If you’re new to WE Knife Company, what you need to know is that it is a Chinese company that is making a name for itself by producing some really upscale, high-quality knives, many of which have developed cult followings.
Take, for instance, the WE Knife Banter, which is available in a number of colors, finishes, and configurations.
Regardless of the bells and whistles, this is a short, stubby knife with a 2.9” drop point (spear point, really) blade and boxy scales. You could almost call this a coffin-handled knife.
It’s chiefly available with either an S35VN or 20CV blade and has a few different types of scale options available, including copper, carbon fiber, G10, and Micarta.
Weight varies slightly depending on scale material but is generally in the area of 2.8 to 3 ounces, and the knife is 3.62” closed and 6.52” open.
So what makes it such a hit?
Bland, but Good
First off, let’s get this out of the way. The WE Knife Banter is the type of knife that’s just bland in all the right ways.
It doesn’t have a flashy talon blade or ridiculously gaudy scales. It’s not absurdly huge or laughably small.
It’s just about the middle of the road in a way that says “functional.”
Are there better-designed pocket knives out there? Sure, but the Banter is light, comfortable to carry, efficient at slicing, prying, and lifting, and just seems to fill its niche nicely.
After all, it is a pocket knife – you know, a knife you keep in your pocket for daily use? You might not display this thing, but that’s not what it was designed for in the first place.
Deployment and Lock Type
The WE Knife Banter features dual thumb studs for ambidextrous one-handed opening. The blade, being as short as it is, snaps open with little effort.
Better yet, the action is both crisp and smooth, thanks to the caged ceramic ball bearings that WE Knife Company uses in the design here. These are leagues ahead of nylon washers and at least as good as bronze washers, if not better.
It’s silky-smooth and the lockup is pretty solid. We know that not everyone will jump for joy at WE Knife’s use of a liner lock here. Perhaps a frame lock would have been better, but it does what it’s supposed to do, and at least it’s still easy to engage and disengage with one hand.
Handling, Ergonomics
In the hand, the WE Knife Banter is just ho-hum. It’s not as comfortable as some other larger knives with fatter, rounded scales or grips, but then again, the flat geometry of the Banter’s handles won’t roll in your grip, either.
Thanks to its small dimensions, it’s comfortable to carry and use in a variety of grips, including the standard, reverse hammer, and saber grips. Whether you use this thing for light camp carving or food prep, it’ll serve you well. The only thing is truly not designed for its hard chopping. Stay away from that and you should be in good sorts.
In terms of carry, probably the only thing some people really won’t like about this WE Knife is the fact that it offers tip-up carry on the right side only. The pocket clip is not reversible and only installs on one side of the knife.
Where Can You Get This WE Knife? (and Others)
All-in-all, this is about as good of an EDC knife as we could hope for. If you’re looking to refresh your pocket inventory, visit White Mountain Knives online at WhiteMountainKnives.com. They carry a huge selection of pocket knives from top brands including the WE Knife brand, Kizer, CJRB, Artisan Cutlery, Cold Steel, and many other fixed blades and folding knife designs – plus they offer affordable pricing and free shipping on orders in the U.S.
