Priced right and darkly attractive, the Spartan Poros offers a work-a-day option.
It’s been a big year for the folder end of Spartan Blade’s catalog. In June, the North Carolina manufacturer took home Manufacturing Quality accolades from the 2023 BLADE Show Knife of the Year awards. For the record, it was an artistically executed Harsey Folder that earned the company the honor. Now, the company has further expanded this end of its offerings with a wicked-looking flipper, home-cooked by one of Spartan’s founding fathers.
Shake hands with the Spartan Poros, a full-sized option with plenty of versatility baked into the package. The piece was designed by company co-founder Curtis Iovito, who has several standalone designs spotting the firm’s lineup, including Alala, Formido and Zelos, among others. The Poros appears to share a lot of the same lines and design points of auto Zelos, particularly in handle ergonomics. Though, the new knife has much more (pardon the pun) Spartan aesthetics than its predecessor, casting it into a much more work-a-day role.
As to the tale of the tape, the drop-point knife sports a 3.75-inch blade that boasts an understated swedge running nearly its entire length. This adds a bit of character to the otherwise very liner overall blade design. Spartan uses 154CM stainless steel for the blade (58-60 HRC), applies a flat grind and finishes it with Black Titanium Nitride Coating (TiN) for added protection and dark good looks. The knife is a flipper-only affair, with a relative demure kicker that gets the blade into the action. IKBS bearings make it fast opening and give the knife a bit of snap when deploying.
Spartan offers a trio of handle options, each nicely complimenting the blade—black or OD green G-10 or black carbon fiber-G-10 composite. In both cases, the handle adds to the overall sleek looks of the Poros. The liner lock’s aggressively textures the scale but keeps comfort in mind significantly chamfering the edges of the handle so its fairly sharp design wouldn’t tend to bite or create hot spots. Spartan tops it off with a reversible loop over clip with its signature Spartan arrow. Note, the company supplies a steel tab to fill the recess opposite to the side the clip is installed to maintain the overall continuity of the handle.
At 5.4 ounces, the Poros certainly won’t weigh down its carrier. And classified as “Field Grade” by Spartan, the knife comes in at the lower end of the company’s price range. In this case, Spartan lists it at $180 for the G-10 models and $190 for the carbon fiber-G-10 composite model.
Spartan Poros Specs
Designer: Curtis Iovito Blade Length: 3.75” Blade Thickness: 0.125” Overall Length: 9.0” Blade Steel: 154CM Stainless Steel Blade Hardness: 58-60 HRC Blade Style: Folding-Drop Point-Flat ground Blade Finish: Black Titanium Nitride Coating (TiN) Frame: Liner lock with black or OG Gree G10 scales, black carbon fiber-G-10 composite scales Weight: 0.330 LBS MSRP: $180 G-10 scales; $190 carbon-fiber-G-10 scales
Don’t let its throwback good looks fool you, Rothman’s Gentleman’s Trapper has serious EDC chops.
The original EDC knife is a pocketknife. It used to be a right of passage when you were allowed to have a hand-me-down knife in your front pocket. I received mine at the ripe old age of 5. I used it to sharpen pencils and crayons and for whittling.
After a few years and a few cuts on my fingers, I progressed to skinning and cleaning fish. The knife never left my front pocket. I carried it to school for daily uses. It also made quite a few trips in the washing machine and dryer. My mom would have a fit every time she heard it thumping in the dryer. Of course, the laws have changed now and the younger generation has found other things to entertain themselves. For me, my old pocketknife is retired.
Mike Rothman’s Gentleman’s Trapper would make a great pocket filler. It walks and talks perfectly. But how well does it cut? Let’s see.
Gentleman’s Trapper Sharpness Test
Twenty-pound bond copy paper provided the first test. The slip joint sliced it cleanly and effortlessly. The edge is very fine, so control was easy. It’s a nasty-sharp knife for sure—I could hear the blade slicing aggressively.
Light Duty Cutting With The Gentleman’s Trapper
After dispatching single-walled cardboard with the Rothman knife, the author only had to use a tad more pressure on the push cut to zip through double-walled cardboard.
On to single-walled cardboard. The Gentleman’s Trapper made short work of it. In fact, it was very addictive slicing the cardboard. The blade made smooth, straight cuts with no deflection of the material. Very sharp indeed!
Next I found a piece of double-walled cardboard to try. I only had to use a tad more pressure on the push cut to zip through it. I could hear every cut again. The knife is a very forceful cardboard cutter.
The thin blade made skiving leather simple, producing super thin slices repeatedly.
It was time for the leather slice and skiving. The trapper zipped through the leather quickly, so I had to use my knuckles as a stop to keep the piece together so it wouldn’t turn into a pile of pieces. The thin blade made skiving simple, producing super thin slices repeatedly. The stag handle worked perfectly providing a positive grip cutting the leather.
Heavy-Duty Cutting Duty
Whittling was up next. The thin blade produced some of the finest curly-cues I’ve seen. I changed the angle of cut for a deeper bite. I could see and feel the blade flex as deeper bites ensued. It was a very weird sensation, to say the least. I just moved the contact surface closer to the bolsters.
In the whittling test, the author changed the angle of cut for a deeper bite. He could see and feel the edge flex as deeper bites ensued.
Half-inch sisal rope beckoned. I was looking forward to this one. Dang, this trapper performs—273 crunching cuts and the edge was barely sliding! It was easy to cut with and the handle was comfortable with a tight grip. The insides of the liners are a bit sharp but there were no hot spots. Wow!
I returned to the 20-pound bond paper to see if the edge was affected by all the testing. Nope—same clean slices in the material, a sign of great heat treatment.
The author whacked the blade 30 times into the antler with no edge damage at all. The edge would still pull hair and the knife was as tight as when the author started, still walking and talking.
I was compelled to do a warranty-breaking test just to see how tough the Gentleman’s Trapper is. Where was the deer antler? I whacked the blade 30 times into the antler expecting to see some minor edge damage. There was no damage at all! The edge would still pull hair and the knife was as tight as when I started, still walking and talking.
Overall Impression Of Rothman’s Work
I was impressed with the performance of the blade considering how thin it is. Excellent workmanship!
Does Anything Need To Change?
Soften the exposed inside edges of the liners. That’s all, folks!
Gentleman’s Trapper Specs: Knife Type: Slip joint/pocketknife Maker: Mike Rothman Blade Length: 3” Blade Steel: Damasteel damascus in an Ægir pattern Blade Grind: Hollow Blade Pattern: Clip point Blade Thickness: Tapers on the spine from 1/8” above the ricasso to .039” at the tip; the edge is even thinner than the latter Handle: Sambar stag w/shield of same material as the blade Handle at the Thickest: .5” Liners: Fileworked of 410 stainless steel Bolsters: 416 stainless steel Backspring: CPM 154 stainless steel Weight: 3.5 ozs. Closed Length: 4” Knife to know: There is a seamless fit of blade to backspring in the open position Extras: Comes in black zippered pouch w/Rothman’s company name over shape of the state of New York Maker’s price: $750
The slip joint knife endures as a time-tested design, perfect as an everyday pocket companion. Here we look at some of the best modern takes on the classic style of knife.
The slip joint is perhaps the most recognized form of folding knife. Chances are you started your knife collecting journey by buying some sort of slip joint, such as a Swiss Army knife or other multi-blade.
Slip joints have been on the comeback trail for some time now, with an increasing number of factory knife companies offering new examples of the tried-and-true design. This is good for the entire slip-joint genre, as novice collectors discover, and veteran ones rediscover, their love for the classic traditional folders.
CRKT Venandi
CRKT and custom knifemaker Richard Rogers have a few factory collaborations under their belts. Richard’s distinct style lends to knives with both a signature-refined appearance and a high level of usability. He mainly makes higher-end custom knives, and his work is sought by discerning collectors.
CRKT’s newest Rogers collaboration is the Venandi, a single-blade trapper featuring a 3-inch
blade in a modified clip-point pattern and 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. The handle is a brown-and-black G-10, and the contour brings out the woodgrain-style layers for an exciting visual pop. The triangular-shaped bolts and pivot bolt provide a distinctive touch of class, and the bomb shield is a nice touch.
Despite being a larger slip joint, at 1.8 ounces the knife is lightweight and rides comfortably inside a pocket or next to your wallet. The blade’s pull is a bit stiff and that’s on purpose. There is a half-stop, in which the blade pauses midway through opening and closing cycles. A large nail nick assists in opening. A hollow grind and a bit of a swedge dress up the blade’s appearance.
The Venandi is stylish and functional. It’s a knife you can carry when dressed up for church or the office, tackling home improvement projects, or doing yardwork. Out of the box, the blade is centered and the action is crisp.
My only complaint is the lack of a hole to attach a lanyard for grabbing at the top of the pocket for easier knife access. With an MSRP of $49.99 and made in China, the Venandi is a highly functional custom-designed folder that won’t break the budget—and it’s really good looking to boot.
Spyderco Lil Native Slipit
With optimized ergonomics for enhanced cutting performance, the Spyderco Lil Native Slipit is a compact folder that feels larger in the hand than you might think. Of course, this is no surprise as Spyderco is the master of ergonomics for smaller knives, the result being an extremely comfortable user experience.
The Slipit line of slip joints offers traditional Spyderco performance for jurisdictions—most of which are overseas—that ban lockblade folders. The company’s Native locking folders have been great sellers, and it makes sense to offer the design in a Slipit version, too.
The Lil Native Slipit’s 2.4-inch blade is CPM S30V stainless steel, well known for its edge-holding power, and features Spyderco’s signature leaf shape. A full flat grind thins the cutting edge out nicely, enabling the knife to sail through a variety of materials quickly and efficiently.
The handle is peel-ply G-10 in a texture that provides enough traction without being overly aggressive. In an open length just shy of six inches, the folder is big enough to complete most daily cutting chores.
The action is extremely smooth thanks to bronze washers and a full polished tang, allowing the blade’s spring to glide effortlessly over the surface while opening and closing. Since the Lil Native isn’t a traditional slip joint, Spyderco uses a notched joint in the tang to allow the backsprings to firmly seat to hold the blade open.
To close, applying pressure to the blade spine generates enough force to overcome the notched joint and thus allows the blade to rotate closed. The action is akin to a lockback folder—firm yet smooth. The blade hole allows you to open and close the folder easily with one hand as you would with any of the company’s lockblade models—a rarity for a slip joint. A steel pocket clip mounts in one of four configurations for carrying the Lil Native Slipit most any way you desire.
Made in the USA, the MSRP is $198.
Boker Barlow Prime EDC
The barlow is a classic pocketknife pattern many workingmen know. It’s a simple design that holds up well to a variety of slicing chores. Through the years many companies have offered their own versions of the pattern, and the Boker Barlow Prime EDC is one of the latest iterations.
Featuring an old-school design executed with modern materials, the knife has a 2.4-inch spear-point blade ground from N690 stainless steel and a satin finish. Action is smooth opening and closing. There’s also a nice half-stop.
The handle is black canvas Micarta® with a smooth polished finish that is a touchy-feely delight. Even the pins are flush with the grip surface. The handle is linerless, which helps save weight and reduce thickness. The contoured handle allows the Barlow Prime EDC to both feel terrific and ride comfortably in a pocket. Speaking of which, the knife almost disappears in the bottom of one.
Weighing in at 1.23 ounces, the Boker makes a great EDC knife. It is perfect for those who do not like bulk when carrying a pocketknife. It takes on small, mundane daily cutting tasks with ease—opening mail and boxes, packs of crackers, pesky clamshell packages, etc. It’s small enough to not attract unwanted attention. For those who like single-blade slip joints for daily carry, add this one to your list.
Made in Germany, the Boker Barlow Prime EDC has an MSRP of $185.95.
LionSteel JKCF Jack
And now, for something a bit different—the LionSteel JK3CF Jack. LionSteel’s slip joints are a departure from the norm since they have nothing but high-end materials in their construction. The JK3CF is a perfect example. Taking the traditional jackknife and putting its spin on it, LionSteel offers the knife in three configurations.
The JK3CF has all the boxes checked. It has a main blade, a screwdriver/bottle opener combo tool, and a corkscrew. The handle is carbon fiber with titanium bolsters and liners. The 3-inch main blade is a traditional clip point with a swedge. Premium M390 stainless steel provides the ultimate in edge holding. Normally M390 is reserved for tactical knives, and this might be a rare occasion that it’s used on a slip joint.
The ambidextrous long blade pulls allow quick and easy deployment. The screwdriver/bottle opener also has matching long pulls. Everything fits up on the JK3CF, including excellent craftsmanship and smooth action of the blades. The spring tension is firm and does a great job holding the blades open.
A couple of things on this one I particularly like are not commonly found on slip joints. First is the use of Torx fasteners throughout. The scales are secured by the fasteners, as well as the pivot.
Second is the crowning (rounding) of the exposed edges of the liners, backsprings, and blade spines. The extra touch provides a lot of visual pop. Not every manufacturer takes the time and effort to crown the edges, so when you see a knife that has it done, it stands out even more—and I really dig it. You can tell LionSteel took extra measures for the knife’s aesthetics.
The flat grind allows the blade to sever various materials easily, and the M390 won’t give up when other steels do. It is in it for the long haul. The handle width is perfect for use as a thumb rest to apply pressure to the blade. There’s something about using a high-end production knife made with premium materials.
The JK3CF is meant to be used, so go ahead and use it with confidence. M390 is one of my favorite go-to steels when I need the ultimate in edge holding. The blade shape is conducive to work. The flat grind cuts a variety of tough materials easily and the defined tip is a good scoring tool.
Made in Italy, the JK3CF has an MSRP of $225, which arguably is fairly steep for a production slip joint. But remember, it uses titanium and a premium blade steel.
SOG Terminus SJ
The overall looks of the SOG Terminus might easily fool you into thinking it’s a modern linerlock.
I’ve had a hit-and-miss relationship with SOG’s folders over the years. Some I’ve liked the looks of and others not so much. Some were dead-solid users, some not so much. In the Terminus, SOG provides both a solid user and an attractive knife—you know, like that girlfriend you get along with and are OK being seen with in public.
The folder has a very modern appearance. It sports a set of textured G-10 scales in OD green. The blade is saber-ground CRYO D2 tool steel and has a false edge. For those who prefer a more contemporary look you have it in the Terminus, and you don’t sacrifice utility for aesthetics.
Right off the bat the edge cut well, but just for the heck of it I gave it a good stropping and took it up a level or two. Though not heavily contoured, the grip is comfortable and provides nimble control. SOG offers a nice, genuine user in the Terminus and at a reasonable price so you can put it to work without making it a safe queen.
Hinderer XM-18 Slippy
Though you can use the movable/sliding thumb disc of the XM-18 Slippy from Rick Hinderer Knives for one-hand opening, the author preferred simply using the long notch to open the blade.
Nothing quite says modern like a knife name that sounds like a football play. With the XM-18 Slippy slip joint, Rick Hinderer Knives executes a pocketknife design but adds Rick’s own special spin to it. At first glance you would think it is a contemporary linerlock folder. The spring system is tight to help prevent accidental blade closure. A heavy spring also makes it a bit challenging to open for me—so much so I prefer opening it with two hands rather than using the innovative thumb disc design. I just can’t seem to get an angle to easily allow me to overcome the spring tension. Hinderer has devised a design that allows you to move the thumb disc along the groove so you can find the best leverage point for your needs. My thumb is so large I can’t quite get it between the knife body and the disc.
The blade is a saber-ground sheepsfoot pattern of CPM 20V stainless steel. With a tip below center, it makes utility-style cuts simple. A pocket clip with a raised tip has no difficulty locking on a pocket rim. I had no issues while testing the XM-18 Slippy. It did everything you might ask it to do in daily life. It’s also a sturdy enough build that you can lean on it for tougher jobs.
Kershaw Zero Tolerance 0235
There is nothing like a thin ground blade like that of the ZT 0235 to get a wicked edge on a knife. Such a blade can make shavings so thin you can almost see through them.
Carbon-fiber scales give the 0235 by Zero Tolerance (ZT) an up-to-date look as well as the appearance of a trim, lightweight package. An open-frame body structure eases the job of keeping the Jens Anso design free of pocket lint. The spear-point blade of CPM 20CV boasts a full flat grind. A reversible saber-style pocket clip provides deep pocket carry. The clip is one of my disappointments as it’s rather small and doesn’t trap most pant pocket rims well. It’s a tight fit once on a pocket, which tends to make a smooth withdrawal with my bear-paw hands difficult.
The lanyard loop on the back of the handle tends to be a European thing in my eyes, and I wouldn’t necessarily use it given its location on the knife. You can’t put it at the back because of the clip position, but nothing is stopping you from running a cord or a chain through the clip.
Thanks to a detent ball system, the blade holds open both fully and also in the half-stop position. Once the detents disengage, the blade is freewheeling. On a backspring system the tension on the blade is constant and restricts the blade from moving freely. If enough pressure is applied to break the detents free, you’ll have a blade with no resistance to it, which worries me a bit.
The knife is on the small side and works well but the lightweight feel can be a bit deceiving—especially if you equate heft with durability. Handling is no problem but, due to the lack of mass, you can feel the strain of heavier cuts through the handle. I would classify the 0235 as a gentleman’s knife given the crisp presentation with the carbon fiber—well suited for small everyday chores while acting as a showpiece.
Editor’s Note: Abe Elias and Dexter Ewing contributed to this post.
Adding a premium option to the Ken Onion designed line, CRKT unveils the Facet Rivet and Facet Viral.
If you’re into knives (you most likely are, as you’re reading this), you’re familiar with the name Ken Onion. The famed knifemaker has turned out his fair share of must-have blades over the years, with many collectors and aficionados bating breath for his next drop. Well, it’s here and it’s awful dang familiar.
Shake hands with the Facet Rivet and Facet Viral. Yes, they’re the same Facet knives fans have known and loved since its release a year ago, but dolled up plenty nice to make them legitimate premium options in the line. In fact, the duo of top-shelf-edition CRKTs both have some alluring attributes likely to get customers to pony up the relatively steep asking price of $275. Not the least of which is the player behind the scenes making the Rivet and Facet a reality—Lion Steel.
CRKT Facet Blade Material
The Maniago, Italy concern is the manufacturer of the knives, which brings not only one of the more respected manufacturers in the game but also a host of top-shelf materials. Where this shows itself in the M390 steel used for the Facets’ modified drop-point blade. Commonly used by Lion Steel and other manufacturers in the region, the super steel (Austrian in origin) is noted for its impressive edge retention compared to tool steel, as well as its superior corrosion resistance.
Impressive choice, particularly given the Facet certainly has the lines of a more gentlemanly EDC knife but should prove capable against more demanding tasks. Adding to its expected robust use is generous jimping on the knives’ spines, giving a solid purchase on them when more vigorously used.
Facet Handle Material
The handle scales on both the Rivet and Viral are titanium, but not some muted finish common to the material. Each is ornately decorated—the Rivet with a World War II-themed plate and rivet motif, common to the era’s military equipment. The Viral is more futuristic—CRKT says “apocalyptic”—stylings meant to conjure up an end-of-days zombie flick feel.
Away from the aesthetics, the titanium makes the knives fairly light affairs, each tipping the scale at around 3 ounces. For reference, the original Facet weighed 3.9 ounces, so this is creeping up on 1 full ounce of weight savings. The handle has a gradual tapper as well, fitting it well to most hands and allowing for a strong grip on the knife.
Action & Lock
The Facet remains a liner lock in its premium guises, and the flipper maintains its smooth and quick deployment thanks to its IKBS bearings. The flipper itself is somewhat understated, but nonetheless very functional, enhanced with a fair bit of aggressive jumping.
Final Cut
The CRKT Facet Rivet and Facet Viral are both currently available, but interested parties must act quickly. CRKT is limiting each to 500 units for the launch. And 50 lucky customers will receive a heavy-duty commemorative coin, which CRKT is placing in random boxes.
The Hardcore Hardware MILF-02 Is A Heavy-Duty Folder That’s Designed For Any Challenge Users Can Throw At It.
The MILF-02 folder from Hardcore Hardware is made for hardcore users. It’s big and beefy all the way around, has a dimple-textured handle and frame for an excellent non-slip grip, and a classic drop-point-blade shape.
The hollow grind extends halfway up the blade. Blade steel is CPM S30V stainless with a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating. It offers a classic black color on a framelock design with a flipper tab on the blade. It’s built heavy duty but it still has to cut.
Testing The MILF-02
The first inch of the cuts of the double-walled cardboard went well until the author had to use more pressure to push the cardboard over the thickness of the blade where the hollow grind stops. Once he got used to that, it was easy to overcome the twisting.
Right off the bat, the MILF sliced 20-pound-bond copy paper smoothly. The knife’s weight made the push cuts very easy. There were no snags or hang ups and it was simple to control the width of the slices.
Next: double-walled cardboard. The first inch of the cuts went well, then I had to use more pressure to push the cardboard over the thickness of the blade where the hollow grind stops. Once I got used to hitting this spot, it was easy to overcome the twisting. There were no edge hang ups at all.
I grabbed some 8-ounce leather for some skiving. The MILF was aggressive on every cut and emitted a crunching sound each time. Control was excellent in making fine slices and the handle filled my hand.
Cutting The Hard Stuff
The author gave the 2×4 chunk 20 hard chops and the MILF bit deep on every whack. The edges of each chop were smooth.
It was time for some whittling. The folder seemed to want to bite deep into the wood. I started off with a fine curly-cue and by the end of the cut the edge was well into the wood. The MILF didn’t hesitate at all on the deeper cuts; it just kept curling the wood. It is a heavy cutter for sure.
I put a 2×4 chunk in my vise and gave the wood 20 hard chops. The MILF bit deep on every whack. The edges of each chop were smooth. Lockup was still at 100 percent. The knife is a great chopper with the bigger handle and all, but the inside edges of the handle need softening. They’re a tad on the sharp side
I took the same 2×4 and used the folder to split it into smaller pieces. All it took was a light tap from a dead blow hammer and the wood split with a pop. The thicker blade worked great for this phase of the testing. Lockup was still at 100 percent.
Half-inch sisal rope was next on the slicing block. The MILF crunched through 200 clean cuts very quickly, showing no signs of slowing down. I stopped cutting to save on rope. Edge holding was excellent and the heat treatment was great.
To take the testing further, I grabbed a deer antler for some more whacking. I gave the antler 20 hard wallops and the blade edge suffered no rolling or chipping. I did manage to remove a very thin wire edge on the blade. However, the main edge was still very sharp.
I returned to the paper slice to recheck the edge. I noticed a few hang ups and found more of the wire edge still intact. Two strops on some leather and the edge was back to original sharpness. Excellent job on the heat treat!
Final Thoughts
I would soften the inside edges of the handle for a smoother grip. Beyond that, the MILF is a heavy-duty using folder that holds a great edge. It’s too big for my tastes but a cutter it is.
The M-1 Folding Pocketknife From MECHFORCE Takes A Licking And Keeps On Cutting No Matter What’s In Front Of It.
Most people don’t like carrying a thick knife. They already have enough stuff without a bulky folder blocking access to the other goodies in their pockets.
I really like the blade thinness of the M-1 folder by MECHFORCE. Add a deep-set pocket clip and the M-1 is low profile when attached to the lip of your pocket. Meanwhile, the handle feels great.
The blade is a classic drop-point shape and cuts like … well, let’s see!
M-1 Folder Takes On Paper And More
The M-1 sliced the 20-pound bond copy paper smoothly and quickly.
Twenty-pound bond copy paper is the first way to test the factory edge. The M-1 sliced the stationery smoothly and quickly. I put a few nicks in my fingernail by moving too slow. I could hear every slice in the paper. Very sharp!
On to double-walled cardboard. The blade bound a tad at the bottom of the cut and during withdrawal. The thicker slice is where I noticed the binding. Thinner slices were not a challenge. It sliced the cardboard fast overall.
I used some plastic board for the next medium. The M-1 sailed through every slice. It was easy to control the width of the cut. I like the shape of this handle a lot. It really gives me control with my sidewinder cutting style.
The M-1 bit into 8-ounce leather and did so with gusto. I could hear the aggressive sounds of the edge biting through the material—this is very addictive to do as you crunch away. The knife would excel at skinning game.
I did some skiving to check the control of the depth of the cut. There were no issues whatsoever on the leather—super thin cuttings every time. The flat grind really helped in cut-depth control.
Pushing The M-1 Folder
The M-1 Folder wore the author’s wrist out after 250 crunching cuts of half-inch sisal rope.
Next up: half-inch sisal rope—time to use more pressure on the M-1. The knife wore my wrist out after 250 crunching cuts. It still had more bite but I was done for the day on rope cutting. The knife gave me no hot spots and I found zero sharp areas on the handle. It was very comfortable with pressure cutting. Excellent work, MECHFORCE!
To give the edge a heavy workout, I grabbed an old whitetail antler and gave it 30 whacks. I expected to see a few small chips in the edge but none showed. The edge was still sharp with no snags, sure signs of tough steel and excellent heat treatment.
I switched back to slicing 20-pound bond paper to see if the edge was still field ready. It sliced cleanly throughout to the end of the testing.
The M-1 comes with a maintenance kit that includes how-to instructions, two sets of replacement adhesive strips, take-down wrench and a bandage. It’s well thought out.
Final Thoughts
Not much to say here—maybe add some skateboard tape inserts for a no-slip grip. The M-1 is a high-performance knife that takes a licking and keeps on cutting. It makes a great pocket addition.
M-1 Folder Knife Specs
Knife style: Flipper folder Blade length: 3.5 inches Blade steel: M390 stainless Blade thickness at thickest: ⅛ inches Blade grind: Full flat Blade finish: Matte Blade pattern: Drop point Handle frame: 6Al4V titanium Handle inserts: Mars Valley carbon fiber Pocket clip: Deep set Lock: Framelock Weight: 5 ounces Closed length: 4-11/16 inches Knife to know: Features hidden-screw design Country of origin: Partially made in the USA MSRP: $385
Finding Inspiration During the Covid-19 pandemic, Shane Magnussen Created The Sinnsyk With The Help Of His Fans.
The long days of the COVID-19 pandemic may be mostly past us, but the cabin fever drove many people crazy. However, for some, those days inside proved to be a cauldron of creativity. For one knifemaker in Arizona, the creative juices flowed forth and gave birth to a one-of-a-kind knife.
Shane Magnussen was looking for ways to keep from going bonkers during the pandemic and found one with his “personal renaissance challenge.”
The challenge consisted of him sketching one new knife design per day for 75 days and then putting them all up for a vote on social media. The folder winner was his Sinnsyk model.
Who Is Shane Magnussen?
Shane Magnussen—here with wife Katie in the shop—said the lock, detent and bearings all fit tight on his Sinnsyk folder. In the right lighting, you can see the electro-anodized blade through the elliptical handle holes.
Shane is a former serviceman who led over two dozen successful operations in Afghanistan for the United States Army. After receiving an honorable discharge, Shane went into the automotive field and worked in numerous parts of the industry.
Eventually, he began working at a knife manufacturer and caught the knifemaking bug. From writing manuals about free hand grinding to innovating custom finishing methods Shane gained the experience needed to launch his own knife company, Scorpion 6 Knives.
What Is The Sinnsyk
Shane is first-generation Norwegian and sinnsyk is Norwegian for insane or crazy, which most people have been driven at least half during the troubles. His wife, Katie, helped with the zig-zag texturing on the titanium handle, which they did on a half-inch wheel of a Travis Wuertz TW-90 grinder.
The elliptical holes are a standard Shane design and enhance looks, lightweight and texture. The line down the center of the electro-anodized pocket clip serves as a kind of truss to keep the clip from grabbing neither too tight nor too loose.
Sinnsyk Knife Specs
Knife: Sinnsyk
Knife type: Folder
Blade length: 3.66 inches
Blade steel: Nitro-V stainless
Blade pattern: Spear point
Frame: Grade 5 titanium
Lock: Framelock
Closed length: 4.94 inchesMaker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200
For more information contact Shane Magnussen, Dept. BL3, 914 W. Belmont Red Trail, San Tan Valley, AZ 85143 [email protected].
