- Joined
- Dec 29, 2008
- Messages
- 1,647
I ordered my first Bushcraft type knife from Battle Creek Knives and it arrived yesterday. Robert Carpenter had quite a big online sale here on BF and I got the #6 knife. It's a 1/8 O1 low convex saber grind with a nice full handle made of Natural Burlap/G10/Micarta. It's a "pure" Bushcrafter but due to a positive angle between the handle and the blade it is also suitsble for "kitchen tasks" which I like. It makes it more an all around knife. The blade is 4 inches, tip to handle a bit more but the ricasso is nice and small which I prefer, gives me control and "power" close to my hand. The tip is not quite along the midline of the knife due to the grind and the above mentioned positive angle but still ok. I need a handle lenght of at least 4 inches for my hands, not much shorter or longer since it gives me nice control over the butt that I need for drilling.
So, I have not used the knife yet so limited info about perormance which I will post shortly. But - I am impressed !!! The handles are nice and big and round and comfortable, nice round butt which is important. Comfortable in any grip. No issue here. The knife feels quite light!
The grind gentleman was flawless - at least for me as a non-knifemaker. It is a saber convex, starting about midblade, and it has no!! secondary edge !! I love that, easy to strop/maintain. You can easily change the final angle too if you need a stronger edge for harder wood. Perfect grind at the plunge, no flat portion or slight recurve at the edge at all. It has a slight convex but since it begins midblade, it is sure strong enough despite 1/8 blade thickness. I think even a high convex saber grind would be ok since the blade height is only a hair more than 1 inch. The edge was shaving and cutting TB paper, no sign of a burr. Robert's finish on the flats reminds me of Fiddleback forge 3D spalted O1. Looks beautiful. Oh, and, I almost forgot, nice leather scabbard included!
Here you go:
In summary before use: I am impressed, I have had quite a few custom and higher quality production knives, mostly bushcraft styles, but this one is high up there in regards to fit and finish. I don't know details about the heat treat of the O1, hardness etc. but I will sure find out soon. This is not the last knife from BCK!!
So, I have not used the knife yet so limited info about perormance which I will post shortly. But - I am impressed !!! The handles are nice and big and round and comfortable, nice round butt which is important. Comfortable in any grip. No issue here. The knife feels quite light!
The grind gentleman was flawless - at least for me as a non-knifemaker. It is a saber convex, starting about midblade, and it has no!! secondary edge !! I love that, easy to strop/maintain. You can easily change the final angle too if you need a stronger edge for harder wood. Perfect grind at the plunge, no flat portion or slight recurve at the edge at all. It has a slight convex but since it begins midblade, it is sure strong enough despite 1/8 blade thickness. I think even a high convex saber grind would be ok since the blade height is only a hair more than 1 inch. The edge was shaving and cutting TB paper, no sign of a burr. Robert's finish on the flats reminds me of Fiddleback forge 3D spalted O1. Looks beautiful. Oh, and, I almost forgot, nice leather scabbard included!
Here you go:
In summary before use: I am impressed, I have had quite a few custom and higher quality production knives, mostly bushcraft styles, but this one is high up there in regards to fit and finish. I don't know details about the heat treat of the O1, hardness etc. but I will sure find out soon. This is not the last knife from BCK!!