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 value 4 figures: Koenig, Grimsmo, Shirogorov, and Customized Knife Manufacturing facility, to call just a few. 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 most recent and biggest (I owned V1 and bought it … it wasn’t nearly as good).
The third model of the Torrent knife, the V3 is a feat of small-batch manufacturing knife making. Additionally it is a great worth in comparison with different small-batch manufacturing knives of comparable construct high quality, which routinely promote for greater than twice the value. 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 worth 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 practically nearly 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. -
Worth
Beginning at $400, $450 as configured -
Nation of origin
Made within the USA
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Elite match and end -
Complicated and progressive machining -
Beautiful prospers and particulars with purposeful worth -
Fascinating clip design -
Cautious maximization of ratios -
Worth when in comparison with opponents
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Worth when in comparison with most knives -
Availability
Millit Knives Torrent V3 Overview
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 in the event you choose up this knife, you’ll perceive what’s past the “Sebenza Barrier.”
It is a finely made knife that looks like a high-end watch and appears just like the engine bay of a hypercar. It’s extremely slim and extremely stable, but it isn’t bland or utilitarian.
It’s advanced and gorgeous, however the particulars are in service to operate, which is unbelievable within the realm of luxurious gadgets.
Metal
The blade metal right here, S90V, has stable attributes throughout. It is extremely proof against 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 dust with a shovel on a tenting journey, however I wouldn’t do this with most knives. It’s fairly good across the wooden store, round the home, and within the pocket for a day of operating round.
Activity Grasp
I simply completed an out of doors finish desk constructed out of scraps. I had just a few 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 job, so I wasn’t too frightened. The S90V did a fantastic job marking lower strains 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 recycling, breaking down fairly just a few massive packing containers with ease. The coated packing containers are the worst for knives with a number of totally different varieties of fabric, all of that are exceptionally abrasive. That is precisely the type of stuff S90V chews up.
I additionally used this knife for some meals prep. Its lengthy blade relative to the deal with dimension and superior grind made it nice for going by apples and mincing scallions from the planter mattress backyard. It additionally does properly 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 properly.
Within the Hand
Just a few 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 rather 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 carried out on the clip (as versatile as a stamped clip regardless that it’s totally machined) make for a surprisingly grippy knife. You don’t sometimes consider carbon fiber as a grippy materials, particularly when it’s this clean 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 gentle 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 remains 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 discount. However it isn’t simply that the Torrent is an efficient worth; additionally it is an exceptionally refined knife. Element after element lands good, and there’s a noticeable step up from different manufacturing knives down the value spectrum.
This gained’t be a fantastic knife within the woods, with a number of locations to assemble gunk and particles, however if you’re in search of a very particular folder for a non-insane (or much less insane) worth, the Torrent V3 will make you cheerful.
What may make you sad is its availability. Millit posts stuff as it’s completed, and there will be each lengthy delays and intermittent availability. However in the event you wait, your persistence will likely be rewarded. Simply remember to observe and test Millit’s Instagram for drops.
In the event you don’t need to stare at social media, hoping for an opportunity to purchase this unique knife, it’s also possible to store Millit’s manufacturing knives on its web site.