The K10 two-handed folding knife from Bergkvist made a good impression in our test. Working with the sturdy handle and sharp blade is great fun. The set is very well thought out and includes a belt pouch and a small whetstone for travelling in addition to the knife. However, the unlocking mechanism harbours the risk of injury when folding. Safety instructions and a manual would also have been desirable, as a sharp knife is not a harmless product. On the other hand, the sustainability and appearance of the product packaging are impressive.
Advantages
✅ Very sharp blade
✅ Sturdy construction
✅ Wide range of possible applications
✅ Set with whetstone and belt pouch
✅ Sustainable packaging
Disadvantages
❌ No safety instructions given
❌ Dangerous folding mechanism
❌ No manufacturer’s address given
❌ No product instructions enclosed
The first impression
The packaging and labelling
ℹ️ Here we take a closer look at packaging. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor. In addition, adequate protection of the product must of course also be ensured.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Product protection | Carton is sturdy, product sufficiently protected | 100 points |
| Sustainability Packaging | Item packed compactly and without unnecessary plastic film, additional cloth for the knife not necessary | 90 points |
| Packaging convenience | Product packaging can be opened easily and without tools | 100 points |
| Packaging design | High-quality packaging, also suitable as a gift | 100 points |
| Total | 98 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The K10 folding knife from BERGKVIST arrived in a precisely fitting Amazon box, which means that no relative movement of the product packaging in the Amazon box is possible. As expected, the product packaging was undamaged. This is good, because it is very elegantly designed and is therefore also suitable for storing the knife permanently.
The product packaging is a black sleeve with a leather pattern made of sturdy cardboard, which contains an inner part. To open, the inner part must be pushed out of the side of the sheath. To prevent unintentional opening, both parts are wrapped in a cardboard strip that blocks them from being pushed out. This strip must first be stripped upwards or downwards. A gold-coloured embossing with the brand logo can be seen under the strip.
Inside the product packaging is a moulded tray made of recycled material with several compartments. The knife, belt pouch and whetstone are placed in these compartments. A short brochure is also included in the pack. All the components of the set are very well protected by the recesses in the tray.
The knife itself is wrapped in a black cloth, which provides additional protection against scratches during transport. Due to the high-quality and robust nature of the rest of the packaging, the cloth would not have been absolutely necessary in terms of sustainability. The enclosed whetstone is also wrapped in protective paper.
Overall, the K10 folding knife from BERGKVIST makes a very good first impression. This is due to the very elegant packaging, which dispenses with unnecessary plastic film and at the same time protects the product during transport.
After unpacking
Package contents and instructions
ℹ️ Most people’s first impression after unpacking is immediately memorable. Are the contents of the pack complete and does the manufacturer make it as easy as possible for me to use the product straight away?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Package contents & scope | Knife, whetstone, belt pouch, cloth | 100 points |
| Instructions for use | Not available | 0 points |
| Contact information | Can be found in the brochure, manufacturer’s address is missing | 50 points |
| Total | 50 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The set contains four items: In addition to the knife, a whetstone, a cloth and a leather-look belt pouch were included.
Unfortunately, there are no instructions on how to use the knife in the brochure. However, this would be an advantage to enable the first-time buyer of a folding knife to use it correctly. Safety instructions would also be useful when handling a knife. Contact information is provided in the brochure for this purpose. This includes an e-mail address and a telephone number. However, the manufacturer’s address is not given. Instead, there is a note stating that help from real people is available if contact is made. It is also stated that part of the proceeds will be donated to “Kinderarmut in Deutschland e.V.”. In addition to the useful information, the brochure also contains a motivational text from the manufacturer BERGKVIST.
Overall, the scope of the set seems well thought out and the product presentation makes a customer-friendly first impression. However, operating instructions and a manufacturer’s address are missing.
The first time in your hand
Product processing and appearance
ℹ️ Before we start the practical test, we take a close look at the product processing. How high quality are the materials used? Is the look and feel satisfactory?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | Striking design, but with room for improvement | 90 points |
| Processing | Precise fit and high quality | 100 points |
| Stability | Stable and robust construction | 100 points |
| Sustainability of the product | Included sharpening stone also ensures long-term sharpness | 100 points |
| Total | 98 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The knife makes a good impression in the hand. The knife is made entirely of black lacquered metal and is therefore very sturdy. The knife also stands out from standard products in terms of design thanks to its striking shape and grooves in the handle. Nevertheless, there are more visually appealing knives, especially from the BERGKVIST brand.
The solid and robust metal construction results in a pleasant weight, which gives the knife a very high-quality appearance when held in the hand. All parts of the knife are firmly screwed together and fit together perfectly.
The knife can also be kept permanently sharp thanks to the whetstone supplied. The knife is also screwed together, making it easy to disassemble and reassemble. Together with the robust construction, this ensures a long service life, which makes the product sustainable.
This is what our practical test showed
Does the manufacturer keep its advertising promises?
ℹ️ Our practical test is the most relevant and therefore the most important. Here, the product has to undergo a wide range of criteria and tests. We check the functions and product promises of the test article.
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Folding in and out | Folding out works perfectly, when folding in, the blade must be moved in the direction of the unlocking fingers | 75 points |
| Cutting vegetables | Very sharp blade | 100 points |
| Wood carving | Little effort required | 100 points |
| Cutting through fabric | Cuts without problems | 100 points |
| Grip ergonomics | Belt clip interferes with right-handers, otherwise good | 90 points |
| Total | 93 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
To test the knife, it must first be unfolded. This requires both hands, as the two-handed knife designation indicates. The blade engages precisely and is firmly attached to the handle. To fold it back in, a leaf spring inside the knife must be pushed to the side to unlock the locking mechanism. To do this, the fingertip must be pressed and held very firmly on a very small surface while the blade is moved. As the leaf spring is located on the side of the handle where the knife folds in, injury cannot be ruled out in the event of clumsy handling. More elegant release mechanisms are conceivable here.
Tests have shown that the blade is very sharp. Together with the sturdy construction, it is a lot of fun to use during the test. The knife offers a wide range of applications for which it can be put to excellent use: Cutting vegetables is just as easy as carving wood or cutting through fabric. However, it is noticeable that when the knife is held firmly in the right hand, the belt clip cuts slightly into the palm of the hand. This is less of a problem for left-handers, as the belt clip is then located on the side of the fingertips, which can adapt better to the contour. However, because the belt clip is screwed on, it can be loosened with the help of a suitable tool. The belt pouch supplied also provides a good option for stowing the knife on clothing.
To summarise, the knife made a very good impression in the test due to its excellent usability. Although there are minor disadvantages with regard to the blade locking mechanism and the belt clip, these can be overlooked due to the well thought-out set and the very good quality.
Price/performance ratio
and ratings from consumers
ℹ️ Finally, we look at how the product compares to the competition. Can it keep up with the competition in terms of price and quality? Would we generally recommend buying it? We also analyse consumer reviews and check whether the critical and positive reviews are actually justified.
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Price / performance ratio | Good price/performance ratio | 90 points |
| Rating cut | 4.5 out of 5.0 on Amazon | 75 points |
| Total | 83 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
On the Amazon platform, consumers have given the product an average rating of 4.5 stars. One common criticism is that the knife is not durable and can be opened with one hand. Many customers like the sharp blade and the good quality. We were able to confirm the sharpness and quality in our practical test. The knife withstood our test and could not be opened with one hand.
Prices of up to €110 are charged on the internet for equivalent products. Very inexpensive products are available for as little as €8. The K10 two-handed folding knife from Bergkvist is currently priced at €32.97, which puts it in the middle price segment. The price ratio is reasonable for the quality and scope of the product.
Overall result
| Weighting | Points achieved* | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. packaging & labelling | 15% | 98 points |
| 2. package contents & instructions | 15% | 50 points |
| 3. product processing & appearance | 20% | 98 points |
| 4. in the practical test | 30% | 93 points |
| 5. price/performance & consumer reviews | 20% | 83 points |
| Total | 86 points |
