I’m kind a city slicker nowadays.
YEAH BOY I COULD TELL YA WERE ONE.
It’s ok I can use that voice without being offensive- I grew up in Arkansas and have
family members that talk like that…
So though I’m a city slicker I still can admire a nice big fixed blade for some future
theoretical camping, or pretending to Youtube Bushcraft- a very specific style of bushcraft
where fires are instantly started with a ferro rod, and creating feather sticks and wood
shaving piles only takes a quick minute or two.
Fallkniven a company from Sweden makes a whole line of fancy yet tough people fixed blades.
And on the other hand I can’t do a Swedish accent without creating an international incident-
although I’m really tempted.
The main ones that show up on Youtube and social media outdoor off the grid simple living
accounts with pristene knives are the small F1 with a blade in the mid 3 inch range, the
S1 just over 5 inches and seen here, and the A1 a little over 6 inches.
Now they have pro versions of these nearing $300, but they can eat a feather stick if
they think this guy will pay that much.
And as an aside they make a big ass bowie called the NL1, that’s cat call worthy-
but $529.
So let’s dimension it up with the S1 standard version with the leather dangler sheath option
that costs more than the standard zytel sheath option, a sheath that somehow manages to look
cheaper and uglier than a Mora’s.
Like the overall length and weight.
With and without the sheath.
Looks aside Zytel might be a better option for wetter climates because Zytel is plastic
and leather retains moisture.
Blade size and cutting edge.
Note the perfect convex grind without a microlevel.
Handle size and grip area.
Look it has a glass breaker on the butt- so you can escape your overturned car like on
the infomercials.
Spine thickness and handle thickness.
Yeah it’s a stout blade.
I think Cedric and Ada has a shirt for that.
Tallnesses!
One of the trademarks of the Fallkniven alphabet series is the slightly unusual for the type
of knife blade.
A lot of knives in this category are flat or hollow grinds with just a carbon steel
or I guess something nicer like 3V or whatever your into now- but the Fallkniven features
a laminated steel with a convex grind.
Fallkniven uses a few laminated steel varieties but in this particular knife we have what
they call laminated VG10 which uses 420J2 as it’s secondary steel.
Laminated means there are a few layers of steel sandwiched or enchanted together because
they say it makes it stronger and more corrosion resistant.
Here is the official statement from their website, so pause it if you’re into reading
about steels.
Just make sure the blinds are closed.
Now a convex grind like this is best sharpened free hand or with the sandpaper mouse pad
method to preserves the rounded convex edge.
I’ll link a video at the end.
Convex edges are ideal for outdoor general purpose stuff because they’re durable due
to the more steel behind the edge.
Breaking up wood, cutting through cardboard in the forest, cleaning kilt animals- whatever.
I will say convex edges are useful, but if you’re looking for paper thin cuts or a
super slicer knife, thinner behind the edge knives with a thinner blade stock are better,
if you need Youtube chef precision.
A sharp S1 pro cuts and splits, versus cuts and slices, if that makes sense.
Just make sure you keep it sharp.
Different thickness convex edges on other knives may yield different results- I’m
just referring to this knife.
I’m sure you have a convex edge that’s a better slicer than all of your other knives
an I’m wrong.
The handle.
The handle has a full length tang, not quite full height- just do a google image search
to see what I mean.
It’s fairly tall and to be quite honest, shouldn’t be any difference in overall strength
than a full height full length tang.
Yes even your hard use.
Fallkniven refers to it as a broad tang.
The handle covering is not removable without cutting it off, but it’s a type of TPE called
Thermorun containing rubber and plastic.
Crass speaking of course.
I’m just saying if you use technical terms that refer to the chemical component makeup
of the handle and call it crass terminology when there’s not a single fuck to be found
anywhere you’re showboating.
So kudos for Fallkniven for creating a product description that talks down to the reader.
It doesn’t really have much give to it, so it’s hard, but offers a ton of grip.
It would be super swell if Fallkniven would make a removable esee style handle, if it
ever needed replacement after hard use, but they don’t.
That’s what duck tape and paracord are for.
The handle is comfortable, great in forest slime, and fit my hand well.
Although I’m not gonna lie I think I wish I got the A1 now.
The sheath.
I got the leather option because I wanted to spend $30 more.
I tend to store my knives inside, and generally don’t play outside when wet, so leather
makes sense.
Leather on the interior can retain moisture if you put your knife away wet, so think about
the hideous Zytel sheath if you are constantly in wet survival style situations- or are covered
in blood because you’re that fucking tactical.
The sheath dangles, just like I like, it’s thick welted leather, so it should last a
lifetime or until you throw it up on knife club in carried a few times but never used
condition.
How about comparisons.
I knew you’d ask!
First the S1.
The fit and finish of the knife is great.
It just feels well thought out an functional.
I know the knife industrial complex loves churning out new designs and upgrades, to
make you want to upgrade after you’ve upgraded… but I like this simple aesthetic.
And hey they make a more expensive version just to keep a fool and his money separate.
Grippy, durable, and tasteful.
Now the Survival combat ready Dogs Head Utility knife.
I’ll be honest, I like the standard edge of this a bit better- however the blade is
kind of a ridiculous length- but sometimes I don’t make the best decisions so I still
like it.
It’s also half the price.
Now the Esee 3.
One of these days I’m gonna get an uncoated Esee, but until Esee offers me a free one,
or I find a good deal on one, I’ll just wait.
Smaller…
I like more better the micarta handle to the TPE, crass speaking.
Now the Vangedal Rover.
Thin flat grind, a bit better for slicing I think.
Despite having a wood handle this one has held up well to abuse and camping and is only
$40.
This might be a better value on a budget.
Ok that’s it, I mean not quite IT.
The fallkniven is an excellent Swedish made by way of Japan knife.
As in like their knives are made mostly or all-ly in Japan.
But they think about them in Sweden.
Like some spydercos!
I’ve used this knife quite a bit on breaking down all of my amazon knife packaging.
And some food, and you know backyard stuff too.
Long term testing will reveal is this becomes a favorite knife of mine.
I have quite a few knives now- but seeing as Ive had requests for this and see it talked
about on the internet a lot I thought I’d try it.
You know a knife has to be good if people talk for pages about it on the internet.
If you’re doing some dumb stuff with your knife, like battening- the larger A1 might
be better with a longer blade.
I ain’t gonna be the channel to tell you to get a smaller knife- because that’s stupid!
If you’re a boring dude or dudette and are eating and cleaning game the smaller Esee
3 sized F1 or this one are good choices.
The knife is well balanced and just feels right but a little expensive in my hand.
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