- a great little knife
Karesuandokniven's latest and now only folding addition to the catalog seems quite traditional at first glance. The first thing that is seen is either the very nice wooden handle or the substantial leather sheath, depending on how the knife is carried.
If you then note that it is a lock back and that it also has a typical "Scandinavian" grind, the knife seems easy to categorize. All that remains is to see if it is as effective as it looks, you may be led to believe, but then you are deceiving yourself. This knife offers more than that and there are subtleties to discover.
 |
| Karesuandokniven Pältsa |
This is not Karesuandokniven's first attempt at making folding knives. However, I have tested or even handled their previous contributions to the area called Nallo and Singi. There was something about them that didn't attract me, I must admit. The models didn't feel that elaborate was the impression I got from the pictures.
It is different with Pältsa. Here we have a knife that is very well designed and exudes competence even from a distance. In addition, the help of experts in the field has been taken. Building folding knives is more complicated than manufacturing fixed blades. Therefore, this is a collaboration between Italian Fox Knives and Karesuandokniven where the former are responsible for the mechanism.
Then Karesuandokniven contributes with the rest of the build, northern Swedish "know-how" in general and also adds traditional materials such as reindeer horn, wood, and leather. The end result is a knife that is both stylish and solid.
 |
| Pältsa is seemingly simple but hides subtleties |
Short version: Karesueandokniven Pältsa - Tradition meets modern technology in beautiful harmony. A utility knife that is just as nice to look at as it is to use.
Blade
In terms of appearance, this blade is as Swedish or possibly Scandinavian as it gets. The shape is a drop point without excesses. The length is a well-balanced 75 mm and the height is 20 mm. These are proportions that are recognizable from more than one small classic hunting knife from this part of the world. Then they have chosen to keep the thickness down to a remarkable 2 mm, which I am very happy about. It improves the cutting properties significantly compared to if another millimeter had been added, which many manufacturers do today for some inexplicable reason. Perhaps the reason is all the destruction tests found on YouTube. But for normal knife use, no more is needed. At least not on a small pocket knife.
 |
| The blade is as simple as it is a capable drop point |
In my opinion, Karesuandokniven has previously taken a few shortcuts in terms of steel selection. This has especially been the case if price has been added to the equation. A path they now departed from. Peltsa can be obtained in several different variants and the blade steels vary depending on what is chosen. In the version with a Micarta handle, 12C27 is found, which is a slightly simpler steel, but it is a slightly simpler knife in general. In addition to that, there is also Pältsa with blades in both ELMAX and Damasteel Nordic Light. The latter is found in the very most exclusive edition of the series. In addition to being very stylish, the patterned steel is stainless.
But in this knife, another really competent knife steel from Swedish Damasteel is found in the form of RWL-34. Here raised to around 61 HRC which is excellent! Now, I don't have any equipment to examine hardness, but considering how the blade behaves over time, I have no reason to mistrust the data.
 |
| The blade in this version is made in Swedish RWL-34 |
Then the edge is a chapter in itself. A positive one. The factory edge on this specimen was very good. Incredibly sharp, smooth, and centered. In addition, the hardening seems to keep what it promises as it keeps the sharpness for a really long time. This is what is now usually referred to as Scandi grindor a zero edge without a secondary bevel if you like.
That type of grind can sometimes bring some disadvantages. For example, that they have a tendency to crack fruits such as apples and materials with a similar texture instead of cutting them. Usually, they are superior when it comes to handling wood in different varieties. But, and it's a big but, there are ways around the downsides. As I said, one of them has been used here. Karesuanodkniven has understood that the blade must be thin! That feature makes this a veritable pocket scalpel, albeit with much better steel than surgical instruments usually have.
It is noticeable when the knife is put to work. As usual, the knife has been brought to work and various packaging materials are found there in large quantities. Especially when deliveries arrive on Mondays, there is a lot of cardboard and plastic to be handled. Peltsa is also very good for that kind of task. The thin blade slides through cardboard without much resistance. This also applies to thicker double-walled boxes, I've noticed. The handle is certainly small but provides enough support for the user to be able to put some pressure behind the incisions when needed.
What keeps it from being a really good "job" knife for me is that it requires two hands to open. Often I stand there with a three-kilo bag of crushed tomatoes in one hand and then I want to fold out the blade with the other hand. Here I have to think about opening the knife first, then grasping both the thing to be cut and the knife. Not impossible, but I've gotten used to skipping that part.
Otherwise, Pältsa cuts exactly as expected, i.e. damn well in wood. This applies to both fresh birch slats and dry wood. A frequent and heavy duty that my pocketknives are assigned to is tidying up throwingknife targets. This means that all dry chips around the bullseye must be removed. It's like shaving an Ent. And this knife does it well despite its small size.
Handle
The first thing you notice is, of course, the nice wooden material on the sides. This knife has a handle of Masur birch which gives the personal grain. Of course, no wooden handle is the same, and this is especially true of this type of wood. If for some inexplicable reason, you don't like it, beech is available instead, or Micarta for those who prefer man-made materials. The wooden handle is also treated with beeswax.
The handle is 98 millimeters long, 14.3-17.9 mm thick, and builds at most 23.9 mm in height. Not an enormously large knife, in other words, but very "in-between", which also feels Swedish.
 |
| The handle is well-shaped and provides a good grip |
Then we get to one of those things I hinted at at the beginning of the review. That the knife offers more than what is visible. Namely, there are a couple of things that are extremely unusual and possibly completely unique. It's about the material combination in the handle. The frame is made of carbon fiber! Of course, I have knives wholly or partially made of that material, but not one constructed in this way. Especially not when the spacer is made neither of carbon fiber nor of wood but of reindeer horn! Also a first for me.
 |
| Here you can see the unusual combination of a back lock, a partially open back, and an backspacer |
The result is both stylish and light. A combination of carbon fiber and wood also provides a torsionally rigid knife that does not flex. Not even when used for tough work, such as working with dry wood.
 |
| The handle is not large but works for my large size hands. But that's just |
The handle of the Pältsa is three-dimensionally shaped to the extent that it not only has a small finger guard against the blade, a bulge in the middle, and a small beak further back but also swells in the middle. Overall, it provides a very good grip.
The size is also sufficient for my hands, size large, but if you know that you have huge mittens, the knife is possibly too small. Otherwise, the handle is not so overly shaped that it makes any grip impossible. On the contrary, all the most frequent grips work great.
In the handle, there is also a hole for a lanyard and the knife comes with a leather cord with and added decorative bead made of reindeer horn.
Opening and Lock
When it comes to opening, Pältsa is as traditional as it gets. You use your two hands and simply open the knife. No flipper fins, front flippers, thumb studs, or blade holes. Incidentally, it would only have disturbed the low-key and clean aesthetic. It also protrudes enough blade to pinch without having to add a nail nick. A detail I can happily do without since it most collects filth anyway.
 |
| Enough blade protrudes to provide a good grip when the knife is to be folded out |
The opening is very sympathetic with a blade that slides easily and smoothly. But it certainly wasn't like that from the beginning. When I got the knife it was bad. The pivot screw was tightened really hard and the knife felt both tough and gritty. The blade was not centered though. It felt a little unnerving but that was a problem that was easily solved by releasing the pressure on the adjustable pivot screw and then retightening it a bit.
That and a certain amount of wear and tear has given good results. Now the knife is very pleasant to handle and the movement is soft and smooth.
 |
| Pältsa features a backlock |
Pältsa comes with a back lock as mentioned earlier and it performs well. It holds the blade in a firm grip and it is easy to release. Sometimes the spring force can be so strong that it is almost painful to release that type of lock but not in this case. Then all knives equipped with back locks are a little sensitive to dirt. If a piece of lint ends up in the locking notch, the blade does not lock properly. However, it is very easily fixed.
To Carry
Pältsa belongs to those knives that come with a leather sheath. Possibly depending on the knife missing a clip. An accessory that many nowadays consider absolutely indispensable. But the fact is that there are advantages to being without them as well. Apart from the fact that knives are usually prettier, ergonomics are improved. No clip, no chafing in the hand.
 |
| Peltsa comes with a strong well-stitched sheath |
However, I mostly carry the knife in the sheath when it is in a bag. Mostly to protect the knife against abrasive metal objects such as keys and the like. When I bring Pältsa, it is usually loose in a pocket. It is not a very large knife, as the handle dimensions imply. But even better is that it is a very light knife.
A knife with a fairly thin blade, and a carbon fiber frame, mostly open in the back and equipped with wooden sides will not be heavy. The total weight is a meager 68 g! It's impressive regardless of which folding knife we're talking about. Especially one with this ergonomic handle.
That, combined with the well-rounded corners, makes Pältsa quite comfortable in a pocket. However, there is the usual problem that arises if a knife without a clip is placed in a trouser pocket, that they like to lie crosswise. But it can be avoided if the sheath is used. It is made of high-quality leather and is well-stitched. The lock snaps into place with a strong push button and the belt attachment takes belts up to five centimeters wide.
To Conclude
This folder from Karesuandokniven is the result of a distinguished mix of tradition and innovation in my eyes. Combining the simple and harmonious lines of a classic Swedish hunting knife with what it means in both ergonomic and practical terms with modern technology is an excellent move. Of course, the fine RWL steel contributes the most, while the carbon fiber frame provides a smooth ride even without bearings and also contributes to a light knife.
The reindeer horn in the insert is mostly a fun detail, but it also ties the knife together with both the region it was made in and older times. A stylish and fun addition.
For me, the outcome of the meeting was not a foregone conclusion. I had no previous experience with folding knives from this company from the far north and was therefore curious. Especially as their knives do not belong to the low-price segment. After all, they are premium knives manufactured in part by hand in Sweden.
The price varies slightly depending on which version is chosen. The most luxurious one costs almost six hundred dollars, but then you get a really exclusive steel. The simplest edition ends up around 180 $. This is the intermediate edition with a price tag of around 280$ depending on the exchange rate.
 |
| The Karesuandokniven Pältsa is an excellent companion on all summer adventures! |
For that money, however, you get a knife with several positive features. I have focused on the practical ones with an excellent blade in noble steel and a handle with good ergonomics.
In addition to that, the proportions make the knife very attractive. Several people I have shown the knife to and who got to feel it have expressed it in various positive terms. And therein lies something of the secret, this knife has "it" in the form of a charm that is somewhat difficult to describe. That, of course, makes it an excellent gift for any hunter, outdoorsman, or person interested in knives.
I highly recommend it!
 |
| Karesuandokniven |
Specification:
Length Overall: 170 mm
Length Folded: 98 mm
Weight: 68 g
Blade Length: 75 mm
Blade Thickness: 2 mm
Blade Steel: Damasteel RWL-34
Handle: Wood, arctic birch on a carbon fiber frame
Lock: Back Lock
Produced by: Karesuandokniven, made in Sweden, partly in Italy
/ J - is thinking about the midnight sun
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar