Review Cima 1
Introduction
Cima is a new brand in the
Chinese cutlery with some interesting models. In its catalog we can see they cover
a large part of the market offering from modest specifications knives and
pricing to high-priced and high-end specifications, on fixed and folder knives.
In this case, i have selected the model Cima 1 for its good quality/price ratio
and i think it can be one of the models that more popularity has reached due to
its qualities.
Let's see what offers us…
Exterior design and appearance
Outwardly we have a piece with a
classic design inspired by the Esee-3 knife but with a much lower price. Blade
“drop point” style, good belly near the tip, with full flat ground and black
coated, gray micarta handle and overall dimensions of 21.5 cm, 8.5 cm blade
length and width 3.2 cm with 4.5 mm thickness and 208 gr weight, a size quite
content.
OverView
The steel used is 7cr17mov stainless
steel. Given its size, length, width blade, blade thickness and other, somehow
reminds me to the Ganzo G720, who has given me exactly the same weight. So to
see if i was right i checked:
Cima 1 versus Ganzo G720
Cima 1 versus Ganzo G720
The knife is full tang with the
handle attached to the blade with 6 allen screws and ending with a glass
breaker with lanyard hole, that although it has not a pointed shape, will work
with crystals, but it can also serve to use the knife as a hammer to crush or
to use a hammer or stick on it without damaging the handle and nail him heavily
in wood or other material. The problem i see with a such short blade is that the
finger choil shortens the useful cutting area even more and maybe it could have
without it.
Handle detail
More detail
Even more detail
Glass breaker detail
The truth is that has a nice
style, a little tactical by the black coated blade and the gray handle,
it is sober and hasn’t bright colors, but it is really a knife for
"bushcraft", not so tactical, self-defense or military use (which
could also be used), because their characteristics make it better for these field
tasks. Returning to the black coated blade, i think it was not really necessary
for being a 7cr17mov stainless steel, although aesthetically it looks good, but
other similar "bushcraft" knives have to wear it because they are made
of carbon steels and they will easily oxidize, that makes protective layer. In
our case, when the coat wears we will not have oxide problems (to a certain limit,
of course).
Blade detail
If the knife looks good, the
sheath is less worked, outside is plastic, is quite wide. With a metal hook we
can put on the pants, but it does not have different positions regarding their
use will be discussed in the next section.
Sheath plastic side
Sheath metal hook side
Knife in its sheath
Handling
and use
Regarding the balance weight, the
handle is heavier than the blade, which is not beneficial for cutting wood
hitting, which is not a problem because that is not their ideal activity for
its size.
Of course that best use is in the
field, doing “bushcraft”, It is able to split logs using the technique of
“batoning” hitting the back with a branch to go opening the log. By its full
flat ground It is a task that is given very well. Preparing food is also
possible by its design, not only for its grind, but also helps the belly near
the tip, but we must look at the blade thickness it has, with 4.5 mm to cut
thin slices is not easy.
Top view
The size of the blade, for my
taste, is too short, and at least 11.5 cm of blade would be better for a field
knife, although it is also true that we gain in terms of lower weight,
certainly i leave it on the taste of the person. It also has a “finger choil”
in the blade to allow a closer grip and more precise control in delicate works,
joined with a very good jimping, grippy, designed very aggressive, best to wear
gloves if you are going to take tighten.
Spine thickness and jimping detail
Sharpening factory is very good,
shaves, near the sharpest models that have reached me like the Sanrenmu 710 and
9063. If you like folders and fixed knives you must learn to sharpen, but a
good factory edge is always welcome.
In tough tasks in the field holds
pretty well, and no doubt it can be an ideal partner, but i have to remember
that with enough punishment ALL knives may break, $300 knives also, nothing is
indestructible. In the case of Cima 1 i was pleasantly surprised.
The feel of this micarta is very
nice with very good grip, it is soft and porous at the same time. It is
different to the G10, which has no pores or other wood micartas, this is made of linen. Fits well in the hand, although it
would be better a little longer, i see it something fair size.
Returning to the sheath, the use
is correct and retention knife is very good in my copy, with the knife in its
sheath nothing moves, and if we put it face down with the knife it does not pull
out even shaking.
Final verdict
The best i can say is it's a true
knife for "bushcraft", strong, good spine thickness, tip-resistant,
able to "batoning" and to use the tip to make holes in wood turning like
a screwdriver. I think for the price is a very good choice and I can recommend
it without doubt. It is true that the steel does not look like much on paper,
but the heat treatment is often more important than the steel itself (otherwise
look at Buck and its steel 420HC), and in this case it is good. It is a very strong
knife, a little beast.
The new brand Cima has other
models, but I think this could be your sales success for its value/price and
design. I would encourage to Cima to make another version with 3 cm more of
blade with 9cr13mov or 9cr18mov steel containing the price and could be a star
sales. Either way, i am delighted with this Cima 1 for its value/price. But i
checked the price disparity that exist for this model and we must find a good
one, because i have seen its price multiplied x3 in some places. At the right
price i can recommend it fully. Right now this is the flagship model from Cima
by price/quality.
Pros:
- Very good design, with full
flat ground, strong and perfect for sliding through the wood without to do "wedge effect". Also to
prepare food.
- It seems to have good heat
treatment.
- It is a true knife for "bushcraft",
usable, It is not a knife just to see in a glass case.
- Good detail the “glass breaker”
from the handle, with more uses than just glass.
- The handle is very pleasant to
the touch, soft and porous at the same time.
- The jimping is pretty good,
aggressive with very good grip.
- It is a very strong knife, a little
beast.
Cons:
- A little short blade, could be
between 2 and 3 cm more to be within the category of small knives. I have folder
knives with longer blades and should be the other way.
- The steel chosen should have
been at least 8Cr13Mov and not 7Cr17Mov, but it’s very good heat treated and
works well.
- Handle a fair bit of size.
Where to buy it
Gearbest
Final view
Yes it is!.
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