Hannegan Crossbar Folder Review | GearJunkie

From candle lanterns to its assortment of firestarters and rolling ice cream maker, UCO Gear has positioned itself as a veritable one-stop shop for pretty much any need or nice-to-have in the outdoors. Last year, the brand expanded its product offering with a line of folding pocket knives.

I received a sample of each knife, and began testing with the Whidbey, a compact knife with a pushbutton lock. Out of the lineup, the Whidbey appealed to me because it felt like the most accessible knife of the bunch — good size, shape, and materials — yet it wasn’t really an EDC blade. Enter UCO’s latest knife, the Hannegan Crossbar folder, which is primed for EDC life.

Virtually the same size and shape as the Whidbey, the Hanngean is a more robust knife, with more durable build and G10 handle scales. It also has a Nitro-V blade that amplifies both edge retention and corrosion resistance. And, as the name implies, it uses a crossbar lock, which is not only the strongest folding knife lock mechanism out there, but also the most popular.

In short: The UCO Hannigan is the everyday carry knife for the everyday outdoors person. It’s both affordable and full of features that have been found in some of the most desired outdoor folding knives historically. Whether you put it in your pack or pocket, you’ll be able to use and abuse it whenever you need to without much need for upkeep.

UCO Hannegan Crossbar Knife

Design & Materials

The Hannegan is built off of a stainless steel frame and has G10 handle scales. That translates to both durability and reliability. These two features play really well with the 3-inch titanium-nitride (TiNi) coated Nitro-V drop-point blade. The crossbar lock and deep carry pocket clip tie everything together with a bow, making the Hannegan a great EDC knife.

Nitro-V was developed by my buddies over at New Jersey Steel Baron. It’s a more refined version of AEB-L steel, carrying over the ability of the blade to be scary sharp while improving the corrosion and edge-retention properties. The decision to coat the blade in TiNi not only makes it match the pocket clip, hardware, and pivot, but it also increases the corrosion resistance to nigh impervious. 

As with the rest of its knives, which feature glass-filled nylon handle scales, UCO carried over the patterning on the handle scales of the Hannegan. Where G10 existed for years without contouring and patterns, this knife has both, amplifying the grip of the G10. All in all, it’s a comfortable knife to use and carry.

First Impressions

The changes UCO baked into this knife make it a more obvious choice for EDC use. Is that a knock on the Whidbey? A little bit, honestly. Where I appreciate the Whidbey as a first go at knife-making for UCO, the Hannegan really sets a higher bar for the company. 

As a fan of all of the major components found in the Hannegan — G10 scales, Nitro-V steel, and the crossbar lock — my ears went up instantly when UCO sent me the specs on it. Brands can follow a number of recipes to make a great knife, but you really can’t go wrong with those. Adding TiNi to the blade just sweetened the deal, as users will benefit from that added detail for years to come.

In terms of fit and feel, the Hannegan loses the flipped function that made the Whidbey so appealing. However, you don’t really need a flipper on a crossbar lock knife, so I’ll gladly embrace the change.

In the Field

This summer has been the summer of knives. I’ve got more on my desk than I care to admit. I am not afraid of work, I just want to make sure these knives get the time that they deserve. And the Hannegan did.

I rotated it in and out of my pocket for a solid month before I committed to carrying it for 2 weeks without interruption. All in all, there’s a month’s worth of experiences for this review.

It’s a very comfortable knife to carry and use. The action on the pivot allows the blade to open and close with the thumb disk or the crossbar lock with ease. The Nitro-V has a high level of slice that makes it great for cutting, chopping, and shaving.

The TiNi coating lets you switch between tasks, as it makes the blade easy to wipe down. You can go from carving your loved one’s initials in a tree to slicing up hot dogs for the grill without worrying about tasting birch sap or eating small bits of debris. I also made a new bird feeder perch from an apple tree branch, which required some attention to detail and precision slicing and shaping. The Hannegan handles it all with aplomb.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

With brands like Ozark Trail and Swiss Tech flooding big box stores with affordable knives that appeal to the outdoor crowd, the Hannegen marks a step above those offerings. It lives in the middle (below premium blades) without stepping on the toes of knives that carry the same design intent, like Benchmade’s Griptilian and Bugout. It doesn’t feel like an add-on you’d throw in the cart on UCO’s site while you’re looking for something else. Instead, it’s the reason you go to the site in the first place.

Where the Whidbey was a great knife for that person just starting to carry a folding knife, the Hannegan is the folding knife for that person determined to carry one daily. Having a knife with a crossbar lock adds strength and confidence, while pairing it with durable materials makes it a no-brainer.

In short, knives like the Whidney had to walk for the Hannegan to be able to run. It changes the level at which UCO can be considered a player in the knife world. If you’re someone looking for a knife aimed at the outdoors, or someone looking for an admirable EDC for under $100, the Hannegan is the right choice.