New Knife - QSP Coyote

It felt like time to feature some new knives from QSP here on the blog. In fact, these are the first ones of the year!

Most of the folding knives released by this brand are named after birds, but here they’ve broken with that tradition and named the model Coyote.

This knife is currently available in four different versions featuring handle materials that are both new to QSP’s catalog and quite rare in general. One of the options is Micarta—but not just any Micarta; it’s a "glow-in-the-dark" variant, something I’ve never seen with that base material before. That same feature is more common with G10, and that version is available as well.

If you’d rather not have a knife that looks slightly radioactive, a great alternative is the version with silver foil G10—or, in this case, copper foil G10. You can also choose the blade finish: black or satin.

That said, I’ve noticed that the collar around the pivot screw actually glows in the dark on this knife. So, you do get a bit of that radioactive look after all.

A knife with a handle material that is new to me: copper foil G10.

I chose this material for a change of pace. I own a knife with Silver G10 from another brand, so it is clearly a material that is currently popular—or perhaps even trendy. Maybe because it is relatively new?

Speaking of new features, this knife has a "button lock," which isn't the most common locking mechanism in QSP’s lineup. In fact, this is the first model I’m aware of that uses this design. However, it quickly becomes apparent that they have extensive experience in manufacturing with tight tolerances. The lock functions flawlessly—at least initially.

Furthermore, the blade action is exceptionally smooth. The ceramic ball bearings account for some of this, but not all of it; QSP has clearly succeeded in fine-tuning the lock resistance to an excellent level.

The knife measures 190 mm when open and 108 mm when closed. The handle is 13 mm thick, and the knife weighs 105 g.

The blade accounts for 82 mm of the total length. It is 3 mm thick, with a maximum height of 28 mm. It features a distinctive clip point profile and is made of Nitro-V steel—hardened to 59–61 HRC (at the higher end of that range for coated blades, and slightly lower for uncoated ones). The grind is a high flat grind with a substantial swedge, giving the blade a curved appearance—an effect further emphasized by the recurve.

The blade also features something I am not always fond of: a prominent forward finger choil. Such cutouts have both pros and cons, and in my opinion, the downsides outweigh the benefits.

 

QSP Coyote

My immediate impression is that the combination of shape and size makes the knife very comfortable to hold, regardless of the grip I use. It remains to be seen whether it is truly ergonomic—that is, whether it feels good to use while actually working with the knife.

The blade is very easy to deploy using the dual thumb studs; these also deserve praise for being well-placed and free of awkward shapes—they simply work well. As mentioned earlier, the lock is excellent, and the package is rounded off with a standard QSP-style pocket clip. It is nothing extravagant, but it is highly functional. Incidentally, this clip and the lock mechanism make the knife fully ambidextrous.

All in all, this is a knife that is simultaneously innovative and more traditional for QSP. The lock, handle material, and—to some extent—blade shape stand out coming from this manufacturer. Incidentally, copper-foil G10 isn't exactly common elsewhere yet, either.

In other words, it’s a new kind of knife for me, but also for QSP. A Coyote that howls at a pretty high pitch—and seems to have the substance to back it up.

QSP Knives

/ J - listening to a wolf song

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Ny kniv - QSP Coyote

Det kändes som det var dags för några nya knivar från QSP här på bloggen. De blir faktiskt de första för i år! 

Det mesta i fällknivsväg som släppts från det här märket är döpta efter fåglar men här har man gjort ett avsteg från den vanan och kallar modellen Coyote. 

Den här kniven finns för närvarande i fyra olika modeller där handtagsmaterialen är både nya i QSPs katalog och rätt ovanliga generellt. Ett av alternativen är Micarta men inte vilken Micarta som helst utan en "glow in the dark"-variant. Något jag aldrig sett med den grunden. Samma finess är vanligare med G10 som bas och den varianten finns också. 

Vill man inte ha en kniv som ser lätt radioaktiv ut kan med fördel väljas varianten med silver foil-G10 eller som i det här fallet copper foil G10. Sedan kan man faktiskt välja färg på bladet, svart eller satin-finish är det som erbjuds. 

Det kan tilläggas att jag noterat att kragen kring pivotskruven faktiskt är självlysande på den här kniven. Så lite radioaktivt utseende får du även i det här fallet. 

En kniv med ett handtagsmaterial som är nytt för mig, Copper foil G10

Materialet valde jag för omväxlings skull. Silver-G10 har jag från ett annat märke så uppenbarligen är det ett material som för närvarande är populärt eller kanske till och med trendigt. Kanske för att det är relativt nytt?

Apropå nyheter så har den här kniven ett "button lock" vilket inte är den vanligaste låstypen i QSPs uppställning. Faktum är att det här är den första modellen jag känner till med den lösningen. Men det går snabbt att konstatera att de har mängder av erfarenhet av produktion med goda toleranser. Låset fungerar oklanderligt, åtminstone inledningsvis. 

Sedan är gången på bladet exceptionellt mjuk. De keramiska kullagren förklarar en del av det men inte allt. Här har QSP uppenbart lyckats att trimma motståndet i låset till riktigt bra nivåer.

Längden på kniven utfälld är 190 mm och i stängt läge 108 mm. Tjockleken på handtaget är 13 mm och kniven väger 105 g.

Av längden står bladet för 82 mm. Det är vidare 3 mm tjockt med en höjd på 28 mm som mest. Formen är ett en distinkt clip point och stålet som nyttjats är Nitro-V. Ett stål som härdats till 59-61 HRC, i den högre delen av spannet för blad med beläggning och någon grad lägre utan. Slipningen är en hög flatslipning med en rejäl falskegg vilket gör att bladet ser kurvigt ut, särskilt som det understrukits genom att eggen är S-formad. 

Sedan har bladet något som jag inte alltid är förtjust i och det är ett rejält "forward finger choil". De där fördjupningarna medför både för- och nackdelar där jag tycker att de senare överväger.

 

QSP Coyote

Det spontana intrycket är även att formen kombinerat med storleken gör kniven riktigt bekväm att hålla i handen. Det oavsett vilka grepp jag använder. Nu återstår att se om den även är ergonomisk, det vill säga känns bra även när man arbetar med kniven.

Bladet är mycket lätt att fälla ut med de dubbelsidiga tumknopparna som även de får beröm då de är välplacerade, inte har några konstiga former utan bara fungerar väl. Låset är som nämndes ovan, riktigt bra och paketet avslutas med ett clip av QSPs standardtyp. Inget extravagant men med god funktion. Det och låstypen gör för övrigt kniven helt ambidexteriös.

Totalt sett är det här samtidigt både en nydanande och mer traditionell kniv för att komma från QSP. Lås, handtagsmaterial och i viss mån bladform sticker ut för att komma från det här hållet. Förresten, copper foil-G10 är inte så vanligt någon annanstans heller än så länge.

Med andra ord en ny kniv för mig men även för QSP. En Coyote som ylar i rätt högt tonläge och som verkar ha belägg för det vad det verkar.

QSP Knives

/ J - lyssnar till vargsång

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review QSP Jumping Jack

  

-  the result of a successful collaboration

The modern grandfather knife, or something like that, is what I called this knife when it was presented here on the blog the other day. I'm, of course, referring to this slip joint from the now very established brand QSP.

The model has been named Jumping Jack, and here I intend to give a description of it so you can decide whether it is something for you or not.

QSP Jumping Jack

Jumping Jack is a lot of things at the same time, and you have to start by deciding whether you like slip joints or not, as the knife lacks a lock in the true sense. In addition, it is a so-called "modern traditional" which means that it is not exactly the same as, say, an old Case from the fifties. The appearance is certainly found here, but the materials and manufacturing technology are modern. Specifically, this means that the construction is screwed instead of riveted, as an example.

If some of you think you recognise the design language from elsewhere, I can attest that you are right. This is a collaboration between QSP and Spencer Marquardt, who is usually involved with Finch Knives.

Jumping Jack, a really nice slip joint

Short version: QSP Jumping Jack, a "modern traditional" and an essence of what such a knife can be. The design language is classic, but the performance is modern

Blade

The blade shape is a bit special. A combination of older times and Finch Knives, because the blade is wider towards the front than towards the base. Otherwise, this is a hybrid but where everything breathes a classic Spey blade. Something that was traditionally used to castrate animals. Hence, the steep tip, you simply don't want to poke holes in the wrong place. But the history is older, and the blade shape is good for precise cuts, and therefore it was also used in fly fishing contexts. Hence the name, it is named after the river Spey in Scotland.

Jumping Jack has a 70mm long Spey blade made of 14C28N

So far, it's classic, but some details are more modern. It's about things like the finish, a nice shiny satin, but mainly about the material. Here, stainless steel is used in the form of Sandvik 14C28N. A Swedish steel that was developed together with Kershaw Knives to be a better version of 12C28N.

As a steel, it is very all-round and one of my favourites when it comes to so-called mid-range steels. It has balanced properties and can handle most things. However, it is not extreme, so it does not hold its sharpness as well as a "super steel". It is also not as shock-resistant as the best in its class. But none of those properties is necessary in a small pocket knife. So here it is, an excellent choice.

The total length of the blade is 70 mm, and the thickness is 3 mm. The height of the blade varies between 19 mm and 16 mm.

The blade is, as it should be, completely flat-ground. It starts with a stock thickness of three millimetres that tapers down to a thickness of 0.4-0.5 mm behind the edge. The greater thickness is measured towards the tip.

The marking is discreet, and the Finch logo is found on the back of the blade

Speaking of tips, this one is unusually strong. Partly because the blade is very tall precisely in front, over the "hump". It is also first here that the blade starts to taper. This means that the tip works great for many small tasks, including puncturing thinner plastic and tape, etc.

But then this was a slip joint, so you shouldn't do stupid things like try to stab the blade into something; the risk of hurting yourself is then considerable. If you use the tip with a little discernment, it works great, though. Maybe it is a little too wide for my taste, as I like them to, among other things, pick metal chips out of fingers and hands. Yes, that is a common task for my pocket knives; I am a knife thrower after all. 

The blade, however, is otherwise extremely practical. That is the advantage of old blade types; they are tried and tested. This blade does not seem to have much of a curve, but the one that is there allows you to perform draw cuts against cutting boards, for example.

The straight edge works great for cutting anything that fits. By that I mean that it is a fairly small knife. The total edge length is around 63 mm. But if you stick to that, most things will be cut effectively. Especially since the knife is unusually sturdy for a slip joint.

Handle

Jumping Jack has a classically designed handle. Without a doubt, a nod to older times. It has a small "waist" at the front, which then widens to become a little rounder at the back. A curvy thing this. Incidentally, this also applies to the slightly arched sides.

The sides are both glued and screwed in place with two small T6. The frame and bolsters themselves are held in place by the adjustable pivot screw and a screw in the rear bolster. The size of the pivot screw is a notch up with a T8a. The fact that it is adjustable is significant for a modern traditional. An older knife would, of course, have been riveted. 

The handle is curvy with a steel bolster, frame and back spring

The material of the sides in this case is black and white resin plastic. Stylish but perhaps not the most exclusive. At the same time, it feels like a flirtation with the Cellidor plastic of the fifties. But if you want more exclusive sides, Jumping Jack is available in wood, blued bone and not least abalone. You know that green pearlescent material that comes from a special species of mussel.

The finish is excellent, making the frame and back spring feel like one piece.

Despite being small, this knife is built around a steel frame of a full two millimetres. The bolsters and the back spring are in the same material; this is a solid construction. You can tell by the feel when you hold the knife.

That brings us to grips. The length of the handle is 90 mm, and all of it is available surface for the fingers. The thickness amounts to 12 mm, and the height is a maximum of 21 mm. But with the rounded ends, it still becomes a three-finger knife for me, a good one, but not all fingers can fit.

A good grip, but it is a small knife, and of course, it gives a smaller handle

Not quite, anyway. In a hammer grip, it is close, but only half the little finger is supported and only if half the index finger is found in front of the handle. The three-finger grip becomes even clearer if the knife is held in a sabre grip. But then the thumb and index finger fall naturally into place in the depressions that form the "waist" of the handle. The rounded back end without protruding clips and the like is also comfortable against the inside of the handle. Overall, however, this is a very good and flexible handle given its size.

Walk and Talk

Instead of discussing "opening methods and locks" as I usually do, this is instead about concepts like walk and talk and stay and play. They are significantly more tied to this type of knife.

Accordingly, this knife is, of course, opened with two hands. For this purpose, there are double-sided nail grooves, which incidentally make the knife completely ambidextrous, but as a nail-biter, I am extremely grateful that it does not have to be used.

The knife opens with two hands and has nail notches to help. Jumping Jack also has a solid halfway stop

On the contrary, it is relatively easy to access the blade as about 7 mm of it protrudes and can be gripped in a pinch. I would rate the resistance itself as a seven, maybe an eight on a ten-point scale. The spring provides good resistance both on the way in and out, and the blade falls into place with a satisfying sound that gives some comfort to those who lack their lock. On the way in, there is a classic ninety-degree blade stop. A safety feature that means the blade on the way in does not cut off a fingertip as easily.

The action is unusually smooth for a slip joint. They certainly haven't gone so far as to have ball bearings, but unlike pure friction against the frame that was common in the past, the Jumping Jack has bronze friction bearings, which explains that detail.

Once out, the blade is solid. There is not a hint of lateral movement. In fact, the knife feels unusually sturdy for being this small. Should any slight play occur, you can always tighten the pivot screw.

There is no up and down movement either. As long as the spring holds the blade in place, that is. It is a slip joint after all. But on the other hand, if you put a lot of pressure on a blade in the wrong direction on a knife of this size, you have still done something wrong.

To Carry

Jumping Jack is a true pocket knife. No question about it. When folded, it measures 89 mm, and all ends are well-rounded and therefore soft. The only thing that could be perceived as sharp is the protruding tang.

A sheath can be purchased for the knife, but here we use one with a magnetic clip from another manufacturer

When the soft shape is then complemented by a nice weight of 90 g, there is not much negative to say about how the knife behaves in a pocket. It simply lies at the bottom. Preferably across if the size of the pocket allows. That is both an advantage and a disadvantage. But to remedy some of the historical problems that arose in connection with this behaviour and which resulted in questions like "how on earth can a knife disappear in a pocket?", the clip was invented. You will not find anything like that here.

That was the disadvantage; the advantage of clipless knives is that they are always more comfortable to work with.*

As you can see, the knife fits perfectly in this sheath

If you don't want to carry the knife loose in a pocket or bag, it's a good idea to buy the leather sheath that QSP has so aptly developed for this purpose. It also protects the knife's hilt from chafing if you also store other things like keys in the same pocket. This is especially true if you choose more exclusive materials like abalone, but even this resin variant can be scratched.

Now I didn't invest in a sheath because I have a couple lying around from another brand that I know are also great for this knife. 

To Conclude

For those who like the "modern traditionals" category, the Jumping Jack is not only a good example but also a really good choice. The look is there; what you think of it is, of course, personal, but the knife doesn't really look like everyone else. I see that as a big plus in a knife world where originality is sometimes in short supply. But here Mr Marquardt has managed to distil a classic model, but with a modern twist that at least appealed to my eye.

QSP has the nice habit of including a card that tells you the dimensions of the actual model in the box.

Then QSP has added a dose of what their name actually stands for. Written out, the acronym stands for Quality, Service, Price. I can't comment on the service in this specific case, even though it is generally very good. However, I can say something about the other two parts.

There are some classic quality markers for slip joints that can also be used to assess a modern interpretation of one. The first one, which applies to all knives, is, of course, how the transition between the different materials is made. This is especially true when you have designs that include bolsters. Here we also have double bolsters.

The work is really well done on this knife. It really exudes quality.

Jumping Jack, as elegant as an espresso

Another marker is how much, if any, light shines through the handle if the knife is held up to a light source. It is very difficult to get the spine spring completely tight to the frame. This is especially true of older handmade knives. With modern levels of tolerances, it is easier. On the Jumping Jack, nothing shines through. This, of course, gives the highest rating. Add to that the spring and frame are completely smooth in relation to each other, both with the blade in the extended and retracted position. It is very well made. Especially like the spring in the middle position, the ninety-degree stop, also here at the same height as the frame. A finesse that is only found on very fine slip joints. 

Then you have the usual folding knife pitfalls to avoid. These include areas such as how the factory edge is made, whether the blade is centred when the knife is closed, whether there is play in the blade when the knife is open, and so on.

QSP has succeeded on all counts with the Jumping Jack, and it is not hard to see why other brands are starting to use QSP as an OEM manufacturer. This is a damn well-made knife.

The QSP Jumping Jack is a truly classic pocket knife, easy to always carry with you.

So if you appreciate the design language and like QSP as a brand, Jumping Jack is a more than viable alternative. Especially if we mix in the last letter in the name and talk about the price. The recommended price on the website is 75$ and when it reaches European stores, the price is from 99€.

For the invested pennies, you get a real quality knife with a timeless design and well-chosen materials. It is highly recommended!

QSP Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 159 mm

Length Folded 89 mm

Weight: 90 g

Blade Length: 70 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: 14C28N

Handle Material: Black and white Resin

Lock: None, Slip joint

Produced by: QSP, made in China

/ J - lockless

* Except knives with completely hidden clips like Lionsteel's ROK, which has a retractable clip.

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

New Knife - QSP Dolphin

Although the Dolphin, as this knife is called, is not the most expensive QSP knife ever made, it may very well be one of the most extravagant. Both the appearance and the treatment of the materials contribute to that.

The design with its sweeping lines breathes a bit of Mediterranean culture and perhaps influences from French, Italian or Spanish traditional patterns. Or maybe it is not like that at all, and the person or people who designed it just like flowing shapes. But they are there anyway.

QSP Dolphin

There are currently five versions of the Dolphin. Among them are simpler materials such as blue resin, but also abalone, mother of pearl, and carbon fibre are found among the materials or, in this case, stabilised wood. I don't actually know what kind of wood it is, but given the way it looks, Tuja is close at hand.

The knife has a steel frame in the sides of which pockets have been made for the wooden panels. The Dolphin is open at the back, where a standard spacer is found halfway and towards the rear end of an oversized tube that also acts as a lanyard hole. It also acts as an attachment point, and the screw head is hardly standard, but a special key is included if you want to dismantle your knife.

The total length is 198 mm and closed 118 mm. This gives a weight of 102 g. The blade is an 80 mm long drop point blade. It is 3 mm thick, and the material is 14C28N.

Dolphin opens with thumb studs and locks with a liner lock. Or rather, given the thickness and how the wooden sides extend over it, it is more of a bolster lock, which is a variant of a frame lock.

Dolphin is a knife with flowing lines and a pointed blade, characterised by its mirror finish.

So far, the Dolphin is not a remarkable knife at all, apart from the extraordinarily beautiful wood on the sides. But it is quite obvious that this is not what makes the knife so spectacular. That detail is instead taken care of by the unusual and very well-executed mirror polish.

The blade is extremely shiny, but the frame and other details have received the same treatment so that everything shines. This makes this knife stand out from the crowd.

More about this somewhat "blingy" beauty will be in a later review.

QSP Knives

/ J - cosplay as magpie

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knife - QSP Beetle

The latest knives I have presented from QSP have been characterised as being medium to large and thoroughly practical. I am thinking of the recently reviewed Turtle Punk, but especially the Ripley. Now it gets a little more fun!

This thing is definitely bigger than you might first think. But it is certainly not boring. Let me introduce a fairly new knife called Beetle!

QSP Beetle

So far, it is available in five variants. One looks "normal", one is blacker than the night, and three are very colourful. Sometimes a little colour is needed in life, so I chose the striking combination of black and red.

In addition to the colour scale, the knife is recognisable by its slightly chubby silhouette and, of course, by the fact that it is a folding dagger. Certainly not double-edged in the original, but since the entire blade is hidden in the handle when the knife is closed, it is possible to sharpen the other side as well if desired.

About the knife, it can also be said that it is built around a colourful but lightened steel frame with sides of G10. It is a liner lock, and the blade is opened with a flipper. To facilitate this, the blade rides on ceramic bearings.

Beetle - a knife that is anything but boring 

The blade that emerges is a rather bulging spear point, but if you cover the upper half of the blade, what remains is quite practical. The length of the blade is 75 mm, which is matched by a width of just over 28 mm at most. The thickness is 3 mm, and the steel is 14C28N. A material QSP uses to an increasing extent in its mid-range knives, I have noticed.

The entire knife measures 180 mm when opened and 105 mm when closed. The weight is around 117 g.

Overall, a fun little folding dagger that is anything but boring! It is actually nice to hold as well. I will come back to you with more detailed thoughts about the other properties in the future.

QSP Knives

/ J - likes some bugs

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review QSP Turtle Punk

  

-  a more elaborate Alfaro design this time

I've heard that you're supposed to keep promises, and since I said the other day that another QSP knife from the same designer was to be reviewed, here comes Turtle Punk. If the previous knife was mostly geared towards being a tool with little or no room for the extravagant, this one is a much more intricate design when it comes to the handle, for example.

QSP Turtle Punk

In addition to brand and design, these two models share many other features. For starters, they are exactly the same length, as reflected in the blades, which are also identical in length. Then they have the same type of blade steel and handle material. In addition, they have the same size standard clip from QSP and are assembled with the same type and size of screws. Yes, that's right, they both open with thumb studs, too.

The question is, has Keanu Alfaro, the designer behind these two models, been lazy and copied himself? I wouldn't say so. Rather, this is a study in how different two knives can be despite sharing so many similarities.

Turtle Punk, a Keanu Alfaro design with a tanto blade and two-tone G10 handle

Short version: QSP Turtle Punk, a knife with a distinctive appearance and likeable features

Blade

The first significant difference between the Turtle Punk and its cousin, Ripley, is that it features a blade with a tanto tip. The blade tip is also reinforced by a different angle of the grind, which is otherwise completely flat. Another similarity to its relative. But unlike it, the Turtle has a small swedge, which enhances the pointed appearance and improves an already good penetration ability.

The blade is a kind of modified tanto with a reinforced tip, false edge, and a slightly curved edge.

Closest to the handle, there are grooves for better grip, and they can be said to be medium coarse. Not an extreme grip, so they tear the skin off the finger, but not soapy either. They serve their purpose.

The blade is stone-washed, a surface treatment that QSP and, for that matter, other manufacturers often return to. It is easy to manufacture, and it hides scratch marks well.

The marking is now very discreet on QSP's part. A response to several years of requests from customers, I suspect. On the presentation side, you can find the logo in small format, and on the opposite side, you can read the steel type if you have very good eyesight. Otherwise, the blade is clean.

The steel is the 14C28N often used by QSP, a Swedish steel that is absolutely excellent for the price range. It is nothing extraordinary, but it is very rust-resistant, relatively tough for that type, and holds its sharpness relatively well. And when it needs to be maintained, which I do with a strop, the steel is easy to handle.

The steel in the flat-ground blade is 14C28N

Something you might not immediately think of when looking at the knife is that the edge is actually curved. It does two things. First, it makes the knife much easier to handle against flat surfaces, something I often point out because I frequently use it when cutting things. The second thing it does is "soften" the second point that occurs on tanto blades. This is for better or worse, as it makes the appearance less pure while at the same time giving the Turtle Punk a kind of belly after all. One that will probably become more pronounced the first time you resharpen your knife.

Combine these properties with a full flat grind with a capable factory edge and a competent steel, and you get a surprisingly practical knife. Especially as the point is excellent for puncturing annoying plastic and other things that need to be pierced.

The "second" point can also be used, where you, for example, cut open taped boxes. Although I usually turn the knife over and do it with the back of the point so as not to damage what is inside. 

Overall, I am very happy with how this knife performs. This also applies out in the forest. The knife is indeed flat-ground, but a full 0.5 mm thick behind the edge. Actually, too much to be optimal, but it also makes the blade feel more stable when cutting wood. It doesn't bend at first. Not even when you pry the blade free from a gnarled root. The edge is good in both dry wood and fresh branches, by the way.

Turtle Punk is also decent at cutting ropes of various types. But after a while, you need to resharpen the knife if you cut nylon rope or dirty anchor twine. As I said, the edge doesn't last extremely long.

Handle

In the beginning was a lightened steel frame. That's how the creation story of many knives can begin. So does this one. On the outside, however, you will find properly worked sides in G10. It is available in three colorways, of which this one is apparently black and white. Elsewhere, there is a multi-colored and green theme.

The handle is then anchored in two attachment points in addition to the adjustable pivot screw. On the latter, by the way, you will find QSP's other logo, a triangle. The screw is, as usual, D-shaped, which prevents it from spinning when it is to be released. Something QSP does excellently.

As mentioned, the screws are the same as on the Ripley in terms of dimensions, which means that the spacers found in the open back are screwed from two directions with T6 screws. In the Pivot screw, you will find a T8. The rearmost screw for the spacers is extended, as it also helps to hold the clip in place.

A comfortable handle with a three-dimensional turtle pattern

The material in the sides is, as mentioned, G10, which is two-tone and patterned, which gives it a special look that is, if not unique, then unusual. That and the surface that has the same dented structure as a turtle shell are the main design elements and thus give the knife its character and name.

The grip in the handle of the Turtle Punk does not come as much from the structure and pattern as with, for example, Ripley. Here, the G10 material is much smoother, but in return, the surface and its pits provide a little extra friction. But mainly the grip comes from a more pronounced depression for the index finger in combination with a slight one for the thumb on the top of the blade.

Turtle Punk is open at the back, revealing a polished steel frame and two hourglass-shaped spacers. The large blade stop bolt is also visible.

The handle is 115 mm long, 14.5 mm thick, and 27.4 mm high at most. This makes it easy to get a full four-finger grip. In fact, I prefer this grip to the one on the Ripley. It is softer on the hand, a few millimeters thick, and above all, the finger groove is better designed. Here, the index finger is placed, and then the other fingers follow nicely and end up where they should, without a hump that risks ending up in the wrong place if your hand is not exactly the right size.

The balance is found behind the finger guard

As with many knives, the clip is a bit of a hot spot if you squeeze the handle tightly. Something that, of course, disappears if you change hands. So if you know that you will be using folding knives for longer periods of time, I actually recommend removing the clip. But if you are only going to cut for a short time, it doesn't matter.

The same applies to the favorite grip on this knife, the saber grip. Even then, the back end of the clip is felt against the inside of the hand. Something that frequently occurs on knives with clips of this type. But again, it is only felt if you squeeze so hard that your knuckles almost turn white. Otherwise, this is a comfortable handle where all grips work properly.

If you want to get really close to the edge for better control when doing small jobs, you can even sneak an index finger up onto the finger guard.

Opening and Lock

In an emergency, the Turtle Punk can be opened with two hands, but it doesn't work very well as the blade is mostly hidden in the handle when the knife is closed. This is a pure thumb-operated knife. But in return, it is very good in that area.

Tumknopparna är mycket väl placerade för optimal effekt

Both Alfaro and QSP know what they are doing at this point. The thumb studs are located exactly where they should be to be easy to access, give a good push to the blade, while not being in the way when working with the knife.

The double-sided studs are of a barrel-shaped model, which makes them comfortable. If you want to flick the blade out, you do it with your thumb or index finger on the back behind the thumb stud, and then just press, and the blade explodes out. If you want to make it softer, place your thumb a little more on top of the thumb stud, then just stroke the blade out.

The fact that there is some weight in the blade, in combination with the fine ceramic ball bearings, makes the action silky smooth.

A solid liner lock ensures safety

In addition to the blade tip and handle shape, the lock is the third point where Turtle differs from Ripley. On this knife, you will find a regular liner lock. Maybe not the latest and coolest on the market, but well executed.

The lock bar is 1.5mm thick and quite high, so there is a lot of steel to rely on. Then the geometry is correctly executed. This means that the lock is reliable, i.e., it locks every time the blade is opened. After that, the blade is held without movement in any direction.

The shape of the handle, with a finger recess that is slightly deeper on the opposite side in relation to the lock bar, makes it easy to reach. The grooves on it prevent the finger from slipping, making the lock easy to disengage. All in all, this is an excellent example of a well-functioning liner lock.

To Carry

In this area, this model is both worse and better than its comparison object, the Ripley. Better because the material is significantly smoother against fabric, which makes the knife easy to pull and put back in the pocket again.

Worse, because it is actually heavier. The Turtle Punk weighs 126 g, which is not extremely much, especially not for a knife with a blade of almost nine centimeters. But it is not a lightweight either. 

The clip is one of QSP's standard variants

Then it is also slightly thicker, as mentioned. But it is about millimeters. Overall, however, this turtle is relatively easy to carry.

A shiny steel clip is all that is visible

The clip is, as previously mentioned, one of QSP's generic ones. A simple steel clip of the "deep ride" type that works excellently. A little shiny, I think, but in return, the frame is also polished on this knife, so it matches the rest of the look.

The tension is good, and the space under the clip is ample to accommodate most fabric thicknesses. The ramp is also substantial, in fact, so much so that it could be a little smaller. Because the clip is parallel to the handle and doesn't slope, it's quite tall. A slope would have made it feel smaller in the hand. 

But now it is the rear end that is the biggest culprit in causing hot spots, but that, in turn, is because it allows the knife to sit as deep as it does. That is the disadvantage of that kind of clip.

To Conclude

I have to admit that this knife surprised me a bit. Mostly because it was more practical than I first thought. It can sometimes be difficult to fully grasp the character of a knife from pictures, if they have any. In particular, I still have a bit of a prejudice against tanto blades. It's not my personal favorite type of blade. After all, I'm Swedish, and the classic Scandinavian straight blade is what applies. You can possibly stretch it to a drop point, but hardly any further. I'm a bit ironic, as you might notice, but there's some truth to that.

But here, Keanu Alfaro, has tricked us a bit. By letting the back of the blade drop and also the edge form a curve, suddenly the disadvantages of an angular American tanto with its straight lines are gone. What remains is the reinforced and aggressively effective tip. The only disadvantage I can see is that the appearance may be difficult to maintain during future resharpening. The risk of that secondary tip disappearing is big.

QSP och Alfaros samarbete har resulterat i en riktigt bra EDC-kniv

In addition to these features, the handle of the Turtle Punk is also quite striking. I preferred black and white so that the pattern would stand out as clearly as possible. But even there, the pictures are a bit misleading as you don't fully see that the sides are not completely flat, but that there is a bumpy pattern that imitates the shell of the knife's namesake.

Even better is that the knife is nice to work with. Unless you do it a lot and for a long time, it is best to remove or replace the clip with something that doesn't stick out at the back.

Turtle Punk is a surprisingly practical knife in most contexts, even outdoors

Overall, however, the Turtle Punk is a surprisingly nice acquaintance. Especially since it is not one of the most expensive. The MSRP on QSP's website is $88, which translates to around €80 in Europe at the time of writing. However, I have seen it sometimes on sale.

But if you like fairly practical folding knives with a tanto tip in the slightly larger format, but still want a little flair, this is certainly not a bad candidate.

 

QSP Knife

Specifications:

Length Overall: 203 mm

Length Folded: 115 mm

Weight:126 g (weighed by me, stated 126g)

Blade Length: 88 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm

Blade Steel: 14C28N

Handle: Two-colored G10

Lock: Liner lock

Produced by: QSP, made in China

/ J - somewhat surprised

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Review QSP Ripley Glyde Lock

  

-  a robust, lightweight knife

Having had the Ripley Glyde Lock for more than six months now, I have had time to test it thoroughly. Much of it is due to the fact that it's a fairly hefty knife for coming from QSP. Now that doesn't mean that the knife is "Cold Steel-sized," but that it is quite large and tempting to use.

The question that remains to be answered is whether this is just another budget knife with a "cross-bar lock" or if there is more to say about it.

QSP Ripley Glyde Lock

Ripley, which also has the addition of Glyde Lock to really emphasize the type of lock used, is designed by a man named Keanu Alfaro. A designer I wasn't familiar with before, but now I have two knives that bear his name.

First up for review is this one, but it will be followed by another model I previously presented here on the blog called  Turtle Punk. 

A knife designed by Keanu Alfaro

Short version: QSP Ripley Glyde Lock, a knife for those looking for a robust EDC knife in a slightly larger format that still won't break the bank

Blade

Since this is a fairly simply designed knife, it is reflected in the blade shape. A drop point without any frills. It is a fairly wide blade with a height of 28 mm and a length of 88 mm. Quite substantial, in other words. The thickness is 3.5 mm.

The shape of the blade with a slightly sloping back means that it has a fairly substantial belly. In other words, nothing for those who prefer a Wharncliffe. But it also means that the tip is both good for detail work and still relatively strong.

A folding knife blade can hardly be that much simpler.

The steel is recognizable both to us Swedes and to those who are used to QSP, as they use it frequently in their simpler knives. It is a 14C2N. A steel that is known to be quite rust-resistant, very easy to maintain, and holds its sharpness quite well. In addition, being stainless, it is also quite tough, which makes it one of my "budget" favorites. Especially if the knife is to be used for outdoor activities, which can involve some prying when the knife is to be released from wood and similar situations.

At this point, QSP has also mastered the hardening of this steel very well, and the hardness is optimal in this case to get the most out of the material.

The finish in this case is stone tumbled, but the knife is also available with a PVC coating in some versions. In addition to making the blade black, this contributes to even more rust protection.

The steel used in this drop point blade is 14C28N

Such a simple blade shape, well executed, is as all-round as one might suspect. Maybe not the best at anything, but usable in the broadest sense. This applies whether it is natural materials such as wood, both dry and fresh, or man-made materials such as cardboard, rope, plastic, etc. One thing that contributes to this is, of course, that the blade is flat-ground.

Ripley has had to act as an EDC knife a lot because it is easy to take with you and carry, which I will get to later, while at the same time being just as flexible as I hoped in terms of use.

At work, this involves opening packaging, mainly plastic of various thicknesses. Everything from puncturing cans to opening 10 kg bags of pasta, etc. At home, it involves more cardboard but also some carpentry and not infrequently involves cutting rope stumps, cutting a stick to attach a tape measure to when throwing knives, and similar small tasks. What distinguishes them is that I rarely work with the knife for any length of time. When I do, I almost always switch to a fixed-blade knife with a fuller grip.

Ripley also feels nimble and lively in the hand. This is partly because it is light, but also because the balance is excellent and is found just behind the pivot screw. 

Handle

The handle of this knife is built around a partial frame that contains the lock. Otherwise, the knife is open in the back except for two spacers that hold the handle sides together. They are screwed from two sides with T6 screws. The adjustable pivot screw is size T8. If I may say so, dump the T6s. They are so small that the slightest looseness, if you are going to tighten them or take the knife apart, risks stripping them.

The presentation side of the pivot screw shows the QSP triangle logo that appears on some of the range. That side is also D-shaped, which means that it does not rotate if you want to disassemble the knife. Something I recommend that you do not do unless you are experienced. This type of lock is a little trickier to fiddle with than, say, a frame lock. 

The spacious handle is made of G10

The shape of the handle is generous in that, even though there is a simple finger guard and a beak at the back, you can use the entire surface to hold it. This means that even larger hands can easily find a good grip. The length is 115 mm and the thickness is 13.5 mm. The height is around 26 mm, depending on where you take the measurement. 

The sides are flat but heavily beveled at both the top and bottom, so it almost feels like they are 3D-shaped. They are also thick enough that the knife, unlike some others with the same type of construction technique, does not flex at all if you try to squeeze them together. 

The knife is open at the back, and the handle sides are self-supporting without a frame.

The material used is G1,0, and the surface has a fine mesh check pattern that does not provide much friction. However, it is complemented by the pattern with the three notches that at least makes me think of claw marks á la Jurassic Park. Combined with the grooves that are found on both the back and the underside, they provide enough grip for most tasks.

The handle accommodates most hands and is very flexible in terms of grip

Ripley has a predominantly good grip. If you squeeze the handle really hard, there can be a little problem with the aforementioned grooves and the clip, which can be felt a little against the hand, but not much. Then the front depression for the fingers can be more or less good depending on the size of the hand. For me, it becomes a bit of a "one-and-a-half-finger groove", which means that the middle finger has a tendency to end up on the small bump that forms. But it is mostly in a hard hammer grip that it is experienced that way. In a saber grip, that detail rather helps the hand to hold on positively. So it depends on the grip.

Generally, however, all grips work well. 

Opening and Lock

Ripley opens with double-sided thumb studs of traditional cut, with excellent function in this case. The studs are certainly found close to the handle, but as they protrude a bit due to the beveled edge on the handle side, access is easy.

Then it becomes apparent that I am too used to knives. I almost forgot what is obvious to me, namely that you can, of course, both open and close the knife at least as quickly using the lock. 

The blade can be opened using thumb studs or the lock bar

The action gets a very good rating. Part of it can be attributed to the ceramic ball bearings. But also to the construction itself. Knives with this type of lock lack a detent ball. Instead, it is the "omega springs" that hold the lock bolt in place that provide the resistance. Here it is so strong that it gives a good flick when the knife is opened. What is better is that the spring tension also means that the knife blade cannot be shaken out of the handle in any way.

Upon arrival, there was a slight tendency to lock stick when it was to be released. However, it was gone fairly immediately after a while of use.

QSP's Glyde Lock is a very sturdy version of a cross-bar lock

QSP is apparently so proud of their variant of the crossbar lock called the Glyde lock that, in this case, it was even included in the name of the knife.

They should be proud of it. I have already mentioned good power in the springs, and to that should be added excellent function. The blade does not move anywhere; on the contrary, it sits tighter than some knives with the original version of this lock type, I can reveal. In addition, it is easy to release with one or two fingers.

To Carry

For such a robust folding knife with a blade of almost nine centimeters, it is very easy to carry. First of all, the handle is quite square in profile, but thin. As mentioned, the thickness is only 1.3 cm. The square shape also means that nothing is protruding, read flipper tab, which can get stuck when the knife is put in a pocket.

The clip is recognizable from other QSP models

Then Ripley is light. Since it does not have a full frame and the material is G10, the weight ends up at pretty much exactly one hundred grams. That is certainly not much for the size of the knife.

The material on the sides is not extremely rough, but the inlaid grooves, the ones that I assume gave the knife its name, make the process a bit more cumbersome.

The tension is acceptable, but the steel clip can bend out of position if it gets stuck, and that can happen quite easily when it is a relatively large hook.

The clip is one of QSP's generic clips, and as such, it works well, but it may not excite anyone either. One small problem I had was that I got caught on something, and it bent slightly outwards. Otherwise, the tension is good, and both the ramp and the space underneath are enough for most fabric thicknesses. My work trousers are not the best to judge by, as they are thin. Jeans are a better test. 

Not much is visible of the knife when it is carried

The clip is mounted with two small T6 screws that are in tandem. A good thing is that the clip mount is recessed into the handle side, which makes it more stable. Even better is that the side that is not used has a cover plate. This improves comfort as that hole is not felt against the hand.

Otherwise, it can be said that it is a deep ride clip, so the knife is barely visible when carried.

To Conclude

The question I asked initially was whether this is another knife with this type of lock in the crowd. I would answer both yes and no. Because it is, although it is a really good one.  QSP is considered successful in that segment, and I am one of those who contributed to that opinion, and the Ripley Glyde Lock is an excellent example of why they have earned that reputation.

The Ripley is a relatively large but easy to carry and therefore an excellent EDC knife

I would have preferred that the knife had been equipped with phosphor bronze bushings instead of ball bearings. Why, some might wonder. Well, for the simple reason that it is less sensitive to dust, gravel, and water than plain bearings are. At least on a theoretical level. No folding knife feels good about being dropped on a sandy beach or in a mud puddle.

The Ripley is so robust and light that, in addition to being a frequent knife at work, I think it is an excellent folding outdoor knife. A fully flat-ground but still not too thick blade in good quality steel and a comfortable but not slippery handle provide an excellent basis for that.

Now, the presence of ball bearings is not enough to disqualify the knife for outdoor use. This is a good folding outdoor knife.

It is also excellent as a larger EDC knife for all the small tasks that may arise there. What they have in common is that you want a knife that is easy to draw, fold out the blade, then do what you want to do, and let the knife disappear again. In that area, the Ripley is excellent.

QSP Ripley Glyde Lock is also a good company in the forest

For these reasons, I can truly recommend the Ripley Glyde Lock to anyone looking for a robust knife with a good design that doesn't cost a fortune. This applies whether you want it for work or leisure, or if you are a newcomer to the world of finer folding knives. This can be a good entry point. The price in Europe is from 70-100€.

QSP Knife

Specifications:

Length Overall: 203 mm

Length Closed: 115 mm

Weight: 102 g (weighed by me, stated 102g)

Blade Length: 88 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm

Blade Steel: 14C28N, HRC 59-61

Handle Material: G10

Lock: Glyde Lock

Produced by: QSP, made in China

/ J - says "let it Rip(ley)"

* I can immediately say that a thousand kronor/95€ is too much!

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre