- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
- Messages
- 76
I recently aquired a Mark Terrell WSK and after having it a little over a month thought I would share my thoughts on it as while I've seen pictures and mention of it on this forum I haven't seen a review. No pictures posted as I'm not that high tech.
First impressions: Not as "sexy" as the Beck WSK's I've seen, though very much has it's own cool factor, one of those knives you sit on the couch and fondle while the wife and kids look on in horror. It's pretty massive, while just a little over 12" long it's very much 1/4" thick.
My first round of playing with it was a little strange, having never really used anything like this. I've held a few Becks but their owners didn't seem to want me thrashing them for some reason. But by about my third evening with the knife I began to get used to it, then it started to get fun.
The Chopping Blade. Well I'd say this knife chops about as well as a small hatchet. Not as well as my estwing hatchet but it weighs less and does more so I'm good with it. It doesn't chop as well as my kuirki either, but again weighs less. It chops well enough that I'm more than happy to use it in place of a hatchet. Also seems to connect right in the middle of the curve in the blade. It works and works well.
The Saw/ Notcher. Very weird how this is made, I was not sure about this, but it does quickly and easily make a nice clean notch and I cut through a 2x4 fairly quickly with no real binding or clogging. Again I was pleased, while not as cool as the saw on the Beck, it does work.
The Hole in the Blade. At first I thought this would make a nice arrow straightener. But it's just slightly smaller than my arrow shafts. Not sure what to do with it besides looking through it at my family as they watch in horror while sit on the couch and fondle this knife.
The Carving Blade. This is where this knife really shines. Damn that thing can carve, baton, drawknife and just plain cut. I really am surprised how well this thing carves given the blade thickness and geometry. As a drawknife it's great. With the quarter round you can carve and round at the same time. I hacked, cut and carved a bow drill set in about half the time it usually takes me. Really nice. I just have to remind myself to do the forward grip when carving.
Sharpening. Well it came plenty sharp, but sharpening with a small diamond plate followed by a ceramic stick then a strop was no problem. and the quarter round was no problem using a diamond rod.
Overall Impression. I'm quickly bonding to this knife and looking forward to plenty of time in the field with it. It's much bigger than what I usually carry and I'll still carry my SAK Rucksack (always) and a small carving knife, but I'm going to have some serious fun with this bad boy. I would certainly recommend this knife to anyone looking for a WSK. :thumbup:
First impressions: Not as "sexy" as the Beck WSK's I've seen, though very much has it's own cool factor, one of those knives you sit on the couch and fondle while the wife and kids look on in horror. It's pretty massive, while just a little over 12" long it's very much 1/4" thick.
My first round of playing with it was a little strange, having never really used anything like this. I've held a few Becks but their owners didn't seem to want me thrashing them for some reason. But by about my third evening with the knife I began to get used to it, then it started to get fun.
The Chopping Blade. Well I'd say this knife chops about as well as a small hatchet. Not as well as my estwing hatchet but it weighs less and does more so I'm good with it. It doesn't chop as well as my kuirki either, but again weighs less. It chops well enough that I'm more than happy to use it in place of a hatchet. Also seems to connect right in the middle of the curve in the blade. It works and works well.
The Saw/ Notcher. Very weird how this is made, I was not sure about this, but it does quickly and easily make a nice clean notch and I cut through a 2x4 fairly quickly with no real binding or clogging. Again I was pleased, while not as cool as the saw on the Beck, it does work.
The Hole in the Blade. At first I thought this would make a nice arrow straightener. But it's just slightly smaller than my arrow shafts. Not sure what to do with it besides looking through it at my family as they watch in horror while sit on the couch and fondle this knife.
The Carving Blade. This is where this knife really shines. Damn that thing can carve, baton, drawknife and just plain cut. I really am surprised how well this thing carves given the blade thickness and geometry. As a drawknife it's great. With the quarter round you can carve and round at the same time. I hacked, cut and carved a bow drill set in about half the time it usually takes me. Really nice. I just have to remind myself to do the forward grip when carving.
Sharpening. Well it came plenty sharp, but sharpening with a small diamond plate followed by a ceramic stick then a strop was no problem. and the quarter round was no problem using a diamond rod.
Overall Impression. I'm quickly bonding to this knife and looking forward to plenty of time in the field with it. It's much bigger than what I usually carry and I'll still carry my SAK Rucksack (always) and a small carving knife, but I'm going to have some serious fun with this bad boy. I would certainly recommend this knife to anyone looking for a WSK. :thumbup:
