Knife Review

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CRKT LINCHPIN

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Written by: Casey K.

  Over the past few years I have been collecting pocket knives from various different manufacturers. I like to use these for Every Day Carry (EDC). There is one knife that has really topped my list, the CRKT Linchpin. Here are my thoughts on this fantastic pocket knife.

The handle:

  When I first took this knife out of the box, I immediately noticed how durable it felt. The handle is made of glass reinforced nylon with two different styles of texture to offer more grip. One thing that I really appreciate is that the screws on this knife are countersunk which keeps the screws from snagging in your pocket when you go to remove the knife. 

The lock:

  This knife features a large button lock that I personally love! Anytime I lend this knife to someone, they always tell me how much they like the button lock. Mainly because it’s larger and easily unlocks. The button lock does not easily unlock while the knife is in use though. The button also features a really nice texturing design that makes it hard for your thumb to slip off of. 

The blade:

  This has to be one of the best blades I’ve ever had on a pocket knife. The blade material is 1.4116 stainless steel, which is slightly stronger than 420HC. The blade is a spear point that turns serrated halfway down the blade. The serrated section of the blade has great, bat-wing style, serrations that cut through thick stuff like it was nothing. The serrations are called “Veff” serrations. I recently moved and this was the knife that I used during the moving process, and wow! After cutting tons of packing tape and boxes, the blade still has a sharp edge! On the back side of the blade it offers a nice thumb grip (jimping) that keeps your thumb in place very nicely.

Opening:

  One thing I really appreciate about this knife is that it offers 2 different styles for opening. It has the flipper on the back which is what I prefer. But sometimes you are cutting something and your hand may be in an awkward position, so in those situations it’s nice that it features thumb studs as well. 

  The CRKT Linchpin is a fine knife to use as an EDC. It’s incredibly durable and holds an edge very well. This knife is a little larger giving you more of a grip to hold onto. It has a serrated spear point blade which gives you different options for your cutting needs.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to fame: 

Large and sturdy EDC

Target market:

Anyone who would like a great EDC pocket knife that’s a little on the larger side.

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length:
8.875"


  • Blade Length:
3.75"


  • Cutting Edge:
3.50"


  • Blade Width:
1.13"


  • Blade Thickness:
0.15"


  • Blade Material:
1.4116


  • Blade Style:
Spear Point


  • Blade Grind:
Flat


  • Edge Type:
Serrated


  • Handle Length:
5.25"


  • Handle Width:
1.25"


  • Handle Thickness:
0.68"


  • Handle Material:
Glass Reinforced Nylon

  • Frame/Liner:
Steel


  • Weight:
6.20 oz.


  • User:
Right Hand


  • Pocket Clip:
Tip-Up


  • Opener:
Flipper


  • Lock Type:
Button Lock


What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Super Sharp Serrations

Sharpest serrations by far on any knife in my collection. Cuts through vines with almost no effort. Much easier than any other knife used for the task. My chickens love grapes so every day lately, I've cut off a few bunches for them. The other day, I was carrying the CRKT 5406 and cut through a vine with the tip of the blade. Whittled through the vine a few times and removed the grapes as usual. I decided to use the serrated part of the blade, touched it to the vine and the bunch of grapes just fell off. Thought it was an anomaly so did it again another few times with the same results. Wow. As to the rest of the knife... Good fit and finish. The locking mechanism is a bit sticky. It improved a bit after oiling and many deployments, but still sticky. Overall a great knife for cutting stuff in the garden.

Link to other reviews:

Kevin Cleary on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP- $145.00

Retail- $39.95 at Knife Center 

I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:

CRKT Linchpin - Columbia River (CRKT) - Knife Center

Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

This is a really solid feeling pocket knife. I really believe that it can take whatever you throw at it. It feels incredibly durable when it’s closed and when it’s open and being used. It holds a sharp edge for a good long while. I personally also love the button lock style on this knife.

Cons: 

The price point of $145.00 is pretty high for this knife, I think the sale price of almost $40.00 is a great deal! 

Score: 8.50 GREAT

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Sencut Serene

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  When looking at an EDC knife, your average person tends to want quality at an affordable price point. Sencut knives just might be what these people are looking for. They sent out the Serene model for me to use and review. I opted for the blue handled version with the satin finished blade, but they have other color options available. 

  The Sencut Serene is a button lock, flipper style knife. It also has thumb studs on it for opening, not just the flipper or button. This means that there are 3 ways of opening the knife up. Either flip it out using the flipper hump on the back side of the handle, or by using the thumb stud. Being a button lock knife, one can also push and hold the button in, then flip the knife out. I am a person that really likes having multiple ways to open an EDC knife. You never know when your normal way of opening it just won't work. Being a button lock knife, and a flipper, the button is spring loaded so that it catches the blade at full extension, and locks it in place. I found the Serene’s button lock to work well. The blade also locks up tight. The other great aspect of the Serene is how smooth it functions. Those ceramic ball bearings make it feel like you are getting a much higher price range knife.

   The heart of any knife is its blade steel. The Serene uses D2 steel at a hardness of 59-61. D2 is an excellent choice for anyone wanting an everyday use knife. D2 is not considered stainless steel, so you will need to clean it and oil it every so often. But, D2 will give you good edge retention and toughness. Not as much as high end steels, but the Serene is a budget knife that performs above its pay grade. Because the D2 blade is fairly tough, it takes a little more to sharpen it, but that also means that it will stay sharp longer. I am a fan of D2 steel in knives, and Sencut made a good choice using it in the Serene.

  Since we are on blade steel, let’s get into the blade itself. The Serene uses a 3.48” drop point style blade. So it’s not tiny. Basically it is curved up from the blade's belly to become a point. The Serene uses a shallower curve than what I would call your typical drop point blade. It doesn’t really have a flat spot in the cutting edge, it just gradually curves upward to the point. I found the blade shape to be very useful for most of my cutting needs. Sencut also put some decent jimping on the top of the blade. This gives your thumb some grip on the top of the knife. The Serene’s blade is also very thin, making it easily slice through stuff. The flat grind on it also probably helps with that too. I am also a fan of the blade's thinness.

Worn Anodizing

Easily dinged up handle

  As with any knife, it usually needs some sort of handle or frame. The handles on the Serene are made from aluminum and anodized in different colors. Sencut did not put any texture on the knife's handles. They aren’t necessarily smooth, as there is, what looks like, a bead blasted finish. But they feel smooth to me. There is a finger curve cut out for your index finger. This does give some grip so your hand won't slip off the knife. The shape and smoothness of the handles does make for a comfortable feeling knife in the hand. One drawback, I found with the Serene, is that the anodizing wears off pretty easy. Especially around the edges. Dings show up pretty easily in the anodizing too  The Serene also has a tip up reversible carry clip. The clip is designed for fairly deep carry, and is decently strong to hold the knife in place.

  The Sencut Serene fits my style of EDC nicely. Its blade length fits in where I like them, somewhere between 3 and 3.5 inches. The thin D2 blade stays sharp and cuts nicely. The handle may be smoother than I like, but some people prefer a smoother handle. It’s also pretty lightweight. I really don’t think a person can go wrong with the Sencut Serene. The knife has a lot of good attributes, especially in the $50 price range. You can check the Serene out at Sencut.com.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Lightweight EDC knife

Target Market:

Those wanting a quality flipper knife that won’t break the bank

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Overall Length: 8.17" / 207.5mm

  • Width: 1.43" / 36.4mm

  • Overall Height (Include Clip): 0.68" / 17.2mm

  • Blade Length: 3.48" / 88.4mm

  • Closed Length: 4.69" / 119.1mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.12" / 3mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.47" / 12mm

  • Knife Weight: 3.43oz / 97.3g

  • Blade Material: D2

  • Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC

  • Blade Grind: Flat

  • Blade Finish: Satin

  • Blade Type: Drop Point

  • Handle Material: Bright Blue anodized Aluminum

  • Hidden Lanyard bar

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, L/R

  • Clip Material: Stainless Steel

  • Screws/Thumb Stud Material: Stainless Steel

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Locking Mechanism: Button Lock

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Blak, Red, or Grey

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars on Amazon   

Very nice and extremely sharp!

This is my first Sencut knife. I purchased it because I have always enjoyed my Civivi knives, and I know they are from the same OEM. This knife came extremely sharp from the factory. It performed the paper cut test with almost no resistance and absolutely a razor clean cut. The thumb stud is a good size, but not too big as to be distracting or in the way. The flipper tab on the back is also very modest but quite functional. My wife who has zero experience with flippers was able to work both methods of opening first try. The button lock depresses easily, but not so easily that I would worry about accidentally unlocking the blade while working. The action is buttery smooth, and the detent is very nice. The knife is exactly the same blue color as the depiction. The blade is perfectly centered, and has no play left to right or up and down. I am very impressed with this Sencut knife and will be purchasing more from this brand in the future.

Link to other reviews:

Neeves Knives on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $55.00

Retail = $46.75 on Amazon     

I need it now! Availability:

Sencut or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Sharp

  • Thin D2 blade

  • Button Lock

  • Flipper

  • Ceramic bearings

  • Deep carry pocket clip

Cons:

  • Anodizing wear

  • Smooth handle

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Angry Bear Arms sight review 

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Zero Tolerance ZT 0561 Knife Review

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  ZT0561-3

ZT0561-1The Zero Tolerance ZT 0561 is an extreme duty knife.  The ZT0561 would be a great pocket knife for anyone needing a large, rugged folding style knife.  Due to its 3.75" blade, pocket carry can sometimes be cumbersome.  However, the knife does come with a pocket clip that can be located in any of four locations. The knife is fairly light for its size, coming in at 6.4 ounces.  This weight is made possible by one whole grip of the knife being made from titanium.  The other grip panel is made of G-10 in flat dark earth.  Both grips are textured with, what ZT calls, a "3-D machined," which is a type of scallop pattern and gives the knife a good texture to hold on to. The blade is made from an "Elmax" powdered steel, which gives the knife good corrosion resistance and good edge retention.  The blade runs on a set of ball bearings for smooth operation with an easy opening tang on the back side of the knife. This knife would make a great addition to anyone needing a tactical folder that might get abused.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Extreme duty folding knife

Target Market: First responders or anyone needing a rugged folding knife.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Made in USA
  • Ball-bearing opening system
  • Titanium frame lock
  • Quad mount pocket clip
  • Blade length: 3.75"
  • Closed length: 5"
  • Overall length: 8.8"
  • Weight: 6.4 oz.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: None, what you see is what you get.

What others are saying?:

NOT A KNIFE..... IT'S A BEAST!

This edged weapon is something to behold. I've owned benchmade, kershaw, spiderco, ect.... This thing will be my last knife I'm sure. It holds an edge and looks good doing so. I've used mine for work and play and will never buy another cheap piece of junk knife again. You get what you pay for!!!

By Jo Oklahoma from ZT knives

Outstanding Knife
  After purchasing this knife, I have officially laid my Benchmades to rest. This is an absolute quality knife. The lock is rock solid and there is absolutely no play in the blade. The handle is very comfortable and grips the palm extremely well. I love how the flipper acts as a finger guard while open. The size is very intimidating at first for an EDC, but it is surprisingly thin and fits in the pocket well. The blade is incredibly sharp and super stout.
By  PFDR108 from Amazon

Price point

MSRP = $325 from ZT knives

Retail = $195.60 from Amazon

I need it now! Availability: Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Easy opening
  • Strong blade
  • Lightweight
  • Pocket clip locations

Cons:

  • Size
  • Price

Score: 7.575

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MTech USA Fixed Blade Survival Knife

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MTech Fixed Blade Survival Knife "Even when the world is at peace, a gentleman still keeps a blade by his side" - Wu Tsu

A good survival blade is a staple to any kit, not just a "survival" kit, hunting pack, or any S-H-T-F bug out/bug in bag. Some may choose a folding knife for ease of portability and concealment. For others, a fixed blade is more utilitarian and I couldn't agree more. More than just cutting, stabbing, or prying can be done with a good, solid, one piece construction knife. It can be affixed to a straight branch for a classic Lord of the Flies style pig sticker! Most fixed blade knives are also serrated on the spine for the ability to saw as well, and thats exactly what I have in this Mtech USA Outdoor Fixed Blade Knife.

Although the packaging only indicates this knife as model HK-106280, this blade is known online as the MTech USA Fixed Blade Survival Knife. MTech USA is a brand under Master Cutlery. This 11" Tanto style full tang knife is made from 440 stainless steel with a 90 degree crossguard (also known as a quillion) and has a cord-wrapped handle. First, my evaluation of the blade: It comes fairly dull out of the box as most blades do. It took a sharpening well after a few minutes on a diamond sharpener, but not too easily like other "cheap" knives. 440 Stainless steel will lose it's edge sharpness with use more than Carbon Steel, so a diamond sharpener or wet stone would be a must to pack with this knife. The price point did worry me, as most steel knifes around the $20 mark would be rubbish. This isn't Kabar or Gerber quality, but its not poor either. I personally like knives with crossguards to this degree, as it assists with lashing it to a stick, or otherwise protecting your gripping hand when sharpening and cutting.

The cordage is not 550 paracord and seems to be a weaker variant. I wouldn't rely on it as shoe string, let along as a snare or any type of binding material that I depended on. I plan on replacing with the 550 which is an easy and cheap remedy.

The knife comes in a nylon sheath and it is actually well constructed. The edges of the sheath are reinforced with the stitches seem pretty solid. There is a little pocket sewn onto the front for the fire starter, a Ferrocerium Rod. It also comes with the same cordage as a lanyard but in black. It doesn't produce a big spark, so remember Spanish Moss is your best friend. I still plan on packing a lighter.

This is a decent knife for the low price, which I believe comes from it being made in China. But for a coming of age teen or a cheapskate looking for a beater of a knife, this would fit the bill.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Solid construction and functionality at an affordable price.

Target Market: Hunters, Campers, Survivalists, Outdoor Recreationalists, GI Joe types

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 11" Overal Length
  • 6" Matte Finish
  • 440 Stainless Steel
  • Full Tang handle
  • Tanto with saw serrations on spine
  • 5" Green Cord Wrapped Handle
  • Magnesium Alloy Fire Starter
  • Nylon Sheath
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Matte stainless with OD green sheath and cordage only, other models with different finished available here.

What others are saying?: “My wife bought this knife for me a week ago after I told her my buddy had invited us to his cabin for a weekend. When I tell you I used this knife for EVERYTHING, I kid you not. The blade on this is solid and the parallel “saw” like blade made this knife so much better. The fire starter works better than matches and is much more accessible. (At least for me, I tied mine to the knife when I got it) The nylon sheath for storing is a nice touch, especially when you want to keep this knife on your pocket, which you definitely will.  I would definitely recommend this item." - avila user, Amazon.com Review

Price Point: MSRP: $24.00 Retail: $10.93

I need it now! Availability: Readily available at Amazon.com

Our Rating:

+-Price is good!ri +-Sheath is adequate and stores firestarter rod - -Cordage is not 550 paracord quality-Cord --440 Stainless Steel will lose it edge quicker than other higher grades, so bring a sharpener!

Score: 7.0 Good

 

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