Max Knives FPPBS — 440C clip point blade, kydex handle, Fred Perrin design

Overview

The FPPBS is the clip point version of the Fred Perrin series published by Max Knives. It shares every dimension with its siblings: a 77 mm 440C steel blade, a 98 mm handle, 175 mm once open, 3 mm at the spine, and 55 grams on the scale. It shares the kydex handle too, and the two-tone stone wash in silver and black. The one thing that changes, and it changes plenty in the hand, is the drawing of the blade: a clip point tip instead of the FPPBB drop point. The kydex sheath comes mounted on paracord.

Clip point against drop point

On a drop point the spine falls away in an even curve to a tip that stays high and well shouldered. On a clip point like this one the last third of the spine looks clipped away: it hollows, sometimes rises again, and the tip ends up lower on the blade and distinctly finer. What you gain is a forward section that enters material earlier and more precisely, to start a cut, open tight packaging, pick a thread free or work off the very end. The belly of the edge stays available for long slicing pulls. Two twins, two ways of going in.

Technical specifications

440C steel blade with a plain edge, clip point shape, 77 mm long and 3 mm thick, stone washed in silver and black. Kydex handle, 98 mm. Overall open length: 175 mm. Weight: 55 grams. Thermoformed kydex sheath included, with its paracord. The drop point counterpart of this exact configuration is catalogued as the FPPBB, while the other members of the series change handle material instead of blade shape.

Care

A fine tip deserves to be put away dry: wipe the blade before it goes back into the sheath, or moisture stays trapped against the steel. 440C holds off corrosion well, yet it welcomes a film of neutral oil drawn from ricasso to tip before several weeks in a drawer. The kydex of both handle and sheath takes warm soapy water and dries on its own, with no special treatment. Steer clear of abrasive products, which would lighten the stone washed finish in patches.

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.