textoothpk
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- Sep 24, 2003
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A good, solid defence of Schrade+ steel is long overdue, and maybe too late. And this is a review, from your wanna-be frontiersman, Phil, of the Schrade X-Timer XT1B, that big bolo shaped blade shown here:
http://www.schradeknives.com/xtimer.htm
Not happy with the performance of my Camillus/Becker BK7 after a first attempt to do the task (and the task was cutting a shortcut through a thicket out at my favorite hunting ground), I decided to finally make use of my XT1B. And what a great experience it was.
Remember when I posted the pic of the shaving sharp results of my last XT? This knife was not quite as sharp out of the box, I mean it was sharp, but not shaving sharp. And for what this knife is designed for, that isnt necessary. But what the heck, I got out my long diamond hone, did a few strokes, then stropped the blade on the back of a old leather belt. I then
put a bit of polishing compound (the dark red stuff) on the leather and worked the blade through it a few times. In the basement, I took the XT and made a downward slash through a section of cardboard. Wow. "knife through butter'.
After my hunt (two squirrels, thank you for asking) I went to where I needed my trail cut. It was fun, although I had to stop a few times for a cigarette. I got tired long before the blade did. Most impressive was striking downward at a two inch thick sappling right at the Y and then doing a few follow-ups, splitting it neatly from four feet up, to the ground.
This morning I took the knife out of the sheath. I had put it away wet. I wiped it off.. the black finish looked great, much better than the finish of the Becker does after trying the same task. I wonder if the very silky smooth, glossy finish on the Schrade, compared to the Becker, adds to the ease of cutting... less friction. And another thing... the bare metal edge of my Schrade was rust free.... and let me tell you, that Becker gets a rusty edge just holding it close to water. Oh, and the saw back of this big old Schrade really does cut wood. The handle is much better than the Becker as well, less hand fatigue. Oh, the Becker's handle is 'special' because it is removable and you can use it as a 'secret compartment'. For folks without pockets I guess. Don't forget to carry the hex key, and if you have no pockets to put it in, you are out of luck.
But most important, the edge was still sharp. Trying hard, I just managed to scrape a hair or two off my arm. Nice. No folding over of the razor's edge. I did my thing with the diamond hone again, stropped it, and it's as good as new.
Hmm... suppose Eathan Becker had hooked up with Schrade, instead of Camillus?
Schrade plus steel.... if one has some problem in sharpening it (the blade grind will have an impact on that as well), I'd say they just need to learn how to sharpen.
Oh, the Schrade has a lined thong hole at the end of the butt. First thing I did when getting it was put a cinch-able wrist thong on it. Safety first.
Phil
top: XT1B bottom: XT2B
http://www.schradeknives.com/xtimer.htm
Not happy with the performance of my Camillus/Becker BK7 after a first attempt to do the task (and the task was cutting a shortcut through a thicket out at my favorite hunting ground), I decided to finally make use of my XT1B. And what a great experience it was.
Remember when I posted the pic of the shaving sharp results of my last XT? This knife was not quite as sharp out of the box, I mean it was sharp, but not shaving sharp. And for what this knife is designed for, that isnt necessary. But what the heck, I got out my long diamond hone, did a few strokes, then stropped the blade on the back of a old leather belt. I then
put a bit of polishing compound (the dark red stuff) on the leather and worked the blade through it a few times. In the basement, I took the XT and made a downward slash through a section of cardboard. Wow. "knife through butter'.
After my hunt (two squirrels, thank you for asking) I went to where I needed my trail cut. It was fun, although I had to stop a few times for a cigarette. I got tired long before the blade did. Most impressive was striking downward at a two inch thick sappling right at the Y and then doing a few follow-ups, splitting it neatly from four feet up, to the ground.
This morning I took the knife out of the sheath. I had put it away wet. I wiped it off.. the black finish looked great, much better than the finish of the Becker does after trying the same task. I wonder if the very silky smooth, glossy finish on the Schrade, compared to the Becker, adds to the ease of cutting... less friction. And another thing... the bare metal edge of my Schrade was rust free.... and let me tell you, that Becker gets a rusty edge just holding it close to water. Oh, and the saw back of this big old Schrade really does cut wood. The handle is much better than the Becker as well, less hand fatigue. Oh, the Becker's handle is 'special' because it is removable and you can use it as a 'secret compartment'. For folks without pockets I guess. Don't forget to carry the hex key, and if you have no pockets to put it in, you are out of luck.
But most important, the edge was still sharp. Trying hard, I just managed to scrape a hair or two off my arm. Nice. No folding over of the razor's edge. I did my thing with the diamond hone again, stropped it, and it's as good as new.
Hmm... suppose Eathan Becker had hooked up with Schrade, instead of Camillus?
Schrade plus steel.... if one has some problem in sharpening it (the blade grind will have an impact on that as well), I'd say they just need to learn how to sharpen.
Oh, the Schrade has a lined thong hole at the end of the butt. First thing I did when getting it was put a cinch-able wrist thong on it. Safety first.
Phil
top: XT1B bottom: XT2B
...... I could have been looking for tail.
