WE Knife Co. Banter Evaluation: Presumably the Greatest Blade on a $100 Funds

Don’t ignore the ‘Banter’ round this mighty folding knife. WE Knife Co. makes a robust case for an ideal EDC blade with a mixture of simplicity, value, and undeniably good metal.

Only a few years in the past, you couldn’t purchase a pocket knife with S35VN metal, G-10 deal with scales, and ceramic bearings for lower than $200. However immediately you should purchase the Ben Petersen–designed “Banter” from WE Knife Co. for simply over $100.

I introduced the Banter on my day-to-day adventures for a few weeks. The Banter proved a nice shock in its execution of each fashionable residing and out of doors duties.

As somebody who carries a bigger knife recurrently, I’m all the time attempting to find out if it’s overkill. This mighty EDC has me believing that it is likely to be.

Briefly: Out there in a collection of various deal with supplies and blade end mixtures, the Banter finds itself within the candy spot of what the right EDC pocket knife needs to be. From dimension and form, to supplies and construct, the Banter exemplifies the fashionable pocket knife by way of one thing you possibly can take with you indoors, outdoor, and anyplace else you possibly can legally carry a knife.

WE Knife Co. Banter Evaluation

Design and Options

The Banter is sized proper for each hand dimension — not too large, not too small — and based mostly on the design and construct is excellent for an on a regular basis carry pocket knife that you may depend on all the time.

The Banter makes use of a stainless-steel body and G10 deal with scales, making a inflexible construction that ought to face up to use and abuse. The drop level blade has a flat grind and S35VN metal, which offers glorious edge retention, superior abrasion, and corrosion resistance.

The blade, body, and pocket clip are all stonewashed to additional enhance the resistance to put on.

For opening and working, the Banter options ceramic bearings and a Titanium thumb stud for fast and simple, one-handed deployment. The liner lock retains the blade in place till you’re able to put it away, and there may be zero blade wobble.

First Impressions

Out of the field, the Banter might be one of many sharpest and smoothest working knives that I’ve ever gotten to make use of. The thumb stud and ceramic bearing combo permit the blade to flick out simply as quick and arduous as any assisted opening or auto knife I’ve ever had the pleasure of utilizing.

This retains the blade locked in place till you’re able to activate the liner lock and put it again in your pocket.

I carry a Benchmade Griptilian as my EDC and was initially involved that the Banter could be too small and fewer utilitarian. Boy, I’m glad I used to be mistaken, as even with a big hand, this smaller knife features with surety and precision.

I’ll say that the liner lock takes just a little getting used to, however over the week, it both broke in or I obtained used to it. It’d show to be a problem with gloves, however I actually wouldn’t give it a second thought. I’d fairly have a tighter tolerance on a lock mechanism than have to fret concerning the blade closing below duress.

When it got here to carrying the Banter, I put it in my again pocket and it nearly disappeared. That is what deep carry is at its best. Nobody can see the knife and you may hardly really feel it, even when sitting.

Within the Area

I relied on the Banter solely for every week for a collection of duties, each deliberate and spontaneous, indoor and out of doors.

I discovered that the fat-bellied drop level blade might full myriad duties effortlessly. The drop level blade form is probably the most common blade form, and once you couple it with a scalpel-sharp edge, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a process it may well’t do.

I used to be in a position to break down containers and slice by packaging with ease. After I obtained the Banter out into the woods, I did every little thing from prepping some kindling and fir sticks for a small fireplace, to slicing up lunch.

I even had the chance to carve a pumpkin with it, and (other than slicing myself) the expertise was a lot better than I assumed it might be. The S35VN metal and factory-sharp edge excelled carving up the gourd. And the Banter’s G10 supplied up loads of grip, even for fingers coated in pumpkin sludge.

What’s extra, cleansing up this blade after use is as straightforward as wiping it down with a moist material — and letting it dry earlier than placing it away. A stonewashed blade will present plenty of markings once you’re utilizing it, however it cleans up properly for its subsequent journey.

A notice on S35VN metal: there’s a purpose why it was coveted boutique metal for so long as it was, and I’m blissful that we’re discovering it in additional mainstream purposes.

It’s a “set it and neglect it” kind of metal, which makes it nice for knife customers of every kind. It’ll keep sharp for an prolonged time period and can be straightforward to resharpen when the time comes; requiring just a few swipes in your stone to get it again to that manufacturing unit “pop.”

WE Knife Banter: Conclusion

With the entire pocket knives out out there immediately, selecting out the right EDC on your wants isn’t the simplest factor to do. So, to have a knife just like the Banter in the precise dimension and form, utilizing top-of-the-line supplies, and priced so effectively is a house run for anybody purchasing for an EDC pocket knife.

On prime of which, it’s low upkeep by way of each care and sharpening, and is authorized in virtually each state within the U.S.

Credit score the place credit score is due: it’s greater than apparent that Ben Petersen did his homework when he sat down to attract this knife up. A lot in order that the Banter is the kind of knife that I’d anticipate each out of doors clothes shop to hold.

FYI, if you wish to spend just a little additional, WE Knife additionally affords the Banter within the following mixtures:

Carbon Fiber with Black Stonewashed S35VN 
Micarta with Black Stonewashed S35VN
Copper with 20CV
Cuibouritia Wooden with Black Stonewashed S35VN

And, should you’re on the lookout for a bigger type issue on your EDC knife, WE will quickly offer the Huge Banter, which is 8.34 inches in general size with a 20CV blade that has a size of three.69 inches. The Huge Banter can be supplied in a Black G10/Black Stonewash or with Inexperienced Micarta and Normal Stonewash.

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