Overview & First Impressions
A framing shop cuts mats, joins moulding and wraps finished work, and each of those jobs wants a different edge. The knife that actually gets picked up is the one that opens a box of moulding, trims a sheet of backing board and cuts release paper without tearing it. The QSP Dolphin QS161-B in 14C28N, with a stabilised wood handle, is a pleasant answer to that daily grind.
Materials & Construction
14C28N is the practical choice for a shop that cuts paper and board all day: it takes a polished edge that slices rather than tears, and it resists the humidity of a workshop where glue pots and presses run warm. QSP knives pairs it with stabilised wood, which is dense, stable and warm in the hand, and which looks far better than the plastic scales on a utility knife.
Design & Details
The Dolphin is a liner lock with a slim clip-point blade and a handle that tapers towards the butt, so it sits deep in a trouser pocket without printing. The blade is flat ground and thin behind the edge, which is what makes it good on paper and board. The lock is easy to disengage with the thumb, and the action is smooth enough to open with a flick once the pivot is broken in.
Real-World Use
In the shop the knife trims backing board to a frame rebate, cuts release paper and lining tape, opens cartons of moulding and slices the shrink wrap off a finished piece. It also cuts mount board on the waste side of a pencil line. Among folding knives kept on a framing bench, a thin clip point is the shape that gets used most, because it can start a cut in the middle of a sheet.
Ownership Notes
Paper work is clean work, so maintenance is minimal: wipe the blade, keep the wood handle out of water and oil the pivot twice a year. A strop restores the edge in under a minute. If the wood dries and the grain lifts, a wipe of Danish oil brings it back. EdcMall carries the Dolphin in pearl shell, carbon fibre and wood, so you can match the knife to the bench rather than the other way around.
Who Is This For?
Buy it if you cut paper, board or leather in a shop and want a knife that feels good in the hand for hours. It suits the framer, the printer, the bookbinder and the stationery maker. Skip it if you need a knife for heavy plastic or site work, where a thicker blade and a stronger tip are the priority.
Final Verdict
The Dolphin QS161-B is the sort of knife a framing shop keeps for years without thinking about it. The clip point starts a cut cleanly, the thin grind does not tear paper, and the wood handle makes it a pleasure to pick up. Not every good knife needs to be tactical.
