Eafengrow EF121 EDC Fixed Blade Knife Review
Chances are, if you’ve gone knife-shopping on Amazon in the last couple years, you’ve noticed that most of the knives that pop up are knock-offs, mostly from brands you’ve never heard of, often made in China. We’re taking a look at some of the odd, unfamiliar, off-brand knives that seem to be everywhere these days.
Eafengrow is one of those brands, and if you happened to read my take on their EF107 Fixed Blade Knife a few months ago, you may recall that it was a much better knife than I expected it to be.
Today, I’m doing the same with another Eafengrow model, the EF121.
Eafengrow EF121: First Impressions
The Eafengrow EF121 Fixed Blade Knife clearly shares a lot of DNA with the aforementioned EF107, from the blade shape and grind to the black Kydex sheath and the stonewashed finish on the steel. But the EF121 has a much more squat shape, as well as a handle that, despite being a bit short, also feels more comfortable and fills my palm nicely.
If you’re looking for more information on Eafengrow as a company, I don’t have a lot to offer. Both of their knives I’ve reviewed so far came with ‘Made in China’ stickers on the boxes, and a bit of digging uncovered that Eafengrow is a registered trademark of the Shenzhen Yifeng International Trade Co., Ltd. of Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Beyond that, I can’t tell you much, except that Eafengrow has over 100 knives listed on Amazon, mostly budget-priced EDC pocket folders and fixed-blade knives aimed at the tactical and/or camping market.
Measurements & Specs
The Eafengrow EF121 has a D2 blade with a full tang, along with G10 scales. It’s about 6.9 inches in total length, with a 3.4-inch blade. The actual cutting edge is a little less, right around 3 inches even. It’s a rather broad blade as well, 1.25 inches at its widest point and 3.5 mm thick. Given these dimensions and the EF121’s weight of 8 ounces, this is quite a squat, chunky little knife for its size.
Blade Shape & Grind
The Eafengrow EF121 has a false grind, essentially a saber grind with the appearance of a “false” edge toward the front of the spine. For all intents and purposes, it functions as a sabre grind. The false edge is mostly just a cosmetic choice, though there’s an argument to be made that it allows the blade to penetrate more easily.
I’m generally not a fan of false grinds because, in practice, I find that they do little other than make the blade weaker. In this case, it doesn’t seem to be a real issue, as the EF121 has a very thick and sturdy blade, which (I can say after some pretty heavy-duty punishment) doesn’t seem likely to break. Sabre grinds are, generally, pretty good when it comes to strength.
The overall profile of the blade is close to a leaf shape, but would probably be more accurately called a drop point. It has a deep belly to the cutting edge, making it an adept slicer. The thickness and shortness of the blade keeps it from being a super fine slicing tool, but it still performs quite well.
Steel Type & Sharpness
D2 is pretty popular stuff these days. It’s tool steel, kind of intermediate between carbon and stainless, with about 1.5% carbon, 12% chromium (just shy of the amount needed for true stainless) and somewhere near 1% each of molybdenum and vanadium.
You wouldn’t be wrong to wonder if this blade is really D2. A lot of cheap knock-off knives turn out to be made of something else entirely; or if they are real D2, they have lousy heat treatment.
I can’t say for sure, though after using this knife for a while, I’ll offer that it feels and performs like D2. I’ve heard that some of Eafengrow’s early knives were marred by having the wrong steel, but that these issues have largely been straightened out, and these days they seem to be pretty good at actually using the types of steel they say they do.
Anyway, the Eafengrow EF121 comes very sharp right out of the box, and D2 offers pretty good edge retention. It’s not the easiest steel to sharpen, but with a little know-how and a good sharpening stone you can put a great edge back on it when the time comes.
It’s not as tough as some steels, which makes it a bit vulnerable to chipping, similar to carbon steel. But it offers hardness comparable to stainless, and is only slightly less corrosion-resistant than true stainless steel. The black finish on the blade gives it a bit of extra protection.
Handle & Grip
The G10 scales of the EF121 are pleasantly grippy, even when wet. It’s a good choice for knives that are used outdoors a lot, because G10 is tough, lightweight, waterproof, and can be washed with most ordinary cleaning products. This particular model has some fine, grain-like texture to it.
For what is essentially a cheap knife, I’m genuinely impressed with the design of the handle. The scales are perfectly flush with the tang all around the edges, and despite being compact, it’s really the perfect size and shape for average hands. This is a knife that’s made to be choked up on, with thumb jimping on the spine of the blade, a nicely-sized finger groove for one’s index finger, and even slight indentations in the scales where one’s middle and ring fingers can dig in, making it a really excellent grip. Compared to the handle of the Eafengrow EF107, I find the EF121 to be vastly more stable in my palm.
Sheath & Carry
I’m honestly not a huge fan of the sheath that comes with the EF121. It’s a pretty basic black Kydex sheath, essentially a big chunk of plastic with a belt clip. It’s almost identical to the sheath that comes with the EF107, so I assume these are pretty standard-issue for Eafengrow fixed blade knives. It’s clunky, bulky, and if anything holds the knife a little too securely for easy removal.
I know a lot of people like this style of sheath, so if you’re a fan in general, you’ll probably have no issue with this one. It is adjustable for different belt thicknesses, and can be reconfigured for either vertical or horizontal carry.
Final Thoughts on the Eafengrow EF121 Fixed Blade
Much to my surprise, aside from the sheath, I’m actually quite happy with this knife. I don’t have anything against Chinese knives in general, but any time I buy one from an unknown brand that looks like a knockoff of some other knife, I’m ready to tear it to pieces. Not so with this one.
So, who’s it for? Or maybe a better question: what’s it for?
This is kind of a jack-of-all-trades fixed blade. You could EDC it, and the compact size certainly makes it fairly easy to carry on one’s belt. It’s a little weighty for its size, but not truly heavy. The EF121’s overall feel is somewhere between a tactical blade and a camping knife. I could easily see this going on someone’s bug out bag, but it’s also good for all your average camp chores.
I tested mine by cutting ropes, paracord and a bunch of other stuff, as well as some bushcraft tasks like feather sticking, whittling and notching, all of which it handles very well and remains sharp. I even batoned some small sections of wood with it, though the shortness of the blade definitely limits the size of wood one can split.
A lot of low-budget knives tend to be modeled after better-established, more expensive knives. And while I can’t say for sure if the Eafengrow is intentionally derivative of something else, it certainly reminds me a lot of a non-skeletonized Esee Izula. I suppose if you want an Izula but don’t want to spend Izula money, the Eafengrow is a pretty good compromise.
Check Out The Eafengrow EF121 On Amazon:
- Eafengrow Fixed Blade Knife: Total length: 6.93 inch.Blade length: 3.42 inch.Handle length: 3.5inch.Blade width:1.3 inch.Blade thickness:0.11 inch.Knives net weight:8 oz.
- FIXED BLADE D2 STEEL:Extra strong, modified D2 steel has a higher material production, is durable when in constant use.it provides superior abrasion resistance and edge holding capabilities.
- Fixed Tactical Knife: Ergonomic G10 anti-skid handle With corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant,it providing an extremely secure grip.
- Everyday Day Carry knife with sheath Safe high-strength lightweight Kydex material sheath for easy portability.
- Eafengrow professional outdoor knife is suitable for camping hiking fishing and other outdoor emergency activity.
Check Out Other Eafengrow Knives On Amazon:
Eafengrow has really come out of nowhere with some awesome knives for a budget-friendly price.
- FIXED KNIFE DIMENSIONS: 8.8inch(22.5cm) Overall length, Blade length:4.2 inch(10.7cm), Handle length: 4.6inch(11.8cm), Blade Width: 3.4cm（1.3inch）, Blade thickness 4mm ，Handle Thickness: 1.6cm, Knife Net Weight:157g（5.5 oz）, weight with Kydex sheath: 238g ( 8.4 oz ).
- Premium K110 Steel Blade: The knife use K110 Stainless Steel blade with stone wash process, hardness 59-61HRC,Can withstand a strong impact,With high strength, high toughness characteristics
- Ergonomic Two Tone G10 Handle : G10 anti-skid handle With High corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant,it providing an extremely secure and comfort grip.
- Everyday Carry EDC Tool Knife: the high quality material keep the knife a long service life.Professional outdoor camping knives is fully qualified,excellent choice for camping, fishing, hiking, and outdoor survival tool.
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- Eafengrow Fixed Blade Knife: Total length: 6.93 inch.Blade length: 3.42 inch.Handle length: 3.5inch.Blade width:1.3 inch.Blade thickness:0.11 inch.Knives net weight:8 oz.
- FIXED BLADE D2 STEEL:Extra strong, modified D2 steel has a higher material production, is durable when in constant use.it provides superior abrasion resistance and edge holding capabilities.
- Fixed Tactical Knife: Ergonomic G10 anti-skid handle With corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant,it providing an extremely secure grip.
- Everyday Day Carry knife with sheath Safe high-strength lightweight Kydex material sheath for easy portability.
- Eafengrow professional outdoor knife is suitable for camping hiking fishing and other outdoor emergency activity.
- FIXED KNIFE DIMENSIONS: 12.9inch(33cm) Overall length, Blade length:7.5inch(19cm), Handle length: 5.4inch(14cm), Blade Width: 4.9cm（1.9inch）, Blade thickness 6mm ，Handle Thickness: 2cm, Net weight with Kydex sheath: 21oz(596g).
- 1.9″ Width Black Stone-Wash AUS-10 Steel Blade: 6mm Thickness Blade made of AUS-10 stainless steel,hardness 59-60HRC,using black stone wash process,blade finish is pretty clean and even,sturdy build beefy cool looking blade is very powerful, razor sharp wide type of blade is easy to take the heavy cutting and chopping tasks, premium steel can hold an decent edge for a extened period, also very easy to grind.
- Ergonomic Design Two Tone Micarta Handle: with colorful G10 spacers is outstanding looking, make sure the scales won’t get loosen up when put it in heavy using, Ergonomical design provides a very comfortable grip,suitable for all weather condition, you won’t easily get fatigue while using it in all kinds of long time hard works.
- Convenient Durable Kydex Sheath: Safe high-strength lightweight ,high temperature resistant and corrosion resistant imported kydex material sheath for easy portability and everyday carry. The sheath is tight, with no rattle, but still allows quick deployment. It holds the knife well and has good retention，the retention would hold the knife for straight up vertical carry as well as horizontal / scout style. It has an adjustable clip to fit the width of your belt for a good snug grip.
- POWERFUL UTILITY FIXED KNIFE: Strong build Heavy Duty fixed knife is Suitable for EDC tools& Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking, gardening,Farm , Ranches,electrician tool, field living , Emergency Rescue, Adventure,Collection and all Outdoors &Sports activities, it is a nice and cool gift for man,husband, boyfriend, father, brothers, good friends.
- Eafengrow Fixed Blade Knife: Total length: 9.96 inch.Blade length: 4.68 inch.Handle length: 5.27 inch.Blade width:1.46 inch.Blade thickness:0.14 inch.Knives net weight:12.8 oz.
- FIXED BLADE D2 STEEL:Extra strong, modified D2 steel has a higher material production, is durable when in constant use.it provides superior abrasion resistance and edge holding capabilities.
- Fixed Tactical Knife: Ergonomic G10 anti-skid handle With corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant,it providing an extremely secure grip.
- Everyday Day Carry knife with sheath Safe high-strength lightweight Kydex material sheath for easy portability.
- Eafengrow professional outdoor knife is suitable for camping hiking fishing and other outdoor emergency activity.
- Eafengrow Knife : Total length:8.42 inch.Blade length:3.74 inch.Handle length:4.68 inch.Blade width:1.6cm.Blade thickness: 0.4cm.Knives net weight: 3.76 oz/ 106.7g.
- Folding D2 Steel Blade Knife : Durable D2 steel blade hardness 58-60 HRC, provides razor sharp for ultimate precision cutting performance with strong toughness and excellent edge retention.
- Ergonomic Handle knife : Solid G10 handle has excellent balance of hardness and corrosion resistance,unique ergonomic design offers a solid grip and comfortable in-hand feel,easy operation.
- Flipper Ball Bearing knife : Ball bearing knife with pocket clip has a simple and reliable Liner lock,snaps can open extremely smoothly on its ball bearing pivot,is resistant to dirt and prevents unexpected closure.
- 100% QUALITY GUARANTEE & SERVICE – EDC Tactical knife on the side of the unit keeps this safe on your pockets or work belt for when you need it most. Eafengrow professional outdoor knife is suitable for camping outdoor hiking fishing survival and other outdoor emergency activity.
- Folding knife total length :7.99 inch,Blade length:3.43inch,handle length:4.56 inch. Blade Width: 1 inch ,blade thickness: 3mm.The weight of the knife is 4.15 oz(117.6g).
- D2 Knife : Durable D2 steel blade hardness 58-60 HRC, provides razor sharp for ultimate precision cutting performance with strong toughness and excellent edge retention. Knife is ready for anything, Small, but powerful.
- G10 KNIFE: G10 has excellent balance of hardness and corrosion resistance, offers a solid grip and comfortable in-hand feel,easy operation.
- Axis Lock :axis lock is very safety Simple convenient,When the blade is gradually opened, the locking shaft will slowly move to the locking point on the back of the blade,open and close smoothly with a satisfying click.
- EDC KNIFE: Quick and easy access with the convenient pocket clip, outdoor knife,making it ideal for everyday carry,General all-purpose use for daily home needs,fishing, farming, camping, hiking, ranching or collecting
- FOLDING KNIFE DIMENSIONS: 8.9inch(22.6cm)Overall length, Blade length 3.9inch(9.9cm), Handle length（Closed Length）5inch(12.7cm), Blade Width: 2cm, Blade thickness 2.5mm and a weight of 5.43oz(154g).
- D2 STEEL BLADE KNIFE: blade made of D2 steel, with black stonewash craftmanship, hardness 58-60 HRC, symmetrical and perfectly machined, this sharp blade is built to last, provides razor sharp for ultimate precision cutting performance with strong toughness and excellent edge retention.
- STAINLESS STEEL &G10 HANDLE KNIFE: Stainless Steel Head+ Ergonomic design G10 scales handle has strong hardness and corrosion resistance, with Non-slip texture and a deep carry pocket clip, Strong sturdy build ensures a secure and confident solid grip during use and a comfortable in-hand feel.
- Camping KNIFE: with a safety solid build liner lock & smooth action ball bearings deployment system, ensures safety and effortlessly blade opening and closing, zero vertical and lateral blade play when knife’s opening, with a solid lockup, blade balanced very well and centered right in the handle with no wobble at all when knife’s closed.
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- FOLDING KNIFE – Total length:8.22 inch.Blade length:3.74 inch.Handle length:4.48 inch.Blade width:0.83 inch.Blade thickness: 3.5 mm.Knives net weight: 3.73 oz.(105.8g)
- LINER LOCK AND POCKET CLIP – Everyday carry Pocket Knives has a simple and reliable Liner-Lock,It opens smoothly and can be flipped ball bearing pivot open that prevents unexpected closure.
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- FIXED KNIFE DIMENSIONS: 10.5inch(26.7cm)Overall length, Blade length: 5.8 inch(14.7cm), Handle length: 4.7inch(12cm), Blade Width: 3cm, Blade thickness 3.5mm ，Net weight: 10.29oz(292g).
- 14c28n STEEL BLADE KNIFE: Blade made of 14c28n stainless steel, hardness 59-61HRC ,using a wire drawing process, this sharp blade is sturdy built to last, provides razor sharp for ultimate precision cutting performance and excellent edge retention.
- G10 & STEEL HANDLE: Ergonomic G10 anti-skid handle With corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant, it providing an extremely secure and comfortable grip. Blade and Handle Steel is an integrated design, same stainless steel 14c28n.
- Everyday Carry Knife with Kydex Sheath: Safe high-strength lightweight Kydex material sheath for easy portability.
- HIGH QUALITY FIXED KNIFE: Suitable for EDC tools& Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking, Emergency Rescue, Adventure and all Outdoors &Sports activities, it is a nice and cool gift for man, boyfriend, father, brothers, good friends.
- 【POCKET KNIFE】8.86 inch (22.5cm) overall length, blade length: 3.94 inch (10cm), Handle Length(closed length) 4.92 inch (12.5cm),blade width: 3.5cm, blade thickness 2.5 mm and a weight of 7.76oz ( 220g).
- 【D2 STEEL KNIFE】blade made of D2 steel, strong and durable, this sharp blade is built to last, provides razor sharp for ultimate precision cutting performance and excellent edge retention.
- 【Micarta Handle Knife】: Micarta is a composite material made from linen cloth makes extremely durable grips, with all-natural rough texture which offers a good grip during use. Ball bearing design offers one-handed operation, lock securely into place with a stainless steel liner lock.
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Blair Witkowski is an avid watch nut, loves pocket knives and flashlights, and when he is not trying to be a good dad to his nine kids, you will find him running or posting pics on Instagram. Besides writing articles for Tech Writer EDC he is also the founder of Lowcountry Style & Living. In addition to writing, he is focused on improving his client’s websites for his other passion, Search Engine Optimization. His wife Jennifer and he live in coastal South Carolina.