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Welcome to my Ruike P108 review, where we dive into a knife that didn't kill me, but the California DMV nearly did. After spending 7 hours at the DMV with a migraine and a cold, I'm somehow still alive and ready to crank out this review that absolutely no one asked for.
So, buckle up, knife nerds and casual readers alike, as we dissect the Ruike P108-SF, my second foray into the world of Ruike knives. And yes, I've finally learned it's pronounced "Rake" not "Rhy-you-kay." Growth, people. It's all about growth.
In This Article
- Pros and Cons
- Dimensions and Specs
- Design and Materials
- Handle and Ergonomics
- Pocketclip
- Comparison
- Video Review
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- This knife didn't kill me, but the DMV sure did try.
- The Ruike P108 is a budget blade that doesn't suck.
- It's got a strong detent that might make your finger sore if you're a fidgety weirdo.
- The Beta Plus lock is like a lock for your lock, for when you're really beating on it.
- The clip is trying its best to be deep carry, but it's still kinda fugly.
- It's well-made with solid deployment and great QC, even if it's not winning any beauty contests.
Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
Dimensions and Stuff (Because Numbers Are Important, I Guess)
The Ruike P108 has been out for... well, some amount of time. Don't think this Ruike P108 review means there's been a revision. Let's talk blade size and cutting edge. Covering the same ground everyone else has since forever! Handle size and grip area. Spine thickness and handle thickness. Tallnesseseses.
Alright, so... what were we doing? Right, Ruike P108 review. The blade is flat ground, looks to be a straight back profile, made from Sandvik 14C28N. Sandvik 14C28N is a budget steel better than AUS-8, about like VG-10. The blade was pretty sharp out of the box, in case you care.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 8.00" |
| Blade Length | 3.50" |
| Weight | 4.24 oz. |
| Blade Width | 0.75" |
| Blade Thickness | 0.12" |
| Blade Material | Sandvik 14C28N |
| Blade Style | Spear Point |
| Finish | Black Stonewash |
| Edge Type | Plain |
| Handle Length | 4.50" |
| Handle Width | 0.875" |
| Handle Thickness | 0.46" |
| Handle Material | Stainless Steel |
| User | Right Hand |
| Pocket Clip | Tip-Up |
| Opener | Flipper |
| Lock Type | Frame Lock |
| Country of Origin | China |
Look, Ma, It's Got Bearings! (And a Lock for Your Lock)
The blade pivots on a manual bearing washer system and has a fairly strong detent. This means there's an initial kind of hard pop to overcome, and the blade deploys pretty consistently and quickly. On the arbitrary scale of detent rankings, stronger detents like this one are a little more fatiguing. So, expect some minor pointer finger tenderness if you fidget-deploy it for several hours like you've got nothing better to do.
Lockup is handled by a frame lock and reinforced by a lock for the nearly-an-alpha-lock called a Beta Plus. The little switch keeps the lock locked during especially vigorous hard-use sessions when you're really beating on it. The forward position locks the lock, the reverse forward position unlocks it. It cannot be locked when the blade is closed.
The Handle: For All Your Fondling Needs
The handle is made from stainless steel with a stonewashed finish that matches your jeans. All edges have been tumbled or chamfered, so there's a pleasant fondling experience. The interior of the handle has milled-out parts, keeping the weight at 4.23 ounces. The handle grip is plenty large enough for my average-sized hands and fairly comfortable.
The Clip: A Unique Snowflake
The clip. It's a unique snowflake, I'll give it that... and it's also deep carry. I mean, it was a good effort, but the lanyard hole backspace thing extends the handle, and still, 4/10ths of an inch sticks out. The clip is fixed to tip up with the blade positioned backward in the right pocket only... ideal for righties for that tactical deployment, while the freaks who have a dominant left hand are pounding sand.
Comparisons (Because Why Review One Knife When You Can Mention Four?)
Sanrenmu 9052
Now, the Sanrenmu 9052 slip joint. I reviewed this one a few years ago, and I'm still here. I show this one because of similar blade markings. I know Ruike is a Fenix brand—as in the flashlights, not the mythical bird or the city where your in-laws live—but does Fenix's knife brand, Ruike, also make Sanrenmu or vice versa? Or do we even care? Discuss. The 9052 is a pretty good knife for only a few bucks.
Spyderco Para Military 2
Now, the pricier Para Military 2 for size comparison. I like compression locks better. The handle is more neutral, and it's lighter overall. The Ruike uses stainless steel for its handles, and none of my favorite knives have stainless steel handles—which excludes like 40 new Kershaw models on any given year, too.
Boker Mini Kwaiken
Next, another knife I've had for a long time: the Boker Mini Kwaiken copper. This one is also a flipper on bearings. It’s kind of heavy but nice looking. The detent is a little kinder to flipping. This is about a pricey knife.
Buck 110 Select
Last, the Buck 110 Millennial or Select (as it's formally known). Ruining Buck's shtick on tradition, they made this one light and gave it a pocket clip. I've seen it make dudes mad, like real dumb dudes, but dudes nonetheless. The kind of dudes who spend all day on the internet telling other people how to use their knives and whining about the new Star Wars movies. This is a budget knife, and it's hard to close one-handed without using your leg.
Video Review: Moving Pictures for Those Who Hate Reading
The Wrap-Up (Or: Why Are You Still Reading This?)
Like most Ruike knives, this one is well-made and a solid offering. Solid deployment, great QC on mine—so I guess it comes down to looks. Does it do it for you? To me, it's not the world's prettiest knife, and to the world, I may not be the prettiest man—but that's my opinion...and there are a lot of cheaper and very expensive knives that I think are ugly.
So, there you have it, folks. A Ruike P108 review that's probably longer than it needed to be. But hey, if you've read this far, you clearly had nothing better to do anyway. Now, go outside and use that knife to whittle something. Or don't. I'm not your mom.
