An Easy Knife Test

Most men and many women have a fixed blade knife they keep for defense, survival, hunting or to be carried in a bug out bag or vehicle in case of an emergency. It could have been given to them as a gift, they inherited it, or saw one and decided they needed to own one. Often the only use this knife has seen was to take it out of the sheath, examine it and maybe opened a box or two with it.
In reality, it should be a knife you have used, tested in an outdoor environment by hunting, camping, or used in a bush craft class but many times it just gathers dust until an actual emergency exists. You bought it and than put it away confident in it's design and feel.
I like to barbecue and have found that is a great excuse to put a knife to the test and also in the kitchen doing prep work. I can slice vegetables, cut up a chicken or slice beef for stir fry. I get a good feel for how it fits my hand, how maneuverable it is and how well it cuts and holds an edge. If I can thin slice an onion, well I can probably make a feather stick. If it cuts and slices meat easily, I can probably process game. As far as how well it can chop down a redwood tree, well that is a job better suited to an ax or chainsaw. While I am outside barbecuing, I will often grab a piece of wood or a tree branch and see how it handles wood.
I have sliced ribs with 7" blade deciding that perhaps that knife may be better used as a chopper than a good all-around knife. I have also used 4"-5" knives that had a blade so thick it was impossible to slice ending up carving instead of slicing. I have also found knives with a great design that just did not fit or feel right in actual use.


Over time I have discovered knives I look forward to using and some I decided to sell rather than keep. One thing, I have learned a lot more about a knife than I did wearing it on my belt and looking like a survivalist.
The knife I used here was imported into the US in the 70's and sold by retailers such as K-Mart, but was produced in Seki, Japan by Ichiro Hattori and keeps an amazing edge. Designated the Sharp 1000s they can still be purchased on-line. However use your current knife; be it Schrade, Marbles, Western, Buck, Ka-Bar, S&W or  whatever you now have. I bought this Sharp cheap because the tip was bent. Knowing how hard the steel is I reprofiled the blade losing 3/16th of the blade length. If you decide to change, desirable, classic knives can be purchased for a lot less than the new fad knives or $300 high tech. models. There are also many current US Manufacturers that have been produced quality products for decades.
Does the knife need to be a fixed blade, no that is just my preference. I have also used my EDC (every day carry) folder and some of my larger trapper and hunting folders. They all reveal something to you when used. Remember to clean a folder before closing it, BBQ sauce can really gum up it's mechanism. Another good point.
https://fitzwillies.com/
 LIMK:  An owners history with this knife:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1970's Smith & Wesson handbuilt knives designed by Blackie Collins

Image
S&W Survival series. In 1972 Smith and Wesson worked with well known and innovative knife designer Blackie Collins to introduce the company into the knife business. This program was announced in 1975 and seven knives were initially offered. Called the Survival Series they included a Bowie, Outdoorsman, Survival, Skinner a folding hunter knife, a fisherman knife and a filet knife. The Outdoorsman and the Survival knife featured a Hollow Handle for the storage of Survival supplies. The blades were forged from modified 440 Series Stainless Steel. A total of 47 operation from forging to hand polishing are performed on the blade before fitting to the handle on the Survival knife. The amount of work necessary for these knives caused S&W to fall behind on production and delivery to the retailers. Smith and Wesson produced in house a few other knives but none that required the amount of hand fitting as this series. The most beautiful knives S&W ever pro...
Read more

1970's Carl Schlieper Survival Knife; Eye Brand mfg. Solingen, Germany

Image
Was a Vendor at the Washington Arms Collectors show in Puyallup, WA recently. I bought more knives that I sold but found this1970's Carl Schlieper Survival Knife. Eye Brand mfg. Solingen, Germany. Carl Schlieper was a German hardware manufacturing business established in Remscheid, Germany in 1793. Eye Brand knives, sometimes called German Eye, have been Hammer forged in Solingen Germany by the Carl Schlieper family for over 100 years. Eye Brand Knives still use forged blades. Hammer forging compresses and realigns the blade steel's grain structure, thereby increasing the toughness and edge holding characteristics of the knife blade. It is a more costly and time consuming process, but worth the effort.  www.fitzwillies.com
Read more

Valor 373 Long Commando Knife - Made in Seki, Japan by Tak Fukuta

Image
T akao FUKUTA, began making pocket and hunting knives inSeki, Japan then around 1970, he went to the United States to sell his TAK FUKUTA products. Takao FUKUTA’s passion for knives continued to develop, and in 1978 he was recognized by Robert Wald “Bob” Loveless, known as the “god of knives” in the United States, with whom he began an apprenticeship.  The same year, he was the first Japanese person to be accepted into the American Knife Guild for his high-quality work the “Loveless folding knife.” Since Mr. Loveless appreciated Takao FUKUTA, he shared with him all of his skills in making hand-crafted knives. When he got back to Japan, Takao FUKUTA continued creating very useful handmade knives that were simultaneously handy, strong and elegant.  Over the years, his factory in Seki, Japan also produced knives for Parker, Valor, Gutmann, Explorer, Frost, and Browning among others. Valor model 373 Long Commando knife Model: Valor 373 This is a rare Valor l...
Read more