Boker Applegate Fairbairn review

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sev129

Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
19
Hello all,

just wanted to post my experiences with a boker applegate fairbairn I recently purchased. I bought this knife from a desire to own a fighting knife in the style of the Fairbairn sykes, but without its frailties, and heard that the Applegate fairbairn was an improvement on all fronts. After handling two of these knives, I can say the only way that would be true is if the original fairbairn sikes were unsharpened pieces of tin.
The first one I purchased from Amazon was pleasant enough in terms of ergonomics, with a comfortable grip and guard. the tip was pointed and the grind seemed even. However, it was as dull as a butterknife. I didn't consider this to be a problem, having owned a large number of knives and maintained and entirely reprofiled a few over the years. After about 5 hours with sharpening stones, the best that was accomplished was getting the knife to paper slicing sharpness (briefly) before it somehow lost its edge again and returned to the sharpness of a piece of rebar. Also, the coating was very visibly worn on the middle of the blade from being resheathed a number of times, to the point that bare steel was showing. I was very disappointed, but figured this may have been a one off mistake to slip through boker's quality control. I returned it to amazon and they sent out a replacement knife very quickly (excellent customer service). This new one is even worse. In addition to being completely dull, the grind is visibly offset, with the central grind farther to one side than the other. Id say that would make one side qualify as a false edge, but I'm not sure if either side deserves to have the word "edge" applied to it.

This is going back to amazon in the morning, and I can't say I plan to buy a boker again. Very disappointed.
 
I always liked the design of this knife, but not Boker's execution of it. I would like better materials, better fit and finish, and plain edge.
 
Wanted to add that if you like that style look at the Cold Steel Counterpoint
 
I've got one of the older blackjack made ones, it took a decent edge but the handles were flimsy on it. There are many much better made than the boker of similar style out there.
 
What knives in this style could you recommend? Ive been looking for an affordable and well made dagger for a while. Doesn't have to be fancy. I tend to like utilitarian styles anyway.
 
If you can find one of the older 1990's Boker, FB & AG daggers they were decent workmanship for the price.
They come up for sale, most never or hardly use these and they have been kept in box to show to buddies etc..

As a soldiers weapon they are a good design, for most of us the really don't excel at regular tasks being a diamond four sided grind.
 
It's really sad when the execution fails to deliver an otherwise kosher pedigree of a design.
One might be tempted to seek a custom hand made version in the end.
Anyhow, since the purpose of a dagger is confined to quick despatching deanimation,
I would think it to be even more helpful to have a wide blade.
In all seriousness, the width of a CS tai pan would excell by all accounts.
Such a width would allow for a steeper and finer edge to boost slicing.
But like any knife, edge retention lies primarily with the maker's steel type and treatment.
Having said that, there is something enigmatic about the f-s and it's derivatives.
It may be flawed but it makes a spectacular conversation piece for the arm chair commando.
http://www.fairbairnsykesfightingknives.com/ek-knives.html
 
How about the Boker Plus SID?

Still a Boker and sharp as laser based on the two I have received, albeit made in Taiwan, not a problem for me though, almost all of the German made knives I got from Boker are less than stellar.

The 2 Boker FA dagger I have received are both dull as butter knife, and impossible to sharpen.

What irritates me is most makers, even some custom makers, will push the blame to the geometry and say a dagger is suppose to stab not slice, this is a feature not a problem, blah blah blah,bottom line, they can't make a sharp dagger.

If I want to stab someone to death, I am better off with a screwdriver than a dull dagger, cheaper and more discreet if you get what I mean.

Here are some of the sharpest dagger I have received from factory, I own at least 2 of each so I can say they are pretty consistent.

Cold steel taipan: very sharp, but CS single edge knives are sharper.

Blackhawk UK-SFK: razor sharp, solid piece of D2, excellent value.

Boker SID: razor sharp, one piece of 440C

Have gerber mark 1 and Busse Hawkeye dagger on the way, will update once received them.
 
Pohl force makes a wicked dagger and so does treeman knives. Chec k em out.
 
lalilulelo said:
Have gerber mark 1 and Busse Hawkeye dagger on the way, will update once received them.
Click to expand...

My Gerber Mark I Anniversary in S30V arrived very dull, and the bevel grind is uneven. General fit and finish is also very rough, considering the "Made in USA" label. Then again, Gerber is not exactly known for their attention to detail though. Love the sheath design though.

UK-SFK is probably the sharpest production dagger I've handle, even more so than the Tai Pan. Sharpness of CS PeaceKeeper in San Mai is comparable to UK-SFK though, the thin blade pierces/cuts like razor.
 
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