A couple of years ago I ended up buying a Fallkniven F2. I guess it's similar to the Bone Collector Caping Knife. The narrow, stout, VG-10 blade makes field dressing a pleasure and has plenty of edge for skinning deer sized game or smaller. It's more of a boning knife style, but I've found it to be my favorite fixed blade for hunting. It doesn't look like a hunting knife, more of a kitchen knife, but has a grippy handle and stays sharp. For folders, I take my Benchmade 710. The blade is near all around perfect in shape and size (for deer/hog sized game or smaller).
I have been scouting the net trying to find what others think of the Fallkniven F2z. And I just brought an F2z a few hours ago online for the same reasons you brought yours! I had been waiting a couple of weeks for the store to replenish stock and they got 7 of them in. I also think is was very reasonably priced for a fixed blade hunting knife and don't regret my purchase in the slightest!
Fallkniven's Swedish International Sales Manager Mr. Heitenforgen, accentuated to a customer in a forum I read, dated 2011, that the Fallkniven F2z was designed to be used not only as a fishing knife (as the recognizable blade geometry type the
F2 utilises has traditionally served), though a gaming, camping and kitchen knife, with a lean toward cleaning fish as opposed to it fullfilling the specific duties of a fishing knife. Why? Because the knife is less flexible than a filliting fishing knife and is designed to be able to slice off fish heads and cut through back bone of quite large fish, hence you're excellent definition 'boning knife'. Mr. Heitenforgen added that due to Fallkniven's company roots coming from hunting and fishing and given that many customers will use any knife for a variety of purposes, the 'best knife to have is the one you have with you.' Hence the variable concepts of usesage offered by not only the F2 but all off Fallkniven's Outdoorsman's Knifes, he said.
Why did I buy this knife? Consider this first: I was lined up to purchase an A1 Survival Knife and was looking at a the compact F1 Pilot Survival Knife in 3g, but I put these on hold when I came accross the F2. Ok sorry, I know... I can't tell you how the F2 performs yet until I have some significant experience with it. However, what I can tell you is that I have a few Fallkniven knifes, am widely read on them and think they are fantastic- Also consider that I used a very similar type of blade geometry the F2 employs since the late 1980's and early 1990's when fishing with my Uncle, and I agree that it is extremely easy to use, being an accurate and effective dressing knife. In fact it was so comfortable to use I went 'against the rules' in those days
abandoning my Gerber Survival Knife and taking this skinny orange handled fishing knife along when hunting Kangaroos, Rabbits and even Wild Boar ('Hog' for you Americans) with friends. I can't wait to see how the blade performs in the field with Fallkniven's world's best gripping handle material- thermorum.The F2 is also a first class penetrator and would be a very formidable last resort self defense tool.
I overlooked the qualities in this knife that can be accentuated using the F1 as an example- At first glance the F1 looks like a kitchen knife, but the funny thing is, I, being the knife nut I am, have often thought that in some respects some kitchen knifes seem like they would be good outdoor performers- sould they be made more durable like the Fallkniven's. Another important consideration I like about the F2 is size practicality. Look at a mid sized kitchen-utility knife, the one you're likely to grab to do most utility type tasks, such as cut a tomato, carve some meat, open a bag of pasta or cut some twine. I did, the knifes I choose the most for such utility tasks all seem to have blades of about 4-4.5inches. Fallkniven thought of this and the F2's blade is a perfect 4.3 inches- The Fallkniven TK1 and TK2 blades 4 inches; the NL5 4 inches and the NL4 5.12 inches- Making these knives ideal for both use and carry!!! In my experience where is the logic in field carring a cumbersome, thick hunting/fishing knife, e.g. Fallkniven's Forest Knife (can't recall the code S1 maybe?), or the Fallkniven A1 Survival Knife, that lean more toward tasks of performing as axes, hammers or machettes, in order to build shelters or dig fox holes and more importantly are too thick for intricate essential and more common tasks, like prepping a meal, intricate filliting or general camp/ houshold utility tasks? F2 does all this in addition to dressing game!
When I was younger I would have said I was mad and insisted that the NL1 or the Wilderness Knife was the ultimate hunting knife and only wimps would sport a TK2 or a NL4, and if you had an F2 on you, you should be back in the kitchen or the looney bin
Maybe I'm getting old. But maybe I'm getting wiser too
PS. I too take a folder when hunting. My choice is the Fallkniven PXL 'Workhorse' (with Grilon handle). One easily excessible, strong, brilliantly-built liner locker. I also have the U2 and pocket rocket U4 both in laminated 3G steel. I tested the Fallkniven waters with the U4 and it is my civilised choice for EDC. These are the best pocket knives I have ever owned!
