- a knife with Japanese influences
This model called 9215 is the second knife in a relatively short time that I review here on the blog from Chinese SRM. However, the two differ on many levels. What they have in common are the lock construction, the clip, and the handle material. Then the similarities are over. Where the 7828L was chubby with a slightly square look, this is a long slim knife that undoubtedly offers Japanese influences.
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| SRM 9215 |
The flirtation with Japanese traditional daggers or perhaps knives in the form of the kwaiken/kaiken can be clearly seen in the profile, the blade shape, and not least how the handle imitates tsukamaki or the noble art of wrapping a handle.
In other respects, the knife offers a mix of a material that is good for the price range and SRM's new staples in the form of the Ambi lock and the Ambi clip.
Today we will take a closer look at how those materials and components are put together and how good the result was.
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| 9215 offers Japanese-influenced lines |
Twitter version: With 9215, SRM interprets a classic Japanese Kwaiken and the result is both good and beautiful, for those who like the look!
Blade
The blade of the 9215 is slim and rather long. It measures no less than 91 mm in length which is matched by a modest height of 20 mm. It is together with the slightly curved edge that ends with a short steep belly up to the tip that gives the characteristic look that is recognized as a "Kwaiken" or "Kaiken" as it can also be transcribed from Japanese. That look is also enhanced by a swedge on this knife.
In short, the shape of the tip means that it is not as angular as an "American tanto" of the type that, for example, Cold Steel has made itself known for. Then the blade on this knife strives slightly upwards as on a trailing point. All in all, it gives a very distinct look. A nice blade if you like the type.
The marking is also discreet, which means that despite the fact that SRM uses double logos and shares information in the form of steel type and model designation on the blade, it's not an eyesore. Tastefully done in my opinion.
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| The blade, which is made of D2 steel, measures nine centimeters in length |
The stock thickness is 3.1 mm and the material used in this knife is D2. In other words, the thickness is the same as the other model I mentioned earlier, 7228L. But the blade is significantly slimmer and in addition, the grind is significantly lower. This gives poorer cutting properties if the two knives are compared. But in return, I do not think that the person who buys this knife is looking for a utility knife either.
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| The shape follows the type of knife it is inspired by and has the features of a classic tanto |
D2 as a material in knives can be debated. In general, it can be said that these steels take a good edge, hold it for a long time, and that they are relatively wear-resistant by being hard. However, they are not stainless so you have to keep that in mind depending on how and in which environments the knife will be used the most.
A piece of mock-up knife sheath cut out of cardboard. For such tasks, this knife works well
The factory edge gets approved and I have no negative objections. Once at work, 9215 performs as expected. Or, in fact, somewhat more civilized than its origins suggest. As long as you engage in what can probably be called typical everyday chores (EDC), the knife works well. To open packages, cut cardboard for recycling cut a string or rope, cut a plastic bottle into an improvised funnel, make a "mock-up" knife sheath in cardboard for a set of throwing knives.
Or that last example was perhaps more a typical task in my world than for the common man. For me, however, it has started to become quite common. That and leather cutting. For that, however, I do not use this knife. The blade is too long and the handle too thin to give the control I want in that context. In the same way, this is not a knife I choose to take with me out into the woods, where there is a risk that woodwork will be on the menu.
Handle
As I mentioned earlier, the handle is made to imitate or rather mimic a wrapped handle. This effect is achieved with two layers of G10 in different colors that have been given the characteristic rhombus-shaped pattern. Here it is seen in black and blue, but the knife is also available with a red/black handle for those who are looking for something even more striking.
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| The handle offers double layers of G10 on top of a steel frame |
The construction itself is uncomplicated with a steel frame as a foundation. It has been lightened in an exemplary manner which is a contributing factor to the low weight even though the shape is more significant at that point. Of course, a slim knife means little material.jälva konstruktionen är okomplicerad med en stålram som fundament. Den har lättats på ett föredömligt vis vilket är en bidragande orsak till den låga vikten även om formen är mer betydelsefull på den punkten. En slank kniv betyder förstås lite material.
The knife is assembled with two small screws on each side into a partial backspacer, in addition to the pivot screw. It is of course adjustable by means of a T8 driver. Then this knife is not very easy to disassemble in any case due to the lock. Like all knives with this type of lock, it contains small springs which require fine motor skills and patience to handle. Nothing for me that is.
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| Both slim and thin profile that is mostly open in the back |
The length of the handle is 12 cm and the height stops at a low 2.2 cm. The thickness is 11 mm. It gives a handle long enough to accommodate all hands, I suspect, but also a knife that does not fill the hand very well given the slim format.
The G10 material in this version is not very coarse or "grippy" but it is enough, especially as the pattern gives increased traction as well. In addition, the handle has two sets of jimpings or grooves for better grip. However, they are not very pronounced so it can be discussed whether they fulfill any function or not.
The back is partially open on this knife and towards the end of the handle, there is a backspacer of G10 which also includes a hole for a lanyard.
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| The length and the simple shape make all grips work |
But with the shape also comes the disadvantage that it does not fill the hand very well. Also, the angular rear end has a tendency to end up against the inside of the hand when the knife is held in a saber grip.
But in this case, I do not care much about it as this is still not a knife you work with for longer periods of time. 9215 is a knife for the quick cuts and box openings and in my case the opening of this year's first package of charcoal. Not for carving, cutting into carpets, or anything like that.
Opening and Lock
This knife is opened with a thumb disc. Actually, I belong to those who clearly prefer thumbs studs to this solution. But on this knife, I think they have made the right choice from SRM's side. The disc is barely visible from the side and not very much from above either, which blends in better with the rest of the design than I think thumb studs would have done.
So in terms of appearance, I have nothing against the solution and the function is quite ok as well.
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| The disc for thumb-opening of the blade is relatively easily accessible |
Admittedly, the thumb plate ends up fairly close to the handle, but it rises just enough to give a grip to the thumb anyway. The texture that is found on the edge of the disc is also distinct enough to provide a better grip so that the thumb does not slip off. To facilitate access, the sides have been provided with depressions on both sides, but they are so small that they are almost of a cosmetic nature.
There is no detent ball in this knife, but it's the lock that acts as a resistance and holds the blade in place in the closed position. It gives a different and not as distinct feeling like a ball but still works well. You can flick out the blade if you want, even if the knife is not one of the fastest.
The force provided by the lock is also strong enough to hold the blade in place so the knife does not open involuntarily. It is possible to unfold it halfway with a very strong flick of the wrist, but unlike the 7228L, the opening on this knife is not so smooth that it is possible to open the knife by gravity. Something that can be counted as both a plus or a minus depending on how you look at it all.
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| "Ambi lock" is SRM's interpretation of a lock with a transverse bolt |
"All Quiet on the Lock Front" could be said. With that flirtation with Remarque, I find that SRM leans heavily on their version of a lock with a cross-bolt called Ambi Lock. As can be seen, it is an interpretation of the original from BM.
No news is good this time. It can be stated that SRM knows how to manufacture this type of lock by now. Ambi-lock checks all the boxes. It's easy to access, check. It's easy to handle, check. Can be used with both hands, check. And above all, it keeps the blade in place without moving either horizontally or vertically, check.
It's a well-made lock quite simply. Possibly it can be objected that it requires a little finger gymnastics to be handled smoothly due to the narrow handle.
To Carry
Long and slim, that's all I have to say. Or no, there is a little more to talk about but it is a good summary. As previously mentioned, the handle is not so voluminous but long.
The G10 sides are medium-coarse if you can put it that way. But in return, the pattern makes them grip better against both a hand and unfortunately against a trouser fabric. Thus, the knife is not completely easy to get out all the time. It happens that the pants want to follow the knife upwards.
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| TFAC or more every day "Ambi Clip" means that it can be easily removed without tools |
The clip is the SRM standardized "Ambi" clip or TFAC as they also call it which stands for "Tool Free Ambi Clip". A technology that simply means that the clip can be removed or shifted from side to side without tools. It is attached to the rear end of the knife as seen. It is loosened by squeezing it like a pair of tweezers, after which the hooks on the metal rods release their grip inside the G10 sides. Then just pull it straight back and it will come loose. A very ingenious construction.
Also in other respects, the clip is good with well-tuned tension, a decent ramp, and proper space under the clip to fit most thicknesses of fabric.
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| The clip is not only easy to remove, but it also works pretty well too |
Since the clip is of deep ride loop over style, the knife is carried very discreetly even though you have access to over nine centimeters of blade. The construction also means that the knife is fully ambidextrous as it can be shifted from right to left side and the lock can also be handled with both hands as well as the opening disc.
To Conclude
There is a trend in the world of folding knives to draw inspiration from Japanese traditional knives. Or rather, it can be called a category at this point since the phenomenon has been around for a while. A clear example is the long line of knives that Böker released together with Lucas Burnley on the theme. But they were neither first nor last with these design elements as the model is, as I said, a historical knife type.
With 9215, SRM has also jumped on the bandwagon. They do it with honor I must say. Then I have to ignore my personal preferences because I do not like this type of knife at all. The aesthetics do not appeal to me very much and they are not very practical either. Or it depends on how you see it as from the beginning it is not knives for daily use but rather for stabbing people, a self-defense knife. A kwaiken often supplemented a sword to be used as a last resort or indoors if it was too cramped for sword waving.
The look may be a bit polarizing but it's something I think is a strength as it makes knives more interesting in general. It's the upward striving tip I do not appreciate, which is why I do not like Persian-inspired knives either. And then I'm no big fan of tanto tips or handles that curves the wrong way either. Thus, there is quite a lot with this look that does not belong to my preferences.
But for anyone who appreciates the look, this is a good example of a well-executed theme. It is consistently and tastefully done.
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| 9215 works as a long slim EDC knife |
Overall, the 9215 is a well-built knife that fulfills what it is intended to do, but I have some negative criticism, even though it is mostly of a subjective nature. The first touches the back of the handle.
The handle ends with a hole for the apparently mandatory lanyard. It could well have been dropped on this knife. It disturbs the look in my opinion and I do not see the point of the feature in this case. The knife is too large to be carried loose in the pocket so it does not need to be fished up with a string and the handle is so long that it does not need to be extended. So why a lanyard? So that the knife does not fly away when chopping wood? Or dropped overboard while fishing? Well, this is not the type of knife so it just feels unnecessary. It is good, however, that it is shaped so that it blends into the rest of the design of the knife.
Then there is another detail with this handle that I do not appreciate at all, I must admit. Unfortunately, that's the shape! In the name of consistency, they have chosen to let the handle bend so that it matches the overall curvature of the knife. This is correct considering the model, but it also means that the handle does not fit me at all. It bends in the "wrong" direction. In the same way, that classic swaybacks do. I always feel like turning the knife upside down, whereupon the handle becomes more comfortable in my opinion.
But otherwise, the 9215 offers a lot of positives. It is a knife with good materials with handle sides in G10 and D2 steel in the blade, it is soundly constructed, and then it has a couple of aces up the sleeve. One is the well-executed lock and the other is of course TFAC - SRM's own invention with a clip that can be removed or repositioned without tools. In addition, which is even better, it works well as a clip!
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| SRM 9215, a knife for the ones who like Kwaikens |
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| SRM - Stay ready for more |
Specification:
Length Overall: 212 mm
Length Folded: 121 mm
Weight: 89 g
Blade Length: 91 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,1 mm
Blade Steel: D2
Handle: G10, two colored
Lock: Ambi lock
Produced by: SRM, made in China
/ J -
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