THE Hollow Handle Knife Thread

Welcome Arc. Here is my mini compass collection. Most are no longer available with the exception of 4 and 5.

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1) Karl Mfg., .25" brass, dry, non-luminous, USA (1990s)
2) Marbles, .50" brass, dry, non-luminous, USA, used by Randall (mid 80s - late 90s)
3) Marbles, .50" brass, dry, luminous, USA, used by Randall, Lile, and Timberline (70s - mid 80s)
4) Tokyo Compass, .50" plastic, liquid, luminous, Japan, used by Randall (late 90s - present)
5) Pyser-SGI NATO Survival, .60" brass, dry, luminous, England (? - present)
6) Marbles, .50" brass, dry ,non-luminous, USA, made for Timberline (late 80s)
7) Marbles, .75" brass, dry, luminous, USA, made for Timberline (early 90s)

Let me know if you have any questions on any of the items. :thumbup:
 
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Hi TAH thanks for all that :)

Loving the compass collection. I read somewhere that the dry compasses were better than the liquid filled ones?

Also what sizes of things like fire steel or makes do you prefer. I'm new to this so it's all fascinating! I have not seen the Robson knives x46 mentioned here I like the look of that
 
Would you give a description of your knife kit survival items if it's not too much work including what's in the pouch
 
The Surv9 weighs 1lb 5.3 ounces on my kitchen scale, the compass is the one that martin puts in, I'm not sure the brand. The apparo I have is the boker version in 440c and I'm not very fond of 440c, it doesn't hold an edge like s35vn does. Other than that its a good design I just like the other martins better. I drilled and added the compass to the apparo since it doesn't come with one from Boker, just a 14mm button compass I had laying around, don't remember where I got it. I've had no problems with liquid filled compasses but the ones I used in the Army were dry so who knows on that. I do like the bead blast subdued finish Martin does, he also offers coatings I haven't had one done from him but I've had other knives coated with gun coat and it lasted really well. If you get one done in carbon steel instead of stainless I'd sure have it coated.
 
The fire steels I use are 2 3/4 inches the ones from esee that came with the old izula kits, the arrow head won't quite fit in the handles you would need to grind off the outer edges. I just use a piece of hacksaw or a titanium razor blade for a scraper. I haven't found a 9 inch blade to be any more difficult to use than a 7, just gives you extra length to chop with, and you can choke up when you need to use less of the edge. I've also used it as a draw knife there is plenty of area to grab at the front of the blade, and for push cuts too.

On the compass one thing you want to remember is that its more of a ok that way is north compass your not going to be using it for accurate map following.
 
cricketdave said:
The Surv9 weighs 1lb 5.3 ounces on my kitchen scale, the compass is the one that martin puts in, I'm not sure the brand. The apparo I have is the boker version in 440c and I'm not very fond of 440c, it doesn't hold an edge like s35vn does. Other than that its a good design I just like the other martins better. I drilled and added the compass to the apparo since it doesn't come with one from Boker, just a 14mm button compass I had laying around, don't remember where I got it. I've had no problems with liquid filled compasses but the ones I used in the Army were dry so who knows on that. I do like the bead blast subdued finish Martin does, he also offers coatings I haven't had one done from him but I've had other knives coated with gun coat and it lasted really well. If you get one done in carbon steel instead of stainless I'd sure have it coated.
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Thanks my friend that's loads of food for thought. I am after a decent dry button compass I think. Thanks re carbon steel that makes sense. I like the apparo too but also the SURV9 and can't afford both ;)
 
Arclightuk said:
I read somewhere that the dry compasses were better than the liquid filled ones?
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I like dry better. Don't have to worry about bubbles forming. I hate bubbles. :(


Arclightuk said:
Would you give a description of your knife kit survival items if it's not too much work including what's in the pouch
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Upper left: block of fatwood, Going Gear ferro rod (2 1/2" x 1/4"), homemade hacksaw striker (2")

Upper right: rolled up nylon cord, needle, ferro rod (2" X 1/8"), Timberline steel arrowhead (can also be used as a striker, to cut cord on handle and fastened to a pole to make a small spear for fish and frogs), fatwood, fishing line, split shot, hooks, and a Royal Coachman fly.

Lower left: NATO Survival matches, steel pick, brass Spark Lite, fire tabs.

Lower right: strike pad, REI Stormproof matches.


Select resources -

Going Gear ferro rod blanks: http://goinggear.com/survival/fire/firesteel-ferro-rod-blanks

Fatwood: http://www.lightmyfire.com/products/products/tinder-selection/tindersticks.aspx

NATO matches: http://www.bestglide.com/Lifeboat_Matches_Info.html

REI matches: http://www.rei.com/product/820267/uco-stormproof-match-kit

Brass Spark Lite: http://store.tripleaughtdesign.com/Equipment/Tools/Survival-Spark

Fire tabs: http://www.bestglide.com/Tinder_Quik_Info.html

NATO Compass: http://www.bestglide.com/FB1605_Info.html

Liquid-filled mini compasses (current Randall compass is #891AA): http://www.suncompany.net/prodList.php?subCat=20


Hope that helps, Arc! :)
 
cricketdave said:
The fire steels I use are 2 3/4 inches the ones from esee that came with the old izula kits, the arrow head won't quite fit in the handles you would need to grind off the outer edges. I just use a piece of hacksaw or a titanium razor blade for a scraper. I haven't found a 9 inch blade to be any more difficult to use than a 7, just gives you extra length to chop with, and you can choke up when you need to use less of the edge. I've also used it as a draw knife there is plenty of area to grab at the front of the blade, and for push cuts too.

On the compass one thing you want to remember is that its more of a ok that way is north compass your not going to be using it for accurate map following.
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You are dead right about the compass and to be fair I had not considered that. It is just a general direction thing. The info re fire steel is very helpful as is the arrow head. The knife size is always a consideration but I have had all sorts of knife sizes but never a 9 inch (other than the junglas which was an out and out chopper for me)
 
The bowie shape of the surv9 and the thicker spine makes it feel completely different in hand than the junglas. The junglas just felt like a big chopper/light machete. While the Surv9 feels like most bowies and I've been using bowies since i was a kid. The finer point on the Surv makes it easier for me to do fine work with the point. Also to stick clean through my thumb like an idiot so it touches the underside of my thumbnail. Newt puts a really sharp point on it.
 
Yeah that will teach me not to be sitting around dicking around with a new knife and thumbing the tip when my pup suddenly runs up and wants to play.

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Thats his I can't believe you didn't share your oreos with me face.
 
Bowie 69 the research stage. I have a deposit down on a Robson knives (original calico forge serial numbered one) X46

And have put feelers out to Martins knives as mentioned before. But my passion comes from fond childhood memories of my old (rubbish) HH knife. I've been collecting using knives for years now
 
Arclightuk said:
I have a deposit down on a Robson knives (original calico forge serial numbered one) X46
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I find the Robson X46 knives very interesting. Look forward to pics and a review someday. Although the one-piece HH knives are not my preference, I admit they are growing on me lately. I thought about picking up a Schrade just to scratch that itch. Saw some beautiful Chris Reeves hollow handles at a knife show a few weeks ago, and they were extremely nice. But my heart really started pounding when I saw a Vietnam-era Randall 18 crutchtip in pristine condition.

This is a great hobby. Just wish I could indulge myself a little more! My latest HH knife was an old (but great shape) Wilderness Explorer...picked it up for $20 off the internet!
 
bowie69 said:
I find the Robson X46 knives very interesting. Look forward to pics and a review someday. Although the one-piece HH knives are not my preference, I admit they are growing on me lately. I thought about picking up a Schrade just to scratch that itch. Saw some beautiful Chris Reeves hollow handles at a knife show a few weeks ago, and they were extremely nice. But my heart really started pounding when I saw a Vietnam-era Randall 18 crutchtip in pristine condition.

This is a great hobby. Just wish I could indulge myself a little more! My latest HH knife was an old (but great shape) Wilderness Explorer...picked it up for $20 off the internet!
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Love that. The $20 still have a place in our hearts. I wish I had more spare cash too. But 4 children take care of that for me!! ;) I will of course review and get pics of the x46. Had a great talk with Andy at calico knives about them. What a great guy. And filled me in with all the details. I also found myself purchasing a Mk48/Mk46 and an Edcom all his designs ha ha just rough hard looking knives
 
This is a great thread and so much great information has been provided. It has reawakened my love of HH knives. The one item I probably wouldn't have a need for in my kit is the compass. I have 4 different wrist watches that have relatively accurate compasses built in and I would use the limited room in the handle for something else. Poor John Rambo didn't have access to these watches in his day.
 
Ha ha poor john Rambo love that :) I stumbled across this while looking for reviews on HH knives and now it's my goto thread
 
I usually have a real compass on me as well, the button compass in the hilt is just a back up and really takes up no room since its flush with the handle cap. The ones I've had that didn't have a compass were just solid and flat. Or like sam makes, threaded for a fire steel.
 
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