REVIEW – OTF knives have a special kind of gadget appeal. Press a control, the blade fires straight out the front, press it the other way, and the blade snaps back into the handle. The Tekto Skar tries to capture that Microtech Combat Troodon look seen around John Wick 2 while costing less than half as much. At $199, it absolutely has the movie-prop attitude, but my sample arrived dull, showed rough blade finishing, and later came apart during normal use. That makes the Skar a hard knife to recommend, even if it looks the part.
OTF Basics
The Skar is a double-action OTF knife with a 3.75” Tanto blade that has a straight edge on one side and serrations on the other. Double-action means the same sliding control both deploys and retracts the blade. A single-action OTF also opens with a button or switch, but the user has to retract the blade manually.
Tekto ships the Skar in a black box with the company’s split skull logo. The presentation is attractive and gives the knife a premium first impression.
In the Box
- Tekto Skar
- Carry case
- User manual
Specifications
- Blade length: 3.75” (95mm)
- Blade material: D2 Steel
- Blade hardness: 58 HRC
- Blade type: Double-edge Tanto with straight and serrated sides
- Handle length: 4.90″ (124mm)
- Handle material: Aluminum
- Weight: 0.28lbs (161g)
- Locking mechanism: Button lock
- Pocket clip type: Removable Deep-carry clip
- Pommel: Removable glass breaker
Legal Note
OTF and switchblade-style knives are not legal everywhere, so buyers need to check local rules before ordering or carrying one. Some states make exceptions for military, law enforcement, and first responders. Tekto also publishes an OTF knife laws guide for reference.
Design and Feel
The Skar’s strongest first impression is visual. The black, aggressively textured aluminum handle looks tactical and gives the hand plenty to grab.
Despite the squared-off handle, the knife feels better in hand than its blocky shape suggests. The balance and heft are good, and my thumb naturally lands on the blade control.
Deploying the blade takes a deliberate push on the lower part of the switch. The resistance is intentional, since an OTF knife should not fire open by accident in a pocket or pouch.
Blade Quality
D2 steel is a high-carbon, high-chromium steel commonly used for tools and knives. Tekto rates the Skar at 58 HRC. That hardness can help a knife keep an edge longer, but it can also make sharpening more work.
The blade design combines serrations, a straight cutting edge, a deep center channel, and seven small holes. It looks dramatic and fits the overall style of the knife.
The problem is execution. My Skar showed up much duller than expected and barely sliced paper. I also found uneven marks and striations along the edges, which made the blade feel poorly finished for a knife in this price range.
When It Came Apart
Six T7 Torx screws hold the handle halves together and keep the switch, spring mechanism, and blade contained. After about a week of use, those screws loosened enough that the switch, springs, and blade popped out and scattered across my kitchen. Until that point, the Skar had been usable aside from the dull edge. After rebuilding it, I continued testing, but with a lot less confidence.
Once opened up, it was clear that the switch rides between the two handle halves and moves through the small front channel.
The control is lightly knurled on both sides, which helps with one-handed operation.
Clip, Pommel, and Case
At the back of the knife, the pommel works as a small glass breaker and includes lanyard holes. The deep-carry pocket clip also has a lanyard hole.
The pocket clip was stiff at first and needed time to loosen up. It carries the Tekto name and skull logo.
Tekto also includes a small black nylon case with a Velcro flap.
The back of the case has a wide belt loop and a smaller top tab.
The Skar fits in the case without trouble, and the case is a reasonable alternative if you do not want to use the pocket clip.
One small finish issue stood out on the case: the Tekto logo looked a little blurry and off-center. On a $199 knife, that kind of detail matters.
Setup and Maintenance
There is no real setup required, but the pocket clip can be removed or moved to the other side by unscrewing the glass-breaker pommel.
Removing the clip exposed another quality problem. The clip had already marked the handle finish even though the knife had not been used.
Like other OTF knives, the Skar needs cleaning and lubrication. Tekto’s general OTF knife maintenance guide says to deploy the blade against a hard surface so it does not fully open, remove the six handle screws, clean and oil the parts, and reassemble everything. Since my Skar had already taken itself apart, I oiled the mechanism and put it back together. The guide was from 2017 and written broadly for Tekto OTF knives, so it was not especially helpful for this model.
Everyday Use
I carried and used the Skar for about a month after reassembly. Even with the dull blade, it opened packages and cut rope. Much of that practical usefulness came from the serrated edge, which still works fairly well when it is not especially sharp.
The action is fast and forceful, but it has a distinct spring sound when opening and closing. That noise takes away some of the slick OTF feel, and it is easy to hear in the video demo.
OTF knives fill a specific role for people who need one-handed access to a blade. Law enforcement and military users may carry one opposite a firearm as a last-ditch defensive tool if someone grabs for the weapon. First responders may need to cut debris or a seatbelt while using the other hand to hold equipment or steady an injured person. In those situations, dependability is not optional.
The failure I experienced counts as a critical one. I would not trust this Skar for anything more serious than mail or package duty, and even that would require sharpening the blade first.
Good
- Cool looking
- Good balance and heft
Not So Good
- Blade arrived dull
- Wiggle in blade after deployment
- Overall construction is poor for the high price
Quick Questions
Q: Did the blade arrive sharp?
A: No, the review’s sample arrived duller than expected and barely sliced paper, with visible uneven finishing marks on the edge.
Q: Did the knife hold together during testing?
A: No, after about a week the handle screws loosened enough that the switch, springs, and blade came apart and scattered.
Q: Is it legal everywhere?
A: No, OTF and switchblade-style knives aren’t legal in every state, so buyers need to check local rules before ordering.
Q: What steel is the blade made from?
A: D2 steel, rated at 58 HRC.
Verdict
If the Tekto Skar cost around $50, I could see it as a fun desk-drawer OTF knife after a good sharpening. At $199.99, the rough blade, dull edge, loose construction, and handle finish issues are too much to ignore. For about $100 more than the Skar, the Microtech Ultratech OTF is available, and that is the knife John Wick actually used in the first movie. The Microtech UTX-70 OTF is another comparable option at about $245. The Skar has the look, but not the dependability I would want from a knife that could be used by first responders, law enforcement, or anyone who expects it to work under pressure.
This isn’t the only one I’ve put through its paces. Check The Best EDC Knives I’ve Tested for the full lineup.
Price: $199.99
Product Link: Tekto
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tekto.
