Special report: Christmas knives from $40 to $600 – Part 2

In this article we will offer you a selection of knives – basically to but not necessarily EDC types – and a few variations on the theme to suggest some gift ideas. We have chosen knives with a price range from very affordable to rather expensive (considering that they are industrial products), trying to differentiate the range as much as possible but without looking for unnecessary extravagance. Naturally, this report does not pretend to exhaust the topic, but only to give you some pointers in anticipation of Christmas shopping. Happy reading!

Maserin – A masterpiece

Maserin boasts a long collaboration with Attilio Morotti, master of the Italian Knifemakers' Guild, which over the years has led to the creation of many successful models. The one you see in the picture, called the 372 Daga, is certainly one of the most fascinating ever and we have no doubt that it will win over the hearts of enthusiasts, always sensitive to the elegance of a symmetrical blade. Although Maserin also offers it with a splendid Damascus Small Roses blade, we preferred the Elmax version, which is more suitable for the frequent use that this folder, in our opinion, deserves by virtue of its nothing less than perfect dimensions, the solid titanium frame-lock and the extremely fast front flipper which, without disturbing the bold and essential design, allows for a truly lightning-fast opening, concluded by a resounding and reassuring snap. The half of the handle where the spring is cut is made from a sandblasted titanium billet, while the other half is FatCarbon, in a choice of black/silver, black/blue and black/gold color combinations. Our favourite is the last one, as it combines the advantages of the durable and environmentally insensitive synthetic material with an aesthetic reminiscent of the delicacy of maple briar. Some will regret the lack of a pocket clip, while others would have branded it as blasphemy on such an elegant folder. Certainly both factions will be happy to find in the package a leather pouch with contrasting stitching, which allows Morotti's masterpiece to be carried without spoiling its clean lines.

Technical specifications

Lionsteel – Innovation does not stand still

Ten years after the birth of the T.R.E. folding knife, a model that is still in production and whose name alludes to the various ways in which it can be opened ("tre" in Italian means "three"), Lionsteel presented the Q4ttro, which represents its natural evolution and, as you may have guessed knowing that "quattro" means "four", offers an additional option for deploying the blade: the new folder allows us to use the (removable) flipper that protrudes from the handle back, the through milling on the blade, the front flipper that protrudes from the front of the handle, or opt for a two-handed opening. The mechanism is a frame-lock with the handle frame made from solid titanium, as is the clip, while the handle scale can be chosen in a wide variety of variants, ranging from titanium and carbon fiber, to Micarta Burlap and G10. On the specimen in this report, the scale is bronze-colored anodised titanium, with a FatCarbon insert. The blade is made of MagnaCut, one of the best alloys currently available for knives, and deploys lightning fast thanks to ceramic ball bearings. In addition to the numerous opening options, the Q4ttro can be appreciated for its excellent balance of shapes, making it an excellent folder for frequent use, as well as for its absolute manufacturing perfection, which has now become Lionsteel's trademark: the mechanics work flawlessly and the FatCarbon insert, which embellishes the handle of our model, is made with great precision. In addition to the knife, the package also includes two keys for adjustment and maintenance, also made by Lionsteel.

Technical Specifications

Microtech – A collaboration at the highest level

The Microtech Stitch is the result of a collaboration between two famous names in world cutlery: Anthony Marfione, knifemaker and founder of the company, and Sebastijan Berenji, also known as Borka Blades. Initially, it was an exclusive custom automatic folder, then produced in an excellent but more accessible industrial version, and finally in this variant with the very rugged RAM-LOK bar lock. The Stitch's design is dominated by the wide spear point blade, made unmistakable by its wide through milling and generous recesses for the thumb and forefinger, which not only give it aggressiveness but also make it particularly easy to handle. The steel is Bohler M390, an alloy made by powder metallurgy, capable of offering excellent cutting qualities, especially with this type of geometry. The handle is anodised aluminum, embellished with a dense texture of very precise diagonal grooves, which improves grip; craftsmanship is nothing less than masterly, as one would expect from a Microtech branded knife. On each side, the handle has a milled seat intended to accommodate the sturdy stainless steel pocket clip. The Stitch livery shown in this article is the successful combination of a light brown anodisation with a black PVD treatment, but it is only one of many variants available.

Technical Specifications

Prandi – Italian pride

Whether you have a fireplace or are an outdoor enthusiast, you will certainly appreciate the performance of a quality hatchet and, like us, you will have to put up with the poor quality products that usually crowd the big hardware shops. Fortunately for us enthusiasts, there are still high-quality "Made in Italy" alternatives, such as the tools offered by Prandi. Of all the models in the company's catalog, for our Christmas review we have chosen a special limited edition of their "German Hatchet", with a 600-g head made of AISI 1045 carbon steel: an ideal size for both home use and to accompany us in the woods, which combines adequate power with limited weight and bulk. The salient characteristic of this special edition is the treatment of the hickory wood  handle, or American walnut if you prefert: a very hard and shock-resistant wood, ideal for a tool of this type. In this particular version it is embellished with a sublimation printing that recalls the root wood texture without however raising the final price as the precious material would, leaving us the pleasure of really using the tool. Another peculiarity is the differentiated tempering of the cutting edge with respect to the rest of the head. Depending on whether you use it at home, carry it in the side pocket of a rucksack or want to have it on your belt, the Prandi picozzino can be equipped with a simple blade protector or a pocket with belt loop, both in leather and purchasable separately, as is the relevant belt.

Technical Specifications

Antonini Old Bear – A silent evolution

The Old Bear by Antonini is a knife with an antique flavor, made with modern materials and technology, although many processes are still carried out by hand; thus the Italian manufacturer manages to combine the charm of tradition with the precision of the industrial era. If appearance is that of a classic knife that could date back to the last century, the steel is a modern stainless type with cryogenic treatment and, always with a view to the continuous product improvement, the previous riveted pin has recently been replaced by a Torx T8 screw, which allows more precise assembly, better operation, simplifying adjustment and maintenance. ATorx T8 L-key is included. The characteristic detail of the Old Bear is certainly the slide-lock safety, which slides inside the brass collar and locks the blade in both the open and closed positions. Compared to other similar systems, it has the advantage that it allows the knife to be closed with one hand, while two hands are used to open it, with the help of the traditional nail nick. The main model with the clip point blade comes in five sizes, from 150 to 230 mm in overall length. Ours is an M size, an ideal compromise between portability and usability. The blade is either W 1.4060 stainless steel or C67 high carbon steel. There are many possible handles and instead of boring you by listing them, we invite you to visit the official website; our favourite is the Italian olive wood, because of the scent and the beautiful grain, which makes each knife unique.

Technical Specifications

Sencut Draxor: beautiful and affordable

Sencut is the cadet brand of WeKnife and it shows. In its catalog we find many simple but not trivial folding knives, sold at very affordable prices. The same applies to the Draxor, which can be bought online for less than $40. This is an EDC folding knife with a Sheepsfoot-profile blade and liner lock with G10 handle also with a two-tone finish, which adds a touch of undeniable charm. The blade made of 9Cr18MoV steel is 94 mm long and 3 mm thick and is deployed by means of a side flipper or the classic thumb stud located on both sides. It uses a caged ceramic ball bearing that ensures an extremely smooth action. The Sheepsfoot blade has a straight edge and a back that curves sharply downwards towards the tip, and is suitable for precision cuts on soft materials. In addition, the blade has a "finger choil", i.e. a notch near the heel into which the index finger, if necessary, can be placed without fear of it sliding towards the edge. This makes the Draxor an excellent paring knife, one of the most frequent tasks for the EDC knife in urban areas. Depending on the version, the blade finish is either satin or black. The G10 handle of the Draxor measures 126 mm and offers a good grip surface for the user's hand thanks to the fine tecture. In terms of aesthetics, models with a central panel in a contrasting color (grey/black or green/black) certainly have an edge. The stainless steel clip is blued and allows the knife to be carried tip-up. The weight of the Draxor is 132 grams: not a feather, but there is a lot of metal. The Sencut Draxor is a knife designed for everyday carry, with a slightly longer than average blade and an overall size that makes it more suitable for users with XL-sized hands. The price of the Draxor is very affordable: around $40.

Technical Specifications

Spyderco PITS 2: a outside-of-the-box folder 

This original folding knife from Spyderco demonstrates the cosmopolitan spirit of the company from Golden, Colorado. The PITS 2, like its predecessor PITS, takes its name from the abbreviation of "Pie in the Sky", the pseudonym that the British knife maker Mike Read uses on British knife forums. Having cleared up this little mystery, we continue by telling you that this knife is made in Italy and for the blade uses German Böhler M398 steel, also known as Microclean. The PITS2 can therefore be described as the result of international cooperation. From a technical point of view, the PITS2 is just as interesting as from a geographical point of view, as it is a knife with a non-locking mechanism (due to legal reasons), and this is where the touch of knifemaker Mike Read comes in. The PITS 2 was designed to be sold in countries where it is forbidden to carry knives with locking mechanisms; therefore, it relies on a friction system to prevent the blade from accidentally closing. The non-locking mechanism consists of two integral spring arms machined into the handle scales. The forward end of these arms, which supports the blade pivot, flexes as the blade is opened to provide pressure for its notched-joint mechanism to bear against the stop pin. There are no buttons or liners to press. To open the blade there is the characteristic Spyderco hole, which works as well as ever. A feature of this knife is its perfect symmetry: simply move the clip to the desired side, or remove it altogether. The mechanism is in fact completely mirror-image. Of course, the PITS2 is not a classic Spyderco knife, but that is precisely why it could be a surprise for an enthusiast. The price of $350 is not exactly affordable, but is nevertheless justified by the build quality and the prestige conferred by the Spider brand.

Technical Specifications

Helle Futura, traditional with panache

Why not consider a nice Scandinavian knife? After all, Father Christmas lives in Finland, more precisely in Rovaniemi, where Martiini, perhaps the most famous manufacturer of Nordic-style blades, is also based. However, we would like to represent the category with a model produced by Helle based in Holmedal, Norway. Initially presented in 2002, this hunting knife in pure Scandinavian style has recently been reintroduced in the company's catalogue at the great request of its fans. Designed by German Herman Wolf, a fan of the Helle brand, the Futura is a good example of how to revisit a classic and extremely crystallised design such as that of the Scandinavian knife, without distorting it but giving it that extra touch of versatility given by the drop-point blade. The steel used for the blade exclusively by Helle is H3LS trilaminate, consisting of two outer layers of stainless steel and a high carbon steel core. The blade has a length of 105 mm and a thickness of 3.1 mm and takes up the classic "Scandi" profile but with a slightly lowered tip, so that it can also be used for eviscerating wild game in the field. The grind is also typically Scandinavian, with straight sides that make it ideal for wood carving. The mirror-polished finish does the rest and makes this Helle Futura an ideal choice for more traditional bushcraft. The handle is made of curly birch, with a semi-anatomical profile and a false guard consisting of two leather plates alternating with two steel ones. The handle is very comfortable: unfortunately, the example we were given was made of a rather ordinary wood, but if you have the choice, you can find Futuras with a very intricate and aesthetically pleasing burlwood handle. The Helle Futura comes with a leather sheath that extends to almost completely envelop the handle. The retail price of the Futura is around 140 euros, which is appropriate for a knife that represents both Scandinavian style and that desire to say something new that dwells in the heart of every knifemaker. Because the quest for perfection in knives will never end...

Technical Specifications