Professor
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- Joined
- Apr 6, 1999
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DCL Knives Pocket Kwaiken Tabletop Review (Usage Review to Come)
Im not ordinarily a big fan of pocket fixed blades. Typically my rule of thumb is that any knife with a 3.5 or smaller blade should be a folder. Thats until this little number caught my eye. This is a wonderful pocket fixed blade by our own resident knifemaker, Drew with DCL Knives out of South Elgin, IL. Heres a link to the original sale thread with more info, Drews contact info, and great pictures (far better than mine):
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...DCL-Kwaiken-in-Ironwood?highlight=DCL+Kwaiken
This little beauty is 6.5 overall with a 3 blade of Japanese Hitachi #2 blue steel. From the intrawebs on Blue Steels: Blue Steel (Blue #2 and Blue #1... i'll talk about blue super later)- Blue steel is white steel with chromium and tungsten added to it. Blue #2 has the same amount of carbon as white #2 but has the added elements. Same for blue #1 and white #1. The added elements lead to better corrosion resistance and edge retention (as well as deeper hardening). This also comes at the cost of being more difficult to sharpen and not taking quite as keen of an edge. Blue steel also tends to be more brittle (ever so slight). --www.japaneseknifeimports.com
The handle scales are ironwood held together with G-Flex epoxy and three G10/G11 hollow tubes.
Drews Father made the fine brown leather sheath for this one.
Its designed with the clip facing out, and rides deep in the pocket like a dream. I find that the leather lanyard through the rearward tube makes drawing the knife a lot easier, and adds a little purchase to a relatively short handle.
All in all, Im very impressed by this little knife, and after a week of exclusive carry, have changed my thinking about pocket fixed blades. Though a review after more use will follow, it is a keen little cutter with good belly, a sharp tip, and a slicy flat grind. The blade grinds are absolutely perfect, as is the fit and finish of the scales to the blade, and too with the great little pocket sheath.
I would challenge Drew to keep this design in his mix, with different available handle materials, perhaps a little jimping on the blade forward of the scales, and a tapered tang. However, the reality is that it is a sweet little fixed blade as-is, and at the price point, I kinda feel like I stole it from him. 
Drew, the very best to you and your Father, and Ill leave you with a few more shots. Keep grindin em out, as I think youve got a heck of a lot of talent. Im really enjoying this little blade.
Professor.
Im not ordinarily a big fan of pocket fixed blades. Typically my rule of thumb is that any knife with a 3.5 or smaller blade should be a folder. Thats until this little number caught my eye. This is a wonderful pocket fixed blade by our own resident knifemaker, Drew with DCL Knives out of South Elgin, IL. Heres a link to the original sale thread with more info, Drews contact info, and great pictures (far better than mine):
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...DCL-Kwaiken-in-Ironwood?highlight=DCL+Kwaiken
This little beauty is 6.5 overall with a 3 blade of Japanese Hitachi #2 blue steel. From the intrawebs on Blue Steels: Blue Steel (Blue #2 and Blue #1... i'll talk about blue super later)- Blue steel is white steel with chromium and tungsten added to it. Blue #2 has the same amount of carbon as white #2 but has the added elements. Same for blue #1 and white #1. The added elements lead to better corrosion resistance and edge retention (as well as deeper hardening). This also comes at the cost of being more difficult to sharpen and not taking quite as keen of an edge. Blue steel also tends to be more brittle (ever so slight). --www.japaneseknifeimports.com
The handle scales are ironwood held together with G-Flex epoxy and three G10/G11 hollow tubes.
Drews Father made the fine brown leather sheath for this one.
Its designed with the clip facing out, and rides deep in the pocket like a dream. I find that the leather lanyard through the rearward tube makes drawing the knife a lot easier, and adds a little purchase to a relatively short handle.
All in all, Im very impressed by this little knife, and after a week of exclusive carry, have changed my thinking about pocket fixed blades. Though a review after more use will follow, it is a keen little cutter with good belly, a sharp tip, and a slicy flat grind. The blade grinds are absolutely perfect, as is the fit and finish of the scales to the blade, and too with the great little pocket sheath.
I would challenge Drew to keep this design in his mix, with different available handle materials, perhaps a little jimping on the blade forward of the scales, and a tapered tang. However, the reality is that it is a sweet little fixed blade as-is, and at the price point, I kinda feel like I stole it from him. 
Drew, the very best to you and your Father, and Ill leave you with a few more shots. Keep grindin em out, as I think youve got a heck of a lot of talent. Im really enjoying this little blade.
Professor.
