- Italian know-how meets Danish design
This is a knife with a name that works just as well in Swedish as it do in Danish. Lille is very descriptive in this case. Maybe a bit harder to understand for English speaking people. "Lille" means small, petite, or young.
It's certainly not a big knife. But what it does lack in physical appearance it surely compensates for with a big personality. Let's take a closer look at this very interesting knife.
It's certainly not a big knife. But what it does lack in physical appearance it surely compensates for with a big personality. Let's take a closer look at this very interesting knife.
Viper 5962 TIBR Lille
The knife connoisseur is beginning to recognize it by now, the typical design language and lines of Jesper Voxnaes. Often characterized by relatively broad blades with sturdy necks, sweeping bellies, and with oval holes in the blade. The handles of his folding knives often have a pronounced finger groove for the index finger. This knife boasts all those attributes.
Lille was introduced three years ago at Shot Show 2017. I read somewhere that he designed the model with his daughter in mind. Simply a knife for smaller hands. Whatever might be the case, the knife sure has interesting lines.
Lille was introduced three years ago at Shot Show 2017. I read somewhere that he designed the model with his daughter in mind. Simply a knife for smaller hands. Whatever might be the case, the knife sure has interesting lines.
Intricate lines and state-of-the-art materials characterize this knife from Viper
Twitter version: Viper Lille - the small knife with the large bold lines
Blade
The blade shape is a drop point with a few special features which makes it quite unique. The first and most obvious is, of course, the size of the belly. In principle, the entire edge is a single curve from ricasso all the way to the tip.
The other is the elegantly rounded back that is typical of how Viper makes their knives. It not only looks elegant it also makes for a nice place for your fingers to rest.
The blade finish is a sympathetic satin and the markings discreet and elegant. I personally think that Viper's logo is nice and that's what visible on the presentation side. On the back you will find Voxnae's makers mark. Steel type is found on the ricasso.
The other is the elegantly rounded back that is typical of how Viper makes their knives. It not only looks elegant it also makes for a nice place for your fingers to rest.
The blade finish is a sympathetic satin and the markings discreet and elegant. I personally think that Viper's logo is nice and that's what visible on the presentation side. On the back you will find Voxnae's makers mark. Steel type is found on the ricasso.
A very special drop point with a distinct belly
The blade steel is not much to talk about as it is among the best there is. It's M390 from Böhler. A while ago, at least in parts of the online knife community, there was some talk about "Italian M390", as in heat-treated and hardened in Italy, were inferior to others.
However, it was very sweeping claims and tared every maker with the same brush. The major critique was that the steel was generally kept too soft. That is below its ideal hardness. Viper is aiming for the "right" side of 60HRC and states the hardness too 60-61HRC on this knife. These are numbers I have not had any reason to distrust as the knife holds its edge very well.
However, it was very sweeping claims and tared every maker with the same brush. The major critique was that the steel was generally kept too soft. That is below its ideal hardness. Viper is aiming for the "right" side of 60HRC and states the hardness too 60-61HRC on this knife. These are numbers I have not had any reason to distrust as the knife holds its edge very well.
The finish on the M390-steel is a semi-glossy satin
It can be said right away that this knife is a cutting tool for less demanding tasks. But the format tells you that at first sight so it won't come as big a surprise.
The tip feels better and more versatile than expected. It works very well for what I use such knives for, one being opening packaging. Everything from carton and boxes to food packaging and the like. Lille has no problems handling shrink and hard plastic either.
In general, Lille is not something to use for cutting hardwood. At least not in my hands. The small handle means that you cannot get a proper hammer grip which allows for more power behind the cuts. But this knife works fine for some more detailed tasks like whittling and carving as long as you can use a grip with the thumb on the spine. It actually feels like the knife is made for that.
In the discipline of cardboard cutting Lille get a pass but not more
I said it was good for opening boxes but Lille is not as good taking care of the remains. This knife is not the nemesis of cardboard so to speak. I think it's the grind that causes some trouble. The factory edge was sharp enough to shave hair with no problems. However, this knife is not especially thin behind the edge despite a very high flat grind. Then the curved edge doesn't do much to help in this particular case either. You simply never get the feeling that this blade slides through these kinds of materials.
In contrast, Lille is actually decent in the kitchen. Especially when it comes to handling all kinds of soft vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and the like. That is, small jobs here too.
Handle
The handle material is titanium and the knife is available in a couple of different colors. This is made possible partly by anodizing but also by the construction with handle slabs overlayed with plates on the outside. A solution I haven't come across before. They can then be done in a different tone than the slabs underneath. The latter otherwise got a milled pattern both for appearance and somewhat more traction.
One detail that can be noted is that the handle is not weight relieved in any way. It shifts the balance of the knife slightly backward relative to the pivot screw. But in return, it ends up exactly in the finger groove. This makes the knife feel lively in the hand even though part of the weight is found in the back end.
One detail that can be noted is that the handle is not weight relieved in any way. It shifts the balance of the knife slightly backward relative to the pivot screw. But in return, it ends up exactly in the finger groove. This makes the knife feel lively in the hand even though part of the weight is found in the back end.
A handle almost as curvy as the blade
The sides are screwed with two fastening points in a backspacer which is anodized in the same tone as the plates on the outside of the handle. Small knife means small screws and these are in size T6. But what you lose on the swings, you make up on the roundabouts as they say so the pivot screw is a hefty T10. That is unusually large to be found on such a small knife.
In the stern there is a huge lanyard hole where you have no problem fitting a 550-cord.
Lille is a thin knife. Something that is underlined by how little the clip protrudes
For me with my hand size, this is a distinctive "three-finger knife". But in return, one of the better ones in that category. The forefinger fits well in the cutout or finger groove. Someone in a Youtube video said that there is a sharp corner at the front where the locking arm is cut out and there is. But I can't, no matter how I hold the knife, get my finger up against it except if I poke hard with the knife. So I don't really see that as a problem.
Once the index finger is in place, the other two fingers follow naturally. If support for the little finger is desired, you can use a lanyard of some variety. Truth be told though, there is an alternative grip that works fine. That if you place your thumb on the grooves on the back of the blade in a "Filippino"-style grip, the other fingers will follow and you get at least half a little finger on the handle.
A small but well thought through handle
Note how Voxnaes have chosen to place the grooves out on the blade where they are really needed, not on the handle as many manufacturers wrongly do. Here you get excellent indexing when you want to perform precision cuts.
Opening and Lock
Lille comes with dual opening systems and for that I'm thankful. As it happens one is very good and the other slightly less good, so to speak. This is often the case when doubling this function. The opening hole works best for me on this knife. It is positioned so that it is easy to reach and use. It works intuitively and the slightly sharp edges of the hole provide a good grip for the thumb.
Of the two opening systems, I prefer the thumb hole
The flipper, on the other hand, requires some concentration. Both methods, push-button / straight down and light switch / backward work. But if you pull the flipper tab backward you have to "pre-load" the finger first. Otherwise, you end up with a half-opened knife. It became especially clear when I let both a friend and my fiancee act as guinea pigs. They did not get the blade out at all. So obviously this knife needs some practice.
However, once you get used to it, there are no problems. Much of that depends, of course, on the ball bearings on which the blade runs.
The frame lock lacks lock bar reinforcement
As can be seen Lille has a frame lock even if the home page says otherwise and for some reason tells us it's a liner lock. Possibly because of the plates on the outside. On of them also acts as overtravel stop by the way.
This knife does not have a lock bar steel insert which is quite unusual. But on the other hand, with properly executed geometry, it is not necessary. Something several other major knife brands have clearly demonstrated over the years. And there are no lock stick or slip in this knife.
The overall function is very good and the lock feels competent. No play in the blade, of course, and the lock is easy to disengage. To facilitate that procedure, the opposing titanium side is slightly recessed and the locking arm softly rounded on the inside.
To Carry
Lille is as the name suggests a small knife. It measures under a decimeter folded and is 11.4 mm thick. Somewhat more noticeable is the height of 31 mm. The weight is just over eighty grams
In addition, the handle generally has round shapes that do fit well in a pocket. With one exception and that is the flipper tab. It is, as someone usually puts it, a "pocket pecker". It protrudes and despite its beveled edges it can be perceived as somewhat sharp.
In addition, the handle generally has round shapes that do fit well in a pocket. With one exception and that is the flipper tab. It is, as someone usually puts it, a "pocket pecker". It protrudes and despite its beveled edges it can be perceived as somewhat sharp.
Round and smooth but imagine how good it had been without the protruding flipper tab
This knife has something as strange as a clip that is very good in conjunction with say thinner pants and somewhat less good in combination with thicker fabrics. It's good and bad at the same time.
The reason lies in how it is designed. The clip is thin with very good tension which means that it does not feel at all when holding the knife in hand. But besides a very small ramp/lip, it also provides very little space under the clip. This means that in thin garments the knife is excellent. But if you put it in a jacket or jeans pocket for example, the entire clip and thus the tip want to point outwards. That is not good.
The reason lies in how it is designed. The clip is thin with very good tension which means that it does not feel at all when holding the knife in hand. But besides a very small ramp/lip, it also provides very little space under the clip. This means that in thin garments the knife is excellent. But if you put it in a jacket or jeans pocket for example, the entire clip and thus the tip want to point outwards. That is not good.
A clip that at the same time is very good and almost bad
depending on which fabric it interacts with
depending on which fabric it interacts with
Therefore I carry this knife in two different ways. The days I have thinner pants on me, Lille can be found in my right front pocket as usual. Alternatively I carry it loosely in a jacket pocket, hoodie, or the like.
The "loop over" clip is attached to the rear end of the handle. This means that the knife sits deep in a pocket, when the fabric is thin ie. This also means that the clip is reversible, which together with the blade hole and the flipper tab make the knife ambidextrous even though it requires left-handed people to learn how to fiddle with a frame lock made for right-handers.
The "loop over" clip is attached to the rear end of the handle. This means that the knife sits deep in a pocket, when the fabric is thin ie. This also means that the clip is reversible, which together with the blade hole and the flipper tab make the knife ambidextrous even though it requires left-handed people to learn how to fiddle with a frame lock made for right-handers.
To Conclude
There are, I argue, other knives designed by Voxnaes that are more practical from an all-round perspective than Lille is. Providing such a small knife with a blade that closely resembles a skinner, have one advantage. It increases edge to blade length. But that shape also brings with it some disadvantages. The main one is that there is no straight edge to work with.
That and the very size of the knife can be somewhat limiting. But in return, the knife has a lot of other things that speak for it. First, it's a fun knife. By that I mean a knife that stands out, has personality and does not look like everything else. It is also quite useful as long as you know what tasks you intend to do with it. There is a reason why it can be found under the category "Gentleman & Collection" in Viper's catalog.
That and the very size of the knife can be somewhat limiting. But in return, the knife has a lot of other things that speak for it. First, it's a fun knife. By that I mean a knife that stands out, has personality and does not look like everything else. It is also quite useful as long as you know what tasks you intend to do with it. There is a reason why it can be found under the category "Gentleman & Collection" in Viper's catalog.
A small curvy EDC-knife
Actually, I would have liked this knife even more without the flipper tab. Mostly because I prefer blade holes as an opening method in general, and even more on this knife since it simply works better. But I know that many do not agree with me regarding flippers. They are popular no doubt. So you can take that comment with a grain of salt.
But yet again, if the history of the knife's background is correct, a little extra security is needed. And the flipper tab acts as a finger guard in a very deserving way when the knife is open.
But yet again, if the history of the knife's background is correct, a little extra security is needed. And the flipper tab acts as a finger guard in a very deserving way when the knife is open.
Viper Lille, not a knife for everyone but certainly for some
Lille is a knife that boasts a couple of real benefits. To begin with, the materials are excellent. Everything is top-notch with nice titanium, ball bearings, a "super steel" and screws of good quality. Viper is still one of the very few manufacturers that list their screws on their website.
Then the execution itself is really good too. Viper has given the knife a superb build quality. All corners and edges, with one exception then, are rounded and soft. The boxes for the usual quality markers such as centered blade, good factory edge, secure lock up, and a good finish on both blade and handle can be checked.
But the biggest advantage, the one I was talked about, above, spells charm, charm, and charm. Sometimes it just beats perfection. In a world of herrings, that is streamlined gray titanium flippers, this one stands out with its own look and appeal. Voxnae's distinct design language has been given free rein here and that is the main strength of this knife as I see it.
If you like it and have around $160 or so it can be yours.
Then the execution itself is really good too. Viper has given the knife a superb build quality. All corners and edges, with one exception then, are rounded and soft. The boxes for the usual quality markers such as centered blade, good factory edge, secure lock up, and a good finish on both blade and handle can be checked.
But the biggest advantage, the one I was talked about, above, spells charm, charm, and charm. Sometimes it just beats perfection. In a world of herrings, that is streamlined gray titanium flippers, this one stands out with its own look and appeal. Voxnae's distinct design language has been given free rein here and that is the main strength of this knife as I see it.
If you like it and have around $160 or so it can be yours.
Specification:
Length Overall: 158 mm
Length Folded: 95 mm
Weight: 83 g
Blade Length: 63 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: Böhler M390, HRC 60-61
Handle: titanium
Lock: Frame Lock
Produced by: Viper, made in Italy
/ J - enjoys a little one
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