- Joined
- May 25, 2011
- Messages
- 854
I first heard of AA Forge when reading the lengthy thread detailing the Bush-craft knife contest. As I recall, somebody had mentioned Adam (AA Forge) as an up and coming knife-maker, but after owning three of his knives for awhile I would have to disagree with that thought: Adam (AA Forge) is here now, and in a big way.
While Im not a betting man, Id wager that Adam is something of a perfectionist in real life; it just shows through his work. Each knife is flawless no gaps, even grinds, and sharp to the point of being ridiculous. The handles are your-favorite-pair-of-blue-jeans-comfortable, works of art worthy of gracing the finest collections or the front page of some fancy collectors magazine. Smooth as a newborns butt, your mind is forced to referee the struggle that will develop between your hands (wanting to feel the luxurious handles) and your eyes (wanting to stare at the beauty).
Dont be mistaken though; these are a working mans tools and Adam makes them for everyday use. Sure, they could be placed behind some glass case and used as a means of impressing visitors with your exquisite taste in finely crafted tools and theyd serve such a roll very well but these are tools meant to be used, covered in muck, grime and blood, for years and years, and then passed down to your son who will someday pass them down to his son.
While I have absolutely no intention of ever selling any of my AA Forge knives, I am convinced that their value will only increase with time they are that well made. As more and more people become acquainted with Adams knives, the laws of supply and demand are almost certainly going to have a positive effect on the value of these hand-made tools.
Im going to do a somewhat short review on each of the three AA Forge knives I currently own; suffice to say the above paragraphs sum up my thoughts on Adams obvious gift (for making superb tools) but the following reviews will go into a bit more detail as to why I am so pleased to count myself among his growing list of rabid fans.
As knife nuts (or fans) we are blessed to have so many talented makers in our midst; making our available choices plentiful and varied. This is a good thing and we should be thankful that we are so lucky to have so many talented people striving to give us old-fashioned quality (and service) in todays throw-away market. There are many makers whose products I wholeheartedly recommend and I will be forever convinced that you get a much better product from a custom knife-maker.
Still, I admit that Ive been struggling (greatly) with this review of AA Forge knives.
Adam deserves every single bit of praise I can offer him (and then some) but my struggle comes in fearing that some might take my glowing praise as an exaggeration of sorts. Usually we tend to better accept those reviews which find both good and bad in a product thinking that those reviewers are not only more thorough, but also more honest. I can understand that in todays world of cheaply made junk that seldom lasts for a few years, but that reality shouldnt be allowed to infringe upon the reality of those occasions when someone produces stellar products in a manner reminiscent of yesteryears attention to quality and detail.
And stellar perfectly describes AA Forge knives. No hype. No BS. No exaggeration.
Scandi Bushcraft
8.5 inches OAL
1.25 inch blade
1 inch tall (blade)
1095 steel
Black linen micarta
Leather sheath
This knife was the first of my AA Forge knives. I purchased it on the exchange sometime last summer. This knife exemplifies its name: perfect for the bushcrafter this knife excels in cutting wood. Sure itll suffice doing kitchen duty in fact it is a dream cutting up things like meat or smaller vegetables. The scandi grind isnt the best choice for larger, harder vegetables (like potatoes) but it will get the job done easily.
But this knife is made with outdoor use in mind.
Have you ever received a new knife and immediately given it a paper-cutting test?
I do that with every new knife I purchase.
Some knives manage to cut the paper, but you can hear the paper tearing as the blade goes through. Other knives will cut the paper without tearing, but you hear a fairly loud wisp as the blade slices through the paper.
Not Adams knives: all three of his knives have whispered through paper (almost as if theyre melting the paper as they slide, effortlessly, through it). Thats shaving sharp (yeah, they shave hair with the same ease).
The knife is nicely balanced and features a pointed tip that is perfect for drilling. The back of the blade is squared and makes scraping (for fibers) simplistic (it also throws a nice shower of sparks).
The handle is smooth, yet grippy, and comfortable in a variety of positions. Even hours of use have not produced a single hot spot.
Undoubtedly this knife isnt perfect, but Id be very hard-pressed to figure out how it could be improved. Sure you could make it fancier I suppose, but that wouldnt improve the knife one bit. If most of your cutting needs revolve around wood, rope, meats, smaller vegetables, and ordinary tasks this knife is probably the knife youve been dreaming of.
Neck Knife
About 7 inches OAL
Blade about 3 inches
About 7/8 inch tall (blade)
1/8 inch 1095 steel
Desert Ironwood handles
Brass pins, Brass lanyard
Leather Sheath
This is a copy of the version entered in the Necker contest (WSS) here on BF. When I first saw this knife, I knew I had to have one and Adam was nice enough to make me one. His knife did extremely well in the contest especially where it counts (like cutting and edge durability).
If youve ever had the fortune to be around a Chihuahua youve no doubt noticed the fact that those tiny dogs really think theyre a 200 lb Alpha Wolf in charge of the entire neighborhood. Its funny, but Ive seen much larger dogs fleeing in fear with a tiny, yapping Chihuahua nipping at their heels.
This knife is something like that it acts like a much larger knife that is fully capable of a wide variety of tasks. Most importantly it is that capable and youll be left wondering how you ever managed without this knife.
In the kitchen, this knife is a paring knife on steroids: slicing and dicing with absolute ease. Its quick, easy to handle and it makes mundane tasks a pleasure. With the convexed edge, harder vegetables are sliced paper-thin without a problem, and softer items (like flesh) nearly leap apart upon seeing the Necker approach. Its a nimble knife; making it a breeze to debone chickens or wild game.
The qualities that make this knife so adept in the kitchen translate equally well in the great outdoors; making this knife a superb choice for carving wood, shaving paper-thin curls, or making precise cuts in a variety of materials. The back of the blade is squared; making it ideal for throwing sparks or scraping material.
In general I love wooden handles, but it is an absolute treat to use a knife that has a wooden handle from Adam. Theres just a magical way about how he manages to make the wood come alive with such beauty and warmth. Its as though the handle is constantly massaging your hand while the knife is being used it just feels so warmly inviting, as if the knife is calling to my hand. And in a way, it is. Youll find yourself constantly reaching for this knife, finding excuses to use it and a reassuring comfort in holding it.
