Found me a nice little gentleman's knife

H

HFinn

Joined
Sep 6, 2012
Messages
3,002
Today I came across a nice looking small knife from Italy by Fox knives. The steel is ATS 34.

WP_20150205_002.jpg


The liner lock is not super sturdy, but lock on is quite early and feels solid. There was a very small sideways play in the blade that was easy to adjust away. COnstruction is open, pillar construction.

WP_20150205_003.jpg


When closed the centering is spot on. Action is smooth. The back of the blade is rounded which is a nice touch. Lenght of the blade is 80 mm, overall lenght 190 mm. Blade was quite sharp out of box.

WP_20150205_005.jpg


I dont know what the handle wood is, looks like curly birch? That would be strange for an italian knife. Could be olive wood. Anyway it looks nice and is very comfortable in hand. When closed it slides into pocket well. There is no pocket clip, which I prefer with a knife like this. This knife certainly needs a leather pocket sheath.
 
The handle is definitely curly birch, and it does not look like it has been well treated and protected. I would certainly remove the scales and leave them in something like Danish Oil for 24 hours (Danish will serve better than Tung oil because it has better penetration), then I would let it dry and polish with first ivory paper, starting from something like 600 grit and going up through 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and 2000 and then finally polish with white or brown polishing compound (not green!), and then put the final coat of Danish... You will see, it will be totally worth it! Curly birch is not strictly speaking a hard wood and it does not have own protection like cocobolo, for that reason you do not see it used for scales for folders too often. But if properly treated it will shine!
 
I believe that is a reputable company and I like the looks of that knife, but do they really make damascus out of ATS34?
 
Nice knife.
Better scales and blade shape than the GB Air. :thumbup:
 
Same thumb ramp, handle shape and dimensions at the Delta Z brand liner locks that were made around 1998-2001. They were Italian made too, must have been by same manufacturer. Nice knife.
 
Great looking little knife!

You got a nice one there, thank you for the pictures and mini-review!

The wood is birch, per the Fox Knives web site. The model is the Fox Voyager.

best

mqqn
 
.. learned the hard way to take more care opening a narrow blade with a thumb stud.. cut my thumb twice the day my Mcusta arrived...
 
yexactly said:
.. learned the hard way to take more care opening a narrow blade with a thumb stud.. cut my thumb twice the day my Mcusta arrived...
Click to expand...

This has some of the same problems like CS Ti Lite. The thumb stud is inside the handle when blade is closed which makes it a bit hard to open, but this one has a good relief carved in the scale so I can get good contact with the stud. Some oil, break in and pivot adjustment may solve the problem.
 
HFinn said:
This has some of the same problems like CS Ti Lite. The thumb stud is inside the handle when blade is closed which makes it a bit hard to open, but this one has a good relief carved in the scale so I can get good contact with the stud. Some oil, break in and pivot adjustment may solve the problem.
Click to expand...

Yes that's what happened with the Mcusta.. Did what you suggested and it is much smoother.. still stiff releasing from the handle.. Almost returned it, but like the blade and steel too much. Wider blades can be more forgiving when adjustments / break in is required.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top