Ferrum Forge has been making knives for a while and were among the first to pioneer the self-published blade model that is now dominating the IKC. Among their best offerings using this model is the Stinger. For reasons that are unclear to me, I missed this knife when it first was released. I want to rectify that now because they released a new version (a framelock with inlays) and because the Stinger is still widely available and a truly excellent blade. Unlike the vast majority of the self-published blades out there, the Stinger is aimed at the heart of the knife market—its around a $100, sports a host of less blingy material, and people-pleasing dimensions. In many ways the Stinger is the Delica for 2022: something for everyone at a very accessible price. Let’s look at the details here.

Here is the product page. The Stinger reviewed here costs $100. The G10 versions are cheaper, the titanium framelock is $75 more, and the inlay titanium framelock is $115 more. Here is a written review. Here is a video review. Here is the Amazon link where you can purchase the Stinger.

Finally, here is my review sample:

Twitter Review Summary: This is what happens when the rising good design tide lifts all boats.

Design: 2

From a 30,000 foot level there is nothing all that remarkable about the Stinger. It is a liner lock flipper. But this is a design that is great in the details. The weight is way down, the blade stock is thin and slicey, and the flipping action is good. Like with all Ferrum Forge stuff, over and over again, the details are where the greatness is lurking. But don’t pick this up and expect a knife unlike you have ever seen before. This is a liner lock flipper filled with good stuff.

The performance ratios are good. The blade:handle is: .78, which is very good. The blade:weight is: 1.28 which is also excellent.

Fit and Finish: 2

As I have mentioned a few times before WE knives (and this is a knife made by WE) are very good, well above average (average being something like a Delica). However, they lack that last tiny bit of polish that differentiates a WE knife from a Reate or CRK. This is a very well done knife, but will not have you questioning whether it is a handmade custom from a master of the craft. The best production knives do that.

Grip: 2

Ah, a salient point where the Stinger really stands out. Thanks to a canted handle and a few curves and cuts, this knife absolutely locks in the hand in a way that many other Ferrum Forge blades do not. Fist pump for the naked full forward choil.

Carry: 2

While not a knife likely to be lost in a pocket or make it through the wash unnoticed, the Stinger is an easy carry thanks to its slim profile and low weight. It has a blade length not significantly less than the PM2 and it weighs more than full ounce less. What’s more remarkable is that the Stinger doesn’t feel frail or slight in comparison, its just a better carrying knife. All of this points to a real and industry-wide improvement in design over the last five or ten years. Knives, in general, are just better now than they were a few years ago. We seem to think of these things as static, since knives are man’s oldest tool, but the reality is that good design proceeds apace everywhere and the Stinger to PM2 comparison is a great example of that.

Steel: 2

I like Nitro-V as much as I like Elmax or M390. Its not as hard as M390 but it is significantly cheaper (well, sort of, see Asher Nomad 3.0 below). It is, as Larrin Thomas identified, one of the best non-PM steels available and it ranks right up there with 14C28N. It is AEB-L with a boost of Nitrogen for increased hardness without adding corrosion prone carbon. I liked AEB-L as it is, but I’ll always take a bit more corrosion resistance.

Blade Shape: 2

Can’t go wrong with a drop point. Was good, always will be good.

Grind: 2

Thanks to thin stock and a very high grind, the Stinger is actually an excellent slicer. It is not quite in the top tier of slicers, like the Chaparral, the Bexar, or the Neutron, but it is very capable.

Deployment Method: 1

I am not convinced that you need jimping on a flipper tab and the Stinger is the best example of how things can get dicey. Its not a bad flipper tab, but it is sharper and more abrasive than needed. A smooth tab with a good shape, like the Ferrum Forge-designed Drop Gent, would be substantially better. I didn’t like the toothy tab on the Mini Archbishop either.

Retention Method: 2

Dead simple, stamped steel, deep carry clip is an ideal set up, especially if you are trying to hit a price point and spend your pennies elsewhere. This works well, stays out of the way, and probably isn’t too expensive.

Lock: 2

Let me tell you a secret, a liner lock is a superior design to a frame lock. If done correctly, they are the same thickness and weight and they have none of the problems with over travel or grip interference. Don’t pay more for the frame lock version, its definitely not worth it, unless you REALLY like inlays.

Other Considerations

Fidget Factor: High

While the texture on the tab isn’t great, the action is kinetic and addictive.

Fett Effect: Moderate

Nothing really ages a ton here, but the blasted blade will change eventually.

Value: High

The price is pretty good for what you get and the fit and finish is classic WE knives stuff. Only the best values on the market outstrip the Stinger.

Overall Score: 19 of 20

When it was released a few years ago, the Stinger was an absolute screamer of a value. Nitro-V was new and the knife’s flipping action was, at the time, very, very good. But the march of progress continues and this knife is no longer the best value on the market (that award, which will be part of my annual Ten Best in April, will go to the Asher Nomad 3.0 unless things change). But that isn’t a reason to dislike the Stinger. It is a very strong knife in terms of fundamentals, with excellent ergos, strong fit and finish, and very, very good slicing performance. For around $90 the G10 liner lock version is one of the best blades out there for most people. Ferrum Forge designs are pretty much always excellent with a few that verge into all time classic territory.

The Stinger is in that second group along with the Gent. I prefer the Gent’s size, but the Stinger is not that different. I like the Stinger’s clip significantly better (I yearn for a better clip for the Gent, if you know an aftermarket clip that works, drop a comment below). If you want a bigger folder, go with a the Stinger, if you want a more gentlemanly folder, go with the Gent.

Competition

There is LOT of competition at this size and price point. The SOG Terminus XR is in the same range, but a bit more expensive. The Bugout is clearly a competitor with the same pleasing-to-most people 3.25 inch blade. There are dozen similar Civivi Knives because that is true for virtually every knife out there. I like the Drop Gent a bit better than this knife, but that’s not really a surprise. I have liked that knife for a long time and only the meh clip keeps me from going out and buying Gent number 4. I also think the Spyderco Mantra is a good comp in terms of size and flipping action. The TRM Neutron 2 is a similar sized knife, but a bit more expensive. It is also a truly superior knife. The Asher Nomad 3.0 is a great 3.25 inch knife and it sports substantially better steel for $10 less. You are going to see the Asher Nomad 3.0 in a lot of comps for a while and its not going to lose many of them. It is a very good knife.

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