Max Knives MK109 — 440C Folding Knife, 4 mm Straight Back Blade

Overview

The MK109 measures 120 mm folded and 195 mm open, with a 60 mm straight back blade in 440C stainless steel and a plain edge. What sets it apart is elsewhere in the numbers: a 4 mm spine and 163 grams on the scale, the weight of a knife you feel working. The black anodised aluminium handle takes a belt clip, and locking is by liner lock, the sprung leaf cut into the handle liner that swings behind the heel of the blade once it is open.

A straight spine and four millimetres of stock

Straight back means exactly that: the spine runs from handle to point in one unbroken line, with no dip or curve, and it is the edge that rises to meet it. Two practical consequences follow. First, that flat spine gives a clean surface to lay a thumb or a palm on when you need to lean into a cut, a move that curved spines make less certain. Second, the point stays low and backed by the full mass of the blade. At 4 mm thick over just 60 mm of length, this blade is short and stiff: it does not flex when you press hard or drive it through dense material.

Technical specifications

Straight back blade in 440C stainless steel, plain edge, 60 mm long with a 4 mm spine. Black anodised aluminium handle, 120 mm, which is the closed length of the knife. Overall open length 195 mm. Liner lock, belt clip. Weight 163 grams, the highest of the series. 440C is a high-carbon stainless steel commonly used for pocket blades, and it takes well to a thick grind of this kind.

Care

On a 4 mm blade, routine care comes down to very little: wipe it after use, avoid storing the knife damp, and run a lightly oiled cloth over the flats if it is going to sit unused for a while. The pivot and the liner lock want a drop of light oil now and then, spread by opening and closing the blade several times. The black anodised aluminium handle cleans with soapy water. For sharpening, a straight spine and an even edge are easy work on a flat stone, holding one constant angle along the whole length.

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.