Aug
The Desert Legion XII by USGladius knives is based on the design of the Roman Gladius (short sword), the standard arm of the Roman Legions (armies), proven on battlefields and the gladiatorial spectacles of the arena for over 400 years.
At a time when the blade was the ultimate weapon, the gladius was the ultimate blade. The Desert Legion XII hopes to emulate this classic design with a few modern twists.
The first thing you notice about the Desert Legion XII knife when you open the box is the colour. I am used to working with a lot of black, stonewashed and steel coloured knives, so the khaki styling of this versatile fixed blade knife took me by surprise. It was a pleasant surprise to be fair, as this knife looks good.
The knife itself has a khaki coloured coating, and the steel is 8Cr13Mov, which is a decent knife steel. It is comparable to the Japanese AUS-8 but with a slightly higher amount of carbon. When treated properly, 8Cr13Mov offers fantastic value for money and this knife proves that you can get a lot of knife for your cash by choosing this as a knife steel. The coating on the 6.5″ full tang blade is titanium, which should provide long term protection, although the 8Cr13Mov steel should prove easy enough to maintain.
Out of the box, the double-edged blade is razor sharp and is part serrated on one edge and has a wickedly sharp terminating point. There is a lot of edge on show, and given it’s not a massive blade, the Deseret Eagle XII would make for a good camp companion or survival tool – it’s an ideal shape for cutting, slicing and piercing but controllable enough for finer work.
In the hand, the knife does not feel too heavy or unwieldy. It weighs in at a smidgen over 11oz and feels well balanced. It is a full tang knife and the scales are removable which makes for easier cleaning. It also transforms the knife into a decent throwing knife – there is a chunky hand guard and at that point the blade is balanced well.
There is a large pommel for striking and hammering, although I cannot help thinking that they missed a trick by not having a lanyard hole here. There are lanyard holes in the handle, but you have to remove the scales to access them.
The handle is extremely comfortable with the rubberised scales giving a decent grip – I would not be worried about slippage with this knife.
The sheath for the Desert Legion XII looks super tough. It is a glass filled nylon affair with a military look. It is khaki in colour with tough webbing straps the same colour to give it on overall ‘desert’ look. There is an abundance of lashing holes and you could configure the sheath for a horizontal carry if you wanted. Two press studded straps hold the blade in place which is essential as the blade does not ‘lock’ into the sheath. If you undo these fasteners and give the knife a good shake, there is a chance the knife would come free.
All in all, this a tough looking all-rounder that would not be out of place in a survival situation or as a solid camp companion. It is also incredibly good value – the mid-range steel ensures that you get a lot of knife for the money.
Despite its Roman solider styling, this knife is actually very practical. It is not too big at all and the amount of edge available makes it a great all-round cutting tool. The fact that you can remove the scales for cleaning as well as having some knife throwing is a definite bonus.
