- Joined
- Jan 4, 2015
- Messages
- 666
Ever since I raffled off my G.E.Chen Duty knife I wanted a fixed blade that I could carry in my EDC bag to be used for general utility purposes.
I desired a USA made blade with good steel, full tang, micarta scales, no coating, 4 to 6 inches (TNWSS), a good sheath (preferably leather), and a decently thick spine with a 90 degree edge.
After some amount of research I found the Utility Tool Knife company
What a perfectly synchronous name for what I was looking for!
Little known maker from Oregon but they do sell through BladeHQ so I figured they had to be somewhat vetted as being a decent brand.
I purchased this specimen from BHQ for $165.
This specific model is currently not in stock, but several other models are.
Specs from BladeHQ:
The format for this review will be commentary followed by the relevant pic; I'll try to keep this as fluid as possible but if something isn't clear just let me know and I'll make the adjustments necessary.
First impressions were great; even the box had a "tough-use, utility" theme.
I thought their logo was clever as well; Utility Tool Cutlery but logo says CUT.
Inside packaging (the knife was in the white sleeve, then plastic, then butcher paper, more plastic)
Logo on both knife and sheath when brand new. Was instantly pleased with fit, finish, and overall visual build quality. Also this is a decent shot of the side profile of the handle/scale which is available in 4 different patterns (some with more palm swell, no choil, etc) that are supposed to be swappable across their entire knife line.
This is the #4 pattern.
Got my wife a fancy tree for CHRISTmas and they were going to be running around town one day so I decided I'd see how much use I could get out of my new blade.
First task, slice away the decently thick plastic container the tree came in.
No issue, took some good effort as the dirt was fairly settled, but the blade sliced through the plastic.
Next task, fashion a handle on a random piece of lumber to use as a tamp for the potting soil I placed around the tree's root ball.
No issue there, large chunks came off with ease.
Shot of the resulting finish and edge wear after slicing through thick plastic, dirt, and wood. No visible chips, edge deformations, etc.
Done with the tree planting and had several hours at home by myself...
That's when I decided to go all out and see how much crap I could dish out on this Utility tool.
All of these "tests" are in no way scientific in nature and were used because they're similar to what all the YouToob knife master reviewers do; so it's got to be the right way to test a knife right?!?!?
First up; paper curls. This was after all the cutting on the tree planting project.
One was more of a tear than a slice, but may have just been the angle I was holding the blade; you be the judge.
So then I headed out into the deep wilderness (the backyard) for some more "realistic survival scenario" type tests.
Next test: BATONNING!!! (with a 3.75" blade, cause I'm awesome like that)
To be fair, I'm sure whatever the hell Oak/Hickory that grows in my yard has nothing on desert Ironwood; but it's some seriously tough stuff when dried out. The logs used in this test are of unknown species, but I've only got Oak and Hickory on my property so it's one or the other. Both woods KILL my chainsaw blades when I've got to take down a tree.
Here's the test subject. This one has been sitting for over a year and was completely dried out. I cut them into 10 to 12 inch lengths to fit in our chiminea.
One good smack with my baton; impressive! good bite and fairly deep.
Now, here begins the "welcome to reality" moment... Brand new knife that while full tang, is also hidden tang. The scale wraps up and over the top and bottom. (also a halfway decent top down profile of the swell of the scale, very nice in hand (TWSS). Do I beat on the Micarta to continue tesing? Uh, nope. Lets see what a few more good smacks on what little bit of tip is exposed will do.
Here's a shot of the baton at this point
So at this point I really had nothing else that I wanted to smack on so I figured I'd just pull the knife out and attack from a different angle...
Nope.
That thing was thoroughly wedged in place; given that I'm not Hercules, but not a weak man by any stretch of the imagination... I couldn't even budge it.
Lightbulb! I'll use my old standby (Becker BK7) to help extract the UTK and then turn a simple review into a review and comparison!
Mainly wanted to prove to myself that there was a place in my collection of gear for another fixed blade and that it would serve as a companion, not just another tool that can't do anything more or less than the BK7.
This pic shows about how far down the UTK made it before I ran out of material to beat on.
BK7 to the rescue!
Also in this pic, the other reason that I think the UTK got stuck; not one, but TWO knots on the same plane that I was splitting...
Close up of the knots
This shot also shows how tightly grained this wood is... tough stuff...
Took this pic to show the top down profiles of both blades... again, really like the overall shape of the scales.
Detail of spine thickness of both. Also, note that where the laser etched area is on the UTK... this area does NOT have a sharpened 90 degree spine and serves as a thumb rest that doesn't cut into your thumb. Someone had their thinking cap on! Nice touch.
Not sure why I took this pic... size comparison and side profiles maybe? Of note though, see how the screws are a bit rusty on my BK7? That's because I generally abuse and neglect this knife, and it just keeps coming back for more!
Did a bit more batonning with the UTK after this, but didn't take pix... I don't remember anything noteworthy.
On to the next test... the TIP TEST!!!
Our test medium will be a very solid pallet that was used to ship some very heavy industrial equipment to a factory that my FIL worked at. There's one stacked on the other and I use it as a walkway from the back patio to the smaller fenced-off portion of the backyard that's used when I need to keep the doggies separated so the birds and the bees don't occur.
Hammer stabs!
... continued next post.
I desired a USA made blade with good steel, full tang, micarta scales, no coating, 4 to 6 inches (TNWSS), a good sheath (preferably leather), and a decently thick spine with a 90 degree edge.
After some amount of research I found the Utility Tool Knife company
What a perfectly synchronous name for what I was looking for!
Little known maker from Oregon but they do sell through BladeHQ so I figured they had to be somewhat vetted as being a decent brand.
I purchased this specimen from BHQ for $165.
This specific model is currently not in stock, but several other models are.
Specs from BladeHQ:
- Overall Length:8.75"
- Blade Length:4.00"
- Cutting Edge:3.75"
- Blade Thickness:0.20"
- Blade Material:A2
- Hardness:58-59 RC
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Blade Grind:Flat
- Finish:Stonewash
- Edge Type: Plain
- Handle Length:4.75"
- Handle Thickness:0.91"
- Handle Material:Micarta
- Color:Brown
- Weight:7.14 oz.
- Sheath:Leather
- Knife Type:Fixed Blade
- Brand:Utility Tool Knives
- Model:Wilderness Knife
- Country of Origin:USA
- Best Use:Camp/Hike, Everyday Carry, Hunting
The format for this review will be commentary followed by the relevant pic; I'll try to keep this as fluid as possible but if something isn't clear just let me know and I'll make the adjustments necessary.
First impressions were great; even the box had a "tough-use, utility" theme.
I thought their logo was clever as well; Utility Tool Cutlery but logo says CUT.
Inside packaging (the knife was in the white sleeve, then plastic, then butcher paper, more plastic)
Logo on both knife and sheath when brand new. Was instantly pleased with fit, finish, and overall visual build quality. Also this is a decent shot of the side profile of the handle/scale which is available in 4 different patterns (some with more palm swell, no choil, etc) that are supposed to be swappable across their entire knife line.
This is the #4 pattern.
Got my wife a fancy tree for CHRISTmas and they were going to be running around town one day so I decided I'd see how much use I could get out of my new blade.
First task, slice away the decently thick plastic container the tree came in.
No issue, took some good effort as the dirt was fairly settled, but the blade sliced through the plastic.
Next task, fashion a handle on a random piece of lumber to use as a tamp for the potting soil I placed around the tree's root ball.
No issue there, large chunks came off with ease.
Shot of the resulting finish and edge wear after slicing through thick plastic, dirt, and wood. No visible chips, edge deformations, etc.
Done with the tree planting and had several hours at home by myself...
That's when I decided to go all out and see how much crap I could dish out on this Utility tool.
All of these "tests" are in no way scientific in nature and were used because they're similar to what all the YouToob knife master reviewers do; so it's got to be the right way to test a knife right?!?!?
First up; paper curls. This was after all the cutting on the tree planting project.
One was more of a tear than a slice, but may have just been the angle I was holding the blade; you be the judge.
So then I headed out into the deep wilderness (the backyard) for some more "realistic survival scenario" type tests.
Next test: BATONNING!!! (with a 3.75" blade, cause I'm awesome like that)
To be fair, I'm sure whatever the hell Oak/Hickory that grows in my yard has nothing on desert Ironwood; but it's some seriously tough stuff when dried out. The logs used in this test are of unknown species, but I've only got Oak and Hickory on my property so it's one or the other. Both woods KILL my chainsaw blades when I've got to take down a tree.
Here's the test subject. This one has been sitting for over a year and was completely dried out. I cut them into 10 to 12 inch lengths to fit in our chiminea.
One good smack with my baton; impressive! good bite and fairly deep.
Now, here begins the "welcome to reality" moment... Brand new knife that while full tang, is also hidden tang. The scale wraps up and over the top and bottom. (also a halfway decent top down profile of the swell of the scale, very nice in hand (TWSS). Do I beat on the Micarta to continue tesing? Uh, nope. Lets see what a few more good smacks on what little bit of tip is exposed will do.
Here's a shot of the baton at this point
So at this point I really had nothing else that I wanted to smack on so I figured I'd just pull the knife out and attack from a different angle...
Nope.
That thing was thoroughly wedged in place; given that I'm not Hercules, but not a weak man by any stretch of the imagination... I couldn't even budge it.
Lightbulb! I'll use my old standby (Becker BK7) to help extract the UTK and then turn a simple review into a review and comparison!
Mainly wanted to prove to myself that there was a place in my collection of gear for another fixed blade and that it would serve as a companion, not just another tool that can't do anything more or less than the BK7.
This pic shows about how far down the UTK made it before I ran out of material to beat on.
BK7 to the rescue!
Also in this pic, the other reason that I think the UTK got stuck; not one, but TWO knots on the same plane that I was splitting...
Close up of the knots
This shot also shows how tightly grained this wood is... tough stuff...
Took this pic to show the top down profiles of both blades... again, really like the overall shape of the scales.
Detail of spine thickness of both. Also, note that where the laser etched area is on the UTK... this area does NOT have a sharpened 90 degree spine and serves as a thumb rest that doesn't cut into your thumb. Someone had their thinking cap on! Nice touch.
Not sure why I took this pic... size comparison and side profiles maybe? Of note though, see how the screws are a bit rusty on my BK7? That's because I generally abuse and neglect this knife, and it just keeps coming back for more!
Did a bit more batonning with the UTK after this, but didn't take pix... I don't remember anything noteworthy.
On to the next test... the TIP TEST!!!
Our test medium will be a very solid pallet that was used to ship some very heavy industrial equipment to a factory that my FIL worked at. There's one stacked on the other and I use it as a walkway from the back patio to the smaller fenced-off portion of the backyard that's used when I need to keep the doggies separated so the birds and the bees don't occur.
Hammer stabs!
... continued next post.
