Lately, this little Tekto A2 Badger has been my everyday carry pocketknife. I like automatics but prefer to keep my EDC a bit discreet. Its compact size and 1.85″ blade gets the job done without drawing unwanted attention. Which is exactly what I need during the week. I’m not putting myself in dangerous situations where a full-size knife would be welcome. This little guy is opening boxes, slicing sandwiches, and maybe cutting into frozen burrito wrappers. That daily stuff. Yet it would still serve me well in a defensive situation. So let’s get into it.
Tekto A2 Badger automatic knife specifications
At 3.30 inches, the Tekto A2 Badger is easy to carry via the reversible pocket clip, or loose in your pocket. There’s a simple carry pouch included as well, but I’m not a fan of the Velcro closure. An aluminum handle and the little 1.85-inch D2 steel blade result in a weight of just 2.18 ounces. Opened, it’s still just 5.26 inches long with a width of 0.48 inches. There’s a sliding button on the side to fire/withdraw the blade and a glass breaker on the bottom.
The handle is 6061-T6 aluminum with what appears to be an anodized finish. It’s a nice match to the matte black of the titanium-coated tanto blade. That blade sports a fine edge with a hardness of 58-60 Rockwell. If all those numbers aren’t painting a picture of just how compact it is, the photo below shows it in comparison to a standard Bic lighter.
About the D2 steel blade
Choosing a steel for a knife blade will almost always be a compromise. We’d all like a blade that stays very sharp. Yet the metallurgic properties that allow a blade to hold an edge well generally make them more difficult to sharpen. A blade that is hard and resists wear (holding an edge) resists abrasion. The act of sharpening a blade involves abrading away small amounts of steel to bring back that sharp edge. Steels that don’t hold an edge well are usually easier to touch up. So we must choose wisely.
D2 is on the “holds a great edge” end of the scale. It’s going to take a sharp edge and hold it through some hard use. Touching it up when it starts to dull will take some extra work. In my opinion, that’s a fair tradeoff. A decent sharpener doesn’t have to be expensive, and it’s a good skill to have. I’m sure some people value ease of sharpening over edge retention, and there are steels for them. D2 is not one of them.
Wiggle it
On the long end of the button lock, the grooves have increasingly wider spacing. The shorter end has narrow yet even spacing between the grooves. They both provide great traction for firing and withdrawing the blade. While the blade was fully extended, there was a tiny bit of play. Not a big deal, but it’s there if you look for it. Since this was a review sample, I didn’t take it apart to inspect the inner mechanism. Instead, I found the lockup of the blade in the open position to be acceptably tight with no cause for concern.
The legality of automatic knives (AKA “Switchblades”)
I live in Utah, one of several states that have never restricted the sale or public carry of automatic knives. Historically, it’s been easier to get your hands on an automatic knife than alcohol. I wish that was a joke, but it’s not. Anyway, the American Knife & Tool Institute tracks the legality, by state. Here’s their link to state laws regarding automatic knives.
Personally, I find it interesting that even California allows automatics, though they limit them to blades of less than 2 inches. This makes the Tekto A2 Badger perfectly legal in one of the most restrictive states in America. That’s a win no matter how you look at it.
Back to my time with the Tekto A2 Badger
The day my Tekto A2 Badger arrived, the first thing I did was show it to my wife. I thought that would be the end of it right there, but she eventually gave it back. Turns out that she knows a good thing when she sees it. With the sliding button having just the right amount of tension, she could open and close it with minimal effort. Yet it’s not going to open or close by accident. Tekto added the little side notches which make it easier to hold. And the simple machined grooves provide excellent traction and visual appeal.
As with any knife, I used it to cut stuff. Out of the box, its fine edge sliced thin curls off paper, so it passed my initial sharpness test. I get a lot of packages shipped to my house, so there’s never a shortage of cardboard to process. For small jobs it’s fine, but I would choose something more substantial if I were breaking down boxes all day. Whether opening food packaging or cutting into shipping boxes or product cartons, the smaller handle and blade were just right in size for comfort and safety. And the blade did its job well.
Pros and Cons of the Tekto A2 Badger
At $139.99, the price is definitely fair for an automatic with a D2 steel blade. Its size is great for everyday use. It’s not likely to cause concern with coworkers if you work in an office. You can legally carry it in most states. The blade takes a fine edge and holds it well. And it looks cool. While I didn’t test the glass breaker, it looks like other reviewers did, and I’ll have to take their word for it.
The little Tekto A2 Badger isn’t perfect, but its faults are minor. I’d prefer a drop point blade when it’s time to sharpen it, but the tanto shape offers a bit more utility. The chisel portion gets you into packages without over-penetration. I suspect that the included pouch is rarely used – it fits well, but it’s just soft nylon with a large Velcro flap. My biggest complaint is the pocket clip. It has a lot of tension, and the curved portion is tiny. So clipping it to my pocket isn’t just a “drop and go” process. It’s secure once in place, but I’d probably bend it a bit to make it a little more user-friendly.
Conclusion
It should be pretty obvious by now that I really like the Tekto A2 Badger. During the week, it’s the perfect EDC. Light, discreet, and provides all the utility I need. If I didn’t work in an office, I might choose something a bit more substantial. And if I had a true need for a more tactical blade, it might not be my first choice. It can certainly be deployed for defensive purposes, but most EDC knives are tools first, weapons second. And here, it certainly excels at that. Find yours at Tektoknives.com.
As always, I’d like to thank the folks at Tekto Knives for sending me their Tekto A2 Badger for testing and evaluation. It’s a solid knife and a good value.