First off I will tell you that this knife has been discontinued from the manufacturer, but still available on the secondary market such as eBay for around $35. I had reservations at first to review this knife solely because it was discontinued, but after realizing how great this folder is I had to let our readers know about it.
So what is it that I like so much about this knife?
Lightweight and slim – Although this knife has a pocket clip I prefer to just drop it inside my front pocket. Due to the lightweight and slim design it virtually disappears once inside the pocket.
Partially serrated blade made from AUS-8 steel – The AUS-8 steel is a great all around ‘working’ steel that holds a decent edge and is easy to maintain. I prefer a partially serrated blade for utility work. It allows me to cut through materials such as seat belts, rope and clothing quickly and efficiently. For any medical emergency you’re going to want serrations. Serrations also offer you the benefit of not having to regularly hone or sharpen the blade. However, if the blade eventually needs a touch up and you’re not comfortable doing that, Benchmade offers a Lifesharp service where you send your blade in and they sharpen it and tune it up free of charge!
Frame lock – The frame lock design on this knife is easy to manipulate with only one hand and will remain locked as you grip the knife.
Glass breaker – This is a bonus feature of the knife. I’m not sure how well it works, as I have not had the opportunity to break any glass with it. Again in a medical emergency you may need to break a vehicle window to either extract yourself or get to someone else.
All in all the HK Ally has proven to be a reliable companion for daily carry for under $50. One huge benefit of carrying this knife is that if you lose it, it get’s stolen or confiscated you’re not out of a lot of money.
