Olight Splint vs Olight Nightclaw: Two Unusual EDC Knives Worth a Look

Introduction

Olight is best known for its lights, but the company keeps pushing into knives with designs that do not follow the usual template. Two current models illustrate that: the Splint, which gets a new orange G10 handle on an established design, and the Nightclaw, a circular claw-style folder that looks like nothing else in most people’s pockets. Both are part of a current sale, so this is a good moment to compare them.

Olight Splint: A Large Knife in a Small Package

The Splint has been around for a while, but the new orange G10 handle version changes the character of the knife. The orange is subdued rather than a blasting safety orange, and the stone-washed, slightly distressed blade finish gives it a lived-in look. It also makes the knife feel less threatening when you need to open an envelope around other people.

The first surprise is size. Photos make it look like a larger knife, but it is a large-looking knife in a small form factor. The handle is fairly narrow, in the style of knives like the Benchmade Claymore, and narrow handles have proven easy to warm up to. Next to a Bug Out Mini, the footprint is comparable.

In the hand, the fit is excellent. There is effectively a finger choil with a small guard, strong jimping along a slight rise in the frame, and enough room for a full four fingers even with size-large hands. A small thumb bump on the blade hood gives extra purchase for opening without the flipper, a detail reminiscent of Spyderco’s opening hoods.

Blade, Steel, and Lock: How the Splint Is Built

The blade uses N690 steel, a stainless steel comparable to 440 with the addition of cobalt, which genuinely improves edge performance. Out of the box it was razor sharp, and cobalt-alloyed steels of this type hold an edge tremendously well.

Olight calls the blade a clip point, but it reads more like a buttressed point: the spine lines up nearly straight before dropping, supported by a narrower secondary section. The grind is flat, which is straightforward to sharpen.

Deployment comes via a flipper with an excellent ball detent. It is silky smooth right out of the box, and even a slow deployment carries the blade fully open. Once open, it locks with a liner lock using two skeletonized steel liners and two standoffs for rigidity.

A particularly practical detail is the pass-through frame design. Pocket lint and debris fall straight through rather than collecting in the handle, which makes cleaning far easier than on knives with closed frames.

Olight Nightclaw: The Unusual One

The Nightclaw is a genuinely strange folder. The handle is a circle, and a push button releases the blade, which swings open to free the claw-style blade for use. It immediately brings to mind designs like the Spyderco Harpy, a claw folder with a memorable reputation.

It uses D2 steel, a solid tool-steel choice, and the blade is fairly thick. The feel in the hand is unusual, with several plausible grip options.

The blade geometry is the interesting part. It has a sharp point, a full belly, and the blade leans out from the handle so that the point axis sits higher than on a traditional straight-aligned folder. That shifts the working area toward the belly rather than the tip, which adds function for slicing and pressure cuts. It is a usable compromise between several blade shapes rather than good or bad.

It comes with a piece of paracord and a bead, and the Splint ships with a challenge coin. Availability and run length are unclear, so if the Nightclaw appeals, do not assume it will remain in the lineup indefinitely.

Which One Should You Buy

Choose the Splint if you want a conventional, well-built EDC folder: strong steel, smooth flipper deployment, easy maintenance, and a friendly orange handle. Choose the Nightclaw if you enjoy unusual designs and want a claw-style blade that prioritizes the belly of the blade. Neither is a traditionalist’s knife, and that is part of the appeal.

Conclusion

The Olight Splint is a pleasant, thoughtfully built small-form-factor folder that punches above its size, while the Nightclaw takes a genuine design risk that mostly pays off. Both are available now as part of the current sale, and both show Olight exploring directions most knife makers ignore.