Sencut Six Gill by Gavko Review: A Reverse Tanto With Real Character

Introduction

Every month brings another interesting release from Sencut, and this one continues a collaboration story we genuinely enjoy. The Six Gill is a Gavko-designed folding knife, and it picks up both the sea creature theme and several design cues from the Gavko Spiny Dogfish, a knife that earned real affection for its slim, pocket-friendly character. The Six Gill takes that DNA and makes it beefier, while keeping the quirky upswept blade that makes the whole thing stand out.

At a street price of around 65 dollars, it is one of the more accessible ways to get a genuinely unusual blade shape backed by quality materials. Here is what you need to know before picking one up.

Who This Knife Is For

The Six Gill is not a general-purpose EDC knife in the traditional sense. Sencut (or Gavko, depending on who gets naming rights) calls the blade a reverse tanto, which is an unusual label given that the upswept profile curves rather than staying straight. Whatever you call it, the blade shape points the tip low rather than up, which changes how the knife wants to be used.

This is a working knife for very specific skills. The upswept profile allows a rotating, slicing arc, so the blade flows with the movement of your arm instead of forcing you to keep it straight. That geometry is exactly why skinning knives look like this: when you are caping an animal and rolling the blade through material, an upswept edge separates rather than digs in. It also suits light woodworking in soft woods, where that slicing radius changes how the edge meets the workpiece.

If you simply want a fun, unique knife with a distinctive blade, that counts too. The Paleolithic, stone-chip look of the grind is part of the appeal.

Main Strengths

The handle is green Micarta, one of the more attractive Micarta colors, with a simple design that reads beautifully in person. There is a large indexing point and finger groove, plus a definite finger choil at the front, giving you multiple secure grip positions. The slim handle keeps the knife dropping down into the pocket comfortably, echoing what made the Spiny Dogfish so easy to carry.

The blade is satin black Nitro V steel with a 0.12-inch thickness. Anything over 0.1 inch reads as a properly substantial blade in our book, and this one delivers that satisfying heft. At 3.34 ounces it is not heavy, though it does feel a bit more present than the Spiny Dogfish, which is the natural comparison here.

Deployment is flexible: a crossbar lock doubles as the main deployment mechanism, or you can use the flip lever. There is no flipper tab, so both opening styles stay clean. Stainless steel liners round out a construction that feels more premium than the price suggests.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The tip placement deserves honest discussion. Because the tip sits low on the upswept profile, the knife’s thrusting geometry is unconventional; the point does not line up the way a conventional tanto tip does. The blade is clearly not designed for piercing work, so anyone shopping for a thrust-oriented tool should look elsewhere.

The blade shape itself is polarizing. If you prefer conventional drop points or straight tanto profiles, the curved upswept grind may take some adjusting. The name itself is slightly confusing, since a reverse tanto is usually defined against a straight edge and this one curves, but that is a naming quirk rather than a functional flaw.

Also worth noting: if you loved the very slim Spiny Dogfish, this is a beefier take. The extra blade thickness and weight make it feel more substantial, which some will prefer and others may not.

Buying Advice

At around 65 dollars, the Six Gill gets you a high-quality Nitro V blade in a genuinely unique shape, a thick blade stock, and Micarta handles. That combination is hard to argue with.

It makes the most sense for three kinds of buyers: hunters or outdoors users who need a caping-style blade that slices in a rolling arc, hobbyists doing light woodwork in soft materials, and collectors who simply want something distinctive on a budget. Sencut deserves credit for supporting independent designers and taking creative risks that larger companies would likely avoid for cost reasons. That openness is exactly why interesting knives like this reach production at all.

Conclusion

The Sencut Six Gill by Gavko is a fun, characterful folding knife that rewards buyers who understand what the upswept blade is for. Strong materials, a comfortable Micarta handle, flexible deployment, and a friendly price make it easy to recommend if the blade shape speaks to you. If caping, skinning, or light soft-wood carving is on your list, this one is a winner.