- a solid and reliable knife
Some knives are fairly anonymous until they start being used. That can be said about this knife from SRM. The model is called 168L and does not stand out very much in appearance.
But there is still something calm and pleasant and familiar about the design. If you look at it for a moment with a special focus on the overall lines and not least the proportions of the blade and how the back rises slightly, you can perhaps recognize a classic. You can guess which knife I'm thinking of.
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| SRM 168L |
Other than that, this knife is most similar to itself. The other knife I have in mind is a knife with a titanium handle and a frame lock.
This knife features a steel frame with sides of G10 and the lock is a so-called Ambi lock. It is SRM's interpretation of the ever-so-popular "Cross-bar" locks. Something which, incidentally, they master better than most. In addition to that, their own invention Ambi Clip is added to the stew.
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| The look is harmonious but isn't there something familiar about the blade shape? |
Short version: SRM 168L can perhaps be experienced as somewhat anonymous at first but grows both after a while and in hand!
Blade
As I said, the leaf shape is recognizable. But it should be added that a classic drop point is fairly generic in the knife world. However, this one has a back that rises slightly above the back line of the handle and thus gives a hint of a thumb ramp. At the base of it, some grooves are found to rest the thumb against.
The finish on the blade is a fairly coarse satin which works well. This means it looks nice while being practical and hides some small scratches.
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| Model 168L features a drop point blade with a high flat ground |
The high flat grind extends more than 25 mm at its widest and ends with a thickness of 0.3 mm behind the edge. The material used is D2 steel and there is not much more to add about the properties at this point. Most people in the knife world recognize it. It is a serviceable steel but has a tendency to corrode and that has happened a couple of times with this knife for various reasons. If you examine, for example, the picture below, you can see remnants of it in the form of black spots on the blade towards the tip.
The D2 steel has then been ground excellently. The factory edge was smooth, reasonably symmetrical, and above all sharp. You can't ask for much more than that. Of course, if you go down to the level of detail and measure sharpness in Bess and study edges in a microscope, you might be able to find more. But not on a practical level if I may put it that way.
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| In terms of edge retention and ease of maintenance, D2 steel is good but rust can occur as can be seen here |
The SRM 168 has been a frequent companion at work. There are a lot of packages that need opening. With a thorough cleaning between tasks, it has also had to prove itself as a paring knife and a petty handling fruit and vegetables. It is a way to put in more test hours before a review. As a kitchen knife, it performs decent, except when it comes to tasks like coring apples. The blade is too wide for such chores. But you can see that without using it.
But for things it's perhaps more geared towards, this is a highly likable companion. The tip is both strong and sharp, which makes it easier to get into tough plastic packaging and the like. The solid handle in symbiosis with the efficient blade is a great asset when you have to cut nylon straps, cable ties, and ropes and perhaps need a little more pressure behind the cuts.
Even cardboard is easily dispatched. A sharp edge and a high flat grind contribute to that. The blade also bites well into wood and thus it can be said that the SRM 168 is not a bad all-round knife even out in the woods.
Handle
The SRM 168 has a deceptively simple handle but is well thought out. It bulges where it should and turns inwards in the right places. More specifically, it provides an area to place the index finger where the handle sides are a bit thinner just behind the finger guard. Then the handle swells ever so slightly at the height at the back. The sides are certainly flat, but the edges are seriously broken with a chamfered edge.
The material is G10 of medium coarse character, which together with the general shape of the handle gives a good grip.
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| The handle is deceptively simple but works great |
The knife is quite classically constructed with a frame consisting of two very lightened pieces of steel. They are then screwed in two points in addition to the pivot screw, which is of course adjustable. The size of the screws is T6 and T8 respectively. It can be added that the pivot screw is D-shaped, which prevents it from spinning when adjusted. On the opposite side of the screw head is found a head decorated with the SRM logo.
The back is partially open, which follows the type of lock, but towards the back end, there is a spacer. In it, you will also find a substantial lanyard hole, which certainly also extends through the sides of the handle.
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| The construction is quite classic but includes both an Ambi lock, a piece of open back, and a back spacer |
Although the knife is not one of the largest, the handle is big enough. It measures 11 cm in length, 2.35 cm in height, and has a thickness of 12.1 mm.
It is partly the last measurement that makes the knife fill the hand as well as it does. What also contributes to good ergonomics is the straight shape that fits most hands. Finger grooves and the like can be effective, but only if they are found exactly where your hand wants them.
Another important area is that all edges are properly rounded. This applies to the back side, but above all to the inside of the blade groove. A detail that is sometimes missed by manufacturers, even big ones. When you use some force when working with a knife, it can be quite sharp against the little finger. SRM doesn't miss something like that and here it is well done.
Another important surface is the back of the handle. The more surface, the more comfortable the knife. There must also be no sharp edges or corners. It doesn't here.
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| This knife is quite ergonomic |
Opening and Lock
This SRM knife belongs to those that can be opened in several ways. That characteristic follows, so to speak, with the lock construction. That and the fact that any knife that has some visible blade to grip around can of course be folded out with two hands if the user feels more comfortable doing so.
Otherwise, it is mainly double-sided thumb suds that are the predominant way to open the knife. They are also really good. They are easily accessible thanks to the handle sides being a bit thinner where they are found. Then the geometry is designed to give a good push to the blade. That without the studs ending up halfway out on the blade. Here they are found near the handle when the knife is open and are thus out of the way when cutting.
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| The 168L has very effective thumb studs that are easy to use |
Then it is necessary to get the spring tension correct as it's the lock that acts as detent or the resistance that holds the blade in place in the folded position on this category of knives. Also, that detail is well done. As you noticed, many small things are starting to fall into place.
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| The lock is called an Ambi lock and is a version of a cross-bar lock |
Speaking of falling into place, the blade does so in a confidence-inspiring manner. The crossbar-type lock is correctly executed. The blade has no play in any direction, nor does the bolt have any particular tendency to move sideways when the lock is released.
The reason I mention that is that some variations of this lock type have some play if the tolerances are not tight enough. This in turn makes it more difficult to use only one finger to close the lock. But you can do that here, even if the more common way to do it is with two fingers.
To Carry
In the pocket, 168L is discreet. No extremely sharp edges or any glass breaker rear end, but a rather box-like firmly chamfered exterior. Neither length nor thickness are extreme either. The knife is neither among the thinnest I have nor among the thicker ones on the market. Kind of anonymous like I accused it of being at the beginning of this post. In this case, it's a good thing!
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| The clip is mounted at the back end of the handle, whereupon the entire knife disappears into the pocket when in use |
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| Ambi-Clip is SRM's contribution to the knife world. A very good clip that can be removed without tools |
This means that the knife does not make much of a fuss. It is there when you need it and is not very noticeable otherwise. I particularly appreciate two things. The first is that you can put your hand in your pocket to get something else without hurting your hand. Such basic things are sometimes missed.
The second is that the knife is easy to pull and, above all, put back. It doesn't help if you can draw a knife and unfold the blade with one hand if it still takes two hands to get it back together and back in the pocket. At least not in my line of work.
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| The knife itself is discreet in the pocket, but the clip is glossy and therefore visible |
By now I've written quite a few times about SRM's Ambi Clip. But it is a good invention! It means that the clip is attached by being inserted into a slot in the handle where a pair of springy metal pins hold it in place. It is split in the middle and the clip is therefore released by pressing lightly on the outside of it and then pulling straight back.
In this way, the clip can both be removed or shifted to the left side without tools. In addition, it can be mentioned that it is also a well-functioning clip otherwise where properties such as good tension, approved ramp, and decent size are met.
To Conclude
The SRM 168L breathes "working knife" right from the start. Part of that impression is based on the simple, straightforward design. But the choice of materials also contributes to that feeling. The combination of G10 and D2 aren't original anymore but it's still a good foundation for a capable knife. Then you should bear in mind that even if the materials are the same between knife brands, the quality is not, nor is how they are treated.
Here it is noticeable that there is a lot of knowledge within the company behind SRM. They have been and are OEM manufacturers and have long and wide experience in knife manufacturing. This is reflected in solid build quality. The 168L may not be unique in any respect but it is very well made.
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| A knife as reliable as an old Volvo |
When the first visual impression has sunk in, one must feel and hold a knife and that is when those characteristics are felt. The blade is centered, handling excellent with a blade that flashes out on soft ceramic ball bearings and a lock that just works.
There are also many details done correctly. Things like a properly patterned G10 that provides good grip without rasping the surroundings, thumb studs that are found where they should be, and a sharpening choil that is in the right place and properly sized.
After that, it's time for the real baptism of fire. Time to start using the knife and take it to work. It is at this level that this knife has its real strengths. The ergonomics are good and the blade is very all-round focused.
This SRM knife is a real workhorse. In some posts on Instagram, I compared it to my old Volvo, it just works and has for a really long time. I get the same impression from this knife.
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| SRM 168L at work. Time to harvest Swiss chard |
For those reasons, I can only warmly recommend this knife. Not because it's extremely pretty, because it's not. 168L is too anonymous for that. Although the appearance is not unpleasant either, harmonious is a word that springs to mind. Nor because it is exclusive, because it's not, but because it just works.
SRM has thus managed to create a really good knife for all everyday situations, whether it is work or leisure that is around the corner.
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| SRM Knives |
Specification:
Length Overall: 198 mm
Length Folded: 111mm
Weight: 113 g (weighed by me, stated 113 g)
Blade Length: 86 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,1 mm
Blade Steel: D2
Handle: G10
Lock: Ambi lock
Produced by: SRM, made in China
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