This is THE handiest little knife I've ever owned. I typically don't rely much on folders, deferring to a fixed blade when possible. This one weight less than most of my smaller folders.
For years, these were $10 for just the knife, a little more for a leather pocket sheath or simple Kydex sheath. Made of 154 CM, in Japan, until recently, but now from China, of a steel I don't recognize and twice the money. Please note that $20 is still a bargain in my opinion and that I've tested and reviewed a number of Chines knives which were excellent knives in every aspect, so I'm not dismissing the current version. I would prefer it register a bit higher on the Rockwell scale, but not all steels handle that well, especially right out on a very fine edge. This one responds well to my preferred sharpening methods, takes a very fine edge easily and retains the edge fairly well.
I bought half a dozen of these several years ago and made a simple foldover Kydex sheath for each. Five of them are set up like this one, with a Boyscout Hotspark ferro-rod, a couple "fire-straws" (petroleum jelly-soaked cotton, heat-sealed in a section of plastic drinking straw), a P38 (not the pistol), all held on with a section of bicycle inner-tube and a length of 3/32" braided cord to use as a neck lanyard or bow-drill string - bowline knot pre-installed. These reside in "go-bags" of various levels, so I have one regardless of which bag I grab when I GO. The sixth is actually my most-used kitchen knife and is just a gem in the kitchen.
The entire setup weighs 2.6 ounces and is incredibly compact - there's ALWAYS room for one of these in a bag, a pouch or a pocket. The thickest part of the blade is .0615", the blade is 2.375" long and the handle is 3.625" long. Very nimble, agile and comfortable, with a basically "square" handle cross-section. The spine is sharp for striking (scraping, actually) the ferro-rod. The drop-point leaves a nice convex on the sharp spine for scraping inner bark or other natural tinder sources as well.
I wish I'd bough a dozen or two when they were still $10 and made in Japan. I have enough to share, but don't want to. I want to know I have one of these, regardless of which kit I pick up on the way out the door. In an emergency situation, it would come out of the bag and go around my neck or in a pocket, but on-body, rather than remote. I'd even be able to swim or bathe without leaving every cutting tool on the bank. Not paranoid, just been in enough tight spots that I've learned never to trust Murphy.
If I had time, I'd replicate it in 12C27, O1, 1095,... Nothing against 154CM, but I like the others more, especially 12C27 for a knife which is stowed and neglected for long periods.
Link to the current iteration:
agrussell.com
For years, these were $10 for just the knife, a little more for a leather pocket sheath or simple Kydex sheath. Made of 154 CM, in Japan, until recently, but now from China, of a steel I don't recognize and twice the money. Please note that $20 is still a bargain in my opinion and that I've tested and reviewed a number of Chines knives which were excellent knives in every aspect, so I'm not dismissing the current version. I would prefer it register a bit higher on the Rockwell scale, but not all steels handle that well, especially right out on a very fine edge. This one responds well to my preferred sharpening methods, takes a very fine edge easily and retains the edge fairly well.
I bought half a dozen of these several years ago and made a simple foldover Kydex sheath for each. Five of them are set up like this one, with a Boyscout Hotspark ferro-rod, a couple "fire-straws" (petroleum jelly-soaked cotton, heat-sealed in a section of plastic drinking straw), a P38 (not the pistol), all held on with a section of bicycle inner-tube and a length of 3/32" braided cord to use as a neck lanyard or bow-drill string - bowline knot pre-installed. These reside in "go-bags" of various levels, so I have one regardless of which bag I grab when I GO. The sixth is actually my most-used kitchen knife and is just a gem in the kitchen.
The entire setup weighs 2.6 ounces and is incredibly compact - there's ALWAYS room for one of these in a bag, a pouch or a pocket. The thickest part of the blade is .0615", the blade is 2.375" long and the handle is 3.625" long. Very nimble, agile and comfortable, with a basically "square" handle cross-section. The spine is sharp for striking (scraping, actually) the ferro-rod. The drop-point leaves a nice convex on the sharp spine for scraping inner bark or other natural tinder sources as well.
I wish I'd bough a dozen or two when they were still $10 and made in Japan. I have enough to share, but don't want to. I want to know I have one of these, regardless of which kit I pick up on the way out the door. In an emergency situation, it would come out of the bag and go around my neck or in a pocket, but on-body, rather than remote. I'd even be able to swim or bathe without leaving every cutting tool on the bank. Not paranoid, just been in enough tight spots that I've learned never to trust Murphy.
If I had time, I'd replicate it in 12C27, O1, 1095,... Nothing against 154CM, but I like the others more, especially 12C27 for a knife which is stowed and neglected for long periods.
Link to the current iteration:
A. G. Russell Woodswalker
