Brother 1602 Knife Review

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In on two!
SpySmasher said:
Rule number one of any review should be: post a bunch of pictures.
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So, Frotier76, you want us to Google YouTube videos of someone else talking about a knife you're reviewing? What if the video we get doesn't like your knife? You've created a wall of text without documenting your observations. That tends to put the review into the TLDR category...just some friendly advice.

I don't like waved knives and I don't like knives with fat round handles. The forced mid-grip handle choil looks uncomfortable. It could cause some prolonged-use ergo issues. A couple of pictures I've seen online made the liner lock look suspect with poor engagement. A picture of the lock-up on your specimen might have helped. I couldn't find a definite weight listed for the knife (woulda been a nice part of the review), but from appearances it looks to be way out of my maximum EDC weight range.

I'm glad the 1602 worked for you but it wouldn't work for me. I don't see myself as a Brother customer regardless of how much I like or dislike their products. I'm always open to the idea of a former clone company trying to go legit, but it would a long time going legit before I'd consider making a purchase from a cloner. If this is a first attempt for Navy/Brother to make original designs, I'd call that a good start. They can follow up with discontinuing their clones of Spyderco knives and devote themselves to design and development. Stealing is always cheaper than design or development and should be considered when crowing about the "value" of a knife brand.

I hope you enjoy your knife. Watch that liner lock.
 
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Hackenslash said:
In on two!

So, Frotier76, you want us to Google YouTube videos of someone else talking about a knife you're reviewing? What if the video we get doesn't like your knife? You've created a wall of text without documenting your observations. That tends to put the review into the TLDR category...just some friendly advice.

I don't like waved knives and I don't like knives with fat round handles. The forced mid-grip handle choil looks uncomfortable. It could cause some prolonged-use ergo issues. A couple of pictures I've seen online made the liner lock look suspect with poor engagement. A picture of the lock-up on your specimen might have helped. I couldn't find a definite weight listed for the knife (woulda been a nice part of the review), but from appearances it looks to be way out of my maximum EDC weight range.


I'm glad the 1602 worked for you but it wouldn't work for me. I don't see myself as a Brother customer regardless of how much I like or dislike their products. I'm always open to the idea of a former clone company trying to go legit, but it would a long time going legit before I'd consider making a purchase from a cloner. If this is a first attempt for Navy/Brother to make original designs, I'd call that a good start. They can follow up with discontinuing their clones of Spyderco knives and devote themselves to design and development. Stealing is always cheaper than design or development and should be considered when crowing about the "value" of a knife brand.


I hope you enjoy your knife. Watch that liner lock.
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Well regarding the choil grip it's entirely preference related.It's a feature one takes a look at and decides right off the bat if they want/need it or not.I personally like it for a lot of precision cutting and is very useful for skinning game.Some great knives like the Gerber Metolius and Myth Series,Kershaw 1030 Deer Hunter,Uncle Henry 162UH Wolverine,and Old Timer 156OT Lil' Finger wouldn't be quite as effective without a choil grip.

Regarding weight I agree that it won't be an ideal EDC for everyone.But if someone asked me if I recommended this or a folding Alpha Hunter for daily carry I'd say the Brother 1602.For something of that weight factor it has to have versatility or something more special that grabs people and gives them more reason to carry it.But to certain people even a 4oz. knife is bordering on an undesirable weight.

Concerning the liner lock...mine locked up fine.The entire width of the liner lock was under the blade base and to me that's safe considering the limitations of the liner lock design.On that note you can buy five pieces of the same liner lock knife model (USA or China made) of any cost factor... and you will find variances on where the liner lock seats because no one's angular machining on the blade base is 100% precise.So photographing my liner lock is a bit redundant when one person might think they got a dud when they look at mine.Then another might get the same knife then look at mine and say their knife has better lock-up.On top of that viewpoint that's the nice thing about finger guards.In hard cutting that tight grip pressing against the finger guard reduces stress put to the liner lock itself and transfers energy to the blade rest bolt.

I actually didn't praise Brother/Navy as any kind of value for making clones other than a generalization of who the brand is.Clones are a completely different topic that I won't engage in because everyone has different feelings about them.Originality will put a brand on the map as the 1602 model certainly is.I'd say if Brother can generate at least 4 or 5 original models this good over the years they will definitely put themselves on the map.
 
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Frotier76 said:
I actually didn't praise Brother/Navy as any kind of value for making clones other than a generalization of who the brand is.Clones are a completely different topic that I won't engage in because everyone has different feelings about them.Originality will put a brand on the map as the 1602 model certainly is.I'd say if Brother can generate at least 4 or 5 original models this good over the years they will definitely put themselves on the map.
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1) Yes, but you bought one anyway. It's like saying "My neighbor Bob kicks his puppy, but he's a pretty nice guy to me."
2) Opening threads then refusing to engage in discussion with people in them who have "different feelings" than you isn't really the point of a discussion forum like BF. Maybe a blog would work better.
3) It will put them on the map...as a company that got their start by ripping off other company's designs. No doubt the people they ripped off (many of them members here) might not be as forgiving as you.
 
Frotier76 said:
Well regarding the choil grip it's entirely preference related.It's a feature one takes a look at and decides right off the bat if they want/need it or not.I personally like it for a lot of precision cutting and is very useful for skinning game.Some great knives like the Gerber Metolius and Myth Series,Kershaw 1030 Deer Hunter,Uncle Henry 162UH Wolverine,and Old Timer 156OT Lil' Finger wouldn't be quite as effective without a choil grip.
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See, that's where I think we've been sold a bill of goods on the necessity of finger grooves on a hunter/skinner style knife. I really like what Kyler Ver Steeg has to say about the topic. He has a unique perspective as a hand surgeon and a knife maker:

"Fingers are designed to pull together in a secure, anchored grip. When you’re making a grip like that your fingers are getting locked together,” Ver Steeg explains. The finger groove material prevents your fingers from locking in even if you can fit all five digits on the handle. Ver Steeg recommends knives that incorporate a swell in the middle of the handle to make contact with the center of your palm. Gentle curves at the front and back of the handle also keep your hand from sliding forward or backward. These elements don’t need to be taken to the extreme, either. Ver Steeg incorporates ergonomic features in a subtle way on his own knives. He says the lightest touch is all that’s needed. “You don’t have to make goofy looking stuff. These subtle changes make a big difference in how a knife feels.”

Taken from http://knifenews.com/knife-handle-ergonomics/

It's a good read, but I wish Knife News would go into a little more depth with their articles. When I first started getting into knives, I thought finger grooves were the bomb but after actual use I began to feel my grip was no better with them. I think there's a tendency to rely on the barrier of the finger groove, rather than a good grip on an ergo handle. Ver Steeg's explanation makes perfect sense in hindsight.

Frotier76 said:
I actually didn't praise Brother/Navy as any kind of value for making clones other than a generalization of who the brand is.Clones are a completely different topic that I won't engage in because everyone has different feelings about them.Originality will put a brand on the map as the 1602 model certainly is.I'd say if Brother can generate at least 4 or 5 original models this good over the years they will definitely put themselves on the map.
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We'll just have to agree to disagree on this. Unless they discontinue copying designs, no amount of original designs will "put them on the map" for the majority of the knife community. I'm sure that they'll sell knives through Aliexpress and the other import sites, but they'll never be a brand to be taken seriously. I'm encouraged by Amazon's recent partnership to combat counterfeiting with Nike. The fake athletic shoe market dwarfs the fake knife market, but this start with Nike might eventually reach to fake knives. It would be nice to see cloners be unable to sell through the largest e-tailer in the world because of their business practices.
 
We can hope, but where there is money to be made, companies will continue to make those fakes.
 
Frotier76,

How is the detent on yours? I just received mine and its quite weak. I really have to flick my index finger hard or engage a little wrist flick to get the blade out. I can actually flick it open without touching the blade.

Also, mine happened to come open in my pocket, giving me a nasty gash in my finger when I went to retrieve it.
 
Seems like a nice knife, although not exactly my cup of tea.
I think I'd like it more if it was slimmer, lighter and came without the wave function.
 
ToneGrail said:
Frotier76,

How is the detent on yours? I just received mine and its quite weak. I really have to flick my index finger hard or engage a little wrist flick to get the blade out. I can actually flick it open without touching the blade.

Also, mine happened to come open in my pocket, giving me a nasty gash in my finger when I went to retrieve it.
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Next time just send a message to the OP. This thread has sunk and was resurrected by you for a question directed to him alone. A question about a knife ("clone" brands as a whole) that has raised some intriguing points of view on the knife industry, the world, and how the knife community should operate in a moral sense.

All of this is now rehashed to ask if a detent is loose.

Just a quick bit of insight.
I would be willing to bet that a company that is so brazen to use another companies design without consent (steal), would also be brazen enough to not care about dialing in a detent to keep Your fingers safe.
 
ToneGrail said:
Frotier76,

How is the detent on yours? I just received mine and its quite weak. I really have to flick my index finger hard or engage a little wrist flick to get the blade out. I can actually flick it open without touching the blade.

Also, mine happened to come open in my pocket, giving me a nasty gash in my finger when I went to retrieve it.
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ToneGrail,

Sorry for my late reply I haven't been on Bladeforums for a few days.I've bought 4 of them in total and I really haven't had any detent problems.I did get one where both of the pivot screws were on too tight so the ball bearings weren't showcasing their glossy deployment.But...easily fixed a little fine-tuning of the pivot screws.Now that possibly could be the answer to solving the detent problem for yours.
 
NJBillK said:
Next time just send a message to the OP. This thread has sunk and was resurrected by you for a question directed to him alone. A question about a knife ("clone" brands as a whole) that has raised some intriguing points of view on the knife industry, the world, and how the knife community should operate in a moral sense.

All of this is now rehashed to ask if a detent is loose.

Just a quick bit of insight.
I would be willing to bet that a company that is so brazen to use another companies design without consent (steal), would also be brazen enough to not care about dialing in a detent to keep Your fingers safe.
Click to expand...

Last time I checked Bill two of the most popular under $50 folders that were USA made had the most problematic liner-lock up I've ever seen...

*The Buck 345 Vantage Select won't even lock if you center the blade.You have to keep the blade pretty offset to deploy smoothly and lock-up enough.

*I've seen several Kershaw Skylines with way too early lock-up with only 50% of the liner lock width actually going under the blade base.

Being that you're making it a point not to engage on the thread of the Brother 1602 Knife...you're here to 'rabble-rouse'.The point is Bill USA manufacturers aren't immune from making QC flaws anymore that any country of origin...except people are paying more for it.
 
Frotier76 said:
Last time I checked Bill two of the most popular under $50 folders that were USA made had the most problematic liner-lock up I've ever seen...

*The Buck 345 Vantage Select won't even lock if you center the blade.You have to keep the blade pretty offset to deploy smoothly and lock-up enough.

*I've seen several Kershaw Skylines with way too early lock-up with only 50% of the liner lock width actually going under the blade base.

Being that you're making it a point not to engage on the thread of the Brother 1602 Knife...you're here to 'rabble-rouse'.The point is Bill USA manufacturers aren't immune from making QC flaws anymore that any country of origin...except people are paying more for it.
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That's funny, I've had over 75 different Skylines go thru my hands and I've never seen the lock-up you're describing. Do you have a picture?

I have seen problems with the Buck Vantage but they're not centering related, they're overall F/F related.
 
Frotier76 said:
Last time I checked Bill two of the most popular under $50 folders that were USA made had the most problematic liner-lock up I've ever seen...

*The Buck 345 Vantage Select won't even lock if you center the blade.You have to keep the blade pretty offset to deploy smoothly and lock-up enough.

*I've seen several Kershaw Skylines with way too early lock-up with only 50% of the liner lock width actually going under the blade base.

Being that you're making it a point not to engage on the thread of the Brother 1602 Knife...you're here to 'rabble-rouse'.The point is Bill USA manufacturers aren't immune from making QC flaws anymore that any country of origin...except people are paying more for it.
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I am not here to "rabble-rouse", I was clearly stating that you broke the rules. If you disagree, then reread them. Necromancy of a thread is Highly discouraged and it against the rules. Either create a new thread linking this one within your post for background, or send a message.
Don't break the rules.


Furthermore still, to those two brands You brought up, is thieving patterns a regular practice? (I am speaking of KAI and Buck.)

I would rather support honest (and less likely faulty) companies that have a Customer Service presence, and care about their public perception than one that Only looks at the bottom dollar, at the expense of integrity, safety, honesty, and a myriad of other aspects that should be deemed higher than (or along side of) the almighty dollar.

Peace of mind is priceless. I would rather spend extra to know that a company is honest enough to come up with their own designs, want to hear my concerns via a customer service rep, and at the Very least list the alloy that they use...
Like I said, peace of mind is priceless.
 
AtechReviews said:
Seems like a nice knife, although not exactly my cup of tea.
I think I'd like it more if it was slimmer, lighter and came without the wave function.
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AtechReviews said:
Seems like a nice knife, although not exactly my cup of tea.
I think I'd like it more if it was slimmer, lighter and came without the wave function.
Click to expand...
Hackenslash said:
That's funny, I've had over 75 different Skylines go thru my hands and I've never seen the lock-up you're describing. Do you have a picture?

I have seen problems with the Buck Vantage but they're not centering related, they're overall F/F related.
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Hackenslash said:
View attachment 735195
Just for validation, here's a group of "keepers".
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Sorry I can't praise them.Aside from the liner-lock up issue I encountered the scales flexed in my hand from not having steel liners...that can cause a liner lock to slip out.Really thin blade and bead blast finish on Sandvik? such a waste on a clean looking stainless that deserves a satin finish.I see $15-$20 on that USA made knife...not $40.The Skyline is more in the quality spectrum of the Bucklite Series or the old Schrade Lightweight Lockback Series.
 
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