F1 & S1 Fallknivens

Uncle Timbo

Uncle Timbo

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Nov 23, 2005
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First of all I'm not trying to start anything. I thought long and hard on which one to get. I ended up getting an S1 primarily because I thought the F1 was a little on the small side. Now I know your asking, what do you want out of this knife. I guess I'm wanting something like Bear uses on his show. You know, kinda be ready for anything. I don't want the exact knife that he uses(although what is it?) I just want an all around "go to" knife to strap on when I'm heading out to the woods for anything. For all intents and purposes, this could just be a question of the different blade lengths. The knifes I want just happen to be Fallknivens.
Any and all opinions will be welcome.
 
I'm not quite sure I understand your question. You've already decided on (and bought) the S1, but now you want to know what kind of knife to keep as a 'survival' blade? The S1 will work fine in that role, Fallknivens are good stuff.

Bear has used a couple of blades from a gerber to a custom blade with his name scribbled on it for like $500 or something.

I really wouldn't focus on what Bear does and just pay more attention to what works for you. What have you used as a woods blade in the past? What has worked well for you and what hasn't? Do you prefer a larger blade or a more compact one? What kind of area are you going to be walking into? (Jungle vs woods vs desert....)

There are lots of good options for field blades that are readily available from Fallkniven (which you've got already), to RAT Cutlery to Bark River, to customs. Decide what your needs are, then decide on a quality brand that has something that will do what you need it to.
 
Bear used a Gerber Gator until he saw the financial advantage of having a tie-in with a maker.

He now uses one made by Rob Bayley, http://www.bayleyknife.com/
Lovely knives, but not cheap.

Personally, i'd stick to the Falkie and fill the fridge full of beer with the cash I'd saved!

:)
J
 
Great choice and bang for the buck. 4-5 inch blades are perfect IHMO for all around. I have the F1 but I like the looks of the S1 as well. At that price, you could have both!
I carry a Busse BATAC but the S1 will do everything I would put a knife thru and come out fine. I also have 3" blades but they are too small for what you described "all around" (although Stroud uses a leatherman and does fine). All around needs to be at least 4" for me but no larger than 5 or so. Everyone has different thoughts on this subject so you will likely get lots of opinions but no answer. Any well made blade you like to carry so you have it when you need it, get comfortable with, and actually use, will serve you well for trips to the woods.
 
I considered long and hard between the F1 and the S1 for exactly the same reason. I ended up getting the S1 and I'm glad I did. The length is perfect.
 
The S1 is a great knife for bushcraft/survival.I can work all day with mine and not get sore hands or blisters.Once for ounce it's one of the best knives I own.
 
Great blades both. I used a Camillus AF survival knife for years that I put a scandi edge on. In fact I still use it. I am going to get an R-10 from HI soon. Size is roughly the same but without the feature of the AF I dont like. S-1 is the runner up to the R-10 in my opinion. The skills to survive with the knife are much more important than which blade you use.Get some training and get out in the woods and practice.
 
First of all, thanks to everybody for the input. I guess in the past I've just heard more comments about the F1 than the S1. I thought I was missing something about a smaller sized blade. I love the S1 but I had not heard as much praise for it as I had for the F1 or for smaller knives in general. A lot of you all are in love with Bark River. From what I've seen, they have smaller blades also. Do you see where I'm coming from?
 
The common rule of thumb around here or at least a concensus seems tobe that a good all around blade should be 4-5 inches in length..Some agree some disagree, I had an f1 for a while..I have an s1 on the way..But any falkniven is bound to be a winner. and will easily take a baton..the same for barkies..the barkies have the added advantage of being carbon steel.
 
I think that use of carbon steel around water is not as detrimental asp people might think..Uptill 50 years ago people only had carbon steel and managed to poulate the world by ship with out there blades rusting away...
 
I have the F-1 and I am very happy with it. BUT, as a solo knife it is a bit on the small side, unless you are going on a short easy hike.

I am planning on getting a 5" for longer hikes. Probably the S-1.
 
Just took my Fallkniven S1 on a 3 day backpacking trip. It did everything I needed it to do beautifully and still is sharp.

But I had the same issue. I was trying to decide on an F1 or an RAT-5. I wanted the F1, but wanted a bigger blade. So I got it with the S1 and paid a little extra.

Truthfully, I don't think there's anything I've done so far that an F1 wouldn't be able to do. But I think everything I've done with my S1 would've been harder to do with an F1, and there will come a time when the extra length makes a difference.


I am not a knife junkie. I don't have the money to be. So I settle on only a few knives and put a lot of thought into buying them. The S1 is my permanent fixed blade carry. I don't see myself needing another knife, unless I want a $5 chopper. But with the S1 I don't even need to chop with it.

You made the right choice
 
I have a Bear Grylls knife. It is closer in size to the F1. It has a blade just under 4". In fact, if a person got the expensive F1 with the micarta handle, it would still be way less expensive than the Bayley and very similar.
 
Many, many thanks to all!
I guess I was just hearing F1 this and F1 that. I wanted to know if I was missing something. I love the S1 and I guess thats all that matters.
 
I have the S1 and really like it. It's a good size and weight for a fixed blade. I do not like the swedge however, as it makes it more difficult to baton with, but I can work around that. I have been considering getting an F1 but I think I have a capable enough 4" FB already.
 
carrot said:
I have the S1 and really like it. It's a good size and weight for a fixed blade. I do not like the swedge however, as it makes it more difficult to baton with, but I can work around that. I have been considering getting an F1 but I think I have a capable enough 4" FB already.
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I am the other way arround... I have an F1 and a friend of mine is getting an S1 (it is on the way along with some BRKT's, a RC4, RAT-7 and two folders) so we will compare. I think that the swedge is going to make the S1 a worse slicer as well... not just for battoning. I wish it was full convex grinded just like his little brother, the F1. Anyway, I will tell you for sure as soon as it arrives.

Mikel
 
The fact that a knfe is made from 'carbon steel' does'nt predispose it to rusting. it's the care the owner takes of said knife that does IME. You get a better working edge than a full stainless blade for a minimum of care after use. Fallkniven noticed this and is making a laminated blade in VG10 which by my understanding is composed of a carbon steel inner layer surrounded by stainless slabs. Easy care, good edge retention. I enjoy my BRKT 'Aurora' model in A2 in place of my S1 because it does'nt have the swage on the tip of the spine when battoning. My BRKT 'Mini Northstar' in 12c27 is more stainless in nature than carbon, but gets the same care as all my knives. I wipe them clean after use, dry thoroughly, and use Ren Wax when necessary.
 
1Tracker said:
The fact that a knfe is made from 'carbon steel' does'nt predispose it to rusting. it's the care the owner takes of said knife that does IME.
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I agree... as long as you take care of it a little bit, it won't rust. At most it will develop the so called patina, which is, indeed, a kind of rust (but not that harmful as far as I know).

1Tracker said:
...Fallkniven noticed this and is making a laminated blade in VG10 which by my understanding is composed of a carbon steel inner layer surrounded by stainless slabs. Easy care, good edge retention...
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I agree that Fallkniven makes great laminated blades out of VG10 (inner core) and 420 (outher layers). They have the same edge retention you could expect from any other knife made of VG10 (let's think Spyderco). But I don't agree when you say that VG10 is carbon steel. As far as I know, VG10 is stainless. My Opinels are carbon steel and trust me, don't you dare to put them away wet or dirty. My Spydercos (all VG10) can stand damp conditions with no problem. According to THIS it is stainless.

1Tracker said:
...I enjoy my BRKT 'Aurora' model in A2 in place of my S1 because it does'nt have the swage on the tip of the spine when battoning.
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I have an Aurora on the way so I will be able to see by myself. I was a little worried because I read somewhere that is was almost convex/scandi... I mean that the convex grind didn't go up to the spine. That is just looked like a scandi grind but with a convexed single bevel instead of a flat one.

Mikel
 
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