Petrified Fish Flavorist Knife Review

So there I was, minding my own business at Facebook. When I came across a post in a knife group where one of the other members was unloading a bunch of his knives. I was scrolling through pictures when a picture came across me. It was a chunky little bugger with a blue Micarta handle and a sheep’s foot blade – for $40! I did a quick Google search of the image, and it came up as a Petrified Fish Flavorist.

Now who in which?

Anyway, I contacted the guy selling it and he was happy to send it to me. I learned a lot about it within a few days of its arrival petrified fish brand.

One big thing I noticed about all the bits and pieces is that it uses K110 knife steel. K110 is a pure version of Bohler’s D2 tool steel. This is a highly sought after version of D2 as it is more molecularly consistent than other versions.

The D2 is my favorite knife steel, I was excited to get this whale. That said, I’m not a fan of front flippers – not even a little bit – so I assumed dealing with the flapper would be a struggle. I’m glad I was wrong.

This knife is not only built for tough use and abuse, but it is also easy to operate and it hides a really amazing Easter egg in the flipper mechanism that I have only seen in custom knives before.

In short: With a knife like the Petrified Fish Flavorist, you get the experience of a premium knife at a reasonable price. It performs really well outside and inside, work and play. Although its front flipper requires a little practice, its K110 steel sheepfoot blade and Micarta handle play really well and will benefit anyone looking for a long-lasting, reliable EDC knife.

petrified fish gourmet reviews

Design & Content

With an overall length of 7.25 inches, the Flavorist is a full, four-fingered knife that hits the sweet spot for EDC knife size. Available in 10 different configurations, all feature Micarta handles, which PF refers to as “flexes”. Additionally, all 10 use K110 steel, which is a more stable and desirable version of D2 tool steel.

The brand splits the models down the middle, offering five versions with a spear-point-style blade and five with a sheepsfoot blade, which the brand refers to as a “cleaver” blade. I chose the sheepsfoot blade because I like the utility of its shape. Where you sacrifice the ability to stab or pierce with ease, you gain a larger belly, which makes for a better cutting, chopping, pulling and splitting experience.

The design of the handle is simple, but it flows smoothly from the butt to the tip of the blade. The peak is on the axis of the knife, giving a natural feel in relation to where your hand falls on the spine. This makes it more comfortable to complete both difficult tasks and precise tasks.

The Flavorist is a front flipper, which is a bit polarizing compared to standard flipper knife types. For this you have to press the handle and use your thumb to open the blade. This is a forced behavior that takes time to get used to. On the Flavorist, this is aided by ceramic bearings around the pivot. Additionally, the flipper tab on Flavorist is sufficient.

Steel: Bohler K110 Steel

For as long as I can remember, D2 has been an affordable option for knife steel. It gets high marks for durability and toughness. It also has good growth, so requires minimal maintenance. However, one thing D2 is not appreciated for is its corrosion resistance.

While I have never had any issues with stains or rust on the numerous D2 knives I own, the general consensus claims rust is an issue with this one.

K110, on the other hand, is more consistent at the molecular level, allowing the carbon to be spread more evenly throughout the blade. Because the steel does not have carbon deposits in certain areas, K110 has a higher level of corrosion resistance than D2.

first impressions

Aside from the Flavorist’s weight and overall flowy shape, it’s the mosaic tube inlay on the flipper tab that sealed the deal for me. I was obviously excited to test the K110 steel, but part of the appeal of any knife is how it looks. When a company adds a detail like this – especially one that’s usually reserved for custom knives – I get “baby at Christmas” excited.

The overall feel and grip of the Flavorist reminds me of Spyderco’s Famous Rock Lobster. Both knives run like a wave from tip to tail, which aids the overall function and feel. Of course, this is another reason why you’ll keep this knife in your pocket for some time.

You don’t want to struggle with any tools, but an EDC knife should be perfect at your hand. PF added it with flavourist.

And then, this knife Only $44.

in the area

Even though its name is strange, the Flavorist is a very familiar-feeling knife. From the shape and size to the feel of the Micarta, it’s all normal and so fresh from the mailbox is a very easy knife to stuff in your pocket and work with.

That said, there is a bit of a learning curve with the front flipper, but it’s not like you won’t want to use the knife. In fact, I found myself working with it whenever I got the chance; Going for a walk, talking on the phone, sitting in traffic. Within a few days the muscle memory returned and I was over the hump.

overall, Knife Light and balanced, which pairs really well with the high grind on the blade. This made harvesting and plucking tinder fungus easier and easier. The incredible taper of the blade (another benefit of the high grind) allows the flavorist to cut vegetables, meats and cordage with precision. There is no breakage here. And that extra boost of corrosion resistance gives me confidence that the blade won’t corrode.

Overall, I had some very busy weeks using the knife. Everything is growing in the garden – apples, blueberries, peaches, wineberries – and everything needs a good pruning. I also like to bring fresh cut flowers inside in the morning. For a single man, this is not a common thing, but it is something I enjoy doing. Even if it’s just to impress yourself with the rewards the yard offers.

The only real negative in the whole experience with the Flavorist is the fact that the blade has a more polished finish. This means that everything sticks to it and there is always a smudge or fingerprint on it.

Most EDC blades benefit from a stonewashed or bead-blasted finish to eliminate these phenomena. But, overall, not a dealbreaker for a high-performance knife that costs under $50.

in conclusion

After the testing phase was complete and I sat down to write this review, I read a bit and found that Petrified Fish, which has only been in existence since 2022, has a huge following. This is a brand that is highly respected, as its knives are above their price range. Most people are confused by the fact that these cheap knives look, feel, and work like premium knives. It’s definitely a sign of the times.

There is something to be said about a little-known knife brand that has a heavy presence on Amazon, but is still selling its knife models on one of the largest online knife stores – Blade Headquarters. I know purists who still shy away from knives coming from China and Taiwan, and as far as I see it, this leaves a lot more for those of us with an open mind to buy and enjoy.

So, she said, buy one tasteful. If you need a reliable knife but don’t have much money to spend, you’re going to experience something that usually only people who spend a lot of money do.

This is a great knife for the person who wants to do all the outdoors with one knife. I enjoyed chopping vegetables and chicken as much as I enjoyed pruning my fruit trees and bushes. This is also a great knife for those who want to carry a no-nonsense knife with them. I just broke a ton of cardboard and had to shrink some photos to fit inside a picture frame.

Simply set aside some time to learn how to use Flipper, or be ready to learn right away.