QSPPenguin Pocket Knife,D2 blade,Various Handle Option (2 tone satin finish blade,Jade G-10 handle)

Bought this because I wanted a small straight blade and reviewers raved about the quality of the QSP knives. They were right!I've resisted the urge to buy cheap Chinese knives because my experiences with other Chinese made products have not been good. As of late, QSP (and others) have changed my opinion. I don't like supporting China but the quality vs. price over American made is impossible to ignore.We own two Spyderco knives (PM3 & Dragonfly) and the lockup, blade centering, and balance is not perfect (balance is actually horrible). This QSP Penguin is absolutely perfect in every way...lockup, blade centering, silky smooth operation, product design/quality materials, extremely sharp edge, etc.But what about the fancy steels?...Lol. That's all they are. 99% of the people who pay a premium for "premium" steel will never experience the benefit. D2 steel has been around since WW2 and is an exceptional knife steel for just about everyone. And D2 is inexpensive which keeps costs reasonable. Don't fall for the fancy steel propaganda. It'll just cost you money.The biggest takeaway from this review should be this: Chinese manufacturers like QSP, CRJB, CRKT, CIVIVI, Ganzo, and others are producing very high quality knives in the $25-$50 range. Many of these knives are as good or better than the American made knives costing $150 or more.I have no interest in buying another $150+ knife. Yes, I don't like supporting China but I also don't like supporting American companies who overcharge and under deliver. The American companies must pick up their game...increase quality and decrease price. If they don't do that, people will continue to leave them.Great job QSP!

Given the price, it’s hard to give the QSP Penguin anything less than 5 stars, so that’s what I’ve done. The quality of the build and the materials all suggest a much more expensive knife, so my one point of dissatisfaction seems almost too small to notice. Still, I'm going to have to get it out of the way before I can continue with what is sure to be a gushingly positive review; The blade is visibly off-center. It doesn’t seem to interfere with the knife’s performance, so I’ve decided to do my best to ignore the issue.Moving on to all the great attributes on this Penguin. The factory edge is very sharp. I easily removed a 1x2 inch strip of hair from my arm within minutes of opening the box. The action is pleasantly smooth and satisfying with no break-in time. I’ve read some complaints about the large thumb-studs, but I personally like them. They’re easy to snag with the meaty part of my thumb to open the knife. I find the micarta handle to be both comfortable and grippy. The liner lock is secure and there is no play I could detect when the blade is locked up. The reversible pocket clip is well designed and easy to use. And finally, the sheepsfoot blade shape is really cool, almost gentlemanly.All in all, an outstanding buy and a knife I'm happy to carry around.

For me hands down the best pocket knife I've ever owned, it's perfect for every occasion whether your edc or going to a fancy event it fits in everywhere, great build, feels great, looks amazing, I highly recommend!

I use my knives and have a s35 version of this knife that I quite like, but I was getting ready for a remodel job and wanted a knife that I wouldn’t hesitate to use hard. I didn’t use this instead of a utility knife but it did see some drywall cutting, zip ties, packaging, and various other items as needed. Utilitarian blade was useful. The D2 dulled somewhat quickly but it wasn’t razor sharp out of the box. It got beat on and still looks good. My only issues are that the liner lock up is not 100% and the chrome pocket clip is glaringly bright but that’s only cosmetic. Yeah I have purchased another one. I don’t worry about hard use with this knife and with this price it’s a steal.

If you’re in the market for knife you can actually work with, the penguin is likely the best you’ll get for $30, or in my case, $32.Just received mine and with denim micarta, and from the way the color of the micarta complements the stainless/satin finish, the sharpness of the edge, and the smoothness of the action, I’m simply in awe. The knife is very comfortable to hold and the micarta has a great texture. I tested the lockup by smacking the spine against some wood and couldn’t get the lock to disengage, and considering there’s no play in the blade, I’m not surprised. Also, the liner lock is easy to move with your thumb, so there shouldn’t be any issues with irritation, even if fidgeting with it. Lastly, the Detent is perfect and provides peace of mind knowing the blade won’t inadvertently open, whether in the hand or pocket.All in all, you can’t go wrong with this knife in terms of quality and price point, and unless you’re specifically looking for a different style of blade, this is definitely worth consideration.

The QSP Penguin is an awesome little knife. I have the denim micarta with satin blade and also denim with black blade... both D2. The work smoothly, have nice grip even for the smallish size. The D2 blades are super sharp, and slicey. The liner lock doesnt fully contact the blade ramp, but i have not had any issues and locks solidly. I wish it was just a quarter inch longer in the grip length, and it would be perfect for my hands. But i love it.anyway. The grip is a little thicker than i expected, but it is still comfortable. It would be even better if the micarta was contoured a bit.. but then this knife couldn't be sold for less than $30 on sale so i'll take it as-is. Great knife!