- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
- Messages
- 15
I got the EKA Swede 7 folder last week. I thought it looked nice and promising already as pictured on the EKA web site. I also received some photos of this model directly from EKA around November last year. (Before it was available for purchase).
After a very quick try I can only say that I will be carrying this one a lot. As the birch wood on this item is so nice I get the urge to get one more to keep this one unused for the collection. Really silly!
Have a look at the EKA web site for specifications.
An attempt try to state priorities for a choosing a folding knife:
1.) Aesthetics and character
2.) Good feel and ergonomics in my hand
3.) Generality and ease of use in cutting
4.) Stablility and long term durablility
5.) Reliable and precise folding mechanism (but no need for one hand opening etc)
6.) Good (enough) blade steel
7.) Build quality and symmetry
8.) Price
This will probably seem backwards to some of you, but read it like this: number three for example is very important but it will not even be evaluated if not 1.) and 2.) have been passed.
The quick conclusion is that the Swede 7 knife scores very favourably all the way through the list. No innovation, no "tactical", no other gizmos but a solid tool built on proven solutions.
The Swede 7 is a pleasure to hold and use. I have not had the time to do anything useful with it but it seems to perform really well.
Any negatives?
At first the thick end felt awkward or maybe unexpected. I don't know if it is built like that for blade tip protection, for actually making the grip of the little finger stronger or a combination. I got used to it rather quickly. I would prefer a lower price rather than the extra luxury of a high quality leather sheath that I will never use.
I am very partial to EKA knives from more than 45 years of experience
I got my first EKA Swede 45 around 1970 when I was ten. It is still (one of) my favourite knives. I have only been doing knife forum reading and (folding) knife collecting since last summer. Lots of nice discoveries and knowledge to pick up but EKA remains my preference. If I continue the hobby maybe things change...
A comparison to three other EKA folders which each lent features to the new Swede 7.
Nordic T8 The strong full flat grind drop point + the "Nordic" checkered pattern
Swede 7
Swede 38 (45) The classic Evrell legacy model, the screw assembly (although not exactly the same)
Swede 8 The lock + fit and finish of modern machinery
For me this knife beats the T8 and Swede 8 for general use. Still the Swede 38 with the carbon blade is special to me.
I have the information that the handle is modeled after a Torbjörn Evrell prototype from 1969. Would be fun to see the prototype.
The knife is delivered in a simple black cardboard box, a good quality genuine brown leather sheath and a small leaflet stating the 10 year warranty. http://www.eka-knivar.se/en/warranty. I think a sheath for a folding knife is a contradiction to my "folding knife philosophy". I will not carry any folding knife in a sheath. The blade was very sharp. It does not say on the knife or on the box but I presume it is Sandvik 12C27 as the other current EKAs.
A comment on the birch wood. EKA has issued a number of models in curly birch. Don't know when that started. I have also seen Swede 88, Swede 92 with this wood. Traditionlly EKA used bubinga. I think bubinga is probably more durable. I have some marketing brouchures from mid seventies where they state that it is ok to put the bubinga knives in the dish washer if one wants. The fixed blade Nordic knives I have seen are the H8-, A10-, W11- and JoF7 modlels in birch. I just happened to walk passed a bunch of about 25 Nordic H8 birch on sale. (I traded a H8 for a T8 from MartinEden). There was great variation in wood pattern and shine. I picked up the three I liked the best. All of the others were pleasant looking, but I think you need a bit of luck to get one with really rich "personality". I like good wooden handles.
Who would like to see a modernised Swede 38 / Swede 45 model in birch from EKA?
Some more photos (flickr):
I would be very interested to read comments from other users experiences of this knife. There are of course a bunch of nice and interesting knife models in queue to try when budget allows. By birch wood association I have noticed Enzo Birk and Helle Dokka models. Something like a Swede, a Finn and a Norwegian and Bellman! (You need to be Swedish to get the last part).
Where to get it? So far I have only found it via European web shops.
After a very quick try I can only say that I will be carrying this one a lot. As the birch wood on this item is so nice I get the urge to get one more to keep this one unused for the collection. Really silly!
Have a look at the EKA web site for specifications.
An attempt try to state priorities for a choosing a folding knife:
1.) Aesthetics and character
2.) Good feel and ergonomics in my hand
3.) Generality and ease of use in cutting
4.) Stablility and long term durablility
5.) Reliable and precise folding mechanism (but no need for one hand opening etc)
6.) Good (enough) blade steel
7.) Build quality and symmetry
8.) Price
This will probably seem backwards to some of you, but read it like this: number three for example is very important but it will not even be evaluated if not 1.) and 2.) have been passed.
The quick conclusion is that the Swede 7 knife scores very favourably all the way through the list. No innovation, no "tactical", no other gizmos but a solid tool built on proven solutions.
The Swede 7 is a pleasure to hold and use. I have not had the time to do anything useful with it but it seems to perform really well.
Any negatives?
At first the thick end felt awkward or maybe unexpected. I don't know if it is built like that for blade tip protection, for actually making the grip of the little finger stronger or a combination. I got used to it rather quickly. I would prefer a lower price rather than the extra luxury of a high quality leather sheath that I will never use.
I am very partial to EKA knives from more than 45 years of experience
I got my first EKA Swede 45 around 1970 when I was ten. It is still (one of) my favourite knives. I have only been doing knife forum reading and (folding) knife collecting since last summer. Lots of nice discoveries and knowledge to pick up but EKA remains my preference. If I continue the hobby maybe things change...A comparison to three other EKA folders which each lent features to the new Swede 7.
Nordic T8 The strong full flat grind drop point + the "Nordic" checkered pattern
Swede 7
Swede 38 (45) The classic Evrell legacy model, the screw assembly (although not exactly the same)
Swede 8 The lock + fit and finish of modern machinery
For me this knife beats the T8 and Swede 8 for general use. Still the Swede 38 with the carbon blade is special to me.
I have the information that the handle is modeled after a Torbjörn Evrell prototype from 1969. Would be fun to see the prototype.
The knife is delivered in a simple black cardboard box, a good quality genuine brown leather sheath and a small leaflet stating the 10 year warranty. http://www.eka-knivar.se/en/warranty. I think a sheath for a folding knife is a contradiction to my "folding knife philosophy". I will not carry any folding knife in a sheath. The blade was very sharp. It does not say on the knife or on the box but I presume it is Sandvik 12C27 as the other current EKAs.
A comment on the birch wood. EKA has issued a number of models in curly birch. Don't know when that started. I have also seen Swede 88, Swede 92 with this wood. Traditionlly EKA used bubinga. I think bubinga is probably more durable. I have some marketing brouchures from mid seventies where they state that it is ok to put the bubinga knives in the dish washer if one wants. The fixed blade Nordic knives I have seen are the H8-, A10-, W11- and JoF7 modlels in birch. I just happened to walk passed a bunch of about 25 Nordic H8 birch on sale. (I traded a H8 for a T8 from MartinEden). There was great variation in wood pattern and shine. I picked up the three I liked the best. All of the others were pleasant looking, but I think you need a bit of luck to get one with really rich "personality". I like good wooden handles.
Who would like to see a modernised Swede 38 / Swede 45 model in birch from EKA?
Some more photos (flickr):
I would be very interested to read comments from other users experiences of this knife. There are of course a bunch of nice and interesting knife models in queue to try when budget allows. By birch wood association I have noticed Enzo Birk and Helle Dokka models. Something like a Swede, a Finn and a Norwegian and Bellman! (You need to be Swedish to get the last part).
Where to get it? So far I have only found it via European web shops.