Page 60 - Blade (February 2020)

LOCKBACK EDCS |

the Salute, too—I would like to see more
manufacturers execute is the gimping

on the lockbar release. This ensures a
secure purchase when unlocking and
works very well even while wearing

work gloves. The blade opens with
either hand easily.
While the Mini’s 4-inch-closed size
makes it a breeze to carry on a daily
basis, the size can be a drawback for
extended use. I would prefer a bit more
handle to boost comfort. However, for
occasional use, the Mini is pretty much
all you need. The MSRP is $32.95 in the

bead-blasted blade and $35.95 in black.

“A NOTABLE FEATURE IS

THE AMBIDEXTROUS

THUMB STUDS THAT SIT

INSIDE AN OBLONG SLOT

IN THE BLADE.”

—THE AUTHOR
Seatbelts are no match for the Cold Steel
Bush Ranger Lite.
LITE up YOUR KNIFE
Cold Steel’s Bush Ranger Lite offers
the same great blade shape and handle
ergonomics of the company’s higher-
end Bush Ranger folder, but is more
budget friendly. The Bush Ranger is
a rough-use folding hunter based on
the company’s long discontinued Bush
Ranger fixed blade, and features CPM
S35VN stainless steel and brown G-10
scales. MSRP: $224.99. The Bush Ranger
Lite offers the same rugged design but
8Cr13MoV stainless steel and molded
glass-reinforced nylon (GRN) scales.
MSRP: $49.95.
There are other differences between
the two folders, including blade-
opening methods—a thumb disc for the
Bush Ranger and dual thumb studs for
the Lite, and Cold Steel’s proprietary
Tri-Ad Lock for the former and a
standard rocker-bar lockback for the
latter. There’s also a sliding safety switch
on the Lite, which remains a contender
New, for the Case Cheetah at least, is the for a heavy-duty folding hunter—and is
handle material of “black and white fi ber,”
which is somewhat akin to carbon fi ber. the knife tested herein. The wide clip-
point blade is thick enough to withstand
hard use and ground to a thin cutting

60 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020