Viper Keeper is an original knife, especially in terms of appearance. An Italian knife from Maniago that offers a Bowie knife-like blade. Or really, it's quite the opposite. Bowie knives are based on old hunting knives made in various places in Europe. In this case, it means a striking clip point blade and a handle fitted with double finger guards, which reinforces the general design language. A look that is retro-cool in my eyes.
 |
| Viper Keeper |
Keeper is a knife designed by Silvestrelli, a designer who often appears in Viper's catalog. This was a fairly early collaboration between them and the knife has been around for a long time. It is also available in a number of different designs, both in terms of handle material and knife steel. If you want a more robust option, choose one of the Micarta knives with D2 steel, otherwise, go for a more elegant knife with a wooden handle. Then you can choose between Ziricote or here Pau Santo. With that choice also comes a stainless steel blade. In addition to those choices, the knife is also available with a few different finishes on the blades such as PVD coating, satin, or a stonewash.
 |
| Viper Keeper offers classic timeless design |
Twitter version: Viper Keeper, Italian elegance paired with a rustic feel and a practical blade. Enough said!
Blade
The Bowie knife-inspired blade is available in two different versions. The knives with Micarta handles have a blade in D2 steel, while this and the other versions with wooden handles come with stainless N690 steel. It is steel in the middle class that offers about the same properties as VG-10. This means that it is easy to maintain, easy to grind, and responds quickly to stropping or sharpening rods. It is also fairly stainless. On the downside, it is found that it can be a bit brittle and that it does not stay sharp for long.
 |
| The clip point blade is marked with Maniago's quality stamp and the designer Silvestrelli's logo |
The blade is 96 mm long and the stock thickness is 3.5 mm. The height is 31 mm. Harmonic proportions in other words. The "clipped" part of the blade is distinct without being extreme. However, the look is enhanced with a false edge.
The finish in this design is a black very fine stonewash that has a fairly homogeneous color. As so often with knives from Viper, the spine is softly rounded. The knife is marked with Viper's logo, name, steel type, designer, and Maniago's quality stamp. It sounds like a lot of text but it is discreet and tastefully done.
The factory edge on this knife is good, sharp, even, and symmetrical. However, it could have been a bit sharper for me. Then the blade has no "sharpening choil", which means that from the very beginning there is a hint of a "smile" at the ricasso. However, it is extremely small, but there is a risk that it will become larger the more the knife is sharpened.
 |
| Keeper offered an exemplary well-ground piece of N690 steel |
Using Viper Keeper is a really nice experience. This is one of those folding knives that cuts very well. In addition to the grind and decent steel, the geometry contributes to that. In practice, the blade is full-flat ground. The full stock thickness of 3.5 mm is in principle only found at the ricasso, then the blade quickly tapers, which also gives a very thin and effective tip. I would not say that it is delicate but it is definitely not something you pry with either. If you do it will break. But in return, the knife is sympathetic to work with. This also applies when cutting meat. Now I do not hunt so deboning pork and chicken and shredding some beef in the kitchen is what I have done to test this knife. But for that, it is very good even though I always claim that kitchen knives are better. But the way it feels and behaves in this role makes me think of this knife as a hunting knife as long as you stay away from cutting bones.
For more typical everyday chores, Keeper is excellent. It seems to be made for cutting cardboard and the pointy tip penetrates all kinds of plastic with ease. Unfortunately, a lot of everyday chores for knives consist of opening and removing packages. Forward to a more plastic-free world!
Since you get close to the edge with your hand and the handle is sturdy, it is also possible to put some force behind the cuts when needed. It is a good start when you have to carve a walking stick, tent peg, or just a barbecue stick for the sausage. The edge also bites well in both nylon and hemp rope. But with the addition that it is necessary to strop or hone the knife at regular intervals. The N690 steel does not handle that kind of tougher material without a little help.
Handle
Viper Keeper is simple and conventionally designed. Possibly with the exception that the knife has both a small backspacer in which the clip is attached and a single standoff as reinforcement. Otherwise, the knife is open in the back. This makes it easier to "keep the knife clean" as some claim. I put it in quotation marks as the construction in that respect does not matter in my opinion. More important in that case is whether the knife is smooth on the inside or not, which Keeper is. This means that the steel frame is not lightened. In this case, it does not do much as it is as thin as 1.5 mm, which contributes to low weight in any case.
 |
| Keeper offers a spacious handle with sides screwed on top of a steel frame that is mainly open in the back |
On the outside of the frame, you will find sides that are available in different materials. In this version, it's a hardwood which is then polished. It gives a luster and a depth that enhances the grain of the wood in a nice way. In addition, it is comfortable to hold. But sure, it does not give the same grip as a rougher Micarta surface. But as I said, there are alternatives. The screws are worth mentioning as Viper has made the smart move to stick to small T6s for the wooden sides for reasons of appearance. They are also completely flat and thus level with the sides, which is a nice detail. As for the pivot screw, they have used a hefty T10. That was what I meant by "smart". Small screws where it is enough and a more stout one where needed.
 |
| The heavily domed sides have excellent screws that are suitable for the purpose |
Otherwise, it can be said that the handle has the same nice finish that I am used to from other knives from Viper. They know how to round corners and edges. They are also one of the few manufacturers who state on their website what steel quality they use in screws and frames.
When I examine how the knife feels in the hand, certain peculiarities emerge. One of them is that it is possible to place both the index finger and the thumb on top of the blade for extra support by extending over the finger guard, which is not so large. However, it is not entirely ideal.
 |
| The knife can be held in all grips but is definitely best in a hammer grip |
The finger guards fulfill their function even if one is enough from a purely practical point of view. The small "beak" on the handle means that the hand does not slide backward when using the knife. The fact that the knife is a full 14 mm thick contributes to the handle filling the hand well. A trait that is hardly visible due to the rounded shapes. The only thing that feels in the hand is the clip and the back corner if you place a thumb behind the pair protection in a socket to knit with. Otherwise, this handle is extremely good.
Opening and Lock
Viper Keeper is one of those knives that has an interesting opening system. Actually, it is not intended as a flipper knife but a "kind" of flipper where you partially fold out the blade with your index finger against the upper finger guard and then complete the movement with your thumb against the lower finger guard. Yes, it is of course also possible to grab the blade and open the knife with two hands after that initial push if desired.
However, that is only one way to do it. It probably has to do with the legality in some jurisdictions. It is thus possible to claim that the knife is not one hand opened or at least not opened quickly. But after using the knife for a while and backing the pivot screw just a tiny bit and providing it with a drop of oil, it flips efficiently. Not the fastest on the market but stable and secure.
 |
| A flipper tab that is only partially intended as such but still works |
To achieve this, the two-finger guards are not completely symmetrical. The upper, "sharkfin", is more reclined, which gives a better angle and thus affects the blade. It takes a little time to get used to as it can be perceived as a bit slippery against the finger.
In addition, the lower finger guard also acts as a "wave function". This means that if the knife is carried far back in the pocket at the same time as it is pulled back a little when it is removed from it, the finger guard hooks into the fabric and the blade folds out automatically.
Thus, there are three different methods to open Viper Keeper.
 |
| The liner lock on the Viper Keeper is a really good one |
I mentioned earlier that Viper Knives are very good at grinding and polishing things. On some models, they have rounded things too much, which has resulted in a little lock slip on some knives. But that certainly does not apply to this knife.
The Keeper comes with a sturdy liner lock. Not the construction itself as the thickness of the liners is only 1.5 mm. But in return, the lock bar is tall and not drilled in any way. It is a measure that is often forgotten but is just as important for how strong a lock of this type becomes. Usually, only lock bar thickness is considered and other dimensions and geometry which also contribute to the end result are missed in the discussion.
The function itself is very good and the lock falls into place every time the knife is opened. There is also no visible or noticeable play in the blade, not even when the blade is provoked. The lock bar also does not slide when the blade spine is exposed to negative pressure. A well-built lock that does what it is supposed to in other words.
However, the lock bar could be slightly more accessible. But in return, such a placement of the lock bar provides a more secure lock during rotating movements. There is always a theoretical possibility of disengaging a liner lock by mistake if you twist the knife, even if I have de facto never experienced it. On this knife, there is definitely no risk of this happening.
To Carry
Some details make Keeper excellent in the pocket others not so much. But overall, it's a knife that is easy to carry. The plus account includes low weight, rounded handle sides with polished surface, and a deep ride loop over clip.
The weight is a modest 119 g according to my scale and it is not much considering the outer dimensions, the rather large blade, and that the frame is not lightened.
 |
| Viper's interpretation of a wire clip with an elegant attachment |
Then, of course, the soft handle sides help ensure that the knife slides easily into place and is easy to pull. Polished wood does not give much friction and does not wear on the fabric in the pockets either.
The clip makes the knife ride very deep in the pocket. So far down that nothing is visible as seen in the picture below. This is a wire clip that gives a discreet look that appeals to some but not others. On the other hand, it can be pointed out that the material is rather thin, which gives a flexible clip that easily bends out of position if it gets stuck on something. It could have been a bit sturdier in my opinion.
It is also attached to the right side and can not be moved in any way, which of course does not benefit left-handers.
 |
| A loop over wire clip that lets the knife sit deep in the pocket |
On the minus side, it can be mentioned that the handle still measures 116 mm in length while it is equipped with a "beak". It and the back itself have quite distinct corners which can be felt when you put your hand in the pocket. There is also another detail that can be a bit annoying and that is of course the double finger guards. They, of course, make the knife wide right where they are. The recommendation is therefore that the knife has its own pocket to fit in. It requires a bit of space, especially as the volume is increased by the handle being 15 mm thick.
To Conclude
Viper Keeper is a knife model that has been around for a while now. I think it's about seven or eight years or thereabout. This means that it has proven its vitality in today's climate where knife catalogs change from season to season and given favorites are replaced and disappear at an ever-faster pace even with the big manufacturers. I think it can be explained by two things. The first is that Keeper has a very timeless appearance which is also not completely common with folding knives. This is reinforced by the fact that it is now also available in a fixed-blade version called Fate. As I said, the blade flirts with Bowie-knives and the double guard adds to that impression.
The second explanation is found in the fact that it is basically a good folding knife. It is well built and cuts well. But the icing on the cake in this case is a damn good handle. A really comfortable handle that fits most hands with ease. The only thing that would make it perfect is if it fits all grips and there the finger guards are a little troublesome. But otherwise, I do not have much to object to.
 |
| Keeper fits the role as a larger EDC-knife |
When I am on the subject of small things that could be improved, it can be mentioned that the clip could have been stronger. It works well, but it moves which scratches the wood and should it get the slightest hit laterally, there is a great risk that it will bend out of position. An improvement would have been a clip of the same type but slightly thicker.
 |
| Viper Keeper offers timeless design and a sharp blade |
Otherwise, I have only good things to say about Viper Keeper. It's nice looking and lightweight, easy to carry (well) while the blade is efficient and the handle comfortable. However, it is not for those who want a flipper fidget toy on ball bearings. It is not built for that and that is certainly not something I miss on this model. It is built to be a good knife that is sympathetic to look at and that is exactly what it is!
Specification:
Length Open: 212 mm
Length Folded: 116 mm
Weight: 119 g (weighed by me, given 117-125)
Blade Length: 96 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm
Blade Steel: N690
Handle Material: Wood, Pau Santos
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: Viper by Tecnocut, made in Maniago, Italy
/ J -
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar