Viper Fortis

[RamZar]

I was hoping Fortis would have a smaller blade like 3 inches or just under. Unfortunately, it's 3.4 inches. Kyomi is 3.15 inches. Fortis is much thinner in the handle department and narrower overall.

Still, I may get a Carbon Fiber Fortis as it's the lightest one at 4.0 ounces (all titanium weighs 4.8 ounces). It's value priced for sure.

 

[tantrik77]

I was hoping Fortis would have a smaller blade like 3 inches or just under. Unfortunately, it's 3.4 inches. Kyomi is 3.15 inches. Fortis is much thinner in the handle department and narrower overall.

Still, I may get a Carbon Fiber Fortis as it's the lightest one at 4.0 ounces (all titanium weighs 4.8 ounces). It's value priced for sure.

I think the blade is even longer than that. I'm pretty sure it is actually around 3.7 inches with a 3.4" edge length. I picked up the carbon fiber stonewash version, and I am impatiently waiting for its arrival. Mine is supposed to be here on Monday as well. I agree though, it is the best value going for a high quality folder right now. Plus, I think it's a beautiful design.

 

[halden.doerge]

Vipers site lists it as a 3.75" blade. I imagine the finger choil eats up about .25-.35 of the cutting edge. We'll see on Monday!

 

[RamZar]

Vipers site lists it as a 3.75" blade. I imagine the finger choil eats up about .25-.35 of the cutting edge. We'll see on Monday!

I think the 3.75" blade length is a typo on the Viper website because it has the blade length as 86mm which is 3.39 inches not 3.75 inches.

 

[halden.doerge]

I think the 3.75" blade length is a typo on the Viper website because it has the blade length as 86mm which is 3.39 inches not 3.75 inches.

Interesting....

 

[tantrik77]

Again, that's just edge length. The blade is longer than that. Numerous websites and dealers have it listed as 3.7-3.75" blade length with a 3.4" edge length. But again, I guess we'll see on Monday.

 

[RamZar]

I've only seen the Fortis in stock at three dealers. One U.S., one Italian and one Finnish. They have the blade length at 3.39"-3.44". Two say 3.39" (86mm) and the third says 3 7/16".

 

[Seneca18]

Put my order in today for an orange G-10 Fotis (been on an orange kick lately), I have the Odino and Kyomi both in CF, so this will change it up a bit.
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr

 

[AF]

Nice Seneca. I too will completing the Vox Trifecta when I receive my full ti Fortis.
Speaking of orange, I had an interesting experience with an orange Kyomi. I sold my full ti Kyomi and later that day saw an auction ending for an orange Kyomi. Like you, I was hankering for that orange. I won the auction. Upon receiving the knife, I was struck by the lighter weight. But what really surprised me was that the lockbar tension was very light, which was a stark contrast to the stiff lockbar on my full ti Kyomi.
In fact the lockbar was sprung so weakly that it was barely engaging on the tang. There was no blade play but over time there would be I surmised. So I did took apart the knife and gave the lockbar a little more of a bend. I was careful because I didn't want to have to bend it back which can cause failure. It's perfect now! That's not something I've ever done before but it worked out just fine.

 

[halden.doerge]

The postal gods have smiled on me: "Out for Delivery". Those three magical words. I'll post pics later today.

 

[AF]

Just got mine in! Short video coming up.
First impression is that this is a homerun. I like it better than the Kyomi.
Blade length 3.5"
Blade thickness 0.16"
Handle thickness 0.43"
Closed width 1.38"

[youtube]ui5Fz4lsO_U[/youtube]

 

[RamZar]

Just got mine in! Short video coming up.
First impression is that this is a homerun. I like it better than the Kyomi.

If possible, please measure the blade length, blade thickness, handle thickness and handle width.

Of course, side by side comparison with Kyomi would be great as well.

 

[AF]

Added video and stats to above post.
The clip works better than the Kyomi because it's a thinner gauge of ti. Has more flex.
Blade is a hair thicker than the Kyomi and Odino. They are 0.15" and this is 0.16" thick.
Balances right at the handle cutout on the non lock side.

 

[RamZar]

Blade length 3.5"
Handle thickness 0.43"
Closed width 1.38"

[youtube]ui5Fz4lsO_U[/youtube]

Added video to above post.
The clip works better than the Kyomi because it's a thinner gauge of ti. Has more flex.
Balances right at the handle cutout on the non lock side.

Thanks for the video and the measurements. It definitely looks like the blade length is 3.39 inches. Also, like the overall thinness, trimness and slimness. I'll be adding the CF/Satin Fortis to my CF/Satin Kyomi and Odino.

Great price of around $172.

 

[halden.doerge]

Got mine. Blade is definitely exactly 3.5 inches from the top of the handle scale to the tip of the blade. So that's pretty disappointing. A 3.75 inch blade like they advertised would have been better. That said, for $168, it's a pretty incredible piece of work. Fit and finish is very good, though mine did come with a small scuff on the clip.

The detent is also pretty weak on mine, I think I'll need to tweak it. But it flips fine, has solid lockup, and the thumb hole works well in all forms of deployment. I'll post some pics later on.

 

[Misanthropia]

Got mine. Blade is definitely exactly 3.5 inches from the top of the handle scale to the tip of the blade. So that's pretty disappointing. A 3.75 inch blade like they advertised would have been better. That said, for $168, it's a pretty incredible piece of work. Fit and finish is very good, though mine did come with a small scuff on the clip.

The detent is also pretty weak on mine, I think I'll need to tweak it. But it flips fine, has solid lockup, and the thumb hole works well in all forms of deployment. I'll post some pics later on.

Weaker detent + poorer blade to handle ratio than I expected is certainly dampening my enthusiasm.

 

[halden.doerge]

Weaker detent + poorer blade to handle ratio than I expected is certainly dampening my enthusiasm.

I took it down, cleaned it, sprung the lock bar over a bit (very carefully) and that did the trick. I think the tension on this one was just set too weak. Nothing like the super strong lockbar tension on my Giant Mouse GM1, which viper also produces. Interesting comparison to be had there.

 

[flash900]

I took it down, cleaned it, sprung the lock bar over a bit (very carefully) and that did the trick. I think the tension on this one was just set too weak. Nothing like the super strong lockbar tension on my Giant Mouse GM1, which viper also produces. Interesting comparison to be had there.

Could we see some more comparison of the Fortis and the Giant Mouse, please?

 

[AF]

There must be variation in the lockbar tension like I experienced with 2 different of the Kyomi model. I don't think anyone would complain about the detent on my Fortis and especially about the lockbar tension which is already high.
I'm pleased with all three of these Vox designs.

 

[halden.doerge]

Alright, a few comparison pics, just for fun:

The Fortis with the Giant Mouse GM1. Very interesting comparison. Both made by Viper, both with blue anodized accents and innovative backspacer designs. But the GM1 definitely had more attention paid to the fit and finish in my opinion (which is definitely reflected in the price difference). Of course the Fortis wins in the steel department with M390 over N630CO. And it's got more blade length as you can see.

A Sebenza comparison pic is just obligatory.

The comparison with the Slysz Bowie is one of the most interesting ones I think. Very similar blade shapes and materials, but what a price difference! I would give the edge on fit and finish to the Slysz, but the materials on the Fortis are definitely a bit better (TI backspacer, M390) and it includes features that the market definitely deems desireable (lockbar insert, flipper, ball bearings). But the cost of a new Fortis is $168 and the cost of the Slysz new is gonna be closer to $299. The fortis also has more blade (3.5" overall compared to 3.3" on the Slysz), but the actual cutting edge is very close.