Recommendations: new 4 inch hunting knife

FA1BladeGuy

FA1BladeGuy

Joined
Jun 28, 2015
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371
Say you've recently purchased a Fallkniven A1 survival knife, and you want to get a 4" camp hiking blade. You love your A1 and your thinking about adding a Fallkniven F1, and then you see the Chris Reeve Nyala. The CR Nyala is at the same price point as a 3G steel Fallkniven F1, but but it comes with micarta scales and a beautifully made leather sheath also made in Idaho, USA. Does the extra cost of the Chris Reeve justify the trade off in the proven reliability of the Fallky F1, or is the CRK Nyala so nice that it's both a quantitative increase in usability and collectibility? Any imput from from you guys on the forum would be appreciated.
 
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collim1 said:
F1 would be my choice. It's simple and proven.
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collim, thanks for your response sir. I think I was taken in by the prettiness of the CRK Nyala and its collectibility. When it comes to price point and functionality it's hard to doubt the Swedish Air Force.
 
I think it's a matter of how much "user" versus "collector". I have two micarta F1s in VG10 and 3G, but
my basic thermorun handled VG10 F1 gets the most actual use due to it's extremely light weight and
that I can use/abuse it without any concerns.
 
Another vote for F1.

The Nyala is nice too and I doubt either is 'quantitatively' better. And collectability goes down the more you use it.

I feel S35VN is better than 3G laminate but a convex grind is better than a hollow grind.

Actually, I'd prefer the F1 in VG10.
 
T
KenHash said:
I think it's a matter of how much "user" versus "collector". I have two micarta F1s in VG10 and 3G, but
my basic thermorun handled VG10 F1 gets the most actual use due to it's extremely light weight and
that I can use/abuse it without any concerns.
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I like your thinking Ken on the F1 sir. Though truth be told, your strong avocation of Fallkniven blades in general was what helped stear me toward purchasing my A1.
 
I'll throw my 2 cents in on this, the F1 in VG10, IMO it's one of the best ball around knives in it's class, plus it's sooooooo easy to maintain.
 
TravisH said:
Another vote for F1.

The Nyala is nice too and I doubt either is 'quantitatively' better. And collectability goes down the more you use it.

I feel S35VN is better than 3G laminate but a convex grind is better than a hollow grind.

Actually, I'd prefer the F1 in VG10.
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Thanks Travis. You and KenHash have me thinking I wouldn't be hurt by purchasing a standard F1 in VG10 and letting my wanderlust for a handmade knife float in my mind a bit. Still, the CRK Nyala is a beautiful blade, but at around $230 it's a kinda "gifty" thing to want if you know what mean. Darn it, and my birthday just past darn it.
 
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sd550 said:
I'll throw my 2 cents in on this, the F1 in VG10, IMO it's one of the best ball around knives in it's class, plus it's sooooooo easy to maintain.
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sd550, I'll match your copper Lincolns with the plan that I can justify the purchase of a Fallky F1 as getting a tool for my belt, and start laying hints about a Chris Reeve knife to the wife as a well deserved Christmas present.
 
TravisH said:
Another vote for F1.

The Nyala is nice too and I doubt either is 'quantitatively' better. And collectability goes down the more you use it.

I feel S35VN is better than 3G laminate but a convex grind is better than a hollow grind.

Actually, I'd prefer the F1 in VG10.
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Travis, I appreciate you pointing out the differences in the steel and grinds of the two blades I mentioned. I've read that when you get above $200, or maybe the price of a Mora, it kinda doesn't really matter what knife you get as long as your skills are commensurate with the task at hand.
 
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For a user knife the F1 is hard to beat. I prefer the VG10 knives over the 3G versions, because in real world use they cut just as good and are noticeably easier to sharpen.
The CR Nyala is an oddball knife. I really haven't heard of very many being used as hard use knives. Plenty of people buy them and rave about how their new acquisition is well constructed, but actual users not so much.
 
Made in Japan vs. Made in USA... my decision making time would have been much shorter. Go with the Nyala!
 
Jhansenak47 said:
For a user knife the F1 is hard to beat. I prefer the VG10 knives over the 3G versions, because in real world use they cut just as good and are noticeably easier to sharpen.
The CR Nyala is an oddball knife. I really haven't heard of very many being used as hard use knives. Plenty of people buy them and rave about how their new acquisition is well constructed, but actual users not so much.
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Jhasenak, as much as I've tried to rationalise getting an F1 3G over the VG10 version, I've also haven't read anywhere that the 3G was markedly better than the standard F1. I watched some YouTube vids on the CR Nyala this morning, most presenters said the Nyala was going in their safe, which makes no sense to me if any blade is that good.
 
Nrthfce said:
Made in Japan vs. Made in USA... my decision making time would have been much shorter. Go with the Nyala!
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Finally the unbiased opinion of a true patriot. Who needs knives with their Swedish IKEA design and mined iron ore that's made into steel and constructed in Japan?
 
Just to widen the options ;) - what about this one - to my knowledge it is the first stainless knife (ATS34) from Kiyoshi Kato:

 
I'd throw the H1 into the mix as well. There are still some Fallkniven blanks out there and you can add whatever floats your boat. I put mahogany on my H1 and love it.
 
It's very difficult to choose something over an F1. I personally could only separate with it once I had a Survive! GSO, which I'd absolutely recommend. If the F1 were a little thinner with a v-grind, I might've not switched over to Survive!.
 
This is my "go to beater/user user F1. And my Collection piece, a 4 inch Hattori KD30-HT70 in Cowry-X Damascus. Hattori also makes a Cowry-X version
of the Fallkniven NL5 Idun as well.

DSC_0726_zps5l92xs8a.jpg
 
matus, I just watched a video of Kato-San making a Gyuto. All I can say is WOW! Blades made with a traditional Japanese forging process are a whole different kettle of fish. Oh BTW, I need one.
 
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