Artisan Cutlery Darkwing Review: A Attractive, Sinister Slicer

If you need to discover the world of knives, beware: It is a slippery slope. In quick order, I went from somebody who solely owned a single Swiss Army Knife to having cabinets stuffed with fastened blades, folders, automatics, and an array of sharpening paraphernalia. And as my assortment has grown, so too has my mindset round knives.

Where initially I needed solely essentially the most helpful all-around knife — a blade whose many capabilities would dictate its kind — now I see knives the way in which I see bicycles or vehicles: Some are for on a regular basis utility, some are for exhausting work or a really particular atmosphere, and a few are simply plain enjoyable.

If the Artisan Cutlery Darkwing ($212-370) have been a automobile, I’d liken it to an MX-5 Miata. Some may suppose it’s foolish, some may suppose it’s glossy. But its efficiency outpaces its value, and above all else, it’s undeniably enjoyable. That’s most likely why it smashed its Kickstarter objective fortyfold earlier than it hit full manufacturing. I’ve been utilizing (and taking part in with) a pattern for a few weeks to see simply what it may possibly do, and who may discover it as enjoyable as I’ve.

In quick: There are extra sensible knives you may personal for each day carry, however only a few which can be as putting, succesful, and gratifying to make use of. For all its aesthetic grace and aggression, the Darkwing feels nice within the hand, requires little maintenance, and offers tons of each day utility. It shall be a ache to sharpen when the time comes, and it’s not up for bushcraft, however as a blade you’ll love to take a look at as a lot as use, it’s an actual winner.

Compare it with the most effective pocket knives in our information.

Artisan Cutlery Darkwing Review

This knife marks the replace to Artisan’s present Darkwing, which shares lots of the identical design cues however has some notable variations. For starters, the most recent Darkwing shifts from the unique’s body lock to a top-liner lock. Also, the brand new Darkwing makes a noteworthy replace to blade metal — choosing S90V rather than the earlier blade S35VN. I’ll dive into the professionals and cons of those adjustments under.

Most notably, nevertheless, is the dramatic enlargement of the Darkwing line into distinct aesthetic variants, every with refined materials variations. There are 4 manufacturing variants and one very restricted, luxurious iteration. I examined the BlackWing variant, which makes use of titanium deal with scales and has a black stonewashed end.

All iterations use the identical metal and have lots of the identical efficiency advantages, although different choices provide G10 deal with scales, glow-in-the-dark inlays, and/or a black DLC coating.

The restricted version BlingWing has a mirror-polished blade and trippy titanium Damascus deal with scales. It’s additionally practically $1,000.

Blade Shape & Steel

If you are taking out the Darkwing in public, irrespective of which variant you will have, it’s going to attract some feedback. Its swooping traces and aggressively angled blade are equal elements horny and sinister. If you don’t like calling consideration to your self, be discreet if you use it in public.

Artisan lists the blade form as a recurved tanto, and whereas that is technically true, I so badly need to name it a clip level. To make sure, it has a really aggressive piercing tip, however from there the blade edge traces a swooping stomach into an abrupt reduce. Near the choil, the blade appears to be like nearly like a flat edge, however there’s a refined concavity to it that defines the recurved tanto designation.

In use, this makes it excellent for piercing and paring, and the stomach makes for added slicing on cordage or, tipped ahead, charcuterie.

As for the metal, I couldn’t be happier that Artisan went with S90V. As I’ve devolved right into a full-on knife fanatic, I’ve realized which steels I desire. And regardless that I’ve loads of sharpeners, I actually respect a blade that holds an edge — that is S90V’s calling card. Out of the field, the Darkwing slid by means of a sheet of paper like a self-propelled mower over a placing inexperienced.

On the flip facet, when the time involves sharpen this knife, it’s going to be an train in endurance. The angles on the blade and the metal itself will make for gradual and deliberate work.

Handle

If I had my druthers, I’d go for canvas micarta each time. Its basic look and cheesy really feel are all the things I would like in a trusty knife. The titanium scales on the Darkwing are sort of the polar reverse of that — however I don’t hate them right here. Not solely is the titanium super-durable, it additionally retains the burden down. And past that, it simply works higher aesthetically. This is a tactical EDC, not some basic belt knife your grandfather handed down.

If there’s a draw back, it’s that the entire design is biased towards righties. Between the top-liner button and the pocket clip, this knife isn’t made for lefties.

Lock, Action

I don’t dislike body locks, however the top-liner is extra satisfying and can reduce in your Band-Aid price range. Coupled with the ceramic bearings, the Darkwing opens and locks up with ease. There’s zero blade play, although I did loosen the pivot screw the tiniest quantity to alleviate some blade hesitation when urgent the button launch.

As for opening, the beneficiant cutout makes it straightforward to flick the blade open. I’ve giant arms, however the cutout affords loads of house for my thumb. And that’s good as a result of I really feel just like the thumb studs are pointless. They’re so near the pivot, there’s nearly no leverage to get the blade open. I can assure that if you open the knife, you’ll use the cutout and overlook the thumb studs are even there.

If something, I feel the knife is begging for a flipper. I discover myself reaching for it, but it surely’s not there. Still, the cutouts are satisfying, if a bit slower.

Testing

During the two weeks I’ve had the Darkwing, I’ve put it to work as an EDC. This included a preliminary paper check that was so satisfying, I had a number of sheets’ price of paper strips littering my flooring. I additionally used the sharp level to attain some marks in lumber, pierce and slice by means of some airtight product packaging, and lower by means of some paracord.

The Darkwing is an absolute champ — I additionally know the recurve edge shall be nice for paring and shaving. It’s decidedly not a bushcraft knife — the lock received’t baton, and the tip received’t maintain as much as heavy prying — however you can whittle one heck of a marshmallow stick.

Conclusion: Pricing, Availability, Who It’s For

Excluding the BlingWing, the Darkwing variants — BlackWing, ToughWing, GloWing, and HellWing — vary in value from $212 to $370 (early chook Kickstarter buy-ins can be found till June 18). It’s not a price range blade, however the metal, coupled with the titanium structure, ceramic bearings, and distinctive aesthetic, justifies the value.

It’s not for everybody. I wouldn’t say it needs to be somebody’s first knife or their single-quiver choice. But when you’re like me and have realized what you need in a each day carry and may respect the design and supplies decisions behind a novel blade, it is a enjoyable, fierce folder.