Review Olitans Submarine

  

-  another Shilin Cutter tested

The other day, I wrote that I like Shilin Cutters. It was in a review of another knife from another brand. But now it's time for an interpretation from Olitans called Submarine

Olitans Submarine

Why they named it Submarine, I have no idea. Possibly because the overall lines could remind you of a very early U-boat if you use your imagination. Anyway, it is a folding knife aimed at the EDC segment from the Chinese brand Olitans. My first contact with them was a knife called Lemon Shark that I previously reviewed. It was approved with praise.

That they believe in the Submarine concept is evident from the fact that there are no fewer than eight different variants to choose from. The handles are made of G10 in different colours or PEI in cases where they are semi-transparent. The blades can be either blackened or shiny.

Submarine, like Lemon Shark, is a knife from their budget segment, and it would be interesting to test something from their more expensive part of the catalogue.

Submarine - a Shilin Cutter

Short version: Olitans Submarine, a Shilin Cutter for EDC use. Small and compact but a bit chunky, it makes short work of most small jobs

Blade

The blade is, of course, the most defining feature of this entire knife, as it is what makes it a "Shilin Cutter". A characteristic of this type of knife is that the blade is leaf-shaped. More specifically, it is a bamboo leaf that is the model. In knife language, this means that you have a drop point, but that it has a back that rises a little before it falls down to the tip and that it is combined with an edge that forms one long belly. In this case, it is even a little more pronounced than usual, I might add.

Something that also enhances the appearance is that this blade has a swedge. Another distinctive detail is, of course, the hole in the blade. On the blade spine, there is also a row of grooves for better traction. Whether they matter or not is a matter of discussion. 

The blade is described as a kukri blade on the website, but it is as leaf-shaped as can be

The blade is 84 mm long, and it is matched by a height of 33 mm. It is therefore somewhat larger than you think. The proportions are a bit misleading. The thickness of the blade material is 3.5 mm. Here, one could easily have removed half a millimetre and obtained better properties without compromising durability. A blade this tall still holds up!

The material used is the 14C28N of Swedish origin, which is very familiar to most people by now. A typical mid-range steel, if the expression is allowed. It is an all-round steel that does not stand out in any single parameter but is both rust-resistant and takes a good edge. It holds the sharpness decently, and does not chip easily. Overall, in other words, it is a good choice in this case.

The surface of the steel is a shiny satin. The blade is unmarked except for the blade steel designation, which is found in very small style on the opposite side of the ricasso.

The wide flat-ground blade is made of a steel of Swedish origin, 14C28N.

Submarine has a blade that is almost completely flat ground. There is a very small flat part at the top, but it is mostly cosmetic. Overall, the blade appears the way it looks. Behind the edge, I measure the thickness to be 0.4 mm, which is not extremely thin but enough for the blade to cut well.

The shape gives a clear hint of what this blade is best for, and that is sweeping cuts. But the curved edge also means that if you start a cut near the handle, the edge folds outward for a while before it starts to swing towards the tip. This means that when cutting, for example, string and rope, the edge bites harder, which is positive. It is a bit of the same effect you get from a "recurve" or S-shaped edge, although not as extreme.

Otherwise, this type of blade is very flexible. They handle most jobs with flying colours, especially small jobs of all kinds. But there are things I won't do with this knife for a long time, and carving wood is one of them. At least there, I prefer a straight edge. So if you know that it's something you do frequently, you might want to choose another model from Olitans.

Handle

The Submarine has a rather chunky handle that looks long enough at first glance, but feels cramped when you hold it. The construction is otherwise not much to talk about. A fairly heavily lightened steel frame forms the body. The knife is mostly open at the back with a partial back spacer.

The handle is attached at two points, one is a screw in the said back spacer, and the other is the adjustable pivot screw. Almost standardised among knives in this price range is size T8 on the pivot screw and T6 for the others. 

The handle is made of G10, which is almost polished, so there is no extreme friction.

The material in the handle is G10. In this case, it is green but is available in different shades as I wrote above. The surface is actually quite worked as it is partly curved and partly semi-polished. The last one can be criticised as it removes one of the advantages of the G10 material, which is a lot of traction. You don't get that here.

The handle is mostly open in the back with only a small back spacer

The length of the handle is 108 mm, although it is stated as 104 mm. But 15 mm of that disappears at the back due to the design there. Then we have the damn flipper that steals a lot of space. The remaining available grip area for the hand is 75 mm. That's not much. Especially when you have such a powerful blade.

The handle is most comfortable in a sabre grip. In a hammer grip, there is too little room for my hand because the flipper takes up space.

The grip could have been comfortable, but with my hand size, there is a big concern, and that is the flipper. In addition to stealing space, both the placement of it or rather the angle, and the design are a problem. It also acts as a finger guard when the knife is open. The concern, however, is that it is directed slightly backwards, which gnaws hard on my index finger, which is not comfortable. Especially not as the shape is quite angular. To avoid that, you have to grip further back on the handle, whereupon it becomes a bit of a "three-and-a-half-finger" handle for me because, as I said, it is short. This applies especially to hammer grips.

Fortunately, the rounded back end makes the grip relatively good despite that. Then the handle, as mentioned, is quite full, which still gives an acceptable grip. This is especially true with a sabre grip, and then the back end of the clip also hides inside the hand, and then feels less pointed.

If you want to use reverse grips, they work unexpectedly well with this handle.

Opening and Lock

Sumbarine belongs to the modern generation of folding knives, and that often means multiple opening mechanisms. In this case, you can choose between a flipper and a hole in the blade. Sometimes I wish the manufacturers would stop whining and settle on one method. You can't please everyone, and the combinations don't always work.

The flipper, one of two opening methods, works well

The flipper tab works well in parts, but I'm really not a fan of the design described above. But for opening the knife, it's good. It's angled backwards, and the manufacturer has been kind enough to chamfer the front part of the frame as a "landing strip" for the index finger. Some grooves on the fin itself also provide better grip, which is needed as it's not particularly prominent.

A liner lock that is secure but sometimes gives a little play up and down

The lock is a liner lock. For the most part, it works well. The lock bar falls into place as it should, it is easy to access, and the blade is held in place. Or, maybe not. Sometimes there is a tendency for a little play in height. It is not consistent, however. But if the blade is provoked for a while, it disappears. As if the locking arm tightens after a while. But there is never any talk of the blade releasing, so safety is not threatened. Mostly an annoying feeling.

Fortunately, it is not felt when you cut with the knife. It is then perceived as very stable.

To Carry

In this area, Submarine offers a mixed bag, both good and not so good. The weight, for example, is decent at 114 grams. The length is also more than acceptable at 104 mm closed. Especially if these two dimensions are compared to a high blade with a length of almost eight and a half centimetres.

Less good is the thickness. In this area, this feels like a submarine with diving tanks on the sides. It is almost one and a half centimetres thick, 14.5 mm. That's a lot.

Submarine has a spring steel clip that cannot be moved

When paired with a height of 37 mm, it sure feels like you have a knife in your pocket. More positively, the smooth G10 sides don't offer much resistance when the knife is pulled out or put away.

The polished clip is very visible in contrast to trousers and jeans.

The clip is a simple and very polished spring steel dito. Unfortunately, the tip points outwards, which is sometimes felt against the hand, but this in turn provides enough ramp to slide over most fabric edges. The space under the clip is also sufficient. This is also because the clip is recessed in the handle side, and the screw heads are flat. In other words, a little work has been done on that point.

But to save that working time, it was chosen not to repeat the procedure on the other side. In other words, you cannot turn the clip over, so left-handed people have to look elsewhere. 

To Conclude

Something I don't really understand is the presentation text for this knife. It says that it has a "Kukri" blade inspired by the famous Gurkha knives. But it doesn't have that at all! On the contrary, this is one of the more leaf-shaped blades I've seen. Something that is also clearly stated in the technical specification on the website, where it clearly says "Blade style: Shilin". That, in combination with a handle that reflects the blade shape, makes it a Shilin Cutter. Whoever wrote the text must have been confused, and no one checked it and let it remain on the website.

They further describe the Submarine with words like "powerful yet compact". That's also a bit of an overstatement; it's not that powerful. It's rather small and chubby. But sure, let's go for it. They also write that you can choose G10 for "maximum grip", but then I have to suggest that you don't have an almost glossy polished surface on your G10. The one here doesn't offer any extreme grip. Hardly any friction at all, in fact. But that's not a negative in this case. It just doesn't rhyme with the text.

If we ignore the advertising text, we instead find a folding knife that is charming with its distinct Chinese roots and clear design language. The materials are also well chosen for the price point, not much to complain about there.  

The Submarine is a great EDC knife if you can imagine carrying something chunky in your pocket.

However, I have some opinions on the opening of the knife. At first, I was not negative about two or more methods of opening folding knives, but I have started to become increasingly sceptical in general. It must be admitted that it is rare to succeed in optimising the knife for everyone. Most often, it forces compromises, and somewhere, something is limping. In this case, it is not that per se, but rather the angle and placement of the flipper. As described above, it is certainly functional but not comfortable against the finger. It feels a bit like no one tested the knife before it was released.

Once out, however, the blade is sympathetic, and the chubby handle provides a relatively good grip, although it is a bit cramped given the flipper.

Olitans Submarine has also been allowed to accompany me into the forest, but it is not a favourite for woodworking.

That said, the Submarine from Olitans is what I would call a typical EDC knife, although the person choosing it has to make a trade-off. The knife has a personal look and good cutting properties, but the downside is that it takes up a lot of space in your pocket as it is both tall and thick.

But in the end, it is still quite charming, and the price contributes to that. With a suggested price of $45, it feels completely rightly priced.

Olitans 

Specifications:

Length Overall 188 mm

Length Closed: 108 mm

Weight: 114 g

Blade Length: 84 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm 

Blade Steel: 14C28N

Handle: G10

Lock: Liner lock

Produced by: Olitans, made in China

/ J - continues with Shilin Cutters

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Recension Olitans Submarine

 

-  ytterligare en Shilin Cutter testad

Härförleden skrev jag att jag gillar Shilin Cutters. Det var i en recension av en annan kniv från ett annat märke. Men nu är det dags för en tolkning från Olitans kallad Submarine

Olitans Submarine

Varför de döpt den till Submarine har jag ingen aning om. Möjligen för att de övergripande linjerna skulle kunna påminna om en mycket tidig U-båt om man använder fantasin. Hur som haver är det en fällkniv riktad mot EDC-segmentet från det kinesiska märket Olitans. Min första kontakt med dem var en kniv kallad Lemon Shark som jag tidigare recenserat. Den fick med beröm godkänt.

Att de tror på Submarine som koncept framgår att det finns inte mindre än åtta olika varianter att välja mellan. Handtagen är aningen gjorda av G10 i olika färger eller i PEI i de fall de är halvgenomskinliga. Bladen kan fås både svärtade eller blanka. 

Submarine är liksom Lemon Shark knivar från deras budgetsegment och det vore intressant att testa något från deras mer påkostade del av katalogen. 

Submarine - en Shilin Cutter

Kortversion: Olitans Submarine, en Shilin Cutter för EDC-bruk. Liten och kompakt fast en smula knubbig gör den processen kort med de flesta småarbeten

Blad

Bladet är förstås det mest definierande på hela den här kniven då det är vad som gör att den är en "Shilin Cutter". Kännetecknande för den här typen av kniv är att bladet är lövformat. Närmare bestämt är det ett bambulöv som är förlagan. Det betyder på knivspråk att du har en drop point som dock har en rygg som höjer sig en smula innan den faller nedåt spetsen och att den kombineras med en egg som utgör en enda lång buk. I det här fallet är den till och med lite mer uttalad än vanligt kan väl tilläggas. 

Något som försstärker utseendet är dessutom att det här bladet har en tunnare falskegg. En annan uttmärkande detalj är förstås hålet i bladet. På bladryggen finns dessutom en rad med fåror för ökat fäste. Dess vara eller icke vara kan alltid diskuteras. 

Bladet beskrivs som ett kukri-blad på hemsidan men är så lövformat det kan bli

Bladet är 84 mm långt och det matchas av en höjd på hela 33 mm. Det är således något större än man tror. Proportionerna förvillar en aning. Tjockleken på bladgodset är 3,5 mm. Här kunde man lätt kunnat avlägsna en halv millimeter och fått bättre egenskaper utan kompromissat med hållbarheten. Ett så här högt blad håller ändå!

Materialet som använts är det för de flesta vid det här laget mycket välbekanta 14C28N med svenskt ursprung. Ett typiskt mellanklasstål, om uttrycket tillåts. Det är ett allroundstål som inte sticker ut på någon enstaka parameter men är både rosttrögt och tar en god skärpa. Det håller skärpan dugligt och det flisar sig inte så lätt. Överlag är det med andra ord ett bra val i det här fallet. 

Ytan på stålet är en blank satin. Bladet är omärkt sånär som bladstålsbeteckningen som hittas i mycket liten stil på motsatt sida ricasson. 

Det breda flatslipade bladet är gjort i ett stål med svenskt ursprung, 14C28N

Submarine har ett blad som är så gott  som helt  flatslipat. En ytterst liten flat del återfinns längst upp men den är mest kosmetisk. Överlag uppträder bladet därför som det ser ut. Bakom eggen mäter jag godstjockleken till 0,4 mm vilket inte extremt tunt men tillräckligt för bladet skall skära bra. 

Formen ger en tydlig vink vad det här bladet är bäst till och det är svepande skär. Men den svängda eggen innebär också att om du påbörjar ett snitt nära handtaget så viker eggen av utåt ett tag innan den börjar svänga mot spetsen. Det gör att när man skär av till exempel snöre och rep så biter eggen hårdare vilket är  positivt. Det är lite av samma effekt du får av en "recurve" eller S-format egg fast inte lika extremt. 

I övrigt är den här typen av blad väldigt flexibla. De klarar de flesta arbeten med bravur och särskilt gäller det småjobb av allehanda slag. Men det finns saker jag inte gör någon längre tid med den här kniven och att tälja i trä är en sådan sak. Där föredrar åtminstone jag en rak egg. Så vet du med dig att det är något du gör frekvent skall du kanske välja en annan modell från Olitans.

Handtag

Submarine har ett rätt knubbigt handtag som ser tillräckligt långt ut vid första anblick men som känns trångt när du håller i det. Konstruktionen är annars inte mycket att orda om. En rätt kraftigt lättad stålram utgör stommen. Kniven är till största delen öppen i ryggen med en partiell back spacer.

Handtaget är fäst i två punkter, dels hittas en skruv i nämnda back spacer och dels den justerbara pivotskruven. Nästan standardiserat bland knivar i den här prisklassen är storlek T8 på pivotskruven och T6 för de andra.  

Handtaget är gjort av G10 som är mycket finslipat, så någon extrem friktion finns inte

Materialet är i handtaget är G10. I det här fallet är den grön men finns att få i olika nyanser som jag skrev ovan. Ytan är faktiskt rätt arbetad då den dels är välvd och dels halvpolerad. Det sista kan man ha synpunkter på då det avlägsnar en av G10-materialets fördelar vilket är mycket gott fäste. Det får du inte här.

Handtaget är till största delen öppet i ryggen med en endast en liten back spacer

Längden på handtaget är 108 mm även om det anges till 104 mm. Men av det försvinner 15 mm baktill på grund av utformningen där. Sedan har vi den förbaskade flipperfenan som stjäl hur mycket utrymme som helst. Kvar som tillgänglig greppyta för handen är 75 mm. Det är i minsta laget. Särskilt när man har ett så kraftfullt blad. 

Handtaget är bekvämast i ett sabelgrepp. I ett hammargrepp blir det för lite plats för min hand eftersom flipperfenan stjäl utrymme

Greppet kunde ha varit bekvämt men min handstorlek finns det ett stort bekymmer och det är flipperfenan. Förutom att den stjäl plats så är både placeringen av den eller snarare vinkeln, samt utformningen ett problem. Den agerar nämligen även fingerskydd när kniven är öppen. Bekymret är dock att den riktats en aning bakåt vilket gnager hårt på mitt pekfinger vilket inte är bekvämt. Särskilt inte som formen är rätt kantig. För att undvika det måste man greppa längre bak på handtaget varpå det blir lite av ett "tre och halvt-fingers"-handtag för mig eftersom det som sagt är kort. Det gäller framförallt vid hammargrepp. 

Dessbättre gör den rundade bakänden att det greppet blir relativt bra trots det. Sedan är handtaget som nämndes rätt fylligt vilket ändå ger ett godkänt grepp. Särskilt gäller det vid sabelgrepp och då gömmer sig även bakänden på clipet inuti handen och känns då mindre hård. 

Vill  man nyttja omvända grepp fungerar de oväntat bra med det här handtaget. 

Öppning och lås

Sumbarine tillhör det moderna gardet av fällknivar och det betyder ofta multipla öppningsmekanismer. I det här fallet kan du välja mellan en flipper och ett hål i bladet. Ibland önskar jag att tillverkarna slutade vela och bestämde sig för en metod. Man kan inte tillfredsställa alla och kombinationerna fungerar inte alltid. 

Flippern, den ena av två öppningsmetoder, fungerar väl

Flipperfenan fungerar bitvis väl men jag är verkligen ingen vän av utformningen som beskrevs ovan. Men till att fälla ut bladet är den bra. Den är vinklad bakåt och tillverkaren har varit snäll att fasa främre delen av ramen som "landningsbana" för pekfingret. Några räfflor på själva fenan ger också bättre fäste vilket behövs då den inte är särskilt prominent. 

En liner lock som är säker men ibland ger lite spel upp och ned

Låser gör ubåten med en liner lock. Till största delen fungerar den bra. Låsarmen faller på plats som den skall, den är lätt att komma åt och bladet, det hålls på plats. Eller, kanske inte. Ibland finns en tendens till ett litet spel i höjdled. Det är dock inte konsekvent. Men om bladet provoceras en stund så försvinner det. Som om låsarmen tar hårdare efter ett tag. Men det är aldrig tal om att bladet skall släppa så säkerheten är inte hotad. Mest en irriterande känsla. 

Som tur var känns den inte när man skär med kniven. Den upplevs då som mycket stabil. 

Att bära

På det här området bjuder Submarine på mixad kompott, både bra och mindre bra. Vikten till exempel är duglig med 114 gram. Längden är även den mer än godkänd med 104 mm i hopfällt läge. Särskilt om de här två måtten ställs i relation till ett högt blad med en längd på nästan åtta och en halv centimeter. 

Mindre bra är då tjockleken. På det här området känns det här som en ubåt med dyktankar på sidorna. Den är nästan en och halv centimeter tjock, 14,5 mm. Det är mycket.

Submarine har ett fjäderstålsclip som inte kan flyttas

När det sedan paras med en höjd på 37 mm så känns den här kniven i fickan kan  jag säga. Mer positivt är att de släta G10-sidorna inte bjuder på mycket motstånd när kniven skall halas fram eller  stoppas undan. 

Det blankpolerade clipet syns rätt väl i kontrast mot byxor och jeans

Clipet är ett enkelt och mycket blankpolerat fjäderstålsdito. Tyvärr pekar spetsen utåt vilket känns mot handen ibland men det ger i sin tur tillräcklig med ramp för att glida över de flesta tygkanter. Utrymmet under clipet räcker också till. Till det bidrar att clipet är försänkt i  handtagssidan och att skruvhuvudena är platta. Med andra ord har lite arbete lagts ned på den punkten. 

Men för att spara in den arbetstiden valdes att inte upprepa proceduren på andra sidan. Du kan med andra ord inte vända på clipet så vänsterhänta  göre sig icke besvär. 

Sammanfattningsvis

Något jag inte riktigt förstår är presentationstexten till den här kniven. Där står att läsa att den har ett "Kukri"-blad inspirerat av Ghurkas kända knivar. Men det har den ju inte alls! Tvärtom är det här ett av de mer lövformade blad jag sett. Något som dessutom  tydligt står att läga i den tekniska specifikationen på hemsidan där det tydligt står "Blade style: Shilin". Det i kombination med ett handtag som speglar bladformen gör ju det till en Shilin Cutter. Den som skrev texten måste varit förvirrad och sedan har ingen kontrollerat den och låtit den förbli på hemsidan. 

De beskriver vidare Submarine med ord som "powerful yet compact". Även det är lite av överord, så kraftfull är den inte. Den är snarare liten och knubbig. Men visst, låt gå för det. De skriver även att man kan välja G10 för "maximum grip" men då får jag föreslå att man inte har en nästan blankpolerad yta på sin G10. Den som finns här bjuder inte på något extremt fäste. Knappt något friktion alls faktiskt. Men det är inget negativt i det här fallet. Det rimmar bara inte med texten. 

Om vi bortser från reklamtexten så hittas istället en fällkniv som är charmig med sina distinkta kinesiska rötter och tydliga formspråk. Materialen är även de väl valda för prisläget och om det finns inget att säga. 

Submarine är en bra EDC-kniv om du kan tänka dig något knubbigt i fickan

Däremot har jag en del synpunkter på öppningen av kniven. Till en början var jag inte negativ till två eller fler metoder att fälla ut blad på fällknivar men jag har börjat bli alltmer skeptisk rent generellt måste erkännnas. Det är nämligen sällan  man lyckas med att optimera kniven för alla. Ofast tvingar det fram kompromisser och någonstans är det något som haltar. I det här fallet är det egenligen inte det utan snarare vinkeln och placeringen av flipperfenan. Som beskrevs ovan är den förvisso fungerande men inte komfortabel mot fingret. Det känns lite som ingen testade kniven innan den släpptes. 

Väl framme så är bladet dock sympatiskt och det knubbiga handtaget ger relativt gott grepp om även om det är lite trångt givet flipperfenan. 

Olitans Submarine har även fått följa med ut i skogen men det är ingen favorit för träarbete

Med det sagt är Submarine från Olitans är vad jag skulle kalla en typisk EDC-kniv även om den som väljer den får göra ett avvägande. För kniven talar en personligt utseende och bra skäregenskaper, mot talar att den tar en del plats i fickan då den är både hög och tjock. 

Men i slutänden är den ändå rätt charmig och till det bidrar priset. Med ett riktpris på 45$ känns den heltt rätt prissatt. 

Olitans 

Specifikation:

Längd utfälld: 188 mm

Längd hopfälld: 108 mm

Vikt: 114 g

Bladlängd: 84 mm

Godstjocklek: 3,5 mm 

Bladstål: 14C28N

Handtag: G10

Lås: Liner lock

Producerad av: Olitans, tillverkad i Kina

/ J - fortsätter med Shilin Cutters

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

New Knife - SRM 221X

This knife will be a success for SRM. Or my first impression is that it should be. It feels reliable in some way. Sturdy and solid yet light. A knife to trust that doesn't cost a fortune. The recommended price on the website is currently $55. Then, of course, you never know what the retail price will end up being in the long run. Especially not when the world looks the way it does.

So what do you get for the money you invest? The 221X features a simple, well-shaped, and spacious handle suitable for various hand sizes, including those with gloves. Although the latter does not feel so relevant when this is written in the spring of 2026, with bright sunshine outside the window.

Then you get a clip point blade with true Bowie inspiration. Overall, it gives a harmonious impression. There is balance in the proportions. I appreciate that in a good knife, even those that are not among the most expensive.

SRM 221X

The blade is made of one of my favourite "budget" steels, 14C28N. A stainless steel with very good properties for the price range. Properly hardened and heat-treated, it stands up very well even in comparison to more expensive steel. It may lose a little in edge holding capability. But it makes up for it in being easy to sharpen.

From that steel, you get a thickness of 3.1 mm and a blade length of 92 mm. A solid blade, in other words. This, in turn, gives a knife that is 213 mm long in the open position. The weight is 104 g.

It is light for a knife of this size. The reason for this is twofold. First, because SRM has chosen to use G10 in the handle, but mainly because it is combined with their "Mono Chassis". It is a "cage" that houses the lock. This makes the knife stiffer while also making it possible to dispense with a frame in other respects. Hence, the low total weight.

The handle is 121 mm long and 13 mm thick, which provides plenty of space, as mentioned.

SRM 221X offers a drop point blade in 14C28N, a G10 handle and a button lock

The knife opens with a flipper, and it can be said straight away that this is the knife with a lock, as a "detent" is one of the fastest I have experienced so far. SRM has succeeded perfectly with the resistance, which gives an extremely fast opening knife. This is facilitated by ball bearings, which are not made of ceramic but of steel.

The lock is of the button lock variant, which SRM has mastered at this point in an excellent way. This also applies in this case, which can be quickly ascertained. Not a hint of movement can be perceived in the blade when it is open.

The package is rounded off with another of SRM's contributions to inventions in the wonderful world of folding knives, the "Ambi Clip". A clip that can be removed or moved without tools. Just pinch it together and pull it backwards, and it's released. A smooth and well-functioning construction that, however, cannot be used with all types of handles. But here it works great.

Overall, the 221X gives very good first impressions, and this applies to both how it looks, how it feels to hold in the hand and the small details such as the factory edge being very sharp, that the blade has no play and that all corners and edges are rounded as they should. As I said, the knife gives a solid impression, and it will be a real pleasure to test and review this knife!

SRM Knives

/ J - convinced

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review - CJRB Sasaya

 

 -  a well-interpreted Shilin Cutter

There are certain types of knives that I have liked since the first time I saw them in a picture. One such type of knife originates from China and goes by the name "Shilin Cutter".* It is an older model from the late 18th century that is characterised by its bamboo leaf-shaped blade. It is often combined with a handle that reflects the shape of the blade. Overall, it gives a harmonious appearance that I really appreciate.

This is a significantly newer version, and it is noticeable that the type has become more popular as there are now several variants from different brands on the market. This is CJRB's interpretation called Sasaya.

CJRB Sasaya

Sasaya is currently available in four different versions. This is the version with wooden sides. In addition, the knife can also be obtained with black or blue G10 on the sides or a more luxurious version made entirely of titanium. That knife also has a slightly finer steel in S35VN.

Harmony with roots in China

Short version: CJRB Sasaya, A knife as stylish as it is practical

Blade

Sasaya, of course, boasts the typical leaf-shaped blade, which would be strange otherwise, since it is one of the things that distinguishes a Shilin cutter. Translated into knife nomenclature, however, it becomes a drop point with a sweeping belly.

In addition to the shape, the oval opening hole gives character to the blade. On the back side, there are some grooves towards the blade base, but to be honest, they do not fulfil any function.

Sasaya has the leaf-shaped blade typical of the pattern

The length of the blade is 89 mm, not a small blade in other words. The height is just under 3 cm at most, 29 mm. The thickness of the blade is a meagre 2.5 mm, and in that number is found one of the reasons why it cuts so well. The other is, of course, that the knife is completely flat ground. To this can be added that the blade is 0.4 mm thick behind the edge.

The blade is stone-washed and very discreetly marked. The CJRB logo is only found on the ricasso and is small.

The steel used is a material that Artisan Cutlery/CJRB themselves developed together with a steel producer and is called AR-RPM9. A steel that is found in several knives I have tested at this point. As far as I can tell without being a metallurgist, it is a well-balanced steel that is easy to sharpen, very resistant to rust and holds its sharpness reasonably well. Fully on par with other "mid-range steels", if the expression is allowed.

The steel used is AR-RPM9

The fact that the edge extends almost all the way into the handle, in combination with the fact that it is narrow, makes fine work and small jobs a joy with this blade. The blade geometry and sharpening also make the Sasaya a knife that cuts really well. Something that is reinforced by the blade shape that gives a very long edge with a sweeping belly. What you don't get, however, is a straight edge to work with. Something that can be an advantage for certain jobs.

But this type of blade excels at sweeping cuts. In addition to that, it is a fairly all-round blade shape. This means that those small cuts made in a piece of tape, cutting a cable tie, removing plastic around a package, cutting a string and the like are excellent.

The tip is also good. Although the knife gives the impression of being curved, the tip is found approximately on the centre line of the knife or actually a little below it. This allows you to use the tip without breaking your wrist when cutting along something. It is also good for puncturing things with. Thin enough for good penetration as the blade tapers quite a bit towards the tip, while the width means that the tip is not brittle.

Handle

The construction of the handle is recognisable from another knife I reviewed from CJRB, the Pyrite. Both knives feature the same type of lock, a steel bolster, and wooden handle sides. I don't know what type of wood this is, but my guess is some kind of "rose wood," which could mean palisander or another type of wood.

In any case, they are curved, polished, and the fit to the rest of the handle is well done.

The handle shape mirrors the blade and provides a comfortable grip

This has been made a little easier by the frame not being at the same height as the sides but rising slightly above them. Something smart because the fit does not need to be as precise. Otherwise, the Sasaya has a steel frame. A frame that, wich unusually, is not weight relieved. Something that is otherwise almost standard on folding knives today. The back is completely open, and there are two hourglass-shaped spacers. There is also a hole in the back of the handle for attaching a lanyard.

The knife is open at the back. What looks like a gap between the frame and the wooden side is actually a shadow as the frame rises slightly above the rest of the handle.

The handle on the Sasaya is 120 mm long, and the seemingly simple but refined shape means that the entire length can be used. This, in turn, means that all hand sizes fit. The fact that the handle is slim and under two centimetres high at the front of the bolster means that even small hands get a good grip, while the length means that even large hands have something to hold on to. The back end swells to around three centimetres, which mostly prevents slipping when cutting.

The balance point is apparently found a bit further into the handle and could be improved with a lighter frame. Sasaya is otherwise very comfortable to work with.

The teardrop shape allows all grips to work and work well. But of course, the lack of friction and grip enhancements means that this is not a "tactical" knife, whatever that is. But for anyone who isn't interested in maximum grip, this is a practical and excellent handle. This applies regardless of whether you prefer a hammer grip, a sabre grip or any variation thereof.

Opening and Lock

Sasaya is a modern knife, and it is noticeable, among other things, in the very smooth "action". In addition to small tolerances, ceramic ball bearings contribute to this.

The knife is opened primarily with the oval blade hole found in the blade. With the help of it, the blade can be both flicked out using the thumb or an index finger on the back as well as opened more slowly. 

The blade hole works well to open the blade, and the edges are softly rounded to be kinder to fingertips.

In addition, the lock type provides an opening method. Simply press the button, and the blade swings freely and can be both opened and closed at the desired speed.

Sasaya uses a button lock. A type of lock that works by moving an asymmetrical bolt sideways, whereupon the thicker part locks against the blade base.

The lock is very well made and has the same soft feel as the handle. It locks firmly and holds the blade in place. About button locks, it can also be said that they are generally very easy to handle. You press the button and the lock releases. A small warning is in order if you disassemble your knife. The button is spring-loaded, and inside it, you will find a very small spring that can easily disappear and is essential for the function.

The lock button is slightly recessed, which means that it cannot be activated by mistake. Or at least it is very difficult, and nothing has happened during the time I have tested and carried the knife.

To Carry

For such a large knife with a total length of over twenty centimetres, Sasaya is very easy to carry. The slim teardrop shape means that the knife does not take up much space in your pocket, even though the handle is a full 12 cm long. However, the knife is 34 mm high when folded, so it is probably more of a feeling than a practical reality. It simply feels more agile than the actual dimensions say.

The weight is 109 g, which is not much considering that the frame is not lightened. A large part of this can be attributed to the blade being thin and the absence of a back spacer, reducing the weight. It can also be added that this type of lock weighs less compared to, for example, a back lock. 

The clip is a fairly generic spring steel variant

However, the knife is no thicker than 12 mm, and the sides are curved, which, together with the polishing, makes them feel soft. Therefore, the knife slides easily into place when you want to put it away. It is also easy to pull.

This is what Sasaya looks like in a pocket

The clip is of the spring steel type and can be moved even though it almost doesn't look like it. CJRB has made one of the screw holes on the opposite side function as a mount for the handle side, which means that there are fewer holes, which gives a cleaner look.

The function is good with sufficient springiness, even though the tip points outwards. However, the placement means that it does not irritate the hand when you are working with the knife. The length of the handle means that it ends up inside the hand, which I am happy about. However, the space under the clip could be more spacious. As it is now, it is quite tight, and some of the space is stolen by the fact that the clip is not recessed in the handle side. However, it is something that would have cost time and therefore money, especially since the sides are made of wood. However, the screws are recessed in the clip and have flat heads, which is good.

The knife sits quite deep in the pocket, and not much is visible when you carry it.

Sammanfattningsvis

With Sasaya, CJRB has succeeded in capturing the essence of what a Shilin Cutter is. The bamboo leaf-shaped blade is reflected in the handle, and it makes the appearance harmonious and elegant. Something that is reinforced by the wood in this design. That is why I chose not to use G10 this time. Something with the organic shape required natural materials in my eyes.

Then I've come across this type of knife before, and I like it. The shape provides a simple handle, but also one that doesn't cause any problems, no matter what your hand looks like. Short or long fingers, big or small hands, it's easy to find a good grip on this knife. But that tends to be the case with classic designs, whether they come from the Nordic, Mediterranean or, in this case, China.

Sasaya is an excellent EDC knife, even if it is slightly larger than you might be led to believe

As I said, CJRB has managed the properties well, and that also results in a blade that cuts well. This has been achieved via a full flat grind, but mainly by daring to be restrained with the blade thickness. I am grateful that modern manufacturers have started to reduce the thickness of their blades at least somewhat. A few years ago, the trend was for all folding knives to have blades that started at three millimetres and up. It is not necessary.

The thing that might make you not appreciate this blade shape is, of course, if you don't like leaf-shaped blades. The entire edge is a long curve, and there are no straight parts. In addition, it gives a specific aesthetic, especially with a hole in the blade. Did I hear a "Spyderco" somewhere?

The CJRB Sasaya can handle most things. It's clear that it's a knife pattern that has survived the test of time.

Overall, CJRB has created a really good EDC/outdoor knife with this knife. It is beautiful to look at, soft to handle, both in terms of opening and closing and pulling/putting away. In addition, it is practical and made of well-chosen materials.

The manufacturing quality is usually high at CJRB, and this also applies to Sasaya. Especially if it is put in relation to the price tag, currently, the target price for this knife is $60. In Europe, it costs from €74.

CJRB Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 209 mm

Length Folded: 120 mm

Weight: 109 g

Blade Length: 89 mm

Blade Thickness: 2,5 mm

Blade Steel: AR-RPM9

Handle: Steel/Wood

Lock: Button lock

Produced by: CJRB, made in China

/ J - goes Chinese

* I was introduced to the knife model via Spyderco and their Bob Lum-designed "Chinese".

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