- Joined
- Aug 30, 2008
- Messages
- 3,214
Friends, lurkers, and fellow Knife Knuts,
In another thread, the infamous Chris Reeves Green Beret knife was somewhat disparaged as a wilderness/survival knife. One of our beloved moderators noted that while the GB had been tested in laboratory conditions, the tests were not helpful in evaluating the knife as a wilderness or survival tool.
Good point.
So I proposed to test the GB in closer-to-real world conditions. I didnt want to completely hijack the other thread, so I thought Id start this one and add to it as I put the GB through 'Field Trials.'
Let me say here in the first post, that I am not advocating for this knife.
I do like it, but I think I recognize some of its limitations. It was designed by Bill Harsey in collaboration with soldiers and is designed for some of the most extreme soldiers in the world. Their needs may be different from yours, that's understood. Having taken a survival course run by special forces soldiers and worked with a few SOF guys, I can testify that they understand a few things about survival. I can also say they rarely agree on what makes a good knife.
Nevertheless, I like this knife enough to have sent one to my brother when he deployed to Iraq with the Armyhe loves it. I got the one pictured here when I was preparing to deploy (although that deployment was canceled.). Anticipating my next deployment, I got Bryan Breeden to make a knife to my specs (Hey, Special Forces guys dont know everything.). So I hope my bias is now fully disclosed.
First lets talk about the knife.
I stole these specs from the CRK web site:
Blade: 7 full tang made from 0.22 CPM S30V, hardened to 55-57RC, and coated with KG Gun-kote. As pictured, there are 1.5 inches of serrations after the ricasso. The blade is hollow ground. The swedges form a false edge for the last 1.5 of the blade.
Handles: made from linen micarta, they are undersized with respect to the tang, leaving the tang protruding about 1/16 out of the handle all around.
OAL: 12.375 with a weight of 12.8 oz.
But enough of my blathering on and on. So lets do some testing.
I have a list of tasks to try out, but I will entertain requests. This is not a destruction test. I have a soft spot for old Ford 150's. I like the knife and reserve the right to preserve it. But if youd like to know how this knife performs a certain bushcraft task, Ill try it out.
If you disagree with my conclusions, please post. Id like this thread to be a constructive debate, and not just me ranting away for 8 pages...although Im willing to do that too.
Here is my list of tasks:
Food prep
Chopping
Carving
Batonning
Cutting
Fire starting
Skinning (hunting Gods permitting)
Ill add to this list as I go, suggestions welcome.
Now, for my first test, I tried dealing with my most common survival situation: Lunch. Food prep is probably the most common use for a wilderness knife--from spreading peanut butter to opening MREs, the knife reigns supreme.
Todays challenge was .the sandwich (cell phone pictures, sorry).
The serrations really bit into the bread and sliced it open cleanly. Slicing bread is not a bad test of sharpness, a dull knife will squash and tear bread. This knife sliced like a lazer.
Not shown is the excellent spreading abilitythe long blade made Russian dressing distribution a snap!
OK, a bit lighthearted, but still, thats a heck of a sandwich (recipe available upon request) and I survived only to live through another meeting.
I understand that the pineapple test is becoming more popular.
The GB proves to be as tough as a Breeden in this batonning test. In actuality I was able to remove the outer layer surprisingly well for such a thick-bladed knife. Used the GB to cut the pineapple up into a 1/4" dice for salsa and it did fine. It's no chef's knife, but it did fine.
OK, some whimsical (but still demonstrative) tests done to kick this threat off. I'll do more as time permits. Don't know about you guys, but I'm having fun already.
In another thread, the infamous Chris Reeves Green Beret knife was somewhat disparaged as a wilderness/survival knife. One of our beloved moderators noted that while the GB had been tested in laboratory conditions, the tests were not helpful in evaluating the knife as a wilderness or survival tool.
Good point.
So I proposed to test the GB in closer-to-real world conditions. I didnt want to completely hijack the other thread, so I thought Id start this one and add to it as I put the GB through 'Field Trials.'
Let me say here in the first post, that I am not advocating for this knife.
I do like it, but I think I recognize some of its limitations. It was designed by Bill Harsey in collaboration with soldiers and is designed for some of the most extreme soldiers in the world. Their needs may be different from yours, that's understood. Having taken a survival course run by special forces soldiers and worked with a few SOF guys, I can testify that they understand a few things about survival. I can also say they rarely agree on what makes a good knife.
Nevertheless, I like this knife enough to have sent one to my brother when he deployed to Iraq with the Armyhe loves it. I got the one pictured here when I was preparing to deploy (although that deployment was canceled.). Anticipating my next deployment, I got Bryan Breeden to make a knife to my specs (Hey, Special Forces guys dont know everything.). So I hope my bias is now fully disclosed.
First lets talk about the knife.
I stole these specs from the CRK web site:
Blade: 7 full tang made from 0.22 CPM S30V, hardened to 55-57RC, and coated with KG Gun-kote. As pictured, there are 1.5 inches of serrations after the ricasso. The blade is hollow ground. The swedges form a false edge for the last 1.5 of the blade.
Handles: made from linen micarta, they are undersized with respect to the tang, leaving the tang protruding about 1/16 out of the handle all around.
OAL: 12.375 with a weight of 12.8 oz.
But enough of my blathering on and on. So lets do some testing.
I have a list of tasks to try out, but I will entertain requests. This is not a destruction test. I have a soft spot for old Ford 150's. I like the knife and reserve the right to preserve it. But if youd like to know how this knife performs a certain bushcraft task, Ill try it out.
If you disagree with my conclusions, please post. Id like this thread to be a constructive debate, and not just me ranting away for 8 pages...although Im willing to do that too.
Here is my list of tasks:
Food prep
Chopping
Carving
Batonning
Cutting
Fire starting
Skinning (hunting Gods permitting)
Ill add to this list as I go, suggestions welcome.
Now, for my first test, I tried dealing with my most common survival situation: Lunch. Food prep is probably the most common use for a wilderness knife--from spreading peanut butter to opening MREs, the knife reigns supreme.
Todays challenge was .the sandwich (cell phone pictures, sorry).
The serrations really bit into the bread and sliced it open cleanly. Slicing bread is not a bad test of sharpness, a dull knife will squash and tear bread. This knife sliced like a lazer.
Not shown is the excellent spreading abilitythe long blade made Russian dressing distribution a snap!
OK, a bit lighthearted, but still, thats a heck of a sandwich (recipe available upon request) and I survived only to live through another meeting.
I understand that the pineapple test is becoming more popular.
The GB proves to be as tough as a Breeden in this batonning test. In actuality I was able to remove the outer layer surprisingly well for such a thick-bladed knife. Used the GB to cut the pineapple up into a 1/4" dice for salsa and it did fine. It's no chef's knife, but it did fine.
OK, some whimsical (but still demonstrative) tests done to kick this threat off. I'll do more as time permits. Don't know about you guys, but I'm having fun already.
, thanks.
)
