Pen Knife testing, initial results

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Jun 4, 2002
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Set to work right after morning chow and taking care of some first sergeant stuff. Here's a brief description of the testing so far;

1. Two-by-four chop: Don't let the small size fool you, this knife chops very well. I'm thinking this is due to the deep belly and thinner edge area than usual. Hacked through a two-by-four so easily (six chops) that I immediately moved on to a two-by-twelve, and the little Pen Knife walked right through it too. Then I tried it out on some native wood. Don't know what it's called, but it bears a very close resemblance to Osage Orange, and just like good old Bo'darc, it's hard as he&&. The knife bit deeply, even on a well seasoned piece, but demonstrated a slight tendency to "wedge" in the harder wood. Throughout the chopping tests I was impressed with how well the knife handled and how comfortable the handle was. It's definitely made to be used:)

2. Free hanging, one inch manila rope cut: Hung up the rope and took a good swing at it, then another, and another, and another. Regardless of angle or technique I applied, the best I could manage was a clean sever of two and a half of the rope's three strands. The manila rope I was able to scrounge for this test was pretty dry and sun baked, so I suspect that had something to do with it. Laid flat on a piece of wood, the same rope was neatly severed by the Pen Knife with a simple flick of the wrist. Still, tough rope or not, I've got a feeling my old A.G. Russel combat bowie would have made the cut :(

3. Wood splitting: Here, the Pen Knife acts like what it is, a knife. Swung hard it bites very deep and then just sort of stops there. No, you're right, I wasn't surprised It has neither the mass, nor the convex blade geometry of the larger khuks that seem to make wood just fly apart. Those familiar with axes will know the difference between a felling axe and a splitting axe. The same characteristics that make the Pen Knife chop well and bite deep work against it when it comes to splitting wood. Not a big handicap if you camp like me and just collect fallen deadwood for the cook fire.

That's as far as I've got, but more to come soon. I've got a feeling this knife is going to fare well in cutting and slicing tests on cloth, leather, cardboard, plastic, etc., it's already impressed me with it's cutting ability. I started with a sharp edge, did no touching up between tests, and at the end of testing the knife would still shave hair off my arm with moderate pressure. Very impressive, but then again, Bura made it, what else can I say?

All in all, this is an excellent field knife that can easily handle constructing makeshift shelters, clearing fields of fire, and other chores a soldier might encounter, but it's not a replacement for a good BAS or AK. That's fine,'cause it wasn't meant to be. The Pen Knife is, IMHO, a camp knife and a dadgum good one. If a weight conscious backpacker was looking for a serious knife to slip in his/her ruck, this knife would fill the bill in spades. Can't wait to be sitting by a campfire in a quiet forest somewhere slicing bacon with mine;)

Sarge
 
yes i must totaly agree,this penknife is now my favourite khuk,it struck me as being very comfortable in the hand, and almost feather light, But you can feel the power waiting to be unleashed from this cute little khuk, i absolutely love it. great one Pendentive.and praise to Bura i will treasure this one till they put me in the ground, even then i might get it superglued into me mitt.;) :)
ps i reckon this penknife would have no problem dealing a very deadly blow to any attacker, be it animal or human.a great all rounder as you said.:D

QUESTION ??? i forgot to ask sarge,its been bugging me, how do you connect to the internet while over in afghanistan ?????
surely not by mobile phone. :eek:
 
Re:Internet
Kendo, they've got stuff over here right out of a science fiction movie to an older guy like me. I don't pretend to understand how it all works, but satellite communications have something to do with it.

Sarge

p.s.: Sounds like you like your Pen Knife as much as I like mine, they're great ain't they? I'm hoping they catch on well enough to become a regularly available, or at least special order, part of HI's product line.
 
Originally posted by Sylvrfalcn
Re:Internet
Kendo, they've got stuff over here right out of a science fiction movie to an older guy like me. I don't pretend to understand how it all works, but satellite communications have something to do with it.

Sarge

p.s.: Sounds like you like your Pen Knife as much as I like mine, they're great ain't they? I'm hoping they catch on well enough to become a regularly available, or at least special order, part of HI's product line.
[/QUOTE

Well and here was me feelin sorry for you, i had a vision of you in your tent, laptop plugged into mobile phone, an $$$$$$$ floating out of your tent flap. :D

as for the penknife, i dont just like it, i loves it. i have been waitin to put a 2million year old piece of amber on to my most favourite khuk. guess where i attached it, he he you got it, on the front of the scabbard just above the frog, on the penknife.an i carry it everywhere with me,
wifes startin to look a bit jealous, better buy her a bit of jewelry, to wear on her front. :D
ps i will send a pic of it to bill or pendentive an ask them to post it. stay well an safe sarge .
 
oops i just sorta realised perhaps i should post my own report. thanks for the excellent info sarge, on the penknife it encouraged me to get out the backyard.and do some serious choppin.
also especial thanks on the info on how you get to internet. regards ken. keep safe:)
 
Sarge = your report from the field is excellent. Thanks!

Can't wait for the kitchen test to come in...;)
 
Still going strong

To date my Pen Knife has been tested on the following;
Rope, leather, cloth, cardboard, 550 cord, plastic banding, tree limbs, nylon webbing, two-by-fours, plywood, MRE wrappers, plastic map laminating film, pencils, oranges, a plug of chewing tobacco, and a camel spider.
Since the first good edge I put on it, it has recieved nothing more than cleaning and light burnishing with the chakma. It no longer shaves cleanly, but it does still shave, and continues to cut quite well. The test of a whether or not a design is useful is in the using.
I can guarantee you this little khukri won't gather any dust around me.
;)

Sarge
 
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