Suricate L'original is a pocket knife made in Thiers by TB-1648, a brand of the TB company founded in 1648.
| Blade steel | X46Cr13 (martensitic stainless steel) — hardness 52-54 HRC |
| Blade length | 80 mm |
| Cutting edge | Plain — 18° sharpening angle |
| Handle | Beech — half tang |
| Weight | 67 g |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
| Manufacturing | Made in France |
The Suricate® pocket knife: simplicity as an art
The hardest thing in design is to keep it simple.
We have all looked for that simple, reliable object that is always ready to help. The one you slip into your pocket or bag without a second thought, yet which proves indispensable in a thousand and one situations. That is exactly the spirit in which we designed the TB-1648 Suricate® pocket knife. More than just a knife, we imagined it as a true life companion: one that goes everywhere with you, from small household jobs to outdoor escapes. Anyone can create something complicated. We wanted to break away from that approach and do the exact opposite: a product that feels obvious at first glance, as soon as it is in your hand. The Suricate® knife embodies this philosophy of minimalism.
Why was simplicity our greatest challenge?
Folding knives have existed for thousands of years. So how do you bring something new and fresh without simply copying what already exists? That was the challenge we faced. We wanted to create an object that respects the codes of the genre while bringing genuine innovation. That is where the idea of the side wheel was born. It was the central element, the one that would set the Suricate® apart from other products on the market. But turning this idea into reality was a long journey, and not without obstacles. For us, keeping it simple is the secret of a great folding knife.
“The knife is one of those objects every designer dreams of, just like a chair or a lamp. It was a real challenge: creating a product that is both simple and sophisticated, where the technical complexity stays invisible, hidden by the beauty of its design.”
– Jonathan, designer of the Suricate® knife
How did the wheel become the key to success?
The wheel is the heart of the product. We wanted it to be intuitive: a single gesture, a simple turn, to open and close the blade. The mechanism is so well integrated that you might wonder whether it is there at all! The secret? We hid the entire locking system. When you look at it, you see only three main elements: the handle, the blade and the wheel.
The designer worked hand in hand with our engineering department. One put forward idea after idea, the other turned them into reality. It was a constant game of ping-pong, exchanging ideas, sketches and mock-ups to find the perfect solution.