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Hey Sierra! 
TF
TF
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Koyote Knives Leuku Bushcrafter Passaround
- Thread starter tonym
- Start date
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- Sep 28, 2005
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- 4,527
Was finally able to get out into the "wilds" yesterday for a short trip to our hidden river valley very close to city limits, and was able to give it a short work out (3yo and newborn really limit time -& mom's patience).
I have not seen many dinner threads and wanted to do something different with it. Sierra told me to give it a workout I decided that it was the only survival knife a somewhat rookie would have and procured lunch with it. Found some arrowroot nearby so instead of getting a digging stick I did what a rookie would do and dug it out of the bank:
Yummy:
(she was squeamish about bugs today, even though we have a tarantula, but wild plants go into the gullet no problem)
Look what I saw in the water:
I left the Cray as we were not actually eating out there but wanted to show Ananda the insides of the clam so back to rookie action (with proper safety):
Continued:
). I have not seen many dinner threads and wanted to do something different with it. Sierra told me to give it a workout I decided that it was the only survival knife a somewhat rookie would have and procured lunch with it. Found some arrowroot nearby so instead of getting a digging stick I did what a rookie would do and dug it out of the bank:
Yummy:
(she was squeamish about bugs today, even though we have a tarantula, but wild plants go into the gullet no problem)
Look what I saw in the water:
I left the Cray as we were not actually eating out there but wanted to show Ananda the insides of the clam so back to rookie action (with proper safety):
Continued:
- Joined
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Ok, we have meat (clam and hypothetical crayfish), and add some veggies (Arrowroot and natural mint) and look what we have here:
Made the fuzz stick, and adding the coal lying on the ground and we have a sure fire (but did not actually get it made). We have been coming here for a number of years now and just found the crayfish, they are not even supposed to be in this area. From now on I'll probably add the foot of nylons to a survival kit as I cannot bend over well enough yet to be able to catch them well so being able to make a net would help, and would have been able to add the multitudes of small fish to the meal with the net as well. A nice meal caught within a 20' radius without looking too hard, not bad. Did not feel too bad about killing the clam as we left him as an offering to the crow that was informing us constantly that it was his river, got to keep the host happy after all!
Before we left I got Juli to take a picture of it on my belt (very comfortable):
Time to get home and put it to work on more mundane things.
Continued:
Made the fuzz stick, and adding the coal lying on the ground and we have a sure fire (but did not actually get it made). We have been coming here for a number of years now and just found the crayfish, they are not even supposed to be in this area. From now on I'll probably add the foot of nylons to a survival kit as I cannot bend over well enough yet to be able to catch them well so being able to make a net would help, and would have been able to add the multitudes of small fish to the meal with the net as well. A nice meal caught within a 20' radius without looking too hard, not bad. Did not feel too bad about killing the clam as we left him as an offering to the crow that was informing us constantly that it was his river, got to keep the host happy after all!
Before we left I got Juli to take a picture of it on my belt (very comfortable):
Time to get home and put it to work on more mundane things.
Continued:
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On to the home based test.
Got this primarily to test out, it was a good excuse as I really like cooking with them but Juli does not care for 'em, but it is for the review!!
Now for the stuff I normally don't do but seems like it is testing necessity, plus I just took down mu wheelchair ramp (guess I'm not enough of a cripple any more, says SWMBO):
2.5 min of chopping gave this, not bad as I was seated and they were not full power, more rapid fire persistence:
Batonning to make a baton:
first hit
Second hit:
Yes, it was started in an existing crack but why work hard instead of smart?
Batonning a v-notch cross grain with a light baton. I guess I had to work hard a bit:
On to the actual review now.
I am really impressed with how it worked. The thin blade is not at all frail, despite what some think (I told you guys I like the 3/32 though). The handle was very comfortable throughout, and when chopping the sloped pommel had better retention than I thought. The convex grind required that I hold the blade at a higher angle than I am used to, but that is where one has to use a tool to learn it first. My curls were not too curly, but were adequate. I did not hit the pommel when breaking open the coconut or clam, instead hitting them on the ground to transfer force, which worked very well. The edge was not indestructible, and there were a few small rolled edges after the bush, but that is operator error (on purpose) digging in the ground and dealing with hard shells. I was amazed at how easily I was able to return most of them with a ceramic Sharpmaker stone and home made strop stick. The home experiments dulled the edge, but would have been more than adequate for survival- it was still sharper than any knife I have EVER seen an Inuit use in my time in the arctic.
I see this knife as a stand by itself travel knife or combined with an axe/chopper in purpose. I usually would carry something with a thinner grind as some tasks seemed a bit harder to control than what I am used to. The edge held up respectfully and returned from bush condition much better than I expected due to my inexperience with the convex grinds. I still have some work to do on the tip to get it sharp to my liking, hopefully I'll get the entire edge to hair shaving- which is my standard.
A couple of changes that I would like if it were mine:
The jimping on the spine was a bit rough for my thumb when bearing down on cuts, more shallow or a bit more radius to them should help (similar to rounding the edges when doing an undulating/serpentine filework after initial scallops are cut- if that makes any sense). The top/front of the handle scales are a bit angular and could use being hit with sandpaper a bit to remove the angularity of an already smooth, flowing knife.
I'll try to get some more time in with it before Monday to ship it to Pit, but am not sure- especially with UFC 100 tonight, tomorrow may be a bit groggy (doubt it but I thought the same thing for my 30th).
I am really happy I got KGD got me into this passaround as I meant to and it slipped by. A great knife and sheath, nothing bad except to us perfectionists, and is something that would last a long, long time.
I'll answer any questions about what I did if anybody has any as well!
Kris
Got this primarily to test out, it was a good excuse as I really like cooking with them but Juli does not care for 'em, but it is for the review!!
Now for the stuff I normally don't do but seems like it is testing necessity, plus I just took down mu wheelchair ramp (guess I'm not enough of a cripple any more, says SWMBO):
2.5 min of chopping gave this, not bad as I was seated and they were not full power, more rapid fire persistence:
Batonning to make a baton:
first hit
Second hit:
Yes, it was started in an existing crack but why work hard instead of smart?
Batonning a v-notch cross grain with a light baton. I guess I had to work hard a bit:
On to the actual review now.
I am really impressed with how it worked. The thin blade is not at all frail, despite what some think (I told you guys I like the 3/32 though). The handle was very comfortable throughout, and when chopping the sloped pommel had better retention than I thought. The convex grind required that I hold the blade at a higher angle than I am used to, but that is where one has to use a tool to learn it first. My curls were not too curly, but were adequate. I did not hit the pommel when breaking open the coconut or clam, instead hitting them on the ground to transfer force, which worked very well. The edge was not indestructible, and there were a few small rolled edges after the bush, but that is operator error (on purpose) digging in the ground and dealing with hard shells. I was amazed at how easily I was able to return most of them with a ceramic Sharpmaker stone and home made strop stick. The home experiments dulled the edge, but would have been more than adequate for survival- it was still sharper than any knife I have EVER seen an Inuit use in my time in the arctic.
I see this knife as a stand by itself travel knife or combined with an axe/chopper in purpose. I usually would carry something with a thinner grind as some tasks seemed a bit harder to control than what I am used to. The edge held up respectfully and returned from bush condition much better than I expected due to my inexperience with the convex grinds. I still have some work to do on the tip to get it sharp to my liking, hopefully I'll get the entire edge to hair shaving- which is my standard.
A couple of changes that I would like if it were mine:
The jimping on the spine was a bit rough for my thumb when bearing down on cuts, more shallow or a bit more radius to them should help (similar to rounding the edges when doing an undulating/serpentine filework after initial scallops are cut- if that makes any sense). The top/front of the handle scales are a bit angular and could use being hit with sandpaper a bit to remove the angularity of an already smooth, flowing knife.
I'll try to get some more time in with it before Monday to ship it to Pit, but am not sure- especially with UFC 100 tonight, tomorrow may be a bit groggy
(doubt it but I thought the same thing for my 30th).I am really happy I got KGD got me into this passaround as I meant to and it slipped by. A great knife and sheath, nothing bad except to us perfectionists, and is something that would last a long, long time.
I'll answer any questions about what I did if anybody has any as well!
Kris
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
Great review Kris. Never thought of cutting coconuts like that. I'm going to try that one myself I think! Beware the river clams, they will harbour e-coli for up to 96 hr so unless they are cooked right and proper, you can get a bug from them. Still, lots of meat in those clams. After cooking that will satisfy a hungry stomach for sure. Also interesting about the crayfish invaders. Maybe you can capture some and post a thread with pictures to W&SS and we can identify them!
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2004
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- 3,124
Excellent review. I'm glad that the knife arrived safe and sound!
I like the way that you used it for a few more unusual tasks; my review was limited to dinner prep and basic woodsbumming - no shellfish, coconut busting, or other Survivorman-esque culinary activities.
All the best,
- Mike
I like the way that you used it for a few more unusual tasks; my review was limited to dinner prep and basic woodsbumming - no shellfish, coconut busting, or other Survivorman-esque culinary activities.
All the best,
- Mike
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2007
- Messages
- 5,846
Nice review, and a good one for me-
I've already switched my filework out- that was done in a 1/8 round and I had the same "sharpness" issue with a few of the early PSK knives. I've switched out to a 3/16 diameter filing and it's helped a lot. I also run a strip of 800 grit over the edges quickly now.
I have a hard time knowin what to say about the edge- I always prefer a roll to a chip if it's gonna happen but I'm not sure whether or not it should happen opening clams and coconuts and banging around like that. I'd rather have it be fixable than chipped, though. Heck, I throw enough of them into stumps in testing.
I'm glad to see the edge maintained for you with a strop and a little ceramic help. that's about the limit of my kit and I strive on the hunters especially to have them be maintainable just with a loaded strop.
I'll think on the scales. I have a fair number of variations on how I do the fronts of the handles, but I think that one might be in the "full width to the edge" category. a 1/4 inch radius would probably be enough to fix that?
I've already switched my filework out- that was done in a 1/8 round and I had the same "sharpness" issue with a few of the early PSK knives. I've switched out to a 3/16 diameter filing and it's helped a lot. I also run a strip of 800 grit over the edges quickly now.
I have a hard time knowin what to say about the edge- I always prefer a roll to a chip if it's gonna happen but I'm not sure whether or not it should happen opening clams and coconuts and banging around like that. I'd rather have it be fixable than chipped, though. Heck, I throw enough of them into stumps in testing.
I'm glad to see the edge maintained for you with a strop and a little ceramic help. that's about the limit of my kit and I strive on the hunters especially to have them be maintainable just with a loaded strop.
I'll think on the scales. I have a fair number of variations on how I do the fronts of the handles, but I think that one might be in the "full width to the edge" category. a 1/4 inch radius would probably be enough to fix that?
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2008
- Messages
- 1,192
Thank's for all the Reviews everyone ! And to all of your for taking your time to put the Koyote Knive's Leuko to the Test,
I like all the picture's you took Cuts Like A Khris, Your little Girl Is a Cutey she's just a muching away on the Green's, That's Great your getting her out and Teaching The Way's Of The Wood's at a young age, She'll alway's remember her outing's with her Dad, Christof's Knive's are Very Well Made, I know I really like them, I'm working on a small collection of his work know, You can see them In my Bladeforum's Gallery If you ckick on my user name, And I got some more Knive's I'm getting Made by him on Order, Kotote Knive's when they Howl they call my name !
I like all the picture's you took Cuts Like A Khris, Your little Girl Is a Cutey she's just a muching away on the Green's, That's Great your getting her out and Teaching The Way's Of The Wood's at a young age, She'll alway's remember her outing's with her Dad, Christof's Knive's are Very Well Made, I know I really like them, I'm working on a small collection of his work know, You can see them In my Bladeforum's Gallery If you ckick on my user name, And I got some more Knive's I'm getting Made by him on Order, Kotote Knive's when they Howl they call my name !
Last edited:
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- Sep 28, 2005
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- 4,527
I'm sure that the dings came from digging the arrowroot out of the gravel bed so I would not worry too much about it, I knew beforehand that it would probably happen, and they worked out very well.
I did not get a chance to send it out today, I'll do my best to get it out tomorrow.
Again, thank you for the opportunity.
Kris
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
Just copying pitdog's post here
I received the Koyote pass-around knife yesterday and though I'd give you a quick initial review.
When Ken told me that it was on it's way to me he said something along the lines of ' The handle is not huge so I'll be interested what you think of it '.
A while ago Ken was kind enough to lend me an RC4 to see what I thought of it and to be honest I was not too impressed, the handle was just too small for me and seemed out of proportion for the knife....I have big issues when it comes to knife handles !!!
Anyway as Ken stated the handle on the Koyote knife is only of average size but as soon as I held it I knew it just felt right, just goes to show that length ain't everything ( or so I tell my wife ).
Here is an in-hand shot.......
First impressions are that I really like this knife, feels great !
I decided to compare it with some of my similarly sized knives....
Another knife I have issues about the handle is my Koster Nessmuk, in this pic you can see why...an otherwise great knife is spoilt due to scales that are too thin !
The handle on the Koyote is very similarly proportioned to my ML Kephart, a knife which I love !
I tried the Koyote at battoning....
Now I wailed pretty good on this knife so I can tell you it's plenty tough, it wouldn't go any farther through this darn section of wood though so I swapped it for my Nessmuk to see if the knife was at fault. Still no good so it must just be a damn tough section of wood !!!!!!
I then made some fuzz sticks........
Average performance here.....
Very comfy to use but it kinda chatters as it cuts so I'm guessing the grind is now a little off from it being sent to so many people. I will say that it scraped hair from my arm and cleanly sliced post-its but from experience this often means little when it comes to wood.
My sharpening skills are not great but I touched it up a little and it performed slightly better.....
You can still see the chatter marks though eh !
I then tried my Nessmuk...this is a slicing machine but gets uncomfy after a while due to the thin scales......
And finally my ML Kephart....I love this knife !
In summary, I really like the feel and style of this Koyote and would imagine that it would cut like a demon as it comes from the man itself. I'm gonna use this knife as my edc for a while and keep you updated !!!!!
Cool Ken, 
glad you did that before Tony blew a gasket. 
Big Mike
Scaring the tree huggers.
Forest & Stream
glad you did that before Tony blew a gasket. Big Mike
Scaring the tree huggers.
Forest & Stream
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- Mar 18, 2008
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Cool Ken,
Big Mike
]
Stop instigating
I was just busting Pit's balls
i sure do. this is a copy of the thread i added in the koyote forum... so we're all on the same page.
just to keep everyone in loop the knife arrived safe and sound and well packaged from pitdog not 10 minutes ago.
i'm going to do a quickie review this evening (i'm going to flip through what everyone else has put the knife through and try and do some new things if possible) and then i leave for a couple days alone in the woods (i will NOT be going ultra light haha lotsa steel to use) OFCOURSE my camera will be along with me at every step.
i can't comment on the blade yet, but i can say that i'm extatic to finally have some of koyote and sierras work in my hands. if nothing else, i already know that a koyote knife is in my futur and that sierra will have some of my blades coming her way for pants!! wow bulletproof, simple, clean, right up my ally!
thanks all for letting me jump in on this, it's an honor.
Russell.
just to keep everyone in loop the knife arrived safe and sound and well packaged from pitdog not 10 minutes ago.
i'm going to do a quickie review this evening (i'm going to flip through what everyone else has put the knife through and try and do some new things if possible) and then i leave for a couple days alone in the woods (i will NOT be going ultra light haha lotsa steel to use) OFCOURSE my camera will be along with me at every step.
i can't comment on the blade yet, but i can say that i'm extatic to finally have some of koyote and sierras work in my hands. if nothing else, i already know that a koyote knife is in my futur and that sierra will have some of my blades coming her way for pants!! wow bulletproof, simple, clean, right up my ally!
thanks all for letting me jump in on this, it's an honor.
Russell.
this is in the koyote forum too.
passaround knife teaser!!!
well guys and gals,
i had the opportunity to rely on this knife for the last 4 days, instead of just test it around the house and what an experience.
here's a nice pic from day one. i run 7 days a week with a loaded pack, the water on the blade is my sweat dripping off my forehead while i stopped for water and decided to snap a few shots (i hadn't gotten to camp yet at this time)
it's still early here (after 7pm) but i'm spent and calling it a night, so a teaser is all you get! haha my full review (with far too many pics) will be put up tomorrow. i had a great weekend, and got to test some great gear. i won't say another word. here's a pic. and i'll talk to ya'll in the mornin.
Russell
passaround knife teaser!!!
well guys and gals,
i had the opportunity to rely on this knife for the last 4 days, instead of just test it around the house and what an experience.
here's a nice pic from day one. i run 7 days a week with a loaded pack, the water on the blade is my sweat dripping off my forehead while i stopped for water and decided to snap a few shots (i hadn't gotten to camp yet at this time)
it's still early here (after 7pm) but i'm spent and calling it a night, so a teaser is all you get! haha my full review (with far too many pics) will be put up tomorrow. i had a great weekend, and got to test some great gear. i won't say another word. here's a pic. and i'll talk to ya'll in the mornin.
Russell
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2005
- Messages
- 6,105
Is this damn knife still alive? It's like a zombie or something...friggin zombie knife...