The Loadout Room
Professional Gear Reviews
Here at the Loadout Room, we love a good knife. This time, Rad’s back out in the hills of Utah doing the sort of thing we all do, but rarely talk about from a preparation standpoint: killing time.
Whether you’re widdling on a stick or marking trees on the trail, Gerber’s Paraframe knife is light enough to be no bother in your pack while still being strong enough to be useful for any number of things. Here’s Rad to tell you why he carries this handy and inexpensive little knife.
Jake Hoback, of Hoback Knives, makes some absolutely fantastic knives. These are high end, premium grade blades for EDC. These are the kind of knives you can take to hell and back. The OSF, or open source folder, is one of the most popular. The knife is a simple design, but a very effective one. The OSF Hero series is at its core an OSF knife, but they’ve been designed to honor the men and women in the military, as well as first responders. As one of two Marines who write for the Loadout Room, I was quite honored to receive the Marine variant of the OSF Hero series.
The OSF Hero has a 3.5-inch blade made from CPM-S35VN stainless steel. S35VN is a material improvement on S30. It is a steel that can get extremely sharp and the OSF Hero comes very, very sharp from the factory. This steel is also extremely corrosion resistant and very strong. It’s a thick .1875 inches. This thing looks more like a pry bar in the back than a knife. The steel is also heat treated to blend in with the handle.
The blade uses a modified sheep’s foot blade that looks a little like a Wharncliffe to me, but I’m not a knife maker. The tip is less for stabbing and combined with the generous belly of the blade you get a solid slicing and cutting blade. The unconventional tip will allow you to stab when necessary, but it’s not the most conventional stabbing tool. It’s great for working in situations where you want to avoid accidentally stabbing when cutting.
It slices through meat, paper, cordage, rope, and more with ease. It just glides through cardboard to the point where it’s almost cathartic to cut with this knife.
The OSF knives, and by extension the OSF Hero series use titanium frames and full thick handles. As you can see on the Marine variant of the OSF Hero the handles feature a worn cerakote finish of scarlet and gold, the USMC’s official colors. The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor in the middle are laser etched and incredibly detailed. It looks absolutely gorgeous.
In practical terms, the handle fills the hands and allows an excellent blade to handle ratio. The rear backspacer is large enough to allow safe and effective use of the knife but is compact so I get a nice sized handle. The handle is smooth and lacks any kind of stippling, but the large grip makes it easy to hold.
A knife like this is hard to classify. It’s made to last and to work as a tool. Without a doubt the craftsmanship and engineering put into this knife makes it one helluva great EDC knife. At the same time its tough to classify when you are looking at something dedicated to the finest fighting force in the world. The color, the laser engraving make it easy to classify this knife as a collector’s item. However, cerakote is tough and laser engraving isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
The OSF Hero is a mighty fine knife. Something that walks the line between beautiful form and perfect functionality. The OSF Hero is an amazing knife and one that shows that craftsmanship is still alive in 2019.
Growing up, my Dad and I watched MacGyver every week to see what new things he would do with his Swiss Army Knife to get out of a bind. I also remember my Dad always having a Swiss Army Knife in his pocket regardless of what he was doing. My Dad preferred the Executive style of knife Victorinox offered (smaller black knife in the featured image). My dad’s Swiss Army Executive knife was purchased in the early ’90s and is still going strong to this day. My Dad was a real-life MacGyver in my eyes. He could fix just about anything if he has his knife on him. He even went as far as modifying the blades to suit his needs. The orange peeler blade, he modified into a lock rake for lock picking. He always thought outside the box just like MacGyver did.
Kyle Defoor recently posted a picture of a Victorinox Stainless Steel version that he got as a younger kid that is still going strong today. There is something to be said of the build quality of the Victorinox Swiss Army Knives.
My preferred carry is the Victorinox Hiker Knife (top knife in the featured image). It’s got everything I need for a hike or for daily use and nothing I don’t. The two most used tools on that knife are the main cutting blade and the bottle opener.
The Victorinox line of pocket knives have proven their worth over time and still find time in the pockets of many; even members of the military. The one thing I really like about the Swiss Army Knives is that they drop the ‘tactical’ profile found on many knives today. If you’re looking to drop that profile and blend in, then maybe the Swiss Army Knife is for you. I carry a concealed fixed blade for personal defense and a Swiss Army Knife dropped into my front pocket. There are no pocket clips exposed which help to keep that low profile in environments where someone may frown on the fact that you’re carrying a knife.
After receiving and a tip from a confidential informant (CI) that some drug carriers were transporting some illegal narcotics through my jurisdiction, we planned an operation to take down the vehicle. The op went well and the vehicle was ours. Our CI claimed he was certain the drugs were in the seats. After covering our butts, following all laws, policies and procedures, we confiscated the vehicle, and it’s seats. My partner was using some flimsy knife (brand unnamed) which was having trouble cutting through the seat. Gerber Remix Tactical folding knife to the rescue. I pulled out my Gerber and went to town. The partially serrated blade made short work of the seats, and yes, we found our drugs.
The Gerber Remix Tactical folding knife really catches the eye. A uniquely designed handle provides great control with an “Axle Hole” to secure one of your digits and lock the knife in your grip. The blade is partially serrated allowing for a wide range of cutting and the tanto design turns this utility knife, into a self-defense weapon. Definitely an EDC (every day carry) item and built with quality in mind.
Gerber kept appearance sleek and tactical with a slim build and a carbon fiber, G10 composite handle. A solid thumb lift/rest allows for an easy open. Out of the box, the blade is a little rough to open, but loosens up after a few uses. Surprisingly tough with a blade sharp enough for any job, this knife has earned a spot on my side. Check out the video to see it in action.
Author – Matt Walker is a Texas Law Enforcement Officer of 10 years and serves as a SWAT Officer for his department. He is also the head defensive tactics instructor and holds various instructor certificates such as Krav Maga Force Division Instructor, FBI Defensive Tactics Instructor, Tactical Breaching Instructor and various others. Mr. Walker holds and undefeated Mixed Martial Arts record and is a practitioner of Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Olympic weightlifting.
While visiting Shot Show, I was fortunate enough to stop by the ZT booth and handle several of these new knives. The one that stood out to me was the sophisticated Zero Tolerance 0450CF, with its striking carbon fiber front handle. For its weight, carbon fiber is stronger than steel and is downright sexy. I’ve spent half of my life in some sort of wheeled racing machine and have grown an affinity for this dark matter. To keep weight at a minimum, the back half of the handle is made from Titanium, another lightweight space-age material. The published weight is 2.72oz however, I recorded 2.4oz on several different scales.
The blade is a compact version of a Dmitry Sinkevich design and cut from S35VN steel, a very tough, wear resistant material that’s easy to resharpen. Both the blade and the Titanium handle are further coated with a black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) continuing it’s stealthy look.
Although the 0450CF doesn’t use the same SpeedSafe assisted opener that I’ve come to love on my daily carry Zero Tolerance 0350, it does employ a buttery smooth KVT ball-bearing opening system. Due to the lightweight nature of the Zero Tolerance 0450CF‘s blade, there is no need for a spring assisted opener. The blade locks securely into place with the slightest effort on the built-in flipper lever.
Tech Specs: (courtesy of ZT Knives)
Another cool feature of the Zero Tolerance 0450CF are the two aluminum tube spacers anodized in a contrasting emerald green. I’ve always liked the ability to customize my Oakley’s when ordering a pair of shades. Maybe a full pallet of colors for the tube spacers is something ZT would consider offering for their customers at some point. One can dream…
This is a great knife tipping the scales at less than half the weight of my ZT 0350, yet retaining the same 3.25″ blade and a similar overall length. The slender shape of the Zero Tolerance 0450CF is a perfect choice for a gentleman, combining sophistication, stealth and technology. If James Bond were to carry a pocket knife, the ZT 0450CF would be a solid choice.
As we approach the holiday season, we at the Loadout Room would like to make your shopping a little easier for you. In this article, we are going to cover everyday carry items that would make great stocking stuffers for Christmas. We have reviewed many products over the past year and would like to highlight a few that stand out from the crowd. We’re going to consolidate those choices so you don’t have to waste your time sifting through the hundreds of options on Amazon.
What can I tell you about the flashlight during the five years of daily use? Well, I could not kill it. In a daily use, daily carry lifestyle, I beat this little light with no reservation. I used it as a light hammer, I dropped it, I had it on my boat, I navigated at night in dark channels using it to light up channel markers, I used it to find my keys, along with any other thing a flashlight can be used for. I traveled with it. I traveled with it a lot. For its size, TSA does not even look twice at it.
The M20SX JAVELOT is a new generation of a two-tail-switch tactical flashlight. The maximum output has been improved to 820 lumens. Now, I have no way of actually testing the output of this light to make sure that it’s 820 and not 819, but I can assure you it is plenty bright for its size. One of the things I really like is it is powered by either two commonly found CR123A or you can use one 18650 battery. I personally have several 18650 batteries that I keep charged and rotate through the various lights I have.
If you are looking for a very hard use pocket light, that is designed and marketed as a “duty” flashlight, give the M20SX Javelot a close look. There are several accessories that can be used with it such as filters, diffusers, weapon mount options, remote tail caps, etc. The Javelot series also comes in different sizes and the price is definitely reasonable for what it is. Mine has become as much a part of my everyday carry as my cell phone and car keys have.
The full review of the M20SX Javelot
I’m one of those guys that always have a flashlight on me. No matter what light I pick out to carry for the day, I can say that I have had the Surefire Sidekick with me at ALL times since I purchased it on Black Friday last year (2017). It sits on my keychain waiting to be used. I can go days without employing this great little light, but when I need, it is within arms reach. All too often though, when I use my Surefire Sidekick, I don’t give a second thought about how it was used.
The idea to share what is becoming one of my favorite ways to use the Surefire Sidekick came to me the other day when I was working my second job. I’m a glorified paramedic that starts IV’s for CT and MRI contrast studies. One thing that you should understand, is that when patients come in for these studies and need an IV, it is WAY different than what would be considered “acceptable” while working on the rescue at the FD. When you get a patient that is a “hard stick”, there is no bone drilling that you can do, no external jugulars… So, I do what any other fireman would do; get creative. Read the rest of this story.
The full review of the Surefire Sidekick
I’ve carried a Streamlight flashlight for the better part of 4 years now as part of my everyday carry. For a long time, it was the popular ProTac 1AA that ran off a single AA battery and was the perfect size for carrying inside my pocket. I’ve also switched between the ProTac 2L and the newer ProTac 1L-1AA. Streamlight, in my opinion, is the best deal out there for what you’re getting. Their lights are just as rugged as other higher end manufacturers, but at a price point, everyone can afford. Kyle Defoor, former Navy SEAL and now firearms instructor, swears by Streamlight and carries one daily for both his job and personal EDC.
If you’re an aspiring minimalist with regards to your everyday carry, then the Streamlight Protac 1AAA light may be the ticket for you. Granted it’s not some super lumen light putting out 1000 lumens, it will get the job done in low light and complete darkness. You don’t think 115 lumens is enough to disorient a threat? Go into a dark room or outside at night and face the light towards your face and turn it on. I guarantee you’re going to be seeing spots for several minutes.
The full review of the Streamlight Protac 1AAA
I love my minimalist wallets and only carrying what I need. I’ve tried others in the past similar to this design and was not a fan; mostly because accessing the cards and cash was not ideal, but that is just my personal opinion. When I saw the new Gerber Barbill on their site, I had to give it a try. To my surprise, I’m really liking this wallet and plan on using this for the foreseeable future. Accessing the cards and cash is easy, as is using the integrated bottle opener. Great for a night out on the town or vacations when you want to reduce what you’re carrying in your pockets. For only $20, you really can’t go wrong with this product.
Video review of the Gerber Barbill Wallet
The Magpul DAKA Everyday Wallet is a great option for a great price. It is constructed of a reinforced polymer fabric that is flexible and strong. It is coated with an anti-slip texture that ensures you can easily retain it. The wallet holds up to 7 cards comfortably and features an ID pocket on the front with a transparent window to display your driver’s license, business card, or library card. The edges of the wallet are made using a welding process of the materials, so there is no chance of it separating under normal to heavy use.
The divider pocket in the center for bills and other items is easily accessible and functional, unlike some wallets that don’t flex enough for your fingers to be able to catch what you are trying to retrieve. No chance for wallet-hoarding or the uncomfortable experience of sitting on a wallet with too much stuff in it. This wallet is no-frills, discrete, and EDC approved. The only thing missing is RFID blocking capability. If you are interested in picking one up, head over to the Magpul website and choose between four colors – black, FDE, stealth gray, and olive drab green. MSRP is $24.95.
The full review of the Magpul Daka Wallet
The ZT 0350TS is not nearly as large and bulky as the 0300 series, but it has that familiar feeling to me. I have heard from some people that they believe the 0350 to be rather large for every day carry. I have larger than average hands so the physical size difference between the 0300 and the 0350 is not lost on me.
The ZT 0350 is an assisted-opening, folding knife that has a liner lock and a 3 ¼” blade. ZT calls the assisted-opening “Speedsafe” and it can be actuated by hitting the “flipper” with your finger, or using the two blade stops on the spine of the blade, with your thumb. The spring assist deploys the blade quickly, with almost zero effort and the blade locks in place with a very detectible “click”. Even though this knife is ambidextrous, if you are a left-handed person, the blade stop on the left side of the knife does come down lower to the micarta, due to the liner lock. This may pose a problem if you use the blade stop as the primary way to open the knife. You can mitigate this issue by using the “flipper” with your index finger.
The full review of the Zero Tolerance 0350
Based on Rick Hinderer’s Maximus blade, Kershaw has created the Decimus; a single-edge spear point folder with the classic BlackWash™ finish. The blade is presented quickly via the flipper with SpeedSafe® assisted opening. The flipper is mirrored by a symmetrical protrusion, providing a short cross guard for finger safety and giving this EDC blade the appearance of a tiny sword.
The steel handle is stonewashed with a glass filled overlay inspired by the custom zigzag pattern of the original Maximus. Open construction and steel tube spacers, a reversible pocket clip, and frame lock round out the top features. As an additional detail, the handle also has a Hinderer-style filler tab with a stonewashed finish. Kershaw has found its market with those who need a functional blade that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Affordable at $52.49, it seems to be a solid folder at a good price. Gladiators weren’t exactly the high class of Rome, but they were effective with their weapons.
Watch the video review of the Kershaw Decimus
I’ve been a long time fan of Emerson Knives and own several of them. The one model I never had my hands on was their CQC-7BW Flipper models. I went with the CQC-7 for a few reasons; first, it’s a proven blade design that was originally developed with input from the SEAL Teams. Second, the size of the knife is damn near perfect for EDC. The third and final reason, well it just works! Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
When I’m evaluating a knife for daily carry, the blade to handle ratio is very important to me. Ideally, I prefer the overall length to be around 7.5″, with a 3 to 3.5″ blade. That gives me plenty of handle surface area to maintain a positive grip in almost any condition. Couple that with the G10 scales Emerson uses on their knives and you got yourself a bomb proof knife.
The full review of the CQC-7BW Flipper
The NFW Regulator. One of my favorites. Impact forged 44mm stainless steel case and Gunmetal Gray Ionic Plated. Rated to 200 Meters with a hardened mineral crystal. Under the hood is a rugged Citizen Precision Quartz movement. For the price, you really cannot go wrong with this timepiece.