Duck Faux Stag Mini Stiletto Automatic Knife Review

 

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of stainless steel. For the most part, a blade is either made out of stainless steel or out of a high carbon steel. Because this automatic knife is made out of a stainless steel, we are going to focus on the pros and cons of having a stainless steel knife blade. For starters, stainless steel blades usually have at least a 12 percent chromium level, which works to accomplish two things for the blade: it makes the blade better able to resist wear and it makes the blade a lot more corrosion resistant. Unfortunately, stainless steel is going to be softer than a high carbon blade. Because it is softer, the blade is going to be easier to sharpen, but it is also going to lose its edge faster than a high carbon blade would. In terms of durability, stainless steel knife blades are usually tougher than high carbon steels. Often times, they are not harder than a high carbon blade. Also, stainless steel blades are not going to rust, chip, or even stain easily. There is a common misconception that because a stainless steel is never going to rust. This is an incorrect assumption; stainless steels just have a higher resistance to rusting. You will still need to make sure that this blade is dry after each use, and to fully maintain its quality, you will need to oil the blade every once in a while. In terms of appearance, stainless steel blades look good for a very long time. When being compared to a high carbon steel, stainless steels take less time to maintain and keep their look intact a little bit better.

The blade has been finished satin, which is the most popular blade finish in the cutlery industry today. This finish is also very traditional, because the luster levels are pretty close to being right in the middle. Because of this, you are able to find more reflective blades and less reflective blades, but you don’t have to worry about this classy knife ever going out of style. The finish is created by repeatedly sanding the blade in one direction with increasing levels of a fine abrasive. This finish is designed and used to show off the bevels of the blade as well as showcasing the fine lines in the steel. In terms of how the finish is created, the finer the abrasive that is used and the more even the lines are, the cleaner the finish is going to look. This finish also helps increase the corrosion resistance slightly.

The blade on this stiletto knife has been carved into a clip point style blade. The clip point, along with the drop point, is one of the two most popular blade shapes that can be found on the market. The clip point blade is similar to the drop point in terms of how versatile it is; this blade style is considered an all-purpose blade shape. The form of the knife is created by having the unsharpened edge of the knife run straight from the handle and then stop about halfway up the knife. At this point, it turns and continues to the point of the knife. This section starting when turns is known as the clip, which is where the blade shape got its name. The clip on this knife is curved and looks as if this portion from the spine to the point has actually been clipped away. Because of the clip, the point on this knife is lowered, which helps provide you with more control when you are using this knife. The clip point blade shape is also known to be exceptional at stabbing, and this is because the tip is controllable, sharp, and thinner at the spine. These characteristics lend well to quicker stabbing with less drag during insertion and faster withdrawal. The characteristic of this knife that makes it such a versatile knife is the large belly that it boasts. This belly allows you to slice with ease, which is the most common task that you will be performing throughout the day. The clip point blade shape really only has one disadvantage, and that is because the point on the clip point blade is narrow and sharp, it does have the tendency to be weak is prone to breaking or snapping off. This narrow tip is also the characteristic of the clip point blade style that separates it form the drop point blade style. While both of these popular blade shapes are all-purpose and feature a lowered point, the clip point has a narrow tip and the drop point has a broad tip. This means that while the droop point blade style does offer you more strength, it also takes away all of your stabbing capabilities. And on the other hand, while the clip point is able to stab and pierce with ease, it is prone to breaking.

The Duck Faux Stag Mini Stiletto does have a plain edge that equips you to take on a wider variety of tasks. The plain edge will also give you cleaner cuts and will be easier to sharpen than a serrated edge.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife has been made out of acrylic to look like faux stag horn. According to fibersource.com, an acrylic is a manufactured fiber in which the fiber forming substance is any long-chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of acrylonitrile units. Acrylic fibers are produced form acrylonitrile, which is a petrochemical. The acrylonitrile is usually combine with small amounts of other chemicals to improve the ability of the resulting fiber to absorb dyes. Some of the positive characteristics of acrylic is that they repel water exceptionally well. An acrylic is also quick drying to move moisture from the surface of this handle. Plus, the color should not fade in the sunlight like some plastics might.

The liners and bolsters on this knife are made out of stainless steel. Stainless steel is a great material for the liners because they have excellent durability and high resistance to corrosion. One of the drawbacks to stainless steel is that it is a relatively heavy material. But since it is only the bolsters and liners that are made out of stainless steel, it won’t weigh your knife down, and instead, it will add just enough heft that you can feel confident in the weight backing you when you are performing your day to day tasks.

The handle is pretty rectangular, with the butt flaring out for added control over this knife. There are two finger guards that jut out from either side of the top of the handle, which protects your fingers from getting cut if you slip. The two finger guards also are a classic characteristic of the stiletto style knife.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this knife is only designed for tip up carry on the traditional side of the handle. The pocket clip on this knife is super skinny and is kept in place by two silver screws that match the rest of the hardware on this knife. The pocket clip has been stonewashed, which gives it a very rugged, well-worn look. The look of the pocket clip goes perfectly with the faux stag handle. With the length of the pocket clip and the small size of the handle, this knife will be easily concealable in your pocket.

 

The Mechanism:

This is an automatic knife that features a push button opener and a plunge lock mechanism.

Because this is an automatic knife, it does fall under the strict set of laws that surround automatic knives in the United States of America. These strict laws state that automatic knives are not legal in all states, cities, or areas of the United States. You, as the user, are responsible for knowing your local laws. BladeOps does not take responsibility for any consequences on your part.

An automatic knife is a style of pocket knife that has its blade contained in the handle. The blade is opened automatically by a spring when a button on the handle is activated. The deploying button on this specific knife is silver and stonewashed finish.

The locking mechanism on this knife is a plunge lock, which is the same as a button lock. This style of locking mechanism is often found on automatic knives. This style of lock uses a spring-loaded plunger to hold the knife open. When you press the button, it lines up a notch in the plunger and allows the blade to pivot. Some of the benefits to the plunge lock is that it is incredibly strong and it doesn’t put your fingers in the blade’s path. Plus, this lock is fast and easy to use, as well as being reliable. Unfortunately, this style of locking mechanism is not ambidextrous.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 1.875 inches long, with a handle that measures in at 2.75 inches long. When this stiletto knife is opened, it measures in at an overall length of 4.625 inches long. This knife weighs in at a measly 1.8 ounces, so it will be easy to have with you at all times, without weighing you down in the slightest. This knife was made in China.

 

The Pros of the Duck Faux Stag Mini Stiletto:

• The stainless steel blade is going to resist rust well.
• The blade is going to be easy to sharpen.
• The blade resists wear well.
• Stainless steel blades are tougher than a high carbon blade.
• The blade is not going to rust, chip, or stain easily.
• The satin finish is the most traditional finish, so you know that this knife won’t go out of style.
• The satin finish does increase the corrosion resistance slightly.
• The clip point blade style is versatile and all purpose.
• The clip point blade style has a thin, sharp tip that is perfect for stabbing.
• The clip point blade style has a controllable tip.
• The blade sports a large belly that is ideal for slicing.
• Plain edge lets you take on a wider variety of tasks.
• Small size and lightweight allows you to have this knife on you at all times.
• The acrylic handle is durable and tough.
• Stainless steel liners add enough weight to be confident in your knife, but not enough that it weighs the knife down.
• Plunge lock is very strong, so you don’t have to worry about your knife closing when you are in the middle of using it.
• The plunge lock means that your fingers never have to be in the path of the blade when you are opening it.

 

The Cons of the Duck Faux Stag Mini Stiletto:

• The blade is a little bit softer, which means that you will need to sharpen this blade more often than some others.
• The clip point blade style odes have a weak point because of how sharp and narrow it is.
• The plunge lock is not ambidextrous and neither is the pocket clip, which means this knife is definitely not an ambidextrous friendly knife.
• As an automatic knife, it is not going to be legal in all states, cities, or areas.

 

Conclusion:

The Duck Mini Stiletto automatic knives snap open with a push on the button. This model features stainless steel bolsters, solid steel liners and faux stag handle scales. The plain edge clip point blade is perfect for everyday chores which is why the mini automatic knife makes the perfect novelty gift. The stainless steel blade is corrosion resistant and tough, which means that maintenance time will be a breeze. The satin finish is a traditional finish that goes exceptionally with the faux stag horn handle. This knife comes with a pocket clip that is designed for tip-up carry only. Pick up this perfect everyday carry knife at BladeOps.