The almighty F1 ...why? What's so great about it?

Moodino said:
In the process of industrial design, when a product is created that tries to be perfect, tens of thousands of possibilities will be offered, but only a few hit the target. The F1 is one and in my opinion the S1 is the other. But these are production knives. The ideal F1 or S1 has a grip that is custom designed for its user.
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That would be the BRKT 'Aurora' model you are referring to:D:thumbup:
 
To me the F-l is to small to be a big knife and to large to be a small knife. I have no doubt that in it's niche, it's a good enough knife. The S-1 is on my list.
 
I always get the S-1 and A-1 mixed up, but I want one of them, and it's definitely one or the other.
 
I've had my F1 for a few months now and It is a very sturdy knife convex edge cuts like crazy and holds the edge well.The 4"blade is long enough for what i use a knife for, hunting camping, and some lite wood carving around camp. the F1 works well in the kitchen also. F1 might not be the very best knife in the world but it is one of the better ones:D
 
Why not try one in a knife shop , pause for a few days , and see if you can live without one. Always try before you buy.

F1 alive and well in France.
 
Stainz said:
Ah, the F1, it's made of fine Swedish knife steel - not! It's a product of Japan. And, what if you aren't crazy about rubber-like grips? The Micarta will set you back two and a half times as much as that base F1. I am sorry, but a Bark River 'Gameskeeper', made in MI's UP, is a far better buy - and could save you nearly a C-note in Micarta. Yeah, it's thicker - .215", longer - 4.25" blade, heavier - 7 oz, and no one will ever complain about the grip being too small. In basic Micarta, it's a deal - and there are others, too. I have no doubt that Rc 58 laminated VG-10 is excellent - but BRK&T has Rc 59-60 A-2 - hard to beat, even if it is carbon steel - and still, a great convex edge.

I have some real Swedish steel here - and no place/need for an F1 - you may have it. I just don't like rubber-like handles!

Stainz
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See, this is the kind of post that I just don't quite get.

"Fine Swedish steel"? As compared to fine Japanese steel? Anyone who thinks Swedish steel today is somehow superior, in general, to Japanese steel really needs to return to the real world. And as for being a product of Japan, the quality of Japanese products in general is great - certainly far better than the quality of most things produced in Europe and at the very least equal to the quality of Swedish and Scandinavian products. Quite frankly, I consider everyone who believes Japanese products to be inferior to of all things Swedish ones a person regrettably stuck in either the dark ages or the second world war. Harsh, but that's what I think, considering that I've found no superior performance in Swedish steels, in use, as compared to Japanese. Not saying that you, Stainz, are such a person, and I'm not at all sure that I understood your comment about the F1 being a product of Japan right, but it is what it is.

I do agree that the Micarta handled F1 is immensely overpriced - although it is handmade, which to some people is an important factor. Not liking rubber handles is fine and all, and luckily it's easy to buy F1 blade blanks to handle them however one personally likes and exactly the right size.

Yes, the laminated VG-10 used by Fällkniven is good. It certainly is not RC 58, though, but RC 59, and I'm not sure where you got the 58 from. It certainly isn't what Fällkniven themselves say.


Me, I like the F1 because it's designed to function instead of being a boring showoff. The standard F1 has a decent price, it's a tough little knife made of good steel, and it cuts well and is easy to sharpen. Fits my hand right and doesn't feel cold even in the winter. What more do I need? It doesn't have any obstructions to precision work except a minor guard and an even more minor sharpening choil notch. Could be better, but good even as it is.
 
I suppose it depends on what you are gonna use it for. I went camping this past weekend and took several blades with me. I took 2 Busse's, a F1, and a Mora. I wore the Game Warden on a sheath (its my EDC off work) and used it to cut some cord a few times. Never got the BATAC out. I used the F1 for all the kitchen duties and had it laying on the picnic table the entire time. Of course, the Mora would have done anything I needed done the entire weekend. Unless you are going to use them for a pry bar or baton thru some wood, they all work just fine. I prefer the thin blades for basic cutting and slicing which is "what I think a knife is for". F1 fills that niche wonderfully (as would most anything all the way down to a $5 Old Hickory). I dont cut firewood with them, (I prefer a hatchet or saw) drive them in trees to use as a step, Etc:
I could have easily used the folder I usually carry clipped on my jeans for anything that came up over the entire camping trip but it was about the fun of actually using something that I spend so much time reading about and money acquiring.
It's all about preferences and a lot of fantasy. Just buy a good quality knife that is pleasing to your eyes and feels good in your hands and try to be satisfied with it (thats where some of the fantasy comes in, trying to be satisfied with one when there is so much out there).
If the F1 fits that bill for you, I highly doubt that you will be disapointed in the least. It's a great knife. If you just want a user that will serve you well and aren't worried with the hype, I find that a Mora is plenty of bang for the buck.
 
There are no Fallkniven models made in sweden. The first ATS34 steel models were made in Germany, by Linder. Then in 1997 the production moved to Japan.

http://hem.passagen.se/nodh

And by the way, before anyone asks. Yes it makes a really good shower of sparks from a firesteel. It is not because of the material, it is because of how sharp the corners are on the thing you scrape with. The carbon steel thing is only if you are using a piece of flint and striking sparks from the KNIFE, then it needs to be carbon.

Not buying a product because it is not made in country X is so 1950. I could give you examples, but I do not want to start a flame war.

Yes, the F1 is manufactured in Japan, the sheath however is made in Sweden.
 
I myself love my F1 and all my Fallknivens.They're nice, durable, functional knives.I would feel secure being in a survival situation with my F1.
 
Something that seems to get overlooked on threads like this one is; what did the manufacture or maker design the knife for?? I think when this is considered, the design and materials will make perfect sense to the casual observer.

Speaking with the F-1's creator some time back, I was told that the F-1 was designed to be a "Pilots Survival Knife." Having been a military pilot who wore a Pilots Survival Knife on his survival vest while in the act of flying, I can tell you that the design of the knife is well-thought-out for that activity. As a pilot, I certainly wouldn't want a thick handled knife up against my chest or side restricting my activities in the cockpit. Not only does the thinner handle keep the knife close to the body, but the shorter blade keeps the whole package light weight and adapts itself easily to other wearing options. The F-1 was created to be "enough knife" to address most any survival issues that a pilot might encounter. The F-1 was NOT created to be a full-time optimal bushcraft knife! Thus, any arguments or criticism one might have about the F-1's capabilities, or lack thereof, for his hobby bushcraft, is often invalid, unfair, and out of context if the original intent of the design is not considered.

I have several excellent Fallknivens in my collection. Myself, having an XL hand, I find the thinner handles of the F-1 and S-1 to be too small to use as dedicated woodcraft knives. Also, for my own personal uses, I like thinner blades for camp kitchen and woodcraft use. The F-1 is not for every person anymore than my size 14 hiking boots are. Different sizes and flavors to fit and fill your individual needs is a good thing!

BTW, having purchased countless tons of steel from Japan in my career, for the U.S. Defense Department, be assured that Japan has the finest steels available in the world...period. Fallkniven did a wise and intelligent thing going to Japan for their steel. :)
 
I have an F1 and an A1. I have used and carried both of them hard for several years. They are designed well. Honestly I much prefer carbon steel. The only reason I carry them any more are when I'm out rafting or fishing out on the ocean. Needless to say they should be coming up for sale soon :)
 
Whenever i have to choose between my fixed outing knives for a trip (especially foreign countries n such), i'd take the F1.
I trust it the most.

The F1 stabbed into a boot:
bootknife.jpg


The F1 stabbed into a wooden bench:
DSCN1546.jpg


The F1 used collecting Sambucus Nigra:
DSCN1992.jpg



The F1 used collecting Hypericum Perforatum:
DSCN1999.jpg



The F1 used to scare sheeple:
sheeple.jpg
 
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