SHARP Thought: The Name Huginn
Theoretical Thoughts Behind the Design – Do They Work in Practice?
The Huginn is named after one of the ravens of the Germanic god Odin.
Who Was Odin?
Odin is the Germanic father of the gods. According to legend, he has two ravens which he sends every day to fly around the world. When they return, they sit on Odin's shoulders and tell him everything they saw during their flight. These ravens are called Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Memory). The Huginn knife is named after Huginn, the raven of thought, by Ukrainian knifemaker Ivan Braginets. This design is being mass-produced by Real Steel.
A New Locking Mechanism: Slide Lock
The Huginn is the first Real Steel knife to incorporate a slide lock. The Liner Lock has a significant advantage: it remains very secure even under high load. It is also incredibly comfortable to use, whether you are right-handed or left-handed.
A round pin, about three millimeters thick, sits transversely in the handle and is pressed into a recess in the blade root by a spring on each side, positioned between the liner and the handle shell. For a Liner Lock to fail, the bolt or liner would need to break, or both springs would have to fail at the same time.
To unlock the knife, pull the bolt protruding from the handle scales with your thumb and fold the blade back using your forefinger. Wear is compensated by placing a pin in both the blade root and in the recess of the handle shell.
The Side-Lock has been established on the market for over 20 years and has proven itself in bestsellers like the Benchmade Griptilian. It is gratifying that other manufacturers are now also bringing great designs with comparable systems to the market.
One can hope that Real Steel will follow up the Huginn with more models featuring the new Slide Lock. The modified Spearpoint shape of the blade is versatile.
Safe and Left-Hand Friendly
The Slide-Lock has been around for over 20 years and has proven itself in bestselling knives like the Benchmade Griptilian. It’s a system that provides a very safe locking mechanism, which is also very easy for left-handed users to operate.
Many manufacturers are now adopting this system, which is a promising development. One can hope that Real Steel will follow up the Huginn with additional models featuring this new lock.
Blade Design and Cutting Performance
The Huginn’s blade features a modified Spearpoint shape, which is highly versatile. Our test specimen arrived impeccably sharpened and boasts a cutting-friendly blade geometry. With a moderate blade thickness of 3mm, the flat grind tapers out finely.
Cutting with the Huginn is a joy. Real Steel chose VG-10 steel for the blade, which is known for its high rust resistance and excellent edge retention. VG-10 can be hardened to a relatively high level but can be difficult to sharpen. Achieving a smooth cutting edge requires patience, high-quality sharpening tools, and a combination of diamond and ceramic materials.
One-Handed Operation and Ergonomics
Out of the factory, the Huginn comes as a classic one-handed knife, equipped with thumb studs on both sides. Our test sample came with very firmly glued thumb studs that were initially hard to unscrew. After heating the threadlocker with a hairdryer, we were able to remove the pins using pliers and a screwdriver.
Despite its size, the Huginn is remarkably light. The steel liners are skeletonized, and the backspacer is made from lightweight G-10. Thanks to its slim and flat construction, it has excellent carrying properties. The Deep-Carry Clip is mounted at the tail, allowing the knife to almost disappear in your pocket.
Ambidextrous Design
Thanks to the rear mounting, the clip can easily be moved from the right to the left without leaving any unsightly holes in the handle. Combined with the Slide Lock, the Huginn is one of the rare knives that can be 100% comfortable to use with one hand—even for left-handed users.
Ergonomics and Grip
Despite its slim design, the Huginn sits well and securely in the hand. The rough G-10 handle scales provide great traction, and the handle is ergonomically shaped, offering a good balance between comfort and control. Visually discreet, the handle has an excellent tactile feel.
The thumb ramp on the back of the blade is positioned just right and supports powerful work. The ribbing at the end of the handle also serves as a thumb rest in a tactical reverse grip, but it's not strictly necessary and may be somewhat annoying for some users.
Conclusion: The Perfect EDC Knife
Despite minimal shortcomings, the Huginn is an almost perfect EDC knife. It truly lives up to its namesake—thoughtful design with excellent finishing. And at a price of around 95 Euro, it is definitely not overpriced.
Text & Photos: Tactical Gear – Thomas Laible
Original text in German, extract from RSK.
2 comments
Is there a way simple way to ord Knifes
Nice knife.