Review QSP Canary

  

- small can be good!

QSP is a brand that hardly needs any further introduction to readers of this blog. They belong to one of the brands that started as a "Chinese challenger" but have been more than well-established on the market for several years. Since I was there from the beginning of that journey there have been a few reviews of knives from them by now.

Now it's time for another one, I think it's about number twenty-five and this time something rather exotic for being from QSP, namely a "neck knife" or a small fixed blade meant to be worn around the neck, among other things. The model has been named Canary. 

QSP Canary 141-D1

The name may seem a bit far-fetched in this version with handle sides in blue denim-Micarta but the fact is that there are several versions some of which are made in two-tone G10 in black/red or black/yellow which are colorful enough to deserve the name.

But what we have here is a fairly simple but very well-built little knife that I intended to describe in more detail.

A small fixed blade for EDC use

 Twitter version: QSP Canary, a neck knife that is small but surprisingly good. Sensible choices paired with a touch of flair result in a practical knife that doesn't hurt to look at!

Blade

There is nothing wrong with using a balanced drop point as the basis for a good knife. This is probably why it is one of the most common forms of knife blades. Especially if the knives are geared towards being practical like in this case.

It is noticeable that the blade is made in inch sizes this time as the blade measures just over 63mm in length which is matched by a height of just under 25mm and a thickness of 3mm.

A simple but effective blade shape

As quite often when it comes to steel in the middle price range, QSP uses Swedish 14C28N from Sandvik. It was a steel that they originally developed together with Kershaw as a successor to the classic "Mora knife steel" 12C27. 14C is an overall balanced steel that meets the same criteria as the so-called super steels in terms of corrosion resistance, the ability to take and hold an edge, and toughness. It just makes it a couple of notches below. You kind of get the same features, but not to the same degree.

In addition, it is a steel that is easy to maintain, whether you use a whetstone, sharpening rod, or a strop. And that's probably the downside of this steel if you're spoiled for choice. It needs to be taken care of quite regularly if you use the knife, I have noted.

The steel is Swedish, Sandvik 14C28N, and has been given a stone-washed and polished finish

The factory edge gets approved but not much more. It was certainly sharp enough, but far too thick behind the edge. Half a millimeter in this case. Hardly necessary on a small knife with a blade length of just over six centimeters. But certainly, it makes the edge a little stronger. In addition, the edge was a little uneven and tilted especially towards the tip. It's simply not one of QSP's better edges.

The Canary is not an outdoor knife, for that the handle is too small

Once in use, the knife is nevertheless very likable. As I said, the blade shape is not bad and a fully flat ground blade gives fairly good cutting properties after all. And since the edge is now robust and the knife radiates power, albeit, in a small format, you dare to use it seriously. It is even possible to pry a little with the tip when needed.

But that only applies as long as it is everyday tasks that are handled. Things like cutting cardboard, opening packages, cutting strings or thinner ropes, etc. Canary is not a carving or outdoor knife. The blade is sufficient but the handle is too short and thin for such work.

Handle

Canary is apparently a full-tang knife. In addition, it has had holes made in the tang. It creates a very well-balanced knife while lowering the overall weight. If you have the knife around your neck, it is a significantly more important aspect than otherwise.

Canary is a "three-finger knife" but a good one

Then there is always the option of using the knife without handle sides to make it even thinner or to replace them with, for example, paracord if you prefer or just want variety. 

The knife is thin with just 9 mm

The usable length of the handle is 8.2 cm and the knife is 9 mm thick or rather thin. That makes this a typical three-finger knife for me. In this case, it's a very good one. Especially as the holes in the handle contribute to a better grip by partially placing the fingertips in them.

A comfortable grip as long as the tasks do not require you to use force

The material in the sides that are screwed in place is in this version blue Micarta as I said. If you don't like that design, Canary is available in no less than ten different designs with both blackened blades, pattern-welded blades, and other handle materials. 

Sheath

The sheath undeniably looks like it's made of carbon fiber but it's not. Instead, it is honest Kydex with a carbon fiber look. It has also been done in an excellent way, so I have no direct objections to it.

The construction is of the pancake type and is held together by no less than eight rivets/eyelets which also act as attachment points. This makes it easy to vary how you carry your knife. The case has also been fitted with a small drainage hole should you get water in it.

The Kydex has been given a carbon fiber look

The fit of the sheath is excellent. The knife sits in place without moving in the slightest. This means that the knife is quiet, which is appreciable. Someone I spoke to thought that the sheath would need a ramp or similar for the thumb to rest against when the knife is drawn. I think the well-rounded edge that the outer side of the case forms is enough to fulfill that function. A light push with your thumb there and you have the knife in place in your hand.

Of course, it's great to wear the Canary in a strap around the neck or in the included ball chain, if nothing else is needed, I actually prefer to have it loose in my pocket. It is small and light enough for that. The total length with the sheath included is no more than 14 cm, which makes it on par with a larger folding knife. Add to that the fact that it is fairly flat and light and you have an easy-to-carry knife. The weight with the sheath amounts to 74 grams. 

Conclusion

QSP doesn't have many fixed blades in the range, but there are outdoor knives such as Erised and Bison and then one other, slightly smaller knife. Then it stops. I wrote at the beginning that this is quite exclusive as far as it is a neck knife. But now it is not their first excursion in the area. They already have a model called Neckmuk. Having said that, it can be said that the Canary is a knife that is quite different from it. It is smaller and lighter and has a handle that has a completely different basic shape. However, the leaves are not too far apart.

Both knives looked interesting so the choice was made mostly based on the fact that this is a newer model. If it's important, I also think it's nicer to look at, I might add.

The Canary is a nice little EDC knife for those looking for a fixed blade for that purpose

At first glance, the knife looked as good as in the picture, although as usual, it was smaller than I expected. There was something about the proportions that fooled me. The handle may look like a full-grown four-finger handle in the picture, but it is not as stated. The first impressions of, among other things, the sheath, material fit, and construction were generally positive, with one exception.

I'm used to better factory edges from QSP must admit. It is, of course, something that is easily adjusted when the knife is sharpened, but it still has a negative effect on the feel. In return, there are quite a few who tip the scales in the other direction.

Otherwise, Canary offers a really good finish. This is noticeable, for example, on the sheath, which has a very good fit that holds the knife in place without it moving or making noise. It also has a good "snap" when releasing the knife. This means that the knife sits where it should, even if it is worn as intended, upside down in a strap or chain around the neck. But it is also noticeable in how well-balanced the knife is and in the way in which the handle is put together. There is not the slightest hint of gaps between the handle sides and tang, for example.

The impression that the construction is sound is reinforced by the Canary feeling solid and almost heavy, in a good way. It is impressive considering that the knife itself weighs in at a low 58 grams. So actually it is very light.  

Then QSP has actually made an effort to give this knife some details just for the sake of appearance. A clear one can be seen on the blade spine. Instead of settling for regular milled grooves for better traction for the thumb/index finger, they have chosen to make a pattern that looks like it is twisting. Original and actually works well. It may not provide the same grip as the best solutions in the area, but good enough. 

QSP Canary in a version with handles in blue denim-Micarta

It can only be stated that QSP didn't do away with their second outing in the rather unusual landscape of neck knives. Canary is a practical little knife that, despite that, looks good and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. A quick search finds it for around SEK 675 at the time of writing. For that you get a lot...eh, maybe not that much but a small competent, and good-looking knife.

QSP

Specification:

Length Overall:133 mm
Blade Length: 63 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: 14C28N
Weight: 74/58g, claimed 78 g (with and without sheath, weighed by me)
Handle: Denim-Micarta
Sheath: Kydex

Produced by QSP, made in China


/ J