Aviator owner's comments...?

P

Peter LC

Joined
Dec 10, 2001
Messages
207
Hi all, I've been drooling over the Aviator a while; I feel the sawteeth and the sheath make it particularly awesome. As opposed to my newly-arrived SOG Bowie, I'd intend to actually USE the Reeve; as an outdoors-knive. I did a search on the knife in this forum but couldn't find all I wanted to read, so here goes:

* Is there any chance I could accidentally lose the knife because it isn't "locked" in its sheath -what I actually DO like about the sheath; saves the hassle of popping the button...?

* How do the sawteeth stand the test of time -and use? I realize the knife can be fixed back into new-condition for a small sum, but as I'm at the other side of the pool :D , added shipping is a lot extra.

* How well-balanced is it? The hollow handle probably makes it rather blade-heavy, which -up to a point- is a good thing ofcourse.

* I read the knife is 55-57 Rockwell. I intend to take a single Crockstick with me for touch-ups, but how good is the edge-retention in real life?

There you go... Should keep you busy for a while ;)

Seriously, thanks very much in advance. I intend to ease off my buying-urge after this one (yeah, yeah... :D )
 
The Aviator is a small blade that I have carried into the woods a couple of times and consider a real user. I guess to it's diminutive size, it makes a great survival tool for aircrew.

1. As far as the sheath goes, mine hasn't fallen out yet, but then again I'm not hanging upside down with it or riding a horse. I'm sure there are better Kydex rigs made or can be made for it from variety of places. I think you can even get a snap pouch sheath direct from CR, if you specify it and order direct. If I'm not mistaken, you can buy a surplus USAF style sheath that has the leather retention snap thingy around the handle. The knives are about the same size. So it's up to you....there are many choices from leather to kydex to nylon (Blackhawk Industries?).

2. Sawteeth eh...well I think they were designed for cutting yourself out of the fuselage of an aircraft. As far as cutting bone or wood, it would do, but you would be better off with a saw. Remember that this is a small knife and would be used for sawing in an emergency. Otherwise, I'm sure you could resharped or profile them with a small file. I've only used mine for scaling fish.

3. Actually it's handle heavy...it does not make the best fighter. Otherwise it's a pretty handy tool for a variety of cutting tasks.

4. Just like any of the CR products...they are scary sharp and with a little touch up on a stone or crocksticks will outperform the majority of your cutting needs.

Overall, I'm very happy with it. Although it is small in stature, it does what a big knife will do in a compact package.
 
I keep an Aviator in a daypack survival kit in the trunk of my car. So it gets use whenever I'm on the road, camping, picnicking, etc. I've never had it fall out of the sheath; though I, like Moe, haven't tried to see if it would hold while horseback riding, bungee jumping, etc. It seems to be a good compromise between accessibility and retention.

On the sawteeth, I haven't used them enough to really tell how they will wear. To be quite honest, I don't find them very useful. It's such a small knife to begin with, that you don't get enough back and forth motion to make the teeth very effective. If you're trying to cut through something thick, the Aviator sawteeth might do in a pinch; but you really just need to use a more suitable tool for such tasks (e.g., a saw).

I haven't found mine to be blade heavy at all. (That's a different story with the larger one-pieces.) And the handle is so small that any toys you stuff into it (e.g., matches, purification tabs, fishhooks, etc.) are unlikely to make much of a difference in the balance. Personally, I like the fact that the blade feels light. It suits most tasks that I use it for.

It holds an edge pretty well. But it's not so hard that you can't effectively sharpen it in the field.

Some years ago I read a post on this board from someone who worked with a Fish and Wildlife agency at a national park and used an Aviator daily to clean deer. It was hearing about that hard, constant use (and the user's praise of the knife) that sold me on the Aviator. Someone who uses it regularly as a work knife might be able to give you some more useful info.
 
I'm getting the idea the sawteeth are not too useful. I'd only use them to cut through small branches; but a more blade-heavy knife would likely do the trick just as well by just chopping with it.

...Which draws me to another -much more affordable- workman-like knife; the Fallkniven S1. Doesn't look half as cool though... :D
 
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