Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
Lately becoming interested again in folding knives for heavier work I picked up three medium Voyagers. I intended to just examine the lock, but after carrying one as an EDC for a few days, I came to appreciate its usefullness enough to round out a decent quick review.
It was used for various wood work, food prep in the kitchen, gardening, and just odds and ends during daily work, hobbies and recreation. Overall it is a decent folder, but the serration pattern really hinders it as the small teeth are very rough, and bind and catch readily. A SpyderEdge is much preferred, which is also more durable and easier to sharpen. A Spyderco lightweight would in general be directly preferable.
The voyager was later used for heavier work (light metals such as a pop can, tv cable, etc. ) which readily damaged the edge, then the lock and blade were overstressed. While disappointed by how readily the serrations were damaged, the lock was fairly secure, and had to be basically broken in order to release, though was not overly strong.
While not capable of extended batoning, or reverse grip impacts in general as they rapidly induced blade play, the work does point towards a basis in such functionality if the knife had a thicker and/or stronger blade steel, and a more durable handle material.
I have two more of the same knife which I plan to use to repeat the heavier work to get a more precise estimate of the break points. I also have a large Voyager which I will break later on as well after more use (fall sometime I would expect).
Ref :
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/voyager_medium.html
-Cliff
It was used for various wood work, food prep in the kitchen, gardening, and just odds and ends during daily work, hobbies and recreation. Overall it is a decent folder, but the serration pattern really hinders it as the small teeth are very rough, and bind and catch readily. A SpyderEdge is much preferred, which is also more durable and easier to sharpen. A Spyderco lightweight would in general be directly preferable.
The voyager was later used for heavier work (light metals such as a pop can, tv cable, etc. ) which readily damaged the edge, then the lock and blade were overstressed. While disappointed by how readily the serrations were damaged, the lock was fairly secure, and had to be basically broken in order to release, though was not overly strong.
While not capable of extended batoning, or reverse grip impacts in general as they rapidly induced blade play, the work does point towards a basis in such functionality if the knife had a thicker and/or stronger blade steel, and a more durable handle material.
I have two more of the same knife which I plan to use to repeat the heavier work to get a more precise estimate of the break points. I also have a large Voyager which I will break later on as well after more use (fall sometime I would expect).
Ref :
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/voyager_medium.html
-Cliff