Review Ferramonster Spectrum

  

-  when the whole exceeds the sum of the parts

Some reviews are harder to write than others. The problem usually arises when knives are as dull as cats in the dark, lacking a distinct level in terms of all parameters. The easiest and perhaps worst thing is to start the sawmill when something is really bad. Then all you have to do is come up with all the sharp formulations you can think of.

The next easiest is perhaps when everything essential is really good. As in this case. My first encounter with Ferramonster as a brand was the Glideman, which I previously reviewed. A completely positive acquaintance, but the fact is that it has to accept being overshadowed by today's review object, the Spectrum, which in my opinion is even more likable.

Ferramonster Spectrum

In fact, I was quite effusive when I introduced this knife. As soon as it came out of the box, the positive impressions flocked. The knife is nice to look at, the materials are among the best, and the build quality is top-notch. Not much to complain about there.

But sometimes reviews become a bit more nuanced when knives have been carried and used for a while. Any mistakes that have been made become visible, and small details that may not be completely perfect are revealed. The question is, does that also apply to the Spectrum?

I have had time to use this knife for four months now, so there is experience to start from.

    Spectrum is a knife that offers many fine details and materials of the highest quality.

Short version: Ferramonster Spectrum, a reflection that offers the full range of everything a good pocket knife can be

Blade

The first and most significant thing about a knife is the blade, and it is extra positive when it is this finely executed. Basically, it is a simple drop point we have in front of us. But what makes it extra attractive are the nice proportions. The blade is 84 mm long, 25.8 mm high at most, and the thickness is 3.2 mm.

The only decorative element is an elegantly executed swedge that runs along almost the entire length of the blade spine and underlines the shape. However, what distinguishes the blade most is the very stylish finish in the form of a hand-polished longitudinal satin. It is something extra on a knife in this price range.

The marking is not only discreet but completely absent except for the blade steel, which is found in a very discreet format on the ricasso near the handle.

The blade is a very practical drop point

What it says there is M390. It has become a staple among more luxurious folding knives in recent years. It is not so strange as it is still a very good steel with very balanced properties. Here, the hardness is stated at 59-61HRC. I would guess that it is somewhere in the middle. If I may wish for something, it would be that Ferramonster physically increase the hardness by one more notch. But even as it is now, the edge can be stated to last a very long time.

As usual, I maintain the knife mainly with the help of a strop and, if necessary, a ceramic sharpening rod.* So far, I have not had to resharpen the knife.

The steel is the very fine and proven M390, which has been given an exclusive hand-polished satin finish.

In addition to the steel being competent, the sharpening is also really good. The factory edge was sharp, and it is helped by great geometry. Just over three millimeters of steel is transformed into 0.4 mm behind the edge via a fully flat-ground blade. Yes, except for the thin false edge. However, it helps to thin out the tip considerably. The tip is therefore a real precision instrument that you have to be a little careful with. But damn, how well it penetrates! 

In other respects, the Spectrum is also a thoroughly practical knife. The advantage of this blade shape is that you get a little bit of everything. A belly that facilitates sweeping cuts, a bit of a straight edge to work with closest to the handle, and, as mentioned, a good tip.

These factors make the Spectrum a knife that is incredibly handy when it comes to all forms of everyday cutting, whether it concerns natural materials or artificial materials such as plastic, nylon rope, etc. This blade eats cardboard for breakfast, and speaking of breakfast, this is an excellent emergency knife in the kitchen. The blade is more or less a slightly wider paring knife blade. This makes it great for handling fruit, vegetables, and the like. Something that is good to know if you intend to engage in outdoor cooking.

Handle

The handle on the Spectrum is actually at least as exclusive as the blade. The basis is, of course, the ultra-light frame. It has been achieved by taking a couple of pieces of titanium and then drilling them considerably. What remains is what can be most closely compared to a truss.

A partial back spacer is found in the back. On the outside of the frame, another light material has been added in the form of carbon fiber.

The length of the handle is 108 mm, the thickness is 13 mm, and the height varies between 21 and 24 mm except for the finger guard, which measures 28 mm.

The finely crafted handle has sides of polished marbled carbon fiber that are rounded in a meritorious manner.

The handle sides are not made of just any carbon fiber, but a marbled one that has been polished to a very nice finish. In addition, they are elegantly arched. The sides are screwed in four points in addition to the pivot screw. This is because the extra screws that cover the holes that are not used by the clip help to keep the sides in place. It is noteworthy that the two screws in the middle of the handle are shorter than the rest, something to keep an eye on if the knife is disassembled.

Something that should not be done by just anyone, as this type of lock can be a bit tricky to get back in place. 

The knife's lightness is partly explained by light materials but also by a thin blade and an airy back.

It is worth noting that the knife is well thought out in this area as well. All screws are the same size, T8. Then it can be added that they are exclusive as they are also made of titanium! A finesse that is rarely found outside the world populated by custom knives.

There is just one fly in the ointment, and that is that they have unfortunately chosen not to make the decorated side of the pivot screw D-shaped. That is, it spins freely if you want to release or tighten the screw. One of the few mistakes on this knife.

The Spectrum is both well-balanced and comfortable in the hand

The first thing you think of when you grip the Spectrum is that it is very light. The second is that it is a well-balanced knife. The balance point is found just behind the lock in the middle of the indentation for the index finger. Once that finger is in place, the others follow naturally in a hammer grip. I may find that it becomes a little cramped for my little finger, which ends up over the small bump that the back end forms. But that has more to do with the size of my hand and is not a real problem.

In the saber grip, that peculiarity disappears as the little finger instead ends up behind the said tip and is instead on the rounded back end. A very comfortable grip. The thumb naturally ends up on the rather finely cut but very effective grooves that are on the blade spine. Then maybe not smooth carbon fiber is the best for providing the ultimate grip, but on the other hand, that was not what was intended with this design, so I do not see that as a disadvantage.

If you want to use a reverse grip, the Spectrum is also very comfortable to hold like an ice pick and works well if you turn the blade up with the edge facing you, as if you are going to carve heavily.

Since the handle is not particularly thick at the front, it is very easy to sneak a thumb there if you put the knife on its side in a pinch grip. Something useful for detailed work.

Overall, this is a very well thought-out handle that works in all grips and for most hand sizes. Possibly, except for the very largest. 

Opening and Lock

Spectrum opens with thumb studs, and they are excellent ones. By that, I mean that first of all, they are easy to reach without the user having to look for them or get used to the model. They just work. Then they sit well placed to provide good leverage. It gives the blade some speed for those who want it.

The knife can be opened both by flicking the blade out with your thumb or index finger on the back of the blade, or slowly for those who prefer that method.

As I usually point out, when it comes to knives with this kind of lock, you can, of course, use it to open and close the knife. It is perhaps even faster. 

The thumb knobs on this knife are exemplary

Something that makes the knife feel comfortable to handle is that Ferramonster has managed to achieve a suitable spring tension in the omega springs that hold the lock bolt in place. On this type of knife, they replace the "detent" ball that otherwise handles that task.

Another contributing factor is the fine ceramic ball bearings found in the Spectrum.

The lock is also of the highest quality. A good example of a well-functioning cross-bar lock

The lock is, as mentioned, a crossbar lock, and as such, it is very well made. It holds the blade firmly in place without play, and it is easy to access and release. You can't ask for much more. On the plus side, this type of lock is also quite strong. On the minus side, it can be mentioned that they are a bit sensitive to dirt, are difficult to disassemble, and that the springs can break. However, the latter has never happened to me, even though I own many knives of this type.

To Carry

As nice as Spectrum is to look at and use, it is just as good to carry in a pocket. There are a couple of explanations for that. One is low weight. Specturm weighs only 78 grams, which is extremely little in relation to the size of the knife, which includes a blade of almost eight and a half centimeters.

The clip is made of titanium, like most things on this knife.

The other contributing factor is, of course, a combination of external dimensions that are not too large, but above all, the shape and the soft surface. Polished carbon fiber does not provide much resistance against trouser fabric when pulling or putting the knife away.

The clip works with most pants as long as the edge is not too thick, i.e.

The third reason is that this knife has a good, but not perfect, clip. It is a really nice milled titanium clip that matches the rest of the knife well in terms of appearance. The tension is good, and the ramp is semi-high, which means that the clip works well with most normal pants and shorts. But if you have really thick fabric, like in thicker work pants or a jacket, it will be a bit too much for this clip. The same can be said about the space underneath, which is then too small. That's what I meant by 'good but not perfect'.

But on the other hand, this is not an outdoor knife or made for the heaviest work, so it goes in style with the rest of the knife. Another advantage is that the shape means that it is almost not felt at all against the hand. Something that I really appreciate.

To Conclude

I thought that Glideman might be an exception, a fluke. But look, I was wrong. Spectrum is my second knife from Ferramonster, and in my opinion, they go from strength to strength.

Spectrum is something so unusual as an exclusive knife in fine materials that is also thoroughly practical. Here, they have chosen to start from titanium. In fact, the knife is an orgy of titanium, a material found not only in the frame but in the back spacer, the screws, and the clip. Then they add a really nice carbon fiber in this version and top it off with ceramic ball bearings and, above all, a blade in M390.

Then they treat these materials well. Everything is polished and ground as it should be. No uncomfortable edges here. Something that makes this blade extra special for me is that the shape is not only a delight to the eye but also works well for use. Even though Spectrum exudes exclusivity, it is a utility knife. 

Without a doubt, the Spectrum is a very elegant utility knife

This is noticeable, for example, on the blade. After all, it is the most important component of a knife, and then it is incredibly gratifying to see one that is this well-made. This applies to everything from the highest quality materials that have been hardened and heat-treated well, through the absence of marking, to the grind and the superb finish. We are talking about a handmade satin in this case. This is not common on knives that are not handmade otherwise. The function is also excellent. An effective drop point with a fine tip and a really sharp factory edge has never disappointed anyone.

It is also a blade that is matched by an equally luxurious handle. In addition to all the titanium and the exceptionally fine carbon fiber, so-called marbled carbon fiber that has been polished to perfection, the shape is excellent. A handle that works.

Everything is rounded off with a feeling of luxury that is reinforced by the soft feel, the snappy opening, and the well-tuned lock that both performs its function and provides good speed for opening and closing the knife.

I found a feather, both in my pocket and on the walk. Ferramonster Spectrum is very light

Spectrum is a knife that I would argue falls under the category of everyday luxury. In the same category as a well-made espresso. Sure, you can get by with brewed coffee, but that little extra is sometimes worth a lot. A large part of it is about feeling. And it is found in large doses in this knife.

So if you are looking for an extremely well-built knife in exclusive materials that works really well as an EDC knife, the Ferramonster Spectrum is a very competent candidate.**

Ferramonster Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 192 mm

Length Folded: 108 mm

Weight: 78 g (weighed by me, stated 78 g)

Blade Length: 84 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,2 mm

Blade Steel: M390, HRC 59-61

Handle: Kolfiber

Lock: Cross-bar lock

Produced by: Ferramonster, made in China

/ J - overuses superlatives

* I worked as a butcher in my younger days, and although some claim that you ruin edges by using honing rods, I achieve good results and will probably not change my mind on that point.

** The MSRP on Ferramonster's website at the time of writing is $278 for this model. But since I started writing this text, the knife has also come in a simpler version with a 154CM blade and Micarta in the handle. The MSRP for that version is $114.

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Dagens bild nr 286 "Nära perfektion"

Jag vet inte just den här tisdagen är nära perfektion. Faktum är att den är rätt långt ifrån det när jag tänker efter. Men jag blev i alla fall rätt nöjd med maten jag åstadkom i köket idag, en hamburgertallrik.

Men det finns hamburgertallrik och det finn HAMBURGERTALLRIK. I det här fallet med hemgjord dressing, hembakade briochebröd, egengjorda smashed burgers, picklad rödlök med lite chili i som jag fixade imorse och rejält med äkta cheddar att toppa med.

Jo just det, jag stod och handskar pommes frites åt tjugo personer. De är sedan trippel-tillagade där jag först småkokar dem sedan dubbelfriterar dem därefter. Folk verkade nöjda i alla fall. 

"Close to perfection"

Nästan lika arbetad är den här kniven kallad Spectrum från Ferramonster. En recension är på gång men jag kan redan nu avslöja att den här eleganta, välbalanserade, lätta kompositionen är extremt välbyggd. Sedan var det materialen i form av en orgie i titan vid sidan av de mycket välgjorda sidorna i marmorerad kolfiber. Clipet är i titan, backspacern är i titan och till med skruvarna är gjorda i samma material. 

Sedan toppas det med ett M390-blad med en handslipad satin-finish. Det ni!

/ J - trött men nöjd

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New Knife - Ferramonster Spectrum

I realized that when I got my first knife from Ferramonster, there was something special about this brand. In my review of Glideman, as it is called, I was effusively positive, as some may recall. There were good reasons for that.

Therefore, I was more than excited to test their latest model, the Spectrum. My expectations were high, as I knew the manufacturing quality they had offered in the past and had seen both pictures and specifications of the knife online. It looked very promising.

In addition to an elegant box, the knife comes with a sturdy pouch.

But I can already say that despite the high expectations, they were exceeded right away! Some things can't be seen in pictures. It's a lot about the feeling you get when you grip a knife. Things like the design of the handle details and balance play a big role there. But also the finish, and of course, how the knife feels to open and close.

This version of the knife has handle sides made of marble carbon fiber

All that and more is found in abundance in the Spectrum. First impressions are massively positive. The knife is, to begin with, nice to look at. The properties are harmonious, and there are nice details to study, such as the really nice carbon fiber in the handle and the finish on the blade that looks like it would be a hand-polished satin. If it is not, it is confusingly similar!

Then the knife is extremely light and also well-balanced. The low weight comes from the fact that the Spectrum is a veritable orgy of exclusive materials. Apart from the blades, it is mostly made of titanium. This is found in the greatly lightened frame, the clip, the back spacer and even in the screws. This gives a weight of only 78 g.

The knife is otherwise 192 mm long, of which the blade accounts for 84 mm. It is 32 mm wide and 3.2 mm thick at its thickest.

The blade is made of M390 steel and is both thin and has excellent geometry. The factory edge was really good, and I can say straight away that the Spectrum is very thin behind the edge. This knife will cut extremely well!

Ferramonster Spectrum

If you combine all these features, you get the basics of what could be something approaching pocket knife perfection. Spectrum is small, light, well-balanced, with a solid cross-bar lock, and is equipped with a thin blade made of high-quality steel. You can't ask for much more.

As a bonus, it comes in a tasteful box containing a sturdy storage bag for those who like that.

In any case, it was love at first sight, and this knife will be with you for a while, both on Instagram and here on the blog. A review will follow, of course!

Ferramonster Knives

 

/ J - can't get rid of the smile

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Ny kniv - Ferramonster Spectrum

Jag insåg redan när jag fick min första kniv från Ferramonster att det var något speciellt med det här märket. I min recension av Glideman som den kallas var jag som någon kanske minns tämligen översvallande positiv. Det fanns goda grunder till det.

Därför var jag mer än spänd på att testa deras senaste modell Spectrum. Förväntningarna var uppskruvade då jag dels visste vilken tillverkningsvalitet de bjudit på tidigare och dels tagit del av såväl bilder som specifikationer av kniven på nätet. Det bådade mycket gott. 

Förutom en robust låda kommer kniven med en rejäl förvaringspåse

Men jag kan redan säga att trots de högt ställda förväntningarna så överträffades de direkt! Vissa saker kan nämligen inte ses på bild. Det handlar mycket om den känsla man får när man greppar en kniv. Där spelar t ex saker som utformning av handtagsdetaljer och balans stor roll. Men även finish och förstås hur kniven känns att öppna och stänga. 

Den här versionen av kniven har handtagssidor av "marble carbon fiber"

Allt det och lite till hittas i överflöd i Spectrum. De första intrycken är massivt positiva. Kniven är till att börja snygg att se på. Propertionerna är harmoniska och det finns fina detaljer att ta in som den riktigt fina kolfibern i skollorna på handtaget och finishen på bladet som ser ut det vore en handpolerad satin. Om det inte är det så är det förvillande likt!

Sedan är kniven extremt lätt och därtill välbalanserad. Den ringa vikten kommer sig av att Spectrum är en veritabel orgie i exklusiva material. Förutom skollorna är det mest gjort i titan. Det hittas i den kraftigt lättade ramen, clipet, back spacern och till och med i skruvarna. Det ger en vikt på endast 78 g. 

Kniven är annars 192 mm lång varav bladet står för 84 mm. Det är 32 mm brett och som tjockast 3,2 mm.

Bladet är gjort i M390-stål och dessutom både tunt och försett med en utmärkt geometri. Fabrikseggen var riktigt bra och jag direkt säga att Spectrum är mycket tunn bakom eggen. Den här kniven kommer att skära oerhört bra!

Ferramonster Spectrum

Slår man ihop alla de egenskaperna så får man grunderna till vad som kan vara något som närmar sig fickknivsperfektion. Spectrum är liten, lätt, välbalanserad och med stabilt cross bar-lås samt försedd med ett tunt blad i högkvalitativt stål. Så mycket mer kan inte önskas.

Som bonus levereras den i en smakfull låda innehållande en rejäl förvaringspåse för den som gillar sådant. 

I vilket fall som helst blev det kärlek vid första ögonskastet och den här kniven kommer ni att få dras med ett tag både på Instagram och här på blogggen. En recension följer förstås!

Ferramonster Knives

 

/ J - kan inte få bort leendet

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review Ferramonster Glideman

  

-  a new and exciting acquaintance!

FMK, or Ferramonster Knives, is a relatively new brand on the market. To be precise, the name is new, but not the company. They started as several Chinese brands as OEM manufacturers many years ago, but have now decided to take the step and release knives under their own name.

So far, they have released three knife models, one of which is called Glideman.

Ferramonster Glideman

 

Like many modern manufacturers, Ferramonster has released the Glideman in several versions. However, not as many as some do. Here they have settled for four, of which this is perhaps the most anonymous. I chose it because I thought the sober appearance matched the design well.

Otherwise, the knife is also available with a blue titanium handle, an anodized ditto or with a black blade. The latter has a light bronze tone on the otherwise gray titanium handle.

A new knife on the market with a little extra everything, Glideman

Short version: Ferramonster Glideman, The knife that offers something extra. Extra good cutting properties, extra good ergonomics, and extra good kick in the flipper.

Blade

It is impossible to avoid the fact that this knife has borrowed design elements from other well-known knife models. Not that it is a copy of anything, but it feels familiar. Not least of all, this applies to the blade shape, where there are some familiar figures with a similar appearance. Basically, however, we are talking about a modified Wharncliffe. A fairly strong modification as the edge is curved and the back has been given a curvature.

Further design elements are found in a pronounced swedge and, of course, the blade hole and a "forward choil". In other words, there is quite a lot to look at.

Here you will find a rather heavily modified Wharncliffe

The blade is 84 mm long, a bit depending on how you measure. The website states 77 mm/3.05". It is 3.2 mm thick and 30 mm high at most.

The material used is M390. A steel that is familiar to most people at this point, as it has been used in extremely many folding knives of a slightly finer kind. But there is a reason for that, it is simply very good. Especially when what is here has been hardened properly. The stated range is 60-62 HRC, which is where it should be. Otherwise, you don't get as much out of your top material.

The blade has a nice satin finish and is unmarked except for the blade steel.

But you get that here. Especially since the primary edge is about 21 mm high and the blade is as thin as 0.3 mm behind the edge itself. This gives the Glideman good conditions for being a really capable pocket knife, which it is.

In fact, it is a joy to handle in most materials. I am always just as happy when theoretical advantages are also reflected in practice. When it comes to food handling, it is the size of the blade that sets the limits, not the geometry or the material. The knife cuts excellently, but the blade is not that long and it is wide.

When it comes to other materials, however, it is excellent. Cardboard and the ubiquitous plastic are a joy to cut. It is easy, and the blade stays sharp for a very long time.

The tip is pronounced enough that it is really good for both puncturing things and opening packages. I actually appreciate the false edge there too, as I often turn the knife upside down so that the edge does not cut up what is inside the cardboard box that is being opened. The last time there were five kilos of hazelnuts at work. You don't want those on the floor after accidentally cutting the packaging inside.

Then this is a good knife overall and that means it also bites well into wood. The edge is sharp, the blade thin behind but still strong which makes it relatively easy to cut even in hard materials. A small warning is in place, however. Do not pry with a thinner flat-ground blade like you do with, for example, a Morakniv when you loosen the blade from the wood.

In summary, however, this is a really practical little knife!

Handle

Let me present some basic measurements first. The handle measures a total of 10.5 cm in length, of which only 7 cm is available for the fingers to grip. However, this increases to 9 cm if you add the rounded lower part of the rear end. The thickness lands at 12.7 mm according to my caliper.

If you add to the modest dimensions a milled clip and a distinctively large hole for attaching a lanyard, my fears were raised that this handle would not suit me at all! It felt too small and as if too many considerations had been taken. But rarely have I been so happy to be wrong as in this case! Let me explain why.

The handle is made of 6AL4V titanium

As a side note, the back spacer that incorporates the large hole is made of titanium. On the other hand, this applies to everything except the blade and bearings on this knife. Certainly a metal that is significantly lighter than steel, but despite everything, it should give a certain weight to the whole creation. Here it does not, and one of the things you react to is how light the knife feels. Some of that feeling can be attributed to good balance.

But another strong contributing factor is that the sides are not massive but provided with substantial pockets on the inside. Another quality mark as it takes time and requires some thought to be done correctly. That is, not to impair balance or reduce strength.

The backspacer and clip actually help make the handle feel fuller.

The strength comes from the material, of course, and the construction is not unique in any way. It consists of two sides of titanium joined at two points by a back spacer in addition to the adjustable pivot screw. Incidentally, not unique but very unusual are two things. One is that all screws, including the one that holds the lock bar reinforcement in place, are in size T8. This brings two positive things, firstly, you only need a driver to maintain or adjust your knife. The second is that it usually means that the screw heads are a little more substantial and therefore harder to destroy. This may be needed in this case as the screws are made of titanium! A rather exclusive grip on a production knife.

Otherwise, it can be said that the sides are flat but that they are heavily beveled all around. The Glideman also lacks any sharp corners or edges. Everything is rounded and polished, including obvious places like the edges of the flipper, but also in more hidden places like the corner that occurs at the front where the lock bar is cut out from the handle side.

The Glideman is a well-balanced knife that is very comfortable in most common grips.

But back to why I was wrong. The Ferramonster Glideman is simply phenomenal in the hand, given the size of the knife. If we start with a standard hammer grip, the index finger falls into place behind the finger guard as it should. Then the middle and ring fingers follow naturally. Then the space runs out or not quite. The little finger lands on the rounded back edge excellently. Then comes the real magic tricks. The tip of my ring finger fits perfectly against the hole for the lanyard. Then I have size large (11) in gloves. But even better is that since the lanyard attachment is narrower than the handle in general, it rounds the handle better than if it had not been there. On top of that, the clip is not felt at all. Sorry, that was not true; it improves the grip by helping to round the profile of the handle.

If you then move your thumb up onto the ridges on top of the blade in a saber grip, the grip is still just as good. The angle of the index finger changes, but the substantial beveled edges help.

The same can be said if the index finger lands on the excellently shaped depression on the blade spine. Even then, the rest of the handle continues to feel just as comfortable.

But it is just as sympathetic in all other grips too!

Then we have that indentation in the blade, a "finger choil". It's not my favorite solution, but if you have to have one, it's an excellent example of when it really works. With the index finger there, the thumb now ends up on the spine of the blade instead, and again it gives an excellent grip.

In addition to that, the Glideman can be easily used in a pinch grip as the handle is not too thick. Even reverse grips are decent. You know when you turn the edge towards the body to carve a little heavier or with the tip down to stab something.

Opening and Lock

Glideman is a knife that comes with multiple opening methods. In addition to the obvious flipper, it can of course, be opened with two hands or using the hole in the blade.

But it should be said right away that this is primarily a knife whose blade is to be opened with the flipper tab. What reveals it is how hard the resistance from the detent ball is. But once you have learned that the thumb should be given as much leverage as possible by being placed at the end of the hole or that you should not hesitate with the index finger, those methods also work well. However, you cannot flick the blade out with your thumb, but in that case, a "slow roll" is required, calmly and methodically.

The flipper is easy to use and works very well.

If you want more speed, the flipper "fin" is the one that applies and then we are talking really good speed! One of the fastest I have come across, quite simply. At first, the blade is quite light with its "choil", its hole, and the high grind. Then you have to add the fine ball bearings that the blade runs on, and as the icing on the cake a good geometry. This means both that the fin is easy to "find," meaning that the finger does not have to fumble for it, and that the traction is good. The latter is ensured with some well-made grooves. No slipping here!

The blade hole is also capable, but not as effective as the flipper 

Another plus is that you don't have to think about how to approach the flipper tab. Pull, push, or anything in between - it all works.

The lock is correctly executed

The blade is held in place by an exemplary frame lock. It is, of course, made of titanium, and with that, it also has a lock bar reinforcement that also acts as an overtravel stop and it is made of steel. One of the very few details on this knife that is made of that material, as mentioned.

The function corresponds exactly to the requirements I have for a quality knife in this price range. The blade shows no tendencies to move in any direction, and the lock bar slides neither under load from the right nor in the wrong direction.

To the praise can be added that this is how easy it should be to disengage a frame lock. There is space to reach the lock bar and even though there is nothing to reinforce the traction in the shape of grooves, the thumb gets a good purchase on the beveled surface anyway. 

To Carry

I tend to insist with a fool's persistence that most quality knives are good at something, and if they are good at most things, they have an Achilles heel. If I have to criticize something, this is where I find the objections regarding the Glideman.

It's not that the knife is heavy, because it is not. My scale stops at 108 grams for the Glideman. It is not big either, I have also established that. A length of 105 mm is not a deterrent, and the same can be said about the thickness. Perhaps a little chubby, but certainly not fat. 

The titanium clip is stylish and comfortable in the hand, but leaves a little to be desired.

The sides are made of fairly well-polished titanium, so they offer no resistance when the knife is pulled or put away. So what's the problem?

As you can see, the ramp/lip is modest and the space under the clip is not much to brag about. The tension is good, however.

It's not really a problem so much as the result of some design choices. What made me rave about the handle comfort comes into play here. Most of it is tied to the clip and its placement. The clip is, like everything else, titanium and is held in place by two screws mounted in tandem formation. So it doesn't move sideways. That's good.

But it's also a very flat clip which makes it comfortable to hold the knife as mentioned, especially since it doesn't have a tip pointing the wrong way. Another feature that keeps it from causing hot spots in the hand is that it sits a bit inward on the handle in relation to its outermost tip. That's also good.

Glideman is not anonymous where it sits.
It's almost like you're afraid it's going to fall out of your pocket

However, the design means that the ramp is not very large and therefore not entirely easy to slide over fabric edges. The low space under the clip does not suit all fabric thicknesses and the placement makes the knife very visible in the pocket. It sticks out almost an inch or 2.3 cm in this case, which is a lot given the modest size of the knife. Then the thinning of the lock bar contributes to further complications as it is found on the outside of the handle and not on the inside. Fabric tends to get stuck there if it is soft.

Overall, the Glideman is not entirely easy to put away and once you have done so, it is still visible.

To Conclude

Some details or areas reveal whether a knife is well or poorly designed and how well-built it is. In this case, really well built. I usually quote an expression that says perfection is many small things done correctly. That is almost the case here. But the biggest pieces are in place and almost all the pitfalls have been avoided.

Examples of such details can be sharp corners where the lock is cut out of the titanium side; there are none here. It can be a clip that presses against the hand when using the knife, off-centered blades, edges that almost look out the back and threaten to cut the user, lock bars that are hard to reach and tough to release, flipper tabs with strange geometry so you have to learn to use them and so on.

None of these mistakes are found here!

The Glideman is an excellent pocket knife for EDC use

In principle, there is therefore nothing negative to say about the knife. Or rather very little, but what there is can affect what you use the knife for. It does in my case.

What can be objected to is mostly about personal preferences regarding, for example, blade shape or appearance, or, in this case, more specifically, the user's attitude to modified Wharncliffes and "forward finger choils". They are, after all, dominant features.

But my main objection is the clip itself. Since it is not easy to put the knife away, it prevents me from using the knife in my work. In those situations, the whole point is to pull the knife, open something, and then quickly put it away with one hand again. The other hand often holds what has been opened, not infrequently a 2.5-kilo bag of crushed tomatoes or similar. It is not a completely simple procedure with the Glideman because the clip sometimes wants to get stuck against the hem of the pants. Opened plastic bags with contents cannot be put down, whereupon I have to put the knife away instead and come back later to put it in the pocket.

Therefore, I prefer the Glideman as a general "EDC" knife or everyday companion outside of work, where that feature is not as important to me.

Ferramonster Glideman does well in all weather conditions, but perhaps especially in the spring sun

Otherwise, the Ferramonster Glideman is a thoroughly pleasant acquaintance and something tells me that it was not the last knife from them that I will review. This is a knife that is solidly built in exceptional materials and where a couple of brilliant choices have been made, such as letting the blade be both hard and thin behind the edge. This means that this knife cuts really well. A feature that is matched by a comfortable handle that belongs to those who play around a bit with the format, and offers better comfort and ergonomics than the dimensions suggest. Well done Ferramonster!

For these reasons, I can't help but recommend this knife. Especially not if you feel like having something that not everyone else has.

Ferramonster Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 182 mm

Length Folded: 105 mm

Weight: 108 g (weighed by me, stated 105g/3,77oz)

Blade Length: 85 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,2 mm

Blade Steel: Böhler M390

Handle Material: Titan

Lock: Frame lock

Produced by: Ferramonster Knives, made in China

/ J - very happy with his new acquaintance

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Friday EDC CXLIII "Pocket Kings"

Another Friday is here—a good one, it seems. The weather is sunny, the work day is going smoothly, and, most importantly, I feel "sunny." 

The day will be mostly spent working and then taking it easy and doing some crafting at home. There will be a little extra luxury in the way of cooking as my dear wife and I are celebrating our engagement anniversary. It will be beef fillet and some kind of herb butter and probably some variation of baked root vegetables to go with it. But I haven't thought of that yet. 

At work, I have just been treated to classic Swedish "kalops". It's a take on a beef stew. Prepared with care, a splash of wine, lots of allspice, and a pile of bay leaves.

"Pocket Kings"

When you are working in a professional kitchen that involves a lot of opening, not least tough plastic packaging and the like, it is good to have a sturdy knife with you. Ferramonster Glideman is one of those. A relatively new acquaintance for me, as the brand has not been on the market for a very long time. At least not that I know of.

But this is my first encounter with it and it is a genuinely positive one. The knife is both well-built and, above all, well thought out. There are several details that are sometimes missed, but this knife excels in those areas. Soon, I will develop that idea somewhat in a review.

Then you can't forget a classic Victorinox. They are simply never wrong. Extremely practical and easy to carry. This happens to be a Pioneer. The golden color comes from the fact that it is the 2019 limited edition.

Together they are phenomenal, so I chose to call the picture "Pocket Kings". The English is mostly because most of my followers are from the rest of the world, not Sweden. I had a Swedish reader who wondered a little about the choice of language.

/ J - in Friday-mode

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre