KNIVES INTERNATIONAL REVIEW # 2016 15

N°15/74A 2016

INTERNATIONAL KNIVES REVIEW

INTERNATIONAL KNIVES REVIEW

THE MAGAZINE OF EXCELLENCE IN KNIVES AND BLADES

IN THIS ISSUE Milan CIC Show 2015 Viper Vox, third strike Benchmade No Compromise Lionsteel M... like Molletta

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KNIVES INTERNATIONAL REVIEW N. 15/74A - 2016

Cover: Alexandre Musso

Editorial Director Roberto Canali

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Milan CIC Sh ow 20 Vipe 15 r Vox, thir Bench d strike mad e No C om Lionst promise eel M... li ke M ollett a

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Managing Director Filippo Camperio Chief Administrative Officer Silvia Cei Editorial Staff Massimiliano Duca (redazione2@caffeditrice.it), Gianluigi Guiotto (coltelli@caffeditrice.it) Graphic Designers Jessica Licata, M-House Ed. di Luca Morselli Studio grafico Stefano Oriani English Version IT-wire srl (info@it-wire.com) Tommaso Rumici (zatodesign@gmail.com) Contributors Gianni Daffara, Alfredo Doricchi, Fabio Ferrari, Vincenzo Goffredo, Tommaso Rumici, Vincenzo Tumbiolo, Luigi “Sator” Tumolo, Giuseppe Vernocchi, Marco Dell’Acqua, Marta Cammilletti, Giorgio Alessandri, Francesco Pascoli, Francesco Pachì, Roberto Allara, Mauro Maggi International Advertising Luca Gallina +39 347 26 86 288 vendite3@caffeditrice.it Italian Advertising Paolo Maggiorelli +39 349 4 33 69 33 vendite1@caffeditrice.it Published by C.A.F.F. Editrice via Sabatelli, 1 - 20154 Milano tel. +39 02 34537504 fax +39 02 34537513 knives@caffeditrice.com www.caffeditrice.com Milan Court Registration Number n. 521 issued on 10/09/2001.

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Milan CIC SHOW 2015

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Viper KYOMI

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Benchmade H&K AXIS FOLDER CLIP POINT

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Lionsteel M5

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EVENTS

CIC Show 2015 Great knifemakers with works of main relevance at the event organized by the Italian Knifemakers Corporation at the end of last November. The spacious Marriot Hotel hall in Milan has hosted more than 80 exhibitors that have attracted almost a thousand visitors. KIR staff was there and here you'll find the best blades we could admire on the tables of the show

by Gianluigi Guiotto, Massimiliano Duca and Francesco PachĂŹ

Antonio Farina celebrates his 20 years of activity with the Panther dagger, with a blade (180 mm long, and an overall length of 340 mm) in Bohler N690Co, antiqued bronze bolster and rosewood handle.

It's enclosed in a magnificent solid wood box

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First time at the CIC Show for the Brazilian Roger Glasser: we took a picture of his Persian Style, an integral in 1095 steel, forged by Roger himself

Luciano Fin, Persian Fantasy, a damascus by A. Favero - blade, treated beechwood root and walrus tooth handle. The scrimshaw is by Cinzia Sansoni.

Hand sewed leather sheath. Total length: 320 mm

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EVENTS

Keith Ouye arrived in the foggy Milan from the far Hawaii: we chose this liner-lock with flipper lock and 416 steel blade. The handle is in titanium 6Al-4V. The carvings are by Luca Casari - Beretta Master Engraver. Total length: 229 mm

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Elisabeth Loerchner, Eclipse, lock-back folder with 440C steel blade and 416 steel handle. Total length: 203 mm

Cesare Tonelli, Boot Fighter, fixed blade in 440C steel tempered at 59 Hrc, bolster in Aisi 416, and sambar deer horn handle. Pins and the small tube are in stainless steel. Total length: 180 mm

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EVENTS

Paolo Calaresu, Pozzomaggiore, friction folder with a three-bars damascus steel blade, and ivory handle. Total length: 280 mm

The Folding Knife is the first of its kind by Michael Jankowsky that sports his patented system “double lock-back�. The handle is in bronze carbon and bolsters in titanium

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The Mozzetta by Pierluigi Gulli is a pump folder, with sanmai carbon damascus blade and handle in buffalo horn. Liners are file worked. Total length: 245 mm

A pump folder by Valter Merli: sports a Rwl 34 steel blade, 416 stainless steel bolster engraved by Luca Bertella. The handle is made of mammoth fossil ivory.

Total length: 200 mm

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EVENTS

Truly remarkable the Roteor by Sergio Ramondetti, a folder 200 mm long with a a Rwl 34 steel blade, micarta handle and liners and spine in titanium

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Sandro Boeck - a Brazilian lawyer from Porto Alegre, creates knives as a passion. His Hunter has a mosaic damascus blade, Turkish damascus bolster and treated wood handle.

The name clearly states the hunting purposes of this knife.

From the French Riviera, and more precisely from the famous Juan-lesPins, Gary Headrick brought here in Milan his double-spring folder that opens with a ball bearing.

Gianferrari is the creator of the damascus, whereas the bolsters are in Gibeon meteorite The handle is in Pietersite, a stone from the Namibian desert. Liners are in titanium. Total length: 155 mm

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EVENTS

The author, Luca Pizzi, is part of the the team "Coltellinai forgiatori bergamaschi" (Forger-Knifemakers of Bergamo), a Research lab that focuses on damascus steel, and his liner-lock is called Bergamasco. The blade is a mosaic damascus depicting a typical antique scene of the Camuni (ancient population of the Val Camonica during the Iron Age); the handle is fossil ivory and the closing pin is damascus and a mounted opal

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Roberto Ottonello not only is a very nice guy, but also a great knifemaker. In Milan has displayed the Da barca, with a Ma5M steel blade and a marlinspike - enclosed in the handle with a inner spring - in 440C steel, and Teak handle. It has a total length of 245 mm, and a leather sheath

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EVENTS

Gianluigi Simonella, aka Wilson, displayed this fixed sporting a Rwl steel blade and bolster in 416 stainless steel, with a warthog tooth handle. Its total length is 240 mm, the leather sheath is upholstered with lizard skin

Pietro Elias displays his Logudorese, a lock-back with a N690 and Aisi 416 steel blade, mouflon horn handle and mosaic pins. Total length: 280 mm

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Questo si che è un coltello (This could be actually be a knife) might be the words of a visitor of the show, but instead it's the name chosen by the histrionic Daniele Barban for his last creation. It's a unique model with a Bohler N690 steel blade, and a handle in snakewood, desert ironwood and other synthesis materials

It's called Hunter, and it's a lockback and is one of the latest creations by Leonardo Frizzi. The blade is in Cm154 steel, bolster s are in 416 stainless steel, sambar stag inlays. The decorations are

by Stefano Nardelli

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EVENTS

The Ligurian master crafter of damascus Santino Ballestra displayed on his table this magnificent Special Bowie with blade and guard in san-mai technique forged damascus - of more than 2300 layers by Ballestra; the handle is in African centenarian elephant embellished with brier-root and turquoise. The sheath is ostrich leather. Total length: 335 mm

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Sardinia traditions are recalled with Cardedese by Pier Luigi Piras, friction closing, 12 cm long blade in 14C28 steel, antique ivory handle, details in nickel-silver and engravings by Anton Marinov

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EVENTS

The name chosen by Attilio “Atti” Morotti for his new knife – Infinity – is truly evocative. It's a liner-lock with a Rwl 34 stainless steel blade, 416 stainless steel handle, liners and spacer in engraved stainless steel, engraved Tahiti motherpearl and 18 k gold pin. The burin and gold inserts engravings are by Fabio Bregoli. The total length is 215 mm.

The nice Koji Hara, a regular presence in the Milanese show, has presented his Higonokami-Kumokiri, the blade is VG-10 steel (a steel that holds some vanadium that allows the creation of thin grains, a quality that makes the cut thin and clean) and the handle is steel and shagreen

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Founded more than thirty years ago in the South of Corsica by Franck Thomas, the Coutellerie Lotus creates typical island traditional knives. This is the Salvatigu, a folder created by Thomas with a composite damascus blade (XC75, 15N20, nickel silver) and ram horn handle Bruno Bruna, aka Graciut, has presented this Caccia, 250 mm long, with Sandvik steel blade coated with carbon, and a carbon handle. It's matched with a black leather sheath

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EVENTS

Giuseppe Pala, Daghetta, Rwl-34 steel blade, Aisi 416 steel handle and coral interframe.

The engravings are by Luca Bertella. Total length: 197 mm

Piero Fogarizzu proposes his Foggia nuova, a liner-lock with blade and handle in 320 wavy layers of damascus; the screws are in gold

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Hecletic as ever, Sergio Consoli has presented here in Milan a liner-lock flipper, the Mod. 300 Titanium, with a blade (which rotation is carried out on ball bearings) is in Rwl 34 and the handle is in titanium. The total length is 236 mm.

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EVENTS

Michael West is one of the most important Danish knifemakers; his production started at the beginning of 1980 and in it there are no two equal knives whereas their shapes makes them easily recognizable. Like in his Silverframe with a Rwl-34 and 935silver blade, and a mammoth molar tooth handle

Vasyl Goshovskyy, of Ukrainian origins who lives in Torreblanca, Spain, brought here in Milan his Hunter Loveless, a tribute to the legendary American knifemaker who passed away in 2010. The blade is in Rwl-34, and the bolsters are in 304 steel.

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Integral Hunter is the new fixed by Juergen Schanz. 225 mm long, carries a Rwl steel blade, a micarta handle with engravings by Ralph Salzman and the sheath is leather

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EVENTS

The Luna - Moon - in the eyes of Vincenzo Apostoli. The blade, hammer forged and burin worked, is K100 Bohler and the handle is buffalo horn

Daniele Ibba created the Mazal Dagger, a liner - lock with a damascus stainless steel blade, 416 steel scales with a tortoise interframe. The total length is 190 mm.

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Exotic name, but a total Italian production for this Enigma Cleopatra by Vincenzo B a l i s t re r i w i t h e n g r av i n g s by C a r l o Cavedon, a frame lock flipper with blade and clip in damascus, titanium handle with an overall length of 190 mm. Among the peculiarities of the knife, we notice the lack of visible screws

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EVENTS

Flavio Poratelli, the memorable secretary of the Corporazione Italiana Coltellinai and relentless organizer of the Milanese show, has presented the Santukino, with a selective temper of 1095 steel blade and a handle in bamboo and ebony

Angelo Scotti, Big Bear Damasco, has a damascus blade, and a treated giraffe bone.

The sheath is leather

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Arpad Bojtos, The Maja indian dagger, is a fixed with a blade in damascus steel titanium and gold. The handle is made of gold, silver and walrus fossil ivory. The sheath is made of bone, silver and gold. The engravings are made by Bojtos. Total length: 265 mm

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EVENTS

Lucas Majan has created the Perseus e Medusa just for the 2015 CIC Show. It's half integral, with a Bohler 440 C blade and elephant ivory handle (as per CITES regulations). It's 310 mm long; and among the various materials used, we see ebony, snakewood, gold and silver. The sheath is in snakewood, ebony, yellow silver and camel bone.

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MADE IN ITALY

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WWW.ANTONINIKNIVES.COM - info@antoniniknives.com

FOLDER

Vox, third strike

The Viper Kyomi has been one of the new entries in the Viper 2015 catalog. Created through refined technical solutions, once again testifies to the broad-spectrum abilities of Vox, who was able to create a folder of similar dimensions to the previous model produced with Viper but with a completely different look

by Knives Staff

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1- With his Kyomi, Jesper Voxnaes has successfully carried out the difficult task of designing a new folder with the same dimensions of the Odino, with a completely different design still always very recognizable 2- The new folder comes with two different spacers in anodized titanium. Initially, it was meant to carry just one of the two solutions, but the public loved it so much that both were brought into production

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he Viper Kyomi is the third knife resulting from the collaboration between the Italian manufacturer and the well-known Danish designer Jesper Voxnaes an almost constant presence in the pages of this magazine thanks to his many collaborations with the most famous brands of the worldwide arena. As it was the case for the Odino, we are today in front of a titanium frame lock, very robust and compact.

3- When closed, the Kyomi is compact 31

FOLDER

The dimensions of the two knives are almost identical, acceptable for an ever y-day-carr y even in some Europeans countries. Instead, it's the design that is quite different.Whereas the predecessor was characterized by clean lines that joined creating ro u n d e d e d g e s , t h e Kyo m i h a s sweet curves and smooth surfaces.

Notwithstanding this clear difference, the new-born radiates the same idea of solidity and safety, and moreover, thanks to the smooth lines, it's even more comfortable to hold. Likewise, the carry is comfortable too, as the surfaces of the handle are flat and with no gripping works.

The opening of the blade can be carried out in two ways: using the thumb hole, even when wearing

gloves, or using the very convenient flipper. The rotation flows perfectly and swiftly, as again ball bearings have been used to assist the action.

The structure does not hide surprises.

The right half is in GR5 titanium (Ti6Al4V) and it's where the spring originates from with a tempered steel insert in the point of contact, whereas the opposite half may be in CNC-machined carbon fiber, GR2 titanium or black, orange or olivegreen G-10. The spine of the folder is completely open, except the backward area, where the liners are divided by a spacer.The components are assembled with AISI 303 and AISI 304 screws. What really astonishes are the details: Viper is well-known and appreciated for the precise and

and easy to carry around, as there are no edges and protrusions. The only exception is the lower quillon, that protrudes to act as a flipper

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careful finishings,but with this product they have elevated themselves. The Kyomi is in fact offered in with two different posterior spacers, both in anodized titanium, and deriving from the same block. Even the clip, in CNC-machined GR5 titanium, holds a particular solution. It has been used, on both sides, a special flower-shaped area that allows the use of a single screw to fasten it, avoiding worries of accidental rotations.

The blade is a 4mm thick Böhler N690 Co stainless steel, undergone through a vacuum-seal tempering, double coating, and cryogenic treatment, to reach a final hardness between 57 and 59 Rockwell degrees. The drop point might not sound very exotic, but excels in functionality.

The only problem, should we address it like that, is finding the right version among the many present in the

LM

4- On the high-end series, the one c o m p l e t e ly i n t i t a n i u m a n d t h e o n e p a r t i a l ly m a d e i n c a r b o n , a s i d e t h e stonewashed blade, there is also a satin finish

catalog. The top of the line models, meaning the one completely in titanium and the the one with the left carbon scale, are available with spacers for each design and blade finishing: stonewashed or satin.

The G-10 versions may only have a stonewashed blade, but always with the choice of the two spacers. At the moment, the Kyomi is obtaining a great success, and the demand is way higher than the offer. 

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Another success signed by Vox The demand exceeds the offer

Producer: Viper, www.viper.it Model: Kyomi Designer: Jesper Voxnaes Blade material: Böhler N690 Co Handle material: Carbon fiber; Titanium; G10 Length when open: 182 mm Blade length: 80 mm Blade thickness: 4 mm Weight: 113 g (carbon fiber); 118 g (G-10); 147 g (titanium) Lock type: frame lock

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FOLDER

HB 03 Tactical Folding Knife Blade in CPM S 125 V Description: Blade Length: 92 mm.

Overal Length: 207 mm Blade thickness: 4 mm.

Blade material: CPM S 125 V, stainless steel Blade hardness: 61-62 HRc Blade finish: stone wash Handle material: 6AI4V Titanium Liners - Scales G 10 OD Green Handle thickness: 14 mm.

Weight: 132 g.

Specification and properties of the knife blades.

Chemical Composition %

Steel Carbon Chromium Vanadium Molybdenun HRc CPM S 30V 1,45 14,00 4,00 2,00 61-62 CPM S 125 V 3,30 14,00 12,00 2,50 61-62 440 C 1,30 16/18 0,75 57.58

Wear Resistance Corrosion resistance 9,50 Good 39,00 Very high 4,00 Low

Handle Material 6AL4V Ti liners & G 10 OD GREEN SCALES

The wear resitance by CPM S 125 V is more then 4 times the value of CPM S 30 V. The cutting capability after 60 test strokes by CPM S 30 V is of 800 mm. by CPM S 125 of 3200 mm.

These knives, absolutely anatomic, represent for us and our customers a great success. They are (HB 01, HB 02 & HB 03) on the market from a lot of time and the sales are always well.

It is possible to reach an hardness of HRc 70 bei CPM S 125 V but at the moment we are not looking for that. 34 In the future we will put it on the market to that hardness.

The blade will be not brittle absolutely.

Design by Jesper Voxnaes

kyomi

M A D E I N I TA LY

Kyomi è un frame lock compatto, che unisce l’inconfondibile design di Jesper Voxnaes a finiture curate e soluzioni produttive all’avanguardia, come i cuscinetti a sfere e la possibilità di scegliere fra due diversi distanziali posteriori.

Comodo da impugnare e da portare, grazie all’assenza di spigoli vivi e alla previsione di una robusta clip reversibile in titanio, viene offerto con guancetta sinistra in varie soluzioni di materiali.

Kyomi is a compact frame lock knife which combines the unmistakable design of Jesper Voxnaes with innovative features, such as ball bearings and two different back spacers.

Comfortable to hold and carry, thanks to smooth edges and a robust reversible titanium clip, it is available with the left scale made of different materials.

Tel. +39 0427 700153 · www.tecnocut.net · www.viper.it

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FOLDER

No Compromise Some people say that life is made of compromises, but some other are not willing to take them.

And that is the same in the knife world, where some producers makes you choose between aesthetics and essence, but luckily, there are other producers that offer both things in a single product, like in the case of the Axis by Heckler&Koch

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by Tommaso Rumici

e ck l e r & Ko c h i s a b r a n d that need no presentations: it's the Ger man company t h at c r e at e s s o m e o f t h e m o s t appreciated weapons worldwide. Contrar y to what happens

with brands of the same market area, that often offer blades of a questionable qualities, when we see the HK logo on a knife we rest assured that this is a high-quality product, and is also produced by

The Heckler & Koch Axis folder is the perfect example o f a t a c t i c a l ro b u s t a n d versatile knife, that needs no exaggerated thicknesses or weights to be reliable .

The version of this article, with brown handle and plain cutting edge, is our favorite 36

The clip is solid, it is mounted so that a small part of the handle stays out of the pocket, as per tactical requirements

Benchmade. The Axis folder sent us by Prezioso cutleries, is one of the most versatile models of the Heckler & Koch line. It car r ies, simply put, perfect shapes and dimensions, and a robustness that we would expect from a tactical model. Probably, if you are looking for a EDC, the dimensions are not suitable, but luckily, there is also a "mini" version. On the official website, it's possible to configure different variations, by choosing between a clip or tanto profile o f t h e bl a d e, a bl a ck o r b row n

handle, a plain or combo cutting edge. Our f avorite is the one in the picture: clip point with a plain cutting edge and brown handle.

Actually, we would have liked a stonewashed finishing, but as per t a c t i c a l d e s i g n , t h e re i s o n ly a black anti-glare coating. The blade is in D2, with a clip point profile and a flat main bevel that stretches to the two thirds of its hight. The thickness is the right one, robust but not taken to the extreme as trends may impose against the reality of its use. As the length is 37

SCUBA KNIVES

T h e n a m e c o m e s f ro m t h e l o c k i n g mechanism patented by Benchmade, Axis, and it consists in a steel cylinder pushed by two springs and acts as an opening lock and as closing retention

somehow contained, the producer could reach an hardness of 60-62 Rockwell degrees, enhancing the c u t t i n g p e r fo r m a n c e s , w i t h o u t weakening the Axis. The swedge has mere aesthetic function, offering the knife a clearly more streamlined and bold look.

The blade opens via the ambidextrous pin, which is cy l i n d r i c a n d w i t h c o n c e n t r i c steps at its extremities. It flows on bronze washers in a very fluid way, so much so that there is no need o f t h e s o - t re n dy b a l l b e a r i n g s , 38

c e r t a i n ly m o r e f l u i d bu t m o r e prone in collecting dirt.

The handle is almost rectangular, with few but fundamental ergonomic precautions, that considerably enhance comfor t and maneuverability. The scales a re i n G 1 0 w i t h a f i n e t ex t u re, whereas, as the magnet confirms it, the bearing liners are in b u r n i s h e d s t e e l , l i ke t h e cl i p, and are separated by hour-glass shaped spacer s and generously discharged to lower the weight.

O v e r a l l , t h e h a n d l e i s a lw a y s

comfortable and safe, by properly filling the hand and without s l i p p i n g away. Th e m e ch a n i c a l system is the tested Axis by Benchmade: a steel cylinder pushed by two springs that lock the blade in the open position, and when the knife is closed, it acts a sufficient contrast. It's a solid, ambidextrous architecture, perfect for a folder with tough tasks like the one shown in this article. The only caution, for those that never had a folder with an Axis system, is to get used keeping the middle, ring and little fingers on the handle and away from the line of the cutting edge, as when we backward with thumb and the index the locking cylinder, the blade is free to close thanks to the gravity.

Is the Axis a flawless folder? In our opinion, the only defect is rep re s e n t e d by t h e cl i p, wh i ch upped extremity can be felt a bit too much in the palm of the hand.

Aside this small detail that c a n b e ove rc o m e w i t h a s m a l l modification, this is one of the most valid folders we have had in our hands in the last period.

J L

Practical and robust Clip can be improved

Producer: Benchmade www.benchmade.com Model: H&K Axis folder clip point Distributor for Italy: Prezioso Cutlery, www.preziosocoltellerie.com Blade material: AISI D2 60-62 HRC Handle material: G10 Length when open: 211 mm Blade length: 93 mm Blade thickness: 3.6 mm Weight: 140 g Type of lock: Axis

The spine of the handle is completely open, and carries only two hourglassshaped spacers for the liners. There are areas of the metallic structure that have some knurlings to offer a resting area for the thumb, both on a straight and backward grip

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... 40 anni di passione ed esperienza F.lli Beltrame F&c. snc via dei Fabbri 15/b - 33085 Maniago (PN) ITALY Tel./Fax: +39 0427 701859 www.frankbeltrame.com - info@frankbeltrame.com

COLTELLI SPORTIVI - CACCIA - COLLEZIONE - FANTASY

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SPEDIZIONI IN TUTTA ITALIA GRATUITE OLTRE I 180 EURO Immagini, prezzi (IVA inclusa) e caratteristiche dei prodotti sono da intendersi “SALVO ERRORI, OMISSIONI E/O VARIAZIONI”.

Medford Knives MICRO PRAETORIAN 730 €

Spartan Blades

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Head Office: Via Giordano Giordani, 20 Phone +39.055.846197 Fax +39.055.846603 Shop / showroom: Via Roma, 8 Phone +39.055.8430270

Coltello maresciall manico in corno di bufalo

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Solo nei migliori rivenditori specializzati.

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FIXED BLADE

M... like Molletta In order for a knife to be interesting, it's not necessary to have an original design, it's enough it's properly crafted with proper materials as well as great ergonomics. If some researched machining enriches it, the game is on. And that's the case of the M5 by Lionsteel

by Tommaso Rumici

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1. The Lionsteel M5 is a knife designed to work, with no need of strange shapes to attract the public and that aims to be properly crafted and practical 2. Scales are coated with a thin CNCmachining that gives the handle a superior grip, without being abrasive during a prolonged use

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he fixed ser ies by Lionsteel encompass four models, all with the distinctive letter M followed by an increasing number as the dimension of the knife grows. At the moment, the smallest is the M2, with a 9 cm blade, born from the collaboration with the Italian forum MCKF. We then have the M3, that offers a 1,5 cm longer blade and a more thickness, and to finally get to the M5 - the lead of this article that can count on

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FIXED BLADE

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you will miss the lack of another blade only if you need to use it a s a m a c h e t e o r h at c h e t . L i ke many other Lionsteel design by Michele Pensato, better known as "Molletta", once again he managed a centimeter more of length for to transfer his knowledge as hiker the blade. If this is not yet enough, a n d a r c h a e o l o g i s t e n t h u s i a s t , we can take into consideration with the use of computer aided the M7, with a 18 cm long blade. design programming, like CatiĂ , A m o n g a l l , t h e M 5 i s t h e o n e Solidworks, Inventor, in even more that offers the best mix between innovative and robust products. It w e i g h t , u s e f u l c u t t i n g e d g e , is evident at first glance that this robustness and portability. To carry is a knife to be used. it around all day is no trouble, and A quite simple design, lacking in 3. There are four versions available: two have a wood handle and satin blade, and the other match the black G10 handle with two different steel finishing

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useless frills like the constructive schema - a full tang. It's also immediately clear that great care has been put in the construction, e s p e c i a l ly l o o k i n g at t h e n i c e smooth spine and tang perimeter, the polished CNC machining o n t h e s c a l e s t h a t a dd s s o m e grip without becoming abrasive.

4. The tang is generously discharged, so to reduce the overall weight of the knife and enhance its balance. The discharged areas are far from the most stressed ones

When in hand, you can appreciate t h e p e r f e c t e r go n o m i c s o f t h e grip, free of any sharp edge that may annoy dur ing a prolonged use and that does not leave uncomfor table empty spaces in t h e p a l m . Th e s c a l e s l e ave t h e tang uncovered just before its end, and can be used to hit without fear of r uining it. Here we also find the lanyard hole, that ends up being unobtrusive. The lower quillon is well developed, so it can protect, whereas the upper one is slightly outlined, just to

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FIXED BLADE

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the cutting abilities. There are four variations: two with a satin blade and wooded handle - olive-wood or pau santo; the other two with black G10 and satin blade or Pvd coated and stonewashed.

There are two sheaths: with the G10 models we receive a more give a hint to where the thumb tactical sheath, in Cordura and should rest without imposing it. e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e M O. L . L . E .

The blade is in Sleipner, tempered system and a plastic core. To the to 60-61 Hrc, with a profile at the wooden models a more classic l i m i t o f b e i n g a cl i p a n d d ro p c a s e i n b r o w n l e a t h e r i s t h e point and three quarters bevels, match. It is well crafted but has it is slightly concave to enhance only a belt fastener. In both cases, 5. Depending on the whether you choose wood or synthetic laminate, the sheaths change too. In the first case, you'll be matched with a classic and elegant leather sheath, in the second, with a more military look equipped with MO.L.L.E interface

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J L

Robust and easy to carry Nothing

Producer: L ionsteel, www.lionsteel.it Model: M5 Designer: M olletta (www.mollettaknives.com) Blade material: Sleipner 60-61 HRC Handle material: Olive-tree; G10; Pau santo; G10 Total length: 240 mm Blade length: 115 mm Blade thickness: 4.5 mm Weight: 198g (wood) 241 g (G10) Sheath: leather (wood); Cordura (G10)

LM

the retention is left to the fastener with a snap-button.

It's agreed that the M5 is an ex t r e m e ly va l i d p r o d u c t , wh at ve r s i o n s h o u l d yo u ch o o s e ? I t depends on what you are looking for. The M5 with olive-tree handle weighs 200 grams, whereas the G10 version increases of roughly forty grams. The same can be said for the sheaths: the leather one that is matched to the wooden series is just above 80 grams whereas the nylon one matched to the G10 versions, reaches 120 grams. Obviously, the versions in synthetic materials offer a better resitance to environmental factors and more options to carry them.

On the online version of the Magazine you can see a video here Please visit: http://www.caffeditrice.com/knives/2016-03/index.html

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