Most products look good and function properly fresh out of the box, but the same can't be said about gear that has seen years or decades of hard use. Over time, flaws become apparent and the weak are weeded out from the strong. So, when someone tells us they've been using a single tool for decades and still has good things to say about it, we take note. That tends to be the sort of gear you can trust in a survival situation or pass down to your kids someday.

Here's what a brand-new Subcom looks like, for comparison purposes.

In an article for Breach-Bang-Clear, contributor Alexander Crown shared his experience with the small Boker Plus Subcom F folding knife. Crown has been carrying this blade for more than a decade, and it appears to have held up nicely, apart from the sort of scuffs and scratches you'd expect after that amount of time. Check out what he has to say about the knife below.

Editor's Note: The following article was originally published by our friends at Breach Bang Clear. It appears here in its entirety with their permission. For more from the Mad Duo and crew, go to BreachBangClear.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

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This isn’t about a brand new blade. No, this article is about a knife I’ve had for well over ten years. The Boker Plus Subcom F is a micro framelock pocketknife that’s sized for easy everyday carry.

The Boker Plus Subcom line has expanded since I bought mine and now includes numerous blade types. The blades are constructed from AUS-8, a type of steel known for taking and holding an edge. This material is also generally known to cut down sharpening time. The blades are available in standard clip point with or without serrations, a rescue hook (the Rescom model), and even a hawkbill style.

The grip of the knife is made of Zytel, a high-strength nylon resistant to abrasions and impacts. Molded into the grip is a pleasant, not-too-aggressive texturing. The grips are also available in a variety of colors to match your outfit or mood, I suppose.

When unfolded the overall length is 4.625”, and the knife measures .29” at its widest. The knife locks via a frame lock and the blade features an ambidextrous thumb stud for quick deployment. The blade is .08” thick with a cutting edge of 1.75”. Lastly, the pocket clip is configurable for tip up or down carry.

I can’t say I’ve carried this knife every day for the past ten years, but I do use it often, particularly when I don’t want a large pocket clip showing (for example, while wearing a suit). I’ve found one of the best places to carry this little Boker is inside the waistline of my pants with the clip behind my belt.

I affixed a 550 cord quickdraw piece to the knife many, many years ago, before it was cool. This helps with deployment of the knife from the waistline and in no way is a tacticool fashion statement.

I wouldn’t want to get into a knife fight with this little guy, but it’s proven very useful over the years for cutting mundane boxes, mail, string, etc. I’ve lost this knife on more than one occasion and am always very happy to find it again. For a knife that’s sub-three ounces, costs less than $40, and practically lets you forget you’re carrying it, the Boker Subcom F is worth its weight.

Written by Patrick McCarthy