Survival Knife: Fallkniven A1 or A2.

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blazindave

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Mar 13, 2006
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I'm set on one or there other. The tests and videos ive seen tell me that Fallkniven knows how to make a practically indestructible knife.
Now i've read that survival knives shouldnt go past 6 inches (or up to 7 absolute max).
However the A2 is a lovely 8 inches (A1 = 6 inches).
What say you?
 
You will soon realise that just ONE Fallkniven is not enough. Buy the one you like the most, you will eventually end up with F1, S1, H1, WM1, G1 and some TK and NL series anyway.

I think the reason for not buying a too big knife is that, in order for it to be your "survival knife" you must wear it all the time. I would stick with a F1 or S1, but that is me and that is depending on the environment. Here we have deep forests with pine, spruce and some occasional birch and thats about it. In a swedish survival book, they show how to split wood, feel trees, cut branches etc. with a knife like the F1 or S1. You baton on everything instead of chopping. You can actually fell a tree with a short knife, but it has to be a knife with a protruding tang in the back.

Good luck with your choice.
 
As I see it, the A2 is far too large. It's a good chopper, but not very useful for things that do not require brute strength hacking. The A1 is much more practical, but I'd still go with an F1, rather. If you want a chopping knife, though, then the A1 is a fine compromise - it's not too big or too cumbersome, but it does chop, which cannot be said about the smaller F1 and S1.
 
Elen said:
As I see it, the A2 is far too large. It's a good chopper, but not very useful for things that do not require brute strength hacking. The A1 is much more practical, but I'd still go with an F1, rather. If you want a chopping knife, though, then the A1 is a fine compromise - it's not too big or too cumbersome, but it does chop, which cannot be said about the smaller F1 and S1.
Click to expand...

He is correct!!!!!

click site below--then click full size

http://www.putfile.com/pic/7055335
 
I've handled the A1, but not cut with it. It seems a little too "in-between". A little too small for good chopping, but a little too thick for precise cutting. I'd probably carry the A2 and the F1, but that's just me. However, if you wanted a really strong knife that could handle batoning, then the A1 would probably be just right. I've never had to do super-intricate carvings in the field, and found that even thicker knives such as the A1 work just fine. Heck, I like the NL series also, and wouldn't hesitate to use them either...

I would like to try the 3G steels they use, if they ever offered an F1 in that, I'd definitely give one a try.

Decisions, decisions...
 
There were 110 F1/3G made. They have now become collectables.
Get the H1/3G instead. About every Fallkniven knife are good for batoning.
If you are batoning wood you do not have to split the wood in the middle from split one. You could split smaller chunks from the outside in. Then you do not really need such a big knife.
I will make videos to show how when I get my gear back from my exhibit.
 
The idea here is really a worst situation lost in woods and i have one knife only.
I've seen some tests done and the knives are practically indestructible. As for weight i do a ton of exercise (triathlon and karate) and i doubt a little extra weight will be that cumbersome.
Here is a video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VleFUGJNAYE

It's part 1 of 7. The knife seems to improve as the testing becomes more brutal.


@dr.Mudd: I don't have the possibility of figuring that out since i cant field test either. The A2 might be a bit too large but i'm wondering if the extra strength/toughness/whatever you want to call it and hacking ability overcomes its huge size.

@nodh: University student here on a super tight budget. I'm getting into hunting and as much as id like to get all the fallkniven knives, it'll be a few years before that is possible. Also, what is batoning exactly?

@Elen/William.M: You have me now leaning towards the A1 :P

@sodak: I think the purpose of survival knives is to be inbetween, since you only have one and might be faced with a multitude of situations where you need to use all functionalities.

@nodh: You mean the H1 knife? Alright, can't wait for the videos :P

Thanks guys, more opinions/ideas/etc always welcome.
 
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A friendly advice - don't hold onto the artificial "one knife only" idea. Nothing stops you, especially if you are young and strong, from bringing as many knives as you would like, and it's not easy to think of a realistic scenario where you will lose all your knives but just one. I mean, let's assume for example that you fall into a river and ditch your backpack so you don't drown - you have just the items left on your person with you. Who says that has to be just one knife? That scenario could easily leave you with a two knife sheath on your belt, with a small knife and a larger one, and perhaps even a SAK or Leatherman in your pocket.

Then there's the chopping ability thing - chopping is good for some things, but for very few things indeed it is necessary, although some people furiously disagree on that. ;) The same can be said about batoning - which means splitting wood (or something else) with a knife by "batoning" the spine of the knife through the wood with a baton, typically a branch or another random piece of wood.
 
Elen said:
A friendly advice - don't hold onto the artificial "one knife only" idea. Nothing stops you, especially if you are young and strong, from bringing as many knives as you would like, and it's not easy to think of a realistic scenario where you will lose all your knives but just one. I mean, let's assume for example that you fall into a river and ditch your backpack so you don't drown - you have just the items left on your person with you. Who says that has to be just one knife? That scenario could easily leave you with a two knife sheath on your belt, with a small knife and a larger one, and perhaps even a SAK or Leatherman in your pocket.

Then there's the chopping ability thing - chopping is good for some things, but for very few things indeed it is necessary, although some people furiously disagree on that. ;) The same can be said about batoning - which means splitting wood (or something else) with a knife by "batoning" the spine of the knife through the wood with a baton, typically a branch or another random piece of wood.
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Yes that is fine. Chances are ill still have 2-3 knives on me anyway. However i'm just looking for an "incase something happens" knife. The a1 would seem better due to the carving abilities but if it was for carving something, it would probably be better using a sharp stone than my one and only knife. I understand what you are saying, but this is my method for picking between the two.
If i had only one of them, which one would be more helpful? I plan to use nature's resources as best as i can (sharp branches, stones, etc) and leave the rest to the knife, so in that sense...maybe the A2 would be better?
I don't care if you guys argue this to death with me, it helps me tremendously.
:) thanks
 
Batoning a knife is done as follows.
1. place the wood you want to split on a hard surface, preferably not a rock.
2. Place the knife edge where you want to split the wood.
3. Take another piece of wood and hammer down on the knife and by doing that the knife splits the first piece of wood.

If you look at this film you will see a demonstration on how it is done on the third shelf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEXO30YHopw
If you have a piece that is bigger than your knife, you could place the knife closer to the edge and split it from the outside in.
 
Alright.
I think i will go with the A1. I was actually comparing the two and i realise the A2 is just as thick as the A1.
However the A1 is all VG10 and the A2 has VG10+420j2 metal.
Should i care for that, or am i being too picky :P
 
blazindave said:
Alright.
I think i will go with the A1. I was actually comparing the two and i realise the A2 is just as thick as the A1.
However the A1 is all VG10 and the A2 has VG10+420j2 metal.
Should i care for that, or am i being too picky :P
Click to expand...

Unless you've found an older model A1, then they are in fact both laminated VG10 with 420J2 sides. I wouldn't care about that - the laminated models are good stuff. With the laminated VG10 compared to the solid VG10, you will get basically two things you might ever notice in use: more scratches on the blade (because 420J2 is softer) and a tougher knife. Really no big deal - a user knife is going to get scratched up no matter what it's made from.

I can really think of only two scenarios where the A2 would be a better choice than the A1. And those are if you intend to just chop a hell of a lot of wood (the A2 is the better chopper) or if you intend to use the knife as a poor substitute for a sword (the A2 is longer and thus has better reach). The A2 does look more John Rambo than the smaller A1, but that shouldn't really affect one's decision. ;)

I suppose it might be saying something that the man who owns Fällkniven carries the A1 model most often when in the woods, unless my memory fails me. :)
 
For camp tasks, I vote for the A1. Not too big to carry everyday in the woods, and the blade lenght is ideal for smaller chores. :thumbup:

Usually I carry a WM1 for small wood works too. ;)

For hiking, I carry the F1 - it is enough for the usual task. :D
 
Allex said:
I have an A1, is awesome and the blade is also laminated. But I'd take A2 :)
Click to expand...

Why?
Now i'm not too sure whether A1 or A2? :o
If you were lost and had one knife only, would you rather have the A1 or the A2?
I know, i know...there will be other knives in my possesion.
However, to pick between the two, this is how i view it.

A1:
Pros:
Less likely to break than A2.
A better "fine" cutter.
Can do smaller, finer tasks.
Weighs less.
Less of a chore to use.

Cons:
Lack of reach (? fighting off bears? :p )
Not as good a choper as the A2.

Help :(

I assume that if ever you do need to use a knife for anything, in a forest...its to chop wood.
If i need to open cans or anything, i can use a sharp rock.
If i need to make a notch, a large knife such as the A2 can do that fine.
What "finer" work would a knife like the A1 really help with that the A2 could not?
 
blazindave: I'm sure whatever one you chose will serve you well. Ask yourself what tasks you will likely be performing with it. If you do a lot of chopping then buy the A2. This will be it's advantage over the A1. If you preform more cutting tasks or need a knife with more control or a more compact blade chose the A1, S1 or F1. The A1 is kind of a compromise between being able to preform heavier camp chores but still small enough for finer work.

If you can't decide buy both. :D
 
noss4 said:
blazindave: I'm sure whatever one you chose will serve you well. Ask yourself what tasks you will likely be performing with it. If you do a lot of chopping then buy the A2. This will be it's advantage over the A1. If you preform more cutting tasks or need a knife with more control or a more compact blade chose the A1, S1 or F1. The A1 is kind of a compromise between being able to preform heavier camp chores but still small enough for finer work.

If you can't decide buy both. :D
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Unfortunately the budget does not allow for that. Though i wish i could :P
 
Actually. The A1 seems fine.
Now i have another question, just a quick help plz and im done :D

http://fallkniven.com/misc/eng-sharp.htm

Im going to get the small DC3. What is the difference between ceramic and diamond...as in what are their different uses concerning sharpening.
Also...should i buy some sort of knife "lubricant" (no, im not into S&M :p ) that will protect the blade (humidity, corrosion, etc).
Thanks :D
 
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