Kizer Beaver Knife Review: One Stubborn Companion Knife

In the outdoor world, one thing we can’t seem to shake is people looking to lighten their load by cutting ounces on the things they carry. It’s gotten so bad that people are carrying lighter EDC knives with them, if they carry knives at all. Though I don’t agree that an EDC knife should be less than 3 ounces, that’s how things seem to be trending.

But a shimmer of change is emerging from a cracked door, and for the first time in a long time, fixed-blade knives seem to be on the up and up for the outdoor crowd.

This has led to the rapid growth of the pocket fixed-blade segment. These are knives that are smaller and less conspicuous than a full belt knife, but are destined to conquer demanding tasks when they arise. Also known as “companion knives,” they can be stockier and more adaptable, and are generally more rugged than a standard pocket knife.

Since June, my companion knife has been the Kizer Beaver. It’s a stout knife that, based on societal nuances, I probably wouldn’t carry every day. However, it has done a great job of taking on demanding tasks when I am working out in the yard, up at my cabin, and out hiking and camping.

Kizer considers it a bushcraft knife, which is a solid classification. However, to me, it’s an overall taskmaster: determined to do all of those things a medium- or light-duty EDC knife probably couldn’t do.

In short: The Kizer Beaver is the kind of knife that you bring on your outdoor adventures to do hard work with ease. A short, stout blade coupled with a versatile handle makes a real, if small, workhorse knife for under $60.

Kizer Beaver Knife Review

Design & Features

The Kizer Beaver is available in both a Drop Point D2 Steel/G10 Handle combination as well as a Drop Point Nitro-V/Micarta version — both of which come with a Kydex sheath. I am a huge D2 fan, but I chose to test out the Nitro-V version due to it being stainless. The trade-off? D2 is a tougher steel, so we’ll have to see how this plays out.

Regarding geometry, the Beaver is 6 inches in total length with a 2.75-inch blade. It is a full-tang knife made from one solid piece of 0.16-inch–thick Nitro-V. With folding knife steel generally topping out at 0.12 inches thick, this thicker steel will prove beneficial in more heavy-duty tasks associated with battoning and twisting — as will the fact that it is a fixed blade.

For ergonomics, the Beaver has a swooping shape that crests at the choil. This is common to modern drop points that are hunting-oriented. Additionally, the Micarta handle slabs are tapered and shaped in all four directions for easy grip adjustment. If that doesn’t do it for you, the massive hole in the butt of the knife can come in handy in different grip positions and for storing and carrying the knife.

First Impressions

I love a good, chunky knife — as long as it is manageable. I am happy to report that the Beaver is. However, considering the girth and length, people with oversized hands might find the knife to be swallowed up and therefore cumbersome to use. As it stands, the Beaver is barely a four-finger knife.

That being said, though I have a wide hand, the knife sits well tucked into my palm. It’s also very comfortable in a pinch grip, which would be used for shaving and boring. In these situations, the hole in the butt comes in handy as my pinky finger tucks in there. Otherwise, it might float freely and become uncomfortable over time.

I think ounce-counters out there will still accept this knife into their cult, as it is less than 4 ounces but performs like a heavier knife.

Kizer includes an adjustable, quick-release belt clip with the Beaver. It can be angled and oriented for a variety of belt- and pack strap–carry positions. However, if you plan on carrying it vertically on your hip, the handle will stick up high and can interfere with pack straps and love handles alike. I think a good scout carry (horizontal on your belt in front of the small of your back) or on a pack strap is going to be the best way to carry the Beaver.

In the Field

If I were asked to use one word to describe the Beaver, after using it all summer, the word would be “stubborn.” You can twist and turn it, throw it, say mean things to it — whatever you want, and the knife will perform in the best way possible.

I’m big on digging into dying trees to get some good punky wood for fires. I don’t burn a lot in the summer, but it’s nice to have a collection of it come fall. During the fall, it’s generally wetter here, so to have to work a bit to make dry material to start a fire.

The Beaver, aptly named, digs in and churns out chunks of different consistencies of wood. It’s also great for stabbing into things to either start cutting through them or splitting them all together.

It’s in these instances where the benefits of Nitro-V shine. Not only is it stainless, but it’s also ough and holds an edge for a better-than-decent amount of time. Cutting into the cork-like punky wood of dying trees is a sure way to dull a blade. Where I will admit that the edge did lose a bit of its factory pop, it was far from dull.

In Conclusion

Overall, I don’t love the sheath and clip combo. I love the sheath; I love the clip — but not together. The clip, although wicked versatile, is just too big. However, with taco sheaths, which only have rivets on one side, you are a bit limited on what you could swap them out for.

That being the case, I spent nearly all my time testing and using this knife with it attached to my pack strap. There it stayed in place and was easy to access.

That said, I think there are a lot of folks who spend double the cost of a Kizer Beaver on a bar tab on a Friday night and only get a few hours of fun out of it. At $58, this knife is a no-brainer, especially for someone looking for that companion-style blade for their upcoming adventures. This knife is cheap because its design is simple, and the materials are common and inexpensive. It’s not because the knife isn’t capable.