Johnson Adventure Blades, "Potbelly"

just for laughs, i went and grabbed my potbelly, and re-remembered the shape of the handle, that sorta point on the grip on the bottom? that might as well be a guard... with a 1 or 2 finger grip around that, i feel i can easily stab through a car door without sliding up the handle. it's VERY secure.


Bladite
 
I've got the 'Piggyback' and I'm very impressed with it for an inexpensive little necker. Sort of like a mini Nessmuk. Quite handy, and you can actually hold on to it, unlike some the expensive mini knives out their currently touted.
 
Nice review. I have been looking at the Ka-Bar site waiting to see the new ESKABAR show up. I like the Potbelly a good bit more than the Baconmaker design. The blade on this one looks very functional but am still unsure how I feel about the handle...probably will be until I get to hold it in hand. I have no doubts in the steel at all the 1095CV steel Ka-Bar uses is some great stuff. I still need to get the standard issue ka-bar I just bought out in the woods...but really haven't had the extra time, maybe later on in the fall or winter.
 
To me, the handles on these are very comfortable if I'm all the way back towards the butt (index finger behind swell) for chopping or all the way forward (thumb along spine, "palm" swell in hollow of hand underneath ring finger, knife sitting slightly sideways) for scraping or planing. Really isn't comfortable in a traditional hammer or saber grip. I think a more versatile handle shape could have been arrived at, though it wouldn't have been distinctive, I suppose. I also prefer guards (slipping up onto a blade inside of an elk while it's ten degrees below zero and you can't feel that you're cutting into your tendons will tend to make you feel that way) but these knives have lanyard holes so it's all good----a pinky lanyard will do damned near anything a guard will, short of stopping another blade.

Still, minor quibbles aside, they're well made, rugged knives. I didn't need another large outdoors knife but hell, I stopped needing another one about 200 knives ago.
 
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dawsonbob said:
Actually, I don't know why we don't have a KA-BAR forum, anyway.

That aside, good review of an interesting knife.
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I agree. I was wondering about this one, and now I have much more info. Thanks for the review, it's appreciated.:thumbup:
 
Just received my "potbelly" and like the other reviewers I am really impressed with the knife. Mine came really sharp and if I get the angle of the blade right it will slice 80g printer paper just using the weight of the blade. I'm not 100% sure about the grips though so will fit a lanyard asap to ensure it stays in my hand when gripping the back of the handle and chopping.

Unfortunately I'm not as impressed with the sheath or the piggyback knife. The sheath is ambidextrous and the knife does not fit the insert very well so rattles about badly. As has already been noted, the lower strap is in danger of getting sliced every time you take out or replace the knife. The piggyback blade, which is just about ok for a freebie, is very difficult to remove if the main knife is in the sheath or if you have anything in the pouch. The pouch itself does not have a flap so rain will get in and there are no drainage holes so things will stay wet.

I will keep the knife because it is everything I need in a large camp-knife. However, I will probably cut the pouch and piggyback sheath off and try to glue some rubber strip or something similar in the neck of the insert to stop the rattle.

If you can live with the sheath then it's a great knife.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! I realize I'm five years late, but a first post is a first post. :)
 
t1mpani said:
Welcome to Bladeforums! I realize I'm five years late, but a first post is a first post. :)
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Thanks for the welcome. I have used the forums for reference many times and if I'd been happy with the potbelly sheath I probably wouldn't have posted my thoughts.

I was going to update my post because I spent a few hours last night playing with the knife/piggyback/sheath combo and have decided that I cannot live with it so it has gone back. The thing is I was having enough trouble getting the piggyback in and out with the sheath on the bench in front of me. With the sheath on my belt, even using two hands it was even more difficult and one handed in field conditions it would be a case of poke and hope!!!!

Another issue is that in the UK I had to pay the equivalent of $150 for the potbelly so I'm hoping I can do much better for the money.

Any thoughts?
 
colenso said:
Thanks for the welcome. I have used the forums for reference many times and if I'd been happy with the potbelly sheath I probably wouldn't have posted my thoughts.

I was going to update my post because I spent a few hours last night playing with the knife/piggyback/sheath combo and have decided that I cannot live with it so it has gone back. The thing is I was having enough trouble getting the piggyback in and out with the sheath on the bench in front of me. With the sheath on my belt, even using two hands it was even more difficult and one handed in field conditions it would be a case of poke and hope!!!!

Another issue is that in the UK I had to pay the equivalent of $150 for the potbelly so I'm hoping I can do much better for the money.

Any thoughts?
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keep the sheath as is for that resale ;) and make or get a custom kydex rig?

the sheath isn't terrible to my eyes, better than most included, but perhaps needs some refinement. next generation maybe.

i've wrapped all that code around the sheath to lose that puffyness, and mostly regard the small knife as "backup". perhaps around camp, with the rig off. dunno. haven't given it a lot of attention.
 
Keep the knife and just get a different sheath made. You aren't going to find anything similar for under $150. You'll have to go custom to beat it, IMO.

I'm going to have custom leather made for mine, but for now I think I'm going to experiment with putting a dangler on the factory sheath to make it more carry friendly.

The piggyback knife will throw some awesome sparks off a ferro rod.
 
Great review on an interesting looking knife,thanks!!I've been eyeballing that one for a few months.
 
This original review is what drove me to get a Potbelly last year, I liked it, but hardly used it. I seem to always reach for my BK-2 or 14. Truth be told, they are generally my first grabs for real use as opposed to just hanging off my belt. Now I have to get my PB out and actually use it. I have always liked the knife so it's time to get the rag out and give r' hell. Maybe a chop off against the old Brute (gets no love out there :D) or a hawk or some such. Whatever....... a has da choppin urge baby ! Still waiting for this incessant week and a half rain to pass.
 
I absolutely love the design of this knife, but I can't get passed the lack of a lower guard. I know I'd be THE guy that would manage to slice his hand open.
 
Say Heah Everybody, in some video's and pictures some Potbelly appear that they have Hollow Grind, but mine came out with a Saber Grind, but it is very sharp and maybe just the Secondary Grind is a Hollow Grind ?, it is thin and very sharp for a knife this thick to bring it to such a sharp edge. Infact I love the way mine is, the most interesting fact about the Potbelly is that it has a Butcher Knife Characteristic, and also has a little of the Nessmuk Style but with a curved belly that is great for slicing. I could really understand that you can use it as a 1knife carry option, it's a robust tough knife that I can baton with it and do finer carvings with. Alot of times I wished my BK-2 was a little longer, well the Potbelly is it. At first I hesitated getting a Potbelly because I wasn't use to a odd looking knife, then I got a 2Hawks Double Bit Hatchet and got interested in getting a Nessmuk Style Knife but I was looking for a larger Nessmuk, I noticed when I paired my Parangatang with the Potbelly that it did look a little like a large Nessmuk on steriods Nessmuk. After getting it in my hands and took it out for a test drive, was I more impressed, today I have no regrets I got it, and seriously I would recommend this knife to everybody, it's awesome. And I also hesitated because I didn't want a Hollow Grind but when I finally got mine and I can't see a Hollow Grind but a thin edge, it's a knife that became a instant Fav's. Yeah I would recommand it.
 
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