We’ve covered quite a few of our favorite Kizer knives in recent blogs. For instance, we’ve reviewed several Kizer pocket knives, Kizer Towser K, Sheepdog XL, and of course the Begleiter (everyone’s favorite) in recent months.

We also recently published a list of ten of the top ten best Kizer Cutlery knives a little while back.

All of those are excellent knives and any of them might rightly be called the best Kizer knife, but we’re back with another feature review of the Mathew Christensen-designed Kizer Critical - which might also be called the best Kizer knife of the lot.

They’re available in a few different configurations, but this focus will be on the WMK-exclusive Kizer Critical which you can see via the previous link.

This is what it offers and why we think it just might be the best.

WMK Exclusive Kizer Critical: Basic Specs

This Kizer Critical is 7.3125” overall, with a 4.3125” handle and a 2.8” blade that is .118” thick. It’s 3.63oz, making it perfect as an EDC knife.

It features a lanyard hole and a deep-carry, tip-up pocket clip on the right side of the knife.

Blade Profile: Sheepsfoot/Reverse Tanto

This Kizer knife has an atypical blade profile, unlike the textbook perfect straight back of the Begleiter and sheepsfoot of the Sheepdog XL.

Rather, this blade profile is somewhere between a reverse tanto point, like the CJRB Maileah, and a sheepsfoot, like the Sheepdog XL.

In lieu of a gentle slope to the point, the spine is clipped away on an angle, creating a very fine point that is reinforced by the thick blade stock behind it.

This results in an interesting balance of attributes. It leaves a very fine point that is still great for piercing, carving, and other detail work while remaining very strong.

This makes this Kizer pocket knife uniquely suited to rough work and has a tip that is very unlikely to break or chip, even when used roughly. It also makes the knife very useful as a wedge or for slicing.

Blade Material: CPM3V

It’s not just the blade profile of this Kizer Critical that deserves praise. The blade steel deserves no small share of credit, either.

This one is made with CPM3V steel. This alloy contains high concentrations of vanadium and chromium, with decent helpings of carbon and molybdenum as well.

The high concentration of chromium, at 7.5%, helps create an alloy that offers great corrosion resistance.

But before you get jittery, this is not a soft steel. With .8% carbon, it can take an impressive heat treatment, resulting in excellent edge retention, without becoming prohibitively difficult to sharpen.

Vanadium is present at a healthy concentration of 2.75%, with molybdenum coming in behind at 1.3%. Together, these two elements back up carbon, making the steel harder and stronger.

They also - specifically vanadium - make the steel much, much tougher and more impact resistant. While it is hard and has excellent edge retention, CPM3V steel is unlikely to chip, crack, shatter, or roll, even when dropped or struck.

That makes this steel a decently affordable option (as super steels go) to be carried in a wide variety of settings and used for many applications without too much concern as to its well-being.

Handle Scales: Micarta

This Kizer Critical is made with Micarta scales, whereas several other configurations are made with carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber may be light and strong, but it is not as durable as Micarta, which for all intents and purposes is bombproof.

Yes, Micarta is dense and heavy. But it is utterly impervious to the elements. It is moisture-proof, oil-proof, and temperature-proof, as well as sunlight-stable.

It will not absorb liquids or break down, and it will not corrode, nor is it susceptible to decay like natural materials.

Also, Micarta has a natural texture that many consider superior to alternatives like carbon fiber, which makes it super-grippy in a wide variety of conditions, even when wet or in extreme cold.

Deployment

The original Critical is made with thumb studs. This one is made with thumb holes that change the character slightly, which some users prefer, and which, like dual thumbstuds, are friendly to both north and southpaws. It also features a flipper tab

The action is very smooth and the lockup is sure thanks to the liner lock which is nicely recessed while remaining easy enough to disengage.

Ergonomic Notes

While that basically covers most of the specifications and features of the knife, there are a number of ergonomic notes we should make that give this Critical a good chance in the running as the “best” Kizer knife out there.

One is the size (and weight), although that is not exclusive to this model. The Kizer has a really tough blade shape and a great steel for EDC, without being too expensive. It’s also not so small that it will balk at big jobs, nor too large to be cumbersome. Sometimes, that’s precisely what you need for EDC.

The knife also feels pretty secure in the hands and has just the right dimensions to make it well-suited for a wide range of tasks.

As for grip, it has a fairly deep choil machined into the handle scales and liners that serves to protect your fingers and index your grip, in lieu of a crossguard - although the flipper tab serves as a surrogate crossguard once opened.

The knife also has adequate jimping along the spine that works to provide a secure grip and allows the user to creep his or her thumb up along the spine for more control of the blade and point.

This, paired with the natural tack of the Micarta grips, is a great combo.

All in all, it’s a great Kizer knife. You might even call it the best.

Is It the Best Kizer Knife? Only One Way to Find Out…

Wondering if this might be the best Kizer knife? The only way to find out is to get one for yourself and see how you like it.

Of course, if it doesn’t appeal to you, that doesn’t mean there isn’t something in our Kizer catalog that will. Check out their quality knives before you go to see for yourself.