QSP | NemoKnivesReview

My first Penguin’s encounter occurred thanks to Massdrop which offered the QSP Penguin for 26 dollars.
This was a bargain for a lovely well made lil’ folder (review linked)

As I was looking for a big not threatening folder, I was studying different wharncliff designs or sheepfoot blades for that matter.
Ending my quest with that little Spyderco wonder in the previous review: the Dragonfly.
But back to the QSP birdy pictured here with a Spydiechef:

But my need for a more longer blade (especially in the kitchen) was still on and then I have found that QS130XL-B – QSP Penguin Plus Titane.
Same specs as my beloved D2 Blue Denim Micarta QSP but everything is different 😉 because this is the Penguin PLUS with:
A longer blade. Blade length 8,6 cm.Blade thickness 3,5 mm.
A flipper.
A titanium handle
A 20CV DLC longer blade.
Length closed 11,4 cm.
Ceramic ball bearing..
Lockbar insert.
Titanium clip.

Weight 127g.

The price was 7 times the price of my first Penguin on thebestknives.eu in Vesoul, France. Great bargain and great service.

And here it is:

It is razor sharp right out of the box. Well balanced and all the contour are chanfered. It is a very nice tool knife.
There is a serious heft in this blade.
The action is not stellar because of the detent on the coating but the knife fires with ease thanks to a great detent and an heavy blade.
The integral lock is a little on the sticky side but nothing dramatic.
The whole package is a flat easy to carry medium folder.

But that thumb stumb as to go.
Why ?
Because there is no choil and if you miss your thumstud firing (instead of using the flipper) chance are high to get your thumb encountering the razor edge of the blade.
So it has to go.

It was easily done with two torxes.
Now I got a little hole but it suits me.
I have done the same treatment 23 years ago with Benchmade BM710 this kind of treatment assures you to get a little longer working blade eventually as the studs loves to get in the way.

The tip looks like a sailor or electrician knife and seems strong enough for many knife tasks. In the wharncliffe blade design the point is in contact with cutting board or the plate and gthis one is pointy enough to draw my blood while writing that review…
Well well now it is time for the real testing which will bring another review soon enough.
This is a beautiful knife with a strong straight long blade which disappears in the pocket with its deep carry wired clip. That titanium clip retention is very good BTW.
The handle is made of gorgeous bronze titanium which gives a nice patina look to it and eventually a very vintage toolish low profile look. This is destined to be a hard used folder used in middle of brass and copper. Its flipper is even providing a security guard preventing the hand to slip forward. Instinctively they are many grips and many usages to be considered for a solid folder.
And in terms of edge retention, CPM-20CV is one of the best stainless steel to be found nowadays linked here. Not the strongest (like CPM-3V) but certainly one of the best balanced.

So this is really a nice knife to EDC to put to its paces.