Step 1: Unboxing

+ Nice packaging, very Instagram ready

Step 2: Analysis

+ Tight Fitment, well-finished materials

+ Thin primary blade grind (The closest comparable knife I can think of, to the Carter, is the Benchmade Mini Grip, which starts at $98 for S30V and plastic scales but has a thicker blade grind).

- Stiff action, Slide Lock Tabs drag on Scales when trying to unlock using one side only (instead of pinch grip).

- Tight pocket clip hangs up on thicker pants

Step 3: First Use

- Not as sharp out of the box as a $30 Ruike P801

+/- Soft steel allows for quick resharpening (a similarly priced Spyderco Native 5 lightweight [$130] offers S110V but requires an aftermarket purchase to get a deep carry clip [For $100 you get S30V which is comparable to the VG-10 on the Carter])

Step 4: One Week Update

+ After honing/resetting the edge on a Spyderco Sharpmaker at 30° the blade has held up well to light tasks

+/- After adding a few drops of extreme force lube to the pivot bushings and cycling the knife several hundred times the action has started to smooth out (for comparison the Benchmade Bugout [$120] came out of the box smooth enough to easily flip open and closed instead of requiring constant pressure on the thumb disk or blade spine)

Step 5: Two Week Update

- After light use (cutting nothing more substantial than paper goods or packing tape), the clip side scale has started shifting (laterally) under the pivot stud, making an audible click when squeezing the knife…