Kizer’s Sheepdog series, one of their best-known knife lines, is characterized by bold and functional sheepsfoot-shaped blades. There are several great knives in that series but I think their Clutch Lock models are the real standouts. You could say they are standout knives in a standout series.
Specs
- Overall Length: 7.60″/193mm
- Opener: Thumb Stud/Thumb Hole
- Blade Style: Sheepfoot
- Blade Length: 3.15″/80mm
- Blade Thickness: 0.11″/2.8mm
- Blade Material: 154CM
- Handle Length: 4.45″/113mm
- Handle Material: Aluminium
- Pocket Clip: Reversible Deep Carry
- Weight: 4.76oz./135g
- Lock Type: Clutch Lock
Observations from Use
If you like big, bold knives, you’ll like the Sheepdog. I happen to think it is a great-looking design that makes a statement (especially with the purple scales). However, the Sheepdog series isn’t just wild for the sake of being wild. This is actually a practical and useful knife. The blade stock is thinner than you would expect, though still plenty stout given the height, at .11″ thick. This coupled with a very tall flat grind, a useful point, and slight belly to the edge means these knives excel at utility work and cut aggressively.
I haven’t tried every crossbar-style lock but I think, in general, Kizer is doing them best of what I have put hands on. For one, their Clutch Lock is adjustable which is a meaningful feature for this knife. The blade has a lot of mass so being able to set a stiffer detent is great. They also seem to get great action from their Clutch Lock knives, taking the time to polish bearing surfaces. This VERY strong lock with fidget potential is very fitting for this design.
Most, if not all, of the Sheepdog series have multiple opening methods. I particularly like the setup on this version of the full-size Sheepdog. It has color-matched thumb studs, a large opening hole, and a fuller. Some models of the Sheepdog have a flipper tab but this one does not, which I prefer. It is already a wide knife in pocket so it is nice to forgo the extra width of the tab.
If you have never tried a Sheepdog in hand, you need to. They generally have flat scales but deeply curved handle shapes that are very comfortable to hard use. The handle is large enough that it should be very well suited to those with larger hands. I also want to call out the finish that Kizer uses on their aluminum scales. It feels great in hand.
If I could change a few things, I might make the fuller just a bit wider which I think would make flipping it open off the fuller even easier than it already is. The deep carry pocket clip is secure and stable but seems like it could be trimmed down a bit. These are clearly nitpicks on a great knife.
Wrap Up
Maybe you want a large, hard-working knife that is well suited to utility tasks. Maybe you just want an EDC that makes a statement. Maybe you just like sheepdogs. If any of those apply, you ought to check out something from Kizer’s Sheepdog lineup and, as I said, I happen to think these Clutch Lock models are the pick of the litter.
The Clutch Lock Sheepdog models are available at a host of price points with various blade steels and handle materials. You can view the whole range at Kizer.com.
Watch the Kizer Store on Amazon for sales: Kizer Sheepdog C01C at Amazon.com
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