Not too much known, but Brilliant.

[nozh2002]

I like to start bringing attention to knives which for some reason does not known to much, but still are excellent knives. As good as or better then widely promoted knives.
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On of the best on my opinion - tough knives. Mission MPK-S.

This is full grind 1 1/2" wide and 15/64" thick - though good old A2 steel blade. Coated with really hard to scratch TiN coating (not too many fixed blades has such a premium coating I only know ZT-100).

This is previous generation 25 years old "tough-knife" with solid molded hard plastic handle - not scales. It is really tough - I used it for nailing and it work just perfect without any damage to the handle.

Ergo is also quite noticible - full size guard protect hand very well. And in result I do not afrait to stab with full force. For chopping it also has this kind of hook on the end of the handle to control knife better.

Plastic sheath design is also different - it has special rubber ring to keep knife secure, but fast to get out. This sheath looks like dinosaur with modern kydex sheath, but if you are in falling down copter you prefer this thick one, to make sure knife will not cut through when impact happen...

I sharpen it to hair whittling sharpness - initial edge was kind of ugly. But after I fix it - it just slice as a goof chef knife - width + full gring make it delicate slicer, however I do not afraid to chop with it and actually enjoy it - it is still one though knife designed for Navy Seals after all.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[nozh2002]

Sissi-Pukko M95

Sissi - is Ranger in Finnish and pukko - is knife. So this is actually mean - Ranger Knife! J.P.Peltonen - after retire from his duty as Finnish military design modern pukko. Modern military knife based on good old Finnish piccoes.

It has forged carbon steel blade - I was not able to found what steel is, but foe sure it is forged, carbon steel - you can feel it. It has zone hardening. Blade is 0.22" thick 15/16" wide full grind, slightly drop point. It has teflon coating which is not as durable as TiN but best among the plastic coating to my experience.

It has molded plastic handle similar to what Mission MPK-S has. I can also use it tho hammer nails in if I need to. Unlike, authentic pukkos this one has some guard and some hook at the end plus some bumps at the bottom of the handle to make it more grippy. But it is clearly pukko.

It also has well designed sheath, leather sheath with quite unique lock - rubber wheel with prevent knife to fell out, until you pull it intentionally.

Sergei Gorevoy (I uses his pictures from his review) use it every time he goes hunting. According to him for camp works and processing animals, birds fishes - this is ideal knife. In addition handle is pretty comfortable to handle during winter frosts.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[knarfeng]

Nice photography, as always.

Good looking subjects, as well.

 

[nozh2002]

Nice photography, as always.

Good looking subjects, as well.

Thanks, I hope it will not be only me here and you guys bring some well made but humble or shine manufacturers or makers as well.
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Kenetsune - traditional Japenese hunter.

About year ago they made their appearance in US knife market, but I am not sure if they still in here. This is real traditional Japanese knive which are totally different from what is expected here - traditional Japanese convex grind (but everybody here know that Japanese grind should be chisel grind) as well traditional slightly drop point (but everybody know - it should be Tanto point)...

Blade is laminated Aogami (Hitachi blue label steel, more expensive then Shirogami but easy to HT, because of Tungsten in composition). It is half wide convex grind with populat in Japan "Forging marks" (fake I am sure). It is 11/64" thick and 29/32" wide.

Laminated nature is quite wisible:

But this is not really hamon - result of special heat treatment, but actually bordr between steel layers. Which are very visible on the spine:

This is not faking of course - all knives in Japan made laminated. It is quite rare to see non laminated knife. Steel is quite hard - it sings when you sharpen it. I do not know how to explain it, but it make some strange sound, only SR101 make same sound - and it is known being one of the best.

Handle, according to A.G.Russel is quite interesting - it is made out of bark. Bark was softened by steam and then wrapped around handle. Making it shaped and durable. It has solid, iron cast (I think) guard - pretty secure for stabbing and quite widen to the end, making it good for chopping.

Sheath are quite original - kin of wooden box, but they made this sound like baby toy. It is may be authentic and match handle bark, but they will suite only woodsman who want entire forest to know that he is coming from few miles distance...

Other then this blade quality is like ... Japanese!

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[shangchi108]

Good post, Vassili. I always enjoy your insights.

 

[Buffalohump]

I've always liked the looks of that Mission fixed blade. I had to smile regarding your observations regarding the sheath. I figure if you're in a helicopter about to crash the least of your worries is going to be a sheath failing.

Is this thread only about fixed blades?

My vote for a knife that doesn't get enough love is a folder - the SOG Tomcat.

This is a beefy mother of a folder. Steel liners and bolsters, with kraton grips and steel hardware. Lock is the SOG Arc lock, which I have no reason to doubt.

The hollowground blade is of VG-10 and there are lots of fans of this steel. Its got stainless properties, but is easy to sharpen. I would put it in the same bracket as 154-CM in terms of edge holding.

I love the blade design of the Tomcat - very aggressive bowie profile, which is similar to their SEAL team fixed blade.

I think the only reason the Tomcat doesnt get a lot of love is that its a clipless folder, something of an oddity in these times.

Nevertheless there are times when carrying a folder in a sheath (the Tomcat comes with one) is desirable as it is a lot more low profile than having a knife clipped in your pocket.

 

[DennisStrickland]

cold steel srk in carbon v.many friends loved this knife, out of production 2004 or 2005. plenty of then around .

 

[nozh2002]

SOG Tomcat - originally made after SOG Bowie, which gave it special unique look and feel. It was introduced 1988 and make knife market change - all "tactical" folders market was created by this folded SOG Bowie. It was first thick blade hefty folding knife with quite aggressive look it inherits from Vietnam War Era special force SOG Bowie. I was lucky enough to get original one on gun show.

It has clip point blade out of AUS-6 (30 years ago it was super steel I guess), 3/16" thick 1 1/16" wide. Half wide hollow ground with long clip and false edge on top. S-curve main edge. I think this blade shape is what make it so special - older models I guess were made more "practical" and in result this "special force" appearance got lost - modern tomcats are not as sexy as first one.

Handle is accordingly to blade - quite thick. It has old school solid bolsters and butt, with all screws hidden. With rubber inset - which makes it very grippy. Lock is - back lock (I am not sure that Walker did invent liner lock at that time yet).

There is no modern things like thumbstud or clip, but it has hole for lanyard. This is pretty solid, tough, cool knife - real legend. And again all tactical knives started from this one.

It will be nice if SOG just restore old design untouched, but made it with modern super steel - ZDP 189 and G10 handle (orange G10 if possible).

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[wolv]

Mission and kanetsune are very good knives.

I have the kanetsune sazanami. The Hitachi aogami steel have an amazing cutting power.

 

[CWL]

Finally! A Kanetsune review, I have several but have never done anything 'heavy' with them because I wasn't sure how the tang would hold-up. Did you try to baton or chop with yours? Any signs of loosening?

 

[nozh2002]

Finally! A Kanetsune review, I have several but have never done anything 'heavy' with them because I wasn't sure how the tang would hold-up. Did you try to baton or chop with yours? Any signs of loosening?

I did chop with it, but it is no heavy enough, even it has this hook on the handle butt and so may gain more momentum they you can think of. And I did not baton with it as well as any other knife. Knives are for cutting and for chopping - nothing can beet good axe. This is what humanity came up with for chopping after several thousands years, it has all this accumulated weight against strong edge, long handle to gain momentum, thick edge etc...

All major old knife cultures Scandinavian, Japanese, Russian focused on cutting and so this is what traditional knives for, including Kanetsune. Japan has Nata - kind of machete, but in general they expect knives to cut first, so do I as well. So I am not doing anything "heavy" because I do not need to, I have small hatchet which outchop any known knife and also more convenient to use - need less power to use, more accurate, and quite cheap. But if I need to make handle for it - I'll use knife.

Convex edge not really good for chopping wood in general becaus it get pushed out from the cut. It is god for splitting wood I guess.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[CWL]

Yes, I agree with everything you posted about proper use of knives, just was hoping somebody else would 'beat up' their perfectly good knives instead of mine.

Thanks for your reviews.

 

[nozh2002]

Yes, I agree with everything you posted about proper use of knives, just was hoping somebody else would 'beat up' their perfectly good knives instead of mine.

Thanks for your reviews.

Noss4 doing this - but I am not sure if he did this with Kanetsune. And I think his testing only proves this point.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[wolv]

i study japanese blade and actually i have to say that kanetsune isn't very traditional... all the model are pretty western... the only things traditional are the convex bevel and the steel.

 

[CWL]

i study japanese blade and actually i have to say that kanetsune isn't very traditional... all the model are pretty western... the only things traditional are the convex bevel and the steel.

Kanetsune isn't the first to use that pattern, but it is very Japanese. The design doesn't have to go back hundreds of years in order to be "Japanese". Japan still has a small but active group of knifesmiths and dedicated outdoorsmen. The only other place I have seen knives similar to this pattern is from China knock-offs.

 

[Buffalohump]

Hot damn that original SOG Tomcat is sweet!

I so regret not buying one when I had the chance.

 

[nozh2002]

This is shot from Kukihide cuttlery shop in Yokohama. You may see many Japanese knives have similar design:

Regards, Vassili.

 

[Kaizen1]

Very nice Vassili. IIRC, you're in the Bay Area, right? I know they have a few Kenetsunes at "We Be Knives" at Pier 39. Here's my contribution to the thread. Mike Snody build-your-own-shank wharnecliffe in BG-42 steel. These come incredibly cheap ( I got this for $50 shipped), are hound ground by a master knife maker and heat treated by Bos. These aren't widely known because they get purchased quickly:

It came skeletonized with no wrapping. I did the horrible wrap job myself. I'll be taking another shot at it to see if I can make it prettier:

Spine shot

Chisel ground:

I wanted to see how difficult it would be to get sharp so I had to get it dull first. I cut the box that it was shipped in:

It was still shaving sharp afterward and I got it back to hair whittling sharp in a few minutes on a Spyderco ceramic stone. The ergos was very comfortable. The jimping at the spine helped with control considerably.

 

[the gimp]

The Mission knife in A2 has long been on my "want" list for a survival knife but I just never seem to pony up and buy one. Great photos and review!

I would also like to get my hands on a Ranger Puukko. I think the model with the shorter blade may be a better choice for my hunting needs. Does anyone know easy the handle cleans up from blood and hair? I can imagine the grooves in the handle needing to be scrubbed out. Not a huge deal I guess but something that could be an issue I guess.

 

[nozh2002]

I did not clean it myself, I relay on Sergey's review and he rated it best for handle it when it covered with blood etc, also during winter. It is not groowe but bumps and they are pretty low - spaces between then not really deep, I imagine that most likely nothing with stick between them, but if it will - cleaning will be very easy.

Thanks, Vassili.