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- Mar 18, 2008
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So I received a few new knives to play with.
1 is from Koyote knives. He has this new grind he has been working on. It is a slightly convexed scandi. I just had to have it when I saw pics of it. If you have ever owned a Koyote knife, you will know Christof makes a no nonsense user knife and he definatly has his own style. I have owned about 5 of his knives and after all the knives that I have moved on, 3 of his knives have stayed. The simplicity of his handles is always surprising to people. At first you think, I wish he put a palm swell on it, or contoured it a lil more, but then you get it in hand and use it. Only then do you truly realize that Christof puts allot of thought in his designs. In what we see as simplicity, we feel as comfort in a multiple grips!
Anyway, let’s talk about this new grind. I don't think any of us will argue that a scandi grind cuts wood better than other types of grinds. However, there is a trade off in edge strength. Many are scared; and rightfully so, to use a scandi knife hard. Scandi edges do roll and chip some times.. However a Convex grind has the most steel behind the edge, and seams to be a popular choice do to the cutting ability and tuff ness. So what this knife Koyote made does in theory is give you that acute angle of a scandi, but the strength of a convex! So I just had to test that. However, with the crappy rainy weather we have had here and my work schedule; I have not really had the chance. So I took to the garage yesterday and went to work on some Maple that I have in their drying out.
First here are the specs and some pics.
1/8th of 1080 steel Differentially tempered.
Blade is 4 3/4" and over all 8 3/4"
Handle is black G10 with grey liners
This slicing and cutting ability of this knife is outstanding. It is in on par with just about any scandi I have used. It glides through wood with minimal resistance. Even in power cuts, it bites deep and powers through. Although, I think a 1/2" more handle would give me better leverage. (That is the only thing I would change on this knife)
This knife came screaming sharp, which I love. The wood I used it on was maple and a lil Northern Red Cedar; oh and a bit of hemlock and birch a few days ago. But in these pics the wood is Maple and Red Cedar. I notched wood, did feather sticks, basic carving, battoned with grain, and even against grain! I also drilled with the tip, and I wasn't gentle about anything. I was almost trying to roll the edge, or chip it while drilling. However, this knife would have none of it. It never felt brittle or delicate. Even after cross battoning, it still made paper thin curls on Seasoned Red Cedar. It preformed all tasks excellent, and was nice to have the extra length in the blade while battoning. The edge was still scary sharp, but it wasn't popping hair. Which is totally expected IMO. I don't think I have had many knives if any that would be after what this knife did. However the edge was still acute and cut great. Now the beauty of a convex grind other than strength is the ease of maintenance. This knife was blowing through wood like a scandi, and even looking at the edge; it appears more scandi than convex. So I wanted to see if some stropping on sandpaper could bring it back to screaming sharp! I used 600 grit and 1000 grit. In maybe 6 minutes it was popping hair, not just cutting it off my arm! So any of you who hate sharpening a scandi, give this Koyote fella a call! Now, I still don’t thing this enough use to say this knife is stronger than any convex I have used, but so far it appears to be as good. It does cut incredible though!
Here are the use pics. Sorry, the lighting sucks in my garage..
This cut was made by using the chest leaver grip. This knife bites deep!
Beating it across the grain with Ironwood
1 is from Koyote knives. He has this new grind he has been working on. It is a slightly convexed scandi. I just had to have it when I saw pics of it. If you have ever owned a Koyote knife, you will know Christof makes a no nonsense user knife and he definatly has his own style. I have owned about 5 of his knives and after all the knives that I have moved on, 3 of his knives have stayed. The simplicity of his handles is always surprising to people. At first you think, I wish he put a palm swell on it, or contoured it a lil more, but then you get it in hand and use it. Only then do you truly realize that Christof puts allot of thought in his designs. In what we see as simplicity, we feel as comfort in a multiple grips!
Anyway, let’s talk about this new grind. I don't think any of us will argue that a scandi grind cuts wood better than other types of grinds. However, there is a trade off in edge strength. Many are scared; and rightfully so, to use a scandi knife hard. Scandi edges do roll and chip some times.. However a Convex grind has the most steel behind the edge, and seams to be a popular choice do to the cutting ability and tuff ness. So what this knife Koyote made does in theory is give you that acute angle of a scandi, but the strength of a convex! So I just had to test that. However, with the crappy rainy weather we have had here and my work schedule; I have not really had the chance. So I took to the garage yesterday and went to work on some Maple that I have in their drying out.
First here are the specs and some pics.
1/8th of 1080 steel Differentially tempered.
Blade is 4 3/4" and over all 8 3/4"
Handle is black G10 with grey liners
This slicing and cutting ability of this knife is outstanding. It is in on par with just about any scandi I have used. It glides through wood with minimal resistance. Even in power cuts, it bites deep and powers through. Although, I think a 1/2" more handle would give me better leverage. (That is the only thing I would change on this knife)
This knife came screaming sharp, which I love. The wood I used it on was maple and a lil Northern Red Cedar; oh and a bit of hemlock and birch a few days ago. But in these pics the wood is Maple and Red Cedar. I notched wood, did feather sticks, basic carving, battoned with grain, and even against grain! I also drilled with the tip, and I wasn't gentle about anything. I was almost trying to roll the edge, or chip it while drilling. However, this knife would have none of it. It never felt brittle or delicate. Even after cross battoning, it still made paper thin curls on Seasoned Red Cedar. It preformed all tasks excellent, and was nice to have the extra length in the blade while battoning. The edge was still scary sharp, but it wasn't popping hair. Which is totally expected IMO. I don't think I have had many knives if any that would be after what this knife did. However the edge was still acute and cut great. Now the beauty of a convex grind other than strength is the ease of maintenance. This knife was blowing through wood like a scandi, and even looking at the edge; it appears more scandi than convex. So I wanted to see if some stropping on sandpaper could bring it back to screaming sharp! I used 600 grit and 1000 grit. In maybe 6 minutes it was popping hair, not just cutting it off my arm! So any of you who hate sharpening a scandi, give this Koyote fella a call! Now, I still don’t thing this enough use to say this knife is stronger than any convex I have used, but so far it appears to be as good. It does cut incredible though!
Here are the use pics. Sorry, the lighting sucks in my garage..
This cut was made by using the chest leaver grip. This knife bites deep!
Beating it across the grain with Ironwood
