The Be-Wharned knife is the first BLACKHAWK! knife I have ever owned. Â I’ve found that first impressions are generally accurate, and I was impressed the first moment I held the Be-Wharned knife.
No doubt about it, the Be-Wharned is a self-defense knife. Â The 3.4″ blade is a wharncliffe design, which comes down to a sharp point. Â The blade thins as you move from the handle to the point, meaning less resistance in cutting and stabbing motions.
The stainless steel blade has a plain edge, which from the factory is exceptionally sharp. Â Ever see the ‘tough guy’ movies where one of the stars is able to shave with his sharpened knife? Â The Be-Wharned comes from the factory that sharp. Â I used it to shave a portion of hair off of my forearm with no effort whatsoever. Â Don’t let the kids play with this knife.
The handle is made from aggressively textured G-10 with stainless steel inserts. Â Don’t know what G-10 is? Â Don’t worry; neither did I. Â G-10 is a high-pressure laminate material formed from fiberglass and epoxy. Â It is extremely durable, and is virtually impervious to water and climate changes. Â G-10 material is also chemical and fire resistant.
In the case of the Be-Wharned knife, the G-10 provides an exceptionally durable finish that is textured with ‘scales’ giving the user a firm purchase on the handle. Â The G-10 really provides a ‘no-slip grip.’ Â Compared to the other finishes available on knives, this is my favorite by far.
The only drawback to the G-10 handle is the texturing may be too rough on some pants pockets. Â If you have a very nice designer suit, or even just moderately priced pants made from lightweight material, the Be-Wharned may not be the best choice if you plan on carrying a knife clipped to the pocket. Â However, with jeans, uniform pants, and inexpensive cargo shorts, I didn’t have any problems with the textured handle of this knife.
Designed by trainer Michael Janich, the blade is made from AUS8A stainless steel. Â The Be-Wharned uses a liner lock to hold the blade in place. Â The lock seems very sturdy when I worked with it.
An ambidextrous thumb stud is mounted on the blade to allow for one-handed opening. Â I found the blade opened easily, and it positively ‘snapped’ into place, giving me a tactile assurance that the blade was locked into position.
The Be-Wharned feels very well balanced in my hand. Â The handle seems heavier than the blade, and when held aggressively, it feels very good.
The clip is securely fastened to the handle by three screws. Â The handle is pre-drilled so you can move the clip to any one of four positions, allowing you to carry the Be-Wharned in the manner you prefer. Â Tip up or down, right hand or left…you make customize it however you like.
Fortunately, I’ve never had to use a knife to defend myself, but I would be well-armed using the Be-Wharned. Â Between the Janich design and the BLACKHAWK! quality, I heartily recommend the Be-Wharned knife to anyone needing a high-quality knife for personal defense.
- blade length – 3.4″
- overall length – 7.85″
- blade material – AUS8A stainless steel
- blade finish – satin
- edge type – plain edge
- handle material – 420J stainless steel liners with G-10 textured scales
- MSRP – $99.99
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