Trivisa Scarab Ultra-BT ZDP-189 Blade Titanium Handle Crossbar Lock Folding Knife

The Trivisa Scarab Ultra-BT combines a compact profile with premium materials for everyday carry and outdoor use. Its 2.99-inch stonewashed ZDP-189 sandwich-steel blade is designed for precise cutting and strong edge retention, while the 65–67 HRC hardness reflects its high-performance character. A titanium handle keeps the knife lightweight at just 2.36 ounces, and ceramic ball bearings support smooth blade movement. The crossbar lock secures the blade in its open position. Designed by the TRIVISA Team, this swedge-style folder measures 6.79 inches overall and folds to 3.8 inches for convenient storage. Suitable for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and daily tasks, it calls for careful sharpening and regular maintenance to help protect the blade from chipping and corrosion.

ZDP-189 Blade Introduction

ZDP-189 is a high-carbon, high-chromium powder metallurgy steel renowned for its extreme hardness, often exceeding 64 HRC, which delivers peerless edge retention and aggressive cutting performance. This performance comes at a cost; its massive carbide volume makes the steel notoriously difficult to sharpen and increases brittleness, posing a risk of chipping under heavy lateral impact. Furthermore, while technically stainless, its high carbon content necessitates diligent maintenance to prevent oxidation, making it a specialized choice for precision cutting tasks rather than rough, heavy-duty utility.

Specification

Designer:TRIVISA Team
Style:Swedge
Blade Material: ZDP-189 Sandwich Steel
Blade Finished:Stonewashed 
Handle Material:Titanium Handle
Lock Style:Crossbar Lock
Hardness:65-67HRC
Bearing:Ceramic Ball Bearing

Size:
Overall length-6.79"(172.4mm)
Blade length-2.99"(76mm)
Closed length-3.8"(96.4mm)
Blade width-1''(25.7mm)
Blade thickness-0.08''(2.2mm)
Net Weight:2.36oz(66.8g)

Usage:Outdoor survival,EDC,hunting,fishing, hiking and camping

Trivisa Scarab Ultra-BT - Stonewashed ZDP-189 Swedge Blade in an Anodized Titanium Frame

The ZDP-189 swedge blade on the Trivisa Scarab Ultra-BT is finished in stonewashed, riding on a black anodized titanium handle with a crossbar lock and ceramic bearings at 66.8 g (2.36 oz). More folding knives and EDC gear at EDCMALL.

ZDP-189 Sandwich Steel: 65-67 HRC Edge Retention, Honestly Explained

This blade runs a hardened ZDP-189 core clad in softer stainless steel: the cutting edge is a 3-percent-carbon powder steel at 65-67 HRC - harder than almost any production folder - while the cladding protects the flats. Edge retention is genuinely exceptional; a week of daily cardboard still shaves. The honest trade: the hard core is brittle under prying and twisting, sharpening wants diamond abrasives, and the high carbon content means wiping the blade dry matters more than it would on M390. The swedge profile and 2.2 mm stock keep the 2.99 inch blade lively, and the whole knife rides at 66.8 g. Compare ZDP-189 with M390, CPM-S35VN and D2 in the table below.

Why the Trivisa Scarab Belongs in Your Pocket

• 2.99 inch ZDP-189 swedge blade at 65-67 HRC on 2.2 mm stock.
• Stonewashed blade finish - a matte tumble finish that hides carry scratches and kills glare.
• Black Anodized Titanium with a satin-machined, anodized finish.
• Anodized thumb stud for fast, one-handed opening.
• Crossbar lock: ambidextrous, dirt-tolerant and finger-safe on closing.
• Ceramic ball bearing pivot that stays glassy for years.
• Steel pocket clip, tip-up, and a lanyard-ready rear.
• 66.8 g (2.36 oz) on a 6.79 inch frame - premium steel without pocket drag.

Best Uses for the Scarab Ultra-BT

• Daily pocket duty: mail, packaging, tags and food prep on a 2.99 inch swedge blade.
• Office and urban carry where the anodized titanium frame reads as jewellery-grade finish.
• Weekend hiking and camping where a compact, corrosion-resistant folder earns its pocket spot.
• Collection display for the ZDP-189 pedigree and the layered or polished finish.
• Precision slicing where the swedged tip geometry and fine edge excel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What steel is the Scarab blade?
ZDP-189 - hardened to 65-67 HRC. It delivers exceptional edge retention, but it is brittle under prying and sharpening wants diamond abrasives; wipe the blade dry and oil it lightly.

How does the knife open and lock?
Press the anodized thumb stud and the ceramic ball bearing pivot swings the blade out one-handed; the crossbar lock wedges behind the tang from above and is fully ambidextrous and finger-safe on closing.

What is the handle made of?
Black Anodized Titanium - aerospace-grade scales coloured by a surface oxide layer, not paint, with a machined satin finish and a steel pocket clip.

How big is it?
6.79" (172.4 mm) open, 3.8" (96.4 mm) closed, 2.99" (76 mm) blade at 0.08" (2.2 mm), and 66.8 g (2.36 oz) - a compact titanium folder that disappears in the pocket.

Is the Damascus pattern the same on every blade?
No - on the Damascus variants the acid-etched layer pattern varies blade to blade, so the knife you receive is visually one of a kind.

ZDP-189 vs. Common Pocket Knife Steels

Steel	Typical HRC	Edge Retention	Corrosion Resistance	Toughness	Sharpening Ease
ZDP-189 (this blade)	64-67	Excellent	Fair	Fair	Hard
Bohler M390	60-62	Excellent	Excellent	Fair	Hard
CPM-S35VN	58-60	Very Good	Very Good	Good	Moderate
VG-10	60-62	Good	Very Good	Fair	Moderate
D2 Tool Steel	58-61	Very Good	Fair	Good	Moderate
14C28N	58-61	Good	Excellent	Good	Very Easy

ZDP-189 is a Hitachi high-carbon, high-chromium powder steel - roughly 3 percent carbon, the highest of any mainstream blade steel. Hardened here to 65-67 HRC, it holds an aggressive edge longer than almost anything else in a production folder. The honest trade: its huge carbide volume makes it brittle under prying or twisting loads, it is harder to sharpen than mid-range steels (bring diamond abrasives), and its high carbon content means less inherent corrosion protection than M390 - keep it clean and lightly oiled. In this sandwich construction a hardened ZDP-189 core is clad in softer stainless steel, so the cutting edge is pure ZDP-189 while the clad flats and spine stay protected. HRC figures are typical mill ranges, not a guarantee for any single blade.

Glossary of Key Terms

Trivisa
A Chinese knife brand building anodized-titanium folders around premium steels, with a clean in-house design language.

Scarab
Trivisa's compact swedge-blade folder: a 2.99 inch blade, 6.79 inches open, anodized titanium handle, crossbar lock, ceramic bearings, 66.8 g.

ZDP-189 Steel
Hitachi's extreme high-carbon powder steel - about 3 percent carbon and hardened to 64-67 HRC. Peerless edge retention; sharpen with diamond abrasives and keep prying loads off the tip.

Sandwich Steel
A hardened cutting core forge-welded or clad between layers of softer stainless steel. The edge stays hard; the cladding protects and adds toughness.

Swedge
A bevel ground along the blade spine. It lightens the profile, sharpens the tip's geometry and adds a distinctive silhouette.

Crossbar Lock
A spring-loaded bar spanning the handle that wedges behind the blade tang. Fully ambidextrous, keeps fingers out of the closing path, and among the strongest folder locks built.

Ceramic Ball Bearings
Hardened ceramic balls around the pivot. The action stays glassy for years, and ceramic will not rust or flat-spot.

Titanium Handle
Aerospace-grade Ti-6Al-4V scales: stronger than steel by weight, immune to corrosion, and warm-feeling in cold weather.

Anodized Titanium
Titanium colour produced by heat or voltage, forming a surface oxide layer. It is not paint - it will not chip or peel.

Stonewash Finish
A tumbling process that beads the steel into a uniform matte grey, hiding carry scratches and killing glare far better than satin.

65-67 HRC
The Rockwell C hardness band this blade is heat treated to - harder than nearly every production folder. Outstanding edge life; sharpen with diamond abrasives and do not pry.

Pocket Clip
A spring steel strip that holds the folded knife at the top of your pocket, tip-up on this model.

Who Should Buy the Scarab Ultra-BT

• Buyers who want ZDP-189 performance in a sub-3-ounce titanium folder.
• Anyone who values an ambidextrous crossbar lock over flipper tactics.
• Collectors chasing the colour-coded Scarab lineup (grey, bronze, black frames).
• Wet-climate carriers who want a folder that shrugs off sweat and rain.
• Minimalists who like a clean swedge profile and a compact 3.8 inch closed length.

Who Should Skip It

• Budget-first buyers - a 14C28N folder at a third of the price cuts cardboard just as well.
• Anyone who wants a fidget-style flipper or button action; this opens on a thumb stud.
• Pry-prone users - the 65-67 HRC core is a slicer, not a lever.
• Users who need a heavy-duty work blade; 2.2 mm stock is built for slicing, not leverage.

Care & Maintenance

• Wipe the blade dry after every use; ZDP-189's high carbon content makes it less stainless than M390, and the clad edge shoulder can speckle if stored damp.
• One drop of light knife oil at the pivot every two months, then swing the blade a dozen times so oil reaches the ceramic bearing.
• Sharpen on a diamond plate or CBN stone at 15-18 degrees per side; at 65-67 HRC, ordinary aluminium-oxide stones barely touch the carbides.
• Work in light passes with the clad line in mind - you are re-profiling a very hard core, not a soft knife steel.
• Never pry, twist or use the tip as a screwdriver; 65-67 HRC steel is outstanding at slicing and brittle under lateral load.
• Wipe anodized titanium scales with a dry microfibre cloth; the colour is a surface oxide, so keep solvents off it.
• Blow lint out of the crossbar-lock channel before oiling; grit under the lock bar is the usual cause of a gritty action.
• Check the body and clip screws every few months with the correct Torx driver; pocket carry can back them out.
• Store the knife closed and dry, never sealed in a damp pouch against the steel.