Blind Horse Knives- Frontier Valley, Initial Impressions

**mistwalker** · 06-24-2011, 04:18 PM

This year at Blade I picked up something from a company I’ve heard a lot of good things about but had yet to try out. I picked up a patch knife called a Frontier Valley from Blind Horse Knives.

The specs are:

Over-all length…….6 1/2 inches / 16.5cm
Blade Length……….2 7/8 inches / 7cm
Cutting edge……….2 1/2 inches / 6.4cm
Blade Width………..15/16 inches / 2.3cm at the plunge
Blade Thickness….1/8 inches / 3mm
Blade Steel………….O-1 Tool Steel
Grind……………….....Full Flat with Distal Taper
Handle Material……Green Canvas Micarta
Sheath………………...Leather Dangler

I've been busy trying to get caught up on some things so I haven't done as much with it yet as I'd like, but more than enough to form some good initial impressions.

The knife is on the small side, as most patch knives are, so it is easy to carry, but it definitely has enough handle to work with, and I love the simple but comfortable ergonomics.

I really like how the edges that meet the fingers have been broken

I also like the nice comfortable purchase in a pinch grip that I use a lot.

The knife came with a very nice edge, and is easy to control in detailed work

The handle feels good in the chest-lever grip too, and I really like how it handles

I did a great job of making some nice fine curls for catching sparks

And while the part of the spine that the thumb comes in contact with has broken edges, from there forward the spine has been squared and throws some great sparks!

Some hard seasoned sycamore and maple and that’s all.

And it was right at home and accounted itself well on a picnic in the park also.

I am definitely going to have to pick up one of their larger knives to check out!

.

**JUST1MOR** · 06-24-2011, 04:48 PM

Mist my good man, great review as always. The handle seems to be about 3 5/8" +/-, but looks manageable from your shots. In your opinion, what type of problems, if any, would someone with large hands run into using this knife? Still looks like a great knife to have on an outing or even camping to do small chores with (fire, food prep, etc.) .
Great shots as always, customary food pics included, what more could someone ask for on a Friday evening . . . . .

Thanks for taking us along buddy.
Be safe.

**mistwalker** · 06-24-2011, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by JUST1MOR

Mist my good man, great review as always. The handle seems to be about 3 5/8" +/-, but looks manageable from your shots. In your opinion, what type of problems, if any, would someone with large hands run into using this knife? Still looks like a great knife to have on an outing or even camping to do small chores with (fire, food prep, etc.) .
Great shots as always, customary food pics included, what more could someone ask for on a Friday evening . . . . .

Thanks for taking us along buddy.
Be safe.

Thanks J1M, glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, right at 3 5/8", my palm laid flat, fingers together thumb out, is 4 1/4" from crook of thumb to side of palm and I have no trouble with it though there is no "extra" handle. If the hand was a lot bigger I'd suggest one of their larger models. I plan on getting one anyway

**JUST1MOR** · 06-24-2011, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by mistwalker

Thanks J1M, glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, right at 3 5/8", my palm laid flat, fingers together thumb out, is 4 1/4" from crook of thumb to side of palm and I have no trouble with it though there is no "extra" handle. If the hand was a lot bigger I'd suggest one of their larger models. I plan on getting one anyway

Thanks Mist. Small bladed knives have always been hard for me to use simply for the handle not being long enough. I just measured my hand the same way and it is right at 4 5/8" +/-. Bill Akers (BA CUSTOM KNIVES) just finished a knife design I had sent to him, handle is a little longer, and works fine.
If you ever get your hands on one of LT's Bushcrafter models, be sure and do a review if you have a chance. Really interested in that knife and seeing how it would work in the outdoors. The looks of it and the blade style are really tempting.
Thanks again for the pics, guess if you are going to start posting your "typicial knife reviews" again, I need to try and find where I put that diet info . . . . .

Be safe.

**TheGame** · 06-24-2011, 06:04 PM

Looks like it would make an excellent EDC knife. BHK has been on my radar for sometime. They have some great looking blades in the small-medium size that I want.

Great review, as usual. Thanks!

**The Warrior** · 06-24-2011, 11:38 PM

Really sweet looking blade brother. Thanks for the impressions.

**Loosearrow** · 06-25-2011, 05:03 AM

Nice review and pictures. Looks like a great necker and small game knife.

**mistwalker** · 06-25-2011, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by TheGame

Looks like it would make an excellent EDC knife. BHK has been on my radar for sometime. They have some great looking blades in the small-medium size that I want.

Great review, as usual. Thanks!

Thanks TG, glad you liked the post.

I think it will be. It's like a classier, dressier version of the Izula I have carried a lot and keep in my camera bag. I've heard a lot of good things about them and now I'm seeing why. Their pricing on these knives is good too.

Originally Posted by The Warrior

Really sweet looking blade brother. Thanks for the impressions.

Thanks man, glad enjoyed the thread.

Originally Posted by Loosearrow

Nice review and pictures. Looks like a great necker and small game knife.

Thank you, great size to disappear in a front pocket too.

**Liveitloud** · 06-26-2011, 11:03 AM

Mist BHK make some excellent knives. If you like the patch but want a bit more size you should check out the long trail. To me it looks like the same knife but has a lanyard hole and 3 1/4 inches of blade. I love that knife..and the patch.

**Woods Walker** · 06-26-2011, 11:15 AM

BHK knives look great.

They come in scandi as well.

**mistwalker** · 06-26-2011, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Liveitloud

Mist BHK make some excellent knives. If you like the patch but want a bit more size you should check out the long trail. To me it looks like the same knife but has a lanyard hole and 3 1/4 inches of blade. I love that knife..and the patch.

The Long Trail looks great, I went to their site to check it out after someone else mentioned it but I don't think it is offered anymore. Anyway I am waiting on one that is in the works that I really like the looks of a lot. I think it's about the same size as my Bushfinger, maybe a little bigger.

Originally Posted by Woods Walker

BHK knives look great.

They come in scandi as well.

Their knives do look great, even better in hand

. I'm not sure if the FV is offered in scandi or not, it may be. I know it is available in flat or hollow, I went with flat.

**jw2n** · 06-26-2011, 12:36 PM

Thanks MW. I like well thought out useable small FBs. Over the past two years they have come to replace my single blade folders more and more.

**mistwalker** · 06-26-2011, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by jw2n

Thanks MW. I like well thought out useable small FBs. Over the past two years they have come to replace my single blade folders more and more.

Given the choice I'd almost always prefer a small fixed to a folder. There are times when a folder is more convenient but a fixed is always tougher. Glad you liked the post.

**Sulaco** · 06-27-2011, 03:21 PM

I had one in Scandi grind and liked it a lot, but have gotten away from Scandi's so I let it go in a trade. I also had the Boattail Scandi, another fantastic knife from BHK. I like their stuff a lot.

**mistwalker** · 06-27-2011, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Sulaco

I had one in Scandi grind and liked it a lot, but have gotten away from Scandi's so I let it go in a trade. I also had the Boattail Scandi, another fantastic knife from BHK. I like their stuff a lot.

I'm sort of liking scandis lately, no more so than flat, convex, or saber, but liking them none the less. I've looked at and like a few of theirs.

**urbncby** · 06-28-2011, 12:08 AM

I started carrying a small fixed blade instead of a tactical folder lately and it's working great. I carry the BHK Frontier First, inverted, in a Kydex sheath.

**mistwalker** · 06-28-2011, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by urbncby

I started carrying a small fixed blade instead of a tactical folder lately and it's working great. I carry the BHK Frontier First, inverted, in a Kydex sheath.

Nice aheath, who made it?

**Parke1** · 06-28-2011, 08:32 AM

That looks to be a Blind Horse Knives direct kydex sheath. They use the adjustable sliding tension screw that you see on the left side of the sheath.

-Parke1

**wrxguyusa** · 06-28-2011, 02:59 PM

Seems that Blind Horse doesn't have a big following here, so i was glad to see a favorable thread. I met LT (co-owner) at a gun show. He took a bunch of time in the middle of a very busy show to explain all the steels, handles, grind to my girlfriend and I even though it was clear we weren't big spenders. We ended up with a bushbaby and a patch knife. LT threw in a really nice zippered case for my girlfriend.

The knives are well finished and have a shaving sharp polished edge. Ergos for all the knives was excellent. BHK is a good company that uses knives and makes them for people that use them.