Top Selling Piranha Desert Camo Mini-Guard Auto Knife, CPM-S30V Black Blade

Piranha knives have certainly made their mark in the automatic knives arena for their tight tolerances, consistent quality and competitive pricing. Thanks to their unique custom-like anodized handle colors and a multitude of knife models with their respective blade variations, Piranha can most certainly appeal to every knife user. All models feature all-stainless steel hardware in addition to a titanium pocket clip. The Mini-Guard stems for the same style as the Bodyguard series but in a smaller size. This knife showcases aircraft grade aluminum handle scales that have been chamfered, rounded and polished for a comfortable and ergonomic feel and offers a classic stiletto style design coupled with modern materials. This model, the 7CT, features a unique desert camo handle and a single-edged spear point style blade in a black finish and the pocket clip is designed for tip up carry only. Made in the USA.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Blade Length: 2.9″
• Overall Length: 6.6″
• Blade Material: CPM-S30V
• Blade Finish: Black
• Handle Length: 3.7″
• Handle Material: T6-6061 Aluminum
• Weight: 1.8 oz.

Piranha Mini Bodyguard Auto Knife, 7CT

Piranha has quietly been making outstanding side open automatic knives for several years. Known for fast firing, extremely well built knives, the Piranha Mini Guard is a classic example of the excellence they produce. An S30V clip point blade, anodized aluminum handle along with tight tolerances combine to create a work of excellence that performs under harsh conditions and heavy use. I should know, I have carried this exact knife for the past three months.

BLADE

The 2.9” clip blade is CPM S30V stainless steel. If you don’t already know, CPM S30V is a martensitic powder made stainless steel that stands up to heavy wear and corrosive elements. A metal designed by Dick Barber in collaboration with knifemaker Chris Reeve, the way it is produced creates an even distribution of vanadium carbides. These cut better than chromium carbides. The composition of the steel is Carbon 1.45%, Chromium 14.00%, Vanadium 4.00% and Molybdenum 2%. Chemistry and science aside, an S30V blade cuts well, wears great and has outstanding corrosion resistance. Buck Knives went so far as to call S30V “the absolute best blade steel available”. It also takes a very fine edge. All good things for a knife.

The blade opens via a push button trigger found on the handle near the spine. The trigger is slightly inset to help prevent accidental firing. In my three months of carry, I never once had an accidental fire—and I am in and out of my pockets a lot during the day. Lock up, once open, is stellar and there is no side to side or front to back play.

I used my knife to cut everything you can imagine and probably several things that I shouldn’t have been using my knife to cut. It performed flawlessly. After several months of carry, I took the blade to my Onion WorkSharp and ended up with an even better edge than I think I began with. It only took a few minutes to sharpen and the edge is still great—even after using it for another month of hard work.

HANDLE

Closed, the handle measures 3 5/8” long, 7/8” wide (at the widest spot), and 3/8” thick.This compact knife fits spectacularly in my pocket—which is one of the reasons I love carrying it so much.It doesn’t take up tons of Pocket Real Estate™.Both scales have a series of machined scallops that get incrementally longer until about 1/3 of the way down the knife handle they cross the entire face of the handle.This gives it plenty of grip and texture so you can get a nice solid hold on the handle. These edges are also chamfered all the way down which ends up giving the entire handle a sort of oval shape.If you were to cut the handle right in the middle (the short way) it would have a nearly oval shape.The handle flares quite a bit at the top forming some faux bolsters that help keep your hand from slipping up onto the blade.The handle has matching, but much smaller flares at the butt that create a clearly defined area for your hand to sit.In the middle of both edges of the handle it flares slightly to create a palm swell. Built of 6061 T-6 anodized aluminum, the handle is going to stand up to pretty much everything you can throw at it.I have dropped my several times and even used the butt as a mini hammer once and have no serious scratches on the handle.The camo color is just flat out cool looking.

The Mini Guard has a pocket clip (tip up) that is set for right hand carry. The clip performs admirably.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

The Mini Guard measures out at 6.5” when open, which gives the whole mini thing the lie.This is a mid sized knife that performs under heavy use in tough circumstances.My accountant has been carrying a Piranha Fingerling for three years now and it is still kicking and in fantastic shape.A Piranha is the kind of knife that will last a lifetime.If you are looking for understated quality, durability and all around greatness—pick yourself up a Piranha.You will be glad you did.