WE Knife Co. Banter Review: Possibly the Best Blade on a $100 Budget

Don’t ignore the ‘Banter’ round this mighty folding knife. WE Knife Co. makes a robust case for an ideal EDC blade with a mixture of simplicity, value, and undeniably good metal.

Just just a few years in the past, you couldn’t purchase a pocket knife with S35VN metal, G-10 deal with scales, and ceramic bearings for lower than $200. But at the moment you should purchase the Ben Petersen–designed “Banter” from WE Knife Co. for simply over $100.

I introduced the Banter on my day-to-day adventures for a few weeks. The Banter proved a pleasing shock in its execution of each fashionable residing and out of doors duties.

As somebody who carries a bigger knife commonly, I’m all the time attempting to find out if it’s overkill. This mighty EDC has me believing that it is perhaps.

In quick: Available in a collection of various deal with supplies and blade end mixtures, the Banter finds itself within the candy spot of what the right EDC pocket knife ought to be. From dimension and form, to supplies and construct, the Banter exemplifies the trendy pocket knife when it comes to one thing you may take with you indoors, open air, and wherever else you may legally carry a knife.

WE Knife Co. Banter Review

Design and Features

The Banter is sized proper for each hand dimension — not too large, not too small — and based mostly on the design and construct is excellent for an on a regular basis carry pocket knife that you may depend on forever.

The Banter makes use of a chrome steel body and G10 deal with scales, making a inflexible construction that ought to stand up to use and abuse. The drop level blade has a flat grind and S35VN metal, which supplies wonderful edge retention, superior abrasion, and corrosion resistance.

The blade, body, and pocket clip are all stonewashed to additional improve the resistance to put on.

For opening and working, the Banter options ceramic bearings and a Titanium thumb stud for fast and straightforward, one-handed deployment. The liner lock retains the blade in place till you’re able to put it away, and there’s zero blade wobble.

First Impressions

Out of the field, the Banter might be one of many sharpest and smoothest working knives that I’ve ever gotten to make use of. The thumb stud and ceramic bearing combo enable the blade to flick out simply as quick and onerous as any assisted opening or auto knife I’ve ever had the pleasure of utilizing.

This retains the blade locked in place till you’re able to activate the liner lock and put it again in your pocket.

I carry a Benchmade Griptilian as my EDC and was initially involved that the Banter could be too small and fewer utilitarian. Boy, I’m glad I used to be flawed, as even with a big hand, this smaller knife features with surety and precision.

I’ll say that the liner lock takes just a little getting used to, however over the week, it both broke in or I bought used to it. It may show to be a problem with gloves, however I actually wouldn’t give it a second thought. I might quite have a tighter tolerance on a lock mechanism than have to fret concerning the blade closing beneath duress.

When it got here to carrying the Banter, I put it in my again pocket and it just about disappeared. This is what deep carry is at its most interesting. No one can see the knife and you’ll hardly really feel it, even when sitting.

In the Field

I relied on the Banter completely for every week for a collection of duties, each deliberate and spontaneous, indoor and out of doors.

I discovered that the fat-bellied drop level blade might full myriad duties effortlessly. The drop level blade form is probably the most common blade form, and if you couple it with a scalpel-sharp edge, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a job it could’t do.

I used to be capable of break down containers and slice by way of packaging with ease. When I bought the Banter out into the woods, I did all the pieces from prepping some kindling and fir sticks for a small hearth, to slicing up lunch.

I even had the chance to carve a pumpkin with it, and (apart from chopping myself) the expertise was significantly better than I assumed it might be. The S35VN metal and factory-sharp edge excelled carving up the gourd. And the Banter’s G10 supplied up loads of grip, even for arms lined in pumpkin sludge.

What’s extra, cleansing up this blade after use is as straightforward as wiping it down with a moist material — and letting it dry earlier than placing it away. A stonewashed blade will present loads of markings if you’re utilizing it, however it cleans up properly for its subsequent journey.

A be aware on S35VN metal: there’s a motive why it was coveted boutique metal for so long as it was, and I’m completely happy that we’re discovering it in additional mainstream purposes.

It’s a “set it and forget it” kind of metal, which makes it nice for knife customers of all types. It’ll keep sharp for an prolonged time frame and might be straightforward to resharpen when the time comes; requiring only some swipes in your stone to get it again to that manufacturing facility “pop.”

WE Knife Banter: Conclusion

With all the pocket knives out available in the market at the moment, choosing out the right EDC to your wants isn’t the simplest factor to do. So, to have a knife just like the Banter in the proper dimension and form, utilizing top-of-the-line supplies, and priced so properly is a house run for anybody searching for an EDC pocket knife.

On high of which, it’s low upkeep when it comes to each care and sharpening, and is authorized in virtually each state within the U.S.

Credit the place credit score is due: it’s greater than apparent that Ben Petersen did his homework when he sat down to attract this knife up. So a lot in order that the Banter is the kind of knife that I might count on each out of doors clothing store to hold.

FYI, if you wish to spend just a little further, WE Knife additionally affords the Banter within the following mixtures:

Carbon Fiber with Black Stonewashed S35VN 
Micarta with Black Stonewashed S35VN
Copper with 20CV
Cuibouritia Wood with Black Stonewashed S35VN

And, for those who’re in search of a bigger kind issue to your EDC knife, WE will quickly offer the Big Banter, which is 8.34 inches in total size with a 20CV blade that has a size of three.69 inches. The Big Banter might be supplied in a Black G10/Black Stonewash or with Green Micarta and Standard Stonewash.

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