Review: ANV Knives – A400 Hardtask

Introduction

During last year’s IWA in Nuremberg I had the privilege to get a first look at the ANV Knives A400 Hardtask. Since then I was waiting impatiently for its release, as the knife left a very strong impression on me. When the day finally came, I was lucky again, as ANV gave me the opportunity to take a closer look at the knife in order to do a decent write up for you guys.

So with that being said, let’s do it like always and start with a quick overview for those in a hurry and then go into more detail.

Overview

The ANV Knives A400 Hardtask is an everyday carry (EDC) folding knife designed with input from the security company Hard Task. It features a 105mm drop-point blade with a slight recurve, made of Sleipner steel (60 HRC) with a DLC coating for durability. The overall length is 248mm, and the knife weighs 210 grams. The handle is constructed from 3D-machined G10 with a slight bend, providing ergonomic comfort and a firm grip, further supported by skeletonized steel reinforcement and machined grooves.

Specs

Overall length: 248mm
Blade length: 105mm
Weight: 0,21kg
Steel: Sleipner (60 HRC)
Handle Material: G10 (3D machined)
Other info: ball bearings, flipper, Recurve blade, DLC coating

The ANV Knives A400 Hardtask

The cooperation of ANV Knives with different experts in the military and private security sector brought out many magnificent knives by now. I already had the pleasure of writing about several of these collaborations, one of which is the one with the training company Hard Task. Together with ANV they already designed the iconic M200 HT, which is a well thought through knife for survival and bushcraft.

With the A400 Hard Task, ANV picked up this proven design and turned it into an EDC folder that combines all the benefits of the M200 HT in a smaller bundle for everyday carry. Putting the two knives side by side, one can see the evolution of the designs.

The M200 HT (top) and the A400 (bottom) together

Featuring the same classic drop-point blade with a slight recurve, the blade measures 248mm/9,7” and is 3mm/ 0,1” thick. There is a pronounced Jimping with 6 notches on the spine, enough for your thumb to get a decent rest and to exert pressure when cutting. Instead of a choil, there is the same kind of notch for a firesteel to be used, as can be found on the M200 HT. This way you don’t have to damage the edge of the blade or use the spine to throw sparks.

As always, laser engraving gives you all the details you need, while being inconspicuous in its design. On the one side, you will find the ANV logo, and on the other the Model designation, steel type and place of origin (made in Czech Republic). The Firesteel notch has its designated marking as well. And last but not least, you will find „Hardtask“ engraved on the spine as well.

The ANV A400 is a flipper by design. The flipper itself features a Lumidot which glows in the dark and the pivot runs on a ball bearing system. The lock itself is ANV’s Alock, which follows the principle of an Axis Lock. The bolts of the lock feature red contrast dots, which give the design an added elegance.

Just like its fixed blade sibling, the A400 features a 3D machined G10 handle with a slight bend that makes it hug the palm of your hand. It features a skeletonized steel reinforcement for added strength. The machined grooves on the handle are aggressive enough to provide a firm grip, but not too aggressive to be uncomfortable.

There are three spacers in a contrasting red, that complement the red dot of the bolt lock.

To carry the A400, a very discreet deep carry pocket clip is used, which can be attached on both sides, depending if you prefer right or left hand use.

Level of Manufacture

For those who don’t already know, ANV Knives have one of the most modern machine parks in Europe and maybe of the knife industry itself. The people who built up the company went all in and invested in decent tools and machinery. Adding to that, lead designer and co-founder Ondřej Němec has a habit of using high quality materials and steels.

So with that in mind, it comes to no surprise that the knives of ANV are not only well made, they are also made of excellent materials. Something you can see and feel immediately. Tight tolerances, no burrs or marks and a clean presentation, when opening the box.

The ANV A400 Hardtask in use

Despite its size, the ANV A400 Hardtask is lighter than it looks – at times one might actually wonder if it should or could be heavier. That being said, it fits perfectly into the hand, thanks to its ergonomic and 3D machined handle that fills your palms. The flipper works perfectly to open the knife and it looks securely into its lock.

Now one thing has to be mentioned. Despite the ball bearings, the flipping action is not as smooth as one might expect from a knife with a blade that size, and I have had folding knives, with a much smoother action. Listening to the ball bearings, one might also get the impression that the action has to be broken in by use. As far as I know, the folding knives of ANV tend to have that issue.

Coming to the knife’s performance, there surely is no reason for having any qualms. It comes razor sharp out of the box, cuts like a devil and is easy to handle. The jimping on the spine gives an excellent control of the knife in a fencing grip. Cutting is easy and controllable.

The handle gives plenty of options to hold and handle the knife. Just like the M200 HT one could theoretically hold the handle all the way back, increasing the angle for chopping purposes. When doing so, I would advise to use a lanyard as well as to stick with very light chopping chores – it is a folder after all.

The notch for the firesteel works perfectly and it is very easy to create sparks. The Sleipner steel holds its edge very well and since the thickness of the blade is 3mm, it surely cuts like a devil.

Another thing I did notice: the combination of the aggressive grooves in the G10 scales and the strong deep carry pocket will guarantee that your pockets will suffer long term. And even though it definitely is no issue, I have to get used to the Alock. For some reason I still wander with my thumb between the scales, thinking it is a frame or liner lock.

Conclusion

Waiting for the ANV A400 was surely worth the time. The knife certainly does not disappoint and is testament to the company’s reputation of making fine and practical knives. Be it the high level of manufacture, the clean design or the various successful collaborations with units and people who know what they need in a knife, ANV knows how to impress.

The A400 Hardtask is another good example for this and a worthy sibling of its larger fixed blade brother the M200 HT. It instills respect not only by its looks, but also by its performance in the field.

With that being said, I want to come to an end, hoping I was able to give you yet another insight into the products of ANV Knives. I want to thank the company for giving me a chance to give you guys a closer look at this beauty.

Thank you for reading!

Take care!