- the family grows
Is bigger the same as better? That is the question this review will partly deal with. This considering that this knife from SRM called 558L is actually quite similar to the predecessor 255 that I previously reviewed. It is an excellent knife otherwise. Of course, there are differences between the knives, but compared side by side it is probably the similarities that dominate.
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| SRM 258L |
SRM has proven to go from strength to strength even if the pace they keep in terms of releasing new knives doesn't match the most aggressive on the market (I'm looking at you Civivi) the models they have presented are of high quality. Right now they seem to be rolling out Micarta handles as an option on older models.
Nor can the knives be available in quite as many different variants as with some competitors. This one, 558L, for example, can only be had as here with a black handle and satin blade or with a black blade and purple handle. This time I chose the discreet combination.
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| SRM switches up a size but offers the same fine action as before |
Short version: SRM 558L, the knife that complements the group of siblings in an excellent way
Blade
The overall lines of the blade are completely shared with little brother, which of course saves some time at the design stage and concretely means a drop point with a long narrow swedge. In this case, the back is a little more worked than before, as SRM went to the trouble of rounding it nicely.
The blade is flat ground and the finish is a nice but difficult-to-photograph fairly glossy satin.
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| The blade is a drop point measuring 90mm in length |
Then we come to the first thing that differentiates the knives and that is the size. Where little brother has a blade of just over eight centimeters, here we get 90 mm to play with. The height is 25.9 mm. The thickness is also a little more increased, although three millimeters of stock thickness is not excessive, but rather very well chosen in my opinion.
The factory edge was more than decent with good sharpness and reasonably approved thickness behind the edge. We are talking about 0.4-0.5 mm. Not optimal but is well in line with the fact that the knife is slightly larger and thus probably intended to be a bit more robust.
The same thinking seems to lie behind the choice of steel, as 10Cr15MoV was abandoned in favor of the well-known D2. Not completely stainless, but generally good knife steel and nothing to complain about, although personally I always prefer a more rust-resistant steel on folding knives in particular.
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| The steel used is D2 |
The 258L is a joy to use. The fact that it is easy to pull and put away is something that I appreciate as a common task these days is opening packages at work. I work in a professional kitchen and there is a lot of plastic and cardboard to process.
The blade is very all-round focused, neutral one could say. The tip does what it's supposed to and is pointed without being flimsy, there's a slight belly and a bit of a straight edge to work with. It makes most chores go like a dance. But of course, if you're going to have a real cutting machine, you take your 258L and thin out the edge the first time you resharpen it. The D2 steel can handle it.
Handle
The handle of this knife is markedly different from its little brother if we are to continue the comparison. Where the previous knife offered a nested mono chassis, here is something at least as unique. Here, the solution that looks like a box has been enlarged to resemble a more traditional steel frame on the outside. It's hard to miss as it rises above the sides of the handle. A detail chosen to be a design element as it is consistently made like a picture frame around the sides of the handle.
It is also nicely done as they chose to round the steel edges in an excellent way. No sharp edges or corners are found here. Then the box is drilled out for lower weight.
The appearance itself is clean and elegant as the knife has only two screws on the outside that hold it together. The adjustable pivot screw is in size T8 and a small T6 aft. There, I still think that almost all manufacturers skimp. Give us a size up, please!
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| The G10 sides are heavily chamfered and attached to the outside of the box-like frame |
Then there was one more important detail. Here they have chosen to cover the back with a steel plate, something I really appreciate. It is the guard over the lock that has been extended to cover the rest of the handle. "Open backs" in all their glory, those that are apparently supposed to facilitate cleaning, but there is a great advantage in not choosing that solution. Namely, the contact surface against the hand increases, which gives less pressure when cutting slightly heavier things. It becomes particularly clear on larger folding knives.
In the back, there is also a small attachment for a lanyard. It's hard to get a paracord around the bolt that is there, but a thinner nylon string for those who wish.
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| The back is unusually not open. At the rear end, there is a hidden attachment bolt for a lanyard |
The material in the sides is soft ground G10 which has been given a couple of substantial chamfered edges that extend along most of the handle. It gives a rounded and pleasant feeling in the hand.
The handle is 11.4 cm long, which is enough for a solid grip with all fingers. The thickness is at most 13 mm and the height is around 2.5 cm. The shape is quite straight and neutral and at the front, there is a fairly shallow finger recess that acts as finger protection.
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| 258L is really comfortable to work with must be said |
The simple straight shape makes it easy to find the right grip on this handle. There is simply nothing that gets in the way and hassles it. Nor details that require a certain hand size to work.
If the comparison with the little brother is to continue, the 258L is better on the handle front, which isn't that strange. Making the handle larger in all dimensions simply helps when you have to work a little longer. Something that became clear when some cardboard had to be processed after delivery of a sofa from IKEA. There was a lot of cardboard!
Opening and Lock
The knife opens with thumb studs and they work damn well. The buttons are found exactly where you want them and they are completely intuitive to use. There is nothing negative to say about them. Especially not as the handle is beveled for ease of access. In addition, they are found near the handle in the unfolded position, which means that they are not in the way when cutting with the knife.
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| The blade folds out via eminent thumb studs and for safety you have an "Ambi Lock" |
Then, of course, the knife can be opened using the lock just like other knives of this type. Just pull the bolt back and let the blade slide out or be flicked out depending on the angle you hold the knife at and how much hurry you are in. No wrist movement is needed as the knife has ball bearings and the blade falls completely freely as soon as the lock is out of the way. This applies both on the way out and in otherwise, so keep your fingers away. Incidentally, the action is even softer than on little brother.
The lock is a really good example of a well-executed "crossbar lock". In SRM's version it is called Ambi-lock and in the later versions includes something they call Mono-Chassis. It is a solution that involves placing the lock in what can be described as a box as I mentioned earlier. This makes for greater strength and less flex in the construction. This is especially true if you make knives without an internal frame where you choose to use the sides of the handle as a supporting structure.
Regardless of how it's done, it works really well in this version as well. The lock is exemplary to handle and, not least, it holds the blade in a very definite way. Movements in the blade are conspicuous by their absence.
To Carry
The 258L is likable as a pocket knife. There are no protruding parts or anything else that gets in the way when the knife is to be pulled or tucked away. The look is elegant and so is the performance in the pocket. Of course, the smooth G10 sides also contribute to that. Nothing that rubs against either pant fabric or hands on the way down to look for a key.
Certainly, the 258L weighs about 30 grams more than its predecessor, but the final weight still ends up at a low 101 grams, so there is nothing to complain about.
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| Ambi Clip is what SRM calls this nifty solution to a clip that can be removed without tools |
Then we come to the second technical solution which is SRM's contribution to knife development and perhaps the one I consider the best. The one they call Ambi-Clip. It is a clip that can be easily both removed and changed sides without tools. Just pinch the legs together, push back, and pull out. A very flexible solution that really works!
Although it wouldn't have been anything if the clip hadn't been good in itself. But it is. The ramp is good and lets fabric through and the tension is well balanced. Due to the construction, the entire space under the clip can be used as there are no screw heads that can get in the way. The clip is of course shiftable from the right to the left side.
If something negative is to be said, it is that the clip possibly has a tendency to move slightly sideways because it must be able to flex in order to be removed. But it is only noticeable if you provoke the clip on purpose and not in practical use.
Since the clip is attached to the rear end of the handle, it automatically becomes a "deep carry" clip. Thus, nothing of the knife is visible when it is in the pocket.
To Conclude
The answer to the question that was asked at the beginning is probably that bigger is not always better, but still a little different. It also partly gives the answer to which of these knives you should choose if you are standing there hesitating. Because to be completely honest, you don't need both if you're not a knife fanatic like me.
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| Model 255 side by side with today's review object, the 258L |
It's not about huge size differences, but if you choose 558L, it's clearly a size up, as this knife offers a blade of a full nine centimeters even though the weight is low.
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| The 258L is a really good EDC knife |
Of course, this also makes the handle longer, and since it is also somewhat fuller and equipped with a closed back, the result is that this knife is more fun to work with for longer periods of time. In the same line is the choice of steel and the thicker blade. A knife a little more adapted for heavier work. Maybe even something that can be used as a smaller outdoor knife and not just as an EDC tool.
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| 258L is SRM's answer for those looking for a slightly larger everyday knife |
All in all, I think that SRM has succeeded well in building a big brother to the successful 255. The 258L is larger but still light, agile and very well-balanced. The appearance is sober and elegant but perhaps not for those looking for the extravagant. The materials are well chosen and the function is good.
Quite simply a very good folding knife and it currently costs around €50 in Europe. For that money, you get a lot of knife!
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| SRM Knives |
Specification:
Length Overall: 203 mm
Length Folded: 112 mm
Weight: 101 g (weighed by me, stated 101 g)
Blade Length: 90 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,1 mm
Blade Steel: D2
Handle Material: G10
Lock: Ambi lock (a version of a Crossbar lock)
Produced by: SRM, made in China
/ J - compares
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