Boker Plus CLB RNR

[Danzo]

Hi folks

A few years ago I was recommended to Boker by Chad Los Banos (CLB), designer of the Boker Subcom, and 'Daywalker' here on the forums to be part of a small group of people to do some review work of the Subcom family of knives and subsequent CLB designs. Boker would send us knives and we would review them and feed back our opinions.

I hadn't heard anything from Boker for ages, so imagine my surprise when I received a package from them yesterday. Actually, you can imagine the surprise of the ex-Mrs Danzo who drove to the Parcelforce depot to pick up the package as they had sent it to my old address, and she obviously assumed the package was for her as there wasn't a name on the card from Parcelforce.



Anyway, I got the package home and found it contained two new CLB designs, the RNR Audacity and the G4.

I'll have a look at the RNR Audacity first and the G4 in another thread. I need to mention that these knives are supplied free to me by Boker. Whilst I am allowed to keep them for my own use I prefer to donate them as raffle or competition prizes and will be doing that with this one, in order that the review has a degree of impartiality.

To begin with I don't know what the 'RNR' stands for, before anyone asks!



What I do know is that it is a one piece, skeleton handled, matt satin finished fixed blade knife made from 440C, with a 2.5" blade, 6" overall and weighing 2.5oz:








As you can see it's an interesting looking thing, short and wide, very wide in fact! 1.75" wide at it's widest. The cutouts on the skeletonised handle are weird blobby shapes, which is different.

Bokers blurb about the knife states that it:

".....combines the standard diagonal edge of the Japanese Kiridashi with a belly-curve edge"

which isn't immediately obvious, but does become apparent the more you look at the knife.

The handle is relatively short, a bit more than on a typical 'three finger' knife, but not by much:





I can just engage the end cutout with the tip of my little finger, and the weird blobby cutouts do allow for additional purchase on the handle:





However when gripped the knife is pretty comfortable to hold, the forefinger sits very nicely against the guard, and there is a quite aggressively ridged thumb ramp for extra grippability:





I've found that cutting with the RNR is interesting as the blade design is unlike pretty much any other knife I own. The very deep belly engages with what you want to cut first, and then either cut with a rocking motion using the curve of the belly as a pivot point, or use a long pull cut, which is remarkably effective. The blade may only be 2.5" long but that enormous belly curve gives 3.5" of cutting edge.


The knife comes with a very flat, rectangular kydex sheath and a ball chain. The sheath is Tek-Lok compatible:








The flat sheath allows for very discreet neck carry, whilst the rectangular shape means that it sits rather neatly in a pocket without sliding around too much.

All in all this is an intriguing and effective new design from Chad and Boker. It does appear a little odd at first, but it has quickly grown on me. I think it's a useful, solid small knife for a range of tasks, with cutting ability considerably beyond it's size.

Thanks to Boker for supplying this for review.

Danzo

[Ropeman]

Is RNR Rock N Roll?

That's interesting looking blade shape. Not one of Chad's, is it?

[Danzo]

Is RNR Rock N Roll?

That's interesting looking blade shape. Not one of Chad's, is it?

Could be Rock N Roll, as that's one way of cutting with it!

Yeah, it is one of Chad's designs: note his 'CLB' logo on the blade.



Danzo

[arian]

Good review. Thanks.

It's an interesting knife, and I like Chad's designs, but €60!

arian

[Danzo]

Good review. Thanks.

It's an interesting knife, and I like Chad's designs, but €60!

arian

Is it?



Like I said I got this sent to me for free as a review model direct from Boker. Eu60 is expensive for what you get, I must agree.

Danzo

[arian]

http://www.boker.de/index.php?c=3000

Might be cheaper elsewhere.

arian

[Danzo]

http://www.boker.de/index.php?c=3000

Might be cheaper elsewhere.

arian

It's £47.95 at Heinnies:

http://www.heinnie.com/zxmd95473458/...p-92-298-3937/

That is fairly pricey.

Danzo