- a Pikal to go with your coffee?
The Scythe XL from Shieldon Knives has an appearance that differs from most. It belongs to a type of knife called Pikal or P'kal. A type of knife that, like karambits, originated in Southeast Asia and over time developed into knives for self-defense*. This makes it a rare guest here on the blog and perhaps even more so in most people's pockets.
What is typical of the model is that the edge is intended to be turned upwards. Then they are often curved, as in this case, which makes them look even more peculiar when compared to more traditional pocket knives.
One of the questions that arises is whether they have any reason to exist outside of the relatively obscure intended area of use and collecting. Some of that I intend to answer here.
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| Shieldon Knives Scythe XL |
Scythe is a collaboration between American DC Blades, who designed the knife, and Shieldon Knives, who produces it.
The model can be found in two of the categories that Shieldon has chosen to divide its range into on the website. Something I find a bit strange. First, it is found in their mid-range segment called "Crusader". Or rather, that is where this version is placed. With this steel and handle material. But Scythe is also found among the alchemists, which are the more exclusive knives. That version has a titanium handle and a blade in S35VN. Below them are the simplest knives that have to be content with being bards.
Then it gets quite confusing when they call the middle group "High End" and the top group "Premium". They are usually expressions that are more or less synonymous, and if an analogy is to be made to the Hi-Fi world, it can't be more than "High End". That's kind of what the premium category is.
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| Scythe is not a discreet knife, no matter how you look at it |
Short version: Shieldon Knives Scythe XL, a small knife with plenty of attitude!
Blade
The blade type is, if not unique, then very unusual. The fact that the knife type itself is called Pikal or P'kal was mentioned in the introduction. What this means in concrete terms is a knife with a blade that is actually a hawkbill, but with a very distinct angle between the handle and blade. This gives it a typical appearance, and this is, of course, also reflected in the properties.
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| The blade shape is basically a hawkbill |
But what makes a Pikal unique is that it is meant to be turned upside down. That is, with the edge facing up. In this case, the angle of the flipper reveals that it is also meant to be used as a thumb ramp.
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| The knife looks quite different when you turn it over. |
This is what distinguishes this type of knife. If the knife is held with the edge like a regular knife, it practically means that the edge of the curved blade ends up higher than usual, and the same applies to the tip. It points downwards compared to a regular knife, at the same time as it is found above the intended center line of the knife. This means that it does not grip rope as well as a regular hawkbill, but on the other hand, you can more easily stab with the knife, if desired.
The tip of this type of blade, and also the Scythe, is very thin. This makes it extremely sharp and provides extreme penetration, but it comes at the expense of durability. To put it bluntly, this is not a particularly good tip for opening packages in the long run. However, it cuts excellently in meat. You can draw your own conclusions from that. Not because it can't open boxes, because it more than can, but because it doesn't hold up to it in the long run. Unless you want to sharpen it over time, of course. Then just keep going.
This is even though the steel is a 154CM, which is certainly not particularly exclusive but robust and well-known. By the latter, I mean that it is no secret how it should be hardened and heat-treated to get the most out of it. Here Shieldon keeps the hardness down to 58-60 HRC, which is a good idea as you don't want the blade to break.
The steel is relatively rust-resistant, but here it has been reinforced with a black titanium nitride surface. The finer variants with a black blade instead have a DLC-treated blade, if I understand correctly.
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| This tip is no joke! |
The blade is quite small; despite the fact that the knife has been given the XL suffix, it measures just under three inches or 74 mm. I would think the reason has to do with certain jurisdictions in the world. Many countries and areas draw the line at 75 mm. The height of the blade is at most 22, and the thickness is a full 4 mm. It is relatively large, but a strong spine is needed as the blade is otherwise very slender. Then that thickness is not maintained as the blade has a strong swedge that thins out and improves on an already very good penetration ability.
I have mostly used it for two different things. First, pure testing like cutting meat, and then purely practical to remove splinters, peel out skewers, etc. Of course, with a proper cleaning in between. But for that kind of small stuff, that knife is absolutely fantastic, even though it was hardly intended as a scalpel.
Otherwise, the knife's strengths are found in the same areas as all curved blades, i.e., mainly cutting string, rope, and twine, but also cutting thinner things like a branch, a cable tie, etc. The curved edge bites harder the further into the cut you get, if you put it that way. The exact opposite of a skinning blade.
Handle
The handle shape can probably be called dogbone, as it is a little thinner in the middle and swells both front and back. The fact that the handle is so symmetrical is not surprising since the basic idea is that you should be able to turn it over to get the edge up, as mentioned. But it is also possible to hold the knife on the "right" keel, and not least in a reverse grip with both the edge forward and backward.
To achieve all these grip options, the handle needs to be fairly neutral but still provide a really firm grip. This has been achieved partly by giving the knife substantial finger protection. If the edge is down, it is the blade itself that forms a substantial thumb ramp. It is reinforced by a set of excellent grooves. When the knife is turned over, the flipper fin fulfills the same function.
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| The handle is of the "dog bone" type |
This handle is quite expensive in terms of processing time. Inside, you will find a frame that is recessed into the handle sides. The latter are not made of any exclusive material but G10. But here they have worked quite hard and given a very distinctive pattern in the style that was previously often called "rock pattern". It gives a very solid grip.
Something that is reinforced by a really thorny back consisting of a protruding back-spacer of black steel.
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| Scythe has a very distinctive back spacer with a pronounced pattern |
The handle is not huge, but with a length of 105 mm, a height of 18-23 mm, and a thickness of 13 mm, it provides a solid four-finger grip. Especially since it is possible to use the entire handle, and the backward-tilting flipper tab gives space instead of stealing space, which is more common.
The knife is assembled at only two points: the pivot screw, which is, of course, adjustable, and an attachment point towards the rear end. Incidentally, it is also the screw that holds the clip in place. An advantage is that they have chosen to keep everything in size T8. This is appreciated because it is more durable than smaller dimensions and because one size of key is enough to adjust or disassemble the knife.
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| The knife is quite small with good balance. The Scythe can be gripped and used like a regular knife, but... |
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| ...it's when you turn it over that you get the explanation for the shape |
As described, the Scythe is a knife that can be held in almost any way. On the right keel, the clip can rub a little against the hand in a hammer grip (in the right hand), but disappears completely when the thumb is placed in the right place for a saber grip. If the knife is turned the other way, the clip disappears completely in both grips, and the handle is really comfortable. Especially since the rounded back end fits well in the hand.
This detail also becomes clear when you spin the knife to a reverse grip. Even there, the clip is felt against the hand when the knife is held "wrong" with the edge backwards. However, it is still possible to use the knife well. But when you turn it with the edge down, forwards, the handle becomes really comfortable again. Or as comfortable as a handle with this much grip can be. A polished wood or bone handle is, of course, softer against the skin.
Opening and Lock
If we ignore the fact that the Scythe can be opened really quickly with a two-handed grip thanks to the blade sticking out as much as it does, this is a knife that is mainly flipper-operated.
The flipper tab is strongly angled, which is partly connected to the blade shape and the short movement needed. However, it primarily provides an additional thumb ramp when the knife is spun, as previously mentioned. It is also equipped with a solid pattern for better grip. This makes it very difficult to slip with your finger.
The flipper tab on this knife leans significantly backward
It doesn't matter how you use the flipper; push or pull is just as quick. The blade speed is even faster thanks to ceramic ball bearings. The shape, or rather the angle, provides another bonus. If you turn the knife upside down, the flipper is used with the index finger on the underside instead of the top.
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| The lock is a liner lock that is easy to disengage |
The lock consists of a so-called nested liner lock, meaning that the lock bar is recessed into the handle side. The material is steel and the function is good. It is easy to release the lock when needed, and it locks every time the knife is opened, no matter how slowly or quickly it happens.
Even better is that it keeps the blade in place. You may feel a very small tendency to move up and down if the blade is pressed hard. However, there is no tendency for the lock bar to slide under negative load. This is always important for safety, but especially here, when pressure can come from any direction depending on how the knife is held.
To Carry
The Scythe is a light knife. The scales stop at around 90 g. But it makes an unusually large footprint in the pocket for being so small. As previously mentioned, the length is only just over a decimeter, but in return, it is thicker and even more so with the clip.
But mostly it is a bit bulgy when it comes to height.
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| Scythe comes with a wire clip |
There is quite a bit of blade sticking out, and on the other side is a flipper that is only 6.5 mm high, but it is still there. In total, it gives a height of 36 mm plus the extra 6,5, which gives a total height that can match a Spyderco knife. And that's not a compliment.
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| An example of a very well-functioning clip |
The clip on this knife is a delight and could serve as a model for many manufacturers. It is a wire clip that really works. The advantages are that they are discreet and have good tension when the material and thickness are right.
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| Apart from its pocket height, the Scythe is very discreet to carry |
It is indeed only attached with one screw, but in return, it is recessed in the handle side, so the clip does not move sideways despite that. It is also reversible for those who want to carry the knife on the left side for one reason or another.
The knife is quite easy to pull and put away. It is a "deep carry" clip, but the knife is still accessible. What makes it a little more cumbersome to put away is the rough pattern that grips the fabric, not impossibly hard but quite firmly. But at least you won't lose your knife.
To Conclude
There is no getting away from the fact that this is a very special knife. The same can be said about the karambits I have previously reviewed here on the blog. Their actual area of use is hardly compatible with Swedish emergency protection legislation. Now, don't get the idea that you are not allowed to carry this knife for that reason. I have received such comments before. Scythe can, of course, be used to the same extent as a Mora knife. That is to say, not in a pub, but it is excellent if you want to cut a rope for your fishing net out on the lake. That is, more or less, how you should think as a Swede. It is actually not the appearance that determines whether the knife is allowed or not, but the situation.
However, the appearance is quite striking as it is extreme with a strongly curved and pointed blade that can also be held upside down. That was mostly why I chose the color combination black and red, by the way. The knife is not discreet in any case, so why go all the way, I thought.
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| A knife that is not discreet at all |
Regardless of what you think of this aesthetic, it can be said that Shieldon Knives has managed to build a really solid little knife. Despite its light weight, it gives a well-built impression. Something that is reinforced by the fact that it fits like a glove in most grips.
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| Scythe XL is not as large as the name suggests; the total length is 180 mm |
In fact, for a Pikal, the Shieldon Scythe isn't as bad for practical tasks as one might think. If you don't care too much about the tip, it's great for splitting cardboard and relatively good for cutting rope and string.
This is a knife for those who want something special that can also be used (well, kind of) in everyday life.
* As I already wrote in the presentation, "self-defense with a knife" is a concept I am not at all a fan of. That is the subject of another blog post. But to describe what I mean in a simplified way, it can be stated that there will be enormous problems for the person who pulls the knife, regardless of the situation. This applies both physically when it happens and not least afterwards. The risk of getting injured yourself or seriously harming someone else is always imminent.
Specifikcations:
Length Open: 180 mm
Length Folded: 105 mm
Weight: 90 g
Blade Length: 74 mm
Blade Thickness: 4 mm
Blade Steel: 154CM
Handle: G10
Lock: Liner Lock
Produced by: Shieldon Knives, made in China
/ J - looking east
The likelihood that the person with the knife will either be considered the attacker or at least the one who did not choose to de-escalate the situation in a strict legal sense is imminent. Unlike action movies, such situations end up in court, where every action is scrutinized. This means that you can most likely expect serious consequences even after incidents.
The only time it works is in endless "What if?" scenarios; let's not go there!
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