AtoZ Review: QSP Pangolin Knife

It’s not the size of the blade–it’s the smoothness of the action.

It’s a grower, not a shower …

One of the first releases from QSP knives, the Pangolin, doesn’t make you tingle in any way right at first. You don’t get that sparkle in your eye like you do when you see explosions, shoot your first belt-fed machine gun, or hold your first samurai sword, but it grows on you. This 8½-inch flipper becomes that “old reliable” that everyone has. It’s not a Porsche; it’s more like that old truck or ATV that always starts up. After carrying the unassuming Pangolin for a few weeks, you realize that you can put it through anything, and it still finds a way to open every time.

This blade is D2 steel, which is durable and sharpens very easily, and has a very sharp edge right out of the box. The whole time I have been carrying it I haven’t had to sharpen it one time. The blade itself measures in at a little under 4 inches, which is a great length for an EDC. The blade has a clip point shape that gives it a sharp point and a very useful cutting edge. The blade also comes with jimping, which are serrations along the base of the spine (the back of the knife) to help with grip. All in all, the edge has held up great with everything I put it through. The edge stays sharp, and the action keeps working. What else can you ask for?

Now to the action of the knife. The action is almost as good as the Platypus I recently reviewed. It’s smooth and fast due to the ball bearing mechanism. The flipper tab is a good length and has jimping to make sure your finger doesn’t slip off while trying to open it. The handle is a little under 5 inches (don’t listen to your significant other—5 inches is enough) which gives plenty of space for any hand size.

The handle also has an amazing shape. Everyone who has held it said the handle was perfect. It has finger grooves that aren’t too far apart but aren’t too small, so it comfortably fits in almost anyone’s hand. The knife comes with black G10 handle scales with a silver liner that gives the knife a very good look and contrast. The liner lock has grooves in it, which helps with grip while using the lock. The lock never gets stuck even after a heavy beating. With the combination of the handle and the blade this knife looks and works great. I don’t have a single complaint on the Pangolin.

Thus far, all the knives that QSP sent me have blown me away and have gotten the AtoZ stamp of approval. Not only has QSP shown quality and great customer service, but every knife that they have has its own look and feel to suit anyone’s taste. I am telling you guys, go try some if their products and tell me how you like them in the comments, I think you will be surprised. Make sure to go follow me on Instagram (@atoz_reviews). I post some really cool content and even post sneak peeks to my articles a week before they are posted!