Joker’s Wild Cupid Clone OTF Automatic Knife Review

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of 440 stainless steel. There are a couple formulas when it comes to 440 stainless steel, coming in at A, B, and C. 440C stainless steel is a high quality steel, so manufacturers often specify that the blade is made out of level C. If the steel is just stamped with a 440 and no level, you can easily assume that it is B or A. While we don’t know which level this blade is made out of, there are a few characteristics that each level sports. For starters, each formula of steel is a high-carbon martensitic cutlery grade of stainless steel. B is inferior to C in edge retention and edge sharpness, and is not as good a choice as a premium steel. However, B is more ductile than C and less brittle. B is easier to machine and easier to sharpen as well, making it a cheaper blade steel for production purposes. Each version of this steel takes a very fine edge and when treated properly, it will be able to shave your arm hairs off. Level A of 440 stainless steel is actually more corrosion resistant and tougher than B and C. A and B are rarely used by custom knife makers and is usually only used by production knife companies. When it comes down to it, A and B are actually identical aside from their carbon content, where B has more. Because it is a stainless steel blade, you can expect maintenance to me low. However, because it is a lower quality steel, you will need to make sure that the blade is clean and dry before pulling it back into the handle. The biggest advantage 440 stainless steel offers is that it is inexpensive but still provides enough heft to really take on your day to day tasks.

The blade on this version of the Joker has been finished with a bead blasted finish. The blasted finish is created by using abrasive glass beads that are blasted at the steel at a high pressure, which results in an even grey finish. A blasted finish reduces reflection and glare due to its even matte surface. The blasting creates an increased surface area and micro abrasions make the steel more prone to rust and corrosion. A blasted blade, even form stainless steel, can rust overnight if left in a very humid environment.

The blade has been carved into a dagger style blade. In essence, the dagger style blade is the opposite of a sheepsfoot blade. While the sheepsfoot blade has no point, the dagger, or needle point, is all about the point. This blade style is made up of a double edged blade that has a primary purpose of piercing and stabbing. This style of blade is composed of two symmetrical sharpened blades that taper to a very thin sharp point, which pierces easily into soft targets. The two sharp edges reduce the profile of the knife and let it cut in on both sides equally. The dagger style blade is a favorite when it comes to self-defense, especially when it comes to close combat self-defense. Of course, there are always disadvantages to a blade style. In the case of a dagger style blade, there are two major disadvantages’ The first one is that the blade does lack a belly which means that it is not good for slicing or slashing. The second is that because the tip is sharp and thin, it is weak and does have a tendency to break when used on hard targets. This blade style is not designed to be an all-purpose knife, but when it comes to piercing, it will be the star of the show.

The blade is dual combo edged. This means that both sides of the dagger knife is sharpened. And it also means that three quarters of each side of the blade is plain edged and the other quarter is serrated. The big selling point on a combo edge is that you get the best of both worlds; you can perform fine tip work with the plain edged portion. The plain edged portion is also going to give you clean cuts and will be easier to sharpen. The serrated portion will be able to saw through thicker materials and stay sharper for longer. The biggest complain when it comes to combo edges is that neither portion is large enough that you can really benefit from either.

The middle of the blade has been carved out to cut down on weight.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of aluminum. Aluminum is a very low-density metal that is often used in knife making. In knife making, it is usually just used in the knife handles because it is a soft metal. Most knives use a type of aluminum alloy called T6-6061, which means the type of aluminum is 6061 and it is T6 tempered. T6-6061 aluminum has one of the highest yield and tensile strengths of all aluminum alloys. T6-6061 is used extensively in aircraft, and is often referred to as aircraft aluminum, but this is seen as a gimmick.

Aluminum alloy is cheaper to machine and produce than Titanium, and is lighter, weaker, and less resistant to wear. For the most part, Aluminum is an inferior metal to Titanium aside from its lightness. However, when producing complex knives that require a large amount of CNC machining, such as the case with automatic knives, like this one, aluminum is much cheaper to produce and the material costs less.

The handle has been anodized black. According to anodizing.org, anodizing is, “an electrochemical process that convert the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish. Aluminum is ideally suited to anodizing, although other nonferrous metals, such as magnesium and titanium, also can be anodized. The anodic oxide structure originates from the aluminum substrate and is composed entirely of aluminum oxide. This aluminum oxide is not applied to the surface like paint or plating, but is fully integrated with the underlying aluminum substrate, so it cannot chip or peel. It has a highly ordered, porous structure that allows for secondary processes such as coloring and sealing.” The anodizing process is created by placing the aluminum handle into an acid electrolyte bath and passing an electric current through the medium. A cathode is mounted to the inside of the anodizing tank; the aluminum acts as an anode, so that oxygen ions are released from the electrolyte to combine with the aluminum atoms at the surface of the part being anodized. This means that anodizing is technically a matter of highly controlled oxidation, “the enhancement of a naturally occurring phenomenon.”

The handle is shaped into an arrow-shape, which is why it is called the Cupid Clone. To create texture, there are grooves carved into the face of the handle. To add character, near the top of the handle, there are three arrow shaped grooves. Because the butt of the handle flares out, the user is going to have a more secure grip on this knife during use.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this knife is designed for tip down carry only on the traditional side of the handle. This is a drawback, because it means that the knife is not ambidextrous. The clip is stainless steel and is kept in place by two screws. The pocket clip on this knife is stainless steel.

 

The Mechanism:

This is an out-the-front automatic knife. An out-the-front knife is also known as an OTF knife, which is a pocket knife with a blade that opens and closes through a hole in one end of the handle. This is different than your typical pocket knife that has a blade that folds into the side of the handle. OTF only refers to the basic portion of the knife’s mechanical operation where the blade slides parallel with the handle to deploy. With an OTF knife, it can be subdivided into manual OTF knives or automatic OTF knives. This particular Joker is an automatic OTF knife. Because it is an automatic knife, you need to be aware of the strict laws in the United States that apply. Automatic knives are not legal in all states, cities, or areas. It is your responsibility, as the user, to know your local knife laws. BladeOps is not responsible.

An automatic OTF knife blade travels within an internal track or channel in the same manner as a manual slider or gravity knife. However, because of the automatic main spring drive and button mechanism enclosed within, the handle needs to be thicker or longer than a similar size gravity or sliding knife.

This is a single action knife, which means that you can deploy the blade with the button, but to retract the knife, you have to do it manually.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this Joker knife measures in at 3.3 inches long, with a handle that measures in at 5.1 inches long. When this version of the Joker Automatic knife is opened, it measures in at 8.4 inches long. This knife weighs 4 ounces, which is a good weight for your everyday carry knife.

 

The Pros of the Wild Cupid Clone:

• The steel will be able to get a fine edge and keep it for long periods of time.
• Because it is a stainless steel, you can expect maintenance to be low.
• The steel is very inexpensive, but can still hold its own when it comes to your everyday tasks.
• Even, matte finish means there are no reflections and glares.
• The blade has a thin and sharp point that is ideal for piercing into soft targets.
• The plain edged portion will let you perform fine detail work and is easy to sharpen.
• The serrated portion will be able to saw through thicker materials and stay sharp for longer.
• Anodized handle adds durability, strength, and corrosion resistance.
• The black color won’t scratch off because the anodization has become a part of the handle, instead of being applied like a paint.
• Automatic knife can be deployed quicker and more efficiently.
• The automatic knife can be brought into play easily.
• You can deploy the blade with only one hand.

 

The Cons of the Wild Cupid Clone:

• The steel is lower quality, so it will rust if it has not been dried before pulling it back into its handle.
• The blade is more prone to rusting and corrosion because of the micro abrasions.
• The blade does have a weak point that can break on hard targets.
• The dagger style blade does not have a cutting edge, which means that you cannot slice with this knife.
• The combo edge might not offer the best of both worlds, because neither portion is large enough to really utilize.
• The pocket clip can only be attached in one way, which means that it is not ambidextrous.
• The pocket clip is not a deep-carry pocket clip.
• Because it is an automatic knife, it is not legal in all states, cities, or areas.
• This is only a single action OTF knife, which means you cannot retract the blade automatically.

 

Conclusion:

The Joker’s Wild Cupid Clone automatic knife is a single-action out the front knife that closely resembles that of the Dalton Cupid model which The Joker was seen wielding in the iconic Batman movie. A single action out the front knife by definition means that the blade is automatically deployed with the push of a button and then is manually retracted with a lever feature–in this case found on the side of the handle. This wildly popular knife showcases amazing construction and a lockup that is as solid as knives even 10 times the price. This model features a black handle, a dagger style blade that is partly serrated on both sides and a pocket clip that is designed for tip down carry only. Pick up the Joker’s Wild Cupid Clone at BladeOps.