Honest Review: Bear & Son Slide Lock Knife

Bear & Son cutlery has been known for making solid edge-holding knives for quite some time now. While they deliver everything that you would expect in a quality blade, their products typically come at a price. Not wholly numb to this, the company has set out to add a few more budget-friendly offerings to the lineup. As they would never sacrifice their name by offering junk, many of these knives are based on simplistic designs that are inherently easier to make. Meet the 4 – ¼” Slide Lock, a cross-bar folder with a street price that is less than $100.

At its core is a 3.38” D2 tool-steel blade that is forged to a tanto-ish clip point. This hybrid design makes it equally suited for cutting as it does poking. When looking at it, I immediately think “utility knife,” making a handy addition to your tool bag or tackle box. It’s not an awful EDC knife piece either, as it comes with a non-reversible pocket clip for tip-up carry. Fast deployment can be had through the use of the thumbhole, and the slide lock allows for effortless retraction, even with just one hand.

Aside from the high-quality steel used in the blade, the Slide Lock is built with stainless steel bolsters and your choice of fancy handle materials. I chose the satin-black G10 stocks, but there is also a snazzy cocobolo option available for classic styling. I figured the black had a more workhorsey feel to it (and as we all know, black furniture makes it far more scary and effective at killing, as per MSNBC’s account).

When it arrived, it had a good deal more heft to it than it lets on from its images, giving it some decent striking properties as well. Immediately I put it through its paces and found that I could flick it open and closed single-handedly, but it did take a bit of break-in to get to that point. It passed my signature “Mediterranean arm-hair” shaving test and sliced standard printer paper with a single pass. Satisfied with its initial performance, I clipped it inside my pocket for a few weeks and used it for day-to-day tasks. During that time, I opened way too many Amazon deliveries, far too many bills, and simply not nearly enough ammo packages. I also used it for an extensive PVC plumbing job and cut several dozen zip-ties during the process (don’t ask). Afterward, I put it through the same tests again, and it was just as sharp as when it arrived, and now even better broken in.

At the time of this writing, I was able to find one with the G10 grips online for as low as $75.95 at knifecenter.com. I’m sure if you time it right, you can likely find a sale or coupon code to get it to your door for even less. At that price, it is an absolute steal. It’s plain to see that this knife is built to last a lifetime and holds its edge for longer than most of us can hold a relationship. Regardless of your intentions, this is an excellent blade for the money and will not let you down. For more information, or to order direct, check out bearandsoncutlery.com