Johnson Adventure Blades, "Potbelly"

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Switchblade61

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Nov 11, 2009
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This knife is manufactured by Ka-Bar in the USA. The black coated blade is 0.25" thick, 7 1/8" long from tip to handle panel, 1 5/8 " at the widest point and made out of 1095 Cro-Van steel (same as the Becker line) at HRC 56-58. The grind is almost like a saber grind, except this primary bevel is hollow grind (not flat). The first third of the blade has an unsharpened false edge on the spine and there is a choil area right in front of the handle. The handle itself is very nicely shaped and proportioned, has a palm swell and the Zytel scales have a texture not unlike sharkskin.

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I find the handle very comfortable in a variety of grips. The knife has a weight forward balance and the shape reminds me of a bolo with a clip point and a nicely curving, useful belly.

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Actually, I find the name "Potbelly" fitting... Right now this chopper comes with the small companion knife, called “Piggyback”. This little blade and the sheath is made in China.
The nylon/cordura sheath has three separate compartments, one for the main blade (with a plastic inner sheath), one for the previously mentioned small skinner knife (with a protective steel strip) and the third is a fair sized accessory/storage pouch, which contains an 8' long “Adventure cord” (basically an orange shoelace...).

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The back of the sheath has a lot of MOLLE attachment points and the sheath is also belt mountable at different heights, it has a couple of grommets for lashing at the top and the bottom, as well.
I took the Potbelly along for some day trips, a 5 day trip and had the opportunity to give it a little workout. Considering the size and weight of the knife, it did pretty good at making feather-sticks and some other, finer whittling.

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More to come....
 
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This blade really shines at chopping (which is not surprising).

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Just have a look at the depth of that first strike...

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Takes out big chunks of woodchips effortlessly and safely. Thanks to the shape and texture of the handle I could do this even without a lanyard. Although, I recommend the use of a lanyard, especially for extended chopping (hand fatigue, over time will weaken our grip).

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The Potbelly does well for batoning, despite of the blade geometry, which in my opinion is not ideal for this purpose.

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The fruits of my batoning...

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Note the knots in the wood, batoned right through... No problem!

More to come...
 
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Some more chopping in fire hardened wood...

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This standing, dead and burned tree was about 4” in diameter and 25-26 feet tall.

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This area was devastated by forest fires seven years ago.
The knife had no damage, the blade had no nicks, chips of any sort, the edge was still sharp, the handle scales did not come loose. The only visible sign of use, was the wear in the black coat of the blade.
The Potbelly stood up for itself well. So, in my opinion this model is a tough, hardworking knife, one that you could count on in the woods (if weight is not much of a concern) and it's a very good buy for the money.
I did not use the small Piggyback, too much and thus, I can not say much about it, other than I was able to put a nice sharp edge on it and for its size, it is a tremendous slicer. I like the sheath as well, although the blade rattles a little in the plastic inner sheath and you have to watch the way you draw the knife in order not to slice the retaining straps (especially the first one). Also, I find a little difficult to take the Piggyback out of the sheath without removing the main blade first.

Bonus photo! :) Some other hardware I had along...

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Thanks for looking!
 
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Great review. I bought a Potbelly, but have been trying to trade or sell it. With a USMC KA-BAR, KA-BAR Short Heavy Bowie, and a BK7, I just don't feel that I need another 7" knife. Your review is making me rethink keeping it. It really is a unique knife. I just keep classifying it as a really great hunting knife... only I don't hunt.

Good call on being carful with that first retaining strap. Mine already got a little kiss when I wasn't paying attention taking it out.
 
Nice review, these look like solid knives!


What's that stag folder 3rd from the bottom?
 
Nice review, the knife looks solid and dependable. I just cant get over the goofy looking handle and how the blade and handle look. Smaller than I imagined it too.

Still looks like a fine knife.
 
Great job on the review!!

I really like the belly on that blade.

I am surprised the hollow grind stood up so well. It is the last geometry I would expect on such a knife.
 
Wicked review bro, really cool looking blade:thumbup:


What knife is that right below the potbelly in the group pic?
 
Nice review. I am not a fan of hollow grinds, but it sounds and looks like it did OK. Not sure how I would feel for a 7 inch chopper, but I can see how you can choke back on it pretty well.
 
it's a pretty great knife, and general lineup from JAB - might need a new sub-forum or something :)


Bladite
 
Bobby Craig said:
Afew months back I was in a knife shop and i was there to buy a BK9. When I asked the lady behind the counter for a BK9 she handed me this. It was kind of a sales ploy to get my attention on this knife. My first reaction was Wow, that is diffrent, what is it? We talked about it for a few minutes then I re asked for my BK9 and thats what I bought.

The pot belly to me is ok but I dont think I will be getting one. For some reason it was make to be a choping knife and I dont see why I need one. If I collected I might want it but my other bowies that I use to camp with can do the same thing. I feel there are too many people batoning wood and its turning into a sport or something. My main problem with this knife is it needs a finger guard. I know its for choping and thats why they did not put one on it but it still needs one.

My BK9 can do anything this knife can plus I can do more with a BK9. Befor I would buy this knife I would finish getting the other BK's (Next I am getting the BK2 then the BK7) then a few others then.........no, I dont think I will be getting this knife. I dont want to carry around this big thing in the woods if all it is good for is to chop. The baconmaker I would buy first but I dont think I will get it either just because the look is just to off course.

This is just my oppinion and not fact. I have the right to have an oppinion. If you like it get it but I will not......like I am sure you really care.
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not sure why one would need a finger guard with the handle being as secure as it is. as i've said elsewhere, and others have to, some knives just either don't need them by design, or other factors - puukos for instance just don't seem that slippery once you're holding them.

then again, i'm probably not planning on using it as a foil/combat-stabbing knife anyway for the most part, and thus wouldn't need a guard... the handle is still pretty darn grippy.

chopping it will do, and batoning... and well, quite a few other knife chores. cutting rope, cutting food, slicing up steak. it rocks for vegetables (literally, like a very fat ulu).

each to their own opinion.


Bladite
 
Bobby Craig said:
Afew months back I was in a knife shop and i was there to buy a BK9. When I asked the lady behind the counter for a BK9 she handed me this. It was kind of a sales ploy to get my attention on this knife. My first reaction was Wow, that is diffrent, what is it? We talked about it for a few minutes then I re asked for my BK9 and thats what I bought.

The pot belly to me is ok but I dont think I will be getting one. For some reason it was make to be a choping knife and I dont see why I need one. If I collected I might want it but my other bowies that I use to camp with can do the same thing. I feel there are too many people batoning wood and its turning into a sport or something. My main problem with this knife is it needs a finger guard. I know its for choping and thats why they did not put one on it but it still needs one.

My BK9 can do anything this knife can plus I can do more with a BK9. Befor I would buy this knife I would finish getting the other BK's (Next I am getting the BK2 then the BK7) then a few others then.........no, I dont think I will be getting this knife. I dont want to carry around this big thing in the woods if all it is good for is to chop. The baconmaker I would buy first but I dont think I will get it either just because the look is just to off course.

This is just my oppinion and not fact. I have the right to have an oppinion. If you like it get it but I will not......like I am sure you really care.
Click to expand...



This is a knife review and the OP did a fine job testing and reporting his results. :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup:



Why some people seem to know it all without ever useing the knife in question,

...and then feel the need to tack their opinions on the review is beyond me.





Big Mike
 
Bladite said:
it's a pretty great knife, and general lineup from JAB - might need a new sub-forum or something :)


Bladite
Click to expand...

Actually, I don't know why we don't have a KA-BAR forum, anyway.

That aside, good review of an interesting knife.
 
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