- close to perfection
Rarely first with the latest, it could be a description of me and most of what I have in my knife collection. But that approach can have its benefits as well. It helps me to avoid some fads and bad trends. This knife is hardly a fad since it has been around for six years now. This is usually a measure of quality in itself and this applies to this knife as well.
Lionsteel TM1 MS
TM1 is a knife designed by Molletta or Michele "Mik" Pensato as he is actually called. He is a very productive gentleman who designed dozens of knives for Lionsteel, both regular knives, and folding knives. In this case, the design was not originally intended directly for Lionsteel, but I've read that they entered at a later phase.
What makes this knife so interesting is a couple choices and details. Some of them made the knife quite famous when it first was released. First, it is an "integral", ie a knife where the handle is made of a single piece of material. Before this knife, metal, mainly titanium but later also aluminum was used for this kind of handle.* Also, this model was the first in the world to combine a back lock with ball bearings. Add to that details such as an extremely well-made lock, distinctive blade shape, and good ergonomics and you end up with a knife that is anything but boring.
A folding knife for those who need to bear down on their knives from time to time
Twitter version: Lionsteel TM1, strength and brutality paired with a lot of finesse
Blade
M1 has a distinct blade shape or rather a special tip. This type is often referred to as a reverse tanto. It can be argued that is nothing but a clip point with a very small clipped portion and a strong tip. It was a shape that was not as common when this knife was launched as it is now. The advantage is that it gives a little belly to work with at the same time as you get a reinforced and thus very durable tip.
The blade is 90 mm long, 34 mm high, and rather thick measuring 4.5 mm. The thickness was chosen to get a durable and strong knife, Mik has said in interviews. I believe this knife could have been a millimeter thinner and still end up strong enough. The grind is flat and high. There is enough surface for fixed angle sharpening systems to work well and this is facilitated by the easy to remove thumb disc.
The blade shape is a reversed tanto, or if you so prefer, a modified clip point
Swedish steel in the form of Sleipner from Uddeholm is found in TM1. It is steel specially developed for knives and is an elaborated version of D2
This steel is not powder steel but still has a very fine structure with the right heat treatment, says Lionsteel. According to the manufacturer, it should be tougher than D2. In practical use, I have not noticed any major difference. The knife keeps its sharpness very well and is easy to maintain on my primitive strop. The good edge holding capabilities is perhaps explained by the hardness that is stated somewhere in the 60-61 HRC range.
The finish is a satin, and a nice one at that but the knife is also available in all-black. I almost expected some stains or a tendency to rust as the steel is not stainless. But knock on wood or maybe steel in this case, but it has not happened. Not this far anyway.
The steel is Swedish Sleipner from Uddeholm and of that, you get your money's worth
Once you start working with the knife, it is noticeable that the TM1 is more focused on hard use than finer tasks. The edge is strong but also a little steeper than I in general prefer. Once it's time to resharpen this knife, I'll try to reduce it a few degrees. With that said, the edge came sharp even though the sharpness was not extreme. But it responds quickly to stropping as I mentioned.
TM1 works for most of EDC chores, but if you peel and dice fruit all day long as a pastime this is not quite the right knife. It cuts well as long as you don't try to cut through these kind om substances. If you do the thickness behind the edge as well as the overall stock thickness of the blade is quite noticeably. For the same reason, this is not a knife that is particularly well suited to sitting in front of a camera on YouTube and shredding printer paper.
But when it comes to handling things like pieces of carpet, cable ties and plastic buckets and not least wood, this knife is a joy to handle. Especially as the handle makes it very comfortable to hold for a good while without redness and blisters. At first, I was afraid that the short clip would be felt but it disappears completely in my hand. No hotspots anywhere.
Handle
The handle is one of the things that characterizes this knife. TM1 is made with Lionsteel's SOLID technology, which is their patented method of making integral handles. It is found on previous models from them as well such as SR-1 and Ti-Spine. In this case, however, the materials deviate from the norm. The other knives are made of either titanium or aluminum, which is the most common material used in these kinds of handles. In TM1, you instead find either Micarta or carbon fiber. This version with the suffix "MS" to the name is the Micarta version.
The two-tone Micarta is 3D-sculpted
In addition to being milled from one piece, there are a few more details that make the knife not only unusual but unique. On the one hand, as far as I know, it's the only knife model that combines a back lock with an integral construction. The second is that it has ball bearings. TM1 is one of or perhaps the first folding knife model that had that combination as well.
The basic form is deceptively simple but the details are many. The sides curve gently and are provided with a milled pattern for a better grip.
The handle has a distinct finger guard and a lanyard hole
Here you can see the inside of the integral construction in which Lionsteel
managed to put both ball bearings and a back lock
The Micarta is masterfully processed in this case. All edges and corners with a few exceptions are well chamfered, rounded, and ground. The handle is 11.5 cm long, of which 9.5 cm is grip length. It measures 2.9-3 cm in height and is 15-17 mm wide. The width is fully utilized as this is a back lock. They are always more comfortable to hold than knives with an open back due to the increased contact area.
The handle is made of a two-tone Micarta that gives an almost wood-like appearance that can split opinions. I happen to like it. The surface has a somewhat rough structure intended to provide a better grip, which it does.
At the end of the grip is a glass breaker with a tungsten tip. I might as well be without it, but this one is so discreet that I have nothing to object to. Especially since there is a reason why it exists. Lionsteel, among others, targets first responders with this model.
In hand, TM1 is simply superb. It is both comfortable to hold and work with. It does not matter much which grip is chosen, even if the "sturdier" grips are given priority. For more detailed works when you perhaps hold the blade in a pinch grip, the handle is a little bit too thick at the front and the finger guard is not ideal.
TM2 is very neutrally balanced. It also has a spacious and extremely comfortable handle
In hand, TM1 is simply superb. It is both comfortable to hold and work with. It does not matter much which grip is chosen, even if the "sturdier" grips are given priority. For more detailed works when you perhaps hold the blade in a pinch grip, the handle is a little bit too thick at the front and the finger guard is not ideal.
The wide handle provides plenty of contact area for the hand and the shape is advanced. Here they have chosen to make a handle that is not only milled inside but also on the outside. The handle swells in the middle to fill the hand better. The sides are also pleasantly vaulted and there is a clear finger guard but also an extended finger groove for two fingers at the front.
It should be added that a few minor modifications were required to elevate this knife from "very good" to "almost perfect". What I did was round off the inside of the handles which was way too sharp for my liking. The only miss on the whole knife. Also, I sanded the finger guard slightly less angular so that it does not press against the index finger as hard when cutting wood. A typical "outdoor adaptation" if you will.
Opening and Lock
This knife has been given a thumb disc as an opening method. Besides, one with a slightly unusual look, it is coffin-shaped. It works great, easy to find in relation to the handle, and it provides good traction against the thumb. The only objection I have is that it is difficult but not impossible to flick the blade open with your thumb. Here it is a slow and controlled movement prioritized. So the ones looking for a fidget toy, look elsewhere.
The thumb disc is easily accessible and the bearings make the blade run smoothly
However, the opening of the blade is extremely smooth. The explanation is found in the fact that the blade runs on IKBS ball bearings. When it is combined with a blade with a lot of mass, it gives a special feeling. To prevent that feeling from becoming an unpleasant experience when closing the blade you should keep your fingers away. With the friction from the lock bar out of the way, the blade falls like a guillotine.
This is simply put one of the best back locks I've ever handled. Some of the strength for this kind of locks depends on how deep the lock bar sits. As can be seen, there is plenty of margins here.
The finish on the lock is extremely good. The lock bar is easy to release
even though the tolerances are extremely small
Molletta and Lionsteel set a clear goal when creating this back lock. They wanted to eliminate the small amount of up and down play that almost always can be found in back lock constructions. In Triad locks, for example, it has been solved with the addition of a patented stop bolt. Here, Lionsteel has instead solved the issue with extremely tight tolerances. The result is outstanding.
At the end of the soft opening motion, an extremely crisp sound awaits announcing that the lock is in place. It is also very easy to disengage by the way. Once the blade is in place I can certify that the idea of refining an old but sturdy lock type is a success. This lock gives a very solid feeling with no play at all. Not even if you bear down on a piece of hardwood and really pushing the blade into the material.
To Carry
Mixed emotions are what you get by carrying the TM1 in a pocket. The knife is not too heavy with its 148 grams. At least not when you take into account that it has a nine-centimeter long blade which is also rather thick. But the volume of the handle, the one that contributes to the good ergonomics, can not be ignored. The length is not extreme, but both the width and the height of more than three cm make the knife noticeable in the pocket. It's chubby, that can't be denied.
The attachment works well and makes the clip reversible. If you want to include a glass breaker, this is what it should look like
The clip is small but the tip is at the right angle and the ramp is large enough
The good but small clip has been reused from the model SR-1. There is not much space under the clip itself, so really thick fabric can complicate things, but jeans and the like are no problem. The ramp or lip is large enough to work and it is gratefully angled so that it is almost parallel to the handle. I really dislike it when a clip has an outward-pointing tip!
Not much of the knife is visible when pocketed
The clip is strong, which means that the size is enough to keep the knife securely in place. It is a deep carry clip and therefore almost nothing is visible when the knife is carried in a pocket. Besides, the finish is pleasantly anonymous with its greyish satin. That and the lack of logos and other nuisances make the knife discreet. Pulling and putting the TM1 away is relatively easy, but the strong clip tension requires a firm hand. The Micarta has some structure but is not as rough as G10 can be.
I might add that the clip attachment is elegant where it is positioned at the rear end of the handle. This avoids extra holes in the sides. It also makes the clip reversible to the left side. Since the knife is a back lock and thumb discs can be handled with both hands, this is an excellent knife for both right- and left-handed people.
To Conclude
You can't tell that TM1 is an old model. There are some details that Lionsteel is still pretty much alone on. Integrals in materials other than titanium are still not common and I do not know of any other model that combines that with a back lock. But I own a couple of knives that integrates a back lock with ball bearings, so that combination is no longer unique.
TM1 offers an exciting contrast between appearance and weight. This knife is surprisingly light. That compared to size should be emphasized. In pictures without reference points, this knife may look smaller than it actually is. In particular, the shape and height of the blade contribute to that impression. The length is actually a full nine centimeters, which makes TM1 a fairly substantial EDC -knife. That is, by the way, the area of use Lionsteel is aiming for with this model according to their website.
I do agree with that statement in general, but I see it almost more as an outdoor knife with EDC potential. The reason is that it probably feels a little too big for many. But some details tell you that it is aimed at police, military, and similar professions such as reinforced tip, extra-strong blade, a large finger guard, and a glass breaker. It will be ready for most things besides cutting pieces of string and opening a box.
One of the few disadvantages of aiming at this market is that the knife is too thick behind the edge for general cutting. With a little less material there, this knife had cut like a dream as well.
The design is fairly simple, almost strict even though it hides several features
This model is also a statement from Lionsteel I believe. They show once again that they really know how to build solid knives.
This is the nicest back lock I have had the privilege of encountering during all my years as a reviewer and knife enthusiast. The same safe feeling as a Triad lock but with a smoother action and is easier to disengage. I don't know how this lock would do in a strength test but I can say it is plenty strong.
Moreover, the comfort and the ergonomics of this knife are simply fantastic, at least for my hands. Among the better folding knives, I tested. Part of the explanation is of course found in the fact that it is an integral combined with a back lock. The handle simply gets close to how a good fixed blade feels to use. It's just the cut out for the blade that reveals that this is a folding knife.
TM-1 is an excellent slightly larger EDC knife but feels just as comfortable outdoors
The advantage of building integrals from Micarta is of course the overall simplicity with fewer parts and screws. But there is a disadvantage associated with the method as well. It is expensive! In part, there will be a lot of material waste, but above all, it takes a long time to make knives with all programming and machining needed. This is reflected in the price. TM1 is not a cheap knife, although I do not want to call it expensive either. At the time of writing, it costs from €210 and upwards in Europe and around $205 in the US.
TM1 is a knife for those who like a lot of technology packed in a simple and stylish format which also happens to be a fantastic EDC knife. Strong as an ox but agile as a gazelle with its sturdy blade on ball bearings and its superb balance and low weight. But it is the ergonomics that shine the brightest. This is one heck of a comfortable knife to use.
Specification:
Length, Overall: 205 mm
Length, Folded: 115 mm
Weight: 148 g (weighed by me)
Blade Length: 90 mm
Blade Thickness: 4,5 mm
Blade Steel: Sleipner
Handle: Micarta, integral
Lock: Back Lock
Produced by: Lionsteel, made in Italy
/ J - expands the flock of lions
* Rather, it is the way it is usually presented, but that is not the whole truth. In fact, EKA Knives has made knives for a long time with the same method but with compressed wood as a starting point.
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