This is a preliminary report on the Activator a full report will be published on our website later.
Out of the box the knife is 5-7/8 long, has a 2-1/10 blade with a cutting edge of 1-7/8. The blade is a flat ground drop point and at its widest is 7/8 and is just over 1/8 thick. The blade steel is S30V at 60-61HRC and the edge bevels are even at 15 degrees or thereabouts. The handle is a combination of silver G10 and black carbon fibre making it an attractive package. The scales are attached with 4 or 8 (dependant how you look at it) TX screws and it has the obligatory thong hole. A finger groove gives the handle a comfortable grip. The top of the blade is grooved for 1-1/4 to provide a thumb grip which is not uncomfortable or sharp.
The leather pouch sheath, spurned by many, has a large belt loop and the sheath holds the knife securely and the sheath rides comfortably on the belt. I prefer leather but I could see that a Kydex sheath would be good for pocket, belt and neck carry.
Out of the box the blade just cut through a ¾ by 3/16 leather strip 1/8 from the end but could only cut half way through 6 from the end. The blade cut through ¾ of a 3/8 manila rope before slipping. On cardboard it sliced and pushed well ½ from the end but at about 2 in it started to stick. This is a thick blade for its size. It did sharpen a ½ hardwood dowel but needed some force and wasnt cutting cleanly towards the end. In the kitchen despite its size it sliced a small overripe tomato but only managed to get through ½ a fresh carrot at the top end before splitting. It passed the chicken test deboning a leg and thigh but baulking a bit at the sinews and then it sliced the meat into cubes.
After 20 strokes on the coarse rods of the Sharpmaker it was put to work on leather, rope, cardboard and dowels for more extensive tests. Briefly the results were as follows:
1. Leather it cut cleanly at all stages including 6 from the end;
2. Rope was a different matter the short blade had trouble with the 3/8 manila (or maybe I did) so I put it to work on ¼ strands which it cut well.
3. Cardboard an improved performance and cut well although it still hung up on push cuts on wider pieces. The edge has an aggressive finish and a polished edge may have done better; and
4. Dowel it worked well repeatedly cutting points.
At this stage the blade would no longer shave arm hair but it only took 10 strokes on the coarse rods to bring it back.
I havent had much of an opportunity to test the Activator in the field. In the shop it worked well opening cartons and cutting nylon straps etc. As I havent come across any roadkills it hasnt been tested on game but if I were to use it on rabbits, hares and foxes I think I would put a finer point on the blade. The Activator proved adept at carving and whittling including spoons the point is not fine but sharp and stout and proved excellent for whittling out the hollow of the spoons. In the bush it easily carved symbols in the bark of grey box eucalypts and stripping fallen branches of the bark.
In conclusion this is no scalpel like small blade but a stout little knife that should take plenty of punishment. The S30V held its edge well and it was easy to bring back to par. One could be tempted to reprofile the edge but this could work against the robustness of the knife. The ergonomics of the knife are good, feels good in the hand despite its small size. I didnt come across any hot spots but the knife could prove slippery in wet conditions. I dont see this knife has having any SD or survival uses. One word of warning this review may contain some bias in that I have small hands and I would definitely recommend getting a feel of the knife before buying.
Such a knife is not everyones cup of tea it could be suggested that the blade should have been hollow ground to give it better slicing ability and finer point. A more textured finish of the handle would be better in slippery conditions. It is also fair to say that a Kydex sheath option would give it more flexibility. The other complaint I had is that it was loose in the box and the handle received a blue stain from rubbing against the box. It could have been presented in one of those nice little bags the folders come in.
For me the Activator is going in the fixed blade rotation and I will carry it with a large folder like the Paramilitary.
Out of the box the knife is 5-7/8 long, has a 2-1/10 blade with a cutting edge of 1-7/8. The blade is a flat ground drop point and at its widest is 7/8 and is just over 1/8 thick. The blade steel is S30V at 60-61HRC and the edge bevels are even at 15 degrees or thereabouts. The handle is a combination of silver G10 and black carbon fibre making it an attractive package. The scales are attached with 4 or 8 (dependant how you look at it) TX screws and it has the obligatory thong hole. A finger groove gives the handle a comfortable grip. The top of the blade is grooved for 1-1/4 to provide a thumb grip which is not uncomfortable or sharp.
The leather pouch sheath, spurned by many, has a large belt loop and the sheath holds the knife securely and the sheath rides comfortably on the belt. I prefer leather but I could see that a Kydex sheath would be good for pocket, belt and neck carry.
Out of the box the blade just cut through a ¾ by 3/16 leather strip 1/8 from the end but could only cut half way through 6 from the end. The blade cut through ¾ of a 3/8 manila rope before slipping. On cardboard it sliced and pushed well ½ from the end but at about 2 in it started to stick. This is a thick blade for its size. It did sharpen a ½ hardwood dowel but needed some force and wasnt cutting cleanly towards the end. In the kitchen despite its size it sliced a small overripe tomato but only managed to get through ½ a fresh carrot at the top end before splitting. It passed the chicken test deboning a leg and thigh but baulking a bit at the sinews and then it sliced the meat into cubes.
After 20 strokes on the coarse rods of the Sharpmaker it was put to work on leather, rope, cardboard and dowels for more extensive tests. Briefly the results were as follows:
1. Leather it cut cleanly at all stages including 6 from the end;
2. Rope was a different matter the short blade had trouble with the 3/8 manila (or maybe I did) so I put it to work on ¼ strands which it cut well.
3. Cardboard an improved performance and cut well although it still hung up on push cuts on wider pieces. The edge has an aggressive finish and a polished edge may have done better; and
4. Dowel it worked well repeatedly cutting points.
At this stage the blade would no longer shave arm hair but it only took 10 strokes on the coarse rods to bring it back.
I havent had much of an opportunity to test the Activator in the field. In the shop it worked well opening cartons and cutting nylon straps etc. As I havent come across any roadkills it hasnt been tested on game but if I were to use it on rabbits, hares and foxes I think I would put a finer point on the blade. The Activator proved adept at carving and whittling including spoons the point is not fine but sharp and stout and proved excellent for whittling out the hollow of the spoons. In the bush it easily carved symbols in the bark of grey box eucalypts and stripping fallen branches of the bark.
In conclusion this is no scalpel like small blade but a stout little knife that should take plenty of punishment. The S30V held its edge well and it was easy to bring back to par. One could be tempted to reprofile the edge but this could work against the robustness of the knife. The ergonomics of the knife are good, feels good in the hand despite its small size. I didnt come across any hot spots but the knife could prove slippery in wet conditions. I dont see this knife has having any SD or survival uses. One word of warning this review may contain some bias in that I have small hands and I would definitely recommend getting a feel of the knife before buying.
Such a knife is not everyones cup of tea it could be suggested that the blade should have been hollow ground to give it better slicing ability and finer point. A more textured finish of the handle would be better in slippery conditions. It is also fair to say that a Kydex sheath option would give it more flexibility. The other complaint I had is that it was loose in the box and the handle received a blue stain from rubbing against the box. It could have been presented in one of those nice little bags the folders come in.
For me the Activator is going in the fixed blade rotation and I will carry it with a large folder like the Paramilitary.
