- this is how it should be done!
Is it possible to dig for gold in the Alps? It's a question that feels relevant after becoming more familiar with this knife from the Italian MKM. Named the Isonzo after a river that runs through the European mountain range, it is a shining example of how to build on past successes. But on the other hand, it also comes from a man who right now, like King Midas, seems to turn everything he touches into gold.
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| MKM Isonzo |
There is no doubt where Jesper Voxnaes, the man behind this knife, got his inspiration. He has taken it from himself! For those who know their folding knives, it doesn't need to be explained but addressed to everyone else, it can be said that a few years ago he designed a knife for another company with an appearance that is very close to this one. A company that, however, is not known for its eminent quality and its exclusive materials, to put it mildly. Nevertheless, that model was a sales success. Or perhaps rather thanks to the low price that resulted from that combination.
But the model's full potential was not directly explored with those knives, even though they have now come out in a slightly upgraded edition. I suspect this is why Voxnaes chose to reuse so many elements throughout a new knife.
The best in terms of ergonomics and practicality was retained, but the quality was improved at the same time as the materials were gradually turned up to the max. The result was, as I said, Isonzo, a knife that is built in a city with proud traditions in the field and by a company that is a consortium of the best in its field. MKM or Maniago Knife Makers is an association of several companies from the northern Italian city.*
The number of versions of Isonzo give us a hint about the basic ideas have become successful again. First, a less exclusive variant was released with FRN handles and simpler steel. But right from the start, the knife was available with three distinctly different blade shapes, such as drop point, hawkbill, or as here, a sheep's foot.
Then came the knife with Micarta in the handle and these days a carbon fiber edition awaits around the corner. It can also be obtained with both a flipper and thumbhole opening. All in all, this means that there are many variants to choose from.
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| The lines feel familiar as they are the result of a collaboration between MKM and Voxnaes |
Twitter version: MKM Isonzo, reuse of ideas at its best. A small pocket knife with a big personality and high capacity!
Blade
As I said, you can choose from three different blade shapes on this knife. This is probably the one that looks the least aggressive and MKM calls it "cleaver point", whatever that might be. A somewhat vague description. I call it a modified sheep's foot. The modified parts stem from the fact that the edge is curved and not straight as on the original variants, and that the back has also been curved.
In addition to the shape, the blade is characterized by the considerably enlarged thumb hole it has been provided with. Then the rather thick back has got a couple of substantial notches towards the tip to place a thumb or finger on. The back is also beveled in a way that makes it feel rounded.
Otherwise, the blade is flat-ground and in this version stone-washed. There is a lot of text on the page, but the size of it is kept small. Here you will find logos from both manufacturers and designers, steel type, and who made the knife.
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| This version features a modified sheep's foot blade |
The dimensions are quite modest as the length is less than two inches, which is 49 mm and the thickness of the blade is 3 mm. Not excessively thick in absolute terms, but quite sturdy given the size of the blade.
The material is one of the areas where this knife surpasses both the cousin from the other company as well as MKM's first edition. Here you will find among the best that can be found in Böhler/Uddeholm's famous M390. One of the steels is often referred to as "super steel". In concrete terms, this means that properly treated, you get steel that takes extreme sharpness and keeps it like carbon steel at the same time as it is stainless, not too difficult to maintain, and reasonably impact resistant.
Here MKM reportedly keeps the hardness to 58-60HRC and spontaneously I would guess that this specimen is found in the middle of that range considering how it holds its sharpness. I wouldn't mind seeing it a bit harder but doesn't feel soft.
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| The steel is a fine M390 from Böhler/Uddeholm |
As I said, the blade is ground flat and from a height of 26 mm. Behind the edge, this knife measures around 0.5 mm. It is quite robust for a knife of this size.
Those characteristics are of course reflected in how this knife behaves when it is used. As much as I like this little thing, it is not a godsend for someone who cuts a lot and often. It is a blade with a profile and an edge solid enough to belong to a knife two or three times its size.
Sure, the edge is sharp, it cuts reasonably well in most everyday materials, but it doesn't do it with ease. It becomes noticeable when breaking down cardboard, for example. In fact, it cuts better in wood in my opinion. There it is not bad at all, to my surprise.
When it's time to resharpen this knife, I will reduce the edge angle and remove the"shoulder" between the edge and the flat of the blade. The current edge is somewhat too steep and does not make use of the steel's qualities, I think.
Handle
The Isonzo belongs to those knives that trick you with the size. The handle is simply more spacious than first impressions suggest. This is achieved, of course, with what is popularly known as a "forward finger choil", a recess for the index finger that increases the available surface for the hand. In this case, around 95 mm depending a little on how you measure. Without that detail, the length stays around seventy millimeters. How well this feature is incorporated varies greatly between different knives. Here it is masterfully executed.
The thickness of the handle is 12.5 mm and the height varies between 20 mm at the finger recess to 28 mm towards the rear end. It's enough to fill the hand surprisingly well considering the overall size of the knife.
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| The handle has sides in Micarta and details in anodized titanium |
The material used for the handle sides on this version is Micarta. It is also linen-Micarta of the highest quality. It gives somewhat better traction than, for example, most FRN, while it is a material that ages with dignity, read get patina rather than wear. The sides are screwed with two small T6 screws into a steel frame. The latter is not weight-reduced in any way.
The frame is neatly recessed into the sides and is therefore not visible. The thickness is 1.5 mm, which makes the knife sturdy while at the same time forming a solid basis for a liner lock.
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| As you can see, the handle is quite chunky |
The screws are also pulled through another very noticeable part of this knife's design. Here, Voxnaes has solved the problem of a lanyard hole by not drilling a hole straight through an existing handle but by incorporating that detail into the design itself.
A smart move that provides a lanyard hole large enough to pull a tow line through while not disturbing the looks by messing with the overall lines. The latter has been facilitated by the fact that the shape mirrors the shape of the blade hole while at the same time following an imaginary outer line on the handle itself. But it sure is visible!
The material in both this back spacer and the decorative pivot collar is titanium. In this case, the light and strong material has been anodized to match the knife's color theme.
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| Isonzo belongs to the category of knives that tricks you with the size of the handle and all four fingers can fit if you use the choil in the blade |
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| In a more conventional hammer grip, this is a "three-finger knife" |
Also, the Micarta feels soft to the touch, despite having flat sides but the edges and corners are beveled and well-rounded.
Opening and Lock
Like much else on this model, you as a buyer can choose between different options when it comes to how the knife should be opened. This version lacks the flipper tab, so a blade hole remains. On the other hand, it can be used in several ways. With a thumb or an index finger on the back, quickly or slowly, and of course, the knife can be opened with two hands for those who feel less stressed in life.
The hole is apparently oblong and wider at one end. All edges are rounded, which means that you have to press slightly against the blade when you open the knife, but the movement feels natural and does not require much getting used to. The thumb also does not have to search to find the hole and the arc feels natural.
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| The blade has been given a substantial hole to facilitate handling |
The motion itself is extremely smooth, thanks to the fine ceramic ball bearings found in this knife. There are different opinions about putting small balls sensitive to dirt in a folder depending on what the knife is to be used for. In this case, it's not a concern as I don't see this as a knife for really hard use in demanding environments. More like an EDC knife for lighter tasks. That means less risk of getting gunk in the pivot area.
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| Here you will find a well-executed liner lock. The ceramic detent ball is also clearly visible |
The lock is not much to talk about. What there is to say is positive. A simple steel liner lock holds the blade in place. There is no play in the blade, nor does the lock bar slide if you press hard against the back of the blade. The lock bar falls into place with a reassuring "click" sound and it does so every time the knife is opened. Furthermore, it is easy to disengage. Mostly depending on the fairly thick blade stock giving plenty of space between the sides of the handle.
To Carry
The Isonzo is a small and a lightweight knife. The use of Micarta and not least titanium in the details keeps the weight down even though the frame is massive. It weighs in at just under 70 grams. Sure, you only get five-centimeter blade, but as a total weight considered, it is still good.
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| With low weight and smooth sides as well as a good clip, the Isonzo fits well in the pocket even though it occupies some space |
And not to forget, this is a little chubby knife. As I said, the thickness is close to 1.3 cm, which is substantial in relation to the length. With this bladeconfiguration the knife i also quite tall in the folded position with its 3.8 cm. Not modest measurements, especially with the overall length taken into account, but not excessive in terms of absolute numbers.
In return, there is nothing that stands out and is sharp and everything that should be rounded is. That, combined with a material that does not wear on pockets, makes the Isonzo as a whole pleasant in the pocket.
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| The Wire clip on Isonzo is really good |
The wire clip is of the best kind. This means, among other things, that it is stiff enough not to wander sideways. Some of it can probably be attributed to the size as it has been adapted to the knife. Smaller means stiffer. Something that is not always a given with pocket knives. Sometimes the manufacturers take what they have on the shelf and throw on an existing knife model or at least it can be perceived that way. Here, even that detail feels well thought out.
The clip can be shifted from the right to the left side if desired and it is attached with a T8-size screw that holds it in place in a recess in the side of the handle. In addition to being stiff enough not to move, proper tension is needed to keep the knife in place. That too is found here.
In addition, the space is reasonably large. Regular trousers and thinner jackets don't cause any trouble. If you want to wear the knife in really thick trousers, there may be problems, especially as the ramp is not huge. It's just a small clip. Otherwise, I appreciate that the ramp is not too high as it keeps the tip of the clip at the right level. The tip also has the right angle, which concretely means anything but outwards.
To Conclude
Given the fierce battles historically fought on the Isonzo River, one can almost hope that there is no gold in it if it risks sparking new conflicts. This knife, on the other hand, is worth its weight in gold! In my opinion, of course.
This is despite the fact that I'm not really a fan of "forward choils" nor of sheep's foot/wharncliffe blades, especially if the word "cleaver" is mentioned in the context. Nor do I usually appreciate huge holes for lanyards.
Despite this, I am extremely fond of this knife, which is incidentally my first from MKM and it must be the result of good design considering the tough conditions to sell this knife to me in particular.
Everything or almost everything works on this knife. The recess for the index finger** for example. It doesn't feel like a bad retrofit but something the handle is designed around. Especially in this version, I suspect as you don't get a flipper between your fingers.
Nor does the blade shape offer the disadvantages I usually see with them, namely that it is the most forward part of the blade that is used and that there is no tip. Here, the curved edge makes that problem, if not completely avoided, reduced, and the point that exists works well. Especially as the thumb ends up at an angle that makes it easy to push.
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| As you can see, the Isonzo is not a large knife, which makes it good for everyday use |
And there we come to the next advantage of it is the knife and its ergonomics. It is really really good for such a small knife. It is simply up there with the best for the size. A relatively plump handle with all the curves in the right places makes the knife comfortable both to hold and to work with. Voxnaes obviously knows what he's doing.
Here, that competence has been well managed by MKM or Mikita who makes the knives. Materials such as high-quality Micarta, titanium, and M390 paired with very good build quality make the knife a real jewel both in the collection and in use.
However, they have not really dared to trust the material one hundred percent. In that case, they should have chosen to grind it thinner behind the edge and have a significantly less steep edge angle. The knife may be chunky, but it doesn't have to feel that way when you cut with it. In that area, Isonzo doesn't get quite the same lyrical reviews from me.
As I said, the knife is available in many different variants and really I should have chosen a different blade shape, but I wanted to challenge myself a bit. Then the choice of opening method was easy as I prefer thumbholes to flipper fins in general. The color scheme was chosen because I thought it was sober and elegant. But one advantage of the knife is that if you think the opposite, there is an Isonzo for you too! This applies to colors, blade types, opening method, and not least price.
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| MKM Isonzo the result is a very successful collaboration between Italy and Denmark |
Pricing yes, it's always interesting, and in this version the knife costs €179 on MKM's website. With somewhat simpler materials, it can be had for around €106. For that sum, you get an absolute top-class design that was carried out in a distinguished way by MKM.
Isonzo is a knife that with a lot of charm and solid quality worked its way into my knife heart and I can only recommend it for that reason.
Specification:
Length Overall: 145 mm
Length Folded: mm
Weight: 70 g
Blade Length: 49 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: M390
Handle: Micarta
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: MKM, made in Italy
/ J - charmed but glances at the sharpening stones
* Something I wrote about in the presentation of this knife.
** The same way it does on knives like the Spyderco Lil' Native and Cold Steel Tuff Lite for example.
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