“Now and again, you get proven the sunshine within the strangest of puts in case you have a look at it proper” — was once the Thankful Lifeless considering of the 2024 blade marketplace when the band wrote Scarlet Begonias? In no way; however that undying lyric just about sums up the wave of reasonably priced choices this is taking on the arena of knives nowadays.
While a couple of years in the past, no person who trusted a knife would imagine paying lower than $100 for an EDC, now — due to a couple of rising manufacturers — it occurs at all times.
Two of the ones manufacturers are WE Knife Co. and CIVIVI. Sister firms, each have endured to supply up banger after banger — folding and fixed-blade knives that cross toe-to-toe with manufacturers like Benchmade and Spyderco, for a lower cost. The manufacturers have even made it some extent to incorporate ball bearings across the pivots in their folding knives, a top rate function present in blades two times the fee.
In 2020, the portfolio expanded to incorporate SENCUT. This 3rd emblem was once evolved to be the funds emblem. So, it’s all just a little of a hierarchy, and it’s trending. Similar to WE Knife began to pick out up marketplace proportion, so did CIVIVI.
There’s surely in my thoughts that SENCUT will start to fill within the blanks in its marketplace section as neatly. If I had any doubts in regards to the SENCUT emblem, they went out the window after I began to clutter round with the Traxler, a $50 full-size flipper with a high-ground stainless-steel, sheepsfoot blade.
In brief: WE Knife’s funds emblem proves that you just don’t need to pay excessive costs to get a competent knife. The SENCUT Traxler is a high-performing, loyal EDC for lower than $50. There are some delicate issues, like the lining lock, that appear much less delicate than a WE or CIVIVI knife, however for $47, I’m very inspired with each the shape and serve as of this knife.
-
OAL
8.09” -
Blade period
3.49” -
Blade metal
9Cr18MoV -
Blade form
Sheepsfoot -
Grind
Flat -
Hardness
58-60 HRC -
Lock kind
Body Lock -
Elevate
Deep, left or proper hand, tip-up -
Weight
3.89 oz. -
Value
$47
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Sheepsfoot blade -
General length and steadiness -
Ball Bearing-aided pivot -
Ergonomics
SENCUT Traxler Knife Evaluation
We Knife, CIVIVI, SENCUT Distinction
Within the corporate construction, WE Knife stands because the top rate emblem within the lineup, CIVIVI serves the on a regular basis marketplace, and SENCUT objectives reasonably priced choices. All 3 manufacturers produce high quality, dependable knives from loyal fabrics, however there are variations.
You’ll be able to purchase a WE Knife with an S35VN blade, the place the highest-rated metal at CIVIVI could also be 14C28N. Those are each similar stainless knife steels, however S35VN is thought of as a top rate metal and has higher edge retention than 14C28N. SENCUT’s best knife metal, in the meantime, is 9Cr18MoV. It’s additionally stainless, however doesn’t dangle an edge as neatly and isn’t as abrasion-resistant as 14C28N.
Design & Options
At 8.09 inches, the SENCUT Traxler is a full-sized folding flipper knife. Constructed off of stainless-steel liners and G10 take care of scales, the Traxler sports activities a three.49-inch, satin-finished 9Cr18MoV stainless-steel sheepsfoot blade. Like maximum flippers that don’t use a crossbar-style lock, the Traxler employs a low-profile liner lock to stay the blade locked up tight.
One sudden function that I all the time welcome on a flipper is the inclusion of ceramic ball bearings across the pivot. Those be offering silky-smooth deployment. As I stated previous, WE Knife made it some extent to bake this top rate function into the entire emblem’s knives. I used to be glad to look it trickle right down to CIVIVI, and now it’s superior to have it at the $47 SENCUT Traxler.
So, what’s lacking, then? What makes this knife a $47 knife when it has fabrics and contours that grace different $100 choices? A part of it’s the metal. Is it just right metal? Sure, 9Cr18MoV is a brilliant stainless-steel.
However it’s much less abrasion-resistant than a metal like 14C28N and offers much less edge retention. That interprets to a knife blade that can display extra put on and tear and wish to be sharpened extra often.
Any other level I spotted as a part of the unboxing, was once the lining lock. Although totally useful and really efficient, it has some severe resistance in it. At this level, I don’t know if it’s going to inhibit serve as (having the ability to depress it), however I can control it right through additional checking out and can replace this evaluate with any problems I realize.
First Impressions
I’ve turn out to be a large fan of each WE Knife and CIVIVI knives over the past couple of years. So I used to be excited to get my arms on a SENCUT knife. I see a large number of knives in my line of labor. I’ve evolved a watch and a really feel when issues are off.
So right here’s the issue with the Traxler: not anything is truly off about it. This leads me to consider I must to find one thing. As a substitute of searching for issues, I attempt to allow them to disclose themselves to me. I recognized the lining lock as being just a little of a endure to depress. However I’ve had that occur on $200 knives, too.
Past that, how are you able to cross fallacious with G10 and stainless-steel? Perhaps WE Knife discovered some way to verify all of its manufacturers produce nice knives and simplest years down the street, after prolonged use and abuse, do they begin to ruin down.
From the beginning, the flipper motion at the Traxler remained comfortable and the lock-up vital. I believed I may need to throw just a little grease within the wheel to make this sucker deploy so neatly. However I’m satisfied to be fallacious.
Additionally, the steadiness feels truly great on this knife. I will dangle it up with one finger and let it degree off proper in the back of the pivot screw. This implies the Traxler has the power to accomplish like a scalpel. For the cheap metal, the 9Cr18MoV is razor sharp. I’ve a sense that now not simplest will this knife make a worthy EDC, but in addition a cast paintings knife.
Within the Box
I don’t shift my technique to a knife on account of its price ticket. So, I didn’t pull any punches with the Traxler. In truth, if anything else, I may were just a little extra excessive with it than I anticipated because of sheer timing. From Would possibly thru September, I’m normally out of doors in my gardens, development or repairing one thing — on best of being out and about within the open air checking out different tools.
My box enjoy with the Traxler began with chopping up root balls to plant new vegetation and trees. I had an actual hankering for a brand new Mountain Laurel on the best of the backyard.
The sheepsfoot blade at the Traxler got here in at hand to get some roots out of the way in which, and to prune again some surrounding vegetation. It additionally labored nice for scoring compacted soil to loosen it up, and to get a divorce and blend soil for some new houseplants.
The actual take a look at got here after I needed to substitute a few rotted picket steps right down to the home. I used the Traxler to pry up a few the forums the place I couldn’t get my arms round them. I don’t suggest prying stuff with a knife to someone. Alternatively, in case you’re going to pry together with your knife, a sheepsfoot blade is find out how to cross — particularly person who has a bolstered tip just like the Traxler.
When it got here to sporting the Traxler as an EDC, it went disregarded in my again pocket each time it was once there. The knife is skinny and lengthy, which is helping give it one of these nice handhold and gives superb keep an eye on over the blade.
Its ergonomics additionally stay your hand from getting drained. That stated, the Traxler slides down and tucks properly into the nook of your pocket.
In Conclusion
My skilled enjoy with knives and knife fabrics apart, I had no concept that I’d be digging within the dust with the Traxler, however would I’ve executed it with a $350 knife? Certain as heck. We covet issues that value us more cash. However we additionally suppose the ones issues are robotically going to accomplish higher as a result of they value more cash.
So, because the Thankful Lifeless so presciently famous, now and again we get proven the sunshine within the strangest of puts. Who knew that might take the type of a $50 knife doing all the paintings round the home? From time to time you wish to have to seem past the names and the recognition facet, and imagine what you’re going to do with the knife you’re in search of.
The Traxler’s 9Cr18MoV is a brilliant stainless-steel. You additionally know that the trade-off, no less than with the Traxler, is that the lining lock is just a little onerous to make use of. However after a month, I will’t to find the rest to mention about this knife that isn’t complimentary.
WE Knife is now a family title within the knife international, and if CIVIVI isn’t, it’s now not a ways in the back of. However don’t sleep on SENCUT. If the Traxler is an instance of what you’ll be able to be expecting from this worth emblem, then there’s no wish to decrease your requirements. This knife will do anything else maximum people want it to do.