- a robust, lightweight knife
Having had the Ripley Glyde Lock for more than six months now, I have had time to test it thoroughly. Much of it is due to the fact that it's a fairly hefty knife for coming from QSP. Now that doesn't mean that the knife is "Cold Steel-sized," but that it is quite large and tempting to use.
The question that remains to be answered is whether this is just another budget knife with a "cross-bar lock" or if there is more to say about it.
 |
| QSP Ripley Glyde Lock |
Ripley, which also has the addition of Glyde Lock to really emphasize the type of lock used, is designed by a man named Keanu Alfaro. A designer I wasn't familiar with before, but now I have two knives that bear his name.
First up for review is this one, but it will be followed by another model I previously presented here on the blog called Turtle Punk.
 |
| A knife designed by Keanu Alfaro |
Short version: QSP Ripley Glyde Lock, a knife for those looking for a robust EDC knife in a slightly larger format that still won't break the bank
Blade
Since this is a fairly simply designed knife, it is reflected in the blade shape. A drop point without any frills. It is a fairly wide blade with a height of 28 mm and a length of 88 mm. Quite substantial, in other words. The thickness is 3.5 mm.
The shape of the blade with a slightly sloping back means that it has a fairly substantial belly. In other words, nothing for those who prefer a Wharncliffe. But it also means that the tip is both good for detail work and still relatively strong.
 |
| A folding knife blade can hardly be that much simpler. |
The steel is recognizable both to us Swedes and to those who are used to QSP, as they use it frequently in their simpler knives. It is a 14C2N. A steel that is known to be quite rust-resistant, very easy to maintain, and holds its sharpness quite well. In addition, being stainless, it is also quite tough, which makes it one of my "budget" favorites. Especially if the knife is to be used for outdoor activities, which can involve some prying when the knife is to be released from wood and similar situations.
At this point, QSP has also mastered the hardening of this steel very well, and the hardness is optimal in this case to get the most out of the material.
The finish in this case is stone tumbled, but the knife is also available with a PVC coating in some versions. In addition to making the blade black, this contributes to even more rust protection.
 |
| The steel used in this drop point blade is 14C28N |
Such a simple blade shape, well executed, is as all-round as one might suspect. Maybe not the best at anything, but usable in the broadest sense. This applies whether it is natural materials such as wood, both dry and fresh, or man-made materials such as cardboard, rope, plastic, etc. One thing that contributes to this is, of course, that the blade is flat-ground.
Ripley has had to act as an EDC knife a lot because it is easy to take with you and carry, which I will get to later, while at the same time being just as flexible as I hoped in terms of use.
At work, this involves opening packaging, mainly plastic of various thicknesses. Everything from puncturing cans to opening 10 kg bags of pasta, etc. At home, it involves more cardboard but also some carpentry and not infrequently involves cutting rope stumps, cutting a stick to attach a tape measure to when throwing knives, and similar small tasks. What distinguishes them is that I rarely work with the knife for any length of time. When I do, I almost always switch to a fixed-blade knife with a fuller grip.
Ripley also feels nimble and lively in the hand. This is partly because it is light, but also because the balance is excellent and is found just behind the pivot screw.
Handle
The handle of this knife is built around a partial frame that contains the lock. Otherwise, the knife is open in the back except for two spacers that hold the handle sides together. They are screwed from two sides with T6 screws. The adjustable pivot screw is size T8. If I may say so, dump the T6s. They are so small that the slightest looseness, if you are going to tighten them or take the knife apart, risks stripping them.
The presentation side of the pivot screw shows the QSP triangle logo that appears on some of the range. That side is also D-shaped, which means that it does not rotate if you want to disassemble the knife. Something I recommend that you do not do unless you are experienced. This type of lock is a little trickier to fiddle with than, say, a frame lock.
 |
| The spacious handle is made of G10 |
The shape of the handle is generous in that, even though there is a simple finger guard and a beak at the back, you can use the entire surface to hold it. This means that even larger hands can easily find a good grip. The length is 115 mm and the thickness is 13.5 mm. The height is around 26 mm, depending on where you take the measurement.
The sides are flat but heavily beveled at both the top and bottom, so it almost feels like they are 3D-shaped. They are also thick enough that the knife, unlike some others with the same type of construction technique, does not flex at all if you try to squeeze them together.
 |
| The knife is open at the back, and the handle sides are self-supporting without a frame. |
The material used is G1,0, and the surface has a fine mesh check pattern that does not provide much friction. However, it is complemented by the pattern with the three notches that at least makes me think of claw marks á la Jurassic Park. Combined with the grooves that are found on both the back and the underside, they provide enough grip for most tasks.
 |
| The handle accommodates most hands and is very flexible in terms of grip |
Ripley has a predominantly good grip. If you squeeze the handle really hard, there can be a little problem with the aforementioned grooves and the clip, which can be felt a little against the hand, but not much. Then the front depression for the fingers can be more or less good depending on the size of the hand. For me, it becomes a bit of a "one-and-a-half-finger groove", which means that the middle finger has a tendency to end up on the small bump that forms. But it is mostly in a hard hammer grip that it is experienced that way. In a saber grip, that detail rather helps the hand to hold on positively. So it depends on the grip.
Generally, however, all grips work well.
Opening and Lock
Ripley opens with double-sided thumb studs of traditional cut, with excellent function in this case. The studs are certainly found close to the handle, but as they protrude a bit due to the beveled edge on the handle side, access is easy.
Then it becomes apparent that I am too used to knives. I almost forgot what is obvious to me, namely that you can, of course, both open and close the knife at least as quickly using the lock.
 |
| The blade can be opened using thumb studs or the lock bar |
The action gets a very good rating. Part of it can be attributed to the ceramic ball bearings. But also to the construction itself. Knives with this type of lock lack a detent ball. Instead, it is the "omega springs" that hold the lock bolt in place that provide the resistance. Here it is so strong that it gives a good flick when the knife is opened. What is better is that the spring tension also means that the knife blade cannot be shaken out of the handle in any way.
Upon arrival, there was a slight tendency to lock stick when it was to be released. However, it was gone fairly immediately after a while of use.
 |
| QSP's Glyde Lock is a very sturdy version of a cross-bar lock |
QSP is apparently so proud of their variant of the crossbar lock called the Glyde lock that, in this case, it was even included in the name of the knife.
They should be proud of it. I have already mentioned good power in the springs, and to that should be added excellent function. The blade does not move anywhere; on the contrary, it sits tighter than some knives with the original version of this lock type, I can reveal. In addition, it is easy to release with one or two fingers.
To Carry
For such a robust folding knife with a blade of almost nine centimeters, it is very easy to carry. First of all, the handle is quite square in profile, but thin. As mentioned, the thickness is only 1.3 cm. The square shape also means that nothing is protruding, read flipper tab, which can get stuck when the knife is put in a pocket.
 |
| The clip is recognizable from other QSP models |
Then Ripley is light. Since it does not have a full frame and the material is G10, the weight ends up at pretty much exactly one hundred grams. That is certainly not much for the size of the knife.
The material on the sides is not extremely rough, but the inlaid grooves, the ones that I assume gave the knife its name, make the process a bit more cumbersome.
 |
| The tension is acceptable, but the steel clip can bend out of position if it gets stuck, and that can happen quite easily when it is a relatively large hook. |
The clip is one of QSP's generic clips, and as such, it works well, but it may not excite anyone either. One small problem I had was that I got caught on something, and it bent slightly outwards. Otherwise, the tension is good, and both the ramp and the space underneath are enough for most fabric thicknesses. My work trousers are not the best to judge by, as they are thin. Jeans are a better test.
 |
| Not much is visible of the knife when it is carried |
The clip is mounted with two small T6 screws that are in tandem. A good thing is that the clip mount is recessed into the handle side, which makes it more stable. Even better is that the side that is not used has a cover plate. This improves comfort as that hole is not felt against the hand.
Otherwise, it can be said that it is a deep ride clip, so the knife is barely visible when carried.
To Conclude
The question I asked initially was whether this is another knife with this type of lock in the crowd. I would answer both yes and no. Because it is, although it is a really good one. QSP is considered successful in that segment, and I am one of those who contributed to that opinion, and the Ripley Glyde Lock is an excellent example of why they have earned that reputation.
 |
| The Ripley is a relatively large but easy to carry and therefore an excellent EDC knife |
I would have preferred that the knife had been equipped with phosphor bronze bushings instead of ball bearings. Why, some might wonder. Well, for the simple reason that it is less sensitive to dust, gravel, and water than plain bearings are. At least on a theoretical level. No folding knife feels good about being dropped on a sandy beach or in a mud puddle.
The Ripley is so robust and light that, in addition to being a frequent knife at work, I think it is an excellent folding outdoor knife. A fully flat-ground but still not too thick blade in good quality steel and a comfortable but not slippery handle provide an excellent basis for that.
Now, the presence of ball bearings is not enough to disqualify the knife for outdoor use. This is a good folding outdoor knife.
It is also excellent as a larger EDC knife for all the small tasks that may arise there. What they have in common is that you want a knife that is easy to draw, fold out the blade, then do what you want to do, and let the knife disappear again. In that area, the Ripley is excellent.
 |
| QSP Ripley Glyde Lock is also a good company in the forest |
For these reasons, I can truly recommend the Ripley Glyde Lock to anyone looking for a robust knife with a good design that doesn't cost a fortune. This applies whether you want it for work or leisure, or if you are a newcomer to the world of finer folding knives. This can be a good entry point. The price in Europe is from 70-100€.
Specifications:
Length Overall: 203 mm
Length Closed: 115 mm
Weight: 102 g (weighed by me, stated 102g)
Blade Length: 88 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm
Blade Steel: 14C28N, HRC 59-61
Handle Material: G10
Lock: Glyde Lock
Produced by: QSP, made in China
/ J - says "let it Rip(ley)"
* I can immediately say that a thousand kronor/95€ is too much!
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar