BHK Boat Tail Scandi: A Review

Ok which one is better in your opinion? the blind horse or the bark river little brother regardless of price?
 
Hello Bushcraft,

Hard to compare them as they are so different.

The CPM 3V steel on the Bark River LB makes for a very long-lasting, durable edge. It is more rust resistant. The LB is heavier and thicker. The LB handle is narrow contoured but with thick, filling slabs. The edge on the LB is a convex-scandi, although it is a very thin convex, barely a convex. It cuts like a scandi should, although I believe the BHK zero-edge has an extra, slight amount of bite. The LB primary bevel is well placed so it can rest on the cutting surface and cut.
The BHK makes for a slightly more traditional carving handle, in that it is not heavily contoured, just full and rounded, allowing for more play and those awkward grips for hard angles. Granted, the LB is very comfortable for carving, no hot spots. The thick spine makes a great push cut platform. The BHK slabs taper towards the ricasso making it better for choke grip than the LB. The LB has a slight integrated guard and a steep drop from the slabs at the ricasso making choke grip somewhat uncomfortable. This, for me, is the main fault I find with the LB. They are both great carvers, but I would tend more towards the BHK for extended woodcraft periods.
The LB may has an advantage in terms of bushcraft in that the blade is longer and the convex edge has a bit more steel behind the edge for added general-use strength. The LB would make for a slightly better deep hole driller with the narrow point.
The BHK has more belly making it a better hunting use blade than the LB. It will also have an advantage in hollowing out bowls and food prep/kitchen work.

They are very different scandi's, but I love them both, and each has their place and advantage to certain occasions.:thumbup:

So far, the BHK has been winning it out on overall use and open design comfort... The Bark River LB, on advanced steel and strength.

Hope this helps!
 
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Wow that's great!

Edge holding is good then?

Seems like so many scandi scandis are 1095 but very few US scandis are I'd be interested in trying one myself.:thumbup:
 
paleojoe said:
Sorry brotha!:D Glad you noticed the same things I did on this one!

As for the Liten Bror, the slabs are thicker. The only real fault I find with the Liten Bror lies in the choke grip. The slabs are thick and have a steep drop at the ricasso instead of a slow taper, making the choke grip somewhat uncomfortable. The integrated guard makes it also somewhat restrictive. But otherwise it is a great general use bushcraft convex-scandi.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Ha, don't be sorry, you did a better job than I could:thumbup:

I know the L B has a thicker handle spine down, but it looks narrower judging by your pic when laying on itside. I like more purchase by the first fi nger in my BC knives. :thumbup:
 
What a great knife. L.T. is one of the nicest,genuine and knowledgeable people in the knife industry. He and Dan Coppin make some of the best knives available today. What a great review. Thanks.
 
Great review! I've really been enjoying my BTS, it's a helluva good bushcraft blade. I really enjoy the small, but powerful, package. It rides light, but it can handle some seriously heavy work.
 
thanks again guys!


UPDATE from Blind Horse Knives:

"...The response has been overwhelming for the Boat Tail Scandi so we are bumping some production up from March to NOW. We have enough materials to make 70 more Scandi's. They will have either black or green Micarta scales and we are changing to the fish-eye bolts to hold it together. That will set it apart from the first run so you will know in an instant who has what. The design should be the same, other than the above mentioned green scales and different bolts, and the same cool modified dangler sheath."

To inquire, you can go to: http://www.blindhorseknives.com/
 
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New Batch currently in grinding!;)

For those interested in more updates from BHK,
you can also check out their forum:

http://knifeforums.com/forums/showforum.php?fid/185/fp/1/
 
GREAT review! I also own a BHK Boat Tail Scani, my only BHK, and love it to death. Being full-tang, it has a comfortable heft that my Moras and Brusletto scandis don't. Those stick tang blades are light enough for comfortable long term carving, but I honestly don't notice the extra weight from the Boat Tail at all. Excellent knife.
 
good knife in talented hands. i often wonder that a good knife is only really good in capable hands. thanks for showing.----dennis
 
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