- back to the roots
"Modern Traditional" is an expression that is sometimes used for the type of knives to which this creation called Root belongs. That means a classic pocket knife made with modern materials and production methods. That's precisely what Italian MKM - Maniago Knife Maker did here.
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The designer behind this knife is none other than our friend Jens Ansø. It is perhaps not so difficult to figure out as it bears certain similarities to a previous collaboration between the Danish designer and another well-known knife brand. However, this is a better knife on several parameters according to me. I will get back to why.
Root is available in no less than nine different versions. You can choose between different materials in the handle such as aluminum or titanium with or without inlays, wood in some variants, and canvas-Micarta, which is also available in a couple of nuances.
In other words, there is a lot to choose from. It also gives the impression that MKM believes in this model right from the start.
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| Another fruitful collaboration between Denmark and Italy, Ansø and Maniago Knife Makers |
Short version: MKM Root, is a typical example of a "modern traditional". Classic design with a twist seasoned with top-of-the-line materials.
Blade
When designing a classic pocket knife there are a couple of archetypes when it comes to blade shapes to choose from. You can find one of them here in the form of a sheep's foot. It is characterized by a straight edge and an equally straight back which then curves downwards in a gently rounded manner to meet the edge. However, you can add "modified" to correctly describe this blade. That's because the edge is actually not completely straight, but actually has a slight curvature. In addition, it has a rather pronounced tip for being a sheep's foot.
The blade is otherwise distinguished by three holes. In addition to being decorative, they also facilitate the opening of the knife. The finish is a really nicely executed satin and the marking is reasonably discreet. On one side you will find MKM's logo and on the opposite side Ansø's along with the steel type.
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| The blade is a modified Sheep's foot |
And speaking of steel, the one found here is among the best you can get. MKM uses M390 which has become one of the staples among manufacturers of premium folding knives. It is not so strange as it is an exceptionally fine knife steel with high values for most parameters when properly hardened and heat treated. A small note of caution may be in place as the hardness is stated to be 58-60 HRC which theoretically is quite low for this steel. It would have benefited from being scared up a couple of notches to use the potential of the material to the fullest.
Of that steel, you get a piece that is 71 mm long, 21 mm high at most, and a modest 2.1 mm thick. Because the blade is thin and also completely flat ground, you get the basis for a knife that can cut really well. Especially as the thickness behind the edge is thin 0.2-0.3 mm or so. It is not only good but even exceptionally good.
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| The steel is the excellent M390 from Böhler |
It is something that also becomes obvious when you use the knife. Root is a slicer and generally a joy to cut with. This especially applies to things like paper and cardboard. But the thin blade also works well for all kinds of small tasks such as cutting strings, thinner ropes, and plastic. But again nothing you pry with given that there is no lock. But in return, the back spring is strong and the knife does not feel unsafe to use. Thanks to its rather distinctive tip and slightly curved edge, Root is perfectly fine for small tasks at the picnic, such as slicing a tomato or cucumber and dicing some cheese.
But after all, the format sets limits on what I want to use this and similar knives for. Mainly it is the size of the handle that is problematic. More on this under the next heading, but I can say that wood carving is not something I do with this knife, even though the edge bites well in most materials.
Handle
Root is built around a steel frame that is one millimeter thick. It is backed up by a well-rounded back spring that takes over where an equally well-rounded blade spine ends. In the extension of the back spring, there is also a hole for a lanyard. The knife is screwed together with two T6 screws in addition to the adjustable pivot screw. Incidentally, around the latter, the knife's only color element is found in the form of a collar around the screw head.
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| The handle is available in various designs, here in hardwood |
As said, the handle sides can be obtained in several versions. Personally, I thought that despite the modern elements in the knife, I associate a good slip joint with natural materials, so wood was a must. This is Santos and is a fairly dark type of wood with a clear grain like most mahogany species. The sides have been given some cut grooves for increased grip. The sides are flat with chamfered edges, especially around the recesses.
It can be pointed out that the Root is not a large knife and this is clearly evident from the handle. The overall length is 95mm but only measured from the somewhat pointy back end to the absolute front of the handle. The available grip surface however is 78mm. The thickness is just over one centimeter and the height is around two centimeters.
For me, that means the Root is a three-finger knife, maybe a four-finger if I crawl forward with my index finger in front of the recess and curl it around the finger guard.
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| Root offers a good grip though only for three fingers |
The rounded back of the blade also makes it feel comfortable to place an index finger there and the finish on the handle works well if you hold the knife in a pinch grip. That is, the back end of the handle doesn't create a hot spot against the palm. Thus, most grips work fairly well given the size of the knife.
Opening and Lock
The opening method kind of lends itself to this type of knife. You pinch the blade, preferably over the three holes for better traction and then you open the blade slowly and thoughtfully.
The extra traction is not really needed. The resistance from the back spring, aka "pull" is about 4. Or rather, that is true for the first part of the blade's travel, which offers less resistance.
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| There are a relatively big portion of blade to grip around and three holes increase traction |
Then you are greeted by a ninety-degree half-stop. A safety function that is extra sympathetic when closing the knife. It prevents the blade from snapping closed and cutting a fingertip on the way in. After the stop, the knife is slightly harder to open, about five to six, which is very good as it holds the blade more secure once open.
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| The back spring rests against the back of the handle in both the open and folded positions and rises slightly at the halfway stop. The fit between the back spring and the frame could have been a bit tighter |
Since Root is a slip joint, there is of course no lock in the real sense. As is the case with most slip joints the blade is held in place by a back spring. Incidentally, it is done with flying colors. It is another area in which this knife is significantly better than its predecessor. That knife had an open back and was built on a double-detent solution. This way of putting a knife together is more traditional and solid.
Both in the fully open position and when the knife is folded, the back spring is flush with the back. Or as smooth as it can be when both it and the frame are rounded. If any small negative criticism is directed at the build quality, it is that there is a small gap between the various parts. This especially applies to the left side of the handle.
To Carry
Root is both extremely easy to carry or a tad fiddly depending on your attitude to clips and their absence. This knife has none. This means that if you know that you belong to the category of people who believe that a modern knife should not exist without that invention, it is no good.
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| There is a clip of sorts but not on the knife but on the included sheath. It is equipped with a leather flap with a magnetic attachment |
But in return, Root comes with a stylish and well-made slip-type leather sheath, which in turn is equipped with a kind of magnetic clip. It is a flap that is placed on the outside of the pocket and attaches to itself through the fabric. This allows you to attach the sheath to the inside of the pocket and carry the knife as you are used to. The sheath is, like most, leather goods that come from Italy or at least Maniago, very well sewn with an excellent fit. Or rather, the sheath and knife wear together in a sympathetic way.
With that solution, however, the knife becomes a bit thick. With sheath, Root measures just under twenty millimeters. If you add the leather flap with its magnet it will be approx. 5 mm more.
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| And this is what Root looks like when worn in a pocket using the sheath |
Otherwise, of course, this knife can be carried loose in a pocket as well. Root weighs in at a feather-light 70g and is 11mm thick across the neck without sheath. Since it is not the world's largest folding knife, the length of 9.5 cm does not deter either. All in all, a knife that rests in the bottom of a pocket without any problems.
To Conclude
I have to admit, I immediately fell for this knife. For me, this is the knife that the ZT 0230 was not. The aesthetics are quite similar, especially if you ditch the wooden handle on the Root and go for something more modern. I like that knife too which you can guess since I own it. But, and it's a big but, that knife has some flaws as a cutting tool. I can reveal that it is neither material nor execution as they are entirely on par with Root.
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| ZT 0230 compared to MKM Root |
No, the differences are found in how the knives feel when you actually cut with them. The first thing that is noticed is that Root has significantly more power in the back spring. The detent is better, the half-stop is more distinct and the blade feels significantly more secure when working with the knife.
There is an even bigger difference when you compare how they slice. The blades are fairly similar in shape and material, but there is a hell of a difference in geometry. This Italian knife is much thinner behind the edge and it is immediately noticeable.
Root cuts really well and gives more power to the cuts than you might first think. Given that it is a slip joint and the knife thus lacks an actual lock, you should avoid stabbing and prying, especially trying to penetrate packaging and the like by pressing. It is tempting fate.
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| Root is an excellent EDC knife that is also quite disarming in its appearance |
But otherwise, it is fully equivalent to other high-quality pocket knives on the market. The other difference or possibly shortcoming depending on how you look at it is of course that the knife cannot be opened and closed with one hand. It's a fact you have to deal with. Or someone else has already done it for you through legislation depending on where you are in the world.
A slip joint brings with it the good thing that they are legal in more places on our globe than several other knives especially if it cannot be opened quickly. Add to that a blade length that falls short of the three inches or 7.5 cm that is often set as a limit, and you have a knife that is largely passable in all places where you are allowed to carry a knife at all.
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| Root is an example of another successful collaboration between Ansø and Maniago Knife Makers |
Therefore, MKM Root is a knife that has a lot going for it. In addition to being legal, it is very classic in its appearance and thus nice to look at. At least I think so, but aesthetics is a highly personal consideration. But how good Root cuts is not. It is a fact.
So for those looking for stylish Danish design executed with Italian craftsmanship in a knife where traditional meets modern and which is also really practical, Root is a very viable option.
Specification:
Length Folded: 166 mm
Length Overall: 95 mm
Weight: 70 g
Blade Length: 71 mm
Blade Thickness: 2,5 mm
Blade Steel: Böhler M390
Handle: Wood, Santos
Lock: none, slip joint
Produced by: Mikita, made in Italy
/ J - Rooting
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