- Joined
- May 13, 2015
- Messages
- 841
Hello there! This has been a busy rainy week, so I havent really been out on the trails :grumpy:. This week, my pocket companion was the Profili. I own this knife since a few years now. Just sharing some personal thoughts, my own impressions and some pics, as knife hobbyist and average Joe user 
.
The Blade-Tech Profili folder is the result of a collaboration between Blade-Tech and Fox Knives, designed by Mike Vellekamp. The design of the Profili makes it unquestionably a "tactical-scalpel", a blade designed primarily to be a stabbing tool. The knife in fact, in its distinctive shape, immediately brings to my mind a dagger; its uniqueness, in my eyes, is given by the sinuous curves of the blade and the particular features of the handle. The blade is made out of stainless steel Böhler N690Co. A surface coating is applied, named Idroglider® (family of PTFE) to increase the surface resistance but most probably, I think, for aesthetical reasons (cmon, its tactical!
). The blade, a modified spear point, sports a curvature along the cutting edge, while the back has a depression, which allows a comfortable positioning of the thumb. The handle is made of G10 and was, at the time of my purchase - some years ago - available in several colors (I remember brown, green and black), mine being the black version. Three finger grooves have been milled out from the scales. Liners are also in stainless steel (I think 420J2), as well as the clip, and protrude from the scales, creating an "edge" at the top that would serve as an additional point of impact and where the hole for a lanyard is also housed. The locking system is a simple liner-lock to which has been added a sort of additional, manually activated safe (L.A.W.K.S. type). A fix blade knife with same design was also produced.
This folder has very special and unique design, which I like. I think of it as a sort of modern, not trivial interpretation of a small dagger. All of this knife speaks about its intended use. Frankly speaking, I am not super-comfortable the days I decide to bring it around as EDC... but pocket rotation rules! As for the dogs, one has to walk his knives a bit. The dimensions are, for me, too big to be able to define it a pocket-knife; its shape does not justify any plausible alternative use or justifiable reason to carry (laws here are rather strict in this respect). However, having overcome the odds and set aside the fears, I must say that the Profili performs well as a light utility folder for indoor uses. It came sharp from the factory. This blade turned out to be very good for all the cutting jobs I put it through. I cut the usual stuff from the office/warehouse, boxes, ropes, PP straps, stretch and shrink films, etc. and the Profili proved to be great, comparable to a cutter, with the plus of extra strength. I also cut foods (breads, cold-cuts, vegetables and fruits) with good results. I maintain the blade with a ceramic sharpener rod. Not super-easy, in the beginning, with all these curves. The tip, as delicate at it seems (I would rather not pry with it or twist it hard), is not that delicate in penetration, indeed! The terror of Yellow Pages! This coating, the Idroglider, I cannot complain about. I havent really cut anything that hard or that abrasive these years (as said no outdoor uses), but no big signs of wear and tear so far. It turned out to be excellent in food preparation, where liquids and juices slip away in droplets, with just the same effect of non-sticking pots & pans .
The comfort of the grip also is surprising, in spite of all these finger grooving, gimping, milling, etc. Overall, the grip and ergonomics surprised me very positively (always talking about EDC use, frequent but not prolonged during the day). Only the edge created by the liners, housing the hole for the lanyard, in some cases, gives some disturbances, but, after all, was thought as an additional point of impact. And it is. Lock also is pretty OK. The blade has no play. Anyway, I repeat, this is definitely not a heavy-duty tool. This thing is designed to pierce bellies and cut throats open , not to unhinge armored doors. However no problems at all with the lock, also without engaging the extra safety, within reasonable EDC uses.
The packaging is simple, but perfectly nice and the metal box turned out be useful as a container for small items. All in all, I consider the Profili as an "EDC plus" folder, in terms of size, capable of handling everyday tasks effectively, when what we require from a knife is mainly the cutting capability. Its OK for indoor light utility use but when I tried to use it outdoor, as a hiking/camp knife, it was really struggling. Its not the intended use, anyway, so shame on me
. The value for money, to me, looks all right, considering that the materials used and the technology applied are nothing to brag about but the design, fit & finish and assembly are pretty good. Overall, at least where I live, is not a tool that I would airily carry around, even for a hike. The shape, the look and the public reactions do not make it my ideal partner for EDC. Indeed, again, yesterday I returned it to the knife basket in the garage. Purchase only recommended if one appreciates its particular design. The performances are in line with many other competitors.
Blade: Cobalt vanadium stainless steel Böhler N690
Hardness: HRC 58-60
Surface coating: Idroglider (Teflon coated matte finish)
Handle: G10 (rough textured surface)
Blade length: 100mm.
Total length: 225mm.
Blade thickness: 3mm.
Closed length: 125mm.
Weight: 132g.
Lock: Liner lock - L.A.W.K.S. Safety System
Clip: stainless steel, reversible
. The Blade-Tech Profili folder is the result of a collaboration between Blade-Tech and Fox Knives, designed by Mike Vellekamp. The design of the Profili makes it unquestionably a "tactical-scalpel", a blade designed primarily to be a stabbing tool. The knife in fact, in its distinctive shape, immediately brings to my mind a dagger; its uniqueness, in my eyes, is given by the sinuous curves of the blade and the particular features of the handle. The blade is made out of stainless steel Böhler N690Co. A surface coating is applied, named Idroglider® (family of PTFE) to increase the surface resistance but most probably, I think, for aesthetical reasons (cmon, its tactical!
). The blade, a modified spear point, sports a curvature along the cutting edge, while the back has a depression, which allows a comfortable positioning of the thumb. The handle is made of G10 and was, at the time of my purchase - some years ago - available in several colors (I remember brown, green and black), mine being the black version. Three finger grooves have been milled out from the scales. Liners are also in stainless steel (I think 420J2), as well as the clip, and protrude from the scales, creating an "edge" at the top that would serve as an additional point of impact and where the hole for a lanyard is also housed. The locking system is a simple liner-lock to which has been added a sort of additional, manually activated safe (L.A.W.K.S. type). A fix blade knife with same design was also produced.This folder has very special and unique design, which I like. I think of it as a sort of modern, not trivial interpretation of a small dagger. All of this knife speaks about its intended use. Frankly speaking, I am not super-comfortable the days I decide to bring it around as EDC... but pocket rotation rules! As for the dogs, one has to walk his knives a bit
. The dimensions are, for me, too big to be able to define it a pocket-knife; its shape does not justify any plausible alternative use or justifiable reason to carry (laws here are rather strict in this respect). However, having overcome the odds and set aside the fears, I must say that the Profili performs well as a light utility folder for indoor uses. It came sharp from the factory. This blade turned out to be very good for all the cutting jobs I put it through. I cut the usual stuff from the office/warehouse, boxes, ropes, PP straps, stretch and shrink films, etc. and the Profili proved to be great, comparable to a cutter, with the plus of extra strength. I also cut foods (breads, cold-cuts, vegetables and fruits) with good results. I maintain the blade with a ceramic sharpener rod. Not super-easy, in the beginning, with all these curves. The tip, as delicate at it seems (I would rather not pry with it or twist it hard), is not that delicate in penetration, indeed! The terror of Yellow Pages! This coating, the Idroglider, I cannot complain about. I havent really cut anything that hard or that abrasive these years (as said no outdoor uses), but no big signs of wear and tear so far. It turned out to be excellent in food preparation, where liquids and juices slip away in droplets, with just the same effect of non-sticking pots & pans . The comfort of the grip also is surprising, in spite of all these finger grooving, gimping, milling, etc. Overall, the grip and ergonomics surprised me very positively (always talking about EDC use, frequent but not prolonged during the day). Only the edge created by the liners, housing the hole for the lanyard, in some cases, gives some disturbances, but, after all, was thought as an additional point of impact. And it is
. Lock also is pretty OK. The blade has no play. Anyway, I repeat, this is definitely not a heavy-duty tool. This thing is designed to pierce bellies and cut throats open , not to unhinge armored doors. However no problems at all with the lock, also without engaging the extra safety, within reasonable EDC uses. The packaging is simple, but perfectly nice and the metal box turned out be useful as a container for small items. All in all, I consider the Profili as an "EDC plus" folder, in terms of size, capable of handling everyday tasks effectively, when what we require from a knife is mainly the cutting capability. Its OK for indoor light utility use but when I tried to use it outdoor, as a hiking/camp knife, it was really struggling. Its not the intended use, anyway, so shame on me
. The value for money, to me, looks all right, considering that the materials used and the technology applied are nothing to brag about but the design, fit & finish and assembly are pretty good. Overall, at least where I live, is not a tool that I would airily carry around, even for a hike. The shape, the look and the public reactions do not make it my ideal partner for EDC. Indeed, again, yesterday I returned it to the knife basket in the garage. Purchase only recommended if one appreciates its particular design. The performances are in line with many other competitors.Blade: Cobalt vanadium stainless steel Böhler N690
Hardness: HRC 58-60
Surface coating: Idroglider (Teflon coated matte finish)
Handle: G10 (rough textured surface)
Blade length: 100mm.
Total length: 225mm.
Blade thickness: 3mm.
Closed length: 125mm.
Weight: 132g.
Lock: Liner lock - L.A.W.K.S. Safety System
Clip: stainless steel, reversible
