If looks could kill, the Sandstorm 2.0 pocket knife would’ve eliminated you already.
The Maxace Sandstorm 2.0 isn’t for the faint-hearted. Whether it’s the dangerously sharp Kukri-style blade on the front, the 10-ounce hefty weight, the 10-inch overall length, or that viciously rustic titanium handle, every part of the Sandstorm 2.0 screams “BEWARE”. I wouldn’t be surprised if I had to sign a waiver before I bought this thing. It’s durable, meaty, well-weighted, and is ferocious enough to scare your enemies away before you get a chance to use it.
Designer: Maxace
I have an innate appreciation for good craftsmanship. Whether it’s the dragon-inspired pocket knife from a few weeks ago, to this beaut here, there’s something about nature-inspired detailing that makes a knife look more raw, rustic, beastly. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good minimalist flipper, but sometimes a pocket knife just needs to feel like it could get your adrenaline going. The Sandstorm 2.0 is one of those knives. That almost chipped-Obsidian-style texture on the handle catches light wonderfully (in part thanks to the stonewashed finish). The handle is entirely machined from a single piece of Titanium, so don’t expect to see seam lines. It’s a major deviation from most knives that come with two or three-part handles sandwiched together. This single-piece handle is absolutely astounding to look at, although that also adds to its overall cost.
The gorgeous handle is just one aspect of what makes the Sandstorm 2.0 such a great knife. The M390 blade, which measures a whopping 4.62 inches in length is yet another thing of beauty. At that size, the blade becomes fairly heavy, which can be a boon when it comes to maneuvering or working the knife. The M390 blade doesn’t sport a conventional drop-point mechanism. Instead, it has a combination of design styles that pretty much mirror the complexity of the handle’s chipped design. The silhouette feels very similar to that of a Nepali khukri knife, albeit without a continuous curve. There’s a slight sharp turn at the belly, before the knife ends at a sharp tip. The spine of the blade has a clip-point-style faceted curve too, giving you a blade that has a much more complex character than your average drop-pointed folder.
The hefty blade feels incredibly satisfying to open too, thanks to a thumb stud that lets you flick the Sandstorm 2.0 open in seconds. A frame lock helps click the blade in place, which you can then disengage as you shut the blade. With a knife that heavy and a blade that sharp, it’s best do shut the blade with both hands rather than trying to singlehandedly shut the blade. I guess that’s a small price to pay for overall safety. A rotating LBS helps you lock the frame lock, preventing the blade from disengaging. You’ve also got space for a screw-in stop-head to lock your blade in position.
All this heft, sharpness, intricate detailing, artistry, and sheer complexity results in a knife that doesn’t come cheap. At $399, the Sandstorm 2.0 is definitely on the more expensive side… but it’s also worth every penny, given how at the end of the day you don’t get a knife that just looks good… It could inflict some serious tactical damage on enemies too.
Images via Metal Complex
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