GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A M390 Blade G10 Handle Crossbar Lock Folding Knife

The GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A combines exceptional craftsmanship with outstanding performance. Featuring a premium Bohler M390 stonewash blade—a powder-metallurgical stainless steel renowned for edge retention and corrosion resistance—this folding knife delivers reliability for outdoor and daily carry use. The ergonomic G10 handle ensures a secure, intuitive grip in any position, while the crossbar lock mechanism provides dependable blade security. With a 3.5-inch blade, titanium hardware, and ambidextrous design, this 83.5g EDC knife balances ultralight utility with durability. Ideal for camping, hiking, and everyday cutting tasks, the GEO2601A represents the perfect choice for discerning knife enthusiasts seeking superior performance and build quality.

M390 Blade Introduction

M390 is an advanced powder-metallurgical stainless steel utilizing high chromium and vanadium content to deliver exceptional wear resistance and industry-leading corrosion resilience. It excels at retaining a razor-sharp edge under prolonged use; however, this extreme hardness renders the blade notably difficult to sharpen or reprofile without diamond abrasives. Additionally, its fine microstructure, while offering superior edge stability, sacrifices some structural toughness and may be more prone to chipping under heavy lateral stress.

Specification

Model: GEO2601A
Product Type: Folding Knife
Brand: GEO
Overall Length: 8.0 inch / 205mm
Blade Length: 3.5 inch / 89mm

Handle Length:  4.5 inch / 116mm
Handle Thickness: 0.48 inch / 12.1mm
Blade Width: 1.2 inch / 30 mm
Blade Thickness: 0.1 inch / 3.1mm
Blade Material: Bohler M390

Heat Treatment: Vacuum & Cryogenic
Blade Hardness: HRC60-62
Blade Type: Clip Point
Blade Finish: Stonewash
Blade Grind: Flat

Handle Material: G10
Lock Type: Crossbar
Dexterity: Ambidextrous
Washers Material: Bronze Washers
Back Spacer: N/A

Clip Material: 6AL4V Titanium
Clip Position: Tip-up, Right
Pivot Cap: 6AL4V Titanium 
Pivot Collar : Titanium
Screws Material: 6AL4V Titanium

Item Weight: 2.95 oz / 83.5 g
Designer: Fabian Hobbelen
Country of Origin: China

GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A - Product Overview

The GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A folds Bohler M390 performance into a slim crossbar-lock chassis designed by Fabian Hobbelen for GEO Knife. The Black G10 scales keep the knife at 2.95 oz, while the M390 blade - vacuum and cryogenically hardened to 60-62 HRC in a clip point profile - holds its edge through weeks of cardboard, rope and food prep. A phosphor-bronze washer pivot, titanium clip hardware and the fully ambidextrous crossbar lock make deployment silent and fumble-free from either hand, and the whole package sits comfortably inside the premium tier of folding knives. Carry it daily as an EDC tool, and it will outlast folders costing twice as much.

GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A - Bohler M390 Blade Performance

M390 is the headline act here. Bohler's third-generation powder-metallurgy M390 mixes high chromium with dense vanadium and molybdenum carbides, so it resists wear like a tool steel while shrugging off corrosion like a true stainless. The trade is sharpening difficulty - budget for diamond or CBN stones - and a modest willingness to chip under prying loads. In exchange you get one of the longest-lasting working edges in the production knife world, heat-treated here with a vacuum and cryogenic cycle for full carbide development.

GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A - Core Selling Points

• Bohler M390 blade at 60-62 HRC - exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance
• Black G10 scales over a full titanium hardware set
• Fully ambidextrous crossbar lock - the strongest folder lock class in production
• Phosphor-bronze washer pivot for a smooth, damped, gritty-day action
• 3.5 inch / 89 mm blade in clip point profile, stonewash finish, flat grind
• 6AL4V titanium tip-up pocket clip, pivot cap and screws throughout
• Lightweight at 83.5 g with a slim 11-12 mm handle profile
• Fabian Hobbelen design with vacuum + cryogenic heat treatment

GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A - Where It Earns Its Pocket Time

• Daily package duty - Case-hardened edge life for a work pocket that opens boxes, tape and shrink wrap all week without a touch-up.
• Range bag resident - The ambidextrous crossbar action works gloved, and the blackwash or glow finish is easy to find on a bench in low light.
• Camp kitchen second - The 3.38-inch modified Wharncliffe slices onions, salami and cord cleanly with its full-length straight edge.
• Urban EDC - A 7.96-inch overall footprint with chamfered edges rides flat and quiet; the titanium or GITD scale keeps it looking dressy at dinner.
• Collector display - Limited to 200 pieces (K1099V11) with Munko Knives design language, copper-tone hardware and quasar-inspired chamfers that photograph beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the crossbar lock easy to close one-handed?

Yes - pull the lock bar sideways with your index finger and let the blade fall or guide it shut. Your fingers never cross the blade path, which is why crossbar locks are a favorite with both left- and right-handed users.

How tough is Bohler M390 in daily use?

At 60-62 HRC M390 holds an edge roughly twice as long as mid-range stainless, but it prefers slicing to prying. Use it within its design envelope and it will go months between touch-ups.

What washers run the blade?

Phosphor-bronze washers give the Aska and Cirex a smooth, damped swing that shrugs off pocket grit far better than bare metal-on-metal pivots.

Does the knife come with a pocket clip?

Yes - a 6AL4V titanium clip set for tip-up, right-side carry. The Aska adds a ring pommel, so many owners also run it on a lanyard or in a pouch.

Is the Aska a wharncliffe or a drop point?

The spec sheet lists the Aska as a drop point with a long straight edge - functionally a hybrid that slices like a wharncliffe but keeps a stronger tip. The Cirex is a true clip point.

GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A - Steel Comparison Table

Glossary of Key Terms

Bohler M390
A third-generation powder-metallurgy stainless from Bohler loaded with chromium, vanadium and molybdenum carbides. At 60-62 HRC it holds a working edge longer than almost any other production knife steel and still resists corrosion like a true stainless.

Crossbar Lock
A spring-loaded steel bar that spans the handle and wedges behind the blade tang. It is fully ambidextrous, keeps your fingers out of the blade path on closing and is among the strongest folder locks in production.

6AL4V Titanium
The Ti-6Al-4V aerospace alloy used for GEO's scales, clip, pivot cap and screws. It is roughly 45 percent lighter than steel, completely corrosion-proof and takes a hard, wear-resistant anodized surface.

Bronze Washers
Phosphor-bronze pivot washers that give a smooth, controlled opening and shrug off pocket grit far better than bare titanium-on-steel contact.

Drop Point
A convex spine that sweeps down toward a strong, controllable point - the default all-round blade profile for hard-use EDC.

Flat Grind
Blade flats that taper in a straight line from the spine to the edge. It slices better than a hollow grind and stays much tougher behind the apex.

Vacuum and Cryogenic Heat Treatment
A two-stage quench: vacuum hardening prevents decarburization and scale, then a deep cryogenic cycle converts retained austenite so the steel reaches its full hardness and dimensional stability.

HRC
Rockwell Hardness C scale: the industry standard for reporting blade hardness. Higher numbers mean a harder, more wear-resistant edge that is also less forgiving of lateral load.

Stonewash Finish
A blade finish achieved by tumbling (stonewash) or successive hand-lapped abrasives (hand-rubbed satin); both hide carry wear and kill glare better than a mirror polish.

GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A - Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip

Who Should Buy

• Steel-first buyers who want M390 performance at a mid-three-figure price
• G10 loyalists who want a light, grippy, weatherproof scale instead of titanium
• Left-handers - the crossbar lock and washers make it completely ambidextrous
• Collectors tracking the GEO Knife lineup; the Cirex is the brand's new value M390 line
• Anyone who wants M390, titanium hardware and a crossbar lock without paying flagship prices

Who Should Skip

• You pry or baton with your EDC - 60-62 HRC M390 chips under lateral abuse
• You want a sub-3-inch legal-carry blade; the Cirex runs a 3.5-inch blade
• You hate diamond stones - M390 reprofiling on ordinary aluminum-oxide is miserable
• You prefer warm, hand-filling handles; the Cirex slabs are slim and flat
• You want titanium scales at this price - the G10 keeps the cost down instead

GEO Knife Cirex GEO2601A - Care & Maintenance

1. Wipe the blade dry after every use - M390 is stainless, not stain-proof, and pocket humidity will still speckle it.
2. One drop of quality knife oil at the pivot and crossbar contact points monthly, then cycle the action to spread it.
3. Blow pocket lint out of the handle channel with compressed air before oiling so grit never grinds inside the pivot.
4. Sharpen on diamond or CBN plates; at 60-62 HRC conventional aluminium-oxide stones barely cut this steel.
5. Use light, consistent strokes and finish on a fine ceramic or leather strop - heavy pressure chips a hard apex.
6. Rinse with warm water and mild dish soap when it gets grimy, then dry thoroughly before it goes back in the pocket.
7. Never pry, twist or use the tip as a screwdriver; hard steel trades impact toughness for wear resistance.
8. Keep the crossbar track clean; a lint-packed omega spring channel is the number one cause of a sluggish action.
9. Re-torque clip and body screws with the correct Torx driver - titanium hardware gall if you overtighten it.