Max Knives MKO47T — Automatic knife, 70 mm D2 wharncliffe blade

Overview

The MKO47 series concentrates on the cutting tool itself, and this version reads it most directly: a 70 mm wharncliffe blade in D2 steel, 3 mm thick, a 102 mm handle in black anodised aluminium, 172 mm overall once open. Opening is automatic. The belt clip and the supplied nylon sheath cover both ways of taking it along. That rigorously straight spine and edge without upsweep point to a knife for the workshop, for logistics and for cutting flat on a surface.

D2, a tool steel

D2 was not designed for cutlery but for industrial die and press tooling: it is a high carbon, high chromium steel known for its heavy load of carbides, those very hard particles spread through the matrix. That is where its reputation for edge retention comes from, the ability of an edge to stay biting after a long stretch of abrasive work, cardboard, rope and webbing included. The counterpart comes down to one thing: with its chromium content, D2 is described as semi-stainless rather than stainless. It resists far better than a plain carbon steel, but it is not indifferent to moisture and is distinctly happier wiped dry.

Technical specifications

D2 steel blade in wharncliffe shape, 70 mm long, 3 mm thick. Handle of 102 mm made from black anodised aluminium. Overall length open: 172 mm. Push-button automatic opening, the blade deploying with one hand. Equipment: belt clip. A nylon belt sheath is supplied with the knife, so it can be carried on the belt as well as in the pocket.

Care

The useful habit takes five seconds: after use, run a cloth along the flat from heel to tip, then leave the blade in the air until it is dry. Before long-term storage, a trace of maintenance oil spread by finger over both faces puts the steel out of reach of damp. The aluminium handle cleans effortlessly, a damp sponge and a wipe down will do, with no stripping product. The nylon sheath can be brushed when it has picked up dust and stored flat rather than crushed, so it keeps holding the shape of the knife.

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.