Max Knives MK105 — Assisted opening 440C folder, aluminium frame lock

Overview

The MK105 is a mid-size folder, 95 mm closed and 154 mm open, built around a 60 mm drop point blade in 440C steel. Its handle is black anodised aluminium, 33 mm wide and 15 mm thick, which fills the hand for a total of 89 g. The opening is assisted and the lock is a frame lock. Two rescue functions are added to that, a glass breaker and a belt cutter, along with a belt clip mounted on the handle so the knife rides in a pocket rather than loose in a bag.

Frame lock, and why it is not a liner lock

Both systems work on the same principle, a sprung leaf of steel moving in behind the tang of the open blade, but not out of the same material. On a liner lock it is a thin internal liner, tucked under the scales, that does the locking. On a frame lock like the one on the MK105, it is a section of the handle itself, cut through its full thickness, that swings across and bears against the tang. The consequence is direct: the part that locks is also the part your hand squeezes, so gripping the knife pushes in the direction the lock is already going.

Technical specifications

Drop point blade in 440C steel, plain edge, 60 mm long and 3 mm thick. Handle in black anodised aluminium, 95 mm long, which is the closed length of the knife, 33 mm wide and 15 mm thick. Overall open length: 154 mm. Weight: 89 g. Assisted opening, frame lock. Built-in glass breaker and belt cutter. Belt clip mounted on the handle.

Care

The anodising protects the aluminium handle: clean it with warm water and a cloth, with no solvent and no abrasive pad that would eat into it. The 440C blade is stainless but is better for a wipe after use. On an assisted knife the pivot deserves some attention: a drop of light oil two or three times a year is enough to keep the opening consistent and the frame lock returning cleanly. Check the clip screw now and then, as it works loose with use. Sharpen on a stone or a ceramic rod at the original angle.

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.