JK Knives
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Room for another?
Email me your address!
RobKevlar, email received, you are in!
Lobo, never got an email from you.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Passaround - Ultralite Hunter
- Thread starter JK Knives
- Start date
Email me your address!
RobKevlar, email received, you are in!
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Address sent.
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
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- 2,351
I just officially filled my March hold spot with this knife.
Jeff
You'll love it. Man is it sharp too!
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
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Ive enjoyed the chance to try this one out. Will be sending it out later today.
Review to follow......
Review to follow......
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
- Messages
- 2,351
I must say that I am really glad I got a chance to handle this knife for a few weeks as it has changed some of my opinions about knife construction. The concept of a multi-purpose hunting/camping fixed blade made from 1/16" stock is intriguing, but the idea made me wonder if I would really use the knife for it's intended role. Would I feel comfortable with such a thin blade? The answer, after using it, is a resounding YES!
First, the specs....
Overall length: 8 1/4"
Blade: 4" x 1/16" thick with a scandivex edge
Handle: Tan canvas micarta
Steel: O1
Weight: 3 7/8 oz
That last spec number is really the key, under 4 OUNCES!!!!?!??! Less than a quarter of a pound for a fixed blade hunting blade does not sound very "robust" but the combination of O1 steel, blade shape, handle shape, grind and that thin stock work beautifully in concert to create a slicing machine that is more than enough to handle most any task you would throw at it and a few you probably would not.
Around camp, this light weight workhorse would need to be at home in many roles. To test this, I first used the ULH to prep some snacks for work.
While I would not replace my dedicated kitchen knives with the ULH, it did a more than adequate job on the carrots and celery.
I also used it to prep some chicken as well as steak. The "scandivex" edge really shined here, this knife would be a game processing demon! While cutting up all that meat and veggies, I got a little thirsty........
So the ULH helped me prepare a delicious Grapefruit Gimlet. The grapefruit fell easily to the hungry edge of the ULH and I was rewarded with a very tasty cocktail!
The thin stock does not lend nearly as much flex to the blade as I would have expected. I was thinking the feel would be along the lines of a filet knife, but the ULH has much more "backbone". There is the smallest bit of flex but nowhere near what I expected.
In it's role as a Hunter, I would expect that the ULH would be capable of tinder prep for a fire, including some "light" baton work. I was not disappointed! The thin stock batons well, offering very little resistance while still being able to power through knots and irregularities in the wood.
Here's what I started with...
Mid-baton....
Getting close.....
The blade shape and scandivex edge really made working up a quick pile of shavings almost effortless. If you look closely, you can see some shavings that are literally rolled up little tubes they curled so tight.
And the desired end result.......FIRE!
The handle of the ULH is interesting. There is some very light countouring overall, which keeps it comfy in a variety of grips but there is also a kind of flat area to the rear that made it easy for me to grip the rear 1/3 of the handle, gaining a few inches of reach, while still keeping total control of the edge. There was very little hand fatigue during carving and I did not notice any hotspots from the grip.
The Scandivex edge may be one of the sharpest that I have seen come out of John's shop. The hair's on the back of my hand jumped to get out of the way and the work with the baton literally did nothing to reduce it's sharpness. I did run it across a strop for a few passes when I got it (just have to tinker a bit ) and it push cut newsprint with ease.
I would not hesitate to carry this knife on my next hunt and, in a lot of ways, this might be the perfect knife for hiking and camping. With it's light weight, great blade and handle design and super-tough JK O1, you would not be "under-knifed" in any way. The design may seem somewhat pedestrian but there is absolutely nothing about this knife that is run of the mill.
First, the specs....
Overall length: 8 1/4"
Blade: 4" x 1/16" thick with a scandivex edge
Handle: Tan canvas micarta
Steel: O1
Weight: 3 7/8 oz
That last spec number is really the key, under 4 OUNCES!!!!?!??! Less than a quarter of a pound for a fixed blade hunting blade does not sound very "robust" but the combination of O1 steel, blade shape, handle shape, grind and that thin stock work beautifully in concert to create a slicing machine that is more than enough to handle most any task you would throw at it and a few you probably would not.
Around camp, this light weight workhorse would need to be at home in many roles. To test this, I first used the ULH to prep some snacks for work.
While I would not replace my dedicated kitchen knives with the ULH, it did a more than adequate job on the carrots and celery.
I also used it to prep some chicken as well as steak. The "scandivex" edge really shined here, this knife would be a game processing demon! While cutting up all that meat and veggies, I got a little thirsty........
So the ULH helped me prepare a delicious Grapefruit Gimlet. The grapefruit fell easily to the hungry edge of the ULH and I was rewarded with a very tasty cocktail!
The thin stock does not lend nearly as much flex to the blade as I would have expected. I was thinking the feel would be along the lines of a filet knife, but the ULH has much more "backbone". There is the smallest bit of flex but nowhere near what I expected.
In it's role as a Hunter, I would expect that the ULH would be capable of tinder prep for a fire, including some "light" baton work. I was not disappointed! The thin stock batons well, offering very little resistance while still being able to power through knots and irregularities in the wood.
Here's what I started with...
Mid-baton....
Getting close.....
The blade shape and scandivex edge really made working up a quick pile of shavings almost effortless. If you look closely, you can see some shavings that are literally rolled up little tubes they curled so tight.
And the desired end result.......FIRE!
The handle of the ULH is interesting. There is some very light countouring overall, which keeps it comfy in a variety of grips but there is also a kind of flat area to the rear that made it easy for me to grip the rear 1/3 of the handle, gaining a few inches of reach, while still keeping total control of the edge. There was very little hand fatigue during carving and I did not notice any hotspots from the grip.
The Scandivex edge may be one of the sharpest that I have seen come out of John's shop. The hair's on the back of my hand jumped to get out of the way and the work with the baton literally did nothing to reduce it's sharpness. I did run it across a strop for a few passes when I got it (just have to tinker a bit
) and it push cut newsprint with ease.I would not hesitate to carry this knife on my next hunt and, in a lot of ways, this might be the perfect knife for hiking and camping. With it's light weight, great blade and handle design and super-tough JK O1, you would not be "under-knifed" in any way. The design may seem somewhat pedestrian but there is absolutely nothing about this knife that is run of the mill.
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
- Messages
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You are really going to like it! I was really thinking that 1/16" was just too thin for the intended use, but that was not at all the case.
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- Sep 30, 2009
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Oops! Doubled it up there
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2010
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- 8,189
I agree. It felt surprisingly sturdy in my hand. It actually took me by surprise.
There is no doubt in my mind that this blade could take a heck of a beating.
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- Sep 30, 2009
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Well I kept her longer than I should have but she is now headed south to the next lucky tester. Thanks again for the chance to test this out John.
- Joined
- May 25, 2011
- Messages
- 854
Nice review Sean.
That's a sweet knife.
That's a sweet knife.
cbach8tw
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2006
- Messages
- 12,190
I like the look of it and how handy it has been for you guys. I too thought 1/16 would be too thin to stand up for camp chores. My standard thickness has been to get 1/8 steel, but thinner, in my case 3/32, looks like what I would go for. Any thoughts how would you like this one in 3/32? Just curious. Thanks guys, keep the reviews coming, you just made my reading day.:thumbup: