Review Lionsteel Skinny

 

-  Sleek and elegant knife with Italian finesse

Lionsteel Skinny, as the model is aptly named, was released in 2024. I've had it for quite a while now and can reveal that it quickly became and still is a favorite knife. The format is really well-suited for everyday use, making it an excellent EDC knife.

It's also pleasing to note that it's visually appealing and, as is customary with knives from this brand, it incorporates numerous technically advanced solutions. All seasoned with excellent materials. Ingredients that are a good foundation for a tasty dish. Now it remains to be seen whether that is true.

Lionsteel Skinny

Skinny is another example of a successful collaboration between the designer Pensato, also known as Molletta, and the Italian Lionsteel. There are two things that point to it having achieved some success. One is that it is still in the catalog, and the other is that it is available in no less than eleven different variants at this point.

The external dimensions are, of course, the same for all the knives, and so is the excellent blade steel. But the handles can be available in three variants of titanium or aluminum. A common procedure from Lionsteel when it comes to their integral knives. In addition, the blades can be available with or without a black coating in some cases, which increases the number of combinations.

If you are going to have a black blade, black and red are a pretty striking combination.

Short version: Lionsteel Skinny is the result of another collaboration between the Italian brand and one of their most sought-after designers, Molletta. A very successful one!

Blade

The blade shape of the Skinny is simple and straightforward, but still has some interesting details. It is a drop point that is 84 mm long and 20 mm high. Fairly traditional proportions that give a harmonious blade. The thickness is 3.5 mm. Nothing spectacular so far.

The details I mentioned are three. First, there is a distinct swedge/false edge, which is less visible on this blackened blade. Then you have two oblong depressions, one on each side. However, they are not only cosmetic but also fulfill a practical function. More on that later. The third detail is, of course, that the blade is blackened. Lionsteel calls this tone "oldblack". The marking is small and discreet. On the presentation side, you can read Lionsteel/Italy/Magnacut, and on the other side, it says Molletta.

The blackened blade is made of Magnacut-steel

The blackness hides an excellent blade steel that has also become a bit of the latest trend in the folding knife world. Of course, I'm talking about CPM Magnacut.

The steel has several eminent properties, and above all, it is the combination of them that makes it good. It is extremely rust-resistant while maintaining its sharpness very well, and it is also quite tough. Here, the stainless property is also reinforced by the black coating. But it is best known for keeping a good edge for an extremely long time. But it is assumed that it has been hardened correctly, in this case, to very high HRC degrees. Rumor has it that it is 63 HRC in this case. Lionsteel has apparently succeeded in this, as this knife just keeps cutting. 

The marking is discreet but reveals who designed the knife.

Once put to work, it is a competent blade. The tip is both strong and makes holes where it should. It is also easy to put some power behind the cuts with the Skinny as the knife, despite being light, feels strong and solid.

But then it was cutting anything other than plastic cans, pieces of wood, and cardboard. And that is where the rating is mixed. The sturdy, or rather quite obtuse edge, is certainly durable, but not optimal for everything.

Skinny is not at its best in the kitchen, but can still be used there if necessary.. 

. 

Cutting wood, hard plastic, and the like is nice. Approaching thinner fabrics and other, more detailed work doesn't feel as fun. The same can be said for things like fruit, vegetables, and other foods, not least root vegetables like potatoes and carrots. Now this is by no means a kitchen knife, but it happens that you go camping or that Skinny happens to be the backup knife you take with you when the business at work is moved to a croft over the summer. Or it happened to me on a few occasions.

In general, the blade works well. This is especially noticeable when I started on a larger amount of fairly dirty rope that needed to be processed. Nylon rope with sand particles wears down an edge. But the Magnacut blade holds up quite well there. Also, cardboard can be easily cut. So overall, the knife performs well. 

Handle

Given the name, the handle of this knife is very slim. In pure numbers, this means a length of 111 mm, a thickness of around 12 mm, and a height of 20 mm at most because the handle is shaped.

The material used is aluminum, and there is an inlay of Micarta on the presentation side. You may want to choose the titanium version if you don't like small marks on the aluminum handle. It simply patinas over time.

The handle has a Micarta inlay

But what distinguishes this handle the most is, of course, that it is an "integral", that is, that the handle is cut from a single piece of material, aluminum in this case. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this procedure. Theoretically, it should be stronger, but above all, it is a neat way to solve it. The disadvantage is, of course, that there are some manufacturing technical details to solve. Like how to fit ball bearings and locks into a laser-cut lump of metal, for example. This usually contributes to the price. 

This is what Lionsteel achieves with their SOLID technology, a handle made from a single piece of material, aluminum in this case.

In the hand, the knife feels pretty much like it looks. Slim and smooth, but also a bit thin and slippery. It's not something I use as an outdoor knife exactly. But the name reveals those properties quite clearly. For that reason, you don't need an extreme grip either. It's well thought out. I hate it when you combine grips from commando knives with small pocket knives. They are often hopelessly difficult to get in and out of pockets.

That's not where Skinny is. It's easy to carry, but in the hand it's still quite comfortable, and the finger guard and the beak at the back provide enough support. Despite its slim shape, Skinny is also large enough for even my hand to fit.

For being thin, the Skinny is comfortable in the hand. This is especially true for the saber grip.

The simple shape makes all grips work. But I like to use the Skinny best with a classic saber grip. Thumb on top and all fingers around the handle. In that grip, my little finger also ends up against the depression where the lanyard hole is found. It anchors the knife better.

In a hammer grip, the knife feels a bit too thin for my taste, but this is compensated for by the fact that with a guiding index finger on the back, it feels like a precision instrument. So the effect of having such a slim knife is that certain features are emphasized at the expense of others. The positive thing, however, is that the small clip mostly stays out of the way and does not cause any discomfort.

Opening and Lock

Skinny is one of those knives that can be opened in a couple of different ways. The most obvious is the rather discreet flipper tab. Then, of course, you can open the knife with two hands as part of the blade is visible and can be gripped. This process is especially easy, as the indentations on the blade I mentioned above help to improve the grip.

So much so that you can actually fold out the blade by pressing your thumb against it if you wish.

Here you can see the small flipper, which can also be removed.

To make the Skinny usable even in parts of the world where quick release is not allowed to be combined with locks (read Germany), you can remove the flipper tab itself. Lionsteel calls the technology REF - Removable Flippertab. You simply take a T6 key and remove it if you wish. In addition to making the knife legal in more jurisdictions, it makes the knife both more streamlined in the pocket and, in my opinion, also a little nicer!

When it is in place, it is a pretty good flipper function for Lionsteel. It is rarely their best area otherwise. But here you get a fairly snappy action, but only if the tab is pulled back. Pressing it does not help at all. The fact that the blade gets fairly good speed can be attributed to the use of IKBS ball bearings.

The lock bar is quite roughly cut. I have a lock bar insert combined with an overtravel stop.

The lock is exemplary

Combining Solid technology/integral handle with materials like aluminum poses challenges that must be solved. One is, of course, the same as with frame locks in titanium, and that is that the contact surface between the blade and the lock bar wears out. This is fixed with a combined lock bar insert and overtravel stop. The latter is also needed to avoid accidentally destroying the lock.

Because that's where another subtlety comes into play. It doesn't really work with just any type of aluminum. You need an alloy that flexes enough for the lock to work without suffering from metal fatigue. A technique that Lionsteel has mastered by now.

The lock function is excellent. The lock engages every time the knife is opened, regardless of how it happens. There is no movement in the blade, and it is relatively easy to release. I write relatively because it is a thin knife, which means that even though there is a recess on the opposite side to reach the lock bar, you can sometimes slip.

To Carry

The consequences of the design choices made for this knife are that it is eminently pocketable. It simply doesn't get much better than the Skinny in that regard. Especially not if the flipper is removed.

The explanations for this are found on several levels.

The clip is small but works well. The screw allows you to change sides if desired.

Basically, you have a slim and thin knife that takes up little space physically. Then it is made with a technology and a shape that means that there is nothing that can get in the way. Since the knife also lacks thumb studs and other things that can get stuck, such interference is also removed.

In addition, it can be added that the manufacturing technology, in combination with the material choices that follow it, gives a very low weight. Skinny weighs no more than 73 grams! A figure that was, incidentally, a few grams less on my scale.

This much, or rather little, of Skinny, is visible when carried in a pocket

When these features are combined with a small, simple, and well-functioning deep ride clip, success is a fact. It is also removable using the included tools.

The size of the ramp and a well-balanced tension in the clip, combined with the smooth surface underneath, make it very easy to both pull and put away the Skinny.

To Conclude

As is often the case with Lionsteel's folding knives, or at least those in the "Solid" series, there is a lot of hi-tech and know-how baked into the knife. In Skinny, you can find that very technology, which is Lionsteel's method for manufacturing integral handles in titanium and aluminum. They are also pretty much alone in the latter. There is also REF, which stands for their removable flipper tab. In addition, there are IKBS ball bearings, and the materials in the blade and handle are not ashamed of themselves either. A solid little package, in other words.

Lionsteel Skinny is an excellent EDC knife, accompanied by another favorite from the same company and designer, the TM1. Also, an integral made of Micarta

I also want to give a thumbs up for the design. Molletta's design is recognizable with soft curves and a sweeping, substantial belly on the blade. Although the last detail is, of course, smaller on such a slim blade.

Speaking of blades, Lionsteel has somewhat returned to an old sin. They have forgotten how to make a knife that cuts really well. All the prerequisites are there, but they have neglected them. The blade could have been three millimeters instead of 3.5, considering how small the knife is. This is not a hunting or outdoor knife. Then the grinding bevel is only seventeen millimeters, but what is really a problem is that it ends with 0.6 mm of material behind the fairly steep edge. So even though the knife came sharp and is easy to maintain, it does not cut as well as it could.

The question is whether it is the material that the manufacturer does not trust or whether it is the end user. Magnacut could probably do with half that thickness and still be strong enough. In return, you would get a less steep edge angle, et voilá, a knife that cuts like a laser.

For this reason, despite its name, Skinny is more of an EDC knife that is better suited for cutting twine and rope than slicing carrots or plucking a skewer out of your hand. It is a good everyday companion but is clearly geared towards more robust tasks.

An excellent partner in all weathers. Here on an early spring day in March

That said, I would highly recommend the Lionsteel Skinny as a really good EDC knife. It does everything you would expect from one with flying colors. It's also nice to look at and comes with a lot of fun technology if you appreciate that kind of thing. The price for this version is around 200 euros at the moment. 

Lionsteel 

Specifications:

Length Overall: 200 mm

Length Folded: 111 mm

Weight: 72 g (weighed by me, stated 73g)

Blade Length: 84 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm

Blade Steel: CPM Magnacut

Handle Material: Aluminium, integral, Micarta inlay

Lock: Frame Lock

Produced by: Lionsteel, Made in Italy

/ J - not as skinny as his knife

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Review MKM Maximo

  

-  a Bob Terzuola-design

Today's review deals with a knife that is not new to the market. On the contrary, the Maximo from Italian MKM - Maniago Knife Makers has been in production for around two years. Late shall the sinner awaken, as the saying goes. But in that case, interest in (another) Terzuola design grew until it had to be quelled.

MKM Maximo

Some are famous, some are legends and then we have Bob Terzuola. That might be exaggerating, but not by much. This man has been around for a long time and is sometimes called "The Godfather of Tactical Knives". He may not have been the only one to invent the concept, but he was early on and made many famous models thus shaping the genre. His custom knives require a lot of money and therefore it is sympathetic that he frequently collaborates with different brands. In this case with MKM.

Now, this is not their first collaboration. First up was a model called Clap. These two knives are similar. But what made me choose the Maximo was simply that it is slightly larger.

Like many of MKM's models, Maximo is available in several versions. It can be had in an all-metal version with a titanium handle. Furthermore, Maximo is available in natural, green, and black titanium. In addition, there are variants with a presentation side in Micarta in a couple of shades and, as here, with carbon fiber.

Another collaboration between Italian MKM and Mr Bob Terzuola

Short version: MKM Maximo, a well-built knife and a quintessential Terzuola design for those who want a knife by him that does not cost an arm and a leg.

Blade

Maximo has a very typical drop-point blade with a distinct swedge which, by the way, makes it look a bit like a spear point with an almost dagger-like expression. The remaining part of the blade spine is rounded, which gives a hint as to which company is behind the manufacture as it is one of their hallmarks. There are also a series of grooves intended to provide a better grip for the fingers.

The finish is a very well-executed stone wash which is then polished. MKM's logo is found on the front and Terzuola's is on the opposite side.

The Maximo has a sturdy drop-point blade

In this knife, you find a well-known steel, Böhler M390 with a hardness of 58-60 HRC. If it leans towards 58, it's too low. To take advantage of the properties of this steel, it should be harder. 

M390 can get really sharp and the factory edge was actually decent. Not the sharpest, or rather it's the amount of steel behind the edge that makes it feel less sharp when cutting certain materials. 

The knife has a high flat grind ending in a rather obtuse edge. As can be seen, it is not wide and the blade is a full 0.8 mm thick behind it. That's not good for a folding knife. Durable yes, cuts well...no.

That the steel is resistant to rust can be confirmed. I had an incident where I dropped the knife at work, and it lay outside for a week. I thought it was lost for good until a colleague found it and asked "Is this yours?" Man, was I happy! The only small surface rust that occurred was on the blade around the pivot screw.

The M390 steel blade has a very robust edge

The blade geometry is of course noticeable when you use the knife. The tip is also very durable, and quite robust but for that reason not very sharp. Good for penetrating thicker and harder materials but not for delicate tasks. In other words, no operations on yourself such as removing splinters or puncturing blisters. It is more for cutting into plastic cans or the like.

The same can be said about the edge. If you try to cut apples with this edge, it feels more like pushing a wedge through it. But it copes with all tasks such as handling tough plastic, cable ties, cardboard, rope, etc. efficiently. It's just not the best at anything. Here, they have undoubtedly chosen to prioritize durability over the ability to cut well.

The prefix "tactical" in the expression tactical knives shines through in other words.

Handle

The handle is characterized by two things, firstly it has something vaguely Terzuolaian about it even though it lacks the two "steps" that often recur in his knives, and in this version, it has two different materials. This means a presentation side in high-class carbon fiber and a lock side in titanium.

What binds the two sides together and makes me get over my aversion to knives with one material per side is that they used the pattern to bind the knife together. Both sides have a front, bolster-like part that is smooth while the rest of the handle has a distinctive square "frag pattern".

The handle shape is simple but functional

The carbon fiber is top class and, like the entire knife, it is finely beveled, polished, and patterned. You can tell a lot of machining time has gone into this knife. Sometimes I wonder if it hasn't been exaggerated.

The lock side is made of 5 Ti6AI4V titanium and treated the same as the carbon fiber. It is also lightened on the inside.

The time spent is further proven by the fact that the pivot screw has a decorative collar and the screws that hold the knife together are pulled from one direction. They are two in number and the size is T6. They are screwed through a titanium back spacer which is also softly rounded and polished like everything else on this knife.

The handle also has a substantial lanyard hole. It can easily take a 550 paracord. 

One side in carbon fiber and the other in titanium connected with a back spacer, also in titanium by the way

The knife arrived with a glass breaker installed. Fortunately, both a tool and a screw are included to replace it 

For some strange reason, unknown to me, MKM insists on fitting a glass breaker to this knife. It may be one of the knife world's most overrated additions to a knife handle. Thankfully, the knife comes with a tool to remove and replace it with an included standard screw. It was done within the first ten minutes of unpacking the knife. That kind of tip is not nice to slap your hand into when the knife is in your pocket.

Maximo is very comfortable in hand and also ergonomic enough to work with

The ergonomics of this knife are actually more than decent. The handle feels full and fits the hand well. This is best illustrated by how well the rounded back of the handle follows the inside of the hand. If the knife is gripped really hard and for a long time, the clip is felt against the hand, as is so often the case. But it mainly applies in a hammer grip. On the other hand, it is what you use if you put a little force behind the cuts. If the knife is used in a saber grip with a thumb on the back of the blade, the clip disappears into the hand instead and causes no problems.

But that grip is mainly used if you perform lighter tasks with cutting movements and it is not the blade's main merit as previously mentioned. So it's a bit of a contradiction.

Opening and Lock

Maximo is modern and trendy in one area, it can be opened in more ways than one. In this case, by double-sided thumb studs or a flipper tab. I would have liked to see MKM decide on one method. Both options would have worked well if the knife was tuned for one or the other. I would have preferred if they kept the thumb studs and scrapped the shark fin on the back.

The thumb studs are very functional. The shape works and they are found in the right place both in terms of reaching them when the knife is to be opened and so that they are out of the way when the knife is used. They are also shaped so that they are not nasty to the thumb. The traction is good enough so you don't slip. No objections there.

The thumb studs on this knife are good, the question is, do you need another method of opening?

The flipper tab works if you learn how to use it but it is not intuitive

The flipper tab, on the other hand, has a couple of disadvantages. Mainly that the finish might be too "nice". It is polished and has no grooves, which makes it slippery. I have missed on many occasions. If you want to be sure to get the blade out, you must not act intuitively, but deliberately run your finger along the front of the handle and then straight back. But even then you may slip. Especially if your fingers are cold and you lack that exact dexterity.

The function is good but the lock bar is difficult to get to. Some of it is visible, but like the flipper tab, it is slippery due to otherwise fine processing

The lock type is unsurprising given how the knife is built. This knife comes with a classic frame lock. A sort that it's actually been a while since I reviewed. What is trending at the moment are mainly Button Locks and various variants of Cross Bar Locks.

However, this is a strong titanium frame lock with all the "accessories". By that I mean an overtravel stop and a steel lock bar insert. The latter fulfills the dual function of reducing wear and preventing "lock stick", meaning that the titanium in the lock bar "sticks" to the steel in the blade and makes the lock tricky to release.

The functionality of this lock is simply very pleasing. There is no play in the blade in any direction. Nor does the blade slide if it is subjected to pressure or light blows from the wrong direction, i.e. on the spine of the blade. Part of the explanation for the solid feel is probably also what hurts the opening. The lock bar is very strong and the ball that holds the blade in place is steel and very small. Maybe something should be adjusted here. Like less tension on the lock bar and a larger diameter ball. 

Unfortunately, the lock is not easy to disengage. The explanations are mainly what was mentioned above, but also that the lock bar, just like the flipper tab, is polished and therefore slippery. Here MKM should have provided it with some kind of pattern.

To Carry

Maximo is a compact knife and something about the look makes it look and feel heavier than it is. The actual weight is 120 grams which is neither extremely heavy nor super light. In addition, the knife is well-balanced. The center of gravity is found just behind the finger guard.

The clip is attached to the back end of the handle

The handle length is 11.4 cm with the glass breaker removed. With that out of the way, the knife is quite well-rounded, making it easy to draw and almost as easy to return to the pocket.

What is felt most when the knife is carried is the thickness, which is 12.3 mm. In other words, Maximo is a bit chubby, but that is what contributes to the knife feeling good in the hand.

Very little of the knife is visible when carried in a pocket

The clip is of the deep-ride type variety and is made of steel. It's not the strongest, so when provoked there is a slight sideways movement, but not so much that it poses a practical problem except for those who are OCD oriented. Although it is attached to the rear end of the handle, it cannot be shifted due to the shape. The latter, of course, gives a cleaner appearance with fewer holes in the handle.

The tension is adequate and the ramp is large enough to defeat most pocket edges. The appearance is nothing extraordinary but fits well with the rest of the knife's theme.

To Conclude

As in all spheres of interest, there are trends in the world of knives. If we focus on folding knives, it can be about things like handle material, blade steel, and last but not least, lock type. Maximo is a knife that breaks with most of the prevailing ones at the time of writing.

The choice of titanium is solid but not very hip compared to Ultem or anything else modern, M390 is still extremely good steel but not unique and a frame lock is downright outdated compared to a button lock or preferably a crossbar lock. The last two seem to dominate knives produced now.

Another trend or rather movement is to make more folding knives more "slicey". This means knives that really cut well and, above all, with ease. This is achieved with thinner blades, adapted geometry, and less steel behind the edge.

Terzuola seems to have missed that memo. Maximo is a knife that has a sturdy blade and plenty of material everywhere, also behind the edge.

Maximo is a good EDC knife if you want something compact and robust

This is not the only knife on the market with these characteristics, but it also applies to several classic models within the genre. Benchmade's old AFCK, Spyderco's Starmate, and Al Mar's S.E.R.E just to name a few. But they all have in common that they are basically old models, unlike the Maximo. However, the unifying factor that permeates Terzuola's knives is durability. Overall, the Maximo is a knife that feels extremely sturdy even though it is not huge.

Thus, this is not the world's best knife for all tasks. But it's still a competent knife and it's extremely solid. It is also characterized by Terzuola's distinctive design language.

MKM Maximo - a quintessential Terzuola experience

The Maximo can also be said to be a well-built knife. It feels like a Mercedes from the eighties if that tells you anything. A tank is otherwise usually a common simile. Everything is beveled, and ground, and the whole knife feels luxurious. Maybe a little too much in some cases as pointed out.

But overall, this is a very nice knife for those who like Bob Terzuola's knives and are looking for MKM's  build quality

Maniago Knife Makers

Specifications:

Length Overall: 197 mm

Length Folded: 114 mm

Weight: 120 g (Weighed by me, stated 120 g)

Blade Length: 82 mm

Blade Thickness: 4 mm

Blade Steel: Böhler M390, 58-60 HRC

Handle: kolfiber

Lock: Fram Lock

Produced by: Maniago Knife Makers, made in Italy

/ J - Terzuolafied

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Review MKM Makro 2

  

- a first contact with a fixed blade knife from MKM

Although the Makro 2 is a knife that measures by a good margin under twenty centimeters when it stretches out to impress, it is larger than its predecessor, which was consistently named Mikro. Both models come from MKM.

These knives aim at an interesting segment, fixed-blade EDC knives. Knives small enough to carry around without feeling clumsy or making those around you think you're a terrorist while being sturdy enough to tackle most daily tasks.

A semi-hidden jewel from Italian MKM

Our Danish friend Jesper Voxnaes. is the man behind the design. He hardly needs any introduction at this point as he is in the middle of a long and successful career. Sometimes together with one of the other Danish giants Jens Ansø and sometimes by himself as in this case.

Teaming up with the Italian Maniago Knife Makers is a very good idea as they account for much of the craftsmanship accumulated in Maniago. Especially as it is a conglomerate of several large manufacturers. In addition to their own brands, they produce knives under the name Mikita whose brand is MKM. On folding knives, that information is usually found inside the handle. Here it can be read on the underside of the same.

MKM Makro 2

Short version: MKM Makro 2, a knife whose name does not describe measurements and proportions but how it performs, is big and with an overview.

Blade

MKM describes the blade as a sheepsfoot on the website. I can almost agree with that if you add "modified". Here it is not the spine of the blade that swings downwards as on a genuine sheep foot, but actually the edge that swings upwards in a constant arc until it meets the inversely cut tip. The blade type has sometimes also been called "reverse tanto" in Anglo-Saxon terms.

It is simpler with the sister model Makro 1, which is simply a drop point. There are thus two blade types to choose from.

The suffix "2" to the name means that the knife has a sheepsfoot blade

As I said, the knife is not large and the blade measures only 7.3 cm in length. It is 27 mm high at the base and then quickly tapers to about 14 mm where the angular tip is. Then I think that a misprint has appeared on the website which claims that the blade is as thin as 2.5 mm. I have two calipers, one digital and one manual, both of which claim it's a full 4 mm thick. A sturdy piece of metal in other words.

It is also noticeable on the edge, because even though the flat-ground primary bevel is approx. 20 mm high, the blade is around 0.6 mm behind the edge. Very sturdy, but perhaps not the one that cuts the best.

The material used is Böhler M390. A frequently used steel in folding knives but somewhat less common in fixed-bladed knives, the fact is that this is my first encounter with that combination. In this case, I don't think it causes any problems whatsoever. You may want a tougher steel in a large chopper, but here we are talking about a small knife for everyday use. It doesn't need the same toughness. 

The M390 is quite resistant to rust and keeps the sharpness if not forever for a very long time. In addition, it is not completely hopeless to sharpen. A very fine steel in other words and there is a reason why it is found in many exclusive folding knives.

The blade is stone-washed and the knife is marked with MKM's logo on one side and Voxnae's on the other. 

"The other side" offers Voxnae's logo

In use, the Makro 2 is just as likable as it looks. The handle that I will return to is excellent. That together with a competent blade that can handle most tasks makes me happy. If we start with the tip, it is both sharp and strong at the same time. This means that it works perfectly for both smaller and larger penetrating cuts. It is possible to both pry a metal splinter out of your finger and puncture a thick plastic can with accuracy.

Regarding other materials, it can be said that the small blade literally eats cardboard and the like for breakfast. The full flat grind makes it easier and the design means that you work close to the hand where you have the most power. Then the cuts naturally become more of a "push cut" nature due to the length of the blade. But there the fine steel means that the knife bites well also without sweeping movements.

Even when it comes to, for example, cutting nylon rope, Makro works excellently as the robust format allows you to use a little weight behind the cuts. Overall, this is a handy little bugger.

Handle

The Makro knives are full tang knives and the steel runs visibly with full thickness through the entire handle. On the outside, you find handles slabs that can be had in a few different variations and you can actually leave them out as well. In this case, it is canvas-Micarta and if you don't like it, the knife can be had with G10, carbon fiber or wooden handle as well.

This version has handle sides in Micarta. They can be removed for those who want an even thinner and lighter knife

I chose micarta because I have a weak spot for the material. It is durable at the same time as it gradually acquires a patina and thus ages with dignity. Here it is exemplarily done with good quality material, which is beveled with smooth edges. The sides are also nicely rounded. In other words, some machining time has gone into this knife.

The sides are screwed in place with two T8-type bolts. Around the front is a decorative collar ring of anodized titanium.

Makro is a full tang knife with well-polished edges. No sharp corners here

For being this small, this handle is really comfortable. The question is whether I should go so far as to say that the ergonomics are great. Then the question is how I should relate to other small knives with even better handles on that parameter.* But as long as you don't engage in carving or what is often called "bushcraft" these days, everything is fine.

For all tasks that do not require as much power, this is an excellent knife, as I said before. When an IKEA sofa arrived during the test period, a lot of cardboard was cut on that occasion, among other things. The packaging material would not have gone into the recycling room otherwise.

A large little knife, so to speak

The grip is built around the enlarged recess for the index finger. Once there, everything else falls into place. Or everything, by the way, mostly the rest of the fingers. The knife is best in a saber grip with the thumb on the intended grooves on the back of the blade. But hammer grips and reverse grips also work well.

Sheath

The sheath that comes with the knife is a bit special. However, it is not the material or the design that deviates from the usual. It's a fairly simple but well-stitched leather sheath. At the bottom, a connecting rivet is found. The color is black. Not much more to say about it.

The leather case is simple but sturdy

The sheath does, however, have a twist in the form of a strong magnet

Or it does. Firstly, it fits the knife well and it holds the knife in place in a decent way. That, in turn, is because of the more novel part of the sheath.

This solution is not completely anonymous when carried in a pocket

It can be carried in a couple of different ways, as the belt loop which consists of a simple leather flap contains a strong magnet.

Therefore, the Makro 2 can certainly be carried on a belt like most more traditional sheaths but also on the inside of a pocket. It is a very ingenious construction in all its simplicity. I personally carry the knife in a slightly different way. Either it lies loose in a compartment in my bag, in the jacket pocket as the knife is very small, or I have it inside a pocket as intended. In the latter case, however, the handle sticks up quite a bit.

Then it happens that I put it inside the belt in the small of the back in a scout carry as the knife is fairly flat, that works too. 

Conclusion

Since I have several knives from MKM, the expectations for the first fixed blade were pretty high. Fortunately, they were not only met but surpassed. This is an excellent little knife in a category that's fairly new.** Or maybe just popular again. People in all ages have used smaller knives to complement larger ones. 

This knife belongs to a growing group of knives, fixed blades for EDC use

It took me a while to find this little gem but I'm glad I did. MKM has skillfully managed a clever design. The materials are not only well chosen and of the highest quality, but they have also been very finely crafted. It shows in the blade finish and how nicely the handle is made.

MKM Makro 2 is an excellent little knife that I highly recommend

Then it must be admitted that I think it is a rather attractive knife. But above all, it is practical enough to match the expectations the appearance raises. This is simply a premium tool. It is reflected in the price as it is not completely cheap. The price is currently around 180-200€.

But with the Makro 2, MKM has created a great fixed-blade knife for EDC use. Small enough to fit in a pocket but big enough to handle most things. It is a knife that is therefore frequently found on my person.

 

 

Maniago Knife Makers

Specifications:

Total Length: 166 mm
Blade Length: 73 mm
Blade Thickness: 2,5 mm
Steel: Bohler M390
Weight: 66 g
Handle Material: Micarta
Sheath: Leather with a magnetic belt loop 

Produced by Maniago Knife Makers, made in Italy


/ J - size isn't everything

* An example of that is the Karesuando Knife Uraka. A knife with roughly the same blade length and an even more comfortable handle.

** However, it's a category that I appreciate and I have several knives of this type such as Necker 70, Scara 60, and PK70FX from Brisa, ESEE Candiru, ML Custom Blade Caper Knife, and more.