Spyderco UK Pen Knife (UKPK). It's good innit?

The ultimate slip joint, the UKPK. Made specifically for the United Kingdom and it's bullcrap knife laws the UKPK (and cousins the Urban and Squeak) is under 3" and non locking but has a stiff enough detent to make it safe for all use, especially with the finger choil it'll never take a digit without notice! Your hand becomes the lock! The lightweight version is even nicer than the titanium handle one as the rocker bar is more clicky and stiffer!

The style is very nice with a leaf shaped blade and lots of belly for the using! The knife is super practical as it does allow for that one hand opening, not so much a flick open as I tightened the pivot some but even stock the knife doesn't tend to flick with the index. There is a blade in the style of the Spyderco stretch as well but I dislike that shape.

The handle on the titanium version fills your hand very nicely and that wire clip really eliminates hotspots. I chose after stone washing the entire knife to round the edges slightly at the end  as it was a bit pointy but in normal use wouldn't affect a thing. The lightweight version handle is really nice too, really the lightweight version just disappears in the pocket, but I feel the titanium one does too.

The fit and finish of both versions is outstanding. Top notch American made Spyderco. The flush back lines and scales, how everything pieces together without a misplaced line. Beautiful.

If you're curious about slip joints like I was this or its cousins would be a great start. I actually bought the Squeak titanium Elmax first and loved it so I migrated quick to a little bigger blade. Eventually I think I'll grab the K390 Urban. Do yourself a solid and pick up one of the versions of this knife, even the standard CTS BD1 version.

Best locking mechanism for folding knives.

Here it is folks, the best locking mechanism for your folding knife!

Now a lot has been said in the industry when it comes to locks. Many companies claim they have the best new and strongest lock but when it boils down to it... do you need it?

Usually the answer is no. Under what circumstances do you need a lock that will never break? How extreme of a condition do you put yourself in on a daily basis that you need a lock strength that would surpass 2,000 pounds of force per square inch?

A little while ago I watched a pair of YouTube videos from Blade HQ testing a bunch of lock styles, the ball bearing and lock back really shined but really a liner lock would do you for your everyday use, even a slip joint I'm sure for 90% of you. I was surprised at the frame lock fairing just better than the liner lock but one thing the liner lock did over the frame lock was stay open when broken meaning the frame lock had a tendancy to break and slip and let the knife close, the liner lock bent and kept the knife open for good.

I rotate a Spyderco UKPK (which is a slip joint for those who are not versed in the model) in my everyday carry as well as liner locks, Axis lock, ball bearing, mid back lock, triad and compression. I have a bunch of different knives with different mechanisms but use them all the same and find no real advantage to one over the other in use. As for playing with them the axis, ball bearing and compression are a lot of fun.

So the best lock?

The one you're using. If you're really that set on a lock that will never fail... Get a fixed blade.

Knaf Steal. I rant.

We all know anyone who is deeply interested in knives wants to learn more about what materials are used for them be it handle or blade or sheath. I started a handful of years ago with a basic Gerber china special. I started looking up EDC tags on Instagram and checked out some knives I thought looked nice which opened my world of knives to Spyderco.

From grade 1 (Gerber) to High School in a few minutes of research. Of course the first offering I got was the Tenacious as most people do. I loved it, the build quality, the feel in hand, everything so I decided they were worth the money and went and got my first Paramilitary 2, satin/digicamo - then satin/black - then S35VN - then M390, the King and the only one I still have left. Now these happened over a span of about 4 years as I really enjoy the carry, usability and style of the PM2.

It was my learning and then real world testing of these different steels that got me deeper in that rabbit hole. True there are a lot of guys who don't give a crap about steel etc. and just carry a china folder for the odds and ends and that's just fine for them, more power to them. I want it all in one, edge retention, toughness and rust resistance - the big three. I couldn't fathom taking my knife out and have a rusty blade like an old fisherman's tackle box utility knife.

I've been dabbling with budget folders recently so I've been sacrificing the big three to an extent. Usually I find the budget folders with 8Cr13MoV lose a razors edge within the first few cuts so you may have a slightly dulled knife before you know it. Now on the high end of the scale, M390 is a super steel and lives up to that rank with amazing edge retention. Other high edge retention steels include CPM M4, CPM 3V, CPM20CV, CTS-20CP.

Toughness comes mid range to the budget steels I find, always depending but for D2 I find in certain situations it can cause small chipping which can also happen to extremely high Rockwell rated knives like ZDP-189. CPM S30V has a good toughness and would roll over chip if stressed. CPM S110V is very tough but also tends to roll under use.

Budget steel also is not known for rust resistance and can often form even within your pocket with moisture and heat from your body. Now on the high end there of course is M390 which resists rust superbly. On the other hand there are steels like M4, 3V and other high carbon steels which are not rust resistant can cause problems if not maintained after use. If you can maintain that non stainless knife it'll treat you very well.

A lot of what I write is from first hand experiences and knowing full well they can change from user to user. These few paragraphs are just my opinions and findings, take it all lightly as I'm not trying to tread on anyone else.

Kershaw Flourish. Does it flower or fail?

The third Kershaw review this month, what a roll. If I were to save the best for last it'd be the Kershaw Link... spoiler? Nope, not in the least because the Flourish is actually pretty darn outstanding.

Now that being said this isn't the end all budget blade as of course it packs 8Cr13MoV. I'm starting to get bored with that steel I suppose as I've seen it and used it in many different grinds and heat treats (I'm sure of) and it's just a ho-hum steel that sometimes can barely make it through the day without a touch up on the Sharpmaker. Yes conditions always change and yes it's always something new to cut so my tests aren't truly representative 100% of each brand and grind.

I digress as this review is about the Kershaw Flourish, not 8Cr13MoV steel or other budget steels.

This Speedsafe opening flipper is constructed actually really well. It is solid and well put together. One thing I did do was pop the plastic backspacer out, just for fun and it made this a better looking handle. After a let down with the Kershaw Natrix this assisted opening worked super well, full lockup with no rock every time. The handle has good heft for a medium to large knife and really fills the hand well with how thick it is. I did however encounter a snag with the handle butt when poking out of the pocket as it seemed to grab a lot on the point so I bench grindered the crap out of it and it got better. The handles are made from G10 and a layer of carbon fiber over top for looks. It feels and looks good with beefy steel liners to boot.

The blade shape is nice, I like hollow grind blades so this fit the bill. It has a good belly on it and is great for the every day piercing tasks too! The blade to handle ratio is fair after I ground off that tip. The steel is nothing to write home about but seeing more American budget knives would be a dream come true.

For the price point you're getting a super premium handle and a mediocre steel blade with a decent shape. I'm not totally in love with this knife but it is good and earns a spot in my rotation. Also I may be becoming warm to blackwash!