Field Knive

[Wykes]

Over the years I've used many different blades both military issued and civilian. And would probably agree with Mr Mears when it comes to the ideal spec for Field knife, blade type, size etc. Wanted to let everyone know about the Western knive (British Knife Collectors Guild Website). At just under £40 it must be the best buy I've ever come across.
OK so its its not handmade, but works well and looks good and for the price....check it out. Only improvements: Maybe a lanyard hole in the handle and a pouch on the sheath.

 

[giancarlo]

this the one you're on about?
http://www.bkcg.co.uk/products/manu/western/w84.html

 

[Wykes]

Yep thats the one. I've had mine for about 12 months and use it for general field/camp chores. probably not the prettiest thing around but Works well.


Mark

 

[Andy]

do you know what 440 steel it is, how does it keep an edge?

 

[Adi007]

How thick is it? Seems like a very nice knife indeed. Do you find that the lower guard gets in the way of grasping the handle close to the blade for whittling and so on?

 

[Hoodoo]

It's $35 at knifeoutlet.com.

 

[JakeR]

It does look like a good bit of kit, but surgical steel is a bit of a challenge to sharpen (put politely!) to say the least.
It could be that i am a bit rubbish at sharpening, and even the smallest sharpening job takes me ages.

That secondary bevel looks like hard work to me!

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Adi007]

Unless you've got something like the Spyderco Sharpmaker ... then everything looks like a secondary bevel! :-D

That secondary bevel looks like hard work to me!

 

[Martyn]

do you know what 440 steel it is, how does it keep an edge?

Dunno which one Andy, but I'm thinking you suspect it's 440a. Generally, unless specified otherwise, 440 steel is usually 440a, which is considerably inferior to 440c (if it's one of the superior 440 grades, they usually boast about it). It'd be nice to know for sure which one it is.

 

[ChrisKavanaugh]

I've seen a few over here and I believe it's 440a. This was one of the earliest stainless steels and gave them the reputation for hard sharpening. There is no such thing as "surgical steel." This is an advertising ploy. Ask the makers of surgical tools and you will get either a shrug or several different steels. There is no medical specification. There are disposable tools and those that can be resterilized in an autoclave. The main difference is porosity of the steel. The more porous steels create more physical hiding place for the nasties vs. the tighter steels. There are many fine inexpensive knives. I've managed to slowly acquire the "Rolls Royces" in many of my tools. I've met people with $9 kitchen knives, cotton utility cord and a box of matches from some restaurant. They did just fine next to me with my Fallkniven, paracord and firesteel .

 

[Wykes]

do you know what 440 steel it is, how does it keep an edge?

The makers spec states 440A carbon stainless. I'm no expert on stells so I'll go with the flow on this one.

Mark

 

[Adi007]

I was looking at a paring knife in Tesco the other day that looked like an good outdoor knife ... all it needed was a sheath and it was ready for the outdoors. :-D

It's not what you've got, it's how you use it!

I've met people with $9 kitchen knives

 

[JakeR]

I would agree, but it is nicer having that feeling of a good knife on your person (in the bush, that is).

 

[alick]

I was looking at a paring knife in Tesco the other day that looked like an good outdoor knife ... all it needed was a sheath and it was ready for the outdoors. :-D

It didn't have a grey and black handle did it ? I bought one from tesco / JS / Asda (I forget which) as a cheap kitchen knife a couple of months ago and threw it in the trash in disgust 24 hours later. The steel was rubbish - I'll stick to kitchen devils !

 

[ChrisKavanaugh]

Naturally we all hope to acquire top of the line gear, both from the enhanced performance levels greater experience appreciates, and, that subtle social ploy of peer pressure and buying whats popular. It's the second one that can dishearten new members to any pursuit. I once made the mistake of inventorying my present kit's curent market cost :shock: . I shuddered, first at what it represented in monetary terms and then at the many mistakes, flights of ego and curiosity lying about unloved,unused. Simple, inexpensive 'starter' gear can make or break a bushcrafter .

 

[boaty]

I shuddered, first at what it represented in monetary terms and then at the many mistakes, flights of ego and curiosity lying about unloved,unused. Simple, inexpensive 'starter' gear can make or break a bushcrafter .

Excellent points - and all the more reason for you old hands to sell on your unloved, but still useful, kit to us newbies!

I'm buying kit second-hand, partly due to lack of funds for bushcraft but also because my mistakes will therefore be less costly