WE Saakshi vs Ferrum Forge Stinger - Small Details Review and Comparison

[@jakefromohiostate]

Suuuuuuper detailed comparison. Here’s my incidental two cents….WE/CIVIVI is absolutely at the top shelf with rehashing designs based on minimal changes. Even better at “same handle, different blade = new model” …. “Same blade, different Handel = new model” . Which I totally get on the manufacturing side… cuts down on cost,, right….however on a consumer side I get really bored with them ….a lot! I can’t knock them for quality…it’s always great! But creativity in designs…YAAAAWN! To your credit though…this review makes me want a Stinger now! Hahaha. Good work bud!

[@KnifeNerdery]

Hahah, yeah, I'd like to do more "Small Details Comparisons" like this. And I have a couple more planned, actually. But it's rare that you have two knives that are just *so* similar to each other that all of these many things are valid comparisons. Normally knives are different enough that you can just kind of chock it up to "They're different, not necessarily better or worse." And you're 100% right on the subtle change == new knife tactic. I think WE/Civivi makes great, often boring knives. Sometimes boring to begin with (which isn't always a bad thing -- the Elementum is boring as hell, but that's what makes it such a great everyman-knife), and sometimes just boring in comparison to everything else they've done. But yeah, go get a Stinger. It's great.

[@brentchua3032]

Keep up the good work! Very comprehensive review

[@KnifeNerdery]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@chriswebb3018]

I first bought the stinger and enjoy the knife but i also bought the saakshi because of the larger handles. Now i carry the saakshi far more because of comfort and i did put a finger choil on the saakshi for better ergos. The better ergos, blade material, and snappier detent makes the saakshi a better knife for me.

[@KnifeNerdery]

Oh cool, can you send me a pic of the Saakshi with a choil in it? I'd love to see just how similar it ends up looking. And yeah, I can definitely see the fuller handle just feeling better to some folks. As for the detent, you know, I've heard some variance on the Stinger from folks. Mine is suuuper snappy, snappier than this particular Saakshi. (Not that the Saakshi was a slouch at all in that department.) But I know a couple folks who have really lame detents on their Stinger. I can definitely see favoring whichever one felt snappier, 'cause boy is it fun when you feel those things pop open!

[@jeremyspaulding7735]

I've always enjoyed FF design. The stinger is one I want to get one day. This was a great comparison of these knives. Great video 👍

[@KnifeNerdery]

They definitely have a great eye for design -- and ergos, too!

[@miller8638]

Found your channel looking at we's, the saakshi and the esprit in cf are two of my favorite carries. I use the front part of the saakshi like a choil & works just fine. Nice video 👍 You have a new folllower for sure

[@KnifeNerdery]

Glad you enjoyed this video -- it was a fun one to make! And I shot it in a single take, which is honestly kind of rare for these Small Details Reviews. I'm glad to hear the front part is workable as a pseudo-choil for you! I often find myself choking up like that on knives with a similar setup if I'm doing a little bit more detailed work.

[@mildmannerededc]

Cool vid... Saakshi always felt like a FF Stinger blade (minus finger choil) on a FF Gent handle... WE doing what it does... plug and play.

[@KnifeNerdery]

Ah, I can see that mashup too now that you mention it! And I just heard second-hand that Elliot okayed the design and views it as flattering design influence rubbing off after having collaborated so closely so many times. Which is great to hear, both in that they consulted them first, and that they take it so well.

[@jamesreese7111]

As someone with xl hands and own both models I personally prefer the Saakshi so much more. The Stinger is a great knife but for extended cutting it is fatiguing on my hand. Feels almost toy like in comparison to the Saakshi. The wider contoured handle just feels way better. Also the Saakshi has dropped significantly in price since release. I got mine for $135 from Amazon. Nice comparison. I think hand size is probably the most significant factor in choosing between the 2.

[@KnifeNerdery]

Ah, I can definitely see that -- for random one-off cuts I make throughout the day, thinner, flatter handles are just fine, so I'll take them as a trade-off for easier pocketability. But you're absolutely right -- for extended cutting, something that fills the hand more is always more comfortable!

[@jamesreese7111]

@@KnifeNerdery I see your point as well. I tend to carry my Stinger in the summer while wearing basketball shorts it just disappears in the pocket. But I do find that the smooth lock bar and narrow width a bit difficult to access with my fat fingers. I enjoy your videos thanks for the discourse.

[@evanb123]

I have that exact same Stinger and think it’s an incredible value. Really love the minimal pocket clip too 👍🏻 Both are good looking knives though

[@KnifeNerdery]

Twins! Yeah, it's such a solid EDC knife -- I'm glad you're liking it!

[@charlesard8639]

I love my Sakshi. It is a little overpriced. Never had a stinger. But I want one. Lol.

[@KnifeNerdery]

Yeah, honestly, it seems like a pretty great knife. But if you already have one (either one), I don't think there's much of a compelling reason to get both. _Unless_ it's just a *suuuuper* "you" design and you want the option of a slimmer one on some days. 🤷🏼‍♂️ There's tons of people (myself included) who own only cosmetically different multiples of identical knives, so that's far more redundant than this would be! 😝

[@skjeavtre867]

Great fun! Personally I cant find any reason in the cosmos for the rip-off to exist. Over-production, over-consumption. No no no. But yes yes yes to the video!

[@KnifeNerdery]

Hahaha, oh for sure. But if we want a positive spin on it, we can look at it as hyper-customization, to even more closely match some specific person's wants. Like, it's not just a clone -- it's _just_ different enough in girth and feel-in-hand that it might really be better for someone. Maybe? A little bit? 😝 But it's so, so similar, and the Stinger is already so good (and such a good value), that hopefully people don't feel too strong an urge to buy both.

[@skjeavtre867]

@@KnifeNerdery Another thing I found great with this video is that you hold a real life perspective on the steel, and not just the simplified “newer-better-must-have” perspective 👌🏼👌🏼

[@nicksknives7777]

I like the thicker handle and the carbon fiber looks way better on the we. I like the bigger handle and don't mind the rounded handle, actually prefer it and don't really care about the choil.

[@KnifeNerdery]

Yeah, the thicker handle will feel better in hand for most people, but worse in pocket for some. I actually prefer the CF on the Stinger, but I can see why folks would like the other kind too!

[@billbush1270]

The Elementum is criticized as boring, a word often used to describe the Banter, too. Another way to see those knives is as being designed with essential features. I think that is fairer. BTW, I love my Elementum, but my Baby Banter has that nice choil on the blade, which makes me glad I waited instead of getting the original Banter. But regarding the issue of the quite notable similarities between the Ferrum Forge and the WE under consideration here, I think you nailed it with WE/Civivi simply producing too many very similar knives. The Elementum is the only one I have found compelling enough to purchase. I'm the same with Spyderco: I cannot find one variant I want more than my Native 5.

[@KnifeNerdery]

Oh for sure -- both the Elementum and the Banter are designed to be unintimidating aesthetically, but with a keen emphasis on practical functionality. And both are excellent knives! I, personally, don't find the Banter boring -- it doesn't have an "exciting" style, but it has a distinctive style: specific, intentional angles and curves that give it a visual look beyond just fitting your hand. The Elementum, to me, is just kind of overly rounded. They took the idea "neutral ergos" so far that the handle has lost any real distinctiveness, visually. But that sure does make it fit a heck of a lot of people's hands! But "boring" or not, or specifically because it's "boring", it makes an incredibly reliable recommendation for folks looking for a solid knife.

[@1jaasuh]

Not-finger-choil-knife-person reporting in :D Though the Elementum/Saakshi Flipper-non choil also doesn't appeal to me. Thanks for the detailed video!

[@KnifeNerdery]

Hahah, yeah, I said in the video that it's a preference thing, but there's also totally valid reasons to avoid knives with choils, depending on what and how you typically cut. Some folks find the material slips too easily off the back of the blade and into the choil, causing it to snag, for example. Some of that's technique, some of that's just a bad matching of design vs task. But it's also just very much an aesthetics/ergonomics thing that some people love and others hate. Which reminds me, am I ever going to get around to filming the "Knife Design Deep-Dive: Finger Choil" video I've been planning for almost a year?

[@jeffcon123]

So just a slightly rounded different ground version with no choil

[@KnifeNerdery]

And raw material upgrades in scales and blade. But from aesthetics or ergos, yes, exactly.

[@Quagmire925]

WE/Civivi Near enough to be similar but not near enough to be a copy just about sums it up. Ferrum Forge got into bed with them and are making money so they don’t/ won’t bite the hand that is feeding them! Sorry to be so negative in your comments man but dats da truth. 🧐 I refer to that knife by adding an extra a and t and calling it the Saakashit! 😂

[@KnifeNerdery]

Hahaha, Saakashit made me real-lol. And no, I don't think that's being "so negative" -- it's a totally valid criticism that they really do need to hear, in general, but especially because it's a common enough sentiment that it undoubtedly impacts their sales. I just heard second-hand that they approached FF before releasing the design and asked if it was too similar, and FF approved it. They've worked together _a lot_, so Elliot apparently views it as their design style rubbing off after close collaboration. And honestly, both parts of that story make me really happy: that they asked for approval in the first place and didn't just run with it, and that the FF brothers are open and supportive enough to not take it personally and instead view it as flattering. I know I, personally, would have a harder time being that cordial and magnanimous, so I find it inspiring.

[@Quagmire925]

Thanks man! I’m not trying to be negative but in reality I just feel they had no option only to agree. Its a subtle thing but deep down they know when/if they are asked if they refuse they are in a no win situation. 🥲 Edit: I guess as long as Ferrum Forge are happy thats really all that matters. The funny thing is if they had said in their marketing Ferrum Forge inspired design they would probably have sold twice as many. 🤷‍♂️

[@KnifeNerdery]

@@Quagmire925 hahah yeah, you're not wrong -- it's hard to say no to someone you rely so much on for your own products!! And yeah, just putting the little logo on there would have made it sell even better -- but then they'd have to pay royalties. 😜 But honestly, given that they went that path with the Odium, there's a precedent for it!