OTF (Out-The-Front) blades are insanely popular these days. While there are tons of low-quality, Chinese-made knockoff OTFs out there, one of my favorite Florida men, Jason Bayne, the owner of Backup Tactical, teamed up with knifemaker Andre De Villers to create the new, American-made Stinger OTF knife. Not only is the Stinger 100% American-machined and assembled, but it also boasts higher-quality steel, precision hand-fit assembly, and is available in four blade styles and four anodized finishes. Jayson was kind enough to send out a knife for me to check out and today we’ll compare it with what I already know about OTF blades to see how this one stacks up as a daily carry knife.
TFB Review: The Stinger OTF Knife from Backup Tactical
Right off the bat, I have to hand it to Jayson for being my main point of contact on all things related to the Stinger knife, from the design details to the development process with Andre De Villers. Jayson and Backup Tactical are likely best known for their extensive lineup of aftermarket pistol parts—think barrels, compensators, and thread protectors, just to name a few. Jayson is always trying to come out with new products and the Stinger OTF knife is just his latest passion project. If you want to keep abreast of what Jayson is trying to come out with next, you can just keep tabs on his activities on Instagram. So what comes standard on the Stinger OTF blade?
Andre De Villers of ADV Tactical, designs these automatic knives and Backup Tactical
manufactures them here in the USA for Andre. It is a team effort that started in 2022
and finally launched in 2024.
We use only the finest Steels, Aluminum and Titanium for our parts. We machine our
parts on the absolute latest and precise CNC machines, and hand fit the parts while
hand assembling each knife. The result is the highest quality automatic knives at the
fairest price possible.
We stand behind our products 100%. If you have any issues or problems with your knife
please contact us immediately and we will get you taken care of. Email is fastest.
The Stinger is priced right around what you’d expect for a typical high-quality OTF blade with an MSRP of $369.99 for each regardless of color and blade type – something I think is great for the customer.
The Stinger is a double-action automatic OTF knife that I think so far has demonstrated both mechanical and construction/materials quality that I think is worthy of its asking price. Built with a T6 aluminum chassis that’s milled on 5-axis CNC machines and then hard anodized for durability, this knife will outlast any storebought chinesium special or cheap Amazon OTF knockoff.
The main feature of the Stinger is a 3.6-inch S35VN steel blade. S35VN while not the latest and greatest CryoSteel or M350 super steel, is well known for its strength, sharpness, and corrosion resistance, and it’s a solid 4mm thick— so no flimsy blade here and no blade wobble. The handle, closed, measures 5.05 inches, making it compact yet substantial enough to get a solid grip on. Weighing in at 4.7 ounces (133 grams), it feels sturdy in hand without being too bulky for everyday carry.
Rounding out the design is the milled titanium ADV roller pocket clip, which makes it easy to slip in and out of the pocket while holding it securely, a neat feature that I'm starting to see on a lot more pocket clips these days. The whole package comes in a neat little plastic case with foam.
A New Player In A Competitive Market
The Stinger is being launched into a highly competitive market, one where everyone simply just assumes your knife is being made overseas and to low-quality standards. This is a common trope that I was happy to see that the Stinger didn’t fall into. The Stinger goes toe-to-toe with big names like Microtech and Benchmade and while it may not have the Pedigree that both those brands do, it has its edge thanks to high-end materials, American craftsmanship, and thoughtful design details that make it stand out from both Jayson and Andre.
While a lot of OTFs are mass-produced, the Stinger benefits from American-based 5-axis CNC machining combined with hand assembly, giving it a tight no-rattle feel that you just don’t get with factory-made cheaply assembled knives. With its titanium roller clip, tough T6 aluminum handle, and smooth, reliable deployment, this knife is right up there with the best.
Plus, Backup Tactical has managed to keep the price point realistic. You’re getting good materials, precision machining, and entirely U.S.-made production at the industry-going rate for these types of knives. However, Backup Tactical is indeed new to the OTF market, and as a result, it's always going to feel like a risk to invest $350 in a new product.
In the case of my knife, I have no complaints other than maybe the overall depth of the laser engraving on the face of the knife body – it seems a bit shallow to me and perhaps even a bit undersized but that’s just an entirely pedantic, and aesthetic thing on my part. Mechanically, the knife is perfectly fine, and the blade came razor-sharp from the factory. If I could change anything, it’d be the blade type- I’d probably go with an entirely non-serrated blade instead of the half-and-half I have – an option that Backup Tactical does have.
Final Thoughts
I’ll fully admit that I’m not a super huge fan of OTF blades. While I appreciate their unique action, and the often double-bladed nature of most of them, I often feel that even well-made knives like the Stinger are prone to more wear and mechanical failure than their fixed blade or even frame-locker counterparts which are comparatively simpler. Over time, the OTF blade will eventually start to loosen up while the fixed blade will only ever need sharpening. That being said, the Backup Tactical Stinger has a lot of things going for it if you’re a fan of the blade style and use one for daily carry. First, it’s from a company that has an established track record of producing quality firearm products. Second, Backup Tactical chose to pair up with Andre De Villiers who has been making knives since 1990 and refuses to use anything but the best materials when it comes to things with his name attached to it.
All that said, I have enjoyed carrying the Stinger with me as my EDC blade for the last month and a half, and I think I’ll continue to do so from time to time when my main blade (my AMTAC Northman X), just doesn’t work. If you’re in the market for an OTF blade or want to try out something new, you might want to consider this new blade venture from Jayson of Backup Tactical and Andre De Villiers, if you’re after something new and aren’t brand-specific I can safely say that you’ll be happy with the quality of the knife you’re getting from Backup Tactical.
