Like most man children, when I when I hold a switchblade in my hand I feel like real
hot shit.
I may not have an 80s perm, fingerless gloves, or an earring- but my greasy hair and patchy
facial hair, and dirty t-shirt definitely gives me eating old subway out of a dumpster,
taking a poop behind a strip mall Dress Barn vibe- and that’s close enough.
Switchblades like the Protech Don, are no more dangerous that any other pocket knife,
but put it in the hands of a dude like me- I’m transformed into the person who’d
totally drop a used condom on a park bench, and leave his blunt wrapper laying on the
merry go round.
(Guy off camera voice) You looked like that before you paid $280 for the knife!
And you were at the park by yourself!
But before we go any further, and before I fall asleep on the bathroom of the cool comforting
floor of a 7-11 let’s take a look at the dimensions like the overall length and weight.
Note that I am adding a clip slip weight here, in case you need a case for this clipless
knife.
Blade size and cutting edge.
If you don’t know what a clip slip is…
I thought you knew me!
Handle size and grip area.
I did a video a while back all about the clip slip.
Spine thickness and handle thickness.
I’ll link the video at the end.
Tallnesses.
So the Protech Don is a fancy ass Made in the USA automatic knife that starts at about
$200- or as seen in this video about $280 from pVK Vegas.
Now I know $280 seems a lot for the type of knife your cousin from Southern Missouri who
runs a Youtube knife channel might buy when his check comes in at the first of the month-
but trust me it’s a slick knife.
I mean it should be for almost the amount that is taken out for your child support.
It’s patterned after the Italian Stiletto knife, but unlike the crapshoot of buying
a quote “Italian stiletto” off the internet, Protech is a quality knife.
The blade of the Don is a spear point stiletto-ish profile in a satin finish made from 154CM
steel.
It comes to a very fine needle point, and there’s a swedge up top that looks like
it’s sharpened in certain product photos, but it isn’t.
154 CM is a stainless steel variety made by crucible, that’s very similar to 440c.
It’s a pretty decent steel, but one that someone will complain that it isn’t uhh
let’s say 20CV. 20CV is one of the typical steels the standard knife asshole expects
in his knife these days he either does use or cuts up a few cardboard boxes with.
If viewers don’t understand by now, knife steel is legitimately one of the least interesting
aspects of a knife to me.
I have 60 knives?
I sharpen them when they get dull.
And try to keep my carbon blades from rusting.
I have no real observations about knife steel.
The action.
This is a push button switch blade.
I think the button is mother of pearl inlaid.
But the important question is do you think it is?
Looks like it!
Like you knew a Ross gift card was the best anniversary gift you could get your wife for
your 10th, you know that Protechs fire hard.
Push and THWACK.
Sometimes autos that fire hard may fire too hard, and bounce back before they lock.
Not the Don.
The lock engages every time.
I mean for me it has.
And like all single action autos, closing it one handed is a do-able, but you have to
be a real pro.
Not quite like the type of pro who’s good at picking out the best salvage title Pontiac
Aztec at the auto auction for your family to drive around in… but nearly that good
at things.
The handle is smooth and comfortable, and made from chamfered and rounded aluminum.
Some T6 alloy bullshit if my memory serves me properly.
No harsh edges, just a silky smooth finish like your satin sheets and wood paneling in
the master bedroom.
For me there’s nothing worse than an all black tactical fantasy switchblade, it needs
to have pop.
This particular trim is teal, with white micarta inlays.
Of note there are two sizes of The Don.
The smaller street car named desire era Don with a 3.5 inch blade.
And the Larger Island of Doctor Moreau sized Don with a 4.5 inch blade.
While the standard size don isn’t a small knife, it kind of feels smaller than it is.
The Don is sans pocket clip.
I use a clip slip that’s a touch too deep for the Don, which was my fault when ordering.
So I put a spacer in the bottom using some loose cardboard I had laying around the house.
Comparisons.
First the Don.
While single action autos are fun I do slight prefer out the fronts.
However a side firing auto isn’t one giant goo trap like a OTF so it’s more practical
for cleaning and use, and impressing your friends in the Pizza Hut parking lot at 10pm
on a Friday.
By that I mean it’s just harder to close one handed than a standard knife like a Para
Military 2.
The Don is an excellent blade.
Now the Hawk Mudd.
My favorite single action auto.
It has a completely sealed mechanism to protect the spring and bearings from moisture.
And mud as it were.
It doesn’t fire quite as hard as the Don, so it’s quieter and has a solid lockup.
One thing that differs is some blade play.
The Mudd has none.
There is some on the Don if you grab the blade and wiggle it.
This is common on about all autos except for Hawks.
This was about a $395 knife when it was still available.
Now the Brend 3.
This is also a nice knife, when I first got it there were a few times the blade didn’t
lock up every time when firing.
It has gotten to the point where it locks 47 2/3 out of 50 presses.
My guess is there was some anodization in the button hole, keeping it from popping back
up faster than the blade could deploy.
Working some lube, and fidgeting with it worked.
Great looks, great fit and finish.
Now the Boker Kalishniokov, not as hard firing, but locks up every time.
It’s lightweight and aluminum like the Protechs.
Uses a cheaper blade steel, made in Taiwan I believe, and only about $45.
Now a Ganzo auto.
Anyone remember this video?
This thing was like $20, but it’s well made has a cheap steel and I have no idea if you
can still buy it.
It’s one of the few Ganzos I still have.
Now an Out the Front the Hawk Deadlock.
Probably the nicest switchblade you can buy, I mean for function, fit and finish, and overall
attention to design and detail.
Sure you can get those Marifone hand rubs and pay for more expensive out the fronts,
but why would you?
Oh yeah the hand rubs.
This review is coming soon-ish so stay tuned.
Wrapping it up.
I like the Protech Don.
I think I would like the larger one even more.
Rule of thumb, the bigger the knife the more I like it.
Anyway, when you buy more expensive autos you’re ultimately paying a premium for the
materials, blade steel, and country of manufacture.
Protechs are made in California.
I know does not compute.
Protech has some of the nicest, cleanest designs for standard autos.
The Don has a pointy needle like blade great for piercing, and comes very very sharp.
It’s surprisingly compact for it’s blade size and recommended for a light to medium
use every day carry or an opulent letter opener.
I don’t know if the thin tip would be well suited for heavy use, at your pressure washing
job though.
Anyway if you like this sort of review- Thank the Patrons.
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