- a shark with a good bite
Sometimes things don't have to be that complicated or innovative, for that matter. They can still be good. That description fits this knife from Olitans called Lemon Shark.
If the shape can be said to be recognizable and the same can be said about both materials, opening methods and locks. But for me, Olitans is a new brand, and it was therefore exciting to see if they add anything to an ever-growing knife market.
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| Olitans Lemon Shark |
The knife comes in several different variants, and I chose this variant solely because of the name. A "Lemon Shark" has to have a yellow handle, right? In addition, I have quite a few knives, so sometimes I want a little colour in the middle of all the black, titanium gray and brown.
If you don't want this very distinct colour, the shark is also available in four additional colors and the materials also vary. A transparent yellow PEI, green or blue Micarta and white G10 are other options.
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| My first contact with Olitans was a positive one. |
Short Version (former Twitter version): Olitans Lemon Shark, not the rarest shark in the knife oceans, but it manages its niche in the ecosystem well
Blade
As I said in the introduction, Lemon Shark is not innovative, so we get a very ordinary drop point for the blade. But it is a very well-proportioned and therefore stylish blade. The length is 83 mm, and the height is 25 mm, although the website states 26 mm. The thickness is 3.5 mm.
The blade has no decorative elements or the like, or by the way, it depends on how you look at it. I will come back to that. The only thing that contributes to the appearance besides the shape itself is a clear false edge, and a longer part of the base of the spine is provided with grooves for better grip. Something that, in this case, fulfils a double function. Partly to place the thumb on, but also when opening the knife.
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| A classic and well-proportioned drop point |
The blade is not marked with any logo, which is unusual. It is found elsewhere, which I will return to. The only thing on the blade, in very small text behind one of the thumb studs, is the steel type.
In all versions except one, the steel is provided with a titanium nitride coating. That is what gives it the dark colour. Whether it is necessary from a rust protection point of view is debatable, since the steel is already stainless from the start.
The steel is a good Chinese steel called 10Cr15MoV. In my experience, it is a step up from, for example, the more common and simpler Cr8 steel. It keeps its sharpness longer while exhibiting the same corrosion resistance.
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| The steel used is 10Cr15MoV | with a TiNi-coating |
The 3.5 mm blade material is quite generous in relation to the length of the blade and the intended area of use. It is thinned out by an almost full flat grind. The thickness behind the edge is 0.5 mm on the straight part and a full 0.6 mm at the belly. That's too much for my taste. Especially if the knife is intended as EDC. The strong edge is more suitable for a fixed blade knife of the "survival" type, something to chop wood with and the like and is therefore overkill for a small pocket knife.
That said, the Lemon Shark came with reasonably sharp teeth, meaning the factory edge is acceptable. But the thickness means that it is not the knife that cuts with the least resistance. But on the other hand, you are not afraid to cut into slightly tougher materials with this knife. I have even tested it on some old car tyres. Something I usually don't do, but now they were there. What the blade is also surprisingly good at is cutting into wood of various types, both fresh and dry.
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| Lemon Shark came in handy when cutting sticks to secure distance markings on the knife-throwing range |
The knife is slightly worse in fibrous materials such as cardboard, but also in textiles. A thick blade with a robust edge, of course, has its impact. In return, it means that you are not afraid to use force when cutting cable ties or the like. But overall, this is a very functional blade. There is a bit of a straight edge and a good belly to work with, depending on what tasks are to be performed.
It can also be said that if the edge is thick, the tip is all the more delicate and punctures well. This is because the blade is significantly tapered.
Handle
That Lemon Shark does not offer any news is confirmed by the handle, which is built according to template 1A. But that does not have to be bad, as said. More specifically, it means that the knife has a frame made of steel that has been greatly lightened internally, at least on one side. About the frame, it can also be noted that it has been given the same colour as the blade, which is a nice detail.
On the outside, there are sides of G10 and in the back, a partial back spacer of the same material. The blue colour from the thumb studs is mirrored here. It's also here you find a hidden bolt for attaching lanyards, for those who use such.
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| The handle is comfortable but a bit short |
The sides are screwed in at two points in addition to the pivot screw. All three screws are the same size, T8, which is excellent. You only need to use a chisel if you want to adjust or disassemble your knife. Choosing a coarser dimension than the often used T6s brings another advantage. The coarser dimension is significantly more durable in the long run. At least if the screws are reasonably hardened. The smaller screws are only found here in the clip mount.
The handle is 107 mm long, of which 91 mm is available grip area behind the finger guard. It is at the minimum for my hand size, but a four-finger grip fits, albeit barely. The thickness of the handle is a full 13.5 mm, which is quite substantial.
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| On the outside of the steel frame are sides made of G10 in this case |
The G10 material in the sides is a bit special, as most manufacturers choose to have it a bit rougher to provide better grip. That is even what G10 is known for. Olitans have chosen to almost polish them. There is a microscopic pattern, but it does not provide any friction to speak of. Rather, the sides almost feel like plastic. A disadvantage of that, besides feeling cheaper, is that it provides less grip, especially if you have hands that are wet from sweat, rain or snow.
The advantage, however, is that the knife wears significantly less on pockets, and that is, after all, where a pocket knife spends most of its time. So it is something you can decide for yourself, the importance of.
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| Lemon Shark is comfortable in the hand, both to hold and to work with |
Hammer grips also work well, and here it is mainly the thickness that saves the handle. It makes the hand fill up properly. But it is a double-edged sword; thicker handles make knives better to work with if you do heavier tasks and for a longer time. At the same time, knives are worse to carry. But the increased surface area that the thickness means also means that you can use more force behind the cuts when cutting in wood, for example. This makes the Lemon Shark a better heavy worker.
Reverse grips are no problem either, while a pinch grip for the really intricate details is less good because the handle is thick at the front.
Opening and Lock
Olitans has caught on to the trend with multiple opening methods. Here, there are two or maybe two plus one if a two-handed opening is included in the equation. Otherwise, it is a front flipper and thumb studs that apply. That was the area I asked to come back to. The extra-long area with grooves on the blade spine is there to provide a good grip for your thumb when you flip out the blade.
The method works very well, by the way. The geometry is good, and the speed is helped by ball bearings. The action when both opening and closing the knife is both fast and smooth.
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| Lemon Shark can be opened with either a front flipper or the brightly coloured thumb studs |
The second, and for me preferred way to open the knife is with the thumb studs. Incidentally, they were the ones I had in mind when I mentioned decorative elements on the blade. They are heavily blue anodised in this case.
Not only that, they work well too! The blade can be either folded out slowly or flicked out with either your thumb or an index finger on the back. All ways work great. The handle is chamfered to facilitate access, and they sit just far enough out to both be easy to reach and provide good geometry for the opening.
There is not much to say about the shape, as these are fairly traditional barrel-shaped studs. They are soft on the fingers and do what they are supposed to.
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| The blade is held in place by a liner lock |
The lock is a liner lock, and it can be immediately stated that it works excellently. Perhaps the lock bar can be perceived as somewhat thin to give full confidence, but that is more in my head than in the function.
On the contrary, the blade is held in place without any flaws. Nothing negative to complain about at all, actually. There is no lateral play to be detected, and there is no play up and down in the blade. In addition, the lock engages with every opening and has never had any problems for me during the test period.
The lock bar is also easily accessible, and since it is relatively thin, the resistance is not much to argue about either. It is easy to release the lock. One thing that makes it even easier is that the lock bar is bevelled, which provides a more comfortable edge to press your thumb against.
To Carry
As mentioned earlier, the Lemon Shark is a chunky little thing. The length isn't much to talk about, but the width across the back makes the knife feel quite thick; 13.5 mm is a lot for a folding knife.
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| The clip is nothing extraordinary, but it does what it's supposed to. |
The weight is 112 g, which could possibly be reduced a little if the G10 sides had been thinner, but it is not so much that it is something to complain about. The weight distribution also means that the balance point ends up in the middle of the indentation for the index finger.
The smooth sides make the knife slide easily into place, both when the knife is to be pulled out and put away.
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| A little of the knife is peaking out of the pocket. But most visible is the text on the clip |
The clip is a simple spring steel version. However, the tension is sufficient to perform its function, and the same can be said about the space underneath. "Normal" fabrics can fit, i.e. jeans, trousers and thinner jacket pockets without causing any problems. The tip of the clip points slightly outwards, something I usually don't appreciate, but here it doesn't cause any direct problems. In fact, the clip doesn't feel very much against the hand except if you squeeze the handle tightly.
The colour of the clip is nice as it matches the rest of the hardware on the knife. One thing that can be polarising is where Olitans has chosen to place its logo/name. It is found, in addition to being somewhat discreet on the pivot screw, also in large letters on the clip. Sure, it is a good advertising spot, but it is a detail I do not appreciate. I prefer more neutral clips.
The clip is removable and is attached with two screws in a tandem position. They are recessed in the clip itself, but on the other hand, it is not recessed in the handle side. One of the few concessions to the price level.
To Conclude
My encounter with Lemon Shark was extra exciting as it was my first encounter with Olitans as a brand. This specific model is a budget model in that the price is not particularly high. The recommended price on the website is $45. For that, you get a knife that certainly doesn't offer any direct surprises when it comes to construction and materials. But everything is well chosen for the price range.
For your money, you also get a knife that is well-built and feels well-thought-out. The appearance is balanced, and there are details that indicate some care. The blade, frame, clip and screws are colour-matched and the thumb studs and back spacer act as a pop of colour. In addition, the lanyard hole or rather bolt, has been hidden in a clever way. An extra plus for Olitans is also the countersunk screws.
Adding to the positive impression is that opening and closing the knife is very smooth with good overall good action. This applies whether you prefer a front flipper or use the thumb knobs.
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| Just as Olitans says in its product description, Lemon Shark is a very good EDC knife. |
Olitans themselves say that the knife is designed for EDC, and that is something I really agree with. But the fact is that it can handle a little more than that. The knife is not bad in the forest or as a complement to an axe or larger knife. Especially since the edge seems to be adapted for significantly heavier tasks. It is one of the few things I do not experience as completely positive.
Another is that the Lemon Shark can feel a little clumsy in the pocket due to the handle, which is perceived as thick. But that disadvantage is offset, on the other hand, by the fact that this particular feature is nice when you need to carve, for example. The extra surface against the hand provides less friction and pressure point than a narrower knife. So it is a balancing act.
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| Lemon Shark is also a good companion in the forest, here during a winter walk |
But overall, it must be said that the Lemon Shark was a very pleasant first meeting with this brand. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is a damn good budget knife.
It has everything you would expect from a solid pocket knife, offers some nice details and doesn't look out of place. As I said, it is available in other shades than bright yellow for those who prefer more discreet knives.
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| Olitans |
Specifications:
Length Overall: 190 mm
Length Folded: 107 mm
Weight: 112 g, weighed by me, stated 112 g.
Blade Length: 83 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm
Blade Steel: 10Cr15MoV
Handle: G10
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: Olitans, made in China
/ J - positively surprised
