Choosing lockbacks

H

HFinn

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Sep 6, 2012
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I am looking at several lockbacks and can't make up my mind. The first one should be a workmanlike knife that I would not feel bad about using even harshly. The strongest choise would be EKA Swede 10 with wood handle, a Swedish lockback knife with scandi grind. It's quite inexpensive and from what I have read has a good reputation.

The other one is more difficult. I have been looking at several Boker lockbacks and my choises would either Boker Fellow or W.C Davis hunter 2. Boker 3000 stag handle is also an option, I would like the knife to have a flat grind. Any opinions of these knives?
 
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Those are all pretty beefy knives. All are modern variations of folding hunters... some more modern than others. Of the ones that you've mentioned, the Boker Fellow is the most appealing to me. It is sort of a gentleman version of the Buck 110. The Buck 110 was a modern reinterpretation of the old folding hunter pattern. It is overbuilt but not too bulky.

What about these knives interests you? You mention "inexpensive", "reputation", and "flat grind". And all of them lock. Do you have an Opinel? At $10 shipped with a leather sheath, it is inexpensive. So you wouldn't "feel bad about using even harshly". It locks and has a flat grind. Great well deserved reputation.
 
I have Opinels. All of them turn bulky and round, chubby, when the locking ring is in place. I like them without ring, as friction folders. Please, lets leave it at that.

I'm after a lockback. It can be more or less traditional. I like the lines of Davis, but the Fellow is slimmer and pretty.
 
I agree that the Boker Fellow sure makes a fine gentleman style lock back to carry....I happen to use the Moki Blakiston to fit both rolls...and of coarse course oldtymer has another great idea of looking at the different offerings from Buck , particularly the 500 series ...even the 110 lite would feel a workman style
 
Antonini Old Bear. The lock ring runs inside the bolster. The handle is slightly flatter on the sides than an Opinel, and the pommel is not as flared.

Mercator, either the original painted steel Black Cat, or in brass, copper or stainless handles, from Otter Messer. This knife is nearly 8”overall, with 3 1/2” inches of flat-ground spear point, yet it disappears in the pocket due to the slim, flat construction.

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You specifically asked for opinions in your post. Lucky for you, I have plenty.

I don't have a Swede 10, but I have a Swede 8 that I bought about a year ago. It's a good knife for the price, but I'm not exactly chuffed about it. It locks up solid and fits my hand well and it's light enough for pocket carry, which is good as the sheath doesn't hold the knife securely. It doesn't have a true Scandi grind, but rather a sabre grind that is thicker than I like. I thinned the bevel to close to a Scandi grind and I use it for work some, but I have many other knives that I would put in my pocket for the day before it.
 
Just noticed from Stefan Schalmaus's youtube channel that Eka Swede has hollow grind. Well, this kills my interest. There are more expensive but better knives available (Helle) that are more interesting. Or is there an Eka with scandi grind?
 
How about Enzo borka? Not exactly traditional but should make a work horse for sure and it has scandi grind (and full flat).
 
A low-cost, built-like-a-tank alternative could be the Klein 44034. I think they're in the $35-40 range, Japanese made (I'm fairly certain they're still made in Japan, anyways), FFG, no nonsense. I have my dad's old 44034, and my father-in-law carries the smaller 44032. No problems at all. I believe I read that the steel is either AUS-6 or AUS-8.
 
Schmalhaus's videos are several years old. The Swede 8 that I have is different that what he reviewed, so they must have been updated.
 
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