There’s no better way to get a solid review of the gear you want to purchase than reaching out to a friend. Someone you can trust to give you honest feedback on the item you plan to purchase with your hard-earned cash. With that in mind, SKILLSET presents you with Revolution Review, an honest review of the hottest everyday carry gear to hit the streets. So what better way to find out if this is the best fixed blade knife for you and your wallet? Reviews for the people By the people!
The Best Fixed Blade Knife?
We reached out to three trustworthy patriots to rundown this exceptional offering from Outlier Knife Co. Rob “FILO” Cabrera and the boys at Outlier Knives outdid themselves with a unique “SKILLSETFAM” version of their latest and greatest Fang V3 offering.
Here’s what they had to say:
The rules: Use the knife for 30 days in your EDC routine. Write an honest Review.
The Female Knife Enthusiast – Cat Cabrera
Get this, I saw a TikTok earlier this week, and someone not much older than me was talking about how the older she’s gotten, the safer she chooses to be. I can’t tell if it’s age or society that’s triggering our need to feel safe. Still, as a woman in her mid-twenties, I often find myself calculating my plans based on the level of safety produced in the environment and the community I’ll be spending my time with.
If there’s any room for trouble, I often take a step back and ask myself if it’s worth it. The thing about trouble, it can find you anywhere. My daily routine is pretty standard, work, school, home- I spend most of my week on a university campus, and my spare time is spread between workout classes and family dinners. I’m naturally a creature of habit, and my everyday carry is in my purse no matter what. My work environment won’t allow a firearm, so I revert back to my foundation, blades.
I was raised by a martial arts instructor who made knives; social awareness wasn’t an option. The first thing my dad ever taught me was how to pray, and the second was, “Rule Number One: Don’t trust anybody. Rule Number Two: Go back to rule number one.” Safety was the baseline of survival at the house, Dad believed your best weapon was the one that sat between your shoulders, but knives made it that much easier.
The Knife Review
As I’ve gotten older and my life has gotten busier, I seem to run through my collection and always lean toward one of my personal favorites. I’ve chosen to carry an Outlier Knife Co. Fang. It’s petite in size but bold in bite. I’m one of those girls that often lives out of her bag, so adding one more thing always makes me cringe. I take size and weight into consideration for my blades, so I often go with light and sharp- because, believe it or not, that’s just enough.
I’ve carried the Fang since my early college days and have found that it’s the best option for a purse or even for a book bag. Its size will conceal perfectly inside of a pocket or even slide perfectly on the inside of the sling. There’s barely any added weight, and it can even be a safe option for a mom who might have little fingers rummaging for snacks. Its Kydex sheath and versatile utility clips make it easy to install and go. Whether it’s opening a box, popping a cold one, or proving you’re not the average chic, find an everyday carry blade you’re comfortable with to elevate your street game and break the cycle.
The Survivalist – Kevin Estella
“Want to try out a new knife from Outlier Knife Company?” my editor asked me. The only correct answer to that is, “F*#k yeah!”. Shortly after, the Fang shows up in my mail, complete with Skillset logos on the handle and the sheath.
As an instructor with Fieldcraft Survival, I get to use knives in all different ways. For this review, I clipped it to my pants for EDC over the course of a few weeks and used it for breaking down boxes, prying off bottle caps from nitro stout, and cutting up various types of meat for our company morale-building cookouts.
The Knife Review
The knife is small enough to forget about but big enough for a secure purchase. I didn’t find many uses for the hole in the butt of the knife and was confused if it was an oversized lanyard hole or a karambit loop for little people. Having just shy of an inch of exposed steel, I could use it as a light pry bar as long as I kept the blade sheathed. The jimping on the spine was well done and comfortable against the pad of my thumb, leaving no blisters.
I love that Outlier used 80crV2 for the steel as it is more rust-resistant than many other carbon steels, and it holds a great edge. It was very easy to keep it keen with a diamond and ceramic rod. The knife doesn’t have a sharp 90-degree spine for use as a Ferro rod scraper, but in my opinion, this isn’t a bushcraft blade. After my initial EDC of the blade, I placed the Fang V3 in my vehicle, and it found a use for all sorts of random cutting tasks, like cutting target backers out of cardboard boxes and scraping caked-on mud from the inside of my wheel wells.
The Ulti-clip attachment for the sheath was chunky and not my preference for low-profile clips, but I’ll admit it held the knife sheath securely to my pants pocket. The Fang is definitely a well-made knife and a great addition to the EDC game.
The Average Joe – Klint Fletcher
I am not a fixed blade guy for my EDC; I hadn’t found one that met my needs and didn’t leave me feeling like I was printing like a Kinko’s. On the other hand, you can almost always find one in my truck, day pack, or go-bag. This was until I got my hands on the Outlier Fang.
This knife’s full tang fits my hand in a slim manner without feeling like a toothbrush. I can grip it firmly and use it as needed without issue. The G10 scales give the heft needed to use it without the worry of slippage in everyday tasks. The all-black sheath, handle, and blade easily blend into my neutral color and lack of fashion scheme.
However, my favorite part of the blade is the edge it holds. I love using my paper wheel sharpener, and I usually have to hit my frequently used knives about once every two months. The Fang still hasn’t needed it, and it cuts everything like butter (3 months in).
The one item I would modify is the can opener by removing it. All in all, I would recommend the Fang and make sure you snag an accessory for the sheath. I had the multi clip, and that was perfect for my needs. Great entry-level EDC knife at a great price point.
All The Details On The Fixed Blade Knife
WEBSITE Outlierknifeco.com
INSTAGRAM @outlierknifeco
Blade: Outlier Knife Fang V3
Price: $125.99
Features:
One of Outlier’s best sellers, the Fang V3 is the perfect knife for EDC. Made from high-quality 80CRV2, the Fang is perfectly sized, ruggedly strong, and holds one dangerous edge! Outlier Director Rob Cabrera (Read more about the designer) had two things in mind when creating this blade: value and versatility. Whether your day involves scraping head gaskets, field dressing game, or commanding respect behind the grill while popping brews with the fellas, this hardworking blue-collar blade can do it all. With textured G10 scales and a beautiful thermoplastic sheath, be sure to add a Safe Lok or Ulti Clip for multiple carrying options.
