Recently I had the pleasure of having a long chat with Bernie about his slightly unconventional "Bushcrafter" knives. Fortunately we were able to work out a trade so I had the double pleasure when attending a course of meeting Mors Kochanski and receiving one of Bernies knives.
I have delayed writing a review until I ahd the time to give the knife a "proper work out"
Here is the knife in question
The knife is in 4mm O1.
Blade length is 4" on the cutting edge and 4 1/4" including the ricasso
The handle is 4 1/2" stabalised burr elder with 6mm mosaic pins and red fibre liners.
Unusually the knife has a 9mm lined lanyard tube - a bigger and, in my view, easier to use size than the normal 6mm
The first thing that springs to mind is the pronounced "belly" to the knife. Far rounder than a normal bushcraft profile - almost hybrid skinner / bushcrafter. This has proved far more handy than a normal bushcraft knife for game work. The knife is still great at woodwork. It has a scandinavian grind with a micro secondary bevel. I prefer a zero grind and it'll become that eventually with sharpening. Bernie will slap me silly as he believes a micro secondary adds strength - each to his own.
The handle is highly shaped. It has a pronounced waist for the little finger and appreciable palm swell. I find this gives a very sure grip for chest lever and power cuts
One nice factor in terms of balance and heft is that Bernie tapered the tang at my request - this gives for lively handling but, in 4mm steel, leaves a real strong "handful" of blade
The sheath is ...great.
A proper deep pouch and set up as a double dangler. I love the fact that the top loop is attached by a two part screw (same type as I use to adjust my Ching Sling but I don't know the right term). Very clever in that the top loop can be removed if its not your thing.
All in all - a tough knife with a slight game handling twist. Very useful in that will fulfil more than one niche. It shaves a mean feather stick, can be batoned with impugnity, has a great fit and finish but won't be out of the way in larger game work
Red
I have delayed writing a review until I ahd the time to give the knife a "proper work out"
Here is the knife in question
The knife is in 4mm O1.
Blade length is 4" on the cutting edge and 4 1/4" including the ricasso
The handle is 4 1/2" stabalised burr elder with 6mm mosaic pins and red fibre liners.
Unusually the knife has a 9mm lined lanyard tube - a bigger and, in my view, easier to use size than the normal 6mm
The first thing that springs to mind is the pronounced "belly" to the knife. Far rounder than a normal bushcraft profile - almost hybrid skinner / bushcrafter. This has proved far more handy than a normal bushcraft knife for game work. The knife is still great at woodwork. It has a scandinavian grind with a micro secondary bevel. I prefer a zero grind and it'll become that eventually with sharpening. Bernie will slap me silly as he believes a micro secondary adds strength - each to his own.
The handle is highly shaped. It has a pronounced waist for the little finger and appreciable palm swell. I find this gives a very sure grip for chest lever and power cuts
One nice factor in terms of balance and heft is that Bernie tapered the tang at my request - this gives for lively handling but, in 4mm steel, leaves a real strong "handful" of blade
The sheath is ...great.
A proper deep pouch and set up as a double dangler. I love the fact that the top loop is attached by a two part screw (same type as I use to adjust my Ching Sling but I don't know the right term). Very clever in that the top loop can be removed if its not your thing.
All in all - a tough knife with a slight game handling twist. Very useful in that will fulfil more than one niche. It shaves a mean feather stick, can be batoned with impugnity, has a great fit and finish but won't be out of the way in larger game work
Red
