Case Cutlery TecX Ballistix Liner Lock Utility Knife

DATE PURCHASED: May 16, 2013QUALITY: I find the build quality of this knife to be great. I have had experience with several different pocket knives in the past when working on the family farm and this one has definitely been built well. The steel is great quality and tough. The body screws are recessed and the blade screw is flush with the body. The knife has some decent weight to it for it being a small pocket knife. All of the body edges have been rounded which makes the knife very smooth and easy to grip.FINISH: The black finish is a nice touch to the knife. The finish was put on the body, blade, and belt clip. Since I have received the knife, the finish on the belt click has started to chip some. It seems to only have chipped a few layers off since the black finish is still showing even along the chips. Also, the side of the blade is starting to show some wear from rubbing against things when using the knife. Because of this, I had to knock it down a star.SHARPNESS: The blade was pretty sharp. I've owned sharper knives right out of the box, but this was sharp enough for all the tasks I need.BLADE LOCK: This knife uses a liner lock system for locking the blade. I've never used this type of system before and it holds the blade very well. After using it for a bit, I have learned how to unlock and close the blade with one hand. I feel that the lock holds the blade tighter and more securely than some of the other lockbacks I've owned.OVERALL: I really like this knife overall. The finish issues are not a deal breaker for me at all. It's true that you can operate this knife one handed like the description says. It was a little stiff right out of the box, but I find that to be true about most quality knives. The quality of the steel and craftsmanship shows that the knife will be great for years to come.

I am impressed right away with the Tec X Pro II. I've been wanting another pocket knife for a while now. I have my CRKT Point Guard for over a decade. I still love it. Never failed me but I wanted a new knife. I look at most of the knives that pop up and a vast majority of them look like carnival prizes or the ones you see at the corner stores next to the "herb grinders".To narrow my search I found a Top New Knives of 2012 review from Field & Stream. Among them was the brand Tec X. F&S-"This new brand from the venerable knifemakers at W.R. Case & Sons features a catalog of about 30 stylish, modern-looking pocket knives with either AUS8 or 440 stainless blades."I really like the feel of the Pro II. The Glass Reinforced ABS Handle feels real solid. Open action is real smooth. The belt clip actually grabs on and release from a belt, not just the pocket, real good. The blade is very sharp. Let's see how long it keeps it's edge under normal use. Liner Lock is sturdy also.The Tec X Pro II was a bit smaller than I expected. It is about an inch shorter open than my CRKT Point Guard. Yet it is real comfortable in my hand. Due to the small size though, the pocket clip get in the way when opening with my left hand. With a little practice I feel I can work around it.Can't to see how it holds up under day to day use.

When I saw Case, a great American company, was making knives in China, I cringed. There are some great knives coming out of China these days, but Case is an American icon. But when I saw the types of knives, more of the EDC/tactical folder style knives, and not traditional pocket & hunting knives, I thought I'd give one a try.The knife comes in a two piece tecX box, which has the typical Case information sticker on it with mfg date, model number, etc. It also comes with Case's Limited Lifetime Warranty.The Case tecX Pro X II is a great folder. It has a deep pocket clip that's removable, but not reversible. It has stainless steel liners and is held together with torx screws. The blade pivot has a torx screw (hidden under the pocket clip), so the blade should be adjustable for centering and tightness. There is also a lanyard hole.The linerlock locks up perfectly, with plenty of room for wear. The blade centering is dead in the middle. The tumbstuds (one on each side) are very functional, and deployment of the blade is fluid and quick. The jimping on the top of the handle and the finger groove make for a firm grip. The ABS handle has a good feel to it. The blade is sharp, but not ultra sharp, and is polished, but not a high polish, and fits the overall look of the knife.Is this knife a Benchmade? No. However, it is an above average blade in this price range.

My day-to-day carry knife is a Benchmade Griptillian, and I love that knife to what most psychologists would call an unhealthy degree.That said, I can't always carry it. Sometimes work takes me to places where I'm very concerned corrupt security or law enforcement might "confiscate" it, which would break my heart (and my wallet).I picked up this Tec X because the size and shape are very similar, and thus I could carry a knife I was "comfortable" with, but that was cheap enough that I wouldn't freak out if it got stolen.That said, I was shocked at how much I actually like this little guy.Solid, well-designed, and functional, this baby hits way above its weight-class. The handle is firm, the lock is tight, and the blade is sturdy enough for real utility use, while the sharp drop-point and chiseled cross-section means it's also good for both cutting and thrusting.After seeing mine, my wife asked for one to replace her daily carry knife, and she's been really happy with it as well.It is shockingly good for its cost.

If you're looking to try a Tec X knife, I would not recommend this model first. This is a very small knife. It's also a lockback, which won't accidentally open in your pocket, but is also more prone to blade wiggle when open, which this knife has an issue with... though it is not too bad.If you're looking for a lightweight tiny lockback at low cost, though, this is a fine choice!The blade is roughly 2 inches, the handle is roughly 3 inches. It came sharp and well assembled.