Crk&t - f.t.w.s

[Mistwalker]

When I was looking over the CRK&T website the last time I was there I saw an interesting knife designed by Allen Elishewitz that caught my eye. In looking over the specs noticed some initials that quickly caught my eye too, SK5. With my having heard of Mr. Elishewitz's back ground in a Marine recon unit I was curious to see how the knife handled. I do have a preference for 6"- 6.5" blades and a major fondness for SK5 steel too from a few knives I have had in the past. The CRK&T website says that since Allen designed the knife "For Those Who Serve" they are calling the knife the F.T.W.S.

The knife comes in a tactical cordura sheath with a utility pouch on the front. It has a blade length of 6.3" (16cm), and an over-all of 11.6" (29cm). The steel is SK5 hardened to 57-58 HRC .

It has an integral guard and swell to protect the hand on plunge cuts. It also has finger grooves and heavily textured zytel handle scales for a good grip even in less than perfect conditions. It has a lanyard hole in the bird beak pommel.

The F.T.W.S. also has something seldom seen on factory made production knives, a taper ground tang which adds to the knife's excellent balance.The balance point is pretty much right where the blade meets the handle

While personally I do tend to prefer the handle scales to be flush or close to flush with the tang...I do understand that for the purpose this knife was designed this could be a better option. In rough use any place on the edge of the handle can be struck or used to strike without much worry or damaging the scales. The handle itself does have a great shape, really comfortable in different grips.

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[Mistwalker]

The shape of the handle lends itself well to a rearward grip for more chopping power in a knife not really designed to have a primary role as a chopper, and it is till comfortable on the palm in doing so.

It has a small, choil-like un-sharpened area immediately in front of the guard to hook an index finger around to aid in extrication.

The primary edge is really sharp, and choking up on the handle using the small choil I was able to get some nice curls from some seasoned dead pine.

It isn't "double edged" in the traditional sense of a double edged knife but it does have a secondary edge on the spine. The secondary edge is more steeply ground than the primary edge for taking some rough use, but it is still very sharp and works well for scraping up tinder and sparking fire steels.

The secondary edge stops shy of the point to leave a strong durable tip for penetration. It suffered no ill effects at all from repeated stabbing into a hard, treated, yellow pine plank and prying out hunks of wood.

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[Mistwalker]

That strong tip also makes a good solid target for batoning.

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[untamed]

Allen Elishewitz really has his own distinct style and no doubt shaped by his Force Recon Marine background.

It easily resembles the designs he did for Blackhawk and another from another knife company I can't recall right now (Paul Markel I think did review on them many years ago at TK)

 

[idaho]

Good review, nice blade.

I just don't like the upper sharpened edge. In my opinion it is just dangerous. Dagger is a dagger, plain and simple, and here we have drop point blade with sharp back. Maybe the owner will remember about that, but give this knife to friend or stranger and it can end up with cuts or wounds.

 

[Mistwalker]

Allen Elishewitz really has his own distinct style and no doubt shaped by his Force Recon Marine background.

It easily resembles the designs he did for Blackhawk and another from another knife company I can't recall right now (Paul Markel I think did review on them many years ago at TK)

Allen definitely has some specific factors he draws on, no doubt influenced by his time in recon. I see the resemblance to the Night Edge though I never owned one. I did carry a B.M. Nimravus for a while and it was a big influence on my own thoughts and feelings in designs of small utility/defensive knives.

Good review, nice blade.

I just don't like the upper sharpened edge. In my opinion it is just dangerous. Dagger is a dagger, plain and simple, and here we have drop point blade with sharp back. Maybe the owner will remember about that, but give this knife to friend or stranger and it can end up with cuts or wounds.

Thanks. A lot of people don't care for double edged knives. I personally like having a secondary edge on a knife such as a sharpened clip, but I also prefer to have a spot to place my thumb for push-cuts. However my own influences are more utilitarian...more bushcraft and survival related... and less combative

 

[Tostig]

Excellent review and pics Mistwalker.

That is a fine looking knife, too bad a lot of folks will immediately dismiss it just because it is made by CRKT , oh well their loss eh ?

It does look like its primary role would be defense/offense but could easily be used as a general use camp knife as well , I too am not totally sure about the sharpened top.. but I could see situations where it would be useful.

At any rate , once again a great review

Tostig

 

[Mistwalker]

Excellent review and pics Mistwalker.

That is a fine looking knife, too bad a lot of folks will immediately dismiss it just because it is made by CRKT , oh well their loss eh ?

It does look like its primary role would be defense/offense but could easily be used as a general use camp knife as well , I too am not totally sure about the sharpened top.. but I could see situations where it would be useful.

At any rate , once again a great review

Tostig

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures and the review.

I know some will dismiss it for a number reasons as always...no knife pleases everyone. Personally it definitely would not be my choice for a hunting/bushcraft knife... but I wouldn't mind having it along on a field of battle.

 

[untamed]

It easily resembles the designs he did for Blackhawk and another from another knife company I can't recall right now (Paul Markel I think did review on them many years ago at TK)

Ah, finally remembered it! Hope I don't jack this thread (pardon me MW )

The Lightning Strike Model from a company called Byron Knives some years back. As you can see, the Elishewitz's signature is unmistakable and very similar with our current model.

http://www.belisimo.com/proddetail.asp?prod=BYR-115

FWIW too, as well as a damn good read from a "real deal" source, here are his pragmatic thoughts about what a "Combat Knife" should be. I read this many years ago and thought I'd share -

http://www.knifeart.com/combyalel.html

 

[Mistwalker]

No worries man, I really like the look and size of that lightning strike thanks! I may have to see if I can find one of those. I'd like to have one made of SK5...but that steel isn't bad for the knife.

Thanks, an interesting read...we share a lot of common thoughts :thumbup:

 

[TheGame]

Hmm. Missed a review by you

Great review, as usual. I like how the end is left for a baton. The back portion also is interesting, great for when you don't want to ruin the primary edge.

 

[Mistwalker]

Hmm. Missed a review by you

Great review, as usual. I like how the end is left for a baton. The back portion also is interesting, great for when you don't want to ruin the primary edge.

Yeah, I've been told not to put reviews in W&SS anymore so they are all over here.

Thanks, while the knife is obviously designed with combat in mind it definitely has some nice attributes for survival applications.

 

[j man]

Hi . I think Eickhorn some thing like that , They make great knifes. called a pointer i think

 

[Mistwalker]

Hi . I think Eickhorn some thing like that , They make great knifes. called a pointer i think

Yeah, I've seen a couple of Eickhorns I'd like to play with. I haven't see one quite like this yet though.

 

[knarfeng]

You always find interesting knives to write about.

Now I'm a Soutwesterner and never had to baton to find dry wood (Around here, the trick is to find wood at all. IF you find any, it will be dry.) But folks around BF tend to set store by whether they can baton a knife. How do you baton with that back bevel?

SK5 either is or is close to 1085.

 

[DennisStrickland]

mist love your reviews with all the great pics. as much time as you spend in the boonies i wonder how you keep your hands so clean?

 

[foxtrot2058]

mistwalker, I enjoyed your review and excellent photos on the F.T.W.S.

I totally agree with your statement about the F.T.W.S.:
... while the knife is obviously designed with combat in mind it definitely has some nice attributes for survival applications."

Allen was my team leader in recon 20 years ago and his design of perhaps the first custom knives in our recon unit definitely had that concept in mind.
We were issued the kabar. They were ugly and heavy. Most were not even straight (these were not Ka-Bar made.) They did not have a lanyard hole which was crucial. The leather sheaths were of poor quality. Great knife for a grunt but not up to light bushcraft, survival, and fighting requirements that we needed.

So Allen got permission and interest to make a run of about 10 knifes if I recall. They were smaller, sleeker, and not much different from what you see in his earlier fixed blade designs and the F.T.W.S.

 

[Mistwalker]

mist love your reviews with all the great pics. as much time as you spend in the boonies i wonder how you keep your hands so clean?

Thanks Dennis, glad you enjoyed it.

Organic dirt cleans up easily...it was the synthetic stuff I ran into in the construction industry and metal working industry that was hard to clean up

mistwalker, I enjoyed your review and excellent photos on the F.T.W.S.

I totally agree with your statement about the F.T.W.S.:
... while the knife is obviously designed with combat in mind it definitely has some nice attributes for survival applications."

Allen was my team leader in recon 20 years ago and his design of perhaps the first custom knives in our recon unit definitely had that concept in mind.
We were issued the kabar. They were ugly and heavy. Most were not even straight (these were not Ka-Bar made.) They did not have a lanyard hole which was crucial. The leather sheaths were of poor quality. Great knife for a grunt but not up to light bushcraft, survival, and fighting requirements that we needed.

So Allen got permission and interest to make a run of about 10 knifes if I recall. They were smaller, sleeker, and not much different from what you see in his earlier fixed blade designs and the F.T.W.S.

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it and that you for that input. Allen definitely has a clear picture of how he feels a good combat field knife should be made and puts together some very nice, very functional designs.

 

[lagarto]

MistWalker,

Awesome pics and review. I myself picked one of these up at my local B&M a couple months back and personally I think it is one of the best knives CRKT has ever put out. I agree with everything you mentioned in your review and would also add that it makes a great kitchen knife. I've used it to cut, peel, and de-core apples as well as cut up chicken for bbq-ing and shish-kebobs and the knife handled both of those chores with aplomb. As mentioned, I have already forgotten about the upper edge once and sliced my thumb pretty deeply, but fortunately it was a clean cut and healed quickly. This is one of the few drawbacks of the knife. In CRKT and Allen's defense though, the sharpened back does make an excellent draw knife and chopping edge, both chores for which I've tested it. Anyway, just my two cents on an already awesome review. And once again, amazing pics Mistwalker.

Lagarto

 

[fragmatic]

Very late to give compliments but that was really a fine review. I own an Elishwitz F.T.W.S. and it is right up there with my best fighting knives.