BOSS1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2008
- Messages
- 1,700
Greetings all,
Well, I had the opportunity to score a Knife Research Legion here recently and thought I'd post a brief table top review of it. Ever since I saw the swedged version in the Nov. 2011 Knives Illustrated, I was interested in the blade. The sample I obtained was the saber ground drop point with the bloodgroove/fuller and black micarta handles. It also came with the older nylon sheath with plastic insert and pouch with closing retention clasp. Overall, it reminds me alot of the excellent SpecOps sheath, which is a high value, high quality unit. The pouch is large enough to store a fair amount of essentials...fire starter of choice, fishing line/hooks, swiss army knife or small multi-tool, etc.
Overall, I am very impressed with this blade. Mistwalker did a very nice overall review of this knife last August, and I'll concur with his findings. The 6 5/8" x .217" thick Sleipner steel on this model has a very nice tumbled/stonewash-type finish, and it is quiet sharp. It has a very nice blade profile, with a high saber grind, combined with high utility drop point design. There is the blood groove/fuller, and truth be told, if I had my choice, I'd pass on it, but its ok as is. If I ever get the chance to get one of the swedge models, I'll probably snag it. The Legion also has a very nice, solid tip. Pointy without being too thin/fragile. Let's face it, many times in the field, the tip is one of the most used/highest points of potential failure on a knife. But this one has it right...strong and functional.
I do really like the uncoated/tumbled finish. It makes this a very solid knife that could do food prep duty, with a rinse or wash of course. Many of today's supercool, uber tough blades come coated, in some cases a deep crinkle-type coat...and that can be a place where some debris, etc. get embedded, leading to less than ideal sanitary conditions for food prep. If in an emergency, you do what you gotta do...but otherwise, and nice clean blade is the better choice.
The micarta scales/handle has some of the best factory ergo's I've felt on a knife. Nicely contoured, and while semi-smooth, the deep inset behind the integral guard ensures that your hand slipping forward is exceptionally unlikely. I haven't done much other than foldling the knife yet, but it seems unlikely that there's going to be any hot spots from the handle. It also feels well balanced/agile in the hand. Overall, the entire package (base sheath and knife) also are quite light...lighter than you'd expect for such a stout blade.
There's enough vids on the 'tube showing various usage of this knife, including one fellow that abused it to failure with a steel hammer, driving it into wood and levering it out, forcefully sideways multiple times. Short of abusing it like that, this knife should provide you many, many years of service. It fits nicely between my Busse NMSFNO and my custom, built-to-spec NWA.
And with the current models coming with a nice case, sheath, and a few other little goodies, I think the Legion represent a heckava alot of knife for their current asking prices. It's an excellent 'all-around' field knife that is worth taking a look at. Funds permitting, I'd love to snag one of their hi-viz orange handled knives down the road as well.
Any questions, fire away!
Cheers,
BOSS
Well, I had the opportunity to score a Knife Research Legion here recently and thought I'd post a brief table top review of it. Ever since I saw the swedged version in the Nov. 2011 Knives Illustrated, I was interested in the blade. The sample I obtained was the saber ground drop point with the bloodgroove/fuller and black micarta handles. It also came with the older nylon sheath with plastic insert and pouch with closing retention clasp. Overall, it reminds me alot of the excellent SpecOps sheath, which is a high value, high quality unit. The pouch is large enough to store a fair amount of essentials...fire starter of choice, fishing line/hooks, swiss army knife or small multi-tool, etc.
Overall, I am very impressed with this blade. Mistwalker did a very nice overall review of this knife last August, and I'll concur with his findings. The 6 5/8" x .217" thick Sleipner steel on this model has a very nice tumbled/stonewash-type finish, and it is quiet sharp. It has a very nice blade profile, with a high saber grind, combined with high utility drop point design. There is the blood groove/fuller, and truth be told, if I had my choice, I'd pass on it, but its ok as is. If I ever get the chance to get one of the swedge models, I'll probably snag it. The Legion also has a very nice, solid tip. Pointy without being too thin/fragile. Let's face it, many times in the field, the tip is one of the most used/highest points of potential failure on a knife. But this one has it right...strong and functional.
I do really like the uncoated/tumbled finish. It makes this a very solid knife that could do food prep duty, with a rinse or wash of course. Many of today's supercool, uber tough blades come coated, in some cases a deep crinkle-type coat...and that can be a place where some debris, etc. get embedded, leading to less than ideal sanitary conditions for food prep. If in an emergency, you do what you gotta do...but otherwise, and nice clean blade is the better choice.
The micarta scales/handle has some of the best factory ergo's I've felt on a knife. Nicely contoured, and while semi-smooth, the deep inset behind the integral guard ensures that your hand slipping forward is exceptionally unlikely. I haven't done much other than foldling the knife yet, but it seems unlikely that there's going to be any hot spots from the handle. It also feels well balanced/agile in the hand. Overall, the entire package (base sheath and knife) also are quite light...lighter than you'd expect for such a stout blade.
There's enough vids on the 'tube showing various usage of this knife, including one fellow that abused it to failure with a steel hammer, driving it into wood and levering it out, forcefully sideways multiple times. Short of abusing it like that, this knife should provide you many, many years of service. It fits nicely between my Busse NMSFNO and my custom, built-to-spec NWA.
And with the current models coming with a nice case, sheath, and a few other little goodies, I think the Legion represent a heckava alot of knife for their current asking prices. It's an excellent 'all-around' field knife that is worth taking a look at. Funds permitting, I'd love to snag one of their hi-viz orange handled knives down the road as well.
Any questions, fire away!
Cheers,
BOSS
Attachments
Last edited:
