Cool little knife, bought for a mod project
If it weren't for the fact that I already have a Para 3 that basically matches the exact same blade size found on the Watu, I'd consider buying a second one. The one I've bought here is for a personal modding project that I'm working on (handmade wooden scales, Timascus pocket clip, Damascus sheepsfoot reblade). I give this knife a 4-star rating primarily because of the choil protruding into the lock access area when closed. Not a huge deal, but whenever closing the knife, it'll hit your fingertip pretty much every time. The only other downside I can think of, is I would've loved to have seen real carbon fiber used on the scales, as opposed to what they describe as a thin layer of woven CF over G10 scales. On the positive side, this knife is super thin and slicy, comes razor-sharp out of the box, and is VERY lightweight. I was also very surprised that even with its small size, I can still manage a full 4-finger grip on the handle with a tiny bit of room to spare. I have average-sized male hands with long alien fingers (L-XL work glove size, 15" hockey gloves) and yet this knife manages to provide plenty to hold on to. Regarding dealing with National Knives, this was my first time but definitely won't be my last! It looks like they have some sweet little hidden gems of sale prices on some nice knives; I picked up this Watu in 2024 for $173, which is actually just a bit less than what it cost 5 years ago. I can tell National Knives checked the box contents, as the packing slip was neatly tucked away in there with a little smiley face on it. The box also came wrapped neatly in a brand new super plush terry cloth, so... cool! I had a little chuckle, as I've never received a knife wrapped in a hand towel before, but I'll take it! Also had a friendly little chat with one of the owners, Rob, via email; I can appreciate that he took a few minutes out of his day to chat me up a bit and not just make a sale. That alone makes me want to buy from National Knives again, which will most likely be sooner than later.
