Kizer Masu Review: Big Blade, Crisp Button Liner Lock

There’s something about this design that makes me expect a smaller knife. Then I get it in hand, and there’s a lot more blade and handle than that first impression suggests. That’s part of what makes the Masu so interesting to me.

Overall length is 8.01 inches, with a 4.59-inch handle and a 3.42-inch blade. The steel is 14C28N. Kizer lists it as a drop point, although it gives me some sheepsfoot vibes. There’s a pretty distinct tip, so I’d probably call it a modified drop point. However you classify it, I love the aggressive look and that excellent choil.

Blade stock is 0.110 inch, with a full flat grind that feels ridiculously slicy. This version has Richlite scales, right- or left-hand tip-up carry and a listed weight of 3.09 ounces. Caleb Waldman is the designer, and the price at my review was $79.95. The two variants offered then were the same price.

The button liner lock is another big part of the appeal. In my opinion, Kizer has really found the secret sauce with this lock. The detent and the way the release works make it such an enjoyable knife to operate.

Beside the Kizer Warning and Madrac, you can see just how large the Masu really is. It’s noticeably bigger than both. Those are useful comparisons because the Masu’s shape doesn’t immediately make its size obvious.

The Meteora is a good-sized knife in its own right while still being smaller than the Masu. If the Masu looks compact in a product photo, these comparisons tell a different story.

At roughly $80 when I reviewed it, I thought this was a phenomenal price and a great value. Value is in the eye of the beholder, of course. A big part of it for me is how much I enjoy the design and how well it works in my hand.

I’d love to see a premium version with titanium and perhaps a carbon-fiber inlay. That’s a wish for another version, though. I really like what Kizer and Caleb Waldman have done with this budget Masu.

I love this blade. The full flat grind, the aggressive tip angle and the choil all work together really well. I expect that tip to be great for draw cuts, and the choil and jimping give me a good position for controlled little pushes. The large choil should also make sharpening straightforward.

The handle feels amazing in my hand. There’s a swell toward the bottom that I really enjoy. The overall look reminds me of an older Elijah Isham Kizer design that I briefly owned, although I couldn’t bring the name to mind. I prefer the ergonomics here.

The pocket clip is Kizer’s familiar deep-carry style, but it’s fully recessed. I’m always happy to see that. It’s another useful detail on a knife whose grip and blade already work so well together.

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Richlite. It really depends on how it’s used. On this version, though, I really do enjoy it. The blue scales and pale G10 backspacer look good together.

Caleb Waldman’s Renaissance is another Kizer design using Richlite that I’m a big fan of. I don’t think that knife gets enough attention. The Masu is another example of the material working well for me.

The action is absolutely nailed. The detent feels perfect to me, and I love the shape and placement of the button. It’s very easy to get to, push and close. Plenty of button locks are easy to operate, but Kizer’s button shape makes this one stand out for me.

I prefer it to a plain circular button. It looks a little more premium, but the real payoff is still the detent. The tension feels dialed in, and that makes this blade and lock combination so, so good.

The Masu is an easy recommendation from me. I love the grip, I love the blade and I love the action. At the $79.95 price of my review, this was one of the Kizer budget knives I was most excited about. If the size and design appeal to you, it’s definitely worth checking out.