Viper Italo Green G10 Frame Lock Flipper V5944GG

The Viper Italo is a large, well executed flipper designed in house by Viper Knives. In typical fashion it has a superb fit and finish, with attention to detail that a lot of the other guys seem to be missing. No hot spots on this knife as everything is well contoured and flush. This variation of the Italo has a green G10 scale and titanium frame lock.

The Blade: The blade has been manufactured from Bohler M390 Microclean, giving the user a high performance blade steel with excellent edge retention. The surface has a flat grind with a satin finish and a razor sharp edge. Instead of a thumbstud or hole Viper opted to go with a unique hood on top of the blade which is actually quite comfortable as a thumb rest as it provides more width than traditional jimping. Everything rides on a sealed bearing system against steel washer for a smooth and effortless flip.

The Handle: Viper went with a subtle ribbed pattern on the Italo, allowing for plenty of grip without being too aggressive. The entire surface of the handle has been given a large radius making it exceptionally comfortable to hold in hand. The lockside of this knife is constructed from titanium with a bead blast finish and wire clip set up for right handed tip up carry only. Keeping with today’s standards, a stainless steel lock face is affixed to the inside of the frame preventing long term wear. This particular variation of the Italo has a solid green G10 front scale.

About M390: Bohler M390 has become an extremely popular choice for high-end user grade knives thanks to its extreme edge retention. M390 also has a good corrosion resistance, meaning most users can avoid problems by simply wiping off their blade after each use. Another great feature of this steel is its ability to resist burr formation during sharpening. Comparable steels are CTS-204P and Duratech 20CV.