U.S.A. — I guess I’m more of a traditionalist and slowly change habits and traditions. Not saying that I’m right or wrong; it’s just how I am. So, when I opened the box and removed the Sencut Watauga and flipped open the blade I automatically hesitated when I saw the shape of the blade. For my EDC folders, I have always carried a clip-point knife that will handle all of my daily stabbing jobs. But over time I have become comfortable carrying a drop point knife which has the end of the spine ground down giving the blade a point.
I wasn’t familiar with the Wharncliffe-shaped blade, so I had to research its history. Apparently, one of the lords of the Wharncliffe area in England put heads together with a buddy and came up with this design somewhere in the 1820-30s.
SENCUT Watauga EDC Folding Knife
So, to my understanding, the design was deemed good for carving, whittling, and various cutting tasks, which makes sense when you study the design. As a kid, I whittled some, I suppose like all other kids, but I haven’t whittled in years and years. The closest I have done to whittling in the last 30+ years would be shaving off wood chips to build a fire while camping.
But back to testing in the present day. It surprised me but after carrying the Sencut Watauga for a week and testing it out that I have become comfortable with carrying it. In fact, I took it walleye fishing with me, and it performed all of my EDC tasks fine. Most of which was cutting off and changing lures, which tells you that it wasn’t a very good day for fishing!
One thing that is always a deal breaker is if the knife comes from the factory dull. The Sencut Watauga came very sharp and easily sliced a sheet of paper which is my normal test. Sharpening the Sencut Watauga is easy due to the flat cutting surface. Just align the edge up at the correct angle on your stone and rub it all the way down the blade. At first blush due to you normally sharpening a curved blade, it may seem a bit awkward, but within seconds you will note that it is actually easier to maintain the correct angle.
Opening the blade, it has a not-too-pronounced flipper which of course, when the blade is open, also acts as a finger guard. It also has two well-defined thumb grooves that you can use to open the blade. It just hit me; I don’t see many thumb grooves in the blades anymore. I’m old school and kind of like having them even though I never use them anymore. For locking the blade, it uses a button lock.
The handle is ivory colored with a tint of green and is somewhat opaque where you can almost see through it. Even though the handle doesn’t have a super aggressive texture, it does have enough, so you feel like you have a good grip on it.
There are thumb grooves on the spine, so with my pointer finger pressed against the flipper and my thumb on the thumb grooves, the knife is locked in my hand. There is also a finger choil on the blade if you want to choke down on the blade while working.
And the Sencut Watauga has a one-position pocket clip that is tip-up. One last thing that adds a little pizzazz to the knife is that it comes with a padded canvas carrying case, about the size of a glass case. The MSRP on the Sencut Watauga is $53.85, and as usual, we will close with the specs.
Sencut Watauga Specifications:
- Overall Length: 7.99″ / 203mm
- Width: 1.25″ / 31.7mm
- Overall Height (Include Clip): 0.74″ / 18.8mm
- Blade Length: 3.48″ / 88.4mm
- Closed Length: 4.51″ / 114.6mm
- Blade Thickness: 0.12″ / 3mm
- Handle Thickness: 0.51″ / 13mm
- Weight: 3.69oz / 104.5g
- Blade Material: D2
- Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Blade Finish: Stonewashed
- Blade Type: Wharncliffe
- Handle Material: G10
- Handle Color/Finish: Natural
- Liner Material: Stainless Steel
- Liner Color/Finish: Gray
- Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, L/R
- Clip Material: Stainless Steel
- Screws Material: Stainless Steel
- Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing
- Locking Mechanism: Button Lock
- *Note that the button lock is designed with a spring under the button to provide just the right amount of tension so that there is enough resistance to avoid accidental opening, while still offering the ideal amount of pressure to release the lock.
About Tom Claycomb
Tom Claycomb has been an avid hunter/fisherman throughout his life as well as an outdoor writer with outdoor columns in the magazine Hunt Alaska, Bass Pro Shops, Bowhunter.net, and numerous magazines and newspapers. “To properly skin your animal, you will need a sharp knife. I have an e-article on Amazon Kindle titled Knife Sharpening #ad for $.99 if you’re having trouble.”
