Fredags-EDC LXXVIII Två bra knivar

Mörkret är massivt den här veckan. Det kväver mig. Tack och lov är det inte humöret som är lågt utan det är mer av en bokstavlig betraktelse i det här fallet. Antalet soltimmar där jag bor är lätt räknade den här veckan. Det har nämligen inte varit några. Tillståndet varierar mellan mulet och grådis till mulet och regn med lätt inslag av snö någon dag. Från någon enstaka plusgrad och frisk vind till lika många plusgrader som en kall midsommar. 

Ur led är tiden och nu var det färdigt med svamlandet om vädret. Men det påverkar mig faktiskt. Särskilt i dessa tider när mycket av det som annars kunde lyft humöret så här års inte kan genomföras eller inte kommer att bli av. Som hela julfirandet till exempel. Det som är värre än grått väder och mörker är grått väder, mörker toppat med en liten pandemi. 

En smitta som dessutom gör mig sur och arg på några av mina medmänniskor, förlåt motmänniskor i det här fallet. Nämligen de som inte förstår enkla instruktioner som kan bidra till att rädda andra människors liv. 

"Two nice Offerings"

När allt är mörkt behöver man intressen har jag noterat. Samt ljus. I det här fallet en bra ficklampa. Den här råkar vara från Olight och är deras modell Mini Baton S1. Trevlig sak som införskaffades för att den hade tryckknapp, ja förutom att den lyser bra då. Som  bonus är den laddbar och tar liten plats. 

De andra försöken att lysa upp en grå tillvaro består av flera solar. Två i det här fallet i form av Two Sun Dreadnought överst. En kniv designad av en amerikan som kallar sig Jelly Jerry. Under den hittas ytterligare en Two Sun vid namn Dynamo. Även den designad av en amerikan som hittas bakom pseudonymen Tepe Designs. Dynamo är mer exklusiv kniv då den är byggd i förstklassig kolfiber, är en titan frame lock och har ett blad i CPM S90V. Dreadnought har handtag i linnemicarta och ett blad i Sandvik 14C28N. 

/ J - i mörkret

#knivesandbikes  #knivigtvarre

Knife Review Two Sun TS261 Apex

 

 -  Two Sun towards new heights

When I presented this knife for the first time, I wrote that development is good when it moves in the right direction. And I have to say that this knife is a good example of that. I already have two other knives from Two Sun that are very reminiscent of this one. But this is clearly my favorite of the three. 

That they look similar is perhaps not so strange as it is one and the same person who designed the knives. The last of them is this one called Apex.

Two Sun TS261 Apex

All knives from Two Sun designed by Tepe Designs have been fairly exclusive when it comes to both materials and constructions. We are talking about carbon fiber bolsters, polished G10 sides, ceramic bearings, and of course lots of intricately machined, sometimes anodized titanium and not least exclusive knife steels. This model is no exception, but rather the one that is the clearest example of it both in terms of included materials and how they have been used. The steel is unusual, the clip is not only sculpted but also has a hidden fastening screw and a lot of processing time has been put into the titanium sides.

This model happens to be numbered, which is sometimes the case with Two Sun's first editions and these are not huge production volumes. This is number 81.

The blade is what characterizes this knife from Two Sun the most

Twitter version: Two Sun TS261, a double sunrise, it both looks good and functions well

Blade

Apex has a very pronounced clip point. In fact, it is visually one of the more extreme examples of the blade type I own alongside another model from Two Sun, the Dreadnaught, and a Spyderco Chinook. In this case, we are offered 8,7 centimeters of steel that has a height of three centimeters at most. However, the stated length is 82 mm. Something I do not understand because 87 mm is the number you get if you measure from the front of the handle to the tip. If the blade instead is measured from the top of the handle, it is a full nine and a half centimeters long. The thickness is for Two Sun a rather representative four millimeters.

What makes the blade so striking is the bold "Bowie" tip with a distinctly cut part that is enhanced by a large swedge. Besides, the rest of the back also slopes downwards in a slightly concave line to meet the false edge. The blade has also got a mostly decorative hole that is nicely done with beveled edges.

Apex boasts a distinct clip point blade

The steel in this knife is a not very often used and rather extreme steel from American Crucible, CPM S110V. It is one of the steels that is usually considered a "super steel" together with, for example, M390 / 20CV / 204P and CPM S90V. More specifically, it means stainless steel that takes a very high degree of sharpness and holds it, if not forever, then at least for a very long time. From what I have been able to notice during this time together with Apex is that Two Sun has succeeded with the heat treatment of the steel as it keeps the sharpness extremely well.

Of course, there are also disadvantages to this type of material. One is of course the price, which means that the steel is usually found on more exclusive knives. Especially as it is not the easiest to work with for the manufacturer. Add to that that it is not at all easy to sharpen for the end user either. A minimum requirement is diamond stones of some kind paired with plenty of time and patience.

The finish is a glossy satin that is enhanced by the rather high flat grind on both the primary bevel and the swedge. This causes the blade to sparkle seductively under different lighting conditions.

The markings are discreet but you can read that the blade is made out of S110V

The markings on this knife deserve to be mentioned. It is there in the form of both Two Sun's logo on one side together with Tepe's wings, blade steel, and even the knife's serial number on the other. But it is so small and discreet that the result is really nice.

This knife is excellent to work with as long as you don't perform heavy tasks for prolonged times

The most important thing, however, is how a knife blade actually cuts. In this case, the blade is flat ground, and even if the blade stock is not thin to begin with, the knife measures around 0,5 mm behind the edge. The factory edge is also really good. Smooth and nicely done, centered, and sharp. The edge also has a nice finish without a "smile" at the plunge line. That is due to a nicely done sharpening choil. 

The tip is very sharp and is found in an imaginary centerline through the knife, which makes it easy to control. It comes in handy when opening packages of various kinds. Unfortunately, we still live in a plastic society and most of what is bought arrive in at least one layer of plastic of some kind that needs to be handled.

The edge bites well in most materials and it does not even flinch when it comes to wood, rubber hose, and plastic mat. With this edge, the blade geometry, and the steel, Apex eats those materials for breakfast. Cardboard and the like are consequently no obstacle either. Here it is noticeable that the knife is thin behind the edge. The stock thickness is no hindrance at all and the blade slides through moving boxes both with and across the fiber direction.

If you now necessarily want to force your EDC knife into the kitchen, this is an excellent knife for making sandwiches. Not as in a butter knife but as in good at cutting hard salami, ham, tomatoes, and peppers, etc to put on a sandwich. Peeling potatoes also work well, although I can not see why you should do it when someone invented the potato peeler. But in short, it is a damn good knife on most parameters. Sure, it can be said that it was even better without the hole in the blade for handling food, but it is not in that role that I see this knife anyway.

So even though the blade has some concessions in favor of appearance, it is actually very practical.

Handle

Two Sun know how to make a knife handle out of titanium by now. Apex is certainly no exception. Rather, they have made an effort both in terms of shape and appearance. The material is TC4 titanium and it has been made into two sides and a backspacer. All fastened with only one screw in addition to the pivot screw. They are also the only ones visible except for the two small screws that hold the lock bar reinforcement in place. It gives the handle a clean and elegant look.

A for Tepe-design typical handle shape

The sides are intricate as they are arched on the outside and heavily weight relieved on the inside. This makes the knife both light and well-balanced despite all the metal. The curved surface has a densely lined pattern that provides tactile feedback and slightly increased grip. Besides, the knife has three decorative depressions per side where the titanium is instead polished. They get shorter the further forward they sit, which somehow gives an impression of speed.

At the back, you find a titanium backspacer 

Compared to previous collaborations between Tepe and Two Sun, this handle is thinner and instead slightly higher. A combination I mostly prefer in a pocket knife as it simply makes them easier to carry. They do not get as clumsy in a pocket.

Apex is really nice to hold and the rounded clip feels very little

From an ergonomic point of view, this is a really good handle. Or to be completely honest, it is a very comfortable handle that is not completely ergonomic. That may seem a bit contradictory but let me explain. Everything on the handle is rounded and polished as it should be. The curved sides together with the height fill the hand well without making the knife too thick. There is a smaller recess for the index finger and plenty of space behind for the rest of the fingers. The back is rounded and follows the inside of the hand well. Nor is the inside of the titanium sides forgotten and Two Sun did not even miss to round the small corner that occurs when the lock bar folds inwards to meet the blade. A detail that is often overlooked otherwise.

For those reasons, this is an extremely comfortable handle. All grips I can think of work well. But here comes my objection. This is especially true if you do not use the knife for tougher tasks. The sides are a little too thin, especially where they meet the little finger. This is the price you have to pay because they are arched. This means that there is quite a lot of pressure on the fingers if you bare down on your handle. Of course, that changes if you use gloves. But I usually do not.

Opening and Lock

Apex is somewhat deceiving as you can imagine that it can be opened in several different ways. Or rather, it can. It is always possible to pinch grip the hole and open the knife with two hands. But otherwise, the hole is almost hopeless for opening anything. It is possible, however, from time to time to manage a "spyder flick" with the middle finger. But usually, the detent is too hard for it to work. For the same reason, the hole cannot be used to thumb open the knife.

A very effective flipper tab

Instead, Apex is a dedicated flipper knife and a very good one in terms of function. The flipper tab is well placed both to be easy to find and to propel the blade. A fact that is really enhanced by a well-tuned detent and by the ceramic bearings. This is a very quick knife and it does not matter how you approach the flipper tab. The blade flyes out no matter what you do and with lightning speed. It is also easy to hold the knife when using the flipper. The fingers end up naturally on the side of the clip and are thus naturally supported by it without the need to adjust the grip.

It is also very hard to misfire. The grooves make it almost impossible to slip off the tab. 

Propaganda lock, as in a very good representative for a
well made frame lock in titanium

This lock is propaganda for frame locks. Simply put, it works extremely well. It locks securely with about fifty percent. But that fifty percent also happens to be steel against steel as the lock bar is reinforced at the tip. There is no blade play in any direction, no matter how hard the blade is provoked. The lock also does not slip if it is exposed to negative pressure. Not even if spine whacked slightly. 

Best of all is that despite the strength of the lock, it is easy to disengage. The lock bar springs easily and both it and the opposite side are beveled to facilitate access. I have nothing negative to say about the lock at all. Especially not as the blade glides into place with a slight shake of the knife thanks to the bearings and the fact that Two Sun now makes ramps for the detent balls. 

To Carry

It's not every day you see super designed clips that are actually really good. But this is one of them. The clip is not only a so-called "sculpted clip", ie milled from a piece of titanium, but has also been given a hidden fastening screw. It is also arched in the same way as the handle side and curved to fit the overall lines. Overall a pretty advanced clip in other words. What makes the function good is that it is thin enough to spring while the surface under the clip is relatively smooth. The ramp is not very large but large enough to handle denim fabrics as well. Much because the angle is correctly executed. Another plus and one of my pet peeves are that the tip does not point outwards but is parallel to the surface of the handle.

Apex comes with a clip that not only fit the overall theme of the knife  but also functions very well

The knife that goes into the pocket measures 114 mm when folded and the handle is just over 12 mm thick. At its highest, which is found towards the rear end if you ignore the flipper tab, it measures 32 mm. Apex weighs in at 130 g according to my scale and it happens to be exactly what Two Sun states.

All in all, it is not a very small knife that should be passed to the pocket, even if none of the figures are extreme in any way. And it's not the knife in practice either. You feel the weight where it sits, it is after all not an extremely lightweight knife, but there is also nothing that bothers much if you do not spend the days in jogging shorts, that is.

A sculpted clip of the better variety

The clip makes part of the knife protruding from the pocket, but that is not a deterrent either. We are talking about a centimeter that can be seen above.

Should I have any negative objection, it is that the flipper tab is a bit pointy. It stands proud and straight and is quite sharp. Not optimal to have in a pocket. But it is something that applies to very many knives of this type and is, so to speak, something that goes with the territory. But it is not completely pleasant.

To Conclude

Apex is a knife that boasts a rather striking appearance. A Bowie-inspired blade with bold lines paired with a fairly typical Tepe handle with soft shapes and rounded back end forms the basis of the look. It has been enhanced with a few details such as the decorative recesses in the sides, the pattern of the titanium itself, and not least a special clip that is really nice and flows with the rest of the knife. The result is an appealing whole. If you like titanium gray that is.

Apex is a knife with many strengths. One such area is the handling. If you like flipper operated knives, it is an example of a very good one. The function is both reliable and lightning-fast. Then the knife is just as easy to close again. The lock is excellent and the blade glides into place with the slightest of shakes.  

It is mainly in the role of an EDC knife that I see this model from Two Sun

Apex is also a technically advanced knife. This applies not least to the knife steel. It simply does not get much better than S110V when it comes to performance. The sides are heavily machined both inside and out and the materials are of the highest quality with ceramic bearings and titanium in both the clip and backspacer.

In addition to being visually appealing and a technical beast, Apex is also very good as an everyday knife. Something that is emphasized by the comfortable handle, which is however not optimal for heavy work. Now I do not see that as a major problem as the knife should be viewed primarily as an EDC knife in my opinion. But that is basically the only objection I have in regards to the knife as a whole.

That and that it can be a bit gray if you do not like titanium-colored knives. Otherwise, the appearance is not gray at all, so the looks can be a bit polarizing. After all, there is a hole in the blade and curves and depressions in the handle and it is not appreciated by everyone.

Two Sun Apex offers a lot of details for the eye but is also rather practical

But everyone who appreciates this look and who is searching for a technical monster made with high precision in the best materials need look no further. Especially not as the price is appealing. Or rather it may depend on where you buy the knife. Two Sun knives are often sold through eBay auctions and then it varies for natural reasons. But usually, Apex ends up around 130-150 dollars, I have noted. If you buy it via Two Sun's own store on Ali Express, the price is $ 169-199 at the time of writing, depending on whether there is an ongoing campaign or not. It should be pointed out, however, that if you are interested in the model, you should not wait too long as Two Sun usually makes their models for a while and then leaves them to move on. Sometimes, however, they return in either downgraded versions or more advanced versions, depending on the starting point.

In this case, however, it does not get better and this knife is one of the better full-titan knives that Two Sun has made. The quality is simply superb.

Specification:

Length Overall: 201 mm

Length Folded: 114 mm

Weight: 130 g

Blade Length: 87 mm

Blade Thickness: 4 mm

Blade Steel: CPM S110V, 60HRC

Handle: Titanium, TC4

Lock: Frame Lock

Produced by: Two Sun, made in China

/ J - like sunrises

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Ny kniv - Two Sun TS261 Apex

Utveckling är sympatiskt, särskilt när den går åt rätt håll. Den här kniven är ett bra exempel på en sådan rörelse. Det här är den fjärde kniven jag har formgiven av Tepe Designs. Alla modellerna råkar vara från samma tillverkare, Two Sun. 

Beteckningen är TS261 och den har fått namnt Apex. Rent utseendemässigt är det en orgie i välarbetad titan. Handtag, backspacer och clip är i samma material. 

Two Sun TS6261 Apex

Utvecklingen handlar om att den här kniven bär klara drag av en tidigare modell från Two Sun och Tepe kallad Shockwave. Apex bjuder trots de ytliga likheterna på flera fördelar vid en direkt jämförelse. Bland dem kan nämnas ett bätttre blad med effektivare spets, längre egg samt mindre stål bakom densamma. Lägg till ännu kvickare "action" då den är kniven är riktigt rapp när bladet skall ut. Den har dessutom ett bättre clip och är lättare att bära överlag än föregångaren. Trots det är ergonomin faktiskt bättre. 

Hela kniven är ett snäpp upp i mitt tycke och då var Shockwave ingen dålig kniv. Därtill kan läggas att Apex är utrustad med CPM S110V-stål. Det skojar man inte bort. I alla fall inte om det är väl behandlat. Sammantaget gör det att det här är en intressant kniv. Det skall bli kul att testa den! 

/ J - nyknivsglad

#knivesandbikes  #knivigtvarre

Knife Review Two Sun TS134 Shockwave

-  mostly good with some imperfections

Two Sun is a brand that is no slouch when it comes to the rate of production. On some occasions, I've said that you should keep an eye on their designations. They have now passed two hundred with a good margin. What they also have done is widened their number of collaborations with different knife designers. Recently, they are also marketed in more places than just Chinese sales sites and their eBay-store. Now you can also buy Two Sun through Amazon or at Whitemountain Knives for instance.

Today we are going to take a look at a knife that is not the most recent from them but still fairly new, number 134. 

Two Sun TS134 Shockwave

With this knife, American designer Shan Hassan, also known as Tepe Designs, continues with his collaborations with Two Sun Knives. The first meeting between them resulted in the model TS128 Dynamo that I previously reviewed. The latest ones are the cigar cutter TS 179 Perfecto and TS180 Vortex.

But in between came this knife called the Shockwave, which we shall now examine more closely. 

A rather elegant beast with a very comfortable handle 

Twitter version: Two Sun Shockwave, a knife for those who like their forward finger choils!

Blade

The blade shape itself is not extraordinary on this knife. But the design offers details that make it quite unique anyway. Basically, it's a drop point that measures 7,6 centimeters or 3 inches in length and is 2,85 centimeters high. No extreme proportions but more pronounced is the blade stock that is as thick as 4 millimeters. As pronounced is the forward finger choil which is quite large compared to the other dimensions.

Also, the blade has a swedge on top and for some unclear reason an elongated whole. Another characteristic of the blade that makes it deviate a bit from most is that the back is almost straight with just a gentle slope which gives a very distinct belly. In the same way that can be found on, for example, many knives designed by Jesper Voxnaes. 

Shockwave offers a drop point with a pronounced belly and a swedge. And, of course, a
giant finger choil

The steel is of top quality in the form of M390 from Böhler/Uddeholm. I have some experience of this steel in Two Sun's version since before. But that is from such a small knife that the benefit of a so-called super steel is not noticed. But in this case, it means that the knife stays sharp for a really long time. The blade also did not develop any rust or staining during the test period. That despite me cutting some salty Christmas ham where I also forgot to clean the blade afterward at some occasion.

So from what I can tell the steel feels well balanced even though it doesn't feel like it is extremely hard. At least that is the impression you got if you use sharpening rods or strop the blade. 

On this side steel type and Tepe Designs logo can be found

The factory edge was more than decent. It passed the initial tests with ease and it's even and symmetrical. Something that is perhaps more important than sharpness since the latter is a detail that is easier to fix. The knife blade has been given a fairly high flat grind that elegantly merges into the swedge and the flat of the blade.

Otherwise, it can be said that this knife has a rather robust tip that works for most tasks. It is positioned quite high in relation to the handle, almost like a skinning blade. As is often the case with knives from Two Sun, they are not the thinnest behind the edge. They seem to aim more towards durable edges than cutting performance in general. I measured this knife to around 0,5 mm behind the edge.

Handle

Softly rounded, sweeping lines and with an elegant bottom. No, I do not describe a Jaguar E-Type but the handle on the Shockwave. Tepe Designs has managed to make a handle that is stylish, personal and comfortable. 

A handle as comfortable as a well-used couch



The handle is softly rounded and fairly wide. The backspacer 
is made of titanium as well

The material is TC4-titanium which is what Two Sun uses the most. On the surface, you find a finely milled pattern and over it some grooves which both are decorative and adds som traction. To make it a bit more luxurious the handle is anodized to a copper tone. The sides are internally weight relieved and put together with two screws in a backspacer also made out of titanium.  

All types of grips work

The good ergonomics come from the uncomplicated shape, vaulted sides and plenty of space. There is room for all of my fingers and the curvy booty excellently supports the little finger. Possibly the edges could be even a bit more rounded around that area. But that is nitpicking.

The clip that I otherwise do not appreciate is out of the way when working with the knife. Perhaps you can feel a little but it's not bothersome. 

Opening and Lock

Almost every knife produced by Two Sun is flipper operated. There are exceptions, however, and more recently they launched more and more slip joints. What I sometimes miss is a thumb opened knife or two. But since they practiced so much at building flipper knives they are now really good at it in their factory in Yangjiang, China. The flipper mechanism on this one is very well made and the result is really snappy action. It's a result of a crisp detent and good placement of the flipper tab. It should be noted that this is a "light switch" flipper only. If you try to push it nothing will happen.

A flipper tab, a very efficient method of opening in this case



What the hole in the blade is for is more unclear. It fooled me
since it can't be used to open the knife

I earlier hinted that the reason for putting a hole in the blade is diffuse. The only reason I can think of is appearance. The resistance of the detent ball is completely adapted for flipper opening and it is therefore impossible to open the blade with the use of the thumb. It annoys me because it looks and is positioned as if it was supposed to work as an alternative opening method. 

The lock is very secure and sturdy. Perhaps a tad bit difficult
to release

Locks are something else Two Sun is good at. In this case, it is not as luxurious as they can be as they often make the cut out for the lock bar on the inside. Here it is found on the outside. But otherwise, it is very nicely done. The milled grooves on the handle extend all the way over the lock bar and the cut is thin and made with precision. As usual, the knife comes with an elegantly executed combination of overtravel stop and lock bar steel re-inforcement. Both guarantee a long service life.

The function itself is exemplary with one exception. The lock is not entirely easy to release. For the sake of symmetry, there is no recess in the handle-side opposite the lock bar. In return, there are smaller recesses on the inside of the handle to give more room for the thumb. But it is a very sturdy lock up. No blade play in any direction and the sound it makes when engaging is very satisfying.

To Carry

Shockwave is so-so to carry. Not completely hopeless but not the most pocket-friendly either. Not too heavy but no lightweight. The shape is quite rounded as mentioned before but it is quite thick measuring 14 millimeters in that dimension. This is especially noticeable as the width is found at the back of the handle. This is also the highest part with over three centimeters. 

The clip is quite good looking but a bit of a miss anyway

But the most annoying is the clip. It is, simply put, not good. It's a little straight clip of the "sculpted titanium" type. These designs can offer both highs and lows. In this case, I feel it should have been tested a little more in real life and not just in a CAD-program. One of the problems is that the lip is too small for it to be easily passed over the edge of a pocket. The spring tension doesn't impress either, but what really makes things worse is the pattern beneath the clip.

The milled grooves have very distinct edges which makes them look good but they are relatively sharp. In combination with a stiff clip that really rubs hard on fabric and makes it unnecessarily hard to get the knife in place. 

The lip of the clip is small and the edge falls right into the pattern below, 
which is unfortunate

Once in place, quite a bit of the knife is visible, as is often the case with these kinds of clips. Not extremely so in this case but on the other hand, it is the widest part of the handle that shows. The clip itself is otherwise very subtle in appearance.

To Conclude

There are plenty of good things to say about Shockwave. It is as usual from Two Sun a very well built knife. It is also made from really high-quality materials and shows a clear design language. You can see that this is a creation from Tepe Designs. Add to that a very ergonomic handle that is also good looking with that anodized bronze tone.

Shockwave, a stylish knife with its own design language made of excellent materials

But there are a few details and choices I don't fully appreciate. First, the clip is less good. It is a bit carelessly designed with too small a ramp, not enough springiness, and above all with a sharp pattern where it makes contact with the handle. It makes it difficult to pull and put away the knife. It needs an overhaul.

However, the main problem is found elsewhere. I realize that making such a big forward finger choil is a conscious design choice and not a mistake, but it is not one I appreciate for several reasons.

The problem for me is mainly that it is not needed at all because the handle is large enough to accommodate my entire hand anyway. On really small knives it is otherwise as a well-known way of making short handles feel bigger. Another argument that is often emphasized is that it is easier to do detail work with this feature. That would not have been a problem in the first place if you made the edge go all the way to the handle instead of this giant void in the blade.

The consequence is twofold with this solution. For one, you get a very inefficient use of space since the edge length is short compared to the overall length of the knife. Secondly and more important you have to use the finger choil when performing certain tasks, whether you like it or not. With such a crater at the base of the blade most risk getting stuck in there while cutting. Not fun at all when cutting cardboard or fabric for instance.

What happens now is that the knife suffers from the same phenomenon as early Striders. A large knife with a very little edge. I'm simply not a friend of those proportions. 

A Tepe Designs from Two Sun. An alternative for those who appreciate a finger choil

For these reasons, my opinion of this knife is mixed, both good and bad. For those who can ignore the clip and appreciate this type of design with a pronounced forward finger choil, this is a really good knife. After all, the blade cuts well and the handle is extremely comfortable. Everything is pretty well done in top materials so no negatives in that department. It is also an elaborated knife. For example, Two Sun has chosen to make the side vaulted, they are well chamfered and fitted with two different mill patterns as well as bronze anodization.

It's also a good looking knife having harmonious lines and a look of its own. The price of this knife is around 120$ but the price can vary if you buy it at auctions, of course.

Specification:

Length, Overall: 183 mm

Length, Folded: 110 mm

Weight: 134 g

Blade Length: 67 mm

Blade Thickness: 4 mm

Blade Steel: Böhler/Uddeholm M390

Handle: TC4-titanium

Lock: titanium frame lock with overtravel stop and lock bar re-inforcement

Produced by: Two Sun, made in China

/ J - barely missed by a Shockwave

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Knivrecension Two Sun Shockwave

-  både ris och ros

Two Sun är ett märke som inte förnekar sig när det kommer till produktionstakt. Vid något tillfälle sade jag att man skall  hålla koll på deras sifferbeteckningar. De har nu passerat tvåhundra med rask fart kan jag meddela. Vad de också gör är att alltmer bredda sitt utbud genom samarbeten med olika internationella knivdesigners. På senare tid har de även börjat marknadsföras på fler ställen än enbart kinesiska säljsidor och via sina butiker på eBay. Nu kan man även beställa dem via Amazon eller hos Whitemountainknives för den som föredrar det. Det återstår att se när de får en europeisk representant. 

Idag skall vi kika på en kniv som inte är det absolut senaste från dem men ändå tämligen aktuell,  ett samarbete med en amerikansk designer som fått beteckning TS134.  

Two Sun TS134 Shockwave

I och med den här kniven fortsätter Tepe Designs, även känd som Shan Hassan, med sitt samarbete med Two Sun. Det första mötet dem emellan resulterade i modellen TS128 Dynamo som jag tidigare recenserat. Därefter har det rullat på och de senaste alstren är cigarrsnopparkniven TS179 Perfecto och TS180 Vortex.

Men mitt emellan dem kom den här kniven kallad Shockwave som vi nu skall granska närmare.  

En stilren best med mycket bekvämt handtag

Twitterversion: Two Sun Shockwave, en kniv för den som gillar sina "forward choils"

Blad

Bladformen i sig är inte extraordinär. Men utförandet bjuder på detaljer som gör det rätt unikt ändå. I grund och botten är den en drop point som mäter 7,6 centimeter på längden och är 2,85 cm högt. Inga extrema proportioner. Mer uttalat är grovleken som bjuder på hela 4 mm. Och mer extremt är den fördjupning/forward choil som återfinns vid bladbasen som är rejält uttalat i relation till övriga mått.

Bladet har dessutom en falskegg och bladet har av oklar anledning försetts med ett avlångt hål. Andra egenskaper hos bladet som får det att avvika en smula från det gängse är att ryggen är nästan rak vilket ger en markant buk. På samma vis som kan återfinnas på exmpelvis ett flertal knivar designade av Jesper Voxnaes. 

Bladformen är en droppoint med en rejäl buk och en falskegg. Ja, och en enorm fördjupning för pekfingret

Stålet är av toppkvalité i form av M390 från Böhler/Uddeholm. Jag har någon erfarenhet av Two Suns utförande av det här stålet sen tidigare men det var från en så liten kniv så där märks inte fördelarna med ett så exklusivt stål.

I det här fallet innebär det att kniven håller skärpan riktigt bra. Bladet har inte heller utvecklat någon rost eller fläckar under testtiden trots en del skärande av julskinka där jag även glömt att rengöra kniven vid några tillfällen. Så av vad jag kan bedöma känns stålet välbalanserat även om det inte känns som om hårdhetsgraden skrämts upp till extrema höjder. Det är i alla fall intrycket när man stålar eller striglar kniven. 

Här syns stålbeteckning och Tepe Designs logotyp

Fabrikseggen får helt klart godkänt. Inledande test klarade den galant och den är även jämn både i höjd- och sidled. Något som kanske är viktigare än skärpan faktiskt då det är en detalj som är lättare att åtgärda. Bladet har fått en relativt hög flatslipning vars övergångsfas mot den flata ytan vinklats i relation till ryggen så att den i främre delen av bladet går ihop med falskeggen.

Annars kan sägas att den här kniven har en mycket robust spets som fungerar till det mesta men är rätt högt belägen i relation till handtaget, nästan som på ett flåblad. Som ofta är fallet med knivar från Two Sun är de inte de tunnaste bakom eggen. De tycks satsa mer på hållbara eggar än prestanda. På Shockwave mäter 0,5 mm ovanför primäreggen. 

Handtag

Mjukt rundad, svepande linjer och med en elegant ändalykt. Nä, jag beskriver inte en Jagurar E-type utan handtaget på Shockwave. Tepe Designs har lyckats få till ett handtag som är både snyggt, personligt och bekvämt. 

Ett handtag lika bekvämt som en insutten soffa



Handtaget är mjukt rundat och tämligen brett. I ryggen hitttas en 
backspacer i titan

Materialet är TC4-titan vilket är det Two Sun jobbar mest med. I titanet hittas ett finrandigt mönster och över det har det frästs spår som både är dekorativa och ger ökad friktion. För att lyxa till det har materialet anodiserats lätt med en kopparfärgad ton. Sidorna är lättade invändigt och skruvad med två skruvar i en backspacer som även den är gjord i titan.  

Alla grepp fungerar

Den goda ergonomin kommer sig av enkel form, välvda sidor och gott om utrymme. Hela min hand ryms och den svällande rumpan fyller handen och stöder lillfingret på ett förträffligt vis. Möjligen kunde kanterna rundats ännu lite mer där det fingret befinner sig. Clipet som jag annars inte uppskattar är inte i vägen det minsta vid arbete med kniven. Eller jo, lite känns det men inte så att det stör. På något vis känns den här kniven som en mer rundad Strider om ni förstår vad jag menar. 

Öppning och lås

Nästan alla knivar från Two Sun öppnas med en flipperfena. Undantag finns dock och på senare tid har de lanserat allt fler slipjoints. Vad jag ibland saknar är någon som öppnas med tumknopp. Men eftersom man övat så mycket på flippers är man nu riktigt bra på det. Mekanismen på den här kniven är riktigt snärtig vilket resulterar i hög fart och ett maffigt ljud. Det är resultatet av en mycket krispig detent-kula och en bra placerad flipperfena. Det bör påpekas att den bara kan användas på ett sätt och det är genom att dra den bakåt. Försöker du pressa nedåt händer inget.

Flipperfenan ger en mycket effektiv öppningsmetod i det här fallet



Vad hålet i bladet är till för är mer oklart. Det lurade mig
eftersom det inte kan användas till att öppna kniven

Jag antydde tidigare att orsaken till att det finns ett hål i bladet är diffus. Den enda anledningen jag kan se är kosmetisk. Motståndet från detentkulan är nämligen helt anpassad för flipperöppning varpå det är omöjligt att fälla ut bladet med tummen. Det retar mig något eftersom det ser ut som och är placerat som om det vore ett alternativt sätt att öppna kniven. Måhända gäller det bara det här exemplaret. 

Låset är mycket bra och stabilt. Kanske något svårt 
att komma åt att släppa

Lås är något annat Two Sun är bra på. Här är det inte så lyxigt som de kan vara då de ofta tunnar ut låsarmen på insidan istället för som här på utsidan. Men i övrigt är det mycket snyggt utfört. Mönstret på handtaget sträcker sig hela vägen över låsarmen och skarven är tunn och utförd med precision. Som vanligt bjuds vi på en elegant utförd kombination av låsarmsförstärkning och översträcknings-skydd. Båda borgar för lång livslängd hos kniven.

Själva funktionen är exemplarisk med ett undantag. Det är att det inte är helt lätt att släppa. Av utseendeskäl finns ingen fördjupning på motstående titansida. I gengäld finns mindre försänkningar på insidan för att ge något mer utrymme för tummen. Men låser gör det resolut med ett tillfredsställande ljud, säkert och effektivt. Något spel är det inte tal om vare sig vertikalt eller horistontellt. 

Att bära

Shockwave är lite mellanmjölk att bära. Inte helt usel men sannerligen ingen höjdare heller. Inte alltför tung men å andra sidan ingen lättviktare. Formerna är som sagt rundade men den är tämligen tjock med sina 14 mm. Det märks särskilt väl eftersom den bredden hittas i bakänden på handtaget där även handtaget är som högst med över tre centimeter. 

Clipet är relativt snyggt men ändå lite av ett sorgebarn

Sorgebarnet är emellertid clipet. Det är helt enkelt inte bra. Det är ett litet rakt clip av typen "skulpterad titan". Den sortens utförande kan bjuda på både högt och lågt. I det här fallet hade det behövt testats mer i verkligheten och mindre i ett CAD-program. Det är nämligen försett med en läpp som är underdimensionerad för att clipet med enkelhet skall kunna föras över kanten på en ficka. Spänsten imponerar inte heller men det som verkligen ställer till det är mönstret under. De frästa spåren har mycket distinkta kanter vilket är bra ur utseendesynpunkt men det gör dem också relativt vassa. I kombination med ett styvt clip gnager det hårt på tyg och gör det onödigt svårt att få kniven på plats. 

Läppen på clipet är liten och kanten hamnar precis i mönsterfårorna
vilket är olyckligt

Väl på plats i fickan syns en del av kniven som ofta är fallet med den här sortens clip. Egentligen inte extremt mycket men i gengäld är det den bredaste delen på handtaget som sticker upp. Själva clipet är annars mycket diskret till utseendet. 

Sammanfattningsvis

Mycket är bra med Shockwave men det finns några moln som skuggar de två solarna. Det är som oftast från Two Sun en välbyggd kniv. Den är dessutom gjord i riktigt högkvalitativa material och har ett tydligt formspråk. Tepe Designs kan kännas igen i linjerna. Lägg därtill ett bekvämt handtag som dessutom är snyggt med sin anodiserade lätta bronston.

Shockwave, en stilren kniv med eget formspråk gjord i idel toppmaterial

Men det finns också detaljer och val jag inte helt uppskattar. För det första är clipet mindre bra. Det är slarvigt designat med för liten ramp, för dålig spänst och framförallt med ett skarpt mönster där det möter handtaget vilket gör det svårt att dra och stoppa undan kniven. Clipet skulle behöva en översyn.

Huvudproblemet återfinns dock på annat håll. Jag inser att göra ett så här stort "forward choil" är ett medvetet designval och inte ett misstag men det är inte ett jag uppskattar av flera skäl.

Problemet för mig är främst att det inte behövs eftersom handtaget är stort nog för att rymma hela handen ändå. På riktigt små knivar är det annars ett sätt att trolla med handtagsstorleken.* Ett annat argument som brukar framhållas är att det är lättare att "smyga fram" på bladet vid detaljarbete. På Shockwave hade inte varit något problem att hantera småjobb om man istället dragit eggen närmare handtaget.

Konsekvensen blir tvåfaldig med den här lösningen: man får ett ineffektivt utnyttjande av kniven då eggländen är kort i relation till storleken och man måste använda fingerurtaget till vissa uppgifter vare sig man vill eller ej. Med en så stor krater i början av bladet riskerar annars det mesta att fastna där när man skall skära något. Det är inte roligt när man arbetar i vare sig kartong eller tyg till exempel.

Vad som nu händer är att hela kniven lider av samma fenomen som tidiga Strider. En stor kniv med mycket liten egg. Jag är helt enkelt ingen vän av det förfarandet. Särskilt som det även gör kniven något baktung.

En Tepe Design från Two Sun. Ett alternativ för den som gillar sina "forward finger choils"

Av de orsakerna blir mitt omdöme om den här kniven blandat, både ris och ros. För den som kan bortse från clipet och uppskattar den här typen av konstruktion med ett tydligt "forward finger choil" är det här en riktigt bra kniv. Bladet skär trots allt mycket bra och handtaget är synnerligen bekvämt. Allt är väl utfört i toppmaterial så där finns inte mycket negativt att invända. Det är också en mycket arbetad kniv. Som exempel kan nämnas att Two Sun valt att göra sidorna välvda, de är väl fasade och försedda med två olika mönster samt bronsanodisering.

Sen är det här en snygg kniv på så vis att linjerna är harmoniska och modellen har ett eget utseende. Riktpriset på skönheten ligger kring 120$ men priset varierar om man jagar dem på auktioner. 

Specifikation:

Längd utfälld: 183 mm

Längd hopfälld: 110 mm

Vikt: 134 g

Bladlängd: 76 mm

Godstjocklek: 4 mm

Bladstål: Böhler/Uddeholm M390

Handtag: TC4-titan

Lås: ramlås i titan

Producerad av: Two Sun, tillverkad i Kina

/ J - träffad av en shockvåg

* Exempel på det är knivar som Spyderco Dragonfly, Cold Steel Tuff Lite och CRKT Pilar. 

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Ny kniv - Two Sun Shockwave

Alla månader borde börja med en kniv! Åtminstone alla som börjar på N. Det behövs något som lyser upp i det massiva mörker som råder för stunden. Tack och lov är det mörkare ute än i sinne vilket alltid är att föredra.

Kniven som anlände var den här. En kniv från kinesiska Two Sun kallad "Shockwave". Kniven är ett samarbete mellan dem och Tepe Designs som gjort knivar åt dem förut med lyckat resultat. Så jag har goda förhoppningar om den här också. 

Two Sun TS134 Shockwave

Det första intrycket är att det är synnerligen välbyggd, till och med för att vara en Two Sun. Den rundade rumpan vägs upp av att den är lättad invändigt. Trots det är den tung i gumpen. Det beror mest på hur bladet är utformat. Det lider av "Strider-proportioner", det vill säga lite egg i relation till totallängd. Förutom det bidrar det till hur kniven balanseras förstås. 

Den här kniven kommer därför att föranleda ett senare inlägg om "forward choils" vara eller icke vara känner jag. 

/ J - vid gott mod trots mörkret

Knife review Two Sun TS128 Dynamo

- the competition better watch out

This knife is a splendid example of how Two Sun steadily expands and broaden their catalog. The basics are easily recognizable since it is a flipper knife with a frame lock in titanium and a blade that runs on bearings. Nothing out of the ordinary so far, not to the market nor to Two Suns production. But besides that, this knife isn't that typical for them. The blade steel is neither their go to D2 nor the luxury choice M390 and the presentation side of this knife is made of carbon fiber instead of the much more common titanium or simpler G10. For sure they have made some models in this material before but they are not many. 

The knife in question and today's focus has got number 128 and is named "Dynamo".

Two Sun TS128 "Dynamo"

Besides using some materials outside their box Two Sun also looked elsewhere for the design. Most of the models are from the minds of either "Night Morning Design" or "Wong Design". But the Dynamo is the result of a cooperation with Tepe Designs. 

Not the usual suspects when it comes to materials

Twitter version: A small but powerful Dynamo in the solar power plant

Blade

The blade shape is something as unusual as what in knife nomenclature is described as "straight". It's not a drop point but the back of this blade lacks curvature. That results in a lot of belly to work with despite being a small blade. The drawback of this type of shape is that the tip ends up rather high in relation to the handle. And the tip isn't as....eh....eh pointy! You basically end up with a very small skinning blade. Good for sweeping cuts and less focused on penetration. That is the theory anyhow.

The spine of the blade is completely straight which gives a lot of belly for a small blade

As mentioned above Two Sun has chosen to depart from their most commonly used steels. Normally they stick to D2 in the simpler knives and Böhler/Uddeholms M390 in their more exclusive offerings. But with this knife they opted for another "super steel" and that is Crucibles advanced powder steel S90V. That is a steel with a solid reputation in the knife community but is actually new to me.

From that steel, they crafted a blade that measures 63 mm in length. The blade is 22 mm high and 3,5 mm thick. The grind is almost totally flat. The factory edge was by the way rather good, really sharp, even and symmetrical. On this knife, the maker has also got the heel right. The sharpening choil extends outside the plunge-line.

Besides going for somewhat unusual steel they also highlighted this by using a dark tumbled finish instead of their normal polished satin. It gives the blade a darker grayish look. To match the simplicity of the rest of the design they have also shrunk the logo which is hardly visible on this blade. On the opposite side, you find Tepe Designs wings in the same small format. All in all a very nice looking blade.

The knife had a good factory edge and here I managed to nick it

This little blade is a joy to work with. So much so that I even found myself whittling some smaller stuff with it. The blade shape combined with the edge close to the handle gives good control and also power when cutting into harder stuff like wood. But of course, such a short and small handle don't give enough leverage to really push hard. But that ain't what small folders are for anyway so I just consider it a bonus that you are able to.

In less demanding more "EDC"-like materials like thick paper, cardboard and plastics there are no problems at all. The relative thin blade stock paired with a good edge geometry (the blade measures ?? behind the edge) makes for a good cutter that makes these kinds of tasks a breeze. The same can be said about harder plastics, zip-ties and the like. But of course, sometimes you can't help noticing that Dynamo is a small knife with a short blade. Where a slightly bigger knife could have done with one cut you have to make two.

Penetration is decent. The tip isn't acute and not centered in relation to the handle but sharp enough and you can get some power behind by putting the rounded back end of the handle in your palm and then push.

Handle

This knife is a typical example of how it looks when a folding knife has a distinct presentation side and a back/lock side. In general, I'm not too keen on that solution. Personally, I much prefer when both sides kind of remind of each other. But in this case, the combination works unusually well. Probably because the designer gave it some thought and added some details that make the two sides look more cohesive. Things that enhance that impression is the chamfering which is the same on both sides and the two attachment points of this knife. The screws are through bolts which of course makes for the same position for the screw heads on both sides. That gives the knife a more harmonic appearance despite different materials and colors.

A "candy bar handle". It almost always works 

What defines this knife is simplicity. Paradoxically that is not always easy to accomplish when it comes to making folding knives. In this case that has been done by just using two attachment points for the entire knife. One pivot screw and one bolt at the back of the handle. The latter is a through-bolt and acts as an anchor point both for the titanium back spacer and the clip. A smart solution that allows for only three screws in total for the entire knife if you count the one holding the lock bar reinforcement.

This kind of construction requires high precision in a knife build. That also makes for a knife that is very easy to disassemble and more importantly re-assemble again. The screw heads are standard T8s and deep enough to not become round when adjusting your knife.

The materials are TC4 titanium for the lock side and the presentation side is made out of one piece of massive carbon fiber. The CF is characterized by very high quality totally free of voids. At least on this specimen. Actually, among the better carbon fiber, I've seen in parity with models from more well-known makers as Fox TUR or Spyderco Kapara. 

With the fingers behind the flipper tab, this becomes
a three finger knife



But a finger can easily be placed over the flipper
and then there is room for the entire hand



With a full grip, it's possible to put some force behind
the cuts despite Dynamo being a small knife

The shape of the handle is kept simple too. It is a "candy bar"-type but with a waist. If you place your index finger behind the flipper tab Dynamo becomes a "three finger knife" and a capable one at that. But a quirky detail can be found in the shape of the flipper tab, something I will discuss later. But it's so rounded that you can put a finger on top of it. If so it provides increased traction and as a bonus, you get more space for your hand. Enough to accommodate all four fingers. The usable space including the flipper tab is 9 cm and without a tad under 7,5 cm. A phenomenon that is very common on flipper knives. Traditional flipper fins are space thieves.

Once you figured that out all grips works just fine due to the basic shape. This becomes especially obvious since the edge is kept close to the handle which combined with the shape and grind of the blade makes it possible to put some force behind the cuts given the modest format. The Dynamo is a good cutter.

I'm not that fond of one thing however and that is how close the edge is to the back of the handle when the knife is closed. There ain't much space between the very sharp edge and the semi-open back of the handle. I suspect that slimmer fingertips than mine can be nicked if not careful.

Opening and lock

The opening method is hardly unique since Dynamo is what is often called a "TFF" - Titanium Frame lock Flipper among others in that regard. But the shape of the flipper tab itself is all the more different and therefore interesting. It is almost completely rounded and forms a semicircle. This shape gives a couple of advantages but also some limitation. The latter is mostly that you can't use the "push button method" but have to pull back on the flipper tab to activate the blade. But when you do there is nothing wrong with the speed of this knife. It might not be the fastest on the market but good enough. The notches on the flipper tab give ample traction so there is no imminent risk of slipping. The rounded shape is also nice to your fingertip.

A rather friendly flipper fin, especially when the knife is pocketed

Then it was the benefits that this shape provides. The first is noticed when the knife is resting in a pocket. Since the knife lacks that proud and aggressively protruding flipper fin most folders of this type have it is very amicable and friendly. The rounded look also harmonizes with the shape of the handle.

The second advantage this shape gives is discovered once you get to hold and use the knife. Instead of stealing space needed for the hand you can, as mentioned before, hold Dynamo with a finger on top of the flipper tab. This makes for a sturdy hammer grip and a good saber grip.

A minor detail that was a bit annoying initially was that the power of the blade combined with how the knife is constructed made the pivot unscrew itself rather promptly and repeatedly. This gave rise to a bit of sideways blade play. However, this was effectively put to an end by a small drop of thread locking.

A sturdy lock with no remarks

If the flipper tab was a bit deviant, the lock is all the more streamlined. It is a frame lock in titanium with the almost mandatory additions of a replaceable lock bar insert in steel and an overtravel stop. I don't mind the lock being standardized since Two Sun both on this model and most others have succeeded both with the looks and the function of their locks. Simply put, they know how to make a proper frame lock by now.

I don't always find an overtravel stop necessary but in this case and with other similar sized knives they fulfill a function. Without it, the diminutive format actually makes it possible to bend the lock bar out of shape if you are careless when closing the knife

And speaking of closing knives, doing so with the Dynamo isn't impossible but not the most pleasant experience either. In order to keep the overall lines of this knife intact, there is nothing done to facilitate easier access to the lock bar. Instead, you have to fiddle with the soft parts of your thumb and get it into the frame and push in a forty-five-degree angle outwards and away to release the blade. The procedure is somewhat eased by the lock bar not being so strong. But it could be easier for sure.

In all other aspects, the lock is doing exactly what is supposed to. It never fails to engage, it locks with at a sturdy 50 percent, doesn't slip or slide during use and have no play in any direction. The function itself is thereby flawless.

The ball bearings make the blade fall into place rather nicely but initially, the knife felt kind of gritty. Both the bearings and the detent ball needed cleaning and some proper oil. Some wear and usage also contributed to "tame" the knife. The action is getting smoother and smoother. I suspect that it is the detent ball against the blade that needs some breaking in.

To carry

Dynamo weighs in at 80 grams which is light. Add to that modest dimensions with a handle under four inches that is all rounded corners and smooth surfaces and you got a really discreet pocket carry. The knife is hardly noted where it sits.

The clip is both good looking and almost invisible in hand. It is also totally hopeless

As excellent as the knife feels in the pocket as hard it is to get there. I have heard others say that Two Sun mixes highs and lows when it comes to clips. In general, I think they are doing better than average even with their sculpted titanium clip or rather especially with them. It is one of the spring clips I really dislike. But this is certainly not the case here.

The clip is good looking alright. It fits the knife's theme with its chamfered edges and centered placement. And the size I don't recognize as a drawback per se, especially since that means it's very discreet when using the knife. No hot spots here. But the tiny format brings some severe limitations as well.

One is that the lip that is supposed to glide over the edges of fabrics is very tight and that goes for the space below the clip as well. Luckily it has been mostly warm weather around here during the testing period which means cargo shorts and the like for me. But even those rather thin materials is a challenge for this little clip.

Once the knife is in place the clip works just fine. 
To get it there is a struggle though

Most of the time you have to use two hands and coax the knife sideways and thus get the clip over the fabric. Not satisfying at all. Sure, you can get the knife into jeans pockets as well but it takes some effort.

For the same reasons, this knife is not easy to get out of the pocket. The clip wants to linger at the edge of the pocket and calls for a little jerk to free it. This has lead to that I most often carry the knife lose in a pocket instead. But I strongly suspect that is not the idea behind the clip.

To conclude

Two Sun is a company with a very high production rate and they do experiment a lot with blade types and handle shapes. Lately, they also added more slip joints to their catalog. Since before Two Sun have some very advanced knives put together without screws and also integrals in their line-up. They also continue to mix sizes which I really like. Partly because not all knives have to be huge and partly it better matches different jurisdictions around the world.

With Dynamo they have taken another step towards a more diverse catalog. More designers are involved and new steel types are added. We welcome Tepe Designs and CPM S90V to the family. 

A small but hot knife from Tepe Designs and Two Sun

Two Sun has done a rather good job with the steel from what I experienced so far. It keeps its sharpness for a long time which suggests that hardening and heat treatment are done correctly. But I want to emphasize that I'm no expert in steels**. I look at them from a pure user- and a practical perspective. That is daily use (EDC), camping and other outdoor activities. I don't do specific steel tests in order to test their limits.

Everything is not sunshine even with Two Suns around though. There are some small details that could be better. The bearings needed some cleaning and breaking in in order to work smoothly and the lock bar could be more accessible. But mostly the negative critique I have is aiming at the clip. It isn't good. There is no polite way to say it. It is the epitome of bad sculpted titanium clips. The short version is that it's very good looking but not properly functioning. Another detail that could be improved is how deep the blade sits in the handle. The distance between the sharpened edge and the partly open back is too small and thin fingers can touch the blade. Not very likely but possible.

Except for that, the Dynamo is a very pleasant acquaintance. I really like the looks that are clean and consistent with nice harmony between the blade and handle. In general I prefer satin finished blades but in this case, it's nice with some variety.

Less is more they say and that certainly goes for this model. The elements of decoration are sparse and the labeling discreet which contributes to an air of elegance. Some extra flare is instead added through the use of high-class materials. The carbon fiber has a nice deep shine to it and is well shaped and finished.

Dynamo, a flipper knife for the carbon fiber connaisseur

The materials also reflect on how the knife feels and behaves. This little knife actually begs for some work. You can even do some carving without the Dynamo making a fool of itself even if it is, of course, against the EDC-segment it is targeted. The candy bar of a handle functions well despite being modest.

I have noticed recently that the prices on Two Suns main sales channel, auctions on eBay, are steadily on the rise. It's not only me that appreciate this brand it seems. If you don't like bidding and waiting you can buy them at fixed prices on Amazon*** and on some Chinese web sites.

Dynamo from Two Sun is a knife I recommend for those who like modern "TFF"-knives in top-notch materials but won't or can't pay a fortune for them. What you get besides super steel, carbon fiber and titanium is very clean aesthetics and really good function. When it comes to everything but the clip that is. 

Specifications:

Length overall: 6,1" (155 mm)

Length folded: 3,6" (91 mm)

Weight: 80 g

Blade length: 2,5" (63,5 mm)

Blade thickness: 3,5 mm

Blade Steel: CPM S90V

Handle: Kolfiber/TC4-titan

Lock: Frame lock with overtravel stop and steel insert 

Produced by: Two Sun, made in China

/ J -testing a little power plant


* The steels used by Two Sun have been tested both for composition and hardness and they deliver what is promised. 
** When it comes to "hardcore" steel testing there are entire YouTube-channels and Instagram accounts that are wholeheartedly devoted to this mission. 
*** Found on Amazon for 145$ when I wrote this. 

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre