German knife manufacturer Boker makes many high-end, high-priced tactical folders.  For those on a budget, however, it also offers its Magnum line – quality Taiwanese imports offered at relatively low prices.  One member of the Magnum family I found particularly impressive is the BO007 model, which is a cleanly designed aluminum-handle button lock.

The Boker Magnum BO007 is a tasteful, affordable button-lock knife.

The BO007 is a study in tasteful curves.  Recently I completed several Boker reviews and was showing the photos to a friend.  My friend is a hunter who appreciates a decent hunting knife, but his interest generally stops there.  Of all the pictures, the knife to which he was immediately attracted was not one of the more expensive models.  No, the one he saw and immediately liked was the BO007.  "That's the one for me," he said.  "I like that handle.  It's classy."

Measuring eight inches overall with a 3.25-inch bead-blast finish blade, the BO007 weighs in at 4.4 ounces.  The slotted handle provides decent traction and its ergonomic curves help the hand to lock in place.  There is a lanyard hole in the butt.

The knife is configured for tip-down, right-hand use only.  The gracefully curved pocket clip is removable but not reversible.  The clip has good tension and works quite well;  it is also relatively long as pocket clips go and provides good stability in the pocket as a result.

With the addition of a spring, this would be an elegant automatic knife.  The button lock secures the knife in both the open and closed positions.  To open the BO007, then, you must press the button.  There is no blade opening mechanism other than this.  You will find no thumb studs, disks, holes, or nail nicks.  Pressing the button and snapping the wrist gets the blade out and locked open easily (you must release the button for the blade to lock) – but keep in mind that in some areas this mechanism will be construed as a "gravity blade."  The knife locks without blade play.

The button-lock secures the blade – whether opened or closed.

The recurved 420 stainless steel blade shipped with a decent working edge and is very easy to resharpen.  Obviously 420 isn't a high-end steel – but it takes an edge, cuts well, and resharpens quickly, all while keeping costs down.  The blade has a section of thumb grooves at the base of the spine.  There is also a grooved plastic safety that blocks the button lock when the knife is closed (it cannot be used when the knife is open).  To be honest, I don't think the safety is necessary and I certainly don't use it when the knife rides in my pocket – but it's a nice feature for those who want absolutely safe storage. 

The plastic safety switch blocks the button lock in the closed position.

My BO007 cuts reasonably well and performed very nicely as my daily utility blade, zipping open the large volume of mail and packages received each week at The Martialist.  It has good "belly" and tapers to a needle-sharp point.

Detail of the safety switch on the spine behind the button lock.

The whole concept of the "tactical folder" is based on the idea that a daily utility knife should also be suitable as a defensive weapon.  The BO007 would make a fine self-defense tool, as it opens quickly, is of good size, provides a stable grip, and sharpens to a keen edge.  It is not the most "high speed, low drag" high-end tactical folder in the world, but unlike those blades, almost any person can afford to buy one.

This is a good, affordable blade that could be used for self-defense.

It always pleases me when a knife company knows quality but also understands budget constraints.  The BO007 is a good compromise between these factors.

This is a good knife that offers great value for the asking price.