Kanetsune knives? help a new guy?

[hudoe]

Hi guys this is my first post and I made an account specifically for this!

so I have been searching around for a fixed blade multi-purpose (mainly camping) knife. I have had plenty of knives but none of the sort of quality that I want to be getting into with this new one. I was looking around and saw this http://www.cuttingedgeknives.com.au/product_details.php?page=1&pID=4953 after following this forum for about a month and searching I could find hardly any information on it. It would be used for making fuzz sticks ect. and light batoning. My Dad and I always carry a hatchet for chopping so I'm not worried about that. I came across it while showing my dad the fallkniven s1 which I wanted him to buy for me (as I am 17 and cant "legally" by a knife) and if you guys think that would be a better choice I will almost defiantly go with it. My dad said that he liked the character of the knife & the sheath and pushed me into getting it but I want to ask you guys first. My main problems are:

- It doesn't appear to have a full tang blade (I wont be using it for hammering but aren't they meant to be stronger?)
- I know hardly anything about it including the thickness of the blade
- The sheath after all it is wood (this is not such an issue as I do like the design)

Oh and I usually go beach camping with my dad (if any of you know Queensland, Australia at Moreton & Fraser) but we sometimes go out bush. I hope ive provided enough information.

Thanks

 

[The Mastiff]

In my experiences with them, they are sort of hit and miss quality wise. They look better than they cut until modified. I've had steel that seemed to have been burned, overhardened, and one that seemed so soft it was a PITA for it's stubborn burrs that didn't want to snap off.

The materials used are decent enough quality but they have stuff like fake hammer marks from a forging that didn't happen. Stuff like that.

I had very high hopes for a folder it took them probably an extra year or two to get to the market but when it finally appeared it had the same steel problems. The fit and finish wasn't very good either. So far I've had about 4-5 but I've finally given up.

It's too bad as it's really great steels like Super blue, blue 1&2, White, etc. Those Hitachi steels can be made to do wonderful things. Spyderco's Caly 3.5 Super blue is an example of what an excellent maker can do with those great Hitachi steels on a production level. You can't even begin to compare Kanetsune's super blue performance with Spydercos. Like a garden tractor vs. an Acura.

Joe

 

[hudoe]

In my experiences with them, they are sort of hit and miss quality wise. They look better than they cut until modified. I've had steel that seemed to have been burned, overhardened, and one that seemed so soft it was a PITA for it's stubborn burrs that didn't want to snap off.

The materials used are decent enough quality but they have stuff like fake hammer marks from a forging that didn't happen. Stuff like that.

I had very high hopes for a folder it took them probably an extra year or two to get to the market but when it finally appeared it had the same steel problems. The fit and finish wasn't very good either. So far I've had about 4-5 but I've finally given up.

It's too bad as it's really great steels like Super blue, blue !&@, White, etc. Those Hitachi steels can be made to do wonderful things. Spyderco's Caly 3.5 Super blue is an example of what an excellent maker can do with those great Hitachi steels on a production level. You can't even begin to compare Kanetsune's super blue performance with Spydercos. Like a garden tractor vs. an Acura.

Joe

Ah thanks I think I might just have to go with the fallkniven than.

 

[parbajtor]

That is a standard traditional japanese hunting knife pattern and a number of smiths make them. Kanetsune has a good reputation, so the quality should be there, if genuine.
These knives usually have a hidden tang construction thicker than the usual stick tang. Also usually san mai of white or blue paper steel core with wrought or mild steel cheeks to help provide better anti corrosion properties and some impact resistance. Quality is as varied as the prices and they don't start cheap (usually because of shipping costs and currency conversion).
The japanese tend to go for a harder temper than we would generally use (similar to their kitchen knife philosophy) and their knives tend towards the slicey rather than the choppy (they usually use axes and saws for that kind of task). The Japanese also like their brut de forge finishes, so these knives are often forged down to thickness and basic shape then the bevels are ground in afterwards. This can look particularly nice with multi layered suminagashi steels. They're usually more specialised than general bushcrafting and batonning (particularly across the grain) can often see you with chipped edges.
You get some pretty hard woods in Oz like Jarrah, so I'd think the Falkie would probably be better suited to your needs. A cheaper alternative might be the Peltonen sissipuukko M95 ranger knife. Better sheath than the Falkie, and plenty strong enough for batonning/general abuse.

 

[d16call]

First time poster here. I recently bought the "Kanetsune Knives 214 Sazanami Damascus" so i thought i might throw my two cents in. It's obviously a beautiful knife, and the hidden tang construction doesn't bother me for its anticipated use, but I was seriously disappointed in the blade steel. It came relatively sharp out of the box, but I wanted to touch it up a bit. Rather than get out the mouse pad and sandpaper to maintain the convex, I thought i'd just touch up the edge of the Spyderco Sharpmaker. This was probably a mistake. Rather than refine the edge or reset the bevel, the damascus chipped out. Mastiff appears to have it right; little quality control may have resulted in a messed up heat treat on the one i got.