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Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc@hotmail.com
City, State, Country: Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Date reviewed: May 12, 2005
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 16 years. My
introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued
as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and
Northeastern United States. I currently live near Washington D.C.
and have made the mid-Atlantic mountains my playground, but will
relocate this summer to the Pacific Northwest. Seattle to be exact!
I am a lightweight hiker, and normally carry only what is necessary.
Hammock in summer, tents the other seasons, and the lightest and
easiest to use of the other gear I can afford.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Imlay Canyon Gear
Model: Canyon Knife
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL:www.imlaygear.com
Listed weight: 0.7 oz (20 g)
Measured weight: 0.7 oz (20 g)
Material: 440-C Surgical Stainless Steel
Blade Length: 1-1/8" (2.86 cm)
Measured Blade Length: 1-1/8" (2.86 cm)
Open Length: 3-3/8" (8.57 cm)
Measured Open Length 3-3/8" (8.57 cm)
MSRP: $19.95US
Product Description:
This is a small lightweight knife that can be carried in a pocket or
more specifically clipped into a carabiner that allows easy access.
Imlay describes the knife as useful for cutting webbing, rope and an
assortment of food items.
The blade of the knife is serrated and had a thumb post for easy
opening. The lock for the blade is a cantilevered lock similar to
what I have seen on other lock blade knives. These features are
pictured below.
The design of the knife also includes a hook underneath the carbiner
attachment hole that allows the knife to be used as a bottle opener.
Initial Impressions/Use:
What cool knife! That was my first thought when I saw this knife on
the Imlay website. The exclamation still stands! It is cool. It is
a super small and thin knife that easily slides into my pocket with a
bulge and is also easily attached to a biner to hang off of my hip
belt or pants.
The knife has a thumb post on the blade for one-hand opening, but I
have found that the blade is to tight to open with one hand and use
both hands to open the knife.
Imlay claims that the knife is will not open when attached to a
biner, and true to their word it did not on the two types of carbiners that I carry. I have tested this theory on a standard sized climbing carabineer and a non-climbing small decorative carabiner and achieved the same results; the blade would not open.
Website:
The website is nicely laid out with a content bar at the top and
pictures of equipment throughout. The knife that I received was
exactly what I expected based on the pictures and description on the
site.
Improvements:
None at the moment.
Testing Plan:
I will be testing the knife on the following characteristics over the
next 6 months:
Carrying ability:
I normally like to carry my knives in my pocket, but will carry this knife on a carabiner as suggested when hiking and in my pocket for everyday use.
Durability:
How well does the 440C Stainless steel construction hold up to
everyday use? If the surface of the handle or the blade is nicked
does rust form? How well does the locking mechanism hold up to
constant use? Can it be worn out? How well does the blade hold its
edge? Are there special tools required to maintain the edge because
of the serration of the blade?
Ease of Use:
This is a very small knife. How easy is it to use in a general
outdoor setting? Is the blade long enough to cut through an apple?
How about a bagel? How well does the blade work for cutting wood and
other fibrous products? How easy is it to clean food products out of
the serrated blade?
Jealousy Factor:
Will all of my friends go insanely jealous when they see how cool
this knife is? Will there be a rush on the market?
Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Imlay Canyon Gear for allowing me
to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Imlay Canyon Gear gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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