1st Impression of Fallkniven A1

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komondor

Joined
Jul 2, 2001
Messages
4,264
My A1 has arrived. What a serious chunk of steel this thing is. It feels very heavy and obviously solid, but it is also nicely balanced. Grind lines are even. Mine came with a highly functional Kydex sheath. That exposed tang butt will work nicely if the going gets tough. Now, I can't wait to go camping.
What do other owners think about this blade. Are there any complaints?
 
I've had mine for about a year and a half now, and I really like mine, that exposed tang is a really great feature too.
 
The A1 is a standout blade for the price.
Had mine out yesterday while doing the weekly yard maintenance thing chopping down those damn suckers that have spread all over the yard from the paper mulberry tree and the oak saplings forever sprouting from under the Camellia and Azalea bushes.
This is a pretty decent chopping knife for having a 6 1/4" blade. I love the super fine edge I can achieve with this VG-10 steel. The exposed tang for pounding is also a nice touch.

All in all, a great knife.
Any collector/user of knives should give this one a closer look-see. :D
 
Sergiuzs Mitin just posted an excellent review of the A-1 on the Knife Forum review section. Maybe here too, haven't looked yet. What's great about his review is that he admits he began the review with some prejudice against the knife, most of which evaporated during his testing.
 
The A-1 is definately one of my favorite knives. It's design lends itself to the virtues of a chopper, a slicer, a combat and general utility knife. It's execution is darn near flawless. For the price, it is one heck of a bargain. I've got mine in the locker between Busse and CRK (flanked by good company)_and it is not out of it's league. What a knife!:)
 
Excellent comments, guys. I can't wait to actually use mine.
The one "bad" thing I have heard about the knife is its handle, and how it will wear away after a while. This is not too tragic, since you would get to replace it with a piece of hardwood or Micarta.
 
I don't have an A1, but I do have the F1, the smaller field knife with the 4 inch blade.
I love mine, it's solid as a rock and the VG10 takes a great edge very easily and bites into material very well.
It's a nice and simple design as all Fallknivens are.
I just wish I got the kydex sheath (I have the open top leather hang down sheath), but that's ok, I'm going to get a Normark/On-Scene tactical concealex sheath when I get the money.
 
Originally posted by komondor
This is not too tragic, since you would get to replace it with a piece of hardwood or Micarta.
Click to expand...
Possible, but not trivial, since drilling holes in the tang will probably take an oil cooled drill.
 
I have the smaller S1, with 5.1" black blade and kydex sheath.

It'll get a workout in the Smoky Mtns. pretty soon.

I have no doubt that this knife will live up to its rep.

Blues
 
"Ditto" to what everyone said. I had never found a really good all around survival/camp/truck knife until I received an A1 in a trade awhile back. My only complaint is the part of the tang poking out of the butt of the handle. I know it's supposed to be there for hammering but it can be uncomfortable for me at times. It's a minor complaint though and this thing is a winner!

Hey Blues, you taking your ST?
 
No, Gene. Need an SUV to get to some of the trailheads I'm interested in, so the motorcycle wouldn't work out for this trip.

Too bad, since I'll miss some good riding in the mountains.
(I don't trailer my bike and I won't be starting now. ;))


Blues
 
I've had my A-1 for a year now. It has now replaced my Becker Campion in my survival bag. My survival bag contains all the stuff I think I might need if I get stranded in the Alaska bush, due to an airplane mishap, or just getting lost...lol. So I only put stuff in there for which I have a high regard. The A-1 has proven to be a rugged, versatile blade, equally at home doing kitchen chores or chopping tent pegs. VG-10 is an excellent stain resistant alloy, and the grip, while not as good as say Micarta, is functional. I have used the exposed tang to drive the knife into wood to make kindling. For that it works well.
 
I like the A1 design but if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't buy one. While the handle is functional, it's not very durable. After pounding briefly against wood using the exposed tang, the rubber separated from the tang. I must not have impacted the metal directly. I prefer micarta scales. A knife with micarta scales such as a Newt Livesay or MMHW, can be had for about the same price as an A1.
 
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