- a handsome but somewhat puzzling knife
It is not without a rather palpable sense of deja vu that I unwrapped this knife from Fox Knives. The feeling of having seen it before was strong. Now it's not so strange as this model called the Sicilian is designed by Bob Terzuola and it's also an older model from Fox Knives, the 515W that I've had for a long time.
The question that must be answered is therefore whether it is pure reuse or whether there are enough differences to justify two models and, if so, which one to choose.
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| Fox Knives The Sicilian |
What makes the knives so similar is that the handle shape is identical. If you want them to be even more similar, you choose this knife, Sicilian with a wooden handle and 515W, which is also called Fox Terzoula, in a version with a drop point blade (then called 525BE), which came as an option after the knife had been in the catalog for a while.
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| A comparison between the older 515W and the newer 525BE |
The confusion settled on my end when I realized that it is the 525 series that has been renamed "Sicilian". A name is always easier to remember than a combination of numbers. Something that Fox Knives has taken note of.
Then there are differences and most of them are found in this version of the Sicilian.
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Twitter version: Fox Knives the Sicilian, a stylish and well-built knife for those who are not necessarily looking for a knife to use as a fidget toy.
Blade
The blade is the first obvious difference between the older Fox Terzuola and this model. A slim drop-point blade is found here. The length of the blade is 85 mm and the height is 21 mm.
The finish is blasted and on the presentation side, you will find Fox's fox head logo and on the opposite Terzuola's logotype along with steel type and "Maniago Italy" written in small letters on the ricasso.
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| The almost symmetrical drop point blade has been given a blasted surface |
The material is something that differs not only from the older model but also between the different variants of the Sicilian. On those with wooden handles, N690 is used and here it is BECUT. Steel I was not at all aware of beforehand must be admitted. Something I reacted to is that the hardness is said to be 56-58 HRC, which is lower than usual. Purely theoretically, the steel should be fairly soft, in other words.
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Something I'm not one hundred percent happy with is the thickness behind the edge. It varies between 0.6-0.7mm according to my caliper. That's a lot. I don't know exactly why Fox Knives thinks a pocket knife needs rather soft steel with this geometry. It would be excellent for a larger survival knife namely.
In addition to that, I can also say that Becut did not immediately become a favorite steel. Just as feared, it lost its sharpness rather quickly. I would have definitely preferred that this model also got the N690 or maybe a steel like 14C28N instead.
Otherwise, the knife is a capable pocket knife but definitely aimed at "quick cuts". That is, pull the knife, cut a piece of string, shred a cardboard box, open a plastic package, cut open a taped cardboard box, or whatever it may be. The geometry makes it difficult to work with for longer periods of time even if the handle is comfortable.
Handle
The shape of the handle is, as I said, recognizable. Not only from other variants of Fox Knives but in general. It's a "two-step form" that Terzuola likes to return to, it seems.* Now that's not something I mind as it works well.
The length of this fairly straight handle is 11.3 cm and the thickness is 1.4 cm. Since the height stops at 2.2 cm, that makes the handle fairly round in cross-section.
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| The handle shape is recognizable to those familiar with knives designed by Terzuola |
The material is one of the differences between the 515 and 525 models. Or can be should be added as both can be obtained with wooden sides. In this case, however, it is green Micarta. The sides are screwed in two points in addition to the pivot screw. The size of the screws are T6 and T8 respectively. Something that is starting to become standard on many folding knives these days, although here they have chosen to also keep the screw for the clip in the larger size. The Micarta is of good quality and the fit is excellent. Then it rises above the crowd both literally and figuratively by being rounded. No flat handle sides here.
The frame is made of steel and has received the same treatment as the blade, i.e. it is blasted. However, it is not lightened in any way, but despite that, the knife is not a heavyweight.
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| A colorful back spacer is found in the back |
One thing that is added to this particular variant is the splashes of color found in two places. One of them is the back spacer in bright orange, which covers about half the length of the handle. In other words, the construction is semi-open, if you can say that. In addition to enlivening the color scale, they have also hidden the lanyard attachment in the back of the knife. A solution I am very fond of. Whoever likes the function gets it and the rest of us don't have to see it.
It is noticeable that Terzuola has been around for a while. He knows how to design a straight stick with the addition of small details to make it comfortable to hold. Examples of such are the arched sides of the handle, the angle of the butt end, and the rather subtle "stair step" on the underside that provides a better grip. The simple and also rather round shape makes it easy to change between different grips. It is also a comfortable handle to both hold and use. When it comes to the latter, the blade is actually the limitation in my opinion.
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| A comfortable stick may summarize the impression of the handle |
Opening and Lock
The thumb plate that acts as the primary opening method on the Sicilian is the knife's second splash of color. It has been given the same orange tone as the back spacer.
It must be said straight away that it is usually not my favorite way to open a folding knife. Generally, I prefer thumb studs. But the exceptions that prove the rule always exist and this is one of them. The thumb plate is found where you would expect, which makes it easy for the thumb to find its way, while the grooves prevent it from slipping off. In other words, the function is good.
Then there is no getting away from the fact that thumb plates are excellent for resting the thumb on when holding the knife in a saber grip.
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| The thumb plate works as well as it is colorful |
It can be stated that one has been spoiled with exceptionally smooth action in folding knives in this era of ball bearings. Not so in this case. In fact, I think the knife was a bit "grumpy" when it was new. Grumpy as in having a quite rough feeling when opening. It has softened after use and is now smooth in the sense that the blade opens without a jerky motion. But it is not particularly easy, so anyone looking for a fidget toy will have to look elsewhere.
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| Steel is found in the liner lock that holds the blade in place |
The blade is held in place by a liner lock. The lock feels quite strong as the dimension of the frame and thus the lock bar is 2 mm and the contact area is therefore substantial. In addition, the spring tension is noticeable. It is felt when the lock is to be engaged. When it is combined with solid grooves for traction, it feels in the thumb especially if the motion is repeated a few times.
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| The opposite side is recessed and the lock bar has been given grooves for better traction. But why are they oriented in that direction? |
In connection with this, an unsought question pops up in my head. Why are grooves made on lock bars? At least as they are made herewith this direction. Because they work across the thumb, they only prevent the finger from sliding forward, not sideways. But when you disengage locks, that's exactly how they're used. In addition, only the edge of them, which of course makes the ridges feel sharp against the skin. A problem which, however, is not limited to knives from Fox, but basically applies to all folding knives featuring this lock type.
To Carry
In the pocket, you find around 100 g of knife distributed over a little over eleven centimeters. Not much to say. Then it is not the thinnest knife on the market in relation to the length, but neither is that dimension worth commenting on. The dimensions simply do not cause any problems.
The fact that the knife has a rather streamlined profile when this is folded helps too. Especially as thumb plates that are this thin don't stick out like a pair of pointy thumb studs or a flipper can do. That too is a plus.
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| Fox has created a really good wire clip on this knife |
Micarta is a material that is also relatively kind to fabric. It is found in the middle between mean rough G10 and polished wood. It is particularly kind to the piece of fabric that is found sandwiched between the clip and the side of the handle. It makes it easier when the knife has to into or out of the pocket.
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| A bit of the handle sticks out of the pocket |
Sicilian boasts an excellent wire clip. Done right, it's one of my favorite types. Here it is correctly done.
There are some criteria that must be met for a good clip. There must be adequate space under the clip to accommodate fabric. To get that far there has to be a ramp/lip that allows the said fabric to end up there. In addition, the tension needs to be sufficient to hold the knife in place but not so hard that it is difficult to pocket the knife. Talking about tension, this special type of clip must have material that is thick or sturdy enough so that it does not flex laterally. This is a problem that often occurs with wire clips that are too thin. All these criteria are met in this clip. In addition, most of the knife is hidden when it is in pocket. It's a bonus but not a must for me.
The clip feels very little against the hand when the knife is used. In a hammer grip, basically not at all, as the point mainly ends up inside the hand. Then the tip is very well shaped so that it is not angled outwards.
In other words, this is a very good clip. Except if you are left-handed, that is. Namely, it cannot be repositioned, but then you have to carry the knife on the right side or remove it.
To Conclude
I must say that I really like the Sicilian. Now I like my original Terzuola from Fox too. So the question is which one do I like the most and what is it that I appreciate about this variant?
As I said, there are a couple of distinct differences and they are also what makes this knife worth buying even for those who have nothing to compare it to. One is the handle or rather the material.
Micarta is simply one of my favorite materials. Wood is perhaps prettier for the most part, but the surface of Micarta is pleasant to the hand, while the grip is slightly better. Like natural materials, it also ages with dignity and develops a patina as time passes. It is also more durable than wood. I actually knocked a small corner off my Fox 515. If you want an even more durable knife than that, there is also a variant of this knife with a titanium handle.
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| A knife as Italian as an espresso, even though Bob Terzuola is responsible for the design |
This knife has also received a couple of splashes of orange. The color choice is something I am very happy about as I am tired of the ever-present blue tones in many knife handles. The green Micarta and the orange details work better together. It may not be a selling point in itself, but the color scheme together with the rest of the appearance make this a good-looking knife in my eyes. That is a selling point, however!
Even the blade is different compared to the older Fox-Terzuola. Which one prefers is of course a matter of taste. The angular reverse tanto on the 515 models with its fuller/blood groove is more unique but this one is more practical in my opinion. A drop point is never wrong and a smooth surface is easier to keep clean.
Finally, there was the clip. Having one is a must for many and in that case, the choice is made. For those who are not comparing but are only interested in the function, this is a very good variant. However, not for those who are left-handed.
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| The Sicilian from Fox Knives |
Fox Sicilian is a pocket knife you buy partly because of its looks. It's a knife designed by Bob Terzuola and it shows. It's a stylish knife with a lot of personality. But the fact that it looks good does not prevent it from being a practical tool. The Sicilian is a good little pocket knife also from a practical point of view. As long as you don't cut for longer periods of time. Easy to carry with a blade and ergonomics that are not bad at all.
On the other hand, it is not a "fidget toy", so anyone looking for a yo-yo or stress ball in a knife format to play with has to keep on searching in the knife jungle. But for many, it can rather be an argument for buying the knife. Only you know which category you belong to.
Specification:
Length Overall: 200 mm
Length Folded: 113 mm
Weight: 100 g
Blade Length: 85 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: Becut, HRC 56-58
Handle: Micarta
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: Fox Knives, made in Italy
/ J
* A similar shape can be found, for example, in knives designed for CRKT (no longer in production), MKM, and Massdrop, as well as in his custom knives.
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