This just arrived friday so these are my first impressions
and maybe a little more.
Somehow this knife was jammed into the same sized
box as a Leek... and it was bulging out. But it is not a
tiny knife.
First thing I did was figure out the on/off
switch for the AO (you can only switch it on or off when
the knife is open). I think the switch is a good idea
especially with this knife since the AO isn't snappy
fast like the Leek because of the weight of the blade.
So, I mainly keep this guy in 'slow' mode.
Oh.. and of course the AO is like the other Kershaw
Speed Safe knives... flipper in back, pull back on it and it snaps open.
Opening the knife manually the action is pretty smooth... not
AXIS lock smooth but no roughness in any way.
The F & F is really high. The only noticable F&F issue
is that the blade when closed is off center by
maybe 1mm. Which to me is nothing and doesn't
bother me in any way.
The handle is very ergonomic and all the corners are smooth
and comfy. I cut into a temepered axe handle, which is my
handle comfort test, and this may be my most comfortable
folding knife to date. You don't even notice the pocket clip
when holding the knife tightly. The only downfall
of the ergos on my BM 710 is that the clip can dig in at times.
Not so with the Mini-Cyclone. The anodized aluminum
handles have a nice feel to them and are pretty grippy.
I really like the high flat grind leaf blade shape.
The blade is rather thick for a knife this size. But
because of the leaf shape it has time to thin out before
it reaches the edge.
It came sharp but not super sharp. I marked the edge
with black marker and took a few strokes on my Sharpmaker
at 30 degrees. The edge was nearly 15 on one side and
I'd say about 20 on the other. So, I broke out the diamond
rods and got to work. Now each side is 15 and it cuts
a lot better. When I tested the sharpness against
the hair on my leg, I thought it was still dull since I didn't
feel anything. When I took a look there was no hair left
where I had shaved. After a few more tests same thing!
This knife is so damn sharp that you don't even feel it
shaving hair. With my 154CM/D2/VG-10 you name it ...
I feel the edge grabbing the hair a bit before the cut.
With this guy you don't feel a thing! This steel rocks!
The lock is a liner lock and it has a nice click to it when opened.
It engages the tang almost halfway. The contact area
on the tang for the lock was left rough. I think they should
have made it smooth to reduce lock wear. The
lock is very solid. I spine wacked it about 6 times hard
against the handle of a hammer and it was secure.
The lock is nearly flush with the rest of the handle with
just the jimping slightly above. It would be rather hard (for
me at least) to disengage this lock with Torque. I tried
to do this by pressing hard against the lock with my
fingers and pulling away from it but I couldn't get it to open.
I don't have a vice to put it in so my 'stuck in wood, torque knife... lock
disengage' simulation is a bit weak.
At 4.25" closed with about a 3" blade... this knife is a porker
at 5.3oz. Doesn't really bother me though. It gives
it a nice heft.
Overall, this is a stout, very sharp, secure and strong
knife with great F&F. This knife looks and feels like a
$100+ knife easy. Kershaw hit another
one out of the park.
and maybe a little more.
Somehow this knife was jammed into the same sized
box as a Leek... and it was bulging out. But it is not a
tiny knife.
First thing I did was figure out the on/off
switch for the AO (you can only switch it on or off when
the knife is open). I think the switch is a good idea
especially with this knife since the AO isn't snappy
fast like the Leek because of the weight of the blade.
So, I mainly keep this guy in 'slow' mode.
Oh.. and of course the AO is like the other Kershaw
Speed Safe knives... flipper in back, pull back on it and it snaps open.
Opening the knife manually the action is pretty smooth... not
AXIS lock smooth but no roughness in any way.
The F & F is really high. The only noticable F&F issue
is that the blade when closed is off center by
maybe 1mm. Which to me is nothing and doesn't
bother me in any way.
The handle is very ergonomic and all the corners are smooth
and comfy. I cut into a temepered axe handle, which is my
handle comfort test, and this may be my most comfortable
folding knife to date. You don't even notice the pocket clip
when holding the knife tightly. The only downfall
of the ergos on my BM 710 is that the clip can dig in at times.
Not so with the Mini-Cyclone. The anodized aluminum
handles have a nice feel to them and are pretty grippy.
I really like the high flat grind leaf blade shape.
The blade is rather thick for a knife this size. But
because of the leaf shape it has time to thin out before
it reaches the edge.
It came sharp but not super sharp. I marked the edge
with black marker and took a few strokes on my Sharpmaker
at 30 degrees. The edge was nearly 15 on one side and
I'd say about 20 on the other. So, I broke out the diamond
rods and got to work. Now each side is 15 and it cuts
a lot better. When I tested the sharpness against
the hair on my leg, I thought it was still dull since I didn't
feel anything. When I took a look there was no hair left
where I had shaved. After a few more tests same thing!
This knife is so damn sharp that you don't even feel it
shaving hair. With my 154CM/D2/VG-10 you name it ...
I feel the edge grabbing the hair a bit before the cut.
With this guy you don't feel a thing! This steel rocks!
The lock is a liner lock and it has a nice click to it when opened.
It engages the tang almost halfway. The contact area
on the tang for the lock was left rough. I think they should
have made it smooth to reduce lock wear. The
lock is very solid. I spine wacked it about 6 times hard
against the handle of a hammer and it was secure.
The lock is nearly flush with the rest of the handle with
just the jimping slightly above. It would be rather hard (for
me at least) to disengage this lock with Torque. I tried
to do this by pressing hard against the lock with my
fingers and pulling away from it but I couldn't get it to open.
I don't have a vice to put it in so my 'stuck in wood, torque knife... lock
disengage' simulation is a bit weak.
At 4.25" closed with about a 3" blade... this knife is a porker
at 5.3oz. Doesn't really bother me though. It gives
it a nice heft.
Overall, this is a stout, very sharp, secure and strong
knife with great F&F. This knife looks and feels like a
$100+ knife easy. Kershaw hit another
one out of the park.
