Kizer x Justin Lundquist Feist XL
Get ready for a complete and utter gush sesh. The Kizer Feist XL is hands down one of my all time favorite models, period. “Oh but Lance it’s only using 154CM and is made in China.” Blah blah blah blah blah… Get outta here with that. I don’t want to hear it. This is in my opinion, dollar for dollar, one of the best sub $100 knife on the market. Kizer smashed this one out of the park and Mr. Lundquist has made himself a lifelong fan in the guy typing this.
So let’s dive in, shall we…
Specs
Overall Length: 7.75”
Blade Length: 3.38”
Blade Material: 154CM
Handle Material: Micarta
Blade Shape: Drop Point
Blade Grind: Flat
Lock Type: Liner Lock
Action: Ceramic Ball Bearings
Weight: 3.10 oz
Designer: Justin Lundquist
Price: $69.60
Blade
Here’s where things get a bit contentious on my end. According to all of the specs online this knife is listed as a drop point, but I’m not sure if I agree. It definitely has some sheepsfoot vibes going on, but we wont get hung up on that. All that really matters is that it is a flat ground blade with a slicey slicey edge. And the front flipping on this thing is to die for. Finally, the grind is perfectly even and the blade was centered upon unboxing.
Action
If you are looking for a gateway knife to get you to start enjoying front flippers, this is the knife. The action on this thing is superb. I’m talking guillotine action that would make Marie Antoinette shudder. Riding on bearings and sporting the right style and amount of jimping, any manner of deployment you can think of with a front flipper is achievable. Overall, this thing is a pure joy to drive your wife crazy with.
Fit and Finish
So now we get to the fit and finish. Kizer’s finish is always on point with the version that I own rocking a beautiful satin finished blade with a matching pocket clip. It also has minimal hardware giving the simple shape of the knife a very elegant and classy look.
Despite how clean the design is, the micarta scales are my favorite part about this knife. This is the micarta that I wish Civivi and other budget brands would start using on their all of their models. It’s grippy in all the right places (creepy eyebrow raise) and patinas with little to no effort. Chef’s kiss.
Carry Profile
The carry profile of this knife is also a selling point. Because of the Feist XL being a front flipper, it barely takes up any space in a pocket. It is light weight while still having an almost 3.5” blade, so you can carry more without noticing it. The pocket clip slides in and out easily with the only real trouble being a lack of a lanyard hole, thus making it a bit hard to find and grip the knife to efficiently remove it from the pocket.
Personal Experience
This review will specifically be talking about the Green Micarta version of the Feist XL.
This is the knife that turned me into a believer. Not only in front flippers, but also in Kizer. Up until I bought this knife it seemed that most of the budget hype (circa 2021) was firmly on Civivi after a slew of high hitting budget releases. But for me the Feist is the reason that I will always point someone in the direction of Kizer for their first budget knife (assuming they have a model that is appropriate).
The acoustics on this model are solid and complement the buttery smooth action. The Feist breaks the detent with ease on deployment and feels near effortless. Reach around, pinky, front flip, it doesn’t matter she’ll do it all with style.
So what are you waiting for? Pick one of these bad boys up before they are gone. There are a lot of Feist lovers out there and I’m not talking about your local dog walker’s club. For me, this is a 9/10, hell 9.7 out of 10 all day.
As Ol’ Justin would say himself, “Hope you dig it.”
