Hissatsu Folder
Review by Phil Elmore
The James Williams-designed
Hissatsu folder carries on in locking, folding form what the original
Hissatsu fixed blade started. Specifically, these are guardless,
needle-tipped fighting knives produced by Columbia River Knife and
Tool, based on a design that is in turn based on an original design
that was created by Williams and originally marketed as a much more
expensive fixed-blade. The allure of this Japanese-inspired blade rests
largely in its lethal aesthetics, for there is no doubt that this is a
fighting blade and not a utility knife.
According to the official CRKT website, the Hissatsu folder has a
3.875-inch blade of AUS 8 steel, with a 5-inch handle. The
locking mechanism is a stainless steel “InterFrame” with 420J2 liners.
The knife has black Zytel (textured plastic) handle scales, a
Teflon-plated staineless steel pocket clip, and a thumb disk for
ambidextrous opening. When opened, the knife blade springs
through the remainder of its travel arc tahnks to the “Outburst”
assisted opening system. CRKT’s patented AutoLAWKS safety backs
up the locking liner by blocking the mechanism automatically when the
blade is opened. The company claims this makes the knife a
“virtual fixed blade, which is important in high-stress
rapid-deployment situations.”
In day-to-day carry, the Hissatsu is a fairly impressive and hefty
folder that could do double-duty as both palm-stick bludgeon and
fighting blade. It is large, no doubt, but its nice, wide pocket
clip helps it to ride comfortably in my pocket. The clip had good
tension out of the box and is curved properly for ease of draw and
replacement, though it will shift a little in its housing (due to the
single-screw design). I put some sandpaper-texture stair tape on
my daily carry Hissatsu’s clip to make the draw from the pocket more
secure, but this is not essential. The light texturing on the Zytel
handle scales is sufficient to provide a fairly secure grip in the hand
without being distracting. While the handle itself is basically square,
it is nicely rounded at the corners and feels reasonably ergonomic.
Opening the knife requires a very firm push on the thumb disk.
Once started, the blade travels the rest of the way open thanks to the
Outburst system. The blade locks open firmly, with absolutely no play,
and the liner (or frame, depending on how you look at it) engages the
blade tang fully and with room to spare. The knife is configured for
tip-up carry only, but the clip can be reversed for left-hand use. The
knife is held together with Torx screws.
The blade shape and needle tip make this knife an excellent slasher
and deep penetrator. It is ground on both sides. I tested
it against a variety of heavy cardboard stacks, plastic barrels, and
even some hollow-core doors. It performed well, cut deeply, and
retained its edge sufficiently for use as a tactical folder. I
also used my knife to open mail and packages (by far the most common
knife-related activity for me, as I get a large volume of mail that has
to do with my various projects). It resharpened easily with the
diamond rod hone I keep on hand.
As a “tactical” blade, the knife just feels good. It moves
well, though the lack of the guard (and anything that can substitute
for one) will pose a concern to some users who do not like that style
of knife. Its weight makes it a great pocket or palm-stick, and it hits
hard when closed. The rounded ends are perfect for these techniques.
The AutoLAWKS is a reassuring feature and of course I could not make
the lock fail no matter how hard I tried. The Hissatsu can still
be closed one-handed, though it is a little awkward to do so. You must
use one finger to disengage the AutoLawKS while using another to
disengage the primary lock, then start the blade closed before
releasing either locking mechanism.
The Hissatsu, as a purpose-built tactical blade that can be pressed
into service as a utility knife, is as much a choice of style as it is
a choice of features. I’m quite enamored of mine and I believe
you will like the knife, too, provided guardless fighters are something
you appreciate. >>