Fallkniven northern lights

I

iwannamakeknives

Joined
Oct 17, 2009
Messages
75
Hey guys, I was just curious if anyone here has any experience with these knives. I just got the NL5 and it's the best fixed blade I've handled so far.

Does anyone here have any experience with any of this series of knives? Are they still in production?

Thanks for any response, and any user pics would be greatly appreciated.
 
They're too rich for my blood and I'd rather buy a Scandinavian knife made in Scandinavia than Japan, but I believe you that they're great.
 
scrteened porch said:
They're too rich for my blood and I'd rather buy a Scandinavian knife made in Scandinavia than Japan, but I believe you that they're great.
Click to expand...

Problem is that the steel they use for blades are available only in Japan. Someday I'll try one of their Gentlemen knife just for that.
 
We have some high rollers around here; somebody should chime in with some Fallkniven experience.
 
My knife work buddy has the Fallkniven Tre Kronor TK3C and Gentelman's Pocket Jack. The first is in bone and the later in cocobolo. These have to be pretty dern good or he wouldn't bother carrying them as he is quite picky!! He has all kinds of high end knives that I can't afford mostly like Tony Bose Knives etc. The two knives that torture me the most is one TB slim line Trapper and the Fallkniven Tre Kronor TK3C which I have to force my self to hand back to him!
 
Yes I have used the NL's since 2007 and to me it's very hard to find any better production knives!
These are made by Hattori and that is a guarantee for very high quality.
So far Peter at Fällkniven claims that no NL has come back to him in pieces.

My collection of NL's:
attachment.php

I don't have the NL3, as I prefer either the smaller or the bigger models.

Regards
Mikael
 
Thanks for some good input guys. I just traded into the NL5 and it's a fantastic knife. Planning to put it through some paces this weekend!
 
I am on the edge of ordering an NL2 as an early birthday present to myself. I've owned many high end knives in the past, and the Northern Lights series seems like it can compete with the best.
 
Wood Splitter said:
I am on the edge of ordering an NL2 as an early birthday present to myself. I've owned many high end knives in the past, and the Northern Lights series seems like it can compete with the best.
Click to expand...

The NL2 is my prime choice for a large campknife.
It's big enough to chop, split, baton and cut wood.
Yet small enough to pack or beltcarry in reasonable comfort.

The difference between my other alternatives and the NL2, becomes evident in the small details during extended work.
It's not my best chopper or my best cutter, but it is the best allrounder I have tried to this day.
The edge hold up very good, also after 2 hours of wood chopping.
My knife is from 2007, but still has the original factory edge, only maintained with ultrafine stones and honing on leather.
Cleaning is easy, as it's stainless.

I did damage the tip on a limestone, but it was hardly visible and was a 5 minute job with a DC4 stone.

The stacked leather gets a treatment with clear shoepolish every now and then.
Dry winthers can make stacked leather shrink, but on the NL's this is adjusted with the pommelscrew.

I don't use a hammergrip on this knife and the below pic's show 3 positions for various tasks.
The grip is very secure and gives no hotspot or blisters.

Chopping
1258828922-Chopping-036.jpg

Detailed cuts in reverse position
1258829003-Chopping-037.jpg

Pushcutting
1258829086-Chopping-039.jpg


For batoning I use a loose thumb & indexfingergrip, to avoid fulcrum loads.

It sure is a beauty to just look at, but it's in real use on wood it will shine.


Regards
Mikael
 
Last edited:
Many thanks for the short write up and pictures Mikael, I really appreciate it! It seems it is best to use the NL2 sort of like a leuku, of which I'm quite familiar and fond of.

As for the handle, I live in a very wet environment. But, I'm a leather worker and should have no problem taking care of the handle. Neatsfoot oil and bees wax based Sno-Seal have never let me down thus far:)

My plan for the NL2 is quite simple. A main, do it all blade for day hikes with minimal gear. Minimal gear being: A haversack with my bottle, cord, fire kit, Laplander and USGI poncho (maybe a little food as well). Knife on my hip.

When I go out for the day, I very rarely have to process large amounts of wood. What I do most often is sectioning and limbing saplings, usually big leaf maple, usually no larger than 4" at the base, normally less. This is done for many reasons... Hiking staff to help navigate some of the very steep mountainsides is the most common.

I know other knives could fill that role, and do it quite well, but there's just something about the NL2 I can't shake. It's just a classy blade.
 
Wood splitter, You think like I do and that will make the NL2 work very well for You! :thumbup:
You will find the NL2 much beefier than the Sami Chopper (Leuku) and it will not "sing" like the thinner blade.

When carrying the NL2 on the hip, I put the mosqitonet in my pocket, to avoid tapping on the leg from the sheath.
Nowadays I mostly put the NL2 in the bottom of the small daypack as a securitytool, if I would have a fall and injure a leg.
For long walks in deep forests I prefer hipcarry, to have the knife at hand in an emergency like a fall accident.
If I'm injured and in pain, I personally feel confident in using a knife for making a first-aid bandage and a crotch.

I know other knives could fill that role, and do it quite well, but there's just something about the NL2 I can't shake. It's just a classy blade.
Click to expand...

I have taken my NL's apart, to look at the inside of the handle.
The attention to details are amazing and not found on other knives I have.


Regards
Mikael
 
I have a Fallkniven Jarl. It's about 8" OAL and has a fairly stout, 'do it all' type blade, not a thinner dedicated Hunter/Slicer.
Is it the same quality as the Northern Lights ? I have seen it posted as "Made in Sweden" but i don't know if this is correct.
kj
 
If you think the price of a Fallkniven NL series is too steep just get a Fallky A1 and be done with it. I find it to be all the knife I need when hunting and camping.
 
kootenay joe said:
I have a Fallkniven Jarl. It's about 8" OAL and has a fairly stout, 'do it all' type blade, not a thinner dedicated Hunter/Slicer.
Is it the same quality as the Northern Lights ? I have seen it posted as "Made in Sweden" but i don't know if this is correct.
kj
Click to expand...

I don't have the Jarl, but I have the smaller Juni.
The steel is an upgrade and the robust bladegeometry ensures incredible edgeholding, but as You say not a slicer.
I believe they have high attention to details, but I haven't taken the Juni apart to look for myself.
The reason for this is that it's too solidly made, to be taken apart...:friendly_wink:

Fällkniven have their knives made in Japan by Hattori and the folders made by Moki.
Why not made in Sweden?
It's simple, there are no production makers in Sweden, that can compete with the quality offered from Japan.


Regards
Mikael
 
Last edited:
Thanks Mikael. I knew Hattori made the Northern Lights but did not know that they made all of the Fallkniven fixed blades.
kj
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top