Roberts Army Knife Surfboard Review

A board I almost sold… until I finally figured it out.

First Impressions: A Rocky Start

I’ll be honest—this board and I didn’t click at first. I tried to sell it multiple times. Took it to California, surfed it in the Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, and up and down New Jersey in both summer and winter swell. But it always felt off. Too pivoty. Too unpredictable. I kept wondering why it didn’t drive the way I wanted.

Turns out, the board’s performance hinges almost entirely on fin setup. Once I cracked that code, everything changed.

What Makes It Work (And What Doesn’t)

I surf mostly East Coast waves—fast, down-the-line runners and the occasional barrel. So I gravitate toward boards with natural drive. The Army Knife, out of the box, didn’t have it; it wanted to pivot and slide. But when I finally threw in a full-size center fin, the board came alive.

Fin Setup Notes:

The board has plenty of maneuverability baked in, so it actually benefits from toning that down with a bigger center fin. Once dialed, it became my go-to for decent surf. It grovels better than expected and handles vertical re-entries surprisingly well—just don’t expect it to shine in hollow, pockety waves.

Where It Shines

This board is built for California-style surf. I had my best sessions on it at Manresa, south of Santa Cruz—a heavy beach break and swell magnet. It thrives on open face and handles chest to overhead surf with ease. I’m looking forward to trying it at a wave pool, where I think it’ll really show off its strengths.

Ideal Conditions:

Construction & Design Details

I got the board on sale, and yeah—there was a pinhole in the glass that reached the stringer. It wasn’t watertight out of the shop, but the fix was easy and I saved $200, so no complaints. It was glassed at Pure Glass in California and has held up well. Minimal pressure dings despite a solid number of sessions.

Build Observations:

Final Thoughts

This board ended up on Craigslist for $180 after just a few surfs. No pressure dings, barely used. I’m glad nobody bought it.

Once I figured out the fin setup, the Roberts Army Knife became a reliable daily driver. It’s not perfect, but it’s trustworthy in heavier surf, maneuverable without being twitchy, and surprisingly versatile. I’d definitely consider another Roberts board in the future—this one outperformed a few locally shaped and off-the-rack boards I’ve owned.