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Anyone have opinions on the Boker Orca?
- Thread starter mikemck
- Start date
Looking at the design, it is very close to the smaller version of Puma's White Hunter, So, I guess if you have handled one of those it might give you an idea about it.
As to X15TN steel, I've read quite a few reviews. Most people feel it holds an edge, etc... like 440C, but with superior corrosion resistance. It's developed quite a following with salt water fishermen.
HTH.
As to X15TN steel, I've read quite a few reviews. Most people feel it holds an edge, etc... like 440C, but with superior corrosion resistance. It's developed quite a following with salt water fishermen.
HTH.
The thing that bothers me most is the design of the handle, the finger groove might be a bit annoying if one was to use the back hacking edge for chopping. Seems like a case of "too much of a good thing". P.S. I still don't like you much, but you've got pretty good taste in knives
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- Joined
- Feb 25, 2002
- Messages
- 40
I bought an Orca last year , and I have been using another X-15 knife (the Heckler&Koch) for two years. X-15 features superior corrosion resistance and satisfying edge-retention even without PVD coating.
The PVD-coating of an Orca is harder than the steel itself, providing additional protection against corrosion and wear, and considerably increasing edge-retention capabilities.
Though primarily designed for maritime use , the Orca should perform well as a rescue knife, because it severs belts very quickly and can also be used for prying.
The actual thickness of the blade is about 1/4 " ( 30/127" exactly).
The PVD-coating of an Orca is harder than the steel itself, providing additional protection against corrosion and wear, and considerably increasing edge-retention capabilities.
Though primarily designed for maritime use , the Orca should perform well as a rescue knife, because it severs belts very quickly and can also be used for prying.
The actual thickness of the blade is about 1/4 " ( 30/127" exactly).
bob bowie,
Good point about the finger groove, it's surely something to keep in mind. I'll probably end up with one of these pretty soon, and will report back on this.
On the other, you took the words right outta my mouth, eh Knives are a great common ground.
Hayate,
It's interesting that you have one of these. Can you write up a good overall review, or even just a quick one? Maybe detail some uses you have found for yours, and some overall impressions?
At any rate, thanks much for the information so far.
Good point about the finger groove, it's surely something to keep in mind. I'll probably end up with one of these pretty soon, and will report back on this.
On the other, you took the words right outta my mouth, eh
Knives are a great common ground.Hayate,
It's interesting that you have one of these. Can you write up a good overall review, or even just a quick one? Maybe detail some uses you have found for yours, and some overall impressions?
At any rate, thanks much for the information so far.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2002
- Messages
- 40
mikemck,
Here`s a general review as you requested:
The Orca is best described as quite heavy, weighing 11.3 ounces (and 17.3 with sheath!) at an overall length of a little more than 11 inches. The handle is relatively big , you`ll never have problems getting a grip on it , no matter if your fingers are cold, what kind of gloves you wear or whatsoever. ( The finger groove isn´t that disturbing, either. The only problem I have with that handle is that, with respect to the chopping edge on the knife´s back , its end shouldn´t be so slim.) The tang runs through the entire handle (as you surely all know), and its end is applicable as glass-breaker.
The apparently non-serrated part of the blade is , in fact , micro-serrated (about 13 teeth per eighth of an inch) , thus being very effective on ropes, belts and the like. The tip is pretty rugged , but provides very poor penetration abilities ( that is why I would recommend it for divers and rescue applications). The chopping edge is not sufficiently sharp to actually cut , and it is, unlike that of the Orca presented at the 2001 Nuremberg International Weapons Exhibition IWA, entirely PVD-coated. (My Orca was also produced in 2001 , so I suppose the knife presented at IWA was the prototype).
The sheath provided by Boker consists of two separable elements , one of which conceals the blade , securing the knife with a bolt that has to be operated with your thumb. This alone is sufficient to carry the knife, but there is an additional sheath element attached to it , which additionally secures the knife with one of those rubber rings. Though the sheath can be attached to most regions of human bodies, the location should be chosen with care, since it is quite difficult to operate a thumb-operated bolt with the opposite hand! ( Especially important if you carry this knife in cars as a rescue knife; always remember one arm could be injured in an accident!)
(Describing this odd sheath is very hard, especially since English is not my native language; I hope nobody noticed that so far...)
Regarding the question of proper uses, I have to state that this is a specialized tool for divers ; I also consider it the best rescue-knife available. It isn`t easy to find anything it cannot do, but for most ordinary applications ,any hunting knife is more practical.
I merely carry it just to be prepared .
P.S. : It cuts tomatoes without squeezing them , too!
Here`s a general review as you requested:
The Orca is best described as quite heavy, weighing 11.3 ounces (and 17.3 with sheath!) at an overall length of a little more than 11 inches. The handle is relatively big , you`ll never have problems getting a grip on it , no matter if your fingers are cold, what kind of gloves you wear or whatsoever. ( The finger groove isn´t that disturbing, either. The only problem I have with that handle is that, with respect to the chopping edge on the knife´s back , its end shouldn´t be so slim.) The tang runs through the entire handle (as you surely all know), and its end is applicable as glass-breaker.
The apparently non-serrated part of the blade is , in fact , micro-serrated (about 13 teeth per eighth of an inch) , thus being very effective on ropes, belts and the like. The tip is pretty rugged , but provides very poor penetration abilities ( that is why I would recommend it for divers and rescue applications). The chopping edge is not sufficiently sharp to actually cut , and it is, unlike that of the Orca presented at the 2001 Nuremberg International Weapons Exhibition IWA, entirely PVD-coated. (My Orca was also produced in 2001 , so I suppose the knife presented at IWA was the prototype).
The sheath provided by Boker consists of two separable elements , one of which conceals the blade , securing the knife with a bolt that has to be operated with your thumb. This alone is sufficient to carry the knife, but there is an additional sheath element attached to it , which additionally secures the knife with one of those rubber rings. Though the sheath can be attached to most regions of human bodies, the location should be chosen with care, since it is quite difficult to operate a thumb-operated bolt with the opposite hand! ( Especially important if you carry this knife in cars as a rescue knife; always remember one arm could be injured in an accident!)
(Describing this odd sheath is very hard, especially since English is not my native language; I hope nobody noticed that so far...)
Regarding the question of proper uses, I have to state that this is a specialized tool for divers ; I also consider it the best rescue-knife available. It isn`t easy to find anything it cannot do, but for most ordinary applications ,any hunting knife is more practical.
I merely carry it just to be prepared .
P.S. : It cuts tomatoes without squeezing them , too!
Hayate, your command of the English language is better than most of the posters here!
Thanks for taking the time to do the review. I thought the knife looked very interesting but I had questions about it, and you managed to answer the majority of them.
Mark
Thanks for taking the time to do the review. I thought the knife looked very interesting but I had questions about it, and you managed to answer the majority of them.
Mark
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2002
- Messages
- 40
The 2002 Boker Catalogue has been delivered to customers in Germany (including myself). I can give more precise data on latest Orca versions. There are two new models but they´ll be available no sooner than April this year.
The Beluga
The Beluga is essentially the (slightly modified ) steel skeleton of the Orca . The tang had to be modified to provide a guard and a thumb rest. The Beluga consists entirely of X-15 T. N. steel , it does have serrations, but it is not coated. I think they use a bead-blast finish on it ( Not a prudent choice for a diving knife , no matter if it is made of X-15 or not.) Boker delivers every Beluga with a plastic-reinforced Cordura sheath.
The Orca II
Orca II is an Orca without coating and without any serrations.( I suppose that means, after all, somebody at Boker´s figured out how you make use of those recurved blades.) Its chopping edge begins directly at the knife´s tip, thus being backed by the heaviest part of the blade and achieving improved chopping capabilities. As side-effect of this , the tip should become more acute (and less sturdy) as well. This knife comes with a new cordura sheath resembling those of survival and tactical knives, which seems more useful for any person intending to use the Orca ashore.
The Beluga
The Beluga is essentially the (slightly modified ) steel skeleton of the Orca . The tang had to be modified to provide a guard and a thumb rest. The Beluga consists entirely of X-15 T. N. steel , it does have serrations, but it is not coated. I think they use a bead-blast finish on it ( Not a prudent choice for a diving knife , no matter if it is made of X-15 or not.) Boker delivers every Beluga with a plastic-reinforced Cordura sheath.
The Orca II
Orca II is an Orca without coating and without any serrations.( I suppose that means, after all, somebody at Boker´s figured out how you make use of those recurved blades.) Its chopping edge begins directly at the knife´s tip, thus being backed by the heaviest part of the blade and achieving improved chopping capabilities. As side-effect of this , the tip should become more acute (and less sturdy) as well. This knife comes with a new cordura sheath resembling those of survival and tactical knives, which seems more useful for any person intending to use the Orca ashore.