Kizer/GTI Assist -"Tactical lite" EDC
Nov 11, 2017 13:42:11 GMT -8
HunterHype, everydaybeer, and 1 more like this
Post by Shorttime on Nov 11, 2017 13:42:11 GMT -8
This is the Kizer Assist, a collaboration with Justin Gingrich. It's a knife I've had my eye on for some time, but the cost was always a little high for me.
Last Sunday, my random Internet luck led me to a reputable supplier where they were on sale for less than half of MSRP.
Yessir.
I have always liked it, because the Assist looks like it would feel a lot like Hinderer's XM, without the Hinderer cost. Now that I've had a chance to get my grubby little paws on it, it does.
It's a marvel of packaging, squeezing a 3” cutting edge into a little bit more space than a mini-Grip. The Batum also has a 3” blade, which will give you some idea of how much variability is possible.
The blade is a little thicker than Benchmade's. High-strength metallurgy is fine, but more steel inspires more confidence.
The bevel grinds are nearly perfect, and out of the box, it almost shaves hair, which is better than I can usually manage on my own.
The logo is crisp, which is not a big deal, but it's a general indication of quality.
The thumb stud looks cheap. I like the knife enough that it doesn't bother me terribly, I would like to see something different, maybe with checkering across the top instead of the smaller knob, and the same color coating as the blade.
I want a different pivot pin. A chain ring bolt, ideally, but I want chain ring bolts for nearly every pivot pin. Still, the Lovejoy coupling looks out of place. I can get a flat blade driver in there if I need to tighten the pivot, so I can live with it.
There is a spring in there, and it rattles when the blade is deployed. Time will tell if I let it in, or not.
Usually, I pull the spring out first thing. This one pivots on washers, so there is some friction to keep the spring from firing the blade too hard. The odd part is that it makes it easier to fold the blade up too, so I'm conflicted about the assist in the Assist.
Lockup is early, but very solid. No blade movement, no lock stick, and the lock is easy to release.
Pocket clips make or break a knife for me. It seems all right for now, but it takes me some time to make up my mind. It's shaped roughly like a Benchmade or Cold Steel clip, so it should be tight enough to keep the knife in place. It's already getting some snail trails on it, and I loves me some wear marks.
Backspacer seams are another detail that I pay attention to. As you can see, they're not perfect, but the gap is even along it's length, and about the same on both sides. Now that I look, the one scale is slightly darker than the other.
I don't know about the glass breaker. It's out of the way, and it doesn't detract from the appearance or function of the knife, so I'll overlook it.
The Assist checks all the boxes for me: sturdy pocket clip, great ergonomics, good flipping action, etc, etc. I like modern folders with tactical design influences, and this one has them, without going too far into the world of Triple Black Oper8tor.
So why do I feel that it isn't quite right?
Part of it is the weight. It's very light, and I have trouble taking a knife seriously, if it doesn't have a certain amount of... inertia.
Part of it is the size. There is an expectation (for me, anyway), that a knife with those tactical cues ought to be able to take on tasks that aren't strictly cutting, and an assumption about the market segment such knives are aimed at, which is belied by the feeling that the Assist is... dainty.
I'm not an expert on hard use knives, I'm just some guy on the Internet, with strong opinions about things, and a willingness to put his foot in his mouth. The Assist is a quality product, and Kizer has paid attention to the details. It will be in my regular rotation because I like the ergonomics, I like how it carries, and I like the “tactical look”.
But it will always feel like it aspires to more than it can deliver.
Last Sunday, my random Internet luck led me to a reputable supplier where they were on sale for less than half of MSRP.
Yessir.
I have always liked it, because the Assist looks like it would feel a lot like Hinderer's XM, without the Hinderer cost. Now that I've had a chance to get my grubby little paws on it, it does.
It's a marvel of packaging, squeezing a 3” cutting edge into a little bit more space than a mini-Grip. The Batum also has a 3” blade, which will give you some idea of how much variability is possible.
The blade is a little thicker than Benchmade's. High-strength metallurgy is fine, but more steel inspires more confidence.
The bevel grinds are nearly perfect, and out of the box, it almost shaves hair, which is better than I can usually manage on my own.
The logo is crisp, which is not a big deal, but it's a general indication of quality.
The thumb stud looks cheap. I like the knife enough that it doesn't bother me terribly, I would like to see something different, maybe with checkering across the top instead of the smaller knob, and the same color coating as the blade.
I want a different pivot pin. A chain ring bolt, ideally, but I want chain ring bolts for nearly every pivot pin. Still, the Lovejoy coupling looks out of place. I can get a flat blade driver in there if I need to tighten the pivot, so I can live with it.
There is a spring in there, and it rattles when the blade is deployed. Time will tell if I let it in, or not.
Usually, I pull the spring out first thing. This one pivots on washers, so there is some friction to keep the spring from firing the blade too hard. The odd part is that it makes it easier to fold the blade up too, so I'm conflicted about the assist in the Assist.
Lockup is early, but very solid. No blade movement, no lock stick, and the lock is easy to release.
Pocket clips make or break a knife for me. It seems all right for now, but it takes me some time to make up my mind. It's shaped roughly like a Benchmade or Cold Steel clip, so it should be tight enough to keep the knife in place. It's already getting some snail trails on it, and I loves me some wear marks.
Backspacer seams are another detail that I pay attention to. As you can see, they're not perfect, but the gap is even along it's length, and about the same on both sides. Now that I look, the one scale is slightly darker than the other.
I don't know about the glass breaker. It's out of the way, and it doesn't detract from the appearance or function of the knife, so I'll overlook it.
The Assist checks all the boxes for me: sturdy pocket clip, great ergonomics, good flipping action, etc, etc. I like modern folders with tactical design influences, and this one has them, without going too far into the world of Triple Black Oper8tor.
So why do I feel that it isn't quite right?
Part of it is the weight. It's very light, and I have trouble taking a knife seriously, if it doesn't have a certain amount of... inertia.
Part of it is the size. There is an expectation (for me, anyway), that a knife with those tactical cues ought to be able to take on tasks that aren't strictly cutting, and an assumption about the market segment such knives are aimed at, which is belied by the feeling that the Assist is... dainty.
I'm not an expert on hard use knives, I'm just some guy on the Internet, with strong opinions about things, and a willingness to put his foot in his mouth. The Assist is a quality product, and Kizer has paid attention to the details. It will be in my regular rotation because I like the ergonomics, I like how it carries, and I like the “tactical look”.
But it will always feel like it aspires to more than it can deliver.