Max Knives MK117G — 440C keyring knife in gunmetal grey finish

Overview

The anthracite grey of the MK117G is the discreet finish of the series: neither bright like the silver nor warm like the gold version, it leans towards gunmetal and disappears into a bunch of keys. Underneath sits the familiar mechanism: a 50 mm 440C drop point blade, a 75 mm handle in 420J2 stainless steel, 120 mm of length with the blade out, and a featherweight 20 g.

The 420J2 stainless handle

Choosing stainless steel for the handle of a key-ring knife is a deliberate call: 420J2 puts up with the constant rubbing of keys, the damp of a pocket and knocks against a wallet without deforming. It also gives this small format a pleasant inertia, a sense of solidity that knives of this size often lack. And it is the handle that receives the bored hollow hex key, machining which needs sound material to work with.

Technical specifications

440C drop point blade, plain edge, 50 mm long, 20 mm wide, 1.5 mm thick. 420J2 stainless steel handle measuring 75 mm, total length of 120 mm with the blade deployed, weight of 20 g. Detent-style slip locking. Hollow hex key machined into the handle in 10 mm, 8 mm and 7 mm. The series comes in four finishes with identical dimensions: gold, polished silver, anthracite grey and black.

Care

The anthracite finish forgives marks, but a dry cloth at the end of a day in the pocket keeps its tone even. Rinse the knife in clean water if dust has worked its way between handle and blade, dry it, then oil the pivot very lightly. Check now and then that the blade returns fully to its stop. Regular sharpening on a fine stone at a steady angle keeps a 1.5 mm blade genuinely keen.

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.