falkniven tk2, Is it too flimsy for a survival bushcraft knife?

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ukknifer

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falkniven tk2, Is it too flimsy for a survival bushcraft knife?

What do you think guys?
Whats your opinion of this knife in general?
 
From handling one in a shop I think it has loads I like and nothing I don't. It's far from flimsy. In fact for my taste at about 4.5mm thick it's near the upper limit of what I find acceptable in a knife of that size. In that steel at that hardness I think it would shame most of the knives I've seen on this sub-forum in the last year. Wind in a sensible grind and good weatherproofing and it seems a smart choice. Kinda thing I'd like to see used as a solid control benchmark when reviewers evaluate those “custom knife challenges” here.
 
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Don't own one. Never handled one. It looks like a very nice looking gentleman's knife. Maybe some one will post on it's performance on carving with it.
 
Here is one compared to the F1. Immediately salient to me is that pleasing taper. As much as I like the F1 and understand why it preserves stock thickness for its intended military role one of the things that makes my Boker a superior cutting tool to me is a very nice bit of blade taper. I think refinements like that are far superior if you really don't need crazy strong. They just handle better for me. Shame its a feature so often overlooked.
 
neeman said:
Virtuoice give an excellent comparision of the two knives


"Fallkniven F1 is not a great knife for hunting"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSHRPW3Pma8&feature=related
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I dont want to take this post off track but I've field dressed half dozen White tail Deer with my F1 as my hunting knife and it worked just fine. for the actual butchering when I get the deer Home I use a few green river type knives made of much thinner stock to do the meat cutting and bone removal YMMV
 
I have a Fallkniven TK2 and I have used it/tried it for bushcraft tasks. For what it's worth, it's not a bushcraft knife! The handle does not have the comfort and control needed, and although the size of the blade, the steel and the convexivity is great, the tip of my TK2 broke of while drilling a hole (carefully, I am not talking knife abuse here!). The tip is almost needle like, too fine for a bushcrafter.
 
awestib said:
I have a Fallkniven TK2 and I have used it/tried it for bushcraft tasks. For what it's worth, it's not a bushcraft knife! The handle does not have the comfort and control needed, and although the size of the blade, the steel and the convexivity is great, the tip of my TK2 broke of while drilling a hole (carefully, I am not talking knife abuse here!). The tip is almost needle like, too fine for a bushcrafter.
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TK2 or F1-VG10?
Sorry to re-invent an old thread... But I did my own indepth theoretical research of what I believed to be the ultimate bushcraft, utility, survival knife. I wont revisit all the criteria I used to get to my verdict, most of you know these, but the TK2 came out on top. Following this I have wanted one for some months and now I can afford one! HOWEVER, two things are concerning me about the knife, so I am funnly enough, now thinking good old F1 in VG10 instead, especially as I saw the A1 destruction test on youtube illustrating the strenght of VG10 sandwiched in 420. I would love to hear your thoughts, opinions and or experiences???

Firstly its the 3G steel that worries me. I know VG10 is a brilliant steel, is easier to sharpen in the field and hell its used on the A1 and Northern Lights series so its gotta be tough. But I used a U4 (3G) folder when making a spoon out of wet cane (like bamboo)- I was carving the end and the edge of the folder chipped. Maybe it had somthing to do with the blade thickness (2mm) or the grind, Im not sure, but this should'nt have happened in my opinion on such a soft material. I could'nt believe it and if it had of been a TK2 I would of need counselling, :eek:. Does anyone know if 3G is brittle and not really suitable to bushcraft tasks, let alone battoning. Maybe 3G its really for intricate, precise work only like dressing game, food preparation and cutting rope who knows??? But the TK2 is categorised as a survival knife by Fallkniven???

Secondly, are things like the above. I wonder how strong or weak the tip of this knife is??? I also heard of someone breaking the tip of an F1 VG10 trying to extract an arrow from a tree so who knows??? Mmmm.

Now please dont assume I am a knife abuser by what you read here. I'm just trying to choose a tough, well balanced utility knife I can love and rest assured can will stand up to heavy going.
 
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I have a Fallkniven TK2, F1, A1 and until a few days ago an A2.

The TK2 came to me with a broken tip. It was pre-owned but obviously only lightly used, other than the missing 1/16" of tip. I reprofiled the tip and left it stouter than it probably was initially.

The tip of my (bought new) A1 broke off when it contacted (admittedly hard) a bit of grit in some driftwood I was cutting. I wasn't impressed with how easily it broke. Again, I reprofiled it thicker.

Make of that what you will.

My conclusion is that I don't trust the Fallknivens quite as much as I trust my Busses.

That said, I carry the TK2 regularly; it's my usual hillwalking companion in my rucksack. It's main duty is cutting small sticks of firewood for my storm kettle or fire box, including batoning branches down. It hasn't let me down and stays razor sharp.
 
foxyrick said:
I have a Fallkniven TK2, F1, A1 and until a few days ago an A2.

The TK2 came to me with a broken tip. It was pre-owned but obviously only lightly used, other than the missing 1/16" of tip. I reprofiled the tip and left it stouter than it probably was initially.

The tip of my (bought new) A1 broke off when it contacted (admittedly hard) a bit of grit in some driftwood I was cutting. I wasn't impressed with how easily it broke. Again, I reprofiled it thicker.

Make of that what you will.

My conclusion is that I don't trust the Fallknivens quite as much as I trust my Busses.

That said, I carry the TK2 regularly; it's my usual hillwalking companion in my rucksack. It's main duty is cutting small sticks of firewood for my storm kettle or fire box, including batoning branches down. It hasn't let me down and stays razor sharp.
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Sorry to here about your knifes, at least the reprofile helped. Perfect selection of blade lengths you have there for the field.

I can understand the knifes chipping on stones, cement, even grit etc, but not cane. In Australia we have some if not the hardest wood in the world like waddywood acacia, WA Desert Snakwood acacia- even our common eucalyptus, (your oak equivelant) is damn hard wood :). So I need a knife that can cope.

Moreover, I'm leaning toward TK2 because it gives more control than F1. BUT I love the F1 in VG10 as well- a highly practical, highly popular, tough, compact survival knife. I gotta have one of these too, lol. I dont know how many big/ thick knifes I have brought that end up being given away or shelved. They are just inpractical (too big, too heavy, cumbersom, inprecise and not to mention indescreate). Like 'carrying around a sharpened crowbar' as a member once noted. He explained how cumbersome and awkward it can be using super thick blades for what are realistically the tasks you are going to use a knife for and I am talking about your companion knife, a general purpose belt/ utility knife, like your TK2 is to you. This was supported by a TK2 vs F1 youtube clip I saw (see google). I guess Fallkniven know what they are doing, maybe they can't go too thin with in a survival knife blade for some reason, who knows- look what happened to my mini U4. I personally reckon 3mm-4mm is a good range, with 3.5 being ideal (Incidentally the USMC KBar is 3.5mm, not that its a strong knife by A1 standards).
 
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This Aussie likes his Southerncross hunter by C3 knives Chris is also a member on here :D
[video=youtube;caPctP20FVI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caPctP20FVI[/video]
[video=youtube;aZLM9Etic8c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZLM9Etic8c[/video]
 
Thanks for the help.
Now I can afford a TK2, I am having second thoughts. I reckon I may go the F1 VG10 instead and I will save allot of money! I just dont trust 3G use as a survival knife (offered in F1 3G and TK2)after me experiences.
 
Just to keep you thinking... ;)

I really like the feel of the TK2. I knew I would when I first saw a picture of it and I was right. While the F1 feels good in the hand too, I much prefer the way the TK2 handles.

The difference between VG10 and 3G doesn't really come into it. Both are exceptional steels and while 3G might have the edge (lol) over VG10, I really would like the TK2 just as much if it were VG10. I would probably be able to afford a new one if it were, instead of a second hand one.

I don't think 3G is any more likely to chip than VG10 with what I've seen of both steels. I do wonder if the fine tips get a little overheated during manufacturing and that leads to them being a little bit brittle; something not uncommon with many knives and usually solved by sharpening through the factory edge into tougher material.

If I had the choice, which I do since I have both already, I would go with the TK2.
 
I prefer the TK2 as well. The handle, guard, the pointy, utility blade and the pommel are all perfect! The only real thing that put me off TK2, other than the price was the up keep of the 3G steel as I was going to use the knife for demanding tasks. My TK2 will have to wait as I wanted an F1 anyway and I've heard you are not a Fallky fan until you've own one...!

I am learning more and more about Fallkniven as I go. I still believe 3G has to be a little more brittle than VG10. However VG10 is as well. I looked into many RC figures and the properties of stainless and carbon steels used in famous knifes use like KBAR, Essee, Rat Cutlery. I now believe Fallkniven's are with acceptable tolerances and offer the best trade off currently possible. I have heard however, that a new edge needs sharpening a few times before putting the knife through demanding tasks like woodwork, and you have to learn how to maintain the convex edge. I settled on an F1 in VG10. It should be here in 3 working days and I cant wait. My supplier through in a leather sheath, a Fallky diamond file sharpener and a small Fallky poster. Very generous! Thanks to everyone for their help :)
 
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