When reading the product description for the Kizer Tactical Sheepdog on Blade HQs website.
Sorry it’s just called the Kizer Sheepdog, it says and I quote “This knife offers a
remarkable combination of tactical functionality and a refined, stylish appearance tactical
tactical tactical suck it.”
I’m not going to lie I actually went and reread the whole fighting knife wikipedia
entry and the “tactical knife” subheading at the bottom, to see how we as a society
arrived at this point where any knife is tactical- even pretty social media made knives.
It looks like any locking knife can be tactical- should they choose to accept the mission.
So as a discussion point even though cleaver style blades are used primarily to slowly
process animal carcasses or human carcasses if you’re a serial killer is it still tactical?
The word carcass implies that your using the knife on something that’s already dead.
Did Blade HQ just add the word tactical to appear in searches of tactical knives?
While we think about it let’s look at the dimensions like the overall length and weight.
Might I suggest to Blade HQ to add the word Juggalo since cleavers are the official ICP
knife.
Blade length and cutting edge.
Also aren’t cleavers more effective at chopping when they have a heavy blade.
Handle size and grip area.
I dunno I’m not a butcher.
Spine thickness and handle thickness.
You’re like your not a knife reviewer either.
And tallness closed and flipper protrusion.
The Sheepdog which is a collaboration between
Chris Conway from sheepdog knives and Kizer knives, was made presumably to bring a $750
custom knife to the masses at a very reasonable $210 through value labor.
This knife has a sheepsfoot style blade that slightly resembles a cleaver.
A cleaver of course is a large blade heavy knife that emphasizes chopping over cutting.
So I guess you could chop with this, I mean I wouldn’t but I guess you could.
Ok I probably would.
But since that chopping functionality is greatly reduced by the blade being small and lighter
I guess it’s mostly cardboard and string, and maybe vegetables.
I mean you paid $200 for it- it wasn’t a waste of money right?
The stonewashed blade is made from the wear resistant S35Vn stainless steel with a flat
grind- so hooray steel snobs.
If you realize that Chris Reeve makes her tolerant heavy knives out of titanium and
uses S35VN you’re getting a bargain- however if you also realize that Cold Steel is switching
over to S35VN in it’s knives instead of CTS-XHP without a change in MSRP- well I mean
I’m sure that money goes somewhere.
And a CRK fan says most sub $200 cold steels don’t have titanium idiot.
The blade is deployed by flipper, and pivots on a smooth as silk ball bearing system.
The blade is not long but tall, and flies out the handle with minimal effort.
Easy deploying and blade centering is OK.
However it must be noted this knife was donated to the channel second hand by Instagrammer
Broken_spear91, so maybe he did some dumb shit with it before I got it.
Also give him a follow if you’re not a jerk.
Or even if you are one.
The lockup is handled by a frame lock with a quote “replaceable” hardened steel lock
bar insert to toughen up the part where the blade tang and the lock meet.
The lock is easy to disengage and the locker area is smooth so it isn’t fatiguing if
you’re a fidgeter.
The blade has a good detent however it is possible to fling it downward with the right
kind of wrist action to get it to open without the flipper.
The handle its an open backed design and made from two pieces of titanium that are blue
in color and smooth.
The handle is pretty ergonomic and the contours are pretty smooth and fit my hand nicely.
The handles have some skeletonization to save a little weight, but at North of 6 ounces
with a 3 inch cutting edge- it ain’t light.
The pocket clip gives you only one option a bit more friendly to righties.
Blade backward tip up in the right pocket.
By friendly to righties I mean for quick deployment, when you pull it out of your pocket your deployment
finger is already in position for deployment.
However since I mainly pocket carry on an interior pocket than a pants pocket- it’s
more a theory than a practice for me.
Also since this knife is heavy for an interior jacket pocket I don’t carry it often.
The clip while being a machined titanium clip is actually really nice, it slides in the
pocket smoothly and is removed easily all while maintaining enough tension to stay in
there.
Comparison time.
First up is the purple knife.
Titanium purple, with a Chinese D2 steel.
With a shoutout to knife nuts podcast and their amusing Chinese D2 steel shirt that
makes me laugh every time it pops up in my Instagram feed.
This knife is much lighter and has a much longer blade- so basically functionality it
wins however it has a slightly suckier pocket clip.
Now another purple knife the paramilitary 2.
Sorry blurple.
Longer blade, pointier, also a fast deployer, comfortable handle, a lighter knife.
I prefer this to the Kizer sheepdog.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the sheepdog, it’s just I don’t find as much
utility in the blade since it ain’t stabby and it’s too heavy for my preference of
carry.
Lion Steel SR11.
Similar in weight and proportions to the Sheepdog.
I don’t carry it often either.
It also is a smooth deployer.
In the hand and in the deployment this and the Kizer feel the most similar to any other
knife here.
Now the Spyderco Yojimbo 2.
A much stabbier version of a sheepsfoot or rather wharncliffe style blade.
It has no curve, and it’s said to be more of a self defense blade- which must be a lonely
world for a knife to live.
I like it but don’t carry it often.
I think because it may be because it’s a little to flashy to whip out in front of other
people.
Ok fin.
The sheepdog ain’t a bad knife.
I like it, I like to fidget with it, I like to take Instagram pictures with it… but
because it’s heavy and has low piercing power it’s not something I’d carry- I
have plenty of knives I like more that I also don’t carry- because II’m stupid.
But as Instagram teaches us- a lot of people carry knives as an accessory versus utility.
Which reminds me.
You should really follow me on Instagram as well as broken spear.
You’d really be doing yourself a disservice if you like this knife.
You’re like sorry man I don’t do Instagram.
Well that’s not my problem is it?
If you like this knife and Instagram style light use knives in general like the video-
leave a comment, please subscribe to me here and on Instagram- I’m begging you.
And thanks to all your kind words about my dad on the last video and all the nice private
and public messages I got on Instagram wishing me well.
They mean a lot.
Thanks for watching!