New Browning fixed blade knife: 745

[ricebasher302]

I'm always poking around for the "ultimate" fixed blade hunting knife.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/knives/detail-historic.asp?fid=092G&cid=322&tid=745&bg=x

I stumbled across this knife and bought one for $68. I'm please with it so far and thought I'd pass on my thoughts.

1. I really like the fact that it's a US-made knife (even the sheath) using quality steel (154CM).

2. The blade shape and size is great. Plenty for deer, adequate for elk. Pointy enough for piercing, but enough belly for good skinning. Mine was sharp out of the box and had a good, consistent grind to the tip. It responded well to a bit of improvement on some ceramic sticks.

3. The handle is fantastic. Very grippy removable g-10 scales. The handle is long enough for big hands and is very comfortable. Very useful jimping is present on the spine in the right place.

4. Finish is nicely executed. It looks and feels like a quality piece. Sheath is simple leather, but fits nicely and is secure, but does not have snap retention.

I haven't gotten to use it much, so I can't speak for performance. Hopefully the heat treat is correct. If so I expect great performance relative to price.

 

[Sam1911]

That seems like a REAL knife. Something useful, just what's needed, and nothing that isn't. Good choice and I'd say a very, very good price. For a knife like that, I'd probably end up getting or making a better Kydex sheath that retains well and can be washed out and dried, but the knife itself is quite nice.

Always good to see companies making something that's a real tool and not a flashy or "combat-ninja-killer" blade.

 

[GLOOB]

Blunt as heck drop points seem to have gained a lot of traction in the last decade or two. I usually prefer a clip point for a small belt knife. A narrow point comes in handy quite often. But I have to admit drop points look better. That's a good looking knife!

 

[Fred Fuller]

From the site ...

Looks practical.

 

[AJumbo]

There's not much I don't like about that knife. It seems to have Torx fasteners holding the scales on- if you got feeling froggy, you could customize the knife fairly easily. I'd think about swapping those OD scales for something I could see.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Looks good. However, I wander who makes it for Browning. Not many US makers left.

I would also give the Buck line a look. Yes, some are made overseas but not many. Anything on their site with the US flag on it is made here. I do think most or all of their sheaths are made overseas now though.

 

[ricebasher302]

They are torx fasteners attaching the scales. Actually, an orange-handled version of this knife is available as the 746.

I was curious who makes his knife also. No markings to indicate who.

 

[hso]

You may not see any other marking than Browning's.

Russ Kommer is designing many of their knives, but that doesn't mean he's the only custom maker contributing designs for them.

I have seen reports that TOPS grinds some of their knives and I wouldn't be surprised by that at all.

 

[Sam Cade]

I have seen reports that TOPS grinds some of their knives and I wouldn't be surprised by that at all.

Does TOPS not contract production to Rowen anymore?

 

[danez71]

You may not see any other marking than Browning's.

Russ Kommer is designing many of their knives, but that doesn't mean he's the only custom maker contributing designs for them.

I have seen reports that TOPS grinds some of their knives and I wouldn't be surprised by that at all.

According to the web page.....:

That is a Russ Kommer designed knife.

The maker or family is referenced as "Independence". There is a link to the right of the image: "Independence". http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/family-historic.asp?webflag_=092G&catalog_=G&bg=x

But I'm a little confused. When I click the link, there is reference to both "Independence" knives" and "Historic Independence".

 

[ricebasher302]

TOPS makes the FDX line of knives for Browning.

 

[Sam Cade]

danez71:
I think that "Independence" is just the designator for some US built products."Historic" means discontinued.

 

[danez71]

danez71:
I think that "Independence" is just the designator for some US built products."Historic" means discontinued.

I figured something like that in regards to "Independence" but I didn't make the connection with the "Historic" part of it.


I like that knife. Elegant in its purposeful simplicity.

I like it almost as much as this one. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=700797&highlight=understated

Maybe one day I'll be able to get one. <sigh>

 

[Sam1911]

Yup... Someday, I'll finish another knife. Life conspires against us at the moment.