- Joined
- Jun 30, 2017
- Messages
- 47
I was experimenting today testing a Vic Farmer vs a Tinker for debarking and whittling some dry smallish branches to see which I liked better.
Before I went out both knives were dull and would not cut paper so I sharpened them using the tiny Vic field sharpener until each one would cut the same piece of paper. The stone is fairly course but it got the job done for the purposes of this test. I probably spent the same amount of time on each knife checking for any burrs/removing as needed.
The wood was fairly dry and needed a lot of pressure to whittle out a decent sized chunk. I tested both on the same piece of wood and the Tinker outperformed the farmer and here is why:
1. When whittling hard you normally use the section of knife closer to the tang for more power. On the Farmer due to the thicker blade stock at the base, the angle of the grind becomes considerably wider making it harder to pull through. The 91mm Tinker does not have such a drastic widening of blade stock so it remains much thinner near the processing area. The Farmer has slightly more belly but that benefit is outweighed by the thickening of the blade stock.
2. I love the Alox scales for durability and looks but after hard whittling in this manner for a while the dimpling on the Alox became noticeable. I could feel them digging into my palms and it became slightly uncomfortable. Also the saw on the farmer became a hot spot underneath the little finger causing some reddening. The smooth cellidor on the tinker felt much smoother in the palm and there was no hot spot due to a lack of a saw. I think this hotspot would be there on the Hiker and Camper too and maybe a 91mm with corkscrew may cause uncomfort in the palm.
I pushed both knives hard. I was interested to see how hard the Tinker could be pushed and it performed well. Its lightness does not seem to suggest great strength but everytime I tried to bite off a bigger piece than it could handle it just stopped in the wood with nothing giving way. Opened and closed perfectly afterwards.
I had no worries about pushing the Farmer hard but it required more strength than the Tinker to bite off a big piece. It was also more uncomfortable to work with as described above so the winner is the Tinker.
Conclusion: The farmer is a great knife, very tough and has a useful saw and awl but it did not perform as well as the 91mm cellidor blade and was not as comfortable. If I was going to take a SAK into the woods for bushcraft duties I would take a Hiker for the comfortable scales, easier blade to work with and the useful saw. It also has a second blade which is always useful.
Before I went out both knives were dull and would not cut paper so I sharpened them using the tiny Vic field sharpener until each one would cut the same piece of paper. The stone is fairly course but it got the job done for the purposes of this test. I probably spent the same amount of time on each knife checking for any burrs/removing as needed.
The wood was fairly dry and needed a lot of pressure to whittle out a decent sized chunk. I tested both on the same piece of wood and the Tinker outperformed the farmer and here is why:
1. When whittling hard you normally use the section of knife closer to the tang for more power. On the Farmer due to the thicker blade stock at the base, the angle of the grind becomes considerably wider making it harder to pull through. The 91mm Tinker does not have such a drastic widening of blade stock so it remains much thinner near the processing area. The Farmer has slightly more belly but that benefit is outweighed by the thickening of the blade stock.
2. I love the Alox scales for durability and looks but after hard whittling in this manner for a while the dimpling on the Alox became noticeable. I could feel them digging into my palms and it became slightly uncomfortable. Also the saw on the farmer became a hot spot underneath the little finger causing some reddening. The smooth cellidor on the tinker felt much smoother in the palm and there was no hot spot due to a lack of a saw. I think this hotspot would be there on the Hiker and Camper too and maybe a 91mm with corkscrew may cause uncomfort in the palm.
I pushed both knives hard. I was interested to see how hard the Tinker could be pushed and it performed well. Its lightness does not seem to suggest great strength but everytime I tried to bite off a bigger piece than it could handle it just stopped in the wood with nothing giving way. Opened and closed perfectly afterwards.
I had no worries about pushing the Farmer hard but it required more strength than the Tinker to bite off a big piece. It was also more uncomfortable to work with as described above so the winner is the Tinker.
Conclusion: The farmer is a great knife, very tough and has a useful saw and awl but it did not perform as well as the 91mm cellidor blade and was not as comfortable. If I was going to take a SAK into the woods for bushcraft duties I would take a Hiker for the comfortable scales, easier blade to work with and the useful saw. It also has a second blade which is always useful.
The Texas Ranger Museum. I've been there and have plenty of photos. I did not get a photo of that knife. 
. I was doing so well. Made it all the way to March.