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Olight Oknife Rubato 4 Knife Review
- Pros: Exceptional build quality and materials, including S35VN blade steel and raindrop carbon fiber handles. Clean, minimalist blade design with excellent slicing performance and edge retention. Improved mil-clip pocket clip that looks good, feels great, and functions well. Outstanding crossbar lock and smooth, easy deployment using thumb flicks, middle finger flicks, or the lock itself. Stacks up against popular EDC knives from brands like Kizer and Civivi in terms of size and overall quality. Comes with a nice pouch that features useful additions like a velcro patch area and an extra mesh pocket.
- Cons: Ergonomics are very good but not perfect, requiring some adjustment to find the most comfortable grip. The price point, while justified by the materials and quality, may be higher than some readers expect from an OKnife product. The raindrop carbon fiber handle, though visually stunning, may not be to everyone's taste.
Greetings, readers, and welcome to this Olight OKnife Rubato 4 review, where I'll be taking a look at a brand new knife that just dropped recently. And let me tell you, this one was quite a shocker to me.
If you were to hand me this knife without any of the little markings that give it away, I would have never guessed in a million years that it came from OKnife. Yes, we're talking about the OKnife Rubato 4, and it's an absolute banger!
Key Takeaways
- The OKnife Rubato 4 is an absolute banger and quite possibly the best EDC knife the company has ever made.
- The packaging and pouch are really nice, with great attention to detail and useful features.
- The Rubato 4 is in the same category as knives like the Kizer Drop Bear and Civivi Altus in terms of size and overall quality.
- The blade is a clean drop point with a full flat grind, S35VN steel, and minimal branding.
- The raindrop carbon fiber handle looks stunning and feels great in the hand, despite minor ergonomic compromises compared to some other knives.
- The mil-clip pocket clip is a significant improvement over deep carry clips, and the crossbar lock and action are outstanding.
- Even at its current price point, the Olight OKnife Rubato 4 is an easy yes and stacks up against any knife in its class.
Packaging and Accessories
- The outer packaging is similar to what you've seen on other OKnife products, but the new pouch is really, really nice. It's got:
- beautiful blue stitching that pops
- a velcro top for attaching patches
- a soft, velvety interior lining
- a strap to hold the knife securely
- an additional mesh pouch for the included coin or other small EDC items.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
| Overall Length | 7.09 inches |
| Blade Length | 3.04 inches |
| Blade Thickness | 0.11 inches |
| Blade Material | S35VN stainless steel |
| Handle Length | 4.05 inches |
| Handle Thickness | 0.434 inches |
| Handle Material | Raindrop carbon fiber |
| Locking Mechanism | Crossbar lock |
| Weight | 2.96 ounces |
Comparisons
Kizer Drop Bear
The OKnife Rubato 4 and the Kizer Drop Bear are both fantastic EDC knives that share similar sizes and overall quality. The Rubato 4 is truly in the same category as the Drop Bear, which is a significant achievement for OKnife.
When it comes to ergonomics, the Drop Bear has a slight edge, with a more natural and comfortable grip that doesn't require as much adjustment as the Rubato 4. However, the Rubato 4's handle is still very good, and the action on both knives is exceptional, with the Rubato 4 coming very close to matching the Drop Bear's smooth deployment and lockup.
Civivi Altus
The Civivi Altus is another knife that can be compared to the OKnife Rubato 4 in terms of size and overall quality. This comparison is significant because it demonstrates that the Rubato 4 is a major step forward for OKnife, elevating them to the same level as well-respected brands like Civivi. The fact that the Rubato 4 can hold its own against a knife like the Feldspar is a testament to the exceptional design, materials, and craftsmanship that OKnife has put into this new release.
The Blade
The blade on the Rubato 4 is a very clean drop point with a full flat grind. What I love most about it is how minimally branded it is. All you have is the blade steel marking and the knife's name and serial number. The S35VN steel, full flat grind, and 0.018" behind-the-edge thickness make for excellent slicing ability and edge retention.
The Handle and Ergonomics
The handle on the Rubato 4 is fantastic, with stunning raindrop carbon fiber scales. The ergonomics are very good, although not quite perfect. I find myself having to choose between choking up or back on the handle to find the most comfortable grip, whereas on the Drop Bear, there's just one natural grip position. However, this is a minor complaint, as the Rubato 4 still feels great in the hand overall.
The Pocket Clip and Action
I really love the improvement OKnife made to the pocket clip by going with a mil-clip instead of a deep carry clip. It looks good, feels great, and is perfectly functional. The crossbar lock and action on this knife are outstanding, coming very close to the likes of the Kizer Drop Bear. Deployment is smooth and easy, whether you're thumb flicking, middle finger flicking, or using the crossbar lock to kick it out.
Video Review
Conclusion
In conclusion, the OKnife Rubato 4 is the complete package. Even at its current price point, it's an easy yes from me. It stacks up against any knife in its class, and I can only hope OKnife continues to produce more knives of this caliber. The Rubato 4 has definitely earned a spot in my regular EDC rotation and might even make an appearance in my end-of-year knife awards.
I hope you found this Olight OKnife Rubato 4 review helpful, and as always, let me know what you think of this impressive new offering from Olight!
