New Knife - Zitoon Knives Commemorative Dagger

It must be admitted that another throwing knife was ordered lately. It was found in the same package as the new NoReload knives from  Zitoon Knives.

It is a brand that has quickly become a favorite of mine for several reasons. The main one is very high quality, especially for the price. They are not exactly inexpensive, but significantly lower priced than many other knives of similar quality. And the design is excellent!

This knife is a bit special and purchased for a specific purpose. The name is Commemorative Dagger or Dague commémorative in French and it has a very distinctive look.

Zitoon Knives Commemorative Dagger

For all of you who know your knife history, the shape of this throwing knife is very familiar. The original is of course the famous British commando knife from WWII designed by Fairbairn and Sykes. In this case, it is a loosely held interpretation as it is not three-dimensional, so to speak. Or rather, it lacks an actual handle and is made in one piece.

The material is as usual with knives from this company, Swedish Hardox. The length of the knife is just over 29 cm, the thickness 6 mm and this gives a total weight of around 220 grams. Not heavy but with this shape the penetration is still excellent.

Well, I actually tested the knife...it's great!

As for the purpose that I mentioned at the beginning, it's of course half-rotation techniques I'm talking about military half-spin and instinctive half-spin, both overhand and underhand, backhand and with the "wrong" hand. Simply, all half-spin throwing. This type of knife is generally excellent for both that and precision throwing. I am sure it will meet my expectations.

In this case, the knife is a tribute to D-Day and the connection is not very far-fetched as Zitoon Knives are found in Normandy. This is also how the inscription on the knife reads "D-Day Normandy".

Zitoon Knives

/ J - intrigued

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review Sencut Serene

  

-  among the best in its class!

The question is, are there much better "button lock" knives in this price range? That is the subject I intend to find out in this review. For the simple reason that Sencut did so much right with this model called Serene.

Sencut Serene

So far, five versions of this model have been released. What differentiates them is the color of the handles and whether you want a black or satin finish on your blade.

Otherwise, it must be stated that several models from both Civivi and Sencut strongly resemble each other. There are differences, of course, and if you want to be benevolent, it can be stated that there is a lot to choose between. But that was actually partly what attracted me.

The Sencut Serene may not offer any great news, but it can be had at an affordable price and is also slightly larger than many of the other knives that Sencut offers. That was mainly what sparked the interest.

"Serene" is what the lines of this knife exude

Short version: Sencut Serene, budget perfection for those looking for a "button lock" knife!

Blade

I usually say that if you, as a knife designer, do not have a clearly stated aesthetic direction and are hesitant about the shape of the blade, choose a drop point! It seems Sencut thought the same. 

This example measures 89 mm in length and the height is at most 30 mm. In terms of appearance, it is basically a classic hunting knife blade. If it had been found on a fixed-blade knife with a Masur birch handle, many people would have recognized it, which is another way of putting it. 

The blade is rather discreetly marked and the grind is flat and extends over the entire height of the blade. The finish is, as I said, satin. The knife blade is not full of details, the only ones that are present are the grooves at the base of the back of the knife.

Ett klassiskt drop point-blad

The Serene is, after all, a budget knife, even if that concept sometimes gets a little fuzzy when transcribed from target prices in dollars to European price levels. Simply put, they tend to get a lot more expensive down the road.

However, this means that the materials are not the most exclusive and therefore D2 steel is found in the blade. Tool steel that both I and above all others have written about.

Since it is a group of steels and the properties partly depend on the manufacturer, they are not always exactly the same in how they behave. As with all steel, it also depends on how it has been heat-treated and hardened by the manufacturer.

The factory edge was excellent on this specimen

In that area, it is noticeable that Sencut is a brand with a large company behind it. The knowledge is in-house, so to speak, and it gives good results. The factory edge was very capable and right out of the box the Serene cuts very well. The blade also stays sharp for a decent amount of time. Not extremely good but passed on that point.

A typical task for a pocketknife at my workplace is opening boxes

The material thickness is no more than 3 mm, to begin with, and the grind is a high flat. The material is thinned to approximately 0.4 mm behind the edge. Overall, this knife is an excellent slicer. The only thing that could have been improved is the angle of the edge itself. It could actually have a shallower angle.

But even in this condition, the Serene cuts damn well, to put it bluntly. This applies both to tasks where a sharp tip is needed and when you need a solid edge. I have tested the latter on everything from natural materials such as wood and timber as well as hemp rope to plastic, rubber, and tape. Regardless of the material, this knife performs well.

Then, of course, it is a folding knife, which means that I do not pry with either the tip or the blade, which could cause unnecessary damage.

Handle

In the same way that the steel is not the most expensive, neither is the handle material. But aluminum of good quality is offered here. The handle is also spacious, it is 120 mm long in total, and of that, there is an available grip surface of 100 mm. The thickness of the handle is 12 mm and the height varies between 25 and 21 mm.

The spacious handle is comfortable but has a small drawback, it tapers toward the back

The surface treatment is very nice in this case. Firstly, it looks almost like titanium and secondly, it is quite durable. At least so far. Some minor damage to the surface occurred when the knife was dropped a few times, once on a stone and another time on concrete slabs. But otherwise, there have not been very many scratches.

The knife is relatively easy to keep clean with an open back and smooth insides on the handlesides

The construction is simple and consists of two sides that are joined with two T6 screws in addition to the pivot screw. In the open back, you can also see a bolt that acts as a lanyard attachment and a stop bolt for the blade. The spacers are elegantly hourglass-shaped and the inside is smooth. It facilitates cleaning.

Serene is a fairly large knife with good balance, the balance point is found just behind the pivot screw.

The spacious handle makes it easy to find the right grip

It is easy to find the right grip on the Serene. The handle is roomy enough for most hands, even if you wear gloves. Thinner gloves that is. Otherwise, the recess for the index finger will be a bit cramped. Otherwise, all the standard grip works, whether you seek support with a thumb or index finger on the back of the blade or just hold the knife in a hammer grip.

The only thing I have against the handle is that it contains a pet peeve of mine, namely that it tapers towards the end! This, combined with the fact that the aluminum surface is very smooth, means that you can sometimes get the feeling that the knife wants to slip out of your hand. 

So if you know that you have to cut a lot and for a long time, I actually recommend a different handle material and thus also the knife model.

Opening and Lock

Serene is trendy like few with its lock type and not least its multiple opening methods. Two hands can be used but three other methods are premiere choices. It is a flipper knife, it has thumb studs and you can also use the lock to both open and close the knife, like all button locks. In other words, a lot to choose from. In addition, Sencut has succeeded excellently with the combination, which is not an easy task.

Serene can be opened in several different ways such as with thumb studs, flipper, or with the help of the lock

It is extra difficult because this type of knife has no detent ball but the spring in the lock itself is responsible for that function. Here, Sencut has managed to trim it to perfection. Regardless of which of the above-mentioned ways you choose to open the knife, the result is lightning fast. That area gets five out of five stars from me.

Especially as the flipper tab has just the right amount of grip to not be aggressive but still provide good traction at the same time as it can both be pulled back and pushed down. This makes the knife more intuitive to handle and you don't have to think about how to open it. Just press and something happens!

Then it can be added that this is how you place thumb studs! Just far enough out from the handle to reach comfortably with your finger while the leverage is good but above all, completely out of the way when the knife is open. I don't know how many manufacturers still insist on having them halfway out on the blade. They should not be there!

See and learn, this is how thumb studs should be placed!

The lock function is also exemplary. Sencut shows how good precision can be achieved in this field even though the price tag is not astronomical. No play can be felt in the blade when the knife is open. Or folded for that matter. Furthermore, the lock is very easy to release, which is an advantage.

It can also be said that this type of lock, "button locks", is almost easier to handle if you are left-handed. Instead of using your thumb, you can instead use your index finger to manipulate the lock. That and the removable clip make the knife ambidextrous.

To Carry

Serene is decent in this area as well. Not the absolute best but good enough. The sides are smooth, nothing sharp sticks out as both the flipper and the thumb studs are well-rounded and the clip is good. In addition, the knife is discreet in the pocket with only a little of the handle visible.

In terms of appearance, a fairly generic clip that is perhaps a little too big

The clip is nothing special but is similar to most others from Sencut. Now that is not a bad thing in itself as they are basically very good. The tension is there and both the ramp and the space under the clip are sufficient. The clip is attached with two T6 screws and the material is steel.

A well-balanced ramp and adequate space under the clip contribute to good properties

Possibly it could have been recessed in the side of the handle, but it is precisely such details that are saved on when a knife is to have a slightly lower price tag. Processing time is money.

If I have any real objection, I think it's a bit too big purely in terms of appearance.

To Conclude

An objection to Serene could be that many models released under Sencut as well as Civivi and WE can sometimes be confusingly similar. A few examples from my own collection are Conspirator, Mini Praxis, and Sachse. In addition, there are more brands that today make knives with similar construction, material, and lock type.

There are quite a few models that are similar. Here Serene is compared to Sencut Sachse on the left and Civivi Conspirator on the right

However, in this case, it is an advantage. The Serene looks like a more expensive knife and performs like one without being one. I can't answer how exactly all the competitors compare but this is a damn good knife! Especially if the price is factored into the equation. For the enthusiast, the appearance may feel familiar, but the function is, as I said, very good, and for someone who is new to the world of knives, it is a very good entry point. Of course, that also makes it a nice gift. As you know, it's getting closer to Christmas.

Sencut Serene is an excellent EDC knife for those who want something a little bigger and that just works

Here, Sencut has made a knife that, first of all, looks good with what I usually call harmonious proportions, although possibly a little too discreet. An example of what I mean is the elegant sweeping line that forms all the way from the tip to the end of the handle if you look at the knife from the side.

Secondly, materials suitable for the price point have been chosen and, thirdly, they have played with them a bit. This has been done by combining fine ceramic ball bearings with a well-tuned spring in the lock. That combination, together with a well-made lock, makes for a very easy-to-handle knife. Fidget-friendly, some might say.

Even better is that the simple-looking blade cuts like a laser. Starting from relatively thin stock which is then thinned out down to being thin behind the edge crowned with a good sharpening job gives a very competent tool. Especially as the steel is if not extraordinary then at least adequate.

In order to be used properly, a good handle is needed and that is also obtained here. Serene is a fairly large knife, which gives plenty of space so even those with larger hands or thinner gloves can handle this knife. Comfort and ergonomics are simply good too.

Serene has become, if not a constant companion, then at least a fairly frequent one

Sencut Sereneis a very good example of how well you can make a knife in its price range. EVERYTHING just works. If you don't think gray is exciting enough, there are more colorful options to choose from. If a little more exclusive material is desired, there are, as I said, similar knives within the group where it is found. But in this price range*, Serene is very hard to beat regardless of what it's compared to.

Sencut Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 208 mm

Length Folded: 120 mm

Weight: 98 g

Blade Length: 88 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: D2

Handle: Aluminum

Lock: Button lock

Produced by: Sencut, made in China.

/ J 

* Serene can be had for around 85€ in Europe

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Recension Sencut Serene

 

-  bland de  bästa i sin klass!

Frågan är om det finns så mycket bättre "button lock"-knivar i den här prisklassen? Det är ämnet jag ämnar utröna i den här recensionen. Det av det enkla skälet att Sencut gjort så mycket rätt med den här modellen kallad Serene. 

Sencut Serene

Så här långt har det hunnit släppas fem versioner av den här modellen. Det som skiljer dem åt är färgen på handtagen samt om du vill ha svart- eller satinfinish på ditt blad. 

I övrigt måste det konstateras att ett flertal modeller från både Civivi och Sencut påminner starkt om varandra. Skillnader finns förstås och vill man vara välvillig kan det konstateras att det finns mycket att välja emellan. Men det var faktiskt delvis det som lockade mig. 

Sencut Serene kanske inte bjuder på några fantastiska nyheter men den kan fås till ett överkomligt pris och är dessutom en aning större än många av de andra knivarna som Sencut erbjuder. Det var främst det som väckte intresset. 

"Serene" betyder ungefär lugn, det är vad linjerna på den här kniven utstrålar

Kortversion: Sencut Serene, budgetperfektion för den som söker en "button lock"-kniv!

Blad

Jag brukar att säga att om man som knivdesigner inte har en klart uttalad estetisk riktning och tvekar vad gäller bladform välj en drop point! Det verkar som om Sencut tänkte likadant. Det här exmplaret mäter 8,9 cm och höjden är som mest 3 cm. Rent utseendemässigt är det i princip ett klassiskt jaktknivsblad. Hade det suttit på en fastbladad kniv med ett masurbjörkhandtag hade många känt igen sig är ett annat sätt att formulera sig. 

Bladet är tämligen diskret märkt och slipningen är flat och sträcker sig över hela bladets höjd. Finishen är som sagt satin. Knivbladet är inte fullt av detaljer, den enda som finns är räfflorna vid basen på knivryggen. 

Ett klassiskt drop point-blad

Serene är trots allt en budgetkniv även om det begeppet ibland blir lite diffust när det transkriberas från riktpriser i dollar till europeiska prisnivåer. Eller enkelt uttryckt, de tenderar att bli rejält mycket dyrare på vägen. 

Men det betyder emellertid att materialen inte är de mest exklusiva och därför hittas D2-stål i bladet. Ett verktygsstål som både jag och framförallt andra skrivit om. 

Eftersom det handlar om en grupp stål och egenskaperna delvis är bereoende på tillverkare är de inte alltid helt lika i hur de uppträder. Som med allt stål är det även avhängigt hur det sedan värmebehandlats och härdats av tillverkaren. 

Fabrikseggen var utmärkt på det här exemplaret

På det området märks det att Sencut är ett märke med ett stort företag bakom sig. Kunskapen finns i huset så att säga och det ger bra resultat. Fabrikseggen var var mycket duglig och redan direkt ur låda skär Serene mycket bra. Bladet håller dessutom skärpan hyggligt länge. Inte extremt bra men godkänt på den punkten. 

En typisk uppgift för en fickkniv på jobbet, att öppna kartonger

Godstjockleken är inte mer än 3 mm till att börja med och slipningen är en hög flatslipning. Materialet tunnas ut till cirka 0,4 mm bakom eggen. Sammantaget gör det att den här kniven skär utmärkt. Det enda som kunde ha förbättrats är vinkeln på själva eggen. Den kunde varit flackare faktiskt. 

Men även i det här skicket skär Serene förbaskat bra för att uttrycka det frankt. Det gäller både uppgifter där en vass spets tarvas och när man behöver en rejäl egg. Det sistnämnda har jag testat på allt från naturliga material som trä och virke samt hamprep till plast, gummi och tejp. Oavsett material presterar den här kniven väl. 

Sedan är det förstås en fällkniv vilket gör att jag inte bänder med vare sig spetsen eller bladet vilket skulle kunna orsaka onödig skada. 

Handtag

På samma vis som stålet inte är det dyraste är inte heller handtagsmaterialet det. Men här bjuds på aluminium av god kvalitet. Det är därtill rymligt, det är 120 mm långt totalt och av det är tillgänglig greppyta 100mm. Tjockleken på handtaget är 12 mm och höjden varierar mellan 25 och 21 mm. 

Det rymliga handtaget är bekvämt men hyser en liten nackdel, det smalnar av bakåt

Ytbehandlingen är mycket lyckad i det här fallet. Dels ser den nästan ut som titan och för det andra är den tämligen hållbar. I alla fall så här långt. Någon liten skada på ytan har uppstått då kniven tappats några gånger varav en gång på en sten och en annan gång på betongplattor. Men i övrigt har det inte uppstått särskilt mycket repor. 

Kniven är relativt lätt att hålla ren med öppen rygg och slät insidor på handtagssidorna

Konstruktionen är enkel och består av två sidor som är sammanfogade med två st T6-skruvar utöver pivotskruven. I den öppna ryggen syns även en bult som agerar fånglinefäste samt en stoppbult för bladet. Distanserna är elegant timglasformade och insidan tacknämligt slät. Det underlättar rengöring. 

Serene är en rätt stor kniv med god balans, balanspunkten hittas precis bakom pivotskruven. 

Att handtaget är rymligt bidrar till att det är lätt att hitta rätt grepp

Det är lätt att hitta rätt grepp på Serene. Handtaget är tillräckligt rymligt för de flesta händer och det även om du använder handskar. Tunnare diton får väl tilläggas. Annars blir urtaget för pekfingret lite trångt. Men annars fungerar standargreppen vare sig du söker stöd med en tumme eller ett pekfinger på bladryggen eller bara håller kniven i ett hammargrepp. 

Det enda jag har emot handtaget är att det bryter en aning  mot en liten käpphäst jag hyser, nämligen att de inte får smalna av bakåt! Det här gör det vilket i kombination med att aluminumytan är mycket slät gör att man ibland kan få känslan att kniven vill glida ur handen. Så vet man med sig att man skall skära mycket och länge rekommenderar jag faktiskt ett annat handtagsmaterial och därmed även knivmodell. 

Öppning och lås

Serene är trendig som få med sin låstyp och inte minst sina multipla öppningsmetoder. Två händer kan användas men främst är det tre andra metoder som premieras. Det är en flipper-kniv, den har tumknoppar och därtill kan du använda låset för att både öppna och stänga kniven. Mycket att välja på med andra ord. Därtill har Sencut lyckats utmärkt med kombinationen vilket inte är helt enkelt. 

Serene kan öppnas på ett flertal olika vis som med tumknoppar, flipperfena eller med hjälp av låset

Det är extra svårt eftersom den här typen av knivar inte har någon detent-kula utan att fjädern i själva låset står för den funktionen. Här har Sencut lyckats trimma den till perfektion. Oavsett vilket av ovan nämnda sätt du väljer att öppna kniven med så blir resultatet blixtrande snabb öppning. Den biten får fem utav fem stjärnor av mig. 

Särskilt som flipperfenan har precis lagom mycket fäste för att inte vara aggresiv men ändå ge bra med friktion samtidigt som den både kan dras bakåt och tryckas nedåt. Det gör kniven mer intuitiv och du behöver inte fundera kring hur den öppnas. Tryck till och något händer!

Sedan kan tilläggas att det är så här man placerar tumknoppar! Lagom långt ut för att nå dem med fingret samtidigt som hävstången är utmärkt men framförallt, helt ur vägen när kniven är öppen. Jag vet inte hur många tillverkare som fortfarande envisas med att ha dem halvvägs ut på bladet. Där skall de inte befinna sig!

Se och lär, så här skall tumknoppar placeras!

Låsfunktionen är även den exemplariskt utförd. Sencut visar hur god precision som kan uppnås på området trots att prislappen inte är astronomisk. Inget glapp eller spel kan kännas i bladet när kniven är utfälld. Eller hopfälld heller för den delen. Vidare så är låset mycket lätt att släppa vilket är en fördel. 

Det kan också sägas att den här typen av lås, "button locks", nästan är lättare att hantera om man är vänsterhänt. Istället för att använda tummen kan du istället använda pekfingret för att manipulera låset. Det och det flyttbara clipet gör kniven ambidextriös. 

Att bära

Serene är hyffsad även på det här området. Inte den absolut bästa men bra nog. Sidorna är släta, inget vasst sticket ut då både flipperfenan och tumknopparna är väl rundade och clipet är bra. Därtill är den diskret i fickan med endast lite av handtaget synligt.

Utseendemässigt ett tämligen generiskt clip som kanske är lite för stort

Clipet är inget märkvärdigt utan är snarlikt de flesta andra från Sencut. Nu är det inget dåligt i sig då de i grunden är mycket bra. Spänsten finns där och såväl ramp som utrymme under clipet räcker till. Clipet är fäst med två stycken T6 skruvar och materialet är stål. 

En väl avvägd ramp och adekvat utrymme under clipet bidrar till goda egenskaper

Möjligen kunde det ha försänkts i handtagssidan men det är just sådana detaljer det sparas in på när en kniv skall få en något lägre prislapp. Bearbetningstid är pengar. 

Skall jag ha någon reell invändning kan jag tycka att det är aningen för stort rent utseendemässigt. 

Sammanfattningsvis

En invändning mot Serene skulle kunna vara att många modeller utgivna under såväl Sencut som Civivi och WE ibland kan vara till förväxling lika. Bara bland mina egna kan nämnas Conspirator, Mini Praxis och Sachse. Dessutom finns det fler märken som idag gör knivar med liknande konstruktion, material och låstyp. 

Det finns rätt många modeller som är snarlika. Här Serene jämförd med Sencut Sachse till vänster och Civivi Conspirator till höger

Men i det här fallet är det dock en fördel. Serene ser ut som en dyrare kniv och uppträder som en utan att vara det. Jag kan inte svara på hur riktigt alla konkurrenter står sig i jämförelse men det här är en förbaskat bra kniv! Särskilt om priset räknas in i ekvationen. För entusiasten kanske utseendet känns bekant men funktionen är som sagt mycket bra och för den som är ny i knivvärlden är den ett mycket bra insteg. Det gör den förstås även till en sympatisk present. Det lackar mot jul som bekant. 

Sencut Serene är en utmärkt EDC-kniv för den som vill ha något lite större och som bara fungerar

Här har Sencut nämligen gjort en kniv som för det första ser bra ut med vad jag brukar kalla harmoniska proportioner om än möjligen en smula för diskreta. Ett exempel på vad jag menar är den eleganta svepande linjen som bildas hela vägen från spetsen till handtagsslutet om du betraktar kniven från sidan. 

För det andra har man valt för prisläget lämpliga material och för det tredje har man trollat lite med dem. Det har gjorts genom att fina keramiska lager kombinerats med en väl avstämt fjädermotstånd i låset. Den kombinationen ger tillsammans med ett välgjort lås en mycket lätthanterlig kniv. Lekvänlig skulle kanske någon säga. 

Ännu bättre är att det enkla bladet skär som en laser. Att utgå från relativt tunt gods som sedan tunnas ut över en längre sträcka ned till lite material bakom eggen krönt med en bra slipning ger ett m y c k e t bra verktyg. Särskilt som stålet är om inte något exta så åtminstone adekvat. 

För att kunna nyttja det behövs ett bra handtag och även det erhålls här. Serene är en rätt stor kniv vilket ger gott om utrymme så även den med större händer eller tunnare handskar på kan hantera den här kniven. Komfort och ergonomi är  helt enkelt bra de också. 

Serene har blivit en om inte ständig följeslagare så åtminstone en tämligen frekvent sådan

Sencut Serene är ett mycket gott exempel på hur väl man kan göra en kniv i den är prisklassen. ALLT bara fungerar. Tycker du inte att grått är spännande nog finns färggrannare alternativ att välja på. Önskas lite mer exklusiva material finns som sagt liknande knivar inom koncernen där det återfinns. Men i den här prisklassen* är Serene mycket svårslagen oavsett vad den jämförs med. 

Sencut Knives

Specifikation:

Längd utfälld: 208 mm

Längd hopfälld: 120 mm

Vikt: 98 g

Bladlängd: 88 mm

Godstjocklek: 3 mm

Bladstål: D2

Handtag: Aluminium

Lås: Button lock

Producerad av: Sencut, tillverkad i Kina

/ J - goes button lock

* Serene kan fås för omring 850 SEK i Europa

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Ny kniv - Zitoon Knives Commemorative Dagger

De måste medges att det beställdes ytterligare en kastkniv när det sist begav sig. Den återfanns i samma paket som de nya NoReload knivarna från Zitoon Knives jag nyligen presenterade här.  

Det är ett märke som för övrigt snabbt seglat upp som en favorit av flera skäl. De främsta är den mycket höga kvalitén ställt i relation till priset. De är inte helt billiga men väsentligt lägre prissatta än många andra knivar av motsvarande kvalitet. Sedan är formgivningen excellent!

Den här kniven är lite speciell och inköpt för ett specifikt ändamål. Namnet är Commemorative Dagger eller Dague commémorative på franska och den har ett mycket distinkt utseende. 

Zitoon Knives Commemorative Dagger

För alla er som kan er knivhistoria är förlagan till den här kastkniven mycket välbekant. Det är förstås den berömda brittiska kommandokniven från andra världskriget signerad Fairbairn och Sykes jag talar om. I det här fallet är det en löst hållen tolkning då den inte är tredimensionell så att säga. Eller rättare sagt den saknar egentligt handtag och är gjord i ett stycke som synes. 

Materialet är som vanligt med knivar från det här företaget svenskt Hardox. Längden på kniven är strax över 29 cm, tjockleken 6 mm och det ger en totalvikt kring 220 gram. Inte särskilt tung men med den är formen blir penetrationen utmärkt ändå. 

Jo, jag har faktiskt smygtestat kniven...den är grym!

Vad gäller ändamålet som jag nämnde inledningsvis så handlar det om halvrotationskastning, military half spin och instinctive half spin både över- och underhand, back-hand och med "fel" hand. Ja alla typer helt enkelt. Den här typen av knivar är generellt utmärkt för både det och precisionskastning. Jag är säker på att den kommer att motsvara mina förväntningar. 

Kniven är i det här fallet en hyllning till dagen D och kopplingen är inte särskilt långsökt då Zitoon Knives återfinns i Normandie. Det är även så inskriptionen på kniven lyder "D-Day Normandy" .

Zitoon Knives

/ J - korar dagens bokstäver, Z och D

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knife - Zitoon No Reload

Actually, this is the wrong time of year to buy new throwing knives. In any case, if you, like me, live in Sweden, and don't have access to anywhere indoors to throw and it's November.

But it was actually for that very reason that these knives were bought in the first place. Not because it's dark, rainy, snowy and shitty but because it happens to be my birthday this month and this was my gift to myself.

As I am initially extremely satisfied with the first impressions of my The Devil's Claw, it felt quite naturally to look at another set from Zitoon Knives. The only thing I'm a bit puzzled about is actually the weight of them. They weigh around 270 grams and thus belong to the heavier category of No spin knives. 

For that reason, I looked at a couple of other models, including the ones here called No Reload.

Zitoon Knives No ReLoad

The "No ReLoad" knives are available in several different variants and some of them or maybe all of them, which I'm not sure about, are produced in collaboration with Joel Holopainen. He is one of the world's most prominent no-spin throwers.

All versions are the same length, 25 cm, but the knives are available in several different thicknesses, 5,6 and 8 mm. The first two are thin and thus also light, they weigh in at 175 and 210 grams respectively. In other words, the lightest ones are not even approved for competition. 

The eight millimeter monster, on the other hand, weighs as much as my devil claws and thus fell away. To complicate matters, this model is also available in a version called "Big". It is also 25 cm long, 6 mm thick but still heavier than the regular variant. It weighs 250 g.

But I wanted something lighter to supplement with, at least for now. Therefore, the choice fell on these, No ReLoad, 6 mm. 

My technique is in development which means that I am still experimenting with different varieties of knives. Even if it doesn't happen at the moment in this damn weather. It's dark when I leave home to go to work and it's pitch black when I finish. Very frustrating if you are a knife thrower!

Just waiting for brighter times or at least days to test them properly.

Zitoon Knives

/ J - a bit frustrated

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Fredags-EDC CXXV

Fredag, inte mycket att säga om det känner jag. Nu råder lugnet efter stormen på jobbet. I köket är det mest hektiskt innan lunch förstås och när eftermiddagskakorna är framme och fixade och caféet är igång så lugnar folk ned sig. 

Städning och disk avklarad och nu kan även jag slå mig ned med en kaffe och hamra en stund på tangenterna. I övrigt har jag inga vilda planer, vare sig nu på eftermiddagen, ikväll eller i helgen. Det skall åkas iväg och hälsas på under lördagen och sedan, om vädret tillåter, blir det knivkastning på söndag. 

"Stag Handle"

Dagens skarpa föremål har lite retro-vibbar. Dels för att en klassisk "Canoe" liksom en lever lock är knivmodeller med lång historia men även för att just den här stiletten var min första. I vuxen ålder skall väl tilläggas. I ungdomens glada dagar hade jag väl någon billig OTF inköpt på en bensinmack i Tyskland samt faktiskt, ett tag i all fall, en riktigt fin äldre variant av en Tysk fallskärmsjägarkniv. Ni vet de där gravitationsknivarna. 

Den här sidsprättaren är en 9" lång kniv från SKM med hornhandtag. Det verkar vara ett märke som kommer och går men det rör sig om italienska knivar tillverkade i och kring Maniago. Lite oklart av vem. Det är för övrigt ofta fallet med just dylika knivar. 

Kanoten som också har hornhandtag (Rams horn) är tillverkad av Rough Rider Knives eller som det numera stavas Rough Ryder, jag vet inte om det rörde sig om något upphovsrättskyddat eller möjligen risk för sammanblandning. Hur som haver bytte de namn för ett tag sedan. Det är amerikanska klassiska fällknivsmönster (till största delen men numera inte enbart) som dock är tillverkade i Kina. Kvaliteten är i allmänhet mycket god i relation till priset men kan även vara lite ojämn. 

Frågan är om det gäller människor också? Att vi är lite ojämna, särkilt i relation till priset...

/ J - goes Friday

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review SRM 255

  

-  an excellent EDC knife

Right now is a sympathetic time. Maybe not in the world, but if we instead stick to the small life, it is very exciting to be a knife aficionado at the moment. There have been and are being released many good knives and some that are even better. The other day I described a knife with words like "close to EDC perfection" and the same can be said about this knife. It doesn't have many weaknesses at all. If there is something that is not to your taste, it is more due to the fact that it is not "to your taste" than that it is poorly executed.

The knife I'm talking about is one of the latest additions to SRM's catalog called the 255  for short.

SRM 255

This knife has not without reason been called SRM's answer to Benchmade's Bugout on a few occasions and it must be admitted that there are great similarities. This applies to both format and appearance and not least lock type as both are based on a construction with a transverse bolt*. But the materials are different in both blade and handle, the design is not exactly the same and the 255 comes with a couple of improvements as well as a crushing argument as to why it is a better buy which I will return to.

I, therefore, go one step further and call this knife a "Bug Out Killer". Let me explain why!

Med den här modellen presenterade SRM en rejäl konkurrent i lättvikts-EDC-klassen

Short version: SRM 255, the knife that not only challenges competitors but beats many of them

Blade

SRM's 255 boasts what I think is a nice-looking blade. It is a functional drop point with a very high, almost full flat grind and a swedge that terminates before it reaches the tip. The finish is a brushed satin and the markings are restrained. Of course, the logo is there and also steel type, but it's not done in a vulgar format so I'm satisfied on that front. I am not one of those who demand completely sterile blades from the manufacturers to be satisfied. Only it doesn't look like an advertising poster.

The blade is 82 mm long with a height of 25 mm. A not entirely small blade, in other words. The thickness is 2.6 mm, which can be said to be adequate. In any case, if you want to create a knife that cuts really well. Some might even call it thin.

SRM has fitted the 255 with a stylish drop-point blade with some minor visual flair

The steel in this knife is Chinese with the designation 10Cr15MoV. Now it must be said that the higher numbers than the ones we knife enthusiasts are used to are not just for the sake of appearance, but refer to the components of the steel. In this case, the result is significantly better than the more common 8Cr steel, for example. In my opinion, this is a really good budget steel.

It is something that is noticeable when the knife has been used for a while. Especially when maintaining and sharpening the knife, the steel gives a finer edge, and above all, it lasts significantly longer than the simpler Chinese steel.

This Chinese steel responds very well to maintenance with, for example, a sharpening steel and a strop

Having come across the 10Cr steels a couple of times now I have come to expect a good budget steel as said. Especially when it comes from SRM and especially when the blade geometry looks as promising in theory as it does in this case. A thin blade, high grind, and reasonably thin behind the edge, 0.4mm in this case. Incidentally, the factory edge was very well executed. 

Then it is not super steel in the sense that it keeps its sharpness for super long. But in return, and perhaps more importantly, the edge responds very nimbly to maintenance. It's easy to get the spark back, so to speak.

For sparkly it is to use this knife. It is genuinely sympathetic to all everyday tasks I can think of. I often have it at work where the chef's knives are supplemented with a pocket knife for opening boxes, removing plastic, opening spice packages, and whatever it may be. In that role and also in everyday tasks, this knife excels. It is easy to handle, the blade is flexible, the tip is efficient and it fits well in the hand. 

Handle

The handle of the 255 is both simple and complicated at the same time. The shape is fairly clean as can be seen with a small bulge in the middle, a slight hint of a beak towards the end, and a small finger guard. In addition, the sides are slightly arched and not flat.

The material in them is G10 of good quality which, however, has been kept fairly smooth. Don't expect traction á la coarse rasp. 

The elegantly shaped handle of the G10 is a good size and the discreet curves are found in the right places

More complicated are all the details that exist and how the knife is built. The back is only partially open because, besides one of the knife's two colored spots in the form of an attachment bolt for a lanyard, there is also a small spacer towards the back end that braces the handle and makes it stiffer. The other splash of color is the collar around the pivot screw which is the same shade.

SRM's "Mono Chassi" is also something that makes the handle stiffer. What it does is really two things. One is that it prevents the handle from flexing, even though it otherwise lacks an internal frame like a certain well-known competitor's handle does. The second is that it actually solves a couple of problems that sometimes existed with this type of lock in the past. More on that later. On the frame, the meaning of "SRM" has also been printed.

Here you can see the solution unique to the brand with "Mono Chassi"

Otherwise, the knife is mounted with two well-countersunk screws with a head in size T6. The adjustable pivot screw is a nowadays almost standardized T8 for this type of knife.

The handle is excellent in any grip as long as you don't expect a sturdy hunting knife

In hand, this handle is as good as a handle this thin can get. It measures only 11.5mm across the back. But apart from that, all grips work whether you hold the knife up or down, forwards or backward. All standard grips are comfortable and I can't think of any grip that would be uncomfortable. That, provided you don't compare it to a knife with a significantly thicker handle, of course. As said, everything is relative.

Opening and Lock

Thumb studs on knives have been written about a lot and they are the primary method of opening 255.

See and learn, I could say aimed at all manufacturers of knives. This is how it should be done. What I refer to is proper function. These thumb studs meet some criteria I have. Firstly, they must be easy to both find and "reach". In other words, they must be found positioned so that it feels natural to reach for them. They must also be accessible so that once the finger has found them, they are easy to use. Here they are certainly very close to the handle, but in return, they rise a bit above the side of the handle. However, they must not protrude too much because then they risk getting stuck in, for example, trouser pockets. This is a good balance.

After that, the motion itself should feel unimpeded and preferably nimble. Both of those criteria are amply met in this case. This is a very fast-opening knife. Of course, the ceramic ball bearings contribute to that.

While this is being done, the studs must not feel sharp against the thumb. That's why I don't like pyramid-shaped thumb studs, preferring this more barrel-shaped variety.

This is exactly how a good set of thumb studs is made

In addition, as with all variants of this type of lock, there is an alternative opening method and that is to pull back the lock bolt and flick the blade out. It also works well with the 255. Very good even and this is another point where it beats the knife it resembles. Namely, it is the lock that stands for the resistance that holds the blade in place instead of a detent ball, and in this version, it is very well-trimmed.

The lock is called the Ambi lock and is a variant with a cross-bolt

SRM calls their contribution to the lock jungle "Ambi Lock". But it's basically identical to Benchmade's old Axis lock, just a little better. Or at least more consistent in quality than my American-made knives are.

On the newer SRM knives, a so-called "Mono Chassi" is found, where the partial frame forms a unit

But even without comparison, this is a very good version. The reason is partly that the springs have a smoother "walk" or feel when they are activated and partly that the entire lock is placed in a separate frame or box. The technology has been named Mono Chassis. The advantage is that it stiffens up the knife and, in the case of the lock, means that the bolt does not end up crosswise as easily as the original sometimes tends to do, which gives a jerky feeling. Overall, it makes for a very good lock.

It holds the blade in a solid grip without play while being very easy to handle. This type of lock is also known to belong to the stronger ones in general.

To Carry

The SRM 255 belongs to those knives that can be counted as royalty when it comes to carrying comfort. This knife is not excessively long, very thin, and above all light. Those features make it a very likable EDC knife. After all, they spend more time in our pockets than in our hands.

255 is a knife that is exemplary in the pocket

The knife weighs in at a light 70 grams. That's not much for a knife with a blade over eight centimeters. In addition, the handle is as thin as 1.1 centimeters. It is not very much either as mentioned before. Overall, a slim pocket knife whose footprint is very discreet.

The slightly arched G10 sides also offer no particular resistance when the knife is drawn, which is another plus.

Once in the pocket, nothing of the knife is visible. The clip, on the other hand, is glossy, which draws the eye to it

Then the fine reviews of how the 255 feels to carry can be rounded off with the Ambi Clip found on this knife. It is SRM's own contribution to the flora of clips. But it's not actually a gimmick, it works really well. Even with visibly thinner handles. Something that was not entirely a given when the first knife it appeared on, model 7228, had a significantly thicker handle and thus more internal space where the attachment for the clip could be hidden.  

The Ambi Clip works so that it can be pinched together and then pulled out of the handle

But the apprehension fell. The very point of the clip is that it is clamped in the handle much like tweezers on a Victorinox fixed with a couple of extra lugs for safety. This allows the clip to be easily removed without tools. Just press it together with your fingers and then pull it straight back. Namely, it is attached to the back end of the handle.

That along with the shape makes this a "deep ride" clip. Apart from the extra finesse, the function is very good. Good tension in the material and the look is, if not stylish, neutral. The size of the ramp works and so does the space under the clip. Nothing to comment on in that way. But speaking of size, the clip could have been a little smaller. That's basically the only negative I have to object to on that front.

To Conclude

SRM actually asked me what I thought of this knife on Instagram. They wondered how it compared to previous models. Now I'm also very fond of the model called Rubik 7228L, especially with the Micarta handle I must add. But after all, that knife feels a bit rougher than this knife somehow.

So what I answered was that I thought the 255 was more sophisticated, that it felt more worked and thus a step in the right direction. Not that the materials differ in quality or finesse. They are the same with ball bearings, Ambi Clip, and Ambi Lock on the list.

But there is something about the design and perhaps the function that makes this knife something extra. But in return, it may be because I regard this model more as a purely EDC knife and the Rubik as looking towards the outdoors.

The SRM 255 is an excellent EDC knife

So what is sophisticated? Appearance is an important part, of course. The knife looks as light and airy as it feels in the hand. Stylish proportions with elegant lines. The color scheme is sober with a small splash of color in the collar around the pivot screw and the bolt that acts as a lanyard attachment. The arched sides give the G10 material a pattern reminiscent of wood grain, and the few visible screws and the lack of holes for said lanyard contribute to the clean look of the handle. The position of the thumb studs also contributes to the fact that they sit close to the handle and are thus less visible.

But there are many nice knives. So the next step is how it feels to use. It is at that point that 255 feels extra well thought out. It starts with how light it feels when closed, continues with how easy it is to handle when it comes to opening and closing, and then the knife feels comfortable in the hand. Given the limitations of course. It is a thin and slender knife that sets the scene.

The BM Bugout is a knife this has been compared to. I believe that it is better in several respects

Then there was the comparison with the Benchmade Bugout that came up after all. It fulfills most of the above as well. But on a couple of points, it is beaten. The SRM 255 has a better designed lock and the handle is significantly more rigid. In addition, this knife is quicker to open. The factory edge was also better, at least on this specimen. Otherwise, it is slightly larger, i.e. somewhat thicker and longer, and thus also heavier.

SRM 255 quickly became a favorite that is often found in one of my pockets

The final, killer argument, however, is the price. Not only do you get equivalent or in many cases better function, but you also get at least as good-looking but above all at a significantly lower price. MSRP for the SRM 255 in this configuration is $72.95.**

If you combine those arguments, there is not much to say that this should not be a candidate for your next EDC knife if you are looking for an elegant lightweight that is also very practical. This knife quickly became a favorite!

SRM Knife

Specification:

Length Overall: 191 mm

Length Folded: mm

Weight: 70 g

Blade Length: 82 mm

Blade Thickness: 2,6 mm

Blade Steel: 10Cr15MoV

Handle: G10

Lock: Ambi lock

Produced by: SRM, made in China

/ J - satisfied

*Something that BM had a patent for a while with its Axis lock, but which has now expired and opened up for other solutions. They in turn borrowed a lot of inspiration from Collins' "Bolt Lock" so they didn't really come up with the basic idea themselves. They changed just enough to open up trademark protection. Now this type of lock is found with basically all major manufacturers. As examples, in addition to SRM, SOG, Hogue, CRKT, Kershaw, ANV and Kizer can be mentioned.

** To compare with Benchmade which sets a target price of $200 for a base model of the Bugout. Then we are not talking about handles in carbon fiber and titanium, which are also available and carry a completely different price tag.

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