VG10 for hard use applications

[raindog101]

Just wanting some opinions, and first-hand reports, on how VG10 fares in a larger blade, for chopping, batoning, everything short of serious abuse. I've had plenty of folders in this steel, and like how it takes an edge and stays sharp for a decent time. I also have had a few Fallkniven F1's, and like how they perform, but let's face it, they're not choppers. I have my eye on a Fallkniven A1, but have never had a large stainless blade before, only carbon. So how does VG10 stand up? Will it be prone to chipping or breaking during wood processing tasks? I don't plan on outright abuse, like prying, or hitting it with a rock, just some normal chopping, batoning, that kind of thing. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Bugout Bill]

What makes you think Falknivens aren't choppers?

 

[bpeezer]

What makes you think Falknivens aren't choppers?

I think he was just talking about the F1. "I also have had a few Fallkniven F1's, and like how they perform, but let's face it, they're not choppers." He even goes on to say that he has his eye on the A1.

 

[Bugout Bill]

I think he was just talking about the F1. "I also have had a few Fallkniven F1's, and like how they perform, but let's face it, they're not choppers." He even goes on to say that he has his eye on the A1.

My apologies for not reading.

I don't see why Falkniven's VG10 would not perform in chopping or batonning. They have used it in this application for a long time, as has Cold Steel. The only concern I would really have with VG10 is if it is used for digging. It will be much more likely to experience some chipping than carbon or low alloy stainless. Not a huge problem, but it could be a pain if you are going to need to sharpen it in the field.

 

[Noxious Fumes]

A1 is a great chopper/ Battoning tool, for its size. Look at reviews on YouTube . Equip2Endure, for one. G10 is more prone to small chipping if you hit a hard object (rock) than many other types of steel. Up side ..... Better rust resistance than high carbon steel blades. Everything is a trade off. Small chips can be fixed, doesn't make your knife useless.

Love the A1. I remember it being positively reviewed in a bush crafting video.... Lord only knows it was never meant as a bush crafting tool.

 

[Bugout Bill]

A review of the Falkniven A1 from the knife antichrist himself.

Link

 

[J.Davey]

I've had one of the old-school solid VG10 (before they started laminating the blades) Fallkniven A1 knives for over 15 years, and it's still my favorite knife. The thing is, the laminated blades are supposed to be even tougher with just as good edge holding, so I can't see an A1 being a bad choice for hard use. Just use common sense when you use it (which could be said for any knife). :thumbup:

 

[raindog101]

Thanks for the replies, guys. And as was stated, I was referring to chopping with the F1 in the original post. Not it's primary purpose, but I suppose it could chop a little if you needed it to. I guess I've kinda made up my mind to get an A1, but was curious if anyone has had any particularly bad experiences with them in heavy-use situations, i.e. large chips, handle tears, even blade breakage. I've seen some pics of carbon blades that failed during some kind of wood processing, but never one of a Fallkniven. I wonder if this is due to the relative scarcity of A1s out there compared to some other popular carbon blades used for woodsy-type tasks.

 

[crom]

Used a Lahar for my part time job land scaping all last summer. I cut everything with that knife; roots, vines, bags of mulch and other things I can't recall. Never chipped and honestly it stayed sharper than I thought it would. When it did ding up it was easily repairable.

 

[Mikael W]

The larger models in VG-10 from Fällkniven, works very well for chopping wood! :thumbup:

I have used the NL1 & NL2 hard and sometimes chopped wood for hours, without anything but good experiences.

For fielduse I think the NL2 is all I will ever need in a big knife.
My son uses the A1 and he's very pleased with the performance.

As long as You keep away from stones, the VG-10 works without any damages.
I had a minor accident this summer and had a light touch in a stone with the tip.
The DC stone took care of the edge, on the site and 5 minutes later I continued chopping.

The stone was soft Chalkstone and had a clean cut into it!

The bright area in the stone is the cut.
The damage to the tip is so minor that I couldn't get a clear pic of it.

Can I recommend them for hard work in wood?
Yes I can, and it is a Big YES! :thumbup:


Regards
Mikael

 

[raindog101]

The larger models in VG-10 from Fällkniven, works very well for chopping wood! :thumbup:

Can I recommend them for hard work in wood?
Yes I can, and it is a Big YES! :thumbup:


Mikael

Great to hear, Mikael. I know you are the expert on Fallkniven, so your experiences carry a lot of weight. I love that antler handle, BTW! So far, a lot of positives to the A1. And no negative reports. Seems like a no-brainer. Now for the hunt!

 

[OWK]

My son uses the A1 and he's very pleased with the performance.

I most certainly am.
I received the A1 as the knife of my choice for my 18th birthday and have used it for the past 7 years. Considering its size it has performed exceptionally well battoning firewood (mostly for the fun of it), chopping branches (generally 1-2 in), doing general yard work and performing groundskeeping duties. And I can comfortably fit it in the pocket of most of my jackets.

I used the A1 during a camping/fishing trip this fall. With the campfire as my only source of light, I accidentally hit a rock while harvesting birch bark from a piece of deadfall, bracing it against what I thought was another piece of wood. I examined the blade back home and was relieved to find only a very slight dent (no chipping) in the edge. The dent wasn't visible unless you knew to look for it, and was easily sharpened out.

I'm very happy with my choice.

 

[raindog101]

I most certainly am.
I received the A1 as the knife of my choice for my 18th birthday and have used it for the past 7 years. Considering its size it has performed exceptionally well battoning firewood (mostly for the fun of it), chopping branches (generally 1-2 in), doing general yard work and performing groundskeeping duties. And I can comfortably fit it in the pocket of most of my jackets.

I used the A1 during a camping/fishing trip this fall. With the campfire as my only source of light, I accidentally hit a rock while harvesting birch bark from a piece of deadfall, bracing it against what I thought was another piece of wood. I examined the blade back home and was relieved to find only a very slight dent (no chipping) in the edge. The dent wasn't visible unless you knew to look for it, and was easily sharpened out.

I'm very happy with my choice.

This is the exact setup I've been looking at. I prefer the leather over the plastic sheath. I was also looking at the Odin, but man that is seriously out of my price range for right now.

 

[Alberta Ed]

VG-10 is a very strong steel, according to Fallkniven, citing independent tests. My own experience is that it holds up as well as any high carbon steel, after skinning a black bear hide up in the Yukon a few years ago. Both my buddy's CS Elk Hunter in Carbon V and my F1 in VG-10 dulled cutting through that gritty hide, but I was surprised how well the VG-10 held its edge. It did take longer to resharpen than the Carbon V. Fallkniven offers its MC1z Mine Clearance Knife, BTW, made for probing through dirt. A bit specialized for most of us (fortunately), but that may be an indication of VG-10's qualities.

 

[Phoynix]

The fact they are discontinuing the line along with reviews of the blade chipping during actual use(mine clearance) suggests that maybe shoving a knife prone to chipping into the ground is not a good idea.
Food for thought in that regard.
Steels should be used for what they are good at... not what people wish they would be good at.

 

[Mikael W]

The fact they are discontinuing the line along with reviews of the blade chipping during actual use(mine clearance) suggests that maybe shoving a knife prone to chipping into the ground is not a good idea.
.

Phoynix, can You provide a link to those reviews of the MC1?
I agree, this is not a good idea and I guess that's what titanium probes are for.

To my experience, VG-10 will dent, rather than chip in contact with stones.
The damage to 1095 at HRC 58 or 1080 at HRC 56, are more than the damage to VG-10 at approx. the same force.
(Believe me I know this from my own hard-earned experience! :foot
Let me also say that I know of a couple of hardhitters, who has damaged their VG-10 blades badly on stones.
The blades weren't beyond repair and turned into service again after resharpening.

The MC1 was a special order from the Norweigean NATO forces.
The common reason for Fällkniven AB to discontinue a model, is because it doesn't sell well enough.
It's the same with the bladeblanks and the PRK, made for the Police forces in the south of Sweden.


Regards
Mikael

 

[Mikael W]

Great to hear, Mikael. I know you are the expert on Fallkniven, so your experiences carry a lot of weight. I love that antler handle, BTW! So far, a lot of positives to the A1. And no negative reports. Seems like a no-brainer. Now for the hunt!

Raindog

I'm not a "knowitall" person on Fällkniven products!
The true expert on Fällkniven is Peter Hjortberger himself.
That's where I have got most of my knowledge + experience from using and rehandling many of their models.
The NL1 antler knife is the centerpiece in my collection and it puts a smile on the face, for those who have had it in their hands.

Good luck in Your hunt! :thumbup:


Regards
Mikael

 

[Mikael W]

I most certainly am.
I received the A1 as the knife of my choice for my 18th birthday and have used it for the past 7 years. Considering its size it has performed exceptionally well battoning firewood (mostly for the fun of it), chopping branches (generally 1-2 in), doing general yard work and performing groundskeeping duties. And I can comfortably fit it in the pocket of most of my jackets.

I used the A1 during a camping/fishing trip this fall. With the campfire as my only source of light, I accidentally hit a rock while harvesting birch bark from a piece of deadfall, bracing it against what I thought was another piece of wood. I examined the blade back home and was relieved to find only a very slight dent (no chipping) in the edge. The dent wasn't visible unless you knew to look for it, and was easily sharpened out.

I'm very happy with my choice.

OWK
Welcome here, as this is your first post on Bladeforums!


Enjoy!

Mikael

 

[raindog101]

Raindog

I'm not a "knowitall" person on Fällkniven products!
The true expert on Fällkniven is Peter Hjortberger himself.
That's where I have got most of my knowledge + experience from using and rehandling many of their models.
The NL1 antler knife is the centerpiece in my collection and it puts a smile on the face, for those who have had it in their hands.

Good luck in Your hunt! :thumbup:


Regards
Mikael

Mikael, you are too modest! You are not a "knowitall", but your knowledge is beyond question. I read the "other forum". Peter and Eric are of course the source of all things Fallkniven, but you and Goert have great experience and I love reading your stuff. And regarding that NL1, I can imagine the smiles of those that use it; I got a smile on my face just looking at it on the interwebz!

 

[Mikael W]

Thanks Rainddog, that was very kind words!

Here's a new pic of the NL1 together with some of the others, in a glass displaycase.

Regards
Mikael