Review QSP Hedgehog

  

- bullseye!

This knife from QSP called Hedgehog is not their first but second attempt at making a slip joint if I remember correctly. And what a successful attempt it turned out to be. If you are interested in how good a modern folding knife of this type can be, you should read on. If you are not, you can still read on so you know what you are missing!

QSP Hedgehog

The category has come to be called "modern traditional" and even if the big brands initially appeared a little skeptical of the phenomenon, most now have at least one knife of that kind in their range. In that way, QSP is no innovator when they now release their Hedgehog. But in return, they do it all very well. The first slip-joint knife they released was the Falcon which I previously reviewed. It's a capable, well-made, and good-looking knife, but on some parameters, it can be seriously beaten by Hedgehog.

The knife can be seen as a "modern traditional" 

Twitter version: Second time's a charm, it's not the expression but could be since the QSP Hedgehog is a hit on the second attempt to complete a slip joint

Blade

This knife blade is one of the things that makes this a modern interpretation of a classic knife type. Namely, the blade shape is not completely pure or easy to categorize. Someone called it a Wharncliffe, which I totally disagree with. Rather, it is a coping blade that someone fitted with a rudimentary point. Regardless of what you start from, you end up with the blade being a "modified" something.

The blade is a bit difficult to categorize but offers a straight edge and half a point

The size of this thing amounts to a length of 73 mm with a height of 20 mm and a thickness of 3 mm. In other words, it's not a big blade.

To match that, the branding is also small and discreet. QSP's logo can be found in miniature on the ricasso and on the opposite side, the steel type can be found. Really stylishly done. In that respect, this brand has developed considerably. The rest of the finish is a high-gloss satin. A finish that is good for most things except that it is a fingerprint magnet. 

The steel found in this knife is Swedish in the form of Sandvik 14C28N. An excellent choice for a knife in this price range. Especially when QSP here chose to harden it somewhat harder than is usually done. Now I can't determine exactly where in the range 59-61 HRC this knife ends up, but it holds its edge quite well so the impression is that it might be in the middle.

That impression is reinforced by the way the knife is sharpened. The prototypes and the knives that were reviewed early online were apparently flat ground. The production version that you see here is not. It's got a rather striking hollow grind along the entire height of the blade. This gives a blade that measures approx. 0.4 mm behind the edge. That is really good. Especially as the thickness of the blade is three millimeters and the transition there is a full two centimeters. You can guess for yourself which way it leans regarding cutting properties.

The straight edge is made of Sandvik 14C28N

With that in mind, perhaps it's no wonder that this knife cuts so well that just thinking about it makes you happy. It's certainly not all folding knives you can say that about, despite the availability of all modern materials. The trend that nowadays isn't even a trend anymore with "tactical" as a prefix lingers on.

 It was noticeable right out of the box as there was no difficulty in getting the hair on the arms to more or less fall off. Cutting some neat s-curves in a paper was no problem either. Small tests indicate which way it leans. Then it must be admitted that the steel is certainly quite hard, but it is still 14C28N, which means that it does not hold its sharpness forever. A little maintenance with a strop and a sharpening rod or whetstone is required from time to time.

The production versions of the Hedgehog are hollow grind

Since then, the knife has proven itself through frequent use. Not only by me but also by my partner who agreed both to those qualities and the thoroughly sympathetic handle.

The blade shape gives access to a tip even though the knife is equipped with a straight edge. This is a detail that is much appreciated from my side. It makes it easier to open packaging and allows you to clean your nails or pry out a skewer if you have to. 

But mainly this is a slicing tool and the straight edge with its hollow grind bites into everything. It doesn't really matter what it is. As long as it doesn't involve prying or stabbing things too hard, this is an excellent blade. 

Handle

The handle is as well made as the blade and is the next part that contributes to making this such a good knife. Possibly it can be said to be a bit too small for those with enormous hands but otherwise thoroughly sympathetic. The dimensions are 95 mm x 13 mm x 20 mm in terms of length, width, and height.

A seemingly simple but excellent handle. In this version in luxurious carbon fiber

The small but very well-executed details make this a great handle. These include, for example, the slightly curved back, the handle swelling towards the end, and not least the arched sides.

The sides are available in a couple of different materials, of which this is the more luxurious edition, which means "golden carbon fiber". It is a carbon fiber with some component that causes it to glisten faintly in certain lights in golden yellow. Besides that, the sides have been heavily machined. In addition to being rounded, they have been given a distinct pattern, sometimes referred to as the "Ansø pattern" which is aesthetic but also greatly improves the grip. In addition, the knife has a "bolster part" towards the front edge to where the surface is smooth.

At the end of the handle is found a lanyard hole of a simpler type. Not a must as far as I'm concerned, but perhaps more useful on this knife than many others as a knife that often lies loose in the pocket may need to be fished out.

The construction is typical of a slip joint with a strong back spring and a steel frame. One that is not traditionally weight-reduced. But it makes it easier to keep the knife clean on the inside, so that's not something I have any objections to. Possibly then that it shifts the balance backward. Incidentally, it is found exactly where the transition from the smooth to the patterned part of the handle is.

The sides are screwed into place on the outside of the frame with two T6 screws in addition to the T8 pivot screw. The latter is in the usual QSP-style D-shaped and only screwed from one direction. Their triangle logo is instead found on the presentation side. The one that now indicates that the knife belongs to their slightly finer range.

As far as the size allows, this is a really good handle

The shape of the handle is fairly straight at first glance, but the back has that almost perfect curve that makes it sit well in the hand. In the same way, the fact that it is wider towards the stern and the pattern work together to give a better grip.

The straightforward profile means that all grips really work and the rounded shapes literally blend into the hand. This is not least noticeable on the soft rear end of the handle. And here it must be noticed that part of that success consists in the lack of a clip!

Opening and Lock

Since the whole point of the Hedgehog is that it is a slip joint, the knife is of course best opened with two hands. There are certainly also flipper knives that lack a lock these days, but they can hardly be counted in this category of "modern traditional". The blade has certainly been fitted with a nail nick long enough to touch a fuller but I don't use it much. As a nail-biter, I'm not much for that kind of subtlety. Either I can grip the blade or I am not fond of the knife to put it simply.

When it comes to slip joints, "walk and talk" is a thing. Where walk is how the blade feels on its way in and out. Here that feeling is at its peak, it doesn't get much better. Much depends on the fact that this is one of the areas that is modernized. Instead of letting the blade run directly against the frame as is common on older knives*, phosphor bronze bushings are used here.

In the closed position, the back spring cannot be felt at all and can hardly be discerned with the naked eye

The next part of the "walk and talk" is about the sound the knife makes, which is connected to the power of the back spring as well as the design of the blade base and possibly the halfway stop. For the first part of the movement up to the halfway stop I would put at about 6.5 (out of 10) and the rest slightly easier, about 6. It would actually have been preferable if it had been the other way around as it is the last bit that determines how much the back spring resists when the knife is to be folded. But Hedgehog still performs that task with honor.

Then there is another detail in this knife that adds to the fact that it is a modern traditional and that is the stop pin found in the frame. Older knives do not have that finesse, and if they are not extremely well built, there is often a risk that the edge hits the inside of the handle when folded, whereupon the edge is damaged. It cannot happen here. The stop pin meets the blade in front of the ricasso. Traditionalists don't like such inventions, but on the other hand, they rarely appreciate Chinese-made knives at all if you have to be picky. Personally, I think it's an excellent addition!

I stängt läge finns en tendens till att man kan känna övergångarna mellan ryggfjäder och material och ännu lite mer i halvöppet läge. Men det är mest kameran som avslöjar

Such knives are best closed with two hands. But if you want to do it with one hand, it's fine. Just press hard with your index finger on the blade spine and let the blade fall back to the halfway stop. Then twist the knife in your hand to finish the closure with your thumb. Then be careful to keep your fingers away from the blade groove. Hedgehog closes with authority in the last bit.

The quality of a slip joint can be demonstrated by studying how the back spring works and looks in different positions. Here it is excellent. In the closed position, there is an extremely small edge between the frame and the back spring. It is hard to see but can be felt if you run a fingernail across the back. In the middle position, the same applies and in the open position, the back is completely smooth. The transitions can hardly be discerned with the eye, nor can you feel them. Nice work!

To Carry

Hedgehog is not a very heavy knife even though the frame is not lightened. The reason is, of course, mainly that it is small, but also that the carbon fiber in the handle is very light. This gives a total weight of just over eighty grams. Then the sides are rounded as said and the same can be said about the other parts of the knife. The sharp edge on the upper side of the blade is basically completely hidden and thus does not cause any problems either. Overall, this makes this a knife that easily disappears into a pocket. Possibly the purist may object that it is slightly thicker than some traditional knives are. But in return, some of them have several blades and then that rule does not apply anyway.

When not carrying the Hedgehog lose in my pocket, I use this sheath

But it is loose in a pocket or in a sheath that the knife must be carried. In accordance with the traditional part of the knife, it does not have a clip. In this case, I don't mind. I know there are those who are almost religious in their approach to clips, but I do not belong to that group.

I alternate between carrying this knife loosely in a pocket on a hoodie or jacket, alternatively in a case from MKM that I use. It has a strong magnet that allows it to be attached to the inside of trousers or jeans pockets. An excellent sheath by the way. 

To Conclude

To achieve a good folding knife in the "slip joint" segment, there are some basic requirements that must be met. One is to have a blade that actually cuts really well. Perhaps all folding knives should have that, but that is not always the case and here it is a must as you should preferably not stab or pry with this type of knife at all. Next, a good handle suitable for the said task is required in order to take advantage of that characteristic. In addition, you need a back spring that is strong enough so that the user does not feel nervous when using the knife. In order to demonstrate build quality and contribute to that security, in addition to a good fit in the materials in general, a back spring that is well-fitted is also needed. Of course, it doesn't hurt if the knife looks good too!

All these requirements are met with flying colors by Hedgehog. It becomes particularly clear at the back spring as it is easy for small gaps to creep in between it and the frame so that light shines through if you examine it closely. That is not the case here. Not even if you hold the knife up to a light source. It is thus a solid build. Incidentally, this applies to all other areas as well, not least transitions between materials, overall feel, and factory edge.

Then it must be admitted that it looks good. In addition to the above, there are more detailed criteria that add to the epithet "modern traditional".

"Better knife, Better Life" is QSP's slogan and maybe there is something in it?

A knife like Hedgehog differs from old-time slip joints on a couple of points, it concerns areas such as

• The materials are modern, which means competent stainless steel and sides in advanced carbon fiber
• The knife has phosphor bronze bushings
• A stop pin is included to prevent the blade from hitting the inside of the handle
• The construction is screwed, which means that the knife can be dismantled 
• Adjustable pivot screw enables play to be corrected and the walk to be trimmed

The traditional part means in turn that

• the knife has no lock
• has not been fitted with a clip
• has a blade shape that leans toward the more traditional

Then it's just for you to think about whether the latter points are an advantage or a disadvantage. It also adds simplicity to the knife and makes it somewhat more socially acceptable. The appearance is non-aggressive and the two-handed opening signals "pocket knife" and not "weapon" in the eyes of the public.

QSP Hedgehog is an excellent candidate for anyone looking for a slip joint for EDC use

Admittedly, this knife struggled a bit at the concept stage as I don't really like this blade shape. Even so, I wanted to give it a chance. Then when it's done this well, it's just a matter of giving up and admitting defeat. You go a long way with charm, an excellent ergonomic handle, and a blade that cuts like a laser. Especially as the materials are well chosen and the price affordable. 

Given the results of this venture from QSP, I can do nothing but recommend this knife. 

QSP

Specification:

Length Overall: 168 mm

Length Folded: 95 mm

Weight: 81g

Blade Length: 73 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: Sandvik 14C28N, HRC 59-61

Handle: "Golden" carbon fiber

Lock: none, slip joint

Produced by: QSP, made in China

/ J 

* But even knives such as Victorinox use that construction. It is not wrong to make knives that way, but the action is rarely as smooth as with some form of bushings or bearings.

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