- The beetle that became a ladybug
When this knife was introduced, I wrote, among other things, that I thought it was "fun". By that, I meant that both the design and possible colour combinations feel playful. The QSP Beetle is certainly a dagger, but with this blade shape and not least the colour, it is challenging to call it aggressive. An epithet that is often otherwise associated with symmetrical blades.
Here I thought I would give a few more clues about this knife that is something more than just "fun".
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| QSP Beetle |
If this edition or the equally colourful blue or bronze-coloured variants feel too extreme, the model is also available in a midnight black edition or simply with an uncoloured blade and black handle. The latter feels a bit mellow in this context. Although it is clear, if you choose black/black as an alternative, some of the playfulness disappears, even though the holes in the handle and the bulging blade remain.
Regardless of which model you choose, you get a knife that stands out in the crowd.
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| Beetle is available in several variants, some of which are particularly colourful. |
Short version: QSP Beetle, a playful interpretation of a classic folding dagger
Blade
The blade shape is not much to say about since it is a spear point. As typical as one can be, actually. What makes this one deviate slightly from most others is that in this case, the entire edge is one long curve.
The length of the blade is 75 mm, of which the available edge is only 65 mm. Not a particularly large knife, in other words. The thickness of the blade is 3 mm, and the height is just over 28 mm at most.
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| A spear point blade made of 14C28N with a distinctive coating |
The steel is the 14C28N that QSP often uses, a now well-known and very practical mid-range material that, when properly treated, is really nice. It is rust-resistant, something that is reinforced here by a colored surface; it is easy to sharpen, takes sharpness quite well and holds it, if not extremely long, at least well enough. It should also be added that since it is used so frequently and by many manufacturers, the formulas and knowledge of how it should be hardened and heat-treated are well known. This is also reflected in knives from QSP in general.
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| Beetle eats cardboard quite well, but as usual, I get annoyed by deep "choils" when cutting similar materials, which tend to get stuck in them |
The thickness of the blade is, as mentioned, 3 mm, but there are a couple of other factors that play into how the knife behaves. A somewhat complicating circumstance is that the flat grind bevel is only 15 mm high because it does not extend over the entire height of the blade.
But in return, the blade is only so thick in the middle. Both of these characteristics play into how the knife behaves when you cut with it.
So overall, the Beetle surprises positively. It slides through cardboard relatively easily, even double-walled cardboard. It can also handle tape, nylon straps and cable ties with ease. The same can be said for a couple of kilos of tomatoes. Well, tomato soup happened to be on the menu, and I wanted to test the knife a little more. Otherwise, of course, it has no business in a kitchen. And yes, it was cleaned thoroughly before the task.
Of course, this knife is so-so for wood. It goes without saying that this is not an outdoor knife, even in the broadest sense of the word. But it is excellent for cutting a fresh twig.
If you weigh all the factors, the Beetle is a surprisingly good EDC knife, but not the best. You shouldn't exaggerate.
Hande
Basically, this handle is made according to template 1A for modern knife handles belonging to folding knives in this price range. At the bottom is a steel frame that is then lightened, and on the outside, G10 sides that are screwed in place. In this case with two screws of size T6 in addition to the pivot screw.
But in this case, there are some clear deviations in appearance that are worth noting.
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| A wide handle that fills the hand surprisingly well for being thin |
One such extra clear in this design is that the G10 sides have a lot of holes through which the frame shines through. It is, of course, a design element, but it also makes for a lighter knife. Especially since the frame also has generous holes. However, they are found in those places, in the middle of the sides, where they are not visible.
Then the sides are so heavily bevelled that they are perceived as arched even though they are not. Another visible detail is the really large metal collar that is found around the pivot screw.
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| The colourful frame is weight-reduced and recessed into the G10 sides |
Another and perhaps more important thing is, of course, the proportions. The length of the knife when folded is 105 mm, but the width is at most 34.5 mm. On the other hand, the Beetle is thin as it only measures 13 mm in that direction. This, in turn, means that the knife is thin in the pocket while still filling the hand very well. This may be needed as it is what provides most of the grip. The holes contribute to better traction while the G10 surface itself is quite smooth.
In the hand, the Beetle is comfortable, although somewhat limited. In a firm hammer grip, it is, as I said, fuller than one would first think. But it is a little trickier to use in other grips. A sabre grip is not to be considered, as you either have to place your thumb over the finger guard or behind it, which is not comfortable or means you are too far from the blade. Similarly, you would prefer not to place a thumb or index finger on the blade. Of course, it can be done, but the thin "back" as well as the colour and the symmetrical blade make it feel like you are putting your finger against an edge. It is also difficult to determine at a quick glance whether the correct side is up.
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| The handle favours certain grips, such as the hammer grip |
However, there are double "choils" in the blade that can be used to sneak closer to what is being cut, although it is a bit fiddly in this case.
A grip that feels natural, however, is to hold the knife in a pinch with the thumb on the flat side of the handle. Even reverse grips, both with the blade up or down, feel comfortable. This gives the handle a pass.
Opening and Lock
Beetle is one of those knives that can be opened in several ways. For once, two hands is not an option as the entire blade is hidden in the handle when the knife is closed. However, the finger guards can be used in two different ways. If you want to open the knife slowly, you use the lower one as a support for your thumb and then roll out the blade.
More obvious is the upper one, which, of course, acts as a flipper tab. The effect is immediate and very quick, regardless of how you choose to use your index finger. Whether you press down or pull back, it works.
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| The finger guards also act as a thumb stud and a flipper tab. |
The speed is the result of a lightweight blade and ball bearings. The flipper itself has a ribbed pattern for better grip. This is necessary as the paint otherwise makes the finger guards quite slippery.
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| A linear lock that works well |
The blade is held in place with a typical liner lock. A good liner lock at that. This means that it locks as it should, when it should and holds the blade in place in the unfolded position without movement in any direction. QSP knows its locks at this point, regardless of the type, I might add.
The lock is also very easy to disengage, thanks to the fact that there is a generous contact surface against the lock bar for the thumb. It is fortunate because the coating actually makes the grooves there not of much use, as they are too round.
To Carry
In the pocket, the Beetle is very pleasant despite its chubby appearance. As mentioned earlier, the knife is relatively thin, and although the handle is higher than most, it is still lower than many Spyderco models, just to give an example.
The length is also not much to say as the knife is just over ten centimetres when folded.
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| The centrally placed clip is very good |
Then the weight is relatively modest, too. All the holes in both the frame and handle sides and the double-ground blade (even though it only has an edge on one side) keep the weight down to 117 g. It's certainly not extremely light, but it's not daunting either.
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| The clip allows the knife to disappear into your pocket |
The clip is not completely standard for coming from QSP. It is nothing extraordinary, as it is a regular spring steel clip, but what stands out is that it is not screwed into the side of the handle but is attached to the end of it. It is attached with a T6-size screw and can be rotated to be carried on the other side. That is probably the only thing I don't like about this clip. It is a very small screw, and the risk of pulling it round is imminent. Something I already felt when I disassembled the knife to see how it is constructed.
It is, of course, the design of the handle and the symmetrical appearance that forced this solution, but the fact is that it is a really good clip! It works great for both thinner trousers and jeans with good tension, good ramp and adequate space under the clip itself.
Then, a side effect of the attachment system is that the knife sits extremely deep in the pocket. No risk of dropping the knife or showing it unnecessarily, in other words.
To Conclude
It can always be discussed whether a dagger should have one or two edges by definition to be characterised as such, but in everything else, this is a folding dagger. The blade as well as the handle are completely symmetrical, and the blade is double-sharpened even though, as mentioned, there is only one edge.
Now, someone might object that such a blade is useless from a practical standpoint, but look, it actually is not.
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| Daggers can look very different |
Besides the obvious, that it punctures things well, what remains if you cover half the blade is no different from any sabre ground drop point. If you add to that the blade is only three millimetres thick and that only along the middle, the Beetle cuts surprisingly well. That's not to say that it is THE most practical knife, but it is not unusable!
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| Beetle is more design than pure functionality, but despite that, it is surprisingly good as an EDC knife |
The Beetle also comes with the craftsmanship and manufacturing quality you expect from QSP. There's nothing to complain about there. The factory edge wasn't the best, but it's perfectly acceptable, and everything else, from the way the knife is put together to the handling and lock, is excellent.
But that's not what sells this Beetle. The thing about this knife is, of course, its looks. You buy this knife because you think it has something special that appeals to you. Maybe it's the colour combinations, or the fact that it's a folding dagger that doesn't scare the crap out of the average person?
In return, you get a perfectly capable EDC knife that truly stands out from the crowd. It's anything but grey!
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| The QSP Beetle is not an outdoor knife, but you can certainly cut a twig or two if you feel like it |
In other words, the QSP Beetle is the knife for those who like the aesthetics of a folding dagger but are not looking for a knife aimed at commandos and secret agents, but prefer a more playful design on the theme. If you also choose red like me, it will not just be a beetle but a ladybug. For one of these, you currently pay around 70€.
Specifications:
Length Open: 180 mm
Length Folded: mm
Weight: 117 g (weighed by me, stated 117g)
Blade Length: 75 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: 14C28N
Handle: G10
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: QSP, made in China
/ J - the sudden entomologist
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