Review SRM Twin

  

-  A real light heavyweight

Who doesn't love a dagger? Or at least the elegant aesthetics that come with that blade shape. It's something that SRM has taken note of in this model called Twin. A knife that is characterised by the slender symmetrical shape, which is the epitome of the knife type.

However, this is not a large fixed-blade knife, but a small knife intended for EDC use, a pure pocket knife, quite simply.

SRM 251 Twin

The SRM 251MB Twin is currently available in four versions. The blade steel is the same regardless of which one you choose, but the handle material and, therefore, the appearance differ. To choose from, there is G10 available in either a white or multi-coloured appearance, or as seen here, with a carbon fibre surface. The alternative is otherwise a brown Micarta. Depending on the chosen handle, the blade is either covered with a grey or black coating or sandblasted.

Twin, a very elegant and symmetrical knife

Short version: SRM Twin, A small, lightweight pocket knife for those who appreciate symmetry and hidden opening methods!

Blade

This entire knife is built around symmetry, and this is reflected in both the handle and the blade. Consequently, a dagger blade is found here. However, it is only sharpened on one side. But since the entire blade disappears into the handle when the knife is closed, you could theoretically double-sharpen the knife.

The length of the blade is 76 mm, and the width is at most 22 mm. But the shape means that immediately after the ricasso, it begins to taper towards the tip. Then the blade is made even lighter and possibly stronger by having a fuller that runs along the middle of the blade.

The thickness of the stock is 2.5 mm, and it tapers via a secondary edge of 9 mm to a thickness of a measly 0.2 mm behind the edge. The factory edge was also very sharp, it can be said. These two details are how to make a blade of this type a decent cutter. 

The dagger blade is single-edged with a grey surface and a fuller along the middle.

The steel used is Böhler N690. A well-known steel with properties that tend towards the middle when it comes to "budget steel". I put it in parentheses as it is certainly debatable what it is and what it means. Especially if it is contrasted with perhaps more important properties such as blade and edge geometry, hardening and heat treatment.

But it is stainless steel that is excellent for small folding knives. Here, the stainless properties have been reinforced by a surface layer of titanium. Perhaps more for appearance than anything else. 

The marking on this blade is worth a comment. There is a lot of information on the blade, but it is so cleverly hidden that it is barely distinguishable. On the presentation side, you can find SRM's logo, but in a small format and a colour scheme that makes it barely visible. Then they have hidden everything from the serial number, model designation and steel type on the other side in a size that requires a magnifying glass to read. It is found in the blade notch and on the ricasso.

The steel used is N690

Once put into use, the Twin is an excellent pocket knife. It cuts really well, and the blade is, as I said, not too thick, and the edge is sharp. Excellent for EDC use, in other words. But what is the crazy person saying, you might be wondering? A small dagger blade can't be very useful, right? In fact, it is if you use the knife for what small pocket knives have always been used for: small tasks. I wouldn't force this knife into a role it wasn't intended for. It's hardly an outdoor knife or hunting knife, so butchering moose or building a shelter outdoors is, of course, not its strength. 

On the other hand, the Twin is an excellent knife for opening things, the small, quick cuts needed to get into boxes and packaging, removing tape, cutting nylon straps, etc. Then, it is also good for precision work, especially with that tip. So if you've got some debris in your hand that needs to be removed, this is as close to a scalpel as you get.

Handle

Cigar, that's all I have to say about the handle. Or maybe not really everything. But the handle on the Twin has a typical cigar shape. Completely symmetrical, which reflects the blade with a narrower front end and a narrower back end. Both ends are also strongly rounded, which not only gives a softer impression, but also feels that way in the hand.

The handle is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to hold

The construction consists of two halves of steel that make up the frame itself. The side panels are recessed into them. The knife is held together by only two screws. A screw at the back of the handle and the pivot screw itself, which is adjustable. Or, well, it would be if it weren't soaked in threadlocking. I have to admit, it won. I came very close to tearing the threads when I tried.

In this version, the frame has the same grey colour as the blade. This makes me suspect that the same titanium coating was used for both, but I'm not entirely sure on that point.

The two halves of the handle are visible, which suggests an integral construction, even if it's not

This version features sides made of a G10 laminate with a carbon fibre surface. The surface is not only well polished but also elegantly curved. There is not a single flat surface on this knife. It not only looks luxurious, it feels so too. It is obvious that some effort has been put into the design. Sometimes simplicity is a virtue.

Det finns en anledning till att den här formen var vanlig på äldre knivtyper, den fungerar i alla grepp!

In fact, the Twin works great in every grip you can think of. This applies regardless of whether you prefer a more powerful hammer grip or one more intended for finesse. But the same approach when it comes to the area of ​​use returns here. Twin is a small and neat pocket knife with the limitations that this entails. If you have large hands and want something solid to hold, this is not the knife for you. Similarly, the knife lacks finger protection, so I also do not recommend that you stab with the knife.

The length of the handle is 102 mm, and the thickness is 12 mm. The advantage of a hidden flipper and this overall shape, however, is that every millimetre of the handle can be used; nothing is wasted.

Opening and Lock

SRM rightly makes a point of equipping the Twin with what they call an "invisible flipper". It's true. Unless you have the knife in your hand or read the description of it, it's hard to tell that this is a front flipper knife. One that works damn well, too.

The entire base of the blade is equipped with jimpings that provide excellent grip for a finger that is pulled over the front of the blade. You don't have to aim or pre-tension your finger, as is sometimes the case with other types of flipper tabs. Just pull your finger, and the blade flashes out.

Twin offers one of the most discreet flipper features I've encountered

In addition to good grip and geometry, the process is aided by a light blade and ceramic ball bearings. The Twin is both easy and quick to open.

And as with all knives with this type of lock, it can, of course, be used to open the knife. Simply pull the locking bolt back, and the blade will swing freely and can be flicked both in and out. The fact is that you have to consciously reduce the speed on the way in, otherwise the blade will bounce back out.

The lock called "Ambi lock" is SRM's extremely well-executed interpretation of a cross-bar lock.

SRM calls their version of the Crossbar Lock the Ambi Lock. It's a technique they've mastered from the start, and the Twin is no exception. The lock is reliable, as it always locks and holds the blade in place with authority. There's no movement in the blade that you can feel.

However, I'm not entirely thrilled with the fact that the pivot screw is so tight that if I needed to adjust the blade, it's currently impossible. 

To Carry

Sometimes I write "it doesn't get much better than this" when it comes to certain aspects of knives. That's something that definitely applies to how the Twin is to carry. The external attributes are there with a length of almost exactly one decimeter. To that should be added, however, that it is a very rounded decimeter. The ends are softly shaped, and the sides are arched.

This means that the maximum thickness of the handle is only found in the middle. At the edges, the handle is only 9 mm thick. Then it is even better with a modest weight of only 70 grams.

Furthermore, the surface of the handle is very soft and does not contribute to any friction that can irritate either a hand on the way down to the pocket or tear the fabric.

But even more notable is the absence of anything that protrudes. As you can see, there is nothing that can be in the way. Then the package is completed with a well-functioning clip.

I like this variant of a wire clip

Twin has a black wire clip that matches the appearance of the knife well. The fact that SRM chose this type gives a lighter and airier impression than a more massive clip would have made, so it is a choice I think is correct. The function of the clip is very good. The spring works, and the ramp that is there comes over most fabric edges. Especially since the material underneath does not provide any friction to speak of. This makes Twin easy to pull and put away. And since it weighs as little as it does, it is basically completely unnoticeable where it is located.

The only disadvantage is that the clip cannot be moved to the left side. But after trying to carry the knife on the left side, it can be concluded that since the model itself is completely symmetrical, you can just pull the knife, twist it in your hand and open it with your left hand as well. No major problems, therefore.

Another advantage of the clip is that it does not interfere when cutting with the knife. On the contrary, it helps when opening and closing the knife, as you can rest your fingers against it for a better grip.

To Conclude

It can be said straight away that, in my opinion, this is one of the best-looking knives SRM has put together. Twin not only has that very dagger-like appearance, but it is also very well made. All quality markers can be checked off. The blade is centred, the factory edge is sharp and symmetrical, the opening is soft and nimble and so on. But what stands out the most is probably the details in the seemingly very simple handle.

It's about things like how they chose to keep the colour scheme consistent with the frame, blade and screws. How the marking is tasteful and discreet, but not least about how they rounded and bevelled all edges. The entire knife is as soft to hold as it looks in the picture.

Twin, a slim little dagger for your pocket that is surprisingly practical

The fact that it is comfortable to grip is followed by the fact that it is pleasant to work with. The knife is well-balanced, which reinforces that it is light. The blade is surprisingly practical given the frames I mentioned earlier. As you can see, it is not a survival knife. But for all sorts of smaller tasks, it is excellent.

SRM Twin is a real jewel in your pocket

The SRM Twin is therefore a pretty good knife for those who like this type of aesthetic but who at the same time want something that, despite its sleek appearance and neat format, is quite practical.

In addition, the Twin is not expensive; currently, the recommended price on the website is $79.95, which is about the same amount in Europe, albeit in Euros.

SRM Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 178 mm

Length Folded: 102 mm

Weight: 70 g (weighed by me, stated 70 g)

Blade Length: 76 mm

Blade Thickness: 2,5 mm

Blade Steel: Böhler N690

Handle : G10/carbon fiber

Lock: Ambi Lock/ Cross Bar Lock

Produced by: SRM, made in China

/ J - looking for twins

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Recension SRM Twin

 

-  En riktigt lätt tungviktare

Vem älskar inte en dolk? Eller åtminstone den eleganta estetik som följer med den bladformen. Det är något som SRM tagit fasta på i den här modellen kallad Twin. En kniv som just kännetecknas av den slanka symmetriska form som är sinnebilden av knivtypen. 

Här är det dock inte en stor fastbladad kniv det handlar om utan en liten kniv avsedd för EDC-bruk, en ren fickkniv helt enkelt.

SRM 251 Twin

SRM 251MB Twin finns för närvarande i fyra versioner. Bladstålet är detsamma oavsett vilken du väljer men handtagsmaterialet och därmed utseendet skiljer sig åt. Att välja mellan finns G10 antingen i vitt eller mångfärgat utseende eller som här med en yta av kolfiber. Alternativet är annars en brun Micarta. Beroende på vilket handtag som väljs är bladet antingen täckt med en grå alternativt svart coating eller blästrat. 

Twin, en mycket elegant och tillika symmetrisk kniv

Kortversion: SRM Twin, en liten lätt fickniv för den som uppskattar symmetri och dolda öppningsmetoder!

Blad

Hela den här kniven är byggd kring symmetri och det avspeglas i såväl handtag som blad. Följaktligen hittas här ett dolkblad. Det är dock endast är slipat på en sida. Men då hela bladet försvinner i handtaget när kniven är hopfälld skulle man teoretiskt kunna dubbelslipa kniven. 

Längden på bladet är 76 mm och bredden som mest 22 mm. Men formen gör att det omedelbart efter ricasson börjar smalna av mot spetsen. Sedan görs bladet ännu lättare och kanske möjligen starkare genom att man har en fuller som löper längs  med bladets mitt. 

Tjockleken på godset är 2,5 mm och det smalnar via en sekundäregg på 9 mm av till en tjocklek på ynka 0,2 mm bakom eggen. Fabrikseggen var därtill mycket vass kan sägas. De två detaljerna är hur man får till ett blad av den här typen som ändå duger till att skära med. 

Dolkbladet är enkelslipat med en grå yta och en fuller längs med mitten

Stålet som använts är Böhler N690. Ett välkänt stål med egenskaper som drar mot mitten när det handlar om "budgetstål". Jag sätter det inom parantes då det sannerligen kan diskuteras vad det är och vad det innebär. Särskilt om det ställs i kontrast till kanske mer viktiga egenskaper som blad och egg-geometri, härdning och värmebehandlig. 

Men det är ett rostfritt stål som är utmärkt till små fällknivar. Här har de rostfria egenskaperna förstärkts av ett ytskikt av titan. Kanske mer för syns skull än något annat. 

Märknigen på det här bladet är värt en kommentar. På bladet hittas nämligen massor av information men den är så fiffigt gömd att den knappt är urskiljbar. På presentationssidan hittas SRMs logga men i litet format och en färgskala som gör att den knappt syns. Sedan har man gömt allt från serienummer, modellbeteckning och ståltyp på andra sidan i en storlek som tarvar förstoringsglas om det skall läsas. Den hittas i bladskåran och på ricasson. 

Stålet som använts är N690

Väl satt i användning så är Twin en utmärkt fickkniv. Den skär riktigt bra och bladet är som sagt inte alltför tjockt eggen skarp. Förträfflig till EDC-användning med andra ord. Men vad säger galenpannan kanske du undrar? En litet dolkblad kan väl inte vara särskilt användbart? Faktum är att det är det om man nu använder kniven till vad små fickknivar alltid använts till, små uppgifter. Jag skulle inte tvinga in den här kniven i en roll den inte är tänkt till. Det är knappast en friluftskniv eller jaktkniv, så att ta ur och stycka älgar eller bygga ett vindskydd är den förstås inte bra till. 

Däremot är Twin en förträfflig kniv till att öppna saker, de små snabba snitten som behövs för att komma in i paket och förpackningar, avlägsna tejp, skära av nylonband etc. Sen där den även bra för precisionsjobb, särskilt med den spetsen. Så har du fått något skräp i handen som skall avlägsnas är det här så nära en skalpell du kommer. 

Handtag

Cigarr, det är allt jag har att säga om handtaget. Eller kanske inte riktigt allt. Men Twin har en typisk cigarrform på handtaget. Helt symmetristkt vilket avspeglar bladet med en smalare framände och en smalare bakände. Båda avsluten är därtill kraftigt rundade vilket ger inte bara ger ett mjukare intryck utan även känns så i handen. 

Handtaget är både estetiskt tilltalande och bekvämt att hålla i

Konstruktionen består av två halvor av stål som utgör själva ramen. I dem hittas sidopanelerna infällda. Kniven hålls samman av endast två skruvar. En skruv i bakkant och själva pivotskruven som är justerbar. Eller ja, vore det om den inte var dränkt i gänglåsning. Den gick jag bet på måste jag erkänna. Det var ytterst nära att jag drog huvudet runt när jag försökte. 

I det här utförandet har ramen samma grå färg som hittas i bladet. Det får mig att misstänka att samma titan-beläggning använts till båda men jag är inte helt säker på den punkten. 

Här syns de två halvorna av handtaget som för tankarna till en integral-konstruktion

I den här versionen hittas sidor gjorda av ett G10-laminat med kolfiberyta. Ytan är inte bara välpolerad utan dessutom elegant välvd. Det finns inte en enda platt yta på den här kniven. Det inte bara ser lyxigt ut utan känns så också. Det märks att man lagt ned viss möda på formgivningen. Ibland är enkelhet en dygd. 

Det finns en anledning till att den här formen var vanlig på äldre knivtyper, den fungerar i alla grepp!

Faktum är att Twin fungerar utmärkt i alla grepp du kan tänka dig. Det gäller oavsett om du föredrar ett mer kraftfullt hammarpgrepp eller någon mer avsett för finlir. Men samma brasklapp som kastades in när det handlar om användningsområde återkommer här. Twin är en liten och nätt fickkniv med de begränsningar det innebär. Har du stora händer och vill ha något rejält att hålla i är det här inte kniven för dig. På samma vis saknar kniven fingerskydd så jag rekommenderar inte heller att du hugger med kniven. 

Längden på handtaget är 102 mm och tjockleken uppgår till 12 mm. Fördelen med en dold flipper och den här övergripande formen är dock att varje millimeter av handtaget går att använda, inget går till spillo. 

Öppning och lås

SRM gör med rätta en viss poäng av att de har försett Twin med vad de kallar en "invisible flipper". Det är nämligen sant. Om du inte har kniven i hand eller läser beskrivningen av den är det svårt att se att det här är en front-flipperkniv. En som därtill fungerar förbaskat bra. 

Hela basen på bladet är försett med räfflor som ger utmärkt med fäste för ett finger som dras över framänden på bladet. Du behöver inte sikta eller förspänna fingret vilket ibland är fallet med andra varianter av flipperfenor. Bara dra fingret och bladet blixtrar ut. 

Twin bjuder på en av de mest diskreta flipperfunktioner jag stött på

Förutom bra fäste och geometri så hjälps förfarandet av ett lätt blad och keramiska kullager. Twin är både lätt och snabb att öppna. 

Och som  med alla knivar med den här typen av lås så kan det förstås användas för att öppna kniven. Det är bara att dra låsbulten bakåt varpå bladet svingar fritt och kan snärtas både in och ut. Faktum är att man medvetet måste minska  farten på invägen annars studsar bladet ut igen. 

Låset kallat "Ambi lock" är SRMs synnerligen väl utförda tolkning av ett Cross bar lock

SRM kallas sin version av Cross bar Lock för Ambi Lock.  Det är en teknik  som de redan från början behärskat mycket väl och Twin utgör inget undantag. Låset är tillförlitligt som i att det alltid låser och det håller bladet på plats med auktoritet. Det finns ingen rörelse i bladet som går att känna. 

Däremot är jag inte helt förtjust i att pivotskruven sitter så hårt att om jag skulle behöva justera bladet så går det inte för närvarande. 

Att bära

Ibland skriver jag "det blir inte mycket bättre än så här" när det gäller vissa aspekter på knivar. Det är något som definitivt gäller hur Twin är att bära. De yttre attributen är där med en längd på nästan exakt en decimeter. Till det skall dock adderas att det är en mycket rundad decimeter. Ändarna är mjukt formade och sidorna välvda. 

Det gör att den maximala tjockleken på handtaget endast åtefinns på mitten. Vid kanterna är handtaget endast 9 mm tjockt. Sedan hjälps det hela av en blygsam vikt på endast 70 gram. 

Vidare är ytan på handtaget mycket mjukt och bidrar inte med någon friktion som kan irrittera vare sig en hand på väg ned i fickan eller eller slita på tyg. 

Men ännu mer noterbart är frånvaron av allt som sticker ut. Som synes finns inget som kan vara ivägen. Sedan avslutas paketet med ett väl fungerande clip.

Jag gillar den här varianten av ett wire-clip

Twin har fått ett svart wire-clip som väl matchar knivens utseende. Att SRM valt den här typen ger ett lättare och luftigare intryck än ett mer massivt clip hade gjort så det är ett val jag tycker är korrekt. Funktionen hos clipet är mycket god. Spänsten fungerar och den ramp som finns kommer över de flesta tygkanter. Särskilt som materialet under inte ger någon friktion att tala om. Det gör att Twin är lätt att dra och stoppa undan. Och eftersom den väger så lite som den gör är den i princip helt omärkbar där den sitter. 

Den enda nackdelen är att clipet inte är flyttbart. Men efter att ha testat att bära kniven på vänster sida kan konstateras att eftersom själva modellen är helt symmetrisk är det bara att dra kniven, vrida den i handen och fälla ut den även med vänster hand. Inga större problem således. 

En fördel med clipet är också att det inte stör när man skär med kniven. Tvärtom hjälper det till när man skall öppna och stänga kniven då man kan ta spjärn mot det med fingrarna för bättre fäste. 

Sammanfattningsvis

Det kan sägas direkt att i mitt tycke är det här en av de snyggaste knivarna SRM har knåpat ihop. Twin har inte bara det där mycket dolkiga utseendet, det är dessutom mycket väl utfört. Alla kvalitetsmarkörer kan bockas av. Bladet är centrerat, fabrikseggen är vass och symmetrisk, öppningen mjuk och kvick och så vidare. Men det som sticker ut mest är nog ändå detaljerna i det till synes mycket enkla handtaget. 

Det handlar om saker som hur man valt att hålla färgställningen konsekvent med ram, blad och skruvar. Hur märkningen är smakfull och diskret men inte minst om hur man rundat och fasat alla kanter. Hela kniven är lika mjuk att hålla i som den ser ut på bild. 

Twin, en slank liten dolk för fickan som är förvånansvärt praktisk

Att den är bekväm att greppa följs upp med att den är trivsam att arbeta med. Kniven är välbalanserad vilket förstärker att den är lätt. Bladet är förvånansvärt praktiskt givet de ramar jag nämnde tidigare. Som synes är det inte en överlevnadskniv. Men till allehanda mindre uppgifter är den utmärkt. 

SRM Twin är ett ett riktigt smycke i fickan

SRM Twin är därför en tämligen given kniv för den som gillar den här typen av estetik men som samtidigt vill ha något som trots det smäckra utseendet och det nätta formatet är tämligen praktiskt. 

Därtill kostar inte Twin skjortan, för närvarande ligger riktpriset på hemisidan på 79.95$ vilket blir till ungefär samma summa i Europa, fast i Euro då. 

SRM Knives

Specifikation:

Längd utfälld: 178 mm

Längd hopfälld: 102 mm

Vikt: 70 g (vägd av mig, uppgiven 70 g)

Bladlängd: 76 mm

Godstjocklek: 2,5 mm

Bladstål: Böhler N690

Handtag: G10/kolfiber

Lås: Ambi Lock/ Cross Bar Lock

Producerad av: SRM, tillverkad i Kina

/ J - letar tvillingar

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

New Knife - SRM Twin

This may very well be the best-looking knife SRM has ever made. At least for those who appreciate the dagger format, that is. It doesn't get much more streamlined than this in the world of folding knives.

The model is called Twin and has the model designation 251MB, with the addition of GB for this version, with a dark blade and laminated handle sides.

Twin is currently available in four versions. In addition to this version, the knife is available in another striking combination with a completely black blade and a white G10 handle. In addition, there is also multi-colored G10 and, not least, Micarta.

SRM 251MB-GB Twin

This knife is 178 mm long overall, and the handle is 101 mm long. It is a real lightweight, and both the materials contribute to this, but not least the thin, slender blade. The weight is only 70 g.

Twin boasts a single-sided, sharpened dagger blade that is 76 mm long and 2.5 mm thick. The steel used is N690. The dark surface is a titanium coating.

The handle sides, found on the outside of a heavily drilled-out steel frame, are made of a laminate with G10/carbon fibre in this case. More unique is the opening method, or at least one of them. You can open the knife using the lock, as it is a "cross bar lock" which in SRM's version is called Ambi Lock. A technique that they incidentally master better than most. If the locking bolt is pulled back, the blade swings freely and can thus be folded both out and in. Something that facilitates the smooth action is, of course, ceramic ball bearings.

A more streamlined knife is hard to find. Elegant was the word!

But the main method of opening the knife is the most hidden and one of the most effective "front flippers" I've come across. Just slide your thumb or index finger over the top of the handle, and the blade flies out.

The package is rounded off with a wire clip that works great.

As a dagger nut like me, this is a "no-brainer", a model I just had to have. Especially when it's as elegant as it is. A review will be coming soon.

SRM Knives

/ J - dagger up my existence

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Ny kniv - SRM Twin

Det här kan mycket väl  vara  den snyggaste kniv som SRM gjort. I alla fall för dem som uppskattar dolkformatet vill säga. För mycket mer strömlinjeformat än så här blir det inte i fälllknivarnas värld. 

Modellen kallas Twin och har modellbeteckningen 251MB och med tillägget med GB för det här utförandet med mörkt blad och laminerade handtagssidor. 

Twin finns för närvarande i fyra versioner. Utöver det här utförandet finns kniven i en annan slående kombination med helt svart blad och vitt G10-handtag. Utöver det finns även mångfärgad G10 och inte minst Micarta. 

SRM 251MB-GB Twin

Den här kniven är 178 mm lång i utfällt läge och handtaget är 101 mm långt. Det är en riktig lättviktare och till det bidrar både materialen men inte minst det tunna slanka bladet. Vikten är endast 70 g. 

Twin ståtar med en enkelsidigt slipat dolkblad som är 76 mm långt och 2,5 mm tjockt. Stålet som används är N690. Den mörka ytan kommer från en ytbehandling av titan. 

Handtagssidorna, som hittas utanpå en kraftigt lättad stålram, är gjorda av ett laminat med G10/kolfiber i det här fallet. Mer unikt är öppningsmetoden eller åtminstone en av dem. Du kan nämligen öppna kniven  med hjälp av låset då det är ett "cross bar lock" som i SRMs version kallas Ambi Lock. En teknik som de för övrigt behärskar bättre än de flesta. Om låsbulten dras tillbaka svingar bladet fritt och kan därmed fällas både ut och in. Något som underlättar den mjuka gången är förstås kullager i keramik. 

En mer strömlinjeformad kniv är svår att hitta. Elegant var ordet!

Men huvudmetoden för att öppna kniven är den mest dolda och en av de mest effektiva "front flippers" jag stött på. Det är bara att dra tummen eller pekfinger över toppen på handtaget och bladet flyger ut. 

Paketet avrundas med ett wire-clip som fungerar utmärkt. 

Svag för dolkar som  jag är vad det här en "no brainer", en modell jag bara var tvungen att ha. Särskilt när den är så elegant som den är. En recension lär det bli framöver. 

SRM Knives

/ J - dolkar till tillvaron

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review Olitans Lemon Shark

  

-  a shark with a good bite

Sometimes things don't have to be that complicated or innovative, for that matter. They can still be good. That description fits this knife from Olitans called Lemon Shark.

If the shape can be said to be recognizable and the same can be said about both materials, opening methods and locks. But for me, Olitans is a new brand, and it was therefore exciting to see if they add anything to an ever-growing knife market.

Olitans Lemon Shark

The knife comes in several different variants, and I chose this variant solely because of the name. A "Lemon Shark" has to have a yellow handle, right? In addition, I have quite a few knives, so sometimes I want a little colour in the middle of all the black, titanium gray and brown.

If you don't want this very distinct colour, the shark is also available in four additional colors and the materials also vary. A transparent yellow PEI, green or blue Micarta and white G10 are other options.

My first contact with Olitans was a positive one.

Short Version (former Twitter version): Olitans Lemon Shark, not the rarest shark in the knife oceans, but it manages its niche in the ecosystem well

Blade

As I said in the introduction, Lemon Shark is not innovative, so we get a very ordinary drop point for the blade. But it is a very well-proportioned and therefore stylish blade. The length is 83 mm, and the height is 25 mm, although the website states 26 mm. The thickness is 3.5 mm.

The blade has no decorative elements or the like, or by the way, it depends on how you look at it. I will come back to that. The only thing that contributes to the appearance besides the shape itself is a clear false edge, and a longer part of the base of the spine is provided with grooves for better grip. Something that, in this case, fulfils a double function. Partly to place the thumb on, but also when opening the knife.

A classic and well-proportioned drop point

The blade is not marked with any logo, which is unusual. It is found elsewhere, which I will return to. The only thing on the blade, in very small text behind one of the thumb studs, is the steel type.

In all versions except one, the steel is provided with a titanium nitride coating. That is what gives it the dark colour. Whether it is necessary from a rust protection point of view is debatable, since the steel is already stainless from the start.

The steel is a good Chinese steel called 10Cr15MoV. In my experience, it is a step up from, for example, the more common and simpler Cr8 steel. It keeps its sharpness longer while exhibiting the same corrosion resistance.

The steel used is 10Cr15MoV

 with a TiNi-coating

The 3.5 mm blade material is quite generous in relation to the length of the blade and the intended area of ​​use. It is thinned out by an almost full flat grind. The thickness behind the edge is 0.5 mm on the straight part and a full 0.6 mm at the belly. That's too much for my taste. Especially if the knife is intended as EDC. The strong edge is more suitable for a fixed blade knife of the "survival" type, something to chop wood with and the like and is therefore overkill for a small pocket knife.

That said, the Lemon Shark came with reasonably sharp teeth, meaning the factory edge is acceptable. But the thickness means that it is not the knife that cuts with the least resistance. But on the other hand, you are not afraid to cut into slightly tougher materials with this knife. I have even tested it on some old car tyres. Something I usually don't do, but now they were there. What the blade is also surprisingly good at is cutting into wood of various types, both fresh and dry.

Lemon Shark came in handy when cutting sticks to secure distance markings on the knife-throwing range

The knife is slightly worse in fibrous materials such as cardboard, but also in textiles. A thick blade with a robust edge, of course, has its impact. In return, it means that you are not afraid to use force when cutting cable ties or the like. But overall, this is a very functional blade. There is a bit of a straight edge and a good belly to work with, depending on what tasks are to be performed.

It can also be said that if the edge is thick, the tip is all the more delicate and punctures well. This is because the blade is significantly tapered.

Handle

That Lemon Shark does not offer any news is confirmed by the handle, which is built according to template 1A. But that does not have to be bad, as said. More specifically, it means that the knife has a frame made of steel that has been greatly lightened internally, at least on one side. About the frame, it can also be noted that it has been given the same colour as the blade, which is a nice detail.

On the outside, there are sides of G10 and in the back, a partial back spacer of the same material. The blue colour from the thumb studs is mirrored here. It's also here you find a hidden bolt for attaching lanyards, for those who use such. 

The handle is comfortable but a bit short

The sides are screwed in at two points in addition to the pivot screw. All three screws are the same size, T8, which is excellent. You only need to use a chisel if you want to adjust or disassemble your knife. Choosing a coarser dimension than the often used T6s brings another advantage. The coarser dimension is significantly more durable in the long run. At least if the screws are reasonably hardened. The smaller screws are only found here in the clip mount.

The handle is 107 mm long, of which 91 mm is available grip area behind the finger guard. It is at the minimum for my hand size, but a four-finger grip fits, albeit barely. The thickness of the handle is a full 13.5 mm, which is quite substantial.

On the outside of the steel frame are sides made of G10 in this case

The G10 material in the sides is a bit special, as most manufacturers choose to have it a bit rougher to provide better grip. That is even what G10 is known for. Olitans have chosen to almost polish them. There is a microscopic pattern, but it does not provide any friction to speak of. Rather, the sides almost feel like plastic. A disadvantage of that, besides feeling cheaper, is that it provides less grip, especially if you have hands that are wet from sweat, rain or snow.

The advantage, however, is that the knife wears significantly less on pockets, and that is, after all, where a pocket knife spends most of its time. So it is something you can decide for yourself, the importance of.

Lemon Shark is comfortable in the hand, both to hold and to work with

When holding the Lemon Shark, it feels small in my hand, but still comfortable. The indentation for the index finger, together with the ridges on the blade, locks the hand in a good way in a sabre grip. Then the softly rounded back of the handle also lies against the inside of my hand comfortably.

Hammer grips also work well, and here it is mainly the thickness that saves the handle. It makes the hand fill up properly. But it is a double-edged sword; thicker handles make knives better to work with if you do heavier tasks and for a longer time. At the same time, knives are worse to carry. But the increased surface area that the thickness means also means that you can use more force behind the cuts when cutting in wood, for example. This makes the Lemon Shark a better heavy worker.

Reverse grips are no problem either, while a pinch grip for the really intricate details is less good because the handle is thick at the front.

Opening and Lock

Olitans has caught on to the trend with multiple opening methods. Here, there are two or maybe two plus one if a two-handed opening is included in the equation. Otherwise, it is a front flipper and thumb studs that apply. That was the area I asked to come back to. The extra-long area with grooves on the blade spine is there to provide a good grip for your thumb when you flip out the blade.

The method works very well, by the way. The geometry is good, and the speed is helped by ball bearings. The action when both opening and closing the knife is both fast and smooth.

Lemon Shark can be opened with either a front flipper or the brightly coloured thumb studs

The second, and for me preferred way to open the knife is with the thumb studs. Incidentally, they were the ones I had in mind when I mentioned decorative elements on the blade. They are heavily blue anodised in this case.

Not only that, they work well too! The blade can be either folded out slowly or flicked out with either your thumb or an index finger on the back. All ways work great. The handle is chamfered to facilitate access, and they sit just far enough out to both be easy to reach and provide good geometry for the opening.

There is not much to say about the shape, as these are fairly traditional barrel-shaped studs. They are soft on the fingers and do what they are supposed to. 

The blade is held in place by a liner lock

The lock is a liner lock, and it can be immediately stated that it works excellently. Perhaps the lock bar can be perceived as somewhat thin to give full confidence, but that is more in my head than in the function.

On the contrary, the blade is held in place without any flaws. Nothing negative to complain about at all, actually. There is no lateral play to be detected, and there is no play up and down in the blade. In addition, the lock engages with every opening and has never had any problems for me during the test period.

The lock bar is also easily accessible, and since it is relatively thin, the resistance is not much to argue about either. It is easy to release the lock. One thing that makes it even easier is that the lock bar is bevelled, which provides a more comfortable edge to press your thumb against.

To Carry

As mentioned earlier, the Lemon Shark is a chunky little thing. The length isn't much to talk about, but the width across the back makes the knife feel quite thick; 13.5 mm is a lot for a folding knife.

The clip is nothing extraordinary, but it does what it's supposed to.

The weight is 112 g, which could possibly be reduced a little if the G10 sides had been thinner, but it is not so much that it is something to complain about. The weight distribution also means that the balance point ends up in the middle of the indentation for the index finger.

The smooth sides make the knife slide easily into place, both when the knife is to be pulled out and put away.

A little of the knife is peaking out of the pocket. But most visible is the text on the clip

The clip is a simple spring steel version. However, the tension is sufficient to perform its function, and the same can be said about the space underneath. "Normal" fabrics can fit, i.e. jeans, trousers and thinner jacket pockets without causing any problems. The tip of the clip points slightly outwards, something I usually don't appreciate, but here it doesn't cause any direct problems. In fact, the clip doesn't feel very much against the hand except if you squeeze the handle tightly.

The colour of the clip is nice as it matches the rest of the hardware on the knife. One thing that can be polarising is where Olitans has chosen to place its logo/name. It is found, in addition to being somewhat discreet on the pivot screw, also in large letters on the clip. Sure, it is a good advertising spot, but it is a detail I do not appreciate. I prefer more neutral clips.

The clip is removable and is attached with two screws in a tandem position. They are recessed in the clip itself, but on the other hand, it is not recessed in the handle side. One of the few concessions to the price level.

To Conclude

My encounter with Lemon Shark was extra exciting as it was my first encounter with Olitans as a brand. This specific model is a budget model in that the price is not particularly high. The recommended price on the website is $45. For that, you get a knife that certainly doesn't offer any direct surprises when it comes to construction and materials. But everything is well chosen for the price range.

For your money, you also get a knife that is well-built and feels well-thought-out. The appearance is balanced, and there are details that indicate some care. The blade, frame, clip and screws are colour-matched and the thumb studs and back spacer act as a pop of colour. In addition, the lanyard hole or rather bolt, has been hidden in a clever way. An extra plus for Olitans is also the countersunk screws.

Adding to the positive impression is that opening and closing the knife is very smooth with good overall good action. This applies whether you prefer a front flipper or use the thumb knobs.

Just as Olitans says in its product description, Lemon Shark is a very good EDC knife.

Olitans themselves say that the knife is designed for EDC, and that is something I really agree with. But the fact is that it can handle a little more than that. The knife is not bad in the forest or as a complement to an axe or larger knife. Especially since the edge seems to be adapted for significantly heavier tasks. It is one of the few things I do not experience as completely positive.

Another is that the Lemon Shark can feel a little clumsy in the pocket due to the handle, which is perceived as thick. But that disadvantage is offset, on the other hand, by the fact that this particular feature is nice when you need to carve, for example. The extra surface against the hand provides less friction and pressure point than a narrower knife. So it is a balancing act.

Lemon Shark is also a good companion in the forest, here during a winter walk

But overall, it must be said that the Lemon Shark was a very pleasant first meeting with this brand. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is a damn good budget knife.

It has everything you would expect from a solid pocket knife, offers some nice details and doesn't look out of place. As I said, it is available in other shades than bright yellow for those who prefer more discreet knives.

Olitans 

Specifications:

Length Overall: 190 mm

Length Folded: 107 mm

Weight: 112 g, weighed by me, stated 112 g. 

Blade Length: 83 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,5 mm

Blade Steel: 10Cr15MoV

Handle: G10

Lock: Liner lock

Produced by: Olitans, made in China

/ J - positively surprised

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