Nathan the Machinist
KnifeMaker / Machinist / Evil Genius
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Feb 13, 2007
- Messages
- 17,601
It was recently asked if it would be prudent to baton with a DEK1 and Lorien pointed out it wasn't really designed for that and he might not recommend it.
I have the benefit of a lot of first hand experience in destructive testing all kinds of knives, and Delta 3V in particular, and my perspective is that although it isn't designed for batoning it will tolerate it. You're going to have a really hard time breaking this knife. Also, a swiss army knife will tolerate a little batoning. But it will be more prone to damage than a Field Knife.
But, like Lorien stated, a Field Knife would be a better choice for wood prep for a knife of that size. The DEK1 is .160" blade thickness vs .188. The primary grinds are nearly 10% narrower. It is thinner behind the edge. It has a skinnier thinner point. It is a little more slicy. Not huge differences, but they're there.
And just as important as the blade is the handle. The DEK1 is designed for compact carry (minimal handle size) and a reverse grip. It has specific geometry to key into the interior shape of the inside of your hand in specific grips. The handle is really quite brilliant and needs to be experienced to fully appreciate. This helps it lock in and not slide if you're stabbing something in either a saber or a reverse grip. Saber = held tip up, edge out with the grip across the palm at an angle to project reach. Reverse grip (ice pick grip) = held tip down, edge out with the grip 90 degrees to the arm with the thumb over the butt <--- commonly used in contemporary knife fighting which can resemble grappling.
The Field Knife is not a weapon and does not incorporate a reverse grip. But it does have a larger and longer grip and it accommodates a three finger grip where the butt is in the center of the hollow of your palm (such as when batoning). This handle accommodates a wider range of hand sizes and numerous hand grips used when cutting with a knife as a tool in bushcraft and other extended detailed cutting exercises. You can exert many times more rotational force with this handle than you can a handle designed as stabbing weapon like the DEK1. If you put them in your hand and hold the handle like you would for batoning and try twisting them in your hand the difference is clear.
So, not only does the Field Knife have a somewhat more substantial blade, the handle will resist the rotation and tendency to steer and torque the bevels that leads to bent primary grinds and bevel blowouts.
TL;DR you can baton with either. But less care and skill is required with the Field Knife because the blade is somewhat more robust and the handle is designed to give the user a lot of rotational control which helps protect the blade from damage.
Now, all of that said, there is a lot of overlap here. They're similar size and are made of the same steel with relatively similar geometry and are both intended to be carried as a general purpose cutting tool. The Field Knife makes no concessions for concealability nor does it try to be a weapon but you could certainly conceal it and any knife can be a weapon. And, like the Field Knife, the DEK1 is a very durable high performance cutting tool and it could be used for bush craft, but you'll be able to use the Field knife for more extended cutting chores before your hand and arm gets tired.
I would carry the Field Knife camping. Unless I wanted it to serve self defense. And I would carry the DEK1 as an EDC while mowing the grass in case I get attacked an insane dog attack (this actually happened to someone here on our forum and is why we Deked out an EDC) unless I planned to build a shelter with it afterwards.
They're both outstanding general purpose cutting tools. Choose the DEK1 if you're looking for a more concealable EDC package that doubles as a weapon, and choose the Field Knife if you're going to be cutting a lot of stuff with it all the time like a tradesmen or someone in the woods a lot.
I hope this helps muddy the waters some.
I have the benefit of a lot of first hand experience in destructive testing all kinds of knives, and Delta 3V in particular, and my perspective is that although it isn't designed for batoning it will tolerate it. You're going to have a really hard time breaking this knife. Also, a swiss army knife will tolerate a little batoning. But it will be more prone to damage than a Field Knife.
But, like Lorien stated, a Field Knife would be a better choice for wood prep for a knife of that size. The DEK1 is .160" blade thickness vs .188. The primary grinds are nearly 10% narrower. It is thinner behind the edge. It has a skinnier thinner point. It is a little more slicy. Not huge differences, but they're there.
And just as important as the blade is the handle. The DEK1 is designed for compact carry (minimal handle size) and a reverse grip. It has specific geometry to key into the interior shape of the inside of your hand in specific grips. The handle is really quite brilliant and needs to be experienced to fully appreciate. This helps it lock in and not slide if you're stabbing something in either a saber or a reverse grip. Saber = held tip up, edge out with the grip across the palm at an angle to project reach. Reverse grip (ice pick grip) = held tip down, edge out with the grip 90 degrees to the arm with the thumb over the butt <--- commonly used in contemporary knife fighting which can resemble grappling.
The Field Knife is not a weapon and does not incorporate a reverse grip. But it does have a larger and longer grip and it accommodates a three finger grip where the butt is in the center of the hollow of your palm (such as when batoning). This handle accommodates a wider range of hand sizes and numerous hand grips used when cutting with a knife as a tool in bushcraft and other extended detailed cutting exercises. You can exert many times more rotational force with this handle than you can a handle designed as stabbing weapon like the DEK1. If you put them in your hand and hold the handle like you would for batoning and try twisting them in your hand the difference is clear.
So, not only does the Field Knife have a somewhat more substantial blade, the handle will resist the rotation and tendency to steer and torque the bevels that leads to bent primary grinds and bevel blowouts.
TL;DR you can baton with either. But less care and skill is required with the Field Knife because the blade is somewhat more robust and the handle is designed to give the user a lot of rotational control which helps protect the blade from damage.
Now, all of that said, there is a lot of overlap here. They're similar size and are made of the same steel with relatively similar geometry and are both intended to be carried as a general purpose cutting tool. The Field Knife makes no concessions for concealability nor does it try to be a weapon but you could certainly conceal it and any knife can be a weapon. And, like the Field Knife, the DEK1 is a very durable high performance cutting tool and it could be used for bush craft, but you'll be able to use the Field knife for more extended cutting chores before your hand and arm gets tired.
I would carry the Field Knife camping. Unless I wanted it to serve self defense. And I would carry the DEK1 as an EDC while mowing the grass in case I get attacked an insane dog attack (this actually happened to someone here on our forum and is why we Deked out an EDC) unless I planned to build a shelter with it afterwards.
They're both outstanding general purpose cutting tools. Choose the DEK1 if you're looking for a more concealable EDC package that doubles as a weapon, and choose the Field Knife if you're going to be cutting a lot of stuff with it all the time like a tradesmen or someone in the woods a lot.
I hope this helps muddy the waters some.
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). I walk late at night, and only one time were the coyotes even somewhat close (it was too dark to see them, but I could hear they were much closer than usual).
