Kizer's Begleiter 2 Returns in N690 and Green Micarta

The Begleiter is the knife that made Kizer a real brand rather than a Kickstarter story, and the second generation has been in the catalog long enough that the interesting question is which version to buy. This one is green Micarta and N690 for $41.40.

The spec sheet: 7.87 inches overall, 3.42-inch clip point in N690 with a black titanium coating, green Micarta handle, liner lock on ball bearings, deep-carry clip, 92 grams. Kizer's copy calls the blade a drop point in one line and a clip point in the table; the table is right for this model, and the difference matters because a clip point gives you a finer tip for detail work at the cost of tip strength.

N690 is the reason this version is worth $41.40 instead of $30. It is a cobalt-alloyed stainless in the VG-10 family: better corrosion resistance than 154CM, edge retention a notch below it, and very consistent to sharpen. On a 3.42-inch working blade that balance is close to ideal, because the knife will see food, tape, cardboard and the occasional wet afternoon without needing attention. Ball bearings in a $41 knife are the other half of the value — they make the action feel like a knife twice the price.

Compared with the $27.30 Amicus, the Begleiter 2 costs $14 more and buys 0.47 inch of blade, a bigger handle for a four-finger grip, and N690 over Nitro-V. Compared with the $49.20 Original XL, it saves $8 and gains 0.15 inch of blade while giving up carbon fiber and the button lock. The Begleiter 2 is the largest honest working knife in the budget tier.

Verdict: the best all-around $41 knife in Kizer's lineup right now. N690, Micarta, bearings and a 3.42-inch clip point is a complete working package, and the 92-gram weight is the right compromise between presence and pocketability. Buy it as your one budget knife.

Shop the Kizer Begleiter 2 →