BLADE REVIEWS


Becker Brute - All Business & Out of Business

What can I say that I haven't already said? The Brute is one of my all-time favorite workhorses. I have literally chopped a mile of trail with one of these, and have still been able to mow some hair from my arm. This is what great blades are supposed to be. The Brute is all business, but is unfortunately... out of business.

Most websites are now showing this blade as being discontinued and out of stock. As far as I can tell, the Brute suffered from an incredible lack of exposure in a world full of overhyped, overpriced blades. There are still a few available for sale out there, so gobble them up while you can. 


Kershaw Outcast - An Unquestionable Deal

What can I say about the Outcast except that it's an incredibly good blade for the money. If you read no further, my summation is that the Outcast is a great blade to work with. The geometry is somewhere between a bowie and a khukri, and achieves incredible chopping prowess through Ken Onion's great design. The fit and finish match much pricier blades, and the ergonomics are top notch. Also bear in mind that D2 steel is a quality material, and belies the $60 asking price. The Outcast is a better overall blade than many blades two and three times the price.

D2 is not cheap, and tends to be a very durable tool steel. When used in large blades, it can be tricky to work with as it can be hardened to the point of being brittle and can also be too soft. When it's worked correctly, it's durable stuff and it can still take and hold an edge. Many blade-buffs questioned Ken Onion's choice to use D2 in a mass produced blade, but I have yet to hear of anyone being disappointed in this knife. Kershaw appears to have locked down a careful process that takes advantage of this steel's benefits. 

The blade is housed in a well made Kydex sheath with a unique belt locking mechanism reminiscent of some of the gun holsters I have seen. This seems to work as designed, but isn't the most comfortable on the belt of the wearer, I'd recommend some sort of pad between the belt lock and your hip to keep this clip mechanism from digging in.

Brute vs. Outcast

This blade is reminiscent of another of my favorites, the Becker Brute, but it has several key differences. While they share some attributes, the chief difference is in overall size. The Becker is shorter, squatter and thicker, while the Kershaw is a little bigger in it's overall outlines, but is thinner steel. As a result, both have comparable heft in the hand. The Becker sports a full quarter inch thickness, while the Outcast is a little slimmer at 3/16", and both are flat ground for strength. While the Becker sports slightly better edge holding, the D2 of the Outcast is a little lower in hardness, and is thus easier to resharpen in the field.