- more than just a platform for a new lock
Big is beautiful but needs a spouse. This is how more and more knife manufacturers seem to reason these days. First, they scout the market with one size and then the demand is analyzed. Typical examples of this procedure are Ontario's RAT1/RAT2, Spyderco's PM2/Para 3 and Benchmade's Griptilian/Mini Griptilian.
But also the brand we are going to talk about today, Steel Will has used the same approach before. They followed up their success Cutjack with a "mini" Cutjack. The reasons for making a smaller version of an original may vary, but apart from factors like needs and taste, there are sometimes legal restrictions to take into account. In which case, it is both responsive and profitable for a knife company to broaden their range so that they cover a larger market. Simply put, a win-win situation.
Therefore, the same procedure has been followed by Steel Will for this model. First came "Tasso" and then this model F12M with the extension "02", also known as "Mini Tasso".
But also the brand we are going to talk about today, Steel Will has used the same approach before. They followed up their success Cutjack with a "mini" Cutjack. The reasons for making a smaller version of an original may vary, but apart from factors like needs and taste, there are sometimes legal restrictions to take into account. In which case, it is both responsive and profitable for a knife company to broaden their range so that they cover a larger market. Simply put, a win-win situation.
Therefore, the same procedure has been followed by Steel Will for this model. First came "Tasso" and then this model F12M with the extension "02", also known as "Mini Tasso".
Steel Will F12M-02 Mini Tasso
Steel Will is a USA based company with most of its production located in China and Italy. The designer behind this model is Anton Tkachenko. He has also designed a model called Lanner for Steel Will.
Twitter version: Steel Will Mini Tasso, a very good knife that would benefit from being less "mini"
Blade
The blade of the Mini Tasso is really striking in my opinion. It's an archetypal clip point and a nice one at that. The semi-polished satin finish effectively high-lights the false edge that is a significant feature of the blade type. The design language is no doubt moving towards a miniature Bowie. In this case, that means a length of 3 inches or slightly above measured by me, and a hight of around 1 inch.
Something else that unfortunately distinguishes the blade is the amount of text that is found there. On the front, you can find both Steel Will's name and logo and on the opposite side a short story for the reading enthusiasts. It could have been made more elegant. The text size is at least small.
Something else that unfortunately distinguishes the blade is the amount of text that is found there. On the front, you can find both Steel Will's name and logo and on the opposite side a short story for the reading enthusiasts. It could have been made more elegant. The text size is at least small.
A good looking clip point with an elegant satin finish
Something that, on the other hand, is very elegant is the well-rounded blade spine. The same treatment has been given the forward choil/sharpening choil which makes it more convenient to place a finger there. Such details raise the overall impression of the knife significantly.
More details that contribute to that is the excellent placement of the thumb studs which keeps them out of the cutting path and a sharpening choil that extends beyond the plunge line. The latter helps to stop the big "smile" at the heel of the blade that otherwise can be the result after a few sharpenings.
On the other hand, you don't need to do a lot of sharpening since the choice of steel is a rather exclusive one. Actually, it doesn't get much better in terms of composition. The steel is Böhler/Uddeholms now well-known M390. There has been some fuss about this material in the small world that is constituted of knife enthusiasts at YouTube, Instagram, and some forums lately. It was discovered that some manufacturers kept the hardness of their M390 below the optimum range for this steel.* For me, it's more of a theoretical discussion. I rarely test the outer limits of steel, and from what I can determine, Steel Will's hardening and heat treat work just fine.
The factory edge got my approval as well. It was sharp, even and symmetrical. That last part is, as I use to say, the most important since it's the hardest to fix yourself but, on the other hand, is something that rarely fails at better knife manufacturers. The blade could be a bit thinner behind the edge but the 3,3 mm thick stock is severely thinned out by a high flat grind. The stated stock thickness is 3,5 mm or 0.14 inch but no matter how I measure I don't get that figure.
More details that contribute to that is the excellent placement of the thumb studs which keeps them out of the cutting path and a sharpening choil that extends beyond the plunge line. The latter helps to stop the big "smile" at the heel of the blade that otherwise can be the result after a few sharpenings.
On the other hand, you don't need to do a lot of sharpening since the choice of steel is a rather exclusive one. Actually, it doesn't get much better in terms of composition. The steel is Böhler/Uddeholms now well-known M390. There has been some fuss about this material in the small world that is constituted of knife enthusiasts at YouTube, Instagram, and some forums lately. It was discovered that some manufacturers kept the hardness of their M390 below the optimum range for this steel.* For me, it's more of a theoretical discussion. I rarely test the outer limits of steel, and from what I can determine, Steel Will's hardening and heat treat work just fine.
The factory edge got my approval as well. It was sharp, even and symmetrical. That last part is, as I use to say, the most important since it's the hardest to fix yourself but, on the other hand, is something that rarely fails at better knife manufacturers. The blade could be a bit thinner behind the edge but the 3,3 mm thick stock is severely thinned out by a high flat grind. The stated stock thickness is 3,5 mm or 0.14 inch but no matter how I measure I don't get that figure.
The short story on the blade reveals the model name, designer, designation and that the steel is the excellent M390
As an EDC-blade this is really good. Clip points often provide a good tip that is excellent for everything from removing a splinter to attacking obstinate plastic containers and shrink wrap. Unfortunately, plastic is a material that is too common in my everyday life whether I like it or not. Therefore that is one important characteristic of an EDC-knife.
Cutting cardboard with the Mini Tasso is really fun. The blade slides easily through the material and since the thumb studs are properly executed you can place what you cut near the hand which of course allows for more powerful cuts. That becomes especially clear after whittling for a while. But both in doing wood carving or cutting rubber, carpet or other tough materials the handle feels a little too small for my hand. The little "beak" towards the end of the handle wants to bite my little finger as the knife pivots in my hand. Similarly, the clip can be felt when gripping the handle hard in a hammer grip. But then again the clip is not felt at all when the knife is held in a saber grip, which works great for most tasks that are not quite as demanding.
Overall, The Tasso cuts really well and that especially goes for small precision work and chores where you use the tip. Under those circumstances, the handle is very comfortable as well. And it is, after all, towards the EDC-segment Steel Will is aiming with this model.
Cutting cardboard with the Mini Tasso is really fun. The blade slides easily through the material and since the thumb studs are properly executed you can place what you cut near the hand which of course allows for more powerful cuts. That becomes especially clear after whittling for a while. But both in doing wood carving or cutting rubber, carpet or other tough materials the handle feels a little too small for my hand. The little "beak" towards the end of the handle wants to bite my little finger as the knife pivots in my hand. Similarly, the clip can be felt when gripping the handle hard in a hammer grip. But then again the clip is not felt at all when the knife is held in a saber grip, which works great for most tasks that are not quite as demanding.
Overall, The Tasso cuts really well and that especially goes for small precision work and chores where you use the tip. Under those circumstances, the handle is very comfortable as well. And it is, after all, towards the EDC-segment Steel Will is aiming with this model.
Handle
No belt and suspenders here! By that I mean it is nice to see manufacturers who trust materials that are actually more than strong enough. Steel Will has chosen not to build the Mini Tasso with an internal frame. Instead, it is the sides of solid G10 that together with a backspacer in the same material form the supporting structure. The backspacer also got a splash of color. Blue for this size and orange for the larger version. And speaking of size, the handle measures 10,6 cm in length and about 2,6 cm in height. The width is sturdy for the size with 1,4 cm. The length is just enough to fit all my fingers but not much more. The actual grip area measured from the finger guard is 8,2 cm.
The handle is held together with two screws in addition to the pivot screw. All of them are of the same size, T8, which is a good thing. Especially for those who like to disassemble their knives. The larger size for the body screws makes it less likely to strip them. However, a warning to the inexperienced is in place, back lock designs are more complicated to disassemble and, above all, re-assemble than frame lock knives.
The handle is held together with two screws in addition to the pivot screw. All of them are of the same size, T8, which is a good thing. Especially for those who like to disassemble their knives. The larger size for the body screws makes it less likely to strip them. However, a warning to the inexperienced is in place, back lock designs are more complicated to disassemble and, above all, re-assemble than frame lock knives.
The handle is made out of massive sculpted G10
Like the blade, the handle has some details that make it stand out in a crowd. The first is how well sculpted the sides are. They are vaulted and well chamfered which gets rid of the problem with the blocky feeling slab-sided G10 often has. To further improve comfort there is a slight depression on the back where the thumb can rest. There is also a couple of grooves at the blade spine for increased traction.
More details that can be noted are that the backspacer is also well rounded and that it in an ingenious way hides the lanyard hole. Not only does it hide it out of sight it also prevents the hole from being in the way for clip placement.
Then there is a finesse to this knife that is not visible at all but which is an example of some good thinking. Not only is the pivot screw D-shaped to prevent it from spinning while adjusted. There is also a metal reinforcement where it sits in the handle.
All details on this knife including the backspacer are well rounded.
It also hides the cleverly designed lanyard hole
It also hides the cleverly designed lanyard hole
More details that can be noted are that the backspacer is also well rounded and that it in an ingenious way hides the lanyard hole. Not only does it hide it out of sight it also prevents the hole from being in the way for clip placement.
Then there is a finesse to this knife that is not visible at all but which is an example of some good thinking. Not only is the pivot screw D-shaped to prevent it from spinning while adjusted. There is also a metal reinforcement where it sits in the handle.
Mini Tasso works in most grips, although it makes me curious about the extra grip surface offered by its big brother
The ergonomics on this little rascal is generally speaking very good. But the handle is a tad too small for my hands. There is space enough to accommodate the whole hand, but just. After handling the knife it becomes quite obvious that the knife is primarily intended to be held in a saber grip. Then the rounded end of the handle ends up inside your palm. But overall, the handle works well apart from a minor detail and that is how pointy the tip of the finger guard was. I write "was" since a close contact with a piece of sandpaper resolved the issue. Distinct lines are often neat but can also be uncomfortable.
Opening and lock
Mini Tasso opens with double-sided thumb studs. They are of classic pyramid shape and then there is not much more to say about that. Although that is not entirely true, a couple of things should be noted. First, they are very well placed. Not only are they out of the way while cutting but they are also in the right place to effectively propel the blade. They also don't stick out too far so they catch everything which is an abomination.
The knife is very easy to open. But this is not the knife for those in search of a "fidget toy" as it is called nowadays. This knife is best opened with some dignity, calm and quiet. But if the thumb is placed behind the stud and some force is applied the blade comes flying out. It works but is not entirely intuitive so some technique has to be used. With some luck you can also use a "Spydie flick" but that isn't entirely easy since the lock gives slightly more resistance than so-called "TFFs" (Titanium frame lock flippers) does.
The thumb studs work really well, much due to correct placement
And then there is the main selling point on this knife or really on big brother since it came first. It's the lock! It is a totally new locking mechanism found on Tasso and it's called ANT lock.
The external resemblance may fool the viewer into believing that it belongs to the myriad interpretations of Benchmade's Axis locks that have been the result of the recent expiration of their patent. But that is not the case, on the contrary, it is a new variant of a classic back lock as far as the function itself is concerned. That is, the lock consists of a spring-loaded heel that falls into a designated recess in the blade base. Although the locking arm, in this case, is articulated. What's new is how it is released, via a button on the side of the handle.
This makes the knife considerably easier to handle with one hand than a regular back lock. It also means that the fingers are out of the way of the blade path when closing.
Another great advantage with this lock is that it takes up less space than a more traditional Lockback, which gives greater freedom when designing handles concerning, for example, backspacer and the like. But it also applies to "front locks" to be fair.
The external resemblance may fool the viewer into believing that it belongs to the myriad interpretations of Benchmade's Axis locks that have been the result of the recent expiration of their patent. But that is not the case, on the contrary, it is a new variant of a classic back lock as far as the function itself is concerned. That is, the lock consists of a spring-loaded heel that falls into a designated recess in the blade base. Although the locking arm, in this case, is articulated. What's new is how it is released, via a button on the side of the handle.
This makes the knife considerably easier to handle with one hand than a regular back lock. It also means that the fingers are out of the way of the blade path when closing.
Another great advantage with this lock is that it takes up less space than a more traditional Lockback, which gives greater freedom when designing handles concerning, for example, backspacer and the like. But it also applies to "front locks" to be fair.
This is what the ANT lock looks like from the backside when not in use
The function is consistently good but requires getting used to. It is no problem to handle the lock unless you are completely "Benchmade-damaged". The reason for that comment is that I have seen some comments about that the lock being difficult to release because "you are more used to pulling back". In this case, you push the button upwards instead. Since I own only a few knives with Axis locks, I do not experience this "problem" at all.
The locking mechanism is very effective. There is no play in the blade, neither up and down nor sideways. Accessing the lock is extremely easy but a little resistance, a slight stick might be felt when you release it. However, it has softened somewhat after more usage.
The locking mechanism is very effective. There is no play in the blade, neither up and down nor sideways. Accessing the lock is extremely easy but a little resistance, a slight stick might be felt when you release it. However, it has softened somewhat after more usage.
Then I must point out the obvious. When the knife is closed and no spring force is on the lock, the pin/button that releases it can rattle a bit if the knife is shaken.
To carry
The clip seems to be the same version that can be found on the big brother as far as I can tell. It works well but is not my absolute favorite. The reason is partly that it causes the knife to sit somewhat high in the pocket but mainly that it can be felt in the hand at certain grips. The look is not much to say about. It's a clip simply. Gray, fairly visible and made of spring steel.
The function of the clip is good but only for a right-handed person
The function, on the other hand, is good. The clip is quite rigid which is needed to hold the knife firm in place as the G10-surface is not slippery but smooth.
Then the clip has decently sized lip that makes it easy to slide over the edge of pockets. It is appreciated, especially as the cardinal error has been avoided to make the tip of the clip pointy and angled outward. What has not been done, on the other hand, is to show some love for the approximately ten percent in the world who are left-handed. The clip cannot be moved anywhere.
In a pocket, this version of Tasso is just "mini". Unobtrusive outer dimensions, rounded edges and corners, soft surface and a weight of 90 grams make the knife perform well in this aspect. Because the lip of the clip is so large, it is also easy to put a finger around. This makes the knife easy to pull.
To conclude
I think it is smart of the knife manufacturers to meet as many needs and desires as possible when it comes to knife sizes. At least if you want to sell more of your products. In this case, it led to a smaller Tasso. Now, it is not that big of a difference between the two versions' truth be told. The original has a 3.5" blade and this measures 3" or in practice just over. But in the wonderful world of law, that difference can make all the difference. The one turning the knife user from a law-abiding citizen into a potential violent perpetrator and terrorist.
Anyway, I like the format. It makes the knife more "EDC-oriented", whatever that is. Steel Will has also highlighted this by placing it in a category they call "urban" in their catalog. So obviously it wasn't the great outdoors they had in mind when creating this particular model.
Anyway, I like the format. It makes the knife more "EDC-oriented", whatever that is. Steel Will has also highlighted this by placing it in a category they call "urban" in their catalog. So obviously it wasn't the great outdoors they had in mind when creating this particular model.
A thought that has worked its way into my mind during the test period is that with my hand size I might still prefer the big brother. This knife is on the verge of being too small for me with this handle shape. But it is significantly better than at least one of the competitors in that area, the Benchmade Mini Griptilian, which does not hold my hand at all. Compared to another competitor, Spyderco Para 3, it is more of a close call both in terms of space and overall ergonomics. Tasso has rounder sides, Para 3 offers more space and so on.
But it's in that class of knives I want to place Steel Will Mini Tasso. It is not too far apart from them in price either. Around $ 160 or so when I write this. Then it can be added that for the comparison not to fall short, it must be more exclusive versions of the competitors to match the steel in Tasso.
It is in this company that I want to place Mini Tasso, together with Spyderco Para 3 and Benchmade Mini Griptilian
Both of these competitors offer iconic locks developed by the companies themselves. he same goes for Steel Will. ANT-lock is not revolutionary in any way but it is unique enough and provides a couple of clear advantages over other back lock variants to survive. Apparently, it took quite a long time to develop and therefore it took a while before this model could be released. But once in production, it works great and I must say that I like the idea of a one-handed back lock.
A small miss on Steel Will's behalf is to produce a knife that is in most parts very ambidextrous except for the clip itself which cannot be moved at all. Certainly, it would have required shipping each knife with two clips because it is curved to match the handle shape. However, it is doable. **
A small miss on Steel Will's behalf is to produce a knife that is in most parts very ambidextrous except for the clip itself which cannot be moved at all. Certainly, it would have required shipping each knife with two clips because it is curved to match the handle shape. However, it is doable. **
Tasso, a well built little knife
What we have here is a very well-built knife with an attractive clip point blade that shows balanced proportions and distinct lines. It doesn't hurt that it's made in super steel either. An M390 that has an excellent polished satin finish. To match the blade, we have a well-shaped handle in the massive G10 that offers surprisingly good ergonomics, provided you do not have too big hands of course.
Mini Tasso also offers a new, unique locking system. The ANT lock comes with the strength of a back lock but in a more compact package that is also easily one hand maneuvered.
This is thus a pocket knife for those who like bowie blades, good materials, compact format, and not least innovations. It doesn't hurt that it is good looking and well built as well. Did I mention it cuts well?
Mini Tasso also offers a new, unique locking system. The ANT lock comes with the strength of a back lock but in a more compact package that is also easily one hand maneuvered.
This is thus a pocket knife for those who like bowie blades, good materials, compact format, and not least innovations. It doesn't hurt that it is good looking and well built as well. Did I mention it cuts well?
Specification:
Length, Overall: 184 mm
Length, Folded: 104 mm
Weight: 90 g
Blade Length: 78 mm (measured by me, 76 mm or 3" in the catalog)
Blade Thickness: 3,3 mm (measured by me, 3,5 in the catalog)
Blade Material: Böhler/Uddeholm M390
Handle: G10
Lock: Ant Lock
Length, Folded: 104 mm
Weight: 90 g
Blade Length: 78 mm (measured by me, 76 mm or 3" in the catalog)
Blade Thickness: 3,3 mm (measured by me, 3,5 in the catalog)
Blade Material: Böhler/Uddeholm M390
Handle: G10
Lock: Ant Lock
Produced by: Steel Will, made in Italy
/ J - like ANTs
* It may be more about sales arguments. It is possible to make an analogy to the car world. If a car is said to have a V8 engine with 300 hp, the consumer will be irritated if it turns out to have 250 hp in a test. Or actually, just have a V6 instead but it is now another parable.
** The same way Cold Steel does with some models
* It may be more about sales arguments. It is possible to make an analogy to the car world. If a car is said to have a V8 engine with 300 hp, the consumer will be irritated if it turns out to have 250 hp in a test. Or actually, just have a V6 instead but it is now another parable.
** The same way Cold Steel does with some models
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