Since 2000, WE Knife Company has been changing the way many of us think about knives. It’s easy to get stuck in your ways with trusted brands like Buck and Boker that stand on such histories of excellence and repute. Even newer companies like Cold Steel are well renowned for the quality of their products, outrageous marketing stunts notwithstanding.

It’s also not so easy to take an honest and unbiased look at a newer brand, especially one produced out of the United States, and regard it without bias.

Be that as it may, it’s safe to say that WE Knife Company has deserved our respect. It’s one of our top-selling brands and today is one of the most respected contemporary knife brands in the industry. They do their own R&D, design and develop their own products, and use the best, high quality materials and technology in manufacturing.

Let’s take a look at the WE Knife Banter with an S35VN straight edge blade and blue G10 handles, which is one of the best-selling WE Knives on our website.

Specs
First up, let’s get some specs out of the way.

●Blade length: 2.9”
●Closed length: 3.62”
●Overall length: 6.52”
●Weight: 3.86 ounces
●Blade thickness: .1”
●Hardness: 59-61 HRC
●Handle thickness: .45”
●Handle material: G10
●Blade steel: S35VN
●Deployment: Caged ceramic ball bearing via a blue titanium thumb stud
●Lock mechanism: Liner lock
●Carry method: Right-handed, tip-up carry via a pocket clip.

A Strong Lock and Good Ergonomics
One of the first things we noticed about this knife is its angular features. It’s handsome and stately, but even with its electric blue G10 scales, it’s not overly flashy.

Some knives have hard angles, which this knife lacks. For all its geometry, it carries comfortably, either in the pocket or in the hand. There are no noticeable hot spots - which might change if we put the knife to hard use, but it feels comfortable for light work.

It indexes naturally, and despite the fact that it only allows for right hand, tip-up carry, you still have the flexibility to let it float in a pocket, which is what we did forever before pocket clips were common anyway.

Deployment is remarkably smooth thanks to the caged ball-bearing mechanism that is partially shielded from dust and other debris. It opens readily via the attractive blue titanium thumb stud, and lockup is sound and secure, with little play in the blade.

Once opened, the knife indexes naturally and it balances well and is comfortable in the hand. One of the great things about this knife is the fact that the liner lock is slightly recessed but still accessible. It’s “far enough back” that accidental disengagement is unlikely, but it’s still accessible if need be.

We also like the spear point which is highly versatile and can be used for carving and drilling if need be. It’s strong like a drop point and maneuverable like a clip point without any loss of strength. There is also plenty of length along the straight edge blade for making precise, sweeping cuts.

We also like the fact that it has a lanyard hole, so you can add one if you so choose. This gives you another option for personalizing or carrying your knife.

About S35VN Steel
Hype about WE Knife Company notwithstanding, what makes this knife a real winner is the steel. That’s also the reason we chose this WE Banter over all the others on our website - which are also top sellers!

It’s the S35VN steel that defines this knife and is gaining ground among a class of so-called super-steels that are exceptionally tough, hard, and corrosion resistant - a feat that old-timers have said was (and some still claim is) impossible.

It’s all about chemistry and heat treatment. It has a relatively high carbon content at 1.4%, and it also contains the following elements:

●Chromium: 14%
●Vanadium: 3%
●Molybdenum: 2%
●Niobium: .5%

The VN in S35VN is a reference to the fact that this steel contains molybdenum and niobium, both of which lend their characteristics to this steel, and while molybdenum is not particularly rare in steel alloys, niobium is.

So what do all these elements offer? Well, for one thing, the high carbon content is chiefly remarkable for allowing this steel to take an excellent heat treatment and making it much harder. This enables it to have the excellent edge-retention for which S35VN is well known. It’s hard to sharpen, but it holds an edge for a long time.

The downside of high carbon content is that the harder steel gets, the more brittle it gets. That’s where the vanadium, molybdenum, and niobium come into the picture. Molybdenum and vanadium form carbides which also harden the steel, but they also increase the steel’s toughness significantly. That is, they may it much more resilient to cracking, snapping, or shattering under stress - they also reduce the likeliness that the edge will chip.

As for the niobium, it produces carbides with the carbon that both strengthen and harden the steel, particularly along the edge. This enables S35VN to maintain an edge for much longer than comparable steels like S30V. Pair this with the corrosion-resistant properties lent by the high chromium content and you have a steel alloy that is strong, hard, tough, and won’t easily tarnish - a great thing by any stretch.

About G10
The other calling card of this knife is G10, which constitutes the scales. Even though the S35VN blade takes most of the spotlight, there’s still room for us to appreciate the G10 scales, which are not only attractive but amazingly resilient.

G10, which is an extremely durable fiberglass laminate produced under pressure, is strong, wear-resistant, effectively impervious to corrosion, and is nearly completely non-absorbent. Let’s unpack some of these key features.

This material is exceptionally strong but also not prone to breaking or chipping. In fact, it is extremely resistant to impact, abrasion, and stress, especially when used as a knife scale material the function of which is primarily to add grip and not strength.

It is also corrosion and decay-resistant, unlike natural materials like steel or copper which will rust or tarnish, or stacked leather, wood, bone, or antler that will dry out and crack if not maintained properly. Moreover, G10 is practically non-absorbent, so it will not soak up liquids like oil, grease, fat, blood, water, or sweat. This is an added bonus because it retains much of its tactility even when wet.

Pair a set of scales that is grippy and bombproof while still remaining visually attractive with a super-steel and a practical knife profile, and you have one of the best-selling WE Knives on our website!

Is It the Best WE Knife? Decide for Yourself!
While it is one of the best-selling WE Knives on our website, we can’t tell you what to like, and choosing an EDC knife is a highly personal experience. It has to work for you - not the other way around. Perhaps you’d prefer a stronger knife with a frame lock or a knife design that is suitable for a particular craft or trade.

Our collection of cool pocket knives and favorite picks includes many other brands in addition to WE, such as Artisan Cutlery, CJRB, Gerber, Victorinox, ESEE, Zero Tolerance, and Spyderco, among others (visit our complete collection of knife brands to see them all). We carry a huge variety in our collection - so whether you’re looking for a black stonewashed blade with carbon fiber scales or something with a bead blast and black titanium furniture, we have something for you.

Check out our collection for more examples of popular highlights from WE Knife Company and contact us at WhiteMountainKnives@Gmail.com if you have any questions.