THE Hollow Handle Knife Thread

I have to say a big thank you to cricketdave. Behind the scenes, cricketdave sent me a link to a MCEII that was on ebay when he knew I was chasing one. Unfortunately, the seller did not list it for sale to Australia. When that is the case, Australian ebay members cannot contact the seller. Without being asked, cricketdave kindly contacted the seller to see if he would list the MCEII for sale to Australia. Even though seller had listed it for sale to countries around Australia (eg. New Zealand, Malaysia), he must have had a bad experience with an Australian buyer and alas he did not change his listing. But that doesn't change the fact that cricketdave went out of his way to try to help me and I am very grateful for that.
 
Your welcome Glenn i've had many folks on here go out of there way to help me with something, so just passing it along. The seller did say he was passing the info to the person who does their listings.
 
Crickedave, I would love to see a report comparing the MCEII and the SURV9 when your MCEII eventually arrives. I would love to hear your eventual opinion of which one you like most and why. I am also willing to bet there is a very good chance you will love both but for different reasons and won't be able to decide. I now have the Schrade SCHF2 and the Chris Reeve Project 1 in hand. I love them both but for different reasons. Even though they have many comparable features and many have commented on their similarities, in my opinion, the SCHF2 is more a beater blade for batoning type chores and Project 1 is more a slicer . They are both fine utility blades but the Project 1 is my favourite blade at the moment. For value for money, the SCHF2 is hard to beat in hollow handled knives.

I think demonbeast was also looking at eventually owning both the MCEII and the SURV9 but he would prefer to have sawteeth on both. I would also love to hear demonbeast's views on both when this happens. I can only afford one of these two and keep wavering from one to the other.:rolleyes:
 
I will compare them both, for a woods knife probably the mce2 with saw teeth will be my favorite, hunting no way. I stuck a hog once with a knife with a saw back, worst fight I've ever been in. The only thing I would change on the surv9 I have would be a flat grind instead of hollow.
 
The more I use the SCHF2 the more impressed I am with it. The Project 1 is an absolutely beautiful knife. Everything about it smacks of an exceptionally well made knife from the rounding of sharp edges to the quality of the sheath, but at 4 times the cost of the SCHF2, I am less inclined to use it for hard work. I have no such qualms about the SCHF2 since it is such a cheap knife to replace should (heaven forbid) I ever break it. It is a great knockabout kind of knife. I used both to cut up meat for my dogs last night and found the extra belly in the SCHF2 very advantageous. The first Winter snap is predicted to hit this weekend with a substantial drop in temperature where I live. Today I will start preparing the timber for my wood stove for the coming winter months. My intention is to baton with the SCHF2 to make timber kindling. I will report back how I find it. I am beginning to think that 1070 is an ideal steel for this type of knife. It may not hold an edge as long as some of the super steels (and not as long as the A2 steel in the project 1) but it probably will do so for the time period for which it is needed and will be easy to resharpen. As has been reported in the infamous destruction testing of this knife (and the Chris Reeve knife) some years ago, it also is a fairly tough steel which is ideal for this design of knife. I do believe however that a person would have to be unnaturally highly abusive of either the SCHF2 or the Project 1 to break them. Although I am sure the hollow handled knife haters will disagree. I am beginning to think these Schrade hollow handled knives are the bargain of the times.
 
Just placed an order for my first custom knife. After much deliberation, I finally settled on Greg Wall's Randall 18-inspired knife with a 5.5" blade. I have heard all good things about Wall's knives, and fit and finish looks great, so I am optimistic for the result.

It was a tough decision to make, not going with a certain knifemaker who frequents this thread. I cannot see buying a second custom HH knife and it not being a Sam Wilson. Next up on the wish list after Sam would be one of the Martins, I think. Cricketdave keeps posting those awesome pics of them...

For the record, I went with the 5.5" blade because I am coming around to appreciating the "small" blades more than I used to.
 
I've looked at that same knife a few times. It looks very nice. What steel did you opt for?

I fully understand your "coming around to appreciating the "small" blades". I have usually used small blades. My Aitor Jungle King 1 arrived from Spain yesterday and its size in hand was daunting and threw me at first. It appears to be a well made knife and kit but I'm not sure if I like such a big blade. It has made me rethink my priorities. I suspect Mistwalker did the same when he sold his MCEII and stayed with the Caiman. I'll keep it for a while to see if it grows on me but I may resell it and look for something smaller, lighter and without sawteeth.
 
Glenn Jones said:
I've looked at that same knife a few times. It looks very nice. What steel did you opt for?

I fully understand your "coming around to appreciating the "small" blades". I have usually used small blades. My Aitor Jungle King 1 arrived from Spain yesterday and its size in hand was daunting and threw me at first. It appears to be a well made knife and kit but I'm not sure if I like such a big blade. It has made me rethink my priorities. I suspect Mistwalker did the same when he sold his MCEII and stayed with the Caiman. I'll keep it for a while to see if it grows on me but I may resell it and look for something smaller, lighter and without sawteeth.
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O1 for the blade steel. Now I just have to wait. Never ordered a handmade knife before so I have only had to wait for shipping.

Need I say it.....pics of the Aitor, please? :)
 
As requested, a size comparison between the Aitor Jungle King 1, the Chris Reeve Project 1, and the Schrade SCHF2. Without anything in the handle they weigh 20, 14, and 15 ounces respectively. The full Aitor Jungle King 1 package weighs over 2 pounds but does contain a massive number of survival items. I am not even sure what all the items are as yet. I am still undecided about the Aitor but the more I handle it the more I adjust to it.
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Looks good Glenn, I really like the CR the best the blade shape is a good one for field work. The schrade looks well done too and the Aitor is a good knife, I particularly liked the sling shot and the little skeleton knife, made a good frog gig.
 
At the moment, I would rate the CR as the favourite knife in my whole collection, and that includes customs. It is just so well done and refined. Having said that, I am so impressed with the Schrade hollow handle knives that I have bought the whole collection of them now and for less than the cost of the single CR (which I was lucky enough to pick up for a good price). The beauty of the Schrades is that I have not the faintest regret about going out and using the hell out of them.
 
Very cool I may have to pick a couple up too, later this summer after I get my oldest daughter through her Cadet Leadership Course for the Army. There is a surprisingly large amount of stuff she has to get on her own.
 
bowie69 said:
Just placed an order for my first custom knife. After much deliberation, I finally settled on Greg Wall's Randall 18-inspired knife with a 5.5" blade. I have heard all good things about Wall's knives, and fit and finish looks great, so I am optimistic for the result.

It was a tough decision to make, not going with a certain knifemaker who frequents this thread. I cannot see buying a second custom HH knife and it not being a Sam Wilson. Next up on the wish list after Sam would be one of the Martins, I think. Cricketdave keeps posting those awesome pics of them...

For the record, I went with the 5.5" blade because I am coming around to appreciating the "small" blades more than I used to.
Click to expand...

Bowie, congratulations on your order. I have heard nothing but good things about Greg Wall and his knives. He does some very well done Randall-inspired knives, as you mentioned, in addition to his own designs. I have never met him, but he seems like a very nice guy. I wish you the best with your knife, and I'm sure you will be happy with it. O1 is a great steel, too. You know this already, but you better post pics in this thread!!! I look forward to seeing it.

PS: I look forward to making you a knife whenever you're ready, lol.
Thank you,

Sam :thumbup:
 
And Glenn, congratulations on your purchases as well. I have heard nothing but good things about the Aitor, and Schrade. I own and use a CRK Project II regularly. Mr. Reeve really nailed it. That A2 has excellent edge retention, and I enjoy carrying it. The DuraCoat wears well, and does it's job nicely. Don't be afraid to use it hard, and if it ever gets beat up, you can send it in and have it DuraCoated again, and it will be like new. Great knives, and congratulations.

Sam
 
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