Max Knives FP2001S — Shorty fixed blade, 440C sheepfoot, silver stonewash

Overview

The Shorty Silver Edition is the light variant of a very short fixed blade drawn by Fred Perrin and issued by Max Knives: 102 mm overall, 40 mm of blade, 62 mm of handle, 33 mm of width. The silver stonewash finish leaves the 440C steel in its natural tone, tumbled for a matt, irregular grain that catches little light. The blade takes the sheepfoot profile, with a plain edge, and measures 4 mm at the spine. The handle is G10. A kydex sheath and a paracord come with the piece, whose dimensions the FP2001B repeats exactly in black stonewash.

A straight edge on a thick blade

On a sheepfoot, the cutting edge runs straight from end to end. Laid on a board or a bench, it bears along its whole length instead of touching at a single point as a curved belly would: the cut is made by direct pressure, from heel to point, and stays under visual control since the entire edge remains in sight. The point, drawn very low by the spine as it curves down at the end, never passes the cutting line. Add the uncommon ratio of this model, 4 mm of thickness for 102 mm overall, and you get a short blade 33 mm wide that does not flex when you lean on it.

Technical specifications

Fixed blade in 440C steel, sheepfoot shape, plain edge, silver stonewash finish. The blade measures 40 mm, the handle 62 mm, the whole 102 mm overall for 33 mm of width, and the blade thickness reaches 4 mm. G10 handle. Kydex sheath supplied, with a paracord. A Fred Perrin drawing, issued by Max Knives under the FP2001S reference. The FP2001B version shows the same dimensions and the same construction, with a blade in black stonewash: the choice between the two comes down to the shade.

Care

Caring for this version comes down to a few gestures. Wipe the blade after every use, especially after contact with acidic or salted matter, and dry it before returning it to the kydex: 440C is stainless, not indifferent to prolonged damp. The silver stonewash finish is revived with a soft dry cloth; abrasive creams, on the other hand, would create bright areas that break the uniformity of the grain. G10 takes warm soapy water and dries without distorting. Let the paracord air dry, out of the sheath, and rinse the kydex the same way.