Fallkniven A1 Destruction Test Video Completed

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noss4

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Jul 7, 2006
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The Fallkniven. A1 proved itself in the field testing it was time to see what other secretes this knife would reveal in the destruction test. I do not chop in this test because I did it in the first video.

Apple pealing: I was able to remove the peal with ease leaving the apple intact. Then I cut the apple into fairly thin slices. Not bad for a knife with a thick edge.

Batoning: I split a 4x4 in many parts with no problem. Simple for the A1.

Sheet metal penetration: I stabbed into a old index card holder made of heavy gauge sheet metal. After many holes I noticed the end near the tip chipped. This is the fist time this has happened with any knife I have tested.

Cutting 10,000 lb webbing: This gave all the other knives a run for there money but the A1 tackled this easy. I was able to do some very fine controlled cuts back and forth demonstrating it's fantastic cutting edge.

Concrete: Immediately after I started the edge begin to chip out the chips were very shallow. Then the blade begin to dent no longer chipping. It seem the edge is a little brittle. The blade it still intact at this point.

Fallkniven%20A1%20Destruction%20test%20Part%203_0001.jpg


Hammer impacts: Using the 3 lb steel mallet I hammered the edge into a 2x4 repeatedly given the spine god hard hits. No problem here. I then hammered the edge into the concrete removing large sections of the stone. The edge continued to dent no more chipping.

Concrete: again: I hammered the tip into a larger concrete black containing large rock and rebar. Breaking it into small parts. The tip brick of and blunted during this.


Body weight test: This is where we get to see the benefits of the laminated blade. I placed the blade into a holder I made with the blade inserted about 5 inches into the holder. I then stepped onto the knife with all my weight. I weight 225 lbs. I even bounced on it. No blade failure at this point. I pulled the blade out about 2.5" from the handle and stepped on the blade. Again the blade took all of my weight. I bounded up and down for a bit before the blade fractured but it's not over yet.

Fallkniven%20A1%20Destruction%20test%20Part%205_0001.jpg



Metal on metal: The blade was fractured on one side of the outer laminated side. Using the 3 lb steel mallet and hitting the blade on top of the fracture I was able to cut 1/8"x 2" wide mild steel flat stock. I hit the hell out of it with the hammer and the blade still did not separate into pieces. This I am truly amazed about.


Flex text: With the blade fractured I wanted to see how far I could flex the blade in the vice. I first place fracture towards me and pulled with all my strength jerking the blade because it is so stiff. The blade still won't give. I turned the blade around with the fracture away from me and pulled again. After many hard pulls and jerks the blade separated at the laminated sections.

Fallkniven%20A1%20Destruction%20test%20Part%206_0002.jpg


Overall: The A1 performed different then the others. The cutting edge seems brittle but then stops and begins to dent. This is reverse of what has happened with the Carbon knives I have tested. What really sets this blade apart is the laminated construction. A fracture would have totally done in a solid blade but the A1 kept on kicking in a brutal way. The A1 is a fine cutter with it's very easy to sharpen VG-10 steel and convex edge. It did a fantastic job in the field for it's smaller size. All together, you have one serious tough and functional knife all the way around. Fallkniven truly makes some incredible knives.

Whatever hype Fallkniven has amassed, they deserve.

Videos are in 7 parts located at www.knifetests.com

Enjoy the videos. They were made for you. :thumbup:
 
Incredible!

I love my little Fallkniven F1. The S1 and A1 are on my "to buy" list.

Thanks,
desmobob
 
WOW, I think I've found my next user fixed blade. Most impressive keep up the good work:D Can't wait to see the Sog Seal test, and have you ever considered testing folders or multitools but of course scaling back the destruction test since they aren't as tough to begin with?
 
do you have closeup pics? I'd love to see the laminated sections.

My only concern is that the laminated sections should not have separated. It would be interesting to test a comparable Cold Steel San Mai knife and see if it does the same
 
Nice! A pain to see that happen to a good knife, but it just goes to show Fällkniven makes tough little knives, even if they are stainless. So, unless you'll be chopping concrete for survival purposes, the A1 is a knife worth considering. ;)
 
noss4 said:
Flex text: With the blade fractured I wanted to see how far I could flex the blade in the vice. I first place fracture towards me and pulled with all my strength jerking the blade because it is so stiff. The blade still won't give. I turned the blade around with the fracture away from me and pulled again. After many hard pulls and jerks the blade separated at the laminated sections.

Fallkniven%20A1%20Destruction%20test%20Part%206_0002.jpg
Click to expand...
That's why laminated knives are great: core and sides are of different nature which reduces if not annihilate the risk for catastrophique failure: it is unlikely that both core and sides fail simultaneously in the same place. Plus what's dangerous for the hard core can often be handled by soft sides and vis-versa (eg given: shocks). Lamination also insures cracks won't go further than welding line, and I guess the unhomogenous blade might protect against most resonance phenomens since different metals have different critical frequencies.

Main problem is that lamination doesn't protect the very cutting edge at all, as seen in this test (chipping problems in both edge and point)
 
Ravaillac said:
May problem is that lamination doesn't protect the very cutting edge at all, as seen in this test.
Click to expand...

Yes, you're right. I think the part where Noss notes that the edge is chipping and suddenly stops and starts to dent is interesting. I think what's happening there is that the VG-10 edge is chipping, but once it gets to the laminated part, the chipping stops.
 
Hey, if it takes hammering the edge into concreate to chip it I'm ok with that. Been using knives in the field for almost 40 years and haven't needed to do that yet. In reality, a lesser knife would do, but I have an A1 and S1 anyway....:thumbup:
 
JohnnyO said:
Hey, if it takes hammering the edge into concreate to chip it I'm ok with that. Been using knives in the field for almost 40 years and haven't needed to do that yet. In reality, a lesser knife would do, but I have an A1 and S1 anyway....:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Indeed. :thumbup: Although the way Noss tests things isn't exactly typical use for a knife, I believe his tests serve a purpose: to show just how much you can abuse the blades before they'll break (if that sounded like me stating the obvious, sorry). And so far it seems that 300+ $ "sharpened prybars" aren't displaying much greater durability than that 170 $ Fällkniven that also has a edge that cuts very well. ;) Not to start a war or anything. :D

Noss, which one of the knives you've tested so far has been the most difficult to destroy? And when can we expect you to demolish the Battle Mistress? That should be somewhat of a challenge for you, I'll say. :D
 
Although my post sounded negative, I actually meant it in a "somewhat sarcastic" positive way. I truely appreciate these tests. It really gives the end user an idea of what these knives can take.
 
I'd like to see another 12 oz knife that can survive a similar regimen of testing. The boys in Sweden have a real winner here. The company has already done their own brand of testing which can be analysed by viewing the data on www.fallkniven.se.

One thing is fore sure: this cutlery is ultra tough. And stainless!
 
JohnnyO said:
Hey, if it takes hammering the edge into concreate to chip it I'm ok with that. Been using knives in the field for almost 40 years and haven't needed to do that yet. In reality, a lesser knife would do, but I have an A1 and S1 anyway....:thumbup:
Click to expand...

actually it chipped going into the sheet metal first and Noss commented that it was the only knife he's tested so far that did that. Understandable as the edge is VG10, not laminate, so it is not designed for heavy impact. Still good performance IMO
 
The initial edge may as is frequantly the case, been damaged during sharpening/grinding. Generally, the as-given edges are not representative of the performance of the knife after sharpening.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
The initial edge may as is frequantly the case, been damaged during sharpening/grinding. Generally, the as-given edges are not representative of the performance of the knife after sharpening.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

very true, however, the chipping is probably expected since the part that chipped is VG10 and the part that indented was the laminate which is much softer. I am sure underneath the laminate the VG10 cracked and chipped as well, but the extra strength and softness of the 420 steel made it hold up. Plywood steel. I am sure the older A1 made of VG10 would have cracked way before this one.
 
Cobalt: I'll post some photos of the knife tonight. You can clearly see the 3 layers of steel now. It may be hard to see in a photo but I'll do my best.

Elen: The GI Tanto was the hardest to destroy. I'm still waiting for Busse
to ship me the knife. It should be a challenge indeed.


About the lamination: one outer layer fractured leaving the center layer( VG-10 and other outer layer intact. So I guess you can say the fractured outer layer sacrificed itself for the other two layers.
 
noss, wow! what a knife. I need one bad. Are you going to test
a Bravo-1 anytime soon? Just curious because I just picked one up
and was wondering if it could compare to that...:eek:
 
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