The QSP Penguin is the knife that made QSP: a 3-inch sheepsfoot blade, a boxy, comfortable handle, and a price that made people who had never heard of the brand buy one and then buy three. The version we carry is the Glyde Lock model with a 14C28N Sandvik blade and a glow-in-the-dark resin handle. This review covers the sheepsfoot, the Glyde Lock, and why a knife this simple has a following.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Blade | 3 in, 14C28N Sandvik stainless, sheepsfoot, stonewash and satin |
| Handle | Glow-in-the-dark resin |
| Lock | Glyde Lock |
| Deployment | Thumb stud |
| Closed | 4 in |
| Extras | Lanyard hole, pocket clip |
| Price | $84.99 |
The sheepsfoot
A straight edge and a blunt tip: the shape for cutting on a surface, opening boxes, and doing anything where a point would go somewhere it should not. The Penguin's blade is wide, so it slices well, and it is the profile that made the knife feel safe in a way a drop point does not.
The Glyde Lock
QSP's crossbar-style lock: a bar through the handle that you pull back to release, ambidextrous, and it keeps your fingers out of the blade path when closing. It runs on the same ceramic bearings the rest of the line uses. Smooth, and easy to flick.
The handle
Glow resin is not a gimmick on a knife you set down in a tent. The Penguin's slab-sided handle fills the hand for its size, which is why it punches above three inches of blade.
Compared to the rest of QSP
The Elk is the Penguin's bigger cousin with the same Glyde Lock and a micarta handle. The Coyote is the drop-point button lock. The Penguin is where you start.
Frequently asked questions
What steel is the QSP Penguin?
This version is 14C28N Sandvik; other Penguins use D2 or other steels.
What is a Glyde Lock?
QSP's crossbar-style lock, ambidextrous, released by pulling a bar.
Is the Penguin a good first knife?
It is the knife most people recommend as a first good knife.
How long is the blade?
3 inches.
Does the handle really glow?
Yes, after light exposure.
The bottom line
The QSP Penguin is the knife to buy when someone asks which knife to buy. The Glyde Lock version is the one to get.
Related reading
Best QSP knives
QSP Coyote review
Where are QSP knives made?
