Max Knives MINI5-GND3 — Green OTF automatic knife, 144 mm open

Overview

Within the MINI5 series, the GND3 is the one you notice. Its 440C steel blade takes a green finish and its zinc and aluminium alloy handle carries exactly the same shade, so the knife shows no break in colour from one end to the other. The mechanism is unchanged: an OTF automatic whose 60 mm blade comes out of the front of the handle, 144 mm overall once deployed, an 84 mm handle and 67 g on the scale. The pocket clip is built in.

Why a strong colour earns its place

A green knife gets found again. Set down on a bench, slipped into a rucksack pocket, taken out among gear whose tones are most often sombre, the MINI5-GND3 is spotted at a glance. That is a practical advantage for a 144 mm object you put down a dozen times a day. Because the shade is carried both by the blade finish and by the handle alloy, it stays readable whatever the state of the knife, blade out as well as blade in.

Technical specifications

The blade measures 60 mm, in 440C steel, with a green finish. The edge is plain. The handle measures 84 mm and is made from a zinc and aluminium alloy in green. With the blade deployed, overall length reaches 144 mm. The knife weighs 67 g. The blade is held in position by the OTF automatic mechanism, driven by a single push button that handles both deployment and retraction. The handle carries a pocket clip.

Care

The point to watch on an OTF is inside the handle: that is where the blade slides and where dust gathers. Wipe the blade dry before retracting it, and now and then run the action a few times empty to shift anything lodged in the rail. 440C is stainless but deserves a wipe after contact with salt water or acidic food. A drop of fine oil once a year on the mechanism is enough to keep the travel crisp. The edge is brought back on a fine-grit stone, keeping to the original angle.

Legal notice. Age-restricted item (18+). In France this knife is a Category D item: legal to sell but reserved for adults, with age verification at checkout. Automatic and OTF knives are restricted or prohibited in many countries — the United Kingdom, Germany and several US states among them. It is the buyer's responsibility to check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.