Max Knives KUBATON2 — Anodised titanium kubaton with single-action OTF pick

Overview

A titanium body, a point that comes out of the nose, a ring at the other end: the KUBATON2 amounts to very little, and it is the colour that holds the eye first. The upper part of the body sits in a deep violet that descends into warm gold lower down, with no hard border between the two registers. That body was anodised by hand in the MAXKNIVES workshops in France, and only one piece carries this particular gradient. The reference appears in the catalogue in other colours as well.

The single-action OTF pick

OTF stands for out the front: the point does not swing out sideways, it travels straight through the nose of the body, along the axis. The mechanism is automatic on the way out, meaning one command puts the point outside. Single action means the automatic side works in that direction only: to stow it, you press the point back with a finger until it rearms. Two separate gestures, then, one mechanical and one manual, on an object that stays closed and smooth the rest of the time.

Technical specifications

Kubaton machined from titanium and anodised by hand in France, in the brand's own workshops. It carries a single-action automatic OTF pick whose point springs out of the nose before being pushed back manually. The point is made of tungsten carbide and acts as a glass breaker. A key ring finishes the body. The piece shown wears violet across the upper part and warm gold below; other shades are offered, each obtained body by body.

Care

Nothing rusts here: titanium is indifferent to corrosion and its coloured layer is an oxide, not a lacquer that can flake. A soft dry cloth restores the body after a week on the key ring. Leave scouring powders and polishing compounds aside, as they thin the oxide and drag the colour with it. A puff of air into the nose of the body stops pocket dust from settling inside.