Viper Fortis

Thanks for the comparison photos!

The website for Giant Mouse lists blade length at 3.3 inches, or 84 mm.

So the Fortis definitely has a longer blade?

Also, could you please elaborate on the lockbar tension of the two? Some reports say the Mouse flips open smoothly and easily but takes some effort to close. Is that because of the lockbar tension on yours?

Thanks.
 
One more, just for the measurement:

At7idiD.jpg
 
flash900 said:
Thanks for the comparison photos!

The website for Giant Mouse lists blade length at 3.3 inches, or 84 mm.

So the Fortis definitely has a longer blade?

Also, could you please elaborate on the lockbar tension of the two? Some reports say the Mouse flips open smoothly and easily but takes some effort to close. Is that because of the lockbar tension on yours?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the Fortis is definitely longer. The Finger choil on the Mouse is also larger than on the Fortis.

Now that I've increased the lockbar tension on my Fortis they flip and close with very similar snap and smoothness. The Mouse might be a hair snappier because the detent engages deeper, and it does have a bit more lockbar tension still, so the blade on the Fortis falls closed a bit more easily, which is probably due to it being slightly heavier as well.
 
Nice comparison pics.
The Slysz also has contoured 3D scales while the Fortis has beveled slab scales. The price difference is pretty shocking though.
 
AF said:
Nice comparison pics.
The Slysz also has contoured 3D scales while the Fortis has beveled slab scales. The price difference is pretty shocking though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I really agree. I love the Slysz, but the value equation on the Fortis is just much stronger I think.
 
Well, I decided I couldn't resist putting a proper edge on it and here are the results:

zHEK4on.jpg


uwn51fh.jpg


baLUTdq.jpg


The factory grind was plenty sharp, but it was a bit uneaven and took a bit of work to straighten out on the wicked edge. I set it at 17.5 degrees per side, started with 400 grit diamond stones and moved up through the ultrafine ceramics and then stropped it on balsa wood strops to 0.5 micron. The result was what one would expect M390, a nice "sticky" edge. I will say that the sharpening choil is actually just a tad short on the Fortis, as you can see there is a little bit of flair out at the base of the plunge grind, but not too bad. There is also a very slight recurve in the blade, which I think is intentional, other pics I've seen seem to have this as well, though I would have preferred if it were just straight until it hits the belly. But still, overall I am very pleased with how the knife sharpened up.
 
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halden.doerge said:
Well, I decided I couldn't resist putting a proper edge on it and here are the results:

zHEK4on.jpg


uwn51fh.jpg


baLUTdq.jpg


The factory grind was plenty sharp, but it was a bit uneaven and took a bit of work to straighten out on the wicked edge. I set it at 17.5 degrees per side, started with 400 grit diamond stones and moved up through the ultrafine ceramics and then stropped it on balsa wood strops to 0.5 micron. The result was what one would expect M390, a nice "sticky" edge. I will say that the sharpening choil is actually just a tad short on the Fortis, as you can see there is a little bit of flair out at the base of the plunge grind, but not too bad. There is also a very slight recurve in the blade, which I think is intentional, other pics I've seen seem to have this as well, though I would have preferred if it were just straight until it hits the belly. But still, overall I am very pleased with how the knife sharpened up.
Click to expand...

Any comments on the behind the edge thickness? It looks pretty thin thanks to the high height flat grind.
 
Misanthropia said:
Any comments on the behind the edge thickness? It looks pretty thin thanks to the high height flat grind.
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Yeah, it's pretty thin behind the edge. I don't have digital calipers so I can't measure it, I'm afraid. It's definitely as thin behind the edge as the Kyomi, maybe a hair thinner. The full height flat grid is definitely done right. If and when I need to sharpen it up again I may take it closer to 16 degrees, I think that would suit it just fine without creating an overly wide bevel.
 
Viper Odino, Kyomi and Fortis have a somewhat weaker detent so that you could open the blade via the blade hole as well. Odino had the weakest detent and Kyomi acceptable. I figure Fortis is similar to Kyomi.

I also like the blade choil and rounded blade on the Fortis.

Personally, the true EDC measure will be how well it fits my hand and pocket. My CF/Satin is shipping now.

At $172 shipped the Fortis trumps GM1 ($330) and Slysz Bowie ($300) even though the latter two are more refined.
 
halden.doerge said:
I agree. Though I'm certainly glad to have all three!
Click to expand...

Of the three, I only have the Slysz Bowie and soon Fortis.

In your pictures below, I like how well Fortis compares to Slysz Bowie in overall size. GM1 is just not for me since it's so wide where it occupies extra pocket space.

sn950Y5.jpg

Q9sHcVl.jpg


When comparing Fortis to Slysz Bowie you get the superior M390 over XHP and titanium clip & backspacer versus wire clip & G-10 backspacer.
 
RamZar said:
Of the three, I only have the Slysz Bowie and soon Fortis.

In your pictures below, I like how well Fortis compares to Slysz Bowie in overall size. GM1 is just not for me since it's so wide where it occupies extra pocket space.

When comparing Fortis to Slysz Bowie you get the superior M390 over XHP and titanium clip & backspacer versus wire clip & G-10 backspacer.
Click to expand...

Yup. And the Fortis has a thumb hole that is accesible from both sides, whereas on the Slysz it is occluded on the lockside.
 
One other thing that I really like about the Fortis is the integration of the lanyard hole into the TI backspacer. It's actually designed so that you can disassemble the knife without removing the lanyard. I don't know of many other knives set up that way. And since I tend to use lanyards and take my knives apart, this is a very nice little perk.
 
halden.doerge said:
One other thing that I really like about the Fortis is the integration of the lanyard hole into the TI backspacer. It's actually designed so that you can disassemble the knife without removing the lanyard. I don't know of many other knives set up that way. And since I tend to use lanyards and take my knives apart, this is a very nice little perk.
Click to expand...

With Fortis the integrated backspacer and lanyard hole is more like GM1 versus Kyomi in that the hole is only visible from one side.

Question: Can you reverse the pocket clip on both GM1 and Fortis for left hand carry?
 
RamZar said:
With Fortis the integrated backspacer and lanyard hole is more like GM1 versus Kyomi in that the hole is only visible from one side.

Question: Can you reverse the pocket clip on both GM1 and Fortis for left hand carry?
Click to expand...

The Fortis lanyard hole is visible from both sides, but the scale doesn't wrap around it, so the scales can be removed without removing the lanyard. Very cool.

And no, on the GM1 and the Fortis the clip is tip up right hand carry only. Which for me is a plus because the show side is unmarred (I hate the way the clip hole looks on the show side of the Kyomi). Of course I understand that for leftys this is lame.
 
halden.doerge said:
The Fortis lanyard hole is visible from both sides, but the scale doesn't wrap around it, so the scales can be removed without removing the lanyard. Very cool.

And no, on the GM1 and the Fortis the clip is tip up right hand carry only. Which for me is a plus because the show side is unmarred (I hate the way the clip hole looks on the show side of the Kyomi). Of course I understand that for leftys this is lame.
Click to expand...

My mistake. Your lanyard had obscured the lanyard hole on the Fortis. It's a nice design that it's integrated with the backspacer and you can remove it without removing the scales. I wonder if the backspacer/lanyard hole could be removed completely for a more open construction.

I'm with you on disliking all the extra clip holes on folders for tip up/down and left/right side carry. It definitely diminishes from a cleaner look.
 
At this point I'm feeling pretty tempted to pick up a CF version as well. I'll try to fight the urge...
 
RamZar said:
I prefer the CF ones over the TI for carry because of the weight savings: 4.0 vs. 4.8 ounces.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I must say at 4.8 ounces the full TI version feels pretty svelt itself. The CF version will probably feel like a feather. In a good way.
 
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Off topic but I'm really digging that kitchen knife in the video!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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