From top to bottom: Kershaw Helituck, CRKT Apprentice, Bastinelli BBR2 and Handel Halftrack
Today's frame lock folding knives have been made sturdy, stylish and sharp
Frame locks are popular with those who use folding knives roughly. They are stronger than lined locks because the lever is cut and bent from the steel or titanium frame of the handle. The lock lever is metal as wide as the handle, regardless of its thickness. As a result, there is more material locking the blade than a spring with a standard lined lock, so the locking strength is greater.
Handel half-track
At the end of the titanium lock bar on the Hinderer halftrack is a bolted steel block that is in contact with the shank, reducing wear and tear on the lever and thus extending the life of the lever.
Named after a special military vehicle equipped with a tracked propulsion drive system, the Hinderer Knives half-track frame lock-folding knife is virtually unstoppable like its namekee. Despite its small size, this knife has enough horsepower for tasks large and small.
Hinderer Knives is known for its high-end folding knives and stationary knives aimed at the tactical market. The halftrack is the pit bull of the tactical folding knife and one of Hinderer's best-selling products. A scaled-down tactical folding knife for easy portability. One thing is for sure, the halftrack is sturdy, and the handle is a little over half an inch thick. The 2.75-inch blade is a high-octane CPM S45VN stainless steel. The classic bowie shape has a well-defined tip for precise cutting. Other blade style options are Spanto-Hinderer's in-house blade grinding design, which results in very strong tip tanto, wharncliffe and drop point.
The boxy handle frame is stone-ground titanium, and the frame lock is one of the strongest on the market. At the end of the titanium lock rod is a bolted steel block, which is in contact with the shank, reducing the wear and tear of the lock rod, thereby extending the life of the lock rod. Not all knife companies have incorporated such a feature into their frame locks. A sturdy titanium pocket clip holds the closed blade tip in the pocket. The G-10 inlay on the display surface is available in a variety of colors and features a beautiful 3D milling pattern to help improve grip. With a height of 3.85 inches, the halftrack is sturdy and not bulky.
The half-track blade has an excellent cutting edge out of the box and is ready to go. CPM S45VN stainless steel has a long-lasting strength and holds the edge very well. As the author notes, this is a material that can last a long time.
This blade has an excellent cutting edge right out of the box and is ready to use. The battery life of the S45VN is very strong, and the advantages are very obvious. This is a type of steel that can run a long distance. The handle doesn't look very comfortable at first, but once you use it, you'll understand the purpose behind the design. The large finger grooves form an integral lower guard that places the index finger and prevents the hand from moving forward, while the angled handle handle fits perfectly into the palm.
Expect top-of-the-line performance across the board. The blade can go through anything – cardboard, hoses, wires, meat, and more. It's all easy. The MSRP of $425 may be a bit high, but this knife is worth the money. This is a tough folding knife that can withstand abuse and last for years. Country of origin: United States.
Kershaw helicopter
Helitack's 3.25-inch sharpened blades are designed to excel in utility tasks. Not only is this mode very good for slicing, but it also has a well-defined tip for precise cutting and scoring.
The Kershaw helicopter is named after the U.S. Forest Service helicopter firefighters who were sent to remote areas to extinguish wildfires. The Kershaw helicopter demonstrates the tenacity and determination of this particular firefighter. Like firefighter gear, helicopters are rugged and portable. The 3.26-inch improved sharpened blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel is extremely sharp right out of the box. (8Cr13MoV is equivalent to Japan's AUS-8.) The blades are deployed by fin-shaped fins and SpeedSafe auxiliary openers and ride on a pair of cage bearings for ultimate smoothness of opening and closing.
The handle is a stainless steel frame lock with chamfered edges for a softer and more comfortable grip. The reversible clip keeps the knife deep in the pocket. With a standard T6 Torx screwdriver, the clip can be easily flipped to the other side. The steel lock bar stabilizer is integrated into the pivot on the lock side of the handle. It prevents the lock lever from moving too far, thus losing tension when the locking blade is open. The slim nature of the handle adds to the comfortable carrying. This lock is firmly engaged and there are no gaps. The blade and handle are coated with gray titanium nitride, which is aesthetically pleasing and low-glare. The hardware is a contrasting black, and the overall look is eye-catching.
The Kershaw Helitack's stainless steel frame lock has chamfers around the edges to soften the handle and make it more comfortable. The reversible clip keeps the knife deep in the pocket.
The 3.25-inch blade is designed to excel in practical tasks. Not only is this mode very good for slicing, but it also has a well-defined tip for precise cutting and scoring. Hollow grinding thins the cutting edge and increases the bite of the cutting edge without compromising its strength. The Heliack can handle tougher materials with ease, which is what EDC work knives have to do.
The handle seems to be very comfortable with no hot spots, although sometimes I wish it was a little wider to help me get through the cutouts. Although the handle is thin, it is easy to carry. The lock is locked tightly. With an MSRP of $64.99, this knife is a great value for money. Country of origin: China.
Bastinelli cuts Bastien Cops
The titanium lock side of BBR2 is anodized to a bronze color. The blade spinal thumb rest is located at the very front end of the grip and has a traction notch. The pocket clip holds the closed blade tip upwards and cannot be reversed.
The knife design of the Bastien Coves of Bastinelli knife is very advanced and suitable for tactics that emphasize high utility. Ergonomics is the focus of Bastinelli's design and one of the most comfortable design techniques.
The BBR2 framelock folding knife showcases Bastien's outstanding design talent. Made in Italy by Lionsteel, the knife is made from 3.1-inch D2 tool steel with a stone-ground polishing finish for a striking visual contrast. The blade is quite interesting, since it is a "down" design relative to the handle. This allows Bastinelli to take full advantage of the ergonomic handle and to get the most out of the blade by lowering the blade under the handle, reducing interference from the user's hand and making the blade more useful for a variety of cutting tasks. D2 was selected for its cost-effectiveness. The double thumb pegs make it easy to open with one hand, and the pivot Ikoma Kos bearing system (IKBS) ensures an ultra-smooth rotation of the blade. The sharpened cutting edge on the cutting edge reduces weight, provides good visuals and aggressiveness.
If you follow Bastinelli's work, you will know that BBR2 has a version with a normal blade. Starting in 2024, Bastinelli will also begin offering BBR2 with partially serrated blades, and provide early samples of semi-serrated iterations for this paper.
The partially serrated blade on the BBR2 is new for 2024.
The handle is a halve-in structure with a milled G-10 demo side and a titanium lock side anodized bronze. The curved handle with a groove that protrudes the index finger is one of the best things about the BBR2. Super comfortable. The handle edges are chamfered like the handles, removing some of the material to better fit your hand. The blade spinal thumb rest is located at the very front end of the grip and has a traction notch. An aluminium spacer accentuates the style of the handle butt to form a skull cookie point. The pocket clip holds the closed blade tip upwards and cannot be reversed. (Sorry, left-handed.) I also like the round G-10, which helps the knife to hold better in the hand. At first, the round G-10 and the flat titanium seam are a bit strange, but after using this knife for a while, you will get used to it. MSRP: $250.
CRKT Apprenticeship
In terms of use, the author's favorite two blade modes for CRKT apprentices are wharncliffe. The full-plane grind tapers to the edges, making it an absolute slicer.
CRKT's latest folding knife design, The Apprentice was designed by Brazilian cutlersman Pedro Buzzetti, the Brazilian president of Prudente. Buzzetti was a protégé of Flavio Ikoma (p. 36) and a famous Brazilian swordsmith who collaborated with CRKT on several occasions. The Apprentice, Buzzetti's first collaboration with the company, is a stylish EDC folding knife. This apprentice was almost a scaled-down tactical folding knife with a steel handle and frame lock construction. It comes in two blade styles – an upturned half-stripping knife and a dock knife, both 3 inches long. The blade steel is Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel, which is comparable to AUS-8.
There are two options for handle veneer: textured black G-10 for Dock Cliff and brown canvas Micarta for the semi-skinner. Not only does the overlay provide enhanced grip and visual style, but it also acts as a lock-bar stabilizer. At 4.1-inch off, the apprentice rides very well in the pocket, partly because of the blade tip, which carries the clip deeply. Unfortunately, the clamp is irreversible. Both knives feature fin-shaped openings and IKBS to provide convenient, fast blade deployment.
For use, my two favorite blade modes are docks. The full-plane grind tapers to the edges, making it an absolute slicer. The dock crack has a more defined tip than the drop point of the semi-skinner. Sandvik 14C28N steel is a good value for money and easy to resand.
The CRKT Apprentice offers two handle upholstery options: a textured black G-10 for Dock Cliff and a brown canvas mikata for a semi-skinner. The overlay not only enhances the grip and visual effect, but also acts as a lever stabilizer.
Apprentices are easy to carry. It will disappear in your pocket. The handle is slender and comfortable, the main finger groove helps to hold the index finger in place, and the rest of the fingers are naturally in place. The chamfers on the handle make the handle look slimmer than it actually is. The attention to detail is undiminished, from the stylized three-wing pivot screws to the mirror-polished crown-bladed spine. This tiny touch makes a good knife better and more valuable. The Apprentice is a great EDC frame lock built sturdy, easy to carry and without the bulky feel. Both versions have a very reasonable MSRP of $99.99. Country of origin: China.