- the most advanced folding knife from the Czech Republic so far
my first acquaintance with folding knives from Czech ANV Knives was a model called Z200. Therefore, it is important to keep your tongue in your mouth and your fingers in check when ordering a new knife because this one has a similar name. As the headline suggests, it's called the A200. A knife that, incidentally, is probably the most technically advanced folding knife they have produced. I intend to go through what that means here.
In addition to that, the A200 is a knife that does not hurt to look at and the combination of black with red details is quite striking. The question is, is the function as bold as the look?
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| ANV Knives A200 |
The impression I got is that this is a knife that sells well for Acta non verba Knives as the full name reads. Not least considering that these days they also released a version called A100 where the difference is that the knife has a simpler handle material in the form of GRN. It, in turn, can be obtained in several different versions. A procedure that is otherwise common with ANV's knives. Partly, in that case, you can choose which steel you prefer Magnacut or Elmax, and also between a couple of different colors.
The A200 has a different material in both the handle and the blade and can only be had in black. A bit like what was said about the T-Ford at the beginning "you can get it in any color you want, as long as it is black". Now that wasn't quite true but still.
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| A200, a technically advanced knife from the Czech Republic |
Twitter version: A200 from ANV Knives, a technically advanced lightweight with super steel and superb balance. A very good EDC knife in other words.
Blade
Black, that's the first impression you get of the blade of the A200. The color comes from the DLC coating. The Diamond Like Carbon it stands for is one of the most durable surface treatments available. It protects the blade extremely well and it also applies in this case. It is scratch resistant and keeps all corrosion at bay.
The blade given this treatment is a drop point blade that is 88mm long and 24mm high. The thickness of the blade is a modest 3 mm. The blade shape is fairly straightforward but is characterized by being somewhat more pointed than, for example, the Z200. This is accomplished by the actual "drop", the sloping back starting fairly close to the handle.
A visual element that recurs on several models and is also found here is what they call an "ANV Swedge" which refers to the partial false edge that the blade is provided with. The typical thing about it is that it ends before the tip, which leaves more material there, which theoretically gives you a stronger tip.
In addition to being black, the blade is marked with the ANV logo on one side and the country of manufacture and steel type on the other. Then a neat detail is added as the spine of the blade is rounded before the swedge takes over and there you will also find the brand name.
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| The blade is a slim drop point with a typical ANV partial swedge |
The material is interesting as ANV works a lot with Swedish steel. In addition to the Elmax mentioned above, they also use Sleipner as in this knife. It is also reportedly hardened to 60HRC. A hardness that is suitable for this steel and gives an edge that stays sharp for a very long time. The fact that it belongs to the so-called "super steels" means that, despite the edge-holding capability, it is relatively impact-resistant and, in addition, very resistant to corrosion. I have also not noticed any tendency for chips to come out of the edge when I carve in dry wood, even though the steel is hard.
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| The fine Sleipner steel has been given a black DLC finish |
Otherwise, this is a very good all-around blade for EDC use. Maybe a little thick behind the edge (0,5-0,6 mm), but that's something I think I'll cover in every knife review. Especially if, as here, you have exceptionally fine steel, you can dare to trust it. That, combined with the fact that the blade is not extremely wide, means that it is not an extreme "slicer", think chef's knife. That is, there are knives that are better at that.
But it's not something I want to dwell on as the knife is sharp and is very competent. The tip is both pointed and durable. The blade shape also means that there is a piece of a straight edge to work with and also a belly to use against flat surfaces. For those who wonder why I'm fussing about it, you can try, for example, cutting cardboard that stands up and trying to finish that cut with a Wharncliffe blade. A belly also allows you to perform a more sweeping cut when needed.
So overall this is a good blade for exactly what the knife is meant to be, an everyday knife. Sticking the blade in a PET bottle to create an improvised funnel or shredding some fabric to use for rags to clean the drivetrain of an MTB is easy. The A200 isn't the ultimate apple-cutting knife, but as I said, I don't hold that against it. Especially not when it cuts well in cardboard and is even better on materials such as zip ties and packing straps in nylon and the like. Materials that do not require such deep cuts.
Handle
If the blade was fairly straightforward and simple in its design, albeit in exclusive steel, the opposite can be said about the rest of the knife, it is more complicated but made of simpler materials. Firstly, it is a technically advanced handle we are dealing with. The shape is certainly not much to say about, fairly straight with a sloping depression for the index finger that ends in a finger guard. The appearance is quite angular with flat sides, but the proportions are well-balanced and the back has been curved from front to back.
The length is 122 mm and the thickness is 12.5 mm.
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| The G10 sides hide several technical finesses |
The material used is G10 as opposed to the simpler GRN (fiber-reinforced plastic) found in the aforementioned model A100. The G10 sides are a bit special as ANV chose to make parts of the sides almost polished or at least very smooth but kept a rough surface that extends along the handle in a narrow ridge. An excellent solution as it provides a better traction without turning the entire knife into a roll of sandpaper. It's also not a solution I've come across before.
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| The A200 consists of an unusually large number of parts. Photo: ANV Knives |
The knife can be disassembled but a warning is issued. It consists of many parts and screws as well as two springs. As I said, it is a special handle. Three T6-size screws hold the handle together along with the adjustable pivot screw. Then the handle is open in the back, where you find two bright red spacers that, together with the thumb stud, act as an accent color. The rear one also acts as a lanyard attachment for those who want to use one. To make this possible, the screw that holds the clip in place has been given a large but very flat head found on the inside of the handle side.
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| The knife is extremely light, which is achieved, among other things, through the open back of the handle |
What makes the knife advanced is a combination of the lock construction and the fact that, like a Benchmade* with the same type of lock, the knife only has a partial frame. The actual strength of the handle comes instead from the material itself. In order to reduce the total weight of the knife, however, these have been lightened internally. Even so, the sides are so stiff that you can only make them flex with difficulty. So the criticism directed at e.g. BM Bugout for that can be skipped here.
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| The combination of a slightly rough surface and softer overall works well, as does the shape of the handle |
The length is enough to accommodate most hands and it's not so thick that those with smaller glove sizes experience any problems either. The seemingly simple shape also means that you can choose your favorite grip without any problems and it is also easy to switch between different grips.
Opening and Lock
The opening method of this knife is hardly a secret. Namely, it is difficult to avoid the oversized thumb which, together with the previously mentioned spacers in the back, forms a clearly brilliant splash of color. Note that I wrote, "the stud" in the definite singular. It has no companion but is single-sided. However, it can be removed and shifted to the other side if desired.
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| The design of the thumb stud is unique to ANV |
The thumb stud has been given a very special design. It is larger and wider than most and instead of resembling a barrel, it resembles a volcanic crater. That it is not completely common is evident from the fact that they have even chosen to call it the "ANV button". Inside it is one of ANV's signatures. In all their folding knives, a small recessed luminescent lumidot dot is found.
Certainly, the stud may look a little special in terms of appearance, but the function is excellent. The shape makes it softer on the thumb than many others because the contact area is larger.** It also means that there are two edges for the thumb to attach to which gives a good grip. The movement also feels excellent in that the knob is found where you expect when you stretch your thumb in that direction and that the arc itself when opening the knife is good.
Since the lock is of the type it is, you can of course also just release the lock bolt and thus release the blade. Then the knife can both be opened and closed with a small twist of the wrist. It can be said that the maneuver works really well.
Then the action was not the absolute smoothest when the knife was new. ANV is one of the few manufacturers that use nylon bushings. Although theirs are special as they are double and equipped with lubrication holes. But that means this knife needed to be worn in. It gets softer and smoother to open as time goes on, but it will never be as silky smooth as a knife on ball bearings. Now I can think that is a good thing in and of itself. I've never been a big fan of "finger guillotines".
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| The lock is of the type based on a transverse bolt and is supported by a blade stop |
As I wrote in the presentation of this knife, A-Lock is a derivative of an Axis lock. A latch with a transverse bolt which is spring-loaded and thus in the locked position clamps the top of the blade base. Releasing the lock is done by pulling the bolt backward. That makes it very easy to manage. Especially as this is a very well-made variant. In passing, it can be mentioned that the reason why it appears in so many variants is that Benchmade's patent has expired.
ANV's interpretation is really good. One of the better actually. In addition to the lock keeping the blade in place as it should be, it is easy to release. The resistance in the springs is well-balanced and the knobs are not as sharp as they can sometimes be on knives with this type of lock. Add to that the bolt doesn't want to end up crooked which can sometimes be the case even on the original.
To Carry
One of the many virtues of this knife is how pleasant it is to carry. The fact that the knife is light and well-balanced also means that it disappears in the pocket and sits there comfortably without dangling around. Especially as the previously described solution was chosen with a G10 surface that is only partially coarse. However, the surface where the clip meets the side of the handle is smooth, which is a big plus.
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| Slim, light, not too rough sides and with a deep ride clip makes the A200 very easy to carry |
There are three more factors that make the A200 easy to carry. The streamlined shape where, for example, the slightly protruding back of the blade has been rounded makes a strong contribution. But above all, it is the weight. When you start from the G10, which is also equipped with pockets on the inside, chosen to have an open back and a very small frame, a wire clip, and a thin blade, the result can only be one, a light knife! The A200 weighs in at flyweight at 81 grams. It must be put in relation to almost nine centimeters of blade length!
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| This version of a wire clip is really good |
The third factor is found on the outside. The clip is simply damn good. It doesn't get more discreet than a blackened, deep ride wire clip. What makes it good, however, is that it has been made stiffer than the version I previously tested on the Z200. That version was somewhat flimsy, which allowed it to wander sideways. This clip does not. The ramp is also good, the space underneath is decent and the spring is perfect. The space under the clip itself can mostly be used for fabric as the clip attaches in an ingenious way to the back end of the handle instead of the side. Unfortunately, there are some screw heads sticking up there and they steal some of the space. However, since they are rounded, I haven't experienced them causing problems.
Then the clip is not felt in the hand when working with the knife, which I appreciate. But there it is more the length of the handle that saves the situation than the shape of the clip. Rear ends of this kind can cause "hotspots", and thus rub a little against the hand.
To Conclude
Initially, I wrote that this was probably the most technically advanced knife ANV produced. I could possibly have used the word "exclusive" as well. That claim is based on a number of details. Certainly, the handle material is neither expensive nor extreme in any way as G10 is quite common even in simpler knives. But the way in which it has been used and worked in this case is more unique in that the sides have no frame, are weight relieved, and have both a coarse and a smooth part on the outside. In other words, there is a lot of work and machining time put into the knife.
The blade steel, on the other hand, is exclusive and among the best that can be used in a folding knife, and the same can be said about the blade finish. ANV has not skimped in the slightest. Sleipner blackened with DLC is top-notch.
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| The A200 is a well-composed knife with fine materials where they do the most good |
But the technical details do not stop at the processing of the handle, blade, and blade finish, but extend further via the thumb stud with its luminescent point and unusual design to the lock construction. Here we find an "axis derivative" or a cross bolt lock that in many cases, if not surpasses, at least matches the original. ANV's version is named A-Lock and has proven to be excellent.
The clip is also special as it is a wire clip, which in itself is not unusual, and is attached to the back end of the knife. The latter, and especially in this form, is considerably rarer. But together with how the thumb stud is reversible and the design of the lock, it makes the knife completely ambidextrous.
Then, like almost all other modern folding knives, the A200 could be thinner behind the edge. But I will achieve that when it is time to re-sharpen it. The Sleipner steel can handle it.
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| Examples of knives found in the same niche as the A200 are the Benchmade Bugout and the SOG XR LTE |
But what distinguishes the A200 the most in my eyes is actually not all the technical stuff but the combination of a very light and damn well-balanced knife. That makes it a joy to carry but above all to use.
This knife is a clear competitor to knives like the Benchmade Bugout and SOG XR LTE. The trio share characteristics such as lock type as well as being lightweights. However, the A200 has its own design language and several distinctive details that make it unique. Then I mainly think of the thumb stud, the excellent clip, and the steel choice.
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| The ANV A200 is a really good EDC knife for those who want a light and well-balanced knife |
In short, this means that the ANV A200 is an excellent knife for those looking for an EDC knife with those characteristics. In addition, you get a knife that not everyone else has and which is nice to look at. If that sounds like something for you, it will cost you around 155€ or 140$.***
Specification:
Length Overall: 210 mm
Length Folded: 122mm
Weight: 81 g
Blade Length: 88 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: Sleipner
Handle: G10
Lock: A-Lock
Produced by: ANV, made in the Czech Republic
/ J
* It is built in a way that reminds of a Benchmade Bugout but with better materials.
** Such as the nightmare found on the famous CRK Sebenza.
*** At publication €155 from Knives and Tools or 140$ from Blade HQ.
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