Wasp Out the Front Knife Review

The Blade:

There are four different versions of this knife, but the differing characteristic is their handles, not the blade. Each of the four blades are the same. Each of them are made out of 440 stainless steel. 440 stainless steel is an interesting label, because there are actually three different levels of 440 stainless steel. There is 440A, 440B, and 440C. The further down the alphabet they get; the higher quality the steel is. In fact, 440C is such a high quality stainless steel that many manufacturers have changed the name of 440C to decipher and show that it is in fact, a high quality steel. The issue with identifying which level the steel is comes into play when manufactures only stamp 440 on the steel, instead of saying which level of steel it is. If this is the case, like with this OTF, you can assume that it is not a 440C stainless steel. While we cannot tell which level of 440 stainless steel this blade is made out of, there are a few characteristic that each carries. For starters, each of the levels of is considered truly stainless, which means that the maintenance time will be significantly reduced. A common misconception about stainless steel is that it cannot rust or corrode. This is not the case. It is just less prone to rusting. You will need to make sure that the blade is dry before pulling it back into the handle, and you will need to oil it occasionally. Next, 440A and 440B are relatively inexpensive for the quality of steel that you get. Unfortunately, these steels do not have high wear resistance. This means that the blade is not going to withstand high use or force; the steel will be able to withstand the day-to-day wear. Overall, this steel gives you a high quality of steel for a low cost. 440 stainless steel is a good option for this knife.

The blade on each of the four versions of this knife have been finished with a black coating. The coating offers a few major benefits, the biggest being how well it increases the corrosion resistance of the blade. This is because it forms a barrier between the blade and the environment, which cuts down on the chemical reactions that cause rusting. The next advantage is that it cuts down on all reflections and glares. This is ideal if you are ever trying to discreetly use the blade, or even if you are just working with it outside on a sunny day. Lastly, the coating provides a very sleek, black look to these knives. One of the only disadvantages to finishing your blade with a coating is that coatings can and do scratch off after long periods of use or even just really heavy use. Once the coating does scratch off, if you want the blade to stay protected, you are going to have to re-coat the blade.

The blade on this knife has been carved into a dagger blade style. The dagger blade style is also known as the needle point blade. This style of blade is known and designed to be all about the point. This means that if what you are doing does not involve stabbing, it is to going to be super successful at it. The blade is designed with two symmetrical sharpened blades that taper to a very thin, sharp point, which can pierce and stab with ease. The sharp edges reduce the profile of the knife and let it cut in on both sides equally. Because of this design and these characteristics, this OTF knife is going to be great for self-defense, even if you are in a close combat situation. The dagger style knives are especially popular among military and police personnel because of their ability to be easily concealed and easily withdrawn from their sheaths. Unfortunately, the dagger style blade does have a couple of disadvantages to it. For starters, the edges are straight, and the blade is lacking a belly. This means that it is not going to be capable of slicing well. The other major disadvantage to the dagger style blade is that because the tip is very sharp and gets so thin at the very tip, this blade is going to be prone to breaking when you are using this on harder targets. While this blade is not a very good all-purpose blade style, it is going to be one of your best bets if you ever need to pierce into something.

The edges on this knife are plain edged. These plain edges will give you cleaner cuts, let you take on a wider variety of tasks, and you can get a very fine edge on the blade. The plain edge is also going to prove to be much easier to sharpen because you don’t have to worry about the teeth. And, because of the 440 steel, this knife will be a total breeze to sharpen.

The Handle:

The handles on each of the knives are made out of aluminum. Aluminum is a very low-density metal that is often used in knife making. This material is also very corrosion resistant. Since it is a soft metal; this material is primarily used in knife handles instead of the blades. 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,” this is sometimes seen as a gimmick, kind of like “surgical steel.” Aluminum is also cheaper to machine and produce than Titanium, and is lighter, weaker, and less resistant to wear. For the most part, Aluminum is the 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 the Wasp OTF knife, aluminum is much cheaper to produce and the material costs less.

Like previously mentioned, aluminum is a very durable material for knife handles that is low density but still provides for a nice, hefty feel to the knife without weighing the knife down. This is a major advantage because you want to feel like your knife can back you up, but you don’t want to remember that you’re carrying a knife all day because of how much it weighs.

When an aluminum handle is correctly texturized, it does provide a pretty secure grip that is also comfortable, even if you are using it for long periods of time. On the flip side, aluminum also has high conductive properties, which means that if you were planning to use this knife in the winter months, it is going to be uncomfortably cold in your hand.

The handles have all been anodized, which adds additional strength, durability, and corrosion resistance to the aluminum. Because the anodization process actually changes the construction of the metal, instead of being applied onto it, the color is not going to scratch off. There are four different colors of handles that you can choose from with this knife design. You have black, green, gold, or red.

The handle is mostly rectangular, although it does curve inwards towards the middle of the handle. This lets you have a more secure and more comfortable grip when using this knife. One the butt of the handle, there is a lanyard hole, which is perfect for keeping your knife close by you, without it getting in the way. If you apply a lanyard to your knife, you can be more efficient when removing the knife from your pocket.

The Mechanism:

This is an automatic, double action, OTF knife. An OTF knife is a pocket knife with a blade that opens and closes through a hole in one end 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. An automatic OTF knife blade travels within an internal track or channel in the same manner as a manual slider or gravity knife. But the automatic main spring drive and button mechanism enclosed within requires a switchblade handle to be thicker or longer than a similar size gravity or sliding knife. This is a double action OTF knife, which means that it deploys and retracts with a multifunction slide lever and spring design.

Because it is an automatic knife, you need to be aware that it will not be legal in all states, cities, or areas to own, carry, or use. It is your responsibility as the user to know your local knife laws. BladeOps is not responsible. Because it is an automatic knife, it is going to open more efficiently and easier than if it were a manual knife.

The Specs:

When this knife is opened, it measures in at 5 3/16 inches long. When the knife is closed it measures in at 3 3/16 inches long. The blade on the Wasp OTF knife measures in at 1 15/16 inches. This knife is extremely lightweight because of the small size of the knife and the lightweight materials used, weighing in at only 1 ounce. The super lightweight knife allows you to have it with you at all times, without even noticing that it is with you. This prepares you for any self-defense situation when you need a knife and you need it quick.

The Pros of the Wasp Out the Front:

• The blade has high corrosion and stain resistance.
• The blade is inexpensive, keeping the overall cost of the knife down.
• This is a fully stainless steel, so maintenance is low.
• The coating prolongs the life of the blade.
• The coating reduces reflections and glares, while also cutting down on wear.
• The coating provides a very sleek aesthetic to the blade.
• The dagger style blade has a very sharp point that is perfect for piercing.
• Plain edged.
• Aluminum is strong, light, durable, and resistant to corrosion.
• Anodized handle provides additional durability, strength, and corrosion resistance—all prolonging the life of the blade.
• You have multiple colors to choose from when it comes to this knife.
• There is a lanyard hole on this knife.
• The handle will be comfortable to hold because of the ergonomics.
• Automatic knife is going to open quicker and more efficiently than a manual knife.
• This is a double-action OTF.

The Cons of the Wasp Out the Front:

• 440 stainless steel does not have high wear resistance.
• The black coating is going to scratch off after time.
• The dagger style blade does not have a belly, which means that it is not going to be an all-purpose knife.
• The dagger style blade does have a weak tip that can break if subjected to hard materials.
• Aluminum is cold to hold, can be a little slippery, and is prone to being scratched.
• Because it is an automatic knife, it is not going to be legal to own, carry, or use in all states, cities, or areas of the US.

Conclusion:

The Wasp Out the Front knife features a double action dagger blade with a black finish. The 440 steel is rust and corrosion resistant, while also proving to be very inexpensive. . The steel gives you all the qualities that you want from a knife, without the high cost that people have come to expect. The coating on the blade works to prolong the life of this knife, creating a very trustworthy blade that you can have with you at all times. The dagger style blade excels at stabbing through soft materials, which makes this Wasp OTF knife a great option for your go-to self-defense knife. This small OTF auto boasts solid action and a size that is ideal for pocket carry. The slide trigger sits on the front scale; it opens and retracts the blade. Pick up your favorite version of this knife today at BladeOps.