Exceptional value in an edc blade. A D2 blade and micarta scales were a 120 dollar combo about ten years ago.

I got one early on in tan Micarta. I was blown away with the fit, finish and over-all value of this peice. It flies open in a satisfying manner on demand, and closes in similar fashion. Works well for a southpaw. Spyderco & Benchmade could take a note from this maker on fit, finish, centering and overall VALUE.

Took mine apart, a little tlc, and the smoothness really improved. For the price I'm very happy with the penguin.

I have one and, for the price, it is a total gem. Great scales and good quality D2 blade that is very slicy. MIne has good, not great action but I haven't taken it apart yet to dial that in. No free play and, not for nothing, but it looks great with blue jeans! If it got lost or grew legs I wouldn't cry and buy another. IMHO, a great EDC choice that just happens to not cost the earth.

I was blown away by the value of this Knife, the fit and finish, and super sharp right out of the box. I currently own 4 of these, in different versions. Hands down, one of the best budget knives on the market for the price. The consistency on the blade centering was a big plus.

Had mine for a few months and it’s become one of my favorite budget knives. Action was almost drop shut out of the box. Can only imagine it’ll be better once I take it apart, clean and oil it!

It's one of my favorite budget options :). Thanks for the review and your thoughts!

Love mine, it's been a go to for the past few months. The handle is very comfortable for me.

Picked one up. Love it. A little stiff in the beginning, but it has become very smooth. I can't stop fidgeting with it!

I bought my brother one for Christmas, and it's been a great knife so far.

Got one on sale a few months back (I believe it was 35 including shipping) on a whim. Mostly I was curious about the denim micarta and had handle material on the brain as I am in the process of making a whole mess of custom scales for a friend. This knife has really surprised me and is punching way above its weight class. It's taken everything I've thrown at it with no issues and the micarta is developing some really beautiful shading. I was a bit worried about the ergos as I wear an XL glove but I have to say a 3 finger grip on this feel more secure and comfortable than my experiences with other larger handled knives. Haven't had to sharpen the blade yet as regular strop time appears to keep the edge plenty sharp. If you are sitting on the fence about buying one of these, go for it. This little penguin will definitely put a smile on your face.

It was weird. Mine literally arrived in the post today and your vid pops up on my feed. Happy coincidence!!!!!! I'm loving the "Jean" Micarta and the deep carry. I brought this one as I love my cheaper QSP Parrot. Cheers

Oh yeah, this is the knife Cedric & Ada Gear beat up while he was moving and it held up like a champ. If he's impressed, I'm impressed.

After watching the review, I was kind of let down, but currently owning two in S35VN I can say I love this knife. The lanyard hole is meh and the clip keeps coming loose even after loctite, but I love the thing. Mine is the smoothest knife I have ever owned, even over some worth upwards of $600. To each their own thought and great review Nick!!! Thanks for doing what you do!

Pete from Cedric and Ada swears by it. Good enough for me.

I have very large hands and have no problems handling this knife. I've loved mine since I bought it, really wanting to order the S35VN when/if it comes back in stock.

Can't speak for the Penguin, but love it's "brother", the Pelican - micarta, S35VN, a wicked warncliff blade and great price!

Hi Nick: Please note that on a sheep foot blade the cutting edge and the spine are largely parallel, while on a Wharncliffe the spine continuesly slopes from tang to the point. Not a big thing, but still a thing.

Thanks for another great video. Loved the shtick at the end.

Love my Penguin 🐧 . Got it at Atlantic Knife for 29.99. Very useful blade shape and came smokin sharp. Handle is a bit cramped and you do have to clean it to get the smoothness but I think it’s worth it. Lastly, blade is a bit off center but can be overlooked at this price. I’m looking at the QSP Pelican.

Thanks for the review, made myself grab one for utility work in the workshop I wouldn't cry about if I abuse it

I love wharncliffe style blades, and I really think the jean micarta is neat, might have to pick it up. But I hear they’re coming out with a brass version

On my list of top knives of 2020. Also on my list of knives that punch above their size or weight. CJRB Maileah, Spyderco Dragonfly 2 (especially in k390), and then the QSP Penguin. These are top of the tree atm. Honorable Mention to the Kershaw Launch 4.

Last 30 secs of this review is a shining gem.

Thank you Nick, you made my son stop in his tracks with those dad jokes. He just looked at me and shook his head before walking away. I can't stop laughing.😂

I'm not sure if it's the heat treat or the reprofiling I did on mine, but the edge on my Penquin seemed to hold up a bit better than some of my other D2 blades that have taken turns at work. Cardboard, plastic, nylon straps, paper, fibreglass reinforced tape... figured I'd be sharpening it a lot more frequently than I have been. Ergonomically, it works well enough in a sort of angled-forward three finger grip. One of the pocket clip screws was in there a bit crooked when I first got it, but didn't take too long to correct.

I have this knife in S35VN and it is easily one of my best buys. Smooth as butter and solid.

Bought this knife a few weeks ago, solely out of curiosity, and I'm impressed. Having tried a number of under-$100 Chinese knives, and having sent most back, the Penguin stands out. No issue with ergonomics, size-L glove, and its action was great out of the box. I actually carry it. Not my favorite blade geometry, at all; it's hard to complain for the money. As Chinese budget knives go, I only suggest the Penguin and the CJRB Ria. Both are outstanding, IME.

I bought one but ultimately preferred the old timer landshark which is a smaller sheepsfoot slipjoint that hides in pocket while my regular edc knife is clipped to the pocket. I like it for opening packages/boxes or slicing a piece of paper down to a post it size when I want to take a quick note.

Got mine yesterday! I am very happy with it so far. I personally think it needs a little tlc to get the action right, but other than that, it's pretty great for the money.

Mine has been excellent from the beginning. I have large hands so have more of a 3 1/2 finger grip. Advantage is I don't feel far away from the blade. I got mine for 29 bucks and at the time denim micarta wasn't on any budget knives. So to me it was a gem. Would I like to see a 4 inch blade version in 14C28N absolutely. Till then I will enjoy mine for what it is.

I got one of these last week after watching this video. The action is a little sticky but I have not taken it apart yet, but other than that I really like it. Thanks Nick.

I am a knife and gun nut, and I started off buying all the popular and expensive knives and wasn’t too impressed… but got this little cool edc and was hell of excited to buy it

Just got one, solid buy. The hump on the handle and the lanyard hole are a bit off but otherwise. Nice look and good for precise cuts.

just ordered a black g10 version for $31 and im super excited. all the knives ive ever had have been given to me(mainly cheap buck and gerber knives.)

The one in S35 is one of my top knives right now.

That clip is pretty well done. But I agree that countersinking the screws would make it better.

Just received mine, very fast shipping.. very nice for the price, action worked great out of the box and quit sharp.. I did do a little stropping after I received it and now it’s to my razor sharpness as I like them.. I find this to be a good valve for the money.

I've been wanting to get one of these for months but it's been out of stock at the supplier that I normally use.

I picked this one up a while back and it's just awesome! I would like to see one with an S35VN blade or higher quality steel, but for what it is it's pretty sweet. My action was amazing, but I may just take it apart really quick and give it a once over. I like how you can flick it lefty or use the thumb stud, but the right hand flick isn't really possible as the cutout isn't the same on both sides. Pretty decent little package I would say. I picked-up the QSP Parrot & Leopard as well and those are both just as good.

I received my first QSP product today. Mini penguin and red and black G 10 and carbon fiber. They knocked it out of the park 100% perfect.

I counter sunk the screws and it made it a perfect everyday beater knife.

Have you seen the other versions? I'm so mad I missed the Knives Plus exclusive where it had S35VN for $60!!! They have Titanium and other Micarta ones in M390 and 154CM steel as well!

I’m curious to see someone test out it’s heat treat. A poor heat treat could make it perform the same as 8crmov

Motion to call lazy lanyard holes speed holes.

They have a marbled carbon version in S35VN that I keep waiting to come back in stock. This is a great overall knife 🤙

I got the Knives Plus S35V version for $60 in the denim micarta. What a deal. My action is awesome and it is a nice knife.

REALLY want to see the new QSP Legatus with CF and Red G10

Just what I was looking for except that my big meat hooks would complain about the small handles.

Love these : got 2 of them!

Is that a new "item provided by manufacturer" sign?

Love this knife

The D2 on my Manly patriot actually is fairly corrosion resistant. Hopefully this is the same as I will be getting one!

I really want one of these SO BAD! That blue jean micarta is AWESOME! The ONLY nitpick I have is that I wish the blade was coated!

Nick, is there any way I can get you to also post videos on Rumble? A lot of us are using that platform and would love to see you there!!!

I just got one. I'm excited to use it. However I disagree with the ergonomics. My ring finger is a size 11. It wasn't bad for my giant sasquatch paws at all.

$60 gets you the exclusive Knives Plus S35VN version. I say spend the extra $30 and get the much better steel, that’s what I went for

Great knife! I love mine.

I bought another knife from a distributor and they sent me a qsp sticker with a scary wolf on it so I'm checking out their products does penguin doesn't seem like a bad knife for the money

Gotta get the one in s35vn for the price it’s insane (it’s like $60 - $70)

Such a great knife for the money.

I carry mine a little bit more all the time it always seems to make it into one of my pockets.

Love mine. Wasn't nice to open out of the box. Waited 4 or 5 days until I finally disassembled, cleaned, lubed and was 100% after that, not sure what was wrong.

2019: The Nick says: "don't number your knives, NAME THEM! Call it "The Penguin"..." 2021: The Nick reviews "The Penguin"... - what else?!

Mine fits my hands great.... do I have smaller hands than Nick? Wow! Little sour note: It came with an extra set of screws on the side without the clip, looks better but tighten them and it crushed the scale a bit(oups). Other thing: there was a small burr on the detent hole, I filed it, and the detent is a bit softer, but still working. Still like it.

Where else can you get micarta and D2 for 30 bucks? Everything else comparable is 50 or more. Most of the knives you mentioned are cheap plastic scales at 30 range.

I just bought one as a gift to someone else. The blade arrived horribly off center, almost scraping the liner. But after messing with the pivot it's like 90% perfect. Overall I think it's a fantastic knife for $30 or $40 :)

Cool scales.

Best knife I own.

I’m gonna start a counter for how many times you say “relatively. 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

This is a gem in my opinion. What is there not to like?

Have all 3 of them....

mine was centered perfect and Sharp

Chinese torx screws do not just "unscrew". You need to dremel a slot in them and then you have a chance of getting them out.

now a mini is out but slightly more expensive due to not using d2 steel i guess

I don't know who needs to see this but they are back on Drop for $26 (+$10 for brass scales) for the next seven days with an estimated ship date of March 1 (lol)

singing" STOP! IN THE NAME OF FULL DISCLOSURE! BEFORE YOU RATE MY KNIFE!"

I picked up a blue denim micarta version for $20 on ebay. 👀

The only real flaw I found with the penguin is for left handers like me. The space between the scales and the thumbstud is a lot smaller for left handed opening so it makes it more dificult to open in the left hand especially if you have monster hands like me.

I have it and it's a great knife for the price.

Just recieved one today from bladehq! I love it. The action is smooth and snappy, the micarta is nice and soft and the blade is perfect for my everyday tasks! Bonus points for it looking less "threatening" than a lot of the other knives i have carried in the past lol

l've had one Penquin fail with a broken lock bar. Took awhile but QSP did replace the knife, after l paid for shipping! The replacement knife worked great for a few weeks of hard use. Then the detent turned real soft and l could just flick it open. l've retired the knife.

You should do “Stand Up” Nick 😂😂😎

Regarding the way they mount their clip, I suspect it is likely so they can have an ambi clip without surface mounting the clip, and without having to notch the show side scale. I think it was a decorative decision, not a functional one.

Nice handle shape; can’t say the same for the blade.

I like it but my hands would be way too big i wear a size 15 ring on my ring finger

Warncliff or sheepsfoot?

Relatively pleased

I got the exclusive S35vn version from... I don't remember.

Once you get that action broken in, it’s buttery smooth

Mine is coming in jade/natural G10

Nice Casio Royal! Not that I got into watches or anything...

I dig the 35 bucks. I like knives, and I could definitely afford to spend $400 or more on a knife, but I would never pay that for a knife. About $100 is the max for me no matter what my bank account looks like. I don't see the appeal in paying $400 for a tool that I'll likely beat the crap out of.

I hate lanyard holes. I get that cool edc people love hanging their macrame projects n cool beads but theyre very rarely actually needed

Nick why doesnt anyone review William Henry knives? Thoughts?

It wouldn’t be my first EDC choice given some other higher quality knives I own, but man I love what they’ve pulled off at such a low price. Looks great and seems like really solid quality for a bargain. If I was on a tight budget this would be a no-brainer for me. I might grab one anyway just to have it in my collection :) Thanks for the review Nick!

I have qsp parrot 🦜 not bad for the price.

The action on the example that was sent to you is nowhere near as good as the one I have. After several months of use (primarily processing cardboard), the blade has held up well and I've only needed to sharpen it once. Again, it's a shame that you didn't get one that is as smooth, but I guess that shows that there is some variation among this model.

Es una ganga!

Of course there is no accounting for personal taste but objectively, it's knives like this that are increasingly closer in almost every respect to $350 knives than ever before. Competition improves the breed.