Gso-4.1

SURVIVE!

SURVIVE!

Joined
Jun 25, 2011
Messages
694
Here it is, the new GSO-4.1. This is the last of the SURVIVE! Starter models but it won't be the last for the year. We'll still have a few more models debuting later this year and I'll start showing off some folder prototypes shortly as well. A huge thanks to everyone who has gotten involved in the SURVIVE! Starter so far.

2015-04-07 18.44.11.jpg 2015-04-07 18.44.47.jpg 2015-04-07 18.46.30.jpg
 
Definitely a winner - will own one at some point. Thanks for the update - keep up the outstanding work.
 
Woohoo! This is one I've been waiting to see since the 4.7 images were released. I knew it would be good, but I'm really happy to see it. Guy has a great sense of design, form and function and a true desire to take in user feedback. He's said he values usability over aesthetics, but personally I really like the look of his knives. I love saber grinds and spear points. Mirror finish and polished wood handles never appealed to me. I can't wait to get my starter in my hand!
 
SURVIVE! said:
We'll still have a few more models debuting later this year and I'll start showing off some folder prototypes shortly as well.
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Looking forward to see what you do with the folder. I still think there's a gap for someone to produce a hard-use, utility-focussed balisong.
 
Mindz_I said:
Out of interest how come you've moved away from skeletonized tangs?
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Below is a pretty thorough quote from Guy in a thread about the 3.5:

"There are several reasons for the move to solid tang on most of the knives. For one, it will reduce the cost of cutting the blades. Since we're moving away from less expensive laser cutting to more expensive water jet cutting and then machining the blades to size, deleting the skeletonizing will help offset some of the cost increase.

On the functional side of things it will eliminate the air pocket in between the handles, where corrosion can sometimes form more aggressively. We've gotten a few blades back where the heaviest corrosion is hidden right there in the middle of the knife. Also, I really like having 100% mating surface between the handle and blade tang on these medium and large knives. If your bowdrill divot would happen to burn through after extended use, the tang will stop it for sure, keeping the divot useable, where a skeletonized pocket wouldn't. The full tang also helps eliminate blade flexing under hard use and while I've only ever had the one failure with a Bohler M-390 blade, I figure it is better safe than sorry. I know for sure the issue was because of a flaw in the steel and a perfect storm of circumstances BUT it would have never failed if the blade has been a solid tang. I've only ever had that one warranty replacement but even that one still eats at me.

To me even one failure in the field is unacceptable. I offer a lifetime warranty, so it was taken care of but that isn't really the reason I offer the warranty. I offer it because I truly believe that my products should last you at least a lifetime. Deleting the skeletonizing didn't substantially change the weight or dramatically affect balance point, so I went for it.

I'll still offer the smaller knives skeletonized because they can't physically be subjected to the same forces as the larger blades and for something you're going to wear like a neck knife, every few grams of weight reduction helps with comfort."
 
Mindz_I said:
Thanks kindly for sharing that.

I wonder what the difference in weight will be.
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Weight of the original GSO-4.1 (skeletonized) was ~6.4 Oz. Weight of a DLC'd un-skeletonized SK-4 is ~7.5 Oz, probably the best comparator. The skeleton-tang took an ounce off the total weight and provided a little better balance. We'll see where the new GSO-4.1 balance point is...
 
Thanks :)

I guess there's reason behind it. I think I'd still prefer the lower weight in the smaller blades, even if it meant a reasonable increase in cost.
 
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4.1 and 3.5
Skeletonized = lighter weight.
Glad the recent 3.5 was still Skeletonized as the upcoming 3.5 no longer will be.
The additional benefit (for me personally) other then less weight is being able to store amounts of tinder and small fishing hooks under the scales.
Years ago I got rid of a BK2 and completely converted to the joy in "light weight" both in my pack and on my person.
 
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It was difficult to choose but I picked up the 4.7 over the 4.1. I think it's an overall more capable knife... I couldn't justify both :D
 
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