AllOutdoor Review: WE Knife Co Banter – “Best Blade for $100?”
Patrik Orcutt 02.23.24
Founded in 2000, WE Knife Co. has established itself as a prominent player in the world of high-quality knife manufacturing. Hailing from Yangjiang, China, a city renowned for its centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship, WE Knife Co. seamlessly blends modern technology with traditional skills to produce exceptional knives. The company’s journey is marked by a commitment to innovation, precision engineering, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Over the years, WE Knife Co. has garnered widespread recognition for its dedication to crafting top-tier knives that cater to the diverse needs of enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals alike. As we delve into the history of WE Knife Co., we discover a narrative shaped by passion, expertise, and a steadfast commitment to delivering cutting-edge tools that stand the test of time. Today we will be taking a look at arguably the company’s most popular knife here in the United States, the WE Knife Co Banter.
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- Sandrin Knives Introduces the New Monza Tungsten Carbide Knife
- Cold Steel Introduces their NEW Razor Tek Fixed Blade Knives
The WE Knife C Banter was privately purchased by myself and no money has been exchanged for this review. WE Knife Co has not been allowed to preview this review prior to publication. I have been using the Banter as an EDC blade for the past year. It has not been in my pocket every day but it has been carried a fair amount up to this point.
I’m not sure about many of you but I used to tune into the Blade HQ YouTube channel pretty frequently to see new blades that I could add to my wish list, but probably never acquire. Back then the hosts of the channel were Zac Whitmore and Ben Peterson. I found these two to be very entertaining and always helped produce quality content. A few years later I had heard that Ben left Blade HQ to go work for WE knives and at that point in time I had no clue who WE was. Then to my surprise, they were producing a knife designed by Ben himself and they were calling it the Banter.
WE Knife Co Banter – Specs
- Overall Length: 6.50″
- Blade Length: 2.875″
- Blade Material: CPM S35VN
- Blade Style: Spear Point
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Edge Type: Plain
- Handle Material: G-10
- Frame/Liner: Steel
- Weight:2.61 oz.
- Designer: Ben Petersen
- Country of Origin: China
- Best Use: Everyday Carry
- MSRP – $100- $140
WE Knife Co Banter – Design & Aesthetics
The Banter brings a lot to the table in regards to aesthetics. This is truly a design where less is more in my opinion. The simple design makes this a knife that could be at home in your pocket on the way to the coffee shop or if you’re headed to your best friend’s wedding. The small bursts of color on the thumb stud give the knife a small amount of style and lets you know that there is more to this blade than meets the eye.
WE Knife Co Banter – Performance
While the Banter may look small, it still packs a lot of performance in a handy package. This is one of the smallest knives I own but the Bater is still mighty useful in the hands. The Banter’s blade boasts a beautifully straightforward design. It takes on the timeless spear point style, featuring a high grind that gracefully transitions to a saber-style termination just before the spine. With a modest blade stock thickness of .10 inches and a behind-the-edge thickness of around .017 inches, it excels as a reliable slicer.
The design continuity of the Banter extends to the black-bladed version, incorporating black G-10 handle scales. Unlike some DLC coatings that can easily reveal smudges and scratches, the stonewashing on the Banter ensures a consistently worn-in appearance. Similarly, the satin version, characterized by blue handle scales and black thumb studs, undergoes stonewashing for both aesthetic consistency and practical reasons, seamlessly integrating any signs of wear into the overall look of the knife.
Featuring a 2.9-inch CPM-S35VN blade, the WE Knife Banter offers a highly practical everyday carry (EDC) solution that easily fits into your pocket. This particular blade steel is widely recognized and extensively utilized by renowned knife manufacturers such as Demko, Chris Reeve, Cold Steel, and Spyderco. The widespread adoption of CPM-S35VN is attributed to its stainless properties, ease of sharpening, ability to maintain a reliable working edge, and toughness suitable for various tasks commonly associated with folding knives.
In essence, the choice of CPM-S35VN for the Banter’s blade is not groundbreaking, but rather a fitting and well-established selection. Its versatile characteristics make it a reliable choice for those seeking a dependable and durable EDC knife that can handle a range of everyday cutting needs.
Likes
- Priced very well
- Made with High-quality Components
- Easy to maintain and sharpen.
Dislikes
- Liner lock can be tricky to disengage
- The blade will wiggle under a small amount of tension.
- The pocket clip is too thin and has limited retention.
WE Knife Co Banter – Wrap Up
While I do really like the Banter and the story behind it even more, I think this is a knife that is similar to the Honda Civic. Yes, the Banter is a great knife for the money and offers a lot of value, but its limited. A lot of my small gripes can be fixed with modifications to this blade and that’s exactly what I would do to this knife if I wanted to put a little more money into it. But given the availability of other high-quality knives on the market, I don’t fee the need to do that. In the end the Banter is a great knife at a great price but has some limitations.
