continued from part I
Handle
Gemini have one of the nicest titaniumhandles I have handled on a smaller knife. What gives that feeling is a combination of good looks and proper ergonomics. At first glance it looks deceptively simple with it's clean lines but at the same time it's shape is rather complex with 3-d sculpted arched titanium scales.
The handle feels natural in hand and all grip works for me. You can tell that Mr Laconico knows what he's doing when he designs knifehandles. But saying that I would like to stress that I don't think Gemini is suitable for hard work over extended periods of time. It's more of an EDC/pocketknife and the handle is simply too thin to really fill the hand. I have actually whittled some with the knife just to test it but that is not to comfortable after a while.
A handle as simple and comfortable as it looks
But the handleshape is one of the areas where the productionknife surpasses the original. This handle is actually more elaborated than the one on "Jasmine" which have straight sides. At least the earlier versions. This very soft shape and rounded corners makes for a knife that really feels good in hand.
The only splashes of color consists of bluanodized hardware and clip
The color matches the rest of the schematic. Sober titaniumgrey mixed with a couple of blue notes in the connectionbolts and pivotscrew. The clip is also anodized blue. One thing that is greatly appreciated is that all the hardware have proper Torxheads. That nonsense with proprietary screws is nothing for me.
The handle has an open construction with a small titanium backspacer
The construction of the handle is semi-open with two connecting screws in addition to the pivotscrew. At the end of the knife there is a small backspacer that adds a bit of rigidity to the knife.
The bead blasted surface on the handle is smooth to the touch with a certain chalklike feel. It gives some traction but is relatively sensitive to scratches. When it comes to durability I much prefer stonewashed finishes like on the ZT0450 for instance. But this finish looks just beautiful.
Noteworthy is the very high finish on the entire handle. There is not a single detail that have been overlooked and I think it rivals other high quality production pieces like the Sage 2.
By the way the handle is provided with a rather generous lanyard hole. Something I personally think is a bit redundant on this kind of knife but every fan of 550 paracord can relax.
Deployment and Lockup
Without a doubt flipperfunction on most knives have been improved of late even if it still exists variants that hardly works at all. This is not one of them. Gemini is close to perfection but not really there. It is a little hard to activate due to a hard detent. But the action doesn't become much faster than this once activated. The shape of the flippertab lends itself for lightswitch action. Pushbutton style doesn't work unless you push diagonally backwards. Some might have wished for some "jimping" on the tab but I don't mind being without it. I seldom do by the way. Generally speaking I'm not a big fan of "tractionplans".
Gemini and most other knives in Kizers latest productline is provided with something you don't find in most folders in this pricerange - ceramic ball bearings. Also the detentball is made out of ceramic.
Advanced caged bearings, a well tuned in detent and properly sized flippertab makes for a very good flipper with extrem accuracy. It's hardly possible to missfire the knife, even if you try.
A distinct but smooth flippertab that harmonizes with the looks and isn't obtrusive in pocket
Once open the blade is firmly held in place by a framelock. If you scrutinize the angle between the base of the blade and the lockbar steel insert you can see that is made just right. The insert also acts like an overtravel stop.
The function is just excellent. There is no bladeplay in any direction what so ever. Not even if I grab the blade by the tip and provoke it. Simply put it's a solid knife given the size.
The framelock works exactly as it should
The only objection I have against the lock is that it's a bit heavy to release due to the rather stiff lockbar. It's relatively easy to reach since the inside of the frame is chamfered and soft but once there it demands quite a bit of pressure to work. At least according to my fiancee. After a few opening and closings it begin to gnaw on the thumb.
Another good example of attention to detail is how the bladetang is shaped to fit the stop pin. The rounded shape increases the area of contact which reduces wear on the pin itself and thereby strengthen the construction in the long run. Another common way of doing this is by having rotating stop pins.
To Carry
This is another area where this knife really shines. It's not hard to imagine when looking at the knife. Gemini isnt more than 4.125" long folded and weighs 3.65 oz and everything is nicely rounded and contoured. And the knife is also not to wide when folded so it doesn't take up much room in the pocket either.
Light, thin and smooth in pocket - as a pocketknife should be
It is also very slim with a thickness of only 0.44", wich is remarkable.
A good clip in blue anodized titanium
The clip is decent without being perfect. It is a spring clip in titanium which is anodized blue to match the hardware. Generally I actually prefer a spring clip over a sculpted dito because of function. This one is descreet and good looking with a proper amount of tension. This combined with the chalky beadblasted surface of the handle gives good friction against fabric. The knife stays put and is still possible to draw very easily.
What I don't like about it is that it in certain angles you can feel the tip against the soft parts of your hand. It's not the worst sinner of them all but not ideal. I'm thinking about doing a little mod to fix that problem.
To Conclude
Obviously I like this knife. And altogether Gemini is a really good knife in many ways. But is it "the perfect pocketknife"?
Well, to be honest the competition in it's pricerange (around the 170$ mark MSRP) is really fierce. Here you find knives like the excellent Benchmade 940/943 which is another slender contender. And if you want a titaniumhandled knife, Spyderco Sage 2 gives it a good run for the money.
Even more close in appearance is of course ZT 0450 which is another titanium flipper on bearings equipped with a good steel and a not too deterrent pricetag.
But now there are also cheaper versions of some of the Kizermodels . The "Vanguard series" is linerlock versions of these knives with G10 for scales instead of titaniumhandles and VG10 for bladesteel. Other than being cheaper they also have the advantage that they probably is less prone to scratch for the ones who cares about that and thus being a bit more of a "hard user".
Otherwise I think the Gemini ticks all the boxes for a good pocketknife. It's easy to carry with low weight and smooth shape and a good clip. It's made out of high end materials and above all it has a well shaped blade in a really good steel.
A discreet but very competent pocketcompanion
In additon the Gemini is a very refined and elegant knife whose lines appeal to me. Maybe you can argue that there are one to many mouse-grey titaniumhandled framelock flippers on the market. Especially since the Chinese manufacturers have entered the scene.
And the big question remains - is this knife even better than the original in some aspects? I can't verify the veracity of that statement since I never handled the original but I can say that the Kizer is a very competent folding knife in most areas.
Actually I don't have much negative criticism at all. The clip could have been less pointy and the lock a bit easier to release but otherwise not much. Both the choice of materials and execution is extraordinary good. There are no misses to be found when it comes to fit and finish even if scrutinized.
A knife suitable if you want a "mid-tech" feeling for the prize of a production knife
This is a most interesting knife since it is one good example of productionknives reaching the levels that is required to compete with their higher priced mid-tech cousins and even the originals in terms of both looks and quality. What is obviously missing is the "personality" and exclusivity that comes with customknives. But for us consumers I can only see benefits in the long run.
I don't recommend this knife if you're not a friend of this modern take on folders. After all it's beginning to be a bit mainstream now I think. The concept of titaniumhandled framelock flippers is hardly unique anymore. Even less so now with a lot of Chinese brand entering the market. And I can't really recommend this knife if you are searching for a heavy duty companion in the woods. For that the handle is too small and thin, at least for me. For that I want more real estate handlewise, less scratch prone materials and then it's the issue all metal handles have in our climate. They get cold in the winter.
However this is a knife that is right for the one searching for a EDC-knife that reminds of a mid-tech with a well executed designlanguage but with a more modest pricetag. With that package follows advanced technology with caged ball bearings and detent in ceramic, a really competent steel and a titanium framelock with steel insert and overtravelstop. All modern technique combined in other words.
But talking about all the technical specifications we must not forget that this is a knife that feels good in hand and that cuts good in most materials.
Specification Ki3471:
Overall Length: 7.25"
Handle Length: 4.125"
Weight: 3.65 oz
Blade Length: 3.125"
Blade Thickness: 0.12"
Steel: Crucible CPM S35VN, 58-60HRC
Handle Material : Titanium, 6AL4V
Lock: Framelock with steel insert
Produced by: Kizer, made in China
/ John
Handle
Gemini have one of the nicest titaniumhandles I have handled on a smaller knife. What gives that feeling is a combination of good looks and proper ergonomics. At first glance it looks deceptively simple with it's clean lines but at the same time it's shape is rather complex with 3-d sculpted arched titanium scales.
The handle feels natural in hand and all grip works for me. You can tell that Mr Laconico knows what he's doing when he designs knifehandles. But saying that I would like to stress that I don't think Gemini is suitable for hard work over extended periods of time. It's more of an EDC/pocketknife and the handle is simply too thin to really fill the hand. I have actually whittled some with the knife just to test it but that is not to comfortable after a while.
A handle as simple and comfortable as it looks
But the handleshape is one of the areas where the productionknife surpasses the original. This handle is actually more elaborated than the one on "Jasmine" which have straight sides. At least the earlier versions. This very soft shape and rounded corners makes for a knife that really feels good in hand.
The only splashes of color consists of bluanodized hardware and clip
The color matches the rest of the schematic. Sober titaniumgrey mixed with a couple of blue notes in the connectionbolts and pivotscrew. The clip is also anodized blue. One thing that is greatly appreciated is that all the hardware have proper Torxheads. That nonsense with proprietary screws is nothing for me.
The handle has an open construction with a small titanium backspacer
The construction of the handle is semi-open with two connecting screws in addition to the pivotscrew. At the end of the knife there is a small backspacer that adds a bit of rigidity to the knife.
The bead blasted surface on the handle is smooth to the touch with a certain chalklike feel. It gives some traction but is relatively sensitive to scratches. When it comes to durability I much prefer stonewashed finishes like on the ZT0450 for instance. But this finish looks just beautiful.
Noteworthy is the very high finish on the entire handle. There is not a single detail that have been overlooked and I think it rivals other high quality production pieces like the Sage 2.
By the way the handle is provided with a rather generous lanyard hole. Something I personally think is a bit redundant on this kind of knife but every fan of 550 paracord can relax.
Deployment and Lockup
Without a doubt flipperfunction on most knives have been improved of late even if it still exists variants that hardly works at all. This is not one of them. Gemini is close to perfection but not really there. It is a little hard to activate due to a hard detent. But the action doesn't become much faster than this once activated. The shape of the flippertab lends itself for lightswitch action. Pushbutton style doesn't work unless you push diagonally backwards. Some might have wished for some "jimping" on the tab but I don't mind being without it. I seldom do by the way. Generally speaking I'm not a big fan of "tractionplans".
Gemini and most other knives in Kizers latest productline is provided with something you don't find in most folders in this pricerange - ceramic ball bearings. Also the detentball is made out of ceramic.
Advanced caged bearings, a well tuned in detent and properly sized flippertab makes for a very good flipper with extrem accuracy. It's hardly possible to missfire the knife, even if you try.
A distinct but smooth flippertab that harmonizes with the looks and isn't obtrusive in pocket
Once open the blade is firmly held in place by a framelock. If you scrutinize the angle between the base of the blade and the lockbar steel insert you can see that is made just right. The insert also acts like an overtravel stop.
The function is just excellent. There is no bladeplay in any direction what so ever. Not even if I grab the blade by the tip and provoke it. Simply put it's a solid knife given the size.
The framelock works exactly as it should
The only objection I have against the lock is that it's a bit heavy to release due to the rather stiff lockbar. It's relatively easy to reach since the inside of the frame is chamfered and soft but once there it demands quite a bit of pressure to work. At least according to my fiancee. After a few opening and closings it begin to gnaw on the thumb.
Another good example of attention to detail is how the bladetang is shaped to fit the stop pin. The rounded shape increases the area of contact which reduces wear on the pin itself and thereby strengthen the construction in the long run. Another common way of doing this is by having rotating stop pins.
To Carry
This is another area where this knife really shines. It's not hard to imagine when looking at the knife. Gemini isnt more than 4.125" long folded and weighs 3.65 oz and everything is nicely rounded and contoured. And the knife is also not to wide when folded so it doesn't take up much room in the pocket either.
Light, thin and smooth in pocket - as a pocketknife should be
It is also very slim with a thickness of only 0.44", wich is remarkable.
A good clip in blue anodized titanium
The clip is decent without being perfect. It is a spring clip in titanium which is anodized blue to match the hardware. Generally I actually prefer a spring clip over a sculpted dito because of function. This one is descreet and good looking with a proper amount of tension. This combined with the chalky beadblasted surface of the handle gives good friction against fabric. The knife stays put and is still possible to draw very easily.
What I don't like about it is that it in certain angles you can feel the tip against the soft parts of your hand. It's not the worst sinner of them all but not ideal. I'm thinking about doing a little mod to fix that problem.
To Conclude
Obviously I like this knife. And altogether Gemini is a really good knife in many ways. But is it "the perfect pocketknife"?
Well, to be honest the competition in it's pricerange (around the 170$ mark MSRP) is really fierce. Here you find knives like the excellent Benchmade 940/943 which is another slender contender. And if you want a titaniumhandled knife, Spyderco Sage 2 gives it a good run for the money.
Even more close in appearance is of course ZT 0450 which is another titanium flipper on bearings equipped with a good steel and a not too deterrent pricetag.
But now there are also cheaper versions of some of the Kizermodels . The "Vanguard series" is linerlock versions of these knives with G10 for scales instead of titaniumhandles and VG10 for bladesteel. Other than being cheaper they also have the advantage that they probably is less prone to scratch for the ones who cares about that and thus being a bit more of a "hard user".
Otherwise I think the Gemini ticks all the boxes for a good pocketknife. It's easy to carry with low weight and smooth shape and a good clip. It's made out of high end materials and above all it has a well shaped blade in a really good steel.
A discreet but very competent pocketcompanion
In additon the Gemini is a very refined and elegant knife whose lines appeal to me. Maybe you can argue that there are one to many mouse-grey titaniumhandled framelock flippers on the market. Especially since the Chinese manufacturers have entered the scene.
And the big question remains - is this knife even better than the original in some aspects? I can't verify the veracity of that statement since I never handled the original but I can say that the Kizer is a very competent folding knife in most areas.
Actually I don't have much negative criticism at all. The clip could have been less pointy and the lock a bit easier to release but otherwise not much. Both the choice of materials and execution is extraordinary good. There are no misses to be found when it comes to fit and finish even if scrutinized.
A knife suitable if you want a "mid-tech" feeling for the prize of a production knife
This is a most interesting knife since it is one good example of productionknives reaching the levels that is required to compete with their higher priced mid-tech cousins and even the originals in terms of both looks and quality. What is obviously missing is the "personality" and exclusivity that comes with customknives. But for us consumers I can only see benefits in the long run.
I don't recommend this knife if you're not a friend of this modern take on folders. After all it's beginning to be a bit mainstream now I think. The concept of titaniumhandled framelock flippers is hardly unique anymore. Even less so now with a lot of Chinese brand entering the market. And I can't really recommend this knife if you are searching for a heavy duty companion in the woods. For that the handle is too small and thin, at least for me. For that I want more real estate handlewise, less scratch prone materials and then it's the issue all metal handles have in our climate. They get cold in the winter.
However this is a knife that is right for the one searching for a EDC-knife that reminds of a mid-tech with a well executed designlanguage but with a more modest pricetag. With that package follows advanced technology with caged ball bearings and detent in ceramic, a really competent steel and a titanium framelock with steel insert and overtravelstop. All modern technique combined in other words.
But talking about all the technical specifications we must not forget that this is a knife that feels good in hand and that cuts good in most materials.
Specification Ki3471:
Overall Length: 7.25"
Handle Length: 4.125"
Weight: 3.65 oz
Blade Length: 3.125"
Blade Thickness: 0.12"
Steel: Crucible CPM S35VN, 58-60HRC
Handle Material : Titanium, 6AL4V
Lock: Framelock with steel insert
Produced by: Kizer, made in China
/ John
