Nice for the price!
United Cutlery SOA
General Purpose: Self Defense/EDC/Heavy Cutting
Ratings out of 10
Sheath: 10/10
Blade:9/10
Handle: 8/10
Edge: 8/10
Durability: 10/10
United Cutlery has a record of giving you a decent blade for the price. The SOA is no exception. Overall size, this knife is great for a fighter/combat blade. It fits well in the hand in a standard or icepick grip, a little awkward if you prefer a saber grip. The micarta scares are tight and reasonably comfortable, secured with threaded star screws.
The edge comes out of the box sharp. Not "shaving sharp", but pretty close. A few minutes with a whetstone solves that. The blade IS stainless, so don't count on it to hold the worlds most exceptional edge for an extended period, but for a stainless blade, it's really nice. The titanium electroplate gives a nice finish to the blade and should provide excellent corrosion resistance.
The textured thumb and forefinger sections give nice control and a sure, standard grip. There IS a small recess behind the blade edge, but don't count on using it for close up work. You'll just end up with a cut in an uncomfortable place.
The kydex sheath is the real stand-out of this knife. The sheath is sturdy, thin, and light. The molding secures the knife solidly, with a minimum of rattle and no real play to speak of, yet does not interfere with a quick draw. The clip on the back is sturdy, and well made, and the bottom of the sheath has two holes for attaching lashings should you choose to wear it on the hip. The configuration of the sheath and the mounting of the clip lends itself best to a small-of-back carry with a 45 degree cant.
The knife is a bit short if you're looking for a survival/outdoor type blade,and is probably not the best for batoning, not because of the blade's strength, but based on length and shape. This is an example of a nice, single edged, fixed blade fighter. It has a blade short enough to be fast, but long enough for vital strikes. There is an unobtrusive lanyard hole at the base should you choose to use it, and enough metal exposed for a backhanded attack. The true, full tang construction should hold up well for both thrusts and cuts against soft targets, and the blade holds enough of an edge for utility cutting (rope, sticks, plastic, ect). Makes for a good, all around EDC knife if you prefer a fixed blade for every day carry.
While not what one might consider a "high end knife", you'll go a long way to find something comparable at this price line. This is a knife I would confidently carry for protection and every day tasks.
Great knife for the 20 dollar price point.
Regards,
"13"