Max Knives MKO48T — Automatic knife, 70 mm D2 wharncliffe blade

Overview

The MKO48T is a mid-size automatic: 102 mm of black anodised aluminium handle, 172 mm once the blade is out. That blade, in D2 steel, measures 70 mm by 3 mm thick and takes the wharncliffe profile, recognisable by its perfectly straight spine. The handle carries a glass breaker, which marks out the MKO48 series, along with a belt clip, and the knife ships with its nylon sheath. It is a tool chosen for the precision of its cut rather than for its ability to pierce.

The wharncliffe, an edge without curve

On most blades the edge sweeps upward towards the tip in a more or less pronounced curve. The wharncliffe does the opposite: the spine stays rigorously straight and it is the edge that runs in a dead line until it meets the point. The whole cutting length therefore touches the work surface at once. That changes how you cut: laid on a board, a carton or a bench, the knife slices across its full length in a single press, without the rocking motion a curved belly demands. The tip, very fine and sitting in line with the edge, starts packing tape, a seam or a film without having to bury the blade. This is the profile for people who cut flat all day.

Technical specifications

Wharncliffe blade in D2 steel, 70 mm long, 3 mm thick, with a straight spine and a straight edge. Handle in black anodised aluminium measuring 102 mm. Overall length with the blade out: 172 mm. Automatic opening driven by a push button. The knife carries a glass breaker and a belt clip, and is supplied with a nylon belt sheath.

Care

A straight edge can be checked at a glance: laid on a flat surface, it should bear evenly along its whole length. Beyond that, the D2 rule applies, meaning a blade wiped and dried before it is put away, never sent back into the handle wet. A little fine oil on a soft cloth protects the steel between periods of use. The anodised handle rinses under clean water to shift dust and salt, and the nylon sheath should be left open to dry. Lastly, check that nothing blocks the blade's path.

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. Automatic and OTF knives are restricted or prohibited in many countries — the United Kingdom, Germany and several US states among them. It is the buyer's responsibility to check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.