Kizer Mini Sheepdog is part of the budget line of knives called the Vanguard series made in China. The Mini Sheepdog is also called Vanguard Mini Sheepdog. It is available in various types. You will find it with either Micarta handle, G10 scales, Aluminum, Titanium or Carbon Fiber scales. Similarly, it is available in various types of blade materials, finishing and pocket clips that are sold separately.
But the Kizer Mini Sheepdog we will be reviewing today is Kizer Vanguard Mini Sheepdog C01C Liner Lock Knife OD Green G-10 (2.6″ Satin)
Kizer Mini Sheepdog Review
The Kizer Mini Sheepdog really is a mini EDC knife with an overall length of 5.77″, a blade length of just 2.63’’, leaving the handle length to be 3.14″. But that’s not all. Designed by Chris Conoway of Sheepdog Knives, it is one of the budget-friendly Vanguard Series knives that does not compromise on quality.
It has also been a best-seller in this series since its release, and that gave way to an upgraded version of this knife that comes with a thumb-hole opener just like on the Spyderco knives which I have reviewed.
The belly of the blade is quite wide and is made from 154CM with a sheepsfoot blade shape and a satin finish. The other version of this knife is available in VG10, which is not very different from the 154CM. Both the blade materials lie on the same spectrum. The shape of this blade also signifies EDC multitasking.
The G10 handle material is a fine choice as it mostly is ergonomically friendly and lies in close alignment with budget knives.
Kizer Mini Sheepdog is part of the budget line of knives called the Vanguard series made in China. The Mini Sheepdog is also called Vanguard Mini Sheepdog. It is available in various types.
You will find it with either Micarta handle, G10 scales, Aluminum, Titanium or Carbon Fiber scales. Similarly, it is available in various types of blade materials, finishing and pocket clips that are sold separately.
But the Kizer Mini Sheepdog we will be reviewing today is Kizer Vanguard Mini Sheepdog C01C Liner Lock Knife OD Green G-10 (2.6″ Satin)
Key Specifications of Kizer Mini Sheepdog
Unboxing Kizer Mini Sheepdog
Ordered the Kizer Mini Sheepdog from their official Store at Aliexpress but if you want to buy it in USA, you can get it at lowest price from Chicago Knife Works. Anyways, My Kizer Mini Sheepdog arrived timely and in perfect condition. The box seemed as premium as the product inside it.
It came with the instruction manual, finely packaged and neatly wrapped in a cardboard box and plastic wrapping. It came complete with a microfiber cloth and a zippered pouch for maintenance that really shows that the knife is of premium quality and adds to its appeal.
And as expected, the knife came out of the box as attractive as we had envisioned. The blade was razor sharp right out of the box. So, you don’t have to sharpen it before using it. The handle was exceptionally neat, feels and looks a brand new knife should look.
Kizer certainly knows how to make a good first impression. It has been a new experience for us compared to other knife companies packaging, and we appreciate it.
The knife also flips open and close with exceptional simplicity and smoothness. You can even see the satin finish on the blade that is scratch-less.
The grind lines are visible and ready to get to work. The blade to handle ratio also feels fine in the hand. It may look small, but it holds well. It also feels quite grippy in the hand. We tried holding it with sweaty and wet hands. And it offers the same comfortable hold when wearing gloves.
The G10 composite handle material provides more retention in the hand. The knife bearing are set with hex key screws and you can use a small star key to remove it for maintenance.
The pocket clips also hangs comfortably in the pocket, has a fine finishing, is tip-up carry and easy to hang on to.
I find the knife wonderfully designed and did not find any significant flaw. However, someone with beefy or large hands may find it hard to grip on to the handle. But it works well for an average sized hand.
2.6” 154 CM Blade of Kizer Mini Sheepdog
The biggest advantage of a small-sized blade is that you can carry it in most US States where 3” is the legally accepted blade length for a pocketknife. It also makes it very pocket friendly, lightweight, and easy to carry for EDC tasks.
The wide width of the blade is another added advantage. You can really choke it up using the deep finger choil and make precise cuts, especially when it comes to food preparation and paper cutting. The distinctive sheepsfoot blade shape is pleasant to look at and makes the knife appear as small as it is. The blade deploys perfectly on the smooth ball bearing pivot.
Moreover, if you like cleaver-style blades, then you would find it appealing. You can see the full-flat bold grind lines and the blade thickness of 0.11” places it on the thin blade spectrum. But it is equally tough and more resistant to abuse.
The 154CM stainless steel is high-quality steel with excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. It also has a fine edge, holds its edge well and carries a lot of strength. Therefore, it is not easy to break or come off. It is an upgraded version of 440C with the addition of Molybdenum. It helps achieve superior edge holding despite having less Chromium. It is also easy to sharpen.
Handle Ergonomics of Kizer Mini Sheepdog
Kizer Mini Sheepdog has G10 scales over stainless steel liners. It is pretty standard and a good choice for handle materials. G10 is lightweight, durable and absorbs moisture. The scales on Sheepdog are smooth, contoured and won’t wear out easily. They are also textured and slip-free. It can remain grippy in adverse conditions. The stainless steel liners are also well-polished to prevent rust.
The ergonomics on this knife are a knock out of the park. Although the handle seems small, it is ergonomically friendly. You can easily fit three and a half fingers on to the handle, and if you use the finger choil to choke it up, you may fit in all four too. Its humped back position coaxes your fingers into a pistol grip. That is something some users might like and some may not.
This is what the pocket clip carry looks like. It works perfectly fine. The knife width may be too wide, but you can still get past it hanging in your pocket to grab something else. It does not damage the pocket fabric and is easy to slide in and out. It does not generate hot spots and is discreet enough.
Deployment and Locking Mechanism of Kizer Mini Sheepdog
The Sheepdog features a flipper tab and liner lock. The flipper tab rides on the ball-bearing pivot and protrudes out on either side of the blade’s end. It is pretty easy to flick open and works smoothly. The pivot is smoot with a crisp detent and an intuitive flipper tab. Therefore, the deployment is reliable and effortless.
However, the flipper tab does need to be deployed from the blade’s end when open. That makes it a two-hand job. But you can also flip it close using your thumb and close with one hand. But if you are too fidgety and like to open and close the knife frequently, you may experience some blade play. So you would have to be careful.
The liner lock on the other hand, is pretty common and standard for pocketknives. You will find it on many folders and if you have used it before, it would be no problem. Because the lock on Sheepdog is also smooth.
The stainless steel liners lock the blade in place and does not accidently disengage the knife. It doesn’t change the handle geometry when deployed, and it is strong and easier to replace. The steel liners eliminate the galling and break-in issue. Moreover, there is no horizontal or vertical play in the lock. Hence, the lockup is pretty stable.
Testing the Kizer Mini Sheepdog
The blade passes the paper cutting test with flying colors. Absolutely a win for simple paper cutting tasks like opening packages, slicing through envelopes, and making precise cuts. Seeing that the knife passed through with zero effort, it was clear that it is indeed a custom-made knife.
It performs equally well when cutting cardboard boxes. To increase intensity, we stacked up cardboard boxes, and the blade did not give up. The forward finger choil also did its job well and made very precise cuts.
Since the blade was sharp right out of the box, we took advantage of it and took it out into the field. We also tested it in harsh conditions where there was dust involved. Even with sweaty hands and dirt, the handle did not felt uncomfortable. Although you may want to clean your hand for a slightly neater job. But the handle did not immediately show signs of wear and tear.
I opened tape from lids of sauces with ease during my use.
I ordered pizza, cut the pizza slices with it with ease and later just for quick check cut the corrugated box to check the sharpness. I really liked it.
I used the knife for over a year under rough conditions and are still happy with it. It is easy to maintain and sharpen. It bounces back to its original performance right after each maintenance. I highly recommend this knife. It is budget-friendly and works exceptionally well. Its better EDC as compared to Spyderco Dragonfly 2 but not as good as Vosteed Nightshade Or Civivi Elementum when it comes to deployment and locking of knife.
Pros & Cons of Kizer Mini Sheepdog
PRO’s
Con’s
Kizer Sheepdogs XL Vs Kizer Sheepdog Regular Vs Kizer Mini Sheepdog
It is interesting to compare the three Sheepdog variants, considering we have so many of them. If we found the mini version so well, we are curious to see how well it compares to the XL and regular size.
If we compare the three knives, the Kizer Cutlery’s mini sheepdog may look too small, but the regular one fits perfectly in the entire hand. The XL on the other hand, looks massive and more like a meat cleaver than a pocket knife.
The regular knife is 7.75” as opposed to 5.77” on the mini. The regular’s blade length is 3.2”, so it exceeds the 3” mark. The XL’s overall length is 9.25” with a blade length of 4”. But the thing that is good about the XL is the pushed back swedge on the handle where it meets the blade. It is easy to keep holding on to while performing cutting tasks without letting your knuckles get in the way. But at the same time, it is also heavy and costs more.
The regular sized knife weighs 4.50 oz. and is easier to carry than the XL. Anything under 5 oz. should be easy to carry. But it also costs more than the mini version.
When it comes down which one you should buy? It really depends on what purpose or tasks you want to accomplish. The XL would work best when working with meat preparation and handling full chicken, Turkey or any other meat. It will also work better when handling bigger cutting objects. Similarly, the regular version would work best on outdoor adventures, and the mini works well for an EDC carry.
Conclusion
Kizer Mini Sheepdog comes with a legally acceptable blade length, lightweight and is easy to carry in USA. The blade material of 154CM works excellently and is very sharp for EDC tasks. It is also easy to sharpen and maintain. The G10 scales and ergonomics are non-weary and can be used under harsh conditions.
The pocket clip is also well-carry with a good finish. The deployment and lockup is exceptionally smooth. It flicks open and close comfortably with a flipper on ball-bearing pivot. It will not disappoint you.
At the end, in my honest opinion, Kizer Mini Sheepdog is perfectly good quality yet budget EDC knife. I believe that Kizer Sheepdog mini is a well-placed EDC knife, even when compared with the regular and XL version. But their prices will vary and so will their blade size and overall size. But overall, it is worth buying a well-designed knife for sure!
