Knife Review: Pro-Tech Newport Automatic Knife with Digi Camo

The Pro-Tech Newport Automatic Knife with Digi Camo

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 talking about one of the newest arrivals at BladeOps: the newest version of the Pro-Tech Newport automatic knife. This one has an acid washed blade along with a handle that sports a Digi Camo G-10 inlay.

The Blade:

The blade on the Newport is made out of CPM-S35VN steel. This steel is made by Crucible Industries, which is a renowned steel manufacturer. This steel was one of their previous steels that had been upgraded.

Crucible originally created S30V steel, which became an incredibly popular steel in the higher end knife industry. This steel was known as having the perfect balance between edge retention, hardness, and toughness, which is a complicated balance to achieve. This steel was also incredibly corrosion resistant, which left it being lower maintenance.

However, there was one major problem with this steel: it was hard to sharpen. Really, really hard. Crucible was not okay with this flaw in the steel and with the second go-around, they were determined to change it.

To create the CPM-S35VN steel, they started with a finer steel structure. They also added trace amounts of Niobium. Both of these new properties assisted in making the steel easier to sharpen. Now, even more beginner of sharpeners could manage it. Plus, the new steel kept all of the same high qualities that CPM-S30V steel had. Really, with how good the original steel was, you cannot go wrong with this newer steel.

This steel has also undergone Crucible’s CPM process, which they describe when they say, “The CPM process produces very homogeneous, high quality steel characterized by superior dimensional stability, grindability, and toughness compared to steels produced by conventional processes.” Essentially, the CPM process enhances all of the good qualities that the steel already has. It is going to be easier to sharpen and more reliable.

The blade on this version of the Newport has been finished with an Acid Wash. This finish is going to add to the low-maintenance qualities of this Pro-Tech. To create this finish, the steel is first treated to an acid bath. This works to oxidize the steel, which is going to create a darker appearance to it. Then, the steel is finished like a typical stonewash finish. The steel is tumbled with small ceramic pebbles to rough it up. This adds some texture and some textured look to it. The steel is removed, smoothed out, and then polished. This means that the blade itself is smooth, but it looks textured. This textured appearance is going to hide the scratches and smudges that accumulate over time, reducing the time that is going to be needed for maintenance.

Also, the stonewashed finish does cut down on many of the reflections and glares that you would normally have to deal with. This means that if you are using this knife in the field, you won’t have to worry about the “mirror” giving away your position. The acid wash is going to give you the same benefits of a classic stonewash finish, but it is also going to add a more rugged appearance because of the darker color.

The blade has been carved into a classic drop point blade shape. This is the most traditional shape that you are going to come across in the industry. It is known for being tough and versatile, due to the qualities that it sports.

It has a lowered point, which is going to give you more control. This does mean that you will be able to perform some fine detail work when using this knife. It also features a broader tip, although the drop point on this version of the Newport is much finer than you would typically find. This means that it is going to be tough, but you will still have some piercing capabilities. Lastly, it has a large belly which is ideal for slicing with.

The Handle:

The handle on this knife has been made out of 6061-T6 aluminum that has been anodized black. Aluminum is a popular handle material in the cutlery industry, because it is lightweight and pretty durable. Aluminum is known as a low-density metal, which means that it is not going to weigh down the knife. That being said, it is going to provide you with the heft that you need to take on your regular tasks.

Aluminum has a high conduction property, which does mean that in colder environments, this is going to be a colder knife to hold. Also, aluminum does not offer the most grip and texture, which does mean that the handle can be rather slippery in some situations.

Aluminum is tough though—it is going to be able to take on quite a variety of tasks without you having to question it.

This alloy of aluminum is 6061 and it has been T6 processed. This specific alloy of aluminum has the highest yield resistance of any alloy. This means that out of the aluminum handles, this alloy is going to be the toughest strongest, and most durable.

The handle has then been anodized black. Not only does this add a sleek appearance to the handle of the Newport, but it also enhances all of the good qualities that the aluminum already has. The thing about anodization is that it actually chemically changes the surface of the handle. This means that unlike a coating it cannot peel off. That being said, the surface can still be scratched, which would reveal the original aluminum layers underneath it. The anodization process also cuts down on glares and reflections, which creates a unique, matte look to it.

The handle also features a digi camo G-10 inlay. G-10 is a material that has been made out of fiberglass. The manufacturer takes layers of fiberglass cloth, soaks them in resin, compresses them, and finally, bakes them under pressure. This process creates a material that is known to be hard, yet tough, strong, and still lightweight. One of the good things about G-10 is that it is easy to add in texture to the material, which is what it is often known for. Aluminum does not offer as much texture as is normal, so the G-10 inlay is the ideal option. This adds a patch of texture that will allow you to really feel confident while using this knife.

One of the only drawbacks to G-10 is that because all of the fiberglass strands are arranged in a single direction, it does suffer from being brittle.

The shape of the blade is really simple. The spine has a slight curve to it. The bely has a very shallow and elongated finger groove that will add a smidge of comfort to the knife. The butt of the blade tapers down and is rounded. There is not lanyard hole.

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this Pro-Tech is designed for tip-up carry only on the traditional side of the handle. This does mean that it is not going to be super ambidextrous friendly.

The clip has undergone an acid wash, matching the blade and hardware. It is also slightly skeletonized to cut down on weight.

The Mechanism:

This is an automatic knife, which does mean that it is not going to be legal in all states, cities, or areas of the United States. Automatic knives fall under a strict set of laws in the United States. Because of this, it is your responsibility as the purchaser and then as the user to know your local knife laws before purchasing or carrying this knife. BladeOps is not the responsible party.

This is a push button automatic, which means that all you have to do to deploy the blade is push a small button that sits on the front of the handle. The button on this version of the Newport has undergone an acid wash to match the blade and the rest of the hardware on the knife.

There are plenty of advantages to having an automatic knife, but the biggest one is that you will be able to bring it into play quickly and easily. When it comes to crunch time, you do not want to be fumbling with your knife. This will ensure that all you have to do is push down the button and the blade will swing open, lock into place, and be ready for use.

The biggest disadvantage to an automatic knife (other than the legality issues) is that it is a little bit harder to maintain. You have to be more concerned with the innards than you do with any other pocketknife. This is because if pieces of the inside begin to break down, the automatic mechanism may also begin to break down. To take best care of this knife, make sure that the inside is always clean and dry. Occasionally, you may need to take apart your knife to deep-clean the insides, but if you are on top of the rest, you won’t need to do this part.

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 3 inches long with a handle that measures in at 4.125 inches long. This means that the overall length of the knife is going to measure in at 7.12 inches long. This is a slightly smaller than average EDC, with most being between 7.5 and 8 inches long. However, this knife is made with top-notch materials, so you can count on this knife still being able to support all of your tasks. Just because it is slightly smaller than typical does not mean that it does not pack a punch.

The knife weighs in at 3 ounces even, which is barely in the perfect range. The ideal range is between three and five ounces, because it is between those numbers that you have enough heft to support you and help you feel confident, but still aren’t going to be weighed down. As you can see, this Newport falls right at the start of that range. That does mean that this knife is going to be an ideal weight.

This Pro-Tech was proudly made in the United States of America.

Conclusion:

This automatic knife features a black anodized aluminum handle with Digi camo inlay, a drop point style blade in an acid wash finish and the pocket clip is designed for tip up carry only.

The sleek and lightweight Pro-Tech Newport was the winner of the 2013 Blade Magazine Investor/Collector Knife of The Year award and sports an elongated blade shape for plenty of cutting real estate.

To get your hands on the newest version of the phenomenal Newport, click here and order yours today from BladeOps.