Help confirming whether Fallkniven is counterfeit

[SF!]

I hope this is an ok place to ask this; there is not a Fallkniven manufacturer subforum..

Full disclosure, I'm not a big knife person!

I have a Fallkniven A1 knife. The issue is that I've been told the knife I have may be a counterfeit because it is not 'laminated'. I've since studied the counterfeit information page from Fallkniven - https://fallkniven.se/en/product-information/counterfeit/ . And the people who have contacted me are right, there is no 'lamination' line that I can see.

But aside from the lamination line, there are a few things that make me think I do have a REAL Fallkniven A1. One is that I know I purchased this knife sometime around 2002 - I don't remember there being an issue with counterfeit knives when I purchased this, but I suppose I could been duped. Another is that the quality sure seems to be top notch - I generally think I'm pretty good at telling knock-off quality from real quality.

Is there anything else I can reference (and also be confident with) to determine if I have a fake or real thing? (added close-ups of blade) Thanks guys!

 

[knarfeng]

I seem to remember that early on (like in the 2002 time frame) the F1 was offered in straight VG10 instead of the laminated VG10 which is the only current VG 10 option. I would hang out here until someone with better knowledge comes by though.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Pretty sure it's genuine, from your pix. It is probably non-laminated VG-10; my F1 in VG-10, non-laminated, dates from that era. FWIW, I prefer the solid VG-10 to the laminated versions. I'm not convinced the laminated versions are significantly stronger (20% ?) in the real world, and the softer 420J outsides scratch more easily.

 

[Boru13]

S SF!
Maybe this will help.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/anyone-after-a-all-vg-10-fallkniven-a1-not-laminated.279243/

 

[KenHash]

The original A-1s were indeed solid VG10 monosteel so no lamination line. However they had a slightly different grind per the photo below. However, that does not confirm your A1 as not being authentic as I "believe" later ones had a grind matching the current A-1s. A couple questions;
-Is your knife Convex grind/convex edge?
-Do you have the original sheath that came with the knife?

 

[SF!]

. A couple questions;
-Is your knife Convex grind/convex edge?
-Do you have the original sheath that came with the knife?

Thanks all. To answer the questions.. The edge on mine appears to be convex (rounded) all the way to the edge. It’s never been used/sharpened so that’s how it came new.. I do have the original sheath. It’s a simple nylon and kydex sheath

 

[KenHash]

OK thanks for the photos. I recognize that sheath, they came with the second issue VG10 Monosteel A-1s which had the current grind. The first runs had the different grinds and came with a nylon sheath with "A1" in red on them.
In my opinion your A-1 is authentic.

 

[SF!]

That’s awesome, thank you! That gives me a lot of peace-of-mind. Too bad it just LOOKS like what Fallkniven is telling people is a counterfeit

thanks again

 

[KenHash]

You're very welcome. I believe you are right in that these older solid VG10 Fallknivens were made before the Chinese counterfeiting came into full swing as far as Fallkniven models go.
This is part of my site:
http://hattoricollector.com/2015/09/29/fallkniven-of-boden-sweden/

 

[Alberta Ed]

Beat the heck out of it and let us know how well it works. Fallkniven knives are awesome.

 

[bigsurbob]

HOORAY!