Knife Review: Boker Plus Federal Flipper Knife

The Boker Plus Federal Flipper Knife

A huge chestnut tree towering above the small Boker hardware factory in the 17^th century is the oldest traceable fact about the Boker family. Apparently Boker tools were very successful on the markets, as they were ranked among the leading manufactured goods in Germany and neighboring countries hundred years later on.

Due to rising demand in a politically restless era Hermann and Robert Boker decided to start with the production of sabers in 1829. Inventories of September 1830 had already proven a weekly production of 2000 pieces made by 64 smiths, 47 grinders and a large number of workers and trainees. With a permanently growing product line of tools and cutlery and the great opportunities of global sales, the family saw the need to distribute the tasks to make the best use of their interests. So, Hermann Boker emigrated to found Boker & Co. in New York, whereas the younger Robert established his company in Canada and in 1865 a branch in Mexico, being the market leaders under the name of Casa Boker until today.

Heinrich only crossed the river Wupper to go to Solingen, where the German cutlery industry was booming. Together with the well-known cutlery expert Hermann Heuser he founded Heinr. Boker & Co. in 1869.

The relationship between the two Boker companies has always been very friendly. Heinrich was allowed to take the tree brand with him across the river without any troubles or payments. Since then not a single product has left the Solingen factory without this sign. After over 100 years of existence the venerable tree was cut down by a stroke of lightning in 1925. A gifted artist carved an image of the majestic tree into a piece of original trunk which adorns the CEO´s office in Solingen.

The US market quickly became Boker`s most important sales territory. In 1900 most of the production was shipped to the US and H. Boker & Co. in New York was more and more concentrating on products from the Solingen production. The demand for pocket-knives soon beats that for other products like scissors or razors. The demand on the products increased faster than the production capacities in Solingen, so the Bokers from New York decided to start their own pocket-knife production to which pliers were added later on. Because of the tree-brand being well established by then and the good understanding within the international Boker family, there wasn´t any problem to get permission from Solingen to use the tree-brand for American made products as well. Since then there have been two different product lines of Boker knives on the US market with identical logos and sometimes even identical item numbers; one product line Made in USA, the other product line Made in Solingen, only to be differentiated by the markings "Boker USA" or "H. Boker Improved Cutlery Solingen".

Today we will be discussing the Boker Plus Federal Flipper knife, which is currently available at BladeOps.

Boker Plus:

When Boker is describing this line of knives, they say, “In close cooperation with international acknowledged experts from military, police and security we developed and test tactical knives for the professional user. Boker Plus knives are innovative in terms of function and design, as well as guaranteed for everyday use. Conception, design and construction are carried out in Solingen, and production takes place in Europe, the USA and Asia.” This means that any tactical knife in this line, such as the Federal, is going to be a high-end knife designed to keep you safe.

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of 440C steel. This is a tough steel that is relatively corrosion resistant. It is also a martensitic steel that maintains a good edge. For a long while, this was the steel that was most wanted. However, now that super steels and higher end steels are coming out, not as many people are after 440C steel. It does still give people almost everything they want out of a steel. This steel is often compared to 154CM, although it is the inferior steel. The microstructure of 440C is not as fine and uniform as 154CM, which means that the edge is not going to maintain itself as well, you are not going to get as fine of an edge, and it may result in some chipping. That being said, it is easier to work with than 154CM, so it is favored in that manner.

The blade has been finished satin, which is a very common blade finish in today’s knife age. The finish is created when the manufacturer repeatedly sands the blade in one direction with an increasing level of a fine abrasive. The finish showcases the bevels of the blade as well as the fine lines of the steel. The finish gives the blade a very traditional look as well as cuts down on glares, reflections, and even increases the corrosion resistance of the knife.

The blade has been carved into a traditional drop point blade shape. This blade shape is made with a spine that slowly curves from the handle to the point. This gentle slope does create a point that is lowered, meaning the axis of the point is not in line with the center of the blade. The benefit of having a lowered point is that it is going to give you more control over your cuts and slices. This means that you will be able to perform fine detail work with the Boker Plus Federal.

The other distinguishing feature about the point is that it is a broader point, which is where the strength of the blade comes from. This blade shape is known for the strength and durability. The point does have excess metal near the tip, which is what makes it broader. This means that it will be able to withstand repeated piercing or being used on harder objects without breaking.

Even though the drop point is known for how high quality it is, the blade shape does have one drawback. And it includes the broadness of the point. Because it is a wider point, you are not going to have as much piercing capability as you would if it were a finer point. Normally this is not a big enough disadvantage to turn people away from the blade shape. You do have to remember how much extra strength you get from having such a broad tip.

The last major advantage of this blade shape is that it has a large belly. It is the large belly and excess surface area that is going to let you excel at slicing.

Since the Boker Federal is a tactical knife, you are never going to know what might come your way. That’s the best thing about the drop point blade shape—it prepares you for anything. You can easily slice with it, it is strong, tough, and durable, which makes it incredibly versatile. The drop point blade shape really does equip you for anything that may come your way.

The Handle:

The handle scales are made out of titanium. Titanium is known as a low-density metal, which simply means that it is going to give you some serious heft for not a lot of weight. Of course, many people think of titanium as aluminums better sibling, which is true. When compared to aluminum, titanium is going to feel quite a bit heavier, but in the grand scheme of things, it really does not have that much weight to it.

Titanium is also tough and strong. It is durable and you will easily be able to rely on this knife when using. The last great benefit is that it does actually feel warm to the touch. While not everyone will need this benefit, if you are planning on using it in colder environments, this can be a major advantage.

The handles do have carbon fiber inlays. These inlays have an even weave that adds to the aesthetic of this Boker knife. The carbon fiber is also going to provide more texture, because titanium does not offer as much texture as many people desire. The titanium is a dark grey, with the carbon fiber being an even darker gray.

The handle itself is relatively edgy. The spien angles upward to about halfway up the handle before angling downward toward the butt. The butt is tapered and squared off. The belly does have a finger guard that is greatly enhanced by the flipper when the blade is opened. There is a slight finger groove for some comfort, but then the handle angles down and out toward the butt. Near the butt, there are a series of grooves designed to give you more texture with the titanium portion of the knife.

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip is one of the many unique features of this Boker knife. It is a “hidden” pocket clip that is only revealed when you separate the two handle scale parts on either side. This allows the handle to look much sleeker, but still give you the benefit of actually having a pocket clip. Because it is “hidden” it does perfectly match the handle scales. But the knife can only be carried tip up, which is the more dangerous of the two ways to carry a knife. This is because if the blade is accidentally deployed, you would not be able to safely reach into your pocket. However, Boker knives are designed with movement and safety in mind, so this should not become a problem for you.

The Mechanism:

This is a manual knife that has been equipped with a large flipper. Because this is a manual knife, it is going to be legal in more states and cities than an automatic knife. However, you do still need to know your local knife laws before purchasing this knife and especially before carrying the knife. While the manual knife is going to be legal in more areas, it is also not going to be as smooth or as quick to bring into play.

The flipper that has been integrated on this pocketknife is much wider than your typical flipper. It also does not sport as triangular of a flipper as you would normally see, instead, it is flat and blocky. The biggest benefit of a flipper is that it is ambidextrous friendly, because it can be accessed from either side of the knife. Plus, once the knife has been opened, the flipper is going to greatly enhance the finger guard, because that is where it ends up resting.

To use a flipper, you are going to pull back on it. It will be protruding out of the spien of the knife when the blade is in closed position. This will swing the blade open and lock it into place, ready for use. Also, while using the flipper, it never puts your fingers in the path of the blade, which does create a safe opening mechanism.

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 3.25 incehs long, with a handle that measures in at 4.625 inches long. This creates an overall length of 7.875 when the blade on the Federal has been deployed. This is a fairly standard length for a tactical pocketknife. It is a heavier one, due to the high quality and durable materials that were used. It weighs in at 4.9 ounces, which while heavier, still fits in the sweet spot for an EDC’s weight.

Conclusion:

This flipper model features titanium handle scales complete with carbon fiber inlays and a modified drop point style blade in a satin finish.

Gustavo Cecchini is in a class all of his own when it comes to designing knives. The highlight of this knife includes a "hidden" pocket clip that is revealed when you separate the 2 handle scale parts on either side. Enjoy elegance, simplicity and a future-forward aesthetics with the Boker Federal.

This Boker is currently available at BladeOps. You can secure yours today by click here.