TecX Blue Inceptra Utility Knife

When I saw Case, a great American company, was making knives in China, I cringed. There are some great knives coming out of China these days, but Case is an American icon. But when I saw the types of knives, more of the EDC/tactical folder style knives, and not traditional pocket & hunting knives, I thought I'd give one a try.The knife comes in a two piece tecX box, which has the typical Case information sticker on it with mfg date, model number, etc. It also comes with Case's Limited Lifetime Warranty.The Case tecX Pro X II is a great folder. It has a deep pocket clip that's removable, but not reversible. It has stainless steel liners and is held together with torx screws. The blade pivot has a torx screw (hidden under the pocket clip), so the blade should be adjustable for centering and tightness. There is also a lanyard hole.The linerlock locks up perfectly, with plenty of room for wear. The blade centering is dead in the middle. The tumbstuds (one on each side) are very functional, and deployment of the blade is fluid and quick. The jimping on the top of the handle and the finger groove make for a firm grip. The ABS handle has a good feel to it. The blade is sharp, but not ultra sharp, and is polished, but not a high polish, and fits the overall look of the knife.Is this knife a Benchmade? No. However, it is an above average blade in this price range.

My day-to-day carry knife is a Benchmade Griptillian, and I love that knife to what most psychologists would call an unhealthy degree.That said, I can't always carry it. Sometimes work takes me to places where I'm very concerned corrupt security or law enforcement might "confiscate" it, which would break my heart (and my wallet).I picked up this Tec X because the size and shape are very similar, and thus I could carry a knife I was "comfortable" with, but that was cheap enough that I wouldn't freak out if it got stolen.That said, I was shocked at how much I actually like this little guy.Solid, well-designed, and functional, this baby hits way above its weight-class. The handle is firm, the lock is tight, and the blade is sturdy enough for real utility use, while the sharp drop-point and chiseled cross-section means it's also good for both cutting and thrusting.After seeing mine, my wife asked for one to replace her daily carry knife, and she's been really happy with it as well.It is shockingly good for its cost.

I recently purchased a Tec X Tag Liner Lock, large, with polished stainless steel handle. It is absolutely gorgeous. Everything about it is perfection. It opens sooo.... smoothly with one hand and the liner lock clicks into position so you know it is locked. I like a partially serrated blade and it wasn't available on the Tag. However, the Tag was so well made that I felt compelled to buy the Tec X 75681 Exo-Lock Liner-Lock Knife which has the partially serrated blade that I like. My first disappointment was discovering that when Case calls it an Exo-Lock they mean that the handle serves as the liner lock. The real kicker, however, was that I couldn't open it with one hand. It was even difficult to open with two hands. If you worked it by opening and closing it several times it got easier but what good is that? Maybe I could have loosened the screw but this was a brand new knife. It should have been adjusted perfectly before it left the factory. It was too much for me. I returned it. Very disappointed. Case really dropped the ball on this one. If they bring the Tag out with a partially serrated blade I will buy. The finish on the 75681 was good, so two stars for that. Still prefer the polished SS.

I am impressed right away with the Tec X Pro II. I've been wanting another pocket knife for a while now. I have my CRKT Point Guard for over a decade. I still love it. Never failed me but I wanted a new knife. I look at most of the knives that pop up and a vast majority of them look like carnival prizes or the ones you see at the corner stores next to the "herb grinders".To narrow my search I found a Top New Knives of 2012 review from Field & Stream. Among them was the brand Tec X. F&S-"This new brand from the venerable knifemakers at W.R. Case & Sons features a catalog of about 30 stylish, modern-looking pocket knives with either AUS8 or 440 stainless blades."I really like the feel of the Pro II. The Glass Reinforced ABS Handle feels real solid. Open action is real smooth. The belt clip actually grabs on and release from a belt, not just the pocket, real good. The blade is very sharp. Let's see how long it keeps it's edge under normal use. Liner Lock is sturdy also.The Tec X Pro II was a bit smaller than I expected. It is about an inch shorter open than my CRKT Point Guard. Yet it is real comfortable in my hand. Due to the small size though, the pocket clip get in the way when opening with my left hand. With a little practice I feel I can work around it.Can't to see how it holds up under day to day use.

If you're looking to try a Tec X knife, I would not recommend this model first. This is a very small knife. It's also a lockback, which won't accidentally open in your pocket, but is also more prone to blade wiggle when open, which this knife has an issue with... though it is not too bad.If you're looking for a lightweight tiny lockback at low cost, though, this is a fine choice!The blade is roughly 2 inches, the handle is roughly 3 inches. It came sharp and well assembled.