Kasé Knives Switzerland: Shard in Nitrobe 77@64.5hrc
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwLA2-rh_zo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The Shard is a new design by Roman Kasé out of Switzerland. The knife is a fixed blade design with this particular model being expressed in Nitrobe 77 steel with Red Burlap Micarta Handle. The overall length is 6.6" and blade length is 2.8 linear inches but edge length due to the curve is closer to a bit over 3 inches. The handle thickness is 5/8" thick. Blade stock thickness is 1/8" or so and about 0.3mm behind the edge.
https://imgur.com/InG6xXl (A shot of the blade itself)
The grind is full flat with a distal taper leading to a fine point. The blade shape is a modified drop point design with the edge on a sweep upward towards the tip. The length of the blade is purely the length of the functional blade as well. Nothing obfuscates from it being purely functional from tip to heel on the edge. The thickness seems well suited for a knife in this size class. Similar to that of an ESEE Izula it seems to be the size of a fixed blade EDC though the grind terminates to a finer behind the edge thickness.
The steel in this case is Nitrobe 77 by Damasteel. Hardened to 64.5hrc this blade seems to be the optimal heat treatment for this steel. The edge it takes from a 600 grit stone followed by 12 micron lapping film, and 1 micron diamond strops gets to the point of cutting hairs that hang freely. While this test is subjective to the point of the skill of the one doing the test... a dull knife can never achieve this. In a purely anecdotal statement about this steel "It takes a better edge than any knife I've ever owned. It keeps a better edge longer than any knife I've ever owned." the blade still performed after cutting through 316 feet of cardboard in single wall form from Walmart with the aforementioned edge. Used to ship boxes of cat litter, there was dust on the interior walls of the cardboard. It was cut into similar sized pieces with a non test knife and the pieces shuffled to allow randomization. It cleanly and smoothly sliced fine legal paper after testing with no issues. For the record it hasn't been pushed to dull due to lack of media for testing for the most part.
The handle is Red Burlap micarta. It is red. It is beautiful. It's got a gorgeous chatoyance to it. The shape fits the hand exceptionally, with a bit of weight in the black you can hold it loosely in your hand without worry of it falling out. The balance and feel of this knife are second to none, with no hot spots in my usage. There is jimping on the back spine in the form of four cutouts that are about 1/8" each. They're sharp, but the good kind of sharp that means you won't slip whatsoever. I cannot speak at all to if they may be rough on someone else's hands since I don't hold other people's hands to know how soft they may be. My girlfriend says the handle is wonderful though as well. It comes with a lanyard hole if that's your thing. it also just looks nice at the back end of the knife if you don't do lanyard holes. Win-win. The contouring on the micarta is also... just right. It's elegant, simple and everything I need and desire with nothing superfluous except the looks of the amazing micarta. Sorry this part of the review is ALL subjective but it's a review not a scientific article.
https://i.imgur.com/Ga1qplS.jpg (This is the handle, gorgeous)
Deployment: Well it comes in a kydex sheath with inner waistband clip. I work in an office and wear... well clothes that fit snugly. It doesn't print on my clothing and when clipped in front I sit, twist, stand... exercise in the weight room with it on and have NO issues. Very ergonomic to my body. For the record I'm 6'1" tall and about 185 pounds give or take. 32" waistline. It fits me perfectly, I can't say about anyone else. Also the sheath doesn't harm the edge at all.
https://i.imgur.com/pbPRKcN.mp4 (This is the edge after some use pruning some peppers from a plant this morning and walking around the past few days with the knife in sheath)
Fit and finish: No gaps. Handle finish is beautiful. Blade finish as well. It comes sharp. The only reason I sharpened it shortly after getting it was because I cut up a bunch of stuff with it and then wanted to see how it took an edge immediately because edges are my thing. It takes an edge and keeps an edge like a puppy with a rope toy. If you play nice it'll play forever and a day. For $380 USD for this particular steel and model, you pay for the heat treatment, shipping (Switzerland to US with premium shipping isn't cheap) and a lot of time, care and effort. Roman's heat treatment has proven itself to me at least. That heat treatment is also not inexpensive to perform as it is done in extremely small batches of blades you can count on one hand. I fully trust the heat treatment as I see he gets his work tested and seems to care greatly about the results and the truth of them. This is also shown by his wet grinding process and heat treatments which spare no expense. You're not just paying for the fit and finish, but in performance that is hard to match at the price point and I would dare to say won't be matched by many mass production companies.
https://imgur.com/7PALexX (The grain structure. He gets this checked. You're paying for the care someone takes to get the grain size checked on their work.)
As an aside, this knife was also a gift from my significant other as a more useful (and sure to be carried) form of a wedding band for a man or engagement band so to speak. It's a different idea but I'd say the quality and performance match the sentimental value as well.
In summarization: It is a great EDC fixed blade with likely one of the best heat treatments you'll ever come across, regardless of the steel choice you make on it. The ergonomics are just right and everything functions just like it should if not better.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwLA2-rh_zo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The Shard is a new design by Roman Kasé out of Switzerland. The knife is a fixed blade design with this particular model being expressed in Nitrobe 77 steel with Red Burlap Micarta Handle. The overall length is 6.6" and blade length is 2.8 linear inches but edge length due to the curve is closer to a bit over 3 inches. The handle thickness is 5/8" thick. Blade stock thickness is 1/8" or so and about 0.3mm behind the edge.
https://imgur.com/InG6xXl (A shot of the blade itself)
The grind is full flat with a distal taper leading to a fine point. The blade shape is a modified drop point design with the edge on a sweep upward towards the tip. The length of the blade is purely the length of the functional blade as well. Nothing obfuscates from it being purely functional from tip to heel on the edge. The thickness seems well suited for a knife in this size class. Similar to that of an ESEE Izula it seems to be the size of a fixed blade EDC though the grind terminates to a finer behind the edge thickness.
The steel in this case is Nitrobe 77 by Damasteel. Hardened to 64.5hrc this blade seems to be the optimal heat treatment for this steel. The edge it takes from a 600 grit stone followed by 12 micron lapping film, and 1 micron diamond strops gets to the point of cutting hairs that hang freely. While this test is subjective to the point of the skill of the one doing the test... a dull knife can never achieve this. In a purely anecdotal statement about this steel "It takes a better edge than any knife I've ever owned. It keeps a better edge longer than any knife I've ever owned." the blade still performed after cutting through 316 feet of cardboard in single wall form from Walmart with the aforementioned edge. Used to ship boxes of cat litter, there was dust on the interior walls of the cardboard. It was cut into similar sized pieces with a non test knife and the pieces shuffled to allow randomization. It cleanly and smoothly sliced fine legal paper after testing with no issues. For the record it hasn't been pushed to dull due to lack of media for testing for the most part.
The handle is Red Burlap micarta. It is red. It is beautiful. It's got a gorgeous chatoyance to it. The shape fits the hand exceptionally, with a bit of weight in the black you can hold it loosely in your hand without worry of it falling out. The balance and feel of this knife are second to none, with no hot spots in my usage. There is jimping on the back spine in the form of four cutouts that are about 1/8" each. They're sharp, but the good kind of sharp that means you won't slip whatsoever. I cannot speak at all to if they may be rough on someone else's hands since I don't hold other people's hands to know how soft they may be. My girlfriend says the handle is wonderful though as well. It comes with a lanyard hole if that's your thing. it also just looks nice at the back end of the knife if you don't do lanyard holes. Win-win. The contouring on the micarta is also... just right. It's elegant, simple and everything I need and desire with nothing superfluous except the looks of the amazing micarta. Sorry this part of the review is ALL subjective but it's a review not a scientific article.
https://i.imgur.com/Ga1qplS.jpg (This is the handle, gorgeous)
Deployment: Well it comes in a kydex sheath with inner waistband clip. I work in an office and wear... well clothes that fit snugly. It doesn't print on my clothing and when clipped in front I sit, twist, stand... exercise in the weight room with it on and have NO issues. Very ergonomic to my body. For the record I'm 6'1" tall and about 185 pounds give or take. 32" waistline. It fits me perfectly, I can't say about anyone else. Also the sheath doesn't harm the edge at all.
https://i.imgur.com/pbPRKcN.mp4 (This is the edge after some use pruning some peppers from a plant this morning and walking around the past few days with the knife in sheath)
Fit and finish: No gaps. Handle finish is beautiful. Blade finish as well. It comes sharp. The only reason I sharpened it shortly after getting it was because I cut up a bunch of stuff with it and then wanted to see how it took an edge immediately because edges are my thing. It takes an edge and keeps an edge like a puppy with a rope toy. If you play nice it'll play forever and a day. For $380 USD for this particular steel and model, you pay for the heat treatment, shipping (Switzerland to US with premium shipping isn't cheap) and a lot of time, care and effort. Roman's heat treatment has proven itself to me at least. That heat treatment is also not inexpensive to perform as it is done in extremely small batches of blades you can count on one hand. I fully trust the heat treatment as I see he gets his work tested and seems to care greatly about the results and the truth of them. This is also shown by his wet grinding process and heat treatments which spare no expense. You're not just paying for the fit and finish, but in performance that is hard to match at the price point and I would dare to say won't be matched by many mass production companies.
https://imgur.com/7PALexX (The grain structure. He gets this checked. You're paying for the care someone takes to get the grain size checked on their work.)
As an aside, this knife was also a gift from my significant other as a more useful (and sure to be carried) form of a wedding band for a man or engagement band so to speak. It's a different idea but I'd say the quality and performance match the sentimental value as well.
In summarization: It is a great EDC fixed blade with likely one of the best heat treatments you'll ever come across, regardless of the steel choice you make on it. The ergonomics are just right and everything functions just like it should if not better.
