- a very nice acquaintance
This knife called Episode is my first encounter with the Sencut knife brand. A brand that is both new and old on the market if you can put it that way. Namely, they are a sister brand to Civivi, which in turn is WE-knife's department for more budget-oriented knives. But as they became more and more refined and thus climbed in price, they obviously thought that the abandoned niche needed to be filled, and then Sencut was added. In general, it can be said that the production quality is close to Civivi, but the materials are somewhat simpler and they have chosen to limit sales to Amazon to keep the price down.
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| Sencut SA04E Episode |
First, it can be said that Episode is very similar to another model from Sencut called Snap which was released almost simultaneously. But the difference is that the latter is slightly more laid back in its design with a less aggressive drop point blade and a straighter handle. The Episode has a bolder, more challenging shape on the blade and a more curvy handle.
Sencut Episode is available in several versions. For those who do not like green Micarta, there is also a brown variant in the same material. In addition, the knife is available with G10 handles in the colors burgundy, black, or jade (uncolored) G10. The burgundy knife has a blackened blade which gives a dramatic contrast. Those combinations should cover most flavors.
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| Episode offers dramatic lines |
Twitter version: Sencut Episode, a knife that is a good introduction to the brand with both good build quality and excellent handling. Even better is that it cuts well and looks good while doing so!
Blade
One of the things that are most noticeable with Episode is the rather dramatic blade. The basic shape is a clip point, but the look has been enhanced with a dramatic swedge that ends in what is usually called a "harpoon" tip and the space for the thumb behind it is curved, which further emphasizes the design.
The finish is a smooth and well-executed stone wash. The marking is almost as discreet as the sister company's and this means that the name Sencut together with the logo is found on one side of the blade but in a very discreet format. In addition, you can read the steel type on the ricasso, very close to the handle, but it almost requires a magnifying glass.
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| The clip point blade is just under nine centimeters long |
But if you have such or very good vision, 9Cr18MoV can be read. It is one of the things that distinguishes this knife from knives from eg Civivi. But the question is whether it is a deterioration compared to the 14C28N that is often found there. This Chinese steel should not be confused with the much simpler steel in the "8Cr" family. It's a bit like comparing 440A to 440C. This steel is very stainless like its simpler cousins, but my experience is that it keeps the sharpness much longer at the same time as it is easy to sharpen. Overall, not bad budget steel at all.
Especially not in this embodiment. The stock thickness is only 3 mm. In addition, the blade is almost completely flat ground and since it's 28 mm high, there is plenty of room to thin out the blade to the 0.5 mm it measures behind the edge. The edge was also fairly even and sharp out of the box. A more than decent factory edge in other words. As so often on knives, however, they have missed a bit in the transition from ricasso to blade (plunge line). The sharpening choil that exists could simply have been slightly larger.
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| For those with very good eyesight, it can be read that the blade steel is 9Cr18MoV |
The length of the blade approaches 3.5 inches or 8.85 cm, which means that it's somewhere in the middle when it comes to EDC-oriented knives. The edge length is sufficient for most chores and the knife is sturdy enough so that you do not shy away from slightly heavier work. Although there are other areas that make me think that the Episode is not the ultimate folding knife for outdoor life.
However, as the everyday companion, it's intended as it is excellent. The relatively broad blade means that the blade is sturdy and cuts straight into, for example, cardboard of different thicknesses. It is also facilitated by a blade that is thin behind the edge. The same properties also mean that Episode cuts plastic and fabric in an exemplary way. When it comes to tape and package opening, the almost upswept tip is an advantage in my opinion as I often turn knives upside down and use the back of the tip to avoid glue residue on the blade for such tasks.
That said, tougher material doesn't pose any problems either. It was tested on a rubber hose and a piece of old car mat with good results even if it takes its toll from the edge. I do not belong to those who want to kill knives by, for example, cutting car tires and the like for the sake of it. I don't see the point. For such chores, if they were relevant, there are Mora knives.
Incidentally, the pointed blade makes all packaging opening go smoothly. The only thing you need to pay a little attention to is that the tip is very thin. So no prying. That is one of the reasons for the comment about outdoor life above. Another has to do with the handle.
Handle
The construction of the handle on Episode follows modern template 1A but with some nice details worth emphasizing. The frame is made of steel and one and a half millimeters thick, which is quite common. Less common, however, is how light the frame is. Instead of just milling a few holes, it looks like a framework on the inside. It lightens the knife a lot. The frame is also well rounded with soft edges both on the back and in the blade slot. The latter increases comfort when cutting with the knife.
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| The handle material is fairly smooth Micarta |
The handle is partly open in the back but a small backspacer is found. Quite cleverly a lanyard attachment pin is hidden there. A solution I like as it makes for a cleaner-looking handle. A small detail I am less fond of, however, is that the pin was loose so it made a rattling sound as soon as I touched the knife. It was solved by disassembling the knife and putting a very small dot of thread locker there to keep it in place.
The disassembly was painless, especially as both the adjustable pivot screw and the complementary two screws that hold the knife together are of the same size, T8.
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| The back is mostly open, but there is a small backspacer with an attachment pin for a lanyard. Here you can also see how weight-relieved the frame is inside |
On the outside of the frame, you will find sides that are available in two different materials and in a few different color schemes. In this case green Micarta. This is one of the few areas where it is noticeable that this is a budget knife. The Micarta is not bad but is not one of the best I have handled either. It is also quite well polished, which actually makes it feel less exclusive.
Another thing that reveals that it's not a high-end knife is that the sides are completely flat. They have been beveled but just, and it is something that is felt if you grip the handle harder. It feels very angular if you do. That's the other reason why I do not think this is a good outdoor knife. But there are far more well-known knives that suffer from this problem. *
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| The handle on the Episode offers very good comfort and the only fear I had, the clip, slips away in most grips without causing hot spots |
Otherwise, the Sencut is generally very comfortable in the hand. Hammer grip works great and there is room for all four fingers. The available grip area behind the flipper tab is about 10.5 cm. It's enough that the bend in the clip ends up outside the hand and thus doesn't create any hot spots. If you do not have giant hands of course. It was otherwise the biggest fear I had in advance after just looking at the clip's design.
Even better is the knife with a thumb on the intended recess on the blade in a saber grip. You can also place an index finger there if you change grips for slightly more precision-oriented cuts. The notches found there for better grip are excellent. They give good traction without tearing the skin. The handle also works well in reverse grips, if you want to carve towards you in a pull cut or hold the knife like an ice pick for downward thrusts.
One thing I generally appreciate with this handle is that it is possible to get relatively close to what you are cutting. It increases both power and precision when needed.
Opening and Lock
Episode is a pure flipper-opened knife, although it can easily be opened with two hands if desired. It may not always be the case that you want to open your knife that fast. But if you do, this is the right knife! Here it is noticeable that they have borrowed know-how from their other products within the corporate group.
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| The flipper tab is quite discreet but works very well |
The flipper tab is well placed, reasonably large, provides the right amount of grip, and works exceptionally well. Sencut Episode is as nimble and reliable as its more expensive cousins. In addition to the right geometry and placement, ball bearings and a well-tuned detent contribute to the fine handling.
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| The lock matches the rest of the build when it comes to precision |
Safety is taken care of by a liner lock, which is also excellently made. It is safe as in that it always engages. Incidentally, it locks up with the entire width of the lock bar, engaging about forty percent of the width of the blade tang, and since the material is steel, it is basically never going to be worn out.
The lock is also easy to find and disengage. The frame is slightly lower on the opposite side and the lock bar has been fitted with groves to provide better grip for the thumb.
To Carry
Episode is a medium-sized knife in terms of blade length and it also applies to how it feels in a pocket if you see what I mean. It is neither small nor really large, even if it leans more in that direction. The length of the knife folded is eleven and a half centimeters, the thickness is 12 mm, and the height with the harpoon shape on the blade, a relatively tall 37 mm. These measurements give some volume but in return, the weight is relatively low at 102 grams.
Then the knife is very civilized in the pocket due to the smooth material. This helps the knife to be easy to pull and put away again. It also means that there is nothing that wears on the fabric of your pants when the knife is carried.
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| The episode comes equipped with a simple but functional clip that can be repositioned to the left side |
The clip itself is somewhat reminiscent of Civivi's standard and that's not a bad thing in this case. This means a spring steel clip with good tension, a tall and good ramp with plenty of space under the clip itself. This is amplified by using screws with flat heads. What could have been done even better is if the clip was countersunk in the handle side. But it adds another step in manufacturing and is an example of details that are skipped on simpler knives for that reason. Machining time is money!
The only objection I have to the clip, apart from the fact that it may be a bit "boring", is that the tip points slightly outwards. Not much, it is rounded but still so that I sometimes find it a little uncomfortable to bump into it or have to adjust the grip when working with the knife.
To Conclude
Episode is, as I said, my first encounter with Sencut but will not be the last because it was a very positive acquaintance. It is noticeable that even though the brand is relatively new on the market, there is a lot of knowledge and experience in the background. Many of the small mistakes made by new brands, especially in the budget class, have been avoided here. These are details that make cheaper knives often feel a bit clumsy. This can apply to precision in manufacturing, the finish of the materials, the balance, and not least small mistakes already at the design stage.
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| Episode is an excellent EDC knife on the larger side in terms of dimensions |
Instead, there are several small but sympathetic details on this knife that show good thinking in the design of Episode. Examples of such are that the frame is well rounded and polished all around, something that is especially important as it allows you to grip harder when needed without it becoming uncomfortable for the fingers. In addition, the frame is extremely skeletonized, something that not only saves weight but is perhaps more beneficial because it provides better balance. An area in which knives in this price range often have shortcomings.
Then the knife has been fitted with flat screw heads, which is nice on the handle sides, but all the more important in practical terms as it gives more space under the clip. In addition, all screws that are also few in number have the same size of heads, whereupon only one screwdriver is needed to disassemble or adjust the knife. Also very positive.
The clip is simple but well-functioning, although the tip, unfortunately, points outwards. However, not so much that I want to put it as a minus.
In addition to these areas, there are also quality markers on this model that are borrowed from more expensive relatives. One such is how this knife feels to operate. The flipper tab is extremely effective and this in combination with the ball bearings makes this knife extremely quick to open. In addition, it has an excellent lock. This means that the action itself rises far above what is usual in the price range.
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| Sencut Episode is a stylish knife in an attractive price range |
On several occasions I wrote "for the price range", it is currently at 53€ and about the same amount in dollars, on Amazon where they are sold. For that amount, you get a knife that is both well-built and looks good. Although it is an "in-house" design, no famous designer is connected to this model, it is very harmonious. The fact that it is then very well built with decent materials is another great plus.
Specification:
Length Overall: 205 mm
Length Folded: 116 mm
Weight: 104 g
Blade Length: 88,5 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: 9Cr18MoV
Handle: Micarta
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: Sencut, made in China
/ J - testing something new
* Something that applies to, for example, Spyderco PM2. Something I wrote about in "A few words about ergonomics".
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