Steel Will Green Canvas Micarta Mini Gekko Folding Knife, Plain Satin Blade

For consumers who have praised the design of the Gekko 1500 but found it too large for everyday carry, the new line of Gekko mini folders are the ideal alternative. Designed to excel in the great outdoors as well as common utility tasks, these Italian-made folders are as beautiful as they are functional. The blade locks firmly in place with its reliable lockback mechanism, allowing it to confidently operate under heavy loads. The Gekko 1550 has a green canvas Micarta handle that beautifully offsets the satin blade.

Features/Specs:

• Blade Length: 3.5"

• Blade Thickness: 0.14"

• Blade Material: N690Co Steel

• Blade Style: Drop Point

• Handle Material: Micarta

• Weight: 4.76 oz.

• Clip: 2 Position Adjustible

• Overall Length: 7.87"

• Closed Length: 4.37"

• Sheath: Sold Separately

• Made in Italy

The Mighty Gekko

Want to save 15% on a knife? Well, the Steel Will Mini Gekko Folding Knife is for you. MSRP is listed at $199.99, but you can save more with a price of $169.99. Besides saving money, with the Mini Gekko, you will be getting a knife that is huge in character.

Outdoor Series

The Steel Will Mini Gekko Folding Knife is a part of the “Outdoor” series line by Steel Will. They are first class knives created for outdoor usage especially outside of the city. The knives from the “Outdoor” line are necessary tools for fishermen, hunters, hikers, climbers, and all other outdoorsmen. Each knife from this line was created for its own specific goals and objectives. The Mini Gekko is a great tool to have for basic needs while out among nature. It is a sturdy knife that is ready to perform any task that gets thrown its way.

Specs

The Mini Gekko is an impressively sized knife. It has the right length and weight to be of optimal usage. Like a real gecko, the knife is long, slim, and always ready to strike.

·Overall Length: 7.87"

·Closed Length: 4.37”

·Blade Length: 3.5"

·Blade Thickness: 0.14"

·Blade Material: N690Co

·Blade Edge: Straight Edge

·Blade Style: Drop Point

·Handle Material: Micarta Canvas

·Weight: 4.76 oz.

·Clip: Tip-Up

·Lock Type: Lockback

·Opener: Thumb Stud

·Sheath: None

·Made in Italy

The Mini Gekko was made with these specifications after the release of the original Gekko. For those who praised the design of the Gekko 1500 but found it too large for everyday carry, the new line of Gekko mini folders was made as an alternative.

Micarta Canvas

The most unique characteristic of a gecko is its skin with all of its abilities and different colors. The same goes with Steel Will’s Mini Gekko. What sets this knife apart from many others is its handle finish. The handle features a Micarta canvas finish. Micarta is an industrial laminate and is produced by applying heat and pressure to layers of fibrous materials which are infused with epoxy or a similar resin. With a natural rough texture, it offers a good grip, without checkering. However, one of the special properties of Micarta canvas is that the grip actually improves when wet. The entire surface becomes easier to grip. The reason for this is the nature of the material used. Canvas is a natural material that, when exposed to moisture, behaves like wood and leather. It expands as the pores open up. Some advantages to Micarta canvas include: being resistant to weather, to most oils and solvents, and it is durable and tough. Micarta was invented by George Westinghouse in 1910 as an insulator for large electrical generators. It was made of phenolic resin that had been pressed into either linen or paper. Besides being an electrical insulator, it is also durable. Canvas Micarta is popular on rough use knife handles such as the Mini Gekko.

Lockback

One of the great features of the Mini Gekko is the locking system it has to offer. The lockback locking mechanism on the knife utilizes a strong back spring along the back of the knife while incorporating a hook or lug on the back spring. This snaps into a corresponding notch on the blade's heel when the blade is fully opened, locking the blade into position. To close the blade, it requires the user to apply pressure to the bar spring near the rear of the handle to disengage the hook from the notch and to release the blade. Some qualities that make the lockback safe is that it is reliable, sturdy, secure, and safe. Seldom does this type of locking system slip and cause failure. Thus providing a more sturdy and reliable lock. It is able to withstand greater amounts of pressure than other locks such as a liner lock. The lockback system may seem more inconvenient to close, but it is safer than putting the thumb or any other finger in the way of where the blade is closing. Compared to other lockback knives, this particular lockback on the Mini Gekko is smooth.

Steel

The steel utilized by the Mini Gekko is N690Co Stainless Steel. It is made by Böhler-Uddeholm in their Austria mill. It is more commonly found on European knives rather than those from other places. N690 contains cobalt, molybdenum and a small amount of vanadium that enhance the properties of the alloy. Vanadium is used to produce alloys with finer grain structure, which allows for a finer edge on the blade. The added Cobalt improves the wear resistance and edge retention of the steel in addition to ensuring a uniform grain structure. The steel composes of the following: carbon 1.07%, chromium 17%, cobalt 1.5%, manganese .40%, molybdenum 1.10%, silicon .40% and vanadium .10%. The edge retention of N690 to be similar to that of 154CM and VG10 when hardened to 59HRC. N690 is sometimes compared to 440C steel. Many knife makers do not believe that 440C is a valid comparison to the N690 because of the difference of chromium and cobalt in 440C. When sharpening N690, it can hold a similar edge to AUS8 steel and is just as easy to sharpen. It is a durable knife steel that is wear resistant and is a hard steel. This steel is very helpful in achieving the “Outdoor” line purpose of the Steel Will Mini Gekko. It makes a great all-purpose knife while out and about in nature.

Satin Finish

Being one of the most effective and brutal metal treatments available, the satin finish makes the Steel Will Mini Gekko a more effective knife to use—especially outdoors. The satin blade surface is covered with small unidirectional strokes forming a uniform pattern. The blade has a matte finish but reflects direct sunlight. One benefit to a satin finish is that most minor wear and scratches from regular use are unnoticeable. Just as a gecko is capable of blending in with its surroundings or shining vibrantly in the wild, so too can the Mini Gekko.

Folder Knives

The Mini Gekko does not have any fancy bells or whistles when it comes to opening it. It is a simple folder, but it has a lot to offer. Many wonder what makes a folder so special when other knives can open more quickly or in a fancier way. What makes a folder knife nice at times is how quiet it opens. This can be favorable during situations such as an office meeting, or while hunting. Another point to note is that in some places, having a spring assisted or automatic knife can get you into trouble where a folder knife will not. This isn’t true is all cases, but something to point out. One more thing to point out is that the more parts that move in the knife can mean a greater potential to wear out and break down over time. Also, when compared to fixed blades, a folder can be more discrete when carrying it every day. It doesn’t draw as much attention to it compared to the mentality people have about the serious nature of fixed blades. It simply is much easier to carry around in the city. Plus a folder tends to be more compact than a fixed blade.

Variations

While scientists have found 1500 different species of geckos in varying sizes all over the earth, ranging from 1.6 cm to over 2 feet long, the Mini Gekko from Steel Will doesn’t have that many variations. There are a few though that have different finishes and sizes. Steel Will was praised for their design of the first of the Gekko knives (the Gekko 1500), but some found it to be too large for everyday carry. Hence, the new line of Gekko mini folders and its variants were formed with the same design and purpose in mind. There are two variations in the mini-series, the Mini Gekko 1551 and the Mini Gekko 1552. There are still regular sized Gekko knives available if the mini does not work for you. Below is how the different knives measure up with one another and how they vary.

	Blade Finish	Handle Finish	Overall Length	Blade Length	Handle Length	Weight
Mini 1550	Satin	Micarta Canvas	7.87”	3.5”	4.37”	4.76 oz.
Mini 1551	Satin	Black G10	7.87”	3.5”	4.37”	4.76 oz.
Mini 1552	Satin	Maroon Micarta	7.87”	3.5”	4.37”	4.76 oz.
1500	Satin	Micarta Canvas	8.98"	3.94"	5.04"	6.38 oz.
1503	Satin	Orange G10	8.98"	3.94"	5.04"	6.38 oz.
1505	PVD	Maroon Micarta	8.98"	3.94"	5.04"	6.38 oz.

 

One nice feature that is available with all the Gekko knives is its ambidextrous design. This knife is equally comfortable in both the right and left hand. Also, the clip can be mounted in two different positions (on either side of the handle). Plus the lock is easy to locate with both hands and works just fine with the left hand or right hand.

Everyday Carry

To ensure that the Steel Will Mini Gekko Folding Knife is a good for everyday carry, there are a few criteria to consider; especially if you will be using outdoors in addition to everyday carry. Those criteria include: carry depth, weight, thickness, and appearance.

Carry Depth

The length on the Steel Will Mini Gekko Folding Knife is around 4.37 inches. For those that do not have deep pockets, this knife may be slightly too large. This doesn’t discredit that this knife can be perfect for a backpack while hiking or camping. But for those that have normal pockets, or pockets that are deep, then this knife will sit well in your pocket. The benefit of the closed length being over 4 inches is that there is little chance for the knife falling out of your pocket (this doesn’t mean that it is impervious to this tragedy). The knife also has a pocket clip that is almost half the distance of the handle. This helps prevent a loose knife flying out of the pocket.

Weight

If you are going to be carrying a knife all day long, whether that is in your pocket or in your hiking pack, it should not be overweight and overbearing. The Steel Will Mini Gekko Folding Knife weighs about 4.76 oz. To give an idea as to how much 4.76 oz. ounces feels, a normal baseball weighs close to about 5 ounces. This is something important to keep in mind as you consider walking around with the Mini Gekko in your pocket or in your bag. Though it isn’t round or bulky like a baseball, it still has a good amount of weight to it. The weight can be beneficial when cutting to add more stability and pressure when working.

Thickness

As many geckos are, they are slender from head to tail but are a little plump in the middle. The similarity with the Mini Gekko is uncanny as it is just about the same. The handle itself is on the thin side, and the blade isn’t much larger. However, when closed the blade protrudes a little more than other knives. Regardless, the knife is relatively thin when it comes to other large knives.

Appearance

One of the last things to consider with an everyday carry is its appearance. The Mini Gekko has a moderate look to it. It design is not too extreme by any means. Compared to other knives, the Mini Gekko is not intimidating in any way. If anything, the canvas Micarta creates a unique appearance that will welcome attention. When considering an everyday carry knife, it is good to keep in mind how others will feel when using it. In the end, though the choice is yours what to carry, but it is nice to bear in mind how others might feel. In the office, or wherever you might be, it is a good idea to consider if the knife fits into the environment. For the Mini Gekko, it has a look that is both appropriate for urban life, and for the more rural outdoors.

The Mini Gekko is a wonderful unique knife that would be an excellent addition to your knife collection. Similar to the exotic gecko, this knife will draw a pleasant look from others and will provide you with a different way to use a knife.