A few months back I came across a great user knife that just spoke volumes to me.No folder has absolute perfection but for how inexpensive it was? awfully darn close.I'd say it's flaws are weight(6.25oz) and no reversible pocket clip design to accommodate the lefties.Also the name 'Wonton' as the designer who for some reason wants to remain anonymous.
So what's to praise about a knife that's 'Made in China'? well here's my thoughts...
*As a kid I grew up on a slipjoint knife and from that use have always had a deep love for the versatility of a clip-point.You name it-hunting,fishing,camping,yardwork,cutting in spots with little space to work in the clip-point is champion in my book.Some beautiful clip-points have came around on modern knives but the 1602 model's is rather nice.A very thick and flat ground clip-point with a generous amount of sweep on the spine.Well swedged but not too much steel ground off to risk being brittle at the tip.It's a pretty thick blade and came reasonably sharp with about 3.5" in cutting edge.A good amount of factory bevel width brought it to razor sharp in no time.
*On one note I'll say on comfort it could use some jimping machined through the bolster back and liner right behind the Wave style opener.I'm used to gradual ramping style jimping so this this takes a little used to...beyond that? very comfortable.This knife blends the ability to clutch up and have the finger guard/flipper for protection with thumb rested on the Wave's jimping.You can feel that jimping on the liner lock and flipper flow together and give more traction on your index finger.Or you can choke up on the deep choil and thumb up on the Wave's jimping to do some skinning and precision cutting work.The wooden scales are flat but scalloped at the sides to reduce a squared off feel in your grip.Shortly put it's built for those who want more comfort and cutting options.
*You can deploy this knife via thumb,flipper/finger guard deployment,or a Wave-style opener.Aside from that this knife has a ball-bearing system and dual pivot screws that grants slick as lubricant action.The Emerson Wave has always had mixed outcomes on deployment due to varying pocket shapes from work pants to blue jeans on my end.This Wave inspired design though is just fantastic and has not disappointed...always deploys with every kind of pants pocket style when I want it to.Great flipper deployment action.Different thumb-studs as they're dome like.Probably won't be your favorite for some reason the domed thumb-stud feeling 'fits' manually opening this knife and feeling those ball bearings roll on the steel liners.
The '440C' Stainless Steel(is it any good)?:
You know darn good and well China is not buying 440C from Carpenter or Latrobe and having it shipped from the USA and paying import taxes...there's another way...the Camillus route.Camillus has their blades crafted in Taiwan as a source for Japanese steel then their sent to China for assembly.Taiwan will also use German sources like Thyssen-Krupp for identical steels of the 420/440 Series because they're local and once again import taxes.Sandvik is another story for Chinese acquisition because they sell steel worldwide.Either the Brother 1602 be in German or Chinese steel? who knows...at cost what matters is it if performs as stated.From using it yes it's no soft razor quality/fine blanking steel.It is dense and provides better than average edge retention at response to coarse materials and takes more passes to sharpen up than common cutlery steels...it reflects 440C in my opinion.
*It weighs a good bit because the steel liners aren't milled.It has stainless steel bolsters and a thick blade to boot.All this in a 5" long handle.You get used to the weight though-you'll pick up a 4oz. knife and feel something is missing or off.
I can't say there's a future for the knife brand known as Brother.The slogan 'One Knife One Life' of the Brother brand is a reverse of the slogan developed by TOPS.The Brother line was apparently started as a project by some company called Ming Hong Tools and Hardware(stamped on box label)..originally under the brand called Navy.Basically the Navy/Brother brand appears to be a Spyderco clone line except for the 1602 model.Judging by the fit and finish though most likely contracted to be made under Enlan/Ganzo/Sanrenmu.It's just so well designed you'll even notice the slanted bolster lines up with the flat grind with the blade closed in the handle.The Brother 1602 knife will probably never be a collectible.But I actually ordered a second one because I felt it was a stellar folder and something this nice at the price won't be around for a long time.That it unless the designer 'Wonton' (laughing) plans on cranking some more designs in the future.On that note they seemed to be made in only 1000 pieces,every blade is serial numbered on the reverse side.I highly recommend if you're wanting to drop under $30 for a folder with an awful lot of work put into it...the Brother 1602 is worth checking out.
So what's to praise about a knife that's 'Made in China'? well here's my thoughts...
*As a kid I grew up on a slipjoint knife and from that use have always had a deep love for the versatility of a clip-point.You name it-hunting,fishing,camping,yardwork,cutting in spots with little space to work in the clip-point is champion in my book.Some beautiful clip-points have came around on modern knives but the 1602 model's is rather nice.A very thick and flat ground clip-point with a generous amount of sweep on the spine.Well swedged but not too much steel ground off to risk being brittle at the tip.It's a pretty thick blade and came reasonably sharp with about 3.5" in cutting edge.A good amount of factory bevel width brought it to razor sharp in no time.
*On one note I'll say on comfort it could use some jimping machined through the bolster back and liner right behind the Wave style opener.I'm used to gradual ramping style jimping so this this takes a little used to...beyond that? very comfortable.This knife blends the ability to clutch up and have the finger guard/flipper for protection with thumb rested on the Wave's jimping.You can feel that jimping on the liner lock and flipper flow together and give more traction on your index finger.Or you can choke up on the deep choil and thumb up on the Wave's jimping to do some skinning and precision cutting work.The wooden scales are flat but scalloped at the sides to reduce a squared off feel in your grip.Shortly put it's built for those who want more comfort and cutting options.
*You can deploy this knife via thumb,flipper/finger guard deployment,or a Wave-style opener.Aside from that this knife has a ball-bearing system and dual pivot screws that grants slick as lubricant action.The Emerson Wave has always had mixed outcomes on deployment due to varying pocket shapes from work pants to blue jeans on my end.This Wave inspired design though is just fantastic and has not disappointed...always deploys with every kind of pants pocket style when I want it to.Great flipper deployment action.Different thumb-studs as they're dome like.Probably won't be your favorite for some reason the domed thumb-stud feeling 'fits' manually opening this knife and feeling those ball bearings roll on the steel liners.
The '440C' Stainless Steel(is it any good)?:
You know darn good and well China is not buying 440C from Carpenter or Latrobe and having it shipped from the USA and paying import taxes...there's another way...the Camillus route.Camillus has their blades crafted in Taiwan as a source for Japanese steel then their sent to China for assembly.Taiwan will also use German sources like Thyssen-Krupp for identical steels of the 420/440 Series because they're local and once again import taxes.Sandvik is another story for Chinese acquisition because they sell steel worldwide.Either the Brother 1602 be in German or Chinese steel? who knows...at cost what matters is it if performs as stated.From using it yes it's no soft razor quality/fine blanking steel.It is dense and provides better than average edge retention at response to coarse materials and takes more passes to sharpen up than common cutlery steels...it reflects 440C in my opinion.
*It weighs a good bit because the steel liners aren't milled.It has stainless steel bolsters and a thick blade to boot.All this in a 5" long handle.You get used to the weight though-you'll pick up a 4oz. knife and feel something is missing or off.
I can't say there's a future for the knife brand known as Brother.The slogan 'One Knife One Life' of the Brother brand is a reverse of the slogan developed by TOPS.The Brother line was apparently started as a project by some company called Ming Hong Tools and Hardware(stamped on box label)..originally under the brand called Navy.Basically the Navy/Brother brand appears to be a Spyderco clone line except for the 1602 model.Judging by the fit and finish though most likely contracted to be made under Enlan/Ganzo/Sanrenmu.It's just so well designed you'll even notice the slanted bolster lines up with the flat grind with the blade closed in the handle.The Brother 1602 knife will probably never be a collectible.But I actually ordered a second one because I felt it was a stellar folder and something this nice at the price won't be around for a long time.That it unless the designer 'Wonton' (laughing) plans on cranking some more designs in the future.On that note they seemed to be made in only 1000 pieces,every blade is serial numbered on the reverse side.I highly recommend if you're wanting to drop under $30 for a folder with an awful lot of work put into it...the Brother 1602 is worth checking out.
