pakistani fixed blade question

O

ohenkowski

Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Messages
34
I was about to pull the trigger on the purchase of a 11" FOX n HOUND Damascus Stag Handle BOWIE Knife . The price was right but in the Ebay description it advised that the Pakistan sticker was on the blade.

I am looking for anyone who has had a knife made in Pakistan. Will I get a low quality product.

Jay Ohenkowski
 
I have three Paki knives. One is a Moran ST-23 copy and another is a big Musso type Bowie. Both of these are well worth the money - fit is a bit rough, finish however is pretty good on both. I've never used them, but they are obviously forged, came in fairly sharp and have a primitive look that I like.

My folder is a Fox-N-Hound caper with a stag point handle and damascus blade. It's one of my favorite knives - now that I have spent about an hour re-profiling the edge a bit. It arrived sharp - but very wedgy, so I feathered the edge by hand until it was much finer. It now cuts very well!

I don't think you can go wrong for the money...just be aware that you may have to do some work on a stone to get it so it cuts effectively.

Mike
 
ohenkowski said:
I am looking for anyone who has had a knife made in Pakistan. Will I get a low quality product.
Click to expand...

There must be a "gazillion" different knives being manufactured in Pakistan right now, mostly by hand. Who can say if some aren't excellent?

Generally though, Pakistani knives have earned their low-quality reputation.

While you may be able to sharpen your knife, nobody knows what the steels are in your damascus or whether it was heat treated, or heat-treated correctly, so the ability to maintain an edge should also be a consideration.

Then again, I just looked-up Fox n Hound knives, they sell at $30-50 for a damascus bowie, when real ones sell at 8-20+ times that price... you should be able to figure out why.
 
My experience with Pakistan-made knives is mostly limited to the cheap lockback folders, Buck 110 knockoffs. The quality is consistent - consistently poor. Very soft steel, huge gaps between the liners, and plenty of blade play.

I know that doesn't address your question regarding the specific Fox and Hound fixed blades, but it might be an indicator of what to expect.

Good luck.
 
Don't know anything about the Fox and Hound brand, but in my personal experience and from reading the general consensus on these and other forums, you're very likely going to get a low quality knife if it's made in Pakistan. I'm sure there are at least a few real knife makers in that country and I feel sorry for them that their image will be mixed in with the majority of crap knife makers from the area.
 
I have a copy of the ST23 I think it is called. Blade is very well done but the handle and guard and pommel left a bit to be desired. I expected worse and rec. better than I thought I should. So I am in the process of putting a new handle on it and fixing the guard for a better fit. I will never ever be able to afford a real one and this one serve's it's purpose. Will I ever use it? Probably not but like I said I think the steel is half way decent and the grind on the blade is actually very well done. But you get what you pay for and like I said I was expecting that. keepem sharp
 
pakistani fixed blade question. Thanks for your input. This forum stopped me from making a bad purchase

Jay Ohenkowski
 
About 20 years ago, when I first got in Cowboy Action Shooting, I spent a great deal of time, money and energy putting together my competition rig. By the time I was done--or at least I told myself I was done--I found that I couldn't quite swing buying a nice Bowie knife to complete the look. So, I set about hunting through my shop looking for materials with which to put together a passable substitute. Fortunately, I found a couple of Pakistani bowies that I had stashed away after picking them up for about $12 each at some long forgotten gun show.

I spent about two weeks--off and on--with a belt sander and files working on this project. I had just started teaching myself to engrave and after the knife was assembled, in my enthusiastic naivete, I happily put it in the vice and set to scratching it up. Boy, was that a mistake. Fortunately the blade steel was a bit soft so it was possible to cut with a carbide graver. My wife, who is my biggest fan, loved the results but I thought it came out horrible. Because there is nothing tougher than a self-imposed artistic aesthetic, every few years I find myself going back to it trying to fix it. Still, I must say, when all is said and done, the knife does meet my perceived need for a "looker" more than a "user." Though a bit heavy, it looks good on my gun belt. :D

pakiknivesA.jpg


pkcloseup.jpg
 
A guy at work just gave me a knife from Chipaway Cutlery made in Pakistan. It is supposed to be a "hunting" knife with brass bolsters, blue wood handle and stainless blade. Fit and finish is poor but for free it will make a nice paperweight.:D
 
Longbow,

My Paki ST-23 is pretty much the same. I had ordered a real Moran one about 30 years ago and never got it since Mr. Moran retired soon after. Like you, I liked the design and was happy with my $30.00 copy - heck the nice sheath is worth more that that!

Anyway, I've never used mine either, but since they obviously took the time to make a good copy - gaps in the blade-guard fit notwithstanding - I have the feeling it would be a serviceable knife...might even be a good knife!
 
It could be. The grind is very well done on it I'll say that. The stick tang is forged as one piece or is one piece I should say with the blade. It almost looks like forge weld at the bas of the tang on the knife, not bad really. I'll get around this winter to fixing it up and see what happens. It will make a great bed stand knife I think. keepem sharp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top