Max Knives MK117S — Keyring folding knife, 440C silver finish

Overview

Brightly polished, the MK117S is the silver member of a small family that also runs to gold, gunmetal grey and black. Its 50 mm 440C drop point blade comes out of a 75 mm handle in 420J2 stainless steel and takes the knife to 120 mm deployed. Twenty grams is the sort of weight you barely register in a jacket pocket or on an office key ring.

A key-ring folder, and what it is for

A knife this size is not meant to split firewood; it is meant to settle the dozens of small cuts a day contains. Opening a padded envelope, freeing a parcel from its tape, trimming a clothing tag, cutting kitchen twine, pulling a loose thread from a hem. At only 1.5 mm thick, the blade slides into narrow gaps and stays controllable from the fingertips, even with a short grip.

Technical specifications

Plain-edge 440C steel, 50 mm drop point blade, 20 mm wide, 1.5 mm thick, silver finish. 420J2 stainless steel handle measuring 75 mm closed, 120 mm total open length, mass of 20 g. Detent-style slip locking and a hollow hex key built into the handle in 10 mm, 8 mm and 7 mm. All four finishes in the series share exactly the same dimensions.

Care

A polished finish shows fingerprints, and a microfibre cloth gives back the shine in seconds. Rinse and dry the knife after contact with rain or perspiration, the two usual companions of pocket carry. The pivot appreciates a drop of light oil several times a year. For sharpening, favour a fine stone and a steady angle over quick removal of steel.

Legal notice for international buyers. Carrying it in public without a legitimate reason is an offence in France and in most European countries. It is the buyer's responsibility to check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.