Nyala Thoughts?

Kreyzhorse · May 4, 2013

I'm an avid hunter and was curious if any one had insight on how the Nyala performs as a hunting knife? Particularly cleaning game, how are the ergos of the knife and how does the edge on the steel hold up?

Jensen81 · May 4, 2013

I use my nyala for hunting, camping, and fishing. I've cleaned many fish, a few turkeys, and a deer with it and it performs better than any other knife I've used. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a solid, comfortable, and compact fixed blade. It's about the same size as a sebenza but has a thicker blade with more belly. It holds an edge exceptionally well. I haven't had to sharpen mine since I got it and I've used it quite a bit. I can still pop hairs off my arm easily. I just sent mine to rival to get some custom carbon fiber scales made for it. I'm sure that it won't be as comfortable as the canvas micarta but I am a carbon fiber kind of guy and he does beautiful work. I'll post pics in a week or so when it comes back to me. If you choose to go with a nyala I'm sure that you won't be disappointed.t

jwolf90 · May 4, 2013

I've wanted one for a long time! After hearing Jensen's report I may just have to get one:thumbup:

Evany · May 4, 2013

I've had a Nyala for about a year now. I continue to be delighted with it, and I very much appreciated that CRK was able to ship me a knife with a left handed sheath. As for field use, I've field dressed and skinned one large deer with it. As Jensen said, it performed beautifully. I also took it (along with a Salt 1 SE) to the Caribbean for a 10 day camping trip. I used it mostly for food prep and again, it was a pleasure to use. After that trip it needed some work on a Sharpmaker to get it back to razor sharpness, but it stayed very sharp for the whole adventure in spite of my using a hard plastic cutting board. I really like how comfortably it carries on the belt, how it fits my hand, how easy it is to work blind with it in a deer carcass. I personally would prefer M390 steel or something similar, but the ergos and superlative design more than make up for that IMO, and supposedly the S35VN is easier to sharpen, which is a plus. I guess I might wish for a tiny bit more blade length, if I was really splitting hairs, but in spite of these minor issues, I really like it and it has become a permanent part of my deer hunting kit.

Rival1314 · May 4, 2013

^^ Jensen....Here's a teaser!!

And its still very comfy in hand...a scale is no good if it hurts the hand

Kreyzhorse · May 5, 2013

Thanks guys. That's the type of feedback I was looking for. I just ordered it so I should receive it by the end of the week. I look forward to getting it and really look forward to putting it to use.

I'll update this post with my initial thoughts.

김원진 · May 5, 2013

rival! that's an amazing modification to the nyala...................completely envious now.............

dragonram7 · May 5, 2013

That looks good. I wonder have a sebbie would look with the CF?

Jensen81 · May 5, 2013

Thanks rival! I'm glad that they are going to be comfy and sexy at the same time! Those scales are killer! I can't wait to get her back!

lemmuhj · May 5, 2013

Man that CF looks awesome!

BBQ BOY · May 5, 2013

Rival1314 said:
^^ Jensen....Here's a teaser!!

And its still very comfy in hand...a scale is no good if it hurts the hand

I ned to know who made those scales. I have the Nyala and it is one of my favorite fixed blades, and I have a lot of them too. Some productions and some customs.

Jensen81 · May 5, 2013

Rival1314 made them for my nyala. He does beautiful work. Check out his gallery underneath his post here. You will crap yourself!

High-Gear · May 5, 2013

Daaaaaaang Rival! That is Schweet!

BBQ BOY · May 5, 2013

lemmuhj said:
Man that CF looks awesome!

Clear out your PM box. I can't reply to your PM.

DBH · May 6, 2013

Those scales look great on the knife!

Kreyzhorse · May 10, 2013

Just got mine today. As expected, the knife is well made and well thought out. I'm amazed at the thickness of the spine. This knife looks like it could take on any task and win.

The sheath is thick leather and looks as well made as the knife. Almost too pretty to get bloody cleaning a critter. Can't wait to try it out though.

Evany · May 13, 2013

Mine has continued to grow on me. I also have a Spyderco South Fork, which I thought I would prefer, but the Nyala is the knife I reach for every time I go hunting. Egros, blade shape, balance and other indefinable subtleties, just make it a little sweeter all around.