Triple Eight Professional's WrightKnife

We knife users, collectors and enthusiasts have so much to choose from, that when something truly innovative comes down the line, it has the ability to stop us in our tracks. I know that's the way I am, and I've seen every knife pattern, combination of ideas, gimmicks and tricks, sometimes it seems there's nothing new under the sun. On those rare chances that something is truly innovative, it's often gimmicky, and turns into an industry fad, making the company responsible for it lots of money, without truly offering the knife carrying public anything in return.

I can tell you right (Wright?) off the bat that Triple Eight Professional's WrightKnife is truly innovative, it's practical, and don't even think about using the word "gimmick" until you've handled one in person!

The WrightKnife takes its name from Wright Wyoming, home of its designer, Kirk Rexroat. If you've read a knife magazine in the past decade, you probably know who Kirk is. If you don't feel free to click that link and learn more. Kirk is a veteran respected bladesmith who works with beautiful materials like damascus and mammoth ivory. Rexroat's creations and beautiful, tough and functional all at once.

Triple Eight is a young company that's making waves in the industry. They count Rexroat and Canada's tactical master Greg Lightfoot among their design collaborators. Check out Lightfoot's customs here @ Lightfoot Knives. The people of Triple Eight Professional have tons of combined experience having worked in the knife, tool, flashlight and outdoor gear industries. We've already seen Triple Eight add on to its initial 3 knife offerings with another new wave of 3 more knives very recently.

I'll get back to the other offerings later...
All of 888 Professional's designs work the same way. They call them "folding fixed blades", which confused me at first until I thought about it. When you understand the strength of these little designs, from their oversize, donut style pivots, to the stout blades and overall construction quality, "folding fixed blade" no longer feels like much of a stretch.
Triple Eight calls their opening action T8P Spinner Action, it's patent pending and pretty basically genius in its simplicity. I don't even need to really explain much more than these photos show. Both handle sides and the blade all spin around the same oversized pivot. It clicks locked open and shut with a ball bearing and detent, and all you need to do to start the opening sequence is hold the knife tip-down in your hand and apply pressure to the front scale. This disengages the 3 pieces for rotation. It sounds tricky but it's very simple, addictive and safe. I actually tried to blunder my way through opening it several times. Emulating a clumsy handed person with no dexterity, I still could not force the knife to scrape or cut me when opening.
I put a lanyard on mine, which helps in drawing the knife from the pocket. The clip sits all 888 knives tip up in the pocket, the way most preferred by those using knives drawn quickly for emergency use. Draw is fast and easy because of the little lanyard slab, and even easier with a lanyard attached.
All of the 888 Knives have the same basic dimensions, in @ least the handle size and style, while blades vary only a bit. They just released a damascus kiridashi blade model which promises to be awesome. A perfect combination of old world and hi-tech.

The WrightKnife's specs are as follows:
Material: Heat treated 440 Stainless Steel
Scales 420 Stainless Steel
Clip: 420 Stainless Steel
Action: T8P Spinner Action
Weight: 2 oz. (56.7 grams)
Length/Closed: 3” (76.2 mm)
Length/Opened: 4.25” (107.95 mm)
Length of Blade: 1.25” (31.75 mm)

I REALLY love the size of these knives, and I look forward to obtaining the S.O.L., another Rexroat design based on the famous OSS Thumb Daggers of WWII. It's double edged, black and serrated! Badass!

888 also offers the Japanese style kiridashi blade, in Damascus stainless, the Rhino guthook knife, the Lightfoot Talon, and an awesome folding version of Roy Huntington's CopTool, called the SurvivIt Tool, which features a scraper/prybar blade, serrations and a webbing/cord cutting hook.

I have large hands, and I can still open this knife quickly. It's small, but in my mind that's advantageous, as you can use it anywhere without any big looks or freakouts from NKPs (non knife people). I've even shown a few female friends the knife who claim it's "cute". I hate to say it, but they are sorta cute, but I wouldn't hesitate to use this if the chips were down. It's primarily sized for tool use, but it's sharp as hell, with a stout, thick blade riding between two Teflon washers. A 1.25" blade of this sharpness and quality is sure to mess up somebody's day if need be. I'm experienced enough to know that this is a quality item. Don't balk at the Chinese manufacture, this is up there in quality with some of the better American factory knife companies USA made wares, including Spyderco and Benchmade. Remember, I get excited easily, but it takes quite a bit to impress me. Triple Eight Professional gets a huge pat on the back for impressing me with concept, quality, and affordability. These knives retail in the $35 USD range, and can be had just a bit cheaper from better retailers like Knifeworks and Knifecenter, though all 6 designs are available at 888professional.com