Any Fallkniven fans?

[Brisket]

I'm pleased with the 10 year warranty and have excellent customer service from Peter at Fallkniven in the past. The 2 year warranty was lacking IMO.

Regarding ESEE's and Becker's warranties compared to Fallkniven, it is much easier to build in the cost of a greater warranty when you are selling a 1095 carbon steel like the ESEE 3 for a street price around $100 than it is to do the same with a VG-10 laminated stainless steel knife like the F1 with a street price of around $125. I'm a happy owner of several ESEE's and Becker's but from my personal experience in using both in the field I find the $125 F1 to be a better value than the $100 ESEE 3. Apples and oranges and to each his own.

 

[craytab]

I'm pleased with the 10 year warranty and have excellent customer service from Peter at Fallkniven in the past. The 2 year warranty was lacking IMO.

Regarding ESEE's and Becker's warranties compared to Fallkniven, it is much easier to build in the cost of a greater warranty when you are selling a 1095 carbon steel like the ESEE 3 for a street price around $100 than it is to do the same with a VG-10 laminated stainless steel knife like the F1 with a street price of around $125. I'm a happy owner of several ESEE's and Becker's but from my personal experience in using both in the field I find the $125 F1 to be a better value than the $100 ESEE 3. Apples and oranges and to each his own.

I can certainly appreciate your point. It also doesn't help that I have many knives made in the same factory as the falk knives (Ken can let us know where and whom, I forget now).

I just can't get past the horror stories I have heard on warranty issues. And the whole 3 countries thing bugs me a bit. I'll likely get past it some day. I do click on every falk thread that comes up on the exchange

(fixed of course)

 

[Pokerface]

I love the knife, not crazy about the zytel sheath but it does the job and keeps it at a fair price.

I actually like the Zytel sheath. I throw my F1 + Zytel sheath in my Osprey pack while mountain biking and it's nice and compact (as compact as an 8" knife can be).

The one thing that I dislike is the placement of the lanyard tube on the F1…I've grown accustomed to not using a lanyard on this knife, but I don't have a choice really.


As far as sheaths go…doesn't the Sharpshooter Bushcraft AA fit the F1?

 

[rustyrazor]

If these knives that are owned by a Swedish company, made in japan, and then sold by select American dealers had a warranty to reflect their price I would own several. Granted, they did upgrade their warranty from 2 years to 10 in the last year or so, still limited of course.

It's cool if they don't want to put that they stand behind their product on paper but I can find knives made in a similar place for less money with a better warranty. Heck, even Taylor brands (schrade) stands behind their product more.

Not even to mention the competitive options we have here in the states blow Falk out of the water. I'll take an Esee with a better warranty, better sheath, made & sold here by a company that is based here, and costs about the same or less. Becker is even more competitive.

I know some people that I really respect here love them. I will always give my opinion of them, and it is just that, my opinion. Folks can make their own choice.

We all do have an opinion... Can't say as I agree 100% with this one this time however. yes, their warranty is limited... some others are not. can't say I wouldn't prefer the "go ahead and be an idiot with our knives warranty" as it of course it covers more, but it doesn't make the knife better. having had all 3 brands you've mentioned I can say they are all great in their own way... however none blow any other out of the water. they are actually sort of apples to oranges by comparison and since I did trade the other two off and still have 2 of my fallies I guess my preference is clear. it's a great knife with a comfortable handle and tough enough that I haven't needed a warranty so far and my F1 has been on my belt at work for over 8 years.

 

[Brisket]

I can certainly appreciate your point. It also doesn't help that I have many knives made in the same factory as the falk knives (Ken can let us know where and whom, I forget now).

I just can't get past the horror stories I have heard on warranty issues. And the whole 3 countries thing bugs me a bit. I'll likely get past it some day. I do click on every falk thread that comes up on the exchange

(fixed of course)

I really like how many of the Fallkniven knives perform and have been fortunate to not experience any failures in the field, but I have heard stories of others failures. Warranties aside, however, I don't put higher hardness stainless knives of any make to the same level of hard use that I do to a knife like a BK7 as I don't expect them to perform as well at certain tasks.

I really have a hard time getting past the cost of the higher level Fallkniven knives like the Northern Light or even many of the 3G steel Thermorun handled models. I have some 3G models but I bought them in the secondary market for about the price of the VG-10 models and while I like them very much there is no way I think a F1 3G is worth paying $120 more than a F1 VG-10.

This thread is needing more photos so here is one of my H1's.

 

[Mikael W]

I don't put higher hardness stainless knives of any make to the same level of hard use that I do to a knife like a BK7 as I don't expect them to perform as well at certain tasks.


This thread is needing more photos so here is one of my H1's.

Nice H1!

I use my FK's just as hard as I use my carbonsteel knives and they take hour after hour of hard & intense labour.
I can't say I see more damages to the stainless FK's, than what I see on my similiar knives in carbon.

So I would say use Your H1 as You would use any other knife.
If or when it needs a touch-up, just sharpen it and continue to use it.
It has enough steel in it, to last a lifetime!

The pic is the NL2 chopping down a 5" Mapletree in my garden.
It's an older and blurry pic, but try to both chop and hold the camera steady at the same time!
It also shows the grip I use around the pommel, to get 2" more lenght in the swing.
This makes an 8" blade work as a 10", when chopping.
If the handle is properly designed as on the NL2, this is a useful technique and the handle locks safely in the hand.

Regards
Mikael

 

[cutchu]

This is turning into a very informative thread. Mikael, can you post some other pics of your NL knives?

 

[Eric@DLT]

I actually like the Zytel sheath. I throw my F1 + Zytel sheath in my Osprey pack while mountain biking and it's nice and compact (as compact as an 8" knife can be).

The one thing that I dislike is the placement of the lanyard tube on the F1…I've grown accustomed to not using a lanyard on this knife, but I don't have a choice really.


As far as sheaths go…doesn't the Sharpshooter Bushcraft AA fit the F1?

For in a pack or bag (like I currently have mine) it is very nice. If I were to put that on my belt I'm less than enthused just because of the nylon parts. I don't like the snap over at all. I will get our kydex guy to make me a custom sheath so it can ride outside my pack if I want and to do a rigid drop loop.

I just checked the fit and if I were to go leather I would go with the A size bushcraft sheath. The AA isn't as snug as I would like it and it rides a little deep (down to the lanyard tube). For leather I'd rather go that route than the F1 leather sheath.

 

[basb]

The NL series looks gorgeous, specially the NL Idun. If they weren't so expensive I'd get one right away. Same goes for the micarta F1.

 

[KenHash]

I think the warranty issue is a significant one. Firstly I have never needed warranty service on a fixed blade knife of any brand. But then I don't baton or anything. And the warranties offered by some makers as mentioned by cray is really quite incredible. They are so good in fact that I feel it doesn't do any good to use that as a standard of comparison. Especially with a maker whose headquarters is in Boden Sweden and production is in Seki Japan, with three designated distributors in the US. Frankly I think that Fallkniven should consider setting up a branch office (Fallkniven USA) to handle distribution themselves and warranty issues. Surely PH recognizes that the lack of such a facility puts FK at a marketing disadvantage. Any thoughts Mikael?

 

[Mikael W]

This is turning into a very informative thread. Mikael, can you post some other pics of your NL knives?

Sure, here are a few!

The NL4 showing the tang.

Splitting firewood with the NL4 and a wedge.

The Idun after finishing a new stick on one of the garden tools.

Regards
Mikael

 

[cutchu]

Thanks Mikael. Definitely on my short list now. Sorry if OPs thread was hijacked.

 

[Mikael W]

I think the warranty issue is a significant one. Firstly I have never needed warranty service on a fixed blade knife of any brand. But then I don't baton or anything. And the warranties offered by some makers as mentioned by cray is really quite incredible. They are so good in fact that I feel it doesn't do any good to use that as a standard of comparison. Especially with a maker whose headquarters is in Boden Sweden and production is in Seki Japan, with three designated distributors in the US. Frankly I think that Fallkniven should consider setting up a branch office (Fallkniven USA) to handle distribution themselves and warranty issues. Surely PH recognizes that the lack of such a facility puts FK at a marketing disadvantage. Any thoughts Mikael?

This question has been beaten over and over here at BF for years.
I have posted my opinion in this matter and also discussed it with both Peter and Eric, to check the facts.

I have no relation with FK, other than being a customer & moderator of their brand forum.
I'm not payed by them and I don't get any free knives.

#1 My opinion is that it's primarily the dealer, who sold the knife that should give the customer the needed service.

#2 The dealer should turn to the distributor, who sold the knife to the dealer.

#3 The distributor solves the problem with Fällkniven HQ in Boden.

Fällkniven HQ are aware of that this chain doesn't always work and if so, the customer can send an email directly to them.
Most often the customer gets a fast response from either Eric or Peter on how to solve the issue.

I think FK will refine their routines for different markets in the future, but I have no clue about how they will develop their business practice.



Regards
Mikael

 

[KenHash]

This question has been beaten over and over here at BF for years.
I have posted my opinion in this matter and also discussed it with both Peter and Eric, to check the facts.

I have no relation with FK, other than being a customer & moderator of their brand forum.
I'm not payed by them and I don't get any free knives.

#1 My opinion is that it's primarily the dealer, who sold the knife that should give the customer the needed service.

#2 The dealer should turn to the distributor, who sold the knife to the dealer.

#3 The distributor solves the problem with Fällkniven HQ in Boden.

Fällkniven HQ are aware of that this chain doesn't always work and if so, the customer can send an email directly to them.
Most often the customer gets a fast response from either Eric or Peter on how to solve the issue.

I think FK will refine their routines for different markets in the future, but I have no clue about how they will develop their business practice.



Regards
Mikael

Thanks Mikael.
If a person in the US had a knife with a warranty repair issue, do you know if such repairs are carried out in Boden? I find it hard to imagine that it would sent
back to Seki then back to Boden then to the US again.
Also- and maybe this is also a repeated issue at BF..but how come there is no Fallknieven representation in the Manufacturers Forums here? Seems to me that
BF is loaded with FK fans.

 

[bobnery]

There's a lot of popular knife brands not represented in the forum. I don't give that a second thought.

Other fixed blade manufacturers do have great warranties, but like stated earlier it is built into the cost of the knife.

Even if FK still had the two year warranty, I'd still buy the product. I'm comfortable that I won't need it, and I'm also comfortable that a worldwide known and respected manufacturer like FK would take care of any issue.

 

[Mikael W]

Thanks Mikael.
If a person in the US had a knife with a warranty repair issue, do you know if such repairs are carried out in Boden? I find it hard to imagine that it would sent
back to Seki then back to Boden then to the US again.
Also- and maybe this is also a repeated issue at BF..but how come there is no Fallknieven representation in the Manufacturers Forums here? Seems to me that
BF is loaded with FK fans.

I think it works like this:

The distributor gets a knife back from a dealer under warranty and sends it to FK in Boden.

Fällkniven inspect the knife and if the defect is covered under warranty, ships a new knife to the distributor.

Fällkniven collect the defect knives in a box and when it's full, ship it back to Seki.
This can take some time as they have around 1 defect knife per 1000 knives.


About a FK forum on BF, neither Eric or Peter hang out on forums.
They communicate either via email, phone or FB.
Eric sometimes read posts here on BF, but not on a regular basis.

As BF is an American forum, maybe the US distributors would be the right people to open a FK forum here?


Regards
Mikael

 

[KenHash]

Thanks very much Mikael.
All makes sense.

 

[brandoak]

I had a minor issue with a part and emailed them, they got right back to me (the owner himself) and took care of me! great company great peeps!

 

[cutchu]

Heck, I could not wait, just ordered an NL4. Mikael, you are to blame (HAHA).

 

[Mikael W]

Heck, I could not wait, just ordered an NL4. Mikael, you are to blame (HAHA).

I doubt You will regret it.
The NL's was introduced many years ago and so far Peter says, he has never had a NL back in pieces.
Enjoy!


Regards
Mikael