I'm in the market for a small fixed blade knife that would be used for light chores and occasional wear for protection. I've narrowed it down to the Fallkniven F1, Nimravus Cub, and Seal Pup mainly because I've been able to handle all three in knife stores. However I don't really know the virtues and vices of each. Any opinions you could lend on any of the three would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Fallkniven F1, Nimravus Cub, or Seal Pup?
- Thread starter JMB
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- Nov 7, 1999
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Hi JMB...
Although I really like the Nim Cub.
The Fallkniven FI beats all of them Hands Down.
Just like Fudo said,, Very Hard to beat especially at that price.
The FI for sure is a work horse...
You won't be sorry you bought it...
ttyle Eric...
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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
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Although I really like the Nim Cub.
The Fallkniven FI beats all of them Hands Down.
Just like Fudo said,, Very Hard to beat especially at that price.
The FI for sure is a work horse...
You won't be sorry you bought it...
ttyle Eric...
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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!
- Joined
- Nov 25, 1999
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- 1,499
I'm with Fudo and Eric, Fallkniven F1 is hard to beat.
Please visit my review on F1 here: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001348.html
BM Nimravus Cub is very nice knife, I like mine very much but in my opinion it's more suitable for urban concealed carry. I use mine in this role.
Do not have SOG Seal Pup, so can't say anything about it.
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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 05-22-2000).]
Please visit my review on F1 here: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001348.html
BM Nimravus Cub is very nice knife, I like mine very much but in my opinion it's more suitable for urban concealed carry. I use mine in this role.
Do not have SOG Seal Pup, so can't say anything about it.
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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 05-22-2000).]
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Well, I really like the Nimravus in M2. Great knife. The cub is basically the same thing, but smaller. I haven't handled the F1, but the handle looks significantly less comfortable than the Nimravus, and definitely won't stand up as well to abuse as the G10 slabs of the Nimravus. Especially since you say "occasional wear for protection," I would put the Nimravus out front, both as a concealed carry and as a knife that stays in your hand. The only two drawbacks that I see are Benchmade's BT2 coating, which scratches quite easily, and the sheath, which isn't really all that good. However, I got a custom sheath from Normark, and now wear the knife whenever I can.
--JB
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e_utopia@hotmail.com
--JB
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e_utopia@hotmail.com
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- Jun 26, 1999
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- 1,148
I have the F1 and really like it. I used it on a bagel the first day I had it. Thought I had missed slicing the thing it cut so easily. The F1 cut it easier than the searated bread knife I usually use. Check out James' page here for more info and a couple links to good reviews.
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Dwight
It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".
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Dwight
It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".
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I got all 3, but my F1 is definitely my favorite general chore blade. Great corrosion resistance and hold's a edge better than any stainless I've used before (I think even better than some carbon steel blades I've used), easy to resharpen. The nimravus is fine, but the coating comes off easily and I don't find the handle particularly comfortable. The sealpup was my favorite for a while (while I was working by the ocean side) because of it's great corrosion resistance. But unless your are going to be around salt water constantly, I would definitely go for the F1
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- Nov 25, 1999
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Fallkniven F1 has also black teflon coated version.
dogboye
Gold Member
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- Nov 23, 1999
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- 7,156
Of the three, I'd vote for the Nimravus (or Cub) in M2. Hands down best steel, IMO, unless you want <u>strong</u> corrosion resistance and non-black blade. I didn't care about corrosions resistance, so I removed the coating from my M2 Nimravus Cub. No problems so far.
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iktomi
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iktomi
I happen to own all three (well the nimravus is "full size"). like 'em all, but:
For self defence I'd go for Nimravus,
For general use F1, best "grip" (for my hand)
Pup is a beauty but probably less "tough".
My opinion.
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D.T. UTZINGER
For self defence I'd go for Nimravus,
For general use F1, best "grip" (for my hand)
Pup is a beauty but probably less "tough".
My opinion.
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D.T. UTZINGER
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- May 26, 2000
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The F1 is basically a Loveless style dropped point hunter. That is NOT a bad thing. It is a very, very useful overall knife, very versatile. And it would work just fine for self defense, God forbid, since it has a guard (a bit small however) and a rather good, tacky grip in "Thermorun Elastomer"... a rubberish compound. You may find the rubber hangs up a bit on a draw from concealment compared with Nimravus which looks like it uses G-10. VG-10 should be very similar to ATS-34 in performance. It has a hidden tang (grip covers completely), but it is pretty full, and the tang metal is visible on the butt of the rubber handle, so you can carefully pound things with the metal if you needed to in a pinch. Strong knife. My cousin (big deer, quail, and turkey hunter) liked it so much I gave him mine as a gift. That reminds me... I don't own one anymore...easy enough to remedy.
The Seal Pup looks good, but 440A is not a steel known for edge holding, in fact, is is fairly mediocre to be kind. The carbon content is low, .6% to .8%, compared with the much better edge holding 440C (.95% to 1.2%). That means you can't harden 440A very well. 440A is a cheaper steel, easier to form blades in mfg operations, with punch dies, etc. 440A will be tougher since it can not be hardened as high. You trade toughness (chopping, prying) for edge holding. SOG has taken a long time to get away from 440A in their product line. It takes an overhaul/augmentation of production facilities. They are starting to move finally. I sold all of my SOG stuff (Tigershark, Tech II Bowie) after I witness edge retention.
The Nimravus comes in 4.5" and 3.65" blades. The 4.5" blade is illegal for self defense (outside law enforcement) in most states I believe, with laws varying from 4" to 3.5" to 3", depending on state. So if that is an intended task, save yourself the legal hassle and buy the 3.65". I like the sort of drop point, sort of spear point blade grind. Looks very utilitarian (I mean it looks like it wouldn't piss me off if I cleaned a deer, cut open boxes, cut stuff in backyard, etc). That is important. I think self defense optimized products are oversold, and overhyped, so for me, since 99.99% of what I do is use the blade to cut everything BUT people, I like a blend of utility and self defense traits. IMHO thing.
The Seal Pup looks good, but 440A is not a steel known for edge holding, in fact, is is fairly mediocre to be kind. The carbon content is low, .6% to .8%, compared with the much better edge holding 440C (.95% to 1.2%). That means you can't harden 440A very well. 440A is a cheaper steel, easier to form blades in mfg operations, with punch dies, etc. 440A will be tougher since it can not be hardened as high. You trade toughness (chopping, prying) for edge holding. SOG has taken a long time to get away from 440A in their product line. It takes an overhaul/augmentation of production facilities. They are starting to move finally. I sold all of my SOG stuff (Tigershark, Tech II Bowie) after I witness edge retention.
The Nimravus comes in 4.5" and 3.65" blades. The 4.5" blade is illegal for self defense (outside law enforcement) in most states I believe, with laws varying from 4" to 3.5" to 3", depending on state. So if that is an intended task, save yourself the legal hassle and buy the 3.65". I like the sort of drop point, sort of spear point blade grind. Looks very utilitarian (I mean it looks like it wouldn't piss me off if I cleaned a deer, cut open boxes, cut stuff in backyard, etc). That is important. I think self defense optimized products are oversold, and overhyped, so for me, since 99.99% of what I do is use the blade to cut everything BUT people, I like a blend of utility and self defense traits. IMHO thing.
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Oh, and if you buy the Nimravus in M2 carbon steel, and you carry it during hot months and sweat on it, it will certainly rust unless you are religious about Tuf Cloth, oiling the blade, etc. M2 is therefore not on my short list of desireable working knife steels for utility purposes. ATS-34 is about the same cutting performance wise and is at the mid level in "stainless" category (above D2, below 440 anything).