At first, I though $35 for a linerless Zytel folder was a bit high, but then I got my first A.G. Russell FeatherLite in my hand. That was many years ago, and since then I've acquired several more. They're that good. This one is model K-93C, in AUS-8 with A.G. Russell's general purpose blade. The knife is made in Japan, and weighs in at 1.5 ounce.
The Handle: The FeatherLite is just a hair under 4" long and 3/8" thick. It's a very plain-looking knife, with a black Zytel handle. The sides have nice checkering, and it provides nice traction. In the center of each side is an oval, good location for an inlay, but they are currently empty. The handle is very comfortable due to the overall thinness and the ergonomic shape.
It's thinner than a Kabar Dozier...
and about the same as a SAK Cadet...
There's a choil to keep your hand off the blade when the knife is opened, and this choil doubles to keep the sharp corner of the closed blade from wearing through your pocket. The blade is pinned into the handle, so there's no way to adjust tension. I've found that all of mine are perfect; not too loose and not to tight. The lock is a lockbar mounted on the top (spine) of the handle. It works just like a standard lockback, except there's a plastic tab screwed to the lockbar that you pull back to release the lock. This tab is located right behind the blade spine, so there's no need to move the knife in your hand to close it. Lock-up is solid. No blade play in any direction.
In-hand...
There's also a lanyard hole in the butt, and it's large enough for a single strand of non-gutted 550 cord or two strands of gutted 550 cord. It's a nice size and shape for EDC, and is a very well though-out design.
With a Kabar Dozier to compare size...
Flanked by a Spyderco Tenacious and Kabar Dozier...
The Blade: The FeatherLite is available in a general purpose blade (see the photo) or a clip point blade; I chose the general purpose shape. It's also available in AUS-8 or ATS-34; I chose AUS-8. A.G. Russell's AUS-8 is heat treated to 57-59, and is hollow ground from about 3/4 the way up the blade. It's 3-1/8" long with a 2-7/8" cutting edge, and is 1/8" thick. The blade is stamped as follows: AUS-8 above MADE IN JAPAN on the right tang, and A.G. RUSSELL on the left tang.
The blade is opened via thumb oval, and it measures 1/2" long and 3/16" wide. Put it this way; I wear a size XXL glove and I can open the knife smoothly. It came razor sharp, and held its edge through a lot of work. More than I ever expected from AUS-8. I have several knives with the same steel and the same Rockwell hardness, even from within the same company (A.G. Russell) but the FeatherLite seems to hold its edge longer than any of those. Well done.
Flanked by a SAK Cadet and Camper...
The "general purpose" blade shape makes it great for EDC, and I'm finding myself carrying the FeatherLite more and more in my pocket. What else can be said about this knife that hasn't been said before? Great construction, great edge retention, very fair price. It's very, very close to being the perfect EDC; it just keeps finding its way into my pockets.
The Handle: The FeatherLite is just a hair under 4" long and 3/8" thick. It's a very plain-looking knife, with a black Zytel handle. The sides have nice checkering, and it provides nice traction. In the center of each side is an oval, good location for an inlay, but they are currently empty. The handle is very comfortable due to the overall thinness and the ergonomic shape.
It's thinner than a Kabar Dozier...
and about the same as a SAK Cadet...
There's a choil to keep your hand off the blade when the knife is opened, and this choil doubles to keep the sharp corner of the closed blade from wearing through your pocket. The blade is pinned into the handle, so there's no way to adjust tension. I've found that all of mine are perfect; not too loose and not to tight. The lock is a lockbar mounted on the top (spine) of the handle. It works just like a standard lockback, except there's a plastic tab screwed to the lockbar that you pull back to release the lock. This tab is located right behind the blade spine, so there's no need to move the knife in your hand to close it. Lock-up is solid. No blade play in any direction.
In-hand...
There's also a lanyard hole in the butt, and it's large enough for a single strand of non-gutted 550 cord or two strands of gutted 550 cord. It's a nice size and shape for EDC, and is a very well though-out design.
With a Kabar Dozier to compare size...
Flanked by a Spyderco Tenacious and Kabar Dozier...
The Blade: The FeatherLite is available in a general purpose blade (see the photo) or a clip point blade; I chose the general purpose shape. It's also available in AUS-8 or ATS-34; I chose AUS-8. A.G. Russell's AUS-8 is heat treated to 57-59, and is hollow ground from about 3/4 the way up the blade. It's 3-1/8" long with a 2-7/8" cutting edge, and is 1/8" thick. The blade is stamped as follows: AUS-8 above MADE IN JAPAN on the right tang, and A.G. RUSSELL on the left tang.
The blade is opened via thumb oval, and it measures 1/2" long and 3/16" wide. Put it this way; I wear a size XXL glove and I can open the knife smoothly. It came razor sharp, and held its edge through a lot of work. More than I ever expected from AUS-8. I have several knives with the same steel and the same Rockwell hardness, even from within the same company (A.G. Russell) but the FeatherLite seems to hold its edge longer than any of those. Well done.
Flanked by a SAK Cadet and Camper...
The "general purpose" blade shape makes it great for EDC, and I'm finding myself carrying the FeatherLite more and more in my pocket. What else can be said about this knife that hasn't been said before? Great construction, great edge retention, very fair price. It's very, very close to being the perfect EDC; it just keeps finding its way into my pockets.
