Dachs Knives Sulis EVO Folding Drop Point Lock Knife (N690)

The Dachs Knives Sulis EVO is a compact gentleman's folding knife with a surprisingly practical side to it. With its narrow, stiletto-like profile, premium materials and clean lines, it looks more at home in a smart pocket than in a toolbox, but underneath all that refinement is a knife designed to actually be used.
 
Dachs Knives comes from the small Czech village of Jílovice, around 17 kilometres northeast of Hradec Králové. It is not exactly the sort of place you would expect to find a workshop producing high-end knives and traditionally made Japanese-style swords.
 
Brothers Radim and Kamil Dachs developed their skills largely through self-teaching, working from the literature available to them, advice from experienced craftsmen and plenty of trial and error. That eventually took them into some seriously specialised work, including Japanese-style sword making.
 
Their work reportedly became good enough that Japanese specialists advised them to mark their swords, as their quality could potentially be mistaken for Japanese-made examples. This led to the Tanuki branding used on some of their work.
 
Tanuki is the Japanese raccoon dog, while Dachs is German for badger, giving the brand an interesting link between the brothers' name and the Japanese craftsmanship that influenced their work.
 
A Gentleman’s Knife With a Practical Streak
The Sulis EVO follows the narrow, refined profile that made the original Sulis popular, but brings a number of improvements to the design.
 
The handle combines durable titanium and Micarta, giving the knife a premium appearance without turning it into something that is afraid of getting used. The titanium section incorporates Dachs' distinctive Obsidian non-slip grip pattern, providing additional purchase when the handle is wet, sweaty or being used with gloves.
 
It is a small detail, but a useful one. The pattern is there to improve grip, not simply to make the handle look more interesting.
 
Böhler N690 Stonewash Blade
At the business end is an 80 mm drop point blade made from Böhler N690 stainless steel.
N690 is a well-established stainless steel choice for folding knives, offering a useful combination of edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance. The Stonewash finish gives the blade a subdued matte appearance and is also well suited to a knife that is going to pick up the odd mark through normal use.
 
The blade uses a flat grind, making it a versatile shape for everyday cutting jobs rather than something designed around one very specific task.
 
Whether you're opening packaging, preparing bait while fishing or dealing with general outdoor jobs, the Sulis EVO is designed to be a useful cutting tool rather than something that simply spends its life looking pretty.
 
Smooth Axial Bearings
The blade runs on axial bearings, giving the Sulis EVO a smooth opening and closing action.
Combined with the compact dimensions and folding design, this makes it particularly easy to operate one-handed. The blade also features grooves on the spine, providing a natural thumb position when you need additional control or pressure during cutting.
 
It is a small feature, but one that makes sense when the knife is being used rather than simply admired.
 
Robust Liner Lock
The Sulis EVO uses a liner lock to securely hold the blade open during use.
 
The lock is straightforward and familiar, while the slim handle keeps the overall package compact enough for pocket carry.
 
Of course, the presence of a locking blade is also important from a UK knife-law perspective. This is not a qualifying UK everyday-carry non-locking folding knife, and carrying it in public requires a lawful reason. Knife laws can change, so the buyer is responsible for ensuring that their intended use and method of carrying are lawful.
 
Small Knife, Proper Workhorse
Don't let the compact dimensions fool you. The Sulis EVO is intended to be a genuinely useful knife.
At just 115 g, it is light enough to carry without constantly reminding you that it is there, while the titanium and Micarta handle gives it the feel of a much more substantial piece of kit.
 
It works just as well for everyday jobs around town as it does for fishing, hunting and general outdoor use. That combination of refined styling and practical construction is really where the Sulis EVO makes sense.
 
Specifications
Model: Sulis EVO
Overall Length: 190 mm
Closed Length: 110 mm
Blade Length: 80 mm
Blade Material: Böhler N690 Stainless Steel
Blade Style: Drop Point
Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Stonewash
Blade Construction: Folding
Lock Type: Liner Lock
Pivot: Axial Bearings
Handle Material: Titanium / Micarta
Handle Colour: Black / Stonewashed
Weight: 115 g
Country of Manufacture: Czech Republic
 
Why Choose the Sulis EVO?
Evolution of the Sulis design: Builds on the original Sulis with modern improvements.
Böhler N690 blade: Stainless steel offering a good balance of cutting performance and corrosion resistance.
Stonewash finish: Practical matte finish that suits a knife intended to be used.
Titanium and Micarta handle: Premium materials with a secure, comfortable grip.
Obsidian grip pattern: Added texture on the titanium section for improved purchase.
Axial bearings: Smooth blade deployment and closing.
Liner lock: Securely locks the blade open during use.
Spine grooves: Provide a useful thumb rest for additional control.
Compact design: 110 mm closed and only 115 g.
Versatile: Suitable for everyday cutting tasks and outdoor activities.
 
The Sulis EVO is a good example of what Dachs does particularly well. It looks refined enough to qualify as a gentleman's knife, but it has the materials, locking mechanism and blade design to be used as a proper working knife when required.
 
Small enough for the pocket, substantial enough for the job and built in the Czech Republic by a maker with a rather more interesting background than most.
 
UK Knife Law
The Charon MINI uses a locking blade, so it is not a UK everyday-carry knife in the same way as a small non-locking folding knife.
 
UK knife laws apply to the possession and carrying of this product. In particular, carrying a locking knife in public is subject to different restrictions from carrying a qualifying non-locking folding pocketknife, and there are additional restrictions on carrying knives in certain locations.
The buyer is responsible for ensuring they understand and comply with the current UK legislation and have a lawful reason for possessing or carrying the knife.