- a really clever cleaver!
Two Sun is a brand going from clarity to clarity. They work very smart and base their range of knives on a pair of basic combinations of materials and a fixed set of hardware, bearings, and other accessories. The concept is therefore easily recognized and when you get a new knife from them in hand the feeling is therefore often familiar. But on that basis, they are experimenting wildly with design instead. That focus has been emphasized as of late with a steadily increasing number of collaborations with different designers. The result of such a collaboration is this knife called Stargazer.
Two Sun TS137 Stargazer
The man behind the bold lines of the Stargazer is Mazwan Mokhtar. This was one of his first knives to be produced by Twon Sun Knives but not the last. During the completion of this review, another of his designs called the Bowhead has been released. Named after the whale one can assume. It's a really complex knife which by the way is one of the nowadays so popular integrals.
Stargazer offers harmonic lines, for being a knife with this type of blade
This knife is also named after a creature from the deep. Perhaps one of the ugliest fishes in existence. This model, on the other hand, isn't ugly but elegant in a quirky sort of way. The knife is a bit odd in my realm since it's the first folding knife with a so-called "cleaver blade" that I even bothered to take a second look at. That is an accomplishment on behalf of the designer one must say!
Twitter version: Two Sun Stargazer, the knife that made me reevaluate certain aesthetics
Blade
The blade of the Stargazer is 68 mm long, 3,9 mm thick and as high as 35 mm. Add to that the highest point of this little mountain is found close to the tip and you can understand that this is not an entirely normal blade shape for a small folding knife. We are talking about a meat-cleaver inspired blade. The blade has a pronounced swedge towards the front and a crowned spine. A detail that feels luxurious.
A small but well-finished blade. Note the chamfered edges of the hole for instance
The finish is Two Suns most used which means a rather polished satin. An overall appealing surface treatment that is practical while looking good. The branding is steadily getting more discreet from Two Suns side which I'm thankful for. In this case, that means their logo on one side and Mokhtars makers mark on the opposite. There you can also read steel type and here it is one associated with the basic configurations I mentioned earlier. That means D2 steel. I really don't know what to say about this trendy budget steel. In general, it takes a keen edge for sure and holds it well. But it is a tool steel and even if it's often referred to as "semi-stainless" my experience is that is rather prone to rust. I have had several knives from Two Suns that have developed stains by now. Spots that are hard to get rid of. That especially goes for other finishes than polished ones. Therefore I'm not that worried about this particular knife and so far no stains.
The factory edge was more than decent. The knife was sharp without any negative remarks straight out of the box. Foremost Two sun have facilitated future sharpening by doing a proper sharpening choil that clears the plunge line.
On the lock side, you find Mokhtars makers mark and steel type, D2 to be specific
As stated earlier this is not normally a type of blade that tickles my interest. That's for one simple reason, I don't see any practical implications with this blade shape in this format whatsoever. That is on smaller folding knives. They exist solely for the looks. But from now on I would like to nuance my view somewhat and say that they can work on small folding knives. If the scale is increased they become clumsy again which excludes larger folding knives. So there I haven't changed opinion.
This specific blade also has a couple of forgiving features. First of all, it has a tip that not only looks like one but also works for penetrating plastic, cardboard and other packaging materials for instance. Secondly, it actually cuts rather well. That despite a thickness of close to four millimeters which really is too thick for such a little blade. But cutting performance is saved by two things. The grind is broad given the height of the blade and there is not that much steel behind the edge. Two parts of blade geometry that is equally important as stock thickness.
These two properties save this knife and make this blade a decent EDC-user. The upswept back also acts like a good place for the thumb to rest on. A grip that is also facilitated by the shape of the handle. Once the thumb is in place you also discover that it is directly in line with the tip. That makes the blade easy to control and you can use some downward force if needed.
Overall the Stargazer surprised me in a positive way regarding usage. Mostly concerning penetrating. It is after all one common way of using a knife blade but not taken for granted when it comes to these kinds of blade shapes.
This specific blade also has a couple of forgiving features. First of all, it has a tip that not only looks like one but also works for penetrating plastic, cardboard and other packaging materials for instance. Secondly, it actually cuts rather well. That despite a thickness of close to four millimeters which really is too thick for such a little blade. But cutting performance is saved by two things. The grind is broad given the height of the blade and there is not that much steel behind the edge. Two parts of blade geometry that is equally important as stock thickness.
These two properties save this knife and make this blade a decent EDC-user. The upswept back also acts like a good place for the thumb to rest on. A grip that is also facilitated by the shape of the handle. Once the thumb is in place you also discover that it is directly in line with the tip. That makes the blade easy to control and you can use some downward force if needed.
Overall the Stargazer surprised me in a positive way regarding usage. Mostly concerning penetrating. It is after all one common way of using a knife blade but not taken for granted when it comes to these kinds of blade shapes.
Handle
Stargazer is like most things coming from Two Sun, very well built. That can be seen in some small details worth highlighting. One is the overall construction and how elegant it is put together. Besides the pivot, there is only one screw holding both the sides and the backspacer. It, the lock side and the clip, is made out of TC4-titanium. The presentation side is made of carbon fiber. The CF is of excellent quality and very well machined with a decorative recess in the middle stretching the length of the handle.
The rather slender handle is quite neutral and doesn't upset anyone
That recession is mirrored in the titanium lock side that has been given the same look. The gray titanium has two different finishes. Smooth and matt in the middle and milled grooves on the chamfered edges. Both sides of the handle are gently vaulted to fit the hand better. No slab-sided titanium on this knife.
The Stargazer is very well built
In hand the Stargazer is likable. I appreciate this kind of basic handle shape. There are no protruding parts like finger guards or flippers. Nor are there any finger grooves to be found or other customizations to fit a hand. Such features are often a miss since hands are so individual and different in size and shape. This handle is instead all about simple lines, like an "advanced stick". For that reason, most grips work and work well. Especially if you put a thumb on the spine of the blade or if you use a pinch grip with the thumb on the broad side of the blade. The latter is made easier by not having any thumb studs or flippers in the way.
If you really put some pressure on the blade you will notice that there are parts of the handle that is not optimal. One is a little miss often found on frame locks. That is the corner at the front of the handle that protrudes when the lock bar is engaged. Then it is the little area where your pinky is supposed to go. It is simply to thin and gives you a bite if you push hard when cutting, like in cutting wood. You can tell that this knife is aiming at lighter use, read quicker EDC-tasks. You draw your knife, cut whatever you need and put your knife away again. In such usage, there are no big ergonomic misses.
If you really put some pressure on the blade you will notice that there are parts of the handle that is not optimal. One is a little miss often found on frame locks. That is the corner at the front of the handle that protrudes when the lock bar is engaged. Then it is the little area where your pinky is supposed to go. It is simply to thin and gives you a bite if you push hard when cutting, like in cutting wood. You can tell that this knife is aiming at lighter use, read quicker EDC-tasks. You draw your knife, cut whatever you need and put your knife away again. In such usage, there are no big ergonomic misses.
Opening and Lock
For all detractors of front flippers, I recommend taking a look at this knife. It is extremely easy to open even if the flipper enthusiasts have to get used to exercising the thumb instead of the index finger. You also have to lean the knife slightly sideways while doing this.
But the way the protruding part of the blade that acts like a flipper is shaped in combination with the overall geometry gives excellent result. The area you push down on is situated quite a bit in front of the pivot and is rather large and proud. Simply put, it gives good momentum. Traction is provided by a couple of well placed and necessary grooves.
The blade opens with authority. The quick action is favored by a blade that is less massive than it looks because it's short. It also runs on KVT-ball bearings. They, like the detent ball, are like always on Two Sun Knives made of ceramic.
By the way, the blade can also be slow-rolled by using the hole in the blade if one prefers a slightly less aggressive way of opening the knife.
But the way the protruding part of the blade that acts like a flipper is shaped in combination with the overall geometry gives excellent result. The area you push down on is situated quite a bit in front of the pivot and is rather large and proud. Simply put, it gives good momentum. Traction is provided by a couple of well placed and necessary grooves.
The blade opens with authority. The quick action is favored by a blade that is less massive than it looks because it's short. It also runs on KVT-ball bearings. They, like the detent ball, are like always on Two Sun Knives made of ceramic.
By the way, the blade can also be slow-rolled by using the hole in the blade if one prefers a slightly less aggressive way of opening the knife.
One of the better front flippers I've ever handled. The hole can, in addition, be used to slow roll the blade
The construction of the lock also follows Two Suns own template 1A. That means a frame lock in titanium with the mandatory additions of overtravel stop and lock bar reinforcement. It also means that the function is impeccable. This blade doesn't move at all in any direction when open and the lock bar will not slip under negative pressure on the blade spine. Not even slight spine whacking have any effect. The lock is also very nicely shaped with a very thin cut out between the titanium side and the lock bar. Besides that, it accentuates the shape of the clip very well.
To disengage the lock isn't quite as nice. To achieve a totally symmetric and consistent look, they have chosen not to do any cut out at all in the opposite scale. Now, that is not completely true, there is a small chamfering on the inside of the carbon fiber side to increase accessibility for the thumb.
In the same fashion, the lock bar isn't chamfered but only slightly rounded off not to be sharp. The latter is consistent since without it you wouldn't catch the lock bar with the softer parts of your thumb. It has to be inserted in a 45-degree angle to release the lock. Once you nestled your thumb in there the action is rather smooth. To be honest this is just a problem if you use your knife as a fidget toy while watching TV. For normal use, once again, it works.
A good lock that does what it's supposed to
To disengage the lock isn't quite as nice. To achieve a totally symmetric and consistent look, they have chosen not to do any cut out at all in the opposite scale. Now, that is not completely true, there is a small chamfering on the inside of the carbon fiber side to increase accessibility for the thumb.
In the same fashion, the lock bar isn't chamfered but only slightly rounded off not to be sharp. The latter is consistent since without it you wouldn't catch the lock bar with the softer parts of your thumb. It has to be inserted in a 45-degree angle to release the lock. Once you nestled your thumb in there the action is rather smooth. To be honest this is just a problem if you use your knife as a fidget toy while watching TV. For normal use, once again, it works.
To Carry
Stargazer is partly nice to carry, so to speak. What I mean is that the parts where you put the knife in the pocket, draw it and carry it around is rather unproblematic. Under a 100 grams in weight distributed on around 10 centimeters in length and with a thickness of 1,3 centimeters aren't figures that scare. The back is also quite well rounded and slightly curved which makes it easier for a hand to sneak by. But, you have to get that far first and there you find a problem.
Because one thing is far from optimal I'm afraid and it is a result of the distinct look of the knife. Both the back end of the clip and the corners of the handle are quite pointy. They are felt for sure if you are going to fetch something from the depths of your front pocket or just accidentally happen to dangle with your hand and pass by. This is the result of the choice between being totally practical or a bit less so to get the lines you want when designing a knife.
When it comes to the back end of the handle form definitely goes before function on this knife.
Because one thing is far from optimal I'm afraid and it is a result of the distinct look of the knife. Both the back end of the clip and the corners of the handle are quite pointy. They are felt for sure if you are going to fetch something from the depths of your front pocket or just accidentally happen to dangle with your hand and pass by. This is the result of the choice between being totally practical or a bit less so to get the lines you want when designing a knife.
When it comes to the back end of the handle form definitely goes before function on this knife.
Not only good looking but also a functional clip. Note how it follows the rest of the lines
Something that surprised me was how well this good looking clip works. It is actually good! One contributing factor to that is the choice of letting the cut-out on the lock bar be on the inside of the handle. As a consequence, there is nothing for the fabric to snag on. The rather slick titanium surface on the contrary aids in drawing and putting away the knife. The lip of the clip looks a bit tiny at first glance but a good spring tension makes it glide into a jeans pocket with ease.
The blasted finish on the clip isn't the most resilient so you can expect some snail trails rather promptly. That is rather common on titan handled knives and nothing that worries me. This knife is hardly a safe queen anyway.
To Conclude
Stargazer is in my estimation a very interesting knife with several noteworthy details that are revealed first uppon closer inspection. The construction is, in lack of other words, elegant. The build is a display of simplicity and precision. Something that is normally found first on substantially much more expensive knives. Details like hidden clip screw, lock bar cut out on the inside and the fact that the groves on the blade spine exactly match them on the back of the handle when the knife is open are examples of this.
The design is really good with a few but effective decorative elements. A pivot collar, vaulted sides, and symmetry between the show- and lock sides despite different materials. Worth mentioning is the shape of the clip that mimics the blade shape and also perfectly follows the grooves cut out in the side of the knife. That is a smart design! Especially since the clip actually functions as well.
The design is really good with a few but effective decorative elements. A pivot collar, vaulted sides, and symmetry between the show- and lock sides despite different materials. Worth mentioning is the shape of the clip that mimics the blade shape and also perfectly follows the grooves cut out in the side of the knife. That is a smart design! Especially since the clip actually functions as well.
Two Sun And Mokthar is a reliable combination
This knife was a bit special to test for me since it has a blade shape that normally isn't my number one choice, to put it mildly. Especially not in this size category. After all, it isn't before they are considerably bigger and lack joint in the middle they can be used for what they are designed for. To be inspired by meat cleavers or Chinese Dao-blade shapes when designing small pocket knives is a strict aesthetical choice. On bigger folding knives it becomes heavy and clumsy I think. But on this smaller size, it feels more like a side-step than a complete train wreck when it comes to usability if I put it that way. That saved this experience for me. Especially since Stargazer has a very neutral balance found at the pivot. That gives a lively knife that feels nimble in hand.
Stargazer - a candidate for all the ones who like their mini cleavers
I've been repeating myself a couple of times now and said that I'm surprised. That is because I like being wrong! Well, within reason of course. Or rather it is fun when one's prejudices get a little push in the right direction. Without being ashamed I can, therefore, say that I like this little thing and that I can recommend it to all who dare to listen or rather read. Not totally without reservations though. A small overly broad blade has its limitations even if they turned out to be fewer than I first thought.
The materials, on the other hand, doesn't surprise at all. They are some of Two Suns staples. But they don't make a fool of themselves with D2-steel, TC4-titanium, ceramics and carbon fiber as components.
But most of all it is the appearance that has grown in my eyes. The tasteful lines that repeat themselves in the details really elevate this knife. So, if small cleaver-bladed folding knives are your thing, what are you waiting for?
The materials, on the other hand, doesn't surprise at all. They are some of Two Suns staples. But they don't make a fool of themselves with D2-steel, TC4-titanium, ceramics and carbon fiber as components.
But most of all it is the appearance that has grown in my eyes. The tasteful lines that repeat themselves in the details really elevate this knife. So, if small cleaver-bladed folding knives are your thing, what are you waiting for?
Specification:
Length Overall: 175 mm
Length Folded: 104 mm
Weight: 95 g
Blade Length: 68 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,9 mm
Blade Steel: D2
Handle: Carbon fiber, TC4-titanium
Lock: Frame lock with over-travel stop and lock bar insert
Produced by: Two Sun, made in China
/ J - the astronomer
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