From Cubicle to Campsite: Knafs Doodler Review

Back in the late 2000s and early ’10s, I spent some time in a cubicle, an outdoorsman moonlighting in the corporate world. Now I do it from my home office, the trail, or an Airbnb that allows both kids and dogs. I remember those days at the cube farm were brutal, but I never broke character. And I never stopped carrying a reliable knife that worked on the trail, but fit in at the office.

If I had a time machine, I would go back and hand my past self a Knafs Doodler. Why? The Doodler has a Wharncliffe blade shape, which tops my list behind Sheepsfoot. Second, it has G10 scales and S35VN steel, making it a classic combo that everyone can rely on anywhere. Lastly, it has a pen stored in the handle, hence the name “Doodler.” I should also mention that the overall shape plays really well with its inline flipper, and the swappable inlays add a personal touch that’s easy to admire.

In short: Made from premium materials and featuring a sleek, ergonomic overall shape, the Knafs Doodler bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor life. While it has the design and build to manage common outdoor tasks, it blends in If you find yourself sitting in a lecture hall, meeting room, or cubicle with muted tones and indoor voices.

Knafs Doodler Review

Design & Features

If I strip away what I consider to be an EDC knife and go back to the textbook definition, the Doodler is it. With a height that’s less than half-an-inch and an overall length of 6.91 inches, it’s a sleek knife that can tuck into your back or side pocket.

Visually similar to a pen knife, the Doodler relies on an inset steel frame for structure that’s wrapped with G10 handle scales. The blade is 2.85 inches-long, in Wharncliffe form, and made from S35VN. It can be opened with two hands via a nail knick, or one-handed with the built-in inline flipper. These aspects make the knife fast, but also discreet, ready, and reliable in an office setting, a rainstorm, or tucked into a lean-to on some woodland trail.

S35VN is part of the “it” steel category, at least as far as I am concerned. Out of all of the S’s, it’s the most widely used because it has some of the best-balanced rankings in corrosion resistance, edge retention, abrasion resistance, and ease of sharpening.

G10 is strong, durable, and has a considerable grip in both wet and dry conditions. The micarta inlays on the Doodler play into that kung-fu grip and add a hint of style, which supports the knife’s overall look. The liner lock and deep carry pocket clip also aid in the form, function, and experience of the knife.

First Impressions

The Doodler is a visual departure from what Knafs has historically been known for. That’s due in part to Matt Fitzgerald, the brand’s knife designer who’s got a real affinity for mid-century, space age designs. His ideas on paper transfer really well to the final designs, but thank goodness for advancements in CNC manufacturing, because even as recently as 10 years ago, you might not have been able to make the knives he’s designing.

That said, I am a bulky knife guy. I like knives that fill my pocket and hand. However, it’s hard to ignore the balance between the form and function of Doodler, a result of acute attention to detail. For example, this knife wouldn’t work as well as a flipper if it had a drop point blade. It would disrupt the balance, which would impact the effectiveness of the flipper. It would also add height to the knife and change its overall shape, which could impact ergonomics.

When I finally got the knife in my hand, it fit my palm just right and fired open with ease. I liked the nail knick option, so I didn’t come off like a guy looking for a knife fight for when I am out in public. I always find, especially with flippers, that if I am out and about somewhere public, I do my best to flick the knife open low, or behind me, and slowly, so as to keep the noise of it opening down.

Out In The Field

Where I do enjoy a bulkier knife when I’m using them, it’s always a joy to carry around something more streamlined. I could put the Doodler in the back pocket of my bathing suit and not notice it there. And you won’t lose any function due to its slight form. This is a true blue EDC-style knife.

I got a chance to do a bunch with it outdoors, and even a few things indoors in the three weeks that it was my wingknife*. Truth be told, I have had the knife for a few months, but aside from having it on my desk as a fidget toy, I wanted to hold off on writing the review so it would publish closer to it being available for the rest of you.

All in all, the Doodler is excellent for whittling while walking the trail and opening up trail snacks, especially that crazy vacuum-sealed packaging high-end jerky comes in. The Doodler slices with scalpel-like precision. It is also great for shaving and chopping, thanks to the blade’s low-arcing belly. The sharpened edge of traditional Wharncliffe blades is usually flat; on the Doodler it curves up a smidge towards the front. This also comes in handy for opening letters and boxes.

Now, regarding the pen.

Is it great that there’s a pen on the Doodler? Totally! Are you going to write your opus with it? Probably not. It’s a great, replaceable element that increases the function of the knife. It’ll stay securely tucked into the handle until that random time when you need to write something down, and you don’t have anything else to write with. Overall, it’s far from a gimmick, and it rounds out the whole theme of the knife in general.

Conclusion: Who’s it For?

I’m really glad that Knafs sent me the Doodler because it’s not something I would have hunted down on my own. If I had this knife back in college or during my days in the land of cubicles, it probably would have slept on my pillow next to me every night. It would have been that important to my life in those two scenarios.

So, for college students and corporate dungeon crawlers that need a reliable, discreet knife on their person at all times, the Doodler is a winner. It would have an even bigger impact if those folks needed a reliable knife for the great outdoors. This knife can also work for those looking for a low-profile, high-performing EDC knife (with bonus pen) you might benefit from it. I know I did; I found myself writing more notes on my hand and scraps of paper instead of on my phone. It was nice to be old school for a little while.