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| c/o Bladesandbows.co.uk |
I got this knife because, frankly, it was dirt-cheap on bladesandbows and I do not have very much
money. It’s regular retail price is £25-£30, but I managed to purchase it as an over-run item (where
the production level exceeds the order quantity) for only £5.99.
This is a really nice, basic knife to add to your collection if you can get it for a similar price. It is made
in Sweden from 12C27 Scandvik Stainless Steel, a Swedish Steel used for it’s high hardness and wear-
resistance.
The blade is of a fairly normal shape with a slight up-sweep, with the tip ending slightly above the
handle. The material of the blade is strong, and able to cut easily through wood and meat. The back
of the blade is flat for the first third (from the tip towards the handle) with the rest having “smooth”
serrations, with a U shape, as opposed to others with sharper, more defined serrations. This allows
the hand to be used to manipulate the blade without the risk of serious injury, however this comes
with the trade-off of the serrations being slightly less effective.
The handle is synthetic, made of textured plastic, and is contoured to provide an ergonomic grip
which fits nicely into the palm. This means that it avoids many of the problems often shown with
natural handles, which can swell in water, or get clogged up with blood or sap. There is no ‘proper’
guard on the handle, but the index finger is allowed it’s own groove, with a slight over hang which
should prevent the hand slipping and therefore prevent injury.
The knife also comes with a leather sheath with a belt loop. This is also lined with plastic to
prevent the blade catching and damaging the sheath. The sheath is slightly tapered, and tapered
asymmetrically, however the blade sits nicely in it either way around. I personally prefer to sheath
the blade the wrong way around, as this causes it to ride slightly higher in the sheath which, due to
my preferred position under my left armpit, allows it to be drawn under or over hand, as it presents
more of the handle.
As well as being a practical tool, this knife is also beautifully designed, and incredibly pleasing to look
at and hold.
There are, however, 3 points with which I take issue. The first is the RRP. At £25, it’s quite expensive
for something which is a basic knife, and is more expensive than comparable knives from companies
such as Gerber and MTech. The second is that the sheath has a sealed belt loop, which means that
it is difficult to attach to, and detach from, a belt, strap or set of webbing. I spent several minutes
wriggling and forcing it over a clip to get it onto my rucksack, which wouldn’t be very useful in an
emergency flight situation. Finally the butt of the knife is not flat and level, meaning it is not really suitable for hammering things.
However, as an everyday knife, work knife, or, if you want a fancy primary knife from one of the
better known of flasher companies, a back-up, this knife excels. I currently use it as my primary
knife, and can imagine it being useful as a levering device, in lieu of a pry-bar due to it’s sturdy
construction, as well as suitable for more subtle tasks such as skinning game, due to it’s sharp point
and blade.
BLADE: 4/5
HANDLE: 4/5
PRICE: 2/5
OVERALL: 4/5
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