Nitecore NTK10
£119.99
Pros
- Lightweight
- Multi-functional
- Razor sharp
- Corrosion resistant
- Aesthetically pleasing
Cons
- Expensive
- Only one blade is included
- Only one material available (titanium)
Nitecore have discovered the potential of branching into other areas of EDC (everyday carry) and have produced their very first knife – the Nitecore NTK10 Titanium Utility Knife which presumably stands for Nitecore Titanium Knife. They sent me a sample to review – this will be my first ever knife review, so I hope you enjoy it and find it useful and informative.
First Impressions.
The Nitecore NTK10 arrives in a rigid, black cardboard box with the words “Nitecore NTK10 Titanium Utility Knife” printed on the front. It is relatively simple, which keeps overall costs down. Inside the box, the NTK10 is nestled in thick foam, with a layer above and below the knife, preventing it from being damaged during transit. In the box, you receive:
- Nitecore NTK10
Nothing else is really required, as the NTK10 is easy to operate. Picking it up, I can tell that the materials used are of high quality. The titanium is lightweight but it still feels robust.
A Closer Look at the NTK10.
The NTK10 may look rather simple, but if you look carefully, you can see that it resembles a shark’s head. This not only makes the NTK10 more aesthetically pleasing, but at the same time gives it two other features – a glass breaker and a bottle opener.
The shark’s “nose” is pointed to allow it to break glass. It could also be used defensively, however, I wouldn’t recommend doing that. The “jaws” of the shark allow you to open bottles. Now, when I first realised that this was what it was designed to do, I was a little worried. This is because parts of the “jaw” looked quite thin and I was worried that the pressure would snap parts off. However, the NTK10 is still opening bottles several weeks later with no issues.
The pommel of the knife features a lanyard hole, allowing you to customize your NTK10 with paracord or beads. It is pointed and it can be used as a glass breaker, but I would use the front instead as your hand is less likely to slip.
The Body.
The NTK10 is comprised of four main parts – the locking mechanism, a removable carry clip, a Japanese-made, type CKB-2 OLFA stainless steel blade and the body.
The locking mechanism is a tad more complex, as it is technically comprised of four parts too – the screw, the circular nut, the spring and the little piece of titanium that fits in each groove to lock the blade in place. Made from what appears to be a single piece of titanium, the NTK10 is built to last.
There are a total of three grip points: one set of grooves on the spine and two sets on the belly. This allows you to use the NTK10 in wet conditions, as it won’t slip out of your hand. It also makes operating the NTK10 adjust the length of the blade with ease. This system is very easy to use with one hand – something which can be vital for workmen or people using the NTK10 for craft. The locking mechanism is easily disassembled – simply take a flat head screwdriver and unscrew the titanium screw holding the mechanism in place.
The Blade.
The locking system also holds the blade in place. To remove or install a blade, you need to partially dismantle the lock. The blade that comes with the NTK10 is a Japanese-made, type CKB-2 OLFA stainless steel blade.
The blade is set at a 30o angle, which makes it perfect for cutting things. In fact, the blade is especially designed for carving wood and other hobby crafts. It is pointed at the tip, which makes piercing things very easy (including skin) so be careful!
A micro bevel has been used on the blade. This has various advantages, for example it prevents the blade edge from rolling and preserves the sharpness of the blade. I used a piece of paper to test the sharpness of the blade. It cut through with no effort whatsoever – perfect!
Improvements and Suggestions.
The NTK10 impresses me a lot. I have, however a few suggestions and improvements. For example, with its £119.99/$139.99 price tag, it would be nice if there was another blade included. Secondly, it is quite expensive. Sure, like everything, you get what you pay for and there’s no denying the quality of the NTK10. However, if Nitecore produced the exact same knife but using different materials, it would make the product available to more people. Nitecore have already done this with the NTP20 (titanium) and NTP21 (black anodized aluminium).
If you want the Nitecore NTK10 Titanium Utility Knife for yourself, it’s available for purchase only on the Nitecore website. The RRP for this product is £119.99.
Product sample provided by Nitecore in exchange for a detailed, unbiased review.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. If you’d like to add a comment or thought on this post, please use the section below. I can also be contacted via the online contact form. Please subscribe for the latest reviews, news, and discounts. Please follow My Helpful Hints on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook too!