If you like your tactical folders black on black as I do, the Recon 1 definitely looks the part. This is an attractive knife, overall, from its sculpted and cross-hatched Zytel handle to its large clip-point blade. As soon as I received my Recon 1 from Cold Steel, I made it my daily carry blade. I was pleased with its performance in the week that followed.

A reasonably large blade at just over five inches folded, the Recon 1 rode comfortably in my pocket. The metal pocket clip, designed to be relatively small to minimize interference with the hand when cutting, is smooth and strong, with a good curve and tab. It is held in place with what appear to be three small Torx screws. While reversible for right- or left-hand use, the knife can be carried tip-up only.

The Recon 1 incorporates Cold Steel's patent-pending Ultra Lock. Sliding the lock rearward disengages it. While I've never found rocker-bar lockbacks to be unsafe, a coworker of mine commented that the Ultra Lock design seemed much safer to him – easier to operate without endangering his fingers.

The 4 inch long, 3mm thick, AUS 8A stainless steel blade has an ambidextrous, ridged disk mounted on its spine for one-hand opening. It opens easily with a soft "click" as the Ultra Lock moves and then locks. The action of the lock also keeps the knife from drifting open, which is critical in a tip-up carry blade.

The handle is very comfortable and very "grippy." The sculpted depressions make a nice ramp for the thumb as it pushes to the opening disk. They also help anchor the index finger while cutting in a forward grip. I would have liked to see some thumb grooves on the back of the handle, though. For those of you who like to attach lanyards to your folders, there's a hole above and to the side of the pocket clip mounting point.

While some folders are designed to provide a very low profile in the pocket, the Recon 1 rides high. This does make it easy to draw with a secure grip, though we all have our preferences where pocket carry profiles are concerned.

In use, the Recon 1 zipped open my mail effortlessly, cut any and all cardboard boxes and parcels I wished cut, and easily sliced arc after arc from thin newsprint with its superb factory edge. I wrapped a cardboard box in an old shirt and slashed through both with little power, parting the cloth neatly and severing the single layer of cardboard beneath.

If I had any doubts about the cutting ability of the Recon 1, however, they were put to rest in an accidental "human" trial. After days of using the knife for all my day to day cutting, I gave it to a friend of mine to examine. "Be careful," I said. "It's very sharp." He had, however, already cut himself without even feeling it. After a week as my workhorse blade, the knife was still sharp enough to nick the fingers of the unwary.

If you're looking for a good tactical folder for your daily carry knife, take a look at the Recon 1. Oh, and be careful.