I have been a fan of the Filipino martial arts (FMA) since I was about fourteen years old. So, 39 years, but who’s counting? And, I have met a countless number of highly skilled FMA practitioners/instructors from around the globe who can turn themselves into a blender, daring anyone to try to reach in and grab their weapon or attempt to do them harm. One of the local FMA instructors is a friend of mine named Frank Delo. So, when I heard that he and Boker Plus collaborated on the Kagat, I had to learn more.
Frank Delo and His Boker Plus Kagat
I first met Frank around 14 years ago at our local gun show, where we both had vendor tables. Over the years, Frank and I have become good friends, and I often feature him in photography for my articles.
Frank primarily learned a style of FMA that his father simply called “Arnis De Mano Cinco Teros,” which is a classic Filipino martial arts system. He trained with his father since childhood in a play context. He was not aware that it was a formal system until he was an adult.
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So, with 40 years in his family system and 30+ years in other systems, including Korean martial arts, Chinese internal arts (Bagua, Tai Chi), and cross-training with many talented martial artists across many systems, he naturally gravitated towards making custom knives. Eventually, he designed his knives for production. His first major release is the subject of today’s review—the Boker Plus Kagat.
An Easy to Carry EDC
Frank was kind enough to take time out to share his thoughts on knife design. He designed the Kagat as a small defensive blade based on his preferences and experience in his family’s FMA.
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The aggressive textured thumb ramp is designed for the modified saber grip (Filipino grip). The size and double-sharpened edges increase cutting capability in multiple directions with minimal grip repositioning. Likewise, the design lends itself to many of the small blade defensive tactics & techniques popularized over the last 10-15 years. Not to mention, the more formal techniques from traditional blade arts.
Made of time-tested and proven 1095 high-carbon, the Kagat is a sturdy little knife with a 7.03-inch overall length. Correspondingly, the blade comes in at just 3.43 inches. The scales are made from a textured G10.
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The sheath is Kydex with a nice, wide stainless-steel belt-clip that is designed to give its owner a comfortable options for belt, MOLLE webbing, or inside the waistband carry.
Intended as a self-defense knife, the handle was designed to be comfortable in a forward and reverse ice pick grip. Likewise, G10 is a great scale material for a self-defense knife, as G10 remains “grippy” when in use.
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A knife handle can get sweaty, wet, or slippery when used in wet environments or for defensive purposes. So, a person will want as much grip and control as they can get—the Kagat delivers.
The Kagat Was Made for Self-Defense
If you have noticed, there aren’t any cut tests with the Kagat in this article. While it is a sharp knife and will cut paper, cardboard, leather, rope, and other materials, the Kagat was born as a self-defense knife.
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Frank Delo Jr. is considered an FMA expert. He has authored a book entitled “5 Angles: The Practical Fundamentals of The World of Filipino Martial Arts of Escrima, Arnis, & Kali” and has agreed to demonstrate basic self-defense cuts with the Kagat.
Demostration
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Cutting to the Point
I like the Boker Plus Kagat and find it to be a good purpose-built knife. While it can be used for other cutting purposes, the design is perfect for what it is made to do. It’s small, lightweight, easy to EDC, and available to purchase through most retailers for less than $100.
You read that correctly. This entire package is available for under a hundred bucks. For that price, I would consider it one of the best values that I have seen in a long while. I highly recommend grabbing one before they sell out.
Boker Plus Kagat Specifications
| Overall Length | 7.09 in |
| Blade Length | 3.43 in |
| Blade Thickness | 0.18 in |
| Blade Material | 1095 |
| Handle Material | G10 |
| Color | Black |
| Blade Color | Black |
| Made in | Asia |
| MSRP | $94.95 |
