- Joined
- Jan 30, 2014
- Messages
- 1,639
I want to start out by saying I had not bought a new knife in awhile. I just had not seen anything that really caught my eye until I saw Allen's new Arowana design. Something about it really spoke to me. I normally like a 3-4" blade and I rarely by anything over 4". With a 6" blade, the Arowana was not in my normal range of knives. In the past when I have bought anything over 4" I usually end up selling it because it is more knife than I like and need. The minute I got the Arowana in my hands I knew it was and exception and that it was a great knife for me. The fit and finish is excellent. It came really sharp which I expect and appreciate when I buy a custom knife. The natural micarta over black micarta with the black bolsters is one of my favorite handle configurations. This one came in 5/32" tapered A2 steel.
A major sign of a great knife for me is when I just can't wait to use it. This knife is like that. I usually don't use a knife this thick as a kitchen knife unless camping, but this has been an exception. It has been sitting on one of my cutting boards since I got it and I have been using it a lot in the kitchen. It feels great in the hand and it is fun to use. At 5/32", it can't compare to a really thin kitchen knife but I still keep grabbing it when I need to cut something up. The first one Allen sold was in 3/32" and I really want to get one in that thickness. An Arowana in cpm154 at 3/32" thick would be insane!!!! I would not pass up the opportunity to get one in A2 at 3/32" either.
This one being 5/32" means it is a perfect thickness for some heavy work in the woods in my opinion. I would say the weight is balanced a little forward which makes it want to chop. I have made feather sticks, some stop/push cuts and some light chopping and it does great. The only thing that the knife is lacking is a sharp point up front. I like the feeling of holding a knife that could stab if needed. It makes me wonder what this knife would be like with some kind of clip point up front. That small point aside (no pun intended), it is a great knife. Even with the 6" blade, it feels pretty light and nimble, yet strong enough to do some work. I feel like Allen really created something special in this design.
As close to showing the balance point as I could get.
Some light chopping on a very seasoned piece of California hazelnut to expose a good edge for feather sticking.
The length and rocker really make it shine in the kitchen. I can easily keep the tip on the cutting board and chop away.
Chopping up ingredients for a little trip to the forest with my son and friends to cook some tin foil dinners over the fire.
I didn't get very good pics of it's maiden voyage to the forest because it was pretty dark but I will get some better ones soon.
I am working on a sheath for it at the moment and I will try to update this thread with more pics in the near future. I hope you enjoyed the thread and if you have a chance at swooping on one of these, I wouldn't hesitate.
A major sign of a great knife for me is when I just can't wait to use it. This knife is like that. I usually don't use a knife this thick as a kitchen knife unless camping, but this has been an exception. It has been sitting on one of my cutting boards since I got it and I have been using it a lot in the kitchen. It feels great in the hand and it is fun to use. At 5/32", it can't compare to a really thin kitchen knife but I still keep grabbing it when I need to cut something up. The first one Allen sold was in 3/32" and I really want to get one in that thickness. An Arowana in cpm154 at 3/32" thick would be insane!!!! I would not pass up the opportunity to get one in A2 at 3/32" either.
This one being 5/32" means it is a perfect thickness for some heavy work in the woods in my opinion. I would say the weight is balanced a little forward which makes it want to chop. I have made feather sticks, some stop/push cuts and some light chopping and it does great. The only thing that the knife is lacking is a sharp point up front. I like the feeling of holding a knife that could stab if needed. It makes me wonder what this knife would be like with some kind of clip point up front. That small point aside (no pun intended), it is a great knife. Even with the 6" blade, it feels pretty light and nimble, yet strong enough to do some work. I feel like Allen really created something special in this design.
As close to showing the balance point as I could get.
Some light chopping on a very seasoned piece of California hazelnut to expose a good edge for feather sticking.
The length and rocker really make it shine in the kitchen. I can easily keep the tip on the cutting board and chop away.
Chopping up ingredients for a little trip to the forest with my son and friends to cook some tin foil dinners over the fire.
I didn't get very good pics of it's maiden voyage to the forest because it was pretty dark but I will get some better ones soon.
I am working on a sheath for it at the moment and I will try to update this thread with more pics in the near future. I hope you enjoyed the thread and if you have a chance at swooping on one of these, I wouldn't hesitate.
I've had my eye on it since the sales thread. It was this review that completely sold me. :thumbup: Great write up!
