Most flipper knives require a bit of actual flipping to open the blade. But with the WEKnife Speedliner, a late 2024 introduction designed by Tashi Bharucha, it’s more like pulling a trigger.
WEKnife sent me a Speedliner Flipper Knife with a titanium handle around the holidays. I hadn’t sought it out, but it arrived with a brief note of thanks and carried my name on the handle. I didn’t think much of reviewing it until now, a couple of months later, as it has really earned a spot in my daily rotation.
While the Speedliner seemed to garner a lukewarm reception upon its release, I’ve come to love this bold, brash knife that opens as quickly as a bullet and slices like a talon.
Fast, sharp, versatile, and pricy, the WEKnife Speedliner is a very cool knife for the right place and time.
In short: The WEKnife Speedliner is a wicked-fast opening flipper with strong detent and top-tier materials. The aggressive drop point of flat-ground CPM 20CV steel provides a fine tip and a modest belly, offering versatile cutting. The unique handle shape is surprisingly ergonomic. Milled slots improve grip, but may be polarizing due to their appearance and roughness on the hand. It’s a very robust, capable outdoor knife, but it faces strong competition at its $374 price.
Compare the WEKnife Speedliner to the best pocket knives.
WEKnife Speedliner
-
Blade shape
8.1
-
Steel
8.8
-
Handle
7.5
-
Lock
8.2
-
OAL:
8.01" -
Blade length:
3.39" -
Blade steel:
CPM 20CV -
Blade shape:
Drop point -
Lock type:
Frame lock -
Weight:
4.23 oz.
Pros
-
Excellent blade steel, fit, and finish
-
Unique ergonomic shape
-
Very fast opening
-
Strong lock
Cons
-
Expensive
-
Slightly heavy
-
Tactical look not for everyone
WEKnife Speedliner Review
As I noted above, I never really expected this knife. It arrived as a holiday gift from WEKnife. But having used it for a few months, I decided to write it up because, well, it’s freaking cool. It gives dagger vibes. It feels aggressive and a little dangerous, but it is a great tool for EDC use as well.
Starting off, the WEKnife Speedliner has a 3.39-inch CPM 20CV steel blade. While the tip is quite pointy and the knife has a somewhat tactical feel, it’s well within many knife laws, such as the 3.5-inch restriction for concealed carry blades, where I live in Denver. CPM 20CV is a great knife steel.
While not as well-known as Magnacut, ELEMAX, or S35VN, it’s still a fantastic modern powder steel with great edge retention and corrosion resistance. It’s not quite as tough as some others, but given the slicy nature of the blade, it seems an appropriate choice for the design.
I’ve been using the knife for 2 months for myriad EDC tasks, such as opening boxes and letters. It’s still hair-popping sharp. I haven’t really abused this one, but even with very regular use cutting cardboard, I’m impressed with the edge retention.
Moving on to the fit and finish, this is where WEKnife really shines. This is an expensive knife at $374. Fortunately, it delivers an appropriate degree of perfection.
For example, the grind is immaculate, shimmering like a mirror as angled in the light. The alignment is perfect. And even the shimmering logo offers a subtle nod to the extremely high degree of finishing WEKnife achieves.
While this knife is all matte black, its beauty comes from a striking design from Tashi Bharucha. When I initially looked at the knife, I found it quite tactical. But the more I’ve used it, the more I feel the organic nature of the design. The handle sits beautifully in the palm of the hand, for example, extending the highly versatile blade into almost a second appendage.
Another way to put it would be that the Speedliner looks badass, but is much more nuanced and precise than you may expect at first glance.
Wicked Fast Opening
The Speedliner is aptly named. While most flipper knives are indeed quick to open, the Speedliner turns it up to 11. One pull on the flipper, and it fires open with authority. It takes quite a bit of pressure to fire the flipper, though, and with the stout frame lock, this knife requires two hands to close. So it isn’t what I’d call a fidgety knife.
But for utility, it’s pretty spot-on.
The Speedliner has a short, very strong pocket clip that allows it to sit deeply in a pocket. For right-handed users, it pulls out of the pocket, and your hand naturally lands on the flipper.
For lefties, it’s a bit more awkward as the clip only mounts on one side. Lefties pulling it from the left pocket will have to rotate the knife in their hand to fire the flipper. It’s very doable, but worth noting.
It’s also worth noting that the pocket clip is indeed quite strong. It takes some force to place it over pocket fabric on jeans, which may mean it’ll wear your clothing over time. I wouldn’t recommend it as a dress knife, but if you wear softer fabrics regularly, you may find the pockets getting scuffed up by this tough pocket clip.
WEKnife Speedliner: Who Should Buy It
The Speedliner is a beautiful and tough knife with a tactical look and feel. But it offers a lot of utility thanks to its versatile drop-point blade and comfortable handle.
To me, it’s a bit of a niche knife, largely because its price tag will keep it out of reach of a lot of users. But for those who really enjoy unique design and high-end craftsmanship, the Speedliner offers something different.
While its striking design will turn heads, especially in an office or casual setting, it’s a highly functional knife. It offers precise cutting, good slicing, and quick opening. For those who love unique blades, collectors, and fans of tactical styling, the Speedliner is definitely worth a look.
Read the full article here
