I've had these knives for over a year now, so I suppose that makes me ready to opine on them. By now these knives aren't anything new, but whatever.
Some common attributes for the whole family:
-Tri-Ad locks:
One of my favorite locking mechanisms since I like lockbacks, and this functions and feels like a "super lockback". It gives a lot of confidence and peace of mind - no worrying about damaging the lockup unless you're intentionally trying to break it or are being plain stupid. I've done some stupid stuff such a throwing them into trees, full power stabs into wood, and heavy chopping on hard branches, and lockup was not affected in any noticeable way. On the model I gave by far the most abuse to (4 inch), I can't detect any up and down movement whatsoever - holding by the tip of the blade and really trying to wiggle that sucker. Nothing. I find that incredible given what I put that through. However, on the smallest model, there is, and has always been, a bit of vertical blade play. This knife came that way from the factory, which is out of the usual. Even with the tiny bit of play, it feels like a little tank and I have complete confidence in it because the locking surfaces are so large. With a liner or normal backlock the play would be unacceptable for me (I don't like play), but it just "feels different" for whatever reason on the Medium Voyager. The Tri-Ad strength is not just for stupid stuff, either. An example would be chopping thick brambles out of the way - I wouldn't like to try this on many knives even if they could take it because it could be rather hard on them. With the Tri-Ad it's child's play and I don't think twice. By the way, the Large and Medium appear to have exactly the same lock - the Medium just has components 0.5mm thinner. The XL has a significantly larger stop pin but I have not taken it apart to check the inside.
Inside of Vaquero showing the lock:
-Thick handles:
Made of Grivory with aluminum liners. They are rounded and feel comfy in the hand. They have aggressive texturing but the location of it has never irritated my hands. The thick handles are comfy in hand, but in the pocket they just plain suck. Eyeballing it, the Large is about 0.60 thick, the XL and Medium would be +0.5 and -0.5 mm respectively. This rarely bothered me since I like to carry my knives in my jacket pocket, but for those who like their knives thin...
-Terrible clips:
Worst clips ever. Short, with pressure mimicking hydraulic presses, and over an aggressive texture to boot. No fun at all. The clips can be modified with a pair of pliers - I took mine off and bent it and it worked fine, but would probably be a bit too loose for some. Other methods involve smoothing the grip with sandpaper or epoxy, or even a temporary duct tape fix. Again, the clips didn't bother me much because I carry mostly in my jacket - most users here would have more of an issue with this.
-Good thumbstuds:
I like them. They were large, give good traction and never dug into or injured my thumbs. They were also easily removable thanks to a slot.
-Smooth deployment:
All three knives were very smooth in opening thanks to bronze phosphor bushings. Very nice. The larger the blade, the smoother it seemed. Be careful when drop-closing the XL.
Large finger groove (on Large and XL):
-I don't like the big index finger groove on these sizes. When I grip the knife in a hammer grip, my three other fingers have a secure purchase, but the large groove leaves my index finger "floating in mid-air". When holding the knife in that grip, I would prefer it if there were no large groove. It is, however, good for a grip with the thumb resting on the spine.
Fit and finish:
-All were quite good with no irritating or unexpected flaws apart from the slight vertical play on the Medium. Blade centering on all was decent, no troubles.
From smallest to largest:
Voyager XL (clip point):
The blade length on this is listed as 5.5", but it actually measures about 5.3". That kind of irked me, not that I cared about the exact measurement, but just that it smacks of laziness when a company doesn't bother to list the correct dimensions for its products. Anyways, this is a very large knife, measuring over a foot overall. Opening the knife is very satisfying - inertia opening is ridiculously easy (note this can be a bad thing depending on where you live), and conventional opening gives a large "thwack!" The blade is big and thus makes big cuts. It is 4mm thick but the height of the blade and the full flat grind means it still slices very nicely. It feels very light for its size. The bad part is the handle - such a large blade requires an even larger handle. The gripping part is actually straighter than the handle on the 4-inch Voyager. I found that this made it less comfortable to hold because of the large index finger groove ("choil"). It didn't seem to work as well as on the 4-inch version. It also has two finger grooves at the back and holding it here with the last two fingers in the grooves seems relatively comfortable and secure. The large handle is the knife's biggest drawback. It sticks out the back of my hand for almost 3 inches and just feels unwieldy. There are a number of grips you could take on such a large handle but none of them feel quite right. I feel this knife is more of a novelty or conversation piece, but it's still fun to have around and a good deal for under $60. At times I've seen them running for under $50. Strangely, the tip on the XL clip point is much thinner than on the Large Vaquero... it's the same thickness as the tip of a full flat grind Endura.
Large Voyager (Vaquero):
My favorite size. Still quite a large knife. Mine is a Vaquero because I liked the aesthetics. This blade shape cuts well and has quite a pointy tip. However the upswept tip isn't as nice to use as something lower and I find the entire blade too curvy both in use and in sharpening. I wouldn't even recommend this blade shape because it's a chore to sharpen - I usually like sharpening knives, but this upswept and recurved shape is a royal pain, and I had to reprofile it as well. However this model (and the Medium Vaquero too) is apparently out of production due to lack of sales - if you want one, grab one now. The handle feels great to hold with a thumb on the spine. For most normal uses the "thumb on spine" grip works great and is very comfortable. It is comfortable in reverse grip, too. When considering forward hammer grip, the index finger groove doesn't bother me as much on this knife compared to the XL because it feels more natural to choke back a tiny bit and avoid it. When trying the same on the XL it didn't feel as secure or natural. Also, on the Vaquero, it feels good to choke up and use the space created by the guard and ricasso as an impromptu "50/50 choil". This may not work quite as well on the clip-point version, but it would be do-able.
Medium Voyager (tanto):
This size is a bit too small for my hands. It still feels good, but it's a bit squished. The index finger groove is not an issue for me on this knife - it's very shallow compared to the others. This knife is much too thick-handled for its size, and it also doesn't open or close as easily as my other two models, especially when unlocking the Tri-Ad lock. This may be in part due to less purchase on the handle making it harder to depress the lockbar. On the plus side this did give a great impression of a "little tank" when I first held it. The short blade and the massively strong lock are quite cool, and given its short blade length there would be even less leverage on the lock than the larger two models (which seem to have no problem with that themselves). This is definitely not the most convenient knife, so in my opinion someone looking for a light EDC would be well-advised to pass it over (but someone looking for an affordable mini-tank should definitely get one). The tanto blade shape... I don't like it. I don't like to be worried about damaging the subtip when cutting things, and the point is thicker and doesn't penetrate as well as the other two blades. The subtip is just a bother. It does have one advantage, however - when slashing things the sharp subtip makes it act somewhat (somewhat) like a wharncliffe, because the bottom edge is essentially the same shape. This can help it cut into things quite easily, more so than a curved surface. I could see the potential application for self-defence and dealing with clothing, etc. Some people talk about how the American tanto aids "snap cuts" but I find that absolutely ridiculous when talking about a folding knife. Overall I don't think any perceived benefit is worth the overall annoyance of the blade shape, but each to their own. The high hollow grind cuts very nicely, seems thin behind the edge and gets very sharp.
When I bought these the Medium was about $35, the Large was under $45, and the XL was just over $60 (and only because the clip point cost $10 more than the tanto or Vaquero options). I think that's an excellent value and these knives should definitely be mentioned alongside the RAT-1 and Tenacious.
They do have some issues - the main points against them are that they're bulky, and the clips suck. However these are ridiculously strong and reliable knives for a pittance, they are very well built, and are just reliable "do anything" knives. The Large was my constant companion for a year or so and it definitely passed its test with flying colours. I really like the feeling of not worrying about damaging my knife's lockup. I almost never do dumb stuff or abuse my blades, but the extra peace of mind "just in case" is very nice.
Consider one.
Some common attributes for the whole family:
-Tri-Ad locks:
One of my favorite locking mechanisms since I like lockbacks, and this functions and feels like a "super lockback". It gives a lot of confidence and peace of mind - no worrying about damaging the lockup unless you're intentionally trying to break it or are being plain stupid. I've done some stupid stuff such a throwing them into trees, full power stabs into wood, and heavy chopping on hard branches, and lockup was not affected in any noticeable way. On the model I gave by far the most abuse to (4 inch), I can't detect any up and down movement whatsoever - holding by the tip of the blade and really trying to wiggle that sucker. Nothing. I find that incredible given what I put that through. However, on the smallest model, there is, and has always been, a bit of vertical blade play. This knife came that way from the factory, which is out of the usual. Even with the tiny bit of play, it feels like a little tank and I have complete confidence in it because the locking surfaces are so large. With a liner or normal backlock the play would be unacceptable for me (I don't like play), but it just "feels different" for whatever reason on the Medium Voyager. The Tri-Ad strength is not just for stupid stuff, either. An example would be chopping thick brambles out of the way - I wouldn't like to try this on many knives even if they could take it because it could be rather hard on them. With the Tri-Ad it's child's play and I don't think twice. By the way, the Large and Medium appear to have exactly the same lock - the Medium just has components 0.5mm thinner. The XL has a significantly larger stop pin but I have not taken it apart to check the inside.
Inside of Vaquero showing the lock:
-Thick handles:
Made of Grivory with aluminum liners. They are rounded and feel comfy in the hand. They have aggressive texturing but the location of it has never irritated my hands. The thick handles are comfy in hand, but in the pocket they just plain suck. Eyeballing it, the Large is about 0.60 thick, the XL and Medium would be +0.5 and -0.5 mm respectively. This rarely bothered me since I like to carry my knives in my jacket pocket, but for those who like their knives thin...
-Terrible clips:
Worst clips ever. Short, with pressure mimicking hydraulic presses, and over an aggressive texture to boot. No fun at all. The clips can be modified with a pair of pliers - I took mine off and bent it and it worked fine, but would probably be a bit too loose for some. Other methods involve smoothing the grip with sandpaper or epoxy, or even a temporary duct tape fix. Again, the clips didn't bother me much because I carry mostly in my jacket - most users here would have more of an issue with this.
-Good thumbstuds:
I like them. They were large, give good traction and never dug into or injured my thumbs. They were also easily removable thanks to a slot.
-Smooth deployment:
All three knives were very smooth in opening thanks to bronze phosphor bushings. Very nice. The larger the blade, the smoother it seemed. Be careful when drop-closing the XL.
Large finger groove (on Large and XL):
-I don't like the big index finger groove on these sizes. When I grip the knife in a hammer grip, my three other fingers have a secure purchase, but the large groove leaves my index finger "floating in mid-air". When holding the knife in that grip, I would prefer it if there were no large groove. It is, however, good for a grip with the thumb resting on the spine.
Fit and finish:
-All were quite good with no irritating or unexpected flaws apart from the slight vertical play on the Medium. Blade centering on all was decent, no troubles.
From smallest to largest:
Voyager XL (clip point):
The blade length on this is listed as 5.5", but it actually measures about 5.3". That kind of irked me, not that I cared about the exact measurement, but just that it smacks of laziness when a company doesn't bother to list the correct dimensions for its products. Anyways, this is a very large knife, measuring over a foot overall. Opening the knife is very satisfying - inertia opening is ridiculously easy (note this can be a bad thing depending on where you live), and conventional opening gives a large "thwack!" The blade is big and thus makes big cuts. It is 4mm thick but the height of the blade and the full flat grind means it still slices very nicely. It feels very light for its size. The bad part is the handle - such a large blade requires an even larger handle. The gripping part is actually straighter than the handle on the 4-inch Voyager. I found that this made it less comfortable to hold because of the large index finger groove ("choil"). It didn't seem to work as well as on the 4-inch version. It also has two finger grooves at the back and holding it here with the last two fingers in the grooves seems relatively comfortable and secure. The large handle is the knife's biggest drawback. It sticks out the back of my hand for almost 3 inches and just feels unwieldy. There are a number of grips you could take on such a large handle but none of them feel quite right. I feel this knife is more of a novelty or conversation piece, but it's still fun to have around and a good deal for under $60. At times I've seen them running for under $50. Strangely, the tip on the XL clip point is much thinner than on the Large Vaquero... it's the same thickness as the tip of a full flat grind Endura.
Large Voyager (Vaquero):
My favorite size. Still quite a large knife. Mine is a Vaquero because I liked the aesthetics. This blade shape cuts well and has quite a pointy tip. However the upswept tip isn't as nice to use as something lower and I find the entire blade too curvy both in use and in sharpening. I wouldn't even recommend this blade shape because it's a chore to sharpen - I usually like sharpening knives, but this upswept and recurved shape is a royal pain, and I had to reprofile it as well. However this model (and the Medium Vaquero too) is apparently out of production due to lack of sales - if you want one, grab one now. The handle feels great to hold with a thumb on the spine. For most normal uses the "thumb on spine" grip works great and is very comfortable. It is comfortable in reverse grip, too. When considering forward hammer grip, the index finger groove doesn't bother me as much on this knife compared to the XL because it feels more natural to choke back a tiny bit and avoid it. When trying the same on the XL it didn't feel as secure or natural. Also, on the Vaquero, it feels good to choke up and use the space created by the guard and ricasso as an impromptu "50/50 choil". This may not work quite as well on the clip-point version, but it would be do-able.
Medium Voyager (tanto):
This size is a bit too small for my hands. It still feels good, but it's a bit squished. The index finger groove is not an issue for me on this knife - it's very shallow compared to the others. This knife is much too thick-handled for its size, and it also doesn't open or close as easily as my other two models, especially when unlocking the Tri-Ad lock. This may be in part due to less purchase on the handle making it harder to depress the lockbar. On the plus side this did give a great impression of a "little tank" when I first held it. The short blade and the massively strong lock are quite cool, and given its short blade length there would be even less leverage on the lock than the larger two models (which seem to have no problem with that themselves). This is definitely not the most convenient knife, so in my opinion someone looking for a light EDC would be well-advised to pass it over (but someone looking for an affordable mini-tank should definitely get one). The tanto blade shape... I don't like it. I don't like to be worried about damaging the subtip when cutting things, and the point is thicker and doesn't penetrate as well as the other two blades. The subtip is just a bother. It does have one advantage, however - when slashing things the sharp subtip makes it act somewhat (somewhat) like a wharncliffe, because the bottom edge is essentially the same shape. This can help it cut into things quite easily, more so than a curved surface. I could see the potential application for self-defence and dealing with clothing, etc. Some people talk about how the American tanto aids "snap cuts" but I find that absolutely ridiculous when talking about a folding knife. Overall I don't think any perceived benefit is worth the overall annoyance of the blade shape, but each to their own. The high hollow grind cuts very nicely, seems thin behind the edge and gets very sharp.
When I bought these the Medium was about $35, the Large was under $45, and the XL was just over $60 (and only because the clip point cost $10 more than the tanto or Vaquero options). I think that's an excellent value and these knives should definitely be mentioned alongside the RAT-1 and Tenacious.
They do have some issues - the main points against them are that they're bulky, and the clips suck. However these are ridiculously strong and reliable knives for a pittance, they are very well built, and are just reliable "do anything" knives. The Large was my constant companion for a year or so and it definitely passed its test with flying colours. I really like the feeling of not worrying about damaging my knife's lockup. I almost never do dumb stuff or abuse my blades, but the extra peace of mind "just in case" is very nice.
Consider one.
). It's great. It is made very well, has generously thick G-10, and the steel is thick. The AUS-8 kinda sucks for edge retention, but resharpens with ease and gets very sharp. Lately, I've been using mine as a beater, and it takes abuse with stride. I dropped it the other day on pavement, and bent the tip. 
it looked like crap at first, but fixed easy.
