The young company has its headquarters in Yangjiang, a district of China that boasts numerous companies specializing in the production of knives (you could say the equivalent of the Seki city of in Japan or Maniago in Italy, just to give an idea). With a 2000sqm workshop and more than 50 skilled employees, Kubey's goal is to create products with high quality standards, making knives with premium materials (including American and European sintered steels for the blades, and titanium for the handles) but also tools accessible to all. In fact, in addition to the high-end product line, Kubey manages to maintain the same quality standards even in the range of cheaper knives.

It is in this market segment that the Royal model is placed, designed by Colin Maisonpierre, Graphic Designer from North Carolina (USA) who in 2020 decided to undertake the path of knife designer.

This handy EDC knife has a drop-point blade made of D2 steel with a darkwashed finish. The blade, 76 mm long and 3 mm thick, is characterized by an extensive thumb hole milling, which is not particularly wide, but in principle it is sufficient to allow one hand opening. The blade rotates pleasantly smoothly on ball bearings and, once opened, is firm and free of play. For those who are tired of traditional flipper tabs, this model is equipped with a front flipper opening, on which a fine jimping has been made.

The Royal features a liner-lock mechanism, with the steel folders (1.5 mm thick) nested in the G10 scales. The latter, in the model available to us, are of a pleasant sand color that creates a nice contrast with the dark finish of the blade. The handle components are held together by the large pivot with the company logo engraved, and by a standoff located in the terminal part of the handle, where there is also the lanyard hole.

The knife is equipped with comfortable deep carry pocket clip, in an ambidextrous tip-up configuration.

The Royal size is perfect for a knife intended for daily use; the length of the handle is 109 mm, the thickness (clip excluded) is 13 mm. The overall length is of 185 mm and has a weight of about 94 g (practically unnoticeable in the pocket).

The retail price of the knife is around €53 for European market and $60 for the USA one, and it is available in various versions: with darkwashed blade or the clearer stonewashed blade, with black, sand (as in our version) or jade (i.e. the natural-colored G10) handle.

Our qualitative cutting tests have shown excellent factory sharpening; even the most difficult materials such as car seat belts were cut without difficulty.

Overall the Royal is a practical EDC folding knife that combines multiple opening methods (thumb-hole and front flipper) with the simplicity and functionality of the design.
Furthermore, the manufacturing is of excellent quality, and the quality / price ratio is extremely advantageous.

SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Kubey Knife - www.kubeyknife.com
Designer: Colin Maisonpierre
Type: folding, EDC
Locking mechanism: Liner-lock
Opening: manual on ceramic ball bearings, thumb-hole, front flipper
Blade steel: D2 (59-61 HRC)
Finish: darkwashed (stonewashed also available)
Blade length: 76 mm
Blade thickness: 3.1 mm
Overall length: 185 mm
Handle: G10 sand (also available in black and jade)
Clip: stainless steel, deep carry, ambidextrous tip-up
Weight: 94 g
Price: around € 53 / $60

Made in China