I recently went out on a limb and purchased a "Chaos II" fixed blade knife from Mantis knives. I first bought it strictly for the looks but after its arrival I decided to put it through some trying times.
I started off by reading the pamphlet, it explains how a SWAT member used the knife as a step by stabbing it into a power pole sideways. Test result: It worked. Plunged deeply into the pole with little effort. Held my weight briefly then, of coarse, slowly came out of the wood. I went a little further and tested the strength and durability of the construction by hanging the knife, blade down, held only by the slot at the rear of the handle (wedged it to the side of a long piece of angle iron) It held my weight (210lbs) even as I bounced on the blade.
I do not have any experience in testing retention but I used the knife as a cleaver to chop 15-1/2" pieces of walnut my wife had left over from one of her craft projects then I went straight to the kitchen and sliced a tomato with it, not sure if that is amazing or just adequate for this type of blade but it sure impressed me.
Any suggestions on what else to do? I am very satisfied with the results of my $70 investment.
I started off by reading the pamphlet, it explains how a SWAT member used the knife as a step by stabbing it into a power pole sideways. Test result: It worked. Plunged deeply into the pole with little effort. Held my weight briefly then, of coarse, slowly came out of the wood. I went a little further and tested the strength and durability of the construction by hanging the knife, blade down, held only by the slot at the rear of the handle (wedged it to the side of a long piece of angle iron) It held my weight (210lbs) even as I bounced on the blade.
I do not have any experience in testing retention but I used the knife as a cleaver to chop 15-1/2" pieces of walnut my wife had left over from one of her craft projects then I went straight to the kitchen and sliced a tomato with it, not sure if that is amazing or just adequate for this type of blade but it sure impressed me.
Any suggestions on what else to do? I am very satisfied with the results of my $70 investment.