My Fallkniven U2 turns ugly.....a requiem

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Messages
2,301
Friends, we are gathered here today to bid a fond farewell to my Fallkniven U2 as an EDC.
After about 2 months of constant carry, I cut a box. A ...cereal....box. A flimsy little thin cardboard cereal box. And it SCRATCHED the blade. BAD!
I was looking at it last night and noticed these horrible, ugly, defacing, bold scratches going across the blade. Then I remembered the box. I also STABBED the box. (I had sharpened lil U2 and was "testing") Well, the blade also had LONGITUDINAL scratches where the stabbing took place.
INEXCUSABLE!
I guess it's the 420 laminate part that is just too soft. Under lighting, the blade is full of scratches.
Now I realize that a knife if it is used will show evidence of that use. But these scratches are accentuated by the extremely fine finish of the U2 which is polished in some manner that even imparts a subtle rainbow coloring to it when it is turned in the light. It also shows up the scratches very very well.

AND....close inspection shows many dings from the back of the 420 part hitting pocket change.

I think I have figured out (now) that the U2 is ....truly..... a "gentleman's" knife. Designed to cut maraschino cherries in drinks with umbrellas in them at cocktail parties. BUT.....to do it for a long long long time without sharpening.

However, using it for NORMAL stuff will scratch it all up it appears.

I am chagrined, crushed, disappointed, sad, surly, and in a general MOPE now.

I have relegated the U2 to general household cutting like box opening and (shudder) toenail trimming. With an occasional callus cutting and whittling thrown in. An ignominious future for a noble blade that was only a .....pretender.

Woe!

:( :mad: :D
 
Get out a scotch-brite pad and pseudo-satin finish the blade that way. You'll never worry about scratches again!
 
Will Scotch Brite even work when the blade is ALREADY satin finished .... but in an ...across.... the blade direction of polish?
One of the neatest "appearance" things about the U2 is that cross grain satin finish.
I was lookin for my Simichrome but can never remember where I put it.

:)
 
Sure it would, but since most things being cut go the other way, I'd finish it that way.

The finish won't look as nice, but it will not show scratches.
 
But still, a scratch from a CEREAL box? Unless it was frooty pebbles with real pebbles. LOL

Rob
 
Cardboard will scratch up all blades I have seen. I do lost of cardbard cutting as stock testing. Even harder blades will show extensive scratches on the flats if you cut a lot of it. On all of my blades you can readily tell which section was used for the stock testing as that part of the primary is marred all to hell. With dead soft 420 it happens really fast. It is all just cosmetic of course.

-Cliff
 
Well, of course it's "cosmetic", but so's the knife.

Shoot, ALL my knives have been cosmetic since I started paying attention.

I .....used.......... to be HAPPY with any old sharp thing that would cut.

Now I'm thinking of installing a PRE-CUT blade so all the nice knife has to do is trim up the leavings.

The heartbreak of ........... knifeopathy.

:D
 
Cardboard can scratch any blade on the first cuts... and it looks so innocent as a testing media, doesn't it? I have learned that lesson long ago.
 
Ta-ta-ta-DAHHHH!

Simichrome Man to the rescue! Tried a little and .....SHAZAM! Only someone who KNEW (me) would pick up the scratching.

Miss Fallkniven is SAVED from the clutches of count Scratch!

:) :D
 
All Laminated blades I know are like this. Helle even use 18-8 much softer then 420. And they do not harden sides to the top HRC. But it is also very easy to polish it back to mirror.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I don't think the U2 is about cosmetics! It's a knife you can use, abuse, and will cut better than anything in its size and price range.

It is just a zytel handled lockback pocket knife, remember! I expect that mine will become dinged and scratched a great deal over the years, but I know that amazing edge and secure lock will be there for my smaller cutting jobs. I don't think there is anything even close to this knife for its price range and intended purpose -- what could you possibly replace it with that would give you a better edge at your demand?
 
Metric, the answer to your question is......"NUTTIN!" That U2 is one cuttin sunonthebridge.
But, presently.....after having restored it to its former pristine glory, I am (probably temporarily) switching to my Delica for carryin an cuttin. The Delica has full serrations so it approaches the U2 in cutability.

A little more brutal, perhaps.....but it does cut. Without the finesse of the U2 and....oh hell.....I'll put the U2 back in my pocket.

sheeeesh
:)

But if it gets scratched again.....well.....just you remember.....
 
What kind of nonsense is it?

To much time? Nervous?

A knife is a tool. If you want a safe queen, treat her like a safe queen.

Ever walked into the woods and being disturbed by the mud?

Took a cold shower, but it doesn´t felt warm?

If you want a toy to look at, don´t cut with it.

It is not the U2, suposed to only cut cherries. Its you, who makes a U2 only cut cherries.
 
I like this knife, because its a plain userknife. The zytel is somewhat ugly, the blade gets easly scratced and the core is from a lovely material. Once it scratced you can tell its not a virgin anymore but the strong user materials and the good design remains the same but with a personal touch. This is the soul of a simple mans working tool.
 
I'm toying with the idea of the U2, but I hate that boxy zytel handle. real ugly, can't Fallkniven do better with the handle. Got such a great blade but....

jury's still out for me....love that laminated look tho'....
 
BLOP.....Are you INSINUATING that I may be a..........GIRLIE MAN?!?!?!??

Just because I have had a lace sheath made for my Fallkniven (which I keep well oiled in a plastic bag in the sheath) does not mean I am not a rompin, stompin, outdoorsy, macho, knife wielding, survivalist, butch, unshaven, trap-building, bear-killin, well-muscled, kill-for-food, Rambo-type,.....HE MAN!

harrumph.
:D
 
spyken.......All you gotta do is hold that U2 ...... o n c e

And suddenly the handle is the prettiest you ever saw.

REALLY feels good.

And I am now over my hissy-fit and carrying the U2 as an alternate EDC wit da Delica.

I may even ....SAND....the U2 with 80 grit just to dispel any doubts of my masculinity.

:D
 
Lavan said:
I may even ....SAND....the U2 with 80 grit just to dispel any doubts of my masculinity.

:D
Click to expand...



Wussy. a REAL man would rub it up against some old asphalt chunks as a testimonial to his manhood. :D
 
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