Viper Cutlery Katla Linerlock 3D Dark Stonewash Titanium Handles M390 Steel V5984TI3D

I really like this knife even more than I expected to. It is the only Viper currently residing in my growing collection, and I bought it on a bit of a whim based primarily on the appearance of the machined titanium texturing.

So, with that said, I’ll start my review with appearance. The Katla strikes me as having considerably slimmer proportions than the stout Jesper Voxnaes designs I’m familiar with. In addition to the aforementioned 3D textured “bolsters,” I absolutely love the rich brown color of both the scales and the blade of my “dark stone-washed titanium” edition. The bronze pivot ring and backspacer perfectly accentuate the dark brown color. The smooth bead-blasted portions of the scales have a satin finish that is delightful to the touch.

The action tuning is simply perfect, with a detent that is perfectly matched to the blade’s inertia. In keeping with the Katla’s namesake, I’ll describe the blade’s action as “erupting” from the handle, achieving successful lock-up up virtually every time, regardless whether being deployed with the flipper or the thumb studs. I hedge that statement only because when using the thumb studs for deployment, one must take care to ensure the forefinger remains clear of the flipper tab.

I can’t find any faults with the fit and finish. The color matching of the blade to the scales is precise. The secondary grind is straight and even, and mine came exceedingly sharp. The fairly thin and flexible pocket clip is good; not overly tight as is often the case.

The Katla is classified by Viper as a Gentlemen’s knife. But it is built solidly enough that I have no doubt it could stand up to some fairly hard use. The blade, in particular, with its modified tanto grind is quite sturdy and appears capable of withstanding rough use. The pivot screw is tight enough that there is absolutely zero blade play when locked, yet it still allows for the excellent action described above.

Ergonomic features include a nicely contoured finger choil that combines with the flipper tab and leading edge of the handles to form a quite functional and comfortable forward finger rest. The spine sides of the scales are radiused for comfort, while the blade-edge sides are more square, presumably to provide for more secure purchase. In my medium-large hands, the knife feels comfortable and natural with my index finger in either the forward choil or in the more conventional rearward choil. The knife is fairly hefty for its size, which might be considered a plus or a minus depending on one’s perspective.

Yet to be determined is how well the nice finish will withstand the inevitable scratches and abrasions that result from day-to-day use.