SEPTEMBER 2019 blademag.com 59T
here’s a mystique surrounding
blades with a Far East fl air. Some
of the designs date back to the
medieval period and have withstood the
ultimate test of time. Today, the Asian
infl uence remains strong in the knife
market and helps the resulting knives
be top sellers in their categories. From
traditional styling and cord-wrapped
handles to modern materials and con-
struction blended with heavy Far East
overtones, they sell well thanks to visual
panache mixed with high function.
The Kwaiken from Emerson Knives,
Inc. is what happens when two worlds
collide: Far Eastern bladeware and
contemporary Western tactical folder
design. The modern interpretation
of the venerable kwaiken of Japanese
medieval lore features the state-of-the-
art in design and materials, including
a 3.9-inch blade of 154CM stainless
steel, dual titanium liners, textured
G-10 scales and a steel pocket clip. The
graceful, sweeping curve of the cutting
edge completes a highly efficient
slicing tool. The integral thumb ramp
provides a comfortable, non-slip grip,
and the Wave pocket-opening feature
ensures the Kwaiken can be deployed
in rapid fashion.
The textured black handle offers
great grip quality. It features a
pronounced finger notch to help index
your grip and to prevent your hand
from sliding forward under duress.
You can literally feel your hand lock
onto the handle. The clip is mounted
so the knife can be deployed quickly
and easily. Unfortunately, there is not
another set of clip mounting holes
on the opposite side of the handle to
accommodate lefties.
The linerlock engages the blade
crisply and there is no play in the
lockup. During use, the blade’s
curvature makes the handle position a
natural angle for your wrist and hand,
enhancing comfort. The blade has a
voracious appetite and is very thin and
acute at the tip. My only concern is
the latter usually is a weak point and
might be subject to breaking if you’re
not careful. MSRP (manufacturer’s
suggested retail price): $254.95.VISUAL FEAST
The CRKT Shinbu fixed blade is themost traditional looking of the review
knives. Designed by James Williams, a
U.S. Army veteran with more than 50
years of martial arts experience, the
Shinbu boasts a traditional wrapped
handle and a 9.25-inch blade of YK-30
high-carbon steel.The traditional tanto design is
dual ground for strength. The blade
is distinctive for its zero grind from
the main bevel to the cutting edge. As
with other blades, there is no separate
cutting edge bevel. The bevel has a
hand-rubbed satin finish, and theFromFromleft:left:CRKTCRKTShinbu,Shinbu,SteelSteelWillWillCourageCourage
321,321,CondorCondorToolTool& Knife& KnifeYoshimiYoshimiand the andthe
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