QSP Ferret QS170-A4 Sky Blue Nitro-V Blade Black G10 Handle Liner Lock Folding Knife

The QSP Ferret QS170-A4 represents a refined approach to everyday carry design. Built around a Nitro-V clip point blade measuring 3.00 inches, this knife delivers exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance—critical attributes for demanding users. The blade achieves 59-61 HRC hardness, ensuring durability without sacrificing sharpness. The black G10 handle provides reliable grip texture and proven longevity in field conditions. A ceramic ball bearing pivot system enables smooth, consistent blade deployment with minimal play, while the liner lock mechanism offers straightforward, dependable blade security. The reversible deep carry pocket clip accommodates both right and left-handed carry preferences, integrating seamlessly into daily routines. At 7.00 inches open and 4.00 inches closed, the Ferret balances accessibility with pocket-friendly proportions. Weighing approximately 83 grams, it remains unobtrusive during extended carry. The sky blue accents provide visual distinction while maintaining the professional aesthetic expected in premium EDC tools. This knife suits professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, and collectors seeking a well-engineered, versatile cutting instrument.

 

Description

Category :  POCKET KNIFE
Mechanism :  Ceramic ball bearings
Name: Ferret

Blade: Nitro V
Handle:  Black G10
Lock: Liner lock

Mechanism: Ceramic ball bearings
Overall: 7.00''(178mm)
Closed: 4.00''(102mm)

Blade: 3.00''(76mm)
Blade thickness: +/- 3.0mm ( finished product )
Blade shape: Clip point

HRC: 59-61 ( Coated blade < Silver blade, may HRC1-2 less）
Reversible stainless steel deep carry pocket clip
Net weight: +/-83g (2.93oz)

QSP Ferret QS170-A4 - Sky Blue Nitro-V Blade, Black G10 Handle

The QSP Ferret QS170-A4 is a slim urban folder built around a 3.00 in / 76 mm clip point ground from Nitro-V stainless, paired with a black G10 handle and a bulletproof liner lock. It rides the QSP Ferret family inside the QSP Knife store, alongside the rest of the QSP folding knives and the wider QSP liner lock range. Ceramic ball bearings, a reversible deep-carry clip and a Nitro-V steel blade at 59-61 HRC put it among the best value liner lock knives in the folding knives aisle - the QSP buying guide and EDCMALL catalogue list every colourway.

Nitro-V: Nitrogen-Enriched Steel at a Working Price

Nitro-V is the Ferret's quiet superpower. The nitrogen-enriched stainless from Steelcraft takes a keener edge than AUS-8-class steels, holds it through weeks of cardboard and cord work, and has the toughness to survive utility tasks that chip harder powder steels. The sky blue PVD coated blade runs 1-2 HRC points under the bare steel, a trade for the colour and extra corrosion shield the coating adds. The clip point gives you a controllable tip with plenty of belly, ceramic bearings make one-handed deployment glassy, and the liner lock engages early and stays there. If you are comparing steels at this price, see how Nitro-V stacks up against Sandvik 14C28N, 154CM and D2 tool steel in the table below.

Why the QSP Ferret QS170-A4 Belongs in Your Pocket

• 3.00 in / 76 mm Nitro-V clip point blade - keen, tough and easy to sharpen
• Black G10 handle with texture that stays grippy in wet or gloved hands
• Liner lock with early, repeatable engagement
• Ceramic ball bearing pivot: glassy one-handed flipper-style opening
• Reversible stainless deep-carry clip for left- or right-handed pocket carry
• 7.00 in / 178 mm overall, 4.00 in closed, just 83 g on the scale
• 59-61 HRC heat treat (coated blades may run 1-2 points lower)
• Under-seventy-dollar pricing for bearing-pivot, Nitro-V build quality

Best Uses for the QSP Ferret QS170-A4

• Daily cardboard, mail and package duty at a desk or front door
• Kitchen-adjacent work: apples, sandwiches and lunch prep at the office
• Camp cooking and cordage on weekend trips
• Urban commuting where a slim, deep-carry folder disappears in the pocket
• A first serious knife gift - safe lock, forgiving steel, honest price

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nitro-V steel?
A nitrogen-enriched stainless from Steelcraft. The nitrogen refines the grain so the edge gets sharper than comparable budget steels, while toughness stays high. QSP runs it at 59-61 HRC on bare blades; coated versions may sit 1-2 points lower.

Is the Ferret suitable for left-handed carry?
Yes - the stainless deep-carry clip is reversible, so it works for either pocket or either hand. The liner lock itself is right-hand standard.

How smooth is the action?
The pivot runs on ceramic ball bearings, so the blade falls open freely with a light thumb push or a shake. Break-in only makes it smoother.

G10 or glow resin - which handle should I pick?
G10 is slightly more abrasion-proof and a touch heavier; the glow-in-the-dark resin charges in daylight and glows in a dark bag or tent, and saves about 6 g. Both are textured and comfortable.

Does the PVD or black coating wear off?
The coating is a bonded ceramic-metal layer, not paint. It wears at the edge and contact points with hard use, which is normal for any coated blade.

Nitro-V vs. Common Pocket Knife Steels

Steel	Typical HRC	Edge Retention	Corrosion Resistance	Toughness	Sharpening Ease
Nitro-V (this knife)	59-61	Good	Very Good	Better	Easy
14C28N	59-61	Good	Excellent	Good	Very Easy
154CM	58-61	Good	Good	Very Good	Moderate
CPM-S35VN	58-60	Very Good	Very Good	Better	Moderate
D2 Tool Steel	58-61	Very Good	Fair	Good	Moderate
7Cr17MoV	56-58	Fair	Good	Good	Very Easy

Nitro-V is a nitrogen-enriched stainless made by Steelcraft. The nitrogen addition refines the grain so the steel takes a very keen edge, and its toughness beats harder powder steels at the same hardness - exactly what you want in a 3 in utility folder that sees cardboard, cord and food work. QSP rates the uncoated blades at 59-61 HRC; coated blades may run 1-2 points lower. HRC figures are typical mill ranges, not a guarantee for any single blade.

Glossary of Key Terms

QSP Knife
A Chinese knife maker known for shipping enthusiast designs with premium steels at working prices - the Penguin, Canary and Ferret lines all cut their teeth on that formula.

Nitro-V
A nitrogen-enriched stainless blade steel from Steelcraft, usually run at 59-61 HRC. It takes a finer, keener edge than plain AUS-8-class steels and has the toughness to survive hard utility work.

Liner Lock
A strip of spring steel inside the handle snaps sideways behind the blade tang when it opens. One thumb of the closing hand unlocks it, keeping your fingers out of the blade path.

Ceramic Ball Bearings
The pivot washers on the Ferret are ceramic balls rather than phosphor-bronze washers, so deployment is glassy-smooth and the pivot does not need frequent re-oiling.

Clip Point
A blade shape with the spine clipped down toward the tip, leaving a fine, controllable point with plenty of belly behind it for slicing.

Deep Carry Pocket Clip
A clip that seats the closed knife low in the pocket so only the clip shows. The Ferret's is reversible for left- or right-hand carry.

Foil G10
G10 fiberglass laminate layered with a foil sheet during pressing, so the scale shows a marble-like pattern that no two handles share.

Glow-in-the-Dark Resin
Resin dosed with strontium-aluminate phosphor: charge it under daylight or a lamp and it glows green-blue in darkness, so the knife is easy to find in a bag or tent at night.

Stonewashed Finish
A tumbling process that beads the steel into a uniform matte grey - hides carry scratches and kills glare far better than a satin polish.

PVD Coating
Physical vapour deposition: a hard metallic ceramic layer bonded to the blade in vacuum. It adds corrosion resistance and colour (rose gold, sky blue, purple, black) without paint or plating.

Who Should Buy the QSP Ferret QS170-A4

• First-time buyers who want bearing-action quality without the premium price
• Office carriers who want a slim, deep-carry, non-threatening folder
• Collectors completing the full QSP Ferret colourway run
• Anyone upgrading from an AUS-8 budget knife to nitrogen-enriched steel

Who Should Skip It

• Heavy outdoor users who want 3.5 in+ of blade - the Ferret is deliberately compact
• Buyers who need a flipper tab; the Ferret opens via thumb disc and bearing pivot
• Left-handed openers who insist on a left-hand lock; the clip is reversible, the lock is not

Care & Maintenance

• Wipe the blade dry after each work session; Nitro-V resists stains well but pocket sweat still marks bare edges over weeks.
• One drop of light oil at the pivot monthly, then open and close the blade a dozen times so it reaches the ceramic bearings.
• Blow pocket lint out of the liner-lock channel so lockup stays early, tight and consistent.
• Wash the G10 or resin scales with warm water and a soft brush after dirty jobs; packed grit abrades the texture.
• Sharpen at a consistent 15-20 degrees per side on a water stone; Nitro-V at 59-61 HRC raises a burr fast and strops up keen.
• Keep PVD-coated blades (A3/A4/A5, and the C2/D2/E2 blackwash variants) out of abrasive scrubbing - the coating is the rust shield.
• Clean the deep-carry clip channel with a brush; the reversible screws can loosen - re-torque them with the correct Torx driver.
• Do not pry, twist or cut wire with the clip point; lateral loads chip tips far faster than cutting ever will.
• Store the knife dry and lightly oiled; glow-in-the-dark resin charges fastest when it is clean, so wipe it before pocketing.