Vehement Knives Gets Defiant – Checking Out the M320V

When the Vehement Knives head honcho Matt Martin reached out to me about reviewing the new M320V, I couldn’t say yes quickly enough. A new knife bearing the Vehement Knife logo always gets my attention. This particular model is a collaboration with Defiant7, a brand with which I was somewhat familiar and wanted to learn more about.

The knife arrived about a week later, and I eagerly tore open the box. Tell you what. The Vehement Knives/Defiant7 M320V is cooler than the flip side of the pillow.

Who is Defiant7?

The Defiant7 brand started as a collaboration between Chad Nichols and Les George.

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Chad Nichols is the founder of Nichols Damascus and has built a strong reputation creating high-quality Damascus and other materials for knife makers. He’s no slouch as a designer and maker himself. Among other things, he brings to the table expertise in machining and modern manufacturing techniques.

Les George has been making knives for well over 25 years. He served ten years with the United States Marine Corps, and that experience has informed many of his designs. He has a stellar reputation as a designer and maker.

From the outset, the plan for Defiant7 has been to collaborate with other world-class knife makers. Thus was born Project M320-X.

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Project M320-X

The original M320 is a callback to the M3 fighting knife from WWII. Designed by Les George, it took four years from initial design to final production. It’s this knife that inspired Project M320-X.

The common element from the M320 line is the handle design. They’re injection-molded and feature a titanium butt cap. From there, designers come up with their own spin on the M3 fighter. They are encouraged to apply their own style and strengths, the so-called X-factor.

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There have been three M320-X knives produced to date. There’s the original M320G. The M320E was designed by Allen Elishewitz. The third addition is the M320V.

M320V Design

This iteration was designed by Matt Martin from Vehement Knives. The inspiration behind the Bowie profile comes from Vietnam-era military fighting knives.

The blade profile is eye-catching and interesting. This isn’t surprising at all, given the designer. I’ve known Matt Martin for several years, and I’ve followed his work closely. One of the hallmarks of his designs is inspired innovation. By that, I mean he’s creative, but with a purpose. He’s also a ridiculous perfectionist. As a result, you can be assured that every design that makes it to actual production has been tweaked and tested to within an inch of its life.

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And it shows.

Out of the Box

The M320V is a good-sized knife, stretching a full 11 inches from end to end, with a 6-inch blade.

The handle is grippy, even with wet hands. The contour is comfortable. It’s a big handle, though, about five inches from guard to the end of the butt cap. That’s a lot of real estate. If you’re not accustomed to a knife handle that size, it can take a little time to get used to it.

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It comes with a nicely designed Kydex sheath. It can be attached to PALS webbing as well as hung on your belt. The knife is about as secure as any I’ve ever had in a Kydex sheath. But it’s not a bear to pull the knife out, which is nice.

Skin Bender Leather Works, the leathersmith side of Vehement Knives, offers an aftermarket leather sheath for the M320V. You can reach out to them directly for pricing and options.

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Performance

I played around a bit with the M320V, mostly to get a sense of its ergonomics. I knew going in that blade strength, sharpness, and similar attributes were going to be amazing, given the materials used as well as the craftsmen behind the knife.

This is a combat knife, but one that will handle other routine knife needs. I started with a thick branch that’s been sitting outside in the snow and ice for the last couple of months. The M320V was able to easily shave bits off. I’ll admit I’m not the greatest with making a feather stick, but I can carve big sticks into smaller ones with the best of them. The knife’s edge bit eagerly into the wood with every pass.

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I then picked up an old webbing belt and began slicing it up. It was like a razor, parting the material quickly and with zero hesitation.

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The M320V handles great, with zero awkwardness despite its size.

Who Needs the M320V?

This is truly a do-it-all sort of knife. I’m not much of a fan of one-trick ponies, and this knife is far more versatile than it might look at a glance. It’s a great option for anyone looking for a robust field knife that won’t feel like a boat anchor on their hip. If you have an affinity for old school military knife styles that have been upscaled with modern materials and design cues, so much the better.

I can’t wait to see what’s next for Defiant7. They’re definitely a brand you’re going to want to keep an eye on going forward.

M320 Specs