From Boker Knives of Solingen, Germany, this Mini Lockblade is a perfect pocket size with a closed length of only 2 1/2″. The high carbon stainless blade, flat ground for added strength, packs full sized quality into a 2″ long drop point style that has the width of many larger fixed blades.
This gentleman’s pocket lockblade is solidly built with polished brass handle liners and heavy nickel silver bolsters. Adding to its strength and beauty are full width handle slabs of Brazilian Rosewood, a material from the Amazon rain forest that has been a favorite of knife makers for decades. To protect this rare wood from over harvesting, Brazil has periodically banned its export, bringing the price even higher. That didn’t stop my uncle from bringing a stack of it home in the 60’s–he hired a local carpenter in Rio to build his packing crates from rough rosewood lumber and shipped his supplies home inside. For years I made knife handles from his leftovers.
I own a knife exactly like the Mini but twice as large. It’s been a serviceable blade on many wilderness outings and even fishing trips, one of the roughest things you can do to a knife. The flat grind is more difficult to sharpen than the popular hollow grind most makers use, but the extra strength is often worth the trouble. The only complaint I’ve had is that the edges of the handle are cut at ninety degrees and barely rounded off. Extended work with it is rough on the hands. That shouldn’t be a factor with a small pocketknife like the Mini.
