I need help from serious knife people only

Dantor said:
one sweet blade! I've had it for around 4 years and have always liked it. great balance, well made, good fit in the hand.

the F1 is a very popular knife here, many threads about it and many that praise it.

it's an excellent well balanced blade, I think you'll like it ;) now your gonna have to learn to convex sharpen! (easy)

good luck and let us know what you think after some use.
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Do you have the F1 or the F1 G3 model? I really think this is a good knife and got to check one out at a shop. If anything, i do have my doubts about getting it it salt water. I have done quite some reading and looked at other sites and forums and one constant in all of them is this knife. I was even amazed to see so many videos of it on youtube. I still have to hear someone say one solid negative thing about this knife. ;p CANT WAIT to get mine!
 
i'd take a look at Rat Cutlery's RC-6

Its a great alround blade. The steel is 1095, basic steel but easy maintainable. You can keep it shaving sharp with just a sharpmaker and just a leather strop.

1 other bonus is the no questions guarranty, you breack it they will replace it.

My 0.02$
 
I have the F1 (Thermorun handle). I drooled over the Micarta one really bad but opted for the lower priced model.

Like you I read so many positive reviews and praise over it I had to try it out for myself, glad I got it ;)

2qsq5h5.jpg

with a SAK Farmer
 
How does the thermorun handle feel in the hand? They look hard like G-10, but ive heard people say they're like rubber. Are they like Gerber's Kraton handle found on the Gator or softer?
 
The term "survival knife", is pretty relative. A survival knife can be a swiss army knife, four blade issue utility knife, a F/U issue knife, a becker bk9, chris reeve shadow, etc. etc. etc.

I worked in survival in the Air Force, active duty for 8 yrs (88-96), and two wars. A survival kmife is only as useful as the person trained in survival. you can have a 200 balde, but if the person holding it, is not trained in survival, it might as well be a dull butter knife.

With that said. You just need to consider what size you want to carry, and what quality and money you are willing to spend. In all honesty, a good swiss army knife is really quite useful. Realistically most people do not want to carry a heavy kit with a fixed blade. Most who try it? usually give it up after a few miles hiking.

A small ziplock bag, small items (cord, first aid, small led light, fire making supplies, pocket poncho, hooks, line, etc.), and a swiss army knife work just fine.

This is just s little more than my opinion. This is experience of over the last 20+ years over working/being in the outdoors.
 
I really am looking forward to my new F1 3G and am curious to see how it is out of the box...shaving sharp or not etc etc...In response to rev_jch, I currently carry a machete and a swiss army knife. The SAK is good for almost everything but there are some things I would not put it through or cant when the machete is out of the picture. After I get the F1 3G, it will replace the machete when I cant take it with me. I know that the length of the blade don't make it an ideal basher/slasher like the machete, but it sure will be better than the s.a.k.
 
learnme said:
Hi all, I am quite new to knives but am quite serious to purchase the best survival knife FOR ME. I know there are many great knives out there but the defining factor is its functionality with the user. I am a person that tends to buy once but buy right. That is why I am here looking for help as I am swamped with google links and every other tom dick and harry saying his word is fact and not opinion. What I am looking for are facts.

The knife I want above all has to have the hardest steel in the market. I need it to be durable and strong and last through years of abuse but still be sharp. Naturally the second factor is its sharpness. IT HAS TO BE SHARP. Third is the functionality. Since this is to be used as a survival knife, it has to be portable so I am thinking a maximum of 8" tip to butt. It should chop, carve, skin, stab, etc etc etc. Looks and price are irrelevant. PLEAS HELP ME FIND A KNIFE.
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Theres alotta "survival knives" out there. When you use that term you have to be careful not to get junk. For me a survival knife does NOT have a hollowed handle. So you can store fishing crap in there...big whoop. A real one has a tang that goes completely through the handle, solid quality steel, and could withstand an atomic blast.
Im a traditionalist...so for an overall good use, super quality knife, for not too much would be a simple USMC Ka-BAR. They can withstand alot of junk, and will last you your entire life. lol, i know. But, i'm sure there are more expensive fancy ones out there that might be more appealing. Again...To each his own.
 
learnme said:
I really am looking forward to my new F1 3G and am curious to see how it is out of the box...shaving sharp or not etc etc
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with mine and the ones I've read about they come pretty sharp, not to worry but like many have said you really need to learn to sharpen your blades, with use they all lose their sharpness, nature of the tool/beast.

get some good stones or kits and practice on all your house knives!
lots of good blades mentioned here, you'll probably be getting more;)
 
Ben Dover said:
You'll like it. A good, solid Japanese made knife.
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Its a Swedish made knife. They just adopted some Japanese techniques, "Sanmai" and "Hamaguri". In essence I suppose all blades are Japanese based as they basically pioneered smithing up till today with their ceramic blades.
 
I think youre wrong there...Fallkniven is a Swedish family-owned company, but the F1 among others are made in Japan.
 
OK! I just picked up my knife! I feel like a kid again and Christmas just came early! Right off the box I was initially surprised with how solid the knife felt in my hand. The grip and feel on the handle feel really good although I wish it had finger grooves. Out of the box it is shaving sharp. I tested it with my firesteel and it works even better then the striker that comes with it. The only problem is the zytel sheath. The sheath itself is great and just what i need. The problem is in the handle strap. It does not fit well around the handle of the knife. I have to struggle to close it and open it. This can be an issue. I will change it asap to possibly Velcro. any suggestions? lastly, the DC4 sharpener I got just adds to the confidence I have for this knife. I can not wait, to get out and put the f1 3g through its paces.
 
Eric "Normark" (On/Scene Tactical) makes great sheaths for the F1. even with a firesteel loop. I'd contact him ;)
 
Great looking knife.

So what blade are ya gonna buy next??!! :)

Like potato chips, can't have just one... :)
 
From your initial post, I still am unclear as to what you want. Knives come in varying types, sizes and configurations. Chopping knives don't necessarily make good defensive knives (weapons), and hunting knives may have completely different features.

One can assume you want a fixed blade knife of some kind, but beyond that it's tough to make a recommendation.

Also, honestly, you should give serious thought to having several, as I know of no single knife that will do everything. There're not only differences in types of steel, but (as stated above) tips, grinds, belly and toughness, just to name a few. Even similar steels perform completely differently depending on how they're treated. Two knives with identical steels may have different finishes -- some polished, some satin, some coated. Polished steels reflect, satin finishes are more apt to corrosioon and, of course, coated blades scratch. Some blades are thick and can be used for batoning, others thin and wickedly sharp; likewise, some are serrated, some with course patterns like saws and others fine.

When I asked very general questions as a kid, my uncle used to reply, "How long is a piece of string?" The answer is, "It depends."
 
nice pictures learnme! :thumbup:

a suggestion, learn to sharpen on a cheap knife (knives) first! don't learn on your new baby.

their are many really good threads/tutorials here and many places, even just for the F1. you just have to find them lol
lots in the "Maintenance, Tinkering & Embellishment" section plus other places.
 
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