- good things come in small packages
Last but not least, as the saying goes. But that is not true in this case. This is certainly most likely my last review of a Penguin from QSP but it is definitely the smallest. In the past, I have reviewed two standard-size versions of penguins and then a larger cousin.
If the latter is an Emperor Penguin, this is a Galapagos Penguin. Yes, it is small. Translated into the knife world, we're talking about something that can be squeezed into the fifth jeans pocket, hence the suffix "Mini".
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| Penguin Mini QS130XS-F1 |
Since this is straight up a shrunken version of an existing model, there is not much new to tell in terms of technology and appearance. But size is, contrary to what some claim, important. When it comes to EDC knives, it is both about what the knife is capable of in relation to needs, but also what can be considered socially acceptable in different contexts. It is, of course, extremely situational, and size and appearance usually play a big role.
It is somewhere there that the discussion about QSP Penguin Mini to be or not end up.
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| A straight edge, anyone? |
Twitter version: QSP Penguin Mini, the knife for those who like workhorses, straight edges, and small knives!
Blade
Everything that applied to the bigger siblings also applies to this knife. For those who don't know what it means, it's a classic sheep's foot. Possibly it could be said to be a Wharncliffe, especially when it is as short as here and the sloping part of the back thus constitutes a greater part of the length of the blade. It is around 56-60 mm depending on how it is measured. In addition, you get a height of 22.5 mm. The thickness of the blade is 3 mm.
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| The blade is a sheep's foot |
The blade is ground flat with a fairly high grind, stretching around three-quarters of the blade. The finish is a two-tone satin. The labeling, something that QSP received criticism for at the beginning of its existence, is now considerably more elegantly done. The logo is the same, but nowadays both size and placement are adjusted depending on which knife it will be on. Here it is found on the flat part of the blade. Along with it, you can find information about the steel type on the other side.
What is written there is one of the things that differ between the knives and that is the material of the blade. The steel is well chosen in my opinion. I may be biased as I simply like the 14C28N. It is basically an updated and "tuned" version of the old "Mora Knife Steel" 12C27. "14C" was something Sandvik developed in collaboration with Kershaw some years ago. The result is steel that is resistant to rust even though it is reasonably hard and takes a very good sharpness. In addition, it is easy to sharpen, which is a positive feature. I wrote "reasonably" hard as it doesn't stay sharp for any extreme length of time. But in this case, QSP has raised the hardness somewhat as it is stated to be in the range of 59-61 HRC.
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| But QSP, what happened here? This edge is not very well done |
The factory edge is something I have to comment on, unfortunately. It's actually decently sharp, strangely enough. Because if you take a look at the pictures, you'll see why I put it that way. The edge is not impressive at all. It is uneven in height and, in addition, the one who sharpened it has tilted considerably towards the tip, so there we almost have two bevels. Furthermore, both sides are not consistent and there is a slight tendency to a "smile" at the end of the edge.
Despite that, the knife cuts relatively well. It is a small and very powerful blade. Fully capable of handling slightly heavier tasks than you think. In addition, the tip, if not the best sharpened, is capable of penetrating cuts. Overall, it's a blade that can handle most things. It is not very often in everyday life that you need an extremely long edge on your knife. Although it can sometimes simplify and sometimes just be a taste preference.
Handle
The penguin flock is now almost as large as the colonies of the living models, which means that there are many materials to choose from when it comes to handle materials. This happens to be natural, sometimes called "jade", G10. A material that has a green slightly transparent color. If you don't like that shade, it also has the property that it is fairly easy to dye for those who want to experiment with new shades.
The surface is medium rough if you can say that. But anyone who knows their G10 knows what I mean. At one end of the spectrum is polished ditto and at the other is material that can be used as sandpaper if desired. This one provides grip without in any way belonging to the coursest varieties.
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| Handle sides of natural G10 |
The construction feels familiar too. A steel frame that is open at the back and fastened together at two points. The screws used are T6s of approved quality. Not the hardest but they hold up to disassembling and reassembling the knife a few times. Why people insist on taking apart their knives time and time again for "service" is beyond me. What do they do with their knives that require all this maintenance? But that's a side track.
In addition to the two screws, two more are found that belong to the removable clip. Then of course there is an adjustable pivot screw. It is adjustable on one side but is D-shaped so it does not spin freely even though it lacks a stop. On the presentation side, the screw head has been provided with QSP's triangle logo.
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| The construction is familiar with a polished steel frame as the base |
The handle is of course small, that is the point of the whole knife. In numbers, it is 8.2 cm in length with a thickness of 12 mm and a height of 21 mm. Not much to grab in terms of length, in other words. Especially as the finger guard steals some space. For me, this will therefore be a three-fingered knife. Although it is a fairly solid one.
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| Barely three fingers can fit if you don't hold over the finger guard. But it is a sturdy three-finger grip |
Or three fingers, by the way, if I slide slightly back on the handle in a saber grip, it's more like two and a half fingers that fit. The little finger hangs slightly outside the stern. But in return, the flat finger guard can actually be used to curve the index finger around and then I can almost squeeze four fingers onto the handle. So for being small, it's pretty flexible. That it is can be attributed to the fact that it is quite thick, which fills the hand better in this case.
Opening and Lock
The thumb studs on the Penguin Mini sit quite far from the handle, which makes them easy to reach. It also means that the leverage in is good. When it is combined with a well-trimmed detent ball in ceramic and ball bearings in the same material, the result is a very snappy action.
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| The thumb studs are simple but found where they should be and make Penguin easy to operate |
In addition to being easy to reach, it can be said about the thumb studs that they are barrel-shaped but have a stepped pattern that is quite distinct and thus bite well against the thumb. No risk of slipping, in other words. Overall a good set of studs.
Then it is possible to open the blade slowly as well, but it is almost difficult. Two hands is another alternative to deploying this blade and a third is a "Spyderflick". This means that the index finger is placed on the back of the blade and is used to send the blade out. However, it requires some finger gymnastics as the knife is small
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| This version of a liner lock is excellent |
A liner lock prevents the blade from slamming over your fingers and it performs the task well. The lock is secure, that is, engage every time the knife is opened, whether it happens slowly or quickly. It also holds the blade in place without the slightest perceptible movement in any dimension. The lock bar is also easily accessible and the lock is therefore easy to disengage.
To Carry
A knife small enough to fit in the fifth pocket of jeans can only get one rating on this front and that's excellent! Certainly, it is neither lightweight nor thin, so there are lighter small knives than this one, but in absolute terms, eighty grams is not very much to argue about.
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| A low but effective spring steel clip |
The clip is a smart one. In itself, it is nothing remarkable as it is a stamped clip made of spring steel. But the tension is good, the size is well adapted to the knife and it has a small but well-functioning ramp. The space underneath is actually rather modestly sized, but still works and that's where the cleverness comes into play.
This clip attaches to the inside of the handle sides instead of the outside, which is more common. The end itself is inserted from the back and then screwed into place. It gives more space under the clip while keeping the knife deep in the pocket. On larger knives, the placement is more a matter of taste, but on knives this short, it makes the knife sit more securely in the pocket.
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| The finesse of this clip is how it is attached to the handle |
Om det skall invändas något mot clipet så är det att spetsen pekar utåt. Det är en av mina käpphästar och jag kommer alltid att slå ned på det. Varför kanske vän av ordning, eller alla andra, undrar? Jo, därför att om man går och pendlar med armarna är det inte sällan att händerna glider mot kläderna varpå de slår i det utåtpekande clipet. Sen brukar de kännas i handen när man använder sin kniv även om det inte gäller i det här fallet.
To Conclude
The smallness is part of the greatness of this knife, excuse the bad pun. Despite its diminutive format, the Penguin Mini has nevertheless been provided with decent materials. The blade steel is not exclusive but well chosen and practical, the handle sides of G10 are of good quality and then the knife has ceramic ball bearings and a detent ball in the same material. The build quality is also of the usual QSP standard. The frame is polished and rounded, all materials are tight and the handle sides are well-finished.
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| The Penguin family, a size comparison of Penguin Plus, Penguin, and Penguin Mini |
The quality has always been good but gradually improved from that point of departure and simply became damn high. This means that, despite being a fairly simple knife, it feels solid and powerful in relation to the format. But there is an exception in this case and it is of course the edge I mean. It was actually quite mediocre, I must admit. Fortunately, it can be fixed and I intend to do so shortly.
The frame is not lightened, which contributes to the sturdy feeling and means that the knife does not flex at all.
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| QSP Penguin Mini, a small workhorse that fits in the fifth pocket of jeans |
The QSP Penguin Mini is of course a knife for those who liked the larger knives in the series but want to supplement with something smaller. But it is also an option for those who want a small but fairly robust knife and appreciate straight edges. The fact that it then costs no more than around 50$/50€ is also sympathetic.
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| Quality Service Price |
Specification:
Length Overall: 140 mm
Length Folded: 82 mm
Weight: 80 g
Blade Length: 58 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: Sandvik 14C28N
Handle: G10
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: QSP, made in China
/ J - likes "fishbirds"
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