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Knife
@ 01:00 am (GMT) |
Michael NeesonJust looking for some advice on getting a knife. Is a gut hook recommended, what about size and steel grade? Any suggestions would be appreciated. |
Replies
@ 11:48 pm (GMT) |
Warrick EdmondsRe: KnifeDan KeenAfter a bit of Googling I realised you meant 420HC. I haven't used it so can only go on what I've read. It appears to be a hybrid cross between carbon and stainless, kind of like D2, so the quality of HT is vital. The HC stands for high carbon but being in the 400 series means it's a "stainless", or at least I thought it did. Other reading suggests it's a low cost steel favoured by big volume manufacturers. Either way, I think both the steels you mention are very similar and in practical terms I don't think you're going to see much difference in edge holding or rust resistance between the two. In that case I'd be making my choice according to how the knife feels in hand, how practical the blade shape will be for your intended use, does it come with a secure sheath/pouch, that kind of thing, rather than differences in the steel. cheers W |
@ 03:44 am (GMT) |
Dan KeeneRe: KnifeThank you for your time and advice Warrick. Nathan has since talked me into a Fallkniven knife in laminated VG10 steel. Cant wait to lay my hands on it!Cheers,Dan. |
@ 06:30 am (GMT) |
Cor NepgenRe: KnifeHi,Thank you very much for all the information shared here. I am constantly amazed at the open sharing of valuable information on this forum. I've gone through the information here and would appreciate a more informed opinion. Currently I carry a little Spyderco persistance folder (8Cr13MoV) and although I understand the sentiments towards folders expressed here, I absolutely love the little knife for my application. (Work in an office and carry a large knife would be frowned upon... But still super handy for small tasks like cutting biltong and all sorts.) I'm looking into getting a larger fixed blade knife for hunting and a bit more general purpose related to hunting/ cooking etc. I came upon a local bade smith that makes a couple of knifes I am interested in. He does specialise more in the self protection type of knifes though one or two shapes he produce I think will be suitable for my needs. Each life also comes with a Kydex holder and training blade (bonus!) So my question would be a; what would the minimum blade length be without compromising skinning etc use. and b; would N690 steel hardened to 59 RC be a good steel to use for these tasks and hold an edge reasonably well. Thanks in advance for any advice! Cor |
@ 07:08 am (GMT) |
Helmut PleiterRe: KnifeHi DanGot a Fallkniven A1 for Christmas last year. Was actually thinking about the S1, but Father Christmas knew better. He reckoned that according to Nathan one does need a biggish kind of knife strapped to one's belt - just in case of being charged by a raging bull after emptying a magazine load of bullets into it without the desired effect. Well, I can report that the old cobber from the North Pole knows a thing or two about knives. Whichever Fallkniven knife you're getting Dan, I'm sure you'll love it - VG10 is a great steel. Cheers, Helmut |
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@ 08:01 am (GMT) |
Warrick EdmondsRe: KnifeDan KeenYou won't be disappointed with VG10. Good choice. Why laminated? Well, VG10 can be made very hard, which is what makes for such a good edge, however as per previous posts, this also makes it brittle, as in the knife blade will snap if flexed too much. To give the knife 'toughness' they clad the VG10 either side with a softer more flexible steel, usually a stainless of some type, such as 416 or 410. This cladding is welded on under high pressure so it's part of a fully integrated sandwich of steels. I've used raw laminated billets myself to make knives from and they are good gear. As a matter of fact I'm about to send two made from Japanese Suminagashi laminated steel off to a bloke lives on Stewart Island in New Zealand. He's already got one, so this makes three for him. Cor Nepgen N690, made by Bohler (an Austrian company with a good rep for quality) is a cobalt enriched stainless. It gets a reasonably good rap from those makers who have used it, being classed 'above average' or 'almost a premium steel' depending on the commentator. Apparently it sits above ATS34 and somewhere around VG10 in knife making circles, which is pretty good company to be in. 59RC is just right for most users. You say the maker does mostly self defence knives. I suggest you have a good look at some hunting/skinning knives on the internet before you begin negotiations, just so you know the blade and handle shapes you need for skinning tasks. There are plenty of makers out there, so if your man wont adapt to what you want, try elsewhere. Don't be seduced by the Tacti-cool trend, sharp edges in the handles are more pain than their looks are worth. As for length of blade, what are you skinning? There's also a lot of personal preference involved in this. Nathan favours a longer blade of around 17-18cm, (excluding handle) I like something smaller and finer in the 13cm range. Unless your talking rabbits/ducks I'd be looking at a min of around 10-12cm. |
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@ 10:13 am (GMT) |
Cor NepgenRe: KnifeHi Warrick,Thank tou very much for your advise. I think I will take your recommendation on blade length to heart. Also on having a look around at different knife makers. In my limited experience they are a very friendly bunch of guys and very helpful. In terms of the tacticool look, I'm not much interested in the look, what I am looking at is the possibility of a knife that could be used for both hunting purposes as well as good for self defense. Not sure if a middle ground is possible but perhaps something i will discuss in greater detail with the knife maker. Thank you again for taking the time to give some much appreciated advice! |
@ 11:46 am (GMT) |
Warwick MarflittRe: KnifeCarry a spare loaded magazine quickly swap out and keep firing? |
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