is my first knife with a KVT pivot.  The difference is that the IKBS pivot uses loose bearings in a channel or race around the pivot while the KVT system uses caged bearings.  Both are quite smooth.  

TuffWriter Ultimate Clicky Titanium Review

Let's be honest--titanium is to gear geeks what carbon fiber monocoques are to car guys.  Sure, they have actual, practical benefits, but the real allure is the look itself.  Titanium flashlights are, well, obscenely addictive, as are titanium framelocks.  So when Jack at TuffWriter dropped the news that the Ultimate Clicky was being made even more ultimate via an entirely titanium barrel, I was excited.  When he contacted me and asked if I would take a look, I was downright giddy.

You know the format by now, but I am going to break with tradition and show you a lustworthy pic:

On top is the Ultimate Titanium Clicky and on the bottom is my well used Aluminum version.  Yes, it is as gorgeous in person as it is in the picture, actually a bit more so.  Here is the Kickstarter page for the Ultimate Titanium Clicky (UTC).  The polished version costs $175.  You have only a few days left. Here is the product page for the Aluminum version.  Here is my review of the Aluminum version, pre-scoring system.  

Twitterable Review Summary: Gorgeous, indestructible, heavy clicky made of Ti...yummmm  

Design: 2

I loved the Al version because it was one of the few really hard use, durable pens that didn't have a cap.  This version is exactly the same, with an insanely smooth clicky.  The size is quite nice, though this is a hefty pen, even heftier than the Al version.  Here is the UTC next to the Zippo:

It is not quite a steel barreled Montblanc beast, but it is pretty beefy.  The more I used the UTC and the Al version the more I came to really, really like the simple o-ring grip.  It has even started to appeal to me on an aesthetic level.  It is an elegant solution that offers superior grip when compared to knurled, checked, or cross-hatched grips on other hard use pens. 

All of this praise of its refined and beautiful design ignores the fact that this thing is a beast.  The demo videos on TuffWriter's website are pretty insane, the pen equivalent of Cold Steel's blue jeans snuff films.  But the reality is, if you are like me, you will never use this pen to stab someone or hammer through a 2x4.  During real world use, lots and lots of travel, lots and lots of different hands, and a real beating in my briefcase, this pen just laughed.  I have been using the Al version much longer and it is practically like new other than the cool buffed sheen the bead blasted aluminum has developed.

Fit and Finish: 2

Simply put, there is nothing like it in the tactical pen/hard use pen market.  It syncs together like magnetized pieces.  There is no cross threading or rough edges.  The pen barrel is so closely sized that is seems like you create a vacuum when you drop the refill in.  There is no wobble or wiggle.  No clicking or knocking when everything is assembled an amazing feat for clicky pen. 

Carry: 1

The heft of the pen comes with two costs.  This is one of them.  The Al version is a thunk in the pocket at 1.66 ounces.  The UTC is even heavier at 2.1 ounces.  This is a heavy pen.  It is a virtually indestructible pen, but a heavy one.  

Appearance: 2

I didn't like the 1950s ray gun aesthetic originally, but it has grown on me.  Add to that a layer of refinement thanks to the gleaming polish on the titanium and...well...this is a handsome pen.  

I think the Alpha is probably a little bit prettier, but this bests the Render K and many of the other bland, machinist aesthetic Kickstarter pens.  Plus, this one is built like a tank.  I am not sure if any other KS pen could hang in there in a torture test.

Durability: 2

Shut up.  Seriously?  I'd give it a 3 or maybe a 4 if I could.  I feel like, in a pinch, a sniper could use this thing as a bullet, shoot it through a cinder block wall, take out the "target", and then write out a messy check.  Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration.   Maybe.

Writing Performance/Refill: 2

Jack and TuffWriter chose the right format--Parker refills.  You can get Fisher refills for it (it comes with a black one).  You can get Paker gels or my favorite (thanks Brad) the Moleskine gel refill.  Schmidt makes a host of nice refills in the EasyFlow line.  The sheer variety means that you will find something that will suit your needs.   

Balance/In Hand Feel: 1

Phew...what a work out.  I went from testing the all plastic featherweight Lamy Safari to testing this beast.  Yowza.  As with the Al version, the pen is very well balanced, it is just heavy.  As I mentioned before there are costs to having a nigh invincible pen and this is the second one.  A long hearing or a deposition just about did me in, but for a hour or so of note taking or the occasional use, the weight is okay and the balance is actually quite good.  

Grip: 2

I mentioned this above but it worth repeating: this actually a very comfortable grip.  The o-rings are simple, but they have a little give and some tactile feedback.  

I also think they look nice, an echo of the touches on the barrel itself.

Barrel: 2

Oh man, this is where the UTC smokes the Al version.  I simply cannot get over how cool the polished Ti looks.  It feels great in your hand, smooth and well-worn.  I can only imagine what will happen once it acquires the "Sebenza patina" that knife knuts know and love.  This is a beautiful pen, especially among the hard use pens available, many of which are hideous when it comes to the barrels.  Even with the raygun aesthetic, I am smitten.  Its titanium.  I am addict, what can I say?   The barrel also scores well because it is balanced and just the right size.  Some of these hard use pens have ENORMOUS and awkward barrels, handling something like a sheet of drywall being carried by one person.  Not here.  Jack did a great job with the barrel on the Al version and the UTC is even better, because, stop me if you heard this, its titanium.

Deployment Method/Cap: 2

Clickies are very complex, given their task.  They are difficult to machine, especially in metal, which is why you see so few of them among the hard use pen set.  So to have a clicky and have it be a superb version, well...its amazing.  And this is a superior clicky.  It operates quietly, if not silently, and unlike the Al version, this one has been perfect.  Every once in a while the Al version will misfire, nothing big, but noticeable.  Here, you get a silky action and a bright gleaming knock.    

 
Overall Score: 18 out of 20

Until the Ultimate Titanium Clicky you had a choice among small batch and Kickstarter pens--you could get a stylish pen, like the Render K (which doesn't allow for the cap to post, which I find incredibly annoying) or you could get a tough pen, like the Embassy Pen from County Comm.  The original Al version gets you part of the way there, but the Ultimate Titanium Clicky gives you the best of both.  If you have the Al version, you probably don't NEED the UTC, but if you don't or you are looking to bling out your Instagram EDC pics completing the all Ti EDC trio of a McGizmo and a Hinderer XM-18, well, then Mr. Snooty, you have no choice but to get this pen.  To put it another way, if the Al version was the pen equivalent of the production version of the Paramilitary 2--an effective tool with brutish durability, the UTC is a Sprint PM2.  This is a special pen.  And though it costs a lot, there is not really anything else like it.  The list of good looking, insanely durable, clicky pens is a list of one. 

Tom Bihn Synapse 25 Review

The Bihn Synapse in Dyneema was a great little bag.  But it is probably too small for more than one person or more than one day.  The problem is that going from the Synapse to a larger bag resulted in something MUCH larger, probably too large.  Recognizing a space to be filled, Tom Bihn released the Synapse 25.  It has all of the great features of the original, plus the Dyneema fabric, plus just enough size to make it the ideal backpack.  The short summary of this review is simple: this is the benchmark backpack on the market today.  There are special purpose packs, like Kifaru, that may be more capable, or high end packs that have a few more doodads and features, but nothing bests the Bihn in terms of all around performance and versatility.  The Synapse 25 is the perfect backpack.

The testing period for bags and packs is long.  It is hard to get a meaningful amount of information from merely a few days.  With a knife or a light you can play with it for an hour or so and get a good handle on what it does and how well it does it, but with a pack, it is a different story.  You can put it on and where it around the house (and be a weirdo, yes, I am a weirdo), but only real life use can tell you how good a pack is.  The Synapse 25 was my go to pack for about a month and half (thanks Darcy!) and it did not let me down once.  In that month and half it came on quite a few day hikes (5 or 6 mile trail loops) where it did well. It also was a bag I used at work (for a change of clothes and hauling books/iPad).  It did very well there too.  Finally, during a series of short day trips it worked as a general pack and did that exceptionally well.  Any role you press it into, the Synapse 25 will excel.

Here is the product page.  The Synapse 25 is $170 and available only through Tom Bihn.  Here is my review of the original Synapse.  Here is a written and video review of the Synapse 25.  Here is the review sample sent to me by Tom Bihn:

Twitterable Review Summary: Best General Purpose Backpack Available 

Design: 2

There are ton of options on the market now.  Go Ruck makes some pretty amazing and pricey bags.  Kifaru, a specialist brand of almost bespoke bags, has a few offers.  Tumi has a few nice carry options all of which include the Tumi Tax.  TAD Gear makes some very nice packs.  Camelbak and Maxpedition are still doing there thing.  But none of these brands, not one, makes a bag as well designed and a broadly useful as the Synapse 25.  It is essentially the Synapse with all of the problems I had fixed (though, to be fair there were only two issues).

As I wrote in the Synapse review, the design is flawless.  The water bottle pocket on the pack's spine is a stroke of genius and the foundation for what makes this a superior design.  But here, unlike on the original Synapse, you can stow two water bottles with zero loss of balance.  All of the well-placed and well-designed pockets on the original Synapse are here, but slightly bigger.  And there in lies the improvement.  The original Synapse is an excellent one person, one day bag.  It would work for a school bag, but if you wanted to haul a change of clothes and pair of shoes plus a laptop or tablet, you were out of luck.  Understanding that limitation for the old bag was important, but here there are no such limitations.  This is still a small-ish bag compared to some of the absolutely cavernous designs out there (some of the LL Bean bags are so big they seemed to be designed for encyclopedia salesman and certainly not for anyone that has a...you know...portable computing device).  Here is a shot of the Synapse 25 next to a standard 8 1/2 x 11 sketch pad.

Here is the Synapse 25 next to my Pygmy Falcon II.  The 25 is probably in direct competition with the normal Falcon, but I don't own one of those so this is the comparison shot you get (and yes, I do really like the Talon Hooks in my pegboard).

But this is not simply a bigger bag than the Synapse.  The 25's size means that the main pocket is actually much more useful.  Even with the Cache inside, I could still pack a change of clothes, a tablet, shoes, a water bottle, and more.  The kangaroo style pouch inside the main compartment is, instead of a nuisance, very useful.  In the original it took up too much space and made packing the main compartment a drag.  Now, with the additional space, the pouch does what it is supposed to do--provide a little separation between things in the main compartment--without ever getting in your way.  Also, I love the rail system for the Cache.  It is amazingly handy and I don't even fly that much.

Fit and finish: 2

In terms of execution, there is nothing lacking on the 25.  It is, like all of the Bihn products I have used, immaculate.  Bihn's craftspeople are top notch.  Really though, the thing that stuns me is how much less this bag costs than a comparable Tumi bag.  Let's assume that they are the same caliber of materials (which they aren't, Bihn's Dyneema is better than anything Tumi has).  Let's assume they are the same exemplary design (they are not, not by a mile).  And let's assume they have the same level of finish polish (which, to be fair, they do).  The Tumi bags I have had were close to $400.  This is $170.  And it is made entirely in the USA (the Dyneema fabric is imported).  How is this possible?  How on earth can the old, "retail" brands survive?  It seems to me they are still in business because their customers don't know better.  That will not last.  That cannot be a good business model.  Eventually old executives will be replaced by folks that know how to use the Internet.  When that happens, well, goodbye Tumi.  Or at least the overpriced, overstuffed Tumi we know and sort of dislike.  Simply put, this level of refinement is amazing.  And for the price, well, there is nothing I can think of that comes close.  $170 is pricey compared to the junk Targus bags from Staples and Target, but this is light years ahead of those things.  Compared to a peer, like Tumi, this bag is a positive steal.  Or is that steel.  After all, Dyneema (the white grids) is stronger than steel on a weight basis. 

Carry: 2

More space, same gymnast-on-the-beam like balance.  I mentioned this in the original Synapse review and it is worth repeating because of how great an idea it was--placing the water bottle pocket in the middle of the pack allows for great weight distribution and balance.  Here the water bottle pocket is in the same place, but just bigger.  The tight dimensions keep the two water bottles nice and snug meaning that even with the extra size and weight they don't slosh around.  

The shoulder straps are plenty comfortable and the sternum strap, is, of course, very nice.  The back is padded and covered in large ventilating mesh.  All in all, the rigging holding the pack to your body is excellent.  When you combine these features with the great balance, you get a pack that stick with you on long day hikes, even over difficult terrain AND a pack that does well being toted around on a very busy, living-out-of-your car for a few days trip.

Materials: 2

The Dyneema grid reinforces the thinnish nylon making the bag lighter and stronger than it would be otherwise.  I also happen to love the modern look the grid provides.  Suffice to say, based on the information from the original Synapse review (including that awesome strength test video), Dyneema is the pinnacle of materials for packs right now.  The rest of the bag is great too--nice straps and thick well distributed padding where needed.  Even the zipper pulls are extra slick.

One small, very small point--I don't like the grab strap, seen above.  I know it doest' matter and I know the one on the bag is plenty strong and durable, but man I really like the handles on the Cadet--they give you some hand filling substance to hold on to.  Again, the grab strap is perfectly fine.  It looks good, it will hold forever, but it is a small tactile thing.  It probably would add some extra weight and would definitely bonk you in the back or the neck when your on vigorous hikes, so come to think about it, maybe a bulkier grab strap wouldn't get all that nice.  

Accessibility: 2

Here is where the 25 improves over its smaller brother.  With more space and larger compartments, the pounch in the main pocket is now useful and not a packing obstacle.  Even when the Cache is loaded, like here:

You can still get to everything in the main compartment easily.  I also like the fact that the pen organizers are on the sides, allowing you to sling the bag over one shoulder and rotate it forward, giving you quick access to small stuff.

Ease of Packing: 2

Bihn stuff, at least the original Synapse and the Cadet, always seemed to have small or somehow constricted openings.  Lots of use has shown me this is more a psychological problem than an actual one, as packing both was easy, but here the bags large size makes it very easy to jam stuff in.

The opening is wide enought to really get everything you'd want in the pack, but not so wide that the bag feels like it flops open, like on the Pymgy Falcon.  I know some folks like the flop open bag for lay flat packing, but I'd prefer a little something to keep the pack from just cleaving in two when I open it on my back.  The 25 hits that in between perfectly--easy to pack without fear of just flopping open when it is on your back. 

Pockets/Organization: 2

Hiking with the 25 showed me that the pockets here are very good at weight distribution.  But I kind of expected that given the water bottle pocket's positioning.

What took me by surprise was how Tom Bihn balanced the additional size with making pockets that don't feel like they ate your stuff.  One my main problems with big packs, like the LL Bean monster my wife has had since high school and still thinks is great, is that the extra size means the pockets are cavernous and you lose stuff in them.  Don't even think about dropping a Space Pen in that bag's pen organizer.  It would disappear forever.  But Bihn's design mastery means that the pockets here are big, but not gaping mouthes ready to eat your flash drives, change, and half sized writing tools.  

Snaps/buckles/zippers: 2

I love the Bihn zippers with their little rain guards.  I love zipper pulls.  I like the sternum strap snaps.  The strap adjustment buckles are excellent.  Everything is simply top notch.

Lots of companies do this stuff well.  They make really durable snaps, zippers, and buckles.  But what puts Bihn's stuff in a different category is that his stuff is great and durable, but it is also light and quiet.  No one wants to announce their slightly late presence at a meeting with a bag that makes them sound like they are doing jumping jacks while wearing chain mail, and with the 25 you won't.  Strong, durable, light and quiet.  Done, done, done, and done.  

Straps and belts: 2

Some bags, like the Kifaru and the Maxpedition, look they are made of nothing but straps.  I get why they are made that way and I am sure they are useful, but I am not a private defense contractor nor do I want to look like one.  Straps and MOLLE are not my prefered design aesthetic.  Here, the straps are less abundant, but no less useful or hardy.

I especially like the thin, but padded shoulder straps.  On cheaper bags, these straps are made comfortable by heap gobs of gel, foam rubber, or other substances into or on the strap making them cushy and gushy but annoyingly thick.  Here you get just as much comfort with singnificantly less bulk. Great all around.

Modularity/expansion: 2

Equipped with lots of connection points for the myriad of useful Bihn pouches and accessories, the 25 is a veritable Swiss Army Knife of expansion and modularity.  Kifaru fans rave about their pack's versatility and I can't comment until I try one, but man do I love the Bihn expansion system.  There is virtually no end to the combinations and mixes and matches that can be done with various pouches, sleeves, straps and containers.  I have found the key strap and two small pouches to be very, very useful.  I also like the Cache quite a bit.

Overall Score: 20 out of 20, PERFECT

The original Dyneema Synapse was very good.  Great design, clean look, and bleeding edge materials.  But it was a little too small for general use.  As a day pack for hiking or school it was fine, but for carrying stuff for three people it was just too tiny.  The small size also meant that the pouch in the main pocket took up valuable real estate.  With the 25 Bihn fixed all of the problems (the one or two the original had) and made what has to be considered among the best general use backpacks ever made.  I love this pack.  It is more than deserving of the Everyday Commentary Seal of Perfection.  This is the best pack or bag I have ever used.

Bellroy Note Sleeve Review

I am, like most guys, a serial monogamist when it comes to wallets. My first wallet was a very traditional leather burgundy number my grandmother got when I was little and she went to Italy to see the Pope. It had my initials in it and that, alone, was enough for me. Eventually one of the corners blew out and despite serving me well from age 8 or 9 until college, I ditched it in favor of a newer black number, also conservative in design. That wallet limped through college, grad school, and law school, battered by the cost of all that mostly useless, but incredibly fun education. When I landed my job, my only one, coincidentally I am monogamist when it comes to work as well, I did some research on a new wallet. This is how I found EDCF, by the way.

In the end I settled on a wallet made of high tech sail material, the Big Skinny wallet (from a local company, they are headquartered here in Massachusetts). It is a marvel of technology really--super duper slim, non-slip interior, and tons of room for cards and bills. But there are three issues I have with this wallet. First, the sail material, while tough, is not as tough as leather.  Second the material doesn't look anywhere near as nice as leather. This is just part of the trade off for a uber-thin wallet. My first Big Skinny lasted me about 5 years until I retired it. It never self-destructed but it looks quite the worse for wear. Third , again because of its slim form factor, the wallet couldn't store a lot of stuff. There was no way to carry coins or other items. I adapted to these things, liking the slim design first and foremost, but I always kept an eye open for something a little bit more flexible.

Enter Bellroy.

They have made their name with an assault on the Costanza wallet, named after George Costanza of Seinfield fame. George was a wallet monogamist too, but he like his wallets to be...um...Rubenesque. In one episode he busted out a massive three inch thick wallet stuffed with receipts. This is, coincidentally, very similar to my Dad's wallet. I dubbed his wallet the Hamburger. Bellroy has waged their war on these bulky backpocket buddies through clever designs and careful use of materials. They have a number of designs, all with real leather, all beautifully made, and all designed to be a wallet Weightwatcher.

But the Note Sleeve is something evolutionary. It is their attempt at making a full function wallet slim, or making a slim wallet fully functional. The Note Sleeve is vastly more handsome and more versatile than my Big Skinny. It is also more expensive ($90 v. $25). The real question is whether or not it is worth the extra size, weight, and money. After a two week test, I think the answer for most folks is yes.  There is one drawback that is specific to your country and state's laws regarding proof of ID at purchases, but if that is not an issue or you don't care, then this is a great choice. 

Here is the Note Slim product page. Here is a video eview of the Note Slim. Here is a written review of the Note Slim. Finally, here is the Note Slim review sample sent to me by Bellroy:

Wallets are difficult to review because paper money is different sizes from country to country, because people use their wallets for fundamentally different things, and because ID requirements for purchases vary from state to state and country to country. With these caveats in mind, here are my thoughts on the Note Sleeve.

First, the design is impressive.  Straddling the line between minimalist wallets like the cheaper but less functional Saddleback Leather ID wallet and the traditional full sized wallet, the Note Sleeve's design is an exercise is space management.  Every pocket and sleeve is thoughtfully laid out and despite the thick material, the design accomplishes its goal of being small in stature but big in capacity.

The bill pocket is deep, easily holding US currency and I would imagine many taller bills as well. The stacked credit card sleeves have nice tabbed cut outs that make access easy, though I'd prefer no stacked sleeves at all. The concealed sleeve with the very clever pull out tab is nice, but having it behind the already thick double stack of sleeves adds bulk to the wallet. I like the memory card slot and the coin pocket (though I would not imagine it could carry more than a few quarters or bus tokens).  Here is the business card slot:

and the coin slot:

The memory card slot was hard to photograph because it is embossed leather, but it is on the opposite side of the coin pocket.  Overall, the number of features and pockets is stunning for a slim line wallet.  Here is the layout, sans cards and cash:

This is the Swiss Army knife of wallets, with tons of places to tuck and hide and hold important things.

One big drawback for me that may have zero bearing on your estimation of the wallet is the lack of an ID window.  I live in a state that requires photo IDs for most purchases and the lack of an ID window (even if it fogs up and turns yellow over the years) is a feature I really missed.

The fit and finish on the wallet is really top notch, miles and miles ahead of the Big Skinny I normally carry.  The leather is smooth and soft but durable.

Over two weeks of carry it began to stretch and mold itself to the stuff I carried making the cards and such more secure.  The orange contrast stitching reminds me of the stitching on old blue jeans and it set off the black leather well.  There were no uneven threads or popped seams.  Even the tool work logo was well done--crisp and well-defined.  In terms of fit and finish I could have asked for nothing more.  The fabric on the inside is a little too colorful for me, but it seemed more than sturdy enough for its intended purpose.

The wallet, when loaded up, was thicker by a substantial margin than my Big Skinny.

The leather is, of course, thicker than the sail fabric, but the design is not as ruthlessly slim either.  There is essentially a three sleeve stack on the right hand of the wallet (the concealed stack with pull tab, the middle stack, and the outer stack). This is the main source of bulk, aside from the material.  I really like super slim wallets, so the Note Sleeve's size was a pretty substantial change, but I did appreciate the increased carrying capacity.  If I were a person that hand more credit cards (I have three, that is it; one is the site's account the other two are personal) or had more stuff in my wallet I would definitely settle on this design.  Trifolds and those with detatchable sleeves are too big, and while the Note Sleeve is much larger than the Big Skinny, it carrys a tremendous amount more.  It is probably three times thicker, but carries at least three times as much stuff.

Accessibility is quite good, even with the tight dimensions (whoa the ID sleeve is REALLY tight). This is, in large part thanks to the tabbed sleeves and the Bellroy innovation--the pull tab.

I am not convinced that the pull tab is either necessary or worth the added bulk but there is no way around it--it really, really works.  None of the sleeves are too tight to retrieve things even when the wallet is fully loaded.

The appearance of the wallet is something that is a marked upgrade from my Big Skinny wallet, which, when new looks like a kids wallet, and when old, looks like a wet sock  on the side of the road.  I am entranced by the Bellroy's confident, sleek presentation.  The stitching, dimensions, and leather all command your attention and none look silly.  This is a beautifully crafted and manly looking wallet without looking stupid or tactical.  I would note that the bill sleeve liner, seen here:

is more colorful than I like, but it did help find things in the darkest crevices of the wallet.  

Two weeks of use is not enough time to assess the durability of an object that is with you everyday for decades at a time, but the testing period resulted in no substantial wear, either than the stretching of the material (as I mentioned above).

None of the threads were pulled or popped at all.  I can't guarantee it (though Bellroy does), but it seems like the wallet will wear well for years to come.  

If you need to carry more than the barest essentials and don't want to go down the weirdo wallet route many Kickstart wallets take or the tacticool/Spiderman wallet seen in Maxpedition wallets and the like, the Note Sleeve is a really great design. You'll be surprised as you stuff more and more things into the Note Sleeve and realize that it is not getting substantially bigger.  At some point you might think the Time Lords designed it, so that the Note Sleeve, like their Tardis, is bigger on the inside than on the outside.  But no, it was made by the craftspeople at Bellroy.  The wallet is expensive, especially compared to the cheap leather numbers you can find at discount stores everywhere, but this wallet has top quality leather and most notably an interesting and innovative design.  My only real gripe is the lack of an ID window, but that is a small thing for this space defying big wallet.

SOG Bluto Review

"Now THAT'S what I am talking about..."

This is both my almost 3 year old son's favorite saying right now and exactly how I feel about the SOG Bluto after two consecutive poor reviews of SOG knives.  The Flash I is liked because one of the most influential gear reviews likes it.  That's it.  The knife, stripped of this veneer of popularity is merely (and perhaps at best) decent.  The Twitch II is a little better, but not much.  Both suffer from a soft version of AUS8 steel and fit and finish that really offends, given their not-too-cheap price tag.  These are $40 and $50 knives with materials and finish of $30 knives at best.  After two duds in a row I was about to just write SOG off, which is a shape because they do grinds and blade shapes as good as anyone in the production world.  So many of their blades look great on paper, but the two I had failed to impress in hand.  Oh, but the Bluto, it was different.  It was sinuous and muscular.  It was taut and smooth. Now THAT'S what I am talking about. 

There is a lot about the Bluto that sets it apart from its competition.  It is one of the very smallest knives in the SOG lineup.  It is a flipper, and one of the smallest on the production market.  It was a flipper Axis lock well before the Benchmade 300SN (although TECHNICALLY it uses an "Arclock" which is an Axis lock that runs in a curved or "arced" path instead of the straight line or "axis" of the Axis lock; the differences are laughably small).  It, like many of the higher end SOG knives, uses VG-10, which while not insanely great, is a sizable improvement over the regular SOG AUS8.   The other thing that is strange about the Bluto is that in more than two years of release, it has received almost zero coverage or fan adulation.  That is about to change because I am a fan.  This is a cool, smaller blade.

Here is the product page (with specs) from Blade HQ.  The retail price is around $120-130.  The Bluto appears to be have fallen out of the SOG production line, but they are still widely available.  It has been replaced in terms of size and blade steel, by the hideously ugly SOG Spec Elite Mini (in fact, using the search bar on SOG's site and searching for "Bluto" gives you the Spec Elite Mini's page).  The Bluto is really a micro version of the SOG Vulcan.  All of the design cues are the same.  Finally there are two versions of the Bluto, the blue handled and gray handled versions.  Here is a video something of the Bluto (not exactly a review).  This is the only thing like a written review out there (and a comforting discovery--my photos aren't the worst on the Internet, YAY!).  Here is a link to Blade HQ, where you can find the SOG Bluto, and all proceeds benefit the site when you purchase things through this link:

Blade HQ

Finally, here is the review sample Blade HQ sent me:

Design: 2

The Bluto's design is really quite unusual for SOG.  They make quite a few knives that are positively massive, then they have knives that I consider to be the EDC sweet spot, between 2.5" and 3".  But until the Bluto there was nothing smaller, except the Micron.  But SOG didn't just make a small knife, they made a GOOD small knife.  It seems clear after two years of watching the market closely that SOG really has two product lines--the cheap stuff like the Flash I, the Twitch, and the Aegis lines and the high end line, of which the Bluto is part.  The cheap stuff is marked by FRN handles, AUS8 steel, and SOG's entirely unnecessary SAT assist.  The high end line is marked by better steel, some variation of the Arclock, and different handle materials.  There are some bleed over between the lines, but it seems to me that this demarcation is as strong as the difference between KAI USA's Kershaw brand and their ZT brand.

The overall design of the Bluto takes advantage of the higher end materials.  The blade is a very nicely finished VG-10 shaped into something with a huge amount of belly and, unfortunately, a massive recurve.  More on this below.  The rest of the knife is quite pleasing to the eye (except for the SOG logos) and to the hand.  The shape of the knife is really conducive to lots of different grips and holds.  The pocket clip, which is amazing, is really well integrated into the design causing no problems whatsoever.  The shape is incredibly organic in appearance, almost like some kind of ocean predator, with gills and fins.  I can see why some might not like it, but I kinda dig the appearance.  

The ratios are okay and they could be better as there is an entirely unnecessary DOUBLE metal liner (the handle is aluminum with a grippy coating and then there are actual liners which are metal as well).  The blade:handle is .70, better than the Delica, but not close to the best (the Al Mar Hawk hit a .84).  The blade:weight is .70 (Hawk 2.81), not a great number at all.  But sometimes the ratios don't tell the whole story.  This is a very compact design:

Its size makes it an ideal knife to drop in your coin pocket or the bottom inner pocket of your pants. 

Fit and Finish: 2

I knew SOG had greatness in them.  There was something so refined about the grinds on the Flash I and the Twitch II that I knew they could pull off an awesomely polished knife.  This is perfect evidence of that.  Nothing jiggled or wiggled and every edge and surface gleamed.  The lock pin on the Axis...oh whoops ARC lock looked like a button on a piece of high end jewelry or part of a four figure watch.  Without the completely unnecessary SAT assist opening there was no blade play in the knife at all and nothing was sharp that wasn't supposed to be.  SOG can run with the big boys in terms of fit and finish.  You just have to pay a little more.  The finish on the Flash I was below the Delica, but not by an amount the price would indicate.  The finish on the Bluto is better than that of the Delica and this time it seems to walk in lockstep with the commensurate increase in price.  One weird thing to note, the texture on the handle while very effective seems strange, like it is a piece of wax melted on to the handle.  It never showed any signs of chipping or peeling, but it was unusual. 

Grip: 2

There is a bit of wizardry here because this is, as you can see above, a tiny knife, but in hand it feels much larger.  In part, this is because of all of the curves and cuts on the handle's profile, but it also has to do with good jimping, a nice finger guard formed by the flipper, and the dip on the spine of the blade which makes an excellent resting place for your index finger in precision, scalpel type cuts.  Very, very good, perhaps second only to my beloved Dragonfly among sub 2.5 inch blades.  

Carry: 2

The knife, despite is name and weight, actually carries quite nicely.  The shape is completely unoffensive in the pocket and does well when being retrieved.  The pocket clip is simply brilliance, but more on that later.  

Steel: 2

VG-10 is perhaps the quintessential 1 point steel.  It does a lot of things decently, but nothing exceptionally well.  I have often been disappointed in its cutting performance on Spyderco blades because I have usually had knives with very little belly, like the Delica.  But even on the Junior I wasn't too impressed.  Here on the Bluto though It was very good.  It held an edge for a long long time even with tough cutting chores.

I modified my informal cut tests and made them more consistent.  In these cut tests, this VG-10 did quite well, better than the 1.4116 steel of a SAK Cadet, better than the 8CR13MoV of the Cryo, but behind the S35V of my EDMW.  In these formalized cut tests, I cut paper, cardboard, and wood.  I would cut the medium and then try to shave.  I would then resharpen each blade to shaving sharp and do it again.   Here are the results:

1. Victorinox 1.4116: Paper: 8; Cardboard: 2; Wood: 3
2. Kershaw 8CR13MoV: Paper: 9; Cardboard: 4; Wood: 14
3. SOG VG-10: Paper: 30; Cardboard: 5; Wood: 15
4. S35VN: Paper: 56+; Cardboard: 11+; Wood: 74+

The methodology is far from perfect, but it may be better than nothing ("may" being the key word).  Essentially the S35VN didn't stop cutting.  I could have kept going indefinitely, it seemed.  I stopped where I indicated because the passes were not effortless (again a poor standard to use).  This performance seems better than what other VG-10 blades have given me, but they have all been from Spyderco, so may it is SOG's steel.  Either way, this VG-10 performed much better than average.  

Blade Shape: 0

The cut test also revealed something else: the recurve stinks on anything other than cutting paper.  The blade is so small that it got in the way when cutting wood.  You can't cut close to the pivot on anything thicker than cardboard without the pronounced belly getting in the way.  Plus, it was a bitch to sharpen.  A normal, straight edge into a good belly would be awesome, but alas that is not what we get here. 

I had originally though that the recurve was the boost in performance, but I tried cutting with the belly and it worked just as well.  Recurves work by changing the approach angle on materials, but in a blade this short you can't leverage that advantage enough to make the recurve worthwhile.

Grind: 2

SOG knows grinds like Bo knows baseball.  Seriously, they have the best most even grinds in the business, approaching custom levels, even on cheap blades.  The Bluto is no different.  This is an excellent grind.  The luster and sheen from the satin finish is so nice it is almost hyponotizing.

Deployment Method: 2

Okay, so a flipper on a knife this small is really hard to pull off.  Add in the extra difficulty of making a flipper work with the Axis/Arclock format and it is best to say that it is merely decent here.  BUT and this is a bit point, it works.  It is actually better than the flipper on the Benchmade 300SN.

I preferred the thumbstuds and you can flick the knife open using just them, so this gets a 2.  Alone neither would warrant that score, but choices (and good ones) earn the higher number.

Retention Method: 2

Knife designers--this is not that complicated.  See:

Deep carry, low ride without all of the funky issues of the Flash I clip.  The Bluto's clip is as simple as it is excellent.  The only thing I don't like is the SOG logo, but really, who cares?  If you make a clip this awesome you should be able to brag, just a little.  It never snagged, slipped, or let go--perfect.  This is among the best clips on the market--right up there with the Spyderco wire clip, the Buck deep carry clip, and the Sebenza double dip clip. 

Lock: 2

For EDC use the Axis/Arclock is quite good.  I don't like the steel pimple look around the pivot, but really the parts are so polished it is kinda fun to fidget with.  This lock is plenty fine.  

Overall Score: 18 out of 20

There aren't a whole lot of classy, small knives in the SOG line up that have decent fit and finish.  This might be the only one.  Additionally, for whatever reason this seems to be a market niche that only Spyderco can pull of well, though the Benchmade Shoki and Megumi might prove otherwise.  If you are in the market for a small modern pocket knife, but Spyderco's style is a turn off, take a look at the Bluto.  It is a small, well-crafted, underrated blade.