For a very long time, the Chris Reeve Sebenza was the high-end knife to purchase. There was not a lot cause to enterprise past the Sebenza; it was the final affordable buy earlier than you ended up within the realm of collector-only customized items.
However now there are many small-batch manufacturing knives that price 4 figures: Koenig, Grimsmo, Shirogorov, and Customized Knife Manufacturing unit, to call a couple of. On this lofty firm, the Torrent V3 Knife from Millit Knives sits comfortably by way of polish whereas standing out by way of worth.
Millit Knives has been making the Torrent, a TJ Schwarz design, for years — perhaps even a decade. There was a trio of variations, and that is the newest and best (I owned V1 and bought it … it wasn’t pretty much as good).
The third model of the Torrent knife, the V3 is a feat of small-batch manufacturing knife making. It’s also a superb worth in comparison with different small-batch manufacturing knives of comparable construct high quality, which routinely promote for greater than twice the worth. And this places me in an odd place — recommending a $450 knife as a result of it’s a good worth.
However the market is bizarre proper now.
Briefly: This knife is a tour de pressure of design touches and high-end knife manufacturing at an exceptionally affordable value within the present market. Some will scoff at its very restricted availability (the V3 has solely appeared on social media), however manufacturing iterations which might be almost pretty much as good stay on the Millit web site.
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Metal
S90V -
Grind
Hole grind with convex edge -
Lock
Body lock -
Blade size
3.2″ -
OAL
7.4″ -
Weight
2.7 oz. -
Value
Beginning at $400, $450 as configured -
Nation of origin
Made within the USA
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Elite match and end -
Complicated and revolutionary machining -
Gorgeous prospers and particulars with purposeful worth -
Attention-grabbing clip design -
Cautious maximization of ratios -
Value when in comparison with opponents
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Value when in comparison with most knives -
Availability
Millit Knives Torrent V3 Evaluate
First Impressions
Why purchase a knife that’s costlier than a Sebenza? It’s a good query as a result of the Sebenza is fairly darn good. However when you choose up this knife, you’ll perceive what’s past the “Sebenza Barrier.”
It is a finely made knife that seems like a high-end watch and appears just like the engine bay of a hypercar. It’s extremely slim and extremely strong, but it isn’t bland or utilitarian.
It’s complicated and gorgeous, however the particulars are in service to operate, which is unbelievable within the realm of luxurious objects.
Metal
The blade metal right here, S90V, has strong attributes throughout. It is extremely immune to corrosion, has stellar put on resistance, and is outstandingly powerful.
So, the Torrent works nice for a lot of jobs. I wouldn’t drive it into the filth with a shovel on a tenting journey, however I wouldn’t try this with most knives. It’s fairly good across the wooden store, round the home, and within the pocket for a day of working round.
Activity Grasp
I simply completed an outside finish desk constructed out of scraps. I had a couple of cutoffs of Trex for the highest and extra-thick 8/4 or 9/4 pine from a raised planter mattress. From these humble supplies, I constructed the desk in fairly brief order, utilizing the Torrent as a marking knife.
I’ve a purpose-built marking knife with a chisel grind, however this was not a high-precision process, so I wasn’t too anxious. The S90V did an incredible job marking reduce traces within the pine and was even respectable at scoring the Trex (which is a horrible constructing materials — plastic, filler, and a coating).
After constructing the desk, the blade was nonetheless shaving sharp.
The V3 additionally blasted by way of recycling, breaking down fairly a couple of massive packing containers with ease. The coated packing containers are the worst for knives with a number of completely different sorts of fabric, all of that are exceptionally abrasive. That is precisely the sort of stuff S90V chews up.
I additionally used this knife for some meals prep. Its lengthy blade relative to the deal with measurement and superior grind made it nice for going by way of apples and mincing scallions from the planter mattress backyard. It additionally does effectively with sticky cheeses, like my favourite sharp cheddar.
I used to trim fats off rooster and steaks, not as a result of I lacked kitchen knives, however only for enjoyable. It dealt with all of it fairly effectively.
Within the Hand
A number of issues stood out. First, I really like S90V. That’s not a stunning nor controversial assertion, however it’s price noting it’s actually, actually good. It’s a smidge higher than M390 and the like, however for most individuals, the distinction might be not noticeable.
Second, I discovered that the sting chipped and rolled a lot lower than different knives. Importantly, the Torrent has a convex floor edge, whereas most knife edges are conventional v-grinds. The convex edge is far more sturdy. Working right into a staple in a field or a bone in a rooster didn’t destroy this edge.
Lastly, all of the inlays, edging, and machining executed on the clip (as versatile as a stamped clip though it’s totally machined) make for a surprisingly grippy knife. You don’t usually consider carbon fiber as a grippy materials, particularly when it’s this easy and void-free. However this deal with’s design simply works.
the remainder of the knife, the low-profile flipper tab is excellent, the recessed screws are nice for grip, the interior milling on the deal with creates a surprisingly mild instrument, and zinc-blasted particulars carry a luster and oil sheen look that may be very eye-catching.
Particulars abound on the Torrent, and all of them are fantastic. Cheaper variations eschew the inlays, however the titanium continues to be textured for grip.
Conclusions
When a Koenig or a Shiro goes for $900-1,100 retail, a $450 knife that’s simply as good or nicer turns into a cut price. However it isn’t simply that the Torrent is an efficient value; it is usually an exceptionally refined knife. Element after element lands excellent, and there’s a noticeable step up from different manufacturing knives down the worth spectrum.
This received’t be an incredible knife within the woods, with numerous locations to collect gunk and particles, however if you’re in search of a very particular folder for a non-insane (or much less insane) value, the Torrent V3 will make you content.
What would possibly make you sad is its availability. Millit posts stuff as it’s completed, and there will be each lengthy delays and intermittent availability. However when you wait, your endurance can be rewarded. Simply you should definitely observe and test Millit’s Instagram for drops.
When you don’t need to stare at social media, hoping for an opportunity to purchase this unique knife, you can even store Millit’s manufacturing knives on its web site.
