Fallkniven laminated VG10 vs. CRK A2 vs. CRK S30V

A

AlonzoMosely

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Aug 18, 2002
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I would like to buy a fixed blade knife. Not sure what I would use it for (I'm not much of an outdoors person), but I would just like to have one to round out my knife collection, and perhaps to open the occasional package or cut the occasional steak (I know other types of knives are better for this - I just want a tough fixed blade knife just to have). Price aside, would I be better off with a CRK one piece steel fixed blade or a Fallkniven VG10 laminated steel fixed blade? I understand that both are great quality and are very tough. If the CRK, would I be better off with A2 or S30V? - assume that rust resistance is not an issue as the knife would be properly oiled (with mineral oil if used for food preparation) and cared for at all times and not subject to harsh environments - I'm more interested in 'performance', sharpness and edge retention, durability, etc. Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Personally, I would go with the Fallkniven, many good choices, and VG10 is a great steel that is easy to maintain and holds a very good edge.
 
You can't miss. Go with what you find looks good to you and feels good in your hand. Since you're not looking for a hard-use outdoor knife, you might be interested in a smaller blade. Consider one of the almost unlimited choices available from Bark River.

I keep a CRK Sable III with its 4" A2 blade in my kitchen, but it's easily capable of much harder use and takes a wicked edge. I also use a Fallkniven H1 in the kitchen, although that thick blade feels strange on some foods, like carrots. :) It is also extremely sharp, and I like the convex edge for heavy work (outside the kitchen). I'm not quite as happy with its rubber handle.
 
Good choice. May I suggest you to consider the Northern Light series ?
I use CRK MKII, MKVI, and Fällkniven NL1 and NL3. CRK are perfect "all conditions hardcore fixed blades". Fällknivens NL series are extremely tough but also nice to look at and very comfortable to handle. Moreover, their convex edge is perfect for outdoors tasks.
My 2 cents
 
Well, the A1 arrived but I am very disappointed. The tip does not come to a point and is dull - I can push it against my finger pretty hard without breaking skin. It looks like the tip either broke off during shipping (was poorly packaged - knife was not in the sheath and only had a thin piece of cardboard and some bubblewrap around the blade), or else the edge was not ground properly at the factory. Guess I should have gone with the CRK.
 
AlonzoMosely said:
Well, the A1 arrived but I am very disappointed. The tip does not come to a point and is dull - I can push it against my finger pretty hard without breaking skin. It looks like the tip either broke off during shipping (was poorly packaged - knife was not in the sheath and only had a thin piece of cardboard and some bubblewrap around the blade), or else the edge was not ground properly at the factory. Guess I should have gone with the CRK.
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Was the knife still in its original cardboard box? If so, then it was packaged the way they're always packaged. In thin cardboard slip "sheath", wrapped in bubblewrap and put in the original cardboard box. That kind of packaging isn't bad at all, and if the sender further packed it into a larger box with some newspapers or other stuff for softening impacts, nothing should happen during shipping unless the package was really seriously abused.

No, I think you got a faulty specimen. I doubt it broke during shipping. Either it broke at the store where you bought it from or the factory screwed up with it. In any case, contact the store you bought it from and ask them about it. If they won't play ball, Fällkniven's own warranty people will.

Sometimes stuff like this happens.
 
Wabajack, why would you choose Fallkniven over CRK (or maybe Bark River) without any apparent hesistation? Just curious what the advantages are in your mind. Thank you.
 
AlonzoMosely said:
or else the edge was not ground properly at the factory.
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Generally speaking, this isn't that unusual. If the blade isn't sharperned all the way to the tip, it will not have a sharp point. That's not the same as a point that has broken off. Post a photo if you want. I'd expect better from a Fallkniven, but it's not the worst thing either.

Edited to add: I have a SOG Trident 2.0 up for trade with about the sharpest tip I've ever seen on a knife. If you're interested in a trade email me. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=507318
 
I'd ask for your money back and go for a BarkRiver Bravo 1 or Ranger RD4 etc, I have always been dubious of laminates anyway and would rather trust a solid chunk of good old High Carbon !!!!
 
Of the two: CRK fixed blades do not appeal to me, so although A2, being carbon steel (in general tougher and much easier to sharpen), would be better choice of steel, I'd still go with Fallkniven. However, it's really hard to find good fixed blade that is not small AND not too thick...

If the thickness (and it means more weight!) isn't problem for you AND you want tough big and indestructible knife then get a Ranger RD series (FYI all Rangers are made from 0.25" thick 5160 steel, but I believe you can have it modified to thinner stock :thumbup:)
 
Yes packaging was cardboard sleeve, with bubble wrap in factory box on top of sheath, with factory box packed in newspaper in another box. I don't have a camera to post a picture, but it's entirely possible it was ground poorly from the factory. Seller did not respond to my email inquiry, and I don't want the hassle of sending it to the factory. I will try to re-profile the tip myself, and, although this may not be fair, simply avoid Fallknivens in the future (and perhaps the seller as well) as in the dozen or two dozen knives I have bought over the years, I've never had a knife with a defective tip before.
 
AlonzoMosely said:
Yes packaging was cardboard sleeve, with bubble wrap in factory box on top of sheath, with factory box packed in newspaper in another box. I don't have a camera to post a picture, but it's entirely possible it was ground poorly from the factory. Seller did not respond to my email inquiry, and I don't want the hassle of sending it to the factory. I will try to re-profile the tip myself, and, although this may not be fair, simply avoid Fallknivens in the future (and perhaps the seller as well) as in the dozen or two dozen knives I have bought over the years, I've never had a knife with a defective tip before.
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My question is who you bought it from, and whether or not it was sold as new.
 
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