technicalities
a review of Handley Knives’ Technical model by Dan Bergevin
I’ve been eyeballing Coty Handley’s knives for some time now, but never mustered the courage to buy them until now. Why the long wait? Well, you try buying one. Just one. It’s not as easy as it sounds, and once you actually get one in your hands, it’s almost impossible. Coty’s specialty is hard-use custom knives built using sophisticated modern materials and processes. His Technical and Lite Technical models are most commonly seen, with a few other variations surfacing here and there. But if you buy five Lite Technicals you will get five unique knives, as Coty puts unique touches on each one. Variations can include different handle materials, different blade steels, handle pins, sheath colors, and slight differences in blade grind - all of which are features of a true handmade knife. In this particular review I will discuss only one of his knives - a Technical I purchased recently from Coty. This is a form review, focusing on the design of the knife and the materials used in its construction. 1
Jumping right in, here’s a look at the Technical’s overall profile.
Left
Right 2
The total length is 8.5 inches, with a 4.25 inch handle, 3.75 inch cutting edge, and a 0.5 inch “safety zone� between the first finger and the cutting edge. (Numbers are close approximations.)
The handle slabs are made from black phenolic glass and are fastened to the tang by two sets of screws. They have a scalloped texture, ensuring retention in the hand whether pushing the knife in, pulling it back, or using it in any variety of situations, wet or dry. 3
Here’s a really close look at the handle texture.
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The blade has a broad profile, giving it plenty of belly for slicing, carving, and skinning tasks. The steel is CPM S35VN. This can be roughly interpreted as “Crucible Particle Metallurgy Steel, with 3% Vanadium and 0.5% Niobium.” This steel was designed as an improvement over Crucible’s CPM S30V steel, which does not contain Niobium. Niobium’s presence in the steel increases toughness without compromising wear resistance. (Source: Crucible Data Sheet for CPM S35VN, www.crucible.com) Coty used Peters’ Heat Treat to temper the steel, using heat and cryogenic processes. Peters’ services are valued by many knifemakers due to the quality and repeatability of their tempering processes.
Coty applied a stonewashed finish to the blade, providing a patina-like look that is glare and scratch resistant. 5
Front
Back The blade is a full tang design, measuring 0.156 inches at the ricasso. Total thickness at the handle is approximately 0.56 inches.
The blade features a long distal taper. This plus the blade’s full-height flat grind and drop point increase the penetrability of the knife. The blade’s broad profile and short kissaki also allow the blade’s tip to be thin, yet strong, making it very useful for finer cutting tasks.
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Small bevels were ground into the spine and guard, reducing the sharpness of their edges for maximum comfort during hard and sustained usage. 7
The continuous arch of the entire knife tilts the blade forward in the hand. This aggressively positions the cutting edge at an angle that is ideal for a multitude of tasks.
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The fingers easily “find their places� on the handle owing to the two large finger grooves and contours below them. The shallow scallops on the handle distribute pressure along the inner surface of the hand, increasing retention without creating any pinch points or areas of discomfort. 9
Forward grip 10
Reverse grip
The butt of the handle is rounded backward, preventing the bottom of the knife from digging into the hand during a full grip. This design also provides a very effective striking surface.
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The blade itself feels virtually weightless due to the low balance point (at the top of the second finger groove). This makes the knife extremely versatile in the hand, as the grip can easily reverse up or down, frontward or backward, or shift from a full handle grip or pinch grip, all without loss of control.
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The sheath for the Technical is made from kydex. The sheath design features digital urban camouflage in varying shades of gray, dispersed in a random pixillated pattern. The fit was tight in the integral guard area, but I loosened this to provide faster, one-handed draw. Retention was not compromised due to the kydex molding around the handle scallops.
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In conclusion, the Technical is a highly advanced multipurpose knife that would withstand sustained and heavy use in a multitude of environments, from hunting and camping to law enforcement and military applications. Coty knows his stuff and demand for his knives is increasing, so you’d better get while the getting is good, or even possible. Look him up at www.handleyknives.com.
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finis