The first knife of the year is not only a welcome addition to the collection, but I also welcome a brand new to me, Olitans. Considering their rather large catalogue, they must have been around for a while and just flew under my radar. But in the range, several knives look extremely interesting, and the first one to test is this one called Lemon Shark.
The knife is available in several different designs, where the colourful ones stand out the most. However, if you prefer a more subdued colour tone, there are options available, such as blue Micarta, for example.
I myself chose the bright yellow; of course, this is not a canary, but with a name that includes lemon in the name, the choice was easy. Then, as a Swede, it is difficult to resist a knife that comes in blue and yellow. There is an accent colour here that is found in both the back spacer and the thumb studs. A truly electric blue shade.
 |
| Olitans Lemon Shark |
I have also revealed that the knife is only partially open at the back and one way to open the knife. The other is via a front flipper. I can immediately confirm that both methods work excellently. The lock is a typical liner lock.
Equally typical is the construction, which involves a lightened steel frame with sides of G10 in this version. An extremely smooth G10 might be added.
Lemon Shark feels compact, as in sturdy and a little heavier than expected, as the frame is heavily drilled. The website states 85 g, my scale says 112 g, which I believe is more and which explains that feeling. The balance is otherwise good with the weight placed in the indentation for the index finger. I suspect the ergonomics may also be good, as the knife is very comfortable to hold regardless of which grip is preferred. But more on that in the upcoming review.
 |
| The very yellowest G10 version of Lemon Shark |
Olitans Lemon Shark is 190 mm long, of which the blade accounts for 83 mm and the handle for 107 mm. The blade is a nice drop point with a swedge that enhances the look. The thickness is 3.5 mm, and the material is 10Cr15MoV steel. A Chinese steel that I like. It is a big step up from the 8Cr variants, I have found. The blade is also coated with some form of Ti-Ni.
Otherwise, it can be said about my first meeting that I really like the overall shapes. Nothing revolutionary, but the design group at Olitans has managed to make them harmonious. In addition, all the usual quality markers are met, no play in the blade, the lock engages securely, the blade is centred, opening and closing are smooth, and all sharp edges and corners, such as those on the inside of the frame, are nicely rounded. Then there are a few extra details that enhance the overall impression. All screws are countersunk and the same size, T8, something that is not entirely a given in this price range.
The build quality feels solid, especially since the target price on the website is as low as $45. A "budget knife" that promises a lot, in other words.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar