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Review: Kizer Feweed KI3694A1

Every once in a while, Kizer likes to remind us all what they are capable of when it comes to premium knives. That is exactly what they’ve done with the Feweed. This is easily their best premium offering since they set the knife world on fire with the Militaw. I expect (and hope) that the Feweed will take off on a similar trajectory as the Militaw… because I really want to see what else Kizer can do with this design.

Specs

You can see the full specs at Kizer.com. The highlights are below.

Overall Length: 7.09″ / 180.1 mm
Blade Length: 2.98″/ 75.7 mm
Blade Thickness: 0.11″/2.8mm
Handle Length: 4.11 “/ 104.4 mm
Weight:  3.22oz/91.3 g
Lock Type: Frame Lock

Observations from Use

Let me first point out that my review sample is the KI3694A1 variant of the Feweed with Purple Haze Fat Carbon and S35VN steel. There are 4 versions at different price points with varying finishes and blade steel options. All of them are decidedly premium but they become increasingly more so as the surprisingly competitive price increases.

The Feweed was designed by Vũ Huỳnh Nam Anh and what a design it is. This knife is angular, faceted, futuristic, and somehow graceful. It is also very clever. For instance, the titanium handle is milled out for large Fat Carbon inlays in such a way that these milled pockets act as weight relief and the inlay acts as an overtravel stop for the frame lock. The uniquely shaped thumb studs are another example. They fit the aesthetic of the Feweed well with how they neatly nest into the handle in both the open and closed positions. But, they are also perfectly shaped to help the blade rocket out when you apply some thumb pressure against the crispy detent.

This is a great study in form meeting function. For all it’s good looks, the Feweed is still a well-executed and comfortable-to-use cutting tool. The full height flat grind renders a thin, slicey edge and the blade shape is well suited to a variety of tasks. You would think it would feel sharp or angular in the hand but the edges are all so nicely broken that it is extremely comfortable to use.

The action… oh, the action… The Feweed has such a crispy detent and smooth bearing action that it is almost difficult to roll it open slowly! If you push into the thumb stud or apply some pressure to the easy-to-use front flipper tab, THWAK! It flies open.

There are plenty of other highlights to mention too. The jimping is basically perfect and it extends all the way up and over the front flipper which is how it should be. The lock bar is easy to access thanks to a machined pocket. The machined titanium pocket clip fits close to the knife but has plenty of clearance for thicker materials like denim. The fine, blasted finish on the titanium scales feels great in hand. There is just a lot to love here.

I generally like to end reviews with something constructive but I am at a loss on this one. There really isn’t anything I would change about this knife… other than wishing there was a larger version but given how quickly this one sold out, I suspect I won’t have to wait long for that.

Wrap Up

This knife sold out at most retailers quickly and it’s pretty easy to see why. Hopefully, we will see Kizer continue to riff on this design as they have with past successes like the Drop Bear and Militaw because I would love to see a larger version in the future.

The Feweed is lovely to look at, a joy to use, and a ton of fun to fidget with. It feels like a special thing, like a fine watch or pen, and it manages to do it at a very competitive price. With this and the Mini Mystic, Kizer is on a roll to kick off 2025.

What. A. Knife.

Keep an eye on Kizer’s Amazon store: Kizer on Amazon.com

Review: Kizer Mini Mystic

The Kizer Mini Mystic is one of a handful of very strong new blade offerings that Kizer rolled out in January 2025. Even among those excellent knives, this one stands out for its value, aggressive cutting performance, extreme ease of carry, and sinuous design.

Credit for the design of the Mini Mystic goes to Paul Munko of Munko Knives.

Specs

View the full specs for the Kizer Mini Mystic at Kizer.com. My review sample is model V3636C1.

Overall Length: 7.58 ” / 192.6 mm
Blade Length: 3.20 “/ 81.40 mm
Blade Thickness: 0.12 “/3.0mm
Blade Material: 154CM
Handle Length: 4.38 “/ 111.2  mm
Weight: 2.72 oz/ 77.2 g

Observations from Use

I feel like I have a lot more to say about the Kizer Mini Mystic than I do about most knives. I think a lot of people are will to respond to the design of this knife but I want to make sure that people know this is a very useful, functional knife that is very easy to carry.

I was not prepared for how slim and light this knife feels. The liners are heavily relieved to reduce weight. The scale materials are fairly lightweight and slim. The blade stock is slim. This design packs a lot of knife into 2.72 ounces.

I already think Kizer does a great job with its crossbar locks, which Kizer calls the Clutch Lock, but this one stands out. Some trick of the relationship of thumb stud to pivot and omega spring tension on this knife makes it especially snappy. It’s magic to flick open.

The handle is slim and not aggressively textured but I was immediately struck by how well it locked into my hand. Certainly, the inherent grippiness of the burlap micarta helps with this but the handle itself is just well designed. It has plenty of length so you won’t feel crowded and plenty of flares and curves in the right places.

The Mini Mystic is an aggressive cutter. It has a point that to be ready to pick even the most microscopic splinters. The already thin blade stock is coerced into an even thinner edge geometry thanks to high flat primary grind. Finally, despite all the design razzle-dazzle, the blade shape is just a nice long bit of straight edge with plenty of belly near the tip so it works well for pretty much any type of cut.

Okay, finally. Now we can talk about the design. Sinuous… That is the word that comes to mind. This knife’s design is so dynamic that it almost seems to be slithering across the table when you put it down.

It is packed with interesting details too. You likely noticed the transparent bolster made from PEI (aka Ultem) but did you notice the pivot collar made from the same burlap micarta that is used on the handle scales? Me neither until I had it in hand. Did you notice the clever way that the swooping plunge grind mirrors the curve of the bolsters? Me neither until I had it in hand. The overall design of this knife is beautiful but the details take it to the next level.

There is really only one thing I will nitpick about this knife. There are spots where the bolster meets the handle scales that are just a bit sharp because the bolster material comes to a point. It is minuscule but was noticeable initially. Now that I have used the knife for a few weeks, it is much less noticeable… not because I got used to it. It actually seems to have worn down just a bit so it is largely a non-issue.

Wrap Up

The Mini Mystic manages to pack a lot of cutting performance into a lightweight, compact package. Its eye-pleasing design may look radical but this knife is actually a conventionally good cutting tool. What a way to start the new year for Kizer.

Kizer Mini Mystic on Amazon.com

Review: Kizer Hare

The Kizer Hare is a stout new fixed blade from Kizer that splits the difference between EDC and outdoors. It might also represent an exciting new direction for Kizer fixed blade offerings – the introduction of stainless steel options.

Specs

  • Overall Length: 7.00″ / 177.7 mm
  • Designer: Azo
  • Blade Style: clip point
  • Blade Length: 3.14 “/ 79.70 mm
  • Blade Thickness:0.157 “/4.0mm
  • Blade Material: Nitro V
  • Handle Length: 3.86 “/ 98.0mm
  • Handle Material: Micarta + G10
  • Weight: 4.22 oz/119.5g
  • Hardness: 59-60

See full specs at KizerKnives.com

Observations from Use

I want to start this review with a shout to the Hare’s designer. This is yet another knife design by Azo who is responsible for designs like the Drop Bear, Begleiter, Towser K, and more. His utilitarian yet stylish designs are a huge part of Kizer’s success.

The Hare has everything you want from a knife that can do it all from EDC to outdoors. The blade is an all-around useful drop point shape with a stout tip. The blade stock is not too thick and not too thin at 5/32” thick. The tall flat grind ensures the cutting geometry is on point. The handle is generous with room for all four fingers. The Nitro-V steel takes a fine edge is quite tough and stainless.

Speaking of Nitro-V steel… If you follow Kizer at all, you’ll know that they generally only use D2 steel for their fixed-blade knives and very occasionally 3V. Neither of those are stainless steel. The Hare is one of their first fixed blades to be offered in stainless steel and I am glad to see it. I hope that this is a new direction for them that continues with future releases.

The way various parts of this knife are finished is very unique. For instance, the spine is crowned for comfort but there is a short section left sharp for scraping a ferro rod. This scraping section is located between areas of jimping (one near the scales, one near the tip), making it feel very intentionally integrated into the design. The butt of the knife also features a slightly exposed section of steel that can be used for hammering. Other niceties include a dual finish on the blade (rubbed on the flats and stonewashed on the primary grind), a machined texture on the excellent canvas micarta scales, and contrasting color handle spacers. The details are incredible.

If there is one area that lets this knife down just a little, it’s the sheath. It isn’t that the sheath is poorly made. That isn’t it all. The sheath is real, heat-formed kydex and quite well made. It is just that a nice compact knife like this would have been better served with a more compact taco-style sheath in my opinion. The included sheath is well made and ready to carry out of the box thanks to an included compact Tek-lok-like belt attachment.

Wrap Up

The Kizer Hare offers incredible value and very thoughtful features. The finishes are well beyond what you would expect from a knife in this price range. It seems like every decision on the design and materials of this knife was made to maximize the all-around usefulness of it.

Learn more at the Kizer Store on Amazon.com.

Review: Kizer Exist

I initially wanted to try the Kizer Exist because I was looking for a wharncliffe style blade to add to my rotation. I expected it to be good – it is a Kizer with their Clutch lock after all. The clever design touches that designer Nick Serrano baked into it took me off guard. Now, I hope this knife takes off for Kizer because I would like to see them introduce a ton of variants as they have with the Drop Bear, Militaw, and others. I think it’s that good.

Specs

  • Model: Exist
  • Overall Length: 6.79″ / 172.4mm
  • Designer: Nick Serrano
  • Opener: Thumb Stud
  • Blade Style: Drop Point
  • Blade Length: 2.78 “/ 70.70mm
  • Blade Thickness: 0.11″/2.8mm
  • Blade Material: 154CM
  • Handle Length: 4.00″/ 101.7mm
  • Pocket Clip: Reversible
  • Weight:3.36 oz/95.3g
  • Lock Type: Clutch Lock

Observations from Use

I mentioned some clever design touches that took me off guard earlier related to two things. First, is the blade shape. When I checked the listing initially, I assumed it was a wharncliffe blade. I didn’t notice that Kizer calls this a drop point and now I see why they do. It actually has edge belly, not much but it does, which makes this kind of a hybrid blade shape.

Is it a wharncliffe with some belly or a drop point with a very, very low point? Well… I don’t exactly know but I like it and it works. There is a little bit of belly which improves slicing performance and the kind of acute, splinter-picking tip you expect from a wharncliffe. It’s a blade shape that does a lot of EDC tasks very well.

The second thing that took me by surprise was how the overall shape of the knife would play into the function of the knife. You may be familiar with offset/bent blade designs like traditional Shilin Cutters or a more modern example like the Ka-Bar TDI. The idea is they change the way we interact with the point by lowering it to make it easier to access with a neutral wrist position. The Kizer Exist gives you a similar feeling to those with its curved back that carries from the tip of the blade all the way to the butt of the knife. This makes the tip present in a very natural way that is easy to access without the additional bulk in the folded position that true offset designs suffer from. It’s very clever and I like it a lot.

Apart from the unique aspects of the design, the knife is everything you expect from a Clutch lock Kizer and that is a good thing. I think Kizer does crossbar locks better than just about anyone. The action is great. The lock-up is great. The ability to easily adjust the tension on the lock is still tops.

If I could change one thing, I would make the handle scales just a bit more rounded. As it is, the scales have very square edges. The Drop Bear, for instance, has similar construction – aluminum scales over steel liners – but it feels more compliant in the hand thanks to more rounded contours. I don’t think the Exist is uncomfortable to hold by any stretch but it is a little squarish in hand. It’s a comfortable handle that seems like it could be even more comfortable.

Wrap Up

This is a unique knife that I hope gets the attention it deserves. I don’t hear a lot of talk about this knife and I hate it when something this good gets lost in the shuffle. This hard-working EDC is easy to love once you put it to work.

You can learn more at Kizer.com or buy at the official Kizer store on Amazon.com.

Review: Kizer Militaw

The Jonathan Styles designed Militaw has been a smash hit for Kizer. The original Militaw, with its unique design and premium construction, has spawned seemingly endless variations that sell out quickly. I’ve had the chance, thanks to Kizer for providing the review sample, to check out the original version that started it all.

Specs

  • Model Number: Ki3634A1
  • Overall Length: 7.99″/203mm
  • Designer: Jonathan Style
  • Opener: Front Flipper, Thumb Hole
  • Blade Style: Drop Point
  • Blade Length: 3.35″/85mm
  • Blade Thickness: 0.12″/3.0mm
  • Blade Material: S35VN
  • Handle Length: 4.65″/118mm
  • Handle Material: Titanium+Micarta
  • Pocket Clip: Machined Ti Clip
  • Weight: 3.92oz./111g
  • Lock Type: Frame Lock

Observations from Use

I have always liked the look of the Militaw. It reminds me of a classic Green River Traditional knife in its shape when it is opened. But, it wasn’t until I had one in hand that I fully understood why this knife is so popular.

It is lighter than you expect but also has the kind of heft that only comes with titanium construction. The Ti handle is countoured and radiused so that not a single uncomfortable corner remains. It’s blade has a very finely executed stonewash finish that feels oily smooth under your fingertips and it swings through its ark with ease thanks to ceramic bearings in the pivot. In short, it feels like something special in hand.

The front flipper on this knife is very well executed. It features very effective jimping that wraps up and over the top of the flipper. That setup makes it very easy to get the leverage needed to operate the flipper, even on this larger blade. The triangular shaped opening hole also works well. The user can slide along the relief cut in the handle to catch the corner of the opening hole with their thumb and the the blade flies open with haste. The reverse flick is absolutely effortless thanks to the crispy, well-tuned detent.

Kizer calls the Militaw’s blade shape a drop point but it almost looks like a straight clip point with a long straight clip. This shape brings the point basically in line with the pivot and makes it very easy to access without having to cant the knife too much. That point is also fairly fine but plenty strong thanks to the long swedge grind. The almost full-height flat grind tapers down to a decently thin edge that cuts well and seems to hold up well in cutting thanks to the relatively tough S35VN steel.

The handle design is one of the most distinctive and unique parts of the Militaw design. It is mostly straight with a relief cut that serves to allow access to the opening hole and lock bar and as a finger groove of sorts. This long, straight handle is very neutral in it’s shape, so it accommodates just about any grip type you could want.

The handle also showcases the micarta inlays which have a complex shape that really shows off Kizer’s ability to achieve impressive fit and finish at a production knife price. These inlays are fit with precision and perfectly blend into the contours of the machined titanium handles. The micarta inlay on the lock side of the knife also functions as an integrated overtravel stop for the lock bar.

Wrap Up

The Militaw isn’t not an inexpensive knife but it is an incredible value. I am not sure there is another knife with these premium features that can compete with it on price. This is a showcase of what Kizer can do – precision manufacturing, premium materials, and high-end design, all at a very competitive price.

Kizer Militaw at KizerKnives.com

Kizer Militaw at Amazon.com

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