Review Osprey K/T Reviews

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

Chris, I would purchase that now. I want to be first on the list. I use a 1930's straight razor to shave with that I reconditioned and also waiting for my custom straight razor by ShaveSmith. I love me some straight razors. I really hope you make one.

Mike B.

It is only a matter of time before I make one, I attempted to years ago, and I am fascinated and intrigued by them so the drive is there.

 

[adequacy]

Part 2 - Guardless Warthog

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This second portion of review is going to focus more on qualitative observations and discussion on usage and carry over the last month or two. The third installment will hopefully revert back to a more analytical approach.

For anyone just tuning in, these posts are regarding a gaurdless warthog from Chris / OKT. It is my first OKT, and if you are interested in specs and initial impressions of this knife, details are in an above post.

As an outdoor enthusiast, I've made sure to carry the knife on every trip I can since I got it. This gives me the best opportunity to evaluate it and gauge it's overall durability and ability to be dynamic in any role I need it to fill.

This knife has not let me down, nor do I expect it to.

In terms of durability, I am incredibly impressed. In my previous post, I mentioned how much I enjoyed the hammered flats on the CPM 154. This time around, I want to comment on how well they take and hide damage to the blade. A lot of other finishes, especially plain satin, reveal a lot of scratches from woods and knots. The hammering has been both wonderful aesthetically but also great for providing resilience in keeping the knife pretty even when putting it through more aggressive tasks.

Another factor I've been using to evaluate durability is how well the knife holds up in fire preparation and notch making. I've now used this knife extensively for batoning to make small kindling pieces, as well as batoning the edge of the knife to make stop cuts for notches. In both of these areas, there hasn't been a shred of doubt in my mind. This knife is 3/32 of an inch thick, my ideal thickness. I know some people believe that they prefer a thicker stock for more durability, but in my uses so far, 3/32 has been plenty strong. While a thicker knife will wedge the wood better to split it, it's worth it to me to have a thinner stock and slice and cut better.

The edge retention on the knife has also been good. I plan on doing a more detailed test later on, but Chris' initial edge was very good. This leads me to my next measure of evaluation: ease of sharpening.

I'm not the best sharpener out there, but I can get by. Here is the Warthog with CPM 154 on a chosera 400 stone with a 20 degree angle guide to match the original edge bevel. It took a very nice edge in a very reasonable time frame.

Using sharpie to make sure I am apexing.

It's also worth mentioning that the steel is HIGHLY corrosion resistant. Something I value a lot here in the pacific northwest. I've been to the coast numerous times already this year. I've sliced lemons, tomatoes, apples, onions, limes. Just about everything. I've even had a little bit of water sitting on the blade for a bit longer than usual and I have had absolutely zero sign of any corrosion. Pairing this with great "sharpenability" and above average edge retention is the perfect blend for me. I couldn't be happier.

One downside so far is that I dropped the knife from about waist level. It landed right on the blade and made a small chip. It will sharpen out on its own, so I'm not worried about it, and this is completely in line with expectations, but I don't want to give the impression that the steel is O1 or 3v in terms of toughness. I've noticed one other chip that occurred from usage, not from dropping it. These both are about 1 mm in depth, and should be no problem over the course of time. I guess my point of bringing it up is that the steel is so excellent, but I should steel be careful to not damage it.

The next area I wanted to discuss was capability. In the first section of this review, I discussed how dynamic I wanted this knife to be. Over the course of time, it has been more dynamic than I could have ever expected. After discussing this with Chris, this was his intention for his Warthog knife design. If you are looking for a knife that is a highly functional EDC, a small kitchen utility knife, a camp knife, a bird and trout-you can find all of that with a warthog. It may not be #1 at any of those tasks compared to a knife dedicated just to 1 chore, but, as I mentioned earlier, it can do it all. For me, those jack-of-all-trades knives are the ones that become my favorites because I can always carry it. So, to make this capability section short and sweet, the warthog really is a competent multi use knife that is just right in terms of size.

When I did my first section of the review, I made two observations about what I would change in the knife. The first was to have a slightly thicker handle to reduce fatigue during extended usage. The second was to add about 1/8" of length to the OAL.Since that time, I have gotten to know the knife much better. The question is, do I still wish I could change those things? Are there other things I would change about the knife now that I have carried it more?

With respect to handle thickness, I no longer think this is something I would change. The knife carries really well at it's current thickness. Part of it's ability to "do it all" comes from how easily and comfortably it carries, and having an expanded thickness would give you more comfort in extended use, maybe a small fraction of the time, but make the knife a less convenient carry the other 99% of the time.

In regards to the additional overall length, I've noticed that I've completely forgotten about it until writing this second installment and checking back in on a recap. The knife fits my hand well, and the desire for having additional length has not been an issue in the slightest. That being said, adding a touch more length wouldn't really affect my ability to carry the knife, and I wouldn't be opposed to a variant that had a little bit more length and no other changes.

Are there other things I would change about the knife now that I have carried it more? That's a tough one to say. Perhaps I'd want one with another handle materials configuration to try out how that feels. I've never had a fixed blade with carbon fiber. I also would be interested in trying out this design with a high convex grind and a convex micro bevel, as opposed to the full flat grind and convex micro bevel this variant has. So, for now, I'm incredibly happy with the knife exactly how it is, but I'd want to explore other combinations for the sake of science .

If I haven't convinced you yet, this is a great knife, and you wont want to carry anything else....

I went to a barbecue with a bonfire at the end of the night yesterday. To help out, we needed a knife to cut up some cardboard, do food prep, and make some small tinder and kindling to start it all up. Good thing I always carry my warthog.

-----------

I'll see you all for part 3, where I'll be doing more data driven tests!

 

[M4Super90]

I wanted to follow up Phil's post and add some pics of the Nomad I received. I was out of town the week the knife shipped so I've only had it in my hands for 7 days now. The original description:

Nomad-
1/16" (.070'') CPM154 SFT
Royal Blue G10 over Black (Sandblasted)
Carbon Fiber Pinout
Blade 2 3/8''
OAL 5 3/4''
1.6oz​

For size comparisons, here it is between a Raptor and a Warthog.

A few beauty shots:

I find comparisons with knives in the same size range useful when evaluating anything new. It provides a point of reference and immediately highlights tasks that the knife may excel at. Although, the grip angle and blade profile of the Nomad seem to immediately lend itself to culinary duty. That is not true of the other knives I have in this size range. Shown are a new-style commando Fiddleback 2FK and Koster Scout. Before I switched to carrying a Patch knife most of the time, the Koster was the fixed blade that was with me most.

The first impression is how small and light the Nomad is. When in the pocket you hardly notice its there. Both the Fiddleback and Koster are 1/8" thick and the difference is significant. Doesn't seem like 1/2 an ounce would be a big deal, but when the comparison is essentially 25% lighter than the closest in the same category it really accentuates the delta. In this regard, the selection of 1/16 steel shines.

Nomad 1.5 oz
Scout 2.1 oz
2FK 2.3 oz

One of the things that the Nomad has that no other OKT has is the bevel of the forward side of the scales. This provides and excellent gripping surface on a knife this small. I find a pinch grip with the "pinch" occurring on the front of the grip rather than the rear of the blade very comfortable. The edges of the G10 are nicely radiused and the sandblasted texture is very grippy, even when wet. I'm actually quite enamored with this feature and it immediately makes me wonder how this might translate on some of the other OKT models.

 

[M4Super90]

The Nomad fits in many of the sheaths I have but all are little loose or it sits a little too deep. I may do a kydex taco sheath, or try to make my own. Here's the way I've carried the Koster forever:

And a similar setup with a Jofuu sheath:

I do have a new leather sheath that also works as well. As Jerry mentioned, the new part is essential. The other sheaths of the same size that are stretched will not secure the blade. Due to the knife's overall shape, it won't fit in the combo KSF sheath with the light at all.

Of the knives shown, I've always gravitated toward the Koster. The 2FK is great at giving a lot of blade in a small package and has a very slim carry profile, but I do not find it comfortable to use at all. The Koster is very utilitarian and the straight handle provides a variety of comfortable grips. However, the more wharncliff style blade of the Nomad along with its grip angle provide some distinct advantages in specific tasks.

I'm looking forward to spending some time with this blade and will update this post in the future.

 

[Comprehensivist]

Part 2 - Guardless Warthog

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This second portion of review is going to focus more on qualitative observations and discussion on usage and carry over the last month or two. The third installment will hopefully revert back to a more analytical approach.

For anyone just tuning in, these posts are regarding a gaurdless warthog from Chris / OKT. It is my first OKT, and if you are interested in specs and initial impressions of this knife, details are in an above post.

As an outdoor enthusiast, I've made sure to carry the knife on every trip I can since I got it. This gives me the best opportunity to evaluate it and gauge it's overall durability and ability to be dynamic in any role I need it to fill.

This knife has not let me down, nor do I expect it to.

In terms of durability, I am incredibly impressed. In my previous post, I mentioned how much I enjoyed the hammered flats on the CPM 154. This time around, I want to comment on how well they take and hide damage to the blade. A lot of other finishes, especially plain satin, reveal a lot of scratches from woods and knots. The hammering has been both wonderful aesthetically but also great for providing resilience in keeping the knife pretty even when putting it through more aggressive tasks.

Another factor I've been using to evaluate durability is how well the knife holds up in fire preparation and notch making. I've now used this knife extensively for batoning to make small kindling pieces, as well as batoning the edge of the knife to make stop cuts for notches. In both of these areas, there hasn't been a shred of doubt in my mind. This knife is 3/32 of an inch thick, my ideal thickness. I know some people believe that they prefer a thicker stock for more durability, but in my uses so far, 3/32 has been plenty strong. While a thicker knife will wedge the wood better to split it, it's worth it to me to have a thinner stock and slice and cut better.

The edge retention on the knife has also been good. I plan on doing a more detailed test later on, but Chris' initial edge was very good. This leads me to my next measure of evaluation: ease of sharpening.

When I did my first section of the review, I made two observations about what I would change in the knife. The first was to have a slightly thicker handle to reduce fatigue during extended usage. The second was to add about 1/8" of length to the OAL.Since that time, I have gotten to know the knife much better. The question is, do I still wish I could change those things? Are there other things I would change about the knife now that I have carried it more?

With respect to handle thickness, I no longer think this is something I would change. The knife carries really well at it's current thickness. Part of it's ability to "do it all" comes from how easily and comfortably it carries, and having an expanded thickness would give you more comfort in extended use, maybe a small fraction of the time, but make the knife a less convenient carry the other 99% of the time.

In regards to the additional overall length, I've noticed that I've completely forgotten about it until writing this second installment and checking back in on a recap. The knife fits my hand well, and the desire for having additional length has not been an issue in the slightest. That being said, adding a touch more length wouldn't really affect my ability to carry the knife, and I wouldn't be opposed to a variant that had a little bit more length and no other changes.

Are there other things I would change about the knife now that I have carried it more? That's a tough one to say. Perhaps I'd want one with another handle materials configuration to try out how that feels. I've never had a fixed blade with carbon fiber. I also would be interested in trying out this design with a high convex grind and a convex micro bevel, as opposed to the full flat grind and convex micro bevel this variant has. So, for now, I'm incredibly happy with the knife exactly how it is, but I'd want to explore other combinations for the sake of science .

-----------

I'll see you all for part 3, where I'll be doing more data driven tests!

Excellent update Ryan! Your observation about the wear advantage of the hammer texturing on the flats is spot on. My experience with sharpening has mirrored yours on my original Raptor which is my most used OK&T. I also like how you circled back to address your initial thoughts relative to the handle length and thickness. Actual use and familiarity with a knife have a way of breathing perspective into the maker's design intent.

Thanks again for keeping us updated. I look forward to Part 3 of your review.

Phil

 

[Comprehensivist]

I find comparisons with knives in the same size range useful when evaluating anything new. It provides a point of reference and immediately highlights tasks that the knife may excel at. Although, the grip angle and blade profile of the Nomad seem to immediately lend itself to culinary duty. That is not true of the other knives I have in this size range. Shown are a new-style commando Fiddleback 2FK and Koster Scout. Before I switched to carrying a Patch knife most of the time, the Koster was the fixed blade that was with me most.

The first impression is how small and light the Nomad is. When in the pocket you hardly notice its there. Both the Fiddleback and Koster are 1/8" thick and the difference is significant. Doesn't seem like 1/2 an ounce would be a big deal, but when the comparison is essentially 25% lighter than the closest in the same category it really accentuates the delta. In this regard, the selection of 1/16 steel shines.

Nomad 1.5 oz
Scout 2.1 oz
2FK 2.3 oz

One of the things that the Nomad has that no other OKT has is the bevel of the forward side of the scales. This provides and excellent gripping surface on a knife this small. I find a pinch grip with the "pinch" occurring on the front of the grip rather than the rear of the blade very comfortable. The edges of the G10 are nicely radiused and the sandblasted texture is very grippy, even when wet. I'm actually quite enamored with this feature and it immediately makes me wonder how this might translate on some of the other OKT models.

Awesome post Phillip! Nice job on the photos. I like the comparison photos with the 2FK and your favorite little Koster. I also appreciate that you mentioned the bevel flats on the front of the handle. Mine are very subtle compared to yours, so I didn't mention that feature. I too would like to see that incorporated into (some) other designs. That is just another example of how Chris listens to customer feedback and finds a way to incorporate it in his own way.

Thanks for sharing your initial thoughts on the Nomad. I have found that it is small and mighty in use for me so far. I look forward to more in use comments from the other owners.

Phil

 

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

I am enjoying the reviews guy's. I will be online tomorrow Tuesday the 2nd to respond to these and others and hopefully I have time to update the work in progress thread! I have lots to share!!

 

[adequacy]

Excellent update Ryan! Your observation about the wear advantage of the hammer texturing on the flats is spot on. My experience with sharpening has mirrored yours on my original Raptor which is my most used OK&T. I also like how you circled back to address your initial thoughts relative to the handle length and thickness. Actual use and familiarity with a knife have a way of breathing perspective into the maker's design intent.

Thanks again for keeping us updated. I look forward to Part 3 of your review.

Phil

It's been a lot of fun Phil. I'm really hoping to go out with a bang on the last section !

I am enjoying the reviews guy's. I will be online tomorrow Tuesday the 2nd to respond to these and others and hopefully I have time to update the work in progress thread! I have lots to share!!

Can't wait to hear your thoughts and see your progress updates!

 

[adequacy]

Phillip,

I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your nomad review and found it very helpful. The size comparison picture is an outstanding resource. It's also awesome that you pointed out the new beveled fronts of the scales- that's something I've been excited to see in Chris work since the time it was initially discussed.

From what I can see so far, the nomad appears to be a nimble new addition to Chris' lineup and I enjoy seeing it so highly praised.

 

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

Part 2 - Guardless Warthog

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This second portion of review is going to focus more on qualitative observations and discussion on usage and carry over the last month or two. The third installment will hopefully revert back to a more analytical approach.

For anyone just tuning in, these posts are regarding a gaurdless warthog from Chris / OKT. It is my first OKT, and if you are interested in specs and initial impressions of this knife, details are in an above post.

As an outdoor enthusiast, I've made sure to carry the knife on every trip I can since I got it. This gives me the best opportunity to evaluate it and gauge it's overall durability and ability to be dynamic in any role I need it to fill.

This knife has not let me down, nor do I expect it to.

In terms of durability, I am incredibly impressed. In my previous post, I mentioned how much I enjoyed the hammered flats on the CPM 154. This time around, I want to comment on how well they take and hide damage to the blade. A lot of other finishes, especially plain satin, reveal a lot of scratches from woods and knots. The hammering has been both wonderful aesthetically but also great for providing resilience in keeping the knife pretty even when putting it through more aggressive tasks.

Another factor I've been using to evaluate durability is how well the knife holds up in fire preparation and notch making. I've now used this knife extensively for batoning to make small kindling pieces, as well as batoning the edge of the knife to make stop cuts for notches. In both of these areas, there hasn't been a shred of doubt in my mind. This knife is 3/32 of an inch thick, my ideal thickness. I know some people believe that they prefer a thicker stock for more durability, but in my uses so far, 3/32 has been plenty strong. While a thicker knife will wedge the wood better to split it, it's worth it to me to have a thinner stock and slice and cut better.

The edge retention on the knife has also been good. I plan on doing a more detailed test later on, but Chris' initial edge was very good. This leads me to my next measure of evaluation: ease of sharpening.

I'm not the best sharpener out there, but I can get by. Here is the Warthog with CPM 154 on a chosera 400 stone with a 20 degree angle guide to match the original edge bevel. It took a very nice edge in a very reasonable time frame.

Using sharpie to make sure I am apexing.

It's also worth mentioning that the steel is HIGHLY corrosion resistant. Something I value a lot here in the pacific northwest. I've been to the coast numerous times already this year. I've sliced lemons, tomatoes, apples, onions, limes. Just about everything. I've even had a little bit of water sitting on the blade for a bit longer than usual and I have had absolutely zero sign of any corrosion. Pairing this with great "sharpenability" and above average edge retention is the perfect blend for me. I couldn't be happier.

One downside so far is that I dropped the knife from about waist level. It landed right on the blade and made a small chip. It will sharpen out on its own, so I'm not worried about it, and this is completely in line with expectations, but I don't want to give the impression that the steel is O1 or 3v in terms of toughness. I've noticed one other chip that occurred from usage, not from dropping it. These both are about 1 mm in depth, and should be no problem over the course of time. I guess my point of bringing it up is that the steel is so excellent, but I should steel be careful to not damage it.

The next area I wanted to discuss was capability. In the first section of this review, I discussed how dynamic I wanted this knife to be. Over the course of time, it has been more dynamic than I could have ever expected. After discussing this with Chris, this was his intention for his Warthog knife design. If you are looking for a knife that is a highly functional EDC, a small kitchen utility knife, a camp knife, a bird and trout-you can find all of that with a warthog. It may not be #1 at any of those tasks compared to a knife dedicated just to 1 chore, but, as I mentioned earlier, it can do it all. For me, those jack-of-all-trades knives are the ones that become my favorites because I can always carry it. So, to make this capability section short and sweet, the warthog really is a competent multi use knife that is just right in terms of size.

When I did my first section of the review, I made two observations about what I would change in the knife. The first was to have a slightly thicker handle to reduce fatigue during extended usage. The second was to add about 1/8" of length to the OAL.Since that time, I have gotten to know the knife much better. The question is, do I still wish I could change those things? Are there other things I would change about the knife now that I have carried it more?

With respect to handle thickness, I no longer think this is something I would change. The knife carries really well at it's current thickness. Part of it's ability to "do it all" comes from how easily and comfortably it carries, and having an expanded thickness would give you more comfort in extended use, maybe a small fraction of the time, but make the knife a less convenient carry the other 99% of the time.

In regards to the additional overall length, I've noticed that I've completely forgotten about it until writing this second installment and checking back in on a recap. The knife fits my hand well, and the desire for having additional length has not been an issue in the slightest. That being said, adding a touch more length wouldn't really affect my ability to carry the knife, and I wouldn't be opposed to a variant that had a little bit more length and no other changes.

Are there other things I would change about the knife now that I have carried it more? That's a tough one to say. Perhaps I'd want one with another handle materials configuration to try out how that feels. I've never had a fixed blade with carbon fiber. I also would be interested in trying out this design with a high convex grind and a convex micro bevel, as opposed to the full flat grind and convex micro bevel this variant has. So, for now, I'm incredibly happy with the knife exactly how it is, but I'd want to explore other combinations for the sake of science .

If I haven't convinced you yet, this is a great knife, and you wont want to carry anything else....

I went to a barbecue with a bonfire at the end of the night yesterday. To help out, we needed a knife to cut up some cardboard, do food prep, and make some small tinder and kindling to start it all up. Good thing I always carry my warthog.

-----------

I'll see you all for part 3, where I'll be doing more data driven tests!

Ryan,

I am really enjoying your multi part review, and I appreciate the time and effort you are putting into reviewing the knife.

And I am really pleased you have taken such a liking to it!

As I suspected the subtle attributes of this blade are coming into full focus for you. I am glad you have taking such a liking to the hammered flats, it took me awhile to perfect it, and for it to evolve into its own unique characteristics .
As you stated It adds a pleasurable yet durable finish to the flats. It is a labor intensive process on my part but I feel the end result is worth it!

I am also thrilled you haven't been shy using the knife especially given the steel thickness of 3/32.
3/32 does give some people reservations about harder use on the blade. I leave enough meat behind the edge to accommodate reasonably hard work. But I feel as long as you are using the knife within reason you should not run into any problems. I think where you might run into issues with this thickness is prying and torquing the blade.

CPM154 has a lot of great benefits to it. I feel it it quite overlooked as a good working steel.

Some of the qualities I like that you have discovered above, it is pretty corrosive resistant, it takes and maintains an edge really well. It can handle a fair amount of abuse without any damage.

CPM154 by nature will chip when coming into contact with hard(er) objects at a high velocity. It is a trade off of the steel at the HRC.


I liked seeing the sharpening section as well, I consistently hit around 20 degree angle on the secondary bevel, I sharpen everything free hand and by eyeball. IMO this is a good angle for a working knife.

Ryan in closing I would also like to mention and thank you for having an open mind about the knife, I realize your first impression and the most current has evolved, partly due to our previous interaction and discussion about the give and takes and purposes behind the design
decisions.

I eagerly look forward to the third installment of this review and your conclusions!!

Thank you again for sharing your experiences and opinions of the Warthog!!

 

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

I wanted to follow up Phil's post and add some pics of the Nomad I received. I was out of town the week the knife shipped so I've only had it in my hands for 7 days now. The original description:

Nomad-
1/16" (.070'') CPM154 SFT
Royal Blue G10 over Black (Sandblasted)
Carbon Fiber Pinout
Blade 2 3/8''
OAL 5 3/4''
1.6oz​

For size comparisons, here it is between a Raptor and a Warthog.

A few beauty shots:

I find comparisons with knives in the same size range useful when evaluating anything new. It provides a point of reference and immediately highlights tasks that the knife may excel at. Although, the grip angle and blade profile of the Nomad seem to immediately lend itself to culinary duty. That is not true of the other knives I have in this size range. Shown are a new-style commando Fiddleback 2FK and Koster Scout. Before I switched to carrying a Patch knife most of the time, the Koster was the fixed blade that was with me most.

The first impression is how small and light the Nomad is. When in the pocket you hardly notice its there. Both the Fiddleback and Koster are 1/8" thick and the difference is significant. Doesn't seem like 1/2 an ounce would be a big deal, but when the comparison is essentially 25% lighter than the closest in the same category it really accentuates the delta. In this regard, the selection of 1/16 steel shines.

Nomad 1.5 oz
Scout 2.1 oz
2FK 2.3 oz

One of the things that the Nomad has that no other OKT has is the bevel of the forward side of the scales. This provides and excellent gripping surface on a knife this small. I find a pinch grip with the "pinch" occurring on the front of the grip rather than the rear of the blade very comfortable. The edges of the G10 are nicely radiused and the sandblasted texture is very grippy, even when wet. I'm actually quite enamored with this feature and it immediately makes me wonder how this might translate on some of the other OKT models.

Phillip,

Thank you for posting up your initial thoughts and comparisons, I always enjoy the analytical side you bring to the table!

The photos are very revealing and lend depth and size relativity to the description. I know I am not the only one here that values these!

This is the first time I recall using the Royal Blue G10 all I had was enough for a small knife I have had stashed for a year or more. I will have to get with the program and get more. I like the way it turned out and contrasts with the other materials.

The 1/16'' CPM154 steel stock was a challenge to work with in many areas.
I have gotten comfortable enough with 3/32" no naturally wanting to challenge myself I felt it only appropriate to give it a go.

All in all even though I pushed my skills to the limit on these, I was extremely pleased with the outcome. And given you and everyone's overwhelmingly positive response. I am certain I will be making more as well as refining and expanding as I so often do.

I would also like to mention even though I am not familiar with one of the 3 knives pictured with the comparison photos. It allows me to compare and contrast with an unfamiliar design. A
As a designer and maker of knives, I find this extremely valuable!

I was pretty taken aback myself with the weight of these knives, I had no Idea how light they would be!

The bevel on the forward side of the scales was something that I knew I wanted to incorporate from conception, being a more food and delicate cut oriented knife. I felt the the pinch grip was something that was necessary to help facilitate.

 

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

The Nomad fits in many of the sheaths I have but all are little loose or it sits a little too deep. I may do a kydex taco sheath, or try to make my own. Here's the way I've carried the Koster forever:

And a similar setup with a Jofuu sheath:

I do have a new leather sheath that also works as well. As Jerry mentioned, the new part is essential. The other sheaths of the same size that are stretched will not secure the blade. Due to the knife's overall shape, it won't fit in the combo KSF sheath with the light at all.

Of the knives shown, I've always gravitated toward the Koster. The 2FK is great at giving a lot of blade in a small package and has a very slim carry profile, but I do not find it comfortable to use at all. The Koster is very utilitarian and the straight handle provides a variety of comfortable grips. However, the more wharncliff style blade of the Nomad along with its grip angle provide some distinct advantages in specific tasks.

I'm looking forward to spending some time with this blade and will update this post in the future.

On to the second part of your post and equally important, I like your thoughts on carrying and the multi use sheaths you incorporate into your EDC.

You have found as a few others have found that a virgin sheath is necessary

Thank you for sharing your pictures and thoughts with us Philip, I look forward to reading more when when you post again!

 

[Comprehensivist]

Nomad Review Follow-up Comments:

Last week, my wife and I took her parents on a four day trip to Pismo Beach, CA to celebrate some special occasions. We rented a very nice condo on the ocean for the occasion. This was the 2nd time we stayed in this same condo. I learned on the first visit there that even though the kitchen is very well equipped with high end appliances and all the pots/pans/utensils you could ask for, the quality of the cheap stainless knives they provide is woeful at best. With this knowledge in mind, I packed the Nomad as my sole knife for the trip to handle all the meal prep needs.

The first morning I got busy slicing and dicing green onions, red & yellow bell peppers for egg scrambles. The Nomad made short work of the green onions with nice clean cuts.

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The bell peppers were next. The Nomad proved to be very nimble for precise coring cuts as well as the dicing.

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This mix along with some diced crispy bacon became the basis for our egg scramble. I topped it with some shredded cheese and a dab of guacamole & salsa for serving. (Sorry I forgot to take a serving photo.)

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My wife and I took our bikes out every morning to check out the coastal bike paths. I brought the Nomad along in my saddlebag. I didn’t have a need to use it while on the rides, but it was nice to know it was there just in case.

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At one point, we rode out to the end of the San Luis Bay pier near Avila Beach. The local newspaper that morning reported a great white shark sighting the day before at this location. It was probably hunting for one of the local sea lions that sunbath on the harbor bouys.

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We picked up some great local strawberries at a farm market on the way back from our ride. The Nomad made short work of getting them ready for breakfast the next morning.

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The Nomad also proved to be the perfect length for slicing bagels.

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It is not bad as a cream cheese spreader too.

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[Comprehensivist]

Since we were staying on the bluffs right above the beach, I thought it would be fun to take the Nomad down to the tide pools at low tide. I don’t have a sheath for this knife yet, so it traveled around in Chris’ fancy new signature packaging.

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I was not concerned with the need for immediate clean-up after some salt water exposure given the CPM 154 steel and G10 handles on this knife.

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Up to this point, I had only done food prep with the Nomad. I found a piece of dry driftwood to test the cutting ability of the 1/16” steel. No problem at all notching and making a few feather cuts. I would like to try some of this 1/16” CPM 154 on a 3”-4” blade.

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The Nomad has proven to be a very useful compact knife for me. Honestly, this really surprised me because I told Chris when I paid for it that I had no idea what I would use it for. I told him that I trusted his design instincts enough to give it a try. That trust was well placed given the utility I have discovered with this knife. My first priority after the trip to Blade will be getting a custom sheath made for this knife so that it will become my regular travel knife.

Thanks Chris! You need to make more of these little gems.

Phil[/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]

 

[VANCE]

nice review Phil

 

[Odaon]

Awesome review! Definitely looks like a handy little knife! I'm really looking forward to seeing what other models Chris does in 1/16.

 

[varga49]

Kudos to Phil for another great review! With regards to sheaths, I'd love to see or collectively get someone to make Sheaths for all the Nomads. Is that 5 or 6 ? That said for the moment I'm using a KSF Pocono pocket sheath that I have holding my two OK&T Kiridashi blades. So the leather was relatively unstretched. Until a sheath comes that matches the quality and coolness of the Nomad the KSF Pocono will do.

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Many of you know Chris Linton, the owner of Osprey Knife & Tool, as a veteran and small business owner. I have come to appreciate him as an artist and designer. Chris has a natural talent for knifemaking and honed his craft under Andy Roy at Fiddleback Forge. During and following his apprenticeship, Chris introduced several new patterns that include the Trail Hand.

I traded into this particular version a few months ago, a 1/8" CPM154 hammer-textured satin Trail Hand with tapered tang, natural canvas micarta bolsters, white liners, and stabilized spalted maple scales. Everything lines up with perfect symmetry.

The knife edge came just over 20 degrees per side, which is quite good, and I reduced it to 19 degrees per side at 10 to 15 microns, or around 1000 grit.

The grip is very comfortable in my hand, and very secure.

Still, one must be careful when working with a blade. As fatigue sets in there is a tendency to get careless with grip and with movement. It is easy to apply force in a way that could lead to injury... so please do remember to cut away from the body in a secure way if you test a blade or do hard work with it.

Until today I did not have time to put it through any work for testing. I ended up cutting down a lot of cardboard of various quality and thickness.

I also stabbed the boxes in reverse grip and used the knife to slash some of the boxes using full force.

Overall I would estimate between 150 to 200 cuts were made. Some of the cardboard was very rigid and required leverage, momentum, and strength to cut through.

At one point we found out the rum box was empty...

I have cut cardboard with many different knives over the years, and most edges will quickly degrade. Some knives will experience micro-chipping due to the media interspersed with cardboard, which include dirt and glass.

Although the Trail Hand did experience slight rolling and edge degradation, there was no chipping, and I was pleasantly surprised by the way the edge held up.

After honing on a ceramic steel and stropping with black bark river compound, I tested the knife on paper to feel for inconsistencies. The edge was uniform along its length and showed no evidence of damage.

Whereas 1000 grit at 19 degrees isn't as polished or as geometrically optimized for shaving as some knives are, it could still pop hairs off reasonably well.

To be honest, I expected some chips. I wasn't easy on the knife at all.

I will also note that the blade face itself and the primary grind took very little scratching from this exercise, holding up well cosmetically.

I happened to have a Carothers Performance Knives EDC out and noticed some similarities in terms of general shape and intended usage. I included a snapshot here. It is not my intention to do a comparative review, so the picture must suffice.

I have not used the EDC in similar testing but I would expect excellent performance.

I walk away from this test/review very pleased with the Trail Hand, due mainly to its comfort in extended use and the way the steel held up.

Based on this experience, I believe I could thin this blade even more. I am going to aim for 16 to 17 degrees per side and see what happens.

In conclusion, I can say without reservation that I recommend the Trail Hand for general EDC and utility tasks. It is a fine looking blade whose function is equal to its aesthetic appeal. Nice work, Chris!

 

[Osprey Knife & Tool]

Jarrett,

I would first of like to thank you for posting this review on the Trail Hand. I really enjoyed reading it and looking at the pictures multiple times over.

I like the fact that you took the time to find out the edge geometry and analyzed the knife on those aspects too. You and I have had several conversations on this subject and I feel it is important to the performance of the blade, and I always find it satisfying when I see these qualities and attributes mentioned.

It looks like the Trail Hand performed well and was enjoyable to cut with considering the size of the stack of boxes I see!
I am happy to see you and others perform this test as I feel it is a good test for edge stability that resembles most (average real world) use and edge degradation, other cutting tests have their merits but I feel one like this is the easiest to replicate and draw a baseline conclusion for edge retention on this particular size and style of knife.

Proper Heat treatment is paramount is my eyes to the proper performance of any given steel and can vary from application to application. I feel that CPM154 is a quite often overlooked steel.

It is a true stainless steel with a high carbon content, relatively easy to sharpen and has great characteristics for EDC, Field, and General purpose knives.
In My opinion and from my first hand experience if you value the ease of sharpening and performance of High carbon steels and the stain resistance of a stainless CPM154 is an excellent choice.

I have spent a lot of time tweaking my heat treat to my individual specifications to try and achieve the most out of the steel, after testing myself and seeing other reviews such as this I am pretty satisfied with my heat treating regiment.

Another aspect you mentioned here which I holds a lot of weight here is the ergonomics. To those are who are familiar with my knives this is something you have come to expect and admire in my knives. I put a great deal of time and effort to make sure each handle is pleasure to use and hold.

It is very rewarding to see all of this come together and translate into a package that is aesthetically pleasing and performs well for the user.

In closing I would like to thank you again Jarrett for your time spent analyzing my work, compiling this well written review and giving me feedback regularly.

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Chris, I agree with you that you have nailed a sweet spot here with grindability. Your knives have been downright pleasant to sharpen.