Southwire might not be the first name that comes to mind when you’re looking for a new knife. They recently expanded with their EdgeForce lineup and there are definitely some points worth talking about. Each new Southwire pocket knife is very different from the other but they do have one thing in common: D2 steel blades.
Pros
- D2 steel blade
- Multiple blade style/size options
- Excellent value
Cons
- No bearing or spring assist to help deployment
Recommendation
Unless you’re a knife snob that needs a smooth assisted deployment (and there’s nothing wrong with that), the price alone should have you bringing at least one of these Southwire pocket knives home with you.
A Little Bit About D2
D2 steel often pops up in comparison to S30V – a “super steel”. It isn’t quite as hard or tough as S30V, but it’s not very far behind. D2 is semi-stainless, lacking the 13%+ chromium level to earn the full stainless rating.
The plus side is that D2 steel is less expensive than S30V by a pretty significant margin. You trade off some corrosion resistance, a little edge retention, and a little extra brittleness for lower costs. The good news is that it’s not dropping all the way down to a pure mid-grade level like 8Cr13MoV. It’s a nice blend of performance and value.
Pro Tip: Take all steel blends with a grain of salt. A high-quality mid-range steel can outperform a cheaply sourced high-end blend. Often, cheap knockoffs use low quality steel and won’t have the durability of a reputable brand.
Blade Designs
The new Southwire pocket knife models come in three sizes and blade styles.
TBKND2-CAMO
- 8.18 inches open
- 3.45-inch blade
- Partially serrated tanto style
- Stonewash finish
See the full specification list here.
DPKD2
- 7.91 inches open
- 3.26-inch blade
- Plain edge drop point style
- Stonewash finish
See the full specification list here.
CSPKD2
- 6.44 inches open
- 2.58-inch blade
- Plain edge sheepsfoot style
- Stonewash finish
See the full specification list here.
Of these options, I prefer the drop point style blade and the size and shape of the handle it’s on. The Polk County, Florida redneck in me likes the Mossy Oak pattern on the tanto style. All that to say that there will be some preferences to work out.
My recommendation is to start with the blade style that’s most useful to you, followed by size, and then color.
Can You Handle It?
Each Southwire pocket knife handle has a curve of some degree in the handle and none of them feel uncomfortable to hold at all. The base of each handle has an area of rubber overmolding that gives a little extra security to your grip. It has a nice feel to it, but I wish it wrapped around the handle to hit more contact points on my hand when it’s open.
All three knives use a reasonable clip, though the sheepsfoot one is a little weaker than the other two. Both the sheepsfoot and drop point models can switch to a tip-down carry if you like. You won’t be able to flip sides for left-hand carry.
Each one also has a tether hole in the back.
Deployment and Locking
If you’re a knife snob, deployment is where I’ll lose you. There’s no spring or bearing assist on these knives. You use a thumb stud to give you one-handed opening, but you can definitely feel the resistance.
Each Southwire pocket knife uses a liner lock. My biggest concern with liner locks, in general, is when they fail to shift over far enough to really lock the blade in place. Southwire does a nice job with their designs to let the lock slide into the middle of the blade.
The exception is the smaller sheepsfoot. The lock slides over effectively, but it doesn’t shift quite as far as the other two. Still, I don’t foresee a safety issue with it.
Price and Value
Here’s the MSRP breakdown for these three knives:
- Camo Tanto EdgeForce: $30 .32
- Drop Point EdgeForce: $22.98
- Sheepsfoot EdgeForce: $19.98
In the tool industry, Milwaukee is a popular choice for a D2 knife. Those run $70 – $92, depending on the design. D2 knives from manufacturers that primarily stick around the blade world start around $33 (on sale) and can run well over $500.
The point is, getting your hands on D2 knives for less than $30 is a steal.
The Bottom Line
The D2 steel Southwire pocket knife lineup fits where most other Southwire tools do – they use quality materials and get them in your hands at a great price. Deployment isn’t going to rock your world. But if you’re looking for a knife that holds an edge well and not just to open and close mindlessly during the weekly planning meeting (guilty), Southwire EdgeForce knives are built to work.
