-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
FOG,S Passaround thread
- Thread starter FOG2
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2005
- Messages
- 7,499
My turn!
Sorry for the delay in review. I have no excuse (darn working for a living!)
I was initially put off by the dullness of the knives, but they sharpen VERY easily. I used a Fallkniven 2-sided stone and they are now sharp enough for a duffer like me!. Except the big bushcraft blade, which is sharp, but the thickness of the grind makes it tough to get the greatest edge on.
I took them out and did my favorite test: making fire. It's the skill I practice most, so these babies got a crash course in making tiny curls on a stick, scraping/shaving on a mag block, and sparking a firesteel.
My favorites? The little 2 finger blade, the bushie, and surprisingly, the wharnie.
The handles are coated with a clear enamel (I like it!), I do the same thing with many of the users I own which see winter work. They are comfy and long enough for me (I like them roomy). The tips are durable enough for drilling, the file grooves left on makes them look cool, and the slipjoint is gorgeous. The bent blade is a shame, but I think it would be a great kitchen knife.
I am not a big fan of folding knives like this one becuase of the way I had to hold it to keep it open. It is a very attractive knife, however.
Pics:
Sorry these are so blurry.
I shaved the little pieces and then used the knife to scrape even more off, but didn't get a good pic of that part.
Overall I give these blades a thumbs up. Fit and finish are good, but they need sheaths that do them justice! I would definitely be proud to have a couple for my woods/city bumming.
Sorry for the delay in review. I have no excuse (darn working for a living!)
I was initially put off by the dullness of the knives, but they sharpen VERY easily. I used a Fallkniven 2-sided stone and they are now sharp enough for a duffer like me!. Except the big bushcraft blade, which is sharp, but the thickness of the grind makes it tough to get the greatest edge on.
I took them out and did my favorite test: making fire. It's the skill I practice most, so these babies got a crash course in making tiny curls on a stick, scraping/shaving on a mag block, and sparking a firesteel.
My favorites? The little 2 finger blade, the bushie, and surprisingly, the wharnie.
The handles are coated with a clear enamel (I like it!), I do the same thing with many of the users I own which see winter work. They are comfy and long enough for me (I like them roomy). The tips are durable enough for drilling, the file grooves left on makes them look cool, and the slipjoint is gorgeous. The bent blade is a shame, but I think it would be a great kitchen knife.
I am not a big fan of folding knives like this one becuase of the way I had to hold it to keep it open. It is a very attractive knife, however.
Pics:
Sorry these are so blurry.
I shaved the little pieces and then used the knife to scrape even more off, but didn't get a good pic of that part.
Overall I give these blades a thumbs up. Fit and finish are good, but they need sheaths that do them justice! I would definitely be proud to have a couple for my woods/city bumming.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2007
- Messages
- 2,412
HAHAHA Finally someone posted the Cowboy boot sheath !
I laffed when i carved off the boot
and sent it out.
Thanks for the review Rocky !
Actually its Minwax Tung oil on the handles.I had never used it b4 but i think i like it. I tried some spray one polyeurathane on some wood but it was just to Shiny for my taste and plastic feeling.
Did you get a feel for edge retention on the knives after you sharpened them ?
I like that lil knife too. In fact i,m finishing one just like it for someone who saw it on the net and wanted to buy it. It really locks into to my hand nicely for such a lil knife !
One of the things besides looks i like about the *grooves* is how grippy the knife is when pinching the blade.
I wondered how they would work with a fire steel.Ive never used one but i beleive thespine needs have sharp corners ? to work well.
Yes, I NEED TO LEARN TO MAKE SHEATHS as i,m outta cowboy boots 
I laffed when i carved off the boot
and sent it out.Thanks for the review Rocky !
Actually its Minwax Tung oil on the handles.I had never used it b4 but i think i like it. I tried some spray one polyeurathane on some wood but it was just to Shiny for my taste and plastic feeling.
Did you get a feel for edge retention on the knives after you sharpened them ?
I like that lil knife too. In fact i,m finishing one just like it for someone who saw it on the net and wanted to buy it. It really locks into to my hand nicely for such a lil knife !
One of the things besides looks i like about the *grooves* is how grippy the knife is when pinching the blade.
I wondered how they would work with a fire steel.Ive never used one but i beleive thespine needs have sharp corners ? to work well.
Yes, I NEED TO LEARN TO MAKE SHEATHS
as i,m outta cowboy boots 
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,514
Okay fellas, I have received the knives! It's always exciting to get a package full of toys, and more so when they are so varied in style. :thumbup: Can't wait to start the testing.
Here's some pictures I took in my car.
The big bushcraft knife has some material in the file grooves. I can't tell if it's wood from previous use, or leather from the sheath. If the files are removing sheath material, that's something to keep in mind.
The "crooked blade"
My initial impression is that these are solid knives with comfortable handles. With the possible exception of the folder, which I'm a bit wary of safety-wise. I'll touch up the edges on all knives, put them to work, and post a review ASAP.
Here's some pictures I took in my car.
The big bushcraft knife has some material in the file grooves. I can't tell if it's wood from previous use, or leather from the sheath. If the files are removing sheath material, that's something to keep in mind.
The "crooked blade"
My initial impression is that these are solid knives with comfortable handles. With the possible exception of the folder, which I'm a bit wary of safety-wise. I'll touch up the edges on all knives, put them to work, and post a review ASAP.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,514
Okay, here we go! It was a fun few days with a varied group of knives. After testing grips, I gave the blades a pass on my strop set. First test: Pizza box cardboard.
The Wharnie cut cardboard like hot butter. Super smooth and easy. Also, the small blade did well. The crooked knife was fine, but I didn't feel comfortable using the folder. Maybe it's just my inexperience with this type of knife, but without the security of a spring or a lock, I felt like I had no control.
The Bushcrafter knife dragged a little, mostly due to the thickness of the blade. Though the file teeth made a cool noise going through cardboard.
For the rest of my testing I put the folder and the crooked blade away. Here's the three I tested.
The Wharncliffe.
The Little Guy.
The Bushcrafter.
The Wharnie cut cardboard like hot butter. Super smooth and easy. Also, the small blade did well. The crooked knife was fine, but I didn't feel comfortable using the folder. Maybe it's just my inexperience with this type of knife, but without the security of a spring or a lock, I felt like I had no control.
The Bushcrafter knife dragged a little, mostly due to the thickness of the blade. Though the file teeth made a cool noise going through cardboard.
For the rest of my testing I put the folder and the crooked blade away. Here's the three I tested.
The Wharncliffe.
The Little Guy.
The Bushcrafter.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,514
I tested all three gradually over the course of several days. For clarity, I'll present them here one at a time.
Here's the Bushcrafter cutting some curls. Not bad, but the blade is noticeably thick and the curls came out rough.
Chopping was decent, if not spectacular.
Here's some notching and carving.
Drilling was surprisingly easy. The tip did a great job. I liked the grip the file gives in certain grips.:thumbup:
The Bushcrafter blade is fine, but I couldn't get it all that sharp. As I'm used to a much thinner blade, the problem might lie with me. I found the grip to be comfortable, and the blade size excellent. The tip is strong, but not all that pointy. My favorite feature of this knife is the thumb area on the spine. Of course, the file sides are really cool!
Here's the Bushcrafter cutting some curls. Not bad, but the blade is noticeably thick and the curls came out rough.
Chopping was decent, if not spectacular.
Here's some notching and carving.
Drilling was surprisingly easy. The tip did a great job. I liked the grip the file gives in certain grips.:thumbup:
The Bushcrafter blade is fine, but I couldn't get it all that sharp. As I'm used to a much thinner blade, the problem might lie with me. I found the grip to be comfortable, and the blade size excellent. The tip is strong, but not all that pointy. My favorite feature of this knife is the thumb area on the spine. Of course, the file sides are really cool!
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,514
Now, I didn't take many pics of the Little Guy, but it was joy to use! The size of the blade and shape of the handle really made it feel like a natural extension of my hand.
Here it is halfway through carving a fishing hook.
This one also has some exposed file on the sides, and I found them grippy and comfortable when using a pinch grip of letting my thumb ride a bit forward. This knife is as easy to use as some of my favorite carving knives. It would made an excellent edc blade.
The Wharnie is the blade I gave the hardest workout. A thinner blade than the others, it sliced with ease. Here it is after making some curls.
Notches are super easy, as this walking stick/spear can attest.
And just to give that edge retention a test, I did some needless carving, cutting, and drilling.
Of course, I then wasted time by throwing the walking stick/spear and seeing if it would stick in the ground.
All three knives throw respectable sparks, especially the file-sided ones, but none so well as the actual striker provided with the ferro rod. Edge retention after all this work was decent. None were shaving sharp by the end, but the wharnie was sharp enough to go for a while more, I'd say! Overall, I liked the wharnie best, but that little guy is a very close runner-up. Thanks again Fog2, for the opportunity. It was fun!.
Here it is halfway through carving a fishing hook.
This one also has some exposed file on the sides, and I found them grippy and comfortable when using a pinch grip of letting my thumb ride a bit forward. This knife is as easy to use as some of my favorite carving knives. It would made an excellent edc blade.
The Wharnie is the blade I gave the hardest workout. A thinner blade than the others, it sliced with ease. Here it is after making some curls.
Notches are super easy, as this walking stick/spear can attest.
And just to give that edge retention a test, I did some needless carving, cutting, and drilling.
Of course, I then wasted time by throwing the walking stick/spear and seeing if it would stick in the ground.
All three knives throw respectable sparks, especially the file-sided ones, but none so well as the actual striker provided with the ferro rod. Edge retention after all this work was decent. None were shaving sharp by the end, but the wharnie was sharp enough to go for a while more, I'd say! Overall, I liked the wharnie best, but that little guy is a very close runner-up. Thanks again Fog2, for the opportunity. It was fun!.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2007
- Messages
- 2,412
Thanks John !You took some cool pics and wrote a good review.
You stated the edge retention as decent, i want it a LOT better than that. I believe that,s due to me tempering them a little to soft. Which is what the bent knife taught me(i showed the pics on the makers forum and that was there opinion).
I found out my oven is actually 100 plus degree,s hotter than it indicate,s,which lead to them being a bit soft. Easy problem to fix and already handled by getting a good thermometer so i know what the temp.really is.
Having this passaround has taught me a LOT about my knive,s and how to improve them. THANK YOU ALL for participating !
You stated the edge retention as decent, i want it a LOT better than that. I believe that,s due to me tempering them a little to soft. Which is what the bent knife taught me(i showed the pics on the makers forum and that was there opinion).
I found out my oven is actually 100 plus degree,s hotter than it indicate,s,which lead to them being a bit soft. Easy problem to fix and already handled by getting a good thermometer so i know what the temp.really is.
Having this passaround has taught me a LOT about my knive,s and how to improve them. THANK YOU ALL for participating !
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2009
- Messages
- 6,234
I love the little one.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2008
- Messages
- 1,551
As I said, my son and I got out one afternoon last week and tried out these knives. We had a blast.
We were working on some fire making skills so we set out to make a bunch of fuzz sticks.
This one has a great handle but the edge is a bit thick for my taste.
My son found that with careful use and going from tip to base the friction folder made nice curls
My two favs were the wharncliffe and the small one.
Here is the wharnie
The compact knife was the overall winner in my hands. This would be an awesome edc or a great bushcraft backup.
I want to thank Bryce for generously allowing me to try out his handy work.
I look forward to seeing some truly sweet knives from this maker in the near future.
We were working on some fire making skills so we set out to make a bunch of fuzz sticks.
This one has a great handle but the edge is a bit thick for my taste.
My son found that with careful use and going from tip to base the friction folder made nice curls
My two favs were the wharncliffe and the small one.
Here is the wharnie
The compact knife was the overall winner in my hands. This would be an awesome edc or a great bushcraft backup.
I want to thank Bryce for generously allowing me to try out his handy work.
I look forward to seeing some truly sweet knives from this maker in the near future.