Kizer's Amicus Is a 2.32-Ounce Nitro-V Button Lock for $27

The Amicus is the lightest thing in Kizer's new budget run and the most interesting on paper. Overall length is 6.87 inches, the blade is 2.95 inches of Nitro-V at 0.098 inch stock, and the whole knife weighs 2.32 ounces — about 66 grams, which is lighter than most keychains with a carabiner attached.

Two numbers stand out. The first is hardness: Kizer lists the Nitro-V at 61-62 HRC, two to three points above where most budget stainless is run. The second is the lock: a button lock paired with a flipper, on an FRN handle, for $27.30. FRN is the unfashionable choice and the correct one at this weight — glass-reinforced nylon takes molded texture that G10 has to be machined, and it does not absorb water. A word on FRN the spec sheet will not give you: molded texture is deeper and more consistent than machined G10, and it does not fuzz or wear smooth at the corners. The downside is that FRN flexes slightly under a hard grip, which you can feel on a knife with no liners. On a 2.32-ounce folder for $27, that flex is the price of the weight.

The trade-offs are visible in the spec sheet. A 2.95-inch blade with a 3.92-inch handle means a lot of grip relative to edge, which is good for control and less good for slicing reach. The deep carry reversible clip is a nice touch at a price where clips are usually an afterthought. And at 61-62 HRC on a 0.098-inch blade, the edge is hard enough to chip if it hits a staple — this is a knife for paper, tape and cardboard, not for prying.

Compare the Gryphon at $29.40: half an inch more blade, a Persian tanto, G10, and 3.5 ounces. The Amicus wins on weight and on steel hardness, loses on blade length and on grip material. For summer shorts and office carry, the Amicus is the pick.

Check stock at Kizer — several colorways of this series are listed as out of stock already.