- Joined
- May 13, 2015
- Messages
- 841
Hi there! This week I had the Mcusta 0094D folder in my pocket. I own this little knife since almost one year now. Just sharing some personal thoughts, my own impressions and some pics, as a passionate knife hobbyist and week-end hiker 
.
This knife belongs to the Mcusta Kamon Folder Series. It features laser engraved Kamon crests on the solid stainless steel handles. The blade is made from a VG-10 core forged steel with 33 layered nickel Damascus steel (but I havent counted them all personally!
). The handles have a checker engraved back and sports an anodized pivot pin with Teflon washers. The knife came in a traditional woven Nishijin pouch.
The factory edge was excellent, this baby was and still is razor sharp. The apt combination between the pivot pin and the Teflon washers, makes the opening and closing of the blade very smooth, fluid, dry and precise. The locking system is a simple liner-lock which ensures a rock-solid lock for the intended use of this folder and the blade doesnt show so far any play whatsoever. On the blade is an ambidextrous thumbstud, which makes it possible the one hand opening.
The pluses of this folder, for me, are the great portability, ensured by its size and its very light weight and its exceptional cutting capability. The components, fit & finish, tolerances and assembly are of an excellent quality. During these months I have put this folder to test in the usual EDC tasks: cutting packaging materials (like cardboard, PP straps, EPS, bubble wrap, etc.) and I have prepared several breakfasts and lunches at work (cutting fruit, bread, ham, cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers, etc.). The knife is scary sharp! The Mcustas are probably among the sharpest knives that I have ever owned, to a point of requiring extra carefulness when handling them. :thumbup: So far it did not require special maintenance, I just took care to rinse it with warm water and mild soap after cutting food and I then grease the blade with a drop of baby oil. This too, like its bigger brother, the Tsuchi Bushi Sword, it tends to collect enough pocket lint. I have not yet disassembled it though, just blew it with compressed air. So far, Ive just maintained the blade with a ceramic sharpener from time to time.
Among its shortcomings, like the other Mcustas, there is an inherent weakness: it is truly a "gentleman" folder. Rather delicate, not really meant to be a beater. Nevertheless, I took it out on the trails and it proved it can handle some gentle woodwork, mainly whittling and carving stuff. Also, on this model, I miss a nice clip and the handle it is just that one centimeter too short for my hand and a bit sharp on the edges. I wont call it a real hot-spot though, given the type of intended use.
Overall I'm very pleased with this purchase :thumbup:. It 'a knife aesthetically very appealing (to me at least) and super-sharp, it really cuts like a laser beam. Its so light it disappears in my pocket. I find it elegant and discreet, with a very acceptable impact in public, thanks to its small size and its really "gentleman" look. Even the Ladies like it! These Mcustas have bewitched me. They begin to be like cherries, one leads to another. I am somehow fascinated by these knives, I feel they combine elements of Japanese knife-making art and tradition with the technologies of a modern industrial production. The true spirit and the contrasts of Japanese culture in EDCs!
Type of production: industrial cutting - handcrafted finishing and assembly
Blade: sanmai construction, core layer VG-10 steel - nickel Damascus steel (33 layers)
Hardness: 59/60 HRC
Origin: Japan
Handle material: stainless steel
Blade length: 70mm.
Blade thickness: 3mm.
Closed length: 95mm.
Overall length: 164mm.
Weight: 90g.
Lock: Liner Lock
Sheath: Nylon pouch with traditional motifs, belt loop
I was curious about the engraved symbols on the handle, so I made some research. Kamon are Japanese emblems or crests, corresponding to the European heraldry tradition and are used to specifically represent and identify a family. The emblem engraved here is representing the wisteria, a deciduous shrub of the legume family. People have enjoyed wisteria blooms since the Nara Period (710-794 AD) and there are poems about them in the anthology Man'yoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves). Wisteria bloom-viewing feasts were not uncommon. The plant was also frequently used as a pattern for clothes. After that, the pattern was altered into a crest design, and families that have the kanji for wisteria in their names often adopted this kamon. Flora records indicate wisteria has been known to live up to 100 years and even older (there is a 1200 year old wisteria tree in Japan!). It's long life bestows the symbolic meaning of immortality and longevity. Also European families mark the ages of generations passing with the growth of this vine, and so it makes sense the vine embodies an essence of immortality (as fathers and grandfathers tell their sons of stolen kisses beneath the same wisteria that grew during the day of their great grandfathers). The wisteria meaning deals with many poignant themes because it is a magnificent plant with impressive growth, high longevity, great beauty and intoxicating fragrance. Wisteria meaning and symbolism speaks of the ability for the heart to endure in spite of rejection and the honour in loyalty. Wisteria is also an incredibly durable vine, able to live (even flourish) through mistreatment and harsh conditions. The wisteria, in fact, is a voracious grower with the ability to spread out over acres, spiralling out into impressive expanses. Symbolically, this is seen as an external reflection of our own expanding consciousness. However, the wisteria can be destructive in her growth, and requires discipline to avoid spiralling out of control (indeed, the vine has been known to take down entire buildings and trellises with her burdening weight). Wisteria reminds us that the journey into our conscious evolution is vital to our own blossoming, however left unchecked, or practiced without foundational discipline, may cause unsavoury results. The fuji (wisteria) mon is one of the ten most famous Japanese kamon. The purple flowers of the wisteria vine bloom at the beginning of spring, and the related kamon represent beauty and elegance. The fuji mon is directly tied to the Fujiwara clan, the most powerful and prosperous of all the Japanese noble families.
I had some good times reading and learning interesting stuff (to me at least) and realized I have a sort of meaningful symbolism on this little knife!
. This knife belongs to the Mcusta Kamon Folder Series. It features laser engraved Kamon crests on the solid stainless steel handles. The blade is made from a VG-10 core forged steel with 33 layered nickel Damascus steel (but I havent counted them all personally!
). The handles have a checker engraved back and sports an anodized pivot pin with Teflon washers. The knife came in a traditional woven Nishijin pouch. The factory edge was excellent, this baby was and still is razor sharp. The apt combination between the pivot pin and the Teflon washers, makes the opening and closing of the blade very smooth, fluid, dry and precise. The locking system is a simple liner-lock which ensures a rock-solid lock for the intended use of this folder and the blade doesnt show so far any play whatsoever. On the blade is an ambidextrous thumbstud, which makes it possible the one hand opening.
The pluses of this folder, for me, are the great portability, ensured by its size and its very light weight and its exceptional cutting capability. The components, fit & finish, tolerances and assembly are of an excellent quality. During these months I have put this folder to test in the usual EDC tasks: cutting packaging materials (like cardboard, PP straps, EPS, bubble wrap, etc.) and I have prepared several breakfasts and lunches at work (cutting fruit, bread, ham, cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers, etc.). The knife is scary sharp! The Mcustas are probably among the sharpest knives that I have ever owned, to a point of requiring extra carefulness when handling them. :thumbup: So far it did not require special maintenance, I just took care to rinse it with warm water and mild soap after cutting food and I then grease the blade with a drop of baby oil. This too, like its bigger brother, the Tsuchi Bushi Sword, it tends to collect enough pocket lint. I have not yet disassembled it though, just blew it with compressed air. So far, Ive just maintained the blade with a ceramic sharpener from time to time.
Among its shortcomings, like the other Mcustas, there is an inherent weakness: it is truly a "gentleman" folder. Rather delicate, not really meant to be a beater. Nevertheless, I took it out on the trails and it proved it can handle some gentle woodwork, mainly whittling and carving stuff. Also, on this model, I miss a nice clip and the handle it is just that one centimeter too short for my hand and a bit sharp on the edges. I wont call it a real hot-spot though, given the type of intended use.
Overall I'm very pleased with this purchase :thumbup:. It 'a knife aesthetically very appealing (to me at least) and super-sharp, it really cuts like a laser beam. Its so light it disappears in my pocket. I find it elegant and discreet, with a very acceptable impact in public, thanks to its small size and its really "gentleman" look. Even the Ladies like it!
These Mcustas have bewitched me. They begin to be like cherries, one leads to another. I am somehow fascinated by these knives, I feel they combine elements of Japanese knife-making art and tradition with the technologies of a modern industrial production. The true spirit and the contrasts of Japanese culture in EDCs! Type of production: industrial cutting - handcrafted finishing and assembly
Blade: sanmai construction, core layer VG-10 steel - nickel Damascus steel (33 layers)
Hardness: 59/60 HRC
Origin: Japan
Handle material: stainless steel
Blade length: 70mm.
Blade thickness: 3mm.
Closed length: 95mm.
Overall length: 164mm.
Weight: 90g.
Lock: Liner Lock
Sheath: Nylon pouch with traditional motifs, belt loop
I was curious about the engraved symbols on the handle, so I made some research
. Kamon are Japanese emblems or crests, corresponding to the European heraldry tradition and are used to specifically represent and identify a family. The emblem engraved here is representing the wisteria, a deciduous shrub of the legume family. People have enjoyed wisteria blooms since the Nara Period (710-794 AD) and there are poems about them in the anthology Man'yoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves). Wisteria bloom-viewing feasts were not uncommon. The plant was also frequently used as a pattern for clothes. After that, the pattern was altered into a crest design, and families that have the kanji for wisteria in their names often adopted this kamon. Flora records indicate wisteria has been known to live up to 100 years and even older (there is a 1200 year old wisteria tree in Japan!). It's long life bestows the symbolic meaning of immortality and longevity. Also European families mark the ages of generations passing with the growth of this vine, and so it makes sense the vine embodies an essence of immortality (as fathers and grandfathers tell their sons of stolen kisses beneath the same wisteria that grew during the day of their great grandfathers). The wisteria meaning deals with many poignant themes because it is a magnificent plant with impressive growth, high longevity, great beauty and intoxicating fragrance. Wisteria meaning and symbolism speaks of the ability for the heart to endure in spite of rejection and the honour in loyalty. Wisteria is also an incredibly durable vine, able to live (even flourish) through mistreatment and harsh conditions. The wisteria, in fact, is a voracious grower with the ability to spread out over acres, spiralling out into impressive expanses. Symbolically, this is seen as an external reflection of our own expanding consciousness. However, the wisteria can be destructive in her growth, and requires discipline to avoid spiralling out of control (indeed, the vine has been known to take down entire buildings and trellises with her burdening weight). Wisteria reminds us that the journey into our conscious evolution is vital to our own blossoming, however left unchecked, or practiced without foundational discipline, may cause unsavoury results. The fuji (wisteria) mon is one of the ten most famous Japanese kamon. The purple flowers of the wisteria vine bloom at the beginning of spring, and the related kamon represent beauty and elegance. The fuji mon is directly tied to the Fujiwara clan, the most powerful and prosperous of all the Japanese noble families.I had some good times reading and learning interesting stuff (to me at least) and realized I have a sort of meaningful symbolism on this little knife
!
