- Joined
- May 25, 2011
- Messages
- 854
Ive carried a knife since I can remember; dating back to my early childhood years, knives were valued tools that typically saw use multiple times everyday. Growing up on a farm, my knives saw a variety of use and were frequently employed for endeavors somewhat outside the norm.
As is the case with most farm kids of my day, I had two constant companions with me at all times: my knife and my pliers. Both were essential tools in our line of work and both were purchased with careful contemplation. There was a difference in the two though: my pliers were always strictly utilitarian, with no thought of aesthetic pleasantry considered.
Knives were different for me. Not only did they need to be capable of the tasks assigned; they had to be pleasing to the eye and comfortable in the hand. Back then I never paid much attention to the type of steel used or the handle material: I simply made my choice on a visual preference and past experiences with different styles.
In a way I havent changed much since those years long ago: I still place a great deal of value on how a knife looks and my past experiences with a particular style. I do pay more attention to the steel used nowadays, but even that must take a back seat to the overall visual appeal of any knife I am considering for purchase.
For whatever reasons, I vastly prefer traditional styles: those tools that are built with function as a design purpose, yet retaining a simplistic beauty that speaks volumes about the knifes character and general usefulness.
It is that rugged beauty and purpose of design that first drew me to JK handmade knives. Of course John makes his knives with the end-user in mind; they are intended to be used and built to withstand all but the most extreme abuse. But John goes further than mere useful tools: blending form and function to create timeless beauty that accompanies a lifetime of use.
Camp & Trail
9.25 inches OAL
4.5 X 1.25 Blade
1/8 inch 01 steel
Tan canvas micarta handle, with aluminum pins and stainless lanyard tube
I knew Id love this knife, just on the basis of the pictures John had posted. It offered everything I demand in a knife and the price let me scratch that itch.
First Impressions:
My expectations were quite high and Im happy to note the fact that this knife surpassed even my lofty expectations. It came razor sharp with a rustic form-fitted sheath (almost a must for me). The grind lines are even, there are no gaps and the handle is a joy to hold.
Performance:
Ive used the knife for roughly 1 month now; mostly for those daily cutting jobs and general duty around my property. I do strop the knife at the end of each day, but I suspect that doing so isnt really necessary.
I have used the knife in several methods which are somewhat out of the ordinary (for me) but perfectly in keeping with the normal intent of many members here.
For no particular reason I decided to try boring a hole (in a dry stick) the knife worked magnificently (much better than I expected) in this task and I was rather surprised by how efficient this method is.
Thanks to a cordage contest (elsewhere on Bladeforums) I decided to try my hand at making cordage (something completely new for me). While I failed miserably, the knife was more than adequate for stripping bark and slicing it into usable strips. I really should learn how to weave its a skill that would certainly come in handy.
I made a similar cordage attempt with a type of Yucca plant cutting the leaves and slicing them into appropriate widths. While not a task that requires much, the knife sailed through this effort as well. (I, of course, failed again).
I also made some feather sticks again, not a normal task for me which was easily accomplished (using some dry oak). I do tend to carve wood quite often though, and this knife easily passes that test.
The Camp & Trail knife did see extensive use in cleaning up the dead (and dying) flowers in my wifes garden and it saw duty in trimming the sucker branches off of the trees in our yard. It excelled in both tasks and was comfortable over several hours of use.
Conclusion:
I highly recommend this knife: it is solidly built, holds a terrific edge and best of all .. provides a tremendous bang for the buck. I love the way the handle feels in my hand and in holding with my lifelong love of simplistic beauty find this knife to be the very definition of beauty derived from the combination of form and function.
Is it the perfect knife?
Maybe not, but its darn close.
Camp & Trail HD
8 & 3/8 inches OAL
4 inch X 1.25 inch blade
3/16 inch 01 steel
Yellow G10 handles with black liners, aluminum pins and stainless lanyard tube
First Impressions:
I almost didnt purchase this knife; in fact I bought it only because I thought the price was too good to pass up. I didnt think Id like this knife because of the width of the steel (I prefer thin, slicing knives) and the yellow handles.
I wasnt expecting much other than dissatisfaction and an instant reminder not to buy things simply because the price seemed too good to pass up.
Boy was I wrong!
This knife is amazing. The heft is reassuringly solid yet perfectly enjoyable and the blade length is right where I like it. The package just works in a way that I simply cannot adequately explain.
The fit and finish is incredible: no gaps, even blade grind and the whole package just works.
However, I did have (initially) one area of some concern: the grind almost seemed to be somewhat of a serration and the knife didnt slice paper quite as cleanly as the regular Camp & Trail (above) did out of the box. I didnt question John about it, because I didnt want to jump to conclusions.
Im still not sure how the serrations came to be you can see them in some of the included pictures but have no concerns whatsoever (now) about them. This knife cuts like a laser. Seriously I was shocked at how well this knife cuts.
Performance:
I used the heavy duty Camp & Trail in the same manner that I used the regular Camp & Trail. I cant really say one knife out performed the other, but I can say that I was completely wrong about my illogical bias against thicker bladed knives. In fact Im still amazed that the heavy duty knife was able to cut with the same efficiency that the regular Camp & Trial did.
This knife is built like the proverbial brick err . Outhouse.
Its solid; really, really, really solid.
If I absolutely, positively had to trust my life to a knife that I knew wouldnt break no matter what I threw at it this is the knife Id trust. If I could have only one knife, it would be this knife.
Conclusion:
Why are you still reading?
You should be begging John to make you a knife like this one. Seriously its that good.
I cant explain it this package just works to perfection.
Heck, I even like the yellow handles (they really show up against the greens and browns in the woods on my property).
You can find Johns forum here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/830-JK-Handmade-Knives
You can find Johns website here: http://jkhandmadeknives.com/
As is the case with most farm kids of my day, I had two constant companions with me at all times: my knife and my pliers. Both were essential tools in our line of work and both were purchased with careful contemplation. There was a difference in the two though: my pliers were always strictly utilitarian, with no thought of aesthetic pleasantry considered.
Knives were different for me. Not only did they need to be capable of the tasks assigned; they had to be pleasing to the eye and comfortable in the hand. Back then I never paid much attention to the type of steel used or the handle material: I simply made my choice on a visual preference and past experiences with different styles.
In a way I havent changed much since those years long ago: I still place a great deal of value on how a knife looks and my past experiences with a particular style. I do pay more attention to the steel used nowadays, but even that must take a back seat to the overall visual appeal of any knife I am considering for purchase.
For whatever reasons, I vastly prefer traditional styles: those tools that are built with function as a design purpose, yet retaining a simplistic beauty that speaks volumes about the knifes character and general usefulness.
It is that rugged beauty and purpose of design that first drew me to JK handmade knives. Of course John makes his knives with the end-user in mind; they are intended to be used and built to withstand all but the most extreme abuse. But John goes further than mere useful tools: blending form and function to create timeless beauty that accompanies a lifetime of use.
Camp & Trail
9.25 inches OAL
4.5 X 1.25 Blade
1/8 inch 01 steel
Tan canvas micarta handle, with aluminum pins and stainless lanyard tube
I knew Id love this knife, just on the basis of the pictures John had posted. It offered everything I demand in a knife and the price let me scratch that itch.
First Impressions:
My expectations were quite high and Im happy to note the fact that this knife surpassed even my lofty expectations. It came razor sharp with a rustic form-fitted sheath (almost a must for me). The grind lines are even, there are no gaps and the handle is a joy to hold.
Performance:
Ive used the knife for roughly 1 month now; mostly for those daily cutting jobs and general duty around my property. I do strop the knife at the end of each day, but I suspect that doing so isnt really necessary.
I have used the knife in several methods which are somewhat out of the ordinary (for me) but perfectly in keeping with the normal intent of many members here.
For no particular reason I decided to try boring a hole (in a dry stick) the knife worked magnificently (much better than I expected) in this task and I was rather surprised by how efficient this method is.
Thanks to a cordage contest (elsewhere on Bladeforums) I decided to try my hand at making cordage (something completely new for me). While I failed miserably, the knife was more than adequate for stripping bark and slicing it into usable strips. I really should learn how to weave its a skill that would certainly come in handy.
I made a similar cordage attempt with a type of Yucca plant cutting the leaves and slicing them into appropriate widths. While not a task that requires much, the knife sailed through this effort as well. (I, of course, failed again).
I also made some feather sticks again, not a normal task for me which was easily accomplished (using some dry oak). I do tend to carve wood quite often though, and this knife easily passes that test.
The Camp & Trail knife did see extensive use in cleaning up the dead (and dying) flowers in my wifes garden and it saw duty in trimming the sucker branches off of the trees in our yard. It excelled in both tasks and was comfortable over several hours of use.
Conclusion:
I highly recommend this knife: it is solidly built, holds a terrific edge and best of all .. provides a tremendous bang for the buck. I love the way the handle feels in my hand and in holding with my lifelong love of simplistic beauty find this knife to be the very definition of beauty derived from the combination of form and function.
Is it the perfect knife?
Maybe not, but its darn close.
Camp & Trail HD
8 & 3/8 inches OAL
4 inch X 1.25 inch blade
3/16 inch 01 steel
Yellow G10 handles with black liners, aluminum pins and stainless lanyard tube
First Impressions:
I almost didnt purchase this knife; in fact I bought it only because I thought the price was too good to pass up. I didnt think Id like this knife because of the width of the steel (I prefer thin, slicing knives) and the yellow handles.
I wasnt expecting much other than dissatisfaction and an instant reminder not to buy things simply because the price seemed too good to pass up.
Boy was I wrong!
This knife is amazing. The heft is reassuringly solid yet perfectly enjoyable and the blade length is right where I like it. The package just works in a way that I simply cannot adequately explain.
The fit and finish is incredible: no gaps, even blade grind and the whole package just works.
However, I did have (initially) one area of some concern: the grind almost seemed to be somewhat of a serration and the knife didnt slice paper quite as cleanly as the regular Camp & Trail (above) did out of the box. I didnt question John about it, because I didnt want to jump to conclusions.
Im still not sure how the serrations came to be you can see them in some of the included pictures but have no concerns whatsoever (now) about them. This knife cuts like a laser. Seriously I was shocked at how well this knife cuts.
Performance:
I used the heavy duty Camp & Trail in the same manner that I used the regular Camp & Trail. I cant really say one knife out performed the other, but I can say that I was completely wrong about my illogical bias against thicker bladed knives. In fact Im still amazed that the heavy duty knife was able to cut with the same efficiency that the regular Camp & Trial did.
This knife is built like the proverbial brick err . Outhouse.
Its solid; really, really, really solid.
If I absolutely, positively had to trust my life to a knife that I knew wouldnt break no matter what I threw at it this is the knife Id trust. If I could have only one knife, it would be this knife.
Conclusion:
Why are you still reading?
You should be begging John to make you a knife like this one. Seriously its that good.
I cant explain it this package just works to perfection.
Heck, I even like the yellow handles (they really show up against the greens and browns in the woods on my property).
You can find Johns forum here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/830-JK-Handmade-Knives
You can find Johns website here: http://jkhandmadeknives.com/
