- when only the best is good enough
Certainly, this is not QSP's first foray into the higher realm beyond the simplest of knives. Fresh in my mind are models such as Hamster and Puffin. Knives that I previously reviewed here on the blog. Those knives, along with the older models Kylin and Songbird, are built with titanium handles and S35VN in the blades, which together with QSP's high level of quality form a solid foundation.
But the very highest levels have only been visited with Woodpecker and Mustang before. They both boast M390 steel in the blades and Mustang with Raffir-treated wood and mammoth molar in the handle. Fairly exclusive materials, in other words.
Such exotic elements are not found in this knife, but the craftsmanship is on the same level, the same fine blade steel is used, and not least you get a sophisticated design. The knife I'm talking about is, as the title says, the QSP Legatus.
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| QSP 136-B Legatus |
QSP belongs to the companies that mostly sell "in-house" designed knives, which has the consequence that the person or the design team behind the design thus remains anonymous to most.
That is not the case this time. Legatus has been lent muscle from DBW or Dutch Blade Works as it should be read. The person who sets the tone when it comes to the actual design work on their knives is the knife maker Toni Oostendorp. In this particular case, he collaborated with Cees Kaan and the result was this knife that they made specifically for QSP.
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| Legatus is a result of collaboration between QSP and DBW |
Twitter version: When QSP flexes muscles by pairing high production quality and the best materials with a DBW design, the result is as spectacular as the Legatus!
Blade
A knife blade is, of course, the heart of a knife in some way. The part that determines the attitude of the knife and not least what it is good for. In this case, almost everything. To achieve that, a flexible blade shape is needed and then a proper drop point is always close at hand. Here, the appearance has been tweaked a bit through a thumb ramp that makes the blade almost appear to have a "harpoon shape". An element reinforced by a long swedge. Then the blade is distinguished by the fact that it is fairly wide at 3.2 centimeters.
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| The drop point blade is made from M390 and you get generous amounts of it as the blade is 86mm long and 3.8mm thick and relatively tall |
It is a measurement that must be set in relation to the length, which in turn is 86 mm. The ratio makes the blade look slightly larger than it actually is. The stock thickness is 3.8 mm. It gives a very sturdy blade. The finish is a very well-done two-tone satin. The marking consists of the QSP logo on one side along with the steel type and on the opposite side DBW's double triangle marking is found.
The flat-ground blade thins to 0.5 mm behind the edge. It produces a blade that is strong and cuts well. But in fairness, it could be even thinner as M390 is a steel that can withstand it. But in these eras, manufacturers often use both braces and belts. They are more afraid of getting a bad reputation because a product does not hold up to the treatment they are subjected to in extreme tests on Youtube than they are to slice optimally. That said, the Legatus cuts well. It's just that it could have been even better!
The factory edge also gets approved for that.* Sharp and relatively smooth I might add considering the asterisk. To facilitate future maintenance, the blade has a substantial combined finger/sharpening choil, i.e. a recess at the transition between ricasso and blade. In this case, the good thing is that any tendency towards a recurve is avoided. It is also an advantage for future sharpening. But considering the steel, that will not happen very often.
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| DBW's logo is found on the back of the blade |
The Legatus is a very nice knife to work with. Namely, it behaves as it looks, i.e. simple but sophisticated. Translated into work, this means you don't have to think much. Everything just works. An example of this is that the tip is exactly where you expect it to be when you need to poke something.
The edge consists of a fairly long curve, which facilitates both sweeping cuts and uses where you cut against a flat surface. Many knife reviewers today advocate Wharncliffe blades for what they call "utility cuts" or cuts where only the tip is used as on a Stanley knife. Personally, I'm not quite as fond of that technique, especially since it's only the tip that gets dull because it's basically only the part that's used. A trick when, for example opening properly taped boxes is to turn the knife upside down and use the back of the tip instead when needed.
This is a more flexible blade shape in my opinion. You can use it in the same way, but you can also cut against, for example, a piece of a plank or a cutting board, which is very difficult with a straight edge. Then the sturdy proportions of the blade together with the solid handle and the strong lock invite you to use the knife a little harder than its fine exterior suggests it can handle. The M390 steel bites well in both thinner cords via rope up to a thicker tamp. The same applies to denim and jute, which I tested the knife on.
For the same reason, the knife is not at all unsuitable for cutting wood. Now, full metal blades may not be my first choice for outdoor life, but the Legatus is solid enough and the edge bites well even in dry, hardwood. In addition, the knife has proven to be durable.
Handle
The handle on the Legatus is characterized by being large and spacious, it feels generous in some way. The construction is straightforward and follows the template for this type of knife. The material is titanium, and in addition, we are talking about a couple of substantial pieces. The thickness of the sides is a full 4 mm and they are not lightened in any way. No milled compartments or drilled sections on the inside but well on the outside where a couple of inlays are found.
They, in turn, are found on both sides, which is not always the case regardless of the price range of the knife. They are made of a material I have not come across before. It is a combination of colored G10 interspersed with carbon fiber into a marble-like pattern. If you don't like those sides, the knife is also available with regular black carbon fiber. The inserts are made so that they rise one millimeter above the rest of the handle side. Incidentally, it is the only rounding available. The sides are otherwise flat. However, all edges are exemplary and well done. There is not a single sharp edge on this knife. Yes, except for the edge then.
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| The spacious handle is made of titanium with inserts of a G10/carbon fiber material |
The sides are screwed with two T6 screws in addition to an adjustable pivot screw with a T8 head. Dimensions that have almost become standard on knives today. In the back, a partial backspacer is found, in which a lanyard attachment is ingeniously hidden. By the way, the inserts are screwed on and fixed from the inside, which gives a cleaner look.
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| The sides are a full 4 mm thick. The back is partially open |
As I said, the handle is substantial, and translated into measurements it means a height of 23-28 mm and a thickness of 13 mm across the back. The length is 12 cm for the knife in the folded position. Of that, just under ten centimeters is available space for the hand.
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| A large and comfortable handle to both hold and work with |
Then it can quickly be established that Oostendorp knows what he is doing. The curved back of the handle follows the curvature of the hand in a distinguished way and the knife lies very well in the hand. A saber grip works perfectly, of course, with the thumb on the intended ramp. It is also good to sneak forward with an index finger in the recess in the blade for detail work or to move the hand behind for a firm hammer grip. The only problem with the latter is that as with all knives with some form of "choil" or depressions in the blade, there is a long distance between the hand and the edge. In this case 2.7 cm. It gives slightly less control.
The rounded shapes also allow reverse grips such as when carving towards you or holding the knife like an ice pick. The strong handle sides also provide a lot of surface area against the hand which reduces pressure when you apply force to the cuts.
Opening and Lock
The Legatus is a flipper-opening knife and that function is simply excellent. Easy to "find" in the sense that the finger does not need to be at any particular angle for the movement to work. You also don't have to think about whether to pull your finger back or push it downwards. It is also large enough that you don't slip off, which is facilitated by the transverse grooves.
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| Legatus offers a very well-functioning flipper opening |
The speed of the blade also gets approved. Especially considering that the blade is relatively heavy due to its width and thickness. But fine ceramic ball bearings and a detent ball in the same material are a good help. The resistance is also well-balanced. This means that it is impossible to misfire at the same time as the speed, as said, is good enough.
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| The frame lock is very solid and well made |
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| At first glance, it looks like the lock would be difficult to release but it is not |
The frame lock that this knife is equipped with is extremely stable. There is not the slightest hint of movement in the blade when it falls into place, either vertically or laterally. And just like screw sizes, there are two lock features that are almost standard for this type of knife today and they are an overtravel stop and a steel lock bar reinforcement. Both are found on Legatus and both are well done.
Disengaging the lock is easier than you might think at first glance. Namely, there are no grooves, chamfers, or recesses to facilitate the procedure. Instead, they have relied on blade thickness, which gives more room for the thumb. Then the tension is well-tuned at the same time that the lock bar rises ever so slightly above the opposite side. It provides good comfort and ergonomics when working with the knife while being sufficient to access the lock.
To Carry
"A benevolent beast" Legatus could be described as in the pocket. Much has been done right to make carrying this knife easier. This applies, for example, to the soft outer contours apart from the flipper tab. An example of this is how the blade in the retracted position completely merges with the front end of the handle. Another and the more important thing is how rounded the rear end is, which means that it does not feel uncomfortable when the hand thumps the knife, as it sometimes does.
Then the relatively smooth sides make the knife easy to both pull and put away. They also don't wear the clothing they are sitting against.
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| The clip is titanium and matches the look of the knife well but what's better, it works well too |
Then the Legatus is not very heavy for being big and fat. But the 148 grams the scale shows does not make it lightweight either.
That, along with the actual dimensions, makes it a beast. After all, the handle is 12 centimeters long and closer to 1.5 cm wide. It's not something that can be ignored. Especially not as the clip makes a piece of the handle stick out of a pocket.
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| You can't entirely make a knife this large go away |
In this case, it is actually a positive detail. Not because the knife will be "easier to draw", which I consider to be a pseudo-argument, but because it depends on the clip being well-shaped and the placement serving a purpose.
To match the rest of the knife's luxurious theme, it comes with a milled titanium clip. But they have chosen to let the rear end of the bracket be angled in relation to the outside. What it does is it creates a gradual transition to the handle whereupon the clip completely blends into it. Et voilá, no "hotspot" when using the knife, the clip is not felt in the hand at all unless you really really try to squeeze the handle and twist at the same time. Simply a good design.
The other criteria for a good clip are also met, the tip is not angled outwards, tension is strong enough to hold the knife in place but not so that you have to wrestle with it when it comes up and the ramp to get the knife in place is good. It's not perfect because it's quite low and the same goes for the space under the clip. So they don't fit the thickest winter jackets and work trousers, but everything else.
However, a note can be made that the clip cannot be shifted to the left side. It stays where it is unless you remove it completely.
To Conclude
The Legatus is a rather special knife. Not least in QSP's catalog. It is one of the largest folding knives they have in the range and also one of the most luxurious. The materials are consistently top-notch, which can be seen in the blade steel, handle, inserts, and clip.
But the luxury is noticeable not least in the quality, both in the execution and in the design itself. There are plenty of details here that together form a kind of positive critical mass. It is in this way that a unit can become larger than the individual parts.
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| The Legatus is a good EDC knife, albeit a large one |
Examples of such details are many, but the handling itself, the feeling when the knife is opened and closed is one such. The flipper just works and the same goes for the lock. No getting used to and no break-in period is required, everything is done right from the start. Then there are smaller details such as that the rear end of the clip has been chamfered just right, that the blade merges with the front end of the handle in the folded position, that all edges and corners are softly rounded, that the inserts are extremely well made and screwed into place from the inside. Further examples are a fine factory edge, a well-executed sharpening choil, and excellent blade centering.
In addition, consistently good ergonomics must be added. The knife is both comfortable to hold for short moments and to work with for a slightly longer time. Equally important is that a knife cuts well, and it does. This applies whether you use the Legatus as an EDC knife or actually drag it out into the woods on an adventure. Despite its nice suit, it is not afraid to get dirty.
Possibly two things can be objected to. One is that the blade could be thinner. But it's 3.8 mm thick and there the 0.2 mm up to even four actually matter. The blade will be thick enough to feel sturdy, even if 3.5 mm was enough. The final tenths are a design element and not a feature. The other is when we're still talking about dimensions, that the knife could have been a little thinner behind the edge. It's a shortcoming it shares with basically every knife on the market with a few exceptions.** As it stands, the Legatus cuts very well but it could excel!
The labeling deserves extra praise. On one side the QSP logo is found along with blade steel and on the other DBW's logo. However, the information is proportional to the size of the leaf. Something that was perhaps neglected in the beginning, but now both that detail and the placement are nicely executed. In addition, I am weak for a nice two-tone satin-like in this case.
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| Legatus is a luxury knife that also delivers good performance |
Finally, it can be said that this is a knife I like a lot. One of my favorites among the QSP knives I have. And that's not saying a little because at this point I have quite a few. But of course, if it tastes good, it costs money. Legatus is not their cheapest model and it costs around 280€/$.
But for the money, you get both a functional tool and an orgy in luxury and not least a very appealing appearance.
Specifications:
Length Overall: 206 mm
Length Folded: 120 mm
Weight: 148 g
Blade Length: 86 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,8 mm
Blade Steel: M390, HRC 59-61
Handle: Titanium with inlays made of carbon fiber/G10
Lock: Frame lock
Produced by: QSP, made in China
/ J
* Then I am not in the habit of measuring whether the edge angles are one hundred percent consistent. A topic recently addressed by a YouTube channel called Canadian Cutting Edge, CCE. The subject is interesting, but if you have sharpened knives without a system with fixed angles, you know that it is almost impossible to maintain an exact angle all the time. You find the link to the video here!
** Personally, I think that a large part of the explanation is found in how quickly news, especially bad news, spreads on the internet. If a knife model is associated with something negative, it is difficult to alter the reputation afterward.
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