Knife review Steel Will C22 Cutjack

-  as good as its reputation

It's always interesting with new knife brands. Steel Will is by now not entirely new on the market but new to me in that I never owned or even handled any of their products. With that in mind, you can start worse than with the Cutjack. It has become a best-seller and I can see why. For that reason, it can also be had in a series of different versions. As large, as "mini" and with different colors on the handle and with a couple of steel alternatives to choose from. 

This is the basic version which means the larger format with handles in black FRN and with a blade made of D2-steel. 

Steel Will C221BK Cutjack

This knife is part of what Steel Will calls their "Urban-series" which gives a clear idea about the intended area of use. Cutjack is simply put aiming at being an EDC-knife. Because of that, the idea is to have a versatile blade and a handle that is a balance between ergonomics and how carryable the knife is going to be. Maybe with an emphasis on the latter. The question is how well they have succeeded?

Cutjack in "original configuration", which means the larger version with sides in black FRN and a blade made of D2-steel

Twitter version: Veni, Vidi, Vici - Steel Will Cutjack, the knife that came, saw and conquered

Blade

Cutjack has a blade that is no doubt a variation of a well-known theme. A slightly modified drop point with a distinct swedge as the dissipation. It runs along the entire blade spine and terminates in a smaller thumb ramp. The belly of the blade reflects the arched back of the handle. The satin finish on the blade is very shiny. Something that makes it hard to take pictures of I might add.  

A simple and practical blade that looks good due to well-balanced proportions

The blade measures 89 mm in length and is 30 mm high. The stock thickness is kept to, in this context, modest 3 mm. Another feature that is characteristic for the blade is a serious forward choil. It is big enough even to accommodate even my fingers, which is appreciated. If you are going to add this kind of element to a knife you can do it properly.

The steel found on this version is the nowadays so popular D2. In that area Steel Will jumped on the bandwagon early and when most budget knives a couple of years ago were equipped with stainless "number steels" like 8Cr- and the like they did deviate with this tool steel.

D2 is in my eyes both a hit and a miss. Generally, it takes a keen edge at least as good or better than 8Cr13MoV and holds that edge considerably longer. So it is basically better steel.

But then again, it was the issue with stains and rust. Ok, it doesn't turn brown within fifteen minutes or so since D2 is regarded as "semi-stainless". But that "stainless" is to be taken with a proper amount of salt. My experience of this steel from various brands tells me that they tend to develop stains that are hard to get rid of. If you don't mind that kind of "patina" there are no problems. But I, therefore, prefer more rust-resistant (stainless) steels like for instance 14C28N over D2 for that reason.

But if you are going to use D2 as a material this is the way to do it. That is, make it polished. That gives a more stain-resistant surface and this far the blade has kept nice and clean without any discoloration.

The D2-steels are here to stay and dominates the lower price categories

The factory edge was quite even, not perfect but for the price level more than adequate. It shaved hair with relative ease, which is without pressure. It can be said that this version of D2 is easy to maintain with the help of a sharpening rod and a strop. That is because the blade is thin behind the edge. That property facilitates all practical work by the way. Cutjack lives up to the prefix "cut" in the name. The blade is as effective as it looks. That applies whether you cut wood, plastic or cardboard.

However, it's no knife for whittling and carving but the blade shape, as well as the thin handle, tells you that just by looking at the knife. That said, it is a well made and designed blade so you can cut wood, both dried and fresh. Cutjack just isn't the best at it.

What the knife really shines at is cutting softer materials, everything from cardboard to cheese. That can partly be explained by the fact that the grind is very high but not fully flat. That creates a small shoulder between the flat parts of the blade and the primary edge. That little surface makes the materials stick less to the blade.

For those who don't understand why kitchen knives exist, I can happily tell you that the Cutjack is a decent stand-in for being a folding knife. There are no areas where this knife makes a fool of itself.

Overall, this knife feels just as it looks, competent.

Handle

If you looked at and handled knives made out of similar materials and construction you recognize the basics. Cutjack can be compared with for instance a Spyderco Endura when it comes to how it's put together. As a foundation, you find steel liners and on the outside sides made of some FRN-material. The handle of this knife is overall well made. There are no big gaps och irregularities to speak of and the finish is mostly good.

One extra nice detail is the pivot that seems to be made for this knife, not just your standard, out of the box screw. Such small things elevate the overall impression.

The frame is drilled out to make the knife lighter and better the balance. Because of that, the knife weighs in at a decent 120 grams and the point of balance can be found just behind the flipper tab. Rather neutral that is.

Despite being thin the handle of the Cutjack fills the hand rather well

The only real negative I noticed about the construction is the insides of the scales that were too sharp. That goes both for the back- and the bottom of the knife. The rims of the handle not only are perceived as sharp but they also make the knife feels more "plastic". The material is, to begin with not as dense as the material in the aforementioned Spyderco and that is more apparent where it's thin. A quick overhaul with some fine sandpaper took care of that detail. And with a bit more rounded corners the knife all of a sudden feels way more solid. 

The pattern gives good traction without being too coarse

For increased traction and a more secure grip, there is a gear-pattern on the back-spacer and some fine grooves on the thumb ramp. That stops the knife from acting like a wet soap and stays in hand even if you got cold and wet hands. The pattern on the handle scales also gives traction even if it's not as harsh as say Spydercos "Bi-directional"-pattern or Benchmades Griptilians. But that is a good thing as far as I am concerned. In this case, the shape of the handle itself is sufficient to provide a firm grip.

The handle of the Cutjack is large enough to accommodate most hands and is equipped with a forward choil that actually works 

The arching back of the handle follows the inside of the hand in a good way both when the knife is held in a hammer- or in a saber grip. The thumb naturally finds its place in the latter grip and the same is true if you are using the forward finger choil. Both when doing so and when you apply some force the clip is barely noticeable and that is a big plus for a knife that aims at being practical.

Overall, this is a really good handle in my opinion. What could have done better is possible if it were wider, but then again that would have made the knife not as "pocket-friendly". It is a balancing act that must always be made when it comes to making folding knives. 

Opening and Lock 

As a flipper operated knife the Cutjack gets average rating from me. As a knife enthusiast, you have undoubtedly been a bit spoiled over time. Manufacturers just getting better and better at making flipper tabs with the right shape and geometry and also at "cheating" with ball bearings. Everything to achieve that "magic" opening. No bearings are found in this knife though. Instead, Steel Will opted for phosphor-bronze bushings which I consider to be the correct choice for this kind of knife. A practical everyday partner is not elevated by having a lot of small parts that sooner or later require service. For utility knives, ball bearings are a blast, to say the least. Not everyone is a knife enthusiast who likes to dismantle their knives for "maintenance" all the time despite what some YouTube reviewers want us to believe.

The flipper tab is rather large and has some grooves at the top for increased traction. 
Despite that, you can miss deploying the blade from time to time

The flipper tab provides enough traction for your finger not to slip off and the general geometry gives the blade enough speed to make for a secure but not entirely "play-friendly" action. The blade is not fast enough simply put. However, it should be said that it is possible to miss the opening if you aren't committed enough.

The flipper tab can be actuated both by a push-button or a light-switch motion. But the knife can't actually be opened with two hands. There is too little of a very polished and thereby slick blade sticking out to grip hard enough to battle the detent ball. 

Safety is provided by a well-made liner lock

Cutjack has a liner lock that is very solid and locks without any problems. There is no detectable play in any direction and no slipping from negative pressure on the blade either. Releasing the lock causes no problems whatsoever. Easier access to the lock bar is facilitated by a recess in the opposite handle slab. There are some grooves on the lock bar itself so that the thumb doesn't slide off.

All in all, a very good liner lock. 

To Carry

Cutjack is one of those knives that really lives up to the prefix "pocket" in pocketknife. It just makes for a good carry and I can imagine that little brother, the Mini Cutjack is even better at that.

Big brother Cutkack is not entirely small measuring 11,5 centimeters lengthwise. But it is both light and slim. Well, not extremely so but more than decent. The thickness is around 11 millimeters. That gives small volume and the arched back in combination with the angle of the clip keeps the flipper tab out of the way. Something that I highly appreciate since my keys most often accompany the main knife in the right front pocket of my jeans. No matter what you keep in your pockets it's not a pleasant experience to get your hand scratched every time you retrieve something from there.

The Clip might not win any beauty contests but in return, it works just fine

Then there was the clip.  The looks might not be exuberant but in return, it is extremely well functioning. Not far away from Spydercos spoon-shaped clip and that is a compliment. 

The polished clip combined with a good portion of the handle
sticking out of the pocket makes for a less discreet carry

For the left-handed people out there I can happily tell you that the clip can be changed to the other side of the knife.

Once in place, the clip does what a clip is supposed to. It keeps the knife in place so that you can reach it and not lose it. It also makes for a relatively easy draw. I say "relatively" since the friction from the handle material offers some resistance. The knife sits rather deep in the pocket but the clip is not of the deep carry variety. Some knife is visible as can be seen in the picture above.

But it's rather pleasant as a reviewer to be able to avoid talking about "a good looking but nonfunctional clip" for once. 

To Conclude

Cutjack is a knife with a series of characteristics that make it easy to recommend. It is a bloody good user knife in the budget class, no doubt about it. Well, since I am from Sweden, not budget compared with the always present Moraknife that is. But definitely for a modern folding knife with good materials and function. This version of the Cutjack can usually be found for about 40 dollars give or take. That is if you don't choose the more luxurious version with M390-steel which, of course, is more expensive.

What's good is that this knife can be appreciated by both the enthusiast looking for a proper "user" and for the more novice knife buyer. Perhaps even more to the one not entirely familiar with modern folding knives but that still wants something that is both easy to carry and that fulfills its role as a competent edged tool.

Steel Will C22 Cutjack is a proper everyday partner. Perhaps it needs something smaller to go with it since it's rather big

In most respects, the Cutjack is "lagom". That is a Swedish word roughly translated to "not too much, not too little, just perfect". The knife is light without being extremely so and it has a comfortable handle that offers traction without feeling like you are gripping the wrong end of a rasp. But above all, it has a blade that cuts. Steel Will have not fallen for the fad and used a 4 mm or even thicker blade stock. They kept the blade thin and if you add a wide bevel and not too much steel behind the edge you end up with a knife that cuts really well.

The blade is actually quite good looking as well. The long swedge ends in something that makes the blade look a bit "harpoony" and paired with the polished satin that adds some flair to the blade.

Besides that, Steel Will has managed to be quite space-efficient which gives plenty of blade in relation to the overall length of the knife. That gives harmony to the proportions. 

No, not too shabby looking either

All in all, I must say that Cutjack lived up to my expectations. But to be honest I didn't know exactly what to expect since this is my first knife from Steel Will as I stated earlier.

What I did believe was that this knife must possess certain qualities since so many seem to like it. I must admit that I think they are right. Perhaps a bit boring, but I join the tribute choir.

Specification:

Length, overall: 205 mm

Length, folded: 114 mm

Weight: 120 g

Blade Length: 89 mm

Blade thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: D2, HRC58-60

Handle: FRN 

Lock: Liner lock

Produced by: Steel Will, made in China

/ J - still being practical

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