Greetings All
By all means this will not be a comprehensive review nor it will be the ultimate advice on choosing the knife for you but more of a personal insight about some S!Ks that I owned and went thru as well as some philosophical rumbling about tools of survival and their characteristics. I am going to use a 1-10 scale, 10 being the highest. Just please remember
Let me start by saying that I have owned quite a few knives during the past 23 years, a variety of steels, companies, custom makers to my own knives that I made over 400 in the past few years. Been a woods boy entire life and sharp instrument was always a part of the trips, walks, camping, etc. Good thing to mention is that I do wear M-L size gloves and would call size hands medium-ish.
Survive!Knives showed up on the horizon few years ago but due to several customs I owned at the time I did not give this company much attention. Production knives have never really appealed to me and besides some folders and Mora I have not bought much. Traded for some to try them out and handled a huge amount, but never considered them mine.
My first impression is going to be about old spec 3.5. Steel CPM20CV.
This was my first S!K model and it was an instant winner in my book. Nimble factor was there, light weight factor was there, excellent ergonomics for its small size made it just an amazing companion. I really admired the thickness/thinness of the blade and rather slim edc type handle that made 3.5 both pleasant to use and carry around. Yet, there was something missing. I felt that the blade size was not enough. Perhaps for splitting some sticks for the fire, perhaps for comfortable cutting/carving. Don't know. But it was not it although I did love this knife very much and playing with it was a pure joy.
GSO 3.5 old spec
Designation: EDC, companion, lightweight backpacking knife
Initial impression: 10
Feel in hand: 8
Blade lenght: 8
Blade shape: 10
Blade thickness: 10
Edge geometry: 8
Handle lenght: 10
Handle shape: 10
Sheath: 10
Carrying comfort: 10
Use: light
Nimble factor: 10
As I moved forward into S!K models and kept on reading of recommendation for the "one and only", "the chosen one", "the ideal one" etc. knife I have discovered that I "need" something larger. Hell! Survive knife should be large and thick and beefy overall and nothing short of BK2 wouldn't cut it amd that was/is a popular opinion despite the fact that most of the common folks myself included will probably never be cutting themselves out of an airplane nor pry the doors during international missions so such knife would be really of no use to me in 99% of situations.
Let's face it. When you go to the woods bushcrafting or putting it plainly, just play with wood you are choosing to do so. It ain't no survival but extreme fun. Can a hunting trip become a survival expedition? I guess it could if you are 100 miles from home in the middle of nowhere. I am not here to judge.
For me a knife needs to fulfill its primary function. That is to cut and slice. Most of the jobs concentrate about preparing food and most of us probably know this by now that unless a knife is not designed for for the kitchen it won't be that good at slicing tomatoes and such.
That being said for us, big boys, knife should be a good all arounder, with sufficient thickness to split some wood and I am not talking taking down a foot wide tree but sticks, striking ferrocerium rod, playing around with kindling, cut sausage or bacon into few pieces and very important factor, to admire the good looks while doing it all.
The hype of 4.1 is great and I have not found many knives to live to their hype. Quite the opposite. Several of them were quite overrated. But I do understand that knife shape, size, color, steel, etc are a preference thing so there is nothing negative anyone can say to someone who just love his/her knife. And I will not do it either. Friend of mine was kind enough to send me his old spec 4.1 in M390 to try it out and dang, was that a sexi knife! I liked it quite a bit and went on my "must have" list immediately. Availability is somewhat limited although just today I saw at least 3-4 for sale on ebay under 300.00 in like new to new condition. I am a sucker for stonewash/tumble finish and both 3.5 and 4.1 had phenomenally smooth and gorgeous flats. Edge is something of a personal preference so not going to get into that. Was it too thick for me? I'd say so. Probably that is why we see so many of them convexed.
Anyways, decided to compare 4.1 and 3.5. Comfort level was much higher than on 3.5 but I'd consider them a different category and old spec 4.1 was one of the most knvies I have ever played with despite some minor finish "issues" that did not bother me at all and actually made it look little rustic. Old spec 4.1 looks robust and it is. Only thing that it made it feel little "too gentle" was the weight due to its skeletonized handle. This factor is purely psychological as most/all of us seen Guy's videos and those knives can handle most any abuse. But still, despite 4.1's greatness, the "larger" sizes kept on calling.
GSO 4.1 old spec
Designation: larger EDC, companion, lightweight backpacking knife, light survival knife, medium utility knife
Initial impression: 10
Feel in hand: 8
Blade lenght: 8
Blade shape: 10
Blade thickness: 9
Edge geometry: 6
Handle lenght: 10
Handle shape: 10
Sheath: 10
Carrying comfort: 10
Use: light to moderate
Nimble factor: 10
But 5.1 is on my list to try out for sure. Love the looks of it. Thank you
amikee
