The story of the knife enterprise during the last 10 years marks a shift to China and the emergence of actual, high-quality knives from Chinese language manufacturers. Reate, after which WE Knives, ushered in an period of high-end knives made in China. However for years, the center and backside of the market had been dominated by rubbish. Typically a gem would occur by chance (just like the oft-missed San Ren Mu 605), however more often than not it was one low-cost, flimsy knife after one other.
However the rising tide lifted all boats and midrange manufacturers like Civivi (WE’s little brother) have made inroads into the guts of the market. Sadly, even these “midrange” knives crept upward, approaching $100, sporting Damascus sample blades.
True entry-level knives, these below $50, nonetheless aren’t at all times nice. However at $45, the Canary is perhaps top-of-the-line buys available on the market proper now, particularly provided that the terribly well-designed Civivi Lumi is now out of manufacturing.
This knife rode with me for a month or so, serving as my major on a regular basis carry blade. It went to work, all the way down to the woodshop in my basement, and across the yard for all types of residence enchancment duties.
In brief: The Canary appears and seems like a knife that ought to value twice as a lot. The harpoon tip and lightning holes are good stylistic selections, setting the knife other than the bevy of “minimalist” finances knives (learn: boring, design-by-numbers knives). It’s an excellent entry-level EDC knife with glorious construct high quality and superior metal for the cash.
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Metal
14C28N -
Grind
Full flat grind with ornamental harpoon -
Lock
Liner -
Blade size
2.85″ -
OAL
6.58″ -
Weight
2.64 oz. -
Value
$45 -
Nation of origin
China
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Nice motion with a easy pivot and crispy detent -
14C28N metal is exceptionally good for the worth -
Rock-solid lock up -
Deep-carry clip -
Simply the best measurement and weight for EDC
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Not the thinnest blade inventory
QSP Canary Folding Knife Assessment
The Canary’s deep carry clip and glorious measurement and weight meant that I may carry all of it day lengthy with out noticing its presence. It should match within the coin pocket of a pair of denims, however simply barely.
The rounded G10 handles had been snug in my hand, and slid out and in of the pocket properly.
In contrast to a set blade, my EDC knives actually see three major makes use of:
- Basic utility duties (breaking down packing containers, opening packages, slicing unfastened threads or string)
- Meals prep
- As a marking knife for woodworking tasks
In all three of those roles, the Canary was glorious.
On a regular basis Utility
I’m a lawyer, so most of my time at work is spent doing nearly solely psychological work. The one factor I want a knife for at work is opening packages and letters.
Right here, the tall blade of the Canary labored properly. The blade inventory isn’t the thinnest, however the knife involves an acute edge due to a full flat grind on a comparatively tall blade.
The random Amazon bundle and Submit Workplace flat-rate field posed no problem. However slicing up materials for recycling at residence confirmed me the Canary has actual chops, and that the 14C28N is a superb all-around metal.
Solely knife knuts benefit from the technique of recycling, because it supplies an excuse to get that zipper impact with a razor-sharp blade, plowing by means of field after field to create space in your municipality-approved recycling bin.
Meals Prep
I have a tendency to make use of my EDCs for meals prep quite a bit. Not solely is it a very good take a look at, however I at all times have the knife helpful. The Canary is a bit brief to completely span an apple, however the knife sliced as a substitute of popping open the fruit.
It dealt with cured meats and cheeses (a part of my favourite in-the-woods meal, the “Pocket Knife Lunch“) with ease. The soppressata sliced properly, and the sharp cheddar didn’t crumble as a result of I didn’t must bear down on the knife for it to chop — once more, due to the comparatively eager edge.
Woodwork
Across the workshop, as with meals prep, I exploit my EDC knife as a result of it’s readily at hand. I did a variety of tasks outdoors this summer season, together with constructing a roof for my pallet rack that I exploit for firewood. That meant slicing into a variety of pressure-treated wooden, which proved no drawback.
Within the precise woodshop, I’m engaged on a walnut field for my son’s burgeoning knife assortment. There, as you possibly can think about, it labored — however not as simply. I’ve some tasks going with arduous maple, and that grew to become a chore.
I made some chops for my workbench vice and used the Canary to mark traces. It took a variety of strain, greater than I used to be snug with to make the marks seen.
All through all of this, the knife exhibited no blade play or lock rock of any form. The lock nonetheless hits on the similar place, and disengagement stays a simple activity.
Even the sting stayed respectable; 14C28N is about as good a knife metal as you may get earlier than you step as much as a powder metallic metal, so I wasn’t too shocked concerning the edge. That stated, the skinny liners and comparatively rough-cut pocket clip make the Canary really feel like a step down from a very good Civivi, just like the Elementum.
After all, that knife will value you much more, in all probability twice as a lot.
Conclusions
The business has reached the purpose the place flawless knives are par for the course, even within the entry-level worth bracket.
The QSP Canary is an excellent entry degree knife, however it lacks a layer of polish that an $80 Civivi Elementum has. It’s a good knife for lots of people, particularly these simply stepping into knives. And if you have already got a bevy of them, it’s an important beater/store/glove field knife.
All in all, It’s in all probability the most effective bang on your buck, however solely as a result of the actually supernal Civivi Lumi isn’t in manufacturing.
