- Joined
- Jun 10, 2011
- Messages
- 719
During a Survive! Knives Monday sale at the end of April, I had luck enough to sneak in my order for a GSO 4.7 factory second. I chose the CPM3V version with natural brown canvas scales and a black kydex sheath. Ive had the knife a short spot of time but long enough to formulate initial impressions that I thought to share with all the other S!K followers here on Bladeforums.
The criteria I outlined when I started looking for a new fixed blade a few months ago was for a tool that will complement a saw or small axe on off-trail backpacking trips as well as performing chores during car camping trips. The knife would ideally be durable, four to five inches blade length, and have great handle ergonomics. At the risk of ringing the fan boy bell too early, I think Ive found one that will satisfy my requirements for a long time to come.
The knife took a few weeks to ship, leaving Idaho on a Tuesday and arriving at my home in Maryland two days later, just in time for a weekend camping trip. The folks at Survive apparently upgraded my shipping from USPS free shipping option to guaranteed two day delivery. Thanks guys! The packaging was the typical boxed arrangement youre used to seeing: knife, sheath and belt clip, Vibra-tite threadlocker sample, T-25 torx bit, sticker. Also included was the t-shirt I ordered which is really beefy and feels great.
After popping the 4.7 out of the sheath, my initial observation was this: its a serious, well-built tool with enough blade length to accomplish almost any camp task but not so much size and weight that I would leave it at home when going on a hike.
When posting some initial photos in another thread, the question came about as to if the scales are standard issue micarta or the new, micro textured variety Guy has mentioned. Im being told by others here that they appear to be the latter but as this is my first S!K I have no frame of reference other than comparing the these scales to other knives Ive handled over the years. If these are in fact the standard scales Im not sure why Guy felt it necessary to offer a more textured version. My 4.7s handle provides more grip than any micarta I can recall. At no point during my handling and usage of this knife have I felt a single hot spot or felt my grip was in jeopardy. This includes some hard usage in steady rain.
Focusing on the shape of the handle and scales, I agree with whats already been posted about the newer S!K knives. The up-emphasized contouring and added length feels so comfortable that I altogether forget about the handle during use. My theory is the less you notice the handle, the easier the knife is to use. Thinking about ones grip or altering the force with which youre holding the tool detracts from the task at hand.
For reference, I wear size large gloves. With the 4.7, all standard hand positions seem to work well and I worked the knife in a variety of grips. I think Guy can stop working on his handle profile (although Im sure he wont) because I cant imagine a handle profile that fits better into a closed fist. If I had one minor issue with the handle it would be wanting for a bit more flare at the base of the pommel to aid in extracting the knife from the sheath but I dont know, maybe that would negatively impact other grips and cutting tasks.
The sheath is nearly on par with the knife itself. A perfect fit; there is absolutely no movement of the knife once seated. It takes a lot of shaking to dislodge the blade, even when inverted. The footprint and layout of the sheath is excellent and I feel it echoes the overall design of the knife: purposeful and compact with a simple design scheme. One quibble a personal preference that Ive seen mentioned before about the knife riding high on the belt. An offset extension would be a good upgrade for S!K to offer when setting up a purchase. That said, I wore the knife around camp for two days and only occasionally did I notice the pommel prodding my side.
I didnt torture-test the blade like Ive seen done with a few reviews of the Cru-Forge 4.7s but rather focused on camp-style tasks that I feel best represent the needs of a casual (hard) user. I focused on carving and shaving kindling, food prep, batoning, and prolonged use in wood. The test material was mostly dead standing red oak, about 10-12 inches in diameter and partially seasoned. After bucking the wood into 16 inch lengths with a chain saw and axe-splitting it into quarters, I used the 4.7 to baton maybe six pieces into kindling-sized sticks. Looking to test edge retention, I purposely drove the 4.7 through knots when I could. I tried to push the limits of the blade length in respect to width of the lumber. I frequently had to hammer the 4.7s pommel to force the point out of the far side of the wood and often found myself whacking on the barely protruding blade tip. There were also quite a few blows delivered directly to the micarta scales.
The GSO 4.7 handled every smack with aplomb with no visible damage to the knife despite perhaps 45 minutes of continual thumping; the 4.7 simply didnt flinch. Guys grind geometry efficiently maximizes the blade width without compromising slicing ability. Maybe it was the quality of the wood I was driving through but every piece gave me the same report: after slicing down three or four inches I could hear that satisfying groan and crack of timber beginning to split.
After all the batoning, I was eager to test the edge. Following up on all the hammering, the 4.7 had no problem slicing cleanly through single sheets of paper and gobbling up arm hair. Dragging my thumbnail down the blade, I detected no hint of a snag.
I wont lie when I say that at this point, I was intent on producing at least a minor roll or chip. Going back to the wood, I selected a seasoned-looking limb about three inches in diameter and proceeded to cross-baton the 4.7 through the tough wood. Striking dead-on and at angles, over dozens and dozens of whacks, the blade bit through the limb. At one point, I was wailing so hard a friend remarked he was sure I was going to break either the knife or my arm. The wedge of wood under the limb received so much impact force that it was buried three inches deep into the dirt. Color me impressed!
To further test the keenness of the edge I tried a quick bit of feather-sticking. Laying the grind onto a corner of a split piece, the blade peeled away slivers as easily as it did on my preliminary tests the first night I received my order. Amazing and effortless.
After a few glamour shots, the GSO 4.7 went straight to work in a friends hands prepping all of our food, which was done with no problems incurred. I was particularly impressed by how thin the blade sliced onions and how easy it was to get a fine dice.
The knife was well balanced and nimble enough to easily pare out the cores of green peppers, where tight quarters make it challenging for larger chef knives to work quickly and cleanly. This is all very important to me because I like to eat well on a trip and food prep is a good one-third of the demand I place on a knife. The GSO got thumbs up from my friend and he remarked several times about how slicey the blade was.
Food prep done, I had the 4.7 stuck into the picnic table and I absent mindedly waved my hand at the blade. Barely bumping the back of my thumb against the edge, I acquired a tiny, surgically precise cut below my knuckle. Lifting my hand and exclaiming how keen the edge was still, my friend interrupted, Ok man, whats the website? Fifteen minutes later, cell in hand, hes a convert:
If thats not a ringing endorsement, I dont know what is. To sum up my overly-wordy review Im floored by the quality of the GSO 4.7. It bears repeating: there is no equal for the quality of the Survive! line at anywhere near the price point. I have no idea why Guy and Ellie have decided to let these blades go at under $300 but were all the benefactors, even if most owners have to wait some months to acquire a Survive! tool. Id like to personally thank Survive! Knives for fulfilling my order, speeding up my shipping, and (possibly?) supplying me with the textured scales. Lastly, Id like to thank Guy Seiferd for having a unique vision and a commitment to that vision. Best of luck to the S!K team and Im sure you will sell me another knife.
The criteria I outlined when I started looking for a new fixed blade a few months ago was for a tool that will complement a saw or small axe on off-trail backpacking trips as well as performing chores during car camping trips. The knife would ideally be durable, four to five inches blade length, and have great handle ergonomics. At the risk of ringing the fan boy bell too early, I think Ive found one that will satisfy my requirements for a long time to come.
The knife took a few weeks to ship, leaving Idaho on a Tuesday and arriving at my home in Maryland two days later, just in time for a weekend camping trip. The folks at Survive apparently upgraded my shipping from USPS free shipping option to guaranteed two day delivery. Thanks guys! The packaging was the typical boxed arrangement youre used to seeing: knife, sheath and belt clip, Vibra-tite threadlocker sample, T-25 torx bit, sticker. Also included was the t-shirt I ordered which is really beefy and feels great.
After popping the 4.7 out of the sheath, my initial observation was this: its a serious, well-built tool with enough blade length to accomplish almost any camp task but not so much size and weight that I would leave it at home when going on a hike.
When posting some initial photos in another thread, the question came about as to if the scales are standard issue micarta or the new, micro textured variety Guy has mentioned. Im being told by others here that they appear to be the latter but as this is my first S!K I have no frame of reference other than comparing the these scales to other knives Ive handled over the years. If these are in fact the standard scales Im not sure why Guy felt it necessary to offer a more textured version. My 4.7s handle provides more grip than any micarta I can recall. At no point during my handling and usage of this knife have I felt a single hot spot or felt my grip was in jeopardy. This includes some hard usage in steady rain.
Focusing on the shape of the handle and scales, I agree with whats already been posted about the newer S!K knives. The up-emphasized contouring and added length feels so comfortable that I altogether forget about the handle during use. My theory is the less you notice the handle, the easier the knife is to use. Thinking about ones grip or altering the force with which youre holding the tool detracts from the task at hand.
For reference, I wear size large gloves. With the 4.7, all standard hand positions seem to work well and I worked the knife in a variety of grips. I think Guy can stop working on his handle profile (although Im sure he wont) because I cant imagine a handle profile that fits better into a closed fist. If I had one minor issue with the handle it would be wanting for a bit more flare at the base of the pommel to aid in extracting the knife from the sheath but I dont know, maybe that would negatively impact other grips and cutting tasks.
The sheath is nearly on par with the knife itself. A perfect fit; there is absolutely no movement of the knife once seated. It takes a lot of shaking to dislodge the blade, even when inverted. The footprint and layout of the sheath is excellent and I feel it echoes the overall design of the knife: purposeful and compact with a simple design scheme. One quibble a personal preference that Ive seen mentioned before about the knife riding high on the belt. An offset extension would be a good upgrade for S!K to offer when setting up a purchase. That said, I wore the knife around camp for two days and only occasionally did I notice the pommel prodding my side.
I didnt torture-test the blade like Ive seen done with a few reviews of the Cru-Forge 4.7s but rather focused on camp-style tasks that I feel best represent the needs of a casual (hard) user. I focused on carving and shaving kindling, food prep, batoning, and prolonged use in wood. The test material was mostly dead standing red oak, about 10-12 inches in diameter and partially seasoned. After bucking the wood into 16 inch lengths with a chain saw and axe-splitting it into quarters, I used the 4.7 to baton maybe six pieces into kindling-sized sticks. Looking to test edge retention, I purposely drove the 4.7 through knots when I could. I tried to push the limits of the blade length in respect to width of the lumber. I frequently had to hammer the 4.7s pommel to force the point out of the far side of the wood and often found myself whacking on the barely protruding blade tip. There were also quite a few blows delivered directly to the micarta scales.
The GSO 4.7 handled every smack with aplomb with no visible damage to the knife despite perhaps 45 minutes of continual thumping; the 4.7 simply didnt flinch. Guys grind geometry efficiently maximizes the blade width without compromising slicing ability. Maybe it was the quality of the wood I was driving through but every piece gave me the same report: after slicing down three or four inches I could hear that satisfying groan and crack of timber beginning to split.
After all the batoning, I was eager to test the edge. Following up on all the hammering, the 4.7 had no problem slicing cleanly through single sheets of paper and gobbling up arm hair. Dragging my thumbnail down the blade, I detected no hint of a snag.
I wont lie when I say that at this point, I was intent on producing at least a minor roll or chip. Going back to the wood, I selected a seasoned-looking limb about three inches in diameter and proceeded to cross-baton the 4.7 through the tough wood. Striking dead-on and at angles, over dozens and dozens of whacks, the blade bit through the limb. At one point, I was wailing so hard a friend remarked he was sure I was going to break either the knife or my arm. The wedge of wood under the limb received so much impact force that it was buried three inches deep into the dirt. Color me impressed!
To further test the keenness of the edge I tried a quick bit of feather-sticking. Laying the grind onto a corner of a split piece, the blade peeled away slivers as easily as it did on my preliminary tests the first night I received my order. Amazing and effortless.
After a few glamour shots, the GSO 4.7 went straight to work in a friends hands prepping all of our food, which was done with no problems incurred. I was particularly impressed by how thin the blade sliced onions and how easy it was to get a fine dice.
The knife was well balanced and nimble enough to easily pare out the cores of green peppers, where tight quarters make it challenging for larger chef knives to work quickly and cleanly. This is all very important to me because I like to eat well on a trip and food prep is a good one-third of the demand I place on a knife. The GSO got thumbs up from my friend and he remarked several times about how slicey the blade was.
Food prep done, I had the 4.7 stuck into the picnic table and I absent mindedly waved my hand at the blade. Barely bumping the back of my thumb against the edge, I acquired a tiny, surgically precise cut below my knuckle. Lifting my hand and exclaiming how keen the edge was still, my friend interrupted, Ok man, whats the website? Fifteen minutes later, cell in hand, hes a convert:
If thats not a ringing endorsement, I dont know what is. To sum up my overly-wordy review Im floored by the quality of the GSO 4.7. It bears repeating: there is no equal for the quality of the Survive! line at anywhere near the price point. I have no idea why Guy and Ellie have decided to let these blades go at under $300 but were all the benefactors, even if most owners have to wait some months to acquire a Survive! tool. Id like to personally thank Survive! Knives for fulfilling my order, speeding up my shipping, and (possibly?) supplying me with the textured scales. Lastly, Id like to thank Guy Seiferd for having a unique vision and a commitment to that vision. Best of luck to the S!K team and Im sure you will sell me another knife.
