Any love for Fallkniven?

[styx]

As the title says.

Plus I'm close to pulling the trigger on an F1 (either buying or trading) so this is a bit of hype on my part

[kottskrapa]

It's a wonderful knife, a bit on the heavy side for me personal but still one great knife. My dad have one so I played around with it before buying my own but I ended up with a mora garberg instead.

I still haven't ruled out fällkniven yet but for now the weight and thickness on the blade is a bit to much for me

[It's not failure if you learn something from it]

[Smashie]

Yes and no,  I’ve got the S1Pro. The knife is great. The sheath will not retain the knife.

[styx]

It's a wonderful knife, a bit on the heavy side for me personal but still one great knife. My dad have one so I played around with it before buying my own but I ended up with a mora garberg instead.

I still haven't ruled out fällkniven yet but for now the weight and thickness on the blade is a bit to much for me

[It's not failure if you learn something from it]

That has been my personal debate as well - F1 or Garberg. Knowing me, I'll end up having both

[styx]

Yes and no,  I’ve got the S1Pro. The knife is great. The sheath will not retain the knife.

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That's a shocker that the sheath won't retain the knife

[nate j]

Solid choice; they make good knives.  I have an A1, and got an F1 for my son.

The F1 is a bit on the small side for a woods FB but a bit large for urban/suburban carry vs. my preferences, but YMMV.

[Smashie]

That's a shocker that the sheath won't retain the knife

I've asked Falkniven about it and they didn't reply, until I can get a custom sheath it's going to have to stay at home

[kottskrapa]

That has been my personal debate as well - F1 or Garberg. Knowing me, I'll end up having both

I'm sorry but I think I got it wrong.. I think he has the s1

[It's not failure if you learn something from it]

[nate j]

That's a shocker that the sheath won't retain the knife

At the risk of sounding cliche, it’s not a flaw, it’s a design feature.


The idea is this:

If one is going to be moving around camp (let’s say) and using the knife a lot, it requires very little force to remove from and insert into the sheath.  This is much easier on one’s thumb and or belt loops than fighting with one of those super-tight kydex sheaths, especially with frequent use.

If one will not be using the knife for a while, and or will be doing vigorous activity, the retention strap is used to keep the knife securely in the sheath.

The (potential) downside, as pointed out above, is that the sheath, without using the retention strap, cannot be relied upon to retain the knife, especially in a horizontal or inverted position.

[Top-Gear-24]

At the risk of sounding cliche, it’s not a flaw, it’s a design feature.


The idea is this:

If one is going to be moving around camp (let’s say) and using the knife a lot, it requires very little force to remove from and insert into the sheath.  This is much easier on one’s thumb and or belt loops than fighting with one of those super-tight kydex sheaths, especially with frequent use.

If one will not be using the knife for a while, and or will be doing vigorous activity, the retention strap is used to keep the knife securely in the sheath.

The (potential) downside, as pointed out above, is that the sheath, without using the retention strap, cannot be relied upon to retain the knife, especially in a horizontal or inverted position.

I've always heard that the sheath was designed that way (and using the material they did) for use in cold weather, and to have less chance of the knife being frozen stuck in the sheath. 

And that they used "fancy plastic" instead of kydex because kydex would be more prone to breaking when the knife is frozen stuck in the sheath.

Don't know if this is true, I just read this somewhere...

Anyway, a couple of years ago I was seriously considering buying a Fallkniven F1, but after handling one at the local outdoor shop, I ended up buying a Garberg with multimount sheath, and a bit later a Garberg with leather sheath, and a bit later a carbon steel Garberg with leather sheath...

I went for the Garberg because, in my opinion, the scandi grind is easier to sharpen as the convex grind on the F1 (at least for people with limited sharpening skills as myself), and I prefer the handle shape of the Garberg over the one on the F1.

So I guess it's quite obvious that I prefer the Garberg, but I'm still thinking about buying an F1 as well...

 

[Vjeko Posavac]

At the risk of sounding cliche, it’s not a flaw, it’s a design feature.


The idea is this:

If one is going to be moving around camp (let’s say) and using the knife a lot, it requires very little force to remove from and insert into the sheath.  This is much easier on one’s thumb and or belt loops than fighting with one of those super-tight kydex sheaths, especially with frequent use.

If one will not be using the knife for a while, and or will be doing vigorous activity, the retention strap is used to keep the knife securely in the sheath.

The (potential) downside, as pointed out above, is that the sheath, without using the retention strap, cannot be relied upon to retain the knife, especially in a horizontal or inverted position.

Makes sense 
Mine S1 sheath is also loose.
But Embla is BEAUTIFUL!!! I don't use it, I just admire her 

[styx]

Solid choice; they make good knives.  I have an A1, and got an F1 for my son.

The F1 is a bit on the small side for a woods FB but a bit large for urban/suburban carry vs. my preferences, but YMMV.

to be honest I was always looking for something a bit larger and in a carbon steel - carbon Garberg, TOPS BOB, a few semi custom manufacturers and something like a Cold Steel SRK that would be on the larger side of what I considered. an axe, a bow saw and a simpler Mora were also in the mix although that was rare and usually meant a group was going somewhere to BBQ and I was the designated tool guy. only in the last year quite a few things have changed - from more static outdoor excursions where I'd get to one spot and stay things changed to more dynamic hikes, longer bike rides and most likely will go towards bikepacking and backpacking. the area also changed from just the woods and mountains with snow in the winter being the only real "wet" consideration to all of those but also a lot of seaside excursions for varying lengths of time.
while I won't be diving with a knife, chances are it will get wet and remain exposed for at least a few hours during the drive, ride or hike back.

so something smaller, more rust resistant is becoming the ideal solution for me. now that I think about the fact that my journey took off more seriously about 10 years ago with a 6" carbon knife (only because the 7" and 8" contenders were out of stock) and went to a smaller stainless knife is somewhat funny

[styx]

not sure if anyone has heard of this before but it was news to me - seems that Fallkniven is discontinuing the H1, or at least the VG10 version

[JK]

Are you telling me the sheath is not as good as a Mora Companion? That clicks into place, doesn't move, but comes out easily with a little tug. Plus the sheath is mass produced plastic.

[nate j]

Are you telling me the sheath is not as good as a Mora Companion? That clicks into place, doesn't move, but comes out easily with a little tug. Plus the sheath is mass produced plastic.

It is better quality than the Mora Companion sheath.  It was deliberately designed with different priorities in mind, and so functions differently than the Mora Companion sheath.

[Etherealicer]

First off, if the retention of the Zyxel sheath is a problem you can get most with a leather sheath. The F1 in particular you can also get with the Air Force Sheath (no idea if that is better though).
Another easy trick is to strengthen the retention with a ranger band (or bike tube, that is what I used) and a tiny piece of wood, to put more pressure on the "lock". Done that to my WM1 and it works great

I'm not using fixed blades a lot, but I have tested quite a bunch and I simply like the grind on my WM1 and the F1 (though I use the WM1 more).

[chrono]

Guys,

I am offered a Fallkniven S1 with custom polished micarta handle. Steel is laminated VG-10. It looks beautiful. I am told it is new. I am not well versed in Fallkniven, only have 2 folders. How much do you value this knife? I am not really a user, just appreciate nice blades. 

[zoidberg]

No idea about the value sorry, handle does look nice.      

[nate j]

Guys,

I am offered a Fallkniven S1 with custom polished micarta handle. Steel is laminated VG-10. It looks beautiful. I am told it is new. I am not well versed in Fallkniven, only have 2 folders. How much do you value this knife? I am not really a user, just appreciate nice blades. 

Fallkniven used to sell finished blades without handles, but discontinued that practice some years ago.  So, it is unlikely we will see more knives like this being made, as having to remove the Thermorun handles and then re-handle pretty much destroyed the profit margin for folks who were able to make some money buying the bare blades and adding handles.

Do you know who put the micarta on this knife?  Quality of workmanship there will obviously influence the value.  Looks like possibly a BRKT job, but can’t be sure.

A new factory stock Fallkniven S1 (Thermorun handle) is running around $160 - $170 now.  So the question becomes, how much is the custom micarta handle job worth?  IIRC they used to go for a substantial premium over stock, even when they were still being made.

[chrono]

Nate,

Thank you for your input. Seller is out of state, we communicate thru email. He quoted pretty much the same cost as a standard with plastic handle, in addition to another Spyderco knife; so the extra value is in the custom work and the Spydie. The deal is a no brainer to me. I guess I was looking for enablers to push it over the line. 

[Aloha]

After you've done all your homework and due diligence buy what you can when you can.  Its the ones that got away that still bug me.  Thankfully thats not a lot but still.     

Good luck. 

[chrono]

Got it.  The mircata handle really elevates the look and feel of this S1. I only wish the scale maker paid closer attention to the mircata pattern to get the "eye" in-line with the middle pin. Other than that, it has an old-school Japanese blade feel to it. I am happy with this buy 

[Sos24]

I don’t own one, but think this is an interesting thread because I’ve considered purchasing one several times.

[SteveC]

Got it.  The mircata handle really elevates the look and feel of this S1. I only wish the scale maker paid closer attention to the mircata pattern to get the "eye" in-line with the middle pin. Other than that, it has an old-school Japanese blade feel to it. I am happy with this buy 

Very nice   

 Regarding the "eye" lining up. The pattern wouldn't have shown until the finish sanding of the handle so just by luck that it's close to the center pin I think 

[chrono]

Very nice   

 Regarding the "eye" lining up. The pattern wouldn't have shown until the finish sanding of the handle so just by luck that it's close to the center pin I think 

Thanks, Steve.

I see. So technically, I can shift the "eye" to the pin by sanding the curves on the handles again (which I obviously do not have the skill and tools  ).

[nate j]

The pin locations are determined by where Fallkniven pre-drilled the holes in the original blade blank.

The “eye” pattern is the result of different layers within the micarta being exposed as the handle was shaped three-dimensionally to fit a user’s hand.  So, the goal of this contouring process is to create a handle that is comfortable and secure in hand, not to align the contours with the pins.

If the handle feels comfortable and secure in hand, and the fit and finish are good, then I would feel confident that whoever did the job knew his/her craft and practiced it with an appropriate degree of care.

[Aloha]

That looks really good.  Congrats. 

[Shuya]

My 2 cents regarding Fallkniven Knives:

First: I got a bunch of them.
F1, WM1, U2, P3, TK3, PC.

All of them are good knives, especially the folders are well made with excellent steels.

While some years ago, when a Knife newbee asked for a outdoor/bushcraft knife the F1 was the default suggestion. Great knife for the money.
But since then, Fallkniven went into some high price segment I dont want to follow anymore.
Prices are high for the fixed blades, too high for any folder.
A F1 with leather sheath for 190 euro MSRP? A blade with plastiv handle? Really? For this I almost get a semi-custom. Not talking about folders. They are EXPENSIVE.

I use them from time to time, but lots of manufacturers provide good and quality blades with natural handle materials and good steels for less.
Talking about my now favourite outdoors fixed plades:
LT Wright Next Gen in AEB-L, BRISA Trapper 95 in N690Co, or Castrom SFK in 14C28N.

Michael