Today I'm reviewing the Leatherman c301 folding knife.
Specifications and Impressions
Handle The handle is glass-reinforced nylon, and is 4" long. There's a slight curve pattern to the handle. It has grooves for your fingers. There are steel liners inside. The handle is held together via four Torx screws, one of which holds the pocket clip on. Overall, this is a pretty comfortable knife to hold on to. No slippage, even with wet hands.
Blade The blade is made of 420HC, and is 2.8" long. It's half serrated, and hollow ground with a bead blast finish. The tip is a drop point. There is a thumb stud on the left side of the blade only (so you can only use the thumb stud with your right hand). There are grooves to use as a thumb ramp. The blade came out of the box pretty sharp, but had a very noticeable burr on one side. After about 10 minutes of messing with it, I got the knife just where it should be. It has held up quite well after being used on cardboard and rope, considering that the steel is 420HC.
Lock, Clip, and Blade Launcher The knife locks open solidly with a linerlock. Surprisigly, there are no grooves on the linerlock like there are on similar knives. There is no blade play at all with this lock. It releases easily, and covers the entire blade when engaged. The pocket clip is mounted on the right side of the knife for carry in your right pocket. Tip down placement only. It is not reversible, but it is removable. It has Leatherman's logo on it, and is held on witha Torx screw. The Blade Launcher system is pretty neat. There are no springs involved; it merely acts as a lever to propel the blade about halfway open. Then you can snap the knife open with your wrist. I've seen people use the Blade Launcher to open the knife without flicking their wrist, but I can't do it. It tears up my fingernails. Still, it's a handy feature to have on a knife. you never have to touch the blade to open the knife.
Overall, I think this is an okay knife for what you pay for it. Twenty-six dollars is good, but I'd change a few things. I'd like the option of a movable pocket clip instead of just the one position, and I'd like an alternative blade steel. I know there are 154CM versions, but an in-between would be nice. Something better than 420HC, but less expensive than 154CM; maybe AUS-8 or something similar. I think that with my $26, I'd rather buy a Kabar Large Dozier Hunter.
Specifications and Impressions
Handle The handle is glass-reinforced nylon, and is 4" long. There's a slight curve pattern to the handle. It has grooves for your fingers. There are steel liners inside. The handle is held together via four Torx screws, one of which holds the pocket clip on. Overall, this is a pretty comfortable knife to hold on to. No slippage, even with wet hands.
Blade The blade is made of 420HC, and is 2.8" long. It's half serrated, and hollow ground with a bead blast finish. The tip is a drop point. There is a thumb stud on the left side of the blade only (so you can only use the thumb stud with your right hand). There are grooves to use as a thumb ramp. The blade came out of the box pretty sharp, but had a very noticeable burr on one side. After about 10 minutes of messing with it, I got the knife just where it should be. It has held up quite well after being used on cardboard and rope, considering that the steel is 420HC.
Lock, Clip, and Blade Launcher The knife locks open solidly with a linerlock. Surprisigly, there are no grooves on the linerlock like there are on similar knives. There is no blade play at all with this lock. It releases easily, and covers the entire blade when engaged. The pocket clip is mounted on the right side of the knife for carry in your right pocket. Tip down placement only. It is not reversible, but it is removable. It has Leatherman's logo on it, and is held on witha Torx screw. The Blade Launcher system is pretty neat. There are no springs involved; it merely acts as a lever to propel the blade about halfway open. Then you can snap the knife open with your wrist. I've seen people use the Blade Launcher to open the knife without flicking their wrist, but I can't do it. It tears up my fingernails. Still, it's a handy feature to have on a knife. you never have to touch the blade to open the knife.
Overall, I think this is an okay knife for what you pay for it. Twenty-six dollars is good, but I'd change a few things. I'd like the option of a movable pocket clip instead of just the one position, and I'd like an alternative blade steel. I know there are 154CM versions, but an in-between would be nice. Something better than 420HC, but less expensive than 154CM; maybe AUS-8 or something similar. I think that with my $26, I'd rather buy a Kabar Large Dozier Hunter.