VULTURE EQUIPMENT WORKS CHOLERA MK1

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1 VULTURE EQUIPMENT WORKS CHOLERA MK1 BY NICK LEFORT - PUBLISHED JULY 2014 THE GOOD Scandi Grind with 90% False Edge Hefty 3/16-inch Blade Thickness Kydex Sheath with Rotating Molle Compatible Clip Sheath design allows you to carry the knife in any position Personal inspection and sign-off on every knife by the company founder, and knife designer, William Egbert THE BAD The sheath is primarily right-handed, when used in a traditional pommel up configuration Not enough people know about Vulture Equipment Works THE VERDICT

2 The Vulture Equipment Works Cholera was designed for experienced user who understand and respect their knives. The Cholera is durable, dependable and highly functional. I felt like a warrior on the hunt with it strapped to my side. It s the first time I have allowed another knife to take the place of my personally hand-made Rosie on my hip in the woods that s how much I trust the Cholera. I was honored to test it and I will continue to use it on my adventures as long as Rosie doesn t mind too much. FULL REVIEW Each numbered Vulture Equipment Works Cholera is the quintessential Survival and Backpacking knife. From its girth and overall shape to the included Magnesium Fire Starter, this knife was designed to get you in and out of trouble, in any situation. I wouldn t recommend the Vulture Equipment Works Cholera for young Johnny or Suzie when they are trying to score some merit badges in their local scouting club, but I would recommend it for anyone who is out in the wild for long periods of time that need to get by with minimal tools. Its form and function are intimidating. I talk with a lot of knife makers and a lot of knife companies and they all generally speak on a level that makes the average user feel comfortable it s very basic and digestible. This isn t necessarily the fact with Vulture Equipment Works. They are designing equipment for the experienced user who not only understands what they are getting into with knives like the Cholera or the Talon, but who respect those tools. When you speak with them you re getting design details rather than marketing pitches. Because there are superior steels out there, some people might scoff at the perfect score the Cholera earned. I believe, however, that based on design, the way the metal has been finished, and because of the information the company is providing you there is no better steel than 1095 for the Cholera. It s hard to get off the modern steel bandwagon that the knife-making world is currently in but I gladly am off that wagon when it comes to the Cholera. Bottom Line: The native part of me is alive and well with this blade. I felt like a warrior on the hunt with it strapped to my side. It s the first time I have allowed another knife to take the place of my personally hand-made Rosie on my hip in the woods that s how much I trust the Cholera. I was honored to test it and I will continue to use it on my adventures as long as Rosie doesn t mind too much.

3 VALUE The Cholera was purpose-built for your benefit, right down to the grip of the handles and the addition of the magnesium and ferro-rod combo. Based on the amount of material used on the blade steel alone, this knife could retail for $300. But materials aside, the real value of the Vulture Equipment Works Cholera is in the design. The Cholera s form and function are superior. CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Vulture does not have catalog of knives. In fact, they only make two versions of the Cholera and the Talon, for a total of three knives. One of which the Investment-Grade Cholera should be considered custom. So this is a company that is locked into their designs for their success. Clearly a considerable amount of time went into the design of these knives as well as the selection of the materials used in making them. EASE OF USE The Vulture Cholera is heavy in the blade and has a natural tendency to want to bear down into the cutting material. The Scandi grind with false edge allows for even easier cutting and slicing, but it also has an uncanny ability to pierce into objects easily, making it a great knife for digging, boring, and self-defense. Because of the thickness of the blade and full-tang design, you can easily pry with the Cholera or even use it as a step-up when stabbed into a tree I weight 285 pounds of pure Viking happiness, and I was able to use it this way without a problem. But that s not what impressed me the most. By design, the sheath can rotate on your belt because of this, it is really easy to index the knife into the sheath when you re putting it away. I cannot tell you how many knives I have used even some that I have made myself that are a real bear to get back into the sheath when you re on the move. STEEL QUALITY / EDGE RETENTION In a world of boutique knife steels, 1095 has been chastised because it lacks a complex elemental make-up and, if untreated, does not have the greatest corrosion resistance. In the case of the Cholera, not only has the whole knife been acid-etched to help stave off corrosion, but the company also tells you right off the bat that you need to maintain the blade by adding a light coat of Rust Inhibitor to it when not in use commonly has a hardness of HRC, and it can be sharpened like a scalpel. Because of its simple molecular composition, it might not hold an edge as long as some of the boutique steels, but most of those steels cannot take the overall abuse 1095 can. It s a fair trade and it sharpens up fairly easy.

4 Note: Vulture even recommends the degree at which you should sharpen the blade at (20-25 ). DURABILITY I was extra brutal on this puppy to the point that it s currently soaking in WD-40 so I can get all the grit and grime off of the blade. I wanted to beat this knife. I wanted it to end up back in a box in pieces but I knew it wouldn t. The minute I took it out of the box I knew I was in for a treat. I just wish a bear would have come upon me when I was out on the trail. Man, it would have been like the end scene in the movie Legends of the Fall except I wouldn t have gone down as easily as Brad Pitt. Not with this knife! INCLUDES: Kydex Sheath Magnesium Fire Starter (and Piggy Back Sheath) 550 Paracord Epic Sticker HOW WE TESTED IT Everyday use is one of the best ways to know if a multi-tool or knife will stand up to its manufacturer s claims so I do my best to test beyond the intended use. Believe it or not, having a tool live in your pocket all day can really gum up how easy it functions. I also purposely get these things wet and dirty, and don t wipe them down before I put them away. This allows for the grit and grime to seep in. SOME OF THE OTHER TESTS: KNIFE BLADES: Cutting through multiple sheets of cardboard and rope will quickly tell you how well a blade edge will hold up. Cutting through a fresh branch without wiping the blade down, or dunking the tool in a stream will also quickly flush out just how stainless it is. All stainless materials get soaked in salt water for a minimum of 12 hours and then dried with a heat gun, or the sun. LOCKING MECHANISM: Different locking types require different tests, but the most crucial test is to make sure that you cannot disengage the lock while using the tool. A good lock type will have a button that is out of the way of your hand while functioning. Any type of lock that seats itself in the groove of a blade or a tool will always reign supreme, as they cannot be disengaged without intent. The products featured in this test have been loaned to the Gear Institute. For more on our policies regarding editorial objectivity and sample returns, see here.

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