Got my Direkt yesteray. I'll give you the desription from Boker's website first, and then my impressions. They say...
"Chad´s new Tactical Folder. The subhilt handle design provides an unbeatable grip security. The forward finger guard works as a flipper for deploying the blade fast and easy, while the ambidextrous thumbstuds allow a more discreet opening. The double sided milled G-10 scales with their special Boker-Grip surface support the secure grip feeling. The four-way reversible clip allows various carrying options, based on personal preference. A reliable liner lock holds the titanium-coated 440C blade in the open position. Overall length: 8¾. 4.2 oz"
Here are my thoughts...
The Handle: The Direkt has a very nice, straight handle. It's a tad over 4" long. Black, nicely-textured G-10 handle scales are bolted over full stainless steel liners. Four Torx T-6 screws (two on each side) and the blade pivot pin (T-8) hold the knife together, and it's very easy to disassemble. The G-10 is textured like all of Chad's other designs, and proves rough enough to get a good grip on without tearing up your pockets (or your hands). A lanyard hole is provided, but it's not very useful. I couldn't get a lanyard made of gutted 550 cord through it, and I struggled to get even one strand through.
The handle is straight as mentioned, and it has a sub-hilt. This sub-hilt doesn't get in the way when the knife is closed, and it really helps when the knife is open. Locking is positive and solid thanks to a liner lock. The lock is jimped. The back of the handle is open to allow debris to be blown out. It also has jimping for finger placement while working. You get a pocket clip, too. It's reversible for left or right hand carry, tip up or down. It's titanium-coated, and is held on with three T-6 screws. A few people have reported problems in switching the clip fro tip down to tip up, but I had no problems switching mine.
Here's the open back, knife closed...
The Blade: All of this would be irrelevant without a blade, right? It's a nice one, and it's a 3-5/8" long piece of 440C. Mine is 1/8" thick. It's a clip point with an unsharpened swedge. The hollow-ground edge came out of the box very sharp. The blade is titanium-coated and has a blackish-grey color to it. The left side of the blade has the Boker Plus logo along with Chad's CLB logo. The right side of the blade has 440C Stainless above Steel CHINA above 0590. I believe 0590 is the serial number, as each knife has their own.
You get a thumb stud on each side of the blade, but you probably won't use them much because the flipper makes the knife more fun to use. The flipper sticks out about 1/2" from the back of the handle when closed, and required very little effort to use. The detent keeps the blade in the handle, but the flipper can easily fly open one-handed with finger pressure. "Flicking" the blade open is easy. There's a hump above the thumb studs, and they're jimped as well. This gives you a good place to work with, pretty much guaranteeing your finger won't slip forward.
Speaking of slipping forward; there's almost NO WAY you're going to get your fingers slid onto the blade of this knife. The flipper gives you a nice stop, but the sub-hilt gives you even more of a stop. You've got two half-inch pieces of steel to keep you from slicing your fingers during a thrust.
Buy a Direkt. Heck, for $45, buy two. You'll be very impressed, as I was, with the quality and innovation that went into this design.
With a Subcom for size comparison...
Check out the Direkt (it's also available in partially-serrated) at Boker's website here... http://www.boker.de/us/index.php?c=3000&a=01BO570&s1=direkt&s2=0&s3=9999&p=&pp=0
Many thanks to Chad Los Banos for yet another great knife design
"Chad´s new Tactical Folder. The subhilt handle design provides an unbeatable grip security. The forward finger guard works as a flipper for deploying the blade fast and easy, while the ambidextrous thumbstuds allow a more discreet opening. The double sided milled G-10 scales with their special Boker-Grip surface support the secure grip feeling. The four-way reversible clip allows various carrying options, based on personal preference. A reliable liner lock holds the titanium-coated 440C blade in the open position. Overall length: 8¾. 4.2 oz"
Here are my thoughts...
The Handle: The Direkt has a very nice, straight handle. It's a tad over 4" long. Black, nicely-textured G-10 handle scales are bolted over full stainless steel liners. Four Torx T-6 screws (two on each side) and the blade pivot pin (T-8) hold the knife together, and it's very easy to disassemble. The G-10 is textured like all of Chad's other designs, and proves rough enough to get a good grip on without tearing up your pockets (or your hands). A lanyard hole is provided, but it's not very useful. I couldn't get a lanyard made of gutted 550 cord through it, and I struggled to get even one strand through.
The handle is straight as mentioned, and it has a sub-hilt. This sub-hilt doesn't get in the way when the knife is closed, and it really helps when the knife is open. Locking is positive and solid thanks to a liner lock. The lock is jimped. The back of the handle is open to allow debris to be blown out. It also has jimping for finger placement while working. You get a pocket clip, too. It's reversible for left or right hand carry, tip up or down. It's titanium-coated, and is held on with three T-6 screws. A few people have reported problems in switching the clip fro tip down to tip up, but I had no problems switching mine.
Here's the open back, knife closed...
The Blade: All of this would be irrelevant without a blade, right? It's a nice one, and it's a 3-5/8" long piece of 440C. Mine is 1/8" thick. It's a clip point with an unsharpened swedge. The hollow-ground edge came out of the box very sharp. The blade is titanium-coated and has a blackish-grey color to it. The left side of the blade has the Boker Plus logo along with Chad's CLB logo. The right side of the blade has 440C Stainless above Steel CHINA above 0590. I believe 0590 is the serial number, as each knife has their own.
You get a thumb stud on each side of the blade, but you probably won't use them much because the flipper makes the knife more fun to use. The flipper sticks out about 1/2" from the back of the handle when closed, and required very little effort to use. The detent keeps the blade in the handle, but the flipper can easily fly open one-handed with finger pressure. "Flicking" the blade open is easy. There's a hump above the thumb studs, and they're jimped as well. This gives you a good place to work with, pretty much guaranteeing your finger won't slip forward.
Speaking of slipping forward; there's almost NO WAY you're going to get your fingers slid onto the blade of this knife. The flipper gives you a nice stop, but the sub-hilt gives you even more of a stop. You've got two half-inch pieces of steel to keep you from slicing your fingers during a thrust.
Buy a Direkt. Heck, for $45, buy two. You'll be very impressed, as I was, with the quality and innovation that went into this design.
With a Subcom for size comparison...
Check out the Direkt (it's also available in partially-serrated) at Boker's website here... http://www.boker.de/us/index.php?c=3000&a=01BO570&s1=direkt&s2=0&s3=9999&p=&pp=0
Many thanks to Chad Los Banos for yet another great knife design
