Who knew a folder would make a good kitchen knife?
I was first introduced to Liong Mah through his design work with CRKT and since then, have gotten to know more about him and his personal line of knives. Liong’s designs are some of the most sought-after knives in many knife groups and when you get the opportunity to use one for yourself, it’s easy to see why.
At the 2019 SHOT Show, I stopped over to speak with Liong and take a look at the new knives he had coming for the year. I instantly fell in love with a new design, the KUF (Kitchen Utility Folder), scheduled to be released a couple months after the show. My attraction to it was partly due to the thin handle and partly due to his unique take on the front flipper design.
I received one for testing and evaluation, and have been carrying it regularly ever since. Here are my thoughts on it after months of use.
First Impressions
I can honestly say that I have never considered a folding knife for kitchen duty, but I can see how it can add a level of convenience when you just need to cut something quickly. Cutting an apple for a nice afternoon snack, or a lemon for your drink, comes to mind.
Something that caught my eye immediately is the thinner handle, which really makes the KUF feel like it is barely there when stowed in the pocket. On the spine of the handle is a titanium spacer that runs a little over three-quarters the length of the handle, and protrudes slightly out of the spine, giving a very nice flow to the overall design. At the butt of the handle, the spacer is scalloped out to reveal a titanium pin for attaching a lanyard. I was a little apprehensive about the exposed spacer, because it narrows dramatically on the back into an almost unsharpened edge. But after carrying and using the KUF for a couple months now, I have not noticed any issue with this whatsoever; it is very comfortable.
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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This story is from the December 2019 edition of Knives Illustrated.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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I have a confession to make. See if this sounds familiar. I take meticulous care of the knives I use for everyday carry, hunting, and general woods wandering. I wipe them down with an oily cloth after use and I never let them get too dull. Seldom do I have to restore a damaged edge. Most of the time I simply touch up the edges of my pocketknives with a few careful strokes across the rough bottom of a ceramic coffee cup. That’s usually all that’s needed. I don’t use my knives as screwdrivers or pry bars. As a matter of fact, I still have the very first knife I ever owned, an old Boy Scout knife that was handed down from my older brother. The blades have a deep patina that comes with using carbon steel over the years, but the knife is very usable still.
