Based strictly upon anecdotal evidence, pocket carry fixed blades have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Many makers have been unveiling new designs, as well as ramping up production on their favorites. I’m thrilled about this, as pocket-friendly fixies are absolutely my jam. So, knives like the Recourse from Payne Knives are right up my alley.
The Payne Knives Recourse
I wasn’t familiar with Payne Knives until editor extraordinaire Joshua Swanagon dropped me a note about them. He asked if I was interested in checking out their Recourse knife. I pulled up their site and checked out the specs, then sent back an enthusiastic yes.
First Impressions
The Recourse arrived in the usual white cardboard box familiar to many knife users. This sort of standardization is appreciated, as it makes storage easier for those of us who collect as well as use knives. Inside was the knife and sheath sealed in plastic and a Payne Knives sticker.
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Pulling the knife from the sheath, I was struck by how well it fit my hand. I live in this awkward part of the Venn Diagram where I love pocket-friendly fixed blade knives, but I also have large hands and hate three-finger grips.
The Recourse doesn’t have that problem at all. It’s 7.5 inches from end to end. The blade is 3.5 inches. So, we have a full four inches for the handle. Definitely a check in the plus column.
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The handle scales are textured G10 affixed by screws. They are rough but not uncomfortably so. That, combined with the overall handle shape, ensures a positive grip.
The CPM-154 blade has a very nice stonewashed finish. It has a spearpoint profile, which is quite handy for most types of chores. There’s a bit of jimping on the spine, as well as at the base of the handle. A shallow swedge begins right where the spine jimping ends. This creates a nice point that’s perfect for penetration or poking holes.
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The spine also bears the name of the knife, the steel, and a notification that this knife was made in the USA. That’s always a good thing.
Carrying the Recourse
The Kydex sheath has texturing that looks like grainy leather. It’s pretty cool, actually. The Recourse sits very deep in the sheath, with just the very end of the handle exposed. There is a Discreet Carry Concepts Mod 2.2 clip for attaching the sheath to your pocket.
Personally, when I’m carrying a pocket fixed blade, I just drop it in my pocket. But I recognize some folks prefer to have it staged and clipped in place. You can absolutely do that with the Recourse if that’s your prerogative.
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Something that’s somewhat unusual in my experience is that the Recourse sheath is ambidextrous. Whether you’re right- or left-handed, you’ll have no problems carrying it properly.
With many Kydex sheaths, the knife sort of clicks into place. That’s not the case here. It’s more of a friction hold with the Recourse. That’s not a bad thing, though. The knife is very secure, with nary a wiggle or wobble to be seen.
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Does It Cut?
I carried the Recourse as my primary EDC knife on and off for a few weeks. It went on hikes as well as grocery runs. I used it for chores around the house and gutted and processed numerous shipping boxes.
Virtually every knife I review gets a turn in the kitchen. I’m the family cook, so if I’m going to be in the kitchen anyway, I might as well multitask. After all, food prep is one of the most common reasons we use knives. The goal here isn’t to see if the knife is capable of cutting and slicing food, but more to see how it handles.
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I started by processing a head of broccoli. The Recourse’s sharp tip worked great with nipping the little florets apart, as well as trimming the stalks. From there, I moved to the rotisserie chicken I’d picked up on the way home.
While the Recourse will never replace an actual kitchen knife, it worked very well. By the time I was done, my hands were very greasy, but I had no issue at all retaining a positive grip on the knife handle.
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Another common use I have for a knife is cutting cordage. I use paracord for a number of different projects. I pulled out a hank and made five big loops. The knife sliced through all five at once without any trouble at all. Subsequent rapid cuts were smooth and easy.
I’ll admit that I’m awful with feather sticking. I mean, I can make shavings all day long, but I struggle with the big blooming bushels you’ll see people make online. That said, the Recourse was amazing with whittling slivers from branches.
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Through it all, the blade has remained exceptionally sharp. I haven’t had to touch it up even once thus far.
The Recourse: Practical, Utilitarian, Convenient
It didn’t take long for the Recourse to rise to my top five or seven pocket carry fixed blades. The design is practical, even utilitarian. Yet there’s a rough beauty in its appearance.
The Recourse is small enough to carry easily, yet with plenty of blade to be useful and enough handle to be comfortable. I’m digging it quite a bit, and I’m eager to see what Payne Knives comes up with next.
Recourse Knives Recourse Specs
| Overall length | 7.5 inches |
| Blade length | 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 3.8 ounces |
| Steel | CPM-154 |
| Sheath | Kydex with Discreet Carry Concepts clip |
| MSRP | $259.00 |
