Entrek knives users

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Polamalu

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Are there any Entrek knives users here? i wanted to wait for the ESEE 4 stainless made with 440c but i think Ray Ennis's work on 440c is already proven. can anyone post pics or give some thought on how they perform. Thanks!
 
I have an Entrek forester and it is top notch! I wasn't too sure about 440c for a bushcraft knife, but after using Ray's 440c, I am a believer. I beat and batoned on it to test toughness, passed with flying colors. It sharpened up suprisingly well too. I will try to snap some pics of my abused Forester tonight.
 
I have the Backup Utility and reviewed it here around 2011 - the review has pics and you should be able to find it with the search function.

The knife is very well made and the 440c doesn't get any criticism from me. Despite being the "little" knife in the Entrek range it is a bit over built for my tastes but that is likely to be seen as a plus by many here. I have never liked the sheath.

In terms of build quality they are exceptional knives for the price.
 
I have a Javelina and a Backup Utility. They are solid, quality knives. The sheaths are functional, but that's the best I can say about them. I had a brief email exchange with Ray Ennis and he seems like a really good person. The knives have the same bombproof warranty as becker and esee. I wasn't particularly fond of the bead blast finish so I polished both of mine to a satin finish, and coincidentally that's a new opton Entrek knives is offering.

If you're looking for an alternative to the SS ESEE 4, the Javelina would fit the bill, but be aware that the knives are different. The esee is a full flat grind. Entrek knives come as a saber/hollow grind. Which grind you prefer is up to you. If Entrek made a full flat grind knife I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
 
Ray Ennis is a good man to deal with. In my experience he always replies to emails. The warranty is terrific, though I have never needed to use it despite using my Bravo for battonning, as well as opening cans, making feather sticks etc. The hollow grind is very shallow so as not to affect the strength. The sheath does the job but is unremarkable.
 
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Great products.

You can't go wrong.

Badger is in my work bag every day.
 
fielder said:
Ray Ennis is a good man to deal with. In my experience he always replies to emails. The warranty is terrific, though I have never needed to use it despite using my Bravo for battonning, as well as opening cans, making feather sticks etc. The hollow grind is very shallow so as not to affect the strength. The sheath does the job but is unremarkable.
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could you post some pics. of you bravo? i have a feeling that the bead blast finish wears out like a champ! and how would you rate the tip strength of the knife
 
I've got a Mil-Tac CE-2, which is made by Entrek. It's been a good knife, it's not one of my favourites, but it's well made and performs very well, too.
 
I once owned the Survivor model. The fit and finish on the knife along with the heat treat are top notch, also the jimping is the sharpest I've encoutered. Only the sheath was a bit lacking in terms of rigidity and options for mounting, but it served its basic service. Entrek doesn't get much in terms of advertising but for a 1/4 inch thick blade stock in stainless, it sure is a great contender for hard use.
 
I'm sorry I am useless with technology and cant do pictures. But the bead blast finish does wear, actually I removed it on mine using toothpaste and a scourer. The tip has never given me any concern.
 
I have an Entrek Javelina I really like. Fielder how did you polish the metal between the scales?. I'm thinking of doing the same thing as 440C is the best of the 440 SS but the least rust resistant. I have read that polished steel is more rust resistant than otherwise. I'm thinking of using flitz polish instead of tooth paste.
 
Do you guys mind if I change the topic a little bit? Thanks.

So Mike Stewart claimed that bohler M390 has the same toughness as 440c when hardened to 57-58RC and also we does not reccomend the M390 for outdoor use. Can I get some clarification on this.
 
Polamalu said:
Do you guys mind if I change the topic a little bit? Thanks.

So Mike Stewart claimed that bohler M390 has the same toughness as 440c when hardened to 57-58RC and also we does not reccomend the M390 for outdoor use. Can I get some clarification on this.
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Impact toughness of 440C @ 58 Rc is ~22 J. Impact toughness of M390 remains >30 J between 58 and 63 Rc. To achieve that level of toughness, 440C must be tempered down to 56 Rc. You may not notice a difference in toughness between the steels, but you may indeed notice a difference in edge-retention: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope

M390 is more suited for outdoor use than 440C, but it is also more expensive...
 
I only did the blade, not the tang. It is very much a user, so appearance didn't matter to me. Entrek make it in cpm154 now as well as 440c and in different blade finishes.
 
From my uses 440C is a solid performing stainless steel. Elmax is like 440C on steriods and M390 is slightly better than Elmax. I think it is fairly safe to say M390 will do everything better than 440C it will just cost a good bit more.

Really I am not sure why Mr. Stewart would say M390 is not for outdoor use other than its cost and him not wanting to spend that kind of money on rare steel.

If you are looking for a great knife about the size of the Javalina look at the Survive Knives GSO 4.1 in M390. Its acutally only about 50 bucks more than the Entrek.
 
chiral.grolim said:
Impact toughness of 440C @ 58 Rc is ~22 J. Impact toughness of M390 remains >30 J between 58 and 63 Rc. To achieve that level of toughness, 440C must be tempered down to 56 Rc. You may not notice a difference in toughness between the steels, but you may indeed notice a difference in edge-retention: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope

M390 is more suited for outdoor use than 440C, but it is also more expensive...
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Thanks for the info. I've seen your reviews on YouTube. How's the edge holding on your 4.1 and does it strop readily with a black and green compound if your out in the field?
 
I'm a big Javalina fan as well, had to make my own sheath for it, as the one included left much to be desired.
 
Polamalu said:
Thanks for the info. I've seen your reviews on YouTube. How's the edge holding on your 4.1 and does it strop readily with a black and green compound if your out in the field?
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So far no 'nicks' or chips, no edge 'glint' without magnification, so I haven't even bothered to strop it yet! I intend to bring the bevel-shoulders down to improve carving, but I haven't gotten around to it. It'll still shave but not as smoothly as new, so if i ever try shaving my face again, I'll strop it then ;).

Honestly, my GSO-10 sees a LOT more use, doubling as machete and hatchet as I clear out underbrush and fallen limbs from our recent storms, harvest the winter's wood and more fence-posts for our land, break up rotten logs for mulch and to feed the ants & centipedes to our chickens... The GSO-10 has some edge-flattening from the occasional spike or barbwire I encounter, but most of its edge also still shaves, whereas the machete needs to be resharpened on the belt-grinder before each day's use.

I'll try to remember to post something about it when I do bring the edges back to prime-condition, but one reason that i chose these tools was because I didn't want to have to do that very often. So far so good :thumbup::cool:
 
Anyone have one of the Entreks with the satin finish?. How do you like it so far?.

Pics would be great :thumbup:


I am glad he is offering the different finishes now. I cant stand bead blast.
 
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