I got another request to compare some knives, this time both Bokers. The Trance, model 590; and the Direkt, model 570. I'll stay with my newer format since I think it's easier to understand, and we'll take a look at these knives side-by-side. All measurements are by my ruler and not a website description.
Country of Origin This is an issue for some people; the Trance is made in Taiwan. The Direkt is made in China.
Price The Trance can be had for around $25; the Direkt will cost you about $45 from the same source.
Variations The Trance also comes in a drop point configuration, while the Direkt also comes in a partially serrated version.
Handle Lengths, Materials, and Impressions The Direkt is the bigger of the two folders, with a closed length of 4-9/16". It's 7/16" wide, not counting the pocket clip. The Trance is 3-13/16" closed and 5/16" thick not counting the pocket clip. The Direkt has dual stainless steel liners that both have a titanium nitride finish. The right-side liner provides the locking mechanism, and it's jimped. The liners are not skeletonized. Black textured G-10 scales are attached to both sides of the knife. They provide a very nice grip, especially with the sub-hilt design. The back of the G-10 scales provide simple jimping for your thumb, and they're quite functional without ripping up your hand. A lanyard hole is provided, but I think it's too small. When I tried to put gutted 550 cord through the hole, it shredded the cord. All three times. The knife is an open-back design so debris can be blown out. The handle is held together with just five screws; two Torx T-6 on each side in the butt of the handle, and one T-8 as the blade pivot pin. The Direkt feels very nice in the hand, albeit a bit wide. Using the knife proved to be comfortable and natural, no matter which grip I held it in. The sub-hilt design on this one really lends itself to thrusting and stabbing; an ideal self-defense folder.
The Trance also has dual stainless steel liners. Actually, one is a liner and the other is the frame lock. They're not coated like the Direkt, and are prone to rust if exposed to salt or sweat for extended periods of time. The locking side of the frame has four cut-outs to reduce weight and give your fingertips a little extra area to congregate. The left side has a single black FRN scale, which has the same texturing as the Direkt. The Trance has jimping on the back of the handle also, and it includes a lanyard hole. The lanyard hole on the Trance is much better than the one on the Direkt, and I can even get non-gutted 550 cord through it with no problem. The Trance is also an open-back design. The handle is held together with seven screws; three frame screws (T-6) and one blade pivot screw (T-8). The Trance feels more like an EDC than a self-defense folder, and I think that was its intention. It just barely covers all four of my fingers, and I wear a size XL glove. It's not a sub-hilt, but the flipper does a very nice job of making sure your fingers stay off the blade when the knife is open.
Pocket Clips Both feature reversible pocket clips. The Direkt has a four-way (tip up or down, left or right hand carry) clip, and it's titanium nitride coated. It's held on with three T-6 screws. The knife rides lower in your pocket tip-down than it does tip-up, but I prefer tip-up on mine so I can deploy the flipper more easily. The Trance has right-hand only clip, but it's reversible for tip up or down. Sort of. See, the pocket clip is held on in tip-up position with three T-6 screws, but the center one is longer than the side screws. This center screw is longer to act as the frame screw for the butt of the knife, so if you try to reverse it to tip-down carry that center screw won't allow you to. You'll run the screw into the blade and mess it up. So if you want to carry your Trance tip-down, then you'll have to leave the center screw in the butt of the knife. The Trance's clip is stainless steel by the way, and it's not coated.
Retention on both pocket clips is ideal; not too tight and not too loose.
Locking Mechanisms The Direkt locks up solid with a jimped linerlock. There is absolutely no blade play in any direction. The liner sticks out by about 1/16" so you can disengage it, but it's not in the way of your cutting tasks. The Trance uses a frame lock to keep it open, and it's also rock solid. Likewise, it's jimped. No blade play here either.
Blade Length and Materials The Direkt is the larger of the two, with a blade length of 3-1/2" and made of 440C. The Trance has an AUS-8 blade that's 2-3/4" long. Both blades come in at just under 1/8" thick. The Direkt is hollow ground, while the Trance is flat ground. The Direkt is a clip point shape, almost like a small Bowie. The Trance would be a perfect drop point, except the last 3/4" of the blade towards the tip is cut off like a reverse tanto. I actually like this design, as it aids in penetration. Both knives came very sharp right out of the box, although the Trance was easier to touch up. They both cut like razors now. Both knives have jimping along the spine of the blade; the Direkt's is more aggressively textured. Both are very easy to use in terms of cutting ability and ergonomics.
Opening the Knives The Direkt is supplied with dual thumb studs and a flipper. The flipper protrudes 1/2" through the back of the knife. This makes flipper opening very easy; I can open mine with just the flipper (no wrist action required). However, the extended flipper makes thumb stud opening difficult because the flipper will pinch your index finger during use; that, or your index finger will just stop the blade from opening all together. The Trance also comes equipped with dual thumb studs and a flipper. The flipper is only 3/16" when closed, providing a nice flipper without impeding the thumb stud opening. I can'y flick my Trance open; it requires some wrist action. But I love the opening of it. Both knives open smooth and fast. The Direkt gives an authoritative "thwack" as it's flicked open.
Oh yeah, they open so smoothly because both have nylon bushings on each side of the blade.
Using Them I have to say, I prefer the Trance. It seems to cut better and it's not too large. The Direkt is very nice as a self-defense knife, but as an EDC I think the Trance wins hands-down. The only advantage I give the Direkt over the Trance (as an EDC) is the four-way pocket clip placement; I wish the Trance was left-hand-friendly. Both knives are very well-made from a reputable manufacturer, and both are relatively inexpensive. I highly recommend either one, but my personal preference is the Trance.
The Direkt...
The Trance...
Country of Origin This is an issue for some people; the Trance is made in Taiwan. The Direkt is made in China.
Price The Trance can be had for around $25; the Direkt will cost you about $45 from the same source.
Variations The Trance also comes in a drop point configuration, while the Direkt also comes in a partially serrated version.
Handle Lengths, Materials, and Impressions The Direkt is the bigger of the two folders, with a closed length of 4-9/16". It's 7/16" wide, not counting the pocket clip. The Trance is 3-13/16" closed and 5/16" thick not counting the pocket clip. The Direkt has dual stainless steel liners that both have a titanium nitride finish. The right-side liner provides the locking mechanism, and it's jimped. The liners are not skeletonized. Black textured G-10 scales are attached to both sides of the knife. They provide a very nice grip, especially with the sub-hilt design. The back of the G-10 scales provide simple jimping for your thumb, and they're quite functional without ripping up your hand. A lanyard hole is provided, but I think it's too small. When I tried to put gutted 550 cord through the hole, it shredded the cord. All three times. The knife is an open-back design so debris can be blown out. The handle is held together with just five screws; two Torx T-6 on each side in the butt of the handle, and one T-8 as the blade pivot pin. The Direkt feels very nice in the hand, albeit a bit wide. Using the knife proved to be comfortable and natural, no matter which grip I held it in. The sub-hilt design on this one really lends itself to thrusting and stabbing; an ideal self-defense folder.
The Trance also has dual stainless steel liners. Actually, one is a liner and the other is the frame lock. They're not coated like the Direkt, and are prone to rust if exposed to salt or sweat for extended periods of time. The locking side of the frame has four cut-outs to reduce weight and give your fingertips a little extra area to congregate. The left side has a single black FRN scale, which has the same texturing as the Direkt. The Trance has jimping on the back of the handle also, and it includes a lanyard hole. The lanyard hole on the Trance is much better than the one on the Direkt, and I can even get non-gutted 550 cord through it with no problem. The Trance is also an open-back design. The handle is held together with seven screws; three frame screws (T-6) and one blade pivot screw (T-8). The Trance feels more like an EDC than a self-defense folder, and I think that was its intention. It just barely covers all four of my fingers, and I wear a size XL glove. It's not a sub-hilt, but the flipper does a very nice job of making sure your fingers stay off the blade when the knife is open.
Pocket Clips Both feature reversible pocket clips. The Direkt has a four-way (tip up or down, left or right hand carry) clip, and it's titanium nitride coated. It's held on with three T-6 screws. The knife rides lower in your pocket tip-down than it does tip-up, but I prefer tip-up on mine so I can deploy the flipper more easily. The Trance has right-hand only clip, but it's reversible for tip up or down. Sort of. See, the pocket clip is held on in tip-up position with three T-6 screws, but the center one is longer than the side screws. This center screw is longer to act as the frame screw for the butt of the knife, so if you try to reverse it to tip-down carry that center screw won't allow you to. You'll run the screw into the blade and mess it up. So if you want to carry your Trance tip-down, then you'll have to leave the center screw in the butt of the knife. The Trance's clip is stainless steel by the way, and it's not coated.
Retention on both pocket clips is ideal; not too tight and not too loose.
Locking Mechanisms The Direkt locks up solid with a jimped linerlock. There is absolutely no blade play in any direction. The liner sticks out by about 1/16" so you can disengage it, but it's not in the way of your cutting tasks. The Trance uses a frame lock to keep it open, and it's also rock solid. Likewise, it's jimped. No blade play here either.
Blade Length and Materials The Direkt is the larger of the two, with a blade length of 3-1/2" and made of 440C. The Trance has an AUS-8 blade that's 2-3/4" long. Both blades come in at just under 1/8" thick. The Direkt is hollow ground, while the Trance is flat ground. The Direkt is a clip point shape, almost like a small Bowie. The Trance would be a perfect drop point, except the last 3/4" of the blade towards the tip is cut off like a reverse tanto. I actually like this design, as it aids in penetration. Both knives came very sharp right out of the box, although the Trance was easier to touch up. They both cut like razors now. Both knives have jimping along the spine of the blade; the Direkt's is more aggressively textured. Both are very easy to use in terms of cutting ability and ergonomics.
Opening the Knives The Direkt is supplied with dual thumb studs and a flipper. The flipper protrudes 1/2" through the back of the knife. This makes flipper opening very easy; I can open mine with just the flipper (no wrist action required). However, the extended flipper makes thumb stud opening difficult because the flipper will pinch your index finger during use; that, or your index finger will just stop the blade from opening all together. The Trance also comes equipped with dual thumb studs and a flipper. The flipper is only 3/16" when closed, providing a nice flipper without impeding the thumb stud opening. I can'y flick my Trance open; it requires some wrist action. But I love the opening of it. Both knives open smooth and fast. The Direkt gives an authoritative "thwack" as it's flicked open.
Oh yeah, they open so smoothly because both have nylon bushings on each side of the blade.
Using Them I have to say, I prefer the Trance. It seems to cut better and it's not too large. The Direkt is very nice as a self-defense knife, but as an EDC I think the Trance wins hands-down. The only advantage I give the Direkt over the Trance (as an EDC) is the four-way pocket clip placement; I wish the Trance was left-hand-friendly. Both knives are very well-made from a reputable manufacturer, and both are relatively inexpensive. I highly recommend either one, but my personal preference is the Trance.
The Direkt...
The Trance...
I agree, it takes a bit of getting used too, but thumbstud opening minus ala Carson Flipper pinch does NOT occur once you play with the DIREKT a bit...even with MY small hands.
