Dartmoor Survival Knife?

[Allmi]

Hi all!

Just came across the term "Dartmoor Survival Knife". Sounds interesting, though i haven't got a clue what it is. Is there anybody familiar with that and if so, what are the impressions. Who's manufacturing it? Appreciate any input.

Cheers
Allmi

 

[Tony]

It's Wilkinson Swords new survival knife. I have heard mixed reviews on it.

 

[clcuckow]

http://www.wilkinson-swords.co.uk/knives/index.html

Looks like an £150 chopper to me. Also looks like the one in Ray Mears "the survival handbook" that Ray worked on with wilkinson.

 

[tenbears10]

I have discussed this with other people and the main drawbacks seem to be a large blade which is a bit tricky for delicate work and the hollow handle with survival kit inside.

What gets me is that as clcuckow says it is not a new knife but a rehash of an old one. So far over 20 years wilkinson sword have claimed this knife was designed by Ray Mears, Lofty Wiseman and instructors at the marines training centre Lympstone. It's not a big deal but why do they think we are daft and try to make us believe it's a new design every time.

I think you could spend £150 on a knife and get someting much better than this for your moeny. Having said that I don't own one of these knives so maybe someone who does could give us an opinion.

Bill

 

[Allmi]

Hi all!

Thanks for the replies and the link. Interesting concept and a pretty good solution of the weak handle/blade connection often found on other hollow handled knives (except Chris Reeves). For sure not the best way to carry your survival equipment, however, somehow those knives always catch my eye and interest. Besides Wilkinson, are there any other manufacturers in England, Ireland or Scotland? Sheffield...sounds familiar?

Allmi

 

[Andrew Middleton]

Hi all,

I was wondering when someone would mention this knife! I have recently got hold of one. I've collected knives for many years and I couldn't resist it, despite being well aware of all the potential drawbacks of such a design. In case you're thinking I'm nuts, I also have a Woodlore knife on order (more money than sense I can hear you all saying: You may be correct).

Anyway, I think for it's intended purpose, the Dartmoor is not a bad knife. Admittedly, you would have to be a Marine to carry it any great distance, due to the weight, but it could double as an emergency snowboard, due to the size! The blade won't take a razor sharp edge, but it can produce a feather stick if required and will also knock the hell out of thicker wood, if you haven't got an axe handy. The saw may not be useful for anything more than notching, but it works well within its limitations. I've only had to "hone" it once so far and this took some serious elbow grease: I was a bit concerned about attacking £150 of steel with such force, but it needed it to get the edge back on.

The one thing I think it deserves more credit for than it is getting is the "hollow handle". This is without doubt the strongest of this design I have ever come across and I don't ever see a situation that I would need to use it as a lever to the point where it would break, or at least no more so than any other knife.

Wilkinson's emphasise that the survival kit is only as an example of what can be carried, which is just as well as the quality is poor. I've chucked everything out and replaced it only with a Scout firesteel (with the red handle removed) and some charcloth wrapped in cling film.

When all is said and done, it is a Jack of all trades, but I don't think it claims to be anything else. I'm glad to have it in my collection, as it is good fun. However, if you're only going to buy one knife, and your focus is bushcraft, then the guy's that suggest you can get better for £150 are quite correct...... bring on my Woodlore (Is January really stil two months away???)

 

[Nod]

My Dartmoor arrived in September. I was a bit disappointed to be honest. I was surprised by the size of it....even though the dimensions were posted on the web site I didn't realise what a lump it would be. The satin bead finish was a bit of let down as it gives it the appearance of something from Toys R Us. And it's rubbing off where the knife contacts with the sheath when inserting/withdrawing.

I took it out for initial testing and agree with Andrew. For hacking , chopping splitting etc, its really up to the job. For carving...forget it. It also seems to slip off the wood when shaving etc due to the thickness and curve of the blade. Also, the position of the saw profile on the back makes it diffcult to position you thumb when extra support is required for some cuts. There is a thumb rest, but I don't think it's in the right place. The saw profile makes notching a breeze though.

Can't really see why they bothered with the survival kit in the handle. Would have been better as an attachment to the sheath, maybe a bag or pouch that attaches to the outside, with more room for things like your fire stick etc.

But, now I'm getting more used to it's size and shape, and have a slightly better edge on it, I am warming to it a bit more. I think I just fell for the sales blurb on the site claiming that ".......whether you're felling, lopping, chopping, splitting, notching, cutting, drilling, shaving, hacking, carving, skinning... basically, whatever you need to do the survive. " That and the fact that I never had WS knife before, and I got a numbered one (174/500)

Having said all that, Wilky Sword were really receptive to the feedback. I phoned them to tell them I was a really disappointed and at that time I was the only person they had spoken to who had used it. They have taken all the feedback and passed it back to the design team. They also contacted the agency who did the original design and called me back with their comments too (that basically the knife is supposed to be a jack of all trades and not really a bushcraft knife.....although the blurb kind of says otherwise). They also asked me fill in a feedback form too. They even took one out the back of the factory themselves and cut wood with it themselves so that they could see what I meant.

In hindsight, I wouldn't have got one, and would have saved my money for the Woodlore/ Bushcraft Knife.

 

[Andy]

a while back my uncle was making the new WS survival knife and i think this is what he was on about. he said they were a beast to carry but need a lot less skill than a small axe to use. oddly enough he doesn' normaly make things for WS this knife is all hes done for them. i thought they made all their own stuff

 

[Great Pebble]

Mine arrived from HH this morning and it's more or less what I expected, although the edge isn't quite all it could be and I'm not looking forward to brightening 440 stainless It's also a numbered example (304/500).

It's not a "bushcraft" knife by any means, fine carving work is not going to be it's forte, although I'm used to the MOD issue "survival" blade so I can handle a "big knife" a little more adroitly than many. For craft use I'll still be looking at something a little smaller. That said I'd have no qualms about using it for preparing food or making feather sticks, in that respect it's easier to handle than the MOD.

I'll spend tomorrow finishing it and will hopefully get a chance to run it through a few tasks during the week, after which I'll report back.

As others have stated it is a compromise blade, it attempts to achieve the purpose of both hatchet/machete and a bushcraft knife. It will not perform as well as either but if it proves to do a reasonable job of both it could well become a constant companion for me outdoors.


Nick in Belfast

 

[ditchfield]

It may have already been covered, but may I ask, what is the point in the serations one the spine of the blade. They don't look like they'd saw very well, and they would make a mess of a baton. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[Tony]

They are more useful for creating notches than sawing. Although I may be wrong :-?

 

[Nod]

You're right Tony, the saw profile is for notching rather than sawing. And actually, it does this rather well.

I had half decided to try and sell mine, as it was proving a pig to sharpen, without taking the satin finish off......and I figured if I were to sell it, a collector would want it as pristine as possible.

But then when it came to the crunch and I thought about it a bit more, I couldn't bring myself to do it so I just got stuck in with the water stones. The edge has come up better but still needs a lot more work to bring it up to scratch. Any views on what type of edge would be best on a knife of this type/size? It will be mainly used for chopping and heavy duties.

 

[Andrew Middleton]

Tony is correct: The serrations are good for notching. They only cut in one direction, which is spooky at first, if you're used to a decent bow saw.

 

[Andrew Middleton]

Sorry, me again. I have had similar misgivings, but am actually starting to really enjoy flailing around with the monster. This attitude may change when my woodlore arrives. However, I set about the blade with vigour the other day and, although I haven't a clue as to what kind of edge I put on (just followed the blade), I finally managed to get it very sharp. It is particularly potent near the handle. I'm really pleased with this: I can now chop my fingers off safe in the knowledge that it will only require one blow!

 

[Hoodoo]

I just got one of these. Someone please tell me how in the hell you get the cap off the end. :shock:

BTW, I'd like to hire a small boy to carry this for me. Anyone have kids they will rent out? :-D

 

[Hoodoo]

Nevermind...

Just had to put a bit more hitch in my getalong. :-D

 

[Adi007]

Hi Hoodoo!
Is yours the new Darttmoor one of the older series? I have the older type and I have to say that the word "robust" certainly comes to mind! :shock:

Can't hire out my kids ... too busy carrying mine! :-D

 

[Nod]

Hoodoo, I had the same problem.

Lift the little catch up, then start unscrewing the "nut". It takes a while but the handle will start to move off the tang as you go.

Doesn't mention "unscrew" in the instructions does it!!!! I was pulling for ages.

 

[Hoodoo]

Well after trying to pop it off, I tried turning it but couldn't get it to budge. Funny but when you KNOW it unscrews, it's easier to unscrew it. ):

This one is brand spankin' new. Not sure how it differes from the old ones. As I understand it, this design has been kickin' around for 20 years or so.

 

[Nod]

You're right there. I had to ring W-S up and ask how to get the handle off. The bloke said "You unscrew it"
I replied "Well I tried that once and nothing, and I'm trying it now while we speak and still nothing is...oh hang on...ah ha...it's turning now....OKFanksBye"

I remember seeing one similar in the late eighties early nineties, but only saw a picture. Then they stopped making it apparently. I'm not sure if this one is any different to the older one or not.

Did you get a numbered one?