Overall, I really like the idea behind this knife. The Starry Night design is simply amazing, and in the right light the colours really pop. That distinction matters, though: from certain angles, the anodised colours become much less prominent and it is mainly the engraved relief that remains visible.
Compared with the regular full-size Harsey Folder, the inner edges of the titanium handle scales are rounded, making the 3.25 considerably more comfortable to hold. Once open, it feels secure and pleasant in my hand, and the blade’s size and thickness seem excellent for ordinary everyday tasks.
However, the knife is definitely on the smaller side, and its compact dimensions make opening and closing it less comfortable than I expected. I normally wear size M nitrile gloves for EMT work, so my hands are not particularly large, but I still find it difficult to establish a comfortable grip while opening the knife. Once it is open, this is no longer an issue.
Closing it presents a similar problem. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is not much space available for pressing the frame lock with your thumb on the 3.25 models. The combination of the knife’s size and its design consequently feels somewhat unbalanced to me: the blade itself works very well at this scale, but the mechanism would have benefited from more room around the handle. The artwork might also have had more opportunity to shine on a larger surface, although I cannot say whether the colours themselves would necessarily appear as vivid as they do on the images.
The price is undeniably premium, but this is also an exclusive collaboration with elaborate engraving and anodising, so that is at least understandable.
I also ordered the full-size Harsey Folder in the Templar design for comparison. The larger model is substantially easier to open and close, although the sharper inner edges of its handle scales make it somewhat less comfortable to hold. Personally, I wish Spartan offered a size between the 3.25 and the regular model. To put it approximately:
Full-size Harsey: size L
Harsey 3.25: size S
My hands: size M
Naturally, that will vary according to individual hand size and preference.
I will probably still keep the Starry Night. The full-size Harsey has greater presence and is better suited to demanding work, but its blade is rather thick for ordinary tasks such as preparing food. That is where the 3.25 should shine: it is more convenient to carry, better suited to everyday cutting and more comfortable once it is actually open.
In short: choose the full-size Harsey for hard use and easier operation; choose the 3.25 for everyday utility and more convenient carry. If you are primarily buying one for the artwork, both the Starry Night and Templar designs are stunning.
Just don’t be misled by the photographs: the colours appear slightly more saturated in the product images, and lighting plays a decisive role in how impressive the anodising looks in person.