Max Knives DS1 — Alain Descy mini butterfly knife in 440C steel

Overview

The DS1 opens the range knifemaker Alain Descy designed for Max Knives, and it does so in the smallest possible format: 77 mm closed, 120 mm once deployed, 76 g on the scale. The butterfly principle stays intact, with two handle halves mounted on two pivots that swing around the blade, then meet as a solid grip closed by a latch. What changes is the scale: a 49 mm sheepfoot blade in 440C steel and a stainless steel handle that sit inside one palm.

Alain Descy's signature

Max Knives works with knifemaker Alain Descy, and the DS1 carries his drawing down to the detail: the sheepfoot blade, straight spine and plain edge running to a low point, gives a clean cutting profile and a knife that stays under control in the hand. The run is numbered, each piece carrying its own number. Like every Alain Descy knife, the DS1 comes with its belt clip and a length of paracord, so it can be worn around the neck or clipped to a keyring.

Technical specifications

440C steel blade, 49 mm long, sheepfoot shape, plain edge, 3 mm thick. Stainless steel handle. Closed length 77 mm, overall open length 120 mm. Weight 76 g. Butterfly mechanism with two pivoting handle halves and a closing latch. Numbered series. The DS1 is supplied with its belt clip and with a length of paracord, which allows neck carry or attachment to a keyring.

Care

The 440C blade and the stainless steel handle ask for little: wipe the blade after use, especially after contact with moisture, citrus or salted food, then store the knife dry. The two pivots do all the mechanical work; a drop of fine oil on each, followed by a few openings to spread it, keeps the rotation even. Check the pivot screws and the latch from time to time, and keep the paracord clean.

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. Balisong (butterfly) knives are restricted or prohibited in a number of countries — Germany, Canada and several US states among them — and customs will seize the parcel. Check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.