- simplified but still excellent
The original T.R.E. from Lionsteel was released in 2015 and won an award for "Overall Knife of the Year" on Blade Show the same year. The reason for this can be found in how the abbreviation should be read out, "Three Rapid Exchange". You could choose between several different ways of opening the knife by removing both the flipper tab and the thumb disc. The question was whether that is a problem that needed to be solved or a solution that sought its problem?
A spinoff to that knife is the much more "normal" T.R.E. G10 which lacks the technology that gave the model its name which may be a bit confusing but it is the model I intend to write about here!
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| Lionsteel T.R.E. G10 |
If you want the more exclusive original version, which is also an all-titanium knife, it is still in the catalog. If you do not like solid metal, T.R.E. can also be had with a presentation side in carbon fiber and both of these are available in a luxury edition with pattern-welded blades. Then, as I said above, there is this G10 model. If you do not like black, it is also available in green, orange and not least pink.
This knife is like several other models from Lionsteel designed by Molletta or Michele Pensato. Since I appreciate other knives designed by him like TM1 and ROK, this one felt enticing. Especially as the
others are quite large and this one is smaller and more focused on the EDC-segment. An excellent complement, I thought, even though I was not actually aware that it is this small.
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| T.R.E. is like several other Lionsteel knives designed by Molletta |
Twitter version: The stripped-down version of Lionsteel T.R.E. is still remarkably good
Blade
T.R.E. comes with a drop point blade that measures 74 mm in length and is 22.5 mm high at most. Extremely harmonious proportions in other words. Especially as Molletta has refrained from something that has almost become his hallmark, a detail which, however, I do not always fully appreciate, * the very large belly. On this knife, that part is restrained. The thickness of the blade is 3.5 mm.
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| Simplicity at its best, an excellent drop point blade |
Both the appearance and the finish of the blade lends an exclusive feeling. Something that is underlined by the softly rounded spine. The finish is also of the highest quality. A nice stonewash that is then polished can be one of the best next to a well-made satin in my opinion. All enhanced by the tasteful and restrained labeling. On one side Lionsteel, Italy M390 in small font, and on the other Molletta.
The steel is the eminent M390. It's one of those steels that it's hard to say anything negative about. It is very rust-resistant, takes a keen edge, holds that edge if not forever then at least for a very long time. Even so, it's not hopeless to sharpen for the average person. And speaking of sharpening, Lionsteel has provided the knife with a nice sharpening choil for future maintenance.
From the rounded spine, a full flat grind leads down to an edge, which was really good from the factory. Very sharp, even, and centered. The only negative is perhaps that it could have been a little thinner behind the edge considering how small the knife is.
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| The blade is fully flat ground and finishes with a very well made factory edge and a good tip |
Even when the knife is in use, it feels sophisticated. It is useful for most things, everything from everyday chores to slightly heavier tasks. In fact, I tested it a lot on wood and was pleasantly surprised. Sure, the edge angle is not optimal for carving, but the strong edge held well and the handle rises to the occasion despite being so small. A strong factor to the woodworking going well is that you can cut close to the handle where you are strongest.
Then the knife even passed my "tough garden hose-test". Not all small knives do! The tip is really good too. Both sharp and thin enough for detail work but still strong enough so that it does not feel fragile. In materials such as thicker paper and cardboard and such, the knife really shines and perhaps even more so when dealing with tough plastic and the like.
Sure, the blade could have been thinner behind the edge, which I return to several times and it is noticeable when you cut into fruit, vegetables, and other things where you want your knife to really slice and not split what is to be divided. But it is not so bad that it spoils the overall good impression, I must say.
Handle
The handle on the T.R.E. is deceptive as it gives a slightly angular impression when you first look at it. However, that is not the feeling at all when you hold the knife. The construction gives a clear front and backside, respectively. The latter consists of titanium and also forms the frame lock. The front is made of black medium to fine-grained G10. It doesn't give optimal grip but then the machining pattern has been left on the handle, which increases traction.
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| The G10 found on the presentation side is nicely worked and comfortable to hold |
The light weight of this knife can be attributed in addition to the small format that the titanium side is properly lightened also on the inside. On the outside, both it and the G10 side are gently rounded.
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| Here you can see the "floating" backspacer and the "runway" for the index finger when using the flipper tab |
If the knife is to be disassembled, it is held together with a pivot screw with a T8 head and three smaller screws size T6. One of them also acts as an attachment point for the clip.
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| The balance is good and the knife can be held comfortable in most grips |
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| The whole hand fits, barely |
The handle is one decimeter long, of which the grip surface is nine centimeters. It is enough for all four fingers even if it is tight. But on the other hand, there are no sharp edges or grooves that tell the fingers where to go. A bonus is also that the clip is not felt in the hand at all. It ends up inside the hand in both hammer and saber grip. Incidentally, it is in the latter that the knife works best due to the small format. But all grips work and it is a very well-balanced knife.
Opening and Lock
This version has got rid of the other opening methods that the original offered. What remains is the flipper tab, which is fixed unless you saw it off. But this knife has a small legacy from its multi-system siblings and it affects how the knife is opened.
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| The flipper tab is very small and discreet |
And that is a not-so-strong detent. Probably to enable the other ways to open the knife. But that means that this flipper is not the fastest on the market. Like on many other knives it's not enough to overcome the resistance for the blade to fly out. Rather, it requires a little awareness, that you train your muscle memory. But once you have learned that the flipper tab should not be pushed down, but pulled back and also with some speed. Then it goes really well.
But since the tab itself has no traction plan, you can slip and miss the opening entirely if you are not careful. It is important to place the fingertip in front of the tab and then press. In doing so the knife opens both fast and reliable. The blade runs on ball bearings, which helps and it also means that the knife can be closed with a couple of small shakes after the lock has been released.
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| The lock is propaganda for what a good frame lock should look like |
About the lock, it can be said that it is very close to perfection as far as frame locks in titanium go. It is correctly made with a lock bar reinforcement and overtravel stop and enough space to wear so as not to wear out while it locks extremely well. No play in any direction whatsoever. It gives a very impressive feeling coming from such a small knife. Also, the lock bar is easy to find and the lock is a joy to disengage. It simply does not get much better.
To Carry
In the pocket, this knife is as elegant and civilized as it looks. All edges and corners are rounded as they should be and the discreet and smooth flipper tab does not annoy anyone. The outer dimensions are rather sympathetic too with a handle length of 101 mm and 12 mm thickness. Those measurements are certainly not extremely small but a height of only 30 mm a weight at a meager 67 grams are!
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| A clip that is not the best on the market but still works well for being a milled titanium clip |
The clip on T.R.E. is a milled titanium clip. They are generally not as good as simple spring clips, but with that said, I like this one anyway. In terms of appearance, it fits the other lines of the knife, but above all, Lionsteel has chosen to make it so thin that it actually springs and does not need to be forced over a pocket edge. On the contrary, it works quite well. The lip is not extremely large but is enough for both thinner pants and regular jeans without hassle. The same applies to space under the clip.
The clip is also reversible, which is certainly appreciated by those who are left-handed, although it may look a bit strange with titanium against the black G10. Once in the pocket, a piece of the knife can be seen above the edge, but not so much that it is annoying. But supporters of knives that sit really deep in their pockets may have objections.
To Conclude
One word that sums up this knife well is "refined". There is nothing in this design that is not well thought out. It starts with the general lines and the eminent blade and then continues with small details. It's about how both the G10 and titanium sides are machined, the way the triangular pivot screw acts as an abutment and is reflected by a triangular pattern on the screw head on the opposite side, the nicely cut backspacer, and how both the screw for the clip and the other screws are attached from one side but not directly into the titanium side. But also about how the softly rounded spine of the blade is level with the handle in the closed position. In other words, several small areas reflect the quality.
In addition to the fact that the design itself is good, so is the implementation. The build quality is simply superb. Here you can highlight usual areas such as that the blade is completely centered, that the lock is perfectly made and that the titanium clip works well even though it is a milled clip. But above all how nicely done the blade is with its seemingly simple shape but with good proportions and exquisite finish.
Should it be objected to something, it is that the flipper tab could have gotten some grooves for better grip and that it is a bit tricky to use for the unaccustomed. You can miss opening the knife from time to time. Then I personally would have liked to see such a small blade a little thinner behind the edge. This is not a big survival knife.
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| Despite many merits, it is still the blade that is the best part of T.R.E. |
But also the practicality elevates the knife. T.R.E. is very comfortable to carry as well as to hold in your hand and to work with. It is a good handle given the size.
And the blade, it can be said that it doesn't get much better than this for an EDC-knife. Or rather, with the reservation I made above. But otherwise, it is extremely good. A well-used "super steel" that has been given a consistently good treatment finished with an excellent grind. The tip is wicked, the edge is effective and not even pieces of wood go safely.
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| Lionsteel T.R.E., an Italian opening** |
Overall, I personally think that T.R.E. actually benefited from getting rid of the origin of its name and the finesse that made it win awards. Being able to vary the way you open a knife may be useful in some jurisdictions, but not something I need to think about. Over here, most knives are about as legal or illegal depending on the situation. And I belong to the people who do not have to choose. I can have several knives with different opening systems.
What remained, however, was the essence of the knife. The nice lines, the good handling, the sympathetic handle, and the excellent blade. You can not wish for so much more, especially not when it is as well done as in this case.
Specification:
Length Overall: 175 mm
Length Folded: 101 mm
Weight: 67 g (weighed by me)
Blade Length: 74 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm
Blade Steel: M390
Handle: G10/titanium
Lock: Frame lock
Produced by: Lionsteel, made inManiago, Italy
/ J
* Clearly illustrated on models such as SR1 and 2.
** To clarify, it's an old opening system in chess.
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