Growing up, I always wanted a switchblade. They’re just so cool. But for various and sundry reasons, primarily of the parental and budgetary, I never got one. The closest I came was a fake one that had a comb instead of a blade. Flash forward a few decades, and I’m now the grownup making the rules, and sometimes I have grown-up money to spend. As a result, I’m the proud owner of several automatic knives.
When I heard Matt Martin from Vehement Knives had designed an automatic in collaboration with Defiant7, I sat up straight and dug for more information. I’m a longtime fan of Martin’s work and felt confident this new design would be something special.
I wasn’t wrong.
In short: The Clutch from Defiant7 is a snappy option for everyday carry (EDC). The blade has a lot of belly for slicing, whether you’re breaking down boxes or cutting up an apple for lunch. It’s ready to do real work from the moment you take it out of your pocket, and looks damn cool while doing it.
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Snaps open with authority.
- Feels solid and comfortable in hand.
- It’s incredibly sharp right from the box.
Cons
- Price tag might lead to sticker shock for some users.
Defiant7 Clutch Review
Matt Martin is very much a student of history, particularly historical blades and similar weaponry. So, when I asked him about the inspiration behind the Clutch design, I wasn’t surprised when he showed me a book titled, “The Visual Dictionary of Special Military Forces,” a volume he’s owned for more than 30 years.
One of the gear items found inside is the SOE (Special Operations Executive) Saboteur’s Knife, designed by Joseph Rodgers. The Clutch isn’t necessarily patterned directly after that knife, but it definitely has some of its DNA. Martin said that the keywords for the Clutch design were simple, fast, and effective. Those also happen to be features I prize in a knife myself.
Defiant7 handled the production elements on the Clutch. This isn’t the first collaboration between Martin and the Defiant7 team, and it likely won’t be the last. They’re a good match, as they both have incredibly high production standards. I own several knives from both companies and there’s not a dud in the bunch.
Design Features
The Clutch is an out-the-side automatic knife. It has an overall length of 7.88 inches, with a 3.31-inch MagnaCut steel blade. The blade has a very nice stonewashed finish. I’ve never been much of a fan of mirror polished blades and prefer stonewashed instead. I think it looks better and it can hide tiny scratches and scuffs a little easier.
The clip point blade profile has sweeping lines and plenty of belly. It wasn’t a surprise to find the edge had been honed razor-sharp. Every one of my Defiant7 knives has that common.
At 3.5 ounces, the Clutch is sort of a middle-weight knife. It’s not going to feel like you’re toting a small brick in your pocket. But there’s enough weight there to give you a sense of solidity and confidence in the knife. So it also doesn’t feel like it will fall apart if you accidentally drop it.
For the handle, Defiant7 went with 6061 aluminum that’s been contoured and textured. The knife feels great in hand and the texturing really helps to provide a solid grip, even in wet conditions.
The deep carry titanium pocket clip is set up for tip up, right-hand carry. It cannot be swapped to the other side of the handle.
Field Use and Testing
Over the course of the last few weeks, I’ve been carrying the Clutch almost daily. Pretty much from day one, it’s been a knife I look forward to keeping in my pocket. It’s also the type of knife that prompts you to start actively looking for reasons to use it. My wife has had nary any need for scissors, as I’ve been more than happy to deploy the Clutch to open packages, and snip off tags and such. As soon as I hear the junk drawer in the kitchen begin to open, I’ve got the Clutch in hand and ready to go.
The pocket clip keeps the knife secure without causing too much difficulty to deploy; it has just the right amount of snugness. That said, if you’re wearing thin, loose material like basketball shorts, it’s not going to come free quite as easily. For the most part, I just drop it into my pocket and don’t worry about clipping it in place.
I found the action on the Clutch to be superb. It’s fast and snappy. While there’s no safety on the knife, it really doesn’t need one. You’d be hard-pressed to make this open accidentally in your pocket, given the configuration of the button as well as the amount of pressure needed on that button to open the knife.
We went camping last weekend and the Clutch came in, well, clutch for trimming some small branches for the fire, as well as slicing apples for a snack. Around the house, it’s been my go-to for breaking down boxes and other routine chores.
After a few weeks of regular use, I put some different testing materials on my workbench. First up was a segment of braided polypropylene rope. The Clutch sliced through it over and over without trouble. I used some push cuts as well and the blade had no difficulty at all.
An old leather belt didn’t pose much of a threat, either. Though I did have to make a couple of passes when I had the belt flat on the bench and tried slicing through it. Standing it on edge, though, helped greatly and the blade’s edge went through the leather like a laser.
One thing I look for when evaluating an EDC knife is whether it’s comfortable to use. If it isn’t, you’ll just leave it at home. The Clutch is very ergonomic. It’s perfectly balanced, with the balance point sitting just behind the button. The handle doesn’t feel cheap or clumsy. Even making repeated cuts through the testing materials felt fine, with no hot spots encountered.
I review a lot of knives. The Clutch is one of my top five knives of the year.
Who’s it For?
The Clutch is an excellent EDC option, particularly for those who like to add some snap to their daily ensemble. It looks great and performs even better.
Something I appreciate about the knife is that it’s built for rugged use. This isn’t something that you’ll feel like you need to baby or that you’ll hesitate to use for fear of scratching or damaging it. The Clutch would be equally at home on a job site as it is in an office or out on the trail.
At nearly $300, it’s not a knife most folks will buy on a whim. Some might have to squirrel away a bit here and there for a while to save for it. But for a daily task master, i’s worth the wait.
