- Glossy, glossier, Dolphin
Sometimes you have to embrace your inner magpie and show appreciation for that which is shiny and shimmering. If you do, it is very easy to fall for this knife from QSP Knives called the Dolphin.
Large parts of it have been given a mirror-polished finish, which makes it notoriously difficult to photograph. What other qualities could a silvery dolphin possibly possess besides that? That is what I intend to go into in this presentation.
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| QSP Dolphin |
QSP is a brand that started with fairly robust knives in the slightly lower price ranges. Well-built, made of decent materials and affordable. Today, they have expanded their catalogue significantly. Nowadays, there are knives in most price ranges, both fixed blade and folding knives are represented, although the focus is on the latter.
Among them, there are all kinds of lock types, blade steel and handle materials represented. Despite that, Dolphin is a bit unique. Among other things, for its mirror finish but also for the overall shape, certain decorative elements and not least how the lock is constructed.
There are currently five different variants of Dolphin, all of which exude luxury. You can get it with wood inlays like here or with mother of pearl, abalone, carbon fiber or a little simpler resin in the handle. There is a dolphin for most people.
Short Version: QSP Dolphin, a knife that brightens up life with a sense of luxury without completely emptying your wallet.
Blade
The blade shape itself is not complicated. Dolphin has a pronounced nose in the form of a drop point. The blade is 80 mm long and 20 mm high, closest to the handle, and then immediately begins to taper. The thickness of the blade is 3 mm. A slender blade, in other words. Especially as the tip is very distinctive.
The shape is reinforced by a bevelled back, which, however, at certain angles can be difficult to see due to one of the more distinctive details of this blade, namely the finish.
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| If you manage to capture this blade in a picture, you will see that it is a drop point. |
It is impossible to avoid talking about the mirror finish. It is very well made without being perfect.
But there are more details to discover, and they are very positive. Firstly, the knife is completely flat-ground along almost the entire height of the blade. When this is then combined with a thin blade stock and one of the better factory edges I have come across in a while, you will be happy. An extra bonus is that the tip is needle-sharp.
The marking is as discreet as usual at QSP. They now often rely on their second logo, their triangle logo on the pivot screw, to inform about who made the knife. The one on the blade is small and stylish. Blade steel is on the other side, but is difficult to perceive.
In any case, it says 14C28N. One can assume that the choice of steel was not only based on the good general properties, but also on how well it can be polished.
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| The steel that has been given a mirror finish is 14C28N |
The blade has a "sharpening coil" which makes future sharpening easier. A procedure that will definitely ruin the blade finish, on the other hand. But knives are meant to be used.
But I can say this straight away, this knife has not been tested "hard", whatever it is! No car tyres, no gnarly pieces of oak that have dried for three years in the sun, and it has not been cut half-frozen cod or the like either.
I consider this a gentleman's knife, and it has therefore been used as such. An EDC knife of the more elegant school. Therefore, things like cardboard, some tape, some cable ties, nylon straps around boxes, and some vegetables in the kitchen for picnic sandwiches are examples of what the knife has been used for.
And then to pick metal chips out of your hands. There are a lot of those if you are a knife thrower, and this awesome tip is very good for such tasks. But otherwise, this knife cuts damn well. A thin, sharp blade is a good start for that.
This makes the Dolphin perfect for all the lighter tasks you may encounter. But if you know that you work in the forest, on a construction site or need to pry open paint can lids regularly, there are better alternatives in QSP's catalogue.
Handle
The handle is as spectacular as the handle. The construction is certainly not unique; here, they have just tweaked a standard concept. Dolphin has a steel frame that is lightened, but not on the inside, but on the outside to make room for the inserts of different materials that are found there. Then the frame is screwed in two points, in addition to a stop bolt for the blade and the pivot screw, of course.
The pivot screw is adjustable, and as usual, the screw is D-shaped, which means that it does not spin if you want to adjust or disassemble your knife. A small but nice finesse.
But then follows another of the previously mentioned decorative elements that makes the knife stand out from the crowd. It is the screw that holds the knife at the end of the handle and, through its hole, also acts as a mount for a lanyard. The inspiration is taken from the world of cycling and is of "chain ring bolt construction". This means that it can only be loosened with a special key. However, one is included in the box.
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| The wood inlay on the handle side is of very high quality. This applies to both the fit and the grain. |
The most obvious thing about the handle, however, is a couple of other things. One is, of course, that the steel here is also mirror-polished to match the blade finish. In addition to that, it can be said that all corners and edges are very well-rounded and soft to the hand.
In this case, the sides of the handle are then inlaid with wood. A stabilised wood, by the way, so the risk of it shrinking or cracking during normal use is very small. I actually don't know what kind of wood was used, but it has an extremely beautiful grain.
These wooden sides are also rounded, which reinforces the soft impression that the entire handle gives. This follows from the shape, as the Dolphin has a typical "pistol grip" where the entire shape is curved and slightly angled in relation to the blade.
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| The frame is also polished. Dolphin is also open at the back. |
The length is 118 mm, and that is enough for a full four-finger grip with a little extra. That is, the index finger falls perfectly in place in the intended place, and then the rest of the fingers fill in. The round end acts as a stop at the back. The thickness is 11 mm, which is slim enough for the knife to be easy to carry but thick enough to fill up the hand. The height of the handle is at most 23 mm above the finger guard, and the handle itself is just under 20 mm.
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| Dolphin is comfortable to grip in all the most common holds and a few more. |
With its curved handle and soft shapes in general, the Dolpnin has a really comfortable handle. Far more comfortable than you might think. The hammer grip described above is really nice, but in the same way, a sabre grip feels just as good. But pinch grips and reverse grips work just as well.
What is missing for hardcore users is, of course better grip in the form of friction. This is not a knife to fillet fish with in a rocking boat at sea. It is better suited to a picnic in a park to split a baguette, slice a tomato and cut a piece of Brie.
Opening and Lock
Under this heading, you will find the parts that really appeal to the enthusiast side of knife users. But first, I want to say that I am grateful that QSP has chosen to deviate from the now-popular trend of having multiple opening methods. A really good one will do just fine for me.
Here is an example of that. Thumb studs close to perfection. The shape means that they do not feel sharp against the thumb. They are easy to reach and sit just far enough up and from the blade for the thumb to easily find them. The arc they describe makes use easy, and the crowning glory is that they are completely out of the way when the knife is in use. They almost disappear behind the rounded front end of the handle.
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| Thumbs studs close to perfection, possibly except for the appearance, they look a bit simple. But they make the opening lightning fast |
But then comes the real bonus. Certainly, QSP knives generally feel good to open. Often, thanks to a combination of good geometry and ceramic bearings. We find that here, too, but Dolphin is on a whole other level. It has an absolutely magical feel, the one usually described as glass sliding against glass. I can only assume that is what the polished blade does when it comes into contact with the ball bearings. In any case, the result is brilliant.
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| It's defined as a liner lock but looks like a bolster lock. |
The lock is described in the catalogue as a liner lock, but it rather gives the impression of a bolster lock. The reason is that it is found under the wooden side, not just the bolster, but under the entire wooden surface. In any case, it is extremely well made.
As far as function is concerned, there is nothing to complain about at all. It locks one hundred per cent of the time you open the knife, and it is extremely stable. There is really not a shred of movement in the blade in any direction. A solid feeling, simply.
In addition, it is relatively easy to release. There is room to access the lock bar, and the resistance is reasonable. But the reason I wrote "relatively" and did not give full credit is, of course, the polished surface, which does not provide the best grip for the thumb. But that is a concession you have to make on the altar of beauty sometimes.
To Carry
The dimensions of the QSP Dolphin are kind of in the middle of everything without standing out. A total length of 198 mm gives a folded length of 118 mm. The "extra" length there comes from the end of the handle, which does not give the world's best ratio between blade and handle. The thickness is just over a centimeter and together these dimensions give a weight of 104 g.
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| All the soft shapes mean this aquatic animal hides well in a pocket. |
In terms of shape, Dolphin is as streamlined as its namesake and lies comfortably in a pocket. But note that I write "lies". Dolphin lacks a clip.
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| ...no, no clip on that side either |
This is, of course, another detail that is connected to how this knife was designed. But it can be good to know.
I personally carry mine in a protective small leather pouch belonging to another knife. Otherwise, you can buy a leather case with a clip for this knife from QSP.
To Conclude
Dolphin is one of those knives that stands out and does so in a positive way. The knife market today is bigger than ever, which is good for us consumers. But of course, that means that many knives are almost confusingly similar.
But that's not the case here, where QSP has taken what could be inspiration from many knives native to the Mediterranean when they designed this streamlined creation. That feature, along with the curved shape, makes me think the name is unusually fitting.
In addition, QSP has chosen to enhance the appearance by polishing both the frame and the blade. Something that takes time and definitely polarises buyers. But on the other hand, not everyone likes blackened blades and desert camouflage either. Furthermore, the knife has been equipped with a large and decorative screw at the end of the handle.
But mainly, it is the inlays of the different materials that appeal to the eye. The wood in this case is neatly inset without joints or noticeable edges. It is also nicely rounded and soft to the touch. But above all, it has a grain that creates a dramatic pattern that they have managed to highlight well.
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| One of the more beautiful knives that QSP has released in my opinion |
In addition to an appealing exterior, QSP follows up with one of the smoothest folding knives I've come across. Yes, I dare to go that far. The feeling of opening and closing is silky. When combined with thumb studs that are certainly generic in appearance but perfect in terms of function, sweet music arises. Especially when the locking function sings along in that symphony.
When the blade then reveals itself, it is shiny. That is the first impression. The second is that it cuts and stabs well. It is thin, sharp and flat-ground to basically the entire height of the blade.
A blade finish like this makes it hopeless to photograph, but also makes it harder for sticky things you cut to stick to the blade than, say, something that is blasted. Rust also has a harder time getting a hold. Something else that gets a hold is, of course, fingerprints.
So overall, the blade is quite practical, and the handle is not only stylish but very comfortable. But considering the finish, I would put the knife in the somewhat vague "gentleman's knife" category. An EDC knife, but perhaps not for the heaviest tasks.
Something that underlines this is the lack of a clip and the presence of a leather sheath.
QSP Dolphin, an elegant everyday companion
This makes the QSP Dolphin feel like a knife for those looking for something elegant in everyday life, who have an inner magpie to acknowledge but who nevertheless seek function, albeit not for the heaviest tasks. Considering what was said above, you must not be a clip fetishist; if you are, this is not the knife for you.
But for everyone else, it is a bit odd, but still a gem. A knife that does not really look like everything else.*
Specifications:
Length Overall 198 mm
Length Folded: 118 mm
Weight: 104 g, stated +/- 102 g
Blade Length: 80 mm
Blade Thickness: 2 mm
Blade Steel: 14C289
Handle: Steel/stabilised Wood
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: QSP, made in China
/ J - affirms his inner magpie
*MSRP on the website for this version is 90$
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