New Knife - Viper Knives Twin

Some knives are more beautiful than others, that's just the way it is. This is one of them! Once again, Viper Knives has teamed up with Fabrizio "Silver" Silvestrelli . The result speaks for itself. This knife called Twin is a so-called "modern traditional". That is to say, this one borrows both design and partial technology from older times, while all production and materials are both modern and among the best available.

Viper Knives Twin

The name "Twin" is not just taken out of thin air but is meant to be that it is certainly not an identical twin, but rather a little brother, to "Turn" which I previously reviewed. It is clearly visible in this picture!

Twin with big brother Turn, both designed by Silvestrelli

The handle shape is almost identical, but as you can see, a few things are missing on the Twin. It has no clip and no thumb studs. It comes from the fact that this is a classic two-handed open slip joint. The knife thus lacks a lock in the real sense.

Twin comes in five different designs. This version has ivory G10 sides. The bolsters and frame are made of titanium. It contributes to a very light knife. The weight is a low 88 grams. That's for a knife that measures 176mm in total length. The blade length is 77 mm. A handy little pocket knife in other words.

In addition to the exclusive handle, so is the blade as it is both finely crafted with a good finish and an excellent factory edge and made of M390 steel.

In other words, it's a little praline that doesn't just look good, it seems to be good as well. There will be a review, of course. 

Viper Knives

/ J - Excited

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Recension MKM Root

 

-  tillbaka till rötterna

"Modern Traditionals" är ett uttryck som som ibland används om den typ av knivar som den här skapelsen kallad Root tillhör. Det innebär i all enkelhet en klassisk fickkniv fast tillverkad med moderna material och produktionsteknik. Det är exakt vad italienska MKM - Maniago Knife Maker gjort här. 

MKM Root

Designern bakom den här kniven är ingen mindre än vår danske vän Jens Ansø. Det är kanske inte så svårt att lista ut då den bär vissa likheter med ett tidigare samarbete mellan den danske formgivaren och ett annat känt knivmärke. Det här är dock en bättre kniv på flera parametrar kan snabbt konstateras.

Root finns att tillgå i inte mindre än nio olika utföranden. Du kan välja mellan olika material i handtaget som aluminium eller titan med eller utan paneler, trä i några varianter samt canvas-Micarta som även den kan fås i ett par nyanser. 

Det finns myckat att välja på med andra ord. Det ger också intrycket att MKM redan från början tror på den här modellen. 

Ytterligare ett fruktbart samarbete mellan Danmark och Italien, Ansö och Maniago Knife Makers

Kortversion: MKM Root, ett typexempel på en "modern traditional". Här samsas klassisk formgivning med en tvist kryddat med toppmaterial. 

Blad

När man designar en fickkniv enligt klassiskt mönster finns det ett par arketyper när det kommer till bladform att välja mellan. En av dem hittar du här i form av en sheeps foot. Den kännetecknas av en rak egg, en lika rak rygg som sedan på ett mjukt rundat vis viker av nedåt för att möta eggen. Här får man dock lägga till "modified" för att korrekt beskriva bladet. Det eftersom eggen faktiskt inte är helt rak utan faktiskt har en svag kurvatur. Därtill har den ovanligt mycket spets för att vara av den här typen.  

I övrigt utmärks bladet av tre hål. Förutom att vara dekorativa underlättar de även öppnandet av kniven. Finishen är en riktigt fint utförd satin och märkningen någorlunda diskret. På en sida hittas MKMs logotyp och på den motsatta Ansøs jämte ståltyp. 

Bladet är en modifierad Sheeps foot

Och på tal om stål är det bland de bättre som nyttjas till Root. Här hittas M390 vilket har blivit en av stapelvarorna bland tillverkare av premiumfällknivar. Det är inte så konstigt då det rätt härdat och behandlat är ett exceptionellt fint knivstål med höga värden på de flesta parametrar. En liten brasklapp kan bifogas då härdningen uppges till 58-60 HRC vilket teorektiskt är rätt lågt för det här stålet. Det hade tjänat på att skrämmas upp ett par grader för att utnyttja potentialen i materialet till fullo.

Av stålet får man en bit som är 71 mm lång, 21 mm hög som mest och modesta 2,1 mm tjock. Eftersom bladet är tunt och därtill helt flatslipat så får man grunden till en kniv som kan skära riktigt bra. Särskilt som tjockleken bakom eggen är tunna 0,2-0,3 mm eller däromkring. Det är inte bara bra utan till och med riktigt bra. 

Stålet är den utmärkta M390 från Böhler

Det är något som också blir uppenbart när man nyttjar kniven. Root är rent generellt en fröjd att skära med. Särskilt gäller det saker som papper och kartong. Men det tunna bladet fungerar även bra till allehanda småsaker som snören, tunnare rep och plast. Men återigen inget man bökar med givet att det saknas lås. Men i gengäld är ryggfjädern stark och kniven känns inte otrygg att använda. Root är tack vare sin tämligen distinkta spets och lätt svängda egg helt ok till små uppgifter på picknicken som att skiva en tomat eller gurka och tärna lite ost. 

Sedan sätter formatet trots allt gränser för vad jag vill använda kniven till. Främst är det storleken på handtaget som bidrar till det. Mer om detta under nästa rubrik men jag kan säga att träsnideri är inget som är aktuellt trots att eggen biter bra i de flesta material. 

Handtag

Root är uppbyggd kring en stålram som är en millimeter grov. Den backas upp av en väl rundad ryggfjäder som tar över där en lika väl rundad bladrygg slutar. I ryggfjäderns förlängning hittas även ett hål för fånglina. Kniven är hopskruvad med två stycken T6-skruvar utöver den justerbara pivotskruven. Runt den senare hittas för övrigt kniven enda färginslag i form av en krage kring skruvhuvudet. 

Handtaget kan fås i olika utföranden, här i ädelträ

Skollorna kan som sagt fås i ett flertal utföranden. Själv tänkte jag att trots de "moderna" inslagen i kniven så förknippar jag en god slip joint med naturmaterial, så trä fick det bli. Det här träslaget är santos och och är ett tämligen mörkt träslag med tydlig ådring som de flesta mahognyarter. Sidorna har fått några skurna räfflor för ökat fäste. Sidorna är flata med fasade kanter, extra mycket så kring fördjupningarna. 

Det kan påpekas att Root inte är en stor kniv och det framgår tydligt av handtaget. Längden är 95 mm men det är verkligen från spets till spets, den tillgängliga greppytan däremot är 78 mm. Tjockleken är precis över en centimeter och höjden kring två centimeter.  

I mitt fall betyder det att Root är en tre, kanske fyrafingerskniv om jag kryper fram med pekfingret framför urtaget och kröker det kring fingerskyddet.  

Root erbjuder ett bra grepp fast bara för tre fingrar

Men det kan tilläggas att det är en bra trefingerskniv. Pekfingret hittar sin plats och de gör även resten av fingrarna på ett tämligen naturligt sätt. Sedan har man låtit fingerskyddet vara platt istället för spetsigt vilket som sagt gör att man kan placera ett finger där för att utöka storleken på handtaget. Den rundade bladryggen gör även att det känns behagligt att placera pekfingret där och avslutningen på handtaget fungerar väl om man håller kniven i nypan. Det vill säga bakänden på handtaget orsakar inga obehag mot insidan av handen. Därmed fungerar de flesta grepp tämligen väl givet storleken på kniven. 

Öppning och lås

Öppningsmetoden liksom ger sig själv med den här typen av kniv. Du tager bladet i nypan, lämpligtvis över de tre hålen för bättre grepp och sedan fäller du ut bladet långsamt och med eftertanke. 

Det ökade fästet behövs egentligen inte. Motståndet från ryggfjädern, a k a "pull" sätter jag till ca 4. Eller snarare så gäller det den första delen av bladets gång som bjuder på mindre motstånd. 

Det finns relativt mycket blad att greppa kring och tre hål ökar friktionen

Sedan möts du av ett nittograders halvvägsstopp. En säkerhetsfunktion som är extra sympatisk när kniven skall fällas ihop igen. Det förhindrar att bladet slår igen redan tidigt under rörelsen och klipper en fingertopp på vägen in. Efter stoppet är kniven något tyngre att öppna, ca fem till sex vilket är mycket bra då det ökar säkerheten. 

Ryggfjädern ligger an mot handtagsryggen i såväl utfällt som hopfällt läge och reser sig något vid halvvägsstoppet. Passningen mellan ryggfjäder och ram kunde varit något tightare som synes

Eftersom Root är en slip joint finns förstås inget lås i egentlig mening. Som sig bör hålls bladet på plats av ryggfjädern. Det görs för övrigt med den äran. Det är punkt nummer två vilken den här är väsentligt mycket bättre än sin föregångare. Den kniven hade öppen rygg och byggde på en dubbel-detentlösning. Den här lösningen är mer traditionell och i mitt tycke mer solid. 

Både i fullt öppet läge och när kniven är hopfälld är ryggfjädern jämn med ryggen. Eller så jämn den kan bli då både den och ramdelarna är rundade. Skall någon liten negativ kritik riktas mot byggkvaliteten så är det att det finns ett litet gap mellan de olika delarna. Särskilt gäller det vänstersida av handtaget. 

Att bära

Root är både extremt lätt att bära eller en smula krånglig beroende på din inställning till clip och deras frånvaro. Den här kniven har nämligen inget. Det betyder att vet du med dig att du tillhör kategorin människor som anser att en modern kniv inte bör existera utan den uppfinningen så är den inte bra.

Det finns ett sorts clip men inte på kniven utan på det medföljande fodralet. Det är försett med en läderflärp med magnetfäste

Men i gengäld levereras Root med ett stilfullt och välgjort läderfodral av slip-typ som i sin tur är försett med ett slags magnet-clip. Det är en flärp som läggs utanpå fickan och fäster mot sig själv genom tyget. Det gör att du kan fästa fodralet på insidan av fickan och bära kniven som du är van vid. Fodralet är som det mesta i skinnväg som kommer från Italien eller åtminstone Maniago mycket välsytt med utmärkt passform. Eller snarare så slits fodral och kniv ihop på ett förtjänsfullt vis. 

Med den lösningen blir emellertid kniven en aning tjock. Med fodral mäter Root strax under tjugo millimeter. Till det skall läggas en läderflärp med magnet på utsidan som adderar ca 5 mm till. 

Och så här ser Root ut om den bärs i fodralet

Annars kan förstås den här kniven bäras löst i en ficka också. Root väger in på fjäderlätta 70 g och är 11 mm grov över nacken utan fodral. Eftersom det inte är världens största fällkniv så avskräcker inte längden på 9,5 cm heller. Sammantaget en kniv som utan problem vilar i botten av en ficka också.

Sammanfattningsvis

Det är bara att erkänna, jag föll direkt för den här kniven. För mig är det här nämligen den kniv som ZT 0230 inte var. Estetiken är tämligen likartad särskilt om du frångår trähandtaget på Root och väljer något modernare. Jag gillar den kniven också som ni kan sluta er till eftersom jag köpt den. Men och det är ett stort men, den kniven har en del brister som kniv betraktat. Jag kan avslöja att det vare sig är material eller genomförande då de är fullt i paritet med Root. 

ZT 0230 och MKM Root

Nej, skillnaderna återfinns i hur knivarna är att använda. Det första som noteras är att Root har väsentligt myckte bättre tryck i ryggfjädern. Motståndet är bättre, halvstoppet mer distinkt och bladet känns väsentligt mycket mer tryggt när man arbetar med kniven. 

Ännu större skillnad blir det sedan när man skär med knivarna. Bladen är någorlunda likvärdiga i form och material men det är jäkla skillnad i geometri. Den här italienska kniven är mycket tunnare bakom eggen och det märks direkt. 

Root skär nämligen riktigt bra och ger bättre tryck i snitten än man först kan tro. Givet att det är en slip joint och kniven således saknar egentligt lås så bör man undvika att sticka framförallt försöka penetrera förpacknigar och dylikt genom att trycka. Det är att utmana ödet. 

Root är en utmärkt EDC-kniv som därtill är tämligen avväpnande sett till sin uppenbarelse

Men i övrigt är den fullt likvärdig med andra högkvalitativa fickknivar på marknaden. Den andra olikheten eller möjligen bristen beroende på hur det betraktas är förstås att kniven inte kan enhandsöppnas och stängas. Det är ett faktum du måste förhålla dig till. Eller så har någon annan redan gjort det genom lagstiftning beroende på vart du befinner dig i världen. 

En slipjoint för det goda med sig att de är legala på fler platser på vårt klot än flera andra knivar och särskilt om den inte kan öppnas snabbt. Lägg därtill en bladlängd som understiger de tre tum eller 7,5 cm som ofta sätts som gräns och du har en kniv som i stort sett är gångbar på alla platser där man får bära kniv. 

Root är ett exempel på ytterligare ett lyckast samarbete mellan Ansø och Maniago Knife Makers

Därför är MKM Root en kniv som har flera strängar på sin lyra. Förutom att vara laglig är den mycket klassisk i sitt utseende och därmed snygg att se på. Åtminstone anser jag det, men estetik är en högst personlig betraktelse. Men hur bra Root skär är det inte. Det är ett faktum. 

Så för den som söker stilfull dansk design utfört med italienskt hantverkskunnande i en kniv där traditionellt möter modernt och som därtill är rikttigt praktisk är Root ett mycket gångbart alternativ.  

Maniago Knife Makers

Specifikation:

Längd utfälld: 166 mm

Längd hopfälld: 95 mm

Vikt: 70 g

Bladlängd: 71 mm

Godstjocklek: 2,5 mm

Bladstål: Böhler M390

Handtag: trä, Santos

Lås: inget, slip joint

Producerad av: Mikita, tillverkad i Italien

/ J - Rootar sig

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Fredags-EDC CXVI

Fredagen både kom och gick för min del även om den inte är helt slut än. Det var full fart i köket där jag arbetar vilket fick tiden att flyga. Idag bjöd vi på schyssta högrevsburgare med pommes. Burgarna hade jag kryddat med en smula tabasco, liquid smoke och en hälsosam dos svartpeppar. Jäkligt goda om jag får säga det själv. De serverades med diverse tillbehör som picklad rödlök, cole slaw, burgardressing och en BBQ-sås. Allt gjort i huset förstås inklusive nybakade hamburgerbröd. 

Det har varit en sådan där dag då allt flutit på. En tämligen bra dag med andra ord. Sedan kom jag hem och slappnade av. Det var ett tag sedan men lite kvalificerat hi fi-nörderi stod på schemat. Det är skönt att lägga ifrån sig allt vad telefoner och lurar heter och bara slappna av och avnjuta lite schysst musik i en bra stereo. Hederos & Hellberg blev det idag. 

Nu återstår att se om kvällen artar sig lika väl. För stunden snöar det på tvären vilket inte känns helt hundra måste tillstås. Det här vädret får mig att känna mig kränkt. Oklart av vem, men ändå. 

"Gemensam nämnare"

I fickorna hittas även där en smula glädje. Knivar från italienska MKM kan nämligen muntra upp tillvaron. Huvudbestyckningen bestod av två skapelser signerade Jens Ansø. Därav namnet på bilden. 

En av dem är den för mig helt nya Root. En slip joint jag bekantar mig med inför lite rejält testande inför kommande recension. De första intrycken är att det en charmig och genomsympatisk skapelse. Framför allt skär den bra samtidigt som den är bekväm att hålla i och snygg att se på. 

I en annan ficka hittas den något större Goccia som ni sett här på bloggen tidigare. Förutom designer och tillverkare är även ståltyp densamma för de två knivarna. I bladen hittas exklusivt M390. Utöver de tre punkterna har de  inte mycket gemensamt alls. Storlek, öppningsmetod, lås, handtagsmaterial och bladtyp är olika bara för att nämna något. Udda syskon med andra ord. 

Ha en fortsatt god fredag go' vänner!

/ J - flyter ovanpå

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review QSP Hedgehog

  

- bullseye!

This knife from QSP called Hedgehog is not their first but second attempt at making a slip joint if I remember correctly. And what a successful attempt it turned out to be. If you are interested in how good a modern folding knife of this type can be, you should read on. If you are not, you can still read on so you know what you are missing!

QSP Hedgehog

The category has come to be called "modern traditional" and even if the big brands initially appeared a little skeptical of the phenomenon, most now have at least one knife of that kind in their range. In that way, QSP is no innovator when they now release their Hedgehog. But in return, they do it all very well. The first slip-joint knife they released was the Falcon which I previously reviewed. It's a capable, well-made, and good-looking knife, but on some parameters, it can be seriously beaten by Hedgehog.

The knife can be seen as a "modern traditional" 

Twitter version: Second time's a charm, it's not the expression but could be since the QSP Hedgehog is a hit on the second attempt to complete a slip joint

Blade

This knife blade is one of the things that makes this a modern interpretation of a classic knife type. Namely, the blade shape is not completely pure or easy to categorize. Someone called it a Wharncliffe, which I totally disagree with. Rather, it is a coping blade that someone fitted with a rudimentary point. Regardless of what you start from, you end up with the blade being a "modified" something.

The blade is a bit difficult to categorize but offers a straight edge and half a point

The size of this thing amounts to a length of 73 mm with a height of 20 mm and a thickness of 3 mm. In other words, it's not a big blade.

To match that, the branding is also small and discreet. QSP's logo can be found in miniature on the ricasso and on the opposite side, the steel type can be found. Really stylishly done. In that respect, this brand has developed considerably. The rest of the finish is a high-gloss satin. A finish that is good for most things except that it is a fingerprint magnet. 

The steel found in this knife is Swedish in the form of Sandvik 14C28N. An excellent choice for a knife in this price range. Especially when QSP here chose to harden it somewhat harder than is usually done. Now I can't determine exactly where in the range 59-61 HRC this knife ends up, but it holds its edge quite well so the impression is that it might be in the middle.

That impression is reinforced by the way the knife is sharpened. The prototypes and the knives that were reviewed early online were apparently flat ground. The production version that you see here is not. It's got a rather striking hollow grind along the entire height of the blade. This gives a blade that measures approx. 0.4 mm behind the edge. That is really good. Especially as the thickness of the blade is three millimeters and the transition there is a full two centimeters. You can guess for yourself which way it leans regarding cutting properties.

The straight edge is made of Sandvik 14C28N

With that in mind, perhaps it's no wonder that this knife cuts so well that just thinking about it makes you happy. It's certainly not all folding knives you can say that about, despite the availability of all modern materials. The trend that nowadays isn't even a trend anymore with "tactical" as a prefix lingers on.

 It was noticeable right out of the box as there was no difficulty in getting the hair on the arms to more or less fall off. Cutting some neat s-curves in a paper was no problem either. Small tests indicate which way it leans. Then it must be admitted that the steel is certainly quite hard, but it is still 14C28N, which means that it does not hold its sharpness forever. A little maintenance with a strop and a sharpening rod or whetstone is required from time to time.

The production versions of the Hedgehog are hollow grind

Since then, the knife has proven itself through frequent use. Not only by me but also by my partner who agreed both to those qualities and the thoroughly sympathetic handle.

The blade shape gives access to a tip even though the knife is equipped with a straight edge. This is a detail that is much appreciated from my side. It makes it easier to open packaging and allows you to clean your nails or pry out a skewer if you have to. 

But mainly this is a slicing tool and the straight edge with its hollow grind bites into everything. It doesn't really matter what it is. As long as it doesn't involve prying or stabbing things too hard, this is an excellent blade. 

Handle

The handle is as well made as the blade and is the next part that contributes to making this such a good knife. Possibly it can be said to be a bit too small for those with enormous hands but otherwise thoroughly sympathetic. The dimensions are 95 mm x 13 mm x 20 mm in terms of length, width, and height.

A seemingly simple but excellent handle. In this version in luxurious carbon fiber

The small but very well-executed details make this a great handle. These include, for example, the slightly curved back, the handle swelling towards the end, and not least the arched sides.

The sides are available in a couple of different materials, of which this is the more luxurious edition, which means "golden carbon fiber". It is a carbon fiber with some component that causes it to glisten faintly in certain lights in golden yellow. Besides that, the sides have been heavily machined. In addition to being rounded, they have been given a distinct pattern, sometimes referred to as the "Ansø pattern" which is aesthetic but also greatly improves the grip. In addition, the knife has a "bolster part" towards the front edge to where the surface is smooth.

At the end of the handle is found a lanyard hole of a simpler type. Not a must as far as I'm concerned, but perhaps more useful on this knife than many others as a knife that often lies loose in the pocket may need to be fished out.

The construction is typical of a slip joint with a strong back spring and a steel frame. One that is not traditionally weight-reduced. But it makes it easier to keep the knife clean on the inside, so that's not something I have any objections to. Possibly then that it shifts the balance backward. Incidentally, it is found exactly where the transition from the smooth to the patterned part of the handle is.

The sides are screwed into place on the outside of the frame with two T6 screws in addition to the T8 pivot screw. The latter is in the usual QSP-style D-shaped and only screwed from one direction. Their triangle logo is instead found on the presentation side. The one that now indicates that the knife belongs to their slightly finer range.

As far as the size allows, this is a really good handle

The shape of the handle is fairly straight at first glance, but the back has that almost perfect curve that makes it sit well in the hand. In the same way, the fact that it is wider towards the stern and the pattern work together to give a better grip.

The straightforward profile means that all grips really work and the rounded shapes literally blend into the hand. This is not least noticeable on the soft rear end of the handle. And here it must be noticed that part of that success consists in the lack of a clip!

Opening and Lock

Since the whole point of the Hedgehog is that it is a slip joint, the knife is of course best opened with two hands. There are certainly also flipper knives that lack a lock these days, but they can hardly be counted in this category of "modern traditional". The blade has certainly been fitted with a nail nick long enough to touch a fuller but I don't use it much. As a nail-biter, I'm not much for that kind of subtlety. Either I can grip the blade or I am not fond of the knife to put it simply.

When it comes to slip joints, "walk and talk" is a thing. Where walk is how the blade feels on its way in and out. Here that feeling is at its peak, it doesn't get much better. Much depends on the fact that this is one of the areas that is modernized. Instead of letting the blade run directly against the frame as is common on older knives*, phosphor bronze bushings are used here.

In the closed position, the back spring cannot be felt at all and can hardly be discerned with the naked eye

The next part of the "walk and talk" is about the sound the knife makes, which is connected to the power of the back spring as well as the design of the blade base and possibly the halfway stop. For the first part of the movement up to the halfway stop I would put at about 6.5 (out of 10) and the rest slightly easier, about 6. It would actually have been preferable if it had been the other way around as it is the last bit that determines how much the back spring resists when the knife is to be folded. But Hedgehog still performs that task with honor.

Then there is another detail in this knife that adds to the fact that it is a modern traditional and that is the stop pin found in the frame. Older knives do not have that finesse, and if they are not extremely well built, there is often a risk that the edge hits the inside of the handle when folded, whereupon the edge is damaged. It cannot happen here. The stop pin meets the blade in front of the ricasso. Traditionalists don't like such inventions, but on the other hand, they rarely appreciate Chinese-made knives at all if you have to be picky. Personally, I think it's an excellent addition!

I stängt läge finns en tendens till att man kan känna övergångarna mellan ryggfjäder och material och ännu lite mer i halvöppet läge. Men det är mest kameran som avslöjar

Such knives are best closed with two hands. But if you want to do it with one hand, it's fine. Just press hard with your index finger on the blade spine and let the blade fall back to the halfway stop. Then twist the knife in your hand to finish the closure with your thumb. Then be careful to keep your fingers away from the blade groove. Hedgehog closes with authority in the last bit.

The quality of a slip joint can be demonstrated by studying how the back spring works and looks in different positions. Here it is excellent. In the closed position, there is an extremely small edge between the frame and the back spring. It is hard to see but can be felt if you run a fingernail across the back. In the middle position, the same applies and in the open position, the back is completely smooth. The transitions can hardly be discerned with the eye, nor can you feel them. Nice work!

To Carry

Hedgehog is not a very heavy knife even though the frame is not lightened. The reason is, of course, mainly that it is small, but also that the carbon fiber in the handle is very light. This gives a total weight of just over eighty grams. Then the sides are rounded as said and the same can be said about the other parts of the knife. The sharp edge on the upper side of the blade is basically completely hidden and thus does not cause any problems either. Overall, this makes this a knife that easily disappears into a pocket. Possibly the purist may object that it is slightly thicker than some traditional knives are. But in return, some of them have several blades and then that rule does not apply anyway.

When not carrying the Hedgehog lose in my pocket, I use this sheath

But it is loose in a pocket or in a sheath that the knife must be carried. In accordance with the traditional part of the knife, it does not have a clip. In this case, I don't mind. I know there are those who are almost religious in their approach to clips, but I do not belong to that group.

I alternate between carrying this knife loosely in a pocket on a hoodie or jacket, alternatively in a case from MKM that I use. It has a strong magnet that allows it to be attached to the inside of trousers or jeans pockets. An excellent sheath by the way. 

To Conclude

To achieve a good folding knife in the "slip joint" segment, there are some basic requirements that must be met. One is to have a blade that actually cuts really well. Perhaps all folding knives should have that, but that is not always the case and here it is a must as you should preferably not stab or pry with this type of knife at all. Next, a good handle suitable for the said task is required in order to take advantage of that characteristic. In addition, you need a back spring that is strong enough so that the user does not feel nervous when using the knife. In order to demonstrate build quality and contribute to that security, in addition to a good fit in the materials in general, a back spring that is well-fitted is also needed. Of course, it doesn't hurt if the knife looks good too!

All these requirements are met with flying colors by Hedgehog. It becomes particularly clear at the back spring as it is easy for small gaps to creep in between it and the frame so that light shines through if you examine it closely. That is not the case here. Not even if you hold the knife up to a light source. It is thus a solid build. Incidentally, this applies to all other areas as well, not least transitions between materials, overall feel, and factory edge.

Then it must be admitted that it looks good. In addition to the above, there are more detailed criteria that add to the epithet "modern traditional".

"Better knife, Better Life" is QSP's slogan and maybe there is something in it?

A knife like Hedgehog differs from old-time slip joints on a couple of points, it concerns areas such as

• The materials are modern, which means competent stainless steel and sides in advanced carbon fiber
• The knife has phosphor bronze bushings
• A stop pin is included to prevent the blade from hitting the inside of the handle
• The construction is screwed, which means that the knife can be dismantled 
• Adjustable pivot screw enables play to be corrected and the walk to be trimmed

The traditional part means in turn that

• the knife has no lock
• has not been fitted with a clip
• has a blade shape that leans toward the more traditional

Then it's just for you to think about whether the latter points are an advantage or a disadvantage. It also adds simplicity to the knife and makes it somewhat more socially acceptable. The appearance is non-aggressive and the two-handed opening signals "pocket knife" and not "weapon" in the eyes of the public.

QSP Hedgehog is an excellent candidate for anyone looking for a slip joint for EDC use

Admittedly, this knife struggled a bit at the concept stage as I don't really like this blade shape. Even so, I wanted to give it a chance. Then when it's done this well, it's just a matter of giving up and admitting defeat. You go a long way with charm, an excellent ergonomic handle, and a blade that cuts like a laser. Especially as the materials are well chosen and the price affordable. 

Given the results of this venture from QSP, I can do nothing but recommend this knife. 

QSP

Specification:

Length Overall: 168 mm

Length Folded: 95 mm

Weight: 81g

Blade Length: 73 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: Sandvik 14C28N, HRC 59-61

Handle: "Golden" carbon fiber

Lock: none, slip joint

Produced by: QSP, made in China

/ J 

* But even knives such as Victorinox use that construction. It is not wrong to make knives that way, but the action is rarely as smooth as with some form of bushings or bearings.

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Review Viper Gobbo

- a revitalized classic

I can begin by stating that Gobbo is a very successful fusion between old and new. The exterior boasts simple but elegant lines that are recognizable from knives used by, among others, shepherds in the area of Abbruzzi in Italy for many generations back. These are classic shapes and ditto materials with wood or horn in the handle. That was the case then and that is also what is present in this model from Viper Knives.

So far, everything appears traditional, but not everything is as it seems. The twist comes in how the knife is built and assembled and in how the blade is held in place. Something I intend to talk more about in this review.

Viper Knives Gobbo

First of all, it can be mentioned that this is a typical example of a limited edition, even if it is not an extremely small one. More specifically, 1000 pieces of this variant have been made, of which this is number 561. This is stated in an accompanying certificate.

In this case, the knife has a handle in olive wood. If you want a different look, it is also available in dark cocobolo or with a horn handle. As with all-natural materials, the appearance varies between different specimens of the knives.

The designer and knifemaker behind this reinterpretation is Fabrizio "Silvestri" Silvestrelli, a gentleman who often collaborates with Viper Knives. He has started from a regional knife pattern from Abbruzzi and then designed a knife that is basically modern. 

Gobbo, the elegant humpback from Abbruzzie

Twitter version: Viper Gobbo, an excellent fusion between old and new. A wolf in traditional shepherd's knife clothes!

Blade

Knives quite obviously consist of a handle and a blade. In this case, the shape of both is very characteristic of the pattern. When it comes to the blade it means that it is a very streamlined and slim drop point. It is also straight and instead, the handle offers the curvature.

The length of the blade is 8.5 cm a bit depending on where you measure and the height is 2.3 cm. The thickness of the blade is rather restrained by 3.2 mm. A thickness which, however, is only found at the ricasso and parts of the spine as the blade tapers towards the tip.

The knife has a rather slim drop point blade 

The blades of classic Gobbo knives can have different grinds. They can be both saber- or like here, flat ground. In addition, this specific blade is characterized by the fact that it has a rather polished satin finish. The markings are Vipers standard with model name and logo on one side and in addition, Silvestri's logo is put on the ricasso. On the opposite side, you'll find the serial number as well as the city of Maniago's seal of quality. Overall, maybe a tad too many markings, but not so much that it hurt my eyes.

One detail typical for Viper knives is the softly rounded blade spine. This makes it extra comfortable to place a thumb there when cutting.

I'm not entirely friends with the choice of steel in this knife. It's 440A. Very simple steel that has the advantage for the manufacturer that it is easy to shape and polish. For the user, the positive can be said that it is extremely rust-resistant and that it is easy to sharpen. The latter may be needed as it is very soft and keeps the sharpness rather poorly.

The factory edge was okay, at best. It tilts slightly on the right side which is visibly steeper than the left/presentation side. It is also lower towards the ricasso and slightly wider further out on the blade. In addition, the "plunge line" is slightly too sweeping, which means that the edge is not sharp all the way. The sharpness was nevertheless good. It shaved hair with some pressure on arrival.

No. 561 out of 1000 had deserved a slightly better edge

Flat ground blades with these proportions and this shape are generally very all-around. This applies here as well. The tip is really effective and the blade shape offers a sweeping long belly and a small piece of a straight edge to work with. Since the tip is placed relatively low compared to the handle, you do not need to tilt the wrist so much if you want to use it or the outer part of the blade to cut with. Something that can be a problem for knives with a wider belly or higher tip such as hunting knives made for skinning.

Then it is noticeable that the blade shape has developed and refined over the centuries. It works for most things except specialized tasks such as skinning a moose or cutting carpets. But to what it is intended to do, being a typical pocket knife, it is brilliant. To cut string or rope, shred cardboard, cut pieces of cloth, carve a distance marker for knife throwing, and other everyday things. Yes, the latter is perhaps not an everyday chore for anyone but to me personally, I suspect.

Gobbo is also excellent as a picnic knife. For tasks such as slicing salami and tomato or cutting a piece of cheese and slicing fruit, it is exemplary. I can imagine how the shepherd used the knives for just such things. The flat-ground blade glides elegantly through most foods and here the simple steel is actually a strength since it's very stainless. This type of work does not require a particularly durable edge either.

Handle

The handle exudes apparent simplicity that hides a modern construction. What is first seen is the curved shape that gave the knife its name. The interpretation of how curved a "Gobbo" should be varying from manufacturer to manufacturer, I have noticed. Of course, the beautiful handle slabs in olive wood are also visible. They are sanded to the limit where you can talk about polished. So far it is a traditional build.

In addition, it can quickly be stated that modern inventions such as clips, lanyard holes, and the like are absent. It also reflects what the knives have always looked like. The first impression is also that Gobbo is very light. A very good feature of a pocket knife.

The handle with its "hump" is typical for the model 

The weight is low despite Gobbo having a polished stainless steel frame. Something which also applies to some of the older knives but not all. The frame should be added, not that they are stainless. They were not. So far no deviation from the classic. But the way it is put together and how the wooden sides are attached are tell signs that this is a modern knife.

The frame is, as on all folding knives from Viper Knives, softly rounded. No sharp edges or corners are found here! The sides are screwed on the frame with three very small screws with slotted heads. Usually, I might have had objections to the size and choice of screws but not in this case. This is not a knife that needs to be disassembled all the time. But you can do it if you so wish. If you do, an adjustable pivot screw will be found under the scales. There are also two slightly stronger screws which are the ones that together with the pivot screw actually hold the knife together.

Gobbo is something as unusual as an open-back slip joint

The way in which the knife is open in the back is also modern. Here there are two hourglass-shaped spacers. Otherwise, it is completely open. It provides a lighter and in this case better-balanced knife. The latter is speculation on my part as I have not handled older versions of this knife pattern but this one has a completely neutral balance. This type of construction is made possible thanks to modern technology in the "locking" mechanism. And since Gobbo doesn't have a back spring there is also a stop pin, a bolt that takes care of the forces from the blade when you use it. 

This is how good it gets when a handle shape that has been refined for generations has been interpreted by a master!

Holding and working with this knife is pure joy. It is noticeable that this model had time to develop with small steps at a time. The curvature of the handle, the wood, and the rounded shape that is still oval are things that contribute to good ergonomics. The shape makes the knife easy to grip while you can index it in your hand even if it's dark. It also prevents it from rotating in the hand when you put some force behind a cut. That is something that can actually be done with this knife, even though it is something I rarely do. After all, it's a bit of a collector's knife for me.

The sophisticated shape makes all grips work and well. I would like to see the hand that does not appreciate this handle. Possibly except for those who prefer the more military-style of knives where friction and maximum grip are what is sought. Of course, you do not get that with a slender, polished wooden handle. But it is not needed either.

Opening and Lock

A knife in the traditional style can of course only be opened in one way and that is with two hands. This also applies to Gobbo as well. Something else would be blasphemous.

Enough blade is visible to grip with the fingers without the addition of a nail nick

This knife does not have any kind of nail nick or the like to facilitate access to the blade. But in return, enough is visible to grasp around so no problems arise in that regard. Possibly it can be said that the detent couldn't be stronger as the polished blade does not provide the best traction for the fingertips. But the balance between resistance and grip on this knife is excellent. Speaking of which, I would put the "pull" that people talk about when it comes to slip joints to a four. This is the resistance required for the opening of the knife. 

"Walk and Talk" is another term that describes how slip joints feels and sounds when the knife is opened and closed. Gobbo is a bit special in this respect and differs from more historical knives and this means that the walk itself have more resistance than what many slip joints offer. The knife also lacks a halfway stop. The sound that occurs when the knife is fully extended or the blade is back in the handle is distinct and fully audible.

A naked Gobbo. Here you can see the finely worked wood that encloses the frame, the adjustable pivot screw, the screws that hold the frame together, and one of the springs for the "Action stopper" system

What makes the knife behave a little differently than older slip joints is that this knife, like some others from Viper, is equipped with "Action stopper". It is a modern variant of slip joints where the resistance instead of coming from a back-mounted spring is achieved by double detent balls built into the frame. One in each liner. 

This mechanism comes with both advantages and disadvantages as I see it. The force that holds the blade in open position can not be compared with the strongest traditional knives, among other things. But in return, it increases freedom on the design front. For example, you can make knives open in the back as in this case. Then I can imagine that this solution is easier to manufacture as it does not require the same precision to work optimally. You can even adjust the spring pressure yourself if you wish. Furthermore, it of course makes the knife handle lighter, which adjusts the total weight downwards, and not least, it contributes to the overall balance being improved because the handle is less heavy.

The function itself, I would say, is equal to the average slip joint design. The blade is solid enough not to fold if you, for example, bump into something with the back when working with the knife.

To Carry

Now we are far from clips and other modern additions. This knife is carried loosely in a pocket or possibly in an accompanying leather case if you want to protect the surface of your beauty. However, Gobbo is very sympathetic in a pocket. This is a real "pocket knife", not a folding pry bar that can possibly be forced into a pocket with a lot of effort and some force, unlike some modern folding knives. The rounded shapes do not create any problems and the same applies to the polished wooden surface.

Gobbo comes with a soft leather case or rather a bag

Both the back and front have rounded corners and the outer shape is, as previously mentioned, curved. It can also be emphasized that on this model there is no sharp corner on the ricasso that protrudes and create problems when the knife is folded.

The leather case that comes with the knife is more of  a bag than a leather sheath. As protection, it works well but is not something I use too often. Most of the time I carry the knife loosely in a pocket but make sure that there is nothing else in the pocket that can scratch the wooden surface. That is the disadvantage of such polished surfaces. They show traces of use fairly easily.

Then Gobbo has a property that is the icing on the cake or whatever you want to call it. It is ultralight! We are talking about a knife that has a blade that measures closer to nine centimeters but still weighs a paltry 85 grams. It is really noticeable or rather not noticeable in the pocket. The only thing that can be noted is the length as it is not a really small knife after all. It measures eleven centimeters folded. 

To Conclude

Gobbo is a typical example of how time combined with generations of users can shape a knife to near perfection. The beauty of the deceptively simple lines reappears when the knife is held in the hand. This is a classic pocket knife! Attractive to look at and sympathetic to use.

This time, Silvestri and Viper Knives have brought to life a regional knife pattern from Abbruzzi in an exemplary way. The typical look with its characteristic handle has been paired with a dose of modern technology, which means that the knife can be considered a "modern traditional" as they are sometimes called today.

In comparison with some other wood-handled knives from Viper, it can be seen that Gobbo is not a small knife

For the modern, the construction is based on a steel frame with an open back, spacers, and a stop pin for the blade. Something that breaks with what older knives looked like while making it both lighter and better balanced. In addition, a variant of slip joint called Action stopper is found that holds the blade in place in both the closed and open position. It is also the technology that enables the open back.

This knife has a very sympathetic handle despite the name. "Gobbo" means humpback in Italian, as I understand it, and refers to the bend that the handle makes before it slopes downwards. Polished olive wood is both a nice and very light material and thus excellent for pocket knives. Not by modern standards, perhaps when you almost want to know what size of rasp the handle material corresponds to. But here it is soft and comfortable to the hand while it is very attractive to look at. Then I would not have objected to this knife with a black polished horn handle either. 

But I wonder if Viper thought of this specific model as a pure collector's knife? By all means, the numbering gives a hint that it is and that it can be found under the heading "Gentlemen and Collection" on the website. But also the choice of steel points in that direction as it is easy to manufacture but otherwise does not have many forgiving qualities compared to what is available nowadays. Why did they not use, for example, the N690, which is something of a staple at Viper otherwise?

Viper Gobbo with roots in Abruzzo is a revitalized classic

However, that is one of the few objections I have. Otherwise, Gobbo is thoroughly sympathetic as it is both stylish to look at and practical. Here form not only follows function but is enhances it! It is one of the most beautiful knives I own and it is also comfortable to hold and work with. Especially as the blade is really effective. Then it must be admitted that it is only used for very light tasks. For rough work, I have other edged tools. It is, after all, a limited edition. It also means that if you want to buy one, I would not wait too long.

Specifications:

Length Overall: 202 mm

Length Folded: 112 mm

Weight: 85 g

Blade Length: 85 mm

Blade Thickness: 3,2 mm

Blade Steel: 440 A, HRC 55-57

Handle: Olive Wood

Lock: slip joint / "Action stopper"

Produced by: Viper Knives, made in Italy

/ J -

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