- a robust folding knife for outdoor life
Most of the knives I have from MKM - Maniago Knife Makers are rather timid in size. That is not the case with this knife called Hero. Here we are talking about a sturdy folding knife that is not discreet. There are, of course, both pros and cons to such a format, and I intend to discuss some of them in this text.
 |
| MKM Hero |
Hero is a knife designed by the Italian Tommaso Rumici. He has on numerous occasions collaborated with well-established manufacturers and made knives produced by Maserin and Viper to name a few. But this time it's a knife from another Maniagobased company, MKM. It is also a knife that is something of an exclamation point as it is a solid folding knife.
As is often the case with knives from this manufacturer, the model is available in several versions. The handle can be had in a couple of different shades of G10, Micarta, and of course wood or carbon fiber. That should cover most tastes.
 |
| As usual, MKM has created a well-built knife with excellent materials |
Short version: MKM Hero, a sturdy folding knife for outdoor activities and possibly EDC use for those feeling bold.
Blade
It is not primarily the length of the blade that gives the massive impression. It is large but not extremely long at 88mm. But when combined with a width of over three centimeters and a thickness of 4 mm, you get an impressive blade. It is also ground so that it retains a large part of the thickness near the tip, which makes it strong.
The finish is a very fine semi-polished satin. The marking consists of MKM's logo on the presentation side and Rumici's octopus logo on the opposite side. The observant can also find the manufacturer MIKITA's name elsewhere on the knife.
 |
| Hero is equipped with a sturdy drop-point blade |
As usual with knives from MKM, the blade gives a very well-worked impression. This can be seen, for example, on the well-rounded blade spine and the grooves found at the base of the blade. They provide a good grip without being too sharp.
The steel is M390 from Böhler often used by MKM. It is one of the knife steels that has been among the best for a few years now. It is simply very good on most parameters such as the ability to take an edge and hold it, rust resistance, and impact resistance. Although the latter may not be its forte. The disadvantages are mostly found in the price and the fact that it can be difficult to grind as it can be very hard. But on that point, the Italians have chosen a different path.
Stated HRC is found in the range 58-60 and if it is correct (something I do not have the opportunity to investigate) then it is some points below what would have been optimal for the steel on a theoretical level. If the steel's full potential is to be used, it must be tempered to perhaps 61-62 HRC. That is an ongoing debate.
The grind is very high, basically completely flat. It gives 25 mm of secondary bevel for the steel to thin out to the approx. 0.7-0.9 mm it measures behind the edge. The latter number describes the area right at the tip. Normally, an objection that it is too much would have been appropriate. But it must be put in relation to the intended use of the knife. Then it can be said that the original edge was sharp and the factory edge overall decent.
 |
| The finish is a semi-gloss satin |
In practice, the knife does not feel particularly thick behind the edge after all. Butchering large cardboard boxes and cutting similar materials with the Hero is nice. The same applies to fast cuts in plastic materials and the like. Even in wood, the edge bites relatively well and in that case, there are other areas that make this knife less optimal for that kind of work.
I also noted that the knife works best for different types of poultry, fish, and meat in mixed kitchen service. Therefore, I am inclined to believe that this broad blade with its substantial belly makes an excellent folding hunting knife.
Handle
Hero is a knife with quite a large handle. It is 12.8 cm long in total. Of that, the available grip area behind the finger guard is 10.5 cm, which is enough for most hands. Especially as the design of the end of the handle enables the little finger to slide backward, which is good if, for example, you wear gloves and need more space.
The handle is also a full 36 mm high at most and a few millimeters more at the finger guard. This contributes to the fact that it fills the hand well even though it is relatively thin.
 |
| The handle sides can be had in several different materials. This is G10 |
The fact that the knife is not even heavier is because a lot of it is made of titanium. This applies to the frame itself, the clip, and the bolster. Yes, and then the little decorative splash of color that the collar around the pivot screw makes up. The material in the frame is probably the reason why it is not lightened inside. Such a measure had not contributed much to reducing the weight but had impaired the strength. On the other hand, the back spacer to which the clip also attaches is made of steel, as is the lock bar.
The balance point is found just behind the bolster. Not entirely unusual for this type of construction. They tend to be a bit back-heavy.
 |
| Due to the construction, the back is not open. On the inside, the sharp-eyed can read "Made by MIKITA" |
In addition to the titanium bolster, the sides consist of a couple of finely treated pieces of G10. As I said, they are softly rounded and this also gives a structure reminiscent of what wood looks like. The different layers are exposed when the material is sanded, which is reminiscent of grain.
The sides are screwed in place with T6 screws. Usually, I don't appreciate such small screws in knives intended to be disassembled. However, backlock knives are not so in this case it is irrelevant. The pivot screw is a couple of sizes larger and can be adjusted with a driver intended for T8s.
 |
| It is mainly in the saber grip that the handle of the Hero comes into its own |
So Hero can be said to be a knife intended for medium heavy usage if you know what I mean. This often leads to a saber grip with the thumb on the back of the blade. Then suddenly everything feels perfect! The fingers fall into place very naturally and no hot spots are felt, not even the clip.
Also in other grips, Hero is easy to work with. This applies, for example, when an index finger is placed on the blade or when the knife is held in a pinch grip. However, it can be pointed out that the thumb studs could have been placed closer to the handle. They are not directly in the way of cutting, but you have to take them into account. With a reverse grip, such as when carving towards yourself, it is noticeable that the handle is angled in relation to the blade, which affects the feeling.
Opening and Lock
Hero can be opened in two ways. Either you choose two hands and pinch around the generous portion of the blade that is visible or you use the double-sided thumb studs. In any case, this is a knife you open calmly and controlled. The lock construction and design are not intended to act as a fidget toy in front of the TV. In this case, you open your knife, cut what needs to be cut, and put it away again.
Having said that, the action is very smooth and you can tell it's a quality knife by the way the blade swings freely when the lock is fully released. But sure, a large part of that can be attributed to the combination of a heavy blade and ball bearing. Anyway, the tolerances are small.
 |
| The thumb studs are easy to access and give a good grip, almost too good |
The thumb studs unfortunately seem to be a direct import from another quality knife. They are quite similar to those found on a Sebenza. It is nothing to aspire to. I find these pyramid-shaped thumb studs too sharp. But by all means, they work very well in this case. The wide blade means that the leverage becomes substantial and the curve for the thumb becomes natural. For the same reason, the grand pyramids are very easy to "find" when the thumb reaches for them.
 |
| This is a solid back lock which, with its short lock bar, can also be called a mid-lock |
The nature of this knife somehow includes that this should be a back lock, although the position and size of the lock bar means that it can be counted as what is sometimes referred to as a mid lock. In addition, a solid and strong one. The lock bar falls into place with authority and the blade is held firmly. It doesn't move in the slightest, not sideways anyway but up and down you can sense more than feel that the blade can move, which is the case with ninety-nine percent of all back locks. Here, there is so little that it is barely noticeable, but the feeling is there.
In addition to that, it can be stated that the lock bar, like the blade spine, is softly rounded in such a way that it forms a unit. Releasing the lock feels natural, there are probably not many people who cannot handle a back lock. Here the process is facilitated by grooves of a slightly sharper cut than those found at the base of the blade. The force required to press down the lock is well-modulated, which makes the lock easy to handle.
To Carry
You know what I will say under this heading. A knife cannot be the best at everything and there is usually a direct connection between carrying comfort and ergonomics as well as blade length. A large knife is rarely as handy in the pocket as a small one. As I said, this is a solid piece, which is reflected in both weight and outer dimensions. Of course, that affects how this knife feels in the pocket.
But in this case, there are several forgiving features. One such is how thin the Hero is. The thickness is a maximum of 1.6 cm and that measurement is taken in the middle of the handle slabs, which must be pointed out because the handle is heavily arched. This means that the outer dimensions have less impact on how the knife feels in the pocket.
 |
| The clip is quite generous in size with excellent function |
The weight is the most noticeable in my opinion. Much depends on the fact that it has been summer and in a pair of thinner shorts, the 178 grams feel substantial. They weigh down the pocket in a tangible way.
 |
| In the pocket, Hero is discreet despite its size, at least if you're wearing jeans |
However, something that contributes to ease of carrying is the eminent clip. Made of titanium and of the "fold over" type, it means that the knife sits deep in the pocket. In addition, it is designed so that the rear end is softly rounded so that it does not press against the hand when the knife is held in a saber grip. In other grips, the rear end of the handle and thus the clip protrudes outside the hand and causes no problems at all.
The clip is attached to the back end of the handle with two screws of the same type and size that hold the sides in place. It can be switched between the right and left side according to need and taste.
The lightly blasted titanium surface is pierced by MKM's logo in the form of three stylized mountain peaks. The thickness is increased enough to give good tension and the ramp is sufficient for all but the very thickest jacket fabrics. The same applies to the space under the clip.
To Conclude
Hero was not an entirely easy knife to review. Namely, it is not a given EDC knife. For that, in my opinion, it is somewhat too large or rather too solid and thus heavy. Therefore it remains to consider it as a folding outdoor knife. But Hero does not completely dominate there either. The handle is not the best if you use your knife to cut wood, at least not without gloves. Seen from my perspective, it is a slight shortcoming.
But that's where I want to place it after all. Outdoors, on the excursion, camping, or why not the hunting trip. Because it turns out that this blade, which in many ways resembles a skinning blade, is really good for handling all kinds of meat. It also excels in man-made materials such as cardboard, plastic, etc.
So the area of use I firmly believe is outdoor life with the exception of "bushcraft" or carving and possibly a particularly substantial daily companion.
 |
| The competitors are knives such as ZT 0220, Lionsteel TM1, and Victorinox Hunter Pro |
In addition to the substantial weight, Hero also comes with a robust edge and a solid tip. The blade has a lot of steel behind the edge, maybe even a little too much actually. It could also have been kept a little harder. My advice to MKM is to dare to trust the steel to a greater extent in the future.
 |
| If you like extremely solid knives, the Hero might work as an EDC option |
Like everything I've come in contact with from MKM so far, Hero is very well-built. It is reflected in the choice of materials and the way they are put together, it is also noticeable in the care for the details. The finish on the blade is superb and all edges and corners on the handle are ground and rounded. The quality is reflected, among other things, in the well-rounded blade spine, which then continues into an equally well-rounded lock bar, which then transitions into a back spacer.
That production time has been spent on the knife is also visible in things such as the collar around the pivot screw, how well the grooves on the lock bar are made, and the arched handle sides.
 |
| MKM Hero feels absolutely best outdoors as a heavy-duty folding knife or perhaps a hunting knife |
A bonus is that the MKM Hero with double-sided thumb studs, back lock, and switchable clip is totally ambidextrous which should be a nice thing to hear for all the left-handed people out there.
Otherwise, it is a knife with a pronounced aesthetic that is robust and well-suited for most outdoor activities, except for carving wooden spoons. So, if that is up your alley and you are looking for a knife that also comes with top-rated materials and is very well constructed, Hero is a knife for you. If you have decided to purchase one, it costs around €349 at the time of writing.
.
 |
| Maniago Knife Makers |
Specifications:
Length Overall: 214 mm
Length Folded: 128 mm
Weight: 178 g (weighed by me, stated 175 g)
Blade Length: 88 mm
Blade Thickness: 4 mm
Blade Steel: Böhler M390
Handle: Titanium/G10
Lock: Back Lock
Produced by: Mikita, Made in Italy
/ J - looking out for a Hero
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar