Kizer Vanguard Sheepdog XL C01C Liner Lock Knife Black G-10 (4" Satin) Review

Giant, heavy knife

More of a novice here, this is the first cleaver that I purchased. Just received this knife, razor sharp out of the package. Very well built and everything is tight. You will not fully comprehend the size of this beast until you hold it in your hand.
Expected it to be extremely front heavy with the size of the blade, but it is actually almost perfectly balanced about the index… read more finger. Extremely satisfied, showed up 2 days before I thought it would.

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Excellent Chunky EDC

Bought this as an EDC. I'm an over the road flatbed truck driver. Periodically I have to cut load traps or similar tasks. Work environment is gritty and harsh. I was looking for something chunky with good steel and this fits the bill perfectly. Fit and finish is excellent at any price point, and coming in just under $100 makes it even better.

Opens in in a snap without effort.… read more

As others have said, it carries much lighter than expected for such a beast of a knife.

10/10 - Highly recommend and would pruchase again without hesitation.

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Fantastic

I have large hands and this knife is very comfortable to hold. It's very sturdy and the action is surprisingly smooth for such a heavy blade. It's also impressively sharp out of the box. My biggest concern was that is would take up too much real estate in my pocket, but it really doesn't. I wear form fitting jeans and I can still reach my hand into my pocket easily.

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Amazed!!

First off I'm not a small knife guy. I look at a knife for two things, working and defense if needed. This knife as well as my CS Spartan are considered too big for most people to edc. I'd say it's just about right! I have 3 ZT's and while the materials are better they are on the small side for my liking in a defensive situation. The quality craftsmanship on this Kizer is top notch.… read more It came out of the box slightly sharper then one of my ZT's that I had professionally done with polished edges. It was literally like a scalpel. The action is pure butter and it is the most fidget friendly knife I own. Drops shut and flings open on the bearings. This knife feels and acts like a much more expensive product. This is my go to weekend knive and nightly fidgeter! The 154CM steel is fantastic. Cut up and open several boxes and some rope and it only needs a strop to touch the blade up. I don't even notice it in my pocket. If your thinking about this knife just get it, you won't regret it!!

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I do like this knife.

So i have other folders, with 4" blades, that i really love, in my collection. This knife is a bit of a paradox to me ( in a good way). It looks and feels much larger, than everyone of those other 4" bladed folders, that i own. However, this knife is extremely easy to carry. As is usual with a kizer knife ( even the vanguard budget series) this knife has a high quality build to… read more it. The knife is extremely sharp out of the box. The manufacturing is excellent (centered well, no defects i can spot, grind is beautiful and multi-facetted, etc.). To me there is a novelty to the largeness of this knife. It has heft as well. However, the knife is larger physically, than it carries. It is extremely easy to pocket. Love it.

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The beast is finally mine.

One of the best and most elusive knives I have ever bought. The Sheepdog XL lives up to its name in every way. It is amazing how fast they sell out. I am very lucky the stars aligned perfectly so I could get on. It is everything I had hoped for and more.

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Kizer hits it out of the park!

I've been carrying this behemoth for about two weeks and to my surprise it isn't noticeable. It sits in my pocket very well and it doesn't make my pants sag down. I haven't done any field testing yet but from the feel of this blade it could survive just about anything!
I actually had to buy another one as a Christmas present for my Dad. I normally don't buy the same knife twice… read more unless I know that it is a quality knife and Kizer is the epitome of quality (regardless of the origin of product).
Including the gift, this will be the third Kizer knife I've purchased and it will certainly not be the last!
Whether you are a collector, such as myself, or you need a work-horse for a knife the Sheepdog XL is a must have!
It came razor sharp and included in the packaging was a polishing cloth, which is a first for me. Very classy!
My only nitpick about this model is that there isn't an area where I could fashion a small lanyard out of 550 cord.
It's possible I could wrap one around one of the rear spacers but the shape of the blade and where it sits when closed looks like it would be counterproductive.
Aside from that I'm very happy with the Sheepdog XL!

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Big? So what! Carry it anyway.

I love my mini Sheepdog with the S35VN. When I saw this was an option, I wanted it more for the novelty. It is an incredibly large "pocket" knife as far as dimensions go. I haven't found it to be THAT heavy, though. But it will take up a hell of a lot of space in your pocket. That being said, it comes razor sharp, and the ergomics are pretty nice. They should be for how large the… read more handle is. The blue ring on mine started flaking off right away, which hasn't been an issue on my mini. I didn't get this for pretty looks, though. I am going to beat the crap out of it and make people laugh when I pull this ridiculous knife out of my pocket.

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So cool, and fun!!!

This knife is crazy cool. Every time I pull this out I get the best looks, and conversation...no one can resist wanting to hold it and flip it. Which by the way, has the best action on almost any knife I have. Holds well in the hand, and has decent balance. I will admit though, not great for the pocket carry, kinda(ha) big in the pocket. It gets 5 stars still and if you buy this… read more and think it is a small EDC for your pocket, you will need suspenders and a belt. Otherwise BUY this knife, have fun with it...

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Hilarious and over the top

but I love it. This thing is the best conversation starter knife I own. It demands attention. Came to me super sharp. Has never failed to flip. A little heavy but does not chew up my pants. For the price, this has been my best buy this year.

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