Max Knives 14693N — Small Flip rotating folder in 440C, black finish

Overview

The 14693N is the black version of the Small Flip, the compact format in the Max Knives range of registered-design rotating folders. Closed, it measures 75 mm: about the length of a car key, small enough to sit in a pocket and be forgotten until needed. Open, it reaches 105 mm and carries a 30 mm drop point blade in 440C steel. The handle is cut from the same steel, with no scales over it, and takes the black finish that sets this version apart from the titanium and silver ones. A belt clip is fitted to the handle.

What a 30 mm blade is for

Thirty millimetres of edge is pocket knife territory, the kind of blade that comes out ten times a day without a second thought: opening a parcel, cutting a label, trimming a cable tie, taking a length off a piece of string. The rotating mechanism earns its keep here, because it works one-handed while the other hand holds whatever needs cutting: the handle turns on its axis to clear the blade, then comes back the same way to close it. On this short format the travel is brief and the knife goes back in the pocket as fast as it came out.

Technical specifications

Drop point blade in 440C steel, plain edge, 30 mm long and 2 mm thick. Handle in 440C steel, black finish, 75 mm long, which is also the closed length of the knife. Overall open length: 105 mm. Weight: 65 g. Belt clip mounted on the handle. Registered design. The drop point profile keeps the tip in line with the cutting edge, which helps on close, detailed work.

Care

440C is stainless, but stainless is not the same as maintenance-free: wipe the blade after each use, especially after kitchen work or a day near salt water. The black finish cleans the same way, with a dry cloth, and no abrasive paste or scouring pad that would mark it. A little light oil on the pivot keeps the movement smooth. Sharpening is done on a stone or a ceramic rod at the original edge angle: on a 30 mm blade, a few passes are all it takes.

Legal notice. Carrying a knife in public without a legitimate reason is an offence in France and in most European countries. Check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.