daizee
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2009
- Messages
- 11,139
Hi Everyone, I don't post here much, but this seems appropriate.
It was too nice to spend the ENTIRE afternoon in front of the computer, so I went in search of some sticks and a spot to sit with a bunch of knives to play with. One big BK5, and the rest are my own, needing some impromptu comparison testing. I did some bark clearing, curly-making, and notching. I have no particular survival skills.
My mostly-decommissioned EMS Field Bag: great bag, now destined to be my 'if you have to walk home' bag stowed in the truck. it's got two semi-insulated main compartments, plus several small organizing pockets etc. and a mesh pocket for my sunglasses case. I took this thing around the world and used it mainly while toting gravity tie equipment in various ports...
The BK5 will do the harvesting:
All zipped up:
Hmm, must be something to cut on in here...
And a place to sit - how about the shallow well cover? Ok.
Note: this 'safari' takes place about 80ft from the back door. Not terribly adventurous.
And the primary culprits are pictured.
First: The mighty BK-5
It sure swipes well, but I've gotta say that the trailing point makes me nervous when winding up for a swing.
The 5 cleared small twigs well, but is a little unwieldy for fine work until you use the choil. Then it improves. However the edge isn't super fine (cuts paper smoothly), and the swedge at the spine makes it a bit uncomfortable to use the off hand thumb for control. Yep, makes sense to pair this with a smaller knife. BTW, I'm NOT cutting ON my leg. I've only got so many hands and had to work the cameraphone.
This is my 100% scale 3" hunting knife in 1/8" O1 that rides on my pack currently. Super comfortable, but the grind is a bit low - rookie mistake from a year ago. However control is pretty good, and it's the perfect size. Shoulda taken a pic of the stick rotated 90deg. It was a little awkward under that offshoot branch. Let's not make that mistake again. When I make a new version of this knife (and I have, my friend has it) I'll bring the grind way up and also thinner at the pre-edge. This will soldier on as my mini-survival blade.
Next up: my 115% 'Through Hiker'. This is a bigger blade in 1/8" A2 with a proper high grind. The slimmer profile really makes a difference for fine work. I really nailed this one, but never carry it as its too long for my state. So many knives are so overly thick for fine work! This one also has good control, and the handle design lets you get right up there. The height of the handle should be a touch greater, tho - this one was slimmed as an experiment, and I prefer the original pattern.
Next: My 110% personal 'Mountain Knife'. This puppy is 3/16" O1. It's noticeably beefier than the previous two, but is comfortable and has good control. Clearly it's less detail-oriented than the others, and you can feel it. The softened spine and wide steel provide an excellent perch for the left thumb. Very pleased with how that worked out. The high grind alleviates the thickness a bit, but it will only bite so deeply in a hard dry stick like this. This knife feels like it will take a lot of abuse, but still be fine enough for most stuff larger than cleaning splinters and fingernails. Just the niche intended for it.
Wait a minute, I've got more knives stashed on my person...
Here's my 85% Hiker EDC in 1084 that's on my belt most days. The handle is a bit small for this work, but it's not a woods blade. It clears bark and curls like nobody's business because despite it's over-1/8" thickness and small blade, the primary bevel was ground very thin at the edge. The secondary bevel is hardly visible. Not a woods profile, but man does it cut long and deep.
Hey, here's another!
I just finished this little belt-finished Necker the other day. It's even smaller than the Day Hiker. The small handle and flat sides are clearly unsuited to this work. In fact, it's chisel ground, and I couldn't make a curlie at all! It just dug straight in and got stuck. Not surprising, but educational. However it *notches* like a champ! Woah.
I actually managed to make some curlies with the knife in my left hand, moving veeerrry slooowwwly.
Still, totally not suitable for a woods blade.
None of these took much use, and all were slicing paper smoothly after. Just a quick strop and put 'em away.
So there ya have it! Some un-scientific playing around, comparing edges and grinds in the backyard, and an excuse to show some of my knives in action.
-Daizee
It was too nice to spend the ENTIRE afternoon in front of the computer, so I went in search of some sticks and a spot to sit with a bunch of knives to play with. One big BK5, and the rest are my own, needing some impromptu comparison testing. I did some bark clearing, curly-making, and notching. I have no particular survival skills.
My mostly-decommissioned EMS Field Bag: great bag, now destined to be my 'if you have to walk home' bag stowed in the truck. it's got two semi-insulated main compartments, plus several small organizing pockets etc. and a mesh pocket for my sunglasses case. I took this thing around the world and used it mainly while toting gravity tie equipment in various ports...
The BK5 will do the harvesting:
All zipped up:
Hmm, must be something to cut on in here...
And a place to sit - how about the shallow well cover? Ok.
Note: this 'safari' takes place about 80ft from the back door. Not terribly adventurous.
And the primary culprits are pictured.
First: The mighty BK-5
It sure swipes well, but I've gotta say that the trailing point makes me nervous when winding up for a swing.
The 5 cleared small twigs well, but is a little unwieldy for fine work until you use the choil. Then it improves. However the edge isn't super fine (cuts paper smoothly), and the swedge at the spine makes it a bit uncomfortable to use the off hand thumb for control. Yep, makes sense to pair this with a smaller knife. BTW, I'm NOT cutting ON my leg. I've only got so many hands and had to work the cameraphone.
This is my 100% scale 3" hunting knife in 1/8" O1 that rides on my pack currently. Super comfortable, but the grind is a bit low - rookie mistake from a year ago. However control is pretty good, and it's the perfect size. Shoulda taken a pic of the stick rotated 90deg. It was a little awkward under that offshoot branch. Let's not make that mistake again. When I make a new version of this knife (and I have, my friend has it) I'll bring the grind way up and also thinner at the pre-edge. This will soldier on as my mini-survival blade.
Next up: my 115% 'Through Hiker'. This is a bigger blade in 1/8" A2 with a proper high grind. The slimmer profile really makes a difference for fine work. I really nailed this one, but never carry it as its too long for my state. So many knives are so overly thick for fine work! This one also has good control, and the handle design lets you get right up there. The height of the handle should be a touch greater, tho - this one was slimmed as an experiment, and I prefer the original pattern.
Next: My 110% personal 'Mountain Knife'. This puppy is 3/16" O1. It's noticeably beefier than the previous two, but is comfortable and has good control. Clearly it's less detail-oriented than the others, and you can feel it. The softened spine and wide steel provide an excellent perch for the left thumb. Very pleased with how that worked out. The high grind alleviates the thickness a bit, but it will only bite so deeply in a hard dry stick like this. This knife feels like it will take a lot of abuse, but still be fine enough for most stuff larger than cleaning splinters and fingernails. Just the niche intended for it.
Wait a minute, I've got more knives stashed on my person...
Here's my 85% Hiker EDC in 1084 that's on my belt most days. The handle is a bit small for this work, but it's not a woods blade. It clears bark and curls like nobody's business because despite it's over-1/8" thickness and small blade, the primary bevel was ground very thin at the edge. The secondary bevel is hardly visible. Not a woods profile, but man does it cut long and deep.
Hey, here's another!
I just finished this little belt-finished Necker the other day. It's even smaller than the Day Hiker. The small handle and flat sides are clearly unsuited to this work. In fact, it's chisel ground, and I couldn't make a curlie at all! It just dug straight in and got stuck. Not surprising, but educational. However it *notches* like a champ! Woah.
I actually managed to make some curlies with the knife in my left hand, moving veeerrry slooowwwly.
Still, totally not suitable for a woods blade.
None of these took much use, and all were slicing paper smoothly after. Just a quick strop and put 'em away.
So there ya have it! Some un-scientific playing around, comparing edges and grinds in the backyard, and an excuse to show some of my knives in action.
-Daizee
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