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This might seem like an odd comparison at first, these knives are generally not thought of as being in the same class. The Lachesis is marketed as a tactical folder, the PXL as a large gentlemans folder, they are however both liner locks of similar size.
It was the liner lock on the Lachesis that led to this comparison, I noticed something a bit odd and grabbed the PXL to compare. (more detail in the review)
One feature comparison lead to another, so I decided to jot down a few notes and pass them along.
This is strictly an out-of-box comparison and reflects a first impression. I have yet to use either knife so there is no performance opinion / observation included.
TECHNICAL STUFF:
Price: Based on average best price found on web
PXL - $200 USD
Lachesis - $385 USD
Weight: (electronic scale, not mfg spec)
PXL - 181 g / 6.375 oz
Lachesis - 145 g / 5.125 oz
Overal Length:
PXL - 199 mm / 7.83"
Lachesis - 210 mm / 8.125"
Blade Length:
PXL - 88 mm / 3.46"
Lachesis - 87 mm / 3.40"
Blade Width/Depth:
PXL - 25.0 mm / .99"
Lachesis - 25.4 mm / 1.00"
Spine Thickness:
PXL - 3.5 mm / .14"
Lachesis 3.4 mm / .13"
Blade Material:
PXL - Laminated 3G (SGPS laminated with 420J2 SS)
Lachesis - BG-42
Blade Type:
PXL - Drop Point with upper swage
Lachesis - Not sure how to classify, could be called a drop point with full length upper swage, or, a modified spear point. Cutting edge has a bit of belly.
Closed Length:
PXL - 111 mm / 4.37"
Lachesis - 122 mm / 4.875"
Handle Width/Depth:
PXL - 28.15 mm / 1.12"
Lachesis - 29.85 mm / 1.175"
Handle Thickness:
PXL - 15.8 mm / .62"
Lachesis - 13.7 mm / .54"
Handle Material:
PXL - Micarta
Lachesis - Micarta
Bolster Material:
PXL - Stainless
Lachesis - Titanium
Liners:
PXL - Stainless
Lachesis - Titanium
Liner Thickness:
PXL - 1.5 mm
Lachesis - 1.45 mm
Lock:
PXL - Liner Lock
Lachesis - Liner Lock
Pocket Clip:
PXL - Stainless, Tip Down, Short-approx. 1/3 handle length
Lachesis - Titanium, Tip Down, Long-a little more than 1/2 the handle length
Thumb Stud:
PXL - Right/Left Thumb Stud
Lachesis - Right / Left Thumb Stud
Introducing The Contenders:
What Started It All:
I was fooling around with my Lachesis and noticed there was a fair amount of flex in the bottom side of the liners, particularily in the area near the bolsters and liner lock. It is enough to cause the scales and liner to pull away from the bolster leaving a gap. (see red circle in photo below) I don't think it would really affect the functionality of the knife, but it would allow dirt and grime to get in under the bolster between the liner/scales. The top liners/bolsters/scales are solid
My first thought was, "that's not a good thing on a $400 knife", my second thought was, "I wonder if my PXL is the same way". The PXL is 100% rock solid in the same area.
Titanium is known for it's light weight, flexibility, and memory (i.e. flex/bend it and it comes back to original shape) so this may be a trade off for weight reduction and doesn't necessarily mean the knife isn't tough.
You can see the gaps created when you squeeze the liner on the right hand side of the photo below.
The Rest Of The Review:
With the exception of the Lachesis having a slightly longer handle, dimensions on both knives are very similar. The PXL is heavier by about 1.75 oz., but in the hand it feels heavier and considerably more solid than the difference would suggest. Both knives are very comfortable in the hand and the handles are large enough to get a full grip with all fingers, even with larger hands like mine.
The grip style on the Lachesis forces your hand further back on the handle away from the blade with your thumb on the bolster, you can choke up on it and grip onto the bolster allowing your thumb to rest on top the blade, but the rear edge of the blade comes to a point and it digs into your index finger in this position. The PXL grip style allows both a full forward grip with thumb on top the blade, or back a bit with thumb on the bolster, The rearward grip postion leaves my pinky finger half on / half off the rear of the handle.
Both knives sport Micarta scales. The PXL has a very smooth shiny finish, the scales on the Lachesis are textured a bit with a flat finish, but are not as grippy as they appear. Dry there doesn't seem to be much difference in grip between the two. One thing I noticed, while photographing the knives. It was snowing off and on, and as the snow melted, the water tended to absorb into the scales on the Lachesis, while it beaded and sat on the surface of the PXL. This would suggest the PXL scales are sealed better. Not sure if this is good, bad, or indifferent. If moisture absorbs into the scales on the Lachesis, this may give it a grip advantage in wet conditions, however the well sealed scales on the PXL are likely easier to clean and less likely to stain.
Lachesis has a longer handle, but overall dimensions are similar:
Blade Steel: I'm not going into an in depth discussion as to which is the better blade steel, The Lachesis is BG-42 and the PXL is 3G laminate. Both are considered "super" steels, and without putting them through their paces in the real world, discussion by me is futile. Suffice it to say both knives have high quality blades that should perform well.
Both knives lock up very solid with no discernable blade play out of the box. The PXL is considerably smoother operating (again, out of the box, with no pivot adjustments)
The liners on both knives are, for all intents and purposes, the same thickness, so the main difference is material. As discussed above, the Titanium liners on the Lachesis are more flexible than the Stainless Steel liners on the PXL, however they are a contributing factor to the lighter weight, both materials are highly corrosion resistant and should perform well. Both knives are open liner design which will make cleaning easier.
The Liner locks on both knives seem solid, Bolsters are titanium on the Lachesis, Stainless Steel on the PXL, not sure what more needs to be said.
Detail of the Liner Locks, Bolsters, and Pocket Clips:
I'm not a fan of pocket clips and remove them from my EDC's, but I know many knuts like them so I checked them out as best you can in 5 minutes or less. The PXL has a stainless steel pocket clip that is fairly short but has a high profile. It allows for tip down carry and cannot be switched to the opposite side of the handle. It is fairly stiff, holds the knife securely and has an authoritative snap when it comes over the pocket seam on removal. Despite the high profile it is not overly noticable under your hand. The short design means it is only under your forward most finger and is fairly well designed to be unobtrusive and fits the natural grip of your hand on the knife, even works pretty well for left hand grip, in fact maybe even better.
The Lachesis has what appears to be a Titanium clip, but I haven't been able to confirm that 100% for certain. It is longer than the clip on the PXL but has a much lower profile. It is not as stiff as the PXL and slips in and out of the pocket a bit easier. It seems to hold the knife securely. It allows for tip down carry and cannot be switched to the opposite side of the handle. The clip is designed to work well with the natural grip of your hand on the handle but I found it a bit more noticable than the PXL clip because it's longer length means it is contacting more of your hand. It does not work nearly as well as the PXL clip for left hand grip.
Blade Spine and Thumb Stud Detail:
The Final Say:
Well here's my opinion, and it is only an opinion so take it for what it is worth.
Based on value for the $$ the PXL is the clear winner in my mind, at approx. half the cost of the Lachesis it is a solid well built folder with excellent fit and finish, high end blade steel, smooth blade deployment, and a functional pocket clip..
This is not to say the Lachesis isn't a great knife in it's own right, and for some, the lighter weight and slimmer profile may make it a preferable pocket carry for a larger folder.
Which is the best knife? Without several years of real world use to allow one to prove itself out over the other, I will reserve judgement on that one.
These are both nice knives with their own individual appeal.
Kevin
It was the liner lock on the Lachesis that led to this comparison, I noticed something a bit odd and grabbed the PXL to compare. (more detail in the review)
One feature comparison lead to another, so I decided to jot down a few notes and pass them along.
This is strictly an out-of-box comparison and reflects a first impression. I have yet to use either knife so there is no performance opinion / observation included.
TECHNICAL STUFF:
Price: Based on average best price found on web
PXL - $200 USD
Lachesis - $385 USD
Weight: (electronic scale, not mfg spec)
PXL - 181 g / 6.375 oz
Lachesis - 145 g / 5.125 oz
Overal Length:
PXL - 199 mm / 7.83"
Lachesis - 210 mm / 8.125"
Blade Length:
PXL - 88 mm / 3.46"
Lachesis - 87 mm / 3.40"
Blade Width/Depth:
PXL - 25.0 mm / .99"
Lachesis - 25.4 mm / 1.00"
Spine Thickness:
PXL - 3.5 mm / .14"
Lachesis 3.4 mm / .13"
Blade Material:
PXL - Laminated 3G (SGPS laminated with 420J2 SS)
Lachesis - BG-42
Blade Type:
PXL - Drop Point with upper swage
Lachesis - Not sure how to classify, could be called a drop point with full length upper swage, or, a modified spear point. Cutting edge has a bit of belly.
Closed Length:
PXL - 111 mm / 4.37"
Lachesis - 122 mm / 4.875"
Handle Width/Depth:
PXL - 28.15 mm / 1.12"
Lachesis - 29.85 mm / 1.175"
Handle Thickness:
PXL - 15.8 mm / .62"
Lachesis - 13.7 mm / .54"
Handle Material:
PXL - Micarta
Lachesis - Micarta
Bolster Material:
PXL - Stainless
Lachesis - Titanium
Liners:
PXL - Stainless
Lachesis - Titanium
Liner Thickness:
PXL - 1.5 mm
Lachesis - 1.45 mm
Lock:
PXL - Liner Lock
Lachesis - Liner Lock
Pocket Clip:
PXL - Stainless, Tip Down, Short-approx. 1/3 handle length
Lachesis - Titanium, Tip Down, Long-a little more than 1/2 the handle length
Thumb Stud:
PXL - Right/Left Thumb Stud
Lachesis - Right / Left Thumb Stud
Introducing The Contenders:
What Started It All:
I was fooling around with my Lachesis and noticed there was a fair amount of flex in the bottom side of the liners, particularily in the area near the bolsters and liner lock. It is enough to cause the scales and liner to pull away from the bolster leaving a gap. (see red circle in photo below) I don't think it would really affect the functionality of the knife, but it would allow dirt and grime to get in under the bolster between the liner/scales. The top liners/bolsters/scales are solid
My first thought was, "that's not a good thing on a $400 knife", my second thought was, "I wonder if my PXL is the same way". The PXL is 100% rock solid in the same area.
Titanium is known for it's light weight, flexibility, and memory (i.e. flex/bend it and it comes back to original shape) so this may be a trade off for weight reduction and doesn't necessarily mean the knife isn't tough.
You can see the gaps created when you squeeze the liner on the right hand side of the photo below.
The Rest Of The Review:
With the exception of the Lachesis having a slightly longer handle, dimensions on both knives are very similar. The PXL is heavier by about 1.75 oz., but in the hand it feels heavier and considerably more solid than the difference would suggest. Both knives are very comfortable in the hand and the handles are large enough to get a full grip with all fingers, even with larger hands like mine.
The grip style on the Lachesis forces your hand further back on the handle away from the blade with your thumb on the bolster, you can choke up on it and grip onto the bolster allowing your thumb to rest on top the blade, but the rear edge of the blade comes to a point and it digs into your index finger in this position. The PXL grip style allows both a full forward grip with thumb on top the blade, or back a bit with thumb on the bolster, The rearward grip postion leaves my pinky finger half on / half off the rear of the handle.
Both knives sport Micarta scales. The PXL has a very smooth shiny finish, the scales on the Lachesis are textured a bit with a flat finish, but are not as grippy as they appear. Dry there doesn't seem to be much difference in grip between the two. One thing I noticed, while photographing the knives. It was snowing off and on, and as the snow melted, the water tended to absorb into the scales on the Lachesis, while it beaded and sat on the surface of the PXL. This would suggest the PXL scales are sealed better. Not sure if this is good, bad, or indifferent. If moisture absorbs into the scales on the Lachesis, this may give it a grip advantage in wet conditions, however the well sealed scales on the PXL are likely easier to clean and less likely to stain.
Lachesis has a longer handle, but overall dimensions are similar:
Blade Steel: I'm not going into an in depth discussion as to which is the better blade steel, The Lachesis is BG-42 and the PXL is 3G laminate. Both are considered "super" steels, and without putting them through their paces in the real world, discussion by me is futile. Suffice it to say both knives have high quality blades that should perform well.
Both knives lock up very solid with no discernable blade play out of the box. The PXL is considerably smoother operating (again, out of the box, with no pivot adjustments)
The liners on both knives are, for all intents and purposes, the same thickness, so the main difference is material. As discussed above, the Titanium liners on the Lachesis are more flexible than the Stainless Steel liners on the PXL, however they are a contributing factor to the lighter weight, both materials are highly corrosion resistant and should perform well. Both knives are open liner design which will make cleaning easier.
The Liner locks on both knives seem solid, Bolsters are titanium on the Lachesis, Stainless Steel on the PXL, not sure what more needs to be said.
Detail of the Liner Locks, Bolsters, and Pocket Clips:
I'm not a fan of pocket clips and remove them from my EDC's, but I know many knuts like them so I checked them out as best you can in 5 minutes or less. The PXL has a stainless steel pocket clip that is fairly short but has a high profile. It allows for tip down carry and cannot be switched to the opposite side of the handle. It is fairly stiff, holds the knife securely and has an authoritative snap when it comes over the pocket seam on removal. Despite the high profile it is not overly noticable under your hand. The short design means it is only under your forward most finger and is fairly well designed to be unobtrusive and fits the natural grip of your hand on the knife, even works pretty well for left hand grip, in fact maybe even better.
The Lachesis has what appears to be a Titanium clip, but I haven't been able to confirm that 100% for certain. It is longer than the clip on the PXL but has a much lower profile. It is not as stiff as the PXL and slips in and out of the pocket a bit easier. It seems to hold the knife securely. It allows for tip down carry and cannot be switched to the opposite side of the handle. The clip is designed to work well with the natural grip of your hand on the handle but I found it a bit more noticable than the PXL clip because it's longer length means it is contacting more of your hand. It does not work nearly as well as the PXL clip for left hand grip.
Blade Spine and Thumb Stud Detail:
The Final Say:
Well here's my opinion, and it is only an opinion so take it for what it is worth.
Based on value for the $$ the PXL is the clear winner in my mind, at approx. half the cost of the Lachesis it is a solid well built folder with excellent fit and finish, high end blade steel, smooth blade deployment, and a functional pocket clip..
This is not to say the Lachesis isn't a great knife in it's own right, and for some, the lighter weight and slimmer profile may make it a preferable pocket carry for a larger folder.
Which is the best knife? Without several years of real world use to allow one to prove itself out over the other, I will reserve judgement on that one.
These are both nice knives with their own individual appeal.
Kevin
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