- a fantasy reptile embodied in a knife
Ever since I came into contact with my first Spyderco Lum Chinese, I have liked the Shilin cutter style of knives. It is a Chinese variant of a folding knife with a wide, very typical leaf-shaped blade. It is both interesting from an aesthetic perspective while being practical.
Therefore, it was no wonder that Bulbasaur from Shieldon felt alluring. It's a big knife with a pretty bold design and a color choice to match. Apparently, the latter detail is connected to the name. Something I only learned later.
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| Shieldon Bulbasaur |
As I wrote in the presentation of this knife, Shieldon is a new brand to me. That always arouses interest. What then remains is to see if the newly discovered company has anything to offer the world in terms of design, manufacturing quality, and ideas.
They have somehow passed under my radar until now, or they were not in the channels where I usually find my information, rather than the company being new. But there is a lot to discover—not only positives, I'm afraid.
In addition to their own knives, they are a major OEM I note. We are talking about several hundred models. Incidentally, it's something they like to emphasize, so it's no secret. But in this case, I think there is a bit of a culture clash going on. Because some of the things they are proud of, I wouldn't have wanted to brag about at all. In my opinion, it's about quantity over quality and when their production is scrutinized, I unfortunately have to admit that I also find some sins.
The least of which is that Shieldon seems to be behind many of the pure junk knives found on Chinese sales sites like AliExpress. Most of them look like they were designed by someone who lacks both good taste and vision and absolutely does not know how to design a decent knife. But it is a matter of taste and, as you know, it can vary. That matter is up to everyone to decide.
Worse is that there are also imitations and close copies of other brands* and some, shall we say, interesting items. Among others, it appears to be Shieldon who manufactures what is then sold with pure scam methods, namely "Huusk". That's NO merit! Those of you who follow the blog know how I feel about them. But on the other hand, it's not Shieldon's fault. But they also seem to make that abomination that is a "multitool" based on a tiny axe! If you have seen it, you know.
This leaves my view of Shieldon as a company a bit divided. Let's see if Bulbasaur can restore some of the damage done there.
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| A substantial version of a Shilin cutter |
Short version: Shielden Bulbasaur, a large knife with a bold appearance and a name whose meaning first flew over my head!
Blade
Bulbasaur has the typical leaf-shaped blade of Shilin cutters. A shape many believe was invented by Spyderco, which of course is not true. In addition to being found on knives from Asia, it is a common form on some knife models from the Mediterranean. Throughout history, there have been many examples and that is because it results in a very practical and flexible blade shape.
In this case, it is a blade that can be obtained in two versions, as here with a satin finish or in a mirror-polished variant. It must be extreme as this blade is also fairly shiny. In any case, it is eye-catching because, in addition to being a whopping 32.2 mm high, it is also 93 mm long. A big blade in other words. However, it is thin with a stock thickness of only 3 mm.
The leaf-shaped blade is actually a drop point though with a spine that rises before it turns downward. It provides a thumb ramp, which in this case has been given some grooves for a better grip. The tip of the knife is actually found, despite the appearance, in the imaginary center line of the knife. On the blade, you find a discreet variant of Shieldon's logo and steel written on the ricasso. The opposite side shows the model name, designer, and some sort of serial number.
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| The leaf-shaped blade is very practical |
The steel used is Swedish, Sandvik 14C28N. A very good steel in this context can be added. That blade is, as I said, thin, and that is a characteristic that is enhanced by the fact that it is fully flat ground. In addition, the blade measures no more than 0.3 mm behind the edge. Those of you who know your knives will understand that this knife therefore cuts really well!
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| Bulbasaur has a completely flat ground blade made from Sandvik 14C28N steel |
Of course, that permeates all work with Bulbasaur. The handle, which we will come to later, is partially competent and the blade handles all the tasks that require a knife that slices well with accuracy. The fact that I emphasize that feature is because the blade is too thin to be used in tougher situations. It is not something you like to use when whittling grumpy wood, for example. But if you are careful with the edge, of course, it will work, but the risk is that the blade will be damaged.
On the other hand, Bulbasaur excels in cardboard and paper, for example. It's even better in softer materials like some foods where the wide blade helps with precision. The sweeping edge, which forms a single continuous curve, makes it work great against, for example, cutting boards or other flat surfaces. Of course, together with the other features, if you now need to use a folding knife for kitchen tasks, this is a very good candidate.
In general, Bulbasaur is almost as practical as it looks. Especially as the tip is effective and the factory edge was good.
Handle
The fine characteristics of the blade are enhanced by a handle that is excellent for certain tasks. Mainly because it is substantial and soft in shape. By substantial, I mean a length of a full 125 mm. The height is around 2.7 cm but the thickness is the most prominent. Bulbasaur measures a full 1.5 cm across the back. Unless you measure over the pivot screw which for some reason sticks out and is located on some sort of integral G10 collar. There, the knife is instead a mammoth 17.5 mm. That is thick for a folding knife!
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| The handle is large and thus spacious. The handle sides are made of two-tone polished G10 |
Of course, it provides a handle that is sufficient for most hand sizes. The shape is otherwise simple with an almost straight underside behind the generous cutout for the finger, while the back is arched. The flipper tab acts as a finger guard when the blade is open.
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| The back is open and the frame is lightened, which reduces the amount of material and thus lowers the weight |
The construction contributes to making the knife both light and chubby. It starts with the frame, which is substantial with a thickness of 1.9 mm. It makes for a strong knife but as it is not recessed in the sides of the handle it also contributes to the width. So do the plump but three-dimensionally shaped G10 sides. They are distinguished in addition to the roundness by the fact that they are in two colors and polished. Soft to the hand but does not contribute to a better grip in other words.
However, the shape means less material and that reduces weight in the same way that the lightened frame helps. A contributing factor to the low total weight is also that the blade is certainly large, but also thin and fully flat ground.
The open back also means that there is less material and thus weight. The knife is held together at two points. T6 screws are found there, while a T8 is found in the adjustable pivot screw. A very popular combination at this point.
In hand, Bulbasaur is decently likable. Some of the things that are considered negative when it comes to carrying the knife also improve comfort and ergonomics. There is a lot to grip around, which means that the handle is long enough and fills the hand well. In addition, the width provides a larger surface for the hand. This makes the Bulbasaur a reasonably comfortable knife for lighter tasks.
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| Finding a good grip on Bulbasaur is easy. But it mainly applies to lighter duties. When it comes to heavier challenges, some places create hot spots |
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| Unfortunately, this is where the back end of the clip ends up when the knife is held with the right hand |
One of the things that is not comfortable is the finger choil for the index finger. There, one side has been recessed so much that the only contact surface that remains between the finger and the knife is the lock bar itself and the heavily beveled side of the handle. There, the G10 side is only one millimeter thick.
Also, the inside of the frame could be better rounded. The edges are knocked off but not chamfered enough in my opinion. They are felt when you clasp the knife harder. The same goes for the clip. It's actually pretty bad. It is the placement that causes problems. It simply sits too far down. If you just hold the knife a little loosely, you won't notice anything. But try cutting wood for a while and you will find an imprint of the clip in your hand. There is a difference between a "comfortable handle" in a desk review on YouTube and good ergonomics. The basic prerequisites are there but are ruined by a couple of details that have not been fully thought through.
Opening and Lock
That Bulbasaur is a flipper-opened knife can hardly be missed. The rather pointed flipper tab is properly designed to accelerate the blade whether you are trying to pull back or push down. The latter works because the tab is angled slightly backward. The resistance from the detent ball is well adapted to accelerate the blade.
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| Bulbasaur boasts a pointed shark fin for a flipper tab. It works satisfactorily |
As stated earlier, the blade is certainly large but not particularly heavy as it is thin. It gives good speed when you open the knife. The effect is enhanced with the help of ceramic ball bearings.
For some reason I don't know, the knife makes a little noise of its own. A sort of creaking, beeping sound as the blade unfolds. To get rid of it, I oiled the knife and some of it disappeared. It didn't become completely silent, so it must simply be part of the knife's personality. But it doesn't affect the function.
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| The knife has a simple but solid and well-made liner lock |
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| The access to the lock bar is there but in this case, it has become too much of a good thing which has brought with it a couple of other problems |
Bulbasaur comes with a very solid liner lock. It is a consequence of the sturdy frame, which in turn provides a strong lock bar. The lock geometry is also excellent. There is no movement in the blade, nor does the lock slide in any way.
In addition, the lock is easy to release. Possibly they have thinned out that area too much as mentioned earlier. But the access to the lock cannot be complained about.
To Carry
Bulbasaur is a knife that really is palpable in a pocket. It cannot be denied. It actually feels clumsy. As I said, it has a 12.5 cm long handle which is also almost as thick as a pregnant hippopotamus. A thickness of more than 1.5 centimeters, excluding the clip, is no joke. We are talking about a large volume that must be housed in a pocket.
To make matters worse, the knife is also tall. It matches the worst Spyderco offenders in that area. We're talking closer to four centimeters here, 37mm to be exact. As if that were not enough, Bulbasaur comes with a flipper tab that is certainly not extremely high, but very distinct and angular. It is felt when the hand is in the pocket and rummaging for something and you bump into it.
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| Bulbasaur is massive in a pocket and I'm not a fan of the clip |
But there are a couple of mitigating circumstances. One is that the knife is relatively light. It weighs around 125g and that is not excessive considering the length of the blade. Then the handle sides are both well rounded and polished. This means that the knife is easy to put in a pocket and pull out when needed. In that area, the knife gets a good rating.
The smooth surface under the clip also wears less on trouser and jacket fabric, which is of course an advantage.
The clip itself is not bad, possibly boring, and not very nice in my eyes. It is a spring steel clip in all its simplicity. The tension is decent even if the clip is thin and thus a bit flimsy. However, the risk of it being bent out of position has been minimized because the tip of the clip points where it should, i.e. not outwards.
The ramp and tension are ok but there are a couple of negative aspects to the clip as well. First, it can be said that it is certainly mounted with two screws in tandem, which prevents it from moving laterally, but the screw heads are small T6s and besides, it cannot be moved, so left-handed people do not bother. Furthermore, the location is such that much of the knife sticks out of the pocket. When it is then combined with the fact that the clip is polished, the knife becomes very visible. It also looks a bit cheap in terms of appearance.
Then I don't like that there has been a compromise with the placement, which creates some discomfort in certain grips such as hammer grips.
To Conclude
It seems to be a trend on the blog at the moment that I review knives that are about two years old. This also applies to Bulbasaur. The designer, called "Django", is an in-house talent if I'm not misinformed. Overall, I think he succeeded well in his task. This is, in my eyes, a good-looking knife. It is also quite bold both in terms of size and style. Leaf shapes look awesome when they are this wide! Also, this blade cuts really well. So far so good.
Then both color and name choice can be discussed as they are closely associated. Or am I just too old? But apparently, Bulbasaur is a Pokémon of some kind and green. Hence the color of the knife. But green polished G10 paired with a glossy blade, clip, and screws can also look a little, well,... cheap.
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| Bulbasaur works as an EDC knife if you ignore it's size |
It is an impression that is reinforced by some design choices. One of the most obvious is not to recess the frame in the handle sides. This makes the knife feel clumsy. I associate thick, polished, and visible frames on folding knives with low-budget options. Maybe I'm wrong but that's how it feels and this knife is not that cheap and the manufacturing quality is otherwise good.
More choices I don't understand or think should have been made differently is the extra wide part around the pivot screw which makes the knife thicker than it already is. Remove it!
Then I wonder why there is "jimping" at the back of the handle? It does no good as both the shape and placement are wrong, it only irritates the little finger if you really cut with the knife. Django probably didn't think about why it should be there, but just added it as a detail. At least that's my impression.
I have already talked about how the knife is too thin in the area where the index finger comes into contact with the handle. But worse is the location of the clip. The two body screws and a lanyard hole have relegated the clip to the lower part of a pointed handle end. There, of course, it creates hot spots. It is simply not a good placement.
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| Shieldon Bulbasaur is a knife you buy because of the blade, it is both stylish and practical! |
Thus, I'm a little torn about Shieldon Bulbasaur. It is a partially well-built knife. It has very good "action", it both opens quickly and has a simple but very good lock. In addition, it has a blade that both looks interesting and, what's better, cuts very well. Then Bulbasaur has a design theme, which is fun, even though I might not belong to the target group in that regard.
But then there were the disadvantages I enumerated above. The question is whether they overshadow the positive or not? You have to decide that yourself. But in Bulbasaur, you get a solid knife with a distinctive look, not found in every man's pocket. At the time of writing, the knife can be found from €77 in Europe.
Specifications:
Length Overall: 218 mm
Length Folded: 125 mm
Weight: 126 g (weighed by me, stated 125 g)
Blade Length: 93 mm
Blade Thickness: 2 mm
Blade Steel: Sandvik 14C28N, 58-60HRC
Handle: G10
Lock: Liner Lock
Produced by: Shieldon Knives, made in China
/ J - never thought he would start hunting Pokemons
* Such as models from Fox, Morakniv, Ka-Bar, Benchmade, Gerber, and more.
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