There is an object that has formed an inseparable part of human civilization for several millennia. Hunters, travelers, warriors, each one had a helper for any situation - a proper knife. For this review I chose an Italian knife from the brand Maserin, specifically the model Croz.
I prefer simple working or combat knives, but a bit of aesthetics never hurts. Besides, a quality knife can be practical, functional, dangerous and beautiful at the same time. As a proper knife collector, I occasionally expand my collection with an interesting piece. I no longer keep track of the number. Years ago I stopped counting when I passed 20 pieces and fully realized one of my collector's diagnoses. A good knife is simply like a tie. A different one suits each occasion.
CROZ - design from the most qualified hands
If you want to create a product tailored to fit, you need to know the end user for whom it is intended. Maserin therefore turned to Ettore Zan, to offer his view on the matter. Ettore is a hunter and graduated from a forestry faculty. Croz is primarily a knife intended for nature, for hunters and woodsmen. Don't let its aesthetic design fool you.
Croz got its name as a mark of exceptionality and its literal translation could not be more fitting. It means stone, which is meant to refer to its hardness and durability (60 HRC). The name comes from old Romansh, spoken by fewer than 40 thousand inhabitants of the Swiss Canton of Graubünden, and Ettore is one of them. 
It's probably best if Ettore describes it himself:
"Rock is hard, solid, consistent, essential. And that's what this hunting knife wants to be. What is it actually for? A hunting knife? It can do only a few things well, but those need to be done as best as possible, practically. Typical activities associated with being in nature, such as preparing food or splitting wood to light a fire. Specific tasks associated with hunting, such as gutting and processing the hunted animal.,,
Honest materials
Let's first take a look at the Croz from a technical standpoint:
- Knife length - 23cm
- Blade length - 11 cm
- Blade thickness - 4mm
- Steel type - Bohler N690
- Hardness - 60 HRC
- Construction - full tang
- Blade type - drop point in satin finish
- Grind type - convex
- Edge/facet - combination of serrations with a continuing smooth sharp edge
- Handle - green Micarta version, orange and black G10
- Accessories - nylon belt sheath and diamond sharpening rod
Knife
From the parameters mentioned above, it is clear that the knife is made of honest materials. Full tang means that the blade is made from a single piece of metal running the full length of the knife. Personally, I like this construction the most on fixed blades, except for the Mora Companion. Thanks to this, the knife is more durable, well balanced and also suitable for batoning, , i.e. splitting wood with a knife by striking the spine of the blade.
I like the choice of steel. N690 is a stainless steel enriched with carbon from the manufacturer Bohler-Uddeholm from Austria. It is ideal precisely for hunting and outdoor knives. It has excellent sharpness retention and durability, thanks to a hardness between 58-61 HRC. Relatively easy to sharpen and the edge is tough, since it's not brittle.
The shape and length of the knife are practical. Contrary to the opinion of most of the lay public, an outdoor knife doesn't have to be some rambo machete. It always comes down to the quality workmanship of the knife itself and the user's experience. With an 11 cm blade you can easily split smaller bundles of firewood, prepare a feather stick, gut a deer or skin it and cut up smaller animals. With a knife of 24 cm total length, handling is comfortable, and thus also safer. The Spear point blade easily penetrates tissue and with it you can simply drill holes in soft wood or make small carving projects.
If I have a choice, I always choose a combo blade. Sharpening the serrations doesn't bother me and so far they've never gotten in my way when processing food or working with wood. I often work with ropes, and they're primarily meant for that. A cord tends to slide off a smooth blade. The teeth bite into the cord, and the smooth blade then easily finishes the rest. A good grip, besides the precisely milled handle, is also ensured by grooves at the start of the spine of the blade, where the thumb can rest comfortably and safely. 
Diamond sharpener on the handle
The Croz has yet another practical solution. Inserted into the handle is a diamond sharpener. It's mounted on a thread with a sealing ring, so water can't get into the opening. It's perfect for the serrated edge, and while working you can also touch up the straight part of the blade, just like when working with butcher knives.
The handle is made of two halves attached with 6-sided Allen bolts. The Croz comes in 3 colors, I liked the dark olive one the most. The orange and black versions are made from G10, while the olive one is made from Micarta.
The material is similar in both cases. It consists of layers of synthetic resin interleaved with layers of fabric. G10 uses glass fibers, Micarta most often uses linen or cotton. These are durable materials that can be shaped into any color as desired. By milling the individual layers, an endless variability of designs is created. The olive Croz has a snakeskin motif, where the white fibers created a very nice pattern as the material was removed.
Sheath
I can vividly imagine the Croz in leather, as well as in a Kydex sheath. As standard, however, you get nylon. The sheath is very nicely made. The belt loop and the strap in the middle are made of black leather with decorative lettering. The middle strap bears the Maserin lettering and company logo. On the belt loop you'll find the words Made in Italy. The loop isn't sewn on like on ordinary nylon sheaths, but attached with 4 larger rivets. It's sized for belts about 4 cm wide.
The knife is secured with a massive stud, which bears the Maserin logo. The stud on the strap is recessed in a folded piece of nylon. Once fastened, the strap still protrudes a bit further, with a reserve of about a thumb's width. Thanks to these two details, the stud can withstand a greater load, the nylon won't tear through as quickly, and the knife is easier to secure and release.
The knife is separated inside by a plastic insert. It is a curved piece of softer plastic, joined by two smaller rivets. This way, the blade will not damage the sheath from the inside. The insert is removable. The knife thus stays securely locked even if you need to handle just the sheath alone for some reason.
Elegant or hardworking?
I like nice knives. I can appreciate craftsmanship and skilled work, as well as the effort behind creating a functional product. But having a knife and not using it is like having a car and not driving it. So Croz had to get its metaphorical hands dirty to show what it's really made of.
Micarta is shaped perfectly. Even though it may not seem so, the handle has no sharp edges. However, it holds firmly. The knife handles well even in a sweaty or wet hand, which is common when starting a fire or processing food. I have a larger hand, I mostly wear XL gloves. Croz fit my hand like a glove. A firm grip is aided by protrusions on each end. The index finger rests securely against the handle, eliminating the possibility of the hand slipping onto the blade. The same principle applies when holding the knife in reverse, where the little finger ensures the change of grip.
Thanks to the full tang construction, the knife is balanced. This has a positive effect on ergonomics and wrist strain. It was good for preparing kindling and feather sticks. The thumb rests well in the grooves on the spine of the blade, but during longer work it does not cause unpleasant blisters.
The pronounced tip of the spear point blade makes indentations in wood easily. This makes it easy to mark spots for drilling holes. With the smooth sharp edge at the front, you can scrape bark off birch to obtain fine tinder. Since the blade is thicker, I can press harder without worry. The knife is not oversized. It also allows me to do finer work where I need a delicate touch in my hand - I don't lose fine motor control. The spine of the blade has more pronounced edges, ideal for a ferro rod.
Food processing
When processing food, it behaves pleasantly. Keep in mind that this is a hunting knife, so forget about finely chopped onion and thin translucent tomato slices. However, pieces about 2-3mm thick are realistic, it just takes a bit of practice.
In length, it could be compared to a steak knife or a vegetable knife. Chicken and pork with tendons were processed with Croz processed very well.
I particularly appreciate the behavior of the micarta and the chosen design of the handle scales. The hand has a stable grip even when covered in blood and similar eventualities associated with meat processing. I was not able to evaluate gutting and skinning large game. I only hunt animals with a camera lens.
Root vegetables were peeled equally well. In particular, vegetables like celery were processed better than with a thin-bladed knife, since it has a harder outer part. I have one improvement tip for carrots and parsley root. Instead of peeling it, I scrape it with the serrated part of the knife. It's quick and effective. 
So the answer to the question is clear. Croz is indeed elegant, but whenever it's time to get down to dirty work, it takes off its jacket, rolls up its sleeves, and gets on with it without complaint.
The Croz turned out great for Maserin. The only two things I would faultare the plastic sheath insert (which I occasionally had to pull out a bit, if I had previously pushed the knife into the sheath too firmly) and the absence of a lanyard hole on the handle.A lanyard hole would improve not only comfort, but would also add the possibility of decoration in the form of a decorative lanyard, which the user could personalize to their liking.
This isn't my first knife from Maserin. I've had a classic non-locking folder with an olive wood handle for years as well. However, it's certain that the Croz definitely won't be my last. So if you're looking for a new companion, go ahead. Italians hold an honorable place among knifemakers. Pizza and spaghetti aren't the only things they know well. Maserin is an example of the fact that beautiful knives aren't just for decoration, but also for honest work. The kind of work their creators put into making their models.
A brand born of tradition
Coltellerie Maserin is one of the most renowned knife-making companies in Italy. It began its journey in 1960. From the start, Maserin focused on quality craftsmanship and stylish designs. It soon became one of Italy's mainstays. No wonder, since it chose as its base the town of Maniago, known worldwide as the "city of knives". Maniago is every true knifemaker's dream. Besides beautiful scenery, it also offers the best Italian blades, exported all over the world.
Maserin doesn't just look at tradition, but also to the future. That's why their production includes manufacturing using CNC and laser work. Thanks to this modern approach, they produce precise, high-quality, and well-tuned models at a price acceptable to most users. Besides serial models, they also create exclusive custom-order models.
