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- Jun 11, 2006
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I've had this little knife called the Pack Knife from JK Knives for a few weeks now and figured I would do a mini review. I am comparing it to my favorite EDC knife the JK Ewok.
Pack Knife has a 2.75" blade, 6" OAL, 1/8" thick O1 steel and Scandi blade with black canvas micarta.
Ewok has a 2.5 blade blade, 6" OAL, 1/8" thick 1095 and a flat ground with convex edge. It has a maple handle.
The Pack Knife is small and thin enough to justify it for nearly all EDC type chores. It is even thin enough to use as a neck knife in my opinion. I used this knife for many thing some which were food prep, fire starting, and wood work. The Ewok is similar sized, but nearly twice as thick as later pictures will show.
Food Prep
A tomato is one of those foods where a sharp knife is necessary for perfect slices. I didn't have very good tomatoes as they were not as firm inside. They both cut nicely. Ewok was a little better since it was recently sharpened where I didn't touch up the edge on the Pack knife.
Pack Knife
Ewok
Next test is an apple. This will test the ability to both penetrate into the apple and notching a wedge out. The Pack knife did very well in this since the Scandi grind wedges the slices out very well. The Ewok has some drag since it didn't wedge the apple away from the blade. Also, the Pack knife has a straight edge; the slight recurve of the Ewok can sometimes take a chunk of core if not careful.
Since the tomato wasn't too firm, I decided to tests slicing ability. I wanted to get it as thin and uniform as possible. Ewok did better since it didn't have the steep Scandi grind as does the Pack Knife. I thought the Pack Knife would do worse, but not bad for first time.
Ewok
Pack Knife
Wood working
I did some more notching on some wood(I used a baton). It was some Pine that has been drying for months but somehow still very sappy. I was hoping for a little "fatwood" in the center but found none. Both knives did fairly well for the task. The Ewok was definitely more comfortable to use with a baton. The Pack Knife is definitely more comfortable to use with a baton compared to a skeleton knife however.
Pack Knife
Ewok
I also used the points for drilling a hole but didn't get any good pictures of that. The Pack Knife was very good at this once you get the initial angle down.
Fire Making
I also created fuzz sticks and the Pack Knife was great at that also. Once you get the correct angle down it makes great fuzz sticks. The Ewok has a better belly to make the fuzz sticks though. Both worked equally well with firesteel/flint. They both can shave magnesium equally. I didn't have camera when doing this.
The Pack Knife may be replacing the Ewok as my favorite EDC Knife. It is a knife that you have no excuse not to carry on you. It isn't too big nor too small. It can be pocket carried, neck carried, or even on a belt. It isn't as uncomfortable as a skeleton knife and not as thick as a regular sized knife. To me that makes it a great EDC knife!
Check out John's forum for more information
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=830
Pack Knife has a 2.75" blade, 6" OAL, 1/8" thick O1 steel and Scandi blade with black canvas micarta.
Ewok has a 2.5 blade blade, 6" OAL, 1/8" thick 1095 and a flat ground with convex edge. It has a maple handle.
The Pack Knife is small and thin enough to justify it for nearly all EDC type chores. It is even thin enough to use as a neck knife in my opinion. I used this knife for many thing some which were food prep, fire starting, and wood work. The Ewok is similar sized, but nearly twice as thick as later pictures will show.
Food Prep
A tomato is one of those foods where a sharp knife is necessary for perfect slices. I didn't have very good tomatoes as they were not as firm inside. They both cut nicely. Ewok was a little better since it was recently sharpened where I didn't touch up the edge on the Pack knife.
Pack Knife
Ewok
Next test is an apple. This will test the ability to both penetrate into the apple and notching a wedge out. The Pack knife did very well in this since the Scandi grind wedges the slices out very well. The Ewok has some drag since it didn't wedge the apple away from the blade. Also, the Pack knife has a straight edge; the slight recurve of the Ewok can sometimes take a chunk of core if not careful.
Since the tomato wasn't too firm, I decided to tests slicing ability. I wanted to get it as thin and uniform as possible. Ewok did better since it didn't have the steep Scandi grind as does the Pack Knife. I thought the Pack Knife would do worse, but not bad for first time.
Ewok
Pack Knife
Wood working
I did some more notching on some wood(I used a baton). It was some Pine that has been drying for months but somehow still very sappy. I was hoping for a little "fatwood" in the center but found none. Both knives did fairly well for the task. The Ewok was definitely more comfortable to use with a baton. The Pack Knife is definitely more comfortable to use with a baton compared to a skeleton knife however.
Pack Knife
Ewok
I also used the points for drilling a hole but didn't get any good pictures of that. The Pack Knife was very good at this once you get the initial angle down.
Fire Making
I also created fuzz sticks and the Pack Knife was great at that also. Once you get the correct angle down it makes great fuzz sticks. The Ewok has a better belly to make the fuzz sticks though. Both worked equally well with firesteel/flint. They both can shave magnesium equally. I didn't have camera when doing this.
The Pack Knife may be replacing the Ewok as my favorite EDC Knife. It is a knife that you have no excuse not to carry on you. It isn't too big nor too small. It can be pocket carried, neck carried, or even on a belt. It isn't as uncomfortable as a skeleton knife and not as thick as a regular sized knife. To me that makes it a great EDC knife!
Check out John's forum for more information
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=830
