How tough is the Aqua Salt?

B

Bolt

Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
449
I was thinking about getting one of these for campsite chores. Can it handle being batoned? I do not have the money for the Temperance 2, but I would like my dollars to go to Spyderco, so what do you think. Is this a good choice?
 
I haven't batoned with mine yet, but I think it is plenty tough for a knife its size. H1 is tough. The edge may roll a little but it can be fixed easily.

Have you seen these pictures from Spyderco?

aqua_salt_FB23_1.jpg


aqua_salt_FB23_2.jpg


aqua_salt_FB23_5.jpg
 
The Aqua Salt is pretty tough. I've used mine quite a bit in the woods, and it has held up very well. It's handled some rough use, and fairly hard batoning without so much as a whimper.The saber grind, while limiting its efficiency as a slicer, means there's plenty meat behind the edge to handle the rough stuff. It's a great little knife. The H1 holds its edge nicely too.
 
Aqua Salt is a great all round fixed blade. I like it a lot. It will hold up to pretty much whatever you throw at it. H-1 won't chip, it will just "bend", it also work hardens so the more you use/sharpen it, the stronger the steel will become. Also, I don't know if you've seen/heard of the TV Show Deadliest Catch, but the crew of the Northwestern Crab Boat carries and uses Aqua Salt's in the harsh environment they work in.

Canis
 
Awsome, thanks for the replys, this helps with deciding to buy one.
Thanks again.
 
cgmblade said:
I haven't batoned with mine yet, but I think it is plenty tough for a knife its size. H1 is tough. The edge may roll a little but it can be fixed easily.

Have you seen these pictures from Spyderco?

aqua_salt_FB23_1.jpg


aqua_salt_FB23_2.jpg


aqua_salt_FB23_5.jpg
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So is it not considered a full tang fixed blade?
 
THG said:
So is it not considered a full tang fixed blade?
Click to expand...

This is what Sal had to say on the subject in this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=626086

Hi Elkins,

It's about 3/4ths of the way through the handle, which is injected molded onto the notched tang. We've got a picture coming.

Franco is right about my answer. You won't break it.

If Franco would like to send a Busse, Fehrman, Cold Steel, Chris Reeve and SOG models, I would be happy to break them for you and compare strength graphs. We have the equipment to test them and I wouldn't mind a bit of a wager on the results.

Full tangs have an advantage in that if the scales breaks off, the knife can still be used.

Disadvantages:

The scales are held on with pins, rivets or screws which are weaker than a quality FRN handle injected onto the tang.

The full tang permits moisture to get under the scale which can induce rust (not a problem with H1).

Full tangs add weight, even when tapered or skeletonized.

sal
Click to expand...
 
You won't break it. I've batoned mine through all kinds of wood for the past year and it did absolutely nothing to the knife. I've also done lots of prying apart standing dead trees to break off chunks of wood for a fire, again with no issue. I think the Aqua Salt is a fantastic camp knife. Just bring along a hatchet or something to cover chopping if need be and you're well off.
 
Well i am not a fixed blade guy and I don't own a single one. But now I have to go out and buy the aqua salt due to this thread. I am guessing it is all i will ever need.
 
colubrid said:
Well i am not a fixed blade guy and I don't own a single one. But now I have to go out and buy the aqua salt due to this thread. I am guessing it is all i will ever need.
Click to expand...

The Aqua Salt is a great knife. I love mine, but am wondering if I should try to get a Rock Salt while they are still available.

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8".
Click to expand...

Psalm 109:8 NAS

Let his days be few; Let another take his office.
 
cgmblade said:
The Aqua Salt is a great knife. I love mine, but am wondering if I should try to get a Rock Salt while they are still available. [/B]
Click to expand...

I don't believe the Rock Salts have been discontinued, they have just been heavily discounted. No clue as to how long they will be discounted. Didn't mean to hijack thread.

Canis
 
You didn't hijack anything, otherwise we'd have to get the FBI involved:) Thanks for the info.
 
The Aqua Salt handle is very ergonomic and quite comfortable while also providing a very secure grip.
 
Among other H1 blades, I have both the PE and SE Aqua Salt. The SE is the first fully serrated blade I've ever owned, and it's won me over. The edge is super-sharp and holds up amazingly. It's also very tough stuff.

I've done some heavy prying with it, and I have to say that I approached prying with the thought "well, Sal says it's really tough stuff, so here goes I guess...." Sure enough, no problem. Now, it's not like I sank the first inch into a tree and jumped up and down on it, but it withstood me pounding it into frozen meat to chip/pry off chunks for the stew pot, no problem.

It's also sold me enough on the spyderedge that I think I'm going to be getting an SE Pacific Salt next, with the idea that it may replace the plain edge Salt 1 that I EDC.
 
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