Knife Review: Pro-Tech Dark Angel OTF Automatic Knife
Posted by SD on Oct 29th 2020
The Pro-Tech Dark Angel OTF Automatic Knife
Pro-Tech Knives, LLC is a family owned knife company that has been building high quality American Made knives since 1999. Each of their knives is a blend of the finest materials available, mixed with their commitment to craftsmanship. Their knives are always built with the most current high-tech manufacturing process that includes CNC Machining, Wire EDM, and Laser Cutting. The high-tech components are assembled, and hand fit by dedicated and caring craftsmen right in their factory. Yes, that does mean that they are all made in the United States of America!
One of the unique aspects about Pro-Tech is that they manufacture small batches of knives so that they can take the time to individually hand fit and finish each knife to a level that you are rarely going to find in a factory knife. Their production knife models offer the best design, function, and value of any knife that you are going to find on the market today. They even have custom art knives that are individual pieces of art. Each of their custom, limited-edition knives are a showpiece of heirloom quality. But, no matter which of their knives that you choose to purchase, they, and we, are confident that you will be very satisfied with your purchase.
Their collection of knives is always changing. They are always working on new designs form collaboration partners, new variations of classic designs, new inlay materials, Damascus blade choices, and many more.
Today we will be discussing the Pro-Tech Dark Angel OTF automatic knife, with the NIB Battleworn finish, which makes this Dark Angel exclusive to BladeOps.
The Blade:
The blade on this knife is made out of 154CM stainless steel. This steel is made by Crucible Industries, who are known for making high end steels specifically for high end pocket knives, which is one of the reasons that Pro-Tech uses it so often.
This steel is relatively hard and is often considered to be an upgraded version of 440C because Crucible chose to add Molybdenum into the steel matrix. Molybdenum is what helps the blade have such high edge holding, especially compared to 440C. It also helps the steel retain the high levels of corrosion, even though it does have less Chromium, which is what normally prevents corrosion and rusting. This steel does hold its edge well and is not too tricky to sharpen if you do have the correct equipment. That being said, I’m not sure that this is the best steel to start sharpening if you are a beginner. This steel also has relatively good toughness, which is going to allow you to take on most tasks. This is a high-end steel, but it is not a super steel. Other steels are going to beat this steel hands down, but this steel is going to get the job done.
The finish on this version of the Dark Angel is called NIB Battleworn. The Battleworn finish is an exclusive finish to Pro-Tech. BladeOps is the only one who carries this knife, making the Battleworn finish exclusive to BladeOps as well.
This is a darker finish that looks a little bit roughed up. It is similar in style to a milder stonewashed finish. This finish adds the extra finesse to the Dark Angel—it makes it look a little bit harsher and more rugged. The finish is a mixture of a coating and a finish, which means that the coating is going to prolong the life of the blade. It also provides an HRC level of 70+, which means that this blade is going to be tough. Really tough.
The blade has been carved into a dagger point blade, or a needle point blade shape. This adds to the stiletto aesthetic that the Pro-Tech Dark Angel sports. The needle point blade is singed solely for piercing and stabbing. The blade has two edges that rise and fall in a symmetrical pattern that also tapers to a very fine tip. It is this sharp and fine tip that is going to help it easily pierce into soft targets. This blade shape helps to make it a popular option for self-defense, because you can easily pierce things that are close to you.
Of course, like any blade shape, there are some disadvantages. The first is that the blade really doesn’t have a belly, which is commonly used for slicing. This means that the needle point is not going to be a general utility knife, but rather, it is designed for a single purpose. The other major drawback is that because of the fine point if the needle style blade is going to make it more prone to breaking than knives that have a broader tip.
This blade does have a plain edge, which means that it is better equipped to take on a wider variety of tasks. You can also get the blade shaper and finer, because you do not have to worry about the teeth like you would with a serrated blade. The lack of serrations also make it an easier blade to sharpen. However, the lack of serrations also mean that you are not going to be able to saw through some of the thicker materials that you encounter. If you get the blade as sharp as possible, it will better allow you to get through some of the thicker materials, but not as well as you could with the serrated edge. Also, since it will be easier to sharpen, even beginner sharpeners can take on the task of sharpening this exclusive Pro-Tech knife.
The fine edge allows you to take on some of the more detail-oriented tasks with the tip. The middle of the blade has been carved out, which adds to the aesthetic of it as well as cutting down on some weight. Both sides of the blade have been sharpened, which further adds to the ability of the dagger point blade.
The Handle:
The handle on this Pro-Tech is made out of 6061-T6 aluminum. Aluminum is one of the more common handle materials that you are going to come across in the market It is durable and lightweight, while also being inexpensive. Also, aluminum is incredibly corrosion resistant, so it is a rather low maintenance handle.
6061-T6 is the highest quality aluminum alloy, because it does offer the highest tensile yield that you are going to find in an aluminum. This means that it is more durable than a regular aluminum handle. It means that the life of this handle is going to last longer than a regular aluminum handle. It means that this handle is going to be more reliable for when you need it most.
There are a couple of disadvantages to an aluminum handle though. First, aluminum is going to feel incredibly cold in your hand if you lie in a colder environment. Because off this, if you know that you are mostly going to be using your knife in a colder environment, this might not be the one for you. Also, aluminum does not offer as much texture as other ones, meaning you won’t have as secure of a grip. The last thing that is a disadvantage about aluminum is that it is going to be prone to scratches.
All in all, aluminum is a quality material for a quality knife. It is going to be inexpensive, durable, and low-maintenance.
The handle on this Pro-Tech is pretty standard for an OTF knife. It is mostly rectangular. However, on both the spine and the belly, there is a slight curve to it. This is going to make the handle more comfortable as well as give you a better hold on it.
On the front of the handle, there is a slight divot where the release button lies. This adds a bit of texture that will also make it slightly easier to have a grip on when you are using it. That being said, this is an aluminum handle, so using it for tasks that get slippery or messy may not be the best option. The butt of the handle is mostly squared off, but it does have a slight curve to it.
The Pocket Clip:
The pocket clip is a matte black, which does match the handle incredibly well. This creates a look that is sleek and simple, while still having a bit of toughness to it. The pocket clip is not a deep carry clip, although it does have a slight dip near the end that should help it stay more securely put in your pocket. The clip is wider near the top and does taper near the end, which helps to give it a sleek appearance. The clip is slightly skeletonized, which does cut down on weight and add an aesthetic appeal to it.
This clip can only be attached for tip down carry on the traditional side of the handle. This does mean that it is not going to be ambidextrous friendly. However, it is going to have a sleeker appearance to it, because there will not be any drill marks in the handle except for where the clip attaches.
The Mechanism:
This is a single action out-the-front automatic knife. This is an automatic knife, which does mean that it is not going to be legal in all states, cities, or areas of the country. There are a strict set of laws that surround automatic knives in the United States of America. As the user, you are the responsible party for knowing your local knife laws. BladeOps is not responsible.
That being said, there are advantages to it being an automatic knife. The biggest one is that it is going to be the easiest style of knife to bring into play. There will be no fumbling with this as you try to open it—all you have to do is press the button and you are good to go. The knife will be deployed and locked into place.
An out-the-front knife, or an OTF is a pocket knife with a blade that opens and closes through a hole in one end of the handle. This is different than the traditional folding knife, that have a blade that slide out of the side of the handle. This is also different than a fixed blade that does not have a mechanism.
The OTF only refers to the basic portion of the knife’s mechanical operation, which means that the blade slides parallel with the handle when it deploys.
This version is an automatic out the front knife, which means that the knife blade travels within an internal track or channel in the same manner as a manual sliding or OTF knife. However, since the handle has to keep more parts inside of it, the handle has to be longer and thicker than a manual one.
Lastly, this is a single action OTF knife which means that the blade is going ot deploy automatically. However, unlike a double action, the blade must be manually retracted to close it.
The Specs:
The blade on this knife measures in at 3.75 inches long. The overall length of this Pro-Tech measures in at 8.9 inches long when the blade has been deployed, which is a pretty large knife. You can expect some extra weight with the extra length, but since the handle is made out of 6061-T6 aluminum, it only weighs in at 3.6 ounces. This knife was also made in the United States of America, so you can feel proud to own, carry, and use it.
Conclusion:
This exclusive out-the-front model features a black anodized aluminum handle and a dagger style blade in a NIB BATTLEWORN® finish.
The single-action Dark Angel knife is a high-end OTF knife that uses a charging handle to reset the blade. Each knife uses a constant tension spring, so the action is both fluid and uninterrupted. The special blade coating also provides a HRc of 70+.