- Joined
- Jun 30, 2011
- Messages
- 6
I was in the need for a good durable, but practical folder as the only knives i have are my KA-BAR warthog fixed blade and USMC full size. so early this week i started researching and checking prices on american made folders. my search led me to knifecenter.com and their extremely large selection. I wanted a USA made folder (lost my case peanut 
) and ultimately decided between kershaw and benchmade. i have never owned a kershaw or benchmade knife but i know they both are good companies. i ultimately decided against kershaw as their knives had usually a short 2 1/2in blade and i wanted something bigger, that would represent the Ka-bar's aggressiveness, and be used for anything from dressing game to cutting rope or making oil bottles. Now as all of you know there arent much Benchmade knives under 80 bucks and i planned on spending about 60. So i ordered the HK (Benchmade) Soldat folder with tanto combo edge and black powder coating wednesday and it got here via UPS friday. the knife came in a good looking HK grey/black cardboard box alot bigger than the knife. inside was a mini folded regristration paper and there was bubble wrap around a silky HK carrying bag. inside this nice little dont-scratch bag was the soldat. The blade is a nice 3.3in long, with a good angled Tanto adge and it was pretty sharp from factory. the manual knife isn't assisted but doesnt need to be as i got used to the "Spyder hole" extremely quickly. all it takes is a little thumb action with a small snap of the wrist and this blade deploys faster than an old italian stilleto i used to have. the button lock is pretty sturdy. and allows zero movement of the blade when locked. and it feels positive and assuring to press the button and fold the blade back into its cubby. although i am used to a liner or frame lock folder, i like this button but i dont know if i trust it as your thumb could easily accidentally depress it on accident. the handle is made entirely of some kind of durable plastic, which i found cheap. not quality wise but the fact that they would not have steel encased in the plastic or something like that. the open side of the pocket clip is standard on the right side and is a good clip. however i dont like how the open portion points toward the blade. meaning that when it is clipped on your pants it will be upside down, resulting in an awkward and difficult fast draw. i also have gripes about the texture on the handle. it is molded to have the same texture as those aluminum truck bed tool boxes, you know the diamond type texture or whatever it is called. a finer surface grain or pebbling would have been great. The knife is extremely lightweight and i wish it had more heft for a heartier slice but it is extremely comfortable to carry inside your pantline with the clip exposed. for $48 you get a USA made benchmade tactical style knife. i cant recall the steel used in the blade, but as long as its not chinese i am ok with it. Since i have only had the knife for a day i can only give you first impressions. next time i will go out on a limb and spend 100 on a better benchmade as i feel like this HK soldat will probably last a good amount of time, and will probably never rust, but i want the feel of metel and real grip. its like a glock when you want a 1911, they are both nice but the 1911 is just a better and finer handgun. i would hook you guys up with some pics, but this computer i have is a complete P.O.S and i hate technology. Im only 17 but feel like i should have been born in the 40's. Anyways down to the recomendation and ratings
QUALITY- 6/10
DURABILITY- 8/10
PRACTICALITY- 9/10
LOCKUP- 8/10
EDGE RETENTION- Dont know, only had for a day now.
I would recommend the knife to a friend however for no more than $45. it is what it is- a plastic, durable, cheap, glock-like knife with capabiites for alot of use but not amazon survival use. made in america, and meant to cut stuff. like i said next time i buy a folder it will be from benchmade, but it will be a higher step up. I call this HK soldat a starter benchmade. its like buying a BMW but buying the absolute cheapest one you can get.
) and ultimately decided between kershaw and benchmade. i have never owned a kershaw or benchmade knife but i know they both are good companies. i ultimately decided against kershaw as their knives had usually a short 2 1/2in blade and i wanted something bigger, that would represent the Ka-bar's aggressiveness, and be used for anything from dressing game to cutting rope or making oil bottles. Now as all of you know there arent much Benchmade knives under 80 bucks and i planned on spending about 60. So i ordered the HK (Benchmade) Soldat folder with tanto combo edge and black powder coating wednesday and it got here via UPS friday. the knife came in a good looking HK grey/black cardboard box alot bigger than the knife. inside was a mini folded regristration paper and there was bubble wrap around a silky HK carrying bag. inside this nice little dont-scratch bag was the soldat. The blade is a nice 3.3in long, with a good angled Tanto adge and it was pretty sharp from factory. the manual knife isn't assisted but doesnt need to be as i got used to the "Spyder hole" extremely quickly. all it takes is a little thumb action with a small snap of the wrist and this blade deploys faster than an old italian stilleto i used to have. the button lock is pretty sturdy. and allows zero movement of the blade when locked. and it feels positive and assuring to press the button and fold the blade back into its cubby. although i am used to a liner or frame lock folder, i like this button but i dont know if i trust it as your thumb could easily accidentally depress it on accident. the handle is made entirely of some kind of durable plastic, which i found cheap. not quality wise but the fact that they would not have steel encased in the plastic or something like that. the open side of the pocket clip is standard on the right side and is a good clip. however i dont like how the open portion points toward the blade. meaning that when it is clipped on your pants it will be upside down, resulting in an awkward and difficult fast draw. i also have gripes about the texture on the handle. it is molded to have the same texture as those aluminum truck bed tool boxes, you know the diamond type texture or whatever it is called. a finer surface grain or pebbling would have been great. The knife is extremely lightweight and i wish it had more heft for a heartier slice but it is extremely comfortable to carry inside your pantline with the clip exposed. for $48 you get a USA made benchmade tactical style knife. i cant recall the steel used in the blade, but as long as its not chinese i am ok with it. Since i have only had the knife for a day i can only give you first impressions. next time i will go out on a limb and spend 100 on a better benchmade as i feel like this HK soldat will probably last a good amount of time, and will probably never rust, but i want the feel of metel and real grip. its like a glock when you want a 1911, they are both nice but the 1911 is just a better and finer handgun. i would hook you guys up with some pics, but this computer i have is a complete P.O.S and i hate technology. Im only 17 but feel like i should have been born in the 40's. Anyways down to the recomendation and ratingsQUALITY- 6/10
DURABILITY- 8/10
PRACTICALITY- 9/10
LOCKUP- 8/10
EDGE RETENTION- Dont know, only had for a day now.
I would recommend the knife to a friend however for no more than $45. it is what it is- a plastic, durable, cheap, glock-like knife with capabiites for alot of use but not amazon survival use. made in america, and meant to cut stuff. like i said next time i buy a folder it will be from benchmade, but it will be a higher step up. I call this HK soldat a starter benchmade. its like buying a BMW but buying the absolute cheapest one you can get.