Fallkniven quality issues



In my pocket today. It's been in my rotation for 18 months or so and I have absolutely no complaints.

A statistical sample of a single FK unit is useless I agree but I seldom, if ever, have issues with Japanese made knives be they any of the Spyderco manufacturers', Mcusta, Seki Cut and all the pre-China Kershaws, Al Mars, SOG and Cold Steels. Those I have a big enough sample of to be statistically relevant to forming an opinion. Maybe I'm just lucky but I like Japanese made knives a lot.
 
I purchased a WM1 direct from Fallkniven in 3G. The edge was a bit wonky and I was disappointed in the QC. I think for many of their knives you need to sharpen out the factory edge to get beyond the chippiness. I have not had a negative experience but their 3G steel is quirky which may be a reason they are going to Laminated CoS.
 
Just to clarify, there was never direct contact from Fallkniven, just hearsay from a dealer, over an edge that looks like it could be easily stropped, to get rid of that wire edge?
 
psquared said:


In my pocket today. It's been in my rotation for 18 months or so and I have absolutely no complaints.

A statistical sample of a single FK unit is useless I agree but I seldom, if ever, have issues with Japanese made knives be they any of the Spyderco manufacturers', Mcusta, Seki Cut and all the pre-China Kershaws, Al Mars, SOG and Cold Steels. Those I have a big enough sample of to be statistically relevant to forming an opinion. Maybe I'm just lucky but I like Japanese made knives a lot.
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What model is that?
 
Out of interest, who is the competition with comparable prices, steel, utility, availability, etc whose CS and quality are a better bet? I have to admit that the comparable options from cold steel whom everyone loves to hate do seem to be a very good option for this kind of knife. Perhaps not the knife nerd choice but as a user?
 
Pomsbz said:
Out of interest, who is the competition with comparable prices, steel, utility, availability, etc whose CS and quality are a better bet? I have to admit that the comparable options from cold steel whom everyone loves to hate do seem to be a very good option for this kind of knife. Perhaps not the knife nerd choice but as a user?
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I am a user, not a collector. I use my knives daily for construction site duties (sometimes light, sometimes ugly work) and they have to be able to (reasonably) hold an edge, be comfortable in a sweaty hand during heavy use, easy to cleanup to get off adhesives and sealers, and of course be affordable.

Personally, after owning Spyderco (love the build quality!), ZT and other larger, "heavy duty knives", I don't think you will find a better worker or value than Cold Steel. I have an Ultimate Hunter, American Lawman, Bush Ranger and SR1 tanto. The only other knife that I own that I would put in their same league as a work knife is my old ZT 0909.

Don't pay attention to the whining and complaining about Lyn Thompson's advertising. Years ago he did some silly, way out there videos that offended a lot of thin skinned folks and they carry that hurt like a thorny crown. They missed the fact that they videos did their job, they got the people to notice his products.

Most Cold Steel products aren't all that pretty, but man do they perform. Some of the knives I mentioned can be purchased with S35 steel and the incredible TriAd lock for about $100! I have grown to really appreciate the utility value of their knives, and that makes them attractive to me.

Robert
 
Corrected. I knew it was VG1 but typed that response out without proof reading.

Apparently my auto correct loves VG10 and hates VG1. It changed my VG1 to VG10 in this post, and I had to come back and edit again.
 
goldie said:
I had one of their big bowies,the one that looks like a trailmaster, and i had it hanging on a wall, and one day i noticed that there was some separation in one of the rings of leather in the leather handles, maybe from temp changes? i got it at a good price,so i and took it off the wall and sold it.that was my one and only FK knife. Even though its made by Hattori, which i highly respect, i cant deal with an issue like that.Good thing i never used it who knows what would happen to the handles...
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Well, they say on their website that the leather can shrink if stored. The knife is better of put to use. Guess the fat and so on on our hands keeps the leather conditiond. Also, ive asked Fallkniven directly about this and the answer was if it happens send it to us and we will fix it cost free. So..
 
Fallkniven has been pretty consistent with their quality. Hattori of Japan makes basically the same quality of knives they did 15 years ago.

Their knives are stainless and you can break the tips. The chipping issue isn't new. I just sharpen them and that seems to make it go away.

The real issue with Fallkniven is that their products keep getting more and more expensive, but the products are essentially the same. What was a good value for what they cost then is not really a great value to what they cost now. I think they are just getting to the point they are pricing themselves out of the market.
 
dano said:
Just to clarify, there was never direct contact from Fallkniven, just hearsay from a dealer, over an edge that looks like it could be easily stropped, to get rid of that wire edge?
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I contacted them myself to feed my curiosity.
The edge on the blade would have ripped on the strop. I know I tried. It had to be stoned first.
I also started slightly widening the edge when sharpening it, making it more robust but it did not help.

Bigfattyt said:
That photo of edge damage, even in the blown up version, I could not really see any issues.

I have heard, repeatedly, that any damage, or failure complaints to Fallkniven are met with (you are the problem, not us)

I have never owned one.

I have batonned a lot of wood with many different fixed blades (Busse, Trailmaster from cold steel in San Mai III, and many other blades. A2, cpm3v, 52100, 1095, 1084, 1065, even lowly 1055 with a spring temper). I've never had an edge fail, or other issues.

I will say, that an edge from the factory, especially VG10, I have had rolling issues when new.

I had a Spyderco in vg10. One of the sharpest factory edges I've ever felt, immediately dulled and rolled. Sharpened it, and had a repeat. It had a wicked wire edge. Grabby, sticky, but weak.

After a more focused sharpening it was fine.

Vg10 is prone to wire edges, especially directly from a grinder at a factory. Also, convex ground blades post heat treat are prone to overheat issues. May take a few sharpenings to get past.

I would have kept it and sharpened it up.
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This is what I almost did. But I did not want to end up in the situation where I have sharpened €300+ knife for hours (time is time) and then gotten satisfactory results. Or worse, sharpen it a good bit and then report to the shop and ask. They might ask me where the rest of the knife disappeared?

So I sent it back.

I would buy another brand but they do not offer full tang grips, hiding the tang. This is quite big comfort variable in the wintertime.

Sorry I have not visited the thread. I have been making purchases for my other hobby and my focus has been 100% on it.
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I prize my F1 in VG-10 and would rely on it as my only blade in a survival situation. I am not sure the laminated blades are really necessary although I don't doubt Fallkniven's tests that say they're stronger than the one-piece VG-10 blades. VG-10 meets my "will field dress one moose before needing sharpening" standard:D.
 
midnight flyer said:
I don't think you will find a better worker or value than Cold Steel.
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I agree with this, keeping things simple also helps a lot.

But, one and only thing that CS has a problem with are subpar sheaths full of glass. So expect to invest in a sheath sooner or later for your CS knife (speaking from experience here).

With all that being said, I did abuse CS SK-5 Recon Tanto for a long time now, that cheap piece of plain carbon steel soaked up all that punishment and is still going strong.

I'm more than happy for the price.
 
Smiling said:
But, one and only thing that CS has a problem with are subpar sheaths full of glass. So expect to invest in a sheath sooner or later for your CS knife (speaking from experience here).
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Yeah, and I have to say I don't understand that. I don't expect some beautiful leather sheath made from premium leather. But since I consider Cold Steel to be work/utility knives I think the sheath should follow that same standard.

I know there are folks that like a good custom sheath that becomes part of the knife kit and I certainly get that; but that isn't me. I think a hard use knife deserves an appropriate sheath. I don't think I should have to buy a knife and plan on a new sheath just so I will have confidence it is protecting the knife or worse, keep from failing in the field. I think CS would be better off to sell their knives without a sheath, but offer a nice sheath from them as an option. Making a few thousand at a time would keep them affordable.

But you know, like so many things these days, no one asked me!

Robert
 
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1. I have a couple of F1s and A1s. Never had a problem.
2. I agree on CS srk and Recon tanto being fantastic values. I received a Recon this last week - not knowing about the new owner of CS whether will keep up the quality level.
 
My S1 Pro lost its tip after about 10 times. Did some very mild chopping of firewood and it came right off. The store went to FK who said that since I obviously had abused it the warranty didn’t cover it. They could try and sharpen it if I paid for the shipping but refused a refund. My old mora 2000 (about 20 EUR) has survived same treatment for 10 years without breaking.

I’ll never go near FK ever again.
 
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gorbypirogen said:
My S1 Pro lost its tip after about 10 times. Did some very mild chopping of firewood and it came right off. The store went to FK who said that since I obviously had abused it so the warranty didn’t cover it. They could try and sharpen it if I paid for the shipping but refused a refund. My old mora 2000 (about 20 EUR) has survived same treatment for 10 years without breaking.

I’ll never go near FK ever again.
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Did you loose your llogin info? They can get that back.
 
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