Big, Bold, and Badass: WE Knife Inmate Review

The knife industry is currently experiencing a surge. I cannot remember a time when there have been so many new knife designers launching products into the market. I expect that when the dust settles, some designers will find their stride while others fade into obscurity.

One of the new knife designers who has continued to grow in popularity is Jerad Neeve. He’s become something of a sensation on social media — in fact, the info and character in his videos have made him one of the few industry personalities I continue to follow.

His latest design, the WE Knife Inmate, is a big front flipper folder. It carries a level of detail that puts it solidly in the premium knife category. That said, where some folks might scoff at the $350 price tag, all four versions of the Inmate promptly sold out — awaiting restock at WE Knife. For a knife that’s only been on the market for a couple of months, that’s a solid achievement.

In short: Though the Inmate from WE Knife is large for a folding knife, its premium materials keep it light and balanced. In the month I tested it, I confirmed why I don’t like front flippers, yet on balance, I still really like the Inmate. It’s a knife that’s as fun to look at as it is to use, and will require little to no maintenance for the years ahead.

WE Knife Inmate Review

Design & Features

At 8.4 inches in total length and boasting a 3.7-inch stonewashed spear point CPM 20CV hollow ground blade, the WE Knife Inmate is nothing short of a brute. But its 6AL4V titanium handle scales and pocket clip keep the Inmate light and well-balanced.

For opening and operating, the Inmate has both a front flipper and a thumb hole, both of which will send the blade into full lockup. This is aided by ceramic ball bearings surrounding the pivot.

Neeve opted for a liner lock, which is easy to access from a relief cutout in the opposing handle scale.

Choosing 20CV for such a big knife was the right choice. Where everyone loves a good folding knife with MagnaCut, I believe you’ll love 20CV more. Why? It’s tougher, has better edge retention, and is just as resistant to corrosion. I have always found 20CV to feel sharp and slicey. Putting a hollow grind on this blade amplifies that.

First Impressions

Where a lot of knives exist without the knowledge of their designer, this is far from the case with the Inmate. I first became aware of Neeve through a YouTube episode of Knafs@Nite. The guy is a character. He’s big, loud, and impressive. The amount of knowledge he has about knives, and the effort he invests into putting mirror edges on them, exemplifies what I love about this industry.

So I’ll be blunt: I do not like front flipper knives. If you love front flippers, I’m sure you’ll love this knife. Personally, I find that they force your hand into a position that adds another step to deploying the blade. But Neeve addressed this by adding an enlarged thumb hole that makes up for it for me.

I also think purists will find the Inmate to be too big for an EDC knife, while the outdoorists will think it too fancy for an outdoor knife.

I disagree; I see this knife as great for EDC or a camping day out in the middle of nowhere. It’s fast, reliable, lightweight, and balanced. Its roughly 2.5 inches of flat, super-sharp edge, paired with the ~3.5-inch belly in the handle, makes it effective for a variety of tasks.

In the Field

Up in the Northeast, the end of summer has been hotter than a frog in a frying pan. So I’ve been wearing a lot of swim-friendly shorts out and about during the day, in case I need to jump in a pond or pool to beat the heat.

Based on the Inmate’s size alone, I probably wouldn’t pick it for swim trunks, but because it weighs a scant 4.2 ounces, it presents no issue.

It’s an oversized knife that should weigh another couple of ounces. But because the titanium hardware keeps it light, users still enjoy top-notch slicing and chopping thanks to 3.5 inches of premium stainless steel with a hollow grind.

The Inmate is a very capable knife. It’s got all the looks and materials worth coveting, and the build and materials to handle hard use. It will easily go from opening packages to shredding that packaging for kindling in the blink of an eye.

Best of all, while its size suggested I would get tired out or cramped up using it for a prolonged period of time, I didn’t. That’s a big bonus.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

As I hinted at earlier, the Inmate could appeal to two types of users: one who collects knives to admire, and another who wants an investment knife they can rely on for years of hard work.

I would hate to see a knife like this sit in a box or on a shelf for someone to stare at, but I love knowing that this knife has that appeal. In my testing, I carried it all over and used it in a variety of conditions — without a care in the world, because the 20CV stainless steel and titanium won’t corrode. So I, too, could clean it up and put it on a shelf to admire … until I needed it again.