Not sure what to think of Fallkniven...

[arty]

I have some Fallknivens and they are well made, with good steel. However, they use different forms of stainless steel, and I don't expect VG10 or most stainless steel to hold up like 5160 or 1060, or even 1070 if used for chopping.
I use a kukri or an axe for chopping.
The problem is that the advertising describes the F1 as a survival knife, and people expect to do all sorts of things with a survival knife. The knife may or may not survive chopping, but I generally avoid using a knife for this. I can understand the concerns, given the description of the F1 as a "survival" knife.

 

[timberweasel]

(...) It seems really weird to me that they only offer a 2 year limited warranty (...)

I thought the same of their warranty until I learned that this is pretty standard stuff in the European market. I wouldn't worry about it...

 

[Pokerface]

If you are worried about that and want a tougher edge , just sharpen it some to get into the steel a little deeper than the razor factory edge. Still whittles hair and batons fine.

You have an excellent knife on the way and your money was well spent.

What HIWA said...sharpen it a bit and you will get to the less brittle steel. The F1 is easily my favorite knife...I'm realistic though so I don't go out into the wilderness trying to build a house á la Payette Fucking Rucker.

 

[meanwhile]

I have some Fallknivens and they are well made, with good steel. However, they use different forms of stainless steel, and I don't expect VG10 or most stainless steel to hold up like 5160 or 1060, or even 1070 if used for chopping.
I use a kukri or an axe for chopping.

But if you're going to do this, doesn't it make sense to carry a really optimized fine slicer like a decent puukko, Mora, or a Russel Deerhunter - or even the smaller Scalpel - as your knife? What's the point of a 4mm thick $200 knife that will just be used for feather sticks and skinning? Beefy knives like the F1 only make sense if you think you might have to use them without an axe or saw.

(And personally I'd go for a Swamp Rat or Enzo in the F1's price range, given the stories about chipping - which have sometimes been accompanied by a very poor response from Fallkniven. Or I'd use a Mora Triflex or Bahco Wrecking Knife - curved point version - and save a lot of money.)

 

[A.L.]

I prepared pineapple some week back with my F1 and it got microchips. I used to think so high of this knife, but it's almost that you have to just slice tomatoes if you don't want it to chip. I've sharpened this knife plenty of times, and removed steel enough to get the "bad steel" (sounds BS to me honestly) off the surface. Maybe I should re-profile the edge steeper, but then it defeats the purpose of bushcraft knife. Another complaint for me is the handle, that is way too squared to be really pleasant when whittling. I would prefer rounded handle, but I guess Fällkniven either wanted it to look grippy, flat or bit cooler.

It's great no-bells and whistles knife that is just that, but honestly, I would not buy it again.

 

[woody d]

ouch...and i have one on the way this week. i thought id done my homework... never found any info on the chipping issue

 

[Tixx]

Fallknivens are great. I have 4 F1s (one in the car, 2in bobs and a pure vg-10 sitting in a box) I also have an S1,an A1 and WM1. Definitely my favorite survival knives. I think there are YouTube destruction tests you could watch. I have no concerns about these knives.

 

[dayhiker1968]

I prepared pineapple some week back with my F1 and it got microchips.

Thats one tough pineapple.Or cutting board,plate, or countertop you prepared it on.

Thats a 3 1/2" diameter chunk of Poplar I pounded it through. No chipping. To be totally honest there is still a visable chip on my knife.I cut into a carpet staple a while back and it hasn't completly sharpened out yet. The one from when I dropped the knife on a brick is gone however.

Even with that terrible chip the knife still cuts. Sure it will snag in that spot when slicing tissue paper. But then I don't slice much tissue paper in my daily use.

 

[Tixx]

Oh, and just simply bring a small Silky saw. Chopping takes so much more energy. Though it can be done as in dayhikers post which it did very well.

 

[meanwhile]

ouch...and i have one on the way this week. i thought id done my homework... never found any info on the chipping issue

If google the you'll find lots of stuff.

From the pattern of results, I suspect it's something that some F1s are prone too and not others - a production inconsistency. It wouldn't be too bad, but Fallkniven seem to be very unhelpful when the problem occurs. In case you think of sending it back and getting a BKRT Gunny or Bravo - they seem to be building up a much worse reputation for chipping! If I wanted a knife in this price range and of this type, I think I'd look at the Enzo Badger or a Swamp Rat. I don't think anyone has ever complained about Swamp Rat's customer service.

Reasonable thread:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?97623-Fallkniven-F1-Usage-Experience

 

[Poez]

They are not making the best and the strongest knives in the world. They are making very good quality nice solid knives for a user with a taste and appreciation for good workmanship.
If you do not care about nice knives and really have no particular respect for rather expensive hand tools: you have probably wasted your money on buying something you could consider fancy. Sell it and buy something that you can bash and throw and do not give a s**** about: simple, big, strong with lifetime warranty and no questions asked....

 

[woody d]

They are not making the best and the strongest knives in the world. They are making very good quality nice solid knives for a user with a taste and appreciation for good workmanship.
If you do not care about nice knives and really have no particular respect for rather expensive hand tools: you have probably wasted your money on buying something you could consider fancy. Sell it and buy something that you can bash and throw and do not give a s**** about: simple, big, strong with lifetime warranty and no questions asked....

the wife just now asked me what i was laughing at while reading that post :thumbup:

 

[czombie]

Just because a knife chips or the point breaks off doesn't mean it couldn't still be used in a survival situation.

You could take a 20 dollar fantasy knife and use it in a "survival situation".

 

[jcoffman55]

I have the 3g steel version and find that it will sort of "microchip" to a point then stop and continue to cut like the dickens with no further chipping or dulling for a loooong time. The other day I cut 50 large cardboard target backers in half to make 100 out of them and it was still shaving sharp after.

 

[HardTripper]

Got it today. I wont really use it until next weekend, but I will be wary of batoning at first. Ill check in next week.

 

[HardTripper]

After closer inspection I'm not overly impressed, although overall happy. The lamination line of the edge is ridiculously uneven, one side has a lot of vg10 on the tip and the other side a lot less. The retention snap on the sheath is so tight I can barley get it around the handle, speaking of the handle Im going to have to get used to it. I prefer the feeling of my BHK Bushcrafter in hand, but overall I really like the knife, its small, light, sharp, and strong. Im hoping I dont get chipping issues, and I dont think I will, there are a lot of contradictions out there and I aint buying it. It seems kind of like a scandi edge in that its not a great idea to smash it through knots, cant wait to try it out.

 

[duro]

I just picked up a swamp rat rodent 6. I think it's everything you're looking for and around the same price. Their warranty is for life. I must say it has some weight to it, perfect for chopping.

 

[HardTripper]

Actually its carbon steel and has a choil, 2 things I specifically want to avoid.

 

[MEJ]

After closer inspection I'm not overly impressed, although overall happy. The lamination line of the edge is ridiculously uneven, one side has a lot of vg10 on the tip and the other side a lot less. The retention snap on the sheath is so tight I can barley get it around the handle, speaking of the handle Im going to have to get used to it. I prefer the feeling of my BHK Bushcrafter in hand, but overall I really like the knife, its small, light, sharp, and strong. Im hoping I dont get chipping issues, and I dont think I will, there are a lot of contradictions out there and I aint buying it. It seems kind of like a scandi edge in that its not a great idea to smash it through knots, cant wait to try it out.

That is strange i have had 3 lam blades and never that problem, and they are not made to be impressive or pretty but functional.

 

[Jaytaylor]

Open season on Fallkniven bashing.

I sure hope I don't break the tip on my A1 or gain a chip whilst in the bush otherwise I'm doomed with it not LOOKING perfect, how will I survive?

I've smashed through scrub on bush walks, chopped down small trees, processed wood and carved with my A1 and it still has the factory edge & still sharp.

To the guy who chipped an F1 cutting pineapple I call BS, more likely a granite chopping board.

I don't think the OP will ever be happy with the F1, whining about it before he even has it in his hands then moaning as the lamination isn't perfect.

I suggest the OP pony up and buy a Busse as it may meet more of the expectations.