Which Fallkniven......?

Which Knife Should I Buy?

  • S1 Forest Knife (larger one on top)

    Votes: 5 26.3%

  • F1 Swedish Survival Knife (smaller one on the bottom)

    Votes: 13 68.4%

  • Something Else Which I'll List Below.

    Votes: 1 5.3%
  • Total voters
    19
  • Poll closed .
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Not open for further replies.
Browning

Browning

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Joined
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Location
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I've been looking at Fallkniven knives for a little bit, but I'm stuck between these two and I can't make up my mind. Although it would be nice, I can't buy both so that's not an option. If it was an option I wouldn't be having this problem. I've also looked at the Al Mar Sere, but I'm drawn to these a little more.

So it's either this one....

FallKniven S1 Forest Knife / 9.7 inches total with the blade being 5.1 in.
image.php

http://www.fallkniven.com/S1new.html

....or this one.

FallKniven F1 Swedish Survival Knife / 8.3 inches total with the blade being 3.8 in.
image.php

http://www.fallkniven.com/a1f1/f1_en.htm

It's mostly going to just be a general hunting / around camp knife that's used for a broad range of tasks such as cutting rope, boxes, whittling, food preparation or whatever that's tied onto my small pack that I take with me when I go hunting. A second consideration would be for defense, but that's not very likely, mostly I'll just use it for whatever.
 
F1 for me. I have both and use the F1 much more often because the smaller size is more suited to the tasks I do most, like setting up camp, cutting small wood, food prep etc. The larger S1 is, in my opinion, a bit too large for the often intricate things I do. It's not so large that it's significantly better at wood gathering, either. Camping knives are one area where bigger isn't necessarily better.

My standard kit is an F1 and a small folding saw (ie a pruning saw). I only carry an ax if I know I'll be needing to do a lot of chopping, otherwise the saw is fine for wood cutting and very light.

I'm sure the F1 is sharp and pointy enough for self-defence, although it probably isn't as good as the longer, pointier S1. In my view a good SD knife is 8" or so. :)
 
I own both, and the F-1 is a joy when a smaller knife will suffice. I assume that you know that it is the official Swedish Air Force pilots' survival knife?

However, if forced to choose just one, I think the S-1 has more potential, especially if you ever have to stab a human or some other dangerous animal. And the blade is about as long as you can legally carry in Texas.

I have several other Fallkniven, and especially love the A-1, but can't carry it except on private land where a cop can't charge me with having an illegal knife. Ditto on the NL-2!

I'd take the S-1. But you're going to want both, and use whichever best suits a particular trip. The S-1 is definitely better for deep wilderness use, and that goes double if you won't have an axe.

Lone Star
 
Thanks guys, but now I'm really stuck.

Two replys, one for the S1 and one for the F1.

55 people have looked at this thread, but only 4 have voted.

It looks like most people are leaning towards the F1 (3 out of 4), but without more votes it's impossible to tell.

C'mon guys, please vote.
 
Ditto on what hopkin said. The smaller F-1 is handier and will be easier to use in the majority of situations. Anything it can't handle is best done by a hatchet or axe anyway.
 
Part of the probem may be that few Americans are really familiar with the Fallkniven brand. They have been sold here for several years, but have gotten little publicity, and few stores carry them. One has to look a bit to find a dealer. You'll probably have to order Online.

Only you can make the choice, knowing how you'll use the knife.

I repeat, you will want both, and then, your hand and the jobs that you do with them will tell you which is your favorite.

Give some thought to the sheath, too. There are options. I haven't seen the Zyel sheath that replaced the Kydex ones. My Kydex and leather sheaths are good, exceptional for factory products. They have a dangler sort, the Scandanavian style, that is good, in leather.

You may wish to ask this question on the Fallkniven forum, where the members do know the models better than most here will. I think you can access it via a button on their site, or in the factory knife forums on: www.knifeforums.com I think you have to join knifeforums to post.

I hope that you will get one or the other. Then, you will be so impressed that I feel sure that you will want others.

I think that Peter Hjortberger is the ONLY president of a knife company (not talking about custom makers) who actually hunts, fishes, and and designs his own knives. He is also the largest retailer of OTHER knives in Sweden, and is very familiar ewith Randall, Loveless, and other custom knives, as well as all major factory brands. For using purposes, I'd as soon or rather have a Fallkniven as I would a Randall. That should tell you something about Fallkniven quality. They are pretty expensive, the NL line overlapping what some custom makers charge, but I have seen the F-1 for as little as $76 and change on the Net, new. That has to be the best knife deal of the decade, if not the century.

I've said what I can. Get either knife and use it, and that will speak volumes about whether you should get another!

Lone Star
 
Lone Star : Part of the probem may be that few Americans are really familiar with the Fallkniven brand. They have been sold here for several years, but have gotten little publicity, and few stores carry them. One has to look a bit to find a dealer. You'll probably have to order Online.
Click to expand...

Really? You think so?

I'm not really all that into knives (Until lately I've just had a few that I used alot, but I didn't really have a collection or anything), but I just figured that if I'd heard about them (and with me not exactly being a fountain of knowledge when it comes to obscure knife brands) then people that were kind of into it would have at least heard about them.

Maybe I was wrong though, I didn't really think that they were all that rare.

Only you can make the choice, knowing how you'll use the knife.
Click to expand...

I'd probably use the F1 a little more just because it's smaller and a little more handy.

Give some thought to the sheath, too. There are options. I haven't seen the Zyel sheath that replaced the Kydex ones. My Kydex and leather sheaths are good, exceptional for factory products. They have a dangler sort, the Scandanavian style, that is good, in leather.
Click to expand...

I was actually thinking about making a kydex sheath for it, there's a tutorial online with all the materials listed and they don't cost much (about $20 which is enough to make several sheaths)

You may wish to ask this question on the Fallkniven forum, where the members do know the models better than most here will. I think you can access it via a button on their site, or in the factory knife forums on: www.knifeforums.com I think you have to join knifeforums to post.

I hope that you will get one or the other. Then, you will be so impressed that I feel sure that you will want others.

I think that Peter Hjortberger is the ONLY president of a knife company (not talking about custom makers) who actually hunts, fishes, and and designs his own knives. He is also the largest retailer of OTHER knives in Sweden, and is very familiar ewith Randall, Loveless, and other custom knives, as well as all major factory brands. For using purposes, I'd as soon or rather have a Fallkniven as I would a Randall. That should tell you something about Fallkniven quality. They are pretty expensive, the NL line overlapping what some custom makers charge, but I have seen the F-1 for as little as $76 and change on the Net, new. That has to be the best knife deal of the decade, if not the century.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll check it out.
 
I voted F1 as for 90% or more of what a general purpose knife is used for it will do nicely.

I have been taught to use knives since I was 6 years old a its a part of my Scandinavian heritage.:D

Many knives that are carried are often bought more to impress people than to be used as basic tools.

Select the tool that best fits your needs and balance out your actual needs with the tasks you will use it for, each person has his or her own ideas on what a handy or versatile tool is or should be.;)

A good knife should feel like an extension of your hand, fit balance and ergonomics make a huge difference as a knife that fits well get more use than any other tool you have except for maybe your multi tool.
 
I'd go with the S1. Probably because I'm on a batoning kick and I've been splitting a lot of campfire wood with my LMF II. The 5.5" blade will likely be useful in every kind of situation. My standard is that I'd like a knife that I can do heavier bushcraft with (like splitting wood) but small enough that I could dress small and medium game with it. The S1 would fit the bill.
 
Maybe I was wrong though, I didn't really think that they were all that rare.
Click to expand...

I don't think they're rare but I do think they're under-rated by people who can't shake the need for every knife to be a good fighting blade. Fallkniven don't have the same military/self-defence appeal some other knives do and in comparison don't get mentioned as often as they might on gun forums. On bushcraft forums they're much more commonly mentioned.
 
I'd go for the F1 in satin finish and get the kydex sheath from survival sheath systems, in OD green. Might as well get the army model Swedish fire steel too.

It's fun spending other peoples money.

f1.jpg
 
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