ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Ever get tired of having to sort through all the uber-tactical offerings out there to find something simple and useful?
The Scandinavians -- notably the Swedes and Finns -- have a knack for making simple, useful, durable stuff that just works.
Finding Scandinavian knives in sporting goods stores can be a real challenge. Usually I wind up finding hen's teeth instead.
But every so often . . .
Enter a local sporting goods store, Black Sheep, in Coeur d'Alene, that sells guns, knives, skis, kayaks, tents, hiking stuff, fishing stuff -- basically your complete sporting emporium.
At their knife counter in the last couple of weeks, I have found some cool archaeological stuff. For example, three Imperial/Schrade Barlow knives, made in Ireland, carbon steel blades, not stainless, that have been on the rack since 1994 & 1995. Yes, sitting in inventory for MORE THAN TWELVE years!
Tonight, I went over to replenish the ammo I shot up on New Year's Day, and walked by deepest darkest knife counter again. Hanging on the overhead rack was a Normark "American Hunter" folding knife from 1993. FOURTEEN years on the rack. Package all splitting and yellowed.
It's a "made in USA" knife, built on a Swedish blade & mechanism by EKA. The blade is a slightly modified Scandinavian grind, i.e. the usual abrupt angular transition to the bevel has been rounded somewhat. It uses a kind of lock-back mechanism I call "spine lock" because the release is all the way at the butt, and the lock is deeper than a standard lock-back. The spring/release sticks out the butt and has a lanyard hole.
Black (real) leather snap-closed belt case.
There's enough belly that you could skin with it, but it's gently curved enough for general use, and thin enough to use in the kitchen.
The (Swedish) stainless blade is 3½ inches long. The handle is designed so that there's enough spine showing that you can open it, use it, and close it, all while wearing gloves. I actually tested this. There is nothing flimsy about this knife at all. It's tight and crisp. And sharp.
The thing is so simple, so elegant, so usefully designed that I would happily recommend it to anyone who just wanted a "good ole folding knife" for everyday use. That is, if you could actually find one in production today.
It's made to be used rather than admired. And for this I admire it.
Anyway.
On with the knife porn . . .
My apologies for the rough camera work.
Immediately after shooting the pics, I took it to the kitchen and sliced up a tomato: slicing horizontally while the tomato rested in the palm of my left hand. Clean and smooth, no tearing.
I'm delighted with this find.
It is SO NOT TACTICAL I just have to grin. I love a truly practical knife, and this one is my new love.
Just had to share.
The Scandinavians -- notably the Swedes and Finns -- have a knack for making simple, useful, durable stuff that just works.
Finding Scandinavian knives in sporting goods stores can be a real challenge. Usually I wind up finding hen's teeth instead.
But every so often . . .
Enter a local sporting goods store, Black Sheep, in Coeur d'Alene, that sells guns, knives, skis, kayaks, tents, hiking stuff, fishing stuff -- basically your complete sporting emporium.
At their knife counter in the last couple of weeks, I have found some cool archaeological stuff. For example, three Imperial/Schrade Barlow knives, made in Ireland, carbon steel blades, not stainless, that have been on the rack since 1994 & 1995. Yes, sitting in inventory for MORE THAN TWELVE years!
Tonight, I went over to replenish the ammo I shot up on New Year's Day, and walked by deepest darkest knife counter again. Hanging on the overhead rack was a Normark "American Hunter" folding knife from 1993. FOURTEEN years on the rack. Package all splitting and yellowed.
It's a "made in USA" knife, built on a Swedish blade & mechanism by EKA. The blade is a slightly modified Scandinavian grind, i.e. the usual abrupt angular transition to the bevel has been rounded somewhat. It uses a kind of lock-back mechanism I call "spine lock" because the release is all the way at the butt, and the lock is deeper than a standard lock-back. The spring/release sticks out the butt and has a lanyard hole.
Black (real) leather snap-closed belt case.
There's enough belly that you could skin with it, but it's gently curved enough for general use, and thin enough to use in the kitchen.
The (Swedish) stainless blade is 3½ inches long. The handle is designed so that there's enough spine showing that you can open it, use it, and close it, all while wearing gloves. I actually tested this. There is nothing flimsy about this knife at all. It's tight and crisp. And sharp.
The thing is so simple, so elegant, so usefully designed that I would happily recommend it to anyone who just wanted a "good ole folding knife" for everyday use. That is, if you could actually find one in production today.
It's made to be used rather than admired. And for this I admire it.
Anyway.
On with the knife porn . . .
Still in the package, with the tatters trimmed off:
Reverse:
Out of the package:
The reverse:
Partly closed:
And the reverse of that:
Closed -- notice the broad expanse of exposed blade:
In the case:
With the case closed:
Reverse:
Out of the package:
The reverse:
Partly closed:
And the reverse of that:
Closed -- notice the broad expanse of exposed blade:
In the case:
With the case closed:
My apologies for the rough camera work.
Immediately after shooting the pics, I took it to the kitchen and sliced up a tomato: slicing horizontally while the tomato rested in the palm of my left hand. Clean and smooth, no tearing.
I'm delighted with this find.
It is SO NOT TACTICAL I just have to grin. I love a truly practical knife, and this one is my new love.
Just had to share.
P.S. If you want to view the larger version of these photos, please see http://www.noisyroom.net/pix/thr/2008_0103-Knife/
