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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
TUSK survival knife by Loyal Blades
- Thread starter aribus
- Start date
I saw this knife on Kickstarter before, and decided against getting it.
some pro's: a very nice sheath. well designed blade. the steel is decent, if treated properly.
which leads to some cons: they say their blade is treated properly.. but there are no reviews whatsoever, so no independent opinions on it, just their own observations based on the pre-production sample. the knife is made by a 'company with more than 25 years of experience using the best materials', but no-where is it stated what company that is, so again, no way to check their reputation.
add to that, the gimmicky tools in the handle. sure, it can be useful in some situations, but I don't see myself using that tiny hexscrew regularly to get to the tools, where I might as well grab a leatherman. also.. where does one keep that hex screwdriver? along with the sharpener in the sheath? that's a great way to lose it.
for about a third of the price, you can get a Schrade SCHF9, which has pretty much the same design, and a sheath with the possibility to store all the extra's gimmicks you get with the Tusk separately. and the Schrade is a known entity: nearly indestructible.
some pro's: a very nice sheath. well designed blade. the steel is decent, if treated properly.
which leads to some cons: they say their blade is treated properly.. but there are no reviews whatsoever, so no independent opinions on it, just their own observations based on the pre-production sample. the knife is made by a 'company with more than 25 years of experience using the best materials', but no-where is it stated what company that is, so again, no way to check their reputation.
add to that, the gimmicky tools in the handle. sure, it can be useful in some situations, but I don't see myself using that tiny hexscrew regularly to get to the tools, where I might as well grab a leatherman. also.. where does one keep that hex screwdriver? along with the sharpener in the sheath? that's a great way to lose it.
for about a third of the price, you can get a Schrade SCHF9, which has pretty much the same design, and a sheath with the possibility to store all the extra's gimmicks you get with the Tusk separately. and the Schrade is a known entity: nearly indestructible.
- Joined
- May 24, 2013
- Messages
- 406
meh... there are too many better alternatives, and that inner hex wrench is just silly.
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2007
- Messages
- 3,880
The answer to the question is:
Ontario knives
Made in the USA
Costs less
Great warranty
Enough said
Ontario knives
Made in the USA
Costs less
Great warranty
Enough said
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 560
This looks like one my nephew can carry in A Stan.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 2,763
instead of starting a new thread, I guess I'll do a partial necro (less than 1 year, ok?) and give my .02, even if nobody asked me
I liked the design when I saw it, and, as I'm a sucker for Spanish blades, got a barely used one for a decent price. I could tell by the pics - mainly, the sheaths gave it away - and the fact that it's made in Albacete, Spain, by a company that's been at it for a while, that this knife is quite possibly made by Cudeman; I'm like 95% sure of it but have not been able to dig anything, even on the Spanish sites.
First impression is good. The handle scales have a very nice finish to them. The sheaths are very well made, as I got both the kydex and leather, each one with a ferro ; the kydex has the same plate/tek-lok and screws arrangement as the one that comes with the Cudeman Spartan. The blade is in that gray area of not big enough to be a chopper, not small enough for delicate work, meant to be a jack of all trades. I usually stay away from blades like these but curiosity won me over. Again, fit and finish is very good, edge is sharp on a high saber grind, 440C steel and a mirror polished spine all around that is sharp enough to throw sparks from the rod. Took the scales off to check the "wrenches" and even tho I don't think I'll ever use them, is good to know there is something there that could be used. I will fiddle with the sheaths to find a better way to secure the allen wrench.
Of course, use will tell if it's a keeper or not. I hacked away at some palm branches and it bit deeper than I thought it would, and the handle felt good and smooth. But like I said, need to use it hard, as it's been paraded as one tough mutha, and see if it holds a place in the collection.
P.D. I just noticed that the kydex sheath is lined with a velvety material, nice touch! Wonder how effective it will be in the long run to prevent scratches to the blade.
I liked the design when I saw it, and, as I'm a sucker for Spanish blades, got a barely used one for a decent price. I could tell by the pics - mainly, the sheaths gave it away - and the fact that it's made in Albacete, Spain, by a company that's been at it for a while, that this knife is quite possibly made by Cudeman; I'm like 95% sure of it but have not been able to dig anything, even on the Spanish sites.
First impression is good. The handle scales have a very nice finish to them. The sheaths are very well made, as I got both the kydex and leather, each one with a ferro ; the kydex has the same plate/tek-lok and screws arrangement as the one that comes with the Cudeman Spartan. The blade is in that gray area of not big enough to be a chopper, not small enough for delicate work, meant to be a jack of all trades. I usually stay away from blades like these but curiosity won me over. Again, fit and finish is very good, edge is sharp on a high saber grind, 440C steel and a mirror polished spine all around that is sharp enough to throw sparks from the rod. Took the scales off to check the "wrenches" and even tho I don't think I'll ever use them, is good to know there is something there that could be used. I will fiddle with the sheaths to find a better way to secure the allen wrench.
Of course, use will tell if it's a keeper or not. I hacked away at some palm branches and it bit deeper than I thought it would, and the handle felt good and smooth. But like I said, need to use it hard, as it's been paraded as one tough mutha, and see if it holds a place in the collection.
P.D. I just noticed that the kydex sheath is lined with a velvety material, nice touch! Wonder how effective it will be in the long run to prevent scratches to the blade.
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Just to further the "necro"...this guy had already invested in/crowdfunded the knife before asking this question.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2025934841/tusk-the-universal-survival-knife-by-loyal-blades/comments
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1471564265
So to some it might appear to some that he was merely attempting to drum up some interest in an investment.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 2,763
lol... I see it as a mash up of several knives. The ramp, jimping, choil and guard were "borrowed" from the Tops Silent Hero, the handle looks a lot like the one on the Cudeman MT series, with the blade being the one element I can't put my finger on; it kinda looks like a Cudeman Spartan but just in length and mild recurve, as the Spartan blade is wider, hollow ground and with fullers on both sides. I will take pics with the Cudemans later, don't have the Tops. While I agree that the "survival" accessorizing was done a bit gimmicky, it doesn't look like an outright mall ninja sentry deanimator to me. It does look like the OP was indeed drumming it up, with just the one post, but I had no idea about the existence of this knife until recently, stumbled upon it while searching for Spanish knives.
BOSS1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2008
- Messages
- 1,700
It reminds me of a more refined Schrade SCHF9.
That being said, overall, it seems functional, about the right size for a med/large general purpose field knife, and the handle would appear to lend itself to extended use with minimal hot-spots. If the 440C is done right, it should be ok and offer some resistance to corrosion. The 'tools' are out of sight if you don't like 'em, for the most part.
For me, the biggest negative is the recurve blade. I just don't think, for most, the cost-benefit (perhaps a little enhanced cutting performance in certain situations vs. more difficult re-sharpening) just isn't justified.
So long story short...it seems decent enough, but I prefer a straight (non-recurve) blade.
BOSS
That being said, overall, it seems functional, about the right size for a med/large general purpose field knife, and the handle would appear to lend itself to extended use with minimal hot-spots. If the 440C is done right, it should be ok and offer some resistance to corrosion. The 'tools' are out of sight if you don't like 'em, for the most part.
For me, the biggest negative is the recurve blade. I just don't think, for most, the cost-benefit (perhaps a little enhanced cutting performance in certain situations vs. more difficult re-sharpening) just isn't justified.
So long story short...it seems decent enough, but I prefer a straight (non-recurve) blade.
BOSS
Cobalt
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 1998
- Messages
- 17,717
That's what I thought when I saw it. With the Busse talon hole added. lol.
Does anyone know who does the HT for the 440C?
Has there been actual usage reports, hard use etc.?
Pretty knife, but I see no reason to pay $200 when I can get proven knives in the price range.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2010
- Messages
- 345
Not sure I'd pay that price for 440C honestly, amazing heat treat or not, you can do better in that price range
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
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- 2,763
glad I didn't pay full retail. If my guess is right, HT is done by Cudeman. I have some of their blades in N695 (440C) and they have stood hard use without a problem. As for recurves...well, I like them, and Boss1...you do realize that the Nexus/Lionsteel in your avatar has a slight recurve, right? 
beautiful blades, those Nexus.
As for hard use, I will do my best to beat the crap out of it. You were right, the slight hacking I've done has produced no hot spots. Today I will take some pics and do some mundane tasks, like open a can of tuna with it.
beautiful blades, those Nexus.As for hard use, I will do my best to beat the crap out of it. You were right, the slight hacking I've done has produced no hot spots. Today I will take some pics and do some mundane tasks, like open a can of tuna with it.
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 560
I like it and may send one to my nephew who is in a unit that does not issue the M9.
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- Aug 25, 2009
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- 2,763
At work, not many chances to destroy stuff. Had to supervise a garbage offloading, and this container had a piece of the rubber gasket hanging out, and I know it would make closing the door a PITA. Sliced thru effortlessly, not really hard use but edge is good to go
some pics before it gets scarred
As with the Tops Silent Hero, I guess they sidestepped the talon hole issue by making it an oval instead of round
next victim, a can of tuna. Haven't done this in years! Love the mirror polished spine
breezed thru
scratching was minimal, barely noticeable, and some of it was already there. Gotta go out and see what can be done next
some pics before it gets scarred
As with the Tops Silent Hero, I guess they sidestepped the talon hole issue by making it an oval instead of round
next victim, a can of tuna. Haven't done this in years! Love the mirror polished spine
breezed thru
scratching was minimal, barely noticeable, and some of it was already there. Gotta go out and see what can be done next
