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Friday, 09 February 2024 07:05

Damned Designs Anzu

Written by

I tend to gravitate towards knives that hit my sweet spot when it comes to blade size, which is in the 3.25-3.5" range. They give me just enough blade to handle most of my daily needs without wishing I had something larger. I do on occasion like something a little smaller, maybe I'm going to a function were using such a large blade would draw unwanted attention. I would usually carry a Swiss Army knife or perhaps a slip joint, but lately I've been carrying something different. Adrian from Damned Designs offers regular and XL sizes of most his lineup, and the standard Anzu makes a perfect choice for a knife that's just right in those situations.

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The Anzu is a compact knife with a front flipper, it comes with an overall size of 5" with a blade length of 2". I didn't see how I would carry this thing more than on those rare occasions, but it's been put to work, and has really surprised me. The short 3" handle is just long enough for me to get two fingers underneath. Coming from knives where I'm able to get 4 fingers wrapped around, this guy is tiny. However, that two finger grip is more than enough to maintain control. The gentle curve of the handle with taper towards the rear makes it quite comfortable. Adrian does a great job with ergonomics, and the Anzu feels like it made for my hand. The handle version I have is g-mascus or G10 damascus. The look is unique, and something different for a change. The material is smooth, yet there's enough texture to help aid in that minimalistic grip.

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The 2" sheepsfoot blade performs good for its size, I've broke down boxes, opened mail, and even used it to make my lunch for work. If I had to have a complaint regarding the blade, the sharpening choil can sometimes get hung when pushing the blade through a material and pulling back, but most cutting chores it didn't get in the way. Deploying the blade is done via a front flipper, much like Damned's other models the flipper is very prominent and easy to use. In spite of the Anzu's size, I'm able to flip it open with my thumb, index, and even middle finger flick it. I find this knife to be fidget friendly, and I catch myself absent mindedly cycling it open and closed.

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The pocket clip on the Anzu is a nice deep pocket style and completely hides the knife. With a knife this small a clip isn't necessary but a welcomed addition. It also comes with a lanyard hole, but not sure what style I would implement, the lanyard might dwarf the knife.

The Anzu comes with a ton of features I love in a compact package that will fit just about anyone's tastes. Whether it be looks or the fidget factor, this knife is a joy to use. If you hadn't checked out anything from Damned Designs, this would be a good entry level model. It offers what the company represents in quality and design without dropping a lot of dough.

David Bowen

As Co Founder of Multitool.org David has been a multitool enthusaist since the 90's.  David has always been fascinated with the design inginuity and uselfulness of multitools.

David is always looking forward to what's new in the industry and how the humble multitool continues to evolve as it radically changes and improves the lives of users.

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