Sawmill Cutlery

M

MamBo

Joined
Feb 10, 2002
Messages
223
I’m currently shopping for CHEAP large folder (friend of mine needs big beater) and found couple nice looking (from the pictures) knifes branded
Sawmill Cutlery. So I’m wondering maybe anyone know them?
How is they quality ?
And what File tool steel blade means?

Thankz,
 
I've seen these in the SMKW catalog, and they look nice. But they are so inexpensive, I can't help but think they would be disappointing. ( I don't own any)

File tool steel should mean the kind of steel they make files with, however, I wouldn't count on it, or at least not the file tool steel we think of when we think of file tool steel.

I don't suppose that helps.

:rolleyes:
 
Saw Mill Cutlery, I believe a Pakistani brand, imported by S.M.K.W. . File steel is just recycled high carbon steel(1095?) hand files.

If you want a nice large folder, look into the Openiel, or Cold Steel TwistMaster line. These are very nice, cheap folders:).


HTH:D:).
 
well Ive seen some, not the folders, but the fixed blades. I have to admit if the finsh was just a little better, they actually woould be worth buying. The file blades are actually pretty decent. Someone I know bought one to use as a hunting knife It did actually skin a deer quite well, held a pretty good edge.

The finish is not near as a bad as most pakistan and chinese cutlery. they seem to put just a little more pride in their work. They've got a looong way to go, but if your looking for a beater in a fixed blade, not too bad of a choice, if your comparing them to other pakistan cutlery. as afar as a folding one though, I could'nt tell you. If the folding ones are like most pakistan ones......
:barf:

hope this helps some :)
 
I ordered the "lil' sawmill skinner" a few months ago, and upon closer inspection the steel didn't appear to be real file steel. It was very soft and the edge rolled over easily, just like the cheap 420j stuff. And top it all off, the blade is marked "stainless Pakistan". Are they all like this, or have I been duped?
 
Originally posted by bob bowie
If you want a nice large folder, look into the Openiel, or Cold Steel TwistMaster line. These are very nice, cheap folders:).
Click to expand...

What Bob said...


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
fax I think you might have got taken, the ones I saw were not marked stainless!!! in fact I would love to see a stainless file!!!.....lol!!! not going to happen. sorry to hear you got taken. I would send it back where it came from!!~!! the one I played with took a nasty edge!!!!
 
For inexpensive but not cheaply made I concur. Opinel is a hands down winner (wood handles, interesting locking system and a long,long history), also check Rough Rider( Chinese, but not bad). If you can spend just a few more bucks, try the Anza folder, newly introduced after 25 years of fixed blades. They are the definition of a file steel knife, are not expensive, are beautiful, hold an edge forever, come in a huge variety of patterns, and no two are alike (handmade). Anza is the frontrunner by far in knives made from files, and although I own close to 40 other makes, Anza destroys them all.
 
bob bowie said:
Saw Mill Cutlery, I believe a Pakistani brand, imported by S.M.K.W. . File steel is just recycled high carbon steel(1095?) hand files.

If you want a nice large folder, look into the Openiel, or Cold Steel TwistMaster line. These are very nice, cheap folders:).


HTH:D:).
Click to expand...

Don't count on it! I don't know what the hell pieces of steel these regularly use, but I don't want to try any serious work or have my life depend on a pieced together blade!


Old thread I know, but I just thought I would pass this on and "maybe" word will get back to Pakistan and this will stop. :rolleyes:

I recently ordered 2 of one Sawmill Cutlery knives (4-3/4" drop point, 9-5/8" overall length $24.95 each, free shipping), and a few weeks later a smaller utilitarian blade (3-3/8" drop point, 7-3/8" overall $19.95 also with free 1st class shipping arrived yesterday).

A few days ago I decided to force a controlled "blue" on one of the larger knives, using a bath in warm Apple Cedar Vinegar, and the blade portion came out a very nice, even grey-ish black.

However, MOST of the full tang was NOT affected in any way, and a pronounced line of demarcation was visually apparent where these two very different steels were WELDED together. I haven't tried to blue the remaining larger knife to see if it's the same??? I suspect the tang on the one I did blue is stainless, with a carbon steel front section! :mad:

The smaller knife arrived yesterday, and on that one no bluing was necessary to SEE an obvious weld a short distance in from where the scales start. This type of shoddy construction is simply unacceptable for a reliable fixed blade, regardless of a low price!

Anyway, I was informed this is quite common on some models, and some models not so much. Stick with Anza if you want a REAL Fixed Blade solid construction file knife........

Unreal..................:thumbdn:

Top of the longer knife, with the weld of two different metals is obvious:



Same knife at finger groove area:




On the smaller knife, no blue tried but if you look close you can see both a slightly different color and some remnants of cleaning up the weld. It looks a bit lighter and more "silver" in color. (possibly silver solder/brazed???)

Top view, weld starts where the remnants of the file grooves stop:



Finger groove area, same funky look and color:

 
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jeffsenpai said:
LOL a 12 year old thread.
Click to expand...


Should that matter, especially if this hasn't been pointed out before?

If it HAD, do you think I would have bought three??? So maybe I can save someone like YOU from the same discovery BEFORE you lay out the dough......

Geeze,...clowns with nothing useful to contribute...... :yawn:


BTW,...the LAST post to this thread before mine was not 12 years ago, but May of 2008. Still a chunk of time, but only half of what you stated. Was that poster wrong too posting 6 years into an old thread?
 
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joejeweler said:
Should that matter, especially if this hasn't been pointed out before?

Geeze,...clowns with nothing useful to contribute...... :yawn:
Click to expand...

Yes, it does matter, since I am sure the OP has found the answer to his question sometime in the last 12 years. Admittedly your post is relevant and useful to read, but you should have just started a new thread in the review forum rather than bumping an ancient thread.

and btw lets see a full picture of your knife, I want to see how the bluing turned out!
 
Personally, I'd rather read a group of posts related to a subject, regardless of how old the initial ones. Saves time and gives a better view of the subject. I wasn't posting for the benefit of the OP,.....but for those possibly considering a current purchase.

Of course, you can always start a new thread every time you get a new thought,.....but I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen. :D


cheers,......

Joe T
 
jeffsenpai said:
...........

and btw lets see a full picture of your knife, I want to see how the bluing turned out!
Click to expand...

Just noticed your request, but I didn't take a lot of pics of the Sawmill Cutlery knives, just enough to show the welded areas.

This pic shows the top Sawmill Cutlery knife (which had the apple cider vinegar treatment) and bottom (untreated) knife in full profile.

The middle knife is my customized Anza Boddington that I did a NEW post (link below) showing the customization, and recently also had an apple cider vinegar "blue" applied. ;)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...amp-quot-a-quot-Pin?highlight=Anza+Boddington

One reason I thought I'd try the Sawmill Cutlery line is I liked what appears to be a pinned handle, something I've always thought Anza should consider on at least some of their "serious" knives like the Boddington. I was able to get the repositioned lanyard hole drilled out on mine, and the pin closest to it on my Boddington is "real". However, as I talk about in the linked post, several drills wouldn't touch the steel at the center and forward pin positions. Those "pins" are simply cosmetic to fill the holes I put in the scales trying to drill thru.

The flash tends to wash out the bluing in this photo, however.....



I took more detailed pics of the Boddington, and you can get a better idea of the finish arrived at. Pretty decent blue IMO, and easy to re-apply if needed with use. The Apple Cider Vinegar "blue" a pleasant surprise.

Clean up all exposed steel really well if you try this, for a more even finish. I used a quick steel wool brushing (0000 grade), followed by a sponge bath in dish detergent. Keep fingers off the steel after cleaning during the treatment. I warmed my vinegar in the microwave (to maybe 120 degrees or so, but no hotter than you can handle it so as not to degrade the epoxy), and thru the whole knife in the solution in a narrow tray. I agitated the tray from time to time, and kept an eye on the results. Took about 10 minutes to get what I wanted. A good rinse and dried with a paper towel, and coated briefly with oil and then wiped most of that off. DONE! :)

This was taken without flash in decent light, and pretty much shows the "look" in hand:



 
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Thanks for that Joe. Excellent pictures as well. I had wondered as well about those. I bought a $4.95 Sawmill lockback one time and found it was a real file with Chinese markings. A brand name. It was not a high quality file as it was just some steel that had been case hardened but actually was a file. It took a decent edge, but nothing I'd call quality as the grain wasn't up to the standards we are used to in our files.

I was wondering how they got those huge bowie knives as it's rare to see huge files now a days but welding steel together of whatever they have around makes sense.

Belt holder was pretty poor but for $4.95 my cost what do I expect. I most definitely have seen worse especially in Pakistani knives as I recall a few pot metal knives, as well as one chrome plated plastic something blade.

Joe
 
I have a sawmill sword I got in a trade a long time ago . It's a piece of crap. Pakistani garbage. I thought about cutting it down into a machete but it's not worth the effort . It will rot in the bowels of my garage until I have the sense to dump it.
 
Sosa said:
I have a sawmill sword I got in a trade a long time ago . It's a piece of crap. Pakistani garbage. I thought about cutting it down into a machete but it's not worth the effort . It will rot in the bowels of my garage until I have the sense to dump it.
Click to expand...

Well, even Pakistani garbage has differing grades :rolleyes:

I will say the Sawmill Cutlery knives are usable at least, and will be my go to "abuse knives" in the yard working close to the ground and such. Carry one in the car as a backup and forget-about-it. (just oil it first).

But it will never be a primary knife for me,.......the welded blade a deal breaker. A shame too, because the handles of the larger ones I own feel really comfortable. AND the pinned scales (if real???), are a plus in my mind. Someday I may take one apart (unless one falls apart first? lol), to see if the pins are real.

And hey,.....as a last resort makes a pretty fine letter opener! :D
 
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